The anthropocene as todays geological epoche is characterized by the significant impact of humans and their technological achievements resulting in critical ecological developments, like exploitation of finite resources, pollution and climate change. These earth system trends have led to the urgent demand for new approaches concerning materials and energy supply, especially in the building industry, which is defined by huge resource and energy consumption.
Cottonid is a cellulose-based, sustainably available modified natural material, which is produced over a chemical parchmentizing process and a subsequent laminating of unsized paper layers. Due to the finite nature of fossil resources, Cottonid exhibits new application potential nowadays, because cellulose can be derived from renewable sources. As a function of its material tickness, Cottonid can be used as sustainable, climate adaptive functional material as well as dimensionally stable construction material. Therefore, Cottonid is an efficient candidate for the production of architectural elements for conventional structural applications as well as for innovative biomimetic architecture.
Sensor embedding in Cottonid for structural health monitoring (SHM) as state of the art for continuous and permanent measurements of the structural integrity of engineering structures during service is explored, since the manufacturing principle of Cottonid by layering single paper layers on top of each other has great potential for this matter. The study includes selecting of sensor types, number and locations, as well as data acquisition hardware and test strategy. One fundamental question concerning the integration of fiber optic sensors for temperature and strain measurements (FBG) is, if they withstand the parchmentizing process by maintaining their function. This is investigated in actuation and fatigue experiments as a function of the manufacturing parameters. Further, electrical resistance measurement for assessment of material’s moisture content is considered and further developed as monitoring method. In addition, established SHM methods are contrasted with an innovative approach for intrinsic strain measurement, where Cottonid specimens will be modified with piezoelectric ZnO.