Recent development on cement-based piezoelectric functional composites is introduced. Two internal connectivity patterns relating to the functional ceramic phase, 0-3 and 2-2 types, were adopted in the development. 0-3 Cement-based piezoelectric composites were produced by incorporating different types of piezoelectric ceramic powders into Portland cement matrix. The composite with 0-3 connectivity pattern exhibits slightly better piezoelectric properties, and is suitable to be used as sensors in intelligent structures. The material properties of 0-3 cement-based PZT composites are evaluated both theoretically and experimentally. And 2-2 type cement-based piezoelectric ceramic composite holds both desirable sensing and actuating effect. Moreover, the electric-mechanical response of 2-2 cement-based piezoelectric ceramic composite is tested by MTS system. The results show that it can be used as self-sensing actuator in civil engineering. © 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.