Strain Measurement in Composite Materials Using Microstrip Patch Antennas

In this paper the feasibility of using a circular microstrip patch antenna to detect strain in composite plates and the effects of different materials on sensitivity of the patch antenna are investigated. Also the effect of strain direction on the frequency shift is studied. The theoretical model shows a linear relationship between strain and the shift in the resonant frequency of the antenna in any material. A circular microstrip patch antenna is designed and fabricated to work at 1.5GHz and attached to three different materials for testing. Both Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and experimental tests have been undertaken to corroborate the relationship between strain and frequency shift. The ultimate intention of this work is to configure antennas for the detection of relatively small damage zones in structures and to do so wirelessly.