Nondestructive inspection (NDI) is an effective technique to inspect, test, or evaluate the integrity of materials, components, and structures without interrupting the serviceability of a system. Despite recent advances in NDI techniques, most of them are either limited to sensing structural response at their instrumented locations or require multiple sensors and measurements to localize damage. In this study, a new NDI system that could achieve distributed sensing using a single measurement was investigated. Here, piezoresistive carbon nanotube (CNT)-polymer thin film sensors connected in a transmission line setup were interrogated using electrical time-domain reflectometry (ETDR). In ETDR, an electromagnetic signal is sent from one end of the transmission line. When the signal encounters the sensor, it can partially reflect and be captured at the same point. The characteristics of the reflected signal depend on the sensor’s impedance, which is correlated to structural response, deformation, or damage. The advantage of this is that distributed sensing along the entire transmission line can be achieved using a single measurement point. To validate this concept, CNT-polymer thin films that were integrated with a transmission line are subjected to uniaxial tensile strains applied using a load frame. The ETDR signals were analyzed to assess the system’s sensing performance.
Skip Nav Destination
ASME 2018 Conference on Smart Materials, Adaptive Structures and Intelligent Systems
September 10–12, 2018
San Antonio, Texas, USA
Conference Sponsors:
- Aerospace Division
ISBN:
978-0-7918-5195-1
PROCEEDINGS PAPER
Distributed Strain Sensing Using Carbon Nanotube Thin Films and Electrical Time-Domain Reflectometry
Bo Mi Lee,
Bo Mi Lee
University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, CA
Search for other works by this author on:
Kenneth J. Loh,
Kenneth J. Loh
University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, CA
Search for other works by this author on:
Francesco Lanza di Scalea
Francesco Lanza di Scalea
University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, CA
Search for other works by this author on:
Bo Mi Lee
University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, CA
Kenneth J. Loh
University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, CA
Francesco Lanza di Scalea
University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, CA
Paper No:
SMASIS2018-7997, V002T05A006; 8 pages
Published Online:
November 14, 2018
Citation
Lee, BM, Loh, KJ, & Lanza di Scalea, F. "Distributed Strain Sensing Using Carbon Nanotube Thin Films and Electrical Time-Domain Reflectometry." Proceedings of the ASME 2018 Conference on Smart Materials, Adaptive Structures and Intelligent Systems. Volume 2: Mechanics and Behavior of Active Materials; Structural Health Monitoring; Bioinspired Smart Materials and Systems; Energy Harvesting; Emerging Technologies. San Antonio, Texas, USA. September 10–12, 2018. V002T05A006. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/SMASIS2018-7997
Download citation file:
30
Views
Related Proceedings Papers
Related Articles
Multiscale Experiments: State of the Art and Remaining Challenges
J. Eng. Mater. Technol (October,2009)
Analytical and Experimental Studies of the Mechanics of Deformation in a Solid With a Wavy Surface Profile
J. Appl. Mech (January,2010)
Laser Based Calibration Technique of Thin Film Gauges for Short Duration Transient Measurements
J. Thermal Sci. Eng. Appl (December,2011)
Related Chapters
Introduction
Computer Vision for Structural Dynamics and Health Monitoring
Layer Arrangement Impact on the Electromechanical Performance of a Five-Layer Multifunctional Smart Sandwich Plate
Advanced Multifunctional Lightweight Aerostructures: Design, Development, and Implementation
Characterization of Ultra-High Temperature and Polymorphic Ceramics
Advanced Multifunctional Lightweight Aerostructures: Design, Development, and Implementation