Processing and Characterization of a Novel Distributed Strain Sensor Using Carbon Nanotube-Based Nonwoven Composites
Date
2015-07-21
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Publisher
MDPI AG
Abstract
This paper describes the development of an innovative carbon nanotube-based
non-woven composite sensor that can be tailored for strain sensing properties and potentially
offers a reliable and cost-effective sensing option for structural health monitoring (SHM). This
novel strain sensor is fabricated using a readily scalable process of coating Carbon nanotubes
(CNT) onto a nonwoven carrier fabric to form an electrically-isotropic conductive network.
Epoxy is then infused into the CNT-modified fabric to form a free-standing nanocomposite strain
sensor. By measuring the changes in the electrical properties of the sensing composite the
deformation can be measured in real-time. The sensors are repeatable and linear up to 0.4%
strain. Highest elastic strain gage factors of 1.9 and 4.0 have been achieved in the longitudinal
and transverse direction, respectively. Although the longitudinal gage factor of the newly
formed nanocomposite sensor is close to some metallic foil strain gages, the proposed sensing
methodology offers spatial coverage, manufacturing customizability, distributed sensing
capability as well as transverse sensitivity.
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Citation
Dai, Hongbo, Erik T. Thostenson, and Thomas Schumacher. "Processing and Characterization of a Novel Distributed Strain Sensor Using Carbon Nanotube-Based Nonwoven Composites." Sensors 15.7 (2015): 17728-17747.