Open AccessMagnetic-repulsion-coupled piezoelectric-film-based stretchable and flexible acoustic emission sensor
Author(s) -
Guo-Hua Feng,
Cheng-Yen Chiang
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
smart materials and structures
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.898
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1361-665X
pISSN - 0964-1726
DOI - 10.1088/1361-665x/ab67ca
Subject(s) - piezoelectricity , acoustic emission , materials science , acoustics , piezoelectric sensor , interfacing , magnetic field , foil method , optoelectronics , bandwidth (computing) , composite material , computer science , physics , computer network , quantum mechanics , computer hardware
This paper presents a stretchable and flexible acoustic emission (AE) sensor composed of patterned upper, lower piezoelectric film foils, magnets and stereolithographic structures. The proposed device possesses the following novelties. The piezoelectric sensing structures with magnetic repulsion is effective for AE signal coupling. The lower piezoelectric serpentine-shaped AE detection structure with stretchable and flexible characteristics allows sensing various curved surfaces. Additionally, the contact force between the sensing target and AE sensor can be evaluated by monitoring the structural characteristic change of the upper piezoelectric structure of the AE sensor. The magnetic-repulsion-enhanced AE sensor exhibits a better bandwidth compared to that with only a lower AE sensing structure. Also, the fabricated sensor subjected to a sensing target force ranging from 4.98 to 14.85 mN resulting in a frequency change of the piezoelectric sensing beam of the upper foil from 20.073 to 20.135 kHz is verified. The developed AE sensor can open a new field for various applications. For instance, AE waves can be monitored without contacting the target (e.g. interfacing with air). The detection mechanism of AE waves by an action at a distance is successfully demonstrated.