Stretchable Elastomer Structure for Stress Concentration Relief
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing stretchable devices are prone to damage when stretched due to stress concentration at contact points, leading to potential breakage or detachment of components.
Innovation Solution
A stretchable device design incorporating a substrate with a first elastomer and auxiliary structures made of a second elastomer with a higher elastic modulus, dispersed stress through auxiliary structures with a higher elastic modulus than the substrate, preventing damage by distributing strain evenly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a flexible substrate is used to enable stretchability, then the device can respond to body motions, but stress concentration at contact points causes damage during stretching
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating auxiliary structures with different elastic moduli at specific locations on the substrate. The auxiliary structures have a higher elastic modulus than the substrate material, providing localized stress distribution exactly where needed during stretching, thus preventing damage while maintaining overall flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining the substrate material with auxiliary structures made of different materials having higher elastic moduli. This composite structure allows the device to both stretch with the substrate and distribute stress through the stiffer auxiliary structures, resolving the contradiction between flexibility and damage resistance
2Reliability
If auxiliary structures with higher elastic modulus are added to disperse stress, then damage is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the auxiliary structures into multiple discrete elements distributed across the substrate. These segmented structures independently provide stress distribution at various contact points, preventing damage while maintaining a relatively simple overall design that can be integrated into existing flexible device architectures
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design effectively reduces or prevents damage to the device by stretching by dispersing stress, allowing flexible response to external motions while maintaining structural integrity.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of auxiliary structures 210 may be disposed at predetermined positions on the stretchable substrate 110... an elastic modulus of the second elastomer may be higher than an elastic modulus of the first elastomer... dispersed stress through auxiliary structures with a higher elastic modulus than the substrate
Data Source
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AI summary
A stretchable substrate includes a first elastomer, a plurality of unit devices (300) on the stretchable substrate (110), a connecting wire (121) configured to electrically connect adjacent unit devices, and a plurality of auxiliary structures (210) each including a second elastomer and each at least partially overlapping with at least one unit device or the connecting wire, wherein the first elastomer and the second elastomer are separate, respective polymers that commonly include at least one structural unit.