Passive Dielectric Sensor for Composite Stress Monitoring
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current sensors embedded in composite structures face challenges with power consumption and communication, making them impractical for monitoring stress and temperature deep within structures, as they require excessive power and have cumbersome wiring prone to corrosion, and are difficult to replace or update.
Innovation Solution
A system using paraelectric or ferroelectric particles embedded in composite structures, which detects stress by measuring changes in dielectric properties through electromagnetic radiation and resonance frequency, allowing for wireless, low-energy monitoring and easy sensor replacement, utilizing a hairpin resonator and electromagnetic interrogation unit to determine stress without external power or communication costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If embedded sensors are used to monitor stress and temperature within structures, then measurement precision is improved, but use of energy increases and device complexity increases due to power and communication requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the power and communication functions from the sensor system, creating a passive sensor that requires no internal power source or communication mechanism. The sensor is interrogated wirelessly by an external electromagnetic interrogation unit, eliminating the need for embedded power supplies and communication electronics within the structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional electronic sensor system with a passive electromagnetic resonance-based sensing mechanism. Instead of using active electronic components that require power, the system uses the electromagnetic resonance properties of the sensor structure itself to detect stress and temperature changes.
2Use of energy by moving object
If wired terminals are provided for powering and communication, then power and communication are enabled, but reliability decreases due to corrosion and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes all wired connections and external power/communication terminals from the system. The passive sensor is completely embedded within the composite structure without any external connections, eliminating corrosion risks associated with wired terminals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces electromagnetic fields as an intermediary medium to transfer energy and information between the external interrogation unit and the embedded sensor. This allows power and communication functions to be achieved wirelessly through the composite material without physical connections.
3Measurement precision
If embedded sensors are installed in composite structures, then stress and temperature monitoring is achieved, but ease of repair decreases and adaptability decreases due to difficulty in replacement and update
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the sensor from the manufacturing process, allowing it to be added as a post-manufacturing component. The passive sensor can be easily attached to or embedded in the composite structure after the structure is built, enabling simple replacement and updates without requiring specialized manufacturing processes.
4Ease of operation
If wireless powering and communication are used, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability decreases due to limited effective distance through air
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the composite material itself as an intermediary medium for electromagnetic wave transmission. The electromagnetic interrogation unit communicates with the embedded sensor through the composite material rather than through air, allowing reliable wireless operation at greater distances and through the structure's thickness.
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
Enables effective, low-energy monitoring of stress and temperature within composite structures, allowing for passive intrinsic sensing and adaptive temperature adjustment, suitable for various applications including energetic materials and smart energy fabrics, with minimal energy and communication costs, and providing long-term viable health information.
Implementation Method 1
transmitting an electromagnetic radiation to the sensor, thereby generating an electromagnetic field into the composite structure
Implementation Method 2
determining the resonance frequency of the sensor
Implementation Method 3
measuring changes in dielectric properties in a structure
Implementation Method 4
The particles at room temperature are paraelectric or ferroelectric
Implementation Method 5
The particles at room temperature are paraelectric or ferroelectric
Data Source
AI summary
A method of determining stress within a composite structure is provided which includes coupling a sensor to a composite structure under load having embedded therein a plurality of particles, wherein the particles at room temperature are paraelectric or ferroelectric, transmitting an electromagnetic radiation to the sensor, thereby generating an electromagnetic field into the composite structure, sweeping frequency from a first frequency to a second frequency in a pulsed manner, receiving reflected power from the composite structure, determining the resonance frequency of the sensor, and translating the resonance frequency of the sensor to stress within the composite structure.