Piezoelectric Composite Sensor for Adaptive Strain Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional piezoelectric sensors struggle to be embedded within high-pressure and high-temperature materials like carbon or carbon fiber composites, and they often require precise orientation to align with the axis of usable strain, which can vary over time, making it difficult to achieve effective energy transfer and monitoring.
Innovation Solution
A piezoelectric planar composite apparatus with layers of insulating material and electrode interconnect conductors that allow for adaptive selection of electric field axes, enabling alignment with varying strain axes without physical repositioning, and using high-temperature bonding materials to withstand extreme conditions during manufacturing and operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional piezoelectric sensors are embedded within high-pressure and high-temperature materials, then the sensors can monitor structures subjected to extreme conditions, but the bonding materials cannot withstand the high-pressure and high-temperature processing and operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the thermal and pressure resistance parameters of the bonding materials by selecting specific high-temperature materials (such as polyimide with glass epoxy, bismaleimide, or other high-temperature resins) that can withstand temperatures of 150°C to 160°C and higher during composite lamination and operation, thereby resolving the contradiction between embedding sensors in extreme condition structures and maintaining bonding material reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite bonding materials (e.g., polyimide with glass epoxy, bismaleimide composites) that combine multiple materials to achieve both high-temperature resistance and structural reliability, allowing the sensor assembly to withstand extreme processing and operating conditions while maintaining durable bonds
2Use of energy by moving object
If sensors are positioned to align with the axis of usable strain, then energy transfer is enhanced, but the axis of usable strain can vary over time making proper positioning difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a multi-functional electrode system where multiple sets of electrodes can be selectively activated to form electric fields along different axes. This universal electrode configuration allows the sensor to adapt to varying strain directions by selecting which electrode pairs to activate, thereby maintaining energy transfer efficiency regardless of strain axis orientation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a dynamic electrode selection mechanism where the electric field orientation can be changed by selecting different electrode pairs based on the current strain direction. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the sensor to continuously adapt to time-varying strain axes, ensuring optimal energy transfer efficiency without physical repositioning
3Measurement precision
If sensors are embedded within structures to be monitored, then monitoring capability is enhanced, but the sensors cannot be properly nondestructively re-positioned
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the electrode system into multiple independent, selectively activatable electrode pairs. This segmentation allows the functional reconfiguration of the sensor without physical movement or destruction of the embedded structure, enabling adaptive measurement orientation while maintaining the embedded configuration
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 apparatus can be embedded in high-pressure and high-temperature structures, adaptively aligning the electric field with strain axes, enhancing energy transfer and monitoring capabilities while withstanding extreme conditions, and providing durable, high-output sensors for health monitoring and energy harvesting.
Implementation Method 1
Piezoelectric material is but one example of materials that can perform this function. As a stress or strain is applied to the structure being monitored, the body of the sensor deforms or deflects, causing the piezoelectric material to convert a fraction of the mechanical energy of the stress or strain to electrical energy.
Implementation Method 2
embodiments of the present invention uniquely utilize bonding materials, both within the structure of the sensor and to connect the sensor to the structure to be monitored, that are capable of withstanding high pressure and high temperature composite processing and operations
Implementation Method 3
bonding materials, both within the structure of the sensor and to connect the sensor to the structure to be monitored, that are capable of withstanding high pressure and high temperature such as those present when the sensors are used in structures subjected to high pressures and high temperatures
Data Source
AI summary
A piezoelectric planar composite apparatus to provide health monitoring of a structure and associated methods are provided. The piezoelectric planar composite apparatus includes a piezoelectric electric material layer, multiple electrodes positioned in electrical contact with the piezoelectric material layer, and multiple sets of electrode interconnect conductors each positioned in electrical contact with a different subset of the electrodes and positioned to form multiple complementary electrode patterns. Each of the complementary electrode patterns is positioned to form an electric field having an electric field axis oriented along a different physical axis from that of an electric field formed by at least one other of the complementary electrode patterns. The interconnect conductors can be distributed over several electrode interconnect conductor carrying layers to enhance formation of the different complementary electrode patterns.