Smart Structures and Systems

Techno-Press (테크노프레스)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Battery-free slotted patch antenna sensor for wireless strain and crack monitoring

  • Yi, Xiaohua (School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology) ;
  • Cho, Chunhee (School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology) ;
  • Wang, Yang (School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology) ;
  • Tentzeris, Manos M. (School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology)
  • Received : 2015.03.14
  • Accepted : 2016.10.07
  • Published : 2016.12.25
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

In this research, a slotted patch antenna sensor is designed for wireless strain and crack sensing. An off-the-shelf RFID (radiofrequency identification) chip is adopted in the antenna sensor design for signal modulation. The operation power of the RFID chip is captured from wireless reader interrogation signal, so the sensor operation is completely battery-free (passive) and wireless. For strain and crack sensing of a structure, the antenna sensor is bonded on the structure surface like a regular strain gage. Since the antenna resonance frequency is directly related with antenna dimension, which deforms when strain occurs on the structural surface, the deformation/strain can be correlated with antenna resonance frequency shift measured by an RFID reader. The slotted patch antenna sensor performance is first evaluated through mechanics-electromagnetics coupled simulation. Extensive experiments are then conducted to validate the antenna sensor performance, including tensile and compressive strain sensing, wireless interrogation range, and fatigue crack sensing.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

Supported by : Air Force Office of Scientific Research, Federal Highway Administration

References

  1. Akyildiz, I.F., Su, W., Sankarasubramaniam, Y. and Cayirci, E. (2002), "Wireless sensor networks: a survey", Comput. Netw., 38, 393-422. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1389-1286(01)00302-4
  2. Butler, J.C., Vigliotti, A.J., Verdi, F.W. and Walsh, S.M. (2002), "Wireless, passive, resonant-circuit, inductively coupled, inductive strain sensor", Sensor. Actuat. A: Phys., 102 (1-2), 61-66 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0924-4247(02)00342-4
  3. Cho, C., Yi, X., Wang, Y., Tentzeris, M.M. and Leon, R.T. (2014), "Compressive strain sensing measurement using RFID patch antenna sensors", Proceedings of SPIE, Sensors and Smart Structures Technologies for Civil, Mechanical, and Aerospace System, San Diego, CA, USA, March 10-14, 2014.
  4. Daliri, A., Galehdar, A., John, S., Wang, C.H., Towe, W.S.T. and Ghorbani, K. (2012), "Wireless strain measurement using circular microstrip patch antennas", Sensors Actuat. A: Phys., 184, 86-92. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sna.2012.07.003
  5. Jia, Y., Sun, K., Agosto, F.J. and Quinones, M.T. (2006), "Design and characterization of a passive wireless strain sensor", Meas. Sci. Technol., 17(11), 2869-2876. https://doi.org/10.1088/0957-0233/17/11/002
  6. Kane, M., Zhu, D., Hirose, M., Dong, X., WInter, B., Hackell, M., Lynch, J.P., Wang, Y. and Swartz, A. (2014), "Development of a extensible dual-core wireless sensing node for cyber-physical systems", Proceedings of SPIE, Sensors and Smart Structures Technologies for Civil, Mechanical, and Aerospace System, San Diego, CA, USA.
  7. Loh, K.J., Lynch, J.P. and Kotov, N.A. (2008), "Inductively coupled nanocomposite wireless strain and pH sensors", Smart Struct. Syst., 4(5), 531-548. https://doi.org/10.12989/sss.2008.4.5.531
  8. Lynch, J.P. and Loh, K.J. (2006), "A summary review of wireless sensors and sensor networks for structural health monitoring", Shock Vib. Digest, 38(2), 91-128. https://doi.org/10.1177/0583102406061499
  9. Matsuzaki, R., Melnykowycz, M. and Todoroki, A. (2009), "Antenna/sensor multifunctional composites for the wireless detection of damage", Compos. Sci. Technol., 69, 2507-2513. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compscitech.2009.07.002
  10. Melik, R., Pergoz, N.K., Unal, E., Puttlitz, C. and Demir, H.V. (2008), "Bio implantable passive on-chip RF-MEMS strain sensing resonators for orthopedic application", J. Micromech. Microeng., 18, 115017. https://doi.org/10.1088/0960-1317/18/11/115017
  11. Occhiuzzi, C., Paggi, C. and Marrocco, G. (2011), "Passive RFID strain-sensor based on meander-line antennas", IEEE T. Antenn. Propag., 59 (12), 4836-4840. https://doi.org/10.1109/TAP.2011.2165517
  12. Thomson, D.J., Card, D. and Bridges, G.E. (2009), "RF cavity passive wireless sensors with time-domain gating-based interrgoation for SHM of civil structures", IEEE Sensors J., 9(11), 1430-1438. https://doi.org/10.1109/JSEN.2009.2027407
  13. Xu, X. and Huang, H. (2012), "Battery-less wireless interrogation of microstrip patch antenna for strain sensing", Smart Mater. Struct., 21, 125007. https://doi.org/10.1088/0964-1726/21/12/125007
  14. Yi, X., Cho, C., Cook, B., Wang, Y., Tentzeris, M.M. and Leon, R.T. (2013a), "Design and simulation of a slotted patch antenna sensor for wireless strain sensing", Proceedings of SPIE, Nondestructive Characterization for Composite Materials, Aerospace Engineering, Civil Infrastructure, and Homeland Security, San Diego, California, USA.
  15. Yi, X., Cho, C., Cooper, J., Wang, Y., Tentzeris, M.M. and Leon, R.T. (2013b), "Passive wireless antenna sensor for strain and crack sensing-electromagnetic modeling, simulation, and testing", Smart Mater. Struct., 22, 085009. https://doi.org/10.1088/0964-1726/22/8/085009
  16. Yi, X., Cooper, J., Wang, Y., Tentzeris, M.M. and Leon, R.T. (2012), "Wilress crack sensing using an RFID-based folded patch antenna", Proceeding of the 6th International Conference on Bridge Maintenance, Safety and Management, Lake Como, Italy.
  17. Yi, X., Wang, Y., Tentzeris, M. M. and Leon, R.T. (2013c), "Multi-physics modeling and simulation of a slotted patch antenna for wireless strain sensing", Proceedings of 9th International Workshop on Structural Health Monitoring Standford, CA, USA.
  18. Yi, X., Wu, T., Lantz, G., Cooper, J., Cho, C., Wang, Y., Tentzeris, M.M. and Leon, R.T. (2011), "Sensing resolution and measurement range of a passive wireless strain sensor", Proceedings of the 8th International Workshop on Structural Health Monitoring, Stanford, CA, USA.

Cited by

  1. Crack Monitoring Method for an FRP-Strengthened Steel Structure Based on an Antenna Sensor vol.17, pp.10, 2017, https://doi.org/10.3390/s17102394
  2. Influence of Volumetric Damage Parameters on Patch Antenna Sensor-Based Damage Detection of Metallic Structure vol.19, pp.14, 2016, https://doi.org/10.3390/s19143232
  3. Emerging RFID technology in structural engineering - A review vol.28, pp.None, 2016, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.istruc.2020.10.036
  4. Metal cracks detection based on circular patch microstrip antenna vol.331, pp.None, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202133105003
  5. Double-frequency passive deformation sensor based on two-layer patch antenna vol.27, pp.6, 2016, https://doi.org/10.12989/sss.2021.27.6.969