A New Dielectric Elastomer Sensor Based on Cantilever Beam Structure with Constant Strength

Abstract:

Dielectric elastomer sensors are a new kind of capacitive sensors. They can be used to measure forces, pressures and deformations. The sensors have several advantages such as high elasticity and inexpensive fabrication compared with traditional sensors. In this paper, a new sensing device for measuring small concentrated force is proposed. The structure of the device is a cantilever beam with constant strength on which is fixed the dielectric membrane. The dielectric membrane is a capacitance sensor built with dielectric polymer coated with soft electrodes. When the cantilever beam is subjected to a concentrated force at its free end, the strain changed in the cantilever beam will induce the change in the capacitance of the membrane. According to the relation, the unknown concentrated force can be monitored by measuring the change in the capacitance. The testing results on the device show that the concentrated force at the free end of the cantilever beam is approximately proportional to the change in the capacitance. The prototype demonstrated the new device is capable of monitoring small concentrated force with prominent sensitivity.

• Periodical: Applied Mechanics and Materials (Volume 664)
• Pages: 279-283
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.664.279
• Online since: October 2014
• Authors: Na Ni, Yin Wang, Fan Liu, Ling Zhang*
• Keywords: Cantilever Beam, Capacitance Sensor, Constant Strength, Dielectric Elastomer, Force Sensor

References

[1] M. Rosenthal, N. Bonwit, C. Duncheon, J. Heim, Applications of dielectric elastomer EPAM sensors, Proc. SPIE 6524, 65241F: 1-7(2007).

DOI: 10.1117/12.715084

[2] N. C. Goulbourne, S. Son, J. W. Fox, Self-sensing McKibben actuators using dielectric elastomer Sensors, Proc. SPIE 6524, 652414: 1-12(2007).

DOI: 10.1117/12.716274

[3] S. Son, N. C. Goulbourne, Finite deformations of tubular dielectric elastomer sensors, Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures 20, 2187- 2199(2009).

DOI: 10.1177/1045389x09350718

[4] S. Son, N. C. Goulbourne, Large strain analysis of a soft polymer electromechanical sensor coupled to an arterial segment, Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures 23, 575-586(2012).

DOI: 10.1177/1045389x12436733

[5] W. L. Hu, X. F. Niu, R. Zhao and Q. B. Pei, Elastomeric transparent capacitive sensors based on an interpenetrating composite of silver nanowires and polyurethane, Appl. Phys. Lett. 102, 083303(2013).

DOI: 10.1063/1.4794143

[6] S. Mannsfeld, B. Tee, R. Stoltenberg, et al., Highly sensitive flexible pressure sensors with microstructured rubber dielectric layers, Nature materials 9, 859-864(2010).

DOI: 10.1038/nmat2834

[7] J. A. Dobrzynska, and M. A. M. Gijs, Polymer-based flexible capacitive sensor for three-axial force measurements, J. Micromech. Microeng. 23, 015009: 1 -11(2013).

DOI: 10.1088/0960-1317/23/1/015009

[8] J. A. Dobrzynska, and M. A. M. Gijs, Capacitive flexible force sensor, Procedia Engineering 5, 404-407(2010).

DOI: 10.1016/j.proeng.2010.09.132

[9] D. Kim, C. H. Lee, B. C. Kim, et al., Six axis capacitive force /torque sensor based on dielectric elastomer, Proc. SPIE 8687, 86872 J: 1-9 (2013).