• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.790-794
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• 2003

This paper describes the fabrication and characteristics of ceramic thin film type pressure sensors based on Ta-N strain gauges for high temperature applications. Ta-N thin-film strain gauges are deposited onto a thermally oxidized Si diaphragm by RF sputtering in an argon-nitrogen atmos[here($N_2$ gas ratio: 8%, annealing condition: 90$0^{\circ}C$, 1 hr.), patterned on a wheatstone bridge configuration, and used as pressure sensing elements with a high stability and a high gauge factor. The sensitivity is 1.097 ～ 1.21 mV/Vㆍkgf/$\textrm{cm}^2$ in the temperature range of 25 ～ 200 $^{\circ}C$ and the maximum non-linearity resistance), non-linearity than existing Si piezoresistive pressure sensors. The fabricated ceramic thin-film type pressure sensor is expected to be usefully applied as pressure and load sensors that os operable under high-temperature.

• Composites Research
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.283-287
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• 2022

Stretchable strain sensors have been developed for potential future applications including wearable devices and health monitoring. For practical implementation of stretchable strain sensors, their stability and repeatability are one of the important aspects to be considered. In this work, we utilized 3D printed polymer structures having kirigami patterns to improve the stretchability and reduce the hysteresis. The polymer structures were coated with graphene/carbon nanofiber hybrids to make a robust electrical network. The stretchable strain sensors showed a high gauge of 36 at a strain of 32%. Because of the kirigami structures and the robust graphene/carbon nanofiber coating, the sensors also exhibited stable resistance responses at various strains ranging from 1% to 30%.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.307-311
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• 2022

With the development of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, numerous people worldwide connect with various electronic devices via Human-Machine Interfaces (HMIs). Considering that HMIs are a new concept of dynamic interactions, wearable electronics have been highlighted owing to their lightweight, flexibility, stretchability, and attachability. In particular, wearable strain sensors have been applied to a multitude of practical applications (e.g., fitness and healthcare) by conformally attaching such devices to the human skin. However, the stretchable elastomer in a wearable sensor has an intrinsic stretching limitation; therefore, structural advances of wearable sensors are required to develop practical applications of wearable sensors. In this study, we demonstrated a 3-dimensional (3D), porous, and piezoelectric strain sensor for sensing body movements. More specifically, the device was fabricated by mixing polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and polyvinylidene fluoride nanoparticles (PVDF NPs) as the matrix and piezoelectric materials of the strain sensor. The porous structure of the strain sensor was formed by a sugar cube-based 3D template. Additionally, mixing methods of PVDF piezoelectric NPs were optimized to enhance the device sensitivity. Finally, it is verified that the developed strain sensor could be directly attached onto the finger joint to sense its movements.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.669-677
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• 2012

This study presents a method to monitor cable force using wireless sensor nodes and piezoelectric sensors. The following approaches are carried out to achieve the objective. Firstly, the principle of piezoelectric materials (e.g., PZT) as strain sensors is reviewed. A cable force estimation method using dynamic features of cables measured by piezoelectric materials is presented. Secondly, the design of an automated cable force monitoring system using the data acquisition sensor-node Imote2/SHM-DAQ is described. The sensor node is originally developed by University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and is adopted in this study to monitor strain-induced voltage from PZT sensors. The advantages of the system are cheap, and eligible for wireless communication and automated operation. Finally, the feasibility of the proposed monitoring system is evaluated on a lab-scaled cable.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.4 no.5
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• pp.531-548
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• 2008

Recently, dense sensor instrumentation for structural health monitoring has motivated the need for novel passive wireless sensors that do not require a portable power source, such as batteries. Using a layer-by-layer self-assembly process, nano-structured multifunctional carbon nanotube-based thin film sensors of controlled morphology are fabricated. Through judicious selection of polyelectrolytic constituents, specific sensing transduction mechanisms can be encoded within these homogenous thin films. In this study, the thin films are specifically designed to change electrical properties to strain and pH stimulus. Validation of wireless communications is performed using traditional magnetic coil antennas of various turns for passive RFID (radio frequency identification) applications. Preliminary experimental results shown in this study have identified characteristic frequency and bandwidth changes in tandem with varying strain and pH, respectively. Finally, ongoing research is presented on the use of gold nanocolloids and carbon nanotubes during layer-by-layer assembly to fabricate highly conductive coil antennas for wireless communications.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.392-396
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• 2018

Structural color has many advantages over pigment based color. In recent years, researches are being conducted to apply these advantages to applications such as wearable devices. In this study, strain sensor, a kind of wearable device, was developed using structural color. The use of structural color has the advantage of not using energy and complex measuring equipment to measure strain rate. Wrinkle structure was fabricated on the surface of Poly-dimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and used it as a sensor which color changes according to the applied strain. In addition, a transmittance-changing sensor was developed and fabricated by synthesizing additional glass nanoparticles. Furthermore, a strain sensor was developed that is largely transparent at the target strain and opaque otherwise.

• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.60-69
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• 2003

A review of mechanical sensing techniques based on magnetic methods is presented, with special reference to magnetoelastic strain gauges and force sensors. A novel strain sensor based on soft amorphous ribbons is described. Other types of magnetic sensors, for the measurement of torque and displacement are briefly discussed. An overview of magnetic actuators based on giant magnetostrictive materials, with some practical examples, is presented. Recent advances in the development and application of magnetic shape memory materials are discussed, together with the analysis of recent studies for the description of magnetic shape memory phenomena.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.369-384
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• 2005

The main objectives of this paper are to demonstrate the feasibility of using newly developed smart GFRP reinforcements to effectively monitor reinforced concrete beams subjected to flexural and creep loads, and to develop non-linear numerical models to predict the behavior of these beams. The smart glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) rebars are fabricated using a modified pultrusion process, which allows the simultaneous embeddement of Fabry-Perot fiber-optic sensors within them. Two beams are subjected to static and repeated loads (until failure), and a third one is under long-term investigation for assessment of its creep behavior. The accuracy and reliability of the strain readings from the embedded sensors are verified by comparison with corresponding readings from surface attached electrical strain gages. Nonlinear finite element modeling of the smart concrete beams is subsequently performed. These models are shown to be effective in predicting various parameters of interest such as crack patterns, failure loads, strains and stresses. The strain values computed by these numerical models agree well with corresponding readings from the embedded fiber-optic sensors.

• Composites Research
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.1-6
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• 2009

This paper presents an experimental study on the piezoresistive behavior of nanocomposite strain sensors subjected to various loading modes and their capability to detect structural deformations and damages. The electrically conductive nanocomposites were fabricated in the form of a film using various types of thermoplastic polymers and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) at various loadings. In this study, the nanocomposite strain sensors were bonded to a substrate and subjected to tension, flexure, or compression. In tension and flexure, the resistivity change showed dependence on measurement direction, indicating that the sensors can be used for multi-directional strain sensing. In addition, the sensors exhibited a decreasing behavior in resistivity as the compressive load was applied, suggesting that they can be used for pressure sensing. This study demonstrates that the nanocomposite strain sensors can provide a pathway to affordable, effective, and versatile structural health monitoring.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.23-39
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• 2013

In this article, a smart multifunctional optical system-on-a-chip (SOC) sensor platform is presented and its application for fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor interrogation in optical sensor networks is investigated. The smart SOC sensor platform consists of a superluminescent diode as a broadband source, a tunable microelectromechanical system (MEMS) based Fabry-P$\acute{e}$rot filter, photodetectors, and an integrated microcontroller for data acquisition, processing, and communication. Integrated with a wireless sensor network (WSN) module in a compact package, a smart optical sensor node is developed. The smart multifunctional sensor platform has the capability of interrogating different types of optical fiber sensors, including Fabry-P$\acute{e}$rot sensors and Bragg grating sensors. As a case study, the smart optical sensor platform is demonstrated to interrogate multiplexed FBG strain sensors. A time domain signal processing method is used to obtain the Bragg wavelength shift of two FBG strain sensors through sweeping the MEMS tunable Fabry-P$\acute{e}$rot filter. A tuning range of 46 nm and a tuning speed of 10 Hz are achieved. The smart optical sensor platform will open doors to many applications that require high performance optical WSNs.