Calibration of piezoresistive shape-memory alloy strain sensors. (July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mäder, Thomas; Heusinger, Jonas v; Senf, Björn; Zoch, Martin; Winkler, Anja; Drossel, Welf-Guntram
• Is Part Of: Journal of intelligent material systems and structures. Volume 33:Number 11(2022)
• Page Start: 1465
• Page End: 1472
• Publication Date: 2022-07
• Subjects: Calibration -- fatigue -- mechanical sensors -- piezoresistance -- shape-memory alloys -- strain measurement; Smart materials -- Periodicals; Intelligent control systems -- Periodicals; Artificial intelligence -- Periodicals; Matériaux intelligents -- Périodiques; Commande intelligente -- Périodiques; Intelligence artificielle -- Périodiques; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1177/1045389X211057206
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1045-389X

Abstract

Continuous strain measurement on fibre-reinforced structures demands mechanical sensors with superior fatigue resistance. Shape-memory alloy wires are predestined for strain sensors utilising their strong piezo-resistance. Calibration of these sensors is necessary in order to extract mechanical data. Therefore, four-point bending of glass-fibre reinforced plastic specimens with applied strain sensors and an optical reference measuring system is used to calibrate and compare shape-memory alloy sensors and standard strain gauges. The gauge factor and its standard deviation is successfully measured by this calibration method. Shape-memory alloy sensors show strain-dependent gauge factor whilst standard strain gauges show a constant strain sensitivity, both with a narrow stochastic distribution. Shape-memory alloy mechanical sensors are reliable to determine strain of fibre-reinforced structures. This offers the possibility to use them in structural health monitoring applications of such structures. Consequently, the four-point bending calibration using glass-fibre reinforced specimens represents a suitable possibility for calibration of strain sensors exposed to higher strain amplitudes.