Smart Table Tennis Racket with Tunable Stiffness for Diverse Play Styles and Unconventional Technique Training. Issue 10 (4th August 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhou, Xuefeng; Wang, Lijuan; Huang, Dongyang; Liang, Yudai; Shi, Quan; Yaying, Hong; Zhang, Mengying; Pu, Huayan; Wen, Weijia; Wu, Jinbo
• Is Part Of: Advanced materials technologies. Volume 6:Issue 10(2021)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2021-08-04
• Subjects: anisotropic structure -- electrorheological elastomers -- table tennis racket -- tunable stiffness; Materials science -- Periodicals; Technological innovations -- Periodicals; Materials science; Technological innovations; Periodicals; 620.1105
• DOI: 10.1002/admt.202100535
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2365-709X

Abstract

Abstract: Smart technologies bring innovation to the life and sports arena. To adapt to diverse play styles and improve unconventional technique of table tennis players, a smart table tennis racket with tunable stiffness based on anisotropic electrorheological elastomers (EREs) is developed. The EREs are prepared in the designed mold under the electric field to form an anisotropic structure that consisted of electrorheological particles and facilitated the generation of interparticle saturation surface polarization and the local electric field. Therefore, the electrorheological property of anisotropic EREs is significantly promoted, attaining a relative electrorheological effect of 17 160% in shear mode, and the incremental shear storage and compression modulus of 5.2 and 6.4 MPa. By applying an electric field, the smart racket successfully changes the trajectory of balls, reduced ejection angle by 11% and increased ejection velocity by 2%. Abstract : High electrorheological performance anisotropic electrorheological elastomers (EREs) have been fabricated by the assembled mold under the electric field. The electrorheological property of EREs improved with the increase of electric field strength. A smart table tennis racket is fabricated by replacing the sponge mat with EREs, achieving tunable rigidity of the racket for diverse play styles and unconventional technique training.