Design aspects of shape memory wire based resonant force measurement system

Abstract

Appropriate design of the components of a sensing system affords high degree of performance characteristics; this article presents the design optimization of a novel force measurement strategy created using shape memory alloy (SMA) wire using the resonance principle. SMAs are unique materials that are generally used to realize actuators and dampers in instrumentation systems, now will be found in sensors too. A resonant sensing mechanism is realized using an SMA wire with gravity bias and, its co-acting flexible member the cantilever beam. The operating phenomenon is based on the shift in resonant frequency corresponding to an applied force, and the sensing module detects force in the range of few newtons. Design procedures of the sensor are realized, the modes of the physical realization are modeled using lumped parameter technique and the force measurement system using the electromechanical resonator is validated from the experimental measurements and analytical results.