Abstract
The strain sensor based on microwave patch antenna is proposed to monitor structural strain in structural health monitoring. When patch antenna experiences deformation, the resonant frequency of patch antenna will shift. With these characteristics, the patch antenna can operate as both the strain-sensing element and communication component. This article chooses an RT-5880 rectangular patch antenna for strain measurement, focusing on its sensing performance. For distinguishing the influence of deformation in the antenna’s length direction and width direction, the numerical simulation is implemented, and then two kinds of laboratory experiments are conducted. The first approach is to paste antennas in longitudinal and transverse ways and solve the equation set. The other approach is to design another patch antenna with narrow width and compare the test results with the wide one. All results show that the influence of deformation in wide direction on sensitivity can be neglected, and the resonant frequency shift has a good linear relationship with the strain of antenna in length direction.
Highlights
The key members (e. g. joints or energy-consuming components) of structure may experience different degrees of damage after earthquake, hurricane, and flood
Since a high sensitivity coefficient of chipless strain sensor needs a high initial resonant frequency of patch antenna according to formula (5), the patch antenna whose initial resonant frequency is around 2.45 GHz is chosen
The strain of patch antenna in length and width direction can be computed with the longitudinal strain of plate ePLy, the strain transfer efficiency coefficient h, and Poisson ratio of plate m as shown in the following equation eANy eANx h22eALy, in longitudinal way Àmh21eALy, in transversal way Àmh12eALy, in longitudinal way h11eALy, in transversal way ð10Þ
Summary
The key members (e. g. joints or energy-consuming components) of structure may experience different degrees of damage after earthquake, hurricane, and flood. G. joints or energy-consuming components) of structure may experience different degrees of damage after earthquake, hurricane, and flood. The oil dampers installed on the first floor of the administration building of the Tohoku Institute of Technology were completely destroyed during the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake.[1,2] When key members of structure destroy, the resistance to disaster of structure is weakened and even fatality happens unless the destroyed members would be repaired.[3] For ensuring the security of the structure and avoiding secondary disasters, the capability of the key members of the structure which experienced a disaster should be assessed and decided whether to repair or substitute. International Journal of Distributed Sensor Networks parameter of structure, strain is necessary to provide a reasonable reference. It is useful to choose a suitable strain sensor to measure strain accurately and
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