To develop a stretchable eddy current noncontact gap sensor, the metal coil is replaced by a spiral element based on conductive polymer composite (i.e., composite spiral element). The current in the composite spiral element forms a vortex flow. The eddy current effect occurs when a metal object approaches the composite spiral element carried with alternating current. The experimental data show that the impedance of the composite spiral element changes regularly with the gap between the composite spiral element and the metal object. The test results verify the feasibility of using a composite spiral element as a stretchable eddy current noncontact gap sensor.
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