Numerical Simulation of Output Response of PVDF Sensor Attached on a Cantilever Beam Subjected to Impact Loading

Abstract

Polyvinylidene Flouride (PVDF) is a film-type polymer that has been used as sensors and actuators in various applications due to its mechanical toughness, flexibility, and low density. A PVDF sensor typically covers an area of the host structure over which mechanical stress/strain is averaged and converted to electrical energy. This study investigates the fundamental “stress-averaging” mechanism for dynamic strain sensing in the in-plane mode. A numerical simulation was conducted to simulate the “stress-averaging” mechanism of a PVDF sensor attached on a cantilever beam subjected to an impact loading, taking into account the contribution of piezoelectricity, the cantilever beam’s modal properties, and electronic signal conditioning. Impact tests and FEM analysis were also carried out to verify the numerical simulation results. The results of impact tests indicate the excellent capability of the attached PVDF sensor in capturing the fundamental natural frequencies of the cantilever beam. There is a good agreement between the PVDF sensor’s output voltage predicted by the numerical simulation and that obtained in the impact tests. Parametric studies were conducted to investigate the effects of sensor size and sensor position and it is shown that a larger sensor tends to generate higher output voltage than a smaller one at the same location. However, the effect of sensor location seems to be more significant for larger sensors due to the cancelling problem. Overall, PVDF sensors exhibit excellent sensing capability for in-plane dynamic strain induced by impact loading.

Characteristics of Flyer Velocity in Laser Impact Welding

“…Polyvinylidene Flouride (PVDF) gage was applied in the pressure 2 of 11 measurement in impact welding, which is a film type polymer sensor. The measurement is sensitive to the size and location of the gage [15]. The flyer velocity is usually measured directly [16,17], which is a non-destructive method.…”

Information Measuring System of Numerical Differentiation for the Analysis of Elements of Mechanical Structures

“…Lü et al (2012) investigated the absolute position sensor for estimating the deflection of a bridge, the real spatial positions of the measuring points along the axis of the span were used to calculate the relative deflections. The variants of placing the measuring transducers on separate elements of the mechanical structure were also investigated (Lü et al 2015, Dung andSasaki 2016). In the studies of deformation, deflection and relative displacement of points in a beam, the Euler-Bernoulli bending theory is used, the account of first-order shear deformations of Tymoshenko and the theory of higher orders (Gere and Timoshenko 1997, Loktionov 2009, Al-Azzawi and Theeban 2010, Sayyad et al 2015, Ozbey et al 2016, Kara 2016.…”

“…In the studies of deformation, deflection and relative displacement of points in a beam, the Euler-Bernoulli bending theory is used, the account of first-order shear deformations of Tymoshenko and the theory of higher orders (Gere and Timoshenko 1997, Loktionov 2009, Al-Azzawi and Theeban 2010, Sayyad et al 2015, Ozbey et al 2016, Kara 2016. Dung and Sasaki (2016) investigated the effect of the location of the sensor attached to the cantilever beam. Loktionov (2013Loktionov ( , 2017b studied the application of approximation methods and the theory of reduction of measurements in the experimental and calculated definition of deformation characteristics of elements of building structures.…”

Multichannel fiber laser Doppler vibrometer studies of low momentum and hypervelocity impacts

“…Currently, the Light Gas Gun (LGG) at the University of Kent uses Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) probes to monitor the tests and development of damage induced during impacts. These probes are mounted on the edge of the target loading it mechanically and affecting the dynamics of the impact [2,3]. In some cases PVDF probes are not compatible with the specific experimental requirements (e.g.…”