DESIGN AND CHARACTERIZATION OF THE LIQUID METAL ANTENNA OPTIMALLY EMBEDDED IN CONCRETE BEAM PROTOTYPE AS AN ALTERNATIVE STRAIN SENSOR
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11113/jt.v78.8806Keywords:
Liquid metal antenna, center-point loading test, concrete beam prototypeAbstract
This paper presents the implementation of the novel dipole liquid metal antenna as an alternative strain sensor when embedded in the optimal location of a concrete beam prototype. The antenna is made up of eutectic Indium Gallium, a fluid metal alloy, encased in a microfluidic channel, namely, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) elastomer fabricated using McGyver-esque technique to microfabrication. The fluidic dipole antenna being highly flexible, stretchable, and reversibly deformable mimics the basic characteristics of the strain sensor where its resonant frequency is inversely related to its length. The concrete specimen was subjected to center – point loading tests where the resonant frequency of the liquid antenna embedded in it was measured simultaneously. Statistical analysis of the results show that there is a significant relationship between the displacement of the concrete specimen and the resonant frequency of the embedded antenna.
References
Farrar, C. R. and Worden, K. 2006. An introduction to structural health monitoring. Philosophical Transactions of Royal Society Series A. 365: 303–315.
Jia, J., Zhang, X., Cai, L., Zhang, S., Tu, Y., Tu, S.T. 2014. Sensors for High Temperature Displacement, Deformation and Strain Measurement. Structural Health Monitoring and Integrity Management: Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference of Structural Health Monitoring and Integrity Management (ICSHMIM 2014). Nanjing, China, 24-26 September 2014. 25-32.
Choi, H., Choi, S. and Cha, H. 2008. Structural Health Monitoring System Based on Strain Gauge Enabled Wireless Sensor Nodes. 5th International Conference on Network Sensing Systems. 211-214.
Huang, H. 2013. Flexible Wireless Antenna Sensor: A Review. IEEE Sensors Journal. 13(10): 3865-3872.
Yi, X., Cho, C., Fang, CH., Cooper, J., Lakafosis, V., Vyas, R., Wang, Y., Leon, R., Tentzeris, M. 2012. Wireless Strain and Crack Sensing using a Folded Patch Antenna. 2012 6th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation (EUCAP). Prague, Czech Republic. 26-30 March 2012 :1678-1681
Deivasigamani, A., Daliri, A., Wang, C. H. and John, S. 2013. A Review of Passive Wireless Sensors for Structural Health Monitoring. Modern Applied Science. 7(2): 57-76.
Hayes, G. J., So, J., Qusba, A., Dickey, M. D. and Lazzi, G. 2012. Flexible Liquid Metal Alloy (EGaIn) Microstrip Patch Antenna. IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation. 60(5): 2151–2156.
Mazlouman, S. J., Jiang, X. J., Mahanfar, A., Menon, C. and Vaughan, R. G. 2011. A Reconfigurable Patch Antenna Using Liquid Metal Embedded in a Silicone Substrate. IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation. 59(12): 4406–4412.
So, J., Thelen, J., Qusba, A., Hayes, G., Lazzi, G. and Dickey, M. 2009. Reversibly Deformable and Mechanically Tunable Fluidic Antennas. Advanced Functional Materials. 9(22): 3632-3637.
Zhang, S., Li, L. and Kumar, A. 2008. Materials Characterization Techniques. CRC Press, Taylor and Francis Group.
Shrirao, A. B. and Perez-Castillejos, R. 2010. Microfluidics Labs Using Devices Fabricated By Soft Lithographic Replication of Scotch-Tape Molds. [Online]. From: https://www.asee.org/documents/sections/northeast/2010/Microfluidics-Labs.pdf. [Accessed on 12 August 2014].
ASTM C293/C293M – 10: Standard Test Method for Flexural Strength of Concrete (Using Simple Beam with Center-Point Loading). Book of Standards. 4(2). [Online]. From: http://www.astm.org/Standards/C293.htm. [Accessed on 12 August 2014].
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright of articles that appear in Jurnal Teknologi belongs exclusively to Penerbit Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (Penerbit UTM Press). This copyright covers the rights to reproduce the article, including reprints, electronic reproductions, or any other reproductions of similar nature.
