• Elastomers and Composites
• /
• v.47 no.4
• /
• pp.272-281
• /
• 2012

Flexible/stretchable electronics have recently focused, since their applications extend to emerging flexible displays, sensors, dielectric elastomer actuator and generators, and smart surgical tools. Flexible/stretchable electrodes should be synchronized with employing mechanical deformations of either flexing or stretching modes. Thus, the research area is one of the tough subjects, since the electrodes should keep their basic functions of electrodes under various mode of mechanical deformations. In this review, we discuss the recent development in the preparation and properties of such flexible/stretchable electrodes.

• Smart Structures and Systems
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.223-231
• /
• 2019

The properties of Electroactive Polymer (EAP) materials are attracting the attention of engineers and scientists from many different disciplines. From the point-of-view of robotics, Ionic Polymer Metal Composites (IPMC) belong to the most developed group of the EAP class. To allow effective design of IPMC-actuated mechanisms with large induced strains, it is necessary to have adequate analytical tools for predicting the behavior of IPMC actuators as well as simulating their response as part of prototyping methodologies. This paper presents a novel IPMC motor construction. To simulate the bending behavior that is the dominant phenomenon of motor movement process, a nonlinear model is used. To accomplish the motor design, the IPMC model was identified via a series of experiments. In the proposed model, the curvature output and current transient fields accurately track the measured responses, which is verified by measurements. In this research, a three-dimensional Finite Element Method (FEM) model of the IPMC motor, composed of IPMC actuators, simultaneously determines the mechanical and electrical characteristics of the device and achieves reliable analysis results. The principle of the proposed drive and the output signals are illustrated in this paper. The proposed modelling approach can be used to design a variety of controllers and motors for effective micro-robotic applications, where soft and complex motion are required.

• Clean Technology
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.85-96
• /
• 2011

Self-healing materials are a class of smart materials that have the structurally incorporated ability to repair damage caused by mechanical usage over time. A material (polymers, ceramics, metals, etc.) that can intrinsically correct damage caused by normal usage could lower production costs of a number of different industrial processes through longer part lifetime, reduction of inefficiency over time caused by degradation, as well as prevent costs incurred by material failure. The recent announcement from Nissan on the commercial release of scratch healing paints for use on car bodies has gained public interest on such a wonderful property of materials. This article is a second part of healing materials dealing with inorganic engineering materials such as metals, ceramics, and concrete. The healing mechanisms developed for the inorganic materials are to be discussed with the future prospect.

• Composites Research
• /
• v.30 no.5
• /
• pp.288-296
• /
• 2017

The focus of this study is to experimentally investigate the heat dissipation characteristics of poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) composite films with phase change materials (PCM) to resolve heat build-up problems encountered in various electronic devices. In this study, two different types of phase change materials were used to fabricate the composite films by compression molding method and PCM paste sealing method then compared. It was observed in this study that the heat dissipation capability of PCM/PMMA composite films was remarkably enhanced by applying graphite sheet or graphene film into the composite due to their high thermal conductivity. These PCM/ PMMA composite films were attached on the hot spot inside smart phone and tested its surface temperature change according to time. The heat dissipation capability of PCM/PMMA composite film incorporated smart phone was increased 154% and hybrid PCM/PMMA composite film incorporated smart phone was increased 286% over the reference, respectively.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society For Composite Materials Conference
• /
• 2004.10a
• /
• pp.264-267
• /
• 2004

Cure monitoring and nondestructive characteristics of carbon fiber/epoxy composites were evaluated by the measurements of electrical resistance and acoustic emission (AE). Logarithmic electrical resistivity of the untreated single-carbon fiber composite increased suddenly to infinity when the fiber fracture occurred, whereas that of the electrodeposited composite increased relatively broadly up to infinity. As curing temperature increased. logarithmic electrical resistivity of steel fiber increased. On the other hand, electrical resistance of carbon fiber decreased due to the intrinsic electrical properties based on the band theory. The apparent modulus of the electrodeposited composite was higher than that of the untreated composite due to the improved interfacial shear strength (IFSS).

• Korean Journal of Computational Design and Engineering
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.306-312
• /
• 2016

In general, the shape of a 3D printed object is not to be changed after the generation. Most changes, for example, contraction of a molten polymer after cooling is thought to be undesirable. 4D printing however tries to make benefit of a shape change after the part is generated. The shape change is required to be controllable in response to an external stimuli. These artifacts from 4D printing are called kinetic components which are defined as structures formed by combining inert materials and smart materials that change under certain stimuli. We propose a design software that can systematically calculate inert links with smart joints to follow the shape of the target design.

• Macromolecular Research
• /
• v.10 no.6
• /
• pp.345-358
• /
• 2002

The electrical conductivity during vulcanization process was measured as a function of time for the system of TiC loaded styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) composites. The phenomenon of negative and positive temperature coefficients of conductivity and its conduction mechanism were also studied for the SBR polymeric composites. The current-voltage characteristics of the polymeric composites were non-linear in high voltage and showed a switching effect. The effects of temperature on the thermal conductivity and effective dielectric constant were measured. The measured parameters were found to be dependent on TiC concentration. The electromagnetic wave shielding (EMS) of the SBR-TiC polymeric composite was also examined. The SBR filled with TiC could be expected to be promising novel smart polymeric composites for self-electrical heating, temperature sensor, time delay switching, and electro-magnetic wave shielding effectiveness.

• Proceedings of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2006.03a
• /
• pp.613-619
• /
• 2006

This paper introduces a new structural health monitoring using a nano sensor. The sensor is made of nano smart composite material based on carbon nanotubes. The nano sensor is fabricated as a thin and narrow polymer film sensor that is bonded or deposited onto a structure. The electrochemical impedance and dynamic strain response of the neuron change due to deterioration of the structure where the sensor is located. A network of the long nano sensorcan form a structural neural system to provide large area coverage and an assurance of the operational health of a structure without the need for actuators and complex wave propagation analyses that are used with other methods.

• Smart Structures and Systems
• /
• v.13 no.4
• /
• pp.567-585
• /
• 2014

The piezoelectric transverse $d_{15}$ shear sensing mechanism is firstly assessed experimentally for a cantilever smart sandwich plate made of a piezoceramic axially poled patched core and glass fiber reinforced polymer composite faces. Different electrical connections are tested for the assessment of the sensor performance under a varying amplitude harmonic (at 24 Hz) force. Also, the dynamic response of the smart sandwich composite structure is monitored using different acquisition devices. The obtained experimentally sensed voltages are compared to those resulting from the benchmark three-dimensional piezoelectric coupled finite element simulations using a commercial code where realistic features, like equipotential conditions on the patches' electrodes and mechanical updating of the clamp, are considered. Numerically, it is found that the stiffness of the clamp, which is much softer than the ideal one, has an enormous influence on the sensed voltage of its adjacent patch; therefore, sensing with the patch on the free side would be more advantageous for a cantilever configuration. Apart from confirming the latter result, the plate benchmark experimental assessment showed that the parallel connection of its two oppositely poled patches has a moderate performance but better than the clamp side patch acting as an individual sensor.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.65 no.2
• /
• pp.155-162
• /
• 2018

A smart glass fiber reinforced polymer (SMFRP) reinforcing bar with a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor was fabricated using a pultrusion technique, while ribs were formed to improve bonding between concrete and SMFRP. Then, strain of SMFRP bars were measured for a uniaxial tension test of an SMFRP bar, and a four-point bending test of concrete beams reinforced with SMFRP bars. The results of a uniaxial tension test illustrate that the strain obtained from an FBG sensor agrees well with that obtained from electrical resistance strain gauge (ERSG). Additionally, concrete beams reinforced with SMFRP bars were fabricated, and actual flexural test were performed while the strain of with an FBG sensor was compared with that of ERSG. The experimental results demonstrate that SMFRP bars can be used as reinforcement of concrete member while providing deformation information. Furthermore, SMFRP bars may provide stronger durability and smart monitoring to reinforced concrete members under corrosive environments during a service life.