Sensor and actuator technology
Functional demonstrator unit and corresponding circuit diagram of a rotor blade with integrated CF sensor network, developed in the context of the IGF projects 17529 BR/1, awarded the Otto-von-Guericke-Preis
The broad property range of textile-based materials like continuous-fiber-reinforced FRPCs, textile membranes, textile concrete, or medical and protective textiles, can be improved even further by integrating active textile functional components on a large scale. The combination of passive textile structure with (electrically) active functional elements like sensors, actuators, and electronics, is referred to as active functional design and is currently being researched by the ITM. With regards to fiber composite structures (FCS), the essential innovation is the design of the functional elements as textile-based integral parts. This kind of structural integration of the functionalized components results in a number of advantages in comparison to conventional solutions. This includes:
- fully automatic and cost-efficient production of functionalized textile reinforcement structures by means of adjusted textile production methods
- weight reduction by means of consistent use of lightweight design potential,
- reduction of space requirement and functionalization in inaccessible spaces,
- protection of functionalized components against environmental influences inside the composite structure by the enclosing, corrosion-proof matrix material, and
- scalability.
Development of a miniaturized data handling unit for the assessment of sensor signals in complex, structure-integrated sensor networks
Due to this range of characteristics, added value can be generated for a number of applications benefitting from high-tech solutions with innovative lightweight design structures. For example, newly developed textile strain, interface and delamination sensors are used in highly-loaded FRPC components to ensure a continuous structural health monitoring (SHM) and detect critical structural damage (such as crack formation or propagation) in inaccessible or hard-to-reach places early on, minimizing maintenance cost and preventing possible structural failure.
Adaptive FRPCs in the measuring station
Here, applications with essential economical and safety aspects play a crucial part, as with the rotor blades of wind energy plants or textile membranes for architectural use in building engineering. In the area of adaptive FRPC, weight-effective and cheap solutions for special kinematics with robotics-resembling positioning and gripper mechanisms for vehicular and plant engineering are developed on the foundation of textile-processable shape-memory materials.
Contact person:
© Mirko Krziwon
Mr Dipl.-Ing. Hung Le Xuan
Research Group Leader Sensor, Measurement and Actuator Technology
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