Simultaneous Shear and Pressure Sensing Based on Patch Antenna

摘要

In this paper, we presented a microstrip patch antenna sensor that is capable to measure the shear and normal deformations simultaneously. The sensor was designed based on the electromagnetic interference between a microstrip patch antenna and a metallic reflector separated by a distance. By placing the reflector on top of the patch antenna, the electromagnetic wave radiated by the patch antenna is reflected by the reflector and interferes with the electromagnetic field of the radiation patch, which in turn changes the antenna resonant frequencies. Since the antenna resonant frequencies are related to the lateral and vertical positions of the metallic reflector, the shear force and normal pressure that shift the reflector laterally and vertically can be detected by monitoring the antenna resonant frequencies. The numerical simulation and experimental measurements were carried out to evaluate the relationship between the antenna resonant frequencies and the shear and normal displacements. A data processing scheme was developed to inversely determine the shear and normal displacements from the antenna resonant frequencies.