AIR HUMIDITY-INDUCED ERROR IN MEASURING RESISTANCE OF A CARBON FIBRE STRAIN SENSOR

摘要

The paper describes studies on the influence of humidity on the electrical resistance of a textile sensor made of carbon fibres. The concept of the sensor refers to externally bonded fibre reinforcement commonly used for strengthening of structures, however the zig-zag arrangement of carbon fibre tow allows for measuring its strain. The sensor tests showed its high sensitivity to the temperature and humidity changes which unfavourably affects the readings and their interpretation. The influence of these factors must be compensated. Due to the size of the sensor, there is not possible electrical compensation by the combining of "dummy" sensors into the half or full Wheatstone bridge circuit. Only mathematical compensation based on known humidity resistance functions is possible. The described research is the first step to develop such relations. The tests were carried out at temperatures of 10°C, 20°C, 30°C and humidity in the range of 30-90%.