A PVDF-based deformation and motion sensor: Modeling and experiments

In this paper, we present the mathematical modeling, analysis, and experiments of a new deformation and motion measurement sensor that is made of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) thin-film. The PVDF-based deformation sensor is designed and fabricated for several applications, such as deformation detection of automotive tires and insect locomotion measurements. In the sensing system, only two ends of the strip-shape sensor are attached to the moving object and under the relative motion of two ends, the sensor is buckled. The design provides a new non-intrusive method of measuring deformation and motion, which are desirable in certain applications. The analytical model of the sensing system is based on the synthesis of an elastica modeling of the PVDF thin-film under buckling motion and a Duhem hysteresis model. The modeling and analysis results are compared and validated with experiments that are conducted on a testing kit.