Strain sensor can be stretched to the limit

To demonstrate the sensor’s utility, the researchers at North Carolina State University developed new health monitoring and human-machine interface devices.

Strain is a measurement of how much a material deforms from its original length, and measuring strain is useful in applications including devices that measure blood pressure and technologies that track physical movement.

“But to date there’s been a trade-off. Strain sensors that are sensitive – capable of detecting small deformations – cannot be stretched very far. On the other hand, sensors that can be stretched to greater lengths are typically not very sensitive. The new sensor we’ve developed is both sensitive and capable of withstanding significant deformation,” said Yong Zhu, corresponding author of a paper on the work and the Andrew A. Adams Distinguished Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at NC State.

“An additional feature is that the sensor is highly robust even when over-strained, meaning it is unlikely to break when the applied strain accidently exceeds the sensing range.”