Developments in paint based piezoelectric thick-film strain sensors

This paper describes developments in the manufacture of thick-film dynamic strain sensors based on piezoelectric paint for structural vibration monitoring. A new generation of paints have been developed as the vehicle for depositing piezoelectric composites as thick films. These are water based to be compatible with likely future environmental legislation and are suitable for use with conventional spraying equipment. Results of tests on strain amplitude response and frequency response are presented, showing that sensors made using these materials have a wide bandwidth and good dynamic range making them suitable for use in structural dynamics applications.