New Sensing and Radar Absorbing Laminate Combining Structural Damage Detection and Electromagnetic Wave Absorption Properties
Within the paradigm of smart mobility, the development of innovative materials aimed at improving resilience against structural failure in lightweight vehicles and electromagnetic interferences (EMI) due to wireless communications in guidance systems is of crucial relevance to improve safety, sustai...
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MDPI AG
2022-11-01
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Series: | Sensors |
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Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/22/21/8470 |
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author | Federico Cozzolino Fabrizio Marra Marco Fortunato Irene Bellagamba Nicola Pesce Alessio Tamburrano Maria Sabrina Sarto |
author_facet | Federico Cozzolino Fabrizio Marra Marco Fortunato Irene Bellagamba Nicola Pesce Alessio Tamburrano Maria Sabrina Sarto |
author_sort | Federico Cozzolino |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Within the paradigm of smart mobility, the development of innovative materials aimed at improving resilience against structural failure in lightweight vehicles and electromagnetic interferences (EMI) due to wireless communications in guidance systems is of crucial relevance to improve safety, sustainability, and reliability in both aeronautical and automotive applications. In particular, the integration of intelligent structural health monitoring and electromagnetic (EM) shielding systems with radio frequency absorbing properties into a polymer composite laminate is still a challenge. In this paper, we present an innovative system consisting of a multi-layered thin panel which integrates nanostructured coatings to combine EM disturbance suppression and low-energy impact monitoring ability. Specifically, it is composed of a stack of dielectric and conductive layers constituting the sensing and EM-absorbing laminate (SEAL). The conductive layers are made of a polyurethane paint filled with graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) at different concentrations to tailor the effective electrical conductivity and the functionality of the material. Basically, the panel includes a piezoresistive grid, obtained by selectively spraying onto mylar a low-conductive paint with 4.5 wt.% of GNPs and an EM-absorbing lossy sheet made of the same polyurethane paint but properly modified with a higher weight fraction (8 wt.%) of graphene. The responses of the grid’s strain sensors were analyzed through quasi-static mechanical bending tests, whereas the absorbing properties were evaluated through free-space and waveguide-based measurement techniques in the X, Ku, K, and Ka bands. The experimental results were also validated by numerical simulations. |
first_indexed | 2024-03-09T18:39:58Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-41a9275f4a8a4489ba151b80e74a9bd8 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 1424-8220 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-09T18:39:58Z |
publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
publisher | MDPI AG |
record_format | Article |
series | Sensors |
spelling | doaj.art-41a9275f4a8a4489ba151b80e74a9bd82023-11-24T06:48:37ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202022-11-012221847010.3390/s22218470New Sensing and Radar Absorbing Laminate Combining Structural Damage Detection and Electromagnetic Wave Absorption PropertiesFederico Cozzolino0Fabrizio Marra1Marco Fortunato2Irene Bellagamba3Nicola Pesce4Alessio Tamburrano5Maria Sabrina Sarto6Department of Astronautical, Electrical and Energy Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, 00184 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Astronautical, Electrical and Energy Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, 00184 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Astronautical, Electrical and Energy Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, 00184 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Astronautical, Electrical and Energy Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, 00184 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Astronautical, Electrical and Energy Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, 00184 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Astronautical, Electrical and Energy Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, 00184 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Astronautical, Electrical and Energy Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, 00184 Rome, ItalyWithin the paradigm of smart mobility, the development of innovative materials aimed at improving resilience against structural failure in lightweight vehicles and electromagnetic interferences (EMI) due to wireless communications in guidance systems is of crucial relevance to improve safety, sustainability, and reliability in both aeronautical and automotive applications. In particular, the integration of intelligent structural health monitoring and electromagnetic (EM) shielding systems with radio frequency absorbing properties into a polymer composite laminate is still a challenge. In this paper, we present an innovative system consisting of a multi-layered thin panel which integrates nanostructured coatings to combine EM disturbance suppression and low-energy impact monitoring ability. Specifically, it is composed of a stack of dielectric and conductive layers constituting the sensing and EM-absorbing laminate (SEAL). The conductive layers are made of a polyurethane paint filled with graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) at different concentrations to tailor the effective electrical conductivity and the functionality of the material. Basically, the panel includes a piezoresistive grid, obtained by selectively spraying onto mylar a low-conductive paint with 4.5 wt.% of GNPs and an EM-absorbing lossy sheet made of the same polyurethane paint but properly modified with a higher weight fraction (8 wt.%) of graphene. The responses of the grid’s strain sensors were analyzed through quasi-static mechanical bending tests, whereas the absorbing properties were evaluated through free-space and waveguide-based measurement techniques in the X, Ku, K, and Ka bands. The experimental results were also validated by numerical simulations.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/22/21/8470graphene-based paintelectromagnetic absorbing materiallow observabilityEMI suppressionpiezoresistive strain sensorssensor array |
spellingShingle | Federico Cozzolino Fabrizio Marra Marco Fortunato Irene Bellagamba Nicola Pesce Alessio Tamburrano Maria Sabrina Sarto New Sensing and Radar Absorbing Laminate Combining Structural Damage Detection and Electromagnetic Wave Absorption Properties Sensors graphene-based paint electromagnetic absorbing material low observability EMI suppression piezoresistive strain sensors sensor array |
title | New Sensing and Radar Absorbing Laminate Combining Structural Damage Detection and Electromagnetic Wave Absorption Properties |
title_full | New Sensing and Radar Absorbing Laminate Combining Structural Damage Detection and Electromagnetic Wave Absorption Properties |
title_fullStr | New Sensing and Radar Absorbing Laminate Combining Structural Damage Detection and Electromagnetic Wave Absorption Properties |
title_full_unstemmed | New Sensing and Radar Absorbing Laminate Combining Structural Damage Detection and Electromagnetic Wave Absorption Properties |
title_short | New Sensing and Radar Absorbing Laminate Combining Structural Damage Detection and Electromagnetic Wave Absorption Properties |
title_sort | new sensing and radar absorbing laminate combining structural damage detection and electromagnetic wave absorption properties |
topic | graphene-based paint electromagnetic absorbing material low observability EMI suppression piezoresistive strain sensors sensor array |
url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/22/21/8470 |
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