Open Access

ARTICLE

Series-connected Interdigitated Surface Acoustic Wave Sensors for Structural Health Monitoring

by

1 Pressent address: Geophysical Research Company LLC. Tulsa, OK 74115
2 Center for Quality Engineering and Failure Prevention, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208
3 Contact author: s-krishnaswamy@northwestern.edu

Structural Longevity 2009, 2(1), 11-24. https://doi.org/10.3970/sl.2009.002.011

Abstract

Active health monitoring using narrowband Raleigh-wave or modeselective Lamb-wave actuation and reception involves the use of a pair of matched multi-element transducer arrays. The spacing of the elements of the transducer arrays dictates the Lamb mode wavelength, and by appropriate choice of drive frequency, a specific mode can be selected. Typically, the elements of the transducer array are all connected in a parallel configuration and are used for both excitation and reception. It is shown in this paper that for reception a series connected transducer array results in better performance. Connecting multiple electrodes in a series configuration allows the summing of individual voltages generated by each piezoelectric transducer and it is shown that this results in better sensor performance.

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