Modeling deformed transmission lines for continuous strain sensing applications
OPEN ACCESS
Author / Producer
Date
2019-12-27
Publication Type
Journal Article
ETH Bibliography
yes
Citations
Altmetric
OPEN ACCESS
Data
Abstract
Transmission lines are essential components in various signal and power distribution systems. In addition to their main use as connecting elements, transmission lines can also be employed as continuous sensors for the measurement and detection of external influences such as mechanical strains and deformations. The measuring principle is based on deformation-induced changes of the characteristic impedance. Reflections of an injected test signal at resulting impedance mismatches can be used to infer applied deformations. To determine the effect of deformations on the characteristic impedance, we develop a numerical framework that allows us to solve Maxwell's equations for any desired transmission-line geometry over a wide frequency range. The proposed framework utilizes a staggered finite-difference Yee method on non-uniform grids to efficiently solve a set of decoupled partial differential equations that we derive from the frequency domain Maxwell equations. To test our framework, we compare simulation results with analytical predictions and corresponding experimental data. Our results suggest that the proposed numerical framework is able to capture experimentally observed deformation effects and may therefore be used in transmission-line-based deformation and strain sensing applications. Furthermore, our framework can also be utilized to simulate and study the electromagnetic properties of complex arrangements of conductor, insulator, and shielding materials.
Permanent link
Publication status
published
External links
Editor
Book title
Journal / series
Volume
31 (3)
Pages / Article No.
35109
Publisher
IOP Publishing
Event
Edition / version
Methods
Software
Geographic location
Date collected
Date created
Subject
Transmission line; Numerical analysis; Finite-difference method; Skin effect; Bessel functions; Maxwell's equations; Distributed sensing
Organisational unit
03729 - Gersbach, Hans / Gersbach, Hans
03571 - Sigrist, Manfred / Sigrist, Manfred