Unpowered antenna sensor for crack detection and measurement

This paper presents an unpowered wireless sensor for crack detection and monitoring. The sensor is based on the principle of microstrip patch antenna, which is essentially an electromagnetic cavity that radiates at certain resonant frequencies. These resonant frequencies are sensitive to the dimensions of the antenna patch as well as the electrical properties of its ground plane. If a metallic structure serves as the ground plane of the patch antenna, crack development in the metallic structure will cause the resonant frequencies of the patch antenna to shift. Therefore, by measuring the resonant frequencies of the antenna, crack presence in a metallic structure can be quantitatively characterized. Remote interrogation of the antenna sensor using a microwave radar system is explained. Fabrication and characterization of the antenna sensor for crack monitoring is presented.

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