Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF), a piezoelectric polymer, is an excellent stress sensor. The objective of this research is to investigate the application of the PVDF sensors for detection of in-plane stress waves in 31 and 32 modes. This was achieved by focusing on aspects of PVDF sensing related to determination of impact force, detection of stress wave propagation, and the stress averaging effect of PVDF sensors.
An experimental method was developed for calculating a proportionality constant between a PVDF sensor's voltage and the impact force, on a solid bar and a hollow beam. This was used to demonstrate that impact force on a structure can be determined using PVDF sensors. Finite element models were also created using the software LS-DYNA to simulate the impact tests. The speed of sound for longitudinal wave propagation in a slender rod was determined experimentally, using two PVDF sensors. The results demonstrate that PVDF sensors can detect high speed stress wave propagation in a structure. Finally, the stress averaging effect of the PVDF sensor was analyzed to investigate its influence on the generated voltage during stress wave detection. Equations modeling the stress averaging effect were derived for periodic applied stress waves and impact-induced stress waves. Numerical simulations were conducted to study the influence of sensor length, applied wave frequency, and structure's material on the stress averaged PVDF response.
","abstract_html":"<p>Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF), a piezoelectric polymer, is an excellent stress sensor. The objective of this research is to investigate the application of the PVDF sensors for detection of in-plane stress waves in 31 and 32 modes. This was achieved by focusing on aspects of PVDF sensing related to determination of impact force, detection of stress wave propagation, and the stress averaging effect of PVDF sensors.</p><p>An experimental method was developed for calculating a proportionality constant between a PVDF sensor's voltage and the impact force, on a solid bar and a hollow beam. This was used to demonstrate that impact force on a structure can be determined using PVDF sensors. Finite element models were also created using the software LS-DYNA to simulate the impact tests. The speed of sound for longitudinal wave propagation in a slender rod was determined experimentally, using two PVDF sensors. The results demonstrate that PVDF sensors can detect high speed stress wave propagation in a structure. Finally, the stress averaging effect of the PVDF sensor was analyzed to investigate its influence on the generated voltage during stress wave detection. Equations modeling the stress averaging effect were derived for periodic applied stress waves and impact-induced stress waves. Numerical simulations were conducted to study the influence of sensor length, applied wave frequency, and structure's material on the stress averaged PVDF response.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Kotian, Kunal"],"institution":"The Ohio State University","degree_name":"Master of Science","degree_level":"masters","degree_discipline":"Mechanical Engineering","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Dapino, Marcelo"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2013,"date_issued":"2013-05-21","date_published":"2013-05-21","updated_at":"2026-07-24T03:36:08Z","subjects":["Mechanical Engineering","PVDF sensor","in-plane stress","impact testing","stress wave detection","stress averaging","LS-DYNA impact simulation"],"languages":["English"],"rights":["unrestricted","This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws."],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1357254821","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Dapino, Marcelo"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Kotian, Kunal"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date","label":"Dc Date","values":["2013-05-21"]},{"key":"dc:publisher","label":"Institution","values":["The Ohio State University / OhioLINK"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Electronic Thesis or Dissertation"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Mechanical Engineering"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["masters"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science"]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["The Ohio State University"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Mechanical Engineering","PVDF sensor","in-plane stress","impact testing","stress wave detection","stress averaging","LS-DYNA impact simulation"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language","label":"Dc Language","values":["English"]},{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["unrestricted","This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws."]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1357254821"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description","label":"Description","values":["Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF), a piezoelectric polymer, is an excellent stress sensor. The objective of this research is to investigate the application of the PVDF sensors for detection of in-plane stress waves in 31 and 32 modes. This was achieved by focusing on aspects of PVDF sensing related to determination of impact force, detection of stress wave propagation, and the stress averaging effect of PVDF sensors.
An experimental method was developed for calculating a proportionality constant between a PVDF sensor's voltage and the impact force, on a solid bar and a hollow beam. This was used to demonstrate that impact force on a structure can be determined using PVDF sensors. Finite element models were also created using the software LS-DYNA to simulate the impact tests. The speed of sound for longitudinal wave propagation in a slender rod was determined experimentally, using two PVDF sensors. The results demonstrate that PVDF sensors can detect high speed stress wave propagation in a structure. Finally, the stress averaging effect of the PVDF sensor was analyzed to investigate its influence on the generated voltage during stress wave detection. Equations modeling the stress averaging effect were derived for periodic applied stress waves and impact-induced stress waves. Numerical simulations were conducted to study the influence of sensor length, applied wave frequency, and structure's material on the stress averaged PVDF response.
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An experimental method was developed for calculating a proportionality constant between a PVDF sensor's voltage and the impact force, on a solid bar and a hollow beam. This was used to demonstrate that impact force on a structure can be determined using PVDF sensors. Finite element models were also created using the software LS-DYNA to simulate the impact tests. The speed of sound for longitudinal wave propagation in a slender rod was determined experimentally, using two PVDF sensors. The results demonstrate that PVDF sensors can detect high speed stress wave propagation in a structure. Finally, the stress averaging effect of the PVDF sensor was analyzed to investigate its influence on the generated voltage during stress wave detection. Equations modeling the stress averaging effect were derived for periodic applied stress waves and impact-induced stress waves. Numerical simulations were conducted to study the influence of sensor length, applied wave frequency, and structure's material on the stress averaged PVDF response.
"],"dc:format":["application/pdf","p.141","4.37 MB"],"dc:identifier":["http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1357254821"],"dc:language":["English"],"dc:publisher":["The Ohio State University / OhioLINK"],"dc:rights":["unrestricted","This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws."],"dc:subject":["Mechanical Engineering","PVDF sensor","in-plane stress","impact testing","stress wave detection","stress averaging","LS-DYNA impact simulation"],"dc:title":["Detection of in-plane stress waves with Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF) sensors"],"dc:type":["Electronic Thesis or Dissertation"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Mechanical Engineering"],"thesis:degree_level":["masters"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science"],"thesis:institution_name":["The Ohio State University"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T03:36:08Z"}