This study aims at developing the screen-printed sensors as a viable means of depositing sensing tracks on composites for their on-line structural health monitoring. Conventional silk screen was employed in order to deposit a nano-composite solution comprising of a conductive nano-filler (carbon nano-particles) dispersed in a thermoplastic matrix (high density polystyrene) on laminated composite specimens. The solution was deposited using a squeegee and was allowed to dry. Commercially available metal foil strain gauges were also bonded alongside screen-printed sensor in order to compare the response of the screen-printed sensors with the commercially available strain gauges. The sensing ability of these screen-printed sensors was tested on a universal testing machine (MTS 810) in four-point bending configuration using a load cell of 100 kN. The sensor deposited using screen-printing technique underwent tensile loading at the lower side of the laminate. A data linearization and amplification module comprising of commercially available instrumentation amplifier (INA 118) was used in conjunction with data acquisition module (Keithley KUSB 3100). The results obtained show that the screen-printed sensors have higher gauge factors in tensile loading scenario with reasonably linear response as compared to traditional metal foil strain gauges. The ease of the deposition of a nano-composite solution via screen printing also makes the technique a viable alternative to the traditional resin bonded metal foil strain gauges which have to be bonded on the surface. Moreover, screen printing offers unlimited options for the development of smart composites in various configurations for a multitude of structural applications.

这项研究旨在开发丝网印刷传感器，将其作为在复合材料上进行在线结构健康监测的方法来在复合材料上沉积传感轨迹。为了将包含分散在热塑性基质（高密度聚苯乙烯）中的导电纳米填料（碳纳米颗粒）的纳米复合溶液沉积在层压复合材料样品上，采用了常规的丝网印刷。使用刮板将溶液沉积并使其干燥。为了将丝网印刷传感器与商用应变计的响应进行比较，还将可商购获得的金属箔应变仪与丝网印刷传感器结合在一起。这些丝网印刷传感器的感测能力已在通用测试机（MTS 810）上以100 kN的称重传感器在四点弯曲配置下进行了测试。使用丝网印刷技术沉积的传感器在层压板的下侧承受拉伸载荷。包含商业仪器放大器（INA 118）的数据线性化和放大模块与数据采集模块（Keithley KUSB 3100）结合使用。获得的结果表明，与传统的金属箔应变仪相比，丝网印刷传感器在拉伸载荷情况下具有较高的应变系数，并具有合理的线性响应。易于通过丝网印刷沉积纳米复合溶液的方法也使该技术成为必须粘合在表面上的传统树脂粘合金属箔应变仪的可行替代方案。而且，