Simultaneous Strain and Temperature Sensing using a Microstrip Patch Antenna

Abstract

In this paper, we present simultaneous strain and temperature sensing using a single microstrip patch antenna fabricated on commercial printed circuit board (PCB). Temperature and strain are extracted from the resonant frequencies of the patch antenna as these frequencies are dependent on the dielectric constant of the PCB and the patch dimensions, which are subject to change with applied strain and temperature variations. The principle of operation of the patch antenna is first discussed, followed by the design and fabrication of the instrumented test specimen. Finally, thermal and mechanical tests were conducted to validate the strain and temperature sensing performance of the antenna sensor