Smart Sensors and Smart Structures

Dear Colleagues,

Past decades have witnessed the rapid development of sensors, including smart sensors [1], the sensors that are based on smart materials, such as piezoceramics [2], PVDFs [3], fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs), and electrostrictive materials among others. On the other hand, traditional sensors, such as strain gages, thermal couples, pressure transducers, and displacement sensors, are becoming intelligent with integration with a microprocessor, a communication module, and an energy harvesting system. Recently, we also see an increasing number of smart sensors that are enabled by various nanotechnologies. An equal progress has been made on the actuator front. Solid state actuators, such as shape memory alloys [4], shape memory polymers, magnetostrictive materials [5], magnetic shape memory materials, and piezoceramics, have migrated from military/space applications to industrial and consumer applications. Meanwhile, a new class of smart fluids materials, such as magneto-rheological (MR) fluids and electrical–rheological (ER) fluids, have emerged and enable a new class of semi-active control devices, such MR dampers and ER dampers, of which the damping properties can be actively controlled. These smart sensors and smart devices are often integrated with various structures [6] to form so-called smart structures, which possess the ability to sense or/and to respond to environmental or structural changes in a pre-defined way. With the developments in microprocessor technology, wireless communications, and sensor networks, smart sensors, and smart structures are finding more and more applications in structural health monitoring [7] and structural control [8] in aerospace engineering, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, and other disciplines. This Special Issue is dedicated to recent rapid developments in smart sensors, smart structures and applications.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Fiber optic sensors, including fiber Bragg gratings, and applications.
• Piezoceramic transducers and applications.
• Ultrasonic transducers and applications.
• Structural health monitoring: damage detection and localization.
• Structural Impact monitoring: detection and localization.
• Smart sensors and sensor network
• Energy harvesting
• Active sensing
• Characterization and modelling of solid materials.
• Shape memory alloys and applications.
• Shape memory polymers and applications
• Structural shape control
• Structural vibration control
• Smart composite materials and smart composite structures
• Nanotechnology enabled smart sensors and smart structures.

Dr. Gangbing Song
Dr. Qingzhao Kong
Dr. Hongwei Ma
Guest Editors

References:

1. Song, G., Li, W., Wang, B. and Ho, S.C.M., 2017. A review of rock bolt monitoring using smart sensors. Sensors, 17(4), p.776.
2. Lu, G., Feng, Q., Li, Y., Wang, H. and Song, G., 2017. Characterization of Ultrasound Energy Diffusion Due to Small-Size Damage on an Aluminum Plate Using Piezoceramic Transducers. Sensors, 17(12), p.2796.
3. Qi, B., Kong, Q., Qian, H., Patil, D., Lim, I., Li, M., Liu, D. and Song, G., 2018. Study of Impact Damage in PVA-ECC Beam under Low-Velocity Impact Loading Using Piezoceramic Transducers and PVDF Thin-Film Transducers. Sensors, 18(2), p.671.
4. Patil, D. and Song, G., 2016. Shape memory alloy actuated accumulator for ultra-deepwater oil and gas exploration. Smart Materials and Structures, 25(4), p.045012.
5. Luo, M., Li, W., Wang, J., Wang, N., Chen, X. and Song, G., 2018. Development of a Novel Guided Wave Generation System Using a Giant Magnetostrictive Actuator for Nondestructive Evaluation. Sensors, 18(3), p.779.
6. Dumoulin, C. and Deraemaeker, A., 2017. Real-time fast ultrasonic monitoring of concrete cracking using embedded piezoelectric transducers. Smart Materials and Structures, 26(10), p.104006.
7. Song, G., Wang, C., & Wang, B. Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) of Civil Structures. Applied Sciences, 2017, 7(8), 789; doi:10.3390/app7080789
8. Song, G., Cai, S., & Li, H. N. Energy Dissipation and Vibration Control: Modeling, Algorithm, and Devices. Applied Sciences, 2017, 7(8), 801; doi:10.3390/app7080801

Dr. Gangbing Song
Dr. Qingzhao Kong
Dr. Hongwei Ma
Guest Editors

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