Flexible, high-frequency, high-durability, and multifunctional sensor film

This project develops advanced, thin, deformable, conformable, durable, multi-sensing-point film sensors for measuring ultra high-intensity, high-speed impact pressure caused by ballistic, blast and blunt impact events. Such sensors will serve the urgent needs for (1) measuring ballistic impact pressure on clay when testing personnel protective equipment including body armor inserts and helmets, (2) collecting blast impact pressure distribution data for better understanding of traumatic brain injuries and body injuries, and (3) wearable sensors for measuring extreme impact pressure on soldiers for further improving their protective equipment. As the first to develop the film sensor technology for the measurement of such extreme impact events, the proposal team identified key technical challenges including the lack of sensing materials suited for measuring the extreme impact pressure and a dynamic calibration model for accurate calibration of the measured pressure. In Phase I, the team has successfully demonstrated the feasibilities of new sensing materials and models in measuring high impact pressure with fast time response and high measurement accuracy. Phase II will focus on the development of deformable and conformable multi-point film sensors and miniaturized multifunctional control units for applications in armor/helmet ballistic and blast tests.