Measuring Deformation in Natural Fiber-Reinforced Polymer using Mechanoelectrical Effect

A conductor embedded in a natural fiber-reinforced polymer is tested for its suitability as a deformation-sensing element in a dynamic three-point bending test with an excitation frequency of 0.1-5 Hz. Research has shown that the peak-to-peak current increases to a frequency of 3 Hz and then remains almost constant, while an increase in the mechanical displacement leads to an exponential increase in the peak-to-peak current. The current signals behave asymmetrically in the entire frequency range investigated when loading and unloading the system. It is currently suspected that contact electrification, which occurs due to conductor detachment or porosity, is the cause of this effect.