Piezoresistive Chopped Carbon Fiber Rubber Silicone Sensors for Shedding Frequency Detection in Alternating Vortex Streets

Abstract

In nature, fish use sensory input to feel and adapt to flow conditions. Creating solutions that mimic these capabilities need flexible and sensitive sensor solutions. In this paper we use readily available carbon fibers as a conductive filler in a rubber silicone matrix to create a piezoresistive material, capable of sensitively gathering frequency information of small, repeatedly, applied forces. The material is easily cast into a flexible hydrofoil and suspended in two alternating vortex streets flowing at 0.04m/s and 0.1m/s. The gathered data is used to examine the shedding frequency of the vortex streets where the sensors are able to detect frequencies in proximity to the expected frequencies of the flow conditions.