Flexible fabric strain sensors

Abstract

Sensors that can measure strain of flexible or soft materials especially clothing or skins have attracted increasing attention with the spread of widely accepted concept of wearable electronics, which can be applied in rehabilitation, sports and posture/gesture simulation, etc. To be compatible with the measured substrates, the strain sensors should be flexible and soft for themselves and fulfill some extra properties like low modulus, large working range, and good fatigue to long-term usage besides the necessary sensing performances as a strain sensor, like high accuracy, good linearity, good repeatability, quick responding, etc. Due to the flexibility in all directions and reliable repeatability under extension in elastic range, textile materials have been extensively studied as a component or substrate of flexible strain sensors in smart textiles. In this chapter, the previous studies on flexible fabric strain sensors were systematically classified and examined from the point view of sensing mechanism, materials, structures, and performances, and the advantages and disadvantages of them were compared for further optimization and suitable applications.