Mechanics of Advanced Composite Structures

Mechanics of Advanced Composite Structures

Performance Evaluation of Epoxy-Based Smart Composite with Integrated Touch Sensor

Document Type : Research Article

Author
Industrial Engineering and Management, Siddaganga Institute of Technology, Tumakuru, Karnataka, India
Abstract
Composite materials provide mechanical and electrical stability across diverse environmental conditions, thereby enhancing sensor durability. This study aims to fabricate novel epoxy-embedded capacitive touch sensors, Type A (Touch sensor embedded) and Type B (embedded sensor with wire loop) configurations, and test them experimentally and compare their electrical and functional characteristics. Electrical characteristics are tested using neat epoxy as a reference, and the results indicate that the progressive decrease in resistivity from pure epoxy to Type B clearly demonstrates the role of sensor configuration in enhancing electrical performance. The functional characteristics were tested based on sensing behaviors and long-term durability. The results indicate that Type A exhibits enhanced touch sensitivity, with greater capacitance variation (ΔC) and a shorter response time. Type B provides better electrical stability and dielectric damping, resulting in increased SNR (signal-to-noise ratio), enhanced repeatability, more effective resistance to noise, and lower hysteresis. Frequency-dependent dielectrics showed consistent permittivity behavior, with capacitance variations decreasing at higher frequencies. Response time and ΔC varied significantly, according to the two-sample t-tests (p < 0.05). For long-term aging and error analysis, less variation in measurement (less than 6%) and a coefficient of variation of around 2% were observed.
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Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 03 September 2026