A Combined Thin Film/Thick Film Approach to Realize an Aluminum-Based Strain Gauge Sensor for Integration in Aluminum Castings.

There is currently a large demand for aluminum components to measure the mechanical and thermal loads to which they are subjected. With structural health monitoring, components in planes, vehicles, or bridges can monitor critical loads and potentially prevent an impending fatigue failure. Externally attached sensors need a structural model to obtain knowledge of the mechanical load at the point of interest, whereas embedded sensors can be used for direct measurement at the point of interest.