Modelling and Analysis of Single Node E-skin Piezoresistive Pressure Sensor Simulation Results

This paper presents the modelling and analysis of a Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) + Multi Wall Carbon NanoTube (MWCNT) nanocomposite material as a piezoresistive pressure sensor. A single node of a flexible humanoid Robotic E-skin is modelled and the volumetric strain to change of resistance simulation results is obtained. Simulation results for 3 different nanomaterial filler concentrations with 4% wt, 18% wt and 25 % wt are plotted. Conforming to the percolation theory of conduction in Carbon NanoTubes (CNT's) maximum change of resistance is observed for 18% wt, which is an intermediate filler concentration hence maximum conduction. Further, the change in resistance occurred after a percolation threshold for 4% wt and minimum change in resistance is obtained for 25% wt filler concentration.