Lifetime-based measurement of stress using mechanoluminescence of SrAl2O4:Eu2+

The stress and loading rate on disks of SrAl2O4:Eu mixed epoxy resin were measured by a lifetime-based method. The concentration of the mechanoluminescence (ML) phosphor and the excitation power did not affect the measured lifetime. The lifetime was proportional to the stress and was inversely proportional to the loading rate. The concentration, the excitation power, the stress, and the loading rate affected the peak intensity of ML, while previous work estimated the stress using the absolute intensity under well-controlled excitation and concentration conditions. The method used here can shorten the measurement time and enhance the practicality of a ML phosphor.