A Simplified Physical Model for the Sensitivity-Pressure Relationship in Textile-Based Piezoresistive Sensors

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrical Engineering
• Wearable Technology

Background:

• Textile-based flexible pressure sensors are crucial for wearable applications.
• Existing sensors often show nonlinear sensitivity and lack a clear analytical model.
• A need exists for interpretable physical parameters to guide sensor design.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a simplified physical model for textile-based flexible pressure sensors.
• To derive an expression for the sensitivity-pressure relationship.
• To provide a framework for understanding structure-property relationships.

Main Methods:

• Established a simplified physical model based on fiber-conductive particle contacts.
• Derived an analytical expression for sensor sensitivity.
• Systematically investigated material and structural factors affecting sensor response.

Main Results:

• The model accurately captures the nonlinear decrease in sensitivity with increasing pressure.
• Sensitivity is governed by electrical parameter α and mechanical ratio Eb/Ex.
• Experimental validation showed good agreement with model predictions (low RMSE and MRE).

Conclusions:

• The proposed framework offers a physically interpretable basis for sensor design.
• It elucidates how material and structural factors influence sensor performance.
• This work provides guidance for developing customized textile pressure sensors for healthcare and robotics.