Strain monitoring mechanisms of sensors based on the addition of graphene nanoplatelets into an epoxy matrix

Monitored GNP/epoxy based sensors have shown to be capable of discriminating between tensile and flexural strain modes as the configuration of the GNPs during the tests behaves differently. Flexural strains makes possible the creation of new electrically conductive paths meaning an apparent lower sensitivity while strain produced in a tensile test provokes the breakage of the tunnel or contact based conductive paths.