A Wearable Strain Sensor Based on 3D Silicone Printing with Composite Structure Design.

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Bibliographic Details
Title:	A Wearable Strain Sensor Based on 3D Silicone Printing with Composite Structure Design.
Authors:	Lin, Jiun-Hung¹ jhlin001@nkust.edu.tw
Source:	International Journal of Online & Biomedical Engineering. 2026, Vol. 22 Issue 3, p58-72. 15p.
Subjects:	Strain sensors, Composite structures, Laminated materials, Motion capture (Human mechanics), Silicone rubber, Adhesives, Patient monitoring
Abstract:	Flexible strain sensors hold significant potential in wearable electronics and human motion tracking; however, achieving a balance among sufficient measurement range, low hysteresis response, and reliable skin adhesion remains challenging. In this study, a wearable strain sensor was developed using 3D-printed silicone, and the performance of a single-layer conductive silicone design (P1) was compared with a multilayer configuration integrating an adhesive interface and medical-grade artificial skin (P2). Results show that P2 successfully extends the measurable displacement range to 10 mm and reduces hysteresis from 0.26 to 0.03 at 3 mm strain, while maintaining stable cyclic performance (standard deviation ± 0.018). The multilayer architecture improves repeatability under repeated stretching by stabilizing the conductive network and enhancing skin-attachment reliability. Human testing further demonstrates that P2 can reliably track wrist motion within 0°-30°, with resistance changes closely aligned to IMU-derived angle signals and without noticeable baseline drift. Overall, this work presents a cost-effective, skin-compatible silicone strain sensor suitable for wearable human motion monitoring, highlighting its potential for applications in health tracking and rehabilitation-related movement analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database:	Engineering Source

Description
Abstract:	Flexible strain sensors hold significant potential in wearable electronics and human motion tracking; however, achieving a balance among sufficient measurement range, low hysteresis response, and reliable skin adhesion remains challenging. In this study, a wearable strain sensor was developed using 3D-printed silicone, and the performance of a single-layer conductive silicone design (P1) was compared with a multilayer configuration integrating an adhesive interface and medical-grade artificial skin (P2). Results show that P2 successfully extends the measurable displacement range to 10 mm and reduces hysteresis from 0.26 to 0.03 at 3 mm strain, while maintaining stable cyclic performance (standard deviation ± 0.018). The multilayer architecture improves repeatability under repeated stretching by stabilizing the conductive network and enhancing skin-attachment reliability. Human testing further demonstrates that P2 can reliably track wrist motion within 0°-30°, with resistance changes closely aligned to IMU-derived angle signals and without noticeable baseline drift. Overall, this work presents a cost-effective, skin-compatible silicone strain sensor suitable for wearable human motion monitoring, highlighting its potential for applications in health tracking and rehabilitation-related movement analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:	26268493
DOI:	10.3991/ijoe.v22i03.59657