Smart Nanostructured Polymeric Coatings for Use as Remote optical Strain Sensors

This research study is aimed at developing a novel high‐resolution non‐contact stress/strain sensor system applicable for a wide variety of engineering components used in both laboratory and in‐the‐field (external) applications. Nanocomposites and nanostructured polymers with unique opto‐mechanical properties were developed as smart coatings. Remote polarized Raman spectroscopy was used to monitor the strain sensitivity of deformed coatings, and determine local strains on the micron scale directly from stress/strain induced Raman band shifts.