@inproceedings{58c1d96c09664ebaa50955ad5eb8b3d4,
title = "Finite difference analysis and experimental validation of 3D photonic crystals for structural health monitoring",
abstract = "In this work, we validate the behavior of 3D Photonic Crystals for Structural Health Monitoring applications. A Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) analysis has been performed and compared to experimental data. We demonstrate that the photonic properties of a crystal (comprised of sub-micrometric polystyrene colloidal spheres embedded in a PDMS matrix) change as a function of the axial strain applied to a rubber substrate. The change in the reflected wavelength, detected through our laboratory experiments and equivalent to a visible change in crystal color, is assumed to be caused by changes in the interplanar spacing of the polystyrene beads. This behavior is captured by our full wave 3D FDTD model. This contains different wavelengths in the visible spectrum and the wave amplitudes of the reflected and transmitted secondary beams are then computed. A change in the reflectance or transmittance is observed at every programmed step in which we vary the distance between the spheres. These investigations are an important tool to predict, study and validate our understanding of the behavior of this highly complex physical system. In this context, we have developed a versatile and robust parallelized code, able to numerically model the interaction of light with matter, by directly solving Maxwell's equations in their strong form. The ability to describe the physical behavior of such systems is an important and fundamental capability which will aid the design and validation of innovative photonic sensors.",
keywords = "3D Colloidal Photonic Crystals, Experimental Validation, FDTD Simulations, Smart Structure",
author = "Valentina Piccolo and Andrea Chiappini and Alessandro Vaccari and {Cal{\`a} Lesina}, Antonino and Maurizio Ferrari and Luca Deseri and Marcus Perry and Daniele Zonta",
note = "Funding Information: 1 DICAM – Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of Trento, Via Mesiano 77, 38123, Trento, Italy 2 MEMS-Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh Benedum Hall, 3700 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261 USA 3 Institute for Photonics and Nanotechnologies, National Research Council, Via alla Cascata 56/C, 38123 Trento, Italy 4 Fondazione Bruno Kessler, Via Sommarive, 18, 38123, Trento, Italy 5Department of Physics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5, Canada 6University of Strathclyde Glasgow, 16 Richmond St, Glasgow G1 1XQ, United Kingdom 7 MACE-Div. Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering, Design and Physical Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UB8 3PH, United Kingdom 8 Dept. of Mech.Eng. Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh PA 15213-3890 USA 9 Department of Nanomedicine, The Methodist Hospital Research Institute, 6565 Fannin St., MS B-490 Houston, TX 77030 USA Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2017 SPIE.; Sensors and Smart Structures Technologies for Civil, Mechanical, and Aerospace Systems 2017 ; Conference date: 26-03-2017 Through 29-03-2017",
year = "2017",
doi = "10.1117/12.2263975",
language = "English (US)",
series = "Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering",
publisher = "SPIE",
editor = "Lynch, {Jerome P.}",
booktitle = "Sensors and Smart Structures Technologies for Civil, Mechanical, and Aerospace Systems 2017",
address = "United States",
}