Pattern Design Optimization of Flexible Tactile Sensors Based on Finite Element Analysis

Zhou Zhao; King Wai Chiu Lai

doi:10.1109/NANOMED68094.2025.11431329

Pattern Design Optimization of Flexible Tactile Sensors Based on Finite Element Analysis

Zhou Zhao
, King Wai Chiu Lai^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapters, Conference Papers, Creative and Literary Works › RGC 32 - Refereed conference paper (with host publication) › peer-review

Abstract

Most microchannel pattern designs for flexible liquid metal (LM) pressure sensors are chosen empirically, with limited understanding of how pattern shape affects performance. In this study, finite element analysis (FEA) was employed to investigate the influence of different microchannel patterns (square and wavy patterns) on the tensile and compressive sensitivity of LM-based pressure sensors. Results indicate that square patterns (symmetric patterns) exhibit greater sensitivity to compression, whereas wavy patterns respond more effectively to tension, as further validated through experiment. These findings offer guidance for the rational design of high-performance flexible LM pressure sensors. © 2025 IEEE.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Proceedings of the 18th IEEE International Conference on Nano/Molecular Medicine & Engineering
Publisher	IEEE
Pages	203-206
Number of pages	4
ISBN (Electronic)	979-8-3315-6009-6
ISBN (Print)	979-8-3315-6010-2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/NANOMED68094.2025.11431329
Publication status	Published - Dec 2025
Event	18th IEEE International Conference on Nano/Molecular Medicine and Engineering (IEEE-NANOMED 2025) - , Hong Kong, China Duration: 1 Dec 2025 → 4 Dec 2025 https://ieee-nanomed.org/2025/

Publication series

Name	IEEE International Conference on Nano/Molecular Medicine and Engineering, NANOMED
ISSN (Print)	2159-6964
ISSN (Electronic)	2159-6972

Conference

Conference	18th IEEE International Conference on Nano/Molecular Medicine and Engineering (IEEE-NANOMED 2025)
Abbreviated title	NANOMED 2025
Place	Hong Kong, China
Period	1/12/25 → 4/12/25
Internet address	https://ieee-nanomed.org/2025/

Funding

The work is partially supported by grants from the Research Grant Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government TBRS Grant: T42-717/20-R and CRF Grant: C7174-20G).

RGC Funding Information

RGC-funded

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10.1109/NANOMED68094.2025.11431329

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Zhao, Z., & Lai, K. W. C. (2025). Pattern Design Optimization of Flexible Tactile Sensors Based on Finite Element Analysis. In Proceedings of the 18th IEEE International Conference on Nano/Molecular Medicine & Engineering (pp. 203-206). (IEEE International Conference on Nano/Molecular Medicine and Engineering, NANOMED). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/NANOMED68094.2025.11431329

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title = "Pattern Design Optimization of Flexible Tactile Sensors Based on Finite Element Analysis",

abstract = "Most microchannel pattern designs for flexible liquid metal (LM) pressure sensors are chosen empirically, with limited understanding of how pattern shape affects performance. In this study, finite element analysis (FEA) was employed to investigate the influence of different microchannel patterns (square and wavy patterns) on the tensile and compressive sensitivity of LM-based pressure sensors. Results indicate that square patterns (symmetric patterns) exhibit greater sensitivity to compression, whereas wavy patterns respond more effectively to tension, as further validated through experiment. These findings offer guidance for the rational design of high-performance flexible LM pressure sensors. {\textcopyright} 2025 IEEE.",

author = "Zhou Zhao and Lai, \{King Wai Chiu\}",

year = "2025",

month = dec,

doi = "10.1109/NANOMED68094.2025.11431329",

language = "English",

isbn = "979-8-3315-6010-2",

series = "IEEE International Conference on Nano/Molecular Medicine and Engineering, NANOMED",

publisher = "IEEE",

pages = "203--206",

booktitle = "Proceedings of the 18th IEEE International Conference on Nano/Molecular Medicine \& Engineering",

address = "United States",

note = "18th IEEE International Conference on Nano/Molecular Medicine and Engineering (IEEE-NANOMED 2025), NANOMED 2025 ; Conference date: 01-12-2025 Through 04-12-2025",

url = "https://ieee-nanomed.org/2025/",

}

Zhao, Z & Lai, KWC 2025, Pattern Design Optimization of Flexible Tactile Sensors Based on Finite Element Analysis. in Proceedings of the 18th IEEE International Conference on Nano/Molecular Medicine & Engineering. IEEE International Conference on Nano/Molecular Medicine and Engineering, NANOMED, IEEE, pp. 203-206, 18th IEEE International Conference on Nano/Molecular Medicine and Engineering (IEEE-NANOMED 2025), Hong Kong, China, 1/12/25. https://doi.org/10.1109/NANOMED68094.2025.11431329

Pattern Design Optimization of Flexible Tactile Sensors Based on Finite Element Analysis. / Zhao, Zhou ; Lai, King Wai Chiu.
Proceedings of the 18th IEEE International Conference on Nano/Molecular Medicine & Engineering. IEEE, 2025. p. 203-206 (IEEE International Conference on Nano/Molecular Medicine and Engineering, NANOMED).

Research output: Chapters, Conference Papers, Creative and Literary Works › RGC 32 - Refereed conference paper (with host publication) › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - Pattern Design Optimization of Flexible Tactile Sensors Based on Finite Element Analysis

AU - Zhao, Zhou

AU - Lai, King Wai Chiu

PY - 2025/12

Y1 - 2025/12

N2 - Most microchannel pattern designs for flexible liquid metal (LM) pressure sensors are chosen empirically, with limited understanding of how pattern shape affects performance. In this study, finite element analysis (FEA) was employed to investigate the influence of different microchannel patterns (square and wavy patterns) on the tensile and compressive sensitivity of LM-based pressure sensors. Results indicate that square patterns (symmetric patterns) exhibit greater sensitivity to compression, whereas wavy patterns respond more effectively to tension, as further validated through experiment. These findings offer guidance for the rational design of high-performance flexible LM pressure sensors. © 2025 IEEE.

AB - Most microchannel pattern designs for flexible liquid metal (LM) pressure sensors are chosen empirically, with limited understanding of how pattern shape affects performance. In this study, finite element analysis (FEA) was employed to investigate the influence of different microchannel patterns (square and wavy patterns) on the tensile and compressive sensitivity of LM-based pressure sensors. Results indicate that square patterns (symmetric patterns) exhibit greater sensitivity to compression, whereas wavy patterns respond more effectively to tension, as further validated through experiment. These findings offer guidance for the rational design of high-performance flexible LM pressure sensors. © 2025 IEEE.

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UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105037947447

U2 - 10.1109/NANOMED68094.2025.11431329

DO - 10.1109/NANOMED68094.2025.11431329

M3 - RGC 32 - Refereed conference paper (with host publication)

SN - 979-8-3315-6010-2

T3 - IEEE International Conference on Nano/Molecular Medicine and Engineering, NANOMED

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BT - Proceedings of the 18th IEEE International Conference on Nano/Molecular Medicine & Engineering

PB - IEEE

T2 - 18th IEEE International Conference on Nano/Molecular Medicine and Engineering (IEEE-NANOMED 2025)

Y2 - 1 December 2025 through 4 December 2025

ER -

Pattern Design Optimization of Flexible Tactile Sensors Based on Finite Element Analysis

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Pattern Design Optimization of Flexible Tactile Sensors Based on Finite Element Analysis

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

Funding

RGC Funding Information

Access Output

Other Access Options

Permanent Link

Other Files and Links

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