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A high-sensitivity mechano-luminescent sensor was fabricated on the basis of piezoelectric/electroluminescent composites. The working principle of this mechano-luminescent sensor was elucidated by analyzing the relationship between the piezoelectric-induced charges and the electroluminescent effects. When a stress is applied on the piezoelectric layer, electrical charges will be induced at both the top and bottom sides of the piezoelectric layer. The induced electrical charges will lead to a light output from the electroluminescent layer, thus producing a mechano-luminescence effect. By increasing the vibration strength or frequency applied, the mechano-luminescence output can be obviously enhanced. Mechano-luminescence sensors have potential in smart stress-to-light devices, such as foot-stress-distribution-diagnosis systems and dynamic-load-monitors for bridge hanging cables.

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Clear magneto-light output is obtained from a fabricated three-phase composite of magnetostrictive, piezoelectric, and electroluminescent materials. Electrical charges, attributable to the magnetoelectric effect, are induced when a magnetic field is applied to the magnetostrictive/piezoelectric layers. These induced electrical charges result in a light signal emanating from the electroluminescent layer, thereby accomplishing a magneto-light effect. Increasing the strength of the applied ac magnetic field or the number of series-connected piezoelectric layers produces an enhanced magneto-light output. The magneto-light composite has potential applications in magnetic resonance imaging, optical monitoring of magnetic fields, magnetic/light sensing, and transducer technologies.

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The contact problem for thermoelectric materials with functionally graded properties is considered. The material properties, such as the electric conductivity, the thermal conductivity, the shear modulus, and the thermal expansion coefficient, vary in an exponential function. Using the Fourier transform technique, the electro-thermoelastic problems are transformed into three sets of singular integral equations which are solved numerically in terms of the unknown normal electric current density, the normal energy flux, and the contact pressure. Meanwhile, the complex homogeneous solutions of the displacement fields caused by the gradient parameters are simplified with the help of Euler’s formula. After addressing the non-linearity excited by thermoelectric effects, the particular solutions of the displacement fields can be assessed. The effects of various combinations of material gradient parameters and thermoelectric loads on the contact behaviors of thermoelectric materials are presented. The results give a deep insight into the contact damage mechanism of functionally graded thermoelectric materials (FGTEMs).

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