Design of a vector displacement sensor based on a cross-slot structure

To address the issues in the current monitoring of rubber bearing displacement sensors, where it is impossible to obtain vector displacement and deflection angles, leading to inadequate evaluation of bearing deformation and low measurement accuracy, a vector displacement sensor based on a cross-slot structure is proposed. The sensor adopts two pairs of "cantilever beam-wedge slider" structures to identify the positive and negative displacements, achieving a comprehensive evaluation of bearing deformation. By designing a cross-slot structure to measure the displacement and angle in the horizontal plane of the rubber bearing, the sensor can simultaneously measure displacement and deflection angle in the horizontal plane and direction. Theoretical formulas and ANSYS software are used to optimize the design and simulation analysis of the sensor's structural parameters. Based on the simulation results, a physical sensor is fabricated. Finally, a displacement testing system is constructed to test the sensor's performance. Experimental results show that the sensor has a measurement range of 100 mm, a sensitivity of 28.17 mV/mm, and a total accuracy of 1.94 %, meeting the requirements for displacement measurement accuracy and sensitivity in the health monitoring of actual rubber bearing structures, providing a new technical solution for the field of rubber bearing monitoring.