Hysteresis compensation of photoluminescence in ZnS:Cu for noncontact shaft torque sensing

This paper presents a preliminary investigation of loading rate-dependent hysteresis of photoluminescence (PL) by phosphorescence quenching of copper-doped zinc sulfide (ZnS:Cu) microparticles in response to dynamic torsional loading. Precision sinusoidal torque waveforms in the frequency range of 0.5–3 Hz are used to identify the loading rate-dependent (i.e., frequency-dependent) nonlinear hysteresis phenomenon. The potential of the application of PL is demonstrated by successfully measuring the sinusoidal torque applied to a rotational shaft by evaluating the loading rate-dependent PL intensity signature using a photomultiplier tube. In addition, the potential of noncontact shaft torque sensing is demonstrated successfully by the simple compensation derived from ad hoc heuristic characterization.