Abstract. Wearable technologies are expanding to consider different industries and systems such as healthcare solutions. Therefore, flexible, and stretchable electronics have gained huge attention recently since it made realizing a high performance, easy to use, comfortable, and durable electronics solutions possible. Wireless systems are also required to fit with wearable technologies, which include antennas. Therefore, a lot of research was focused on building stretchable and flexible antennas that are cost-effective, and easy to manufacture and integrate with existing solutions. One of the biggest challenges in stretchable antenna design is that antennaโs radiation properties are dependent on the physical geometry of the antenna itself. Hence, utilizing existing 2D-based antennas that can maintain acceptable performance under stretching can be a challenging task.
In this thesis, I will investigate different antenna structures manufactured using commercially available inks EMS CI1036, ASAHI LS 411AW, and DUPONT PE874 as well as thermoplastic polyurethane substrates (TPU) Platilon U9122 and Platilon U073. I also studied the effect of stretching on the dipole, and meandered monopole antennaโs performance and reported the simulation and measurement results when stretching the antennas up to 20% of its original length. I have also developed a novel algorithm for the placement and orientation process of the antenna on the TPU so that the effect of stretching on its performance is minimal. I have found that meandered monopole antenna can be a good candidate for stretchable applications due to its symmetrical response to stretching regardless of the stretching dimension, however, in other cases discussed in the thesis, I have shown that wire monopole or dipoles can be an excellent choice for stretchable applications in specific cases
