Damage detection method for large structures using static and dynamic strain data from distributed fiber optic sensor

A method for damage detection applicable to large slender steel structures such as towers of large-scale wind turbines, long-span bridges, and high-rise buildings is presented. This method is based on continuous strain data obtained by distributed fiber optic sensor (FOS) and neural network (NN) analysis. An analytical model for cracked beam based on an energy balance approach was used to train a NN. The continuous static strains and the natural frequencies obtained from the distributed FOSs were used as the input to the trained NN to estimate the crack depths and locations. An experimental study was carried out on a cracked cantilever beam to verify the present method for damage identification. The cracks were inflicted on the beam, and static and free vibration tests were performed for the intact case and the damage cases. The distributed FOSs were used to measure the continuous strains. The damage estimation was carried out for the 5 damage cases using the NN technique. It has been found that the identified crack depths and locations agree reasonably well with the inflicted cracks on the structure.     

Electrical properties of colloidal polyaniline‐2‐naphthalene sulfonic acid/graphene nanoparticle composite films

Polyaniline (PANI) nanocomposites containing different weight percentages of graphene (GR) are chemically prepared in the presence of β‐naphthalene sulfonic acid (NSA) and characterized using attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X‐ray diffraction. The characterization results suggest that the composites are formed via the interconnected fibrillar structure forming the semi‐crystalline/amorphous configuration by the β‐napthalene sulfonic acid (β‐NSA). The conductivities of the composites suggest that the composites undergo by two different regions of I and II before and after 378 K. The electrical conductivity of the composites is increased by increasing temperature. The dependence of conductivity on temperature implies that the PANI‐NSA/GR composites are organic semiconductors. POLYM. COMPOS., 35:60–67, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Characterization and improved electrical conductivity of partially biodegradable polyaniline/poly(1,4‐butylene succinate) polymer composite films

Polyaniline/poly(1,4‐butylene succinate) (PANI/PBS) composites were prepared by the polymerization of aniline hydrochloride in the presence of different weight percentages of poly(1,4‐butylene succinate) biodegradable polymer by in situ deposition technique. The oxidative polymerization of aniline hydrochloride was performed by the drop wise addition of an aqueous ammonium persulfate solution. Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, surface morphology, and thermogravimetric analyses indicated a strong interaction between PANI and PBS. The temperature‐dependent DC conductivity and biodegradable properties of PANI/PBS were also investigated. The results showed that both the conductivity and biodegradability of the composites was significantly increased by the addition of PBS. POLYM. COMPOS., 35:2010–2017, 2014. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Prediction of fatigue screw loosening in anterior spinal fixation using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry

STUDY DESIGN: A biomechanical study was performed to investigate a relation between the bone mineral density of the vertebral body and the number of loading cycles to induce fatigue loosening of an anterior vertebral screw. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to investigate the potential usefulness of dual energy x-ray absorptiometry of measuring bone mineral density of the vertebral body in predicting the fatigue loosening of th anterior vertebral screw. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Loosening of the vertebral body screw is a well know failure in spinal instrumentation, and more commonly observed than pullout failure. The relation between bone mineral density and pullout strength of the screw has been investigated previously, but no studies are available on the fatigue loosening in anterior spinal fixation. METHODS: Bone mineral density was measured using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry and the screw loosening was produce by a cyclic loading in the cephalad-caudal direction. Screw loosening was defined as 1 mm displacement of the screw relative to bone, and the number of loading cycles to induce the screw loosening was obtained and statistically correlated with bone mineral density. RESULTS: There was a positive correlation between the number of loading cycles to induce screw loosening and bone mineral density (R = 0.8, P < 0.01). The average number of loading cycles to induce screw loosening was significantly less for specimens with bone mineral density < 0.45 g/cm2 compared to those with bone mineral density > or = g/cm2. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that bone mineral density may be a good predictor of anterior vertebral screw loosening. Bone mineral density < 0.45 g/cm2 may be critical value of loosening of the anterior vertebral body screw. However, further biomechanical and clinical studies are required before using threshold value clinically.     

Cell Adhesion and in Vivo Osseointegration of Sandblasted/Acid Etched/Anodized Dental Implants

The authors describe a new type of titanium (Ti) implant as a Modi-anodized (ANO) Ti implant, the surface of which was treated by sandblasting, acid etching (SLA), and anodized techniques. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the adhesion of MG-63 cells to Modi-ANO surface treated Ti in vitro and to investigate its osseointegration characteristics in vivo. Four different types of Ti implants were examined, that is, machined Ti (control), SLA, anodized, and Modi-ANO Ti. In the cell adhesion study, Modi-ANO Ti showed higher initial MG-63 cell adhesion and induced greater filopodia growth than other groups. In vivo study in a beagle model revealed the bone-to-implant contact (BIC) of Modi-ANO Ti (74.20% ± 10.89%) was much greater than those of machined (33.58% ± 8.63%), SLA (58.47% ± 12.89), or ANO Ti (59.62% ± 18.30%). In conclusion, this study demonstrates that Modi-ANO Ti implants produced by sandblasting, acid etching, and anodizing improve cell adhesion and bone ongrowth as compared with machined, SLA, or ANO Ti implants. These findings suggest that the application of Modi-ANO surface treatment could improve the osseointegration of dental implant.     

Changing patterns of localization of the tobacco mosaic virus movement protein and replicase to the endoplasmic reticulum and microtubules during infection

Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) derivatives that encode movement protein (MP) as a fusion to the green fluorescent protein (MP:GFP) were used in combination with antibody staining to identify host cell components to which MP and replicase accumulate in cells of infected Nicotiana benthamiana leaves and in infected BY-2 protoplasts. MP:GFP and replicase colocalized to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER; especially the cortical ER) and were present in large, irregularly shaped, ER-derived structures that may represent "viral factories." The ER-derived structures required an intact cytoskeleton, and microtubules appeared to redistribute MP:GFP from these sites during late stages of infection. In leaves, MP:GFP accumulated in plasmodesmata, whereas in protoplasts, the MP:GFP was targeted to distinct, punctate sites near the plasma membrane. Treating protoplasts with cytochalasin D and brefeldin A at the time of inoculation prevented the accumulation of MP:GFP at these sites. It is proposed that the punctate sites anchor the cortical ER to plasma membrane and are related to sites at which plasmodesmata form in walled cells. Hairlike structures containing MP:GFP appeared on the surface of some of the infected protoplasts and are reminiscent of similar structures induced by other plant viruses. We present a model that postulates the role of the ER and cytoskeleton in targeting the MP and viral ribonucleoprotein from sites of virus synthesis to the plasmodesmata through which infection is spread.