Development of smart composite structures with small-diameter fiber Bragg grating sensors for damage detection: Quantitative evaluation of delamination length in CFRP laminates using Lamb wave sensing

The authors and Hitachi Cable, Ltd. have recently developed small-diameter optical fiber and its fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor for embedment inside a lamina of composite laminates without strength reduction. The outside diameters of the cladding and polyimide coating are 40 and 52 μm, respectively. First, a brief summary is presented for applications of small-diameter FBG sensors to damage monitoring in composite structures. Then, we propose a new damage detection system for quantitative evaluation of delamination length in CFRP laminates using Lamb wave sensing. In this system, a piezo-ceramic actuator generates Lamb waves in a CFRP laminate. After the waves propagate in the laminate, transmitted waves are received by an FBG sensor attached on or embedded in the laminate using a newly developed high-speed optical wavelength interrogation system. This system was applied to detect interlaminar delamination in CFRP cross-ply laminates. When the Lamb waves passed through the delamination, the amplitude decreased and a new wave mode appeared. These phenomena could be well simulated using a finite element analysis. From the changes in the amplitude ratio and the arrival time of the new mode depending on the delamination length, it was found that this system could evaluate the delamination length quantitatively. Furthermore, small-diameter FBG sensors were embedded in a double-lap type coupon specimen, and the debonding progress could be evaluated using the wavelet transform.     

HSPF Simulation of Runoff and Sediment Loads in the Upper Changjiang River Basin, China

To evaluate the performance of a computer model simulating runoff and sediment load in the upper region of the Changjiang (Yangtze River) basin over a relatively short time interval, including examining the applicability of the input precipitation data generated from global circulation models and satellite data, we used a spatially distributed model, HSPF with the International Satellite Land Surface Climatology Project (ISLSCP) precipitation data for 1987 and 1988 as input data. The Nash–Sutcliffe coefficient (R2) for 5-day average streamflow was 0.94 in the calibration period and 0.95 in the verification period for the whole upper region. Moreover, the model simulated the 5-day average streamflow well in each main tributary, as shown by R2 values of 0.46–0.96, except that it underestimated the peak flow rates during the flood season over 2 years by up to 71% in Tuojiang and 61% in Jialingjiang. The model simulated the 5-day concentrations of suspended solids (SS) fairly well in the headwaters and upper regions of the Jinshajiang, Yalongjiang, and Minjiang watersheds, as shown by R2 values of 0.31–0.65. In the other regions, however, the model underestimated the SS load by up to 72%, and rarely simulated the fluctuation of SS concentration in each river channel during the flood season. These errors led to the underestimation of sediment runoff volume from the whole upper region during the flood season, as shown by the ratio of the simulated sediment load to the observed data at Yichang: 0.69 in the calibration period and 0.68 in the verification period. The ISLSCP precipitation tended to be more frequent and less intense than the measured precipitation. This was probably the main reason why the HSPF did not perform well in all regions at all times.     

Lymphatic networks in the periodontal tissue and dental pulp as revealed by histochemical study.

The structural organization and fine distribution of the lymphatic networks in the periodontal tissues (gingiva, periodontal membrane, and alveolar process) and dental pulp of animals and humans were reviewed with special reference to histochemical examination by light and electron microscopy. The distinction between lymphatics and blood vessels was made on cryostat sections of undecalcified and calcified teeth treated with EDTA solution and whole mount preparations of periodontal membranes using 5'-nucleotidase (5'-Nase)-alkaline phosphatase (ALPase) double staining. This staining procedure allowed lymphatic vessels in the periodontal tissue and dental pulp to be differentiated from blood vessels. The specificity and localization of the enzyme reactions were confirmed by comparative histochemical studies of the same specimen with light microscopy and scanning or transmission electron microscopy. Well-developed 5'-Nase-positive lymphatic networks were observed on the tissue sections and whole mount preparations of the gingiva, periodontium, and dental pulp. More lymphatic vessels were seen in the root area of the periodontium than in the cervical area. In the dental pulp, lymphatic vessels were more numerous in the central part than in the peripheral odontoblastic layer. These distributions of the lymphatic capillary networks are discussed in relation to their ability to supply lymph to the teeth.     

Catalytic cycle of cytochrome-c3 hydrogenase,a [NiFe]-enzyme,deduced from the structures of the enzyme and the enzyme mimic

Hydrogenases catalyze uptake and production of H₂. Heterolytic cleavage of H₂ bound on [NiFe]-hydrogenase (E) produces two unequal H species to form E:H_aH_b, where H_a and H_b behave differently. The structures of various states of the enzyme established by crystallography and spectroscopy were used to construct a catalytic cycle of the enzyme. The Ni–Fe center of the active enzyme has the Ni–Fe bridging site vacant. The enzyme is suggested to bind H₂ either at Ni or Fe atom. In E:H_aH_b, H_a is considered to be a protein-bound hydron (proton or deuteron) at the entrance to the hydrophobic gas tunnel. The structure of a synthetic hydrogenase-mimic suggests H_b to be the 6th ligand to Fe. Two successive one-electron processes from E:H_aH_b complete the catalytic cycle of H₂ uptake. The reverse of the cycle operates in the H₂ production. The proposed catalytic cycle is consistent with the kinetic, crystallographic and spectroscopic studies.     

Sieving of aerosol particles with metal screens

Metal screens with uniform micrometer-sized opening were employed to sieve aerosol particles by suppressing the adhesion of particles smaller than the openings. The collection efficiencies of monodispersed polystyrene latex (PSL) particles were experimentally determined using the metal screens with 1.2, 1.8, 2.5, and 4.2 μm openings at various filtration velocities. The particles smaller than the mesh opening adhered on the metal screen at a low filtration velocity, but the bounce-off of particles on the mesh surface suppressed the adhesion at a high velocity. As a result, we found that the adhesion of PSL particles larger than 0.3 μm mostly suppressed at a filtration velocity higher than 10 m s^?1 and therefore we can sieve aerosol particles according to the opening size of metal screens. We also found that the particle number concentration could be determined by measuring the increase in pressure drop since the clogging of metal screen openings takes place by the individual particles.

© 2016 American Association for Aerosol Research     

Fabrication of 80 mm diameter-sized solid oxide fuel cells using a water-based NiO–YSZ slurry

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are very attractive for their high energy conversion efficiency and low emissions. Generally, a supported layer of SOFCs is fabricated by tape casting, using an organic solvent. Recently, a slurry based on water instead of an organic solvent has been sought in order to avoid environmental pollution. In this study, the anode of SOFCs was fabricated by aqueous tape casting, and the electrolyte and the cathode were deposited by screen printing. The I–V characteristics of the cell thus obtained were evaluated. As a result, an 80 mm diameter-sized cell with a power density of 0.33 W/cm² at 800 °C was successfully fabricated by controlling sintering conditions.     

On-off switching properties of one-dimensional photonic crystals consisting of azo-functionalized polymer liquid crystals having different methylene spacers and polyvinyl alcohol

In this paper, photoresponsive behavior of multi-bilayered films having precisely controlled layer thickness prepared by stacking an azo-functionalized polymer liquid crystal, PMAzXAc, and polyvinyl alcohol alternatively, PVA, is described. The multi-bilayered films were found to reflect a light of specific wavelength depending on the layer thickness and refractive index, and showed the reversible change in the reflection intensity by irradiation with visible and UV lights. The change in the reflection intensity was brought about by change in the molecular orientation of PMAzXAc between an out-of-plane orientation and a photo-induced isotropic state, and was strongly dependent on the number of methylene spacer of PMAzXAc linking the azobenzene side group with the acrylate polymer main chain. PMAz6Ac with hexa-methylene spacer showed the largest change in the reflection intensity, while smaller change in the reflection intensity was observed for PMAzXAc having shorter or longer methylene spacer than 6. The effect of the methylene spacers on the photochemical change in the molecular orientation of azobenzene chromophores in the multi-bilayered films will be discussed.     

Preparation of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)–SiO2 hybrid gels and their thermosensitive properties

The swelling and adsorption behavior of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)–SiO₂ hybrid gels, derived from copolymerization of N-isopropylacrylamide and 3-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (MPTMOS) and following hydrolysis and condensation, were investigated. The hybrid gels exhibited temperature dependence of both the swelling ratio and adsorption of solutes, and their temperature dependence of both the swelling ratio and adsorption of solutes, and their temperature dependence was related to the MPTMOS content in the hybrid gels. In addition, the modification of thermosensitive properties of the hybrid gels could be achieved by treatment with other silane compounds. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Determination of residual avoparcin in chicken muscle by HPLC with ultraviolet and amperometric detection

An analytical method was developed for determination of residual avoparcin in chicken muscle by measuring alpha- and beta-avoparcin, major components of the pharmaceutical preparation avoparcin, using HPLC with UV and amperometric detectors. The analytical HPLC was run on a Cosmosil 5C18-AR column (4.6 mm x 25 cm) with a gradient formed from A: 2.5% acetic acid, 0.01 mol/L sodium heptane sulfonic acid-acetonitrile (88.5:11.5) (pH 4.0) and B: 2.5% acetic acid-acetonitrile (10:90), using UV and amperometric detection (AMD) with glassy-carbon electrode (+900 mV). Avoparcin was extracted from chicken muscle by homogenization with methanol-0.2 mol/L sulfuric acid (6:4) followed by centrifugation after pH adjustment to 4 with 1 mol/L sodium hydroxide. The supernatant was evaporated to dryness, and the residue was dissolved in water. The aqueous layer was adjusted to pH 4 by adding 1 mol/L sodium hydroxide. Then it was purified on a Sep-Pak tC18 plus ENV cartridge. The cartridge was washed with water, and retained substances were eluted with 50% methanol. The eluate was evaporated to dryness under reduced pressure. The residue was dissolved in water and determined by HPLC. Recoveries of avoparcin spiked in chicken muscle were 73.1-88.1% at levels of 2-10 micrograms/g. The detection limits were 0.5 microgram/g (UV) and 0.2 microgram/g (AMD).