Real-time automatic crack detection method based on drone

Real-time automated drone-based crack detection can be used for efficient building damage assessment. This paper proposes an automated real-time crack detection method based on a drone. Using a lightweight classification algorithm, a lightweight segmentation algorithm, a high-precision segmentation algorithm, and a crack width measurement algorithm, the cracks are classified, roughly segmented, finely segmented, and the maximum width is extracted. A crack information-assisted drone flight automatic control algorithm for automatic crack detection guides the drone toward the crack position. The effectiveness of the crack detection algorithm and the crack information-assisted drone flight automatic control algorithm was tested on two different datasets, a two-story building, and a 16-m-high shaking table test building. The results show that crack detection can be finished in real-time during the flight. Using the proposed method can significantly improve the MIoU of crack edge detection and the accuracy of maximum crack width measurement under the non-ideal shooting conditions of the actual inspection situation by automatically approaching the vicinity of the crack.     

Elastomer‐modified epoxy/amine systems in a resin transfer moulding process

The effect of the elastomer structure on toughening highly crosslinked epoxy systems in a resin transfer moulding process (RTM) was investigated. Two kinds of elastomers containing carboxyl functionalized groups were used: (1) a reactive liquid elastomer based on carboxyl‐terminated butadiene‐acrylonitrile copolymer (CTBN), (2) a preformed core‐shell rubber (CSR). The introduction of CTBN rubber caused the modification in the glass transition temperature due to the miscibility in the epoxy matrix, whereas CSR particles did not. During cure, these elastomers affected the morphological, rheological and dielectric behaviour of epoxy/amine systems. A blend of 5% CTBN and 5% CSR exhibited a bimodal distribution of rubber particle sizes (analyzed by transmission electron microscopy) whereas scanning electron microscopy showed the glass fibre‐matrix cohesion in fracture surfaces. A semi‐empirical model was used (developed by Castro‐Macosko for describing chemorheological behaviour of epoxy/amine systems for the RTM process). The increase in viscosity and the reduction in ion conductivity were the two key parameters to monitor the cure process. The presence of rubber affected the rheological behaviour involving initial viscosity and gel point. The investigation of temperatures, pressures and ionic conductivities in various glass fibre layers was conducted to control the front flow filling and the cure reaction. The introduction of rubber modified the inflexion area of the cured rubber–epoxy blends by changing the cure rate. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Polymer aqyeous solutions as quenching media. I. Polyvinylpyrrolidone

The cooling power of aqueous solutions of polyvinylpyrrolidone are studied with a silver standard sample by using two apparatuses quench with injection and quench with agitation. The dependences of the cooling rates at each temperature on polymer concentration and solution viscosity are established and empirical laws of variation are given.     

Effect of the type of superplasticizer on the properties of cementitious systems incorporating slag

Superplasticizers have become an integral ingredient in the formulation of concretes. After 40?years, their use and dosage remain uncertain due to variations in their compositions and those of cement. In addition, the substitution of cement by supplementary cementitious materials having different chemical compositions exacerbates the problem without counting the multiplicity of superplasticizers to choose from. The present work consists of a study of the rheological and mechanical properties of cementitious systems containing slag and various types of superplasticizers. The tests were carried out on pastes, mortars and concretes incorporating slag in partial cement replacement and four superplasticizers types, polynaphthalene sulphonate (PNS) and three polycarboxylates (PC). The results of this study demonstrate that the viscosity and the yield stress increase with the rate of incorporation of the slag. The air increases with the polycarboxylates but this effect is less perceptible in the presence of the slag. Polycarboxylates improve workability more than PNS. The use of polycarboxylates reduces the viscosity and the yield stress. The compressive strength of concretes containing slag is low at early age but high at long run. They exhibit good resistances to scaling. The permeability to chloride ions is considerably reduced in the presence of the slag independently of the type of superplasticizer, suggesting good durability of these concretes in potentially aggressive external environments.     

A comparative study of phenols composition,antioxidant, and antifungal potency of leaves extract from five Moroccan Vitis vinifera L. varieties

Vitis vinifera (L) crops, covers an area of about 54,000 ha corresponding to a production of 230,000 t of grapes, representing 5.5% of the national perennial corps. However, this plant is sensitive to various ravages and diseases, among others, the cryptogrammic by fungi. The degrading enzymes of the cell wall are among the factors of pathogenicity the more important than fungi use to colonize their host plants. In this study, the first step was devoted to the antioxidant activity and phenols composition (phenylalanine-ammonia-lyase [PAL], tyrosine-ammonia-lyase [TAL], flavonoids, and tannins) as well as high-performance liquid chromatography analysis in five vineyard leaves extract, which are “Superior, Early sweet and Flame” (Allochthonous), “Abbou and Adari” (endemic). In the second step, the lytic activities “pectinase, polygalacturonase, xylanase, mannanase, glucanase, and cellulase” were investigated among six epiphytic fungus to compare their hydrolytic aggressiveness. Subsequently, as a third part, phenols antifungal potency and Trichoderma biocontrol were displayed in the study. The phenolic compounds observed in the attributes leaves were different among varieties (p < .05), and show that the endemic variety “Abbou” leads the phytochemical amount, which has the highest quantities of PAL, and TAL, as well as the DPPH and FRAP antioxidant activity, while the introduced variety show a higher amount in total phenol and flavonoids. The polygalacturonase, mannanase, and pectinase activities are probably the main factors responsible for the aggressiveness of the studied fungus. Phenols potency showed a good mycelial inhibition with 82.09% as compared to the biocontrol (64.45%). Given the efficacy of the phytochemical control in this study, the phenols could be a part of integrated management strategies for sustainable control of vineyard disease.     

Synthesis of Novel Tetra(µ3-Methoxo) Bridged with [Cu(II)-O-Cd(II)] Double-Open-Cubane Cluster: XRD/HSA-Interactions,Spectral and Oxidizing Properties

A new double-open-cubane core Cd(II)-O-Cu(II) bimetallic ligand mixed cluster of type [Cl₂Cu₄Cd₂(NNO)₆(NN)₂(NO₃)₂].CH₃CN was made available in EtOH/CH₃CN solution. The 1-hydroxymethyl-3,5-dimethylpyrazole (NNOH) and 3,5-dimethylpyrazole (NNH) act as N,O-polydentate anion ligands in coordinating the Cu(II) and Cd(II) centers. The structure of the cluster in the solid state was proved by XRD study and confirmed in the liquid state by UV-vis analysis. The XRD result supported the construction of two octahedral and one square pyramid geometries types around the four Cu(II) centers and only octahedral geometry around Cd(II) two centers. Interestingly, NNOH ligand acts as a tetra-µ³-oxo and tri-µ²-oxo ligand; meanwhile, the N-N in NNH acts as classical bidentate anion/neutral ligands. The interactions in the lattice were detected experimentally by the XRD-packing result and computed via Hirschfeld surface analysis (HSA). The UV-vis., FT-IR and Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX), supported the desired double-open cubane cluster composition. The oxidation potential of the desired cluster was evaluated using a 3,5-DTB-catechol 3,5-DTB-quinone as a catecholase model reaction.     

Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) Based Compressive Strength Prediction of AFRP Strengthened Steel Tube

International Journal of Steel Structures - The use of FRP composites as external confinement has recently become a very important system to consider when reinforcing concrete and steel structures....     

Influence of the layer parameters on the performance of the CdTe solar cells

Influence of the layer parameters on the performances of the CdTe solar cells is analyzed by SCAPS-1D. The ZnO:Al film shows a high efficiency than SnO2:F. Moreover, the thinner window layer and lower defect density of CdS films are the factor in the enhancement of the short-circuit current density. As well, to increase the open-circuit voltage, the responsible factors are low defect density of the absorbing layer CdTe and high metal work function. For the low cost of cell production, ultrathin film CdTe cells are used with a back surface field (BSF) between CdTe and back contact, such as PbTe. Further, the simulation results show that the conversion efficiency of 19.28% can be obtained for the cell with 1-μm-thick CdTe, 0.1-μm-thick PbTe and 30-nm-thick CdS.     

Robust H∞ filtering for 2D continuous systems with finite frequency specifications

This paper investigates the design problem of robust H_∞ filtering for uncertain two-dimensional (2D) continuous systems described by Roesser model with polytopic uncertainties and frequency domain specifications. Our aim is to design a new filter guaranteeing an H_∞ performance level in specific finite frequency (FF) domains. Using the well-known generalised Kalman Yakubovich Popov lemma and homogeneous polynomially parameter-dependent matrices of arbitrary degrees, sufficient conditions for the existence of H_∞ filters for different FF ranges are proposed and then unified in terms of solving a set of linear matrix inequalities. Illustrative examples are provided to show the usefulness and potential of the proposed results.