Conceptual damage-sensitive features for structural health monitoring: Laboratory and field demonstrations

The use of damage-sensitive features to evaluate structural condition or health is a very critical aspect of structural health monitoring. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the potential of two different damage-sensitive features for detecting damage. Different damage scenarios are simulated on a large-scale laboratory structure and a three-span highway bridge for demonstration. The features presented in this paper are the modal flexibility-based deflection and curvature both of which are obtained directly from dynamic properties. In the literature, flexibility associated with mode shapes and mode shapes curvatures have been mostly explored. In this study, multi-input–multi-output dynamic data are used to obtain modal flexibility, which is a close approximation to the actual flexibility. A main novelty is that the curvature is calculated from the deflected shapes using the modal flexibility as opposed to using modal vectors. In this paper, the theory of the methodology is explained and then experimental studies and results are presented. For the experimental studies, the laboratory specimen and the three-span bridge were gradually damaged. It is shown that both deflection and curvature are conceptual and physically meaningful features for damage detection and localization. The issues and the requirements for these features to perform successfully are also presented.     

Synthesis and properties of chitosan-modified poly(vinyl butyrate)

Modification of chitosan by grafting of vinyl butyrate was carried out in homogeneous phase using potassium persulfate as redox initator and 1.5% acetic acid as solvent. The percent grafting and grafting efficiency were analysed and the high grafting efficiency up to 94% was observed. The effects of reaction variables such as monomer concentration, initiator concentration, temperature and reaction time were investigated. It was observed that the solubility of chitosan was markedly reduced after grafting with vinyl butyrate. The grafted product is insoluble in common organic solvents as well in dilute organic and inorganic acids. Characterization of the graft copolymers were carried out by using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) technics. Characteristic signal of carbonyl group was observed at 1,731 cm⁻¹ which belongs to the poly vinyl butyrate segments in the graft copolymer. The melting transition of the chitosan main chain in the copolymer shifted to 124°C from its original value 101°C. In addition to these, we have also studied topology of the graft copolymer and the SEM micrograph showed continuous homogenous matrix which means there is no phase separation.     

Prediction of performance and exhaust emissions of a diesel engine fueled with biodiesel produced from waste frying palm oil

Biodiesel is receiving increasing attention each passing day because of its fuel properties and compatibility with the petroleum-based diesel fuel (PBDF). Therefore, in this study, the prediction of the engine performance and exhaust emissions is carried out for five different neural networks to define how the inputs affect the outputs using the biodiesel blends produced from waste frying palm oil. PBDF, B100, and biodiesel blends with PBDF, which are 50% (B50), 20% (B20) and 5% (B5), were used to measure the engine performance and exhaust emissions for different engine speeds at full load conditions. Using the artificial neural network (ANN) model, the performance and exhaust emissions of a diesel engine have been predicted for biodiesel blends. According to the results, the fifth network is sufficient for all the outputs. In the fifth network, fuel properties, engine speed, and environmental conditions are taken as the input parameters, while the values of flow rates, maximum injection pressure, emissions, engine load, maximum cylinder gas pressure, and thermal efficiency are used as the output parameters. For all the networks, the learning algorithm called back-propagation was applied for a single hidden layer. Scaled conjugate gradient (SCG) and Levenberg–Marquardt (LM) have been used for the variants of the algorithm, and the formulations for outputs obtained from the weights are given in this study. The fifth network has produced R² values of 0.99, and the mean % errors are smaller than five except for some emissions. Higher mean errors are obtained for the emissions such as CO, NO_x and UHC. The complexity of the burning process and the measurement errors in the experimental study can cause higher mean errors.     

The effect of categorizing returned products in remanufacturing

An increasing number of companies have been implementing comprehensive recycling and remanufacturing programs. These endeavors typically involve the operation of joint manufacturing and remanufacturing systems. One of the major challenges in managing such hybrid systems is the stochastic nature of product returns. In particular, there is significant variability in the condition of the returns. This paper presents an approach for assessing the impact of quality-based categorization of returned products. Through extensive numerical studies on a continuous-time Markov chain model, we show that incorporation of returned product quality in the remanufacturing and disposal decisions can lead to significant cost savings. We find that these savings are amplified as the return quality decreases, and as the return rate increases. We also show that prioritizing higher quality returns in remanufacturing is, in general, a better strategy.     

Continuous 3D Multi-Channel Sign Language Production via Progressive Transformers and Mixture Density Networks

International Journal of Computer Vision - Sign languages are multi-channel visual languages, where signers use a continuous 3D space to communicate. Sign language production (SLP), the automatic...     

Rheological analysis of ceramic pastes

This paper is concerned with a number of means of characterising the rheological properties of a ceramic paste. The intrinsic flow behaviour of the paste, during upsetting, is studied experimentally by using multi coloured paste samples, as well as by a finite element numerical computation. The flow behaviour of the paste is approximated by an elasto-viscoplastic material constitutive model and implemented by using an established finite element code. The material flow properties, which are necessary for the implementation of the numerical model, were obtained using the squeeze film and hardness indentation test configurations. The flow fields generated by the simulation are shown to be a good accord with the experimental observations. The experimental procedure for selecting the material parameters which are necessary for the implementation of the numerical model is described. The accuracy of the numerical method described is also evaluated by comparing the simulation results with experimental data obtained from the net upsetting force against the imposed relative displacement behaviour and the flow visualisation of deformed coloured layers. In these respects, a comparison of the finite element model predictions and the experimental results demonstrates a good mutual agreement.     

Removal of heavy‐metal ions by magnetic beads containing triazole chelating groups

The aim of this study was to prepare magnetic beads that could be used for the removal of heavy‐metal ions from synthetic solutions. Magnetic poly(ethylene glycol dimethacrylate–1‐vinyl‐1,2,4‐triazole) [m‐poly(EGDMA–VTAZ)] beads were produced by suspension polymerization in the presence of a magnetite Fe₃O₄ nanopowder. The specific surface area of the m‐poly(EGDMA–VTAZ) beads was 74.8 m²/g with a diameter range of 150–200 μm, and the swelling ratio was 84%. The average Fe₃O₄ content of the resulting m‐poly(EGDMA–VTAZ) beads was 14.8%. The maximum binding capacities of the m‐poly(EGDMA–VTAZ) beads from aquous solution were 284.3 mg/g for Hg²⁺, 193.8 mg/g for Pb²⁺, 151.5 mg/g for Cu²⁺, 128.1 mg/g for Cd²⁺, and 99.4 mg/g for Zn²⁺. The affinity order on a mass basis was Hg²⁺ > Pb²⁺ > Cu²⁺ > Cd²⁺> Zn²⁺. The binding capacities from synthetic waste water were 178.1 mg/g for Hg²⁺, 132.4 mg/g for Pb²⁺, 83.5 mg/g for Cu²⁺, 54.1 mg/g for Cd²⁺, and 32.4 mg/g for Zn²⁺. The magnetic beads could be regenerated (up to ca. 97%) by a treatment with 0.1M HNO₃. These features make m‐poly(EGDMA–VTAZ) beads potential supports for heavy‐metal removal under a magnetic field. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

K-shell absorption jump factors and jump ratios in elements between Tm (Z = 69) and Os (Z = 76) derived from new mass attenuation coefficient measurements

The K-shell absorption jump factors and jump ratios were derived from new mass attenuation coefficients measured using an energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) spectrometer for Tm, Yb elements being Tm₂O₃, Yb₂O₃ compounds and pure Lu, Hf, Ta, W, Re and Os. The measurements, in the region 56-77 keV, were done in a transmission geometry utilizing the K_α1, K_α2, K_β1 and K_β2 X- rays from different secondary source targets (Yb, Ta, Os, W, Re and Ir, etc.) excited by the 123.6 keV γ-photons from an ⁵⁷Co annular source and detected by an Ultra-LEGe solid state detector with a resolution of 150 eV at 5.9 keV. Experimental results have been compared with theoretically calculated values. The measured values of Tm, Yb, Lu, Hf, Ta, W, Re and Os are reported here for the first time.     

Investigations on the variation of corrosion and contact resistance characteristics of metallic bipolar plates manufactured under long-run conditions

Tribological variations, surface conditions (roughness, hardness, coating) and surface interactions between micro-stamping dies and bipolar plate blanks play a critical role in determining the surface quality, channel formation and precision of bipolar plates. This study is aimed to understand the cause, mechanism and consequences of interactions between micro-stamping process conditions and bipolar plate quality. A total of 2000 repeated micro-stamping of 51 μm-thick uncoated and 1 μm-thick ZrN coated SS316L sheet blanks into an array of 750 μm micro-channels were performed using 175-220 kN force levels with constant stamping speed of 1 mm/s. Microscopic examinations were conducted periodically on both die and coated & uncoated plate surfaces to observe topographic variations. In addition, corrosion and contact resistance tests were carried out in the same intervals. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) technique was used to determine the significance of the process parameters on channel height, roughness, corrosion and contact resistance differences. The results revealed similar roughness trends for die and plate surfaces during 2000 micro-stampings. ZrN coating with 1 μm thickness dramatically improved corrosion and contact resistance behavior of plates.     

Effect of manufacturing processes on formability and surface topography of proton exchange membrane fuel cell metallic bipolar plates

Metallic bipolar plates in PEM fuel cells offer low-volume, low-mass and low-cost stack fabrication in addition to superior durability when compared to composite bipolar plates, which suffer due to their much higher thickness and less durability. This study aims to address the formability and surface topography issues of metallic bipolar plates fabricated by stamping and hydroforming technologies. Particular emphasis was given to process repeatability, surface topology, and dimensional quality of bipolar plates that would greatly affect the corrosion and contact resistance characteristics. Thin metal sheets of several alloys (i.e., SS304, SS316L, SS430, Ni270, Ti grades 1 and 2) were used in the fabrication experiments. SS304 and SS316L were shown to possess better formability when compared to other alloys that were used in this study, while SS430 and Ti grade 2 demonstrated the worst among all. Channel formability was observed to be greatly affected by the hydroforming pressure, while it does not differ much above certain level of stamping force. The confocal microscopy analyses showed that surface roughness values of the formed samples were altered significantly when compared to the initial flat blanks. In general, increasing hydroforming pressure and stamping force yielded higher surface roughness values at channel peaks. In addition, the surface topography was shown to be influenced mainly by the pressure level rather than the pressure rate in hydroforming process.