• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
• /
• v.17 no.7
• /
• pp.1645-1652
• /
• 2013

In this paper, a new piezoelectric transducer for high performance ultrasonic flaw detector used in non-destructive test (NDT) is implemented. Here, the goals for some major characteristics such as piezoelectric strain constant and electro-mechanical coupling factor are fixed in advanced. Then, the parameters obtained by finite element analysis (FEA) are exploited to design and implement the piezoelectric transducer. As a result of experiments using manufactured samples, it is proved that the new PZT ceramics satisfy the goals very well. It has much improved impedance characteristic at the resonant frequency and generation of ultrasonic signals. In addition, ultrasonic flaw detector with the new transducer provides increased flaw detecting gain than the conventional one. Thus, it is considered that the new flaw detector contributes significantly to improve reliability of the NDT.

• Computers and Concrete
• /
• v.8 no.5
• /
• pp.563-581
• /
• 2011

The signal-based acoustic emission (AE) characterization of concrete fracture process utilizing home-programmed AE monitoring system was performed for three kinds of static loading tests (Cubic-splitting, Direct-shear and Pull-out). Each test was carried out to induce a distinct fracture mode of concrete. Apart from monitoring and recording the corresponding fracture process of concrete, various methods were utilized to distinguish the characteristics of detected AE waveform to interpret the information of fracture behavior of AE sources (i.e. micro-cracks of concrete). Further, more signal-based characters of AE in different stages were analyzed and compared in this study. This research focused on the relationship between AE signal characteristics and fracture processes of concrete. Thereafter, the mode of concrete fracture could be represented in terms of AE signal characteristics. By using cement-based piezoelectric composite sensors, the AE signals could be detected and collected with better sensitivity and minimized waveform distortion, which made the characterization of AE during concrete fracture process feasible. The continuous wavelet analysis technique was employed to analyze the wave-front of AE and figure out the frequency region of the P-wave & S-wave. Defined RA (rising amplitude), AF (average frequency) and P-wave & S-wave importance index were also introduced to study the characters of AE from concrete fracture. It was found that the characters of AE signals detected during monitoring could be used as an indication of the cracking behavior of concrete.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
• /
• v.1 no.4
• /
• pp.411-425
• /
• 2014

A relatively low frequency Lamb wave-based damage identification method called damage imaging method for rectangular composite plate is presented. A damage index (DI) is generated from the delay matrix of the Lamb wave response signals, and it is used to indicate the location and approximate area of the damage. The viability of this method is demonstrated by analyzing the numerical and experimental Lamb wave response signals from rectangular composite plates. The technique only requires the response signals from the plate after damage, and it is capable of performing near real time damage identification. This study sheds some light on the application of Lamb wave-based damage detection algorithm for plate-type structures by using the relatively low frequency (e.g., in the neighborhood of 100 kHz, more suitable for the best capability of the existing fiber optic sensor interrogator system with the sampling frequency of 500 kHz) Lamb wave response and a reference-free damage detection technique.

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
• /
• v.26 no.7
• /
• pp.827-835
• /
• 2016

Ride comfort of a vehicle is often determined by rubber bushes in suspension system. If transmission forces versus deformations across the bushes are available under operational conditions, improvement of the ride comfort could be done with more ease. Recently, the transmission forces are measured using custom-made force transducers inside the links. This study presents a feasibility study on estimation of the rubber bush deformations using vibration signals on the rigid links. Linear variable displacement transducers as well as piezoelectric accelerometers are used to expand frequency range to very low frequency, which cannot be done with accelerometers only. How to estimate the bush deformation from the two vibration signals on the links are presented together with experimental results.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
• /
• 2006.07c
• /
• pp.1480-1481
• /
• 2006

It is very difficult and dangerous to measure partial discharge from high voltage equipment in outdoor situation. But that is very important thing for preventing serious accidents from defects which originated in insulating degradation. This paper provides useful method to detect PD signals easily without any dangerous situation. Electric field sensor by the principle of capacitor detect PD signals without direct electrical connection between sensor and high power equipment and has very wide frequency range suitable for noise rejection. Electric field sensor and related circuit for processing PD signal showed good performance as a PD sensor when it is applied to simulated high power equipment generating PD pulse.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society For Composite Materials Conference
• /
• 2002.10a
• /
• pp.216-219
• /
• 2002

Conventional piezoelectric lead-zirconate-titanate (PZT) senor has high sensitivity, but it is very brittle. Recently polymer films such as polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) have been used use as a sensor. The advantages of PVDF are the flexibility and mechanical toughness. Simple process and possible several shapes are also additional advantages. PVDF sensor can be directly embedded and attached to a structure. In this study, PVDF sensor was embedded in single glass fiber/epoxy composites whereas PZT sensor with AE was attached to single fiber composites (SFC). Piezoelectric sensor responds to interfacial damage of SFC. The signals measured by PVDF sensor were compared to PZT sensor. PZT sensor detected the signals of fiber fracture, matrix crack, interfacial debonding and even sensor delamination, whereas PVDF sensor only detected fiber fracture signals so far, because PZT sensor is much more sensitive than current PVDF sensor. Wave voltage of fiber fracture measured by PVDF sensor was lower than that of PZT sensor, but the results of fast Fourier transform (FFT) analysis were same. Wave velocity using two PZT sensors was also studied to know the internal and surface damage effect of epoxy specimens.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.16 no.5
• /
• pp.519-531
• /
• 2003

Piezoelectric actuators have long been recognised for use in aerospace structures for control of structural shape. This paper looks at active control of the swept shock wave/turbulent boundary layer interaction using smart flap actuators. The actuators are manufactured by bonding piezoelectric material to an inert substrate to control the bleed/suction rate through a plenum chamber. The cavity provides communication of signals across the shock, allowing rapid thickening of the boundary layer approaching the shock, which splits into a series of weaker shocks forming a lambda shock foot, reducing wave drag. Active control allows optimum control of the interaction, as it would be capable of positioning the control region around the original shock position and unimorph tip deflection, hence mass transfer rates. The actuators are modelled using classical composite material mechanics theory, as well as a finite element-modelling program (ANSYS 5.7).

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.260-270
• /
• 2011

The electromechanical impedance(E/M)-based method detects local structural damages based on variations of electrical impedance signatures which are obtained from piezoelectric sensors bonded to the structure and excited in high frequency band. In this method, temperature changes may result in significant impedance variations and lead to erroneous diagnostic results of the structure. To tackle this problem, a new technique providing a 2-dimensional damage feature related to the temperature information is proposed to distinguish the structural damage from the undesirable temperature variation. For experimental tests to validate the proposed method, damages are introduced by bolt loosening to a bolt-jointed steel beam, and impedance signals are measured under varying temperature conditions through a piezoelectric sensor attached on the beam. A freely suspended piezoelectric sensor is additionally utilized to obtain temperature information indirectly from resistance signatures. From a relationship between the damage index (from a constrained sensor) and the temperature (from a freely suspended sensor or a temperature sensor), damages can be detected more clearly under varying temperature compared to other conventional approaches.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Technology Engineers
• /
• v.24 no.4
• /
• pp.414-420
• /
• 2015

In this study, the linear quadratic Guassian loop transfer recovery (LQG/LTR) control technique was combined with an integrator and applied to an inchworm having piezoelectric actuators for precise motion tracking. The piezoelectric actuator showed nonlinear response characteristics, including hysteresis, due to its ferroelectric characteristics and the residual displacement phenomenon. This paper proposes a feedback control scheme using the LQG/LTR controller with an integrator to improve the ability to track the response to complex input signals and to suppress the phenomenon of hysteresis and residual vibration. Experimental results show that the developed feedback control system for an inchworm can track the various motion contours quickly without residual vibration or overshoot.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
• /
• v.27 no.8
• /
• pp.1388-1397
• /
• 2003

Since the reliability of adhesively bonded joints for composite structures is dependent on many parameters such as the shape and dimensions of joints, type of applied load, and environment, so an accurate estimation of the fatigue life of adhesively bonded joints is seldom possible, which necessitates an in-situ reliability monitoring of the joints during the operation of structures. In this study, a self-sensor method for adhesively bonded joints was devised, in which the adhesive used works as a piezoelectric material to send changing signals depending on the integrity of the joint. From the investigation, it was found that the electric charge increased gradually as cracks initiated and propagated in the adhesive layer, and had its maximum value when the adhesively bonded joint failed. So it is feasible to monitor the integrity of the joint during its lifetime. Finally, a relationship between the piezoelectric property of the adhesive and crack propagation was obtained from the experimental results.