• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.165-180
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• 2015

In this paper lead zirconate titanate transducers (PZT) are employed for damage detection of four reinforced concrete (RC) column specimens retrofitted with carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) jackets. A major disadvantage of FRP jacketing in RC members is the inability to inspect visually if the concrete substrate is damaged and in such case to estimate the extent of damage. The parameter measured during uniaxial compression tests at random times for known strain values is the real part of the complex number of the Electromechanical Admittance (Conductance) of the sensors, obtained by a PXI platform. The transducers are placed in specific positions along the height of the columns for detecting the damage in different positions and carrying out conclusions for the variation of the Conductance in relation to the position the failure occurred. The quantification of the damage at the concrete substrate is achieved with the use of the root-mean-square-deviation (RMSD) index, which is evaluated for the corresponding strain values. The experimental results provide evidence that PZT transducers are sensitive to damage detection from an early stage of the experiment and that the use of PZT sensors for monitoring and detecting the damage of FRP-retrofitted reinforced concrete members, by using the Electromechanical Admittance (EMA) approach, can be a highly promising method.

• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.36-40
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• 2018

In this study, the electromechanical properties in Sn-Cu double layer stabilized GdBCO coated conductor (CC) tapes with and without external lamination under uniaxial tension were examined at 77 K and self-field. Their irreversible stress and strain limits were determined using a loading-unloading scheme based on different critical current ($I_c$) recovery criteria. The repeated tests were performed and statistical estimation was done to check the reproducibility depending on the criterion adopted in evaluating the electromechanical properties. From the results, it showed that the Sn-Cu double-layer stabilized CC tapes have the higher irreversible stress limit, but lower irreversible strain limit as compared to brass laminated ones. Through the repeated tests, it can be found that a small scattering of irreversible limits existed in both CC tape samples. Finally, similar strain sensitivity of $I_c$ in both CC tapes was obtained.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.761-777
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• 2021

This study presents a numerical investigation on the sensitivity of electromechanical (EM) impedance responses to inner damaged concrete of a prestressed anchorage zone. Firstly, the Ottosen yield criterion is selected to simulate the plasticity behavior of the concrete anchorage zone under the compressive loading. Secondly, several overloading cases are selected to analyze inner damage formations in the concrete of the anchorage zone. Using a finite element (FE) model of the anchorage zone, the relationship between applied forces and stresses is analyzed to illustrate inner plasticity regions in concrete induced by the overloading. Thirdly, EM impedance responses of surface-mounted PZT (lead-zirconate-titanate) sensors are numerically acquired before and after concrete damage occurrence in the anchorage zone. The variation of impedance responses is estimated using the RMSD (root-mean-square-deviation) damage metric to quantify the sensitivity of the signals to inner damaged concrete. Lastly, a novel PZT skin, which can measure impedance signatures in predetermined frequency ranges, is designed for the anchorage zone to sensitively monitor the EM impedance signals of the inner damaged concrete. The feasibility of the proposed method is numerically evaluated for a series of damage cases of the anchorage zone. The results reveal that the proposed impedance-based method is promising for monitoring inner damaged concrete in anchorage zones.

• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.34-37
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• 2023

The practical application of REBCO coated conductor (CC) tapes, vital for energy transmission (e.g., cable application) and high-field magnets (e.g., coil application), necessitates efficient and simple quality assessment procedures. This study introduces a systematic approach to assess the electromechanical properties of REBCO CC tapes under 77 K and self-field conditions. The approach involves customized tensile and bending tests that clarify the critical current (I_c) response of the CC tapes under mechanical loads induced by tension and bending. This study measures the retained Ic values of commercially available GdBCO CC tapes under 250 MPa tensile stress and 40 mm bending diameter. Through experimentation, the study demonstrates the resilience of these tapes and their suitability for applications. By presenting a simplified stress-based analysis and a bending test of the tapes, the study contributes to effective quality assessment methods for the development of practical superconducting products.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.31 no.10
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• pp.562-568
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• 2021

(Bi_1/2Na_1/2)TiO₃ (BNT)-based ceramics are considered promising candidates for actuator application owing to their excellent electromechanical strain properties However, to obtain large strain properties, there remain several issues such as thermal stability and high operating fields. Therefore, this study investigates a reduction of operating field in (0.98-x)Bi_1/2Na_1/2TiO₃-0.02 BiAlO₃-xSrTiO₃ (BNT-2BA-100xST, x = 0.20, 0.21, 0.22, 0.23, and 0.24) via analyses of the microstructure, crystal structure, dielectric, polarization, ferroelectric and electromechanical strain properties. The average grain size of BNT-${\underline{2}}$BA-100xST ceramics decreases with increasing ST content. Results of polarization and electromechanical strain properties indicate that a ferroelectric to relaxor state transition is induced by ST modification. As a consequence, a large electromechanical strain of 592 pm/V is obtained at a relatively low electric field of 4 kV/mm in 22 mol% ST-modified BNT-2BA ceramics. We believe that the materials synthesized in this study are promising candidates for actuator applications.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.26 no.2A
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• pp.363-370
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• 2006

It is proposed that the electromechanical relation of the conductive materials with high electrical resistance may be used to estimate the current stress of prestressing tendons. To choose the best conductive material to this end, we studied the electromechanical relations of carbon fibers and metalic heat wires experimentally. The strain of those materials was controlled instead of the stress during the experiment. It is found that the relation of carbon fibers can be modelled by a parabolic(or hyperbolic) function in the early stage of deformation. However because the relation is not consistent when it is unloaded and reload, carbon fibers are not suitable for this purpose. Metallic heat wires show a consistent linear relation during loading and unloading in the elastic deformation and are suitable for this purpose. To estimate the electromechanics relation of metallic wires, we developed a simple formula based on the rigid plasticity. We propose a new kind of prestressing tendons whose stress can be monitored. As a side result of this study, we found that the electromechanical relation of carbon fibers without epoxy matrix becomes almost linear after a certain strain.

• Proceedings of the Korean Fiber Society Conference
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• 1999.04a
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• pp.265-268
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• 1999

• Composites Research
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.40-46
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• 2005

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.383-386
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• 2010

• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.942-949
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• 2002

The use of a combined starter/generator integrated into the drive train of an automobile offers several possibilities for improvement of fuel economy The use of such a starter/generator system is made feasible by a switch from a 14 volts electrical system to a 42 volts system, however, the sizing of the components is not a trivial problem. This study combines a dynamic electromechanical model of the starter, battery and power electronics with the nonlinear mechanics of the piston/crankshaft system and a thermofluid model of the compression and expansion processes to investigate the cold start problem. The example involves the start of an eight cylinder engine at -25 degrees Celsius. This paper shows how the mechatronic V8 engine of an automotive starter/generator system for the startability works well.