• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.338-340
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• 2017

Breakdown of solid insulating materials in power equipment could result in undesired outages and replacements, and may be due to an increase in electric stress on the material. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct a proper diagnosis of materials before their practical use. In this work, a few inherent properties of different non-cellulosic insulating materials, such as Nomex, Teflon, laminated Nomex, glass bonded mica, epoxy resin bonded mica paper, and epoxy resin bonded fiberglass, have been evaluated by performing non-destructive dielectric diagnostic measurements, and an attempt has been made to correlate these basic parameters to evaluate the breakdown strength (BDS). An equation has been proposed using a basic theory which defines the correlation between the BDS, dielectric constant, dissipation factor, sample thickness, and volume resistivity. The results obtained from the equation are also compared with the experimental values. The suggested equation will be helpful to predict the BDS of any non-cellulosic material without experimentation in the laboratory.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.319-326
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• 2012

Purpose: Cheese texture is an important sensory attribute mainly considered for consumers' acceptance. The feasibility of nondestructive measurements of cheese texture was explored using non-contact ultrasonic sensors. Methods: A novel non-contact air instability compensation ultrasonic technique was used for five varieties of hard cheeses to measure ultrasonic parameters, such as velocity and attenuation coefficient. Five texture properties, such as fracturability, hardness, springiness, cohesiveness, and chewiness were assessed by a texture profile analysis (TPA) and correlated with the ultrasonic parameters. Results: Texture properties of five varieties of hard cheese were estimated using ultrasonic parameters with regression analysis models. The most effective model predicted the fracturability, hardness, springiness, and chewiness, with the determination coefficients of 0.946 (RMSE = 21.82 N), 0.944 (RMSE = 63.46 N), 0.797 (RMSE = 0.06 ratio), and 0.833 (RMSE = 17.49 N), respectively. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that the non-contact air instability compensation ultrasonic sensing technique can be an effective tool for rapid and non-destructive determination of cheese texture.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.205-213
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• 2018

Development and validation of crop models often require measurements of biomass for the crop of interest. Considerable efforts would be needed to obtain a reasonable amount of biomass data because the destructive sampling of a given crop is usually used. The Kinect sensor, which has a combination of image and depth sensors, can be used for estimating crop biomass without using destructive sampling approach. This approach could provide more data sets for model development and validation. The objective of this study was to examine the applicability of the Kinect sensor for estimation of chinese cabbage fresh weight. The fresh weight of five chinese cabbage was measured and compared with estimates using the Kinect sensor. The estimates were obtained by scanning individual chinese cabbage to create point cloud, removing noise, and building a three dimensional model with a set of free software. It was found that the 3D model created using the Kinect sensor explained about 98.7% of variation in fresh weight of chinese cabbage. Furthermore, the correlation coefficient between estimates and measurements were highly significant, which suggested that the Kinect sensor would be applicable to estimation of fresh weight for chinese cabbage. Our results demonstrated that a depth sensor allows for a non-destructive sampling approach, which enables to collect observation data for crop fresh weight over time. This would help development and validation of a crop model using a large number of reliable data sets, which merits further studies on application of various depth sensors to crop dry weight measurements.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.195-208
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• 2008

This paper summarizes the experimental vibration-based structural health monitoring study on a historical monument in Jordan. In this work, and within the framework of the European Commission funded project "wide-Range Non-Intrusive Devices Toward Conservation of Historical Monuments in the Mediterranean Area", a seven and a half century old minaret located in Ajloun (73 km north of the capital Amman) is studied. Because of their cultural value, touristic importance and the desire to preserve them for the future, only non-destructive tests were allowed for the experimental investigation of such heritage structures. Therefore, after dimensional measurements and determination of the current state of damage in the selected monument, ambient vibration tests are conducted to measure the accelerations at strategic locations of the system. Output-only modal identification technique is applied to extract the modal parameters such as natural frequencies and mode shapes. A Non-linear version of SAP 2000 computer program is used to develop a three-dimensional finite element model of the minaret. The developed numerical model is then updated according to the modal parameters obtained experimentally by the ambient-vibration test-results and the measured characteristics of old stone and deteriorated mortar. Moreover, a parametric identification method using the N4Sid state space model is employed to model the dynamic behavior of the minaret and to build up a robust, immune and noise tolerant model.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.709-717
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• 2012

To establish the standard of ripe kiwifruit sorting, near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy was performed on kiwifruit sampled from three farms. Destructive measurements of flesh firmness, soluble solids content (SSC), and acidity were performed and compared to measurement using NIR reflectance spectrums from 408 to 2,492 nm. NIR predictions of those quality factors were calculated using the modified partial least square regression method. Flesh firmness was predicted with a standard error of prediction (SEP) of 3.32 N and with a correlation coefficient ($R^2$) of 0.88. SSC was predicted with SEP of $0.49^{\circ}Brix$ and with $R^2$ of 0.98. Acidity was predicted with SEP of 0.28% and with $R^2$ of 0.91. Kiwifruit ripened at $20^{\circ}C$ for 15 days showed uneven qualities with normal distribution. Considering the SEP of each parameter, kiwifruit after ripening treatment could be non-destructively predicted their qualities and sorted by flesh firmness or soluble solids content through NIR prediction.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.67-74
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• 2010

To a series of vibration records obtained from experimental modal testing using a fixed hammer and roving accelerometers for greenhouse arch structures, modal parameters such as natural frequencies, damping ratios and mode shapes are extracted by applying the two most advanced system identification methods in the frequency-domain up to now, so-called PolyMAX and FDD. The former involves both input and output data, while the latter utilizes only the output data. The possibility of determining the static buckling load, detecting damages, etc., for very slender steel-pipe arches by means of a non-destructive testing method based on vibration measurements is primarily investigated. The extracted modal parameters generally correlated well with those obtained using finite element analysis, demonstrating promising results for further on-going research.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.45-52
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• 2013

We developed a Impulse Response Measurement System, including hardware system and data analysis software, for non-destructive test of slab structure. And, we carried out impulse response measurements on the pavement to test performance of the system. In the field test, the developed system measured impulse response stably and showed parameters immediately. Test results showed that dynamic stiffness and average mobility varies significantly depending on the characteristics of the pavement materials. Some data showed anomalous values those reflect variations in pavement itself or subsurface ground. Developed system gives informations of conditions of slab structure easily and quickly. So, 2-D monitoring with the system will be helpful in maintaining various slab structures.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.637-646
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• 2007

An UET (ultrasound excited thermography) has been used for several years for a remote non-destructive testing in the automotive and aircraft industry. It provides a thermo sonic image for a defect detection. A thermograhy is based On a propagation and a reflection of a thermal wave, which is launched from the surface into the inspected sample by an absorption of a modulated radiation. For an energy deposition to a sample, the UET uses an ultrasound excited vibration energy as an internal heat source. In this paper the applicability of the UET for a realtime defect detection is described. Measurements were performed on two kinds of pipes made from a copper and a CFRP material. In the interior of the CFRP pipe (70mm diameter), a groove (width - 6mm, depth - 2.7mm, and length - 70mm) was engraved by a milling. In the case of the copper pipe, a defect was made with a groove (width - 2mm, depth - 1mm, and length - 110 mm) by the same method. An ultrasonic vibration energy of a pulsed type is injected into the exterior side of the pipe. A hot spot, which is a small area around the defect was considerably heated up when compared to the other intact areas, was observed. A test On a damaged copper pipe produced a thermo sonic image, which was an excellent image contrast when compared to a CFRP pipe. Test on a CFRP pipe with a subsurface defect revealed a thermo sonic image at the groove position which was a relatively weak contrast.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.603-612
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• 2012

In this research, the feasibility of non-destructive measurement technique of pungency measurement was investigated for the red-pepper powders produced in different domestic areas in South Korea. The near-infrared absorption spectra in the range of 1100 nm~2300 nm was used to measure capsaicinoids content in red-pepper powders by using a NIR spectroscopy equipped with Acousto-optic tunable filters (AOTF). Fourth three different red-pepper powders from 14 different locations were collected and separated in three different particle size (below 0.425 mm, 0.425~0.71 mm, 0.71~1.4 mm) for the spectral measurements. The partial least square regression (PLSR) models to predict the capsaicinoids content depends on particle size were developed with the measured spectra. The determinant coefficients and standard errors of the developed models for the red-pepper powders of below 0.425 mm, 0.425~0.71 mm, and 0.71~1.4 mm were in the range of 0.859~0.887 and 12.90~12.99 mg/100 g, respectively. The PLS model with the pretreatment of Standard Normal Variate (SNV) for the red-pepper powders below 1.4 mm particle size showed the best performance with the determinant coefficient of 0.844 and the standard error of 14.63 mg/100 g.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.49 no.12
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• pp.924-929
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• 2011

It is well known that grain boundary cavitation is the main failure mechanism in austenitic stainless steel under tensile hold creep-fatigue interaction conditions. The cavities are nucleated at the grain boundary during cyclic loading and grow to become grain boundary cracks. The attenuation of ultrasound depends on scattering and absorption in polycrystalline materials. Scattering occurs when a propagation wave encounters microstructural discontinuities, such as internal voids or cavities. Since the density of the creep-fatigue cavities increases with the fatigue cycles, the attenuation of ultrasound will also be increased with the fatigue cycles and this attenuation can be detected nondestructively. In this study, it is found that individual grain boundary cavities are formed and grow up to about 100 cycles and then, these cavities coalesce to become cracks. The measured ultrasonic attenuation increased with the cycles up to cycle 100, where it reached a maximum value and then decreased with further cycles. These experimental measurements strongly indicate that the open pores of cavities contribute to the attenuation of ultrasonic waves. However, when the cavities develop, at the grain boundary cracks whose crack surfaces are in contact with each other, there is no longer any open space and the ultrasonic wave may propagate across the cracks. Therefore, the attenuation of ultrasonic waves will be decreased. This phenomenon of maximum attenuation is very important to judge the stage of grain boundary crack development, which is the indication of the dangerous stage of the structures.