• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.129-155
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• 2022

In this study, parametric analyses on a hoop-type PZT (lead-zirconate-titanate) interface are performed to estimate the effects of the PZT interface's materials and geometries on sensitivities of impedance responses under strand breakage. The paper provides a guideline for installing the PZT interface suitable in tendon anchorages for damage-sensitive impedance signatures. Firstly, the concept of the PZT interface-based impedance monitoring technique in prestressed tendon anchorage is briefly described. A FE (finite element) analysis is conducted on a multi-strands anchorage equipped with a hoop-type PZT interface for analyzing materials and geometric effects. Various material properties, geometric sizes of the interface, and PZT sensor are simulated under two states of prestressing force for acquiring impedance responses. Changes in impedance signals are statistically quantified to analyze the effect of these factors on damage-sensitive impedance monitoring in the tendon anchorage. Finally, experimental analyses are performed to demonstrate the effects of materials and geometrical properties of the PZT interface on damage-sensitive impedance monitoring.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.375-393
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• 2015

In this study, local dynamic characteristics of mountable PZT interfaces are numerically analyzed to verify their feasibility on impedance monitoring of the prestress-loss in tendon anchorage subsystems. Firstly, a prestressed tendon-anchorage system with mountable PZT interfaces is described. Two types of mountable interfaces which are different in geometric and boundary conditions are designed for impedance monitoring in the tendon-anchorage subsystems. Secondly, laboratory experiments are performed to evaluate the impedance monitoring via the two mountable PZT interfaces placed on the tendon-anchorage under the variation of prestress forces. Impedance features such as frequency-shifts and root-mean-square-deviations are quantified for the two PZT interfaces. Finally, local dynamic characteristics of the two PZT interfaces are numerically analyzed to verify their performances on impedance monitoring at the tendon-anchorage system. For the two PZT interfaces, the relationships between structural parameters and local vibration responses are examined by modal sensitivity analyses.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.339-353
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• 2005

This paper presents the results of a feasibility study on an impedance-based damage detection technique using thickness modes of piezoelectric (PZT) patches for steel structures. It is newly proposed to analyze the changes of the impedances of the thickness modes (frequency range > 1 MHz) at the PZT based on its resonant frequency shifts rather than those of the lateral modes (frequency range > 20 kHz) at the PZT based on its root mean square (RMS) deviations, since the former gives more significant variations in the resonant frequency shifts of the signals for identifying localities of small damages under the same measurement condition. In this paper, firstly, a numerical analysis was performed to understand the basics of the NDE technique using the impedance using an idealized 1-D electro-mechanical model consisting of a steel plate and a PZT patch. Then, experimental studies were carried out on two kinds of structural members of steel. Comparisons have been made between the results of crack detections using the thickness and lateral modes of the PZT patches.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.11-23
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• 2011

In this study, a finite element(FE) analysis on electro-mechanical impedance response of cable-anchor connection interface under various anchor force is presented. In order to achieve the objective, the following approaches are implemented. Firstly, an interface washer coupled with piezoelectric(PZT) material is designed for monitoring cable-force loss. The interface washer is a small aluminum plate on which a PZT patch is surface-bonded. Cable-force loss could be monitored by installing the interface washer between the anchor plate and the anchorage of cable-anchor connection and examining the changes of impedance of the interface washer. Secondly, a FE model for cable-anchor connection is established to examine the effect of cable-force on impedance response of interface washer. Also, the effects of geometrical and material properties of the interface washer on impedance responses under various cable-forces are investigated. Finally, validation of the FE analysis is experimentally evaluated by a lab-scale cable-anchor connection.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.463-477
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• 2022

In this paper, a hybrid vibration-impedance-based damage monitoring approach is experimentally evaluated for prestressed concrete (PSC) structures with local strand breakage. Firstly, the hybrid monitoring scheme is designed to alert damage occurrence from changes in vibration characteristics and to localize strand breakage from changes in impedance signatures. Secondly, a full-scale PSC anchorage is experimented to measure global vibration responses and local impedance responses under a sequence of simulated strand-breakage events. Finally, the measured data are analyzed using the hybrid monitoring framework. The change of structural condition (i.e., damage extent) induced by the local strand breakage is estimated by changes in a few natural frequencies obtained from a few accelerometers in the structure. The damaged strand is locally identified by tomography analysis of impedance features measured via an array of PZT (lead-zirconate-titanate) sensors mounted on the anchorage. Experimental results demonstrate that the strand breakage in the PSC structure can be accurately assessed by using the combined vibration and impedance features.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.80-86
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• 2007

We have investigated on the development of 2-2 type piezocomposites that have better piezoelectric activity and lower acoustic impedance than those of conventional piezoceramics. In this study, we have investigated the piezoelectric and acoustic properties of 2-2 type piezocomposites sensor which was fabricated using dice-and-fill technique for the different volume fraction of PZT. The specific acoustic impedance of 2-2 type piezocomposites decreased linearly when PZT volume fraction was decreased. The resonance characteristics measured by an impedance analyzer(HP4194A) were similar to the analysis of finite element method (FEM). The resonance characteristics and the electromechanical coupling factor were the best when the volume fraction PZT was 0.6. It also showed the highest result from the standpoint of sensitivity, bandwidth and ring-down property and so on at the same condition. The specific characteristics show that the 2-2 type piezocomposites turned out to be superior to the ultrasonic sensor composed by single phase PZT.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.26 no.1E
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• pp.14-20
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• 2007

The characteristics of a PZT transducer with a cylindrical rear surface were investigated theoretically and experimentally. The transducer was assumed as a set of finite rectangular ceramic elements for applying the staircase model to the theoretical analysis and the KLM equivalent circuit model was modified for analyzing its electric impedance and pulse-echo response. All results were compared with those of a conventional plane transducer which has a constant thickness of average value for the cylindrical arc. It was noted that the transducer with a cylindrical rear surface has several subsidiary resonant frequencies which are able to widen bandwidth.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.870-874
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• 2004

This work presents a study on development of a practical and quantitative technique for assessment of the structural health condition by Piezoelectric impedance-based technique associated with longitudinal wave propagation method. The bolt fastening condition is adjusted by torque wrench. In order to estimate the damage condition numerically, three damage indices, impedance peak frequency shift ${\Delta}F$, peak amplitude ratio $\delta$ and quality factor ratio $\gamma$, are proposed in this paper. Furthermore, an assessment method is described for estimation of the damage by using these three damage indices.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2006.11a
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• pp.603-606
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• 2006

We present a study on the development of a practical and quantitative technique for the assessment of the structural health condition with using piezoceramic(PZT) sensors. The electro-impedance-based technique with the PZT patches is very sensitive for evaluation of the incipient and small damage in a high frequency range, and however the commonly traditional modal analysis method is effective only for considerably larger damages in low frequency range. The paper presents the technique in detecting and characterizing real-time damage on the specimen that is an aluminum plate fastened with bolts and nuts by different torques and as well a plate with a crack. By using the special arrangement of the PZT sensors, the required longitudinal wave is generated through the specimen. A large number of experiments are conducted and the different conditions of the specimens, i.e. the location and extent of loosening bolts, and the plate with a crack are simulated. respectively. Since fixing and loosening the loosened bolt is controlled by a torque wrench, we can control exactly the experiment of the different torques. Compared with the simulated healthy condition, we can find whether or not there is a damage in the specimen with using an impedance analyzer with the PZT sensors. Several indices are discussed and used for assessing the different simulated damages. As for the location of bolt loosening, the RMSD is found to be the most appropriate index for numerical assessment and as well the RMSD shows strongly linear relationship for assessing the extent of the bolt loosening, and the frequency peak shift ${\Delta}F$ is used to assess the cracked plate. The possibility of repeatability of the pristine condition signatures is also presented and the appropriate frequency range and interval are uniquely selected through large numbers of experiments.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Information Technology Applications Conference
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.215-218
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• 2005

We have investigated on the development of 2-2 piezocomposites that have better piezoelectric activity and lower acoustic impedance than those of conventional piezoceramics. In this study, we have investigated the piezoelectric and acoustic properties of 2-2 piezocomposites sensor which were fabricated using dice-and-fill technique for the different volume fraction of PZT. The resonance characteristics measured by an impedance analyzer were similar to the analysis of finite element method. The resonance characteristics and the electromechanical coupling factor were the best when the volume fraction PZT was 0.6. It also showed the highest result from the standpoint of sensitivity, bandwidth and ring-down property and so on at the same condition. The specific characteristics shows that the 2-2 piezocomposites turned out to be superior to the ultrasonic sensor composed by single phase PZT.