• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.1463-1479
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• 2015

Lamb waves have been a promising candidate for quantitative damage identification for various engineering structures, taking advantage of their superb capabilities of traveling for long distances with fast propagation and low attenuation. However, the application of Lamb waves in damage identification so far has been hampered by the fact that the characteristic signals associated with defects are generally weaker compared with those arising from boundary reflections, mode conversions and environmental noises, making it a tough task to achieve satisfactory damage identification from the time series. With awareness of this challenge, this paper proposes a time reversal-based technique to enhance the strength of damage-scattered signals, which has been previously applied to bulk wave-based damage detection successfully. The investigation includes (i) an analysis of Lamb wave propagation in a plate, generated by PZT patches mounted on the structure; (ii) an introduction of the time reversal theory dedicated for waveform reconstruction with a narrow-band input; (iii) a process of enhancing damage-scattered signals based on time reversal focalization; and (iv) the experimental investigation of the proposed approach to enhance the damage identification on a composite plate. The results have demonstrated that signals scattered by delamination in the composite plate can be enhanced remarkably with the assistance of the proposed process, benefiting from which the damage in the plate is identified with ease and high precision.

• Journal of Power System Engineering
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.63-67
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• 2010

This paper introduces the eddy current signal characteristic of magnetic and non-magnetic gas turbine rotor. In the past, Magnetic particle inspection method was used in magnetic material for qualitative defect evaluation and the ultrasonic test method was used for quantitative evaluation. Nowadays, eddy current method is used in magnetic gas turbine rotor inspection due to advanced sensor design technology. We are studying on the magnetic gas turbine rotor by using eddy current method. We prepared diverse depth specimens made by magnetic and non-magnetic materials. We select optimum frequency according to material standard penetration data and experiment results. We got the signal on magnetic and non-magnetic material about 0.2 mm, 05 mm, 1.0 mm, 1.5 mm 2.0 mm and 2.5 mm depth defects and compare the signal amplitude and signal trend according to defect depth and frequency. The results show that signal amplitudes of magnetic are bigger than non-magnetic material and the trends are similar on every defect depth and frequency. The detection and resolution capabilities of eddy current are more effective in magnetic material than in non-magnetic materials. So, the eddy current method is effective inspection method on magnetic gas turbine rotor. And it has the merits of time saving and simple procedure by elimination of the ultrasonic inspection in traditional inspection method.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.374-382
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• 2009

Steam generator(SG) tube, as a barrier isolating primary to the secondary coolant system of nuclear power plants(NPP), must maintain the structural integrity far the public safety and its efficient power generation capacity. And SG tubes bearing defects must be timely detected and taken repair measures if needed. For the accomplishment of these objectives, SG tubes have been periodically examined by eddy current testing(ECT) on the basis of administrative notices and intensified SG management program(SGMP). Stress corrosion cracking(SCC) on the SG tubes is not easily detected and even missed since it has lower signal amplitude and other disturbing factors against its detection. However once SCC is developed, that can cause detrimental affects to the SG tubes due to its rapid propagation rate. Accordingly SCC is categorized as prime damage mechanism challenging the soundness of the SG tubes. In this study, reproduced EDM notch specimens are examined for the detectability and quantitative characterization of the axial ODSCC by +PT MRPC probe, containing pancake, +PT and shielded pancake coils apart in a single plane around the circumference. The results of this study are assumed to be applicable fur providing key information of engineering evaluation of SCC and improvement of confidence level of ECT on SG tubes.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.100-108
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• 2004

Purpose : Early degeneration of articular cartilage is accompanied by a loss of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) and the consequent change of the integrity. The purpose of this study was to biochemically quantify the loss of GAG, and to evaluate the $Gd(DTPA)^{2-}$-enhanced, and T1, T2, rho relaxation map for detection of the early degeneration of cartilage. Materials and Methods : A cartilage-bone block in size of $8mm\;\times\;10mm$ was acquired from the patella in each of three pigs. Quantitative analysis of GAG of cartilage was performed at spectrophotometry by use of dimethylmethylene blue. Each of cartilage blocks was cultured in one of three different media: two different culture media (0.2 mg/ml trypsin solution, 1mM Gd $(DTPA)^{2-}$ mixed trypsin solution) and the control media (phosphate buffered saline (PBS)). The cartilage blocks were cultured for 5 hrs, during which MR images of the blocks were obtained at one hour interval (0 hr, 1 hr, 2 hr, 3 hr, 4 hr, 5 hr). And then, additional culture was done for 24 hrs and 48 hrs. Both T1-weighted image (TR/TE, 450/22 ms), and mixed-echo sequence (TR/TE, 760/21-168ms; 8 echoes) were obtained at all times using field of view 50 mm, slice thickness 2 mm, and matrix $256\times512$. The MRI data were analyzed with pixel-by-pixel comparisons. The cultured cartilage-bone blocks were microscopically observed using hematoxylin & eosin, toluidine blue, alcian blue, and trichrome stains. Results : At quantitation analysis, GAG concentration in the culture solutions was proportional to the culture durations. The T1-signal of the cartilage-bone block cultured in the $Gd(DTPA)^{2-}$ mixed solution was significantly higher ($42\%$ in average, p<0.05) than that of the cartilage-bone block cultured in the trypsin solution alone. The T1, T2, rho relaxation times of cultured tissue were not significantly correlated with culture duration (p>0.05). However the focal increase in T1 relaxation time at superficial and transitional layers of cartilage was seen in $Gd(DTPA)^{2-}$ mixed culture. Toluidine blue and alcian blue stains revealed multiple defects in whole thickness of the cartilage cultured in trypsin media. Conclusion : The quantitative analysis showed gradual loss of GAG proportional to the culture duration. Microimagings of cartilage with $Gd(DTPA)^{2-}$-enhancement, relaxation maps were available by pixel size of $97.9\times195\;{\mu}m$. Loss of GAG over time better demonstrated with $Gd(DTPA)^{2-}$-enhanced images than with T1, T2, rho relaxation maps. Therefore $Gd(DTPA)^{2-}$-enhanced T1-weighted image is superior for detection of early degeneration of cartilage.