• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
• /
• v.26 no.6
• /
• pp.82-92
• /
• 2022

This study aims to investigate the effect of total electrochemical cell resistance (TECR) on electrochemical impedance (EI) measurements of reinforced concrete (RC) by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) using a three-electrode system. A series of experimental study is performed to measure electrochemical behavior of a steel bar embedded in a concrete cube specimen, with a side length of 200 mm, in various experimental conditions. Main variables include concrete dry conditions, coupling resistance between sensing electrodes and concrete surface, and area of the counter electrode. It is demonstrated that EI values remains stable when the compliant voltage of a measuring device is sufficiently great compared to the potential drop caused by TECR of concrete specimens. It is confirmed that the effect of the coupling resistance of TECR is far more influential than other two factors (concrete dry conditions and area of the counter electrode). The results in this study can be used as a fundamental basis for development of a surface-mount sensor for corrosion monitoring of reinforced concrete structures exposed to wet-and-dry cycles under marine environment.

• Earthquakes and Structures
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.29-44
• /
• 2020

The effectiveness and the sensitivity of a Wireless impedance/Admittance Monitoring System (WiAMS) for the prompt damage diagnosis of two single-storey single-span Reinforced Concrete (RC) frames under cyclic loading is experimentally investigated. The geometrical and the reinforcement characteristics of the RC structural members of the frames represent typical old RC frame structure without consideration of seismic design criteria. The columns of the frames are vulnerable to shear failure under lateral load due to their low height-to-depth ratio and insufficient transverse reinforcement. The proposed Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) system comprises of specially manufactured autonomous portable devices that acquire the in-situ voltage frequency responses of a network of twenty piezoelectric transducers mounted to the RC frames. Measurements of external and internal small-sized piezoelectric patches are utilized for damage localization and assessment at various and increased damage levels as the magnitude of the imposed lateral cycle deformations increases. A bare RC frame and a strengthened one using a pair of steel crossed tension-ties (X-bracing) have been tested in order to check the sensitivity of the developed WiAMS in different structural conditions since crack propagation, damage locations and failure mode of the examined frames vary. Indeed, the imposed loading caused brittle shear failure to the column of the bare frame and the formation of plastic hinges at the beam ends of the X-braced frame. Test results highlighted the ability of the proposed SHM to identify incipient damages due to concrete cracking and steel yielding since promising early indication of the forthcoming critical failures before any visible sign has been obtained.

• Smart Structures and Systems
• /
• v.15 no.4
• /
• pp.997-1018
• /
• 2015

Structural health monitoring along with damage detection and assessment of its severity level in non-accessible reinforced concrete members using piezoelectric materials becomes essential since engineers often face the problem of detecting hidden damage. In this study, the potential of the detection of flexural damage state in the lower part of the mid-span area of a simply supported reinforced concrete beam using piezoelectric sensors is analytically investigated. Two common severity levels of flexural damage are examined: (i) cracking of concrete that extends from the external lower fiber of concrete up to the steel reinforcement and (ii) yielding of reinforcing bars that occurs for higher levels of bending moment and after the flexural cracking. The purpose of this investigation is to apply finite element modeling using admittance based signature data to analyze its accuracy and to check the potential use of this technique to monitor structural damage in real-time. It has been indicated that damage detection capability greatly depends on the frequency selection rather than on the level of the harmonic excitation loading. This way, the excitation loading sequence can have a level low enough that the technique may be considered as applicable and effective for real structures. Further, it is concluded that the closest applied piezoelectric sensor to the flexural damage demonstrates higher overall sensitivity to structural damage in the entire frequency band for both damage states with respect to the other used sensors. However, the observed sensitivity of the other sensors becomes comparatively high in the peak values of the root mean square deviation index.

• Journal of Surface Science and Engineering
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.65-73
• /
• 1994

Effects of deposition parameter on the ionic conductivity and structural change of the Lithium borosili-cate solid electrolyte films, prepared by rf sputtering using 7$LI_2O-3B_2O_3-1SiO_2$ single phase target and also a mosaic target enriched with $LI_2O$, were analyzed by measuring AC impedance and IR absorption spectra for the films. Thed solid electrolyte film deposited from the single phase target exhibited very low ionic conductivi-ty of $10^{-10}{\Omega}^{-1}cm{-1}$ at room temperature, a result of low $Li^+$ ion content(7.52 at%) in the film. The $Li^+$ con-ductivity for the films deposited from the mosaic target, however, significantly increased to $10^{-7}{\Omega}^{-1}cm{-1}$ due to both an increased $Li^+$content (14.75 at %) and a structural change of the films. The increased ionic conduc-tivity of the film appears to be associated with an easiness of ionic mobility by structural change of glassy film from a some close packed network structure to a open one. These structural changes of film were found to be closely related to the increase in the peak intensity at~$960cm^{-1}$ of IR absorption spectra for the glassy films. With increasing either argon pressure from 3 to 21 mtorr or rf power from 2 to 3 W/$cm^2$, the $Li^+$ conduc-tivity for the films significantly increased to an order of $10^{-6}{\Omega}^{-1}cm{-1}$ due to an increase in openness of film structure, as confirmed by both an increase in the IR absorption peak intensity at ~$960cm^{-1}$ and a resultant reduction of activation energy for mobility of $Li^+$ ion.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
• /
• v.4 no.4
• /
• pp.121-129
• /
• 2005

Basic design concept of the future steel structure requires environmental compatibility and maintenance free capability to minimize economic burdens. Recent trends in alloy design for advanced weathering steel include addition of various alloying elements which can enhance formation of stable and protective rust layer even in polluted urban and/or high $Cl^{-}$ environment. The effects of Ca, Ni, W, and Mo addition on the corrosion property of Ca-modified weathering steel were evaluated through a series of electrochemical tests (pH measurement and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy: EIS) and structural analysis on rust layer formed on the steel surface. Ca-containing inclusions of Ca-Al-Mn-O-S compound are formed if the amount of Ca addition is over 25 ppm. Steels with higher Ca content results in higher pH value for condensed water film formed on the steel surface, however, addition of Ni, W, and Mo does not affect pH value of the thin water film. The steels containing a high amount of Ca, Ni, W and Mo showed a dense and compact rust layer with enhanced amount of ${\alpha}-FeOOH$. Addition of Ni, W and Mo in Ca-modified weathering steel shows anion-selectivity and contributes to lower the permeability of $Cl^{-}$ ions. Effect of each alloying element on the formation of protective rust layer will be discussed in detail with respect to corrosion resistance.

• Advances in materials Research
• /
• v.1 no.2
• /
• pp.115-128
• /
• 2012

The structural and electrical properties of $(1-x)Ba(Sm_{1/2}Nb_{1/2})O_3-xBaTiO_3$; ($0{\leq}x{\leq}1$) ceramics were prepared by conventional ceramic technique at $1375^{\circ}C$/7 h in air atmosphere. The crystal symmetry, space group and unit cell dimensions were derived from the X-ray diffraction (XRD) data using FullProf software whereas crystallite size and lattice strain were estimated from Williamson-Hall approach. XRD analysis of the compound indicated the formation of a single-phase cubic structure with the space group Pm m. Dielectric study revealed that the compound $0.75Ba(Sm_{1/2}Nb_{1/2})O_3-0.25BaTiO_3$ is having low and ${\varepsilon}^{\prime}$ and ${\varepsilon}^{{\prime}{\prime}}$ a low $T_{CC}$ (< 5%) in the working temperature range (up to+$100^{\circ}C$) which makes this composition suitable for capacitor application and may be designated as 'Stable Low-K' Class I material as per the specifications of the Electronic Industries Association. The correlated barrier hopping model was employed to successfully explain the mechanism of charge transport in the system. The ac conductivity data were used to evaluate the density of states at Fermi level, minimum hopping length and apparent activation energy of the compounds.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.39-50
• /
• 2007

This paper presents 3D infinite elements for the elastodynamic problem with multi-layered half-space. Five different types of infinite elements are formulated by using approximate expressions of multiple wave components for the wave function in multi-layered soil media. They are horizontal, horizontal-corner, vortical, vertical-corner and vertical-horizontal-comer infinite elements. The elements can effectively be used for simulating wane radiation problems with multiple wave components. Numerical example analyses are presented for rigid disk, square footings and embedded footing on homogeneous and layered half-space. The numerical results show the effectiveness of the proposed infinite elements.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
• /
• 2007.05a
• /
• pp.136-141
• /
• 2007

This paper introduces an artificial neuron which is a nano composite continuous sensor. The continuous nano sensor is fabricated as a thin and narrow polymer film sensor that is made of carbon nanotubes composites with a PMMA or a silicone matrix. The sensor can be embedded onto a structure like a neuron in a human body and it can detect deteriorations of the structure. The electrochemical impedance and dynamic strain response of the neuron change due to deterioration of the structure where the sensor is located. A network of the long nano sensor can form a structural neural system to provide large area coverage and an assurance of the operational health of a structure without the need for actuators and complex wave propagation analyses that are used with other methods. The artificial neuron is expected to effectively detect damage in large complex structures including composite helicopter blades and composite aircraft and vehicles.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
• /
• 2010.06a
• /
• pp.20-20
• /
• 2010

The effect of excimer laser annealing on the structural and dielectric behaviors of $PbZr_{0.52}Ti_{0.48}O_3$ (PZT) thin films has been investigated. The amorphous PZT thin films were prepared on Pt/Ti/$SiO_2$/Si substrates by a sol-gel method. The PZT precursor was prepared from lead acetate, zirconium acetylacetonate, and titanium isopropoxide. The starting materials were dissolved in n-propanol and 1,3-propanediol. After, the amorphous PZT thin films were laser-annealed (using KrF excimer laser) as a function of the laser energy density and the number of laser pulse. Structural properties of PZT thin films are characterized by using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The dielectric characterization was done on a RT66A test system and a Agilent 4294A impedance analyzer. The PZT thin films show that excimer laser irradiation drastically improved the crystallization and dielectric properties of the PZT thin films, depending on the energy density and the pulse number.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
• /
• 2011.04a
• /
• pp.648-654
• /
• 2011

The feed-water piping system constitutes a complex flow impedance network incorporating dynamic transfer characteristics which will amplify some pulsation frequencies. Understanding pressure pulsation waves for the feed-water recirculation piping system with cavitation problem of flow control valve is very important to prevent acoustic resonance. Feed water recirculation piping system is excited by potential sources of the shock pulse waves by cavitation of flow control valve. The pulsation becomes the source of structural vibration at the piping system. If it coincides with the natural frequency of the pipe system, excessive vibration results. High-level vibration due to the pressure pulsation affects the reliability of the plant piping system. This paper discusses the piping vibration due to the effect of shock pulsation by the cavitation of the flow control valves for the recirculation piping of feed-water pump system in combined cycle power plants.