• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.271-278
• /
• 2021

In this study, a chlorination technique for recycling Li₂ZrO₃, a reaction product of ZrO₂-assisted rinsing process, was investigated to minimize the generation of secondary radioactive pyroprocessing waste. It was found that the reaction temperature was a key parameter that determined the reaction rate and maximum conversion ratio. In the temperature range of 400-600℃, an increase in the reaction temperature resulted in a profound increase in the reaction rate. Hence, according to the experimental results, a reaction temperature of at least 450℃ was proposed to ensure a Li₂ZrO₃ conversion ratio that exceeded 80% within 8 h of the reaction time. The activation energy was found to be 102 ± 2 kJ·mol^-1·K^-1 between 450 and 500℃. The formation of LiCl and ZrO₂ as reaction products was confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis. The experimental results obtained at various total flow rates revealed that the overall reaction rate depends on the Cl₂ mass transfer rate in the experimental condition. The results of this study prove that the chlorination technique provides a solution to minimize the amount of radioactive waste generated during the ZrO₂-assisted rinsing process.

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

• Smart Structures and Systems
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.589-598
• /
• 2022

Timber structures are susceptible to structural damages caused by variations in moisture content (MC), inducing severe durability deterioration and safety issues. Therefore, it is of great significance to detect MC levels in timber structures. Compared to current methods for timber MC detection, which are time-consuming and require bulky equipment deployment, Lead Zirconate Titanate (PZT)-enabled stress wave sensing combined with statistic machine learning classification proposed in this paper show the advantage of the portable device and ease of operation. First, stress wave signals from different MC cases are excited and received by PZT sensors through active sensing. Subsequently, two non-baseline features are extracted from these stress wave signals. Finally, these features are fed to a statistic machine learning classifier (i.e., naïve Bayesian classification) to achieve MC detection of timber structures. Numerical simulations validate the feasibility of PZT-enabled sensing to perceive MC variations. Tests referring to five MC cases are conducted to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method. Results present high accuracy for timber MC detection, showing a great potential to conduct rapid and long-term monitoring of the MC level of timber structures in future field applications.

• Proceedings of the Korea Association of Crystal Growth Conference
• /
• 1998.06a
• /
• pp.57-60
• /
• 1998

Lean zirconate titanate (PZT) is an attractive material for the memory device applications. We have investigated Pt and{{{{ { RuO}_{2 } }}}} as a botton electrode for a device application of PZT thin film. The bottom electrodes were prepared by using an RF magnetron sputtering method. The substrate temperature influenced the resistivity of Pt and {{{{ { RuO}_{2 } }}}} a s well as the film crystal structure. XRD examination shows that a preferred(111) orientations for the substrate temperature of 30$0^{\circ}C$. From the XRD and AFM results, we recommend the substrate temperature of 30$0^{\circ}C$ for the bottom electrode growth. We investigated and anneal temperature effect because Perovskite PZT structure is recommended for the memory device applications and the structural transformation is occurred only after and elevated heat treatment. As post anneal temperature was increased from RT to $700^{\circ}C$, the resistivity of Rt and {{{{ { RuO}_{2 } }}}} w as decreased. Surface morphology was observed by AFM as a function of post anneal temperature.

• Smart Structures and Systems
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.55-71
• /
• 2013

Structural health monitoring (SHM) is vital for detecting the onset of damage and for preventing catastrophic failure of civil infrastructure systems. In particular, piezoelectric transducers have the ability to excite and actively interrogate structures (e.g., using surface waves) while measuring their response for sensing and damage detection. In fact, piezoelectric transducers such as lead zirconate titanate (PZT) and poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) have been used for various laboratory/field tests and possess significant advantages as compared to visual inspection and vibration-based methods, to name a few. However, PZTs are inherently brittle, and PVDF films do not possess high piezoelectricity, thereby limiting each of these devices to certain specific applications. The objective of this study is to design, characterize, and validate piezoelectric nanocomposites consisting of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles assembled in a PVDF copolymer matrix for sensing and SHM applications. These films provide greater mechanical flexibility as compared to PZTs, yet possess enhanced piezoelectricity as compared to pristine PVDF copolymers. This study started with spin coating dispersed ZnO- and PVDF-TrFE-based solutions to fabricate the piezoelectric nanocomposites. The concentration of ZnO nanoparticles was varied from 0 to 20 wt.% (in 5 % increments) to determine their influence on bulk film piezoelectricity. Second, their electric polarization responses were obtained for quantifying thin film remnant polarization, which is directly correlated to piezoelectricity. Based on these results, the films were poled (at 50 $MV-m^{-1}$) to permanently align their electrical domains and to enhance their bulk film piezoelectricity. Then, a series of hammer impact tests were conducted, and the voltage generated by poled ZnO-based thin films was compared to commercially poled PVDF copolymer thin films. The hammer impact tests showed comparable results between the prototype and commercial samples, and increasing ZnO content provided enhanced piezoelectric performance. Lastly, the films were further validated for sensing using different energy levels of hammer impact, different distances between the impact locations and the film electrodes, and cantilever free vibration testing for dynamic strain sensing.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
• /
• v.30 no.5
• /
• pp.183-188
• /
• 2020

Lead zinc niobate (PZN)-added lead zirconate titanate (PZT) thick films with thickness of 5~10 ㎛ were fabricated on silicon and sapphire substrates using aerosol deposition method. The contents of PZN were varied from 0 %, 20 % and to 40 %. The PZN-added PZT film showed poorer electrical properties than pure PZT film when the films were coated on silicon substrate and annealed at 700℃. On the other hand, the PZN-added PZT film showed higher remanent polarization and dielectric constant values than pure PZT film when the films were coated on sapphire and annealed at 900℃. The ferroelectric and dielectric characteristics of 20 % PZN-added PZT films annealed at 900℃ were compared with the result values obtained from bulk ceramic specimen with same composition sintered at 1200℃. As annealing temperature increased, dielectric constant increased. These came from enhanced crystallization and grain growth by post heat treatment.

• 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.19 no.2
• /
• pp.181-194
• /
• 2017

In order to investigate the interface debonding defects detection mechanism between steel tube and concrete core of concrete-filled steel tubes (CFSTs), multi-physical fields coupling finite element models constituted of a surface mounted Piezoceramic Lead Zirconate Titanate (PZT) actuator, an embedded PZT sensor and a circular cross section of CFST column are established. The stress wave initiation and propagation induced by the PZT actuator under sinusoidal and sweep frequency excitations are simulated with a two dimensional (2D) plain strain analysis and the difference of stress wave fields close to the interface debonding defect and within the cross section of the CFST members without and with debonding defects are compared in time domain. The linearity and stability of the embedded PZT response under sinusoidal signals with different frequencies and amplitudes are validated. The relationship between the amplitudes of stress wave and the measurement distances in a healthy CFST cross section is also studied. Meanwhile, the responses of PZT sensor under both sinusoidal and sweep frequency excitations are compared and the influence of debonding defect depth and length on the output voltage is also illustrated. The results show the output voltage signal amplitude and head wave arriving time are affected significantly by debonding defects. Moreover, the measurement of PZT sensor is sensitive to the initiation of interface debonding defects. Furthermore, wavelet packet analysis on the voltage signal under sweep frequency excitations is carried out and a normalized wavelet packet energy index (NWPEI) is defined to identify the interfacial debonding. The value of NWPEI attenuates with the increase in the dimension of debonding defects. The results help understand the debonding defects detection mechanism for circular CFST members with PZT technique.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
• /
• v.25 no.6
• /
• pp.239-244
• /
• 2015

Lead zirconate titanate (PZT) thick films with thickness of $10{\sim}20{\mu}m$ were fabricated on silicon substrate by aerosol deposition method. As-deposited films on silicon were annealed at the temperatures of $700^{\circ}C$. The electrical properties of films deposited by PZT powders were characterized using impedance analyzer and Sawyer-Tower circuit. The PZT powder was prepared by both conventional solid reaction process and sol-gel process. The remanent polarization, coercive field, and dielectric constant of the $10{\mu}m$ thick film with solid reaction process were $20{\mu}C/cm^2$, 30 kV/cm and 1320, respectively. On the other hand, the PZT films by sol-gel process showed a poor dielectric constant of 635. The reason was probably due to the presence of pores produced from organic residue during annealing.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.46 no.3
• /
• pp.242-251
• /
• 2002

We report the synthesis and characterization of the perovskite nanotubes made by sol-gel template syn-thesis.Both lead titanate (PbTiO3 : PT), lead zirconate (PbZrO3 : PZ) and lead zirconium titanate (PbZrO3 -PbTiO3 : PZT) solid solution nanotubes were prepared with a chelate sol-gel of titanium isopropoxide (Ti(OPri)4 ), zirconium tet-rabutoxide (Zr(OBu)4 ) and the respective lead acetate (Pb(OAc)2 -3H2O). WhatmanRanodisc membranes, with a 200nm pore size, served as the template. After the removal of the template in the 6M-NaOH, scanning electron microscopy shows that the shapes formed are 200 nm outer diameter tubes with 50mm lengths. Transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction reveal that the tubes are polycrystalline. The PT nanotubes so far have shown an anomalous transition temperature, 234.4$^{\circ}C$ as measured by DSC with a small particle size, 15.4 nm determined by X-ray analysis with the aid of Scherrer's equation.