• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.57-70
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• 2018

For the long-term structural health monitoring of civil structures, the effect of ambient temperature variation has been regarded as one of the critical issues. In this study, a principal component analysis (PCA)-based algorithm is proposed to filter out temperature effects on electromechanical impedance (EMI) monitoring of prestressed tendon anchorages. Firstly, the EMI monitoring via a piezoelectric interface device is described for prestress-loss detection in the tendon anchorage system. Secondly, the PCA-based temperature filtering algorithm tailored to the EMI monitoring of the prestressed tendon anchorage is outlined. The proposed algorithm utilizes the damage-sensitive features obtained from sub-ranges of the EMI data to establish the PCA-based filter model. Finally, the feasibility of the PCA-based algorithm is experimentally evaluated by distinguishing temperature changes from prestress-loss events in a prestressed concrete girder. The accuracy of the prestress-loss detection results is discussed with respect to the EMI features before and after the temperature filtering.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.217-224
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• 2016

This paper presents a new technique for monitoring the concrete curing process using embedded piezoelectric transducers via admittance measurements. When a piezoelectric transducer is embedded in a structure, the electrical impedance (admittance) of the transducer is coupled with the mechanical impedance of the host structure, which allows monitoring of the structural condition. In this study, the admittance signatures are used for monitoring the concrete curing process. This new method is based on an admittance-based sensor diagnostic process, in which the capacitance values of the piezoelectric transducers are dependent on the strength of the host structure. We numerically and experimentally investigated the variations in capacitive value during the curing process. The results demonstrate that there is a clear relationship between the concrete curing status and the slope, this indicates that the proposed method could be efficiently used for monitoring the curing status of a concrete structure.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.33-42
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• 2018

In this study, the EMI (electro-mechanical impedance) of a small piezoelectric sensor was applied for measuring a unit weight and cementation (strength) of sand. Three different sizes of uncemented Nakdong River sand were filled loosely or densely into a compaction mold. A piezoelectric sensor with 20 mm in diameter was installed within sand for impedance measurement. A small Nakdong River sand was mixed with cement ratios of 4, 8 12, 16% and then compacted into a specimen with 50 mm in diameter and 100 mm in height. The specimen consisted of 6 layers with a sensor at the third layer. The impedance signals for 3 days and unconfined compressive strength at the 3rd day were measured. As the unit weight of uncemented sand increased, the resonant frequency increased slightly from 102 to 105 kHz but a conductance at resonant frequency decreased. For cemented sands, as the curing time and cement ratio increased, the resonant frequency increased significantly from 129 to 266 kHz but the conductance at resonant frequency decreased. The unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of cemented sands was between 289 and 1,390 kPa for different cement ratios. The relationship of UCS and resonant frequency linearly increased but one with a conductance at resonant frequency was in inverse proportion.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.189-196
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• 2010

This study was conducted to develop an non-contact ultrasonic transducer for measurement of fruit firmness. The center frequency of non-contact ultrasonic transducer was 500 kHz. As an active element of non-contact ultrasonic transducer, the 1-3 piezoelectric composite material was selected. That material has high piezoelectric properties such as electro-mechanical coupling factor, $k_t$ and piezoelectric voltage constant, $d_{33}$ and also that material has low acoustical impedance which enables to matching the acoustical impedances between piezoelectric material and air. As a front matching material between 1-3 piezoelectric composite material and air, various kinds of paper with different thickness were tested. To control the dead-zone of the fabricated non-contact ultrasonic transducer, the backing material composed of epoxy resin and tungsten powder were made and evaluated. The fabricated non-contact ultrasonic transducer for fruit showed that the cneter frequency, bandwidth and beamwidth were approximately 480 kHz, 30 % and 12 mm, respectively. It was concluded that non-contact measurement of apple firmness would be possible by using the fabricated non-contact ultrasonic transducer.

• Coupled systems mechanics
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.53-83
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• 2013

Sea waves induce significant pressures on coastal surfaces, especially on rocky vertical cliffs or breakwater structures (Peregrine 2003). In the present work, this hydrodynamic pressure is considered as the excitation acting on a piezoelectric material sheet, installed on a vertical cliff, and connected to an external electric circuit (on land). The whole hydro/piezo/electric system is modeled in the context of linear wave theory. The piezoelectric elements are assumed to be small plates, possibly of stack configuration, under a specific wiring. They are connected with an external circuit, modeled by a complex impedance, as usually happens in preliminary studies (Liang and Liao 2011). The piezoelectric elements are subjected to thickness-mode vibrations under the influence of incident harmonic water waves. Full, kinematic and dynamic, coupling is implemented along the water-solid interface, using propagation and evanescent modes (Athanassoulis and Belibassakis 1999). For most energetically interesting conditions the long-wave theory is valid, making the effect of evanescent modes negligible, and permitting us to calculate a closed-form solution for the efficiency of the energy harvesting system. It is found that the efficiency is dependent on two dimensionless hydro/piezo/electric parameters, and may become significant (as high as 30 - 50%) for appropriate combinations of parameter values, which, however, corresponds to exotically flexible piezoelectric materials. The existence or the possibility of constructing such kind of materials formulates a question to material scientists.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.24 no.10
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• pp.803-806
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• 2011

1 mol% $Li_2O$ excess $0.9(Na_{0.52}K_{0.48})NbO_3-0.1LiTaO_3$ lead-free piezoelectric multilayer ceramic actuators were investigated to determine their aging properties. To reduce the thermal aging behavior, we applied a rectified unipolar electric field of 5 kV/mm to the specimen to accelerate the electric aging behavior. By employing a rectified unipolar electric field for the piezoelectric actuators, we could remove undesirable heating from the relaxation current in the motion of the ferroelectric domain. To accelerate the aging test, the applied electric fields had a frequency of 900 Hz. To have enough time for charging and discharging, we employed an accurate time constant to design the equivalent circuit model for the aging tester. To extract exact aging behavior, we measured the pseudo-piezoelectric coefficient before and after the aging process. We also measured the electro-mechanical coupling coefficient, the frequency-dependent dielectric permittivity, and the impedance to compare with fresh and aged specimen.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.107-122
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• 2016

We propose an effective methodology using electromechanical impedance characteristics for estimating the remaining tensile force of tendons and simultaneously detecting damages of the anchorage blocks. Once one piezoelectric patch is attached on the anchor head and the other is bonded on the bearing plate, impedance responses are measured through these two patches under varying tensile force conditions. Then statistical indices are calculated from the impedances, and two types of relationship curves between the tensile force and the statistical index (TE Curve) and between statistical indices of two patches (SR Curve) are established. Those are considered as database for monitoring both the tendon and the anchorage system. If damage exists on the bearing plate, the statistical index of patch on the bearing plate would be out of bounds of the SR curve and damage can be detected. A change in the statistical index by damage is calibrated with the SR curve, and the tensile force can be estimated with the corrected index and the TE Curve. For validation of the developed methodology, experimental studies are performed on the scaled model of an anchorage system that is simplified only with 3 solid wedges, a 3-hole anchor head, and a bearing plate. Then, the methodology is applied to a real scale anchorage system that has 19 strands, wedges, an anchor head, a bearing plate, and a steel duct. It is observed that the proposed scheme gives quite accurate estimation of the remaining tensile forces. Therefore, this methodology has great potential for practical use to evaluate the remaining tensile forces and damage status in the post-tensioned structural members.

• 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.

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
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• v.15 no.12 s.105
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• pp.1416-1421
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• 2005

This paper presents an analytical approach for the vibration characteristics of a piezoelectric disc for torsional vibration transducers. The characteristic equation of the piezoelectric annular disc has been derived from Gibbs' free energy equations and mechanical and electrical equilibrium. With an anisotropic material properties of the disc, the characteristic equation has yielded resonance frequencies. Numerically-calculated results have been compared with the results obtained by the finite element analysis and experiments and have confirmed the validity of the theoretical analysis.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 1988.07a
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• pp.802-805
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• 1988

The objective of the present study was to manufacture the piezoelectric composites of Lead Zirconate Titanate (PZT) - polymer for applications such as ultrasonic medical diagnosis and hydrophone. The PZT rod-polymer composites have been prepared with 4.5 to 57 volume percent PZT using 1.5 mm rod, so the connectivity pattern of the two phase is 1-3 type. The electromechanical coupling factors of radial mode ($k_{p}$) and thickness mode ($k_{t}$) were nearly independent of the volume percent PZT, which were 0.3 and 0.65, respectively. The acoustic impedance of the piezoelectric composites was measured by the resonance technique in the frequency range 50 KHz-1.5 MHz, which was in the range of 3.8 - 60 Mrayl.