• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.499-512
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• 2017

Traditional structural dynamic analysis and Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) of large scale concrete civil structures rely on manufactured embedding transducers to obtain structural dynamic properties. However, the embedding of manufactured transducers is very expensive and low efficiency for signal acquisition. In dynamic structural analysis and SHM areas, piezoelectric transducers are more and more popular due to the advantages like quick response, low cost and adaptability to different sizes. In this paper, the applicable feasibility assessment of the designed "artificial" piezoelectric transducers called Concrete Piezoelectric Smart Module (CPSM) in dynamic structural analysis is performed via three major experiments. Experimental Modal Analysis (EMA) based on Ibrahim Time Domain (ITD) Method is applied to experimentally extract modal parameters. Numerical modal analysis by finite element method (FEM) modeling is also performed for comparison. First ten order modal parameters are identified by EMA using CPSMs, PCBs and FEM modeling. Comparisons are made between CPSMs and PCBs, between FEM and CPSMs extracted modal parameters. Results show that Power Spectral Density by CPSMs and PCBs are similar, CPSMs acquired signal amplitudes can be used to predict concrete compressive strength. Modal parameter (natural frequencies) identified from CPSMs acquired signal and PCBs acquired signal are different in a very small range (~3%), and extracted natural frequencies from CPSMs acquired signal and FEM results are in an allowable small range (~5%) as well. Therefore, CPSMs are applicable for signal acquisition of dynamic responses and can be used in dynamic modal analysis, structural health monitoring and related areas.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.91-101
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• 2000

Modeling of radiation beam from ultrasonic transducers has been investigated extensively, since it is one of the most important, fundamental issues that have great influence on the accuracy of an ultrasonic measurement model. Here, three popular radiation models, namely the Rayleigh-Sommerfeld integral model, the boundary diffraction wave model and the edge element model, are discussed briefly, and the radiation beam fields from ultrasonic transducers with planar, circular and rectangular cross-sections are calculated using these three models. Then, the accuracy and the time-efficiency of these methods are compared based on the calculation results.

• Proceedings of the Acoustical Society of Korea Conference
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• spring
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• pp.373-376
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• 2002

Most previous studies using ultrasound for osteoporosis diagnosis have employed ultrasound in a frequency range of 0.2-1 MHz. In this study, acoustic properties of the 12 defatted bovine cancellous bone specimens were investigated in vitro. Speed of sound (SOS) and broadband ultrasonic attenuation (BUA) were measured using three matched pairs of transducers with the center frequencies of 1, 2.25, and 3.5 MHz, respectively, in order to cover a broad frequency range of 0.5-2 MHz. The relative orientation between ultrasonic beam and bone specimens was the mediolateral (ML) direction of the bovine tibia. SOS showed significant linear positive correlations with apparent density for all three pairs of transducers of 1 MHz, 2.25 MHz, and 3.5 MHz, respectively. BUA showed relatively weak correlations with apparent density for the pairs of transducers of 1 MHz and 2.25 MHz. Furthermore, in the measurement with the pair of 3.5 MHz transducers, BUA was independent of apparent density. SOS and BUA were only weakly correlated with each other. The linear combination of SOS and BUA showed significant correlations with apparent density. These results suggest that the frequency range up to 1.5 MHz may be also useful in the osteoporosis diagnosis.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.165-180
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• 2015

In this paper lead zirconate titanate transducers (PZT) are employed for damage detection of four reinforced concrete (RC) column specimens retrofitted with carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) jackets. A major disadvantage of FRP jacketing in RC members is the inability to inspect visually if the concrete substrate is damaged and in such case to estimate the extent of damage. The parameter measured during uniaxial compression tests at random times for known strain values is the real part of the complex number of the Electromechanical Admittance (Conductance) of the sensors, obtained by a PXI platform. The transducers are placed in specific positions along the height of the columns for detecting the damage in different positions and carrying out conclusions for the variation of the Conductance in relation to the position the failure occurred. The quantification of the damage at the concrete substrate is achieved with the use of the root-mean-square-deviation (RMSD) index, which is evaluated for the corresponding strain values. The experimental results provide evidence that PZT transducers are sensitive to damage detection from an early stage of the experiment and that the use of PZT sensors for monitoring and detecting the damage of FRP-retrofitted reinforced concrete members, by using the Electromechanical Admittance (EMA) approach, can be a highly promising method.

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.123-130
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• 2014

An ultrasonic magnetostrictive transducer-based phased-array system for imaging defects in plate structures is newly proposed. In that most ultrasonic phased array systems rely on piezoelectric transducers or electromagnetic acoustic transducers, this system has its own unique feature of employing magnetostrictive transducers. Interest in using a phased array system using magnetostrictive transducers has been recently reported for pipe inspection but no such system has been developed for plate inspection. In this investigation, we aim to propose a phased array system using OL-MPTs (Omnidirectional Lamb wave Magnetostrictive Patch Transducers) for plate inspection. The developed system consists of a multi-channel function generator, power amplifiers, preamplifiers and a data acquisition unit. In the process of its development, each of the units must be checked and in doing so, we suggest types of ultrasonic wave experiments that should be carried out. Finally, the phased system using a transducer array composed of eight OL-MPTs is newly configured and is applied for actual crack detection experiments.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.131-145
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• 1992

This paper has been described a process technology for the fabrication of Si-on-insulator(SOI) transducers and circuits. The technology utilizes Si-wafer direct bonding(SDB) and mechanical-chemical(M-C) local polishing to create a SOI structure with a high-qualify, uniformly thin layer of single-crystal Si. The electrical and piezoresistive properties of the resultant thin SOI films have been investigated by SOI MOSFET's and cantilever beams, and confirmed comparable to those of bulk Si. Two kinds of pressure transducers using a SOI structure have been proposed. The shifts in sensitivity and offset voltage of the implemented pressure transducers using interfacial $SiO_{2}$ films as the dielectrical isolation layer of piezoresistors were less than -0.2% and +0.15%, respectively, in the temperature range from $-20^{\circ}C$ to $+350^{\circ}C$. In the case of pressure transducers using interfacial $SiO_{2}$ films as an etch-stop layer during the fabrication of thin Si membranes, the pressure sensitivity variation can be controlled to within a standard deviation of ${\pm}2.3%$ from wafer to wafer. From these results, the developed SDB process and the resultant SOI films will offer significant advantages in the fabrication of integrated microtransducers and circuits.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.436-444
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• 2016

Uniformity in transducer performance is a must-have to ensure the reliable acoustic performance of a tile projector, used for active echo reduction. However, practical limitations imposed by variations in material properties and fabrication errors lead to performance variations among unit transducers, which could degrade the radiation characteristics (transmitting voltage response and directivity) of the tile projector and ultimately the echo reduction performance. In this paper we present a method to minimize these adverse effects via an appropriate placement of unit transducers within the tile projector. To this end, we perform a series of coupled acoustic-piezoelectric simulations, assuming a group of 36 unit transducers having 6 dB variations in transmitting voltage response, to analyze and compare the radiation characteristics of tile projectors under different transducer placement schemes.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.585-596
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• 2012

PVDF(poly vinylidene fluoride) and P(VDF-TrFE)(poly vinylidene fluoride-tetrafluoroethylene) are the typical piezoelectric polymers with unique properties. Even they are inferior to conventional piezoelectric ceramics PZT in electromechanical conversion efficiency and interior loss, though they are superior in receiving sensitivity and frequency bandwidth. Their acoustic impedances are relatively close to water or biological tissue and it is easier to make thin film than other piezoelectric materials. Futhermore, the film is so flexible that it is easy to attach on a complex surface. Those properties are suitable for the ultrasound transducers which are useful for medical and biological application, so that various types of polymer transducers have been developed. In this paper, several important considerations for design and fabrication of piezoelectric polymer transducers were described and their effect on the transducer performance were demonstrated through the KLM model analysis. Then, it was briefly reviewed about the structures of the polymer transducers developed for obtaining images as well as the characteristics of the images in several important medical and biological application fields.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.23 no.1E
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• pp.19-23
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• 2004

This paper presents an experimental technique to generate and detect axisymmetric longitudinal waves in a pipe by using piezoelectric cylindrical transducers. Radial pulses transmitted by one transducer have propagated in two opposite directions along the pipe, and other two transducers have received the propagating waves. The difference of the transit times measured for the waves in two paths of known distance difference has yielded the phase speed of the wave propagation. Wave speed has been measured in an empty pipe and in a water-filled pipe.

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
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• v.16 no.11 s.116
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• pp.1108-1114
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• 2006

Underwater acoustic transducers can be exposed to a underwater explosive shock caused by various types of underwater weapon. So, a robust anti-shock design is required for transducers to endure the underwater explosive shock. To check the anti-shock characteristics of a transducer, underwater explosive shock test is needed. The conditions of underwater explosive shock test are set up referring to various oversea explosive shock test specifications, and the explosive shock pressure values are calculated according to those conditions. Transient analyses art: carried out for two kinds of underwater acoustic transducer model to verify the anti-shock characteristics. The applied model has robust anti-shock characteristics enough to endure the explosive shock up to 2300 psi. In the future, the transducer design should be certified through the fields test, and modified if needed.