• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.890-898
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• 2018

Nondestructive inspection (NDI) is an integral part of structural integrity analyses of dry storage casks that house spent nuclear fuel. One significant concern for the structural integrity is stress corrosion cracking in the heat-affected zone of welds in the stainless steel canister that confines the spent fuel. In situ NDI methodology for detection of stress corrosion cracking is investigated, where the inspection uses a delivery robot because of the presence of the harsh environment and geometric constrains inside the cask protecting the canister. Shear horizontal (SH) guided waves that are sensitive to cracks oriented either perpendicular or parallel to the wave vector are used to locate welds and to detect cracks. SH waves are excited and received by electromagnetic acoustic transducers (EMATs) using noncontact ultrasonic transduction and pulse-echo mode. A laboratory-scale canister mock-up is fabricated and inspected using the proposed methodology to evaluate the ability of EMATs to excite and receive SH waves and to locate welds. The EMAT's capability to detect notches from various distances is evaluated on a plate containing 25%-through-thickness surface-breaking notches. Based on the results of the distances at which notch reflections are detectable, NDI coverage for spent nuclear fuel storage canisters is determined.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.31-40
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• 1993

It is well known that nonlinear propagation characteristics of the wave in the tissue may give very useful information for the medical diagnoisis. In this paper, a new method to detect nonlinear propa gation characteristics of the internal vibration in the tissue for the low frequency mechanical vibra lion by using bispectral analysis is proposed. In the method, low frequency vibration of $f_0(=100Hz)$ is applied on the surface of the object, and the waveform of the internal vibration ${\times}{\;}(t)$ is measured from Doppler frequency modulation of silmultaneously transmitted probing ultrasonic waves. Then, the bispectra of the signal ${\times}{\;}(t.)$ at the frequencies ($f_0,{\;}f_0$) and ($f_0,{\;}2f_0$) are calculated to estimate the nonlinear propagation characteristics as their magnitude ratio, where since bispectrum is free from the gallssian additive noise we can get the value with high S/N. Basic experimental system is con structed by using 3.0 MHz probing ultrasonic waves and the several experiments are carried out for some phantoms. Results show the superiority of the proposed method to the conventional method using power spectrum and also its usefulness for the tissue characterization.

• Advances in Computational Design
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.219-236
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• 2023

In this paper, finite element modeling of the laser ultrasonics (LU) process in ablation regime is of interest. The momentum resulting from the removal of material from the specimen surface by the laser beam radiation in ablation regime is modeled as a pressure pulse. To model this pressure pulse, two equations are required: one for the spatial distribution and one for the temporal distribution of the pulse. Previous researchers have proposed various equations for the spatial and temporal distributions of the pressure pulse in different laser applications. All available equations are examined and the best combination of the temporal and spatial distributions of the pressure pulse that provides the most accurate results is identified. This combination of temporal and spatial distributions has never been used for modeling laser ultrasonics before. Then by using this new model, the effects of variations in pulse duration and laser spot radius on the shape, amplitude, and frequency spectrum of ultrasonic waves are studied. Furthermore, the LU in thermoelastic regime is simulated by this model and compared with LU in ablation regime. The interaction of ultrasonic waves with a defect is also investigated in the LU process in ablation regime. Good agreement of the results obtained from the new finite element model and available experimental data confirms the accuracy of the proposed model.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.7-14
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• 2022

Purposed: This study was conducted to find out by ultrasonic waves the thickness change of the deep abdominal muscles, such as transverse abdominal, internal oblique and external oblique when performing general bridge exercise on the stable surface (GBE), single-legged bridge exercise on the stable surface (BES), bridge exercise with a sling (SBE) and single-legged bridge exercise with a sling (SBS). Methods: The subject, 33 healthy adults(18 men and 15 women) in their 20s of V university in J city were subjected to take four postures of GBE, BES, SBE, and SBS. When performing each posture, the thickness of transverse abdominal, internal oblique and external oblique were measured by ultrasonic waves and analyzed by repeated measures of ANOVA. This significance level was set to be p<.05. Results: Muscle thickness was increased in the order of BES, SBE, and GBE in the external oblique, resulting in statistically significant differences(p<.001). The internal oblique was significantly thicker in SBE and SBS rather than in GBE, and was thicker in SBE and SBS rather than in BES (p<.01). The thickness of the transverse abdominal was significantly increased in SBS than in GBE (p<.01). Conclusion: As the result, it may be more effective for the trunk stabilization exercises to activate the internal oblique and transverse abdominal by applying both-legged or single-legged bridge exercise in slings.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.223-230
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• 2018

This study examines a non-contact laser scanning-based ultrasound system, called an angular scan pulse-echo ultrasonic propagation imager (A-PE-UPI), that uses coincided laser beams for ultrasonic sensing and generation. A laser Doppler vibrometer is used for sensing, while a diode pumped solid state (DPSS) Q-switched laser is used for generation of thermoelastic waves. A high-speed raster scanning of up to 10-kHz is achieved using a galvano-motorized mirror scanner that allows for coincided sensing and for the generation beam to perform two-dimensional scanning without causing any harm to the surface under inspection. This process allows for the visualization of longitudinal wave propagation through-the-thickness. A pulse-echo ultrasonic wave propagation imaging algorithm (PE-UWPI) is used for on-the-fly damage visualization of the structure. The presented system is very effective for high-speed, localized, non-contact, and non-destructive inspection of aerospace structures. The system is tested on an aluminum honeycomb sandwich with disbonds and a carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) honeycomb sandwich with a layer overlap. Inspection is performed at a 10-kHz scanning speed that takes 16 seconds to scan a $100{\times}100mm^2$ area with a scan interval of 0.25 mm. Finally, a comparison is presented between angular-scanning and a linear-scanning-based pulse-echo UPI system. The results show that the proposed system can successfully visualize defects in the inspected specimens.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Navigation
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.1-8
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• 1995

Although ship's draught information onboard is substantial for both the safety of navigation and the estimation of loaded cargoes, its accuracy depends, in conventional surveying method, on the skillfulness of observers and the condition of the sea surface round the vessel. To obtain more accurate information accessibly, measuring instruments with sophisticated sensors such as mechanical, electronic and ultrasonic transducers have been developed. However, they have still limitation in accuracy and in making up a system due to the complexity of processing signal. In this paper, we propose a new technique for analyzing ultrasonic pulse signal, in order to improve the measurement accuracy and simplify a remote sensing system of draught by ultrasonic waves. In this technique, pulse signal is translated into phase curve which is composed of the phase value defined in time domain. Then, the time interval between two signals different in waveform, is waveform, is analytically determined by calculating average time difference on phase curves. Also, analytical procedure can be carried out in real time with the successive five data sampled at T/4, for high speed digital processing with computer and A/D converter. This technique is useful for measuring draught under the influence of sea condition and for interfacing its data briefly to the integrated bridge system.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.215-225
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• 2001

Stress waves monitored on the surface of structures under various loading conditions can provide useful information on the structural health status. In this paper, stress waves are measured by several sensors when a steel beam is impacted by a ball drop. The sensors used include the piezo-electric film Sensor, the electrical strain gage, and the ultrasonic transducer, and special attention is given to the pieza film sensor. The wavelet transform is used for the time-frequency analysis of dispersive waves propagating in the beam. The velocities of the wave produced in the team due to the lateral impact is found to be frequency-dependent and identified as the flexural wave velocity based on the comparisons with the Timoshenko beam theory. A linear impact site identification method is developed using the flexural wave, and the impact sites of the beam can be accurately estimated by the piezo film sensors. It is found that the piezo film sensor is appropriate for sensing stress waves due to impact and for locating impact sites in the beam.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.136-139
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• 2012

Magnetic nanoparticles for ferromagnetic fluids and magnetorheological fluids were prepared by chemical coprecipitation and mechanical milling, respectively. The surface-treated particles were dispersed at various weight ratios into a medium of polyethylene glycol. In order to evaluate the elastic modulus of the fluids, ultrasonic pulse velocities were measured with an ultrasonic test using transducers of 5MHz and 2.25MHz. The ultrasonic signals were only available with a transducer of 2.25 MHz at fluid concentrations of 5 mg/ml and lower. In the case of applying transducers over 2.25 MHz and concentrations over 5 mg/ml to the fluids, it was impossible to observe effective ultrasonic signals due to an excessive scattering of the pulses by the dispersed particles. Elastic moduli of the magnetorheological fluids were 5.44 GPa and 6.13 GPa with concentrations of 25 mg/ml and 50 mg/ml, respectively; these values were higher by 40% than the values of 4.04 GPa and 4.28 GPa of ferromagnetic fluids at the same concentrations. As for the effect of an external magnetic field on these dilute fluids, the ultrasonic signals were positioned in a very similar way, which was probably due to insufficient arrangement of the particles even though the reflection energy of the ultrasonic waves apparently increased.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.29 no.11
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• pp.1256-1263
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• 2012

The present study covers the ultrasonic patterning process to replicate micro-patterns on a polymer substrate. The ultrasonic patterning process uses ultrasonic waves to generate frictional heat between an ultrasonic horn and the polymer substrate, from which the surface region of the polymer substrate is softened sufficiently for the replication of micro-patterns. The ultrasonic patterning process can divided into two categories according to the direction of vibration transmission: direct patterning and indirect patterning. The direct patterning uses a patterned horn, and the ultrasonic vibration is transferred directly from the patterned horn to the substrate. On the contrary, the indirect patterning process uses a plain horn, and the micro-patterns are engraved on a mold that is located below the substrate. Thus, the micro-patterns are replicated as an indirect manner. In this study, these direct and indirect patterning processes are compared in terms of the replication characteristics. Additionally, the possibility of double-side patterning is also discussed in comparison with the conventional single-side patterning process.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.578-581
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• 2004

In this paper numerical and experimental studies are conducted to examine the wave screening effectiveness of wave barriers. The numerical study is based on a finite element model of a 'sandbox' with Lysmer-Kuhlemeyer-type absorbing boundaries. Using the model, the screening effectiveness of wave barriers is studied for different barrier dimensions and distances between the source/receiver and the wave barrier. The results of the numerical modeling are compared with those of the ultrasonic experiment which is performed on an acrylic block with a drilled rectangular cut. Finally, the problem of ground transmitting vibration from a traveling train is numerically treated as a real-world application and the results are discussed in some detail.