Detection of subsurface trace impurity in polished fused silica with biological method

Subsurface damage (SSD), especially photoactive impurities, degrades the performance of high energy optics by reduction in the laser induced damage threshold. As the polishing defects are trace content and lie beneath the surface, they are difficult to detect. We herein present a biological method to measure impurities on polished fused silica, based on the intense inhibiting ability about trace level of ceria on enzyme activity. And the enzyme activity is measured in the individual etching solutions of a sequential etching process. Results show that detectability of the biological method satisfies the needs of trace impurity detection with low cost and simple apparatus. Furthermore ceria can be used to tag SSD in lapped and polished optics.

Time-resolved x-ray diffraction techniques for bulk polycrystalline materials under dynamic loading

We have developed two techniques for time-resolved x-ray diffraction from bulk polycrystalline materials during dynamic loading. In the first technique, we synchronize a fast detector with loading of samples at strain rates of ~10(3)-10(4) s(-1) in a compression Kolsky bar (split Hopkinson pressure bar) apparatus to obtain in situ diffraction patterns with exposures as short as 70 ns. This approach employs moderate x-ray energies (10-20 keV) and is well suited to weakly absorbing materials such as magnesium alloys. The second technique is useful for more strongly absorbing materials, and uses high-energy x-rays (86 keV) and a fast shutter synchronized with the Kolsky bar to produce short (~40 μs) pulses timed with the arrival of the strain pulse at the specimen, recording the diffraction pattern on a large-format amorphous silicon detector. For both techniques we present sample data demonstrating the ability of these techniques to characterize elastic strains and polycrystalline texture as a function of time during high-rate deformation.

Adapting a commercial shear rheometer for applications in cartilage research

Cartilage research typically requires a broad range of experimental characterization techniques and thus various testing setups. Here, we describe how several of those tests can be performed with a single experimental platform, i.e. a commercial shear rheometer. Although primarily designed for shear experiments, such a rheometer can be equipped with different adapters to perform indentation and creep measurements, quantify alterations in the sample thickness, and conduct friction measurements in addition to shear rheology. Beyond combining four distinct experimental methods into one setup, the modified rheometer allows for performing material characterizations over a broad range of time scales, frequencies, and normal loads.

External foam layers to football helmets reduce head impact severity

Current American football helmet design has a rigid exterior with a padded interior. Softening the hard external layer of the helmet may reduce the impact potential of the helmet, providing extra head protection and reducing its use as an offensive device. The objective of this study is to measure the impact reduction potential provided by external foam. We obtained a football helmet with built-in accelerometer-based sensors, placed it on a boxing mannequin and struck it with a weighted swinging pendulum helmet to mimic the forces sustained during a helmet-to-helmet strike. We then applied layers of 1.3 cm thick polyolefin foam to the exterior surface of the helmets and repeated the process. All impact severity measures were significantly reduced with the application of the external foam. These results support the hypothesis that adding a soft exterior layer reduces the force of impact which may be applicable to the football field. Redesigning football helmets could reduce the injury potential of the sport.

A novel in situ device based on a bionic piezoelectric actuator to study tensile and fatigue properties of bulk materials

In this work, a miniaturized device based on a bionic piezoelectric actuator was developed to investigate the static tensile and dynamic fatigue properties of bulk materials. The device mainly consists of a bionic stepping piezoelectric actuator based on wedge block clamping, a pair of grippers, and a set of precise signal test system. Tensile and fatigue examinations share a set of driving system and a set of signal test system. In situ tensile and fatigue examinations under scanning electron microscope or metallographic microscope could be carried out due to the miniaturized dimensions of the device. The structure and working principle of the device were discussed and the effects of output difference between two piezoelectric stacks on the device were theoretically analyzed. The tensile and fatigue examinations on ordinary copper were carried out using this device and its feasibility was verified through the comparison tests with a commercial tensile examination instrument.

Application of ultrasound phase-shift analysis to authenticate wooden panel paintings

Artworks are a valuable part of the World's cultural and historical heritage. Conservation and authentication of authorship are important aspects to consider in the protection of cultural patrimony. In this paper we present a novel application of a well-known method based on the phase-shift analysis of an ultrasonic signal, providing an integrated encoding system that enables authentication of the authorship of wooden panel paintings. The method has been evaluated in comparison with optical analysis and shows promising results. The proposed method provides an integrated fingerprint of the artwork, and could be used to enrich the cataloging and protection of artworks. Other advantages that make particularly attractive the proposed technique are its robustness and the use of low-cost sensors.

[Research of the durability of connective tissue complexes formed in the implantation area of various types of allograft during the experiment]

The aim of the study is to examine in the experiment on the animals the mechanical properties of connective tissue complexes formed in alloplasty area using the intraperitoneal on lay mesh and sublay methodologies with further comparison of them. The experiment has been conducted on 12 rabbits of Russian chinchilla breed. Animals were distributed in the following way: the first group--operated by intraperitoneal on lay mesh methodology (n = 6) through implantation of composite grid Proceed with one-side celullose coating produced by "Ethicon" company. The second group--performed modeling of preperitoneal plastic using two-component composite grid with large-pores Ultrapro produced by "Ethicon" company (n = 6). For the tensometric evaluation of the strength of implant integration into the red wall was used entire area of anterior red wall together with the implanted transplant. According to the deflection diagrams and dynamometer rates defined the maximum burden rates which is equivalent of muscular tissue budge against polymeric matrix. Statistically significant distinctions during 14 days were not detected; however strength during 30 days in the first group was 3 times higher than in the second group. We consider that the methodology of intraperitoneal on lay mesh can be considered as operation of choice of surgery treatment of the umbilical hernias.

Design and implementation of practical bidirectional texture function measurement devices focusing on the developments at the University of Bonn

Understanding as well as realistic reproduction of the appearance of materials play an important role in computer graphics, computer vision and industry. They enable applications such as digital material design, virtual prototyping and faithful virtual surrogates for entertainment, marketing, education or cultural heritage documentation. A particularly fruitful way to obtain the digital appearance is the acquisition of reflectance from real-world material samples. Therefore, a great variety of devices to perform this task has been proposed. In this work, we investigate their practical usefulness. We first idey a set of necessary attributes and establish a general categorization of different designs that have been realized. Subsequently, we provide an in-depth discussion of three particular implementations by our work group, demonstrating advantages and disadvantages of different system designs with respect to the previously established attributes. Finally, we survey the existing literature to compare our implementation with related approaches.

Minimal preconditioning effects observed for inflation tests of planar tissues

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of preconditioning on the deformation response of planar tissues measured by inflation tests. The inflation response of test specimens, including the bovine cornea, bovine and porcine sclera, and human skin, exhibited a negligible evolving deformation response when subjected to repeated pressure loading with recovery periods between cycles. Tissues obtained complete recovery to the reference state, and strain contours across the entire specimen were nearly identical at the maximum pressure of each load cycle. This repeatability was obtained regardless of strain history. These results suggest that negligible permanent change was induced in the microstructure by inflation testing. Additionally, we present data illustrating that a lack of a recovery period can result in an evolving deformation response to repeated loading that is commonly attributed to preconditioning. These results suggest that the commonly observed effects of preconditioning may be avoided by experimental design for planar tissues characterized by long collagen fibers arranged in the plane of the tissue. Specifically, if the test is designed to fully fix the specimen boundary during loading, adequate recovery periods are allowed after each load cycle, and loads are limited to avoid damage, preconditioning effects may be avoided for planar tissues.

Viscoelastic properties of the P17 and adult rat brain from indentation in the coronal plane

This technical brief serves as an update to our previous work characterizing the region-dependence of viscoelastic mechanical properties of the P17 and adult rat brain in the coronal plane (Elkin et al., 2011, "A Detailed Viscoelastic Characterization of the P17 and Adult Rat Brain," J. Neurotrauma, 28, pp. 2235-2244.). Here, modifications to the microindentation device provided for the reliable measurement of load during the ramp portion of load relaxation microindentation tests. In addition, a correction factor for finite sample thickness was incorporated to more accurately assess the intrinsic mechanical properties of the tissue.The shear relaxation modulus was significantly dependent on the anatomic region and developmental age, with a general increase in stiffness with age and increased stiffness in the hippocampal and cortical regions compared with the white matter and cerebellar regions of the brain. The shear modulus ranged from ∼0.2 kPa to ∼2.6 kPa depending on region, age, and time scale. Best-fit Prony series parameters from least squares fitting to the indentation data from each region are reported, which describe the shear relaxation behavior for each anatomic region within each age group at both short (<10 ms) and long (∼20 s) time scales. These data will be useful for improving the biofidelity of finite element models of rat brain deformation at short time scales, such as models of traumatic brain injury.

A protocol for measuring pull-off stress of wound-treatment polymers

Skin wounds and burns compromise the body's natural barrier to bacteria and other pathogens. While many forms of wound dressings are available, polymeric films are advantageous for various reasons, ranging from the ease of application to durability. One common drawback of using polymeric films for a wound bandage is that the films tend to adhere to common inanimate objects. Patients spend hours in contact with soft and hard materials pressed against their skin, which, if the skin was dressed with a polymeric film, would inflict further wound damage upon body movement. In this work, we present a novel technique that allowed for measuring polymeric tackiness, after a long incubation period, with materials regularly encountered in a hospital or home setting, and soft fabrics. The polymers were exposed to an environment intended to simulate daily conditions and the technique is designed to perform multiple experiments simultaneously with ease. Four commercially available polymers (new-skin, no-sting skin-prep, skin shield, and Silesse) were tested as proof-of-concept to gather preliminary data for an overall assessment of wound treatment efficacy, resulting in the estimation of pull-off stress of the polymers from a specimen of porcine skin. Silesse did not reveal a measurable tackiness, no-sting skin-prep had the highest mean tackiness (13.8 kPa), while the mean tackiness between new-skin and skin shield was approximately equal (9.8 kPa vs. 10.1 kPa, respectively), p = 0.05. Future work on polymeric fluids for wound dressing applications should include tensile stress and dynamic viscosity estimations.

A new device to test cutting efficiency of mechanical endodontic instruments

BACKGROUND

The purpose of the present study was to introduce a new device specifically designed to evaluate the cutting efficiency of mechanically driven endodontic instruments.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Twenty new Reciproc R25 (VDW, Munich, Germany) files were used to be investigated in the new device developed to test the cutting ability of endodontic instruments. The device consists of a main frame to which a mobile plastic support for the hand-piece is connected and a stainless-steel block containing a Plexiglas block against which the cutting efficiency of the instruments was tested. The length of the block cut in 1 minute was measured in a computerized program with a precision of 0.1mm. The instruments were activated by using a torque-controlled motor (Silver Reciproc; VDW, Munich, Germany) in a reciprocating movement by the "Reciproc ALL" program (Group 1) and in counter-clockwise rotation at 300 rpm (Group 2). Mean and standard deviations of each group were calculated and data were statistically analyzed with a one-way ANOVA test (P<0.05).

RESULTS

Reciproc in reciprocation (Group 1) mean cut in the Plexiglas block was 8.6 mm (SD=0.6 mm), while Reciproc in rotation mean cut was 8.9 mm (SD=0.7 mm). There was no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups investigated (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The cutting testing device evaluated in the present study was reliable and easy to use and may be effectively used to test cutting efficiency of both rotary and reciprocating mechanical endodontic instruments.

Numerical study for a new methodology of flaws detection in train axles

Train loads and travel speeds have increased over time, requiring more efficient non-destructive inspection methods. Railway axles are critical elements; despite being designed to last more than 20 years several cases of premature failure have been recorded. Train axles are inspected regularly, but the limits associated to the traditional inspection technologies create a growing interest towards new solutions. Here a novel non-destructive inspection method of in-service axles based on non-contact data collection is presented. The propagation of surface waves, generated by a thermo-elastic laser source, is investigated using a finite element method based on dynamic explicit integration. Coupled thermo-mechanical simulations allow visualization of the ultrasonic field guiding the definition of the optimal NDT setup. The geometry of the axle and of the elements mounted on it is accurately reproduced; moreover the press fit effect caused by the wheel and the bearing rings is implemented. The current NDT techniques for railway axles require removing wheels and other components from the axle. The presented scheme uses non-contact ultrasonic generation and detection allowing non-contact in-service inspection of railway axles at trackside station. The numerical results are promising and encourage us to test the new approach experimentally.

Dynamic ultrasonic contact detection using acoustic emissions

For a non-contact ultrasonic material removal process, the control of the standoff position can be crucial to process performance; particularly where the requirement is for a standoff of the order of <20 μm. The standoff distance relative to the surface to be machined can be set by first contacting the ultrasonic tool tip with the surface and then withdrawing the tool to the required position. Determination of this contact point in a dynamic system at ultrasonic frequencies (>20 kHz) is achieved by force measurement or by detection of acoustic emissions (AE). However, where detection of distance from a surface must be determined without contact taking place, an alternative method must be sought. In this paper, the effect of distance from contact of an ultrasonic tool is measured by detection of AE through the workpiece. At the point of contact, the amplitude of the signal at the fundamental frequency increases significantly, but the strength of the 2nd and 3rd harmonic signals increases more markedly. Closer examination of these harmonics shows that an increase in their intensities can be observed in the 10 μm prior to contact, providing a mechanism to detect near contact (<10 μm) without the need to first contact the surface in order to set a standoff.

Elastic characterization of nanoporous gold foams using laser based ultrasonics

A resonance based laser ultrasonics technique is explored for the characterization of low density nanoporous gold foams. Laser generated zero group velocity (ZGV) lamb waves are measured in the foams using a Michelson interferometer. The amplitude spectra obtained from the processed time-domain data are analyzed using a theoretical model from which the foam Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio are obtained. The technique is non-contact and nondestructive, and the ZGV resonance modes are spatially localized, allowing for spatial mapping of the bulk sample properties. The technique may be suitable for process control monitoring and mechanical characterization of low density nanoporous structures.

Sensitivity analysis of multi-layered C-axis inclined zigzag zinc oxide thin-film resonators as viscosity sensors

This paper presents a theoretical analysis of a new zigzag C-axis inclined multi-layer ZnO thin-film bulk acoustic wave resonator (FBAR) as a viscosity sensor to monitor the lubrication performance of engine oil and other liquids. Free vibration and forced vibration for the FBAR loaded with liquids are analyzed. Equations necessary to calculate the sensitivity are derived. The numerical analysis shows that as the number of layers increases, the absolute sensitivity increases as well. The influences on the sensitivity of C-axis inclined angle, Q-factor, and thickness are also investigated. The results provide a foundation for further design of multi-layer FBAR viscosity sensors.

Application of conformal map theory for design of 2-D ultrasonic array structure for NDT imaging application: a feasibility study

Two-dimensional ultrasonic phased arrays are becoming increasingly popular in nondestructive evaluation (NDE). Sparse array element configurations are required to fully exploit the potential benefits of 2-D phased arrays. This paper applies the conformal mapping technique as a means of designing sparse 2-D array layouts for NDE applications. Modeling using both Huygens' field prediction theory and 2-D fast Fourier transformation is employed to study the resulting new structure. A conformal power map was used that, for fixed beam width, was shown in simulations to have a greater contrast than rectangular or random arrays. A prototype aperiodic 2-D array configuration for direct contact operation in steel, with operational frequency ~3 MHz, was designed using the array design principle described in this paper. Experimental results demonstrate a working sparse-array transducer capable of performing volumetric imaging.

Enhancing signal to noise ratio by fine-tuning tapers of cladded/uncladded buffer rods in ultrasonic time domain reflectometry in smelters

Buffer rods (BR) as waveguides in ultrasonic time domain reflectometry (TDR) can somewhat extend the range of industrial applications of ultrasonics. Level, temperature and flow measurements involving elevated temperatures, corrosive fluids and generally harsh environments are some of the applications in which conventional ultrasonic transducers cannot be used directly in contact with the media. In such cases, BRs with some design modifications can make ultrasonic TDR measurements possible with limited success. This paper deals with TDR in conjunction with distance measurements in extremely hot fluids, using conventional ultrasonic transducers in combination with BRs. When using BRs in the ultrasonic measurement systems in extreme temperatures, problems associated with size and the material of the buffer, have to be addressed. The resonant frequency of the transducer and the relative size of the transducer with respect to the diameter of BR are also important parameters influencing the signal to noise ratio (SNR) of the signal processing system used in the ultrasonic TDR. This paper gives an overview of design aspects related to the BRs with special emphasis on tapers and cladding used on BRs. As protective cladding, zirconium oxide-yttrium oxide composite was used, with its proven thermal stability in withstanding temperatures in rocket and jet engines up to 1650 °C. In general a BR should guide the signals through to the medium and from and back to the transducer without excessive attenuation and at the same time not exacerbate the noise in the measurement system. The SNR is the decisive performance indicator to consider in the design of BR based ultrasonic TDR, along with appropriate transducer, with suitable size and operating frequency. This work presents and analyses results from extensive experiments related to fine-tuning both geometry of and signals in cladded/uncladded BRs used in high temperature ultrasonic TDR with focus on overall performance based on measured values of SNR.

Modeling nonlinearities of ultrasonic waves for fatigue damage characterization: theory, simulation, and experimental validation

A dedicated modeling technique for comprehending nonlinear characteristics of ultrasonic waves traversing in a fatigued medium was developed, based on a retrofitted constitutive relation of the medium by considering the nonlinearities originated from material, fatigue damage, as well as the "breathing" motion of fatigue cracks. Piezoelectric wafers, for exciting and acquiring ultrasonic waves, were integrated in the model. The extracted nonlinearities were calibrated by virtue of an acoustic nonlinearity parameter. The modeling technique was validated experimentally, and the results showed satisfactory consistency in between, both revealing: the developed modeling approach is able to faithfully simulate fatigue crack-incurred nonlinearities manifested in ultrasonic waves; a cumulative growth of the acoustic nonlinearity parameter with increasing wave propagation distance exists; such a parameter acquired via a sensing path is nonlinearly related to the offset distance from the fatigue crack to that sensing path; and neither the incidence angle of the probing wave nor the length of the sensing path impacts on the parameter significantly. This study has yielded a quantitative characterization strategy for fatigue cracks using embeddable piezoelectric sensor networks, facilitating deployment of structural health monitoring which is capable of identifying small-scale damage at an embryo stage and surveilling its growth continuously.

Fiber optic Fabry-Perot sensor for surface tension analysis

We demonstrate a new technique for analyzing surface tension of liquids. This is done upon examining the interference signals reflected from a remnant drop pending at the cleaved end of a single mode optical fiber. The resulting interference patterns are fitted to a multimirror Fabry-Perot model yielding information of the drop size. We show that the wetting process of the fiber plays an important role in drop formation; in particular, the drop size can be correlated to the surface tension of the liquid sample. The proposed configuration may render useful for liquids analysis using small sample volume.

Continuous-wave terahertz system based on a dual-mode laser for real-time non-contact measurement of thickness and conductivity

Terahertz (THz) waves have been exploited for the non-contact measurements of thickness and refractive index, which has enormous industrial applicability. In this work, we demonstrate a 1.3-μm dual-mode laser (DML)-based continuous-wave THz system for the real-time measurement of a commercial indium-tin-oxide (ITO)-coated glass. The system is compact, cost-effective, and capable of performing broadband measurement within a second at the setting resolution of 1 GHz. The thickness of the glass and the sheet conductivity of the ITO film were successfully measured, and the measurements agree well with those of broadband pulse-based time domain spectroscopy and Hall measurement results.

Measuring material microstructure under flow using 1-2 plane flow-small angle neutron scattering

A new small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) sample environment optimized for studying the microstructure of complex fluids under simple shear flow is presented. The SANS shear cell consists of a concentric cylinder Couette geometry that is sealed and rotating about a horizontal axis so that the vorticity direction of the flow field is aligned with the neutron beam enabling scattering from the 1-2 plane of shear (velocity-velocity gradient, respectively). This approach is an advance over previous shear cell sample environments as there is a strong coupling between the bulk rheology and microstructural features in the 1-2 plane of shear. Flow-instabilities, such as shear banding, can also be studied by spatially resolved measurements. This is accomplished in this sample environment by using a narrow aperture for the neutron beam and scanning along the velocity gradient direction. Time resolved experiments, such as flow start-ups and large amplitude oscillatory shear flow are also possible by synchronization of the shear motion and time-resolved detection of scattered neutrons. Representative results using the methods outlined here demonstrate the useful nature of spatial resolution for measuring the microstructure of a wormlike micelle solution that exhibits shear banding, a phenomenon that can only be investigated by resolving the structure along the velocity gradient direction. Finally, potential improvements to the current design are discussed along with suggestions for supplementary experiments as motivation for future experiments on a broad range of complex fluids in a variety of shear motions.

Evaluation of electromechanical coupling parameters of piezoelectric materials by using piezoelectric cantilever with coplanar electrode structure in quasi-stasis

Based on Timoshenko beam theory, a principle model is proposed to establish the relationship between electric charge and excitation acceleration, and in quasi-stasis we apply the direct piezoelectric effect of multilayer cantilever with coplanar electrode structure to evaluate the piezoelectric strain coefficient d15 and electromechanical coupling coefficient k15. They are measured as 678 pC/N and 0.74 for the commercial piezoelectric ceramic lead zirconate titanate (PZT-51) bulk specimen and 656 pC/N and 0.63 for the lead magnesium niobate (PMN) bulk specimen, and they are in agreement with the calibration and simulation values. The maximum of relative errors is less than 4.2%, so the proposed method is reliable and convenient.

Simultaneous measurement of strain and temperature by employing fiber Mach-Zehnder interferometer

We demonstrated a novel fiber in-line Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) with a large fringe visibility of up to 17 dB, which was fabricated by misaligned splicing a short section of thin core fiber between two sections of standard single-mode fiber. Such a MZI could be used to realize simultaneous measurement of tensile strain and temperature. Tensile strain was measured with an ultrahigh sensitivity of -0.023 dB/μɛ via the intensity modulation of interference fringes, and temperature was measured with a high sensitivity of 51 pm/°C via the wavelength modulation of interference fringe. That is, the MZI-based sensor overcomes the cross-sensitivity problem between tensile strain and temperature by means of different demodulation methods. Moreover, this proposed sensor exhibits the advantages of low-cost, extremely simple structure, compact size (only about 10 mm), and good repeatability.