• Smart Structures and Systems
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.123-133
• /
• 2023

This paper proposes a thermography-based coating thickness estimation method for steel structures using model-agnostic meta-learning. In the proposed method, a halogen lamp generates heat energy on the coating surface of a steel structure, and the resulting heat responses are measured using an infrared (IR) camera. The measured heat responses are then analyzed using model-agnostic meta-learning to estimate the coating thickness, which is visualized throughout the inspection surface of the steel structure. Current coating thickness estimation methods rely on point measurement and their inspection area is limited to a single point, whereas the proposed method can inspect a larger area with higher accuracy. In contrast to previous ANN-based methods, which require a large amount of data for training and validation, the proposed method can estimate the coating thickness using only 10- pixel points for each material. In addition, the proposed model has broader applicability than previous methods, allowing it to be applied to various materials after meta-training. The performance of the proposed method was validated using laboratory-scale and field tests with different coating materials; the results demonstrated that the error of the proposed method was less than 5% when estimating coating thicknesses ranging from 40 to 500 ㎛.

• Smart Structures and Systems
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.385-395
• /
• 2022

Detecting cracks on a concrete structure is crucial for structural maintenance, a crack being an indicator of possible damage. Conventional crack detection methods which include visual inspection and non-destructive equipment, are typically limited to a small region and require time-consuming processes. Recently, to reduce the human intervention in the inspections, various researchers have sought computer vision-based crack analyses: One class is filter-based methods, which effectively transforms the image to detect crack edges. The other class is using deep-learning algorithms. For example, convolutional neural networks have shown high precision in identifying cracks in an image. However, when the objective is to classify not only the existence of crack but also the types of cracks, only a few studies have been reported, limiting their practical use. Thus, the presented study develops an image processing procedure that detects cracks and classifies crack types; whether the image contains a crazing-type, single crack, or multiple cracks. The properties and steps in the algorithm have been developed using field-obtained images. Subsequently, the algorithm is validated from additional 227 images obtained from an open database. For test datasets, the proposed algorithm showed accuracy of 92.8% in average. In summary, the developed algorithm can precisely classify crazing-type images, while some single crack images may misclassify into multiple cracks, yielding conservative results. As a result, the successful results of the presented study show potentials of using vision-based technologies for providing crack information with reduced human intervention.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
• /
• v.23 no.5
• /
• pp.519-526
• /
• 2023

This research endeavors to explore the nuances in apparent resistivity readings in concrete specimens due to the proximity of embedded reinforcement. To systematically gauge this, concrete samples incorporating singular and paired rebars were meticulously crafted. These rebars were strategically positioned at intervals of 0.03m, 0.04m, and 0.05m from each specimen's midpoint. Subsequent resistivity assessments were conducted at 0.01m increments up to the predetermined rebar location for each sample. A consistent observation was the nadir in apparent resistivity manifesting at the rebar's epicenter. Notably, dual-rebar configurations registered lower resistivity values at this central juncture compared to their single-rebar counterparts. This metric underscores the palpable impact of surrounding reinforcement on resistivity readings. Further, as the spatial separation between rebars increased, the distinctness in their locational identification via resistivity became increasingly pronounced.

• Land and Housing Review
• /
• v.15 no.3
• /
• pp.153-164
• /
• 2024

Structural health monitoring involves performance evaluation based on measurements for maintenance purposes. By back-calculating measured Frequency Response Function (FRF) data, the concept of effective mass was introduced and applied to the performance evaluation of structural members. An identification method was proposed that uses participation factors to estimate the dynamic parameters and the strength of concrete of structural members. The appropriateness of these methods for identifying dynamic parameters and concrete strength of structural members was validated through experimental results, proving their utility in non-destructive testing for concrete strength.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
• /
• v.37 no.6
• /
• pp.637-643
• /
• 2024

One method to increase the output of solar modules is the application of the Half-cut technique, which requires a scribing process involving direct irradiation of infrared lasers on the solar cells. During this process, the laser melts the surface of the solar cells at high temperatures, enabling mechanical division, but this can lead to output loss due to thermal degradation caused by the laser. To minimize such losses, a low-temperature and low-loss division method has been devised. In this study, we compared the electrical characteristics and leakage currents affecting output degradation between the newly devised low-temperature and low-loss cell division method and the conventional laser division method. Additionally, we conducted a 3-point flexural test to evaluate the mechanical properties of both methods.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.588-594
• /
• 2020

This study proposes non-destructive rebound-hardness and ultrasonic testing methods to more accurately evaluate the residual structural performance of reinforced concrete structures in a fire. Techniques are also proposed to assess the stiffness used in the deflection calculation with natural frequencies obtained by vibration tests. In the compressive strength evaluation using rebound hardness, the residual compressive strength of thick specimens and a larger water/cement (W/C) ratio were shown to be large. The homogeneity of concrete at high temperature compared to ambient temperature conditions was assessed by the velocity of ultrasonic waves that penetrate the concrete, and it followed W/C or thickness of slab makes little different results. To assess the stiffness of fire-damaged slabs and increase in deflection, the natural frequency was measured by vibration tests and incorporated into the equation of the stiffness. The application of this technique to the slab experiment showed that it can be a very reasonable evaluation technique. In addition, to evaluate the residual strength of a member after fire, a test of the strength of a component was carried out during and after heating.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.75-82
• /
• 2007

As one of the main support systems, rock bolts play a crucial role in the reinforcement of tunnels. Numerical and experimental studies using a transmission method of ultrasonic guided waves are performed to evaluate the integrity of rock bolts encapsulated by grouting paste. Numerical simulations using "DISPERSE" are carried out for the selection of the optimal experimental setup, i.e. non-destructive testing (NDT) system of the rock bolt. Based on results of the numerical simulation, the calculated frequency range for NDT testing is between 20kHz and 70kHz with the first longitudinal L(1) mode. Laboratory transmission tests are performed by attaching the piezo electric sensor at the tip of the rock bolt before embedding. Both of analytical and experimental results show that the amplitude of signals as well as the wave velocity increases with increase in the defect ratio of grouting paste. The defect in grouting paste means that the space around the rock bolt is not fully filled with the grouting paste. Experimental results also show that the increase of the wave velocity is more sensitive to the defect ratio increase than that of the amplitude. This study demonstrates that the transmission technique of ultrasonic guided waves may be a valuable tool in the evaluation of the rock bolt integrity.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.11-20
• /
• 2022

The main purpose of this study is to investigate the applicability of the shear wave tomography technology as a non-destructive testing method to evaluate the debonding between the track concrete layer (TCL) and the hydraulically stabilized based course (HSB) of concrete slab tracks for the Korea high-speed railway system. A commercially available multi-channel shear wave measurement device (MIRA) is used to evaluate debonding defects in full-scaled mock-up test specimen that was designed and constructed according to the Rheda 200 system. A part of the mock-up specimen includes two artificial debonding defects with a length and a width of 400mm and thicknesses of 5mm and 10mm, respectively. The tomography images obtained by a MIRA on the surface of the concrete specimens are effective for visualizing the debonding defects in concrete. In this study, a simple image processing method is proposed to suppress the noisy signals reflected from the embedded items (reinforcing steel, precast sleeper, insert, etc.) in TCL, which significantly improves the readability of debonding defects in shear wave tomography images. Results show that debonding maps constructed in this study are effective for visualizing the spatial distribution and the depths of the debondiing defects in the railway concrete slab specimen.

• Journal of Conservation Science
• /
• v.38 no.3
• /
• pp.243-253
• /
• 2022

Using non-destructive analytical methods, we identified the material characteristics of two gold fabric artifacts excavated from the Cheongsong Sim clan (Bugeum Wonsam, Jikgeum Chima), including the artifact condition, fiber type, surface contamination, and metallic threads. We found that the artifacts were buried and had turned brown; thus, we were unable to determine their original color. The fiber type was determined to be silk from cocoons, based on scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) analyses of Amide I, II, III, and IV peaks, and color reactions Further, the FT-IR and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyses identified the white and black stains as natural resin hydrolyzed substances, such as lipids and proteins, that occurred as microbial decomposition due to body decay. Finally, the XRF analyses identified the thin gold layer of the metallic yarn as gold (Au). According to the FT-IR data and the color reaction to the metallic yarn medium, the adhesive component of the medium was a product of-Amides I, II, III, and 3000 cm^-1 within Amides A and B (an animal type), respectively. Thus, the medium was identified as Hanji (Korean paper), which is made from domestically produced Broussonetia kazinoki fibers.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.47-56
• /
• 2009

Rock bolts and shotcrete play a crucial role as a main support system in the underground space. Thus, the safety of the underground space may be affected by the defect of rock bolts. In order to evaluate the rock bolt integrity by using non-destructive technique, the transmission method of the guided ultrasonic waves, which are generated by using the piezo disk elements has been successfully performed. The energy generated by the piezo disk elements, however, is not enough for the rock bolts in the field. In addition, the piezo disk elements should be installed at the end of the steel bar during construction of the rock bolts. The purpose of this study is the devolvement of the reflection method, which may generate enough energy, and the application in the field rock bolts. Both laboratory and field tests are carried out. The guided ultrasonic waves with high energy are generated by the hammer impact with the center punch, and the AE sensor is used to measure the reflected guided waves. The received guided waves are analyzed by the wavelet transform. The peak value of the wavelet transform produces the energy velocity, which is used for the evaluation of the rock bolt integrity. The energy velocity increases with an increase in the defect ratio in both laboratory and field rock bolts. This study demonstrates that the hammer-impact reflection method may be a suitable method for the evaluation of the rock bolt in the field.