• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.145-158
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• 2014

The objective of this study is to improve the survivability and reliability of the FBG sensor network in the structural health monitoring (SHM) system. Therefore, a model reconstruction soft computing recognition algorithm based on support vector regression (SVR) is proposed to achieve the high reliability of the FBG sensor network, and the grid search algorithm is used to optimize the parameters of SVR model. Furthermore, in order to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed model reconstruction algorithm, a SHM system based on an eight-point fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor network is designed to monitor the foreign-object low velocity impact of a CFRP composite plate. Simultaneously, some sensors data are neglected to simulate different kinds of FBG sensor network failure modes, the predicting results are compared with non-reconstruction for the same failure mode. The comparative results indicate that the performance of the model reconstruction recognition algorithm based on SVR has more excellence than that of non-reconstruction, and the model reconstruction algorithm almost keeps the consistent predicting accuracy when no sensor, one sensor and two sensors are invalid in the FBG sensor network, thus the reliability is improved when there are FBG sensors are invalid in the structural health monitoring system.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics and Information Engineers
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.219-228
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• 2013

The surveillance imaging equipments are functioning to observe the shape of the target in real time or to measure its location precisely. The roles of such equipments are becoming more important in today's weapon systems.The aforementioned imaging equipments can be classified based on the modes of operations such as fixed, installed on cars, or composite of those. Also, according to different concepts of sensor operation, a separate type uses independent housing for each sensor whereas in a composite type a set of multiple sensors are housed into a unit altogether. The sensors in general have magnetism, thereby introducing the possible negative effects, particularly in the composite types, in locating the reference position, which is carried out by the digital compass. The use of shielding material/housing could be an option but results in increased weight and reduced portability, restricting its use in composite type equipments. As such, the objective of this paper is to study on how to reduce such magnetic effects on the position location. To do so, in the absence of magnetic shielding, a variety of sensor positions were first modeled. By combing the result with the fact that the functions of PAN & Tilt are used in the equipments, a new position location algorithm is proposed. The use of the new algorithm can automate the position location process as compared to the manual process of the existing approach. In the algorithm developed, twelve locations are measured in connection with both the azimuth and elevation angles in comparison to the six locations alone around the azimuth angle. As a result, it turns out that the measurement range has been widened but the measurement time reduced. Also, note that the effect of errors the operators may make during measurement could be reduced.

• Composites Research
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.31-36
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• 2010

A new material, carbon-nanofiber/polypyrrole (CNF/PPy) composite films, with different CNF weight ratios were fabricated electrochemically. Compared to the fabrication process based on simple physical mixing, the flexibility of the new film has been improved much better than the previous similar material. Pure PPy films were also fabricated by the new electrochemical process for the comparison of difference. Several SEM images were taken at two locations (electrode-side and solution-side) and at the cross section of the samples. Electrical conductivity of the composite films was measured by the four-probe method. The conductivity of the pure PPy film 0.013cm thick was 79.33S/cm. The CNF/PPy composite film with 5% CNF showed a conductivity of 93S/cm. One with 10% CNF showed a conductivity of 126 S/cm. The conductivity of PPy improves, as the CNF weight ratio increases. The good conductivity of CNF/PPy composites makes them a candidate for a small bending actuator. A bending sensor consists of PPy and PVDF, which can be operated in the air, was designed and the bending deflection was calculated using FEM.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.495-499
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• 2010

To develop chemical and biosensors, this paper studies sensing characteristics of bulk carbon nanotube (CNT) electrodes by means of their electrical impedance properties due to their large surface area and excellence chemical absorptivity. The sensors were fabricated in the form of film and nano web style by using composite process for mass production. The bulk composite electrodes were fabricated with singlewall and multi-wall carbon nanotubes based on host polymers such as Nafion and PAN, using a solution-casting and an electrospinning technique. The resistance and the capacitance of electrodes were measured with LCR meter under the various amounts of buffer solution to study the electrical impedance change properties of them. On the experimental of sensor electrode, impedance characteristics of the composite electrode are affected by its host polymer and nanofiller and its sensing response showed saturated result after applying some amounts of buffer solution for test chemical. Especially, the capacitance values showed drastic changes while the resistance values only changed within few percent range. It is deduced that the ions in the solution penetrated and diffused into the electrodes surface changed the electrical properties of the electrodes much like a doping effect.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.17 no.3_4
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• pp.347-356
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• 2004

In order to extend the lifetime of buildings and civil infrastructure, patch type fibrous composite retrofitting materials are widely used. Retrofitted concrete columns and beams gain stiffness and strength, but lose toughness and show brittle failure. Usually, the cracks in concrete structures are visible to the naked eye and the status of the structure in the life cycle is estimated through visual inspections. After retrofitting of the structure, crack visibility is blocked by retrofitted composite materials. Therefore, structural monitoring after retrofitting is indispensable and self diagnosis method with optical fiber sensors is very useful. In this paper, we try to detect the peel out effect and find the strain difference between the main structure and retrofitting patch material when they separate from each other. In the experiment, two fiber optic Bragg grating sensors are applied to the main concrete structure and the patching material separately at the same position. The sensors show coincident behaviors at the initial loading, but different behaviors after a certain load. The test results show the possibility of optical fiber sensor monitoring of beam structures retrofitted by the composite patches.

• Composites Research
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.147-153
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• 2012

In this paper, static perforation tests are conducted to predict the penetration energy for the composite laminates subjected to high velocity impact. Three methods are used to analyze the perforation energy accurately. The first method is to select the perforation point using the AE sensor signal energy, the second method is to retest the tested specimen and use the difference between initial and retested perforation energy, and the third method is to select the perforation point based on the maximum loading point in the retested load-displacement curve of the tested specimen. The predicted perforation energy results are presented and verified by comparing with those by the high velocity tests.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.18 no.10
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• pp.529-534
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• 2008

The hydrogen gas sensing properties of a zinc oxide nanowire structure were studied. Porous zinc oxide nanowire structures were fabricated by oxidizing zinc deposited on a single-wall carbon nanotube (SWNT) template. This revealed a porous ZnO-SWNT composite due to the porosity in the SWNT film. The gas sensing properties were compared with those of zinc oxide thin films deposited on SiO2/Si substrates in sensitivity and operating temperature. The composite structure showed higher sensitivity and lower operating temperature than the zinc oxide film. It showed a response even at room temperature while the film structure did not.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.112-120
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• 2003

The composite of ionic polymer and metal has been fabricated and used for actuators. Platinum is deposited by electroless plating method onto the both sides of ionic polymer where ac voltage is applied. This results in the bending motion of a beam type actuator. In this paper, the fabrication method of ionic polymer-metal composite has been explained and the moving mechanism has been fabricated and measured using the ionic polymer-metal composite actuator. The moving mechanism is wireless type and the power is supplied through the rail electrodes in base plate. The maximum speed of the moving mechanism was about 24cm/min.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.391-396
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• 2006

Free-standing multilayer distributed Bragg reflectors (DBR) porous silicon dielectric mirrors, prepared by electrochemical etching of crystalline silicon using square wave currents are treated with polystyrene to produce flexible, stable composite materials in which the porous silicon matrix is covered with caffeine-impregnated polystyrene. Optically encoded DBR PSi/polystyrene composite films retain the optical reflectivity. Optical characteristics of DBR PSi/polystyrene composite films are stable and robust for 2 hrs in a pH=7 aqueous buffer solution. The appearance of caffeine and change of DBR peak were simultaneously measured by UV-vis spectrometer and Ocean optics 2000 spectrometer, respectively.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.458-463
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• 2010

It is required to develop rapid methods to identify pathogenic Salmonella in food products for protecting and maintaining safety of the public health from Salmonellosis. The objective of the present study was to explore feasibility of the nanotechnology to detect pathogenic Salmonella rapidly in various samples. Sensitivity of the a composite quantum dot to detect Salmonella typhimurium in samples were evaluated. For selective detection of Salmonella, anti-Salmonella polycolonal antibody was utilized to capture and stain Salmonella. Quantum dots were attached onto Salmonella in the samples and produced fluorescent light. Fluorescence response of the composite quantum dot was measured with a commercial fluorescence meter. The fluorescence signal starts to increase with the samples in which higher concentration of the cells were contained. The sensitivity of the sensor was $10^6\;CFU/mL$ Salmonella spiked in PBS.