• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2021.11a
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• pp.99-100
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• 2021

In this study, the setting times of concrete was evaluated using the electro-mechanical (EMI) behavior of piezoelectric sensor embedded in the concrete. Penetration resistance test was also performed to compare with EMI sensing technique. As a result, the setting times of concrete can be measured more effectively than penetration resistance test through the EMI sensing technique using the piezoelectric sensor.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.1159-1175
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• 2015

In this study, the effect of temperature variation on the wireless impedance monitoring is analyzed for the tendon-anchorage connection of the prestressed concrete girder. Firstly, three impedance features, which are peak frequency, root mean square deviation (RMSD) index, and correlation coefficient (CC) index, are selected to estimate the effects of temperature variation and prestress-loss on impedance signatures. Secondly, wireless impedance tests are performed on the tendon-anchorage connection for which a series of temperature variation and prestress-loss events are simulated. Thirdly, the effect of temperature variation on impedance signatures measured from the tendon-anchorage connection is estimated by the three impedance features. Finally, the effect of prestress-loss on impedance signatures is also estimated by the three impedance features. The relative effects of temperature variation and prestress-loss are comparatively examined.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2010.04a
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• pp.347-351
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• 2010

판과 같은 구조물의 손상 감지를 위해, 손상 전 구조물의 임피던스 신호를 기저신호(Baseline impedance signal)로 이용하여 직접적으로 비교하지 않는 새로운 개념의 무기저 손상진단 기법(Reference-free impedance method)을 제시한다. 박막 압전소자(이하 PZT)를 판의 상하 표면에 부착시킨 한 쌍의 병치 PZT를 이용하여 손상으로 인해 모드변환을 일으키는 전기역학적 신호(Electro Mechanical Signatures ; 이하 EMS)를 추출한다. 이 연구에서는 스펙트럼 요소법(Spectral Element Method ; 이하 SEM)을 이용하여 주파수 영역에서 병치된 PZT의 EMS를 파악하기 위한 수치해석을 수행한다. 특히, 손상에 의해 발생된 모드변환 EMSMC를 병치된 PZT의 극성에 기인한 신호분해 기법을 적용하여 추출하고, 분해된 모드변환 EMSMC가 손상의 위치와 크기에 따라 받는 영향을 추가로 분석한다.

• International Journal of Precision Engineering and Manufacturing
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.46-52
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• 2004

Numerous connectors are used in automobiles for transmission of electrical signals across various electro-mechanical components. The connectors must operate with high reliability in order to minimize failures due to signal degradation. In this work, the effects of contamination at the contact interface of connectors used fur automobile crankshaft position sensor on the impedance change were investigated. An experimental set-up was built to simulate the electrical signal transmitted from the sensor to the engine control unit through a connector. Output from the connector was investigated using connectors contaminated with engine block residues and water droplets. It was found that slight contamination of the connectors could lead to significant signal degradation which can lead to engine failure. Also, the effect of water in the connector altered the signal severely. However, the signal gradually regained the original state as the water evaporated from the interface.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.21 no.7
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• pp.600-605
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• 2002

In this paper, a Negative Impedance Converter (NIC) circuit was employed for the electro-mechanical characteristic control of a thickness mode piezoelectric vibrator. Two circular plane piezoelectric vibrators were bonded together and the NIC circuit was connected to one of the vibrators. The theoretical and experimental analysis of the characteristics shown that the quality factor and the electro-acoustic efficiency of the vibrator with the NIC circuit could be improved by 20 times and 2.5 times, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.162-168
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• 2024

This study investigated the setting characteristics of cement paste with varying proportions of fly ash replacement using the electro-mechanical impedance (EMI) sensing technique. Cement paste samples were prepared with a water-to-binder ratio of 40 %, substituting fly ash for 10 %, 20 %, and 30 % of the cement weight. Piezoelectric (PZT) sensors were embedded in the center of each cement paste sample to continuously monitor the EMI signals. Vicat needle test and semi-adiabatic calorimetry test were conducted to validate the reliability of the EMI sensing technique in monitoring the setting of cement paste. Experimental results revealed notable changes in the magnitude and resonant frequency of the EMI resonant peaks during the setting time. It was confirmed that the setting times measured through the EMI sensing technique were correlated with those determined by the Vicat needle test and semi-adiabatic calorimetry test.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.6 no.7
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• pp.851-866
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• 2010

This paper presents a new concept of using PZT (lead zircornate titanate) transducers as a non-destructive testing (NDT) tool for evaluating quality of concrete. Detection of defects in concrete is very important in order to check the integrity of concrete structures. The electro-mechanical impedance (EMI) response of PZT transducers bonded onto a concrete specimen can be used for evaluating local condition of the specimen. Measurements are carried out by electrically exciting the bonded PZT transducers at high frequency range and taking response measurements of the transducers. In this study, the compression test results showed that concrete specimens without sufficient compaction are likely to fall below the desired strength. In addition, the strength of concrete was greatly reduced as the voids in concrete were increased. It was found that the root mean square deviation (RMSD) values yielded between the EMI signatures for concrete specimens in dry and saturated states showed good agreement with the specimens' compressive strength and permeable voids. A quality metric was introduced for predicting the quality of concrete based on the dry-saturated state of concrete specimens. The simplicity of the method and the current development towards low cost and portable impedance measuring system, offer an advantage over other NDE methods for evaluating concrete quality.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2010.04a
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• pp.783-786
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• 2010

This paper presents a finite element analysis on impedance parameters of anchor plates of structural cables under the change in cable forces. To achieve the objective, four approaches are implemented as follows: Firstly, theoretical background of electro-mechanical impedance is described. Secondly, anchor plates of structural cables are selected to experimentally examine the relationship between impedance parameters and cable force changes. Thirdly, finite element analysis is performed to verify the experimental results. Fourthly, a comparison between the experimental and numerical analysis on impedance parameters of anchor plate of structural cables under cable force changes is carried out.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.101-113
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• 2006

Structural health monitoring results obtained with the electro-mechanical (E/M) impedance techniqueand Lamb wave transmission methods during fatigue crack propagation of an Arcan specimen instrumented with piezoelectric wafer active sensors (PWAS) are presented. The specimen was subjected in mixed-mode fatigue loading and a crack was propagated in stages. At each stage, an image of the crack and the location of the crack tip were recorded and the PWAS readings were taken. Hence, the crack-growth in the specimen could be correlated with the PWAS readings. The E/M impedance signature was recorded in the 100 - 500 kHz frequency range. The Lamb-wave transmission method used the pitch-catch approach with a 3-count sine tone burst of 474 kHz transmitted and received between various PWAS pairs. Fatigue loading was applied to initiate and propagate the crack damage of controlled magnitude. As damage progressed, the E/M impedance signatures and the waveforms received by receivers were recorded at predetermined intervals and compared. Data analysis indicated that both the E/M impedance signatures and the Lamb-wave transmission signatures are modified by the crack progression. Damage index values were observed to increase as the crack damage increases. These experiments demonstrated that the use of PWAS in conjunction with the E/M impedance and the Lamb-wave transmission is a potentially powerful tool for crack damage detection and monitoring in structural elements.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.73-78
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• 2017

A tetrode is one of the neural electrodes, and it is widely used to record neural signals in the brain of a freely moving animal. The impedance of a neural electrode is an important parameter because it determines the signal-to-noise ratio of the recorded neural signals. Here, we developed a modification technique using carbon nanotube-polypyrrole composite nanostructures to decrease the impedances of tetrodes. The synthesis of the carbon nanotube and polypyrrole nanostructures was performed in two steps. In the first step, randomly dispersed carbon nanotubes and pyrrole monomers were gathered and aligned on the tetrode electrode. Next, they were electro-polymerized on the electrode surface. As the applied time (step-1 and step-2) and the offset voltage increased, the impedances of the tetrodes decreased. The modification technique is, therefore, an important and useful of lowering the impedances of tetrodes.