• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.301-329
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• 2017

Impedance-based damage detection method has been known as an innovative tool with various successful implementations for structural health monitoring of civil structures. To monitor the local critical area of a structure, the impedance-based method utilizes the high-frequency impedance responses sensed by piezoelectric sensors as the local dynamic features. In this paper, current advances and future challenges of the impedance-based structural health monitoring are presented. Firstly, theoretical background of the impedance-based method is outlined. Next, an overview is given to recent advances in the wireless impedance sensor nodes, the interfacial impedance sensing devices, and the temperature-effect compensation algorithms. Various research works on these topics are reviewed to share up-to-date information on research activities and implementations of the impedance-based technique. Finally, future research challenges of the technique are discussed including the applicability of wireless sensing technology, the predetermination of effective frequency bands, the sensing region of impedance responses, the robust compensation of noise and temperature effects, the quantification of damage severity, and long-term durability of sensors.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.1163-1175
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• 2016

In recent years, microgrids have been the focus of considerable attention in distributed energy distribution. Microgrids contain a large number of power electronic devices that can potentially cause negative impedance instability. Harmonic impedance is an important tool to analyze stability and power quality of microgrids. Harmonic impedance can also be used in harmonic source localization. Precise measurement of microgrid impedance and analysis of system stability with impedances are essential to increase stability. In this study, we introduce a new square wave current injection method for impedance measurement and stability analysis. First, three stability criteria based on impedance parameters are presented. Then, we present a new impedance measurement method for microgrids based on square wave current injection. By injecting an unbalanced line-to-line current between two lines of the AC system, the method determines all impedance information in the traditional synchronous reference frame d-q model. Finally, the microgrid impedances of each part and the overall microgrid are calculated to verify the measurement results. In the experiments, a simulation model of a three-phase AC microgrid is developed using PSCAD, and the AC system harmonic impedance measuring device is developed.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.300-308
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• 2018

An online estimation method for wireless power transfer (WPT) systems is presented without using any measurement of the secondary side or the load. This parameter estimation method can be applied with a controlling strategy that removes both the receiving terminal controller and the wireless communication. This improves the reliability of the system while reducing its costs and size. In a wireless power transfer system with an LCCL impedance matching circuit under a rectifier load, the actual load value, voltage/current and mutual inductance can be reflected through reflected impedance measuring at the primary side. The proposed method can calculate the phase angle tangent value of the secondary loop circuit impedance via the reflected impedance, which is unrelated to the mutual inductance. Then the load value can be determined based on the relationships between the load value and the secondary loop impedance. After that, the mutual inductance and transfer efficiency can be computed. According to the primary side voltage and current, the load voltage and current can also be detected in real-time. Experiments have verified that high estimation accuracy can be achieved with the proposed method. A single-controller based on the proposed parameter estimation method is established to achieve constant current control over a WPT system.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.339-356
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• 2014

This study has been motivated to evaluate the practicality of numerical simulation of impedance monitoring for damage detection in steel column connection. In order to achieve the objective, the following approaches are implemented. Firstly, the theory of electro-mechanical (E/M) impedance responses and impedance-based damage monitoring method are outlined. Secondly, the feasibility of numerical simulation of impedance monitoring is verified for several pre-published experimental examples on steel beams, cracked aluminum beams, and aluminum round plates. Undamaged and damaged steel and aluminum beams are simulated to compare to experimental impedance responses. An aluminum round plate with PZT patch in center is simulated to investigate sensitive range of impedance responses. Finally, numerical simulation of the impedance-based damage monitoring is performed for a steel column connection in which connection bolts are damaged. From the numerical simulation test, the applicability of the impedance-based monitoring to the target steel column connection can be evaluated.

• 제어로봇시스템학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2000.10a
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• pp.410-410
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• 2000

Impedance control is recognised as one of the most proper control scheme to carry out the assembly tasks, since it can control the dynamic relationship between the manipulator and environment directly. However, it is well known that the contact force cannot be controlled directly using the impedance control. Also impedance parameters should be properly defined depending on the task to be performed. We propose a new position based impedance control, which has self-adjusted impedance parameters and can control the contact force explicitly, Impedance parameters, as time-varying parameters, are adjusted automatically based on the measured contact force and the position error during the task. A proposed algorithm was implemented on the peg-in-hole task with the industrial manipulator. We shows the effectiveness of proposed control method experimentally.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.305-318
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• 2008

The development of a digital signal processor based prototype is described in relation to continuing efforts for realizing a fully self-contained active sensor system utilizing impedance-based structural health monitoring. The impedance method utilizes a piezoelectric material bonded to the structure under observation to act as both an actuator and sensor. By monitoring the electrical impedance of the piezoelectric material, insights into the health of the structured can be inferred. The active sensing system detailed in this paper interrogates a structure utilizing a self-sensing actuator and a low cost impedance method. Here, all the data processing, storage, and analysis is performed at the sensor location. A wireless transmitter is used to communicate the current status of the structure. With this new low cost, field deployable impedance analyzer, reliance on traditional expensive, bulky, and power consuming impedance analyzers is no longer necessary. A complete power analysis of the prototype is performed to determine the validity of power harvesting being utilized for self-containment of the hardware. Experimental validation of the prototype on a representative structure is also performed and compared to traditional methods of damage detection.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.221-235
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• 2022

Among nondestructive damage detection methods, impedance-based methods have been recognized as an effective technique for damage identification in many kinds of structures. This paper proposes a method to detect cracks in metal structures by combining electro-mechanical impedance (EMI) responses and artificial neural networks (ANN). Firstly, the theories of EMI responses and impedance-based damage detection methods are described. Secondly, the reliability of numerical simulations for impedance responses is demonstrated by comparing to pre-published results for an aluminum beam. Thirdly, the proposed method is used to detect cracks in the beam. The RMSD (root mean square deviation) index is used to alarm the occurrence of the cracks, and the multi-layer perceptron (MLP) ANN is employed to identify the location and size of the cracks. The selection of the effective frequency range is also investigated. The analysis results reveal that the proposed method accurately detects the cracks' occurrence, location, and size in metal structures.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.896-908
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• 2013

Under high grid impedance conditions, it is difficult to guarantee the stability of grid-connected inverters with an LCL filter designed based on ideal grid conditions. In this paper, the theoretical basis for output impedance calculation is introduced. Based on the small-signal model, the d-d channel closed-loop output impedance models adopting the converter-side current control method and the grid-side current control method are derived, respectively. Specifically, this paper shows how to simplify the stability analysis which is usually complemented based on the generalized Nyquist stability criterion (GNC). The stability of each current-controlled grid-connected system is analyzed via the proposed simplified method. Moreover, the influence of the LCL parameters on the stability margin of grid-connected inverter controlled with converter-side current is studied. It is shown that the stability of grid-connected systems is fully determined by the d-d channel output admittance of the grid-connected inverter and the inductive component of the grid impedance. Experimental results validate the proposed theoretical stability analysis.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.599-605
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• 2011

This paper proposes a gain scheduling method that improves the stability of grid-connected systems employing an LCL-filter. The method adjusts the current controller gain through an estimation of the grid impedance in order to reduce the resonance that occurs when using an LCL-filter to reduce switching harmonics. An LCL-filter typically has a frequency spectrum with a resonance peak. A change of the grid-impedance results in a change to the resonant frequency. Therefore an LCL-filter needs a damping method that is applicable when changing the grid impedance for stable system control. The proposed method instantaneously estimates the grid impedance and observes the resonant frequency at the same time. Consequently, the proposed method adjusts the current controller gain using a gain scheduling method in order to guarantee current controller stability when a change in the resonant frequency occurs. The effectiveness of the proposed method has been verified by simulations and experimental results.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.246-259
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• 2011

This study presents a structural health monitoring (SHM) method for bolted connections by using multi-channel wireless impedance sensor nodes and multiple PZT-interfaces. To achieve the objective, the following approaches are implemented. Firstly, a PZT-interface is designed to monitor bolt loosening in bolted connection based on variation of electro-mechanical(EM) impedance signatures. Secondly, a wireless impedance sensor node is designed for autonomous, cost-efficient and multi-channel monitoring. For the sensor platform, Imote2 is selected on the basis of its high operating speed, low power requirement and large storage memory. Finally, the performance of the wireless sensor node and the PZT-interfaces is experimentally evaluated for a bolt-connection model Damage monitoring method using root mean square deviation(RMSD) index of EM impedance signatures is utilized to estimate the strength of the bolted joint.