Sonochemical synthesis of polyaniline nanofibers

Conventionally, micro-sized irregular polyaniline (PANI) particles were synthesized by dropwise addition of the ammonium persulfate (APS) solution into the aniline (ANI) solution with mechanical stirring. By replacing the mechanical stirring with an ultrasonic irradiation, PANI nanofibers in diameters of approximately 50 nm and lengths of 200 nm to several micrometers were prepared. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that at the early stage of polymerization, the polymers formed in both the mechanical stirred and ultrasonicated systems are in the form of nanofiber. However, with continuing of the reaction, these primary nanofibers grow and agglomerate into irregular shaped PANI particles in the mechanical stirred system, while in the case of the ultrasonic irradiation, the growth and agglomeration are effectively prevented, preserving thus the PANI nanofibers in the final product. By increasing the APS/ANI molar ratio from 0.5 to 2.5, the aspect ratios of the PANI nanofibers decreased. The PANI nanofibers exhibit higher solubility than the irregular shaped PANI particles. Although the yield, as well as the conductivity of the ultrasonic synthesized PANI nanofibers, was slightly lower than the irregular shaped PANI particles, the ultrasonic synthesis approach is one of the facile and scalable approaches in synthesizing PANI nanofibers in comparison with other ones without use of templates (e.g., the interfacial polymerization and rapid mixing polymerization). UV-Vis and Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) spectra indicated ultrasound had no significant effect on the chemical structure of the PANI.     

Ultrasonic dyeing of cellulose nanofibers

Textile dyeing assisted by ultrasonic energy has attained a greater interest in recent years. We report ultrasonic dyeing of nanofibers for the very first time. We chose cellulose nanofibers and dyed with two reactive dyes, CI reactive black 5 and CI reactive red 195. The cellulose nanofibers were prepared by electrospinning of cellulose acetate (CA) followed by deacetylation. The FTIR results confirmed complete conversion of CA into cellulose nanofibers. Dyeing parameters optimized were dyeing temperature, dyeing time and dye concentrations for each class of the dye used. Results revealed that the ultrasonic dyeing produced higher color yield (K/S values) than the conventional dyeing. The color fastness test results depicted good dye fixation. SEM analysis evidenced that ultrasonic energy during dyeing do not affect surface morphology of nanofibers. The results conclude successful dyeing of cellulose nanofibers using ultrasonic energy with better color yield and color fastness results than conventional dyeing.     

Active incremental Support Vector Machine for oil and gas pipeline defects prediction system using long range ultrasonic transducers

This work proposes a long range ultrasonic transducers technique in conjunction with an active incremental Support Vector Machine (SVM) classification approach that is used for real-time pipeline defects prediction and condition monitoring. Oil and gas pipeline defects are detected using various techniques. One of the most prevalent techniques is the use of “smart pigs” to travel along the pipeline and detect defects using various types of sensors such as magnetic sensors and eddy-current sensors. A critical short coming of “smart pigs” is the inability to monitor continuously and predict the onset of defects. The emergence of permanently installed long range ultrasonics transducers systems enable continuous monitoring to be achieved. The needs for and the challenges of the proposed technique are presented. The experimental results show that the proposed technique achieves comparable classification accuracy as when batch training is used, while the computational time is decreased, using 56 feature data points acquired from a lab-scale pipeline defect generating experimental rig.     

激光回馈效应及其传感应用研究的进展

对基于激光回馈效应的传感应用研究进展进行了综述。由于激光回馈引起激光器功率波动一个条纹对应外部反射镜移动半个光波波长,功率波动深度与传统双光束干涉系统相当,基于该现象的激光回馈干涉仪与传统的干涉仪相比具有相同的相位灵敏度。但其结构简单、紧凑、易准直的特点,引起了国内外科研者浓厚的兴趣,开发了很多全新概念、经济实用的精密测量仪器。对激光回馈效应在位移测量、速度测量、振动测量、距离测量、角度测量和形貌测量中的原理进行了介绍,同时对各传感应用系统进行了评述。     

A statistical approach to direct density of states measurements in disordered systems

A statistical method for measuring the modal density of elastic waves through direct mode counting in strongly scattering disordered systems is presented. To illustrate this approach, the results of ultrasonic experiments in a highly porous sintered glass bead network are reported. This method is shown to yield a reliable and robust measurement of the density of states, enabling mode-counting techniques to be applied to increasingly complex systems, where modal overlap and sensitivity to experimental conditions have previously hampered definitive results.     

用超声光栅测量氦氖激光的波长

介绍了一种新的测量激光波长的方法,并与传统的迈克耳孙干涉仪测量的结果进行了比较.我们对汞光和氦氖激光在乙醇(97%)形成的超声光栅中的衍射光谱进行了测量研究,首先利用汞光数据计算得到了超声波在乙醇中的传播速度,并分析了温度对结果的影响,然后利用超声波波速计算了氦氖激光的波长,得到的结果与标准值相比的相对误差为0.55%.此方法操作简便,且有与迈克耳孙干涉仪可比的精度.     

Ultrasonic-assisted dyeing of Nylon-6 nanofibers

We first time report ultrasonic dyeing of the Nylon 6 nanofibers with two disperse dyes CI Disperse blue 56 and CI Disperse Red 167:1 by utilising ultrasonic energy during dyeing process. The Nylon 6 nanofibers were fabricated via electrospinning and dyed via batchwise method with and without sonication. Results revealed that ultrasonic dyeing produce higher color yield (K/S values) and substantially reduces dyeing time from 60 min for conventional dyeing to 30 min can be attributed to breakage of dye aggregate, transient cavitation near nanofiber surface and mass transfer within/between nanofibers. Color fastness results exhibited good to very good dye fixation. SEM images exhibit insignificant effect of sonication on morphology of the nanofibers. Our research results demonstrate ultrasonic dyeing as a better dyeing technique for Nylon 6 nanofibers with higher color yield and substantially reduced dyeing time.     

Ultrasonic sensor properties characterized by a PC-controlled scanning measuring system

The use of ultrasonic sensors for process control is currently widespread for flow, level or distance measurements. Recently, interest has increased, too in the application of ultrasonic sensors to concentration measurements in complex liquids. In this application there are high demands for a defined and stable quality of the properties of both the sensor transfer function and the sound field characteristic. For a detailed investigation and characterization of ultrasonic sensor propertiess, an efficient PC-controlled measuring system was developed by the Institut fur Automation und Kommunikation (IFAK). In this contribution, this high performance approach is presented to make visible the vibrating ultrasonic sensor surface as well as the sound field in front of acoustic sensors in liquids.     

基于ZigBee网络和超声定位的智能跟随小车

基于成熟的IEEE802.15.4协议和ZigBee无线模块,结合超声定位,设计了一种新颖的智能跟随系统。设计的核心为PIC18F4620单片机和MRF24J40MA无线收发模块,通过无线收发来完成节点间的识别与同步,同时以超声测距系统完成对被跟踪目标的定位,通过控制驱动电机动作实现对指定目标的定距离跟随。控制网络以子网的形式控制不同系统的分时定位跟随,同时管理各移动定位系统的入网和切换。样机测试结果表明系统达到了预期的跟随设计要求,具有一定的工程使用价值。     

Speckle interferometry, fibre optic sensors and laser induced ultrasounds as solutions to industrial demands

Industrial operators have been taking interest in optical diagnostics through years. Optical methods are mainly well appreciated for their attitude to be used as non-contact and non-invasive techniques. The paper presents three examples of applications carried-out by researchers of Centro Elettrotecnico Sperimentale Italiano (CESI) in collaboration with people working in industrial fields. The first part shows the applications of speckle interferometry to measure residual stresses in association with the traditional blind-hole drilling, while the second part presents the installation of fibre optic sensors in a power plant for monitoring possible overheating to avoid fires and finally the last presentation outlines a particular application in the field of laser generated ultrasounds that is the monitoring of the variation of ultrasonic speed propagation due to residual stresses.     

Presence detection under optimum fusion in an ultrasonic sensor system

Reliable presence detection is a requirement in energy-efficient occupancy-adaptive indoor lighting systems. A system of multiple ultrasonic sensors is considered for presence detection, and the performance gain from optimum fusion is studied. Two cases are considered wherein an individual sensor determines presence based on (i) local detection by processing echoes at its receiver, and (ii) the optimum Chair-Varshney fusion rule using multiple sensor detection results. The performance gains of using optimum fusion over local detection are characterized under different sensor system configurations and it is shown that improved detection sensitivity is obtained over a larger detection coverage region.     

Investigation of pulse-excited hydrophones for ultrasonic field measurements using laser interferometry

A comparison of the characteristics of various designs of hydrophones by means of laser interferometry is performed in a field radiated by a pulse-echo diagnostic device. The results are presented in the time and frequency domain in terms of temporal waveforms, frequency spectra and transfer functions. With regard to the measurement of characteristic ultrasonic field data, distinct differences between the various designs and units were found.     

光纤超声传感器及应用研究进展

光纤超声传感器通过检测光纤内传输光的强度、波长、相位、偏振态等参数感知超声波的相关信息.相比于传统的电类超声换能器,光纤超声传感器能够实现宽频带超声波信号的高灵敏探测,且其良好的抗干扰能力和复用性,可有效地提高超声波探测的可靠性和效率,在水下国防安全、生物成像、无损探伤、地震物理模型成像等领域具有巨大的应用潜力.目前,按照传感结构,光纤超声传感器可分为光纤强度调制型、光纤干涉型和光纤光栅型,并在不同方面发挥着各自的优势,均受到关注.本文主要综述了这几种传感器的传感机理、实现方法、发展现状,总结了光纤超声传感器的几个应用领域及面临的科学技术挑战,重点讨论了光纤超声传感器作为一种新技术应用于地震物理模型成像.     

SNR enhancement for composite application using multiple Doppler vibrometers based laser ultrasonic propagation imager

In recent years, the technology of using laser ultrasonic propagation imaging for damage visualization of composite structures were applied to real-world applications. Among many choices of sensor for the Ultrasonic Propagation Imager, the laser interferometry has several advantages: it is non-invasive, and portable, and with extraordinarily long-range measurement. However, the critical issue with interferometry sensing is its low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), where the background noise can mask the damage-induced waves and making it impossible to identify the damages, especially in composite structures. In this paper, we propose a hardware-based SNR enhancement technique using multiple Laser Doppler Vibrometers (LDVs). The out-of-plane mode of ultrasonic signals are measured by multiple LDVs at a common sensing point and then averaged in real time. We showed that the SNR enhancement in experiments was consistent with the theoretical prediction, and also the test results showed a clear improvement for damage visualization of structures using Ultrasonic Wave Propagation Imaging and Ultrasonic Wavenumber Imaging algorithms.     

Simulation of ultrasonic lamb wave generation, propagation and detection for a reconfigurable air coupled scanner

A computer simulator, to facilitate the design and assessment of a reconfigurable, air-coupled ultrasonic scanner is described and evaluated. The specific scanning system comprises a team of remote sensing agents, in the form of miniature robotic platforms that can reposition non-contact Lamb wave transducers over a plate type of structure, for the purpose of non-destructive evaluation (NDE). The overall objective is to implement reconfigurable array scanning, where transmission and reception are facilitated by different sensing agents which can be organised in a variety of pulse-echo and pitch-catch configurations, with guided waves used to generate data in the form of 2-D and 3-D images. The ability to reconfigure the scanner adaptively requires an understanding of the ultrasonic wave generation, its propagation and interaction with potential defects and boundaries. Transducer behaviour has been simulated using a linear systems approximation, with wave propagation in the structure modelled using the local interaction simulation approach (LISA). Integration of the linear systems and LISA approaches are validated for use in Lamb wave scanning by comparison with both analytic techniques and more computationally intensive commercial finite element/difference codes. Starting with fundamental dispersion data, the paper goes on to describe the simulation of wave propagation and the subsequent interaction with artificial defects and plate boundaries, before presenting a theoretical image obtained from a team of sensing agents based on the current generation of sensors and instrumentation.     

双波长外腔半导体激光器的研究

提出了电流调制型的双波长外腔半导体激光器方案。外腔半导体激光器具有窄线宽输出以及独特的阶越型电流调制特性,采用正弦调制的方式,以延时光纤作为辅助结构,得到了具有良好相干特性和稳定波长间隔的双波长激光输出。与多种已有的双波长激光器设计方案相比,这种多波长工作方式结构简单,调谐范围宽,在波分复用光通信系统、高精度光纤传感测量以及外差、双(多)波长合成波长干涉测量等技术中具有很好的应用前景。     

Mechanical characterization of unplasticised polyvinylchloride thick pipes by optical methods

In this work a number of techniques (electronic speckle pattern interferometry, holographic interferometry, strain gauge and finite element method) are brought to bear in order to establish consistency in the results of strain measurement. This is necessary if optical non-destructive testing methods, such as those used here, are to gain acceptance for routine industrial use. The FE model provides a useful check. Furthermore, ESPI fringe data facilitates the extension of FE models, an approach that is of growing importance in component testing.

The use of in-plane and out-of-plane sensitive electronic speckle pattern interferometry (ESPI) for non-destructive material characterization of thick unplasticised polyvinylchloride (uPVC) pipes is presented. A test rig has been designed for stressing pipes by internal pressure. ESPI gives a complete mapping of the displacement field over the area imaged by the video camera. The results for the strain of uPVC obtained from ESPI data and from strain gauges are in good agreement. The value of Young's modulus has been obtained from the fringe data and compared with results obtained using holographic interferometry and from strain gauge measurements. The FE model also produces fringe data that is consistent with the ESPI results.     

Study of cross-talk of parallel Fabry–Perot sensors in path-matching differential interferometry

Cross-talk in multiplexing parallel Fabry–Perot sensors in a path-matching differential interferometry (PMDI) can be limited by corresponding path-matching read-out systems. Nevertheless, improper design in cavity lengths of Fabry–Perots can result in serious cross-talk. This paper presents a spectrum analysis to design the parallel Fabry–Perot sensors quantitatively without cross-talk. The spectrum analysis used to solve the cross-talks in a multiple parallel Fabry–Perot system is proved to be an efficient tool. To the author's knowledge, cross-talk problems were first investigated in a multiple parallel Fabry–Perot system quantitatively and experimentally. In a spectrum analysis, the spectrum transfer function in a broadband light source and a Fabry–Perot cavity are simulated by a Gaussian distribution spectrum and a low-finesse reflectivity, respectively. After integrating the whole spectrum system with respect to the wave number, the cross-talk terms can be removed by assuming zero. It is concluded that the cavity length differences between two Fabry–Perots should be longer than the coherence length of a broadband light source to diminish cross-talk effects. Experimental results for two parallel Fabry–Perots in PMDI are presented and compared with theoretical predictions. This study shows good agreement between experimental results and theoretical predictions, indicating that spectrum analysis can be applied properly to the design of two- or multiple-parameter sensors.     

Process monitoring using ultrasonic sensor systems

Continuous in-line measurement of substance concentration in liquid mixtures is valuable in improving industrial processes in terms of material properties, energy efficiency and process safety. Ultrasonic sensor systems meet the practical requirements of a chemical sensor quite well. Currently ultrasonic sensor systems are widely used as acoustic chemical sensors to measure concentration of selected substances or to monitor the course of polymerisation, crystallisation or fermentation processes. Useable acoustic properties for the characterisation of liquid mixtures are sound velocity, sound absorption and acoustic impedance. This contribution will give a short overview of the state of the art and several trends for the use of ultrasonic sensor systems in process applications. Novel investigations show the very promising possibility to analyse liquid multi-phase mixtures like suspensions, emulsions and dispersions.     

CMOS vs. CCD sensors in speckle interferometry

In the field of interferometric metrology the use of high resolution CCD sensors with 1024×1024 to 2048×2048 pixels is predominant. Due to special features (e.g. random pixel access, characteristic curve) CMOS sensors with similar resolution can be an interesting alternative. We compare some characteristics of both sensor types that are important for interferometry and demonstrate two exemplary applications that are only possible by using CMOS cameras.