Fault Detection of DC Electric Motors Using the Bispectral Analysis

The two major advantages of bispectral analysis are: resistance to noise and the ability to detect nonlinearities, like quadratic phase coupling. The first aim was to study some of the theoretical aspects of bispectral estimation. A lot of attention was paid to the influence of noise, the number of segments, the influence of one or several harmonic deterministic components and aliasing. These aspects are typical of rotating machinery. An example of successful fault identification in DC electric motors is presented. The identification proved to be capable to identify quadratically coupled mechanical system when the power-spectra analysis failed. Further it proved to be quite resistant to noise.     

Sliding mode control of a “Soft” 2-DOF Planar Pneumatic Manipulator

This paper presents a sliding mode controller for a “Soft” 2-DOF Planar Pneumatic Manipulator actuated by pleated pneumatic artificial muscle actuators. Since actuator dynamics is not negligible, an approximate model for pressure dynamics was taken into account, which made it necessary to perform full input-output feedback linearization in order to design a sliding mode controller. The design of the controller is presented in detail, and experimental results obtained by implementing the controller are discussed Published in Prikladnaya Mekhanika, Vol. 44, No. 10, pp. 135–144, October 2008.     

Stress intensity factor measurement of cracks using a piezoelectric element

We present a stress intensity factor (SIF) measurement method of cracks using a piezoelectric element and electrostatic voltmeter. In the method, an isotropic piezoelectric element is first adhered near the crack tip. Then, the surface electrodes are attached to the three different positions on the piezoelectric element. The electric potentials of the surface electrodes, which are proportional to the strain sum (ɛ_x+ɛ_y) on the structural member, are measured by an electrostatic voltmeter during load cycling. Mode I and mode II SIFs of the crack are estimated using the relationship between the SIF and (σ_x+σ_y). The applicability of the proposed method is examined through experiments and numerical analysis.     

Experimental Investigation of the Interaction between an Electric Arc and a Gas Flow

The results of investigating the shape of an electric arc carrying an electric current of less than 100 A and exposed to an air, nitrogen, or argon stream at a stream velocity of from zero to 20 m/s, when the interelectrode gap is less than 20 mm, are reported. The shape of the arc is qualitatively investigated as a function of the gas type, blowing velocity, and interelectrode gap. It is shown that an arc burning in a channel with insulated walls is much more stable under these conditions than an arc with the same parameters burning in free space.     

Evolution of the planar vibrations of a rectangular piezoceramic plate as its aspect ratio is changed

The evolution of the planar vibrations of a rectangular piezoceramic plate as its aspect ratio is changed starting with 1 is studied. Experimental data are obtained using an integrated technique based on Meson’s circuit, Onoe’s circuit, and a piezotransformer transducer. As the aspect ratio increases (square plate becomes rectangular), the intensity of electromagnetic vibrations rapidly increases at the first longitudinal resonance and gradually decreases in the first radial mode. When the aspect ratio is changed so that the length of one of the plate sides remains constant, the resonant frequencies of all vibration modes change too __________ Translated from Prikladnaya Mekhanika, Vol. 43, No. 7, pp. 98–106, July 2007.     

Arc current fluctuation power spectra in the system of a solid metal electrode and carbonate melt

Arc current fluctuations between a solid metal electrode and a liquid melt of alkaline carbonates at atmospheric pressure are measured. Arc current fluctuation power spectra are determined from the measurement data. It is shown that the fluctuation power is inversely proportional to the frequency (1/f-fluctuations). The fluctuations have a normal Gaussian distribution. The observed 1/f fluctuations exhibit scale invariance. __________ Translated from Prikladnaya Mekhanika i Tekhnicheskaya Fizika, Vol. 48, No. 1, pp. 11–15, January–February, 2007.