Strainrange partitioning: A total strain range version

Procedures are presented for expressing the Strainrange Partitioning (SRP) method for creep fatigue life prediction in terms of total strain range. Inelastic and elastic strain-range - life relations are summed to give total strain-range - life relations. The life components due to inelastic strains are dealt with using conventional SRP procedures while the life components due to elastic strains are expressed as families of time-dependent terms for each type of SRP cycle. Cyclic constitutive material behavior plays an important role in establishing the elastic strain-range - life relations as well as the partitioning of the inelastic strains. To apply the approach, however, it is not necessary to have to determine the magnitude of the inelastic strain range. The total strain SRP approach is evaluated and verified using two nickel base superalloys, AF2-1DA and Rene 95. Excellent agreement is demonstrated between observed and predicted cyclic lifetimes with 70 to 80 percent of the predicted lives falling within factors of two of the observed lives. The total strain-range SRP approach should be of considerable practical value to designers who are faced with creep-fatigue problems for which the inelastic strains cannot be calculated with sufficient accuracy to make reliable life predictions by the conventional inelastic strain range SRP approach

Modal testing using high speed digital speckle pattern interferometry

This thesis introduces the application of a high-speed speckle pattern interferometer (SPI) to perform quantified impact modal testing. The interferometer acts as a non-contact multipoint vibrometer that removes the mass-loading effects of contact transducers to improve measurement accuracy and decreases measurement time by the use of multiple measurement points. A temporal phase-stepped CMOS high-speed SPI system was used to capture the transient vibration response of two overlapping plates, the system had a maximum surface velocity of 1.4 mm/s and the results were compared to accelerometer data and correlated against a finite element model. To extend the surface velocity to 2.7 mm/s a spatial phase-stepped CMOS SPI system was used and compared to the finite element model. Both the temporal phase-stepped system and the spatial phase-stepped system showed high performance for quantified modal testing: showing high correlation for the natural frequencies and the modal assurance criterion correlated over 60% for the first six modes of vibration. The interferometer was improved by the application of spatial phase-stepping but was still limited by the maximum measurable velocity. The thesis also applied the SPI to the novel measurement of traveling waves on a centre-clamped disc. Traveling waves can be caused by structural problems or damage and are difficult to measure without the ability to capture the relative phase across multiple points. This was achieved through the spatial phase-stepped CMOS SPI system and the traveling waves were excited on the disc through a frequency modulated signal that excited the degenerate modes that occurred within 1 Hz of the disc’s second resonant frequency. The multipoint system identified the waveshape, direction and was able to show the ratio of standing wave to traveling wave in the measurements

Non-conventional sensors for measuring partial discharge under DC electrical stress

Partial discharge (PD) is a micro discharge that occurs in defected regions within the insulating media. As these discharges are the main culprits that cause dielectric material aging, PD measurements have been used for assessing insulating materials, including solids, liquids, and gases for power applications. There are various methods and sensors available for measuring PD sensitive to specific characteristics and operable over a wide range of frequencies. Most PD measurement techniques provide patterns that enable PD interpretation more comfortable for users. For example, in AC applications, the phase-resolved partial discharge (PRPD) technique provides identifiable patterns for distinguishing various types of PDs. However, the establishment of meaningful patterns to multiple types of PD in DC systems requires more sensitive and accurate measurements of individual PD pulses with noise rejection functionality due to the lack of phase-resolved information. Investigating of the transient phenomena such as individual PD pulses requires well-designed circuits with sufficiently large bandwidths. Waveshapes can be easily disturbed by background noise and deformed by the frequency response of measuring circuits and data acquisition systems (DAQ). Noises are unwanted disturbances that could be suppressed by suitable filters or mathematical methods. Measurement circuits and DAQ systems consist of transmission lines, sensors, cables, connectors, DAQ hardware, and oscilloscopes. Therefore, matching the impedance of all components guarantees a reflectionree path for traveling signals and addresses most of the challenges relevant to transient measurements. In this dissertation, we proposed and designed an appropriate testbed equipped with high bandwidth transmission line and electromagnetic field sensors suitable for investigating PD under DC electrical stresses. We comprehensively used finite element analysis simulations through the COMSOL Multiphysics software to design the dimensions and evaluate the frequency response of the testbed, transmission line, and electromagnetic sensors. Furthermore, based on the new testbed, DC PD measurements were performed using conventional and non-conventional sensors. Finally, various types of DC PD were statistically classified based on the proposed testbed

Identifying harmonic attributes from online partial discharge data

Partial discharge (PD) monitoring is a key method of tracking fault progression and degradation of insulation systems. Recent research discovered that the harmonic regime experienced by the plant also affects the PD pattern, questioning the conclusions about equipment health drawn from PD data. This paper presents the design and creation of an online system for harmonic circumstance monitoring of distribution cables, using only PD data. Based on machine learning techniques, the system can assess the prevalence of the 5th and 7th harmonic orders over the monitoring period. This information is key for asset managers to draw correct conclusions about the remaining life of polymeric cable insulation, and prevent overestimation of the degradation trend

Harmonic and Supraharmonic Emissions of Plug-In Electric Vehicle Chargers

open1noElectric vehicle (EV) charging represents a relevant electric load with a rapid evolution in terms of number, power rating and distortion, in particular, considering the connection to the low-voltage public grid: available short-circuit power may be limited and particularly susceptible loads may co-exist in the same grid portion. Standards can partially address the problem cover-ing only the harmonic interval, but they necessitate significant extension and improvement in the supraharmonic range. In addition, EV chargers have been observed to violate in some scenarios the applicable harmonic limits, so that the mechanisms of emission and distortion should be better understood and evaluated, including phenomena of mutual influence between EV chargers and with pre-existing grid distortion. Although models can help simulate large-scale scenarios in terms of fundamental frequency phenomena, such as power flow, voltage fluctuation and imbalance, sub-stantial and reliable information can come from experimental results, providing measured harmonic and supraharmonic emissions, accompanied by details on loads mix, grid characteristics and EV charger operating conditions. This work thus defines the applicable constraints in terms of limits and compatibility levels for public and light industrial low-voltage grids, discusses the available experimental results and datasets, analyzing the typical distortion behavior and providing indication of sources of information for further studies.openMariscotti, AndreaMariscotti, Andre

Aircraft lightning-induced voltage test technique developments

High voltage safety, fuels safety, simulation, and response/measurement techniques are discussed. Travelling wave transit times, return circuit conductor configurations, LC ladder network generators, and repetitive pulse techniques are also discussed. Differential conductive coaxial cable, analog fiber optic link, repetitive pulse sampled data instrumentation system, flash A/D optic link system, and an FM telemetry system are considered

On tower impedances for transient analysis

The analysis of the dynamic behavior of power transmission line and telecommunication towers is of interest in protection and EMC studies related to lightning. Usually, time-domain surge impedance is used to characterize tower dynamic behavior. The main drawback in the definition of such surge impedance is that it is dependent on the excitation waveshape and there is no consensus on the current waveshape to be used. Also, there is no consensus on the unique definition of the involved voltage. This paper explores possibilities for a systematized approach to the analysis and uniquely defined quantities that characterize transient response of towers. Further, limitations associated with simplified approaches are emphasized by examining examples of direct comparison between computations based on transmission-line approach and antenna theory for a 100-m tall tower. It is pointed out that problems in the definition of voltages might occur above 100 kHz, especially near resonant frequencies, while differences in current distribution exist already at the lowest frequencie