Using the Ultrasonic Tomography Method to Study the Condition of Wooden Beams from Historical Building

The need to evaluate the integrity of wooden structural elements is constantly increasing. Non-destructive methods are becoming more popular in this field of research. One type of non-destructive testing is the ultrasonic imaging method, which allows the analysis of internal wood structures without disturbing their state and integrity. In this study, we are interested in assessing the effect of wood condition on the ultrasound time of flight (TOF). The research was carried out on wooden beams, which were obtained from a historical building. The images obtained from ultrasound tomography were compared with results of a visual inspection.Places of discontinuities, voids and cracks in wood caused a much lower velocity of wave propagation.The location of the wood core was illustrated by the places with the highest velocity. The article proved the validity of using ultrasonic tomography to assess the technical condition of historic wooden beams

Drinking water temperature around the globe: Understanding, policies, challenges and opportunities

Water temperature is often monitored at water sources and treatment works; however, there is limited monitoring of the water temperature in the drinking water distribution system (DWDS), despite a known impact on physical, chemical and microbial reactions which impact water quality. A key parameter influencing drinking water temperature is soil temperature, which is influenced by the urban heat island effects. This paper provides critique and comprehensive summary of the current knowledge, policies and challenges regarding drinking water temperature research and presents the findings from a survey of international stakeholders. Knowledge gaps as well as challenges and opportunities for monitoring and research are identified. The conclusion of the study is that temperature in the DWDS is an emerging concern in various countries regardless of the water source and treatment, climate conditions, or network characteristics such as topology, pipe material or diameter. More research is needed, especially to determine (i) the effect of higher temperatures, (ii) a legislative limit on temperature and (iii) measures to comply with this limit

Wavelet Cycle Spinning Denoising of NDE Ultrasonic Signals Using a Random Selection of Shifts

Wavelets are a powerful tool for signal and image denoising. Most of the denoising applications in different fields were based on the thresholding of the discrete wavelet transform (DWT) coefficients. Nevertheless, DWT transform is not a time or shift invariant transform and results depend on the selected shift. Improvements on the denoising performance can be obtained using the stationary wavelet transform (SWT) (also called shift-invariant or undecimated wavelet transform). Denoising using SWT has previously shown a robust and usually better performance than denoising using DWT but with a higher computational cost. In this paper, wavelet shrinkage schemes are applied for reducing noise in synthetic and experimental non-destructive evaluation ultrasonic A-scans, using DWT and a cycle-spinning implementation of SWT. A new denoising procedure, which we call random partial cycle spinning (RPCS), is presented. It is based on a cycle-spinning over a limited number of shifts that are selected in a random way. Wavelet denoising based on DWT, SWT and RPCS have been applied to the same sets of ultrasonic A-scans and their performances in terms of SNR are compared. In all cases three well known threshold selection rules (Universal, Minimax and Sure), with decomposition level dependent selection, have been used. It is shown that the new procedure provides a good robust denoising performance, without the DWT fluctuating performance, and close to SWT but with a much lower computational cost.This work was partially supported by Spanish MCI Project DPI2011-22438San Emeterio Prieto, JL.; Rodríguez-Hernández, MA. (2015). Wavelet Cycle Spinning Denoising of NDE Ultrasonic Signals Using a Random Selection of Shifts. 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Contribution to the diagnostics of rock bolts using elastic wave propagation

W artykule przedstawiono badania eksperymentalne i obliczenia numeryczne propagacji fal sprężystych w pręcie stalowym osadzonym w materiale kompozytowym. W eksperymencie wykorzystano zjawisko propagacji fal generowanych wzbudnikiem piezoelektrycznym i ich bezstykowy pomiar za pomocą wibrometru laserowego. W obliczeniach numerycznych przeanalizowano wpływ modułu sprężystości materiału kompozytowego na charakter fal propagujących w pręcie stalowym. Wykonane badania stanowią pierwszy etap prac ukierunkowanych na diagnostykę ultradźwiękową kotew skalnych.This paper presents the numerical and experimental analyses of elastic wave propagation in a steel rod embedded in a composite material. The experiment involved the phenomenon of wave propagation generated by a piezoactuator and noncontact measurements by means of a laser vibrometer. In numerical simulations, the effect of values of elastic modulus of the material on characteristics of waves propagating in a steel rod was analysed. Conducted research presents the first stage of work focused on ultrasonic diagnostics of rock bolts

Non-destructive testing and health monitoring of structural elements in laboratory conditions

W artykule przedstawiono wyniki przykładowych badań diagnostycznych elementów konstrukcji inżynierskich w warunkach laboratoryjnych metodą propagacji fal mechanicznych. Testom poddano płytę stalową, zakładkowe połączenie klejone oraz czołowe połączenie śrubowe. Badania ukierunkowano na pozyskiwanie i rozpoznawanie wzorców uszkodzeń dla elementów i defektów o znanej geometrii oraz kontrolowanym sposobie zniszczenia. Przeprowadzone badania laboratoryjne umożliwiły przetestowanie efektywności analizowanych metod oraz wytypowanie wskaźników diagnostycznych.The paper presents the results of diagnostics of structural elements in laboratory conditions using the mechanical wave propagation method. The tests were carried out on a steel plate, an adhesive lap joint and a bolted flange joint. The research was focused on acquiring and recognizing damage patterns for elements with defects of known geometry and controlled failure. The laboratory tests made it possible to test the effectiveness of the analysed methods and to select diagnostic indicators

Wykrywanie uszkodzeń w konstrukcjach belkowych za pomocą transformaty falkowej na bazie wyższych postaci drgań

Technical difficulties prevented so far wider applications of higher mode shapes in damage detection. Yet these modes carry on a lot of, so much needed, information on damage inflicted to a structure. However, recent scanning laser-based vibration measurement techniques allow one to utilize these higher modes in damage detection effectively. This paper deals with the wavelet-based damage detection technique on a cantilever beam with damage in the form of a single notch of depth 20%, 10% and 5% of the beam height. The purpose of the study is to present the results of experimental and numerical analyses of damage detection based on higher order modes. The first eight modes are considered and the influence of the mode order on the effectiveness of damage detection by the continuous wavelet transform is analysed in detail.Niniejsza praca poświęcona jest technice diagnostyki konstrukcji bazującej na transformacie falkowej. Badany obiekt to belka wspornikowa z uszkodzeniami w firmie nacięcia o głębokości 20%, 10% oraz 5% wysokości belki. Pomiary postaci drgań wykonano za pomocą nowoczesnego wibrometru laserowego. Celem pracy jest przed- stawienie eksperymentalnych i numerycznych analiz wpływu wyższych postaci drgań na efektywność wykrywania uszkodzeń metodą ciągłej transformaty falkowej

Identyfikacja własności dynamicznych w kontekście diagnostyki zbiornika stalowego przy zmiennym poziomie napełnienia cieczą

The paper presents an experimental study to identify the dynamic parameters of a water-filled tank model. The experimental modal analysis approach involving the excitation at one point of the structure and acquisition of vibrations at selected points distributed over the tank surface allowed to determine the resonance frequencies, mode shapes and damping ratios. The main aim of the research was to examine the influence of the level of liquid on the modal parameters. The experimental study showed that the level of water in the tank had an important impact on the values of natural frequencies and damping ratios.Praca przedstawia badania doświadczalne przeprowadzone w celu identyfikacji parametrów dynamicznych modelu stalowego zbiornika do przechowywania cieczy. Jako techniki badawczej użyto eksperymentalnej analizy modalnej wywołując drgania obciążeniem impulsowym przyłożonym w jednym punkcie konstrukcji i mierząc przyspieszenia drgań w wybranych punktach rozłożonych na powierzchni zbiornika. W badaniach zidentyfikowano częstotliwości drgań własnych, postacie drgań własnych oraz współczynniki tłumienia. Głównym celem pracy była analiza wpływu poziomu cieczy na parametry modalne zbiornika. W pracy wykazano, że stopień napełnienia cieczą znacząco wpływa na częstotliwości drgań własnych oraz współczynniki tłumienia

Ultrasound monitoring for evaluation of damage in reinforced concrete

The paper deals with automated monitoring of damage evolution in concrete elements subjected to three-point bending tests. The monitoring is based on the nonlinear interactions of traveling ultrasonic waves with micro-crack zones inside the concrete specimens and surface-breaking cracks. The developed procedure assumes semi-continuous ultrasonic testing during the element full loading cycle and generation of the power spectral density maps for the on-line assessment of the degradation process. Two damage indicators are introduced to evaluate micro- and macro-damage. The preliminary experimental results show that the proposed automated monitoring system provides an effective method for the evaluation of progressive damage in concrete