73 research outputs found

    Simultaneous measurement of temperature and strain in glass fiber/epoxy composites by embedded fiber optic sensors: I. Cure monitoring

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    In this paper (Part I) the use of fiber optic sensors for real-time monitoring of the cure kinetics of GFRP composites is explored. The proposed sensing system allows the simultaneous measurement of both temperature and strain by monitoring the change in reflected wavelength from two coupled fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors that have been embedded into the composite laminate. Instrumented GFRP laminates with 12, 18 and 24 reinforcing plies, respectively, were prepared by means of the vacuum bagging technique. Samples were cured in a thermally controlled oven at 80 degrees C and 30 kPa for 240 min (isothermal stage) and then cooled down to ambient temperature by turning off the heating source (cooling stage). The obtained results, combined with proper data post-processing, have proven the effectiveness and potentiality of the proposed sensing system to measure the progression of the composite cure kinetics. It was shown that temperature within the specimen can differ significantly from the set-point temperature inside the oven because of the heat released during the exothermal reticulation of the epoxy resin. The combined sensing system also allowed the residual strain accumulated within the composite during the cooling stage to be accurately measured. Once the laminate had been cured, the embedded optical sensing system reveals itself purposeful for real-time structural health monitoring and damage assessment of the finished component. This aspect is discussed with more detail in the accompanying paper (Part II)

    Impiego di tecniche di misura DIC per lo studio di sistemi di sintesi ortopedici

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    Nel presente lavoro si esamina la possibilità di impiego di tecniche di correlazione digitale di immagini in configurazione stereoscopica per la valutazione sperimentale in-vitro del campo tridimensionale di spostamento e deformazione generato sottocarico sull’osso trattato con un impianto di sintesi intramidollare. L’inserimento di una rima di frattura praticata sulla diafisi media dell’osso sintetico, ha consentito di studiare il differente comportamento nelle due condizioni limite del decorso clinico a seguito del trattamento chirurgico di impianto. I risultati preliminari riportati nel lavoro dimostrano l’efficacia dell’approccio proposto, che consente di valutare sperimentalmente lo stato tenso-deformativo indotto dalla protesi sull’osso a campo intero e con elevata risoluzione spaziale

    Development of a low-cost piezo film-based knock sensor

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    It is well known that spark advance is a key parameter in spark ignition engine management. Increasing fuel cost and emission regulation strictness require a higher engine efficiency, which can be improved by an accurate regulation of the spark advance. Under high load conditions, an optimal spark advance choice leads the engine to run next to the knock limit, so the management and control system needs to be equipped with a knock sensor in order to preserve the engine from damage. The authors developed a low-cost knock sensor whose sensing element is a thin washer of polyvinylidine fluoride (PVDF), a fluoropolymer characterized by a great piezoelectric effect if polarized. The sensor has been tested on a spark ignition CFR engine (the standard single-cylinder test engine used by ASTM for octane number determination of spark ignition engine fuel) and compared with a commercial accelerometer and a pressure sensor, in terms of knocking detection capability, measured knock intensity (KI) and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Knocking tests have also been carried out on a Renault series production engine. The collected data show that PVDF ensures a reliable detection of knock, a precise measurement of knock energy and accurate information about the frequency content of the perceived vibration. The sensor worked for several hours without depolarizing and, above all, owing to the great piezoelectric effect of PVDF, the use of a charge amplifier was unnecessary. PVDF proved to have great potential as a knock detector in spark ignition engines at a very low cost

    CARATTERIZZAZIONE DELL’ATTRITO SU COMPONENTI PER APPLICAZIONI ORTODONTICHE MEDIANTE UN SIMULATORE “IN VITRO”

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    La diffusione delle tecniche a basso attrito (low friction) nell’ambito di terapie ortodontiche per lo spostamento di un dente mediante applicazione di una forza debole (0.5 – 0.7 N) o media (0.7-2.0 N) ha spinto la ricerca del settore odontoiatrico verso lo studio delle forze di attrito nel moto tra archetto ortodontico (archwire) e attacchi ortodontici (brackets). L’esame della letteratura ha mostrato alcuni approcci molto semplificati alla misura dell’attrito, con configurazioni piane, mediante simulazioni poco aderenti a quanto accade nel corso di una reale terapia ortodontica. Il presente lavoro si prefigge uno studio preliminare del fenomeno mediante caratterizzazione della forza di attrito citata, in condizioni sperimentali più simili a quelle reali,nelle quali la giacitura dei singoli brackets non è sul piano, come considerato in letteratura, ma nello spazio, replicando la geometria di una arcata dentaria completa. Le caratteristiche dimensionali e geometriche delle superfici striscianti tra le quali si genera attrito, sono tali da non consentire l’implementazione di trasduttori per la misura diretta della forza di attrito ricercata. La soluzione messa a punto, che consente l’utilizzo di un archwire e di brackets del tutto identici a quelli effettivamente impiegati nel trattamento del paziente, per la necessaria presenza dei cavi di collegamento per i segnali si presta esclusivamente ad uno studio ‘in vitro’, ma consente di ricavare informazioni localizzate lungo lo sviluppo curvilineo dell’archwire e quindi dell’arcata dentaria ad oggi non disponibili in letteratura. Oggetto del lavoro è quindi la progettazione e messa a punto di un dispositivo di prova opportunamente strumentato, che riproduce una arcata dentaria mascellare, riconfigurabile per riprodurre ‘in vitro’ le patologie ortodontiche del canino, che sono tra le più frequenti in ortodonzia. Il dispositivo possiede opportuni gradi di libertà per consentire l’effettuazione di test che riproducano la patologia del canino in esame. La messa a punto del dispositivo ha riguardato la definizione della procedura di prova e la corretta selezione dei valori dei parametri operativi maggiormente influenti sulla qualità dei risultati. I risultati ottenuti dal confronto quantitativo delle misure di valori di deformazione nell’intorno dei brackets interessati dalla terapia ortodontica del canino, hanno mostrato chiaramente la diversa efficacia di differenti tipologie di legature in termini di attrito allo scorrimento dell’archwire da cui consegue un diversa capacità di esplicare la forza di richiamo lungo la direzione verticale che è il parametro qualificante della terapia ortodontica applicata alla correzione di dette patologie. Tutto ciò, confermando la validità dell’approccio sperimentale basato sull’impiego del simulatore in vitro proposto che supera le significative limitazioni dei simulatori in configurazione rettilinea descritti in letteratura, permette il conseguimento di risultati quantitativi utili al confronto delle prestazioni di diversi componenti ortodontici, permettendo così di ottimizzare il trattamento stesso

    On the Measurement and Prediction of the Out-of-Plane Displacement Surrounding Cold-Expanded Holes

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    Experimental measurements of the out-of-plane displacement surrounding cold-expanded holes in a 6082-T6 aluminum alloy were made with a 3D optical scanner using the technique of the encoded light-pattern projection in white light. The measured surface profiles have shown the thickness discontinuity along the hole edge due to the effect of the split in the sleeve. An analytical–numerical solution of the out-of-plane displacement is presented based on existing analytical models. Thus, the results given by the analytical model were then compared with the experimental data and with a finite element (FE)model that simulates the cold-expansion process. The location of the elastic–plastic boundary was estimated as the point at which no change in thickness was observed; a good agreement was found in the comparison of measured, FE and analytical results. The measured surface profiles agreed with those predicted by the FE model and analytical solution. The proposed experimental approach can be used together with FE analysis for predicting the radial and circumferential residual stresses in cold-expanded hole. It is quite versatile and can also be used as quality-control technique in the manufacturing processes of cold-expanded holes

    Simultaneous measurement of temperature and strain in glass fiber/epoxy composites by embedded fiber optic sensors: II. Post-cure testing

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    In this paper the use of fiber optic sensors embedded into GFRP laminates for structural health monitoring of thermo-mechanical loads is presented. The proposed sensing system, consisting of two coupled fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors, allows the simultaneous measurement of both temperature and strain by decoupling the change in reflected wavelength induced by temperature variations from that induced by either mechanical or apparent strain, with significant advantages either for monitoring the composite cure kinetics, as described in the accompanying paper (Part I), or for assessing the structural response to thermo-mechanical loads. Both thermal ramp and mechanical static/dynamic bending tests were performed in the laboratory on instrumented GFRP samples with 12, 18 and 24 layers. It was shown that, by combining the wavelength shift outputs of the two fiber Bragg gratings, the longitudinal material CTE coefficient can be evaluated with ± 3% accuracy. This parameter can be used to discriminate mechanical and apparent strains from the FBG reflected spectrum. Static four-point bending tests showed good agreement between values measured by the embedded strain grating and those predicted by the classical lamination theory of composite materials, being the maximum deviation within 2%. Dynamic tests performed with both sinusoidal and square wave inputs have proved the effectiveness of the proposed solution to track the strain field accurately up to 10 Hz
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