324 research outputs found
Large deformation of self-oscillating polymer gel
A self-oscillating gel is a system that generates an autonomous volume oscillation. This oscillation is powered by the chemical energy of the Belousov-Zhabotinsky (BZ) reaction, which demonstrates metal ion redox oscillation. A self-oscillating gel is composed of Poly-N-isopropylacrylamide (PNIPAAm) with a metal ion. In this study, we found that the displacement of the volume oscillation in a self-oscillating gel could be controlled by its being subjected to a prestraining process. We also revealed the driving mechanism of the self-oscillating gel from the point of view of thermodynamics. We observed that the polymer-solvent interaction parameter. is altered by the redox changes to the metal ion incorporated in the self-oscillating gel. The prestraining process leads to changes in X and changes in enthalpy and entropy when the self-oscillating gel is in a reduced and oxidized state. We found that nonprestrained gel samples oscillate in a poor solution (X > 0.5) and prestrained gel samples oscillate in a good solution (X < 0.5)
Establishment Of An Experimental System For Measring Biodynamic Response Of Hand-Arm - Introduction; Proceedings Of The First American Conference On Human Vibration
This paper addresses establishment of an experimental system for measuring biodynamic response (BR) of hand-arm system at the NIIH in Japan. BR measurement system at the NIIH is nearly equivalent to NIOSH installed system. The feasibility of the system is examined through the apparent mass (AM) measurement of the empty handle and a set of calibration masses. Apparatus The grip force was measured by using the handle shown in Fig. 1. The handle has two force sensors (KISTLER, 9212) and one accelerometer (PCB, 356A12). A low-pass filter with 5 Hz cut-off frequency was used to the grip force from measured force signal. Figure 2 shows BR measurement system in this study. The push or pull force at the handle was measured by using the force plate (KISTLER, 9286AA). The grip force and the push / pull force were displayed on a monitor. The shaker (IMV, VE-100S) is used to vibrate the hand-arm system along the forearm axis (Zh direction) (ISO 10068, 1998; ISO 5349-1, 2001). In most situations force actions for operating tools are expressed by grip, push, pull and combined these actions. These actions can be simulated in the test system. AM was obtained by performing H1 estimator in the PULSETM system (B&K, 3109) and it is denoted at the one-third octave band center frequencies. [ ] Methods In order to investigate the reliability of the system, AM measurement of the handle was performed. It is assumed that the handle is rigid in the upper limit of adoptive frequency range in this study. This assumption is validated in AM measurement of the empty handle. A pseudo-random vibration in the frequency range of 10 to 1,250 Hz was used and its amplitude is 1.0 (m/s2)2/Hz with a flat power spectral density (PSD) in the experiment. Measured AM includes the mass effect of the measuring cap in a subject experiment. Compensated apparent mass AMc(?) is obtained by Eq. (1) 1-2
Cortisol response and immune-related effects of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar Linnaeus) subjected to short- and long-term stress
It is generally considered that stress causes decreased immune function in fish. In this study we examined in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar Linnaeus) the effects of both short- (a single 15 s out of water) and long-term (4 weeks of daily handling 15 s out of water) stress on plasma cortisol (free and total) and glucose levels, expression of interleukin-1\u3b2 (IL-1\u3b2) and survival of head kidney (HK) macrophages under culture with Aeromonas salmonicida. In the short-term study, samples were collected prior to the application of the stressor, and at 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 h post stress. Free and total plasma cortisol levels and the percentage of free cortisol increased significantly in the stressed group at 1 and 3 h post stress. Plasma glucose levels were significantly higher than those of control fish at 1, 3 and 6 h post stress. Constitutive expression of IL-1\u3b2 in macrophages isolated from head kidneys in stressed fish was significantly higher at 1 and 3 h post stress. However, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated expression of IL-1\u3b2 in HK macrophages, exhibited significantly higher fold increases in unstressed fish compared to stressed fish. In the long-term study, with the exception of an increase in plasma glucose levels at 1 week, there were no significant differences in stress parameters between groups. There was a significantly higher constitutive IL-1\u3b2 expression in macrophages isolated from stressed fish over the first 2 weeks. At weeks 1, 2 and 3 the magnitude of IL-1\u3b2 response of isolated HK macrophages to LPS stimulation was reduced in >90% of the stressed fish. At 4 weeks there was no significant difference in inducible IL-1\u3b2 expression between the groups. Macrophages isolated from stressed fish also showed significantly decreased survival when exposed to A. salmonicida. This study shows a clear pattern from repeated handling stress, whereby effects on immune cells begin with increased constitutive expression of IL-1\u3b2, followed by decreased stimulation of leucocytes by extracellular antigen, and finally decreased leukocyte survival when exposed to A. salmonicida. The implications of these changes in the immune system will be discussed with respect to the use of classical indicators of stress to predict possible effects on the immune system of fish.Peer reviewed: YesNRC publication: Ye
Vibration testing based on impulse response excited by laser ablation
This paper proposes an innovative vibration testing method based on impulse response excited by laser ablation. In conventional vibration testing using an impulse hammer, high-frequency elements of over tens of kilohertz are barely present in the excitation force. A pulsed high-power YAG laser is used in this study for producing an ideal impulse force on a structural surface. Illuminating a point on a metal with the well-focused YAG laser, laser ablation is caused by generation of plasma on the metal. As a result, an ideal impulse excitation force generated by laser ablation is applied to the point on the structure. Therefore, it is possible to measure high-frequency FRFs due to the laser excitation. A water droplet overlay on the metal is used to adjust the force magnitude of laser excitation. An aluminum block that has nine natural frequencies below 40 kHz is employed as a test piece. The validity of the proposed method is verified by comparing the FRFs of the block obtained by the laser excitation, impulse hammer, and finite element analysis. Furthermore, the relationship between accuracy of FRF measurements and sensitivity of sensors is investigated
Autonomous oil flow generated by self-oscillating polymer gels
The previously reported gel and polymer actuators require external inputs, such as batteries, circuits, electronic circuits, etc., compared with autonomous motions produced by the living organisms. To realize the spontaneous motions, here, we propose to integrate a power supply, actuators, and control into a single-component self-oscillating hydrogel. We demonstrate self-actuating gel pumps driven by the oscillatory Belousov-Zhabotinsky (BZ) reaction without electronic components. We have developed the volume oscillation of gels synchronized with the BZ reaction (BZ gel). Since the self-actuating gel pumps are driven by chemo-mechanical energy from BZ gels, the self-actuating gel pumps don't require complex wiring designs, energy supply, and assembling. The mechanical work generated by BZ gels is extremely small. We formulated the thermodynamic cycle of BZ gels and maximized mechanical work. We found that pre-stretched BZ gel shows larger mechanical works. We physically separated the BZ gels and working fluid to create practical pumps. By using optimizing mechanical generated by BZ gels, we demonstrated the self-actuating gel pumps that transfer mechanical work through a stretchable elastomer membrane
Damage detection in membrane structures using non-contact laser excitation and wavelet transformation
In this paper, a vibration testing and health monitoring system based on an impulse response excited by laser is proposed to detect damage in membrane structures. A high power Nd: YAG pulse laser is used to supply an ideal impulse to a membrane structure by generating shock waves via laser-induced breakdown in air. A health monitoring apparatus is developed with this vibration testing system and a damage detecting algorithm which only requires the vibration mode shape of the damaged membrane. Artificial damage is induced in membrane structure by cutting and tearing the membrane. The vibration mode shapes of the membrane structure extracted from vibration testing by using the laser-induced breakdown and laser Doppler vibrometer are then analyzed by 2-D continuous wavelet transformation. The location of damage is determined by the dominant peak of the wavelet coefficient which can be seen clearly by applying a boundary treatment and the concept of an iso-surface to the 2-D wavelet coefficient. The applicability of the present approach is verified by finite element analysis and experimental results, demonstrating the ability of the method to detect and identify the positions of damage induced on the membrane structure
Bolt loosening analysis and diagnosis by non-contact laser excitation vibration tests
In this paper, a vibration testing and health monitoring system based on an impulse response excited by laser ablation is proposed to detect bolted joint loosening. A high power Nd: YAG pulse laser is used to generate an ideal impulse on a structural surface which offers the potential to measure high frequency vibration responses on the structure. A health monitoring apparatus is developed with this vibration testing system and a damage detecting algorithm. The joint loosening can be estimated by detecting fluctuations of the high frequency response with the health monitoring system. Additionally, a finite element model of bolted joints is proposed by using three-dimensional elements with a pretension force applied and with contact between components taken into account to support the bolt loosening detection method. Frequency responses obtained from the finite element analysis and the experiments using the laser excitation are in good agreement. The bolt loosening can be detected and identified by introducing a damage index by statistical evaluations of the frequency response data using the Recognition-Taguchi method. The effectiveness of the present approach is verified by simulations and experimental results, which are able to detect and identify loose bolt positions in a six-bolt joint cantilever. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved
Modal Decomposition and Modal Cluster Decomposition on Two-Dimensional Frequency Domain (Sensor Placement Based Realization)
Estimation of Frequency Response Function on Rotational Degrees of Freedom of Structures (Cross FRFs Estimation and Measurement of 6-DOF FRFs)
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