Nondestructive Testing and Characterization of Residual Stress Field Using an Ultrasonic Method

To address the difficulty in testing and calibrating the stress gradient in the depth direction of mechanical components, a new technology of nondestructive testing and characterization of the residual stress gradient field by ultrasonic method is proposed based on acoustoelasticity theory. By carrying out theoretical analysis, the sensitivity coefficients of different types of ultrasonic are obtained by taking the low carbon steel（12%C） as a research object. By fixing the interval distance between sending and receiving transducers, the mathematical expressions of the change of stress and the variation of time are established. To design one sending-one receiving and oblique incidence ultrasonic detection probes, according to Snell law, the critically refracted longitudinal wave（LCR wave） is excited at a certain depth of the fixed distance of the tested components. Then, the relationship between the depth of LCR wave detection and the center frequency of the probe in Q235 steel is obtained through experimental study. To detect the stress gradient in the depth direction, a stress gradient LCR wave detection model is established, through which the stress gradient formula is derived by the relationship between center frequency and detecting depth. A C-shaped stress specimen of Q235 steel is designed to conduct stress loading tests, and the stress is measured with the five group probes at different center frequencies. The accuracy of ultrasonic testing is verified by X-ray stress analyzer. The stress value of each specific depth is calculated using the stress gradient formula. Accordingly, the ultrasonic characterization of residual stress field is realized. Characterization results show that the stress gradient distribution is consistent with the simulation in ANSYS. The new technology can be widely applied in the detection of the residual stress gradient field caused by mechanical processing, such as welding and shot peening.

Design and Characterization of an Aerosol Test Chamber for Emergency Response Patient Contamination Control Simulation and Research

Contaminated or infected patients present a risk of cross-contamination for emergency responders, attending medical personnel and medical facilities as they enter a treatment facility. The controlled conditions of an aerosol test chamber are required to examine factors of contamination, decontamination, and cross-contamination. This study presents the design, construction, and a method for characterizing an aerosol test chamber for a full-sized manikin on a standard North Atlantic Treaty Organization litter. The methodology combined air velocity measurements, aerosol particle counts and size distributions, and computational fluid dynamics modeling to describe the chamber’s performance in three dimensions. This detailed characterization facilitates future experimental design by predicting chamber performance for a variety of patient-focused research.

Pulsed Eddy Current Non-destructive Testing and Evaluation:A Review

Pulsed eddy current （PEC） non-destructive test- ing and evaluation （NDT＆E） has been around for some time and it is still attracting extensive attention from researchers around the globe, which can be witnessed through the reports reviewed in this paper. Thanks to its richness of spectral components, various applications of this technique have been proposed and reported in the lit- erature covering both structural integrity inspection and material characterization in various industrial sectors. To support its development and for better understanding of the phenomena around the transient induced eddy currents, attempts for its modelling both analytically and numeri- cally have been made by researchers around the world. This review is an attempt to capture the state-of-the-art development and applications of PEC, especially in the last 15 years and it is not intended to be exhaustive. Future challenges and opportunities for PEC NDT＆E are also presented.

Research Characterized the Physical Properties of Recycled Aggregate of Civil Construction Wastes

One of the big problems of the urban centres of the cities in Brazil is the growth of the generation of the Civil Construction Waste （CCW）. A disturbing concern for the public and private sectors is to find proper disposal of Urban Solid Waste （USW） in large cities, since suitable dumping sites for this waste are increasingly scarce due to the spread and development of large urban centres. In general, recycling is currently one of the procedures most studied by researchers for disposal of such waste. In this context and aiming a new application for recycled CCW aggregates, the research characterized the physical properties of the material to use in fill compaction piles in soil improvement. The analysis shows results from laboratorial tests executed in CCW recycled samples, which came from works in different construction stages from Recife-PE, and natural aggregate, adopted as a reference. Characterization tests were performed with samples CCW recycled CLue aggregates and samples of natural fine aggregate （stone powder）. The results of characterization tests showed similarities between the CCW samples tested and the reference samples, indicating that the civil construction wastes has potcntial use as material for consolidation piles in foundation works.

Micro Gas Turbine Range Extender Performance Analysis Using Varying Intake Temperature

A micro gas turbine(MGT)can potentially be an alternative power source to the conventional internal combustion engine as a range extender in hybrid electric vehicles.The integration of the MGT into a hybrid vehicle needs a new approach for technical validation requirements compared to the testing of an internal combustion engine.Several attributes of the MGT are predicted to cause concerns for vehicle sub-system requirements such as high ambient temperature and start-stop behaviour.This paper describes the results from specially developed experimental techniques for testing the MGT in a typical automo-tive environment.A black box MGT was used in this study for performance investigation during hot and cold starts.The MGT was instrumented and fitted with automotive standard components to replicate typical vehicle operational conditions.The intake air temperature was varied between 10 and 24°C.A significant reduction in the power output of the MGT was observed as the intake temperature was increased.The proposed case scenario caused a reduction in nitrogen oxide emis-sions in the range of 0.02−0.04 g/km because of the lower combustion temperature at high intake temperature.However,hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions have not shown a noticeable reduction during the power output degradation.The experimental results have highlighted the potential issues of using the MGT at higher intake temperatures and suggest design change to take the effect of higher engine bay temperature into account.