Damage Evolution of Ballastless Track Concrete Exposed to Flexural Fatigue Loads:The Application of Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity,Impact-echo and Surface Electrical Resistance Method

In order to clarify the fatigue damage evolution of concrete exposed to flexural fatigue loads,ultrasonic pulse velocity(UPV),impact-echo technology and surface electrical resistance(SR) method were used.Damage variable based on the change of velocity of ultrasonic pulse(Du) and impact elastic wave(Di)were defined according to the classical damage theory.The influences of stress level,loading frequency and concrete strength on damage variable were measured.The experimental results show that Du and Di both present a three-stages trend for concrete exposed to fatigue loads.Since impact elastic wave is more sensitive to the microstructure damage in stage Ⅲ,the critical damage variable,i e,the damage variable before the final fracture of concrete of Di is slightly higher than that of Du.Meanwhile,the evolution of SR of concrete exposed to fatigue loads were analyzed and the relationship between SR and Du,SR and Di of concrete exposed to fatigue loads were established.It is found that the SR of concrete was decreased with the increasing fatigue cycles,indicating that surface electrical resistance method can also be applied to describe the damage of ballastless track concrete exposed to fatigue loads.

Study on theoretical model for electrical explosion resistivity of Al/Ni reactive multilayer foil

Al/Ni reactive multilayer foil(RMF)possesses excellent comprehensive properties as a promising substitute for traditional Cu bridge.A theoretical resistivity model of Al/Ni RMF was developed to guide the optimization of EFIs.Al/Ni RMF with different bilayer thicknesses and bridge dimensions were prepared by MEMS technology and electrical explosion tests were carried out.According to physical and chemical reactions in bridge,the electrical explosion process was divided into 5 stages:heating of condensed bridge,vaporization and diffusion of Al layers,intermetallic combination reaction,intrinsic explosion,ionization of metal gases,which are obviously shown in measured voltage curve.Effects of interface and grain boundary scattering on the resistivity of film metal were considered.Focusing on variations of substance and state,the resistivity was developed as a function of temperature at each stage.Electrical explosion curves were calculated by this model at different bilayer thicknesses,bridge dimensions and capacitor voltages,which showed an excellent agreement with experimental ones.

Characterization of Aquifers in Crystalline and Crystallophyll Basement Zones Using the Electrical Resistivity Method (Trails and Electrical Soundings) in the Gagnoa Region, (Central-Western Côte d’Ivoire)

Introduction: Located in the central-western part of Côte d’Ivoire, the subsoil of the Gagnoa region is made up of sedimentary volcano formations and granitoids with developed fracturing. This complex Precambrian basement contains most of the region’s water resources. This is at the origin of the high failure rate during the various hydrogeological prospecting campaigns. Methodology: The database consists of resistivities from 42 holes and 51 trails drilled as part of the implementation of high-throughput drilling in the study area. The objective of this study is to deepen the knowledge of the fissured basement by interpreting profile curves and electrical soundings. It will be a question of classifying the different types of anomalies obtained on the profiles and their shapes. The orientation of the lineaments observed on the profiles was determined. Results: The interpretation of the geophysical data revealed various anomalies, the main ones being of the CC (Conductor Compartment) and CEDP (Contact between two bearings) types. These types of anomalies are mainly expressed in various forms: the “V”, “W” and “U” shapes. From these anomalies and the appearance of the electrical profiles, lineaments and their orientations were identified with N90-100, N130-140, N170-180 as major orientations. Conclusion: These results could contribute to a better understanding of the fractured environment of the Gagnoa region.

Application of the Electrical Resistivity Method in Precision Agriculture of Coffee Cultivation, in the Kabiri Area, Ícolo e Bengo Township, Luanda, Angola

The electrical resistivity method is a geophysical tool used to characterize the subsoil and can provide an important information for precision agriculture. The lack of knowledge about agronomic properties of the soil tends to affect the agricultural coffee production system. Therefore, research related to geoelectrical properties of soil such as resistivity for characterization the region of the study for coffee cultivation purposes can improve and optimize the production. This resistivity method allows to investigate the subsurface through different techniques: 1D vertical electrical sounding and electrical imaging. The acquisition of data using these techniques permitted the creation of 2D resistivity cross section from the study area. The geoelectrical data was acquired by using a resistivity meter equipment and was processed in different softwares. The results of the geoelectrical characterization from 1D resistivity model and 2D resistivity electrical sections show that in the study area of Kabiri, there are 8 varieties of geoelectrical layers with different resistivity or conductivity. Near survey in the study area, the lowest resistivity is around 0.322 Ω·m, while the highest is about 92.1 Ω·m. These values illustrated where is possible to plant coffee for suggestion of specific fertilization plan for some area to improve the cultivation.

Improving tree health assessment accuracy at low temperatures:considering the effect of trunk ice content on electrical resistance and stress wave tomography

Accurate decay detection and health assessment of trees at low temperatures is an important issue for forest management and ecology in cold areas.Low temperature ice formation on tree health assessment is unknown.Because electric resistance tomography and stress wave tomography are two widely used methods for the detection of tree decay,this study investigated the effect of ice content on trunk electrical resistance and stress wave velocity to improve tree health assessment accuracy.Moisture content,trunk electrical resistance and stress wave velocity using time domain reflectometry were carried out on Larix gmelinii and Populus simonii.Ice content is based on moisture content data.The ice content of both species showed a trend of increasing and then decreasing.This was opposite with ambient temperatures.With the decrease of temperatures,daily average ice content increased,but the range narrowed gradually and both electrical resistance and stress wave velocity increased.Both increased rapidly near 0℃,mainly caused by ice formation(phase change and freezing of free water)in live trees.In addition,both are positively correlated with ice content.The results suggest that ice content should be considered for improving the accuracy of tree decay detection and health evaluation using electric resistance tomography and stress wave velocity methods under low temperatures.

Obtaining 2D Soil Resistance Profiles from the Integration of Electrical Resistivity Data and Standard Penetration Test (SPT) and Light Dynamic Penetrometer (DPL) Resistance Tests—Applications in Mass Movements Studies

In Brazil and various regions globally, the initiation of landslides is frequently associated with rainfall;yet the spatial arrangement of geological structures and stratification considerably influences landslide occurrences. The multifaceted nature of these influences makes the surveillance of mass movements a highly intricate task, requiring an understanding of numerous interdependent variables. Recent years have seen an emergence in scholarly research aimed at integrating geophysical and geotechnical methodologies. The conjoint examination of geophysical and geotechnical data offers an enhanced perspective into subsurface structures. Within this work, a methodology is proposed for the synchronous analysis of electrical resistivity geophysical data and geotechnical data, specifically those extracted from the Light Dynamic Penetrometer (DPL) and Standard Penetration Test (SPT). This study involved a linear fitting process to correlate resistivity with N10/SPT N-values from DPL/SPT soundings, culminating in a 2D profile of N10/SPT N-values predicated on electrical profiles. The findings of this research furnish invaluable insights into slope stability by allowing for a two-dimensional representation of penetration resistance properties. Through the synthesis of geophysical and geotechnical data, this project aims to augment the comprehension of subsurface conditions, with potential implications for refining landslide risk evaluations. This endeavor offers insight into the formulation of more effective and precise slope management protocols and disaster prevention strategies.

Lubrication performance of graphene in the sliding electrical contact interface

Electrical contact materials are increasingly widely used,but the existing electric contact lubricants still have lots of room for improvement,such as anti-wear performance and lubrication life.Due to the excellent electrical and lubrication properties,graphene shows great potential in lubricating the sliding electrical contact interface,but there is a lack of relevant research.Some researchers have studied the lubrication performance of graphene between the gold-coated/TiN-coated friction pair at an ultra-low current.However,the lubrication performance of graphene on more widely used electrical contact materials such as copper and its alloys under larger and more commonly used current or voltage conditions has not been reported.In this paper,we study the lubrication performance of graphene in the copper and its alloys sliding electrical contact interface under usual parameters,which is explored through four aspects:different substrates-copper and brass,different test methods-constant voltage and constant current,different normal loads and durability test.The experiments demonstrate that graphene can significantly reduce the friction and wear on brass and copper under the above test methods and parameters,with low contact resistance at the same time.Our work is expected to provide a new lubricant for electrical contact materials and contribute to enriching the tribological theory of graphene.

Groundwater Potential Mapping in Lapan Gwari Community Using Integrated Remote Sensing and Electrical Resistivity Soundings

This research aims to address the pressing issue of failed and abandoned wells, causing water scarcity in Lapan Gwari Community, through an improved groundwater exploration approach integrating remote sensing and electrical resistivity soundings. The study area, located within the Zungeru Sheet 163 SE, spans Latitudes 9°30'00"N to 9°32'00"N and Longitudes 6°28'00" to 6°30'00". The surface geologic, structural, and hydrogeological mapping provided essential insights into the hydrogeological framework. Leveraging SRTM DEM data, thematic maps were created for geomorphology, slope, land use, lineament density, and drainage density. These datasets were then integrated using ArcGIS to develop a preliminary groundwater potential zones map. Further investigations were conducted using Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) and Electrical Resistivity Imaging (2D VES) surveys at targeted locations identified by the preliminary map. Results show that the study area predominantly consists of crystalline rocks of the Nigerian Basement Complex, primarily comprising schist and granite with minor occurrences of quartz vein intrusions. Surface joint directions indicated a dominant NE-SW trend. The VES data revealed three to four geoelectric layers, encompassing the topsoil (1 to 5 m depth, resistivity: 100 Ωm to 300 Ωm), the weathered layer (in the 3-layer system) or fractured layer (in the 4-layer system), and the fresh basement rock characterized by infinite resistivity. The shallow weathered layers (3 to 30 m thickness) are believed to hold aquiferous potential. Hydrogeological interpretation, facilitated by 2D resistivity models, delineated water horizons trapped within clayey sand and weathered/fractured formations. Notably, the aquifer resistivity range was found to be between 3 - 35 m and 100 - 300 Ωm, signifying a promising aquifer positioned at depths of 40 to 88 m. This aligns with corroborative static water level measurements. Given this, we recommend drilling depths of a minimum of 80 m to ensure the acquisition of sufficient and sustainable water supplies. The final groundwater potential zones map derived from this study is expected to serve as an invaluable guide for prospective groundwater developers and relevant authorities in formulating effective water resource management plans. By effectively tackling water scarcity challenges in Lapan Gwari Community, this integrated approach demonstrates its potential for application in similar regions facing comparable hydrogeological concerns.

Use of Electrical Resistance to Detect the Formation and Decomposition of Methane Hydrate

The changes of electrical resistance （R） were studied experimentally in the process of CH4 hydrate formation and decomposition, using temperature and pressure as the auxiliary detecting methods simultaneously. The experiment results show that R increases with hydrate formation and decreases with hydrate decompositon. R is more sensitive to hydrate formation and decompositon than temperature or pressure, which indicates that the detection of R will be an effective means for detecting natural gas hydrate （NGH） quantitatively.

The Effect of Sparger Geometry on Gas Bubble Flow Behaviors Using Electrical Resistance Tomography

By electrical resistance tomography (ERT) the cross sectional profiles of gas hold-up in a φ56mm bubble column are obtained with four designs of gas sparger. The effect of sparger geometry on the bubble distribution is re-vealed by applying a sensitivity conjugated gradients reconstruction method (SCG). Experimental results show that over-all hold-up obtained by ERT is generally in good agreement with those measured with the pressure transducer and the ERT system produces informative evidence that the radial profiles of hold-up is very similar to the sparger design in the lower section of bubble column. Meanwhile, the rise velocity of bubble swarm and the Sauter mean bubble size are evaluated using ERT based on dynamic gas disengagement theory. The experimental results are in good agreement with correlations and conventional estimation obtained using pressure transmitter methods.

Detecting Impact Damage in Carbon Fabric/epoxy-matrix Composites by Ultrasonic F-scan and Electrical Resistance Measurement

The status and the variation of electrical resistance of impacted carbon fiber/epoxy-matrix composites were studied by ultrasonic F-scan and electrical resistance measurement The experimental results shows that impact damage energy threshold value of carbon fabric/epoxy-matrix composites can determine by using ultrasonic F-scan. When the impact energy exceeds the threshold value, damage is generated in composites. Electrical resistance of impacted composites is changed owing to the contact of each carbon fiber unit in composites, which cause a change of the series-parallel in conductors. The veracity of detecting impact damage in composites can be improved in this case.

An adaptive electrical resistance tomography sensor with flow pattern recognition capability

The all traditional electrical resistance tomography (ERT) sensors have a static structure, which cannot satisfy the intelligent requirements for adaptive optimization to ERT sensors that is subject to flow pattern changes during the real-time detection of two-phase flow. In view of this problem, an adaptive ERT sensor with a dynamic structure is proposed. The electrodes of the ERT sensor are arranged in an array structure, the flow pattern recognition technique is introduced into the ERT sensor design and accordingly an ERT flow pattern recognition method based on signal sparsity is proposed. This method uses the sparse representation of the signal to express the sampling voltage of the ERT system as a sparse combination and find its sparse solution to achieve the classification of different flow patterns. With the introduction of flow identification information, the sensor has an intelligent function of adaptively and dynamically adapting the sensor structure according to the real-time flow pattern change. The experimental results show that the sensor can automatically identify four typical flow patterns: core flow, bubble flow, laminar flow and circulation flow with recognition rates of 91%, 93%, 90% and 88% respectively. For different flow patterns, the dynamically optimized sensor can significantly improve the quality of ERT image reconstruction.

Effects of Rare Earths on Electrical Conductivity, Melting-Welding and Corrosion Resistance by Electric Arc of Copper-Based Alloys

The effects of rare earths on electric conductivity fusion welding-resistance and erosion-resistance by electric arc of copper-based compound material by adding different amount of rare earths to copper base to get copper based compound materials were studied. Rare earths improve active ability among interfaces and optimize organizational structures. The conductivity of samples with rare earths is obviously better than that of materials without them. Moreover, wear ability and oxidization resistance of materials with rare earths can be improved greatly. For copper contact head with rare earths, electric arc corrosion resistance and welding-melting resistance are improved. Such alloys also decrease resistance change with increasing temperature. But the adding quantity of rare earths should be appropriate and formed handicraft should be properly regulated.

Comparative investigation on copper atmospheric corrosion by electrochemical impedance and electrical resistance sensors

Electrochemical impedance(EIS)and thin electrical resistance(ER)sensors were invented for atmospheric corrosion measurement of copper(Cu)during cyclic wetting−drying/high−low temperature tests and field exposure tests.Three-month field exposure results showed that average corrosion rate of Cu measured by ER sensor was well in accordance with that by weight loss method.During cyclic wetting−drying test,EIS was proven to reflect sensitively time of wetting and drying on the surface of sensor.Although corrosion rate obtained from EIS had a similar tendency to that obtained from ER sensors,the former was more dependent on environmental humidity than the latter.When relative humidity was low than 60%,corrosion rate of Cu measured by EIS was much lower than that by weight loss method,mainly attributing to the fact that impedance sensor failed to detect corrosion current of interlaced Cu electrodes due to the breakdown of conductive passage composed of absorbed thin liquid film under low humidity condition.Promisingly,ER sensor was proven to be more suitable for atmospheric corrosion monitoring than electrochemical techniques because it could sensitively monitor thickness loss of Cu foil according to the Ohmic law,no matter how dry or wet the sensor surface is.

Design of Parallel Electrical Resistance Tomography System for Measuring Multiphase Flow

ERT(electrical resistance tomography) is effective method for visualization of multiphase flows,offering some advantages of rapid response and low cost,so as to explore the transient hydrodynamics.Aiming at this target,a fully programmable and reconfigurable FPGA(field programmable gate array)-based Compact PCI(peripheral component interconnect) bus linked sixteen-channel ERT system has been presented.The data acquisition system is carefully designed with function modules of signal generator module;Compact PCI transmission module and data processing module(including data sampling,filtering and demodulating).The processing module incorporates a powerful FPGA with Compact PCI bus for communication,and the measurement process management is conducted in FPGA.Image reconstruction algorithms with different speed and accuracy are also coded for this system.The system has been demonstrated in real time(1400 frames per second for 50 kHz excitation) with signal-noise-ratio above 62 dB and repeatability error below 0.7%.Static experiments have been conducted and the images manifested good resolution relative to the actual object distribution.The parallel ERT system has provided alternative experimental platform for the multiphase flow measurements by the dynamic experiments in terms of concentration and velocity.

Effect of retained austenite and nonmetallic inclusions on the thermal/electrical properties and resistance spot welding nuggets of Si-containing TRIP steels

Five advanced high-strength transformation-induced plasticity(TRIP) steels with different chemical compositions were studied to correlate the retained austenite and nonmetallic inclusion content with their physical properties and the characteristics of the resistance spot welding nuggets. Electrical and thermal properties and equilibrium phases of TRIP steels were predicted using the JMatPro? software. Retained austenite and nonmetallic inclusions were quantified by X-ray diffraction and saturation magnetization techniques. The nonmetallic inclusions were characterized by scanning electron microscopy. The results show that the contents of Si, C, Al, and Mn in TRIP steels increase both the retained austenite and the nonmetallic inclusion contents. We found that nonmetallic inclusions affect the thermal and electrical properties of the TRIP steels and that the differences between these properties tend to result in different cooling rates during the welding process. The results are discussed in terms of the electrical and thermal properties determined from the chemical composition and their impact on the resistance spot welding nuggets.

Characterization of electrical properties of resistance welding machines

Due to the individual electrical and mechanical characteristics of resistance welding machines, choice of the right machine and welding parameters for an optimized production is often difficult. This is especially the case in projection welding of complex joints. In this paper, a new approach of characterizing the electrical properties of AC resistance welding machines is presented, involving testing and mathematical modelling of the weld current, the firing angle and the conduction angle of silicon controlled rectifiers with the aid of a series of proof resistances. The model predicts the weld current and the conduction angle （or heat setting） at each set current, when the workpiece resistance is given.

Process and properties of electroless Ni-W-B amorphous electrical resistance film

The process and properties of electroless plating Ni-W-B alloy have been studied. The results show that the deposits containing W and B are obtained, and the deposition rate of the bath is increased with increase of W content when a certain amount of sodium tungstate solution is added in the Ni-B bath. The Ni-W-B alloy is amorphous as deposition and its resistivity increases directly with the increase of W content in the coating, but decreases gradually with increasing the deposit thickness. XRD and SEM show that the distributions of W and B in the Ni-W-B alloy film are very uniform and dispersed without any segregation.

Comparison between the electrical resistance and the shear strength of brazed cemented carbides

Brazing is a suitable technology to join different materials such as cemented carbides and steel. Even though this technology has been investigated for many years, insufficient joints can occur easily, as the brazing process is very sensitive concerning the handling parameters. Defects such as voids and cracks are hard to detect by commonly used visual inspection methods. Other nondestructive methods such as radiography or ultrasonic testing are usually not economical for the examination of these joints. Studies proved that the electrical resistance has the potential to serve as an effective alternative for the evaluation of brazed joints. In this study, the authors have compared the electrical resistance and the shear strength. For this, cemented carbides were brazed to steel by means of induction heating at an ambient atmosphere. A silver-based filler metal （ BrazeTec 4900 / Ag 449 ） and a flux （ BrazeTec spezial h / FH12） were selected to enable the brazing process. The brazing time and the temperature were varied in order to produce different joint qualities. After brazing, the resistance was measured on each joint with the 4-point probe method to facilitate a high accuracy. The results underline the possibility to use electrical resistance measurements as an effective tool for a quality control of brazed joints.

Electrical Stimulation Greatly Increases Settlement, Growth, Survival, and Stress Resistance of Marine Organisms

Increasing stress from global warming, sea level rise, acidification, sedimentation, pollution, and unsustainable practices have degraded the most critical coastal ecosystems including coral reefs, oyster reefs, and salt marshes. Conventional restoration methods work only under perfect conditions, but fail nearly completely when the water becomes too hot or water quality deteriorates. New methods are needed to greatly increase settlement, growth, survival, and resistance to environmental stress of keystone marine organisms in order to maintain critical coastal ecosystem functions including shore protection, fisheries, and biodiversity. Electrolysis methods have been applied to marine ecosystem restoration since 1976, with spectacular results (Figures 1(a)-(c)). This paper provides the first overall review of the data. Low-voltage direct current trickle charges are found to increase the settlement of corals 25.86 times higher than uncharged control sites, to increase the mean growth rates of reef-building corals, soft corals, oysters, and salt marsh grass— an average of 3.17 times faster than controls (ranging from 2 to 10 times depending on species and conditions), and to increase the survival of electrically charged marine organisms—an average of 3.47 times greater than controls, with the biggest increases under the most severe environmental stresses. These results are caused by the fundamental biophysical stimulation of natural biochemical energy production pathways, used by all organisms, provided by electrical stimulation under the right conditions. This paper reviews for the first time all published results from properly designed, installed, and maintained projects, and contrasts them with those that do not meet these criteria.