A Portable Low-Cost Ultrasound Measurement Device for Concrete Monitoring

This paper describes a new ultrasonic measuring device called “W-Box”. It was developed based on the requirements of the DFG Forschergruppe (research unit) CoDA for a portable device for monitoring of concrete specimens, models and actual structures using embedded ultrasonic transducers as well as temperature and humidity sensors. The W-Box can send ultrasonic pulses with a variable frequency of 50–100 kHz to one selectable transducer and records signals from up to 75 multiplexed channels with a sample rate of 1 MHz and a resolution of 14 bits. In addition, it measures temperature and humidity with high accuracy, adjustable amplification, restarts automatically after a power failure and can be fully controlled remotely. The measured data are automatically stored locally on-site data quality checks and transferred to remote servers. The comparison of the W-Box with a laboratory setup using commercial devices proves that it is equally reliable and precise, at much lower cost. The W-Box also shows that their measurement capacities, with the used embedded ultrasonic transducers, can reach above 6 m in concrete.

Cross-sectional analysis of tubular polymer semi-finished products using ultrasound in comparison with other measuring methods

In the sector of biomedical engineering and implant technology, high-precision geometry is often decisive for successful end product functionalization. Especially in the production of tubular polymer semi-finished products, e.g. for stent fabrication, it is important to assure the desired parameters, such as inner and outer diameter and wall thickness. Within the current study we analyzed semifinished products for manufacturing of polymeric stents using three different methods. Biodegradable poly-L-lactide (PLLA) tubes were examined by means of micro computed tomography, ultrasonic scanning and scanning electron microscopy. The final evaluation presents clear advantages of the ultrasonic measuring method for the measurement of outer and inner diameter and wall thickness.

Improving the laser engraving quality of padpainted and spray-painted mechatronic devices

Considering the cost reduction in automotive processes, in the case of mechatronic devices that use2-3 colours for symbols, a solution is to replace the multi-component molding injection with the painting of a white component substrate in different colours. However, combined painting techniques, namelypad-painting and spray-painting, can lead to many risks, especially when those symbols are obtained bylaser etching, so removing the final paint layer to let only the first coloured layer be visible. The paper's aim is to present the analysis and reduction of the variation due to the different thickness of the coating layers as well as their drying level by using the ultrasonic measuring techniques and the optical microscopy cross-section to reduce the over-adjusting of the engraving parameters and to improve the final quality of the symbols.

Development of Non-Invasive Ultrasonic Measuring System for Monitoring Multiphase Flow in Liquid Media within Composite Pipeline

<span>Process of conveying liquid substance via the pipeline is the most common practice of transferring the liquid from one point to another point. Composite pipeline is becoming an option for liquid conveying purposed (instead of PVC, acrylic or metal) for its durability, longer lifetime and non-corrosive material in comparison with current pipeline. In order to ensure, the conveying process has a smooth flow rate without particle or bubble disturbance that could hinder good process flow, non-invasive monitoring system is always required. The ultrasonic measuring system is one of the monitoring options that could be applied. With proper designed for transmitting and conditioning circuitry, 300 kHz ultrasonic frequencies are found as the optimal frequency needed to penetrate across the composite pipeline with full of liquid. The ultrasonic sensor response is being successfully differentiated between full flow (no material blockage) and with bulk material blockage (dry and wet sand).</span>