Search results for "Acoustics"

Modelling the Doppler Power Spectrum of Non-Stationary Underwater Acoustic Channels Based on Doppler Measurements

2017

This paper proposes a non-stationary time-continuous simulation model for wideband shallow underwater acoustic (UWA) channels based on measured Doppler power spectrums (DPSs). Measurement-based channel simulators are essential for the test, optimization, and performance analysis of UWA communication systems. The aim is to fit the DPS of the simulation model to that of the measured UWA channel. The performance of the designed UWA channel simulator is assessed by comparing the average Doppler shift and Doppler spread of the channel simulator with the corresponding quantities of the measured UWA channel. The results of the assessment show a good match between the statistical quantities of the …

Two Methods to Broaden the Bandwidth of a Nonlinear Piezoelectric Bimorph Power Harvester

2017

We propose two methods to broaden the operation bandwidth of a nonlinear pinned–pinned piezoelectric bimorph power harvester. The energy-scavenging structure consists of a properly poled and electroded flexible bimorph with a metallic layer in the middle, and is subjected to flexural vibration. Nonlinear effects at large deformations near resonance are considered by taking the in-plane extension of the bimorph into account. The resulting output powers are multivalued and exhibit jump phenomena. Two methods to broaden the operation bandwidth are proposed: The first method is to extend the operation frequency to the left single-valued region through optimal design. The second method is to exc…

Corrigendum to “Design of compensated multiport waveguide junctions considering mechanization effects” [AEUE – Int J Electron Commun, 69 (1) (2015), …

2015

High-velocity Impact Location on Aircraft panels Using Macro-fiber Composite piezoelectric Rosettes

2010

In this article, an approach based on an array of macro-fiber composite (MFC) transducers arranged as rosettes is proposed for high-velocity impact location on isotropic and composite aircraft panels. Each rosette, using the directivity behavior of three MFC sensors, provides the direction of an incoming wave generated by the impact source as a principal strain angle. A minimum of two rosettes is sufficient to determine the impact location by intersecting the wave directions. The piezoelectric rosette approach is easier to implement than the well-known time-of-flight-based triangulation of acoustic emissions because it does not require knowledge of the wave speed in the material. Hence, th…

Laser-air hybrid ultrasonic technique for dynamic railroad inspection applications

2005

The Laser-Air Hybrid Ultrasonic Technique (LAHUT) combines laser generation with air-coupled detection of ultrasound. The technique is non-contact and has the characteristic of operating from remote distances. Acoustic wave laser-generation apparatus can be metres away from the interrogated surface, while air-coupled detection stand-off can be on the order of several centimetres. The technique has the unique capability of interrogating structural materials in their true industrial environment. Dynamic tests are performed on parts with complex geometry, limited accessibility and curved surfaces. Also, dark and rough finish surfaces, which significantly reduce the efficiency of optical detect…

Proof of concept of wayside railroad wheel inspection using a laser-air hybrid ultrasonic technique

2003

Non-destructive inspection of railroad wheels is performed in maintenance shops, where wheels are removed and inspected individually. No technique is yet available to the railroad industry to perform wayside inspections of wheels on a moving train. The characteristics of laser and air-coupled ultrasound are discussed to justify the use of a laser-air hybrid ultrasonic technique. Laser generation of ultrasound is combined with air-coupled detection to provide a flexible non-contact and remote technique that would enable the railroad industry to perform wayside inspections of moving railroad wheels. The present paper describes Proof of Concept set-up and results of the experiments performed a…

Fatigue life prediction under wide band random loading

2004

In this paper, a method for the high-cycle fatigue life prediction of components subjected to gaussian, stationary, wide band random loading is presented. It allows the user to evaluate the fatigue life of components subjected to uniaxial stress states directly from the stress power spectral density (PSD), avoiding onerous simulations in time domain. The proposed method can be applied to random stress processes having PSD of any shape, and the fatigue life predictions obtained are more accurate than that provided by most of the frequency domain techniques proposed in literature.

Stability analysis of rotor whirl under nonlinear internal friction by a general averaging approach

2016

The two main sources of internal friction in a rotor-shaft system are the shaft structural hysteresis and the possible shrink-fit release of the assembly. The internal friction tends to destabilize the over-critical rotor running, but a remedy against this effect may be provided by a proper combination of some external damping in the supports and an anisotropic arrangement of the support stiffness, or at most by the support damping alone, depending on the system geometry. The present analysis reported here considers a general asymmetric rotor-shaft system, where the rotor is perfectly rigid and is constrained by viscous–flexible supports having different stiffnesses on two orthogonal plane…

Low-Cost Alternatives for Urban Noise Nuisance Monitoring Using Wireless Sensor Networks

2015

Noise pollution caused by vehicular traffic is a common problem in urban environments that has been shown to affect people's health and children's cognition. In the last decade, several studies have been conducted to assess this noise, by measuring the equivalent noise pressure level (called L eq ) to acquire an accurate sound map using wireless networks with acoustic sensors. However, even with similar values of L eq , people can feel the noise differently according to its frequency characteristics. Thus, indexes, which can express people's feelings by subjective measures, are required. In this paper, we analyze the suitability of using the psychoacoustic metrics given by the Zwicker's mod…

Identification of the inertial model for innovative semi-immergible USV (SI-USV) drone for marine and lakes operations

2015

The proposed project shows the results obtained in the implementation and testing in lacustrine and marine environment of a nautical remote controlled vehicle with surface navigation and innovative features Semi-Immergible (SI-USV). This vehicle is based on a pending patent belonging to Palermo University (Patent Pending RM2012A000209 and Patent RM2014Z000060) concerning innovative semi-immersible vehicles (SI-Drone), that can be remotely controlled from the ground, air, satellite and sea also during the semi-immersible operation. Given its low draft, the electric powered vehicle, coupled with jet propulsion, makes it possible to navigate in shallow waters, coastal shipping or sandbars.