Search results for "testing."
showing 10 items of 1654 documents
Performance of two innovative stress sensors imbedded in mortar joints of new masonry elements
2021
Abstract Many historical cities enjoy the presence of masonry buildings with inestimable historical, artistic and cultural value. Old masonry buildings often suffer structural deficiencies, design faults and materials aging process. In recent years, many researchers focused their attention on the opportunities that structural health monitoring (SHM) can ensure for the health state of existing masonry structures, where damage can be difficult to be promptly predicted, pontentially causing abrupt collapses, with high risks for the community. This paper presents an experimental study on the effectiveness of two types of stress sensor for SHM of new masonry elements. Ceramic piezoelectric senso…
Semiactive control for floating offshore wind turbines subject to aero-hydro dynamic loads
2011
Wind and wave dynamic loads might cause undesirable vibrations that affect the structure integrity and system performance of floating offshore wind turbines. This paper addresses the problem of dynamic load mitigation by using semiactive control techniques with the tuned liquid column dampers placed on the turbine’s tower. The control law is formulated based on the mixed H2/H∞ methods for ensuring the system stability and reliability. Furthermore, the proposed controller only uses output feedback so as to avoid the dependence on the knowledge of the states of the system. Peer Reviewed
Structural behavior of the old masonry bridge in the Gulf of Castellammare
2016
Abstract Masonry arch bridges represent a very significant part of the heritage of road and railway artworks all over the word and especially in the Mediterranean area, both in terms of: numbers; reduced environmental impact; and static efficiency. In these cases, the cost of maintenance is often limited to the content and channeling of surface water and control of vegetation, which can eventually take root on the joints of the masonry at the shoulders. In masonry bridges, there are no expansion joints or hinges with support equipment or trolleys, as in metal bridges and reinforced concrete ones, or paint, or resin surface protection, all items that affect the cost of maintenance. The perma…
A mixed H<inf>2</inf>/H<inf>&#x221E;</inf>-based semiactive control for vibration mitigation in flexible structures
2009
In this paper, we address this problem through the design of a semiactive controller based on the mixed H 2 /H ∞ control theory. The vibrations caused by the seismic motions are mitigated by a semiactive damper installed in the bottom of the structure. It is meant by semiactive damper, a device that absorbs but cannot inject energy into the system. Sufficient conditions for the design of a desired control are given in terms of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). A controller that guarantees asymptotic stability and a mixed H 2 /H ∞ performance is then developed. An algorithm is proposed to handle the semiactive nature of the actuator. The performance of the controller is experimentally evalu…
New distributed model for synthesis of classical dual mode filters
2010
Up to now, distributed models for classical dual mode filters have not been developed. In this paper, the whole procedure to derive such distributed models is shown step by step. The resulting formulas are very similar to those standard ones used for in-line filters since the 1960s. Model limitations, very similar to those related to classical formulas, in terms of precision and bandwidth, are pointed out. Finally, two practical examples of distributed models of dual mode filters for satellite transponders with different orders have been extracted.
A robust calibration methodology for an On-Board Diagnostic car system
2006
New car models are now by law equipped with on-board diagnostic (OBD) systems aimed at monitoring the state of health of strategic components that ensure low levels of polluting exhaust emissions. During development phases, for each new car model, the OBD system must be finely calibrated. This article presents a robust calibration methodology taking into account sources of variability mainly due to production process, operating, and environmental conditions. The methodology enables us to evaluate the false alarm and failure to detect risks intrinsically related to the adopted calibration. An application concerning an upstream oxygen sensor monitored by the OBD is presented.
Experimental study of the evolution of a bar breakage process in a commercial induction machine
2008
This paper analyzes the results of a destructive test developed on a commercial induction motor. The test is designed to reproduce in the laboratory the cage degradation process of an induction motor subjected to a high amount of working cycles, which include heavy startups. During each cycle, the main magnitudes related to the motor condition monitoring are registered, at steady state as well as at transient regime. From these magnitudes, some fault indicators described in the literature are calculated, and so, it is possible to follow their evolution. This analysis assesses the use of such small commercial machines in a test bed as a way of developing a failure that can be used to compare…
Medium Voltage Smart Grid: Experimental Analysis of Secondary Substation Narrow Band Power Line Communication
2013
This paper is focused on the possibility of employing narrow band power line communication (PLC) in medium voltage (MV) distribution networks. The topic is investigated by means of both simulations and experimental tests, which were carried out in the distribution network of Ustica Island. In detail, a two-way MV communication was tested between two secondary substations connected by an MV cable power line. Each substation has a by-pass connection at MV bus-bars and an MV/LV oil filled power transformer. In this paper, the MV and the PLC systems under test are described and the experimental tests are presented, which were carried out to evaluate the parameters of the simulation model. The a…
Test Bench Realization and Application of Specific Working Cycles for the Characterization of Wheelchair Electrical Drives
2006
The life quality of motion disabled people is increased by the use of more and more sophisticated electrical wheelchairs. Despite the diffusion of such aid tools, specific technical standards for the determination of characteristic parameters of their electric drives are not so developed as the ones available for urban electric vehicles. In this paper, in order to define new technical standards for wheelchairs electrical drives, a wheelchair test bench has been purposely carried out. Moreover two specific working cycles, previously conceived and defined by some of the Authors to characterize the performances of the propulsion systems suitable for electrical wheelchair applications, have bee…
Mock-up testing facilities and qualification strategy for EU ITER TBMs
2010
European test blanket modules (TBM) for both European blanket concepts, namely the Helium Cooled Lithium Lead (HCLL) and the Helium Cooled Pebble Bed (HCPB), and their auxiliary systems have been designed in the last years. This paper presents the experimental facilities available in Europe for the qualification tests of European TBMs. In particular, devices designed to analyze specific technological issues, for example corrosion under strong magnetic fields or tritium management and extraction, as well as large scale facility to perform integral tests are described. A preliminary overview on the qualification strategy is presented and discussed.