Application and Analysis of Discrete Fiber Probes in Determining Detonation Velocity of Microcharges

This paper describes a method based on discrete fiber probes for measuring detonation velocity produced by microcharges. This method is simple to implement, scalable for multi-channel and requires minimal perturbation to the detonation wave. A simple experimental apparatus was established by using the oscilloscope, photodetectors, optical fibers, alignment device and initiation system. Four groups of experiments were carried out for analyzing the influence of probe spacing on detonation velocity. The experiment results suggest that a relatively appropriate distance between two adjacent fiber probes is 4 mm. In addition, the comparative experiments between ionization probes and fiber probes were performed, which shows that the standard deviation of detonation velocity obtained by fiber probes is smaller under the same measurement conditions. This research may be useful for the development of determining detonation velocity precisely of microcharges.

Time-of-flight diffraction method for joint with linear misalignment

The time-of-flight diffraction (TOFD) method is known as one of the most accurate flaw sizing methods among the various ultrasonic testing techniques. However, the standard TOFD method cannot be applied to weld joints with linear misalignment because of its basic assumptions. In this study, a geometric model of the TOFD method for weld joints with linear misalignment is introduced and an exact solution for calculating the flaw tip depth is derived. Since the exact solution is extremely complex, a simple approximate solution is also derived assuming that the misalignment is sufficiently small relative to the probe spacing and the flaw tip depth. The error in the approximate solution is confirmed to be negligible if the assumptions are satisfied. Numerical simulations are conducted to assess the flaw sizing accuracy of both the exact and approximate solutions considering the constraint of the probe spacing and the influence of the excess metal shape. Finally, experiments are conducted to prove the applicability of the proposed method. As a result, the proposed method is proven to enable accurate flaw sizing of weld joints with linear misalignment.

Signal processing for in situ detection of effective heat pulse probe spacing radius as the basis of a self-calibrating heat pulse probe

A sensor comprised of an electronic circuit and a hybrid single and dual heat pulse probe was constructed and tested along with a novel signal processing procedure to determine changes in the effective dual-probe spacing radius over the time of measurement. The circuit utilized a proportional–integral–derivative (PID) controller to control heat inputs into the soil medium in lieu of a variable resistor. The system was designed for onboard signal processing and implemented USB, RS-232, and SDI-12 interfaces for machine-to-machine (M2M) exchange of data, thereby enabling heat inputs to be adjusted to soil conditions and data availability shortly after the time of experiment. Signal processing was introduced to provide a simplified single-probe model to determine thermal conductivity instead of reliance on late-time logarithmic curve fitting. Homomorphic and derivative filters were used with a dual-probe model to detect changes in the effective probe spacing radius over the time of experiment to compensate for physical changes in radius as well as model and experimental error. Theoretical constraints were developed for an efficient inverse of the exponential integral on an embedded system. Application of the signal processing to experiments on sand and peat improved the estimates of soil water content and bulk density compared to methods of curve fitting nominally used for heat pulse probe experiments. Applications of the technology may be especially useful for soil and environmental conditions under which effective changes in probe spacing radius need to be detected and compensated for over the time of experiment.

Signal Processing for In-Situ Detection of Effective Heat Pulse Probe Spacing Radius as the Basis of a Self-Calibrating Heat Pulse Probe

A sensor comprised of an electronic circuit and a hybrid single and dual heat pulse probe was constructed and tested along with a novel signal processing procedure to determine changes in the effective dual-probe spacing radius over the time of measurement. The circuit utilized a proportional–integral–derivative (PID) controller to control heat inputs into the soil medium in lieu of a variable resistor. The system was designed for on-board signal processing and implemented USB, RS-232 and SDI-12 interfaces for Machine-to-Machine (M2M) exchange of data, thereby enabling heat inputs to be adjusted to soil conditions and data availability shortly after the time of experiment. Signal processing was introduced to provide a simplified single-probe model to determine thermal conductivity instead of reliance on late-time logarithmic curve-fitting. Homomorphic and derivative filters were used with a dual-probe model to detect changes in the effective probe spacing radius over the time of experiment to compensate for physical changes in radius as well as model and experimental error. Theoretical constraints were developed for an efficient inverse of the exponential integral on an embedded system. Application of the signal processing to experiments on sand and peat improved the estimates of soil water content and bulk density compared to methods of curve-fitting nominally used for heat pulse probe experiments. Applications of the technology may be especially useful for soil and environmental conditions where effective changes in probe spacing radius need to be detected and compensated over the time of experiment.