We are developing a three-dimensional sensing system that enables the tracking of localized material movement by
recording displacement and rotation of passive radar targets within materials of interest. Ultimately, the development of
this system will provide a highly reliable, cost-efficient set of tools for basic and applied granular materials research.
However, the size and material density of the passive radar targets will be inevitably different than the material in which
they are embedded, and particles of different sizes and densities tend to segregate when jostled, sheared, or otherwise
disturbed. In other words, neighboring particles of different sizes and/or densities will likely not have identical
movements. Therefore, effective use of the passive radar targets to predict movement of the bulk material will require a
systematic understanding of how segregation depends on relative size and density of the tracer particles. We study
segregation in two different systems to isolate different segregation driving mechanisms in densely sheared granular
mixtures. In this paper, we discuss the results from these experiments and demonstrate how this can be used to relate
sensor particle movement with bulk granular materials movement.
High-frequency guided longitudinal waves have been used in a through-transmission arrangement to monitor reinforced
mortar specimens undergoing both accelerated uniform and localized corrosion. High-frequency guided longitudinal
waves were chosen because they have the fastest propagation velocity and lowest theoretical attenuation for the
rebar/mortar system. This makes the modes easily discernible and gives them the ability to travel over long distances.
The energy of the high-frequency longitudinal waves is located primarily in the center of the rebar, leading to less
leakage into the surrounding mortar. The results indicate that the guided mechanical waves are sensitive to both forms
of corrosion attack in the form of attenuation, with less sensitivity at higher frequencies. Also promising is the ability to
discern uniform corrosion from localized corrosion in a through-transmission arrangement by examination of the
frequency domain.
High-frequency guided mechanical waves were used to ultrasonically monitor reinforced mortar specimens undergoing
accelerated general corrosion damage. Waves were invoked, using both single-cycle and high-cycle tonebursts, at
frequencies where the attenuation is at a local minimum. Results show that the high-frequency waves were sensitive to
irregularities in the reinforcing rebar profile caused by corrosion. The sensitivity is thought to be due to scattering,
reflections, and mode conversion at the irregularities. Certain frequencies show promise for being insensitive to the
surrounding mortar, ingress of water, presence of additional rebar, stirrups, and rust product accumulation. This lack of
sensitivity allows for changes in guided wave behavior from bar profile deterioration to be isolated from the effects of
other surrounding interfaces.
A frequency sweep from 50 to 200 kHz of guided mechanical waves have been conducted to detect and assess corrosion damage in steel reinforced mortar specimens with seeded defects and in specimens undergoing accelerated corrosion using impressed current. The sweep was conducted by invoking primarily the fundamental longitudinal mode of propagation, i.e., the L(0,1) mode. The decay of waveform energy (indicative of attenuation) at different frequencies is presented and discussed in terms of corrosion damage. Experimental results indicate that the percentage of corrosion damage can be detected and evaluated invoking the fundamental longitudinal mode of propagation.
Corrosion of reinforced concrete is a chronic infrastructure problem, particularly in areas with deicing salt and marine exposure. To maintain structural integrity, a testing method is needed to identify areas of corroding reinforcement. For purposes of rehabilitation, the method must also be able to evaluate the degree, rate and location of damage. Towards the development of a wireless embedded sensor system to monitor and assess corrosion damage in reinforced concrete, reinforced mortar specimens were manufactured with seeded defects to simulate corrosion damage. Taking advantage of waveguide effects of the reinforcing bars, these specimens were then tested using an ultrasonic approach. Using the same ultrasonic approach, specimens without seeded defects were also monitored during accelerated corrosion tests. Both the ultrasonic sending and the receiving transducers were mounted on the steel rebar. Advantage was taken of the lower frequency (<250 kHz) fundamental flexural propagation mode because of its relatively large displacements at the interface between the reinforcing steel and the surrounding concrete. Waveform energy (indicative of attenuation) is presented and discussed in terms of corrosion damage. Current results indicate that the loss of bond strength between the reinforcing steel and the surrounding concrete can be detected and evaluated.
The future proliferation of truly high-speed wireless systems will require more functionality from antennas than can be provided by classic designs. One approach to this challenge is to develop reconfigurable antennas. The goal of a reconfigurable radiator - one that can adjust its operating frequency, bandwidth, and/or radiation pattern to accommodate changing requirements - poses significant challenges to both antenna and system designers. This paper highlights some of the recent advances in the area of antenna reconfiguration, at the University of Illinois and elsewhere, as well as discusses some of the barriers that still need to be overcome to arrive at realizable technologies. These barriers include the development of reliable, mass-manufacturable RF MEMS switches, the design of switch bias networks that will not interfere with antenna operation, and the expansion of signal processing and feedback algorithms to fully exploit this new antenna functionality.
The University of Illinois and Northrop Grumman Corporation have teamed to integrate a wide band reconfigurable aperture array with associated wide band T/R functions on a flexible and foldable/rollable substrate for space based radar applications. Advanced MEMS and packaging techniques are used to make the antenna array lightweight, reliable, and reproducible. Soft flexible substrates make the antenna foldable/rollable with the associated electronics below the ground plane of the antenna elements. The individually reconfigurable antenna element uses MEMS switches to select between two broad frequency bands of operation. These MEMS switches have low actuation voltages and stress-free operation, improving the array's reliability. The reconfigurable antenna element is based on a low-profile radiator that provides greatly increased instantaneous bandwidth over microstrip patch antennas currently in place for phased array applications. Voltage-controlled MEMS switches are utilized to switch between stacked layers of elements that operate in the S- and X-bands. In each band, the antenna elements provide at least 25% instantaneous bandwidth. The challenges presented by the flexible substrate and the array design as well as experimental and simulated results for the antenna elements and switches are discussed.
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