Determining Transfer Length in Pre-Tensioned Concrete Railroad Ties: Is a New Evaluation Method Needed?

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weixin Zhao ◽  
B. Terry Beck ◽  
Robert J. Peterman ◽  
Chih-Hang John Wu ◽  
Grace Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Evaluation Method ◽  
Compressive Strain ◽  
Accurate Determination ◽  
Laser Speckle ◽  
Surface Strain ◽  
Bond Quality ◽  
Transfer Length ◽  
General Validity ◽  
Imaging Device ◽  
Average Maximum

The transfer length is perhaps the most significant KEY indicator of the bond quality between reinforcing wire/strand and concrete, and its measurement in pre-tensioned concrete railroad ties can enable concrete tie producers to identify problem ties before they are put into service. The 95% AMS method is the traditional method used to determine the transfer length from measurements of surface strain. The method generally presumes the underlying existence of a bilinear strain profile. During recent field trips to six concrete railroad tie plants, we conducted hundreds of transfer length measurements on concrete railroad cross-ties using a newly developed automated Laser Speckle Imaging device. It has been observed that many of the strain profiles depart significantly from this underlying bilinear profile, and bring to question the general validity and applicability of the 95% AMS (95% Average Maximum Strain) method. This paper discusses the difficulties with accurate determination of transfer length in various practical situations using the traditional 95% AMS method. Deviations of the strain profiles from the simple bilinear shape are shown to be partially due to the non-prismatic shape of typical concrete railroad ties. In addition, computational evidence suggests that the underlying strain distribution may be exponential in nature, with an asymptotic approach to the fully-developed compressive strain, potentially superimposed on the non-prismatic problem identified above. These departures are discussed along with proposed solutions to the basic problem of accurate transfer length assessment.

Reliable Transfer Length Assessment for Real-Time Monitoring of Railroad Crosstie Production

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weixin Zhao ◽  
B. Terry Beck ◽  
Robert J. Peterman ◽  
Chih-Hang John Wu ◽  
Naga Narendra B. Bodapati ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Prestressed Concrete ◽  
Laser Speckle ◽  
Surface Strain ◽  
Experimental Comparison ◽  
Profile Measurement ◽  
Transfer Length ◽  
General Validity ◽  
Strain Profile ◽  
Average Maximum

Automated in-plant diagnostic testing of prestressed concrete railroad crossties is now within reach due to recent progress in robust surface strain measurement techniques. The newly developed non-contact Laser Speckle Imaging (LSI) technique has been shown to provide rapid and accurate surface strain profile measurement, which is a key requirement for rapid transfer length assessment. Accurate determination of transfer length is critical for maintaining continuous production quality in the modern manufacture of prestressed concrete railroad crossties. Conventional assessment of transfer length generally presumes the underlying existence of a bilinear prestressing force distribution and a corresponding bilinear surface strain profile. Furthermore, it is well-known that this bilinear profile is smoothed due to the effects of finite gauge length during the process of measuring surface strain. In addition, recent extensive crosstie measurements in concrete railroad tie plants have shown significant departures from this simple bilinear profile, which bring to question the general validity and reliability of the traditional 95% AMS (95% Average Maximum Strain) method. Deviations from the simple bilinear profile shape were shown to be partially due to the non-prismatic shape of typical concrete railroad ties. In addition, extensive comparisons between predicted and measured surface strain profiles on numerous crossties suggest that the underlying strain distribution for crossties is best represented by an exponential strain profile, with an asymptotic approach to the fully-developed compressive strain. This is in contrast with extensive testing of prisms with fixed cross-section and fixed prestressing wire eccentricity, for which the surface strain appears to be best represented by the simple bilinear strain profile. Clearly, departures from non-prismatic behavior have added complexity to transfer length measurement. If accurate and reliable measurements of this important quality control parameter are to be realized, these issues of transfer length uncertainty need to be addressed. This paper provides an experimental comparison of several possible alternative transfer length assessment procedures, in an attempt to answer important uncertainty questions which need to be addressed if rapid real-time transfer length is to be achieved. It is shown that in spite of considerable differences in the transfer length processing methods, and significant departures from prismatic behavior, the averaged results are in many cases consistent with the simple bilinear underlying strain profile assumption. Bias in the measurement of crosstie transfer length due to non-prismatic behavior will also be investigated in this paper.

Experimental Investigation of the Influence of Surface Contaminants on the Transfer Length of Smooth and Indented Prestressing Reinforcements Used in the Manufacture of Concrete Railroad Ties

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Terry Beck ◽  
Robert J. Peterman ◽  
Chih-Hang John Wu ◽  
Steve Mattson
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Compressive Strain ◽  
Surface Strain ◽  
Strain Level ◽  
Lubricating Oil ◽  
Recent Attempt ◽  
Transfer Length ◽  
Worst Case ◽  
Surface Contaminants ◽  
Average Maximum

It has been hypothesized that surface contaminants, such as lubricants on prestressing wires or strands, influence the resulting transfer length. However, until recently, the extent of this possible influence has only been speculation, as has been the relative influence on wire in comparison to strand. With the recent development of the ability to rapidly assess transfer length using new non-contact optical methods, it is now possible to explore hypothetical scenarios such as this with nearly real-time capability in the manufacturing plant. This paper presents a recent attempt to determine the effect of lubricating oil on the transfer length of ties, by conducting nearly real-time in-plant transfer length measurements using a newly developed prototype multi-camera non-contact transfer length measurement system. The testing was conducted on prismatic concrete turnout ties manufactured at the Nortrak plant in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Two different types of turnout ties were investigated, one containing indented 5.32-mm-diameter wire reinforcement and the other containing 3/8-in.-diameter 7-wire strand. These ties were located near the end of the casting bed. Prior to casting, one end of the form was sprayed with a generic lubricant, literally saturating the prestressing wires or strands. The ties were then cast and de-tensioned following the normal manufacturing process. This clearly represented a highly worst-case scenario for the influence of surface contaminants. Measurements were made using the new multi-camera system, providing a detailed profile of surface strain over several feet along each end of the last three ties in the casting beds (one for strand and one for wire) — the last tie being the one subjected to the application of oil prior to casting. Hence, the influence of oil application on adjacent ties was also revealed by these tests. For the tie end with strand reinforcement subjected to oil soaking, the maximum compressive strain only reached about 400 microstrain, far below the nominal average maximum strain level of approximately 1000 microstrain. In fact, the associated transfer length for the oil-soaked end could not be definitively measured because the strain level never achieved the plateau level of strain. In contrast, the tie end with oil-soaked indented wire exhibited a significant increase in transfer length; however, the transfer length remained well below the distance to the rail seat. From these worst-case tests, one can conclude that smooth strand is potentially highly influenced by lubricating oils, whereas the influence on indented wire is likely small by comparison.

A Direct Comparison of the Traditional Method and a New Approach in Determining 220 Transfer Lengths in Prestressed Concrete Railroad Ties

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weixin Zhao ◽  
B. Terry Beck ◽  
Robert J. Peterman ◽  
Robert Murphy ◽  
Chih-Hang John Wu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prestressed Concrete ◽  
The United States ◽  
Laser Speckle ◽  
Surface Strain ◽  
Transfer Length ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Average Maximum ◽  
Concrete Mix ◽  
Strain Data ◽  
Length Determination

This paper presents the detailed analysis of surface strain data obtained at six prestressed concrete tie plants in the United States. These data were obtained by the authors by conducting a total of 220 transfer length measurements on prestressed concrete railroad ties with different concrete-mix designs and reinforcement variations. The surface strain profiles of the railroad ties were obtained using the traditional Whittemore gage, as well as a rapid non-contact technology, called laser-speckle imaging (LSI), that was previously developed by the authors. The LSI technique achieved a microstrain resolution comparable to that was obtained using mechanical gauge technology. The measured surface strain profiles were then analyzed by both the 95% AMS (95% Average Maximum Strain) method, and the ZL (Zhao-Lee) method that was recently proposed by the authors. The ZL method is an unbiased statistical method that provides a more accurate and reliable transfer length determination. A direct comparison between the 95% AMS method and the ZL method was achieved by applying both methods to determine the 220 railroad tie transfer length values. The comparison confirmed the bias of the 95% AMS method in estimating transfer length value, as predicated by theoretical analysis.

Development of a laser-speckle imaging device to determine the transfer length in pretensioned concrete members

PCI Journal ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 135-143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weixin Zhao ◽  
Kyle Larson ◽  
Robert J. Peterman ◽  
B. Terry Beck ◽  
Chih-Hang J. Wu
Keyword(s):  
Laser Speckle ◽  
Laser Speckle Imaging ◽  
Speckle Imaging ◽  
Transfer Length ◽  
Imaging Device ◽  
Concrete Members ◽  
Pretensioned Concrete

Development of a 5-Camera Transfer Length Measurement System for Real-Time Monitoring of Railroad Crosstie Production

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weixin Zhao ◽  
B. Terry Beck ◽  
Robert J. Peterman ◽  
Chih-Hang John Wu
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Measurement System ◽  
Laser Speckle ◽  
Surface Strain ◽  
Length Measurement ◽  
Plant Production ◽  
Automated System ◽  
Production Operation ◽  
Transfer Length ◽  
Strain Measurements

Knowledge of transfer length during production is critical for maintaining continuous production quality in the modern manufacture of prestressed concrete railroad crossties. Traditional laboratory methods for measuring transfer length, using manual instruments such as a Whittemore mechanical gauge or surface mounted resistance-type strain gauge, are simply not suitable for production operation. They are too time-consuming to implement, require extensive surface preparation, and can also require special operator training to provide accurate and reliable surface strain profiles from which the transfer length can be determined in a post-processing manner. In contrast with earlier manual methods, the newly developed non-contact Laser Speckle Imaging (LSI) technique has been shown to be capable of providing rapid and accurate surface strain measurement and consequently also rapid transfer length assessment. This system has recently been automated and combined with the new Zhao-Lee (ZL) least-squares strain profile fitting technique for quickly and reliably processing surface strain data. The automated system and processing procedure have been shown to provide an improved assessment of transfer length, unhampered by human intervention and subsequent potential human judgment bias. This paper presents recent progress toward the development of a 5-camera non-contact transfer length measurement system that is capable of continuous monitoring of railroad crossties in a production plant. This is made possible using an optimized version of the previously successful LSI system, which minimizes the number of surface strain measurements required to achieve reliable transfer length assessment. Experimental results and analysis will be presented for the latest multi-camera prototype concept for this new system design, demonstrating that only a few discrete surface strain measurements are required to achieve accurate and reliable transfer length assessment. Thus, for the first time it is now possible to envision practical real-time quality control monitoring of railroad crossties during an in-plant production operation.

Multi-exposure X-ray image fusion quality evaluation based on CSF and gradient amplitude similarity

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Yanjie Qi ◽  
Zehui Yang ◽  
Lin Kang
Keyword(s):  
Image Fusion ◽  
Quality Evaluation ◽  
Evaluation Method ◽  
Dynamic Range ◽  
Reference Image ◽  
Subjective Perception ◽  
Steel Component ◽  
Imaging Device ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Gradient Amplitude

Due to the limitation of dynamic range of the imaging device, the fixed-voltage X-ray images often produce overexposed or underexposed regions. Some structure information of the composite steel component is lost. This problem can be solved by fusing the multi-exposure X-ray images taken by using different voltages in order to produce images with more detailed structures or information. Due to the lack of research on multi-exposure X-ray image fusion technology, there is no evaluation method specially for multi-exposure X-ray image fusion. For the multi-exposure X-ray fusion images obtained by different fusion algorithms may have problems such as the detail loss and structure disorder. To address these problems, this study proposes a new multi-exposure X-ray image fusion quality evaluation method based on contrast sensitivity function (CSF) and gradient amplitude similarity. First, with the idea of information fusion, multiple reference images are fused into a new reference image. Next, the gradient amplitude similarity between the new reference image and the test image is calculated. Then, the whole evaluation value can be obtained by weighting CSF. In the experiments of MEF Database, the SROCC of the proposed algorithm is about 0.8914, and the PLCC is about 0.9287, which shows that the proposed algorithm is more consistent with subjective perception in MEF Database. Thus, this study demonstrates a new objective evaluation method, which generates the results that are consistent with the subjective feelings of human eyes.

Evaluation of the impactive-surface-fracture behavior of glass plates using a back-surface strain measurement

2001 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. 3042-3045 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyoung-Gu Kim ◽  
Nak-Sam Choi ◽  
Nahmgyoo Cho
Keyword(s):  
Fracture Behavior ◽  
Maximum Stress ◽  
Evaluation Method ◽  
Soda Lime ◽  
Surface Strain ◽  
Back Surface ◽  
Soda Lime Glass ◽  
Surface Fracture ◽  
Impact Surface ◽  
Glass Plates

This paper proposes an evaluation method for the surface fracture behavior of coated glass or ceramic plates subjected to an impact with a small particle. The increase of the maximum stress and absorbed fracture energy measured from the back surface indicated the extent of the surface fracture that occurred in the simple soda lime glass and composite-lamina attached glass plates tested in a range of particle velocities up to 119 m/s. Impact surface-fracture indices expressed in terms of the maximum stress and absorbed energy are suggested as an effective evaluation parameter.

Performance of a Continuously Traversing 2-Camera Non-Contact Optical Strain Sensor for In-Plant Assessment of Prestressed Concrete Railroad Crosstie Transfer Length

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Terry Beck ◽  
Aaron A. Robertson ◽  
Robert J. Peterman ◽  
Chih-Hang John Wu
Keyword(s):  
Measurement System ◽  
Prestressed Concrete ◽  
Strain Measurement ◽  
Production Quality ◽  
Step Change ◽  
Surface Strain ◽  
Length Measurement ◽  
Transfer Length ◽  
Measurement Systems ◽  
New System

Accurate knowledge of transfer length has been shown to be crucial to the goal of maintaining continuous production quality in the modern manufacture of prestressed concrete railroad ties. Traditional manual laboratory methods, such as the conventional Whittemore method which requires the use of embedded reference points, are clearly not suitable for production operation or for use in reliable production quality-control. This paper presents the results of another advance in the development of automated transfer length measurement systems for practical in-plant operation. The new device offers a significant improvement over the previously successful automated Laser-Speckle Imaging (LSI) system developed by the authors. The earlier automated LSI strain measurement system has been modified to provide significantly improved optical resolution of longitudinal surface strain, with the ability to resolve longitudinal prestressed concrete crosstie surface strain without time-consuming special surface preparation. More importantly, the new system is also capable of making measurements of strain in a real-time “on-the-fly” manner over the entire distance range of interest on the tie associated with transfer length development. It features both a “jog” mode of operation, similar to its predecessor in which measurements of longitudinal surface strain are automatically captured in arbitrary spatial increments over the entire range of the computer-controlled traverse, and an “on-the-fly” mode in which measurements of longitudinal surface strain are captured without the need for stopping at each measurement location. This latter mode offers the potential of a much faster capture of the strain profile and should prove to be very beneficial for field testing and in-plant diagnostic applications. The performance of this new system is first demonstrated using a new calibrated step-wise uniform strain field setup which has been developed specifically for verification of this and other automated transfer length measurement systems. This verification system produces a calibrated step change in surface deflection, effectively subjecting the automated strain measurement system to an ideal step change in longitudinal strain for a given gauge length. In addition, the new automated system is demonstrated by conducting measurements of longitudinal surface strain on prestressed concrete crossties in a manufacturing plant. For this latter experimental in-plant testing, strain measurements using the new system are also compared directly with those from the recently introduced 6-camera transfer length measurement system, as well as with the traditional Whittemore gauge measurements. The agreement between these independent measurement systems is remarkable, and it is shown to even be possible to discern differences in strain profile and associated transfer length between adjacent crossties within a given casting bed. This new automated and high-resolution device should provide a very convenient and fast diagnostic tool for the manufacturer to quickly identify the need to modify production (e.g., concrete mix) if transfer length specifications fall out of desired range.

Observation of Heat Cycle Delamination Process with Surface Strain Measurement in Thermal Barrier Coating

2004 ◽  
Vol 261-263 ◽  
pp. 453-458
Author(s):  
Hiroyuki Waki ◽  
Izuru Nishikawa ◽  
K. Ogura
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Expansion ◽  
Strain Measurement ◽  
Laser Speckle ◽  
Surface Strain ◽  
Thermal Barrier ◽  
Heat Cycle ◽  
Bond Coating ◽  
Strain Behavior ◽  
Delamination Life ◽  
Plasma Sprayed

A surface strain measurement approach to understanding of delamination processes of thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) under heat cycle conditions was described in this paper. Heat cycle tests between the high temperature ranged from 1473K to 1073K and the relatively low temperature (573K) was carried out on thermal barrier coated type 304 stainless steel specimens. 8mass%Y2O3- ZrO2 and Al2O3 coatings were used for the TBCs. The surface strain behavior during the heat cycle test was measured using a laser speckle strain/displacement gauge (SSDG). It was found that the thermal expansion of a substrate was almost reflected on a surface strain if a delamination wasn't initiated, while the value of a surface strain decreased to the value of the thermal expansion of a ceramics-coating if the delamination of the ceramics-coating was initiated. The state of a subsurface delamination was able to be nondestructively inferred by the surface strain behavior. The delamination life of a ceramics-coating in the specimen with a low-pressure-plasma-sprayed (LPPS) bond-coating was found to be longer than that with an atmospheric-plasma-sprayed (APS) bond-coating. The large roughness of a bond-coating was also found to be effective in improving the delamination life of a ceramics-coating owing to the restriction of a crack propagation parallel to the interface between the ceramics-coating and the bond-coating.

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