Error Quantification in Dynamic Applications of Weakly Nonlinear Transducers

Characterization and quantification of dynamic measurements is an ongoing area of research in the metrological community, as new calibration methods are being developed to address dynamic measurement applications. In the development undertaken to date, one largely assumes that nominally linear transducers can be used with linear assumptions in deconvolution of the input from the response and in system identification. To quantify the errors that arise from these assumptions, in this article, the effects of weak nonlinearities in transducers that are assumed to behave linearly during dynamic excitations are studied. Specifically, a set of first-order and second-order systems, which can model many transducers with weak nonlinearities, are used to numerically quantify the systemic errors due to the linear assumptions underlying the deconvolution. We show through the presented results the evolution of different error metrics over a large parameter space of possible transducers. Additionally, an example of quantification of the errors due to linear assumptions in system identification is demonstrated by using a time-series sparse regression system identification strategy. It is shown that the errors generated from linear identification of a nonlinear transducer can counteract the systemic errors that arise in linear deconvolution when the linear system identification is performed in similar loading conditions. In general, the methodology and results presented here can be useful for understanding the effect of nonlinearity in single degree of freedom transient dynamics deconvolution and specifically in specifying certain metrics of errors in transducers with known weak nonlinearities.

Location of Multiple Damage Types in a Truss-Type Structure Using Multiple Signal Classification Method and Vibration Signals

A new multiple signal classification (MUSIC)-based methodology is presented for detecting and locating multiple damage types in a truss-type structure subjected to dynamic excitations. The methodology is based mainly on two steps: in step 1, the MUSIC method is employed to obtain the pseudo-spectra of vibration signatures, healthy and damaged, to be used for damage detection. In step 2, a new damage index, based on the obtained pseudo-spectra, is proposed to measure the structure condition. Furthermore, the damage location is estimated according to the variation in the amplitudes of the estimated pseudo-spectra. The presented results show that the proposed methodology can make an accurate and reliable estimation of the condition and location of three specific damage conditions, i.e., loosened bolts, internal corrosion, and external corrosion.

Laboratory Characterization of a Compacted–Unsaturated Silty Sand with Special Attention to Dynamic Behavior

The dynamic properties of compacted non-cohesive soils are desired not only because of the risk of natural sources of dynamic excitations such as earthquakes, but mostly because of the anthropogenic impact of machines that are working on such soils. These soils are often unsaturated, which positively affects the soil’s mechanical properties. The information about the values of these parameters is highly desirable for engineers. In this article, we performed a series of tests, including oedometric tests, resonant column tests, bender element tests, and unsaturated triaxial tests, to evaluate those characteristic parameters. The results showed that sandy silt soil has a typical reaction to dynamic loading in terms of shear modulus degradation and the damping ratio curves’ characteristics, which can be modeled by using empirical equations. We found that the compaction procedure caused an over-consolidation state dependent on the moisture content during compaction effort. The article analyzed the soil properties that impact the maximum shear modulus G0 value. Those properties were suction s, confining pressure σ3, and compaction degree represented by the void ratio function f(e).

Mechanisms-Based Transitional Viscoplasticity

When metal is subjected to extreme strain rates, the conversation of energy to plastic power, the subsequent heat production and the growth of damages may lag behind the rate of loading. The imbalance alters deformation pathways and activates micro-dynamic excitations. The excitations immobilize dislocation, are responsible for the stress upturn and magnify plasticity-induced heating. The main conclusion of this study is that dynamic strengthening, plasticity-induced heating, grain size strengthening and the processes of microstructural relaxation are inseparable phenomena. Here, the phenomena are discussed in semi-independent sections, and then, are assembled into a unified constitutive model. The model is first tested under simple loading conditions and, later, is validated in a numerical analysis of the plate impact problem, where a copper flyer strikes a copper target with a velocity of 308 m/s. It should be stated that the simulations are performed with the use of the deformable discrete element method, which is designed for monitoring translations and rotations of deformable particles.