Performance analysis of gravity chemical blockers in the treatment of rising damp in masonry walls

The objective of this work is the performance analysis of the rising damp treatment in walls, through the use of chemical blockers (i.e., crystallizing and water repellant) available in the Brazilian market, with their introduction by gravity. As there are no standardized tests for such a study, experiments conducted by other researchers were used as a reference. The evaluation of the rising damp was achieved by the calculation of the water absorption rate in the specimens, allied with the images obtained by the thermographic camera. From the results, it was concluded that the treatment did not completely reduce the pathological manifestation in the walls, but both products performed well and managed to reduce the water absorption rate considerably.

Architectural proposal for the rehabilitation and improvement of the houses of the city Yagúl housing unit, Oaxaca

This article presents the results of an investigation carried out in the Yagul city housing unit in the state of Oaxaca, in order to study the deterioration problems that have caused the abandonment of the houses, and in this context, to propose strategies that solve these problems in addition to improving the quality of life of the inhabitants. For this investigation, non-destructive tests were carried out on the houses of the place, such as: Concrete compression resistance test using a digital sclerometer, temperature tests with a thermographic camera and infrared digital thermometer, detection of reinforcements using a portable Pachometer and soil mechanics. The results obtained have allowed us to know the current state of the houses and based on these data, make an architectural proposal for the rehabilitation and improvement of said houses, generating a bioclimatic environment and comfort for its inhabitants.

The Ancient Varieties of Mountain Maize: The Inheritance of the Pointed Character and Its Effect on the Natural Drying Process

The introduction of mechanized agricultural practices after the Second World War and the use of productive hybrids led to a gradual disappearance of local maize varieties. However, 13 landraces are still cultivated in North-Western Italy, in the Lombardy region; those that are cultivated in mountainous areas (roughly up to 1200 m in altitude) are often characterized by the pointed shape of their seeds (i.e., “Nero Spinoso”, “Rostrato Rosso di Rovetta”, “Spinato di Gandino” and “Scagliolo di Carenno”) and the presence of pigments (i.e., “Nero Spinoso”, “Rostrato Rosso di Rovetta”). The pointed shape of the seeds is an ancient characteristic of maize-ancestors, which negatively affects the yield by not allowing optimal “filling” of the ear. This study reports work on four different Italian varieties of pointed maize in order to assess the genetic bases of the “pointed character” and to try to explain the reasons for this adaptation to the mountain environment. The data obtained by genetic analysis, seed air-drying modeling and thermographic camera observations demonstrated that the “pointed trait” is controlled by the same genes across the different varieties studied and suggested that this peculiar shape has been selected in mountainous areas because it promotes faster drying of the seed, with the presence of pigments implementing this effect.

Thermographic Measurement of the Temperature of Reactive Power Compensation Capacitors

An excessive increase in reactive power consumption is unfavorable from the point of view of a power system. For this reason, devices compensating reactive power consumption are used. The capacitor is one such device. Capacitors must be tested regularly during their exploitation. One of the activities that should be performed is testing the degree of heating of the cells of a capacitor bank. Thermography can be used to perform such tests. This non-contact method has its limitations. Due to the angular emissivity and the change in the distance between the lens and the object under observation, the temperature measured with a thermographic camera may differ from the actual temperature. This phenomenon is visible on cylindrical capacitor cases. Consequently, depending on the location of the observation point on the capacitor case, the result of the thermographic temperature measurement may be different. To investigate this phenomenon, experimental work has been undertaken.

The Solution for the Thermographic Measurement of the Temperature of a Small Object

This article describes the measuring system and the influence of selected factors on the accuracy of thermographic temperature measurement using a macrolens. This method enables thermographic measurement of the temperature of a small object with an area of square millimeters as, e.g., electronic elements. Damage to electronic components is often preceded by a rise in temperature, and an effective way to diagnose such components is the use of a thermographic camera. The ability to diagnose a device under full load makes thermography a very practical method that allows us to assess the condition of the device during operation. The accuracy of such a measurement depends on the conditions in which it is carried out. The incorrect selection of at least one parameter compensating the influence of the factor occurring during the measurement may cause the indicated value to differ from the correct value. This paper presents the basic issues linked to thermographic measurements and highlights the sources of errors. A measuring stand which enables the assessment of the influence of selected factors on the accuracy of thermographic measurement of electronic elements with the use of a macrolens is presented.

In Vitro Evaluation of the Stabilization Time of Chemical Bonds During Setting Reaction and Microhardness of Preheated Glass-Ionomer Cements

SUMMARY Objectives: To evaluate the effect of preheating glass-ionomer cement (GIC) restorative materials on stabilization time (ST) of their metal carboxylate bonds and on microhardness. Methods and Materials: Two conventional highviscosity GICs, Ketac Universal (3M ESPE) and Equia Forte (GC), were evaluated. The thermographic camera was used to measure the temperature inside the glass-ionomer cement capsules before and after heating. The preheating of capsules was performed at 54°C for 30 seconds in a commercial device. Characterization of ST in the GICs was determined by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. For this, 10 samples of each material were prepared, five in the non-preheated group (control) and five with preheating. FTIR spectra were obtained 10 minutes after mixing (control group) or after heating and then every 10 minutes for 120 minutes. For the microhardness test, 20 cylindrical specimens (3 mm height × 6 mm diameter) were prepared for each material (10 preheated, 10 control). The microhardness was determined at three time intervals: 10 minutes after mixing, after the ST as detected through the FTIR part of the study, and after one week. Knoop microhardness was assessed using a diamond indenter with a 25 g load and 15 seconds dwell time. Results: Ketac Universal showed an increase in temperatures of 15.7°C for powder and 3.6°C for liquid, while Equia Forte showed 16.4°C for powder and 8.5°C for liquid. FTIR spectra indicated that preheating reduced the ST for Equia Forte but increased it for Ketac Universal. Preheating increased the initial microhardness (T1) of Equia Forte. With maturation over one week, it was observed that preheating significantly improved the microhardness of both materials compared with the control specimens. Conclusion: Preheating influenced the ST and the microhardness of Ketac Universal and Equia Forte. The ST and microhardness of Ketac Universal increased after seven days, whereas Equia Forte showed a reduced ST and increased microhardness from the outset.

Effectiveness of a Central Discharge Element Sock for Plantar Temperature Reduction and Improving Comfort

U-shaped plantar cushions could help reduce stress affecting the central forefoot without the need for an orthosis, but they are yet to be integrated as an element in socks. The objective of this study was to verify the effectiveness of a sock with a central discharge element in terms of plantar temperature and comfort. The sample comprised 38 subjects (13 men and 25 women). Their plantar temperatures were measured with a thermographic camera in a basal situation and after each of two 10-minute walks around an indoor circuit during which they wore either control or experimental socks at random (the same design, weight, and fiber, but with the plantar cushioning element added). After the walks, each subject responded to a comfort questionnaire (five-point Likert scale), blindly scoring the two socks. The highest temperatures (28.3 ± 2.7 °C) were recorded in the zone of the second and third metatarsal heads. With the experimental socks, the observed temperature increase in the central forefoot zone was significantly less than with the control socks (31.6 vs 30.6 °C, p = 0.001). The subjects found the experimental socks to be more comfortable than the controls (4.63 ± 0.5 vs 4.03 ± 0.5, p < 0.001). The discharge element included in the experimental socks was effective since it reduced the contact zones and excess friction with the ground, thereby lessening overheating by more than 1°C. Furthermore, the experimental socks were perceived as being more comfortable by the subjects who had mild and occasional foot discomfort.