Развитие технологии настройки акустических систем при ультразвуковом контроле сварных соединений

The urgent task is improvement of the accuracy of diagnosing the linear part of pipelines, structures and equipment of pumping and compressor stations, tank batteries, tank farm complexes. Therewith, it is required not only to identify a defect with a given probability, but also to ensure measurement of its shape and dimensions with accuracy to be sufficient to perform analysis of structures for strength and durability. The article deals with certain possibilities for increasing the detectability of volumetric defects, such as knots, through improvement of the methods for setting parameters of ultrasound pulse-echo testing. The results of research in the field of improvement of the technology for setting advanced ultrasonic systems using phased array antennas are presented. Cylinder-shaped drilled holes of different orientations have been reviewed as artificial defects for setting sensitivity and time base of the flaw-detecting instrument. Following on the earlier published works, the expediency of using vertical cylindrical drilling for setting the equipment is additionally justified: such target is the easiest to manufacture, its parameters are verified much easier than, for example, the parameters of flatbottomed holes. Examples are given of the practical use of drills of various orientations for adjusting sensitivity of monitoring and determination of the indication length of local bulk defects of the base metal and welds. Актуальной является задача повышения точности диагностирования линейной части трубопроводов, сооружений и оборудования перекачивающих и компрессорных станций, резервуарных парков, нефтебаз. При этом требуется не просто выявить дефект с заданной вероятностью, но и обеспечить измерение его формы и размеров с точностью, достаточной для выполнения расчетов конструкций на прочность и долговечность. В статье рассмотрены некоторые возможности повышения выявляемости объемных дефектов типа свищей за счет совершенствования способов настройки параметров ультразвукового контроля эхо-методом. Представлены результаты исследований в области совершенствования технологии настройки современных ультразвуковых систем, использующих фазированные антенные решетки. В качестве искусственных дефектов для настройки чувствительности и временной развертки дефектоскопа рассмотрены цилиндрические сверления разной ориентации. В развитие ранее опубликованных работ обоснована целесообразность применения для настройки оборудования вертикального цилиндрического сверления: такая мишень наиболее проста в изготовлении, ее параметры поверяются значительно проще, чем, например, параметры плоскодонных отверстий. Приведены примеры практического использования сверлений различной ориентации для настройки чувствительности контроля и определения условной протяженности локальных объемных дефектов основного металла и сварных швов.

Properties of the Ignimbrites in the Architecture of the Historical Center of Arequipa, Peru

The petrographic and petrophysical characteristics of three varieties of ignimbrites used in the architectural heritage of Arequipa (southwest Peru) are analyzed. The modal classification QAFP and TAS diagram discriminate their dacitic nature. Mercury injection porometry revealed very high porosity: 46.5% for white and beige ignimbrites, and 35.5% for the pink variety. Ignimbrites contain intrusions of vulcanodetrital fragments and vacuoles that influence their predominantly non-linear mechanical behavior. The results of water absorption by capillarity (C) and ultrasound pulse velocity (UPV) demonstrate a slight anisotropy for the beige variety and near isotropy for white and pink ignimbrites, which justify the randomness of the application of the ashlars in the masonry and in the selection of the faces to carve. Surfaces with hollows in the white and beige ignimbrites are the result of the erosion of the acicular pumice that fills the vacuoles.

The Impact of Wood Waste Ash on Physical Mechanical Properties of Concrete

In this work is analysing the impact of wood waste bottom ash (WWBA) on the physical mechanical properties of Portland cement concrete (PCC). WWBA is a waste generated in power plants during burning forest residues to produce energy and heat. In 2019, about 19,800 tons of WWBA was generated only in Lithuania. Usually, WWBA is disposed of in landfills, only 26% of WWBA is used in the construction or maintenance of local roads, because of that it is useful to know properties of such WWBA and to analyse possibilities of using it in cement concrete. In the chemical composition of such WWBA type was fixed a big amount ~50% of CO2. It is known, that C retards cement hydration. Due to stabilisation this process, it was used in the same amounts catalyst waste from oil cracking (FCCCw), which could accelerate hydration processes. Oil refineries worldwide generate more than 800,000 tonnes of FCCCw per year, of which around 20% in Europe and it is the big problem to landfill. In the investigation the amount of Portland cement (5-20% by mass) was replaced by mentioned wastes and properties of fresh PCC (density, slump, flow diameter) and physical mechanical properties of hardened PCC (water absorption, capillary water absorption, ultrasound pulse velocity, density, compressive strength after 28 days and 2 years curing, SEM) were established. It was determined, that by increasing amount of waste (till 20%) the workability of concrete decreases, because used wastes had higher water requirement. The best results were obtained, when 5% of cement was replaced by WWBA. Then compressive strength after 28 days curing comparing to control sample decreased 8%, but after 2 years curing it increased 1%, also the capillary water absorption decreased, denser structure was formed. The obtained results of hardened PCC density, ultrasound pulse velocity and water absorption are similar to control samples.

Properties of the Ignimbrites in the Architecture of the Historical Center of Arequipa, Peru

The petrographic and petrophysical characteristics of three varieties of ignimbrites used in the architectural heritage of Arequipa (southwest Peru) are analyzed. The modal classification QAFP and TAS diagram discriminate their dacitic nature. Mercury injection porometry revealed very high porosity: 46.5% for white and beige ignimbrites and 35.5% for the pink variety. Ignimbrites contain intrusions of vulcanodetrital fragments and vacuoles that influence their predominantly non-linear mechanical behavior. Results of water absorption by capillarity (C) and ultrasound pulse velocity (UPV) demonstrated a slight anisotropy for the beige variety and near isotropy for white and pink ignimbrites, which justify the randomness of the application of the ashlars in the masonry and in the selection of the faces to carve. Surfaces with hollows in the white and beige ignimbrites are the result of the erosion of the acicular pumice that fills the vacuoles.

The influence of blast furnace slag content on the mechanical and durability properties of raw perlite-based geopolymer mortars

In this work, 21 different raw perlite (RP) -based geopolymer mortars (RPGMs) were manufactured. Blast furnace slag (BFS) was replaced by RP in 7 different proportions with respect to the CaO/SiO2 oxide ratio of RP and BFS mixture in the RPGMs. Sodium hydroxide (NaOH= 5, 10, and 15 M) was used as alkaline medium for geopolymer synthesis in the RPGMs. The ultrasound pulse velocity (Upv), flexural strength (ffs) and compressive strength (fcs), water absorption, acid and sulfate durability of the RPGMs are investigated. The test results revealed that the BFS improved the mechanical properties of RPGMs for the low and medium alkaline medium of 5M and 10M, respectively. On the other hand, BFS had negative effect on the mechanical properties of RPGMs produced at a high alkaline medium of 15M. Moreover, the BFS improved the acid and sulfate durability of the RPGMs.

Recycled Concrete Aggregate for Medium-Quality Structural Concrete

This paper reports an evaluation of the properties of medium-quality concrete incorporating recycled coarse aggregate (RCA). Concrete specimens were prepared with various percentages of the RCA (25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%). The workability, mechanical properties, and durability in terms of abrasion of cured concrete were examined at different ages. The results reveal insignificant differences between the recycled concrete (RC) and reference concrete in terms of the mechanical and durability-related measurements. Meanwhile, the workability of the RC reduced vastly since the replacement of the RCA reached 75% and 100%. The ultrasound pulse velocity (UPV) results greatly depend on the porosity of concrete and the RC exhibited higher porosity than that of the reference concrete, particularly at the transition zone between the RCA and the new paste. Therefore, the sound transmission in the RC required longer times than that in the reference concrete. Moreover, a predictive equation relating the compressive strength to the UPV was developed.

Intrinsic functional neuron-type selectivity of transcranial focused ultrasound neuromodulation

Transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS) is a promising neuromodulation technique, but its mechanisms remain unclear. We hypothesize that if tFUS parameters exhibit distinct modulation effects in different neuron populations, then the mechanism can be understood through identifying unique features in these neuron populations. In this work, we investigate the effect of tFUS stimulation on different functional neuron types in in vivo anesthetized rodent brains. Single neuron recordings were separated into regular-spiking and fast-spiking units based on their extracellular spike shapes acquired through intracranial electrophysiological recordings, and further validated in transgenic optogenetic mice models of light-excitable excitatory and inhibitory neurons. We show that excitatory and inhibitory neurons are intrinsically different in response to ultrasound pulse repetition frequency (PRF). The results suggest that we can preferentially target specific neuron types noninvasively by tuning the tFUS PRF. Chemically deafened rats and genetically deafened mice were further tested for validating the directly local neural effects induced by tFUS without potential auditory confounds.

Implementation of Ultrasonic Ranger Finder

In this paper, the operation style of “measuring distance” is taken as the research content of this implementation. The expected goal is to use the characteristics of the double reflection type used in the transceiver circuit to perform the function of measuring distance. Finally, the operating principle of the adopted electric circuits and the performance of the proposed device are validated by experimental results. It reveals that the operations of the proposed device coincide with the requirements. Keywords: Ultrasound, Pulse echo method, Single frequency ranging, Verification.