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Fires in tunnels are known to lead to explosive spalling of the tunnel linings, mainly due to rapid expansion of water as a result of vaporization in the concrete. In order to determine water content and assess fire safety within tunnel linings a novel measurement system has been developed. The development process includes the calibration of the sensor system via both direct and indirect approaches. This work compares both calibration methods and shows the differences that can occur due to measurement uncertainty. This work presents the measured water content within the Inntal tunnel, Austria as a representative tunnel from a total of four investigated tunnels. The obtained water content is compared to that found in the literature, and recommendations for practical work in terms of fire safety is given.
In primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), a neurodegenerative disease of the optic nerve (ON) and leading cause of blindness, the optic nerve head (ONH) undergoes marked structural extracellular matrix (ECM) changes, which contribute to its permanent deformation and to degeneration of ON axons. The remodeling process of the ECM causes changes in the biomechanical properties of the ONH and the peripapillary sclera, which is accompanied by an increased reactivity of the resident astrocytes. The molecular factors involved in the remodeling process belong to the Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β superfamily, especially TGF-β2. In previous publications we showed that TGF-β2 induced ECM alterations are mediated by Cellular Communication Network Factor (CCN)2/Connective Tissue Growth Factor (CTGF) and recently we showed that CCN2/CTGF is expressed by astrocytes of the ON under normal conditions. In this study we wanted to get a better understanding of the function of CCN2/CTGF under normal and pathologic conditions. To this end, we analyzed the glial lamina and peripapillary sclera of CCN2/CTGF overexpressing mice and studied the effect of CCN2/CTGF and increasing substratum stiffness on murine ON astrocytes in vitro. We observed enhanced astrocyte reactivity in the ONH, increased ECM protein synthesis in the peripapillary sclera and increased Ccn2/Ctgf expression in the ONH during the pathologic development in situ. CCN2/CTGF treatment of primary murine ON astrocytes induced a higher migration rate, and increase of ECM proteins including fibronectin, elastin and collagen type III. Furthermore, the astrocytes responded to stiffer substratum with increased glial fibrillary acidic protein, vimentin, actin and CCN2/CTGF synthesis. Finally, we observed the reinforced appearance of CCN2/CTGF in the lamina cribrosa of glaucomatous patients. We conclude that reactive changes in ONH astrocytes, induced by the altered biomechanical characteristics of the region, give rise to a self-amplifying process that includes increased TGF-β2/CCN2/CTGF signaling and leads to the synthesis of ECM molecules and cytoskeleton proteins, a process that in turn augments the stiffness at the ONH. Such a scenario may finally result in a vicious circle in the pathogenesis of POAG. The transgenic CTGF-overexpressing mouse model might be an optimal model to study the chronic pathological POAG changes in the ONH.
This article compares the standard electrical method of partial discharge detection with a novel optical detection method based on silicon photomultipliers. A third, complementary, single-loop antenna method is added to represent the ultra-high frequency method commonly used in gas-insulated switchgear/lines. A trio of air-insulated electrode designs that simulate the fundamental fault/discharge types in gaseous insulation (protrusion – corona discharge, floating conductive particle, surface discharges) are employed. Phase-resolved partial discharge activity patterns are compiled for each electrode design. The patterns are analyzed using spatial statistics and the interpretation of the obtained data trends explained by means of an example. Ultimately, the consistency and reliability of discharge detection by the optical methods for each fault/discharge type are evaluated, and suggestions for improvement are made.
The objectives of this work include the analysis of electrical and magnetic properties of magneto-elastic hybrid materials with the intention of developing new techniques for sensor and actuator applications. This includes the investigation of dielectric properties at both low and high frequencies. The behaviour of capacitors whose dielectrics comprise magnetic hybrid materials is well known. Such interfacial magnetocapacitance can be varied according to magnetic content, magnetic flux density and the relative permittivity of the polymer matrix together with other dielectric content. The basic function of trapping electrical charges in polymers (electrets) is also established technology. However, the combination of magnetoactive polymers and electrets has led to the first electromagnetic device capable of adhering to almost any material, whether magnetically susceptible or not. During the course of this research, in addition to dielectrics, electrically conductive polymers based on (PDMS) matrices were developed in order to vary the electrical properties of the material in a targeted manner. In order to ensure repeatable results, this demanded new fabrication techniques hitherto unavailable. The 3D printing of silicones is far from being a mature technology and much pioneering work was necessary before extending the usual 3 d.o.f. to include orientation about and diffusion of particles in these three axes, thus leading to the concept of 6D printing. In 6D printing, the application of a magnetic field can be used during the curing process to control the particulate distribution and thus the spatial filler particle density as desired. Most of the devices (sensors and actuators) produced by such methods contain levels of carbonyl iron powder (CIP) embedded magnetic filler of up to 70 wt%. Contrary to this, a hitherto neglected research area, namely magnetoactive polymers (MAPs) having significantly lower magnetic particle concentrations (1 to 3 wt% CIP) were also investigated. With filler concentrations lower than 3 wt%, structures are formed which are completely absent at higher filler levels. CIP concentrations in the range of 1wt% demonstrate the formation of toroidal structures. Further development of coherent rings with a compact order results as filler concentrations increase towards 2 wt%. Above 3 wt% the structure eventually disintegrates to the usual random order found in traditional MAP with higher CIP content. Structured samples containing 1%–3 wt% CIP were investigated with the aid of X-ray tomography where solitary ring structures can be observed and eventually the formation of capillary doubles. Over wavelengths ranging from 1 to 25 µm, spectroscopic analysis of thin film MAP samples containing 2 wt% CIP revealed measurable magnetic-field-dependent changes in IR absorption at a wavenumber 2350 (λ = 4.255 µm). This was found to be due to the diamagnetic susceptibility of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2). Consequently, the first potential application for sparse matrix MAPs was found.
In order to function as soft actuators, depending on their field of use, magnetorheological elastomers (MREs) must fulfill certain criteria. To name just a few, these can include rapid response to external magnetic fields, mechanical durability, mechanical strength, and/or large deformation. Of particular interest are MREs which produce macroscopic deformation for small external magnetic field variations. This work demonstrates how this can be achieved by just a small change in magnetic field orientation. To achieve this, (super)paramagnetic nickel particles of size ≈ 160 μm were embedded in a non-magnetic polydimethylsiloxan (PDMS) (661–1301 Pa) and their displacement in a stepwise rotated magnetic field (170 mT) recorded using a video microscope. Changes in particle aggregation resulting from very small variations in magnetic field orientation led to the observation of a new strongly magneto-active effect. This configuration is characterized by an interparticle distance in relation to the angle difference between magnetic field and particle axis. This causes a strong matrix deformation which in turn demonstrates hysteresis on relaxation. It is shown that the occurrence strongly depends on the particle size, particle distance, and stiffness of the matrix. Choosing the correct parameter combination, the state can be suppressed and the particle-matrix system demonstrates no displacement or hysteresis. In addition, evidences of non-negligible higher order magnetization effects are experimentally ascertained which is qualitatively in agreement with similar, already theoretically described, particle systems. Even at larger particle geometries, the new strongly magneto-active configuration is preserved and could create macroscopic deformation changes.
Many modern composites consist of dielectric polymer matrices containing embedded spherical particles. These particles can be electrically conducting and often have magnetic properties. In order to accurately model and simulate such materials, precise calculation of the electrical capacitance between identically sized spheres is required. This is of particular relevance at microscopic dimensions where many smart material-based micro devices are concerned. This may appear trivial for a small number of particles. However, many methods or their analysis appear to be questionable or not applicable at reduced dimensions. In this work, the various methods of analysis are scrutinized before being compared with both simulation and direct measurements. It is surprising to note that of the many works investigated only 3 are in close agreement with both simulation and measurement.
Graphical abstract
This paper deals with the precise calculation of the electrical capacitance between two conducting spheres of equal, or near equal size.The calculations have been verified by both experimental measurements and simulation. Algorithms in MatLab (Octave) format have been included in the supporting information.
This paper concerns a comprehensive investigation of time-dependent electroadhesion (EA) force degradation. EA shear force tests on different object materials (a PET, glass, ABS, and wood plate) have shown that force degradation was dominated by residual polarization charges trapped in the EA pad dielectric rather than in the substrate dielectric from which the object to be prehended is made. In order to explain this dynamic physical phenomenon, a model of dielectric polarization and depolarization has been proposed. According to the derived relationship between EA force and discharge time, three different methods intended to mitigate this problem has been compared: (1) the natural discharge method, (2) the high voltage resistor discharge method, and (3) the discharge prior to field polarity reversal method. These methods are useful for generating repeatable and stable EA forces, which are required for the characterization of EA pads and their subsequent employment in material handling, mobile robot crawling and climbing tasks.
In this contribution, field-induced interactions of magnetizable particles embedded into a soft elastomer matrix are analyzed with regard to the resulting mechanical deformations. By comparing experiments for two-, three- and four-particle systems with the results of finite element simulations, a fully coupled continuum model for magneto-active elastomers is validated with the help of real data for the first time. The model under consideration permits the investigation of magneto-active elastomers with arbitrary particle distances, shapes and volume fractions as well as magnetic and mechanical properties of the individual constituents. It thus represents a basis for future studies on more complex, realistic systems. Our results show a very good agreement between experiments and numerical simulations—the deformation behavior of all systems is captured by the model qualitatively as well as quantitatively. Within a sensitivity analysis, the influence of the initial particle positions on the systems' response is examined. Furthermore, a comparison of the full three-dimensional model with the often used, simplified two-dimensional approach shows the typical overestimation of resulting interactions in magneto-active elastomers.
The formation of microstructures in magnetoactive polymers (MAPs) is a recently discovered phenomenon found only with very low filler particle concentrations (less than 3 wt %). Due to the degassing process, filler particles collect around an ascending bubble, which dissolves at a certain point leaving particulate rings within the matrix. The formation of toroidal microstructures commences as filler concentration approaches 1 wt %. The development of coherent parallel aligned rings with a compact order continues as particle concentrations increase toward 2 wt %. Between 2 and 3 wt % capillary doublets develop, while mass percentages higher than 3% result in increasing entropy as the random order of particle agglomeration found in higher concentration MAP dominates. Self-structured samples of different filler material and concentrations between 1 and 3 wt % have been investigated using X-ray tomography, where the emerging structures can be observed and visualized. The ring structures resulting from this research represent microinductivities which can be fabricated in a targeted manner, thus enabling new applications in the high-frequency radio field. Furthermore, these anisotropic, but well-organized, structures have magnetic field-dependent implications for optical, thermal, acoustic, and medical applications.