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Microstructures determine mechanical properties of steels, but in actual steel product process it is difficult to accurately control the microstructure to meet the requirements. General microstructure characterization methods are time consuming and results are not representative for overall quality level as only a fraction of steel sample was selected to be examined. In this paper, a macro and micro coupled 3D model was developed for nondestructively characterization of steel microstructures. For electromagnetic signals analysis, the relative permeability value computed by the micro cellular model can be used in the macro electromagnetic sensor model. The effects of different microstructure components on the relative permeability of duplex stainless steel (grain size, phase fraction, and phase distribution) were discussed. The output inductance of an electromagnetic sensor was determined by relative permeability values and can be validated experimentally. The findings indicate that the inductance value of an electromagnetic sensor at low frequency can distinguish different microstructures. This method can be applied to real-time on-line characterize steel microstructures in process of steel rolling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyimides (PIs) have been extensively used in thin film and micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) processes based on their excellent thermal and mechanical stability and high glass transition temperature. This research explores the development of a novel multilayer and multifunctional polymer composite electro-piezomagnetic device that can function as an energy harvester or sensor for current-carrying wires or magnetic field sensing. The devices consist of four layers of composite materials with a polyimide matrix. The composites have various nanoparticles to alter the functionality of each layer. Nanoparticles of Ag were used to increase the electrical conductivity of polyimide and act as electrodes; lead zirconate titanate was used to make the piezoelectric composite layer; and either neodymium iron boron (NdFeB) or Terfenol-D was used to make the magnetic and magnetostrictive composite layer, which was used as the proof mass. A novel all-polymer multifunctional polyimide composite cantilever was developed to operate at low frequencies. This paper compares the performance of the different magnetic masses, shapes, and concentrations, as well as the development of an all-magnetostrictive device to detect voltage or current changes when coupled to the magnetic field from a current-carrying wire. The PI/PZT cantilever with the PI/NdFeB proof mass demonstrated higher voltage output compared to the PI/Terfenol-D proof mass device. However, the magnetostrictive composite film could be operated without a piezoelectric film based on the Villari effect, which consisted of a single PI-Terfenol-D film. The paper illustrates the potential to develop an all-polymer composite MEMS device capable of acting as a magnetic field or current sensor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of chemical sensor devices operating in non-contact mode is of primary interest due to the demand from various industries for a fast, simple and inexpensive determination of chemical composition in different media in a non-invasive way. One of the promising directions for the development of analytical devices with such characteristics is the use of high-frequency electrical signals. The paper discusses the evolution of high-frequency contactless conductometry method, likewise other methods and devices operating on similar physical principles (dielectric spectroscopy, microwave sensors, C4D detectors). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexible endoscopes are ideal instruments for visualizing and diagnosing the inner surfaces of organs via a minimally invasive incision. Calibrating a flexible endoscope is a troublesome yet inevitable process in image-based tools tracking. Aiming to simplify the calibration process, we propose an electromagnetic (EM)-tracked calibration approach that does not require any predefined poses of the EM sensor. A three-stage calibration protocol was presented in an extensor. First, the orientation of the endoscope tube was derived by conducting a circular rotation of the endoscope around its axis utilizing a pair of tightly bearing stands. Second, the 3D position of the endoscope tip was acquired by having the tip come into contact with a flat plane. Third, the pose model of the bending section was derived and transformed into the local coordinate system of the EM sensor attached to the endoscope handle. To assess the accuracy of the proposed calibration approach, two experiments were designed and performed. Experimental results indicate accuracies of 0.09 ± 0.06 deg and 0.03 ± 0.19 deg in the estimation of the endoscope tube orientation and 0.52 ± 0.29, 0.33 ± 0.11, and 0.29 ± 0.17 mm in the x, y, and z estimations of the endoscope tip position, respectively. The proposed approach is accurate and easy to operate, does not require the employment of custom calibration markers, and can be used not only in surgical training systems but also in the endoscopic-based tools tracking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyimides (PIs) have been extensively used in thin film and micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) processes based on their excellent thermal and mechanical stability and high glass transition temperature. This research explores the development of a novel multilayer and multifunctional polymer composite electro-piezomagnetic device that can function as an energy harvester or sensor for current-carrying wires or magnetic field sensing. The devices consist of four layers of composite materials with a polyimide matrix. The composites have various nanoparticles to alter the functionality of each layer. Nanoparticles of Ag were used to increase the electrical conductivity of polyimide and act as electrodes; lead zirconate titanate was used to make the piezoelectric composite layer; and either neodymium iron boron (NdFeB) or Terfenol-D was used to make the magnetic and magnetostrictive composite layer, which was used as the proof mass. A novel all-polymer multifunctional polyimide composite cantilever was developed to operate at low frequencies. This paper compares the performance of the different magnetic masses, shapes, and concentrations, as well as the development of an all-magnetostrictive device to detect voltage or current changes when coupled to the magnetic field from a current-carrying wire. The PI/PZT cantilever with the PI/NdFeB proof mass demonstrated higher voltage output compared to the PI/Terfenol-D proof mass device. However, the magnetostrictive composite film could be operated without a piezoelectric film based on the Villari effect, which consisted of a single PI-Terfenol-D film. The paper illustrates the potential to develop an all-polymer composite MEMS device capable of acting as a magnetic field or current sensor.

There has been a growing interest in utilizing modeling techniques to design the scan area of non-destructive testing methods prior to field application. To ensure the safety of railway axles, a non-destructive inspection method that is superior to the existing non-destructive inspection techniques is needed. In this study, the induced potential drop method was applied to the crack detection of the press-fitted axles, and a new ICPD sensor was designed and analyzed through electromagnetic simulation. The crack identification of railway axles using ICPD was performed in the axial and circumferential directions. The results showed that when the crack depth of a press fitted axle is 1.0 mm, the crack can be detected at a distance of 10 mm from the crack using this method, and the cracks in mounted wheelset can definitely detect under condition of frequency of 30 kHz and current of 2 A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corrosion assessment of reinforced concrete structures is the basis for subsequent corrosion repair and early warning of structural hazards. Aiming at the problem of accurately measuring the corrosion degree of reinforced concrete structures in coastal area, a new Magnetic Sensor (NMS) based on the theory of magnetic medium is designed in this paper. A functional model of the relationship between magnetic induction intensity change and reinforcement mass loss based on multi-point detection is constructed, and an improved adaptive filtering Least Mean Square (LMS) algorithm is proposed to realize damage identification and quantitative calculation of reinforcement corrosion comprehensively. Through numerical simulation experiments, the feasibility of designing the sensor is verified. The measured corrosion test of the sensor prototype shows that the calculated corrosion rates of different steel corrosion degrees are in good agreement with the actual values, with an average relative error of 1.64 %. The sensor provides a new method for corrosion monitoring of reinforced concrete structures. Zusammenfassung: Die Korrosionsbewertung von Stahlbetonkonstruktionen ist die Grundlage für die anschließende Korrosionssanierung und die Frühwarnung vor baulichen Gefahren. Mit dem Ziel, den Korrosionsgrad von Stahlbetonkonstruktionen in Küstengebieten genau zu messen, entwirft dieser Artikel einen neuen Typ eines Magnetsensors auf der Grundlage der Theorie magnetischer Medien und erstellt ein Funktionsmodell, das auf der Mehrpunkterkennung der Beziehung basiert zwischen der Änderung der magnetischen Flussdichte und dem Verlust der Stahlstabmasse und schlägt einen verbesserten LMS-Algorithmus (Adaptive Filtering Least Mean Square) vor, der die Schadenserkennung und quantitative Berechnung der Stahlkorrosion vollständig realisiert. Die Machbarkeit des Sensordesigns wird durch numerische Simulationsexperimente überprüft. Der gemessene Korrosionstest des Sensorprototyps zeigt, dass die berechnete Korrosionsrate bei verschiedenen Stahlkorrosionsgraden gut mit dem tatsächlichen Wert übereinstimmt und der durchschnittliche relative Fehler 1,64 % beträgt. Der Sensor bietet eine neue Methode zur Korrosionsüberwachung von Stahlbetonkonstruktionen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motor variability is a prominent feature of the human movement that, nowadays, can be easily measured through different sensors and analyzed using different types of variables, and it seems to be related to functional and adaptative motor behavior. It has been stated that motor variability is related to the system's flexibility needed to choose the right degrees of freedom (DoFs) to adapt to constant environmental changes. However, the potential relationship between motor variability and DoFs is unknown. The aim of this study was to analyze how motor variability, both the amount and structure, changes depending on the mechanical DoFs involved in the movement control. For this purpose, movement variability was assessed by a tracking sensor in five tasks with different DoFs, and the amount, using standard deviation, and the structure of variability, through fuzzy entropy and detrended fluctuation analysis, were also assessed. The results showed a higher amount of variability and a less predictable and more auto-correlated variability structure in the long-term when more mechanical DoFs are implied. The studies that analyze motor variability should consider the type of movement and the DoFs involved in the analyzed task since, as the findings have shown, both factors have a noticeable influence on the amount and the structure of motor variability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The monitoring of the coastal environment is a crucial factor in ensuring its proper management. Nevertheless, existing monitoring technologies are limited due to their cost, temporal resolution, and maintenance needs. Therefore, limited data are available for coastal environments. In this paper, we present a low-cost multiparametric probe that can be deployed in coastal areas and integrated into a wireless sensor network to send data to a database. The multiparametric probe is composed of physical sensors capable of measuring water temperature, salinity, and total suspended solids (TSS). The node can store the data in an SD card or send them. A real-time clock is used to tag the data and to ensure data gathering every hour, putting the node in deep sleep mode in the meantime. The physical sensors for salinity and TSS are created for this probe and calibrated. The calibration results indicate that no effect of temperature is found for both sensors and no interference of salinity in the measuring of TSS or vice versa. The obtained calibration model for salinity is characterised by a correlation coefficient of 0.9 and a Mean Absolute Error (MAE) of 0.74 g/L. Meanwhile, different calibration models for TSS were obtained based on using different light wavelengths. The best case was using a simple regression model with blue light. The model is characterised by a correlation coefficient of 0.99 and an MAE of 12 mg/L. When both infrared and blue light are used to prevent the effect of different particle sizes, the determination coefficient of 0.98 and an MAE of 57 mg/L characterised the multiple regression model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Sampling volumes for seven commercially available EM sensors were determined. • A precise positioning system was used to characterize the sensors' fringing field. • Comprehensive sampling distance/volume were listed and visualized for each sensor. The sampling volume of electromagnetic (EM) soil moisture sensors is of significant interest due to the diverse applications for which they are utilized. However, this volume can vary considerably based on multiple factors, including the number, spacing, and length of sensor rods, as well as the operational frequency. The sensor's volume of influence is dictated by electric field lines or 'fringing fields' that develop between pairs of powered electrodes. This study involved the development of an accurate sensor positioning system employed to characterize the EM sensor's electrical fringing field in 3-directional - x, y, and z space. Sensor outputs were recorded at mm increments beginning with the sensor positioned 20 mm above the air-water interface followed by incremental immersion into a water bath until the maximum sensor output was achieved. For each measurement cycle, the sensor was repositioned to test signal output approaching the air-water interface in − x , + x , − y , + y , − z , and + z orientations. The sensor sampling volume was determined based on the normalized 99% output value, which was assumed to represent the sensor position relative to an air-water interface where the sensor fringing field just begins to 'sense' or to become impacted by the air phase, thereby reducing the signal amplitude. Our results vary somewhat from other studies using a similar evaluation approach, leading us to conclude that EM-sensor sampling volume determination is both complex and imprecise as a result of the global sensor market's varied circuits and electrode configurations. EM soil moisture sensors evaluated in this study exhibited sampling volumes of 386 cm3 (TDR-315), 66 cm3 (TDR-310H), 398 cm3 (CS655), 45 cm3 (EC-5), 40 cm3 (HydraProbe II), 148 cm3 (WET150), and 49 cm3 (TEROS 12), which were smaller than manufacturer reported volumes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The implementation of novel coaxial dipole antennas has been shown to be a satisfactory diagnostic platform for the prediction of orthopaedic bone fracture healing outcomes. These techniques require mechanical deflection of implanted metallic hardware (i.e., rods and plates), which, when loaded, produce measurable changes in the resonant frequency of the adjacent antenna. Despite promising initial results, the coiled coaxial antenna design is limited by large antenna sizes and nonlinearity in the resonant frequency data. The purpose of this study was to develop two Vivaldi antennas (a.k.a., “standard” and “miniaturized”) to address these challenges. Antenna behaviors were first computationally modeled prior to prototype fabrication. In subsequent benchtop tests, metallic plate segments were displaced from the prototype antennas via precision linear actuator while measuring resultant change in resonant frequency. Close agreement was observed between computational and benchtop results, where antennas were highly sensitive to small displacements of the metallic hardware, with sensitivity decreasing nonlinearly with increasing distance. Greater sensitivity was observed for the miniaturized design for both stainless steel and titanium implants. Additionally, these data demonstrated that by taking resonant frequency data during implant displacement and then again during antenna displacement from the same sample, via linear actuators, that “antenna calibration procedures” could be used to enable a clinically relevant quantification of fracture stiffness from the raw resonant frequency data. These improvements mitigate diagnostic challenges associated with nonlinear resonant frequency response seen in previous antenna designs.

In this work, we explore the analytical potential of a simple inexpensive sensor device based on the evolution of the high-frequency contactless conductometry method. This method was developed in the middle of the 20th century as one of the options to assess the electrical conductivity of samples, and it employed electrical signals registered at a specific, single AC frequency. The method did not find a wide application since the analytical signal in the developed systems was a complex function of many factors (sample conductivity, capacitive characteristics, dielectric permittivity, and magnetic properties), which was difficult to be mathematically processed. We came back to this technology with the following in mind: (1) modern electronic components enable the design of such measuring devices in a very-low-cost manner and allow registering the response signal in a whole range of AC frequencies; (2) the application of modern machine learning tools to process these signals allows for the extraction of qualitative and quantitative information about the samples. It was found that the detector has numerous capabilities such as the quantification of inorganic salts in individual aqueous solutions and in complex mixtures, the quantification of dielectric constants of organic solvents, and distinguishing the cultures of various bacteria and cancer cells.

• Measurement errors of ε were determined for eight EM sensors in high EC solutions. • Visualized measurement errors for each sensor under varying EC conditions. • Verified feasibility of insulation-coated probes for measuring ε in high EC conditions. Soil water content stands as a pivotal parameter across numerous research disciplines and engineering applications. Electromagnetic (EM) sensors have gained widespread usage in monitoring soil water content. While commonly employed sensors are suitable for typical agronomic- or landscape-soil environments, they may exhibit significant deviations under conditions of high-salinity or -electrical conductivity (EC). We investigated sensing limits under the influence of increasing EC and the resulting accuracy of dielectric permittivity (ε) determinations using commercial soil water content sensors. Tests were conducted using eight commercially available EM sensors (CS655, HydraProbe II, TDR-305N, TDR-310N, TDR-315N, TEROS 12, TEROS ONE, and WET150). For these uncoated rod sensors, most were accurate within ±3 % relative permittivity errors in saline solutions within the range of 0‒4 dS m−1 while TDR-305N, TEROS ONE and WET150 maintained an accuracy of 5 % for EC values up to 9.24 dS m−1. We explored extending the working range of some sensors to high-saline environments by adding an insulating coating on sensor rods. Since the coated probe not only perceives the characteristics of the immersed medium but also interacts with the coating material itself, a calibration model was evaluated for determining the actual ε of the evaluated medium. The strong correlation between a four-point calibration and the model demonstrates the effectiveness of calibrating coated EM sensors for ε determination using only a limited number of calibration materials. The findings presented here could serve as a valuable resource when selecting EM sensors for use in high-saline environments. Results also shed light on the potential to extend the sensing range through the integration of insulating coatings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resolver, as an electromagnetic sensor, is widely used in many industrial applications. It can detect the position of the rotary part of the electric machines precisely. In commercial resolvers, excitation winding is connected to the High-Frequency (HF) AC source. The amplitude-modulated voltages induced in signal windings need to be demodulated in order to calculate the envelope of the output signals and detect the position accordingly. On the other hand, in PM-resolver, signal windings are replaced by Halle effect sensors to measure the DC magnetic ux, which is produced by permanent magnets. In this study, the performance of both AC and DC ux resolvers is investigated under different circumstances. All the simulations are conducted through the Time-Stepping Finite Element Method (TSFEM). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reinforced concrete structures undergo various degradation processes, mainly rebars corrosion. Recently, magnetic non-destructive tests have been used to study the steel components used in concrete structures. This paper proposes a non-destructive method, based on the electromagnetic induction technique, capable of identifying corrosion in steel bars. Therefore, through signals obtained from sinusoidal and triangular waveform excitations, magnetic hysteresis loops were determined in steel bars of 5.0, 6.3, 8.0, 10.0, 12.5 and 16.0 mm diameters at 0, 10 and 20 mm depths. Magnetic tests were performed in uncorroded steel bars and in bars that have been exposed to corrosion by the salt spray test. The magnetic responses, remanence, coercivity and the maximum values of hysteresis curves obtained were organised into classes for uncorroded and corroded bars of each steel diameter, totalling 12 classes. A statistical analysis of the experimental results has been performed, and a detailed analysis of the data has also been performed by using the pattern classification techniques, namely, principal component analysis, Karhunen–Loéve transformation, Gaussian classifier and artificial neural network. The results show that the investigated method has great potential of becoming an electromagnetic non-destructive technique for the identification of corroded steel bars in concrete structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a fully 3D-printed electromagnetic (EM) microfluidic sensor using rectangular substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) for liquid complex permittivity characterization. The proposed microfluidic sensor is fabricated with a novel additive manufacturing process in which dielectric and conductive inks are simultaneously 3D-printed, allowing high print quality, rapid prototyping, and arbitrary geometry. The fabrication process removes the need for post-printing sintering and cleaning steps that require harmful chemicals. The sensor structure is composed of upper and lower metal plates and a series of cylindrical metal side vias. Since the electric field is high at the center of the SIW cavity in $\textit {TE}_{101}$ mode, a cylindrical dielectric sample container in the form of a microwell is built into the center of the SIW cavity to maximize the perturbation of the liquid under test (LUT). The application of LUT samples to the microwell results in a change in the resonance frequency and peak attenuation from which the LUT sample is characterized. Ethanol-water mixtures are used as LUTs for validation. The proposed sensor has been verified numerically and experimentally, reducing the resonant frequency from 3.750 GHz to 3.862 GHz by increasing the ethanol volume fraction from 0% to 100%. The sensor showed good sensitivity of 0.345% and a stable frequency change was observed over five measurement repetitions. To the best of our knowledge, this article presents the first fully 3D-printed SIW microfluidic sensor and demonstrates its ability to detect and characterize the liquid complex permittivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The anterior drawer test (ADT) is the gold standard examination for the diagnosis of anterior talofibular ligamentinsufficiency,although there is noquantitative evaluation of ADT that is generally usable and reliable.An electromagnetic sensor (EMS)has been used to quantitatively evaluate joint kinematics, and has a high potential to be applied to the ankle joint. The aim of this study was to validatethe EMS measurement of the ADTin comparison to the fluoroscopic evaluationand to evaluate the reproducibility of the EMS measurement.Six feet were included,and an examinerperformed the ADT5 times for each foot while the anterior translation of the ankle jointwas quantitative evaluatedusing EMS and fluoroscope simultaneously. The anterior translation of the ankle joint during the ADT in EMS and in fluoroscope was 8.1 ± 5.7 mm and 3.6 ± 2.4 mm.Astrong correlation was observed between the measurements using EMS and fluoroscope (p < 0.01, the correlation coefficient = 0.91). Another 20 feet were included, and three examiners performed the ADT five times for each foot with the EMS measurement. The intra and inter-examiner reliability was 0.99 and 0.89.The EMS could quantify the anterior translation during the ADT which corresponds to fluoroscopic evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research reported catheter pose-dependent virtual angioscopy images for endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) (phantom studies) without any validation with video images. The goal of our study focused on conducting this validation using a video graphics array (VGA) camera. The spatial relationship between the coordinate system of the virtual camera and the VGA camera was computed with a Hand-Eye calibration so that both cameras produced similar images. A re-projection error of 3.18 pixels for the virtual camera and 2.14 pixels for the VGA camera was obtained with a designed three-dimensional (3D) printed chessboard. Similar images of the vessel (3D printed aorta) were acquired with both cameras except for the different depth. Virtual angioscopy images provide information from inside the vessel that may facilitate the understanding of the tip position of the endovascular tools while performing EVAR.

This paper presents the design and analysis of a portable multi-wavelength antenna for UWB, wireless data-link, electromagnetic sensor, and multi-beam applications. The antenna structure consists of an air suspended rectangular dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) loaded with a printed horn. The DRA is suspended in air using four supporting dielectric pillars. The overall antenna structure is fabricated using 3-D printing technology. Poly-Lactic Acid (PLA) ( ε r = 3.45 , tan ⁡ δ = 0.03) is used for the implementation of the antenna system (i.e. DRA, horn and supporting pillars integrated with the substrate). It is a biodegradable thermoplastic composite polymer. The antenna shows multibeam characteristics at different frequencies. The radiation patterns are explained using the concept of multi-wavelength long dipole or monopole. The computed efficiency of the projected DRA is more than 70% and maximum peak gain is 12.15 dBi. The measured impedance bandwidth of the antenna is 122.6% (7.5 GHz to 31.3 GHz). The measured group delay is less than 1.5 ns in the band of operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soft and continuum robots are transforming medical interventions thanks to their flexibility, miniaturization, and multidirectional movement abilities. Although flexibility enables reaching targets in unstructured and dynamic environments, it also creates challenges for control, especially due to interactions with the anatomy. Thus, in recent years lots of efforts have been devoted for the development of shape reconstruction methods, with the advancement of different kinematic models, sensors, and imaging techniques. These methods can increase the performance of the control action as well as provide the tip position of robotic manipulators relative to the anatomy. Each method, however, has its advantages and disadvantages and can be worthwhile in different situations. For example, electromagnetic (EM) and Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensor-based shape reconstruction methods can be used in small-scale robots due to their advantages thanks to miniaturization, fast response, and high sensitivity. Yet, the problem of electromagnetic interference in the case of EM sensors, and poor response to high strains in the case of FBG sensors need to be considered. To help the reader make a suitable choice, this paper presents a review of recent progress on shape reconstruction methods, based on a systematic literature search, excluding pure kinematic models. Methods are classified into two categories. First, sensor-based techniques are presented that discuss the use of various sensors such as FBG, EM, and passive stretchable sensors for reconstructing the shape of the robots. Second, imaging-based methods are discussed that utilize images from different imaging systems such as fluoroscopy, endoscopy cameras, and ultrasound for the shape reconstruction process. The applicability, benefits, and limitations of each method are discussed. Finally, the paper draws some future promising directions for the enhancement of the shape reconstruction methods by discussing open questions and alternative methods.

In this study, the authors present a dielectric-resonator-based sensor to characterize liquids. The sensor is based on a dielectric resonator (DR) fed by a slot-coupling mechanism in the ground plane of a microstrip transmission line (TL). The obtained device is a fully passive sensor that a radiofrequency (RF) signal can interrogate. A small hole was drilled on the DR surface to allocate a drop of the liquid under test (LUT); as a consequence, the resonant frequency of the sensor will depend on the electromagnetic characteristics of the LUT. The device is modeled both with an equivalent circuit model and through an electromagnetic modal analysis. The cavity perturbation technique is used to study the impact of the LUT on the resonant frequency and modal distribution; full-wave simulations corroborate the theoretical results. Finally, a prototype of the proposed sensor tuned to work in the 2.45 GHz band has been designed, manufactured, and measured. The device is cost-effective given the small size and practical to use, thanks to the minimal volume of the pool, which calls for quantities of LUT in the order of $0.13~\mu l$. The prototype has been tested with an ethanol-water solution set. The experimental results match well with simulations and show good repeatability. The sensitivity of the prototype resulted in being 718 kHz per percentage of ethanol in water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon steel is an important component in reinforced concrete structures. These composite materials are susceptible to various degradation processes, especially the corrosion of steel bars. Since they play an important role in the stability of reinforced concrete structures, these structures require periodic inspections to verify their physical conditions. Therefore, a nondestructive testing technique is proposed that is based on electromagnetic induction, which is capable of discriminating the diameters of steel bars. This technique was simulated with the COMSOL Multiphysics software and experimentally tested in the laboratory. Magnetic hysteresis loops were obtained for steel bars with 5.0, 6.3, 8.0, and 10.0 mm diameters at 0, 10, and 20 mm depths for sinusoidal and triangular excitation fields. The results obtained from the hysteresis loops for the maximum values of the field, remanence, and coercivity were processed by principal component analysis, Karhunen–Loéve transformation, Gaussian classifier, and artificial neural network. The confusion matrices produced by these pattern recognition techniques were analyzed, and the results show that the proposed method can distinguish different steel bar diameters, but is limited to a maximum depth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With Industry 4.0 becoming increasingly pervasive, the importance and usage of sensors has increased several folds. Industry 4.0 refers to a new phase in the industrial revolution that mainly focuses on interconnectivity, automation, machine learning, and real-time data. Real-time structural health monitoring (SHM) of components in the industrial process is one of the crucial and important component of Industry 4.0. SHM of components exposed to high-temperature ($\sim 650^{\circ }\text{C}$) is becoming increasingly important nowadays. However, harsh and high temperature environments impose a great challenge towards their implementation. This review is an attempt to demonstrate the development, application, limitations and recent advancement of the existing sensors used for SHM. Some sensors such as eddy current (EC) sensors and fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors have been discussed in detail. A phenomenological study of the electromagnetic sensor for the SHM of engineering components that are exposed to high temperature has been addressed. State-of-the-art fabrication methodologies such as low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) technology for such type of sensors for high temperature SHM applications have been elucidated. Future challenges and opportunities for SHM applications of high temperature sensors have been highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we introduce an ultra-sensitive optical sensing platform based on the parity-time-reciprocal scaling (PTX)-symmetric non-Hermitian metasurfaces, which leverage exotic singularities, such as the exceptional point (EP) and the coherent perfect absorber-laser (CPAL) point, to significantly enhance the sensitivity and detectability of photonic sensors. We theoretically studied scattering properties and physical limitations of the PTX-symmetric metasurface sensing systems with an asymmetric, unbalanced gain-loss profile. The PTX-symmetric metasurfaces can exhibit similar scattering properties as their PT-symmetric counterparts at singular points, while achieving a higher sensitivity and a larger modulation depth, possible with the reciprocal-scaling factor (i.e., X transformation). Specifically, with the optimal reciprocal-scaling factor or near-zero phase offset, the proposed PTX-symmetric metasurface sensors operating around the EP or CPAL point may achieve an over 100 dB modulation depth, thus paving a promising route toward the detection of small-scale perturbations caused by, for example, molecular, gaseous, and biochemical surface adsorbates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A promising approach for monitoring and predicting the course of bone fracture healing is by measuring the mechanical load-sharing between the healing callus and the implanted fixation hardware. Previous technologies have used implantable sensors which require modification to the fixation hardware and may carry long term biocompatibility risks. The objective of this paper was to optimize and evaluate a method of externally sensing hardware load-sharing based on the electromagnetic near field effects of a radio-frequency antenna. A series of parametric experiments was conducted to optimize the dimensional parameters of a coaxial dipole antenna to improve the antenna’s sensitivity to displacement of a metal plate. The results of the parametric tests guided the design of an optimized antenna, including a coiled loop antenna structure. The antenna was then evaluated for its efficacy in sensing the displacement of a metal plate as well as the deflection of an orthopaedic fracture fixation plate due to an applied load via physical experiments and computational simulations. The antenna’s resonant frequency was sensitive to the displacement of a metal plate, and followed an inverse-square relationship with plate distance. The antenna was also able to sense the bending deflection of the mechanically loaded fracture plate, with the resonant frequency following an approximately linear relationship with applied load. Computational finite-element electromagnetic predictions closely matched the experimental data. This method of sensing plate deflections may be effective for measuring the mechanical load sharing in fractured bones in order to monitor and predict the course of fracture healing.

Wear is one of the common faults in the mechanical transmission system. Detection of wear particles in lubricating oil can detect and evaluate the wear degree of mechanical equipment. The electromagnetic sensor for metal wear particle detection can be connected in series with the oil circuit, which has the advantages of full liquid flow, simple structure, distinguishing metal properties, and not being influenced by bubbles and vibration. In view of the shortcomings of the existing electromagnetic sensor for wear particle detection, the detection principle and the induction electromotive force model were studied, and the magnetic field change of the metal particles through three coil differential solenoids was analysed. The optimisation design method was proposed here, which was about the related parameters, such as the wire diameter, the coil turns, the coil widths and so on. The experimental analysis of the sensor was carried out based on detection hardware system that could provide the phase-locked amplification function. The 10-mm inner diameter sensor could detect the minimum 100-μm ferromagnetic metal abrasive particles after optimisation. The developed sensor could provide data information for the abrasive particle detection, fault diagnosis and early warning of wear degree of mechanical equipment.

The influence of earthquake disasters on human social life is positively related to the magnitude and intensity of the earthquake, and effectively avoiding casualties and property losses can be attributed to the accurate prediction of earthquakes. In this study, an electromagnetic sensor is investigated to assess earthquakes in advance by collecting earthquake signals. At present, the mainstream earthquake magnitude prediction comprises two methods. On the one hand, most geophysicists or data analysis experts extract a series of basic features from earthquake precursor signals for seismic classification. On the other hand, the obtained data related to earth activities by seismograph or space satellite are directly used in classification networks. This article proposes a CNN and designs a 3D feature-map which can be used to solve the problem of earthquake magnitude classification by combining the advantages of shallow features and high-dimensional information. In addition, noise simulation technology and SMOTE oversampling technology are applied to overcome the problem of seismic data imbalance. The signals collected by electromagnetic sensors are used to evaluate the method proposed in this article. The results show that the method proposed in this paper can classify earthquake magnitudes well.

Wear is one of the common faults in the mechanical transmission system. Detection of wear particles in lubricating oil can detect and evaluate the wear degree of mechanical equipment. The electromagnetic sensor for metal wear particle detection can be connected in series with the oil circuit, which has the advantages of full liquid flow, simple structure, distinguishing metal properties, and not being influenced by bubbles and vibration. In view of the shortcomings of the existing electromagnetic sensor for wear particle detection, the detection principle and the induction electromotive force model were studied, and the magnetic field change of the metal particles through three coil differential solenoids was analysed. The optimisation design method was proposed here, which was about the related parameters, such as the wire diameter, the coil turns, the coil widths and so on. The experimental analysis of the sensor was carried out based on detection hardware system that could provide the phase-locked amplification function. The 10-mm inner diameter sensor could detect the minimum 100-μm ferromagnetic metal abrasive particles after optimisation. The developed sensor could provide data information for the abrasive particle detection, fault diagnosis and early warning of wear degree of mechanical equipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • A full EM sensor-sample FE model determines the permeability of dual phase steel sheets. • Permeability and tensile strength are both affected by ferrite fraction and grain size in dual phase steels. • Tensile strength of dual phase steel sheets of any thickness can be predicted by an EM sensor. • Ferrite fraction of dual phase steels can be predicted by an EM sensor. Abstract It is desirable to be able to non-destructively evaluate the microstructural features and/or mechanical properties of steel strip. An electromagnetic sensor – sample FE model, developed in COMSOL multi-physics software, has been developed to determine the relationship between the low magnetic field relative permeability and microstructure (phase balance and grain size), and hence tensile strength, for commercial dual phase (DP) steel sheets of any thickness. The model for the effect of thickness on the sensor signal has been validated using DP steel sheets of 1 to 4 mm. It was found that the relative permeability is strongly dependent on the phase balance (fraction of ferrite and martensite) in the DP steels with an increasing relative permeability being seen for a higher fraction of ferrite. In addition, changes in the ferrite grain size also affect the relative permeability (increase in grain size increases relative permeability) and hence EM sensor signal, this being more significant for the higher ferrite content DP grades. Both these microstructural features affect the tensile strength (which decreases with an increase in ferrite fraction and increase in grain size), which results in a good correlation between the relative permeability and tensile strength. The results from the relative permeability – microstructure – tensile strength investigation and FE model to account for strip thickness have been combined to allow the prediction of tensile strength from EM sensor measurements on as-received commercial DP steel sheets of varying thickness and the approach has been tested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The neutrinos of cosmic radiation, due to interaction with any known medium in which the Cherenkov detector is used, produce energy radiation phenomena in the form of a Cherenkov cone, in very large frequency spectrum. These neutrinos carry with them the information about the phenomena that produced them and by detecting the electromagnetic energies generated by the Cherenkov cone, we can find information about the phenomena that formed in the universe, at a much greater distance, than possibility of actually detection with current technologies. At present, a very high number of sensors for detection electromagnetic energy is required. Thus, some sensors may detect very low energy levels, which can lead to the erroneous determination of the Cherenkov cone, thus leading to information errors. As a novelty, we propose, to use these sensors for determination of the dielectrically permittivity of any known medium in which the Cherenkov detector is used, by preliminary measurements, the subsequent simulation of the data and the reconstruction of the Cherenkov cone, leading to a significant reduction of problems and minimizing the number of sensors, implicitly the cost reductions. At the same time, we offer the possibility of reconstructing the Cherenkov cone outside the detector volume.

Background and Objectives: Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases caused by arterial stenosis and sclerosis are the main causes of human death. Although there are mature diagnostic techniques in clinical practice, they are not suitable for early disease prediction and monitoring due to their high cost and complex operation. The purpose of this paper is to study the coupling effect of arterial blood flow and linear gradient magnetic field, and to propose a method for the reconstruction of the arterial profile, which will lay a theoretical foundation for new electromagnetic artery scanning imaging technology. Methods and Models: A combination coil composed of gradient coils and drive coils is applied as a magnetic field excitation source. By controlling the excitation current, a linearly gradient magnetic field with a line-shaped zero magnetic field is generated, and the zero magnetic field is driven to scan in a specific direction. According to the magnetoelectric effect of blood flow, under the action of the external magnetic field, the voltage signals on the body surface can be detected by measuring electrodes. The location of the artery center line can be determined by the time–space relationship between voltage signals and zero magnetic field scanning. In addition, based on the reciprocity theorem integral equation, a numerical model between the amplitude of the voltage signal and the arterial radius is derived to reconstruct the arterial radius. The above physical process was simulated in the finite element analysis software COMSOL, and the voltage signals obtained from the simulation verified the arterial profile reconstruction. Results: Through finite element simulation verification, the imaging method based on a linear gradient magnetic field has a numerical accuracy of 90% and a spatial resolution of 1 mm. Moreover, under 100 Hz low-frequency alternating current excitation, the single scanning time is 0.005 s, which is far shorter than the arterial blood flow change cycle, meeting the requirements of real-time imaging. The results demonstrate the effectiveness and high theoretical feasibility of the proposed method in real-time arterial imaging. Conclusions: This study indicates the potential application of linear gradient magnetic fields in arterial profile imaging. Compared with traditional electromagnetic imaging methods, the proposed method has the advantages of fast imaging speed and high resolution, showing the certain application value in early real-time imaging of arterial disease. However, further studies are necessary to confirm its effectiveness in clinical practice by more medical data and real cases.

Scour jeopardises the safety of many civil engineering structures with foundations in riverbeds and it is the leading cause for the collapse of bridges worldwide. Current approaches for bridge scour risk management rely mainly on visual inspections, which provide unreliable estimates of scour and of its effects, also considering the difficulties in visually monitoring the riverbed erosion around submerged foundations. Thus, there is a need to introduce systems capable of continuously monitoring the evolution of scour at bridge foundations, even during extreme flood events. This paper illustrates the development and deployment of a scour monitoring system consisting of smart probes equipped with electromagnetic sensors. This is the first application of this type of sensing probes to a real case-study for continuous scour monitoring. Designed to observe changes in the permittivity of the medium around bridge foundations, the sensors allow for detection of scour depths and the assessment of whether the scour hole has been refilled. The monitoring system was installed on the A76 200 Bridge in New Cumnock (S-W Scotland) and has provided a continuous recording of the scour for nearly two years. The scour data registered after a peak flood event (validated against actual measurements of scour during a bridge inspection) show the potential of the technology in providing continuous scour measures, even during extreme flood events, thus avoiding the deployment of divers for underwater examination.

Cultural heritage objects are affected by a wide range of factors causing their deterioration and decay over time such as ground deformations, changes in hydrographic conditions, vibrations or excess of moisture, which can cause scratches and cracks formation in the case of historic buildings. The electromagnetic spectroscopy has been widely used for non-destructive structural health monitoring of concrete structures. However, the limitation of this technology is a lack of geolocalisation in the space for multispectral architectural documentation. The aim of this study is to examine different geolocalisation methods in order to determine the position of the sensor system, which will then allow to georeference the results of measurements performed by this device and apply corrections to the sensor response, which is a crucial element required for further data processing related to the object structure and its features. The classical surveying, terrestrial laser scanning (TLS), and Structure-from-Motion (SfM) photogrammetry methods were used in this investigation at three test sites. The methods were reviewed and investigated. The results indicated that TLS technique should be applied for simple structures and plain textures, while the SfM technique should be used for marble-based and other translucent or semi-translucent structures in order to achieve the highest accuracy for geolocalisation of the proposed sensor system.

This paper proposes the study and implementation of a sensor with a metamaterial (MM) lens in electromagnetic nondestructive evaluation (eNDE). Thus, the use of a new type of MM, named Conical Swiss Rolls (CSR) has been proposed. These structures can serve as electromagnetic flux concentrators in the radiofrequency range. As a direct application, plates of composite materials with carbon fibers woven as reinforcement and polyphenylene sulphide as matrix with delaminations due to low energy impacts were examined. The evaluation method is based on the appearance of evanescent modes in the space between carbon fibers when the sample is excited with a transversal magnetic along z axis (TMz) polarized electromagnetic field. The MM lens allows the transmission and intensification of evanescent waves. The characteristics of carbon fibers woven structure became visible and delaminations are clearly emphasized. The flaws can be localized with spatial resolution better than λ/2000.

A new electromagnetic metal level sensor for a billet mold is considered in comparison with radioisotope level sensor. Comparative characteristics of the sensors in the process of casting with oil were obtained during demonstration testing of electromagnetic sensor at two metallurgical plants. In the process of operation, it was shown that electromagnetic metal level sensor has somewhat better characteristics as compared to radioisotope sensor. Utilization of electromagnetic sensor instead of radioisotope sensor allowed reducing the fluctuations of metal level and withdrawal rate in comparison with stabilization based on the radioisotope sensor at both plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaky coaxial cable (LCX) not only widely applies to the wireless communication systems, but also used as a LCX sensor for the intrusion detection systems (IDS). For evaluating the usability of the specialized LCX, the electrical parameters and the radiation pattern of the LCX sensor are measured. Moreover, in order to achieve the multiple targets localization, the novel location algorithm is proposed for the IDS based on the specialized LCX sensor in the VHF band. In this paper, the multiple targets are identified precisely by the synchronous subtraction, the time-domain digital pulse compression and the window function. By emitting a chirp signal into the LCX sensor, the echo signal containing the targets' response is received by the signal receiver (Rx). Then the pulse accumulation can be used for decreasing the noise signal in the digital signal processor (DSP), and the peak characteristics of the targets' echo signal are improved by the pulse compression and the Kaiser window function. Finally, by calculating the delay time of the echo signal after using the synchronous subtraction, the targets locations are obtained. The results show that transmission attenuation of the specialized LCX is 0.75 dB/100m and its coupling Loss is 71.63dB, and S11 is -39.9dB when the central frequency is 100MHz. The range resolution of the intruder detection system based on LCX sensor is as small as 3.32m and the positioning accuracy is less than 0.8m, which realizes the multiple targets detection and good localization results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wire-driven flexible manipulators are increasingly used in medical applications, such as minimally invasive surgeries, due to its ability to operate in confined space by deforming the backbone. Existing flexible manipulators are mostly controlled in open loop, as there lacks a proper real-time deformation sensing method. The deformation of a flexible manipulator includes both the backbone shape bending and backbone twist. Current sensing methods for flexible manipulators only consider the shape and neglect the twist. However, the twist is of equal importance as it affects the end-effector orientation. In this paper, we propose a real-time deformation sensing and reconstruction method for flexible manipulators. By employing the real-time position and orientation information of part of the backbone, e.g., the base and tip, we can estimate the deformation of the flexible manipulator with adequate accuracy. What’s more, a vision-based high-precision off-line shape and posture sensing method for twisted flexible manipulators is also proposed to verify the proposed electromagnetic real-time shape and posture sensing method. Results show that the proposed method could well sense the deformation of the backbone with average position error root-mean-square (rms) 1.9 mm and average twist error rms 0.61°. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a comprehensive experimental study of impact damage detection for carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites using an electromagnetic (EM) sensor with coupled spiral inductors (CSI). Two representative types of damage are detected and evaluated, i.e., barely visible impact damage (BVID) and delamination. A multifrequency inspection is performed, where the resultant images indicate the potential of the CSI sensor in the characterization of damage extent. The accuracy and efficiency of the CSI sensor are compared with the open-ended waveguide imaging, near-field microwave microscopy, microwave time-domain reflectometry, the complementary split-ring resonator, and ultrasonic scanning. Applications and limitations of these nondestructive testing (NDT) methods for identifying impact damage are discussed. There is a free edge effect on the electromagnetic signal, which is illustrated for the first time with the proposed EM technique. Detection of the air gap produced by inserting a thin piece into a machined subsurface groove is carried out. It is found that the developed CSI sensor is able to accurately resolve the location and extent of the air gap. The experimental results demonstrate that the sensor could offer an alternative relatively low cost method that can be fully automated for structural monitoring of aircraft and other composite structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In high-voltage systems partial discharges (PD) may occur due to the degradation of insulation materials in addition to different scenarios such as material properties, construction, setup and operation conditions. Especially for a power transformer, the degradation of inner insulation may prevent regular operation and hence cause failure. In a long time period even low-level PD activity may cause degradation on the insulator. If the deterioration caused by the PD is detected in an early phase, potential damage may be prevented. Due to the complex and close structure of power transformers and other high-voltage systems, it is not easy to estimate the exact location of a PD. This study proposes a novel approach to detect and analyze an artificial PD in a laboratory room setup, which is especially designed for simulation of possible PD source in a large scale structure such as power transformer. Electromagnetic (EM) PD sensors are commonly used to detect electromagnetic pulses emitted from PD sources. In this work, the time differences of arrivals (TDOA) which are obtained from PD signals are subjected to multilateration technique to estimate the exact location. A novel energy level method is introduced to overcome correct TDOA extraction problem. Cramer-Rao bound (CRB) is used for calculation of the minimum achievable estimation error of proposed method. In order to display the accuracy of location estimation, CRB and the mean square error graphics of the estimated location parameters are given for the comparison. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a mathematical model of measuring blood flow based on electromagnetic induction for predicting the rate of arterial stenosis. Firstly, an electrode sensor was used to collect the induced potential differences from human skin surface in a uniform magnetic field. Then, the inversion matrix was constructed by the weight function theory and finite element method. Next, the blood flow volume inversion model was constructed by combining the induction potential differences and inversion matrix. Finally, the rate of arterial stenosis was predicted based on mathematical relationship between blood flow and the area of arterial stenosis. To verify the accuracy of the model, a uniform magnetic field distribution of Helmholtz coil and a 3D geometric model of the ulnar artery of the forearm with different rates of stenosis were established in COMSOL, a finite element analysis software. Simulation results showed that the inversion model had high accuracy in the measurement of blood flow and the prediction of rate of stenosis, and is of great significance for the early diagnosis of arterial stenosis and other vessel diseases.