Analytical Elements Research Articles

A Feasibility Study of Map-Based Dashboard for Spatiotemporal Knowledge Acquisition and Analysis

Map-based dashboards are among the most popular tools that support the viewing and understanding of a large amount of geo-data with complex relations. In spite of many existing design examples, little is known about their impacts on users and whether they match the information demand and expectations of target users. The authors first designed a novel map-based dashboard to support their target users’ spatiotemporal knowledge acquisition and analysis, and then conducted an experiment to assess the feasibility of the proposed dashboard. The experiment consists of eye-tracking, benchmark tasks, and interviews. A total of 40 participants were recruited for the experiment. The results have verified the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed map-based dashboard in supporting the given tasks. At the same time, the experiment has revealed a number of aspects for improvement related to the layout design, the labeling of multiple panels and the integration of visual analytical elements in map-based dashboards, as well as future user studies.

Learning Processes in the Early Development of Sustainable Niches: The Case of Sustainable Fashion Entrepreneurs in Mexico

There are still several gaps to bridge in learning and sustainability transition research, one of which is the empirical exploration of learning processes and outcomes involved in the formation and development of sustainability niches. The purpose of this study is to investigate the formation and development of a sustainability niche through the lenses of individual and social transformative learning, specifically the learning processes and outcomes. We conducted a qualitative exploratory multi-case study of six different projects participating in the sustainable fashion and textiles niche in Mexico. We used documentation and individual interviews (n = 7) to collect evidence of the learning process in the formation and development of this niche. We used transformative learning theory to guide the analysis of the learning phenomena occurring in the development of this niche, distinguishing three main phases where individual learning takes place in the first two and social learning in the third. Analytical elements such as prior learning, disorienting dilemmas, action engagement and network building figure prominently in the learning process and outcomes in the development of the sustainable fashion niche in Mexico. This work provides a better and more detailed understanding of the multi-level perspective model through exploring sub-levels within the niche level, by shedding light on the importance of individual and social learning in the development of sustainable niches.

Quantitative analysis of analytical elements in Al-In-Sn-O thin film based on comprehensive calibration curves using picosecond laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy.

Al-In-Sn-O (AITO) thin film refers to a novel wide-bandgap transparent conductive material, which is formed by doping the aluminum element into In-Sn-O material. It is of promising application in deep ultraviolet optoelectronic devices. Al/Al+In+Sn and Sn/Al+In+Sn are capable of impacting the optical and electrical properties of AITO thin film. Three groups of AITO thin film samples with different sputtering powers, sputtering pressures, and sputtering times were prepared with magnetron sputtering. The concentration ratio of Al/Al+In+Sn and Sn/Al+In+Sn in AITO samples was quantitatively analyzed with laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) technology. A single calibration curve was drawn based on the sputtering parameters of each group, and the comprehensive calibration curves of two concentration ratios under any sputtering parameters were plotted. The accuracy of the comprehensive calibration curve was determined with samples prepared under random sputtering parameters, and the energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy analysis results were compared with the LIBS technical analysis results. The relative error was less than 5%, so the LIBS technical analysis was demonstrated to be accurate. By building the comprehensive calibration curve, a novel method to conduct rapid online analysis of AITO thin films and timely determination of photoelectrical properties is presented, and the new application of LIBS technology is developed in thin film semiconductor materials.

Polarization Independent Band Gaps in CMOS Back-End-of-Line for Monolithic High-Q MEMS Resonator Confinement

To pave the way for system-on-chip MEMS confinement up to 50 GHz, the mechanical properties of a CMOS back-end-of-line (BEOL) are studied by analytic and finite element approaches. In particular, the two main directions of vertical and horizontal wave propagation are investigated. With respect to the symmetry of the BEOL, the movement through the nonperiodic horizontal layers is described by the Rayleigh-Lamb equation. It is shown that our finite element method (FEM) approach, preventing Brillouin zone folding, can be employed in simulations of these structures, since the results are in excellent accordance to the corresponding analytical solutions. The vertical propagation through the periodic stack on the other hand is subject to phononic crystal effects resulting in Bragg-like band gaps (BGs) for either a certain or every polarization. Factoring in both types of propagation, it is demonstrated by our FEM simulations how these BGs can be tailored to specific values through variations in the BEOL layers to improve the quality factor of monolithically integrated MEMS devices.

Hydrological modeling of three rivers under Mediterranean climate in Chile, Greece, and Morocco: study of high flow trends by indicator calculation

The study of the influence of climate change on the evolution of floods in areas under the influence of a Mediterranean climate is very important. This work aims to provide new analytical elements to decision-makers in flood management and forecasting in three Mediterranean catchments (Lonquen, Evrotas, and Azzaba), in order to better understand their hydrological behavior and to quantify the flow and its vulnerability to climate change. A semi-distributed conceptual model (HBV-A model) was used to simulate flows with a daily time step. The model results (simulated flows) were used to examine the evolution of high flows using two different approaches (linear regressions and statistical test). The Chilean and the Greece catchments show a decrease in flooding. However, the Moroccan catchment reacts differently, since a positive trend in high flows is observed. The overall results confirm the influence of climate change on the rainfall/runoff relationship.

Multi-elemental analysis of particulate matter PM2.5 and PM10 by ICP OES

The complexity of aerodynamic particulate matter's (PM) matrices poses a challenge for the extraction and quantification of metals, especially for analytes with low concentration. Aiming to solve this issue, a precise and accurate protocol with the ultrasound extraction combined with microwave radiation digestion (USMW), was applied to PM samples with excellent compensations in sample throughput, digestion efficiency, and energy consumption. After the digestion and extraction procedures, the inorganic analytes, including rare earth elements, were determined by ICP OES. Two types of particulate matter sampled from two stations, Gobernacion (GOB10 and GOB2.5) and Milan (MIL10), corresponding to PM2.5 and PM10, were digested with a combination between HF, HNO3, and H3BO3. The absolute limits of detection ranged from 0.42 pg m-³ for V, to 3459 pg m-³ for As. The accuracy of the experimental study was assessed using two certified reference materials (CRMs), Coal Fly Ash (NIST1633b) and Fly Ash (BCR176). The method presented good accuracy, with recoveries ranging from 90 to 115%, except for Al (120%) and Fe (123%). Considering the replicates for the determination of analyte elements, the repeatability was below 10% for the relative standard deviation (RSD). A cloud point extraction (CPE) procedure, with parameters optimized for the determination of Pd and Pt, was successfully applied in digested PM samples with detection limits of 1.43 and 2.05 pg m−³ for Pd and Pt in MIL10 sample, respectively, and 76.6 pg m−³ for Pd and 110 pg m−³ for Pt, in samples GOB10 and GOB2.5, respectively.

Air quality trend and proposal of a web application for the atmospheric monitoring network in Tabasco, México.

Air pollution is an increasingly concerning problem given it constitutes a risk for people’s health and the environment. In Mexico, there are some regions where society does not know the conditions of air quality, and in some others this information is not used or analyzed. Hence is important the study of air quality evolution to generate strategies that allow to mitigate adverse effects on population. In this research we analyze the trend of Criteria Air Pollutants (PM 10 , O 3 and CO), considering the distribution of good, regular and bad days for air quality, as well as the trend of hourly, daily, monthly and annual concentrations in the city of Villahermosa, Tabasco between 2011-2017, with information provided by the State government, in order to design an effective communication mechanism. We obtained air quality indicators based on the official Mexican regulation and the temporal behavior of the pollutants. Additionally, we trained artificial neural network models for the prediction of air pollutant concentration. Finally, we propose the design of a web portal for the communication of air quality. According to the weekly behavior, is shown that we are exposed daily to potential health hazards by any of the air pollutants, also that the second trimester of each year shows the worst conditions and that the pollutants that have a greater contribution to air pollution in the city are CO, PM 10 and O 3 . Likewise, the tendencies of PM 10 and O 3 indicate a slow decrease of -0.5 ug/m3-year, -0.0004 ppm-year respectively, which requires a redefinition of government strategies that may potentiate their decrease. In this sense, the web portal is proposed under two main approaches: First, with the purpose of communication, aimed to the society so it can take preventive measures on their exposure to high contamination levels. The second approach is aimed to the academic community and government authorities, with graphic information on the criteria air pollutants’ tendencies, providing analytical elements for structuring environmental policies.

Fast High-Resolution Multi-Elemental Mapping of Phosphate Pellets Using Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

Recent years have seen a growing trend towards analytical techniques capable of conducting spatially resolved analyses of surfaces for industrial, nanotechnology, geological and biomedical applications. Depending on the application, spatially resolved measurements are required to provide a better understanding of the sample surface composition with significant advantages over conventional bulk analyses. The recent developments of the LIBS technique and its simplicity of use have allowed the development of systems capable of performing multi-element imaging analyses of major and trace elements with ~50 μm (or lower) spatial resolution at fast acquisition speeds up to kHz per pixel. LIBS technology enables systematic and selective ways based on the physics of atomic emission spectroscopy (AES). Complex structures are revealed by LIBS imaging at ultrafast speed. This paper presents results on laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) performing fast high-resolution multi-elemental mappings of Phosphate samples. Phosphate Pellets samples were laser scanned at a repetition rate of 1 kHz with a spatial resolution of 50 μm, using the Mission: Coriosity platform from ELEMISSION Inc. The elemental mappings of the 10 mm2 surfaces for 6 elements were obtained, revealing high levels of detail and complexity in the elements distributions. Advanced graphical algorithms allow direct visualization of the distribution of several elements on the same image. In particular, LIBS imaging has been used for multi-elements surface mapping of Phosphate Pellets, and show specific clustering composition, indicating that line intensity of a given analyte element is not only related to that analyte, but also to other elements present in the samples. This last statement has been verified using multivariate approach for calibration and prediction of elemental concentration in Phosphate Pellets.

The Impact of Applying the Common Customs Tariff on Armenian Exports of Tobacco Products

The presented study addresses the problems of application of the Common Customs Tariff (CCT) of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) on unmanufactured tobacco, tobacco refuse, and cigarette paper, and its impact on cigarette exports. Aim. The study aims to determine a possible strategy that can be used by Armenian cigarette exporters in the context of transition to the CCT rates for unmanufactured tobacco, tobacco refuse, and cigarette paper, and how it will impact cigarette exports. Tasks. The authors analyze changes in import customs duty rates and the import structure of unmanufactured tobacco, tobacco refuse, and cigarette paper (by country of origin) and indicators of cigarette exports (by market); substantiate the need to ensure operational efficiency to remain competitive in the target markets for exported cigarettes. Methods. This study uses general scientific methods of cognition, including analytical and methodological approaches and elements of forecasting. The authors also use the analytical method to analyze the list of goods from developing or least developed countries that are entitled to tariff preferences when imported into the EAEU customs territory, the list of developing and least developed countries that are beneficiaries of the preferential system of the EEU, the EEU import customs duty rates on unmanufactured tobacco, tobacco refuse, and cigarette paper, statistics on the imports of these production resources by country of origin, and indicators of cigarette exports to the major destinations in 2014-2018 published by UN Comtrade Statistics. It is established that application of the EAEU’s CCT rates can impact cigarette exports, and the possible strategy that can be used by Armenian exporters to enhance the competitiveness of exported goods is determined. Results. In case unmanufactured tobacco is imported from developing countries, such as India, Brazil, and others, a 3.75% import duty rate will be applied instead of the 5% CCT rate. Switching to imports from Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, and Malawi without implementing new efficient business processes to compete in export markets could be an option that exporters would resort to. However, imports from developing countries will not decline sharply in the medium term. Armenia used to import cigarette paper mainly from Western Europe, China, and Russia, which encourages Armenian exporters to focus on operational efficiency. Iraq and Syria being the two main export destinations for Armenian cigarettes, their further exports to these countries will be sensitive to price increases. Conclusion. Increased customs duty rates on unmanufactured tobacco, tobacco refuse, and cigarette paper will have a negative impact and lead to an increase in prices on imported production resources used in the production of cigarettes for export. However, this impact will be insignificant. Due to the structure of cigarette exports, regardless of the country of origin of the imported resources, exporters should focus on ensuring operational efficiency to remain competitive in the major markets for exported products. Practical application of results . The results of this study can be of interest to the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Armenia and Business Armenia and can be used to produce a strategy for the development of cigarette production in Armenia and to facilitate exports.

أبعاد صورة الجندی المصری فی الروایة المصریة ودلالتها الفنیة

There is no doubt that it is difficult to study a particular character and track it over the course of multiple narrations - despite the importance of that study technically and intellectually - and perhaps this difficulty was a reason in the direction of most literary studies towards studying a famous writer or a famous novel without paying attention to the necessity of investigation and research And the composition, until you find almost the similarity in the content with the different title. Hence it was necessary for the researcher to use his mind as he reads to reach a new perception. He must add, delete, highlight or neglect an idea in order to arrive at a new thought that matches the beauty of the artwork he is studying. The critic's study should not be a study of artistic work as much as it must be a reading of new meanings and innovative ideas in order to find its way to influence the recipient. There have been many narratives in our Egyptian literature that dealt with war, and of course there are numerous studies dealing with war literature in the Egyptian novel Until the titles are almost the same, as well as the similarity of content, which is dominated by the nature of expansion and inclusion. And so I tried to search in these narrations in an important case that the writers did not explicitly announce other than that they are between the lines, and I asked myself what the Egyptian soldier’s location is from these accounts. . And I began searching in most of the war narratives about the image of the soldier with the writers through their novels. The truth is that following the personality of the soldier in multiple narrations is not easy and needs to exert more effort and the realization of thought so that the researcher can find what links the threads of the multiple images of the Egyptian soldier to reach An overall picture and a general idea, and the study faced several difficulties, the most important of them: the soldier's personality was not a major goal of most writers as much as their way of describing confrontations of war, presenting social issues, or directing political speeches. The writers did not follow a unified thought on the issue of the war, so the picture of the Egyptian soldier varied from one novel to another. Searching for a complete picture of the Egyptian soldier in the Egyptian novel requires the researcher to read quite a few novels in depth in order to extract the visible and internal images in order to complete the image and present it clearly to the recipient. Hence the integrated approach was adopted with its descriptive and analytical elements in order to achieve this goal; Hence the research came from an introduction in which it dealt with the subject of the research, its difficulties and the approach adopted in it.

A vida em forma de história: tempos/lugares de experiência

A pesquisa intitulada “A vida em Forma de História: tempos/lugares de experiência” objetivou tecer significações de ordem teórico-metodológica a respeito da pesquisa biográfico narrativa mediante produção da história de vida de uma destacada educadora/pesquisadora do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Portanto, essa vida em forma de história apresenta-se, neste texto, como rico material para, ao modelar eventos vividos, evidenciar dimensões relativas a tempos/lugares experienciais constituintes dessa história como elementos compreensivos caros à pesquisa (auto)biográfica. O circuito narrativo, constituído pela palavra dada e escuta atenta, forneceu elementos analíticos para a busca desse desiderato. No processo de análise, mediante Compreensão Cênica, buscamos apreender os sentidos que lugares e momentos vivenciados, narrados reflexivamente, ocupam no decorrer dessa história. É pela reflexão, empreendida no seio do circuito narrativo, que as vivências evoluem em experiências significativas, formadoras, portanto, via uma história singular e, ao mesmo tempo plural, desde que busca construir significações do vivido em dado e datado contexto sócio-histórico. A pesquisa (auto)biográfica opera, assim, histórias de vida que representam, além de um produto, nesse caso, a vida de uma destacada educadora sul-rio-grandense em forma de história, uma opção teórico-metodológica que inclui dimensões formativas da sensibilidade humana em processo de significação de identidades narrativas. Assim, ao mesmo tempo em que homenageamos uma vida, o presente artigo tem como escopo iluminar oportunidades que a pesquisa em histórias de vida proporciona pela reflexão do narrado, possibilitando compreensões a respeito de modos pelos quais o sujeito autobiográfico se (re)inventa: no presente pela rememoração do passado, projetando-se na produção, presente/futura, de uma aprendizagem mediada por uma história composta por um conjunto de experiências vividas em tempos e lugares biográfico narrativos.

Urban policies as multi-level policy mixes. The comparative urban portfolio analysis to study the strategies of integral urban development initiatives

Urban policy is an increasingly important policy domain in international and national agendas, intended to cope with the complexity of urban problems. The use of integral interventions across various policy sectors involving different types of actors from the public and private spheres is a common orientation in urban policy. This implies that urban policies should be understand as multilevel policy mixes, and appropriate research strategies should be developed to analyse them from a comparative perspective. This article introduces main analytical elements to analyse urban policies as multi-level policy mixes and proposes an original methodological approach (the comparative urban portfolio analysis). To illustrate and show the face validity of the proposal, policy measures included in 78 local plans under three urban policies in Spain representing policy approach identified in international literature are analysed. Main results show the importance of two basic orientations (contextual and redistributive) to understand the intervention strategy of local plans and urban policies as policy mixes. Differences within policies show the multi-level character of urban policies, and differences between them resemble the orientation of policy frame they represent, showing the face validity of the proposal to analyse urban policies as multi-level policy mixes from a comparative perspective.

Processos de territorialização empresarial na Amazônia: significados e decorrências

Esse artigo pretende elencar pistas acerca dos dispositivos práticos e simbólicos (medidas funcionalizadoras do espaço promovidas em nome do “progresso”) adotados no processo de implementação de grandes hidrelétricas na região amazônica, que vem contribuindo para o rebaixamento dos padrões de proteção ambiental e de direitos sociais e territoriais vigentes no país. Os agentes estruturadores dos “territórios empresariais” resultantes desses empreendimentos procuram produzir espaços funcionais, precedidos de limpezas sociais profundas que expressam a natureza privatista e autoritária inerente a esses processos de incorporação espacial de larga escala. Tais processos, contudo, não se dão sem contendas e antagonismos, seja entre os segmentos condutores da reestruturação espacial-social, seja entre estes e a população deslocada compulsoriamente que insiste em resgatar margens de autonomia do viver coletivo, a partir de repertórios culturais que não se encerram e de novas sociabilidades que se abrem. Nesses termos, o conflito territorial é posto e reposto, não como “obstáculo” ou “entrave”, mas como interrogante acerca das próprias metas e resultados dos projetos de “modernização” e “desenvolvimento”. Nossa proposição é fornecer elementos analíticos e espaços de reconhecimento para o (re)mapeamento de tradições e resistências nas novas condições colocadas pelo contínuo reescalonamento do espaço produzido por grandes projetos já implementados e em implementação na Amazônia.

From builders to their tools: crafting ‘poverty knowledge’ from “the Moynihan Report” to today

ABSTRACT Critics often cite the “Moynihan Report” to illustrate how cultural diagnoses of poverty blame the victims and ignore the structural roots of inequality. This paper considers how the tendency to attribute such dangerous analyses to researchers’ individual shortcomings leaves the underlying analytical elements that generate cultural diagnoses. Rather than focus on those who build “poverty knowledge,” we advocate for more attention to the analytical tools that continue to encourage cultural diagnoses today. We use the “Moynihan Report” as a mirror in which we can see how static theories of culture and atomistic units of analysis encourage cultural diagnoses. They obscure the ongoing, collective work of reproducing inequality, including the work of race-making and racialization which help sustain economic exploitation, making it dangerously easy to locate blame and responsibility on particular persons or groups of persons. Transgressing the roots of inequity requires a relentless confrontation with these analytical tools.

Pumping electrolyte fluid using focal light and electric field in rectangular microchannel

The absorption of the focused light inside aqueous electrolyte locally heats it; thus, it creates a temperature field and temperature gradient around the light-absorbing region. Due to a phenomenon known as Soret effect, positive and negative ions move in the presence of the temperature field toward the warmer or cooler region. However, this tendency and its corresponding motion are not the same for two types of ions; therefore, it ends up with a locally charged region. This means creating a pure electric charge suspended in the light absorption area. Applying an external electric field to the fluid then exerts a force to the net charge and its surrounding fluid, resulting in the fluid’s motion. We investigate this problem for an electrolyte fluid enclosed between two parallel transparent dielectric blades closely located to each other. Based on analytic and finite element methods, we calculate the temperature field created by the Gaussian beam inside and outside the electrolyte. We then obtain its induced electric potential and charge density. Finally, we calculate the fluid velocity field and the total induced current. The analytical and numerical results well verify each other.

Rapid determination of trace elements in serum of hepatocellular carcinoma patients by inductively coupled plasma tandem mass spectrometry

The occurrence and development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is related to the level of trace elements. The mechanism of changes in trace element concentration and the identification of HCC risks associated with them are not clear. Therefore, an accurate and reliable approach for quantification of the level of trace elements in the serum of liver cancer patients is of great significance. In this study, we proposed a novel strategy for accurate determination of trace elements such as Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Se in the serum of HCC patients based on inductively coupled plasma tandem mass spectrometry (ICP-MS/MS). In the MS/MS mode, N2O was used as the reaction gas, and an octopole reaction system (ORS) was employed to provide interference-free conditions and a sufficiently low limit of detection (LOD) for the determination of analytical elements. The internal standard elements with similar masses and similar mass spectrometry behavior were selected to correct the matrix effect. The LODs of Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Se were as low as 0.013, 0.25, 0.010, 0.020, 0.17, and 0.008 μg L−1, respectively. Bovine serum (SRM 1598a) was adopted as the standard reference material to evaluate the accuracy of the method, and the developed method was successfully applied to determine the content of Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Ni, Se in serum from HCC patients. The obtained results were in agreement with that of sector field ICP-MS (SF-ICP-MS). The contents of Fe and Cu in the serum of HCC patients were higher compared to that of healthy controls, while the contents of Zn and Se were lower than that of healthy controls. Furthermore, no significant differences were observed in the contents of Mn and Ni in the serum of HCC patients and healthy controls.

Power relations in community resilience and politics of shifting cultivation in Laos

This article is a contribution to a critical resilience literature that emphasizes the lack of recognition and consideration of social and power relations, the complexity of local cultural heterogeneity and aspects of justice in current resilience approaches. We base our contribution on an empirical study related to policy and project interventions implemented by governmental agencies and international development partners in Laos. The studied interventions are the so-called ‘village livelihood development grants’ that involve giving individual households cash payments to limit shifting cultivation practice and to engage in ‘alternative and more sustainable’ livelihood activities, promoted by a number of state policies and donor funded projects. Promoted alternative livelihoods include cash crop production, cattle rearing and income generating activities, such as weaving. Based on our empirical case, we explore the implications of these interventions on local peoples' livelihoods, food security and access and rights to resources, on the one hand, and offer theoretical implications to resilience scholarship, on the other hand. We identify analytical elements with respect to social and power relations and show their relevance for local community members' ability to deal with the imposed external forces to change, and hence community resilience. We find that horizontal and vertical power relations, exercised through direct/visible and indirect/hidden ways, significantly influence the socio-ecological outcomes of the interventions, and abilities of individual members of the community to benefit, or bear costs and risks from the interventions.

Применимость символического интеракционизма Герберта Блумера в политическом анализе интернет-коммуникаций

The aim of the article is to study the model of symbolic interactionism by the American sociologist Herbert Blumer and to identify the analytical elements that are most applicable to the political analysis of internet communications. The authors used the hermeneutic approach, including the identification of central premises in Blumer's model as well as an additional interpretation of such premises. Quantitative content analysis was used as an auxiliary methodological optics. The analysis demonstrated that the analytical tools of symbolic interactionism from the Chicago School (definitive and sensitizing concepts, exploration and inspection, etc.) can be effectively tailored and used for current research of internet communications in applied political science. The authors conclude that identifying the transaction process is the most important result of applying Blumer’s symbolic interactionism model to a study of social media communities by a political scientist. It is demonstrated that the conditions of social media require investigating the mechanism of behavior adaptation by each individual to the behavior of others. This gives an insight into the mechanism by which social life and the political regime are streamlined and stabilized.

Dynamics of integrated planetary geared bearings

The gear bearing drive is a new robotic transmission that was developed by NASA for compact and lightweight robotic applications. Compared to conventional simple and compounded planetary gear trains, the mechanical assembly of the gear bearing drive does not require a planetary carrier and individual planet needle bearings to maintain the gearset alignment. Instead, the design integrates the gearing and bearing functions together such that a constant pressure angle is maintained throughout the mesh cycle by the use of cylindrical rollers that are mounted parallel to the gear mesh. This paper examines the vibration characteristics of this planetary architecture and extracts its natural frequencies and mode shapes using both analytic and finite element methods. The design is compared against a conventional system with a floating carrier for comparative analysis. A simple and systematic approach to analytically and numerically solve the dynamics of complex, multi degree of freedom gear train systems using MATLAB is presented that can be easily applied to study other complex non-linear dynamic systems.

Investigation of in-plane wave motion in a Fibre Metal Laminate using PVDF foil sensors

Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) via Guided Ultrasonic Waves (GUW) has been the subject of research for years and has already been described in detail for purely isotropic and purely anisotropic materials. Fibre Metal Laminates (FML) combine isotropic metal layers with anisotropic fibre composite layers to a laminate. They are mainly used in the aerospace industry to reduce mass while optimizing stiffness and strength properties. On the other hand, the combination of different materials leads to high differences in the acoustic impedance at the interfaces, which in turn leads to the question to what extent these materials can be monitored via GUW. This research investigates the applicability of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) foil sensors for the detection of GUW in the interior of an Aluminium Glass Fibre laminate. Preliminary analytic investigations based on new adaptions of the partial-wave method gave insight into general GUW characteristics along fibre-metal interfaces and within an FML plate waveguide. Analytic and transient finite element simulation results were used to predict displacement fields. Composition and dimension of fabricated FML plates as well as excitation frequency were chosen based on these predictions, particularly maximizing dominance of the in-plane displacement components. For manufacturing the FML specimen with embedded PVDF sensors, a cold-curing epoxy resin was used to prevent the temperature-sensitive sensors from being destroyed or depolarized during production. After the design and application of a PZT actuator on the laminate, GUW were excited with particular attention to the frequencies in which a particularly dominating in-plane displacement field was assumed. Laser-Doppler Vibrometry (LDV) was used for measurements of the GUW's out-of-plane component.