Modular Test Research Articles

Speeding Up Test Automation: Practical Strategies to Cut Execution Times

In today’s fast-paced software development environment, efficient test automation is crucial for accelerating release cycles and ensuring software quality. However, one significant challenge teams face is managing the execution time of automated tests. Long test cycles can slow down development, delay feedback, and impact overall productivity. Fortunately, several strategies can be employed to reduce test automation execution times without sacrificing the reliability and effectiveness of testing. Key techniques include parallel test execution, optimizing test scripts, minimizing setup and teardown overhead, using headless browsers, focusing on essential features, and adopting a modular test design. This article explores these strategies in detail, providing actionable insights on how to streamline test automation, reduce execution times, and enhance overall testing efficiency. As organizations strive to maintain agility and responsiveness, reducing automation test cycles becomes essential not only for quicker feedback but also for improving the overall quality and performance of the software being developed. Keywords: Test Automation, Automated Testing Strategies, Test Execution Time, Parallel Test execution, Test Optimization, Headless Browsers, Selenium Automation, Software Quality Assurance

A053: The Immediate Effects of Cognitively Engaged Physical Activity on Academic Performance of Children

Background/Purpose: In order to change the status quo of children's low levels of physical activity due to excessive academic pressure, a large number of studies have explored the improvement of children's academic performance through physical activity interventions without increasing the burden of learning. With the depth of the studies, the focus has been shifted from the quantitative (exercise time, intensity, and frequency) to the qualitative (e.g., type of exercise), and the cognitive stimulation hypothesis has proposed that the cognitive engagement during exercise has a better facilitating effect on children's academic performance, but there is no consistent definition of cognitive engagement in physical activity. Investigating the effects of different types of cognitive engagement on academic performance not only enriches the body of results in the field of research, but also provides a new avenue of physical activity for students in compulsory schooling. Method: 198 third grade students (M/F=132/110, age=9.42) were recruited and randomized into physical activity intervention conditions of 2 different intensities (high and low intensity) and 3 different types of cognitive engagement (math engagement, skill engagement, and math + skill engagement) on a class-by-class basis. Academic performance in math was tested using a modular math test. Results: Physical activity affected children's math test performance as indicated by significantly higher math test scores post-intervention than pre-intervention (F=63.99, p < 0.01), a significant interaction of test time with intervention intensity (F=8.43, p < 0.01), a non-significant interaction effect of test time with intervention type and test time, but a three-way interaction between intervention intensity and intervention type (F=3.13, p < 0.05). Conclusion/Discussion: Physical activity with cognitive engagement improved children's math test performance, with high-intensity. Mathematically-engaged physical activity had a better promotion effect on math test performance. The present study found that acute physical activity improved children's math test performance, that physical activity with cognitive engagement in subject learning has a better facilitation effect on subsequence subject learning. Considering this finding, it is recommended that physical activity that integrates motor learning with academic learning be organized to further integrate physical education with intellectual education to achieve a win-win situation for both physical and academic excellence in schools by promoting children's academic performance.

Temporal Dynamic Synchronous Functional Brain Network for Schizophrenia Classification and Lateralization Analysis.

Available evidence suggests that dynamic functional connectivity can capture time-varying abnormalities in brain activity in resting-state cerebral functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data and has a natural advantage in uncovering mechanisms of abnormal brain activity in schizophrenia (SZ) patients. Hence, an advanced dynamic brain network analysis model called the temporal brain category graph convolutional network (Temporal-BCGCN) was employed. Firstly, a unique dynamic brain network analysis module, DSF-BrainNet, was designed to construct dynamic synchronization features. Subsequently, a revolutionary graph convolution method, TemporalConv, was proposed based on the synchronous temporal properties of features. Finally, the first modular test tool for abnormal hemispherical lateralization in deep learning based on rs-fMRI data, named CategoryPool, was proposed. This study was validated on COBRE and UCLA datasets and achieved 83.62% and 89.71% average accuracies, respectively, outperforming the baseline model and other state-of-theart methods. The ablation results also demonstrate the advantages of TemporalConv over the traditional edge feature graph convolution approach and the improvement of CategoryPool over the classical graph pooling approach. Interestingly, this study showed that the lower-order perceptual system and higher-order network regions in the left hemisphere are more severely dysfunctional than in the right hemisphere in SZ, reaffirmings the importance of the left medial superior frontal gyrus in SZ. Our code was available at: https://github.com/swfen/Temporal-BCGCN.

An Online Knowledge-Based Support System

Technology advances have touched all the fields of human life, and the educational system is not an exception. Students in Nigerian universities experience challenges in their early or later stages of school due to a lack of a knowledge-based support system. This results in massive failure and confusion in later days in school. A knowledge-based online support system has been developed and implemented in this paper to improve academic support services for students and faculty members in the university. The need for such a support system stems from the various academic problems that the students often experience, including a lack of answers to certain questions, which can result in academic failure, taking too long to graduate, or dropping out of the university altogether. The system is web-based; therefore, users can access the necessary information when needed, and, in most cases, it solves common academic issues in a short time using the web. Following the Agile software development methodology and employing a client-server architecture, the system was designed in a user-friendly and efficient manner. Highlights of the system include an extensive database of FAQs, real-time interactive services, and multi-typed query handling. Testing phases were performed and integrated, and modular testing showed that the system worked as intended, providing valid inputs and also flagging any invalid inputs without causing the system failures, and performing provisions for user corrections. The results suggest that the online support system could enhance the academic environment at AE-FUNAI and therefore would benefit students and staff members alike. Nevertheless, certain limitations still prevail, such as poor internet access, which calls for constant enhancement and provision of support to the system.

Variable stroke fatigue test for aircraft landing gears

The fixed stroke fatigue test cannot simulate the real loading conditions of the landing gear, and the variable stroke fatigue test has increasingly become mainstream. A modular test device for fatigue tests for aircraft landing gears was designed, and the automatic control of the buffer stroke was realized with ectopic displacement control technology effectively. The horizontal loading cylinder could follow the wheel axis actively with the displacement active control technology. The follow-up loading along the vertical direction was realized by constructing a polar coordinate system and making the loading line automatic alignment. A split-type dummy wheel was designed to improve the loading accuracy, and a booster cylinder was designed to realize the control loading of high pressure combined with the hydraulic control system. The test results show that the technical scheme meets the design requirements, and the fatigue test was completed successfully. The device for landing gear variable stroke fatigue testing is appropriate for other landing gear static/fatigue tests.

From Batch to Flow: Paired Electrolysis of H2 and Electrochemical Conversion of Biobased 5-HMF in a Flow Reactor

Flow reactors are an attractive process for a variety of applications in the chemical industry. This is due to advantages over batch processes, such as good scalability and constant product quality with precisely controllable reaction conditions. [1] Regarding the industrial transition towards a climate-friendly and CO2-neutral economy, electrolysis and electrosynthesis processes are a focus of current research. These make it possible to use electricity from renewable energies directly and at the same time fulfil several criteria of green chemistry [2]. However, they currently often require the use of platinum group metals (PGM) and need separators that are mostly based on perfluorinated and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) [3]. In addition, conventional electrolysis processes used to produce green hydrogen require high overvoltage. These can be traced back to the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Furthermore, oxygen is not a value-added product. For these reasons, there is increasing interest in coupled systems in which the sluggish OER is replaced by a thermodynamically more efficient reaction that also generates a value-added product. One possibility for this is the electrooxidation of biobased 5-HMF to the platform chemical 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) [4]. A theoretical cell voltage of 0.3 V is required for the FDCAER/HER, whereas the OER/HER requires 1.23 V [5]. [6] The simultaneous production of platform chemicals and green H2 by paired electrolysis is a promising approach to enable sustainable and energy-efficient systems. Currently, this technology is still in the development stage and studies have so far focused on batch cell trials. [4,5,7] However, the use of flow reactors can further reduce overvoltage’s. This is due to factors such as better mass transport, an optimized reactor-volume/electrode ratio and minimized electrode gaps. In addition, more stable process conditions and a simplified scale-up point in favor of transferring to a flow system as early as possible [8,9]. [4–14]In previous experiments H-cell experiments for electrochemical 5-HMF conversion to FDCA were carried out on nickel base materials [14]. On this foundation, a modular flow-through test cell was developed on a laboratory scale and the feasibility of coupled electrolysis in the flow reactor in recirculating operation was investigated. Particular attention was paid to mild operating conditions (e.g. mild alkaline environment, low operating pressures and low temperatures). For this purpose, polarization curves followed by bulk electrolysis were recorded and the 5-HMF conversion was monitored analytically using UV-VIS. The measurements were carried out on Ni-foam. Subsequently, experiments were carried out to switch from recirculation mode to single-pass operation. For this purpose, Ni-foam and NiOOH foam electrodes were prepared electrochemically and investigated at different flow rates, current densities, and reactant concentrations in the flow cell. The bulk electrolysis was accompanied by analysis (HPLC, UV-VIS) to quantify and classify the derivatives of the electrosynthesis process. These experiments yielded important results about the system, which enabled operational adjustments and a scale-up.In general, this research is advancing the development of efficient and sustainable energy sources and the synthesis of platform molecules using renewable raw materials in a hydrogen co-electrolysis. Acknowledgments The authors thank the European Union's Horizon Europe research and innovation program under grant agreement N° 101070856 ELOBIO (Electrolysis of Biomass) for funding.

Implementation of open educational resources in the context of student-centred approach

The article outlines pedagogical technologies for teaching environmental engineering in online learning systems of higher education using open educational resources (OER) with a student-centred approach. A technology integrating OER, including educational videos, online explanations for practical work, modular testing, and e-textbooks, was experimentally tested. The proposed technology was evaluated using a control and experimental group design at two universities. Statistical analysis using Pearson's chi-squared test showed a significant improvement in learning outcomes for the experimental group exposed to OER (χ2=45.55, p<0.01). The results demonstrate that a student-centred approach leveraging OER is a promising method to enhance the learning of complex subjects like environmental engineering. This study addresses a gap in empirical research on discipline-specific applications of OER. The findings are discussed in the context of recent literature highlighting the benefits of OER for accessibility, engagement, and learning outcomes in higher education. Recommendations are provided for the effective integration of OER by instructors and institutions.

Modular test rig for a rotor supported by gas foil bearings

AbstractFoil bearings for high speed turbomachinery are and have been studied in terms of load capacity and lift‐off speed, stability, thermal behaviour and manufacturing. This paper focuses on a modular rotor‐bearing test rig, with which design changes can easily be experimentally investigated. An exemplary design change is undertaken and its effects are studied. Furthermore, a simple procedure is introduced, with which rigid body modes of the rotor can be extracted from phase information derived from experimentally obtained time series data.

A Modular XR Collaborative Platform for Occupational Safety and Health Training: A Case Study in Circular Logistics Facilities

Over the past few years, safety and health have become major concerns in the warehouse and logistics sectors. Each year, warehouse fatalities, injuries, and accidents cause unrecoverable losses and huge financial costs. In spite of all the advancements in methods, tools, equipment, and regulations, the number of accidents, especially fatal ones, has not subsided significantly. As a result, safety professionals and researchers have explored new and innovative ways to combat this problem. In the circular logistics facility (CLF) industry, located inside warehouses and providing human muscle-oriented services to maintain pallets, both short-term safety incidents and long-term health concerns are present. Long-term health training is rarely discussed in the literature compared to short-term safety training. This is because health issues are more complex than safety issues, since biological outcomes may take time to develop, are affected by multiple resources, and cumulative injuries may occur. This paper contributes to warehouse health and safety by designing and developing a modular XR collaborative training and testing platform (MXC-P). The co-design process is applied to design each module in the MXC-P. Three main modules related to health and safety training for CLF were considered, namely personal protection equipment, pallet handling, and pallet repairing. On this platform, a virtual interactive world provides a solid hands-on training environment and generates syntactic data for evaluating long-term health risks. On the other hand, collaborative and modular environments provide a solution to geographically distributed systems, allowing employees to connect and train remotely. The effectiveness of the MXC-P is compared with traditional safety training in a pilot study. Based on the results, we can establish that the MXC-P is effective in teaching and testing hazard identification situations, especially those relating to short-term health. The results also indicate that trainees’ recall of knowledge would improve with the MXC-P. In addition to this, the MXC-P can also be used to test and evaluate a new system and generate syntactic data for evaluating long-term health.

Sticky feet: a tribological study of climbing shoe rubber

This study examines the tribological properties of climbing shoe rubbers, challenging the common belief in the climbing community that softer rubbers are inherently grippier. This study investigates the mechanical and wear characteristics of climbing shoe rubbers by employing a high-precision modular mechanical testing environment (Bruker UMT TriboLab) and representative granite counter-surfaces. Key parameters, including surface roughness, Shore A hardness, interfacial adhesion, static and dynamic friction coefficients, and material wear patterns, were analyzed. The mechanical properties of each rubber compound were characterized through Shore A hardness testing and ball indentation–retraction tests, measuring indentation force, energy, and adhesive properties. Sliding friction tests, simulating real climbing conditions, were conducted to understand the tribological behavior of each rubber compound under different loads, further analyzing static and dynamic friction coefficients and wear characteristics. The findings of this study indicate that rubber performance is a convolution of several factors, including material hardness, surface roughness, and interfacial adhesion. Contrary to popular belief, softer rubbers did not consistently exhibit superior tribological characteristics. The findings of this study suggest that climbing shoe selection and design should consider a broader range of material characteristics beyond hardness, emphasizing the role of surface roughness and adhesion in determining overall frictional performance. This research offers valuable insights for the climbing community, providing methodologies to benchmark climbing rubber material characteristics.

Evaluating the Performance of Joint Angle Estimation Algorithms on an Exoskeleton Mock-Up via a Modular Testing Approach.

A common challenge for exoskeleton control is discerning operator intent to provide seamless actuation of the device with the operator. One way to accomplish this is with joint angle estimation algorithms and multiple sensors on the human-machine system. However, the question remains of what can be accomplished with just one sensor. The objective of this study was to deploy a modular testing approach to test the performance of two joint angle estimation models-a kinematic extrapolation algorithm and a Random Forest machine learning algorithm-when each was informed solely with kinematic gait data from a single potentiometer on an ankle exoskeleton mock-up. This study demonstrates (i) the feasibility of implementing a modular approach to exoskeleton mock-up evaluation to promote continuity between testing configurations and (ii) that a Random Forest algorithm yielded lower realized errors of estimated joint angles and a decreased actuation time than the kinematic model when deployed on the physical device.

Abstract We015: Modeling Cardiac Arrhythmogenicity of hiPSC-CMs and Cardiac Fibroblasts Nanopatterned Coculture and Machine Learning

Background: Sudden cardiac death is one of the most threatening heart conditions in the U.S. Most individuals have an underlying structural cardiac disease associated with cardiac fibrosis and ventricular arrhythmia. The relationship between fibrosis and arrhythmias is found to be related to cardiovascular cell couplings, especially cardiomyocytes (CMs) and cardiac fibroblasts (CFs). While animal models have been applied to model cardiac arrhythmias, the disparities between animal models and humans limit the accuracy of pro-arrhythmic predictions. The use of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs)-derived CMs has permitted highly modular testing conditions, specifically the ratio of CFs to CMs in an engineered coculture system. Moreover, machine learning (ML) has become an emerging tool in cardiology, such as cardiac toxicity and function evaluation and classification, with its unique advantages of high accuracy and efficiency with less human bias and intuition. Hypothesis: We hypothesize that cardiac fibrosis-associated arrhythmia will be modeled by nanopatterned coculture of hiPSC-CMs and CFs at varied ratios, and the arrhythmic samples will be accurately and efficiently classified by ML algorithms. Approach: The hiPSC-CMs were cocultured and nanopatterned with CFs at ratios of 0 to 30% for 7 days. Upon the electrical pacing at 1Hz, the action potential was recorded by live-cell optical mapping with FluoVolt. The recorded membrane potential and electrical propagation were analyzed by Matlab-based Electomap software. Results: The cocultured hiPSC-CMs and CFs were aligned with aligned sarcomeres and uni-directional contraction ( Fig. 1a ). The cardiac arrhythmia was observed in 15% CFs with spiral wave ( Fig. 1b ) in comparison to the hiPSC-CMs with 0% CF. Beat-to-beat and depolarization durations were found significant with top ranks in Feature Importance to facilitate the distinction between arrhythmic and non-arrhythmic samples by the unsupervised K-means Clustering ( Figs. 1c and d ). Conclusions: We have successfully established a nanopatterned coculturing system of hiPSC-CMs and CFs for modeling cardiac fibrosis-induced arrhythmia, which was further analyzed and classified by ML algorithms. This system reveals great potential for better understanding the relationship between cardiac fibrosis-associated arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death and also drug evaluation for anti-cardiac arrhythmia.

Physics-informed hybrid modeling methodology for building infiltration

Infiltration is responsible for one-third to one-half of the space conditioning load of a typical residential home, but the modeling of infiltration for building energy modeling is either represented by over-simplified equations or dependent on over-generalized rules of thumb. This paper develops a physics-informed data-driven methodology for modeling infiltration using building-specific empirical measurements. The developed hybrid methodology combines machine-learning categorization and grey-box sub-modeling to improve the accuracy and generalization of commonly used grey-box infiltration models. The developed methodology excels at predicting infiltration by improving the ability to predict infiltration under unseen environmental conditions using machine learning algorithms with physical significance. In a case study conducted using the iUnit, a modular studio apartment experimental test facility located at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, we use empirical airtightness measurements to fit an infiltration model using the developed methodology. We find that the developed methodology can improve the overall model accuracy by 43% and improve extrapolation by 38%, compared with the model based on the common grey-box infiltration equation. We also notice that the selected features can improve the performance of a pure machine-learning model, indicating that our methodology identifies the features with the most physical significance to infiltration modeling.

THE EXPERIMENTAL COMBAT UNIT COMBAT DETERMINATION WHEN PERFORMING THE MISSION IN THE WEAPONS AND MILITARY EQUIPMENT TESTING AND CERTIFICATION CONTEXT

The article analyses the fact of the first combat robots’ application in a real battle in Iraq. In addition, it was found that modern combat robotic platforms from Ukrainian manufacturers can carry out reconnaissance, surveillance, and target detection missions already today, as well as providing fire support and security of the military on the front lines. It has been studied that deterring aggression and finding ways to confront the enemy was at the head of all transformations. Obviously, it became clear that the use of robotic complexes and systems is properly reflected in the approach of our victory. The need for high-quality training of an experimental combat unit (combat units, groups of scientific and technical support, representatives of manufacturers of robotic complexes (systems)) was substantiated. Such training is carried out both in peacetime and wartime. This is a planned, systematic training of the formation’s personnel, units, and subunits, carried out by commanders, staffs and units of educational work. It provides activities, the most important of which are: tasks and requirements definition; the educational process development; program development; comprehensive provision planning and control methods organization. The composition and duties of the experimental combat unit have been determined. We emphasize the need to create a modular mobile training and testing complex to unify such training. We conducted an analysis of the combat unit training by the sample’s manufacturer according to its own training programs, that are approved by the head of the enterprise and agreed by the military administration body, in whose interests it is planned to supply armament and military equipment. The stages of preparation and the procedure of combat coordination of an experimental combat unit are proposed. It is proposed to carry out the preparation and the tests themselves in 2 stages. The first stage is carried out at the training ground of a designated military unit. The second stage is carried out in combat conditions (in the areas of hostilities). Also, the main key points of each stage are defined. The usefulness of this article’s material lies in the fact that, based on the analysis of the programs and methods of the manufacturers, we make our proposal regarding the order of organization and the procedure of the preparation itself.

Novel Reference Method for the Characterization of PD Measuring Systems Using HFCT Sensors.

During their lifespan, high-voltage (HV) electrical systems are subjected to operating conditions in which electrical, mechanical, thermal and environmental-related stresses occur. These conditions over time lead to unforeseen failures caused by various types of defects. For this reason, there are several technologies for measuring and monitoring the electrical systems, with the aim of minimizing the number of faults. The early detection of defects, preferably in their incipient state, will enable the necessary corrective actions to be taken in order to avoid unforeseen failures. These failures generally lead to human risks and material damage, lack of power supply and significant economic losses. An efficient maintenance technique for the early detection of defects consists of the supervision of the dielectrics status in the installations by means of on-line partial discharge (PD) measurement. Nowadays, there are numerous systems in the market for the measurement of PD in HV installations. The most efficient with a reasonable cost will be those that offer greater security guarantees and the best positioned in the market. Currently, technology developers and users of PD measuring systems face difficulties related to the lack of reference procedures for their complete characterization and to the technical and economic drawback of performing the characterization tests on site or in laboratory installations. To deal with the previous difficulties, in this paper a novel method for the complete and standardized characterization of PD measuring systems is presented. The applicability of this method is mainly adapted for the characterization of systems operating in on-line applications using high-frequency current transformer (HFCT) sensors. For the appropriate application of the method, an associated and necessary scale modular test platform is used. In the test platform, the real on-site measuring conditions of an HV insulated distribution line are simulated in a controlled way. Practical characterizations, showing the convenience and advantages of applying the method using the modular test platform, are also presented.

Design of Improved Ground Closed-loop Test System Based on Variable-stability Flight Control Computer

With the development of civil aviation, ground simulation test has gradually become a key link in the transformation of basic theory to engineering application. By forming a closed-loop link between the variable stability aircraft (VSA) dynamics model and the aircraft rudder surface, sensors, etc., the variable-stability ground closed-loop test system can simulate the aircraft flight state and response characteristics in the ground environment. However, the current ground test system suffers from a wide range of signals, complex signal simulation methods, and low system integration. In this study, an improved modular ground closed-loop test system for VSA is designed from three aspects: signal acquisition and simulation of airborne equipment, parameter monitoring and data processing, and fault simulation subsystem, which improves its compatibility and integrates with the software hardware of the variable-stability flight control computer and other air-borne equipment. After the system interconnection test, the generalized ground closed-loop test system designed in this study can replace the original system more efficiently, and its signal connection has inheritability, and provides a design method reference for other related researches of the variable-stability flight control computer.

Mechanical property analysis and experimental validation of composite honeycomb sandwich radome considering perforation and impact damage

To carry out the experimental verification of the mechanical properties analysis of the radome considering the damage factors, the test matrix design is carried out according to the finite element analysis method of the equivalent elastic theory and the idea of building block test verification. Firstly, the necessity and basic principle of equivalent elasticity theory in the performance analysis of complex curvature products considering damage factors are explained. Then, combined with the theory, a modular test matrix design is carried out, which should be able to test the correctness of the equivalent elastic modulus. Finally, a case study is carried out, and the difference between the test results and the simulation results is analyzed with the damaged radome as the research object. The results show that the development of the equivalent elasticity theory and the design of the test matrix can make the analysis results meet the engineering requirements.

The functions of an architectural model (1920–1940)

Architectural model making in Europe in 1920s–1940s is overviewed by decade to identify the functions performed by architectural model in addition to those already recognized: representation, working model, and education. Overall, 58 models have been described and analyzed. The following functions have been added to the traditional functions: photo model, modular construction testing, promotion model, and fit demonstration. The functional typology of the mockup thus has been expanded.

Development of a test bench for biomechanical simulation-a preliminary study of mandibular forces.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to develop a test bench, which integrates different complexity levels and enables in that way a flexible and dynamic testing for mid and long term intervals as well as testing of maximum loads till implant failure of different osteosynthesis systems on the mandible. Material and Methods: For this purpose, an analysis of the state of the art regarding existing test benches was combined with interviews of clinical experts to acquire a list of requirements. Based on these requirements a design for a modular test bench was developed. During the implementation of the test stand, functional tests were continuously carried out and improvements made. Depending on the level of complexity, the test bench can be used either as an incorporated variant or as a standalone solution. In order to verify the performance and the degree of fulfilment of the requirements of these two variants of the test bench, preliminary studies were carried out for all levels of complexity. In these preliminary studies, commercially available osteosynthesis and reconstruction plates were investigated for their biomechanical behaviour and compared with data from the literature. Results: In total, fourteen test runs were performed for the different levels of complexity. Firstly, five test runs were executed to test the simplified load scenario in the incorporated variant of the test bench. High forces could be transmitted without failure of the miniplates. Secondly a quasi-static test scenario was examined using the incorporated variant with simplified load insertion. Five experiments with a number of cycles between 40,896 and 100,000 cycles were carried out. In one case the quasi-static testing resulted in a fracture of the tested reconstruction plate with a failure mode similar to the clinical observations of failure. The last four test runs were carried out using the standalone variant of the test bench simulating complex load patterns via the insertion of forces through imitated muscles. During the test runs joint forces were measured and the amplitude and vector of the resulting joint forces were calculated for both temporomandibular joints. Differences in the force transmission depending on the implant system in comparison to the zero sample could be observed. Conclusion: The presented modular test bench showed to be applicable for examination of the biomechanical behavior of the mandible. It is characterized by the adjustability of the complexity regarding the load patterns and enables the subsequent integration of further sensor technologies. Follow-up studies are necessary to further qualify and optimize the test bench.

Scale Modular Test Platform for the Characterization of PD Measuring Systems Using HFCT Sensors.

Today, online partial discharge (PD) measurements are common practice to assess the condition status of dielectrics in high-voltage (HV) electrical grids. However, when online PD measurements are carried out in electrical facilities, several disadvantages must be considered. Among the most important are high levels of changing electrical noise and interferences, signal phase couplings (cross-talk phenomena), and the simultaneous presence of various defects and difficulties in localizing and identifying them. In the last few decades, various PD-measuring systems have been developed to deal with these inconveniences and try to achieve the adequate supervision of electrical installations. In the state of the art, one of the main problems that electrical companies and technology developers face is the difficulty in characterizing the measuring system's functionalities in laboratory setups or in real-world facilities, where simulated or real defects must be detected. This is mainly due to the complexity and costs that the laboratory setups entail and the fact that the facilities are permanently in service. Furthermore, in the latter scenario, owners cannot assign facilities to carry out the tests, which could cause irreversible damage. Additionally, with the aforementioned installations, a comparison of results over time in various locations is not possible, and noise conditions cannot be controlled to perform the characterizations in a correct way. To deal with the problems indicated, in this article, an affordable scale modular test platform that simulates an HV installation is presented, where real on-site PD measuring conditions are simulated and controlled. In this first development, the HV installation comprises a cable system connected at both ends to a gas-insulated substation (GIS). As the most common acquisition technique in online applications is based on the placement of high-frequency current transformer (HFCT) sensors in the grounding cables of facilities, the test platform is mainly adapted to carry out measurements with this type of sensor. The designed and developed test platform was validated to assess its features and the degree of convergence with a real installation, showing the convenience of its use for the appropriate and standardized characterization of PD-measuring systems.