Non-destructive Measurement Research Articles

New Nanobioceramics Based on Hydroxyapatite for Biomedical Applications: Stability and Properties

In this work, we report for the first time the development and complex characterization of new bioceramics based on hydroxyapatite (HAp, Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2). On the other hand, the lyophilization process was used for the first time in this research. The samples were obtained by a modified coprecipitation method and were dried by lyophilization (lyophilized hydroxyapatite (HApLF) and lyophilized zinc-doped hydroxyapatite (5ZnHApLF)). Valuable information about the HApLF and 5ZnHApLF stability was obtained through nondestructive ultrasound measurements. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies revealed the phase and the effects of the incorporation of Zn ions into the HAp structure. The chemical composition of the samples was evaluated by energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Information about the functional groups present in the HApLF and 5ZnHApLF was obtained using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) studies. The morphology of HApLF and 5ZnHApLF pellets was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The surface topography of HApLF and 5ZnHApLF pellets was studied with the aid of atomic force microscopy (AFM). Details regarding the roughness of the samples were also obtained using AFM topographies and SEM images. A complementary study was also carried out on a larger analysis surface using a Scanning Acoustic Microscope (SAM). The SAM was used for the first time to analyze the surface of HAp and 5ZnHAp pellets. The biological properties of the HApLF and 5ZnHApLF pellets was investigated with the aid of MG63 and human gingival fibroblasts (HGF-1) cell lines. The results of the cell viability assay highlighted that both the HApLF and 5ZnHApLF pellets exhibited good biological activity. Moreover, SEM and AFM studies were conducted in order to emphasize the development of MG63 and HGF-1 cells on the pellet’s surface. Both SEM and AFM images depicted that the pellets’ surface favored the cell attachment and development of MG63 and HGF-1 cells. Furthermore, the antimicrobial properties of the HApLF and 5ZnHApLF were evaluated against Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, and Candida albicans ATCC 10231. The results of the antimicrobial assays highlighted that the 5ZnHApLF exhibited a strong antimicrobial activity against the tested microbial strains. The results of the biological assays suggested that the samples show great potential for being used in the development of novel materials for biomedical applications.

Towards the Measurement of Sea-Ice Thickness Using a Time-Domain Inductive Measurement System.

Frequency-domain electromagnetic induction (EMI) is routinely used to detect the presence of seawater due to the inherent electrical conductivity of the seawater. This approach is used to infer sea-ice thickness (SIT). A time-domain EMI sensor is presented, which demonstrates the potential for correlating the spectroscopic properties of the received signal with the distance to the sea surface. This is a novel approach to SIT measurement, which differs from existing methods in that it uses measurements from 10 kHz to 93 kHz rather than a single frequency. The sensor was tested at a tidal pool containing seawater and measured to have a conductivity of 57.3 mS/cm. Measurements were performed at a range of heights between 0.2 m and 1.9 m above the sea surface and for inclinations from 0° to 45°. These measurements were correlated with Finite Element Modeling (FEM) simulations performed in COMSOL. The measured and simulated datasets are presented along with a proposed form of post-processing, which establishes a correlation between the distance to the sea surface and the measured EMI response. This forms a proxy measurement for the absolute distance from the EMI sensor to the sea surface. Because the air gap between the sensor and the seawater is indicative of the properties of sea ice, this study demonstrates a novel approach to non-destructive measurement of sea-ice thickness. The measurements show that this distance to the sea surface can be estimated to within approximately 10% of the known value from 0.2-1.5 m and 15% from 1.5 to 1.9 m.

Nondestructive Ferromagnetic Resonance Measurements Validate the Efficacy of a Seed Layer in Cobalt Magnetic Nanowire Fabrication

Nondestructive Ferromagnetic Resonance Measurements Validate the Efficacy of a Seed Layer in Cobalt Magnetic Nanowire Fabrication

Temperature measurements of metal-free GaN using a thermoreflectance-based approach depending on excitation wavelength

Abstract This study provides a precise and reproducible methodology of measuring the surface temperature of GaN devices without metal deposition, based on thermoreflectance (TR) properties. Two TR techniques are proposed, tailored to the reflectance properties of GaN devices. The first method measures the surface temperature by monitoring changes in reflectance using light with an energy above the bandgap, while the second method monitors changes in the fringe pattern of the reflectance spectrum using light with a sub-bandgap energy of GaN. Both methods can measure equally accurate surface temperatures across a wide range of temperature by improving the magnitude and nonlinearity of the temperature-dependent reflectance through appropriate selections of incident light wavelengths. This research is expected to be applicable for non-contact and non-destructive measurement of local temperatures in high-power electronic and optoelectronic devices based on GaN across a wide temperature range.

Advancement of Emerging Technologies for Non-destructive Measurement of Water and Non-Aqueous Phase Liquid Saturation in Porous Media: A Review

Advancement of Emerging Technologies for Non-destructive Measurement of Water and Non-Aqueous Phase Liquid Saturation in Porous Media: A Review

Retraction notice to “Nondestructive measurement of the capillary water absorption coefficient and water transport behaviors of porous building materials by using single-sided NMR” Constr. Build. Mater. 414 (2024) 134819

Retraction notice to “Nondestructive measurement of the capillary water absorption coefficient and water transport behaviors of porous building materials by using single-sided NMR” Constr. Build. Mater. 414 (2024) 134819

A Non-destructive Measurement Method for XLPE/SiR Interface Pressure of Flexible Cable Terminal based on External Deformation Inversion Calculation

A Non-destructive Measurement Method for XLPE/SiR Interface Pressure of Flexible Cable Terminal based on External Deformation Inversion Calculation

Dielectric and free volume of Poly methyl methacrylate/silver nanoparticles- polyhydroxybutyrate nanocomposites (PMMA- AgNP/PHB): positron annihilation lifetime study

Abstract Solution casting technique was used successfully to prepare Poly methyl methacrylate/silver nanoparticles-polyhydroxybutyrate blend with different polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) concentrations. FTIR results assure and confirm the good compatibility between the two polymers. X-ray results of the PHB/PMMA-AgNP blend show an increase in crystallinity with increasing PHB loading. A non-destructive Positron annihilation lifetime measurements were conducted at room temperature as a function of PHB concentration. Dielectric measurements were performed in the frequency range of 50 Hz to 50 MHz at RT. It was observed that O-Ps lifetime, τ3, O-Ps intensity, I3, free volume hole size, FV, and fractional free volume, FFV, were found to decrease with increasing PHB percentage. The dielectric constant ε/ showed a declined behaviour with increasing PHB content. The fabricated blend shows anomalous behaviour regarding the dielectric properties and free volume properties, assuming that blending PMMA with PHB alters the blend polarization behaviour in an external electric field.

In-vivo Raman microspectroscopy reveals differential nitrate concentration in different developmental zones in Arabidopsis roots

BackgroundNitrate (NO3−) is one of the two major forms of inorganic nitrogen absorbed by plant roots, and the tissue nitrate concentration in roots is considered important for optimizing developmental programs. Technologies to quantify the expression levels of nitrate transporters and assimilating enzymes at the cellular level have improved drastically in the past decade. However, a technological gap remains for detecting nitrate at a high spatial resolution. Using extraction-based methods, it is challenging to reliably estimate nitrate concentration from a small volume of cells (i.e., with high spatial resolution), since targeting a small or specific group of cells is physically difficult. Alternatively, nitrate detection with microelectrodes offers subcellular resolution with high cell specificity, but this method has some limitations on cell accessibility and detection speed. Finally, optical nitrate biosensors have very good (in-vivo) sensitivity (below 1 mM) and cellular-level spatial resolution, but require plant transformation, limiting their applicability. In this work, we apply Raman microspectroscopy for high-dynamic range in-vivo mapping of nitrate in different developmental zones of Arabidopsis thaliana roots in-situ.ResultsAs a proof of concept, we have used Raman microspectroscopy for in-vivo mapping of nitrate content in roots of Arabidopsis seedlings grown on agar media with different nitrate concentrations. Our results revealed that the root nitrate concentration increases gradually from the meristematic zone (~ 250 µm from the root cap) to the maturation zone (~ 3 mm from the root cap) in roots grown under typical growth conditions used for Arabidopsis, a trend that has not been previously reported. This trend was observed for plants grown in agar media with different nitrate concentrations (0.5–10 mM). These results were validated through destructive measurement of nitrate concentration.ConclusionsWe present a methodology based on Raman microspectroscopy for in-vivo label-free mapping of nitrate within small root tissue volumes in Arabidopsis. Measurements are done in-situ without additional sample preparation. Our measurements revealed nitrate concentration changes from lower to higher concentration from tip to mature root tissue. Accumulation of nitrate in the maturation zone tissue shows a saturation behavior. The presented Raman-based approach allows for in-situ non-destructive measurements of Raman-active compounds.

Non-Destructive Measurement of Chloride Profiles in Cementitious Materials Using NMR

Non-Destructive Measurement of Chloride Profiles in Cementitious Materials Using NMR

Dynamic Response Analysis of Overpass Ramp Based on Grey System Theory Model

An interchange is a pivotal traffic facility that connects highways and controls access. It is necessary to study their dynamic response characteristics to analyze the operational safety of ramp bridges on interchanges. Based on the numerical simulation results of the finite element model of the Fuxing Interchange Bridge, non-destructive measurement techniques were used to conduct field dynamic load tests on the bridge, including ramp strain testing and acceleration testing. These tests aimed to study the dynamic response characteristics of the ramp bridge under moving loads. Due to the design speed limitation of the ramp bridge, the grey prediction GM(1, 1) model was used to predict the maximum dynamic deflection, maximum dynamic strain, and vibration acceleration when the vehicle speed was 60 km/h. Subsequently, finite element software was used to simulate the dynamic deflection under vehicle speeds ranging from 30 to 60 km/h. The simulated value was compared with the predicted value, and the difference between the simulated value and the predicted value was slight. This model can evaluate the operational safety performance of off-ramps at different speeds.

Near-infrared spectrometry for rapid and real-time prediction of specific quality attributes in intact cactus pear fruits (Opuntia ficus-indica L.)

Cactus pear fruits are rich sources of nutritional (essential vitamins, amino acids and minerals) and antioxidant compounds (flavonoids, carotenes, betalains, ascorbic acid and quercetin). The fruit is cultivated for fresh markets and also serves as nutraceutical and functional food, finding application in various forms such as juice, jam, wine, syrup and in dairy products. However, short postharvest life and negative perception has contributed to its underutilization in the local context. Total titratable acidity (TTA) and total soluble solids (TSS) are among the desirable attributes used to assess postharvest quality of Cactus pears. A portable near-infrared spectrometer (NIRS) can non-destructively determine the internal quality of Cactus pears’ thus reducing postharvest losses. This study evaluated the potential of a handheld NIRS coupled with chemometrics of partial least square regression (PLSR) for rapid, non-destructive, and simultaneous determination of TTA and TSS in intact Cactus pear fruits. Cactus pears at different stages of maturity were sampled from Laikipia county, in Kenya, and immediately subjected to spectral data acquisition and wet-chemistry analyses. The PLSR was used to train and validate predictive models for the determination of TTA and TSS content in intact Cactus pears. The prediction model for TTA gave an R-squared (R2) of 0.73, root mean squared error of prediction (RMSEP) of 0.28% citric acid, and residual predictive deviation (RPD) of 1.97. Additionally, the TSS model resulted in R2 of 0.75, RMSEP of 1.60° Brix, and RPD of 2.06. Overall, these findings highlight the effectiveness of NIRS in non-destructive measurement of TTA and TSS levels in whole Cactus pears. However, with further refinement and optimization of these models, the full potential of this technique for swift and precise assessment of these parameters in whole Cactus pears can be realized. This would greatly benefit farmers and processors by reducing expenses associated with quality assessment and facilitating market entry of Cactus pear derived food products.

Toward an usage of americium-241 for filter calibration

In nuclear safety and environmental studies, it is necessary to measure the activity of aerosols collected on filters. The calibration of these filters' measurement chains currently involves producing a reference filter with a controlled deposit of aerosol marked by a specific radionuclide. In France, commonly used radionuclides include 137Cs for gamma or beta emitters, 90Sr/90Y for beta emitters, and 239Pu for alpha emitters. However, using 239Pu presents several issues, notably the destruction of the filter required to determine its traceable activity and the associated uncertainties. The challenge of this project is to propose a radionuclide enabling non-destructive, SI-traceable measurement while retaining the reference filter. The proposed radionuclide is 241Am, which is both alpha and gamma-emitting and allows for precise non-destructive measurements. Reference filters are produced on the IRSN’s ICARE test bench with calibrated aerosols tagged with 241Am. The reference activity of theses filters is measured by gamma spectrometry on CEA/LNHB reference counter. A series of tests confirmed that 241Am provides accurate activity determination with minimal uncertainty. Consequently, adopting 241Am can significantly improve the reliability of radioactive contamination monitoring while avoiding practical challenges associated with plutonium.

A structural scheme design of internal thread detection based on laser profile scanning

Abstract Based on the analysis and comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of various existing thread detection methods, a kind of internal thread detection equipment and detection method based on laser contour scanning is designed, involving intelligent non-destructive testing technology and laser precision measurement technology, which can be extended into the workpiece to be measured, especially for various kinds of workpiece with small diameter of internal thread and cannot be accurately measured by the measuring device. Through the laser profile scanner and optical reflection element, the internal thread size of the workpiece, including large diameter, small diameter, pitch, thread length, thread chamfer, thread chamfer diameter, and other parameters, can be measured with high precision and high efficiency, and the detection efficiency is high. There is no need to touch the workpiece to achieve a non-destructive inspection of the workpiece surface. The test results are accurate, comprehensive, and reliable.

Leaf Orientation Method as a Proxy for Sensing Nitrogen and Water Deficit in Tomato Plants

Precision field management and modeling crop growth requires precise, efficient, timely, nondestructive, and cost-effective measurements of structural component including leaf area index (LAI) and leaf orientation based on the foliage mean tilt angle (MTA), which is defined as the average leaf inclination angle of a canopy. Two experiments were carried out to investigate 1) the influence of different nitrogen (N) fertigation levels and 2) cycles of water deficit on leaf orientation (specifically, MTA) of young tomato (Solanum lycopersicum cv. Florida 47). N rates were 10, 50, 100, 200, and 300 mg·L−1 (mg N per liter of water) and irrigation treatments were well-watered and deficit irrigation. MTA was measured using the LAI-2200C Plant Canopy Analyzer. Across the experimental period, low N supply to leaves reduced the angle between leaf petiole and stem (high MTA) and produced plants with more erect leaves compared with N-sufficient plants. The MTA for the 10 mg·L−1–N treatment ranged from 54.3° to 73.6° and higher levels of N (50 to 300 mg·L−1–N) had MTA between 36.4° and 51.9°. Compared with lower N level (10 mg·L−1), LAI of tomato plants fertigated with a nutrient solution containing 300 mg·L−1–N increased by 3.6- to 4.9-fold across the study period. Similarly, canopy normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and leaf N% values at 300 mg·L−1–N were 2- to 3-fold higher than at 10 mg·L−1–N. However, MTA did not consistently differ across the 100 to 300 mg·L−1–N rates. In terms of water treatments, MTA of well-watered plants ranged from 32.3° to 40.5° whereas the same plants at water-deficit level had MTA between 45.7° and 51.8°. Although the relationship between MTA and canopy LAI, NDVI as well as leaf N was inconsistent or not significant under well-watered and water-deficit conditions, leaf gas exchange components (photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, and transpiration) showed a significant negative relationship (R2, 0.39–0.81, P < 0.001) with MTA. Overall, leaf orientation, specifically MTA, was modulated by N levels (highest at 10 mg·L−1; lowest at 300 mg·L−1–N) and cycles of water deficit and therefore, MTA determination hold promise as a nondestructive method to assess N and water deficit in young tomato plants.

Response function measurement for a non-destructive gas-sheet beam profile monitor.

A gas-sheet beam profile monitor enabling non-destructive two-dimensional profile measurements of a high-intensity beam by capturing an image of a beam-induced fluorescence was developed. For quantitative profile measurements, the monitor's response function comprising, e.g., the gas sheet density distribution and the detector's sensitivity distributions must be experimentally clarified because the monitor output is a converted profile with the response function. A response function measurement method was devised based on the beam-profile-measurement method formula of the monitor. The response function was obtained by injecting a thin electron beam into the developed monitor and scanning its center position in transverse. The measured response function was evaluated by the J-PARC 3MeV, 60 mA H- beam profile measurement. The 2-D beam profile was successfully reconstructed with the measured response function within the 2.74% residual of the least-squares method and 6.01% experimental statistic deviation. The projected 1-D profiles agreed well with those measured using a wire-scanning-type profile monitor.

A non-destructive measurement method for axial force using torque in connecting bar with joint bearing ends

ABSTRACT The measurement of axial force in connecting bar is widely used in scenarios such as condition monitoring, motion controlling and fatigue analysing of mechanisms. By measuring the torque applied to the bar, this paper proposes an innovative method for non-destructive obtaining axial force in connecting bar with joint bearing ends. A mechanical analysis of joint bearing is conducted, and a theoretical model of axial force and torque is established. An experimental setup for measuring axial force and torque is constructed, and then the theoretical model is refined. The bar axial force and torque formula is calibrated at different torsional speeds, and the method correctness and reliability are verified experimentally. In summary, in a non-destructive way, this method is innovative and practical, addressing issues like inaccuracies in measuring bars with variable cross-section, even unknown material and inside structure, achieving relatively accurate measurement of axial force in connecting bar without damage.

Magnetic properties of tire cord as a diagnostic parameter of car tires condition

This article presents the possibility of using the magnetic measurement method, which is an alternative method to shearography as a method of testing the condition of the cord of all-steel tires in order to determine the possibility of using the casing for the retreading process. It is an extension of the design and research work aimed at creating a prototype of a diagnostic device. As part of the activities, a prototype of the device and a version of the measuring head were developed, but a prototype of the algorithm of the measurement program was also created, which uses the physical foundations of non-destructive measurements of motor vehicle tires developed within the project. This study is related to the increasingly strict regulations and the intentions of the European Commission regarding the use of vehicles, which require an increase in the share of recycled materials, including tires. Therefore, there is a need to develop measurement methods that allow for the assessment of the quality of the casing while the used tires are still stored. This work presents the results of theoretical analyses of the possibility of using the magnetic field as a diagnostic parameter of the condition of tires

Development of a visuo-tactile sensor for non-destructive peach firmness and contact force measurement suitable for robotic arm applications

Precise measurement of firmness was crucial for determining optimal harvesting times, implementing rational storage strategies and minimizing avoidable waste. Current technologies for assessing peach firmness struggled to balance high precision and non-destructive methods, while demonstrating high sensitivity to environmental disturbances, thereby limiting their application to production line. Future various scenarios in agriculture would increasingly rely on robotic arms, yet existing firmness assessment technologies were not compatible with these automated systems. Additionally, monitoring contact force was essential for flexible operation of the robotic arms. This work introduced a visuo-tactile sensor equipped with markers to capable of measuring peach firmness and monitoring contact force simultaneously during a single contact process, making it suitable for robotic arm applications. The contact was operated by the texture analyzer to simulate the fruit grasping process by a robotic arm. Utilizing deep neural networks and machine learning-based techniques to process high-precision geometric images collected by an internal camera, the visuo-tactile sensor achieved non-destructive measurements of peach firmness and contact force. For firmness measurement in the test set, the sensor achieved coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.878 and a root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.732. For contact force detection, the R2 was 0.942, and RMSE was 1.115 in the test set. The results showed visuo-tactile sensor was feasible for non-destructive detection of peach firmness and contact force, and has a broad application prospect in the field of agricultural robotics.

Development of high-sensitivity photorefractive liquid crystals and their application to laser ultrasonics: achieving noise-free measurements

ABSTRACT A fast-responsive photorefractive flexoelectric liquid crystal was prepared and applied to laser ultrasonics. The photorefractive liquid crystal can detect a change in the phase of a light wave. This innovative system, which involves irradiating an object with a laser pulse to produce an ultrasonic vibration and then using another laser beam to detect the vibration, offers a more straightforward optical setup and provides more accurate measurements unaffected by environmental vibrations. The potential applications of this research in non-contact and non-destructive measurements are vast, promising significant advancements in various fields.