Ultrasonic Method Research Articles

Эффективность комбинированного воздействия ультразвука и микроволн при обработке пищевых продуктов. Обзор

Modern methods of food processing combine ultrasonic and microwave treatment. This article reviews scientific publications on combined microwave and ultrasound technologies in food processing. The review involved standard methods of data analysis and covered 85 Scopus and Web of Science research papers on combined microwave and ultrasonic food treatment published in English in 2010–2023. The article describes the principles and specific features of ultrasonic and microwave food processing methods, their combinations, equipment design, and applications as part of various food processing stages, e.g., defrosting, drying, extraction, sterilization, etc. Microwaves increase the heating rate while ultrasound increases the efficiency of heat and mass transfer. Their combined use reduces processing time, improves product quality, facilitates moisture drainage, and provides uniform heating. The combined effect of microwaves and ultrasound increases the processing efficiency, thus preserving the nutritional value and quality of the final product. Ultrasonic technology serves as an aid to efficient and environmentally-friendly microwave heating, which has a wide range of applications in the food industry. The review can be used in further research in extraction, drying, defrosting, and sterilization. It can help food industry specialists to select optimal food processing methods.

Diagnosis of diabetic polyneuropathy in type 2 diabetes mellitus: focus on changes in peripheral nerves according to ultrasonic research method

Diagnosis of diabetic polyneuropathy in type 2 diabetes mellitus: focus on changes in peripheral nerves according to ultrasonic research method

Comparative Study on Multiple Methods for Partial Discharge Detection of Gap Defect in Medium Voltage Switchgear

Abstract The medium voltage switchgear is a key equipment in the distribution network of the power system, which directly faces users. Once a fault occurs, it will cause huge economic losses and adverse social impacts. Partial discharge measurement is an important means to ensure the safe operation of switchgear. The physical quantities measured by different partial discharge detection methods are different, so the detection effects by different methods for the same defect are also different. This paper takes the common internal air gap defects of solid insulation in switchgear as the research object, and conducts partial discharge detection tests on real switchgear equipment. At the same time, radio frequency method, ultrasonic method, transient earth voltage (TEV) method, and pulse current method are used to detect and analyze the partial discharge generated by the defect. The results show that the radio frequency method, TEV method, and pulse current method have good detection sensitivity for air gap defects, but the ultrasonic method cannot detect this type of defect. Comparing the amplitudes of the three electrical signals, it can be found that the correlation between the TEV method and the pulse current method is relatively high, while the correlation between the radio frequency method and the two is relatively low. As the applied voltage increases, the amplitude of the radio frequency method changes linearly, which can more sensitively reflect the degree of defect change.

Damage detection in wind turbine blades using embedded radar networks

To ensure the availability and operational safety of wind turbine blades, regular inspections are required according to specified maintenance intervals. As with all periodic inspections, damage that develops between two inspection dates remains undetected until the next inspection. In recent years, monitoring systems have therefore been developed that enable independent structural health monitoring (SHM) with permanently installed sensors. The most important representatives here include vibration analysis, acoustic emission testing and ultrasonic methods. In addition, it is necessary for an SHM system to distinguish between signal changes resulting from damage or changing environmental and operating conditions. The present work presents a new approach for the in-situ assessment of wind turbine blades via embedding radar networks in the frequency band from 58 to 63.5 GHz. Therefore, 40 FMCW (frequency-modulated continuous wave) radar sensors have been embedded into a wind turbine blade during manufacturing. This contribution provides additional information related to the hardware design of the sensor nodes, its preliminary testing and the specific implementation of the radar network during a fullscale fatigue test of a 31m long wind turbine blade [1]. Damage indicators can be formulated relative to baseline conditions to see the development of fatigue damage over time. Reference: [1] Simon, J.; Kurin, T.; Moll, J.; Bagemiel, O.; Wedel, R.; Krause, S.; Lurz, F.; Nuber, A.; Issakov, V. & Krozer, V., Embedded Radar Networks for Damage Detection in Wind Turbine Blades: Validation in a Full-scale Fatigue Test, Structural Health Monitoring, 2023, https://doi.org/10.1177/14759217231152815

Development and Characterization of Lipid Nanoparticles Loaded with Antipsychotic Drugs using Central Composite Design

Background: Fluoxetine and olanzapine combination tablets are available in the market for oral administration in the treatment of depression, but fluoxetine has been shown to have a dose-related side effect due to its high oral dose and ability to undergo excessive first-pass metabolism. Olanzapine has low solubility and low bioavailability. Objective: The objective of this study was to prepare lipid nanoparticles containing fluoxetine and olanzapine to enhance the solubility and dissolution profile of the drugs. Methods: Lipid nanoparticles (LNs) were prepared by high-speed homogenization using the ultrasonication method. Different lipids and surfactants were used to screen out the best lipids, surfactants, and their ratio in the preparation of lipid nanoparticles. Drug and polymer compatibil-ity was examined using FTIR and DSC studies. The formulation was optimized using the central composite design to establish functional relationship between independent variables and respons-es. Optimized batch was characterized using particle size, PDI, zeta potential, % EE, % CDR, and stability. Results: Phase solubility study revealed FLX to have highest solubility in stearic acid and oleic acid, whereas OLZ showed highest solubility in Precirol ATO 5 and oleic acid. Poloxamer 188 was selected on the basis of high entrapment efficiency of the drug. In LNs, no significant interaction between drug and polymer was confirmed by DSC and FTIR. The particle size of optimized batch was found to be 411.5 nm with 0.532 PDI and - 9.24 mV zeta potential. For FLX and OLZ, the %EE and %CDR after 8h were found to be more than 90%. No significant change in %EE and %CDR of the formulation was observed after 4 weeks of storage. Conclusion: Experimental results demonstrated excellent drug entrapment as well as controlled release behavior from optimized LNs of FLX and OLZ at reduced dosage frequency.

Low palladium content CeO2/ZnO composite for acetone sensor with sub-second response prepared by ultrasonic method

Low palladium content CeO2/ZnO composite for acetone sensor with sub-second response prepared by ultrasonic method

A comparative study of acoustic and ultrasonic nondestructive testing for evaluating melon quality

Abstract Melon (Cucumis melo L.) is a high-value agricultural commodity known worldwide for its sweet taste and crisp flesh texture, which are important factors for quality and consumer acceptance. Unfortunately, quality testing and determining the optimal harvest time for achieving desired melon characteristics are traditionally performed through destructive methods. The aim of this study was to explore the potential of acoustic and ultrasonic tests for predicting the physicochemical properties of Honey Globe melons (Cucumis melo L. var. inodorus). A total of 100 melon samples were used in this study. For the nondestructive ultrasonic testing, attenuation values served as its variable, whereas in acoustic testing, variables included frequency, magnitude, short-term energy, and zero-moment. Fruit’s flesh firmness and total soluble solids (TSS) as physicochemical quality properties were determined using destructive tests. The calibration phase involved 80 melon samples, employing a K-Fold Cross Validation approach with ten folds, done on Partial Least Square Regression (PLS) modeling. Another 20 melon samples were used for blind testing. Reliability evaluation was done on key metrics, consisting of R2 values, RMSEC (Root Mean Square Error of Calibration), RMSECV (Root Mean Square Error of Cross-Validation), RMSEP (Root Mean Square Error of Prediction), and RPD (Ratio of Performance to Deviation). Analysis results on these metrics collectively support the conclusion that both ultrasonic and acoustic methods exhibit their potential to predict the firmness properties of melon fruits. The best evaluation result that has been conducted for the ultrasonic test uses attenuation, age, and density as predictors to predict fruit firmness, with R2 = 0.763 and RPD = 2.945, while the acoustic test achieved the best result with magnitude used as a predictor to predict fruit firmness with R2 = 0.718 and RPD = 2.230. However, evaluation metrics on the prediction of total soluble solids for both nondestructive tests were still not good enough for application with low R2 and RPD value.

Phased Array Ultrasonic Imaging for Characterizing Steel with an Elevated Temperature Gradient.

In this research work a phased array ultrasonic Testing (PAUT) is used for inspecting steel at elevated temperature. Velocity of ultrasound is affected by temperature of medium, and the study of ultrasound is done when it is propagating through High temperature media of steel. For this purpose, a steel sample is heated from one surface and temperature gradient is generated in it. The methods like Full Matrix Capture (FMC) and Total Focusing Method (TFM) are used to generate real time ultrasonic image at particular instant of time. It is a method to generate the real time two-dimensional ultrasonic image. The FEA model of steel with temperature gradient is created and the ultrasonic inspection methods, FMC and TFM are applied in order to generate the image by taking elementary A-scan data from simulation and plotting the same to generate the image. The simulation results can be validated using high temperature experiments with steel samples and the experimental data can be taken to use TFM algorithm for ultrasonic evaluation. These TFM images provide a visual representation of the steel cross section at elevated temperature at specific instances, facilitating early-stage in-situ monitoring and optimization of the steel solidification process.

Study on the adsorption performance of fly ash loaded on nano-FeS for chromium-containing wastewater treatment

In view of the problems caused by chromium-containing wastewater, such as environmental pollution, biological toxicity, and human health risks. Based on fly ash adsorption and nano-FeS reduction characteristics, fly ash loaded nano-FeS composite (nFeS-FA) was synthesized using mineral supported modification technology and ultrasonic precipitation method. The effect of adsorbent dosage, initial pH, contact time, and initial concentration of the solution on the adsorption of Cr(VI) and total Cr by nFeS-FA was investigated. The characteristics of Cr(VI) and total Cr adsorption by nFeS-FA were studied using adsorption isotherms, adsorption kinetics principles, as well as XRD, TEM, SEM-EDS, and BET analysis. The results demonstrated that under the conditions of nFeS-FA of 8 g/L, initial pH of 4, contact time of 150 min, and initial concentration of the solution at 100 mg/L, nFeS-FA achieved removal efficiency of 87.85 % for Cr(VI) and 71.77 % for total Cr. The adsorption of Cr(VI) and total Cr by nFeS-FA followed the Langmuir model and pseudo-second-order kinetic model, indicating monolayer adsorption with chemical adsorption as the dominant mechanism. XRD, TEM, SEM-EDS, and BET revealed that the flaky nano-FeS was uniformly distributed on the surface of fly ash, exhibiting good dispersion and thereby increasing the specific surface area. During the adsorption experiments, nFeS-FA reacted with Cr(VI), and the generated Fe3+ mainly existed as FeOOH precipitation, while S2− reacted with Cr(III) to produce Cr2S3 precipitation. Therefore, nFeS-FA exhibited excellent adsorption performance towards Cr(VI) and total Cr. It can serve as a technological reference for the remediation of heavy metal chromium pollution in the field of water treatment.

A laser ultrasonic intelligent inspection method for metal surface defects based on digital twin model

To enhance the efficiency and intelligence of laser ultrasonic detection of metal surface defects, a detection method based on digital twins is proposed. Given the scarcity of defect samples and the difficulty of obtaining labeled data in practical applications, the finite element method is used to construct a laser ultrasonic metal defect detection model, effectively generating twin data for defect detection. With the help of generative adversarial networks, the distribution difference between twin data and real data is minimized. Additionally, by using continuous wavelet transform, one-dimensional ultrasonic signals are converted into two-dimensional time–frequency images for detection input. In terms of detection algorithm development, a residual network with an optimized global attention mechanism is introduced to ensure real-time synchronization and updates between the digital twin model and the actual laser ultrasonic detection equipment. Finally, experimental validation of the proposed method shows that it effectively addresses the issue of small sample sizes in defect detection and achieves high detection accuracy. Moreover, comparative experiments on crack defect migration tasks under different settings demonstrate the method’s good generalization ability.

Preparation and Printing Performance of Visible Light Photochromic Paper Based on PMoA-PWA/ZnO/PVP Composite

The recyclable paper based on photochromic materials not only reduces the pollution in the paper manufacture process, but also reduces the pollution caused by the use of ink, which receives wide attention. In this paper, a series of phosphomolybdic acid–phosphotungstic acid/ZnO/polyvinylpyrrolidone (PMoA-PWA/ZnO/PVP) hybrid films, which had different ratio of PMoA/PWA, was prepared by the ultrasonic composite method. The results indicated that the hybrid film prepared when the ratio of PMoA to PWA was 3 had the best photochromic performance. In this system, ZnO was the photosensitizer, while PMoA/PWA was the chromophore. The photochromic mechanism of the PMoA-PWA/ZnO/PVP hybrid film was based on the photogenerated electron transfer mechanism. ZnO generated photoelectron under the excitation of visible light, then PMoA and PWA obtained the photoelectron and produced photoreduction reaction to generate heteropolyblue. The visible light photochromic paper was prepared by loaded PMoA-PWA/ZnO/PVP hybrid film (A3) on A4 paper. Application tests showed that the prepared paper had extremely stable, excellent and reversible visible light photochromic properties, whether it was printing patterns or words, and could replace ordinary paper to realize the reuse of paper.

Research and Simulation of Partial Discharge Phenomenon Sensing Technology for Substation Inspection Robots

Abstract This paper thoroughly investigates the phenomenon of partial discharge in substations and proposes a set of simulation experimental apparatus to replicate various types of partial discharge defects in switchgear. By modifying the switchgear, incorporating models for different types of partial discharge, and equipping various standard partial discharge sensors, accurate simulations of phenomena such as point discharge, suspended discharge, gap discharge, and particle discharge are achieved. Through this system, the effectiveness of different detection methods, such as ultrasonic, high-frequency, and transient voltage methods, is validated for various defect models. Furthermore, utilizing an indoor inspection robot guide rail, the paper simulates the environment of partial discharge in substations, enabling the validation of the robot’s partial discharge detection performance and typical patterns under different conditions. This work is dedicated to providing situational awareness technology for partial discharge phenomenon detection for substation inspection robots, so that the inspection robot can detect various abnormal partial discharge phenomena in transformers or other substation equipment through micro sensors to promote the stable operation of the substation.

Acquiring a Machine Learning Data Set for Structural Health Monitoring of Hydrogen Pressure Vessels at Operating Conditions using Guided Ultrasonic Waves

Hydrogen is an energy source of increasing importance. As hydrogen is very reactive to air and needs to be stored under high pressure, it is crucial to provide safe transportation and storage. Therefore, structural health monitoring, based on guided ultrasonic waves and machine learning methods, is used for Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessels (COPVs) containing hydrogen. To acquire data that allows robust detection of COPV defects, there are two main process parameters to consider. These are the pressurization of the vessel and the temperature conditions at the vessel. This paper will focus on the derivation of a design of experiment (DoE) from the needs of various validation scenarios (e.g. concerning pressure, temperature or excitation frequency). Practical limitations must be considered as well. We designed experiments with multiple reversible damages at different positions. A network of 25 transducers, structured as five rings with five sensors in one line, is installed on a vessel. Guided ultrasonic waves are used via the pitch-catch procedure, which means that the transducers act pairwise as transmitter and receiver in order to measure all transmitterreceiver combinations. This leads to 600 signal paths, recorded by a Verasonics Vantage 64 LF data acquisition system. Finally, the influences of temperature and pressure within the acquired data set are going to be visualized.

Obtaining and characterization of doped lanthanum manganite through an unconventional method

Considering the growing concern for food safety, the development of fast detection methods with high sensitivity and repeatability of specific food constituents is a huge necessity. In this regard, the electrochemical methods can be an effective way due to certain advantages such as low cost, fast response signal, high sensitivity and ease of use. The detection efficiency of electrochemical sensors mainly depends on the electrochemical characteristics of the electrode materials. Perovskite-based materials are ideal candidates for the development of electrochemical sensors due to their excellent catalytic activity and redox properties. We report herein the synthesis, morpho-structural properties, and electrical performance assessment of Ca doped lanthanum manganite by ultrasonic method with immersed sonotrode in the reaction medium. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses were performed on the synthesized samples. The results indicated a wellcrystallized perovskite-type structure, and 29 nm average crystallite sizes. The electron microscopy images showed that the presence of the dopant influenced the surface morphology.

Nanoemulsion of Amber rice bran oil (Oryza sativa L.), characterization and properties

A nanoemulsion of Iraqi Amber rice bran oil (NARBO) was prepared using an ultrasonic method. The nanoemulsions: NE1, NE2, and NE3 were formulated using an emulsifier (Tween 80 and sodium caseinate) in a ratio of 1:1 and at a concentration of (1.5, 2, 2.5%), and were examined to ensure their stability and physicochemical properties. All nanoemulsions carried a negative charge for zeta potential ranging between -31.51 and -18.52, with the highest value recorded in NE1 on day 7. The negative zeta potential increased on day 7 for all prepared nanoemulsions. and concerning droplet size, it ranged (from 89.4 to 144.2 nm), and the smallest size was recorded in NE3. Increasing the emulsifier concentration resulted in decreased droplet sizes. All nanoemulsions had good droplet size distribution, with a Polydispersity Index of less than 0.3. FE-SEM images revealed that the nanoemulsion droplets were spherical, uniformly distributed, and well-coated at all emulsifier concentrations. Viscosity values ranged between (3.5 to 6.2 cP) and increased with the concentration of emulsifier. From the results of the stability test, it can be concluded that NE3 was the most stable during the period studied, as the lipid index (CI) remained zero until the seventh day. The highest value of oil encapsulation efficiency (EE) (97.60%) was recorded in NE3. These results showed that a stable nanoemulsion was successfully prepared from Iraqi amber rice bran oil, which could represent a promising solution for improving the stability and bioavailability of the oil and the active and effective compounds it contains.

Total Flavonoid Content and Antioxidant Properties of Different Extraction Methods of Red Spinach Leaf (Amaranthus tricolor L.)

Red spinach leaf (Amaranthus tricolor L.) has been well-proven to contain flavonoids that exhibit antioxidant activities. In this study, a comparison between maceration and ultrasonic methods has been carried out to evaluate the effect of these two methods on the level of red spinach leaf flavonoid. In this study, for maceration 1, 2, and 3 days while for the ultrasonic method 10-, 20-, and 30-minutes time duration have been used. The ratios of material and solvent were 1:5 and 1:10. The flavonoid content was determined with the help of a spectrophotometer at a maximum wavelength of 436.80 nm. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by the DPPH method to obtain the IC50. The result of the study revealed that the highest flavonoid content of 4.27 mgQE/g and antioxidant activity (IC50) of 110.47 ppm were obtained by an ultrasonic under conditions of 1:10 ratio and 30-minute extraction time. Results of the study suggested a significant difference (p<0,05) in the isolation of total flavonoid contents and antioxidant activities in the maceration and ultrasonic. In these two methods, ultrasonic was found to be more efficient than maceration because of minimum time, the highest flavonoid content and antioxidant activity could be obtained.

Evaluation of Residual Mechanical Properties of Non-sintered Hwangto Concrete Exposed to High Temperatures Using Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity Method

Evaluation of Residual Mechanical Properties of Non-sintered Hwangto Concrete Exposed to High Temperatures Using Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity Method

Developing a method to measure bioavailable phosphorus in river water via simultaneous multisample ultrasonic extraction

To reduce aquatic eutrophication, measurements of bioavailable phosphorus (BAP) rather than total phosphorus (TP) are deemed critical. However, current methods require much time to separate sediments from river water, which limits the routine measurement of BAP in rivers. Therefore, in this study, a simultaneous multisample ultrasonic extraction method is proposed to directly measure total BAP (TBAP) in river water without the separation of sediment and water. Spike-and-recovery assessments showed that at least three extractions are required to maintain efficiency. A process including 2-min extraction time and three extractions was suggested. The concentrations of TBAP extracted by this process showed no significant differences with the spike calculations. Furthermore, river water TBAP was quantified using the conventional and proposed method to examine the practicality of using the proposed method for simultaneous multisample ultrasonic extraction and to evaluate its adaptability to actual river water analysis. The extracted concentrations matched those obtained using the conventional method, in which total BAP is calculated as the sum of dissolved BAP and particulate BAP; no significant difference was observed between the concentrations. Ultrasonic extraction was considerably less time-consuming than the conventional method because more samples could be analyzed during a single run. Therefore, the simultaneous multisample ultrasonic extraction method proposed in this study can be used to directly quantify total BAP in river water.

Ultrasonic Study of Longitudinal Critically Refracted and Bulk Waves of the Heat-Affected Zone of a Low-Carbon Steel Welded Joint under Fatigue

Currently, ultrasonic methods for assessing the fatigue lifetime of various structural materials are being actively developed. Many steel constructions are made by welding. The weld heat-affected zone is the weak point of the construction, as it is most susceptible to destruction. Therefore, it is actually important to search for acoustic parameters that uniquely characterize the structural damage accumulation in the heat-affected zone of a welded joint in order to predict failure. In this work, the specimens were made from the base metal and the welded joint’s heat-affected zone. The specimens were subjected to uniaxial tension–compression under a symmetrical cycle in the region of low-cycle fatigue with control of the strain amplitude. The propagation bulk velocities of longitudinal, shear waves and subsurface longitudinal critically refracted (LCR) waves during cyclic loading were studied. The acoustic birefringence of shear waves was calculated, and a similar parameter was proposed for longitudinal and LCR waves. The dependence of the elastic modulus ratio on the cycle ratio was obtained. It was shown that the acoustic parameters change most intensively in the heat-affected zone. According to the data of the C33/C55 ratio changes measured through the ultrasonic method, a formula for calculating the remaining fatigue life in the heat-affected zone was proposed.

Fatigue crack evaluation of butt weld joints in full-scale aluminum alloy joints: Experimental and numerical study of traction structural stress

In this study, the digital image correlation technique is used to determine the inconsistent mechanical properties and microstructure non-uniformity in different regions of aluminum alloy butt welded joints. A state monitoring method is proposed based on phased-array ultrasonic total focus imaging for crack evolution. A series of surface fatigue crack propagation tests on full-scale aluminum alloy butt welds are investigated, which innovatively revealed the mechanism and evolution law of crack propagation at the surface of the weld. The analytical function for dynamic crack propagation in welded structures is proposed, which provides a new idea and data support for clarifying the state deterioration process of structures. The results show that the traction structural stress can effectively identify the critical fatigue position of the weld and effectively account for the effect of angular misalignment. The phased-array ultrasonic total-focus imaging monitoring analysis method for surface fatigue crack propagation is proposed to improve the completeness of the fatigue crack evolution law.