published_or_final_version / Sports Science / Master / Master of Science in Sports Science

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2002. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains viii, 101 p. : ill. (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 98-101).

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An experimental investigation was conducted to develop a laboratory technique for the nondestructive evaluation of reinforced concrete. The methodologies were developed with the intent of eventual field implementation to determine the feasibility of utilizing infrared thermography to inspect substructural elements of concrete bridges. Several specimen configurations were fabricated for thermographic inspection. A number of tests were performed on a variety of concrete specimens to determine the implementation parameters of the technique. The necessity of utilizing artificial heating methods for thermal input prior to inspection was evaluated. The present study suggests that infrared thermography cannot be applied to substructural elements of bridges in a noncontact fashion. Internal thermal gradients produced by diurnal temperature fluctuation generally are not sufficient to produce the variations in surface temperature patterns necessary for thermographically detecting nonvisual subsurface defects. Rather, both the envelopment and artificial heating of the substructural element is required prior to thermographic inspection. / Master of Science

A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Johannesburg, 2017 / The research presented in this thesis conclusively shows that the most effective method to perform synchronous turbo-generator rotor Thermal Instability Testing is by utilising the current injection method of condition assessment. Analysis of the experiences of a local utility for well over a decade has uncovered a high number of rotors failing thermal instability testing in recent years. This trend has brought the current testing methodology into question. Two different assessment modes of testing have been found to be utilised internationally without preference, namely, current injection and friction/windage. By determining the method that is best suited to detect a thermally sensitive rotor a service provider can benefit by improved rotor reliability as well as cost saving. The evaluation is accomplished by utilising a scaled down experimental setup based on the model of a local testing facility as well as a 600 MW turbo-generator rotor. A direct thermal mapping technique has been devised utilising infrared thermography to capture the thermal distribution of the rotor surface under different test conditions. The results obtained have shown that the methods differ substantially with the friction method exhibiting a uniform surface distribution and the current-injection method exhibiting areas of higher temperature concentration around the rotor pole faces. However, weaknesses do exist in present-day testing techniques in the form of inaccurate temperature measurements during testing as well as little consideration given to external factors such as the interaction between the slip-ring and brush-gear that have the potential to influence test outcomes. A presented augmented method of performing thermal sensitivity testing taking advantage of infrared thermography is found to improve testing accuracy and aid in fault detection and location. Current thermal instability testing coupled with the direct thermal mapping method has been demonstrated to be the most effective means for performing rotor thermal sensitivity testing. / MT2018

Thesis (M. Tech. Electrical engineering) -- Central University of technology, Free State, 2012 / Infrared thermography is a non-contact method of identifying the thermal behaviour of various plant equipment and machines, including their components, qualitatively via pattern recognition and quantitatively via statistical analysis. This allows for the development of condition monitoring and predictive failure analysis. It is well established that optimized maintenance planning can be more effective when a problem is detected in the early stages of failure. For example, in electrical systems an elevated electrical resistance caused by loose or corroded connections, broken conductor strands and dirty contact surfaces, results in localized heating, and a unique infrared pattern when analysed leads to the location of the problem and an indication of its severity. In recent years industrial thermography has used infrared detectors in the long wave portion of the electromagnetic spectrum normally between 8μm and 15μm, due partly to the fact that these wavelengths are not susceptible to solar radiation and/or solar glint. A number of scientific experiments were carried out on test apparatus to improve the understanding of the impact of convection, ambient air temperature and relative humidity on resultant infrared thermal images. Two similar heat sources, simulating a hotspot, at different temperature settings were used to determine whether the hotspot temperature should also be considered in conjunction with the atmospheric elements. The need for these experiments has also been identified by EPRI (Electrical Power Research Institute) in the USA as necessary to develop international severity criteria, and it is hoped that this study will contribute to this goal.