This research aims to investigate the application of infrared thermography (IRT) as a method of nondestructive evaluation (NDE) for the detection of defects in the rail base area. Rails have to withstand harsh conditions during their application. Therefore, defects can develop in the base area of rails due to stresses such as bending, shear, contact, and thermal stresses, fatigue, and corrosion. Such defects can cause catastrophic failures in the rails, ultimately leading to train derailments. Rail base defects due to fatigue and corrosion are difficult to detect and currently there are no reliable or practical non-destructive evaluation (NDE) methods for finding these types of defects in the revenue service. Transportation Technology Center, Inc. (TTCI) had previously conducted a research on the capability of flash IRT to detect defects in rail base area based on simulation approach. The research covered in this thesis is the continuation of the same project.In this research, three rail samples were prepared with each containing a notched-edge, side-drilled holes (SDHs), and bottom-drilled holes (BDHs). Two steel sample blocks containing BDHs and SDHs of different sizes and depths were also prepared. Preliminary IRT trials were conducted on the steel samples to obtain an optimal IRT setup configuration. The initial inspections for one of the steel samples were outsourced to Thermal Wave Imaging (TWI) where they employed Thermographic Signal Reconstruction (TSR) technique to enhance the resulting images. Additional inspections of the steel samples were performed in the Southern Illinois University-Carbondale (SIUC) facility. In case of the rail samples, the SDHs and the notched-edge reflectors could not be detected in any of the experimental trials performed in this research. In addition, two more rail samples containing BDHs were prepared to investigate the detection capabilities for three different surface conditions: painted, unpainted, and rusted. The painted surface provided a best-case scenario for inspections while the other conditions offered further insight on correlating the application to industry-like cases.A 1300 W halogen lamp was employed as the heat source for providing continuous thermal excitation for various durations. Post-processing and analysis of the resulting thermal images was performed within the acquisition software using built-in analysis tools such as temperature probes, Region of Interest (ROI) based intensity profiles, and smoothing filters. The minimum defect diameter to depth (aspect) ratio detected in preliminary trials for the steel sample blocks were 1.0 at a diameter of 4.7625 mm (0.1875 in) and 1.5 at a diameter of 3.175 mm (0.125 in). For the inspection of painted rail sample, the longest exposure times (10 sec) provided the best detection capabilities in all sets of trials. The three holes having aspect ratio greater or equal to 1.0 were indicated in the thermal response of the painted and rusted samples while only the two holes having aspect ratio greater or equal to 1.5 were indicated in the unaltered sample. Indications of reflectors were identified through qualitative graphical analysis of pixel intensity distributions obtained along a bending line profile. The results obtained from the painted sample provided a baseline for analyzing the results from the unpainted and rusted rail samples. This provided an insight on the limitations and requirements for future development. The primary takeaway is the need for an optimized heat source. Poor contrast in the resulting image for the unpainted and rusted rail samples is experienced due to both noise and lack of penetration of the heat energy. This could have been due to decreased emissivity values. Moreover, the excitation method employed in this research does not comply with current industry standards for track clearances. Therefore, exploration of alternative excitation methods is recommended.

Un traducteur électromagnétique acoustique (EMAT) induit sans contact des sources dynamiques responsables du rayonnement ultrasonore transmis dans une pièce pour son contrôle non-destructif (CND).Un modèle de sources de transduction induites par EMAT en milieux ferromagnétiques est développé. Il prend en compte des courbes anhystérétiques d’aimantation et de déformation de magnétostriction prédites par une approche multi-échelle simplifiée, et dérive formellement les tenseurs des contraintes électromagnétiques et magnétostrictives adaptés à la formulation des sources électromagnéto-élastiques induites par EMAT dans une très large gamme de configurations d’inspection.Pour simuler efficacement le rayonnement ultrasonore de sources volumiques en utilisant les modèles semi-analytiques du logiciel CIVA, une méthode capable de les transformer en contraintes surfaciques équivalentes est développée. Ainsi, le modèle formule une source de contraintes surfaciques décrivant l’ensemble des phénomènes de transduction impliqués par EMAT en milieux magnétiques. Ce modèle permet de quantifier le poids relatif de chaque source de transduction, d’illustrer l’influence de la prise en compte des lois magnéto-élastiques anhystérétiques, et de mettre en évidence les variations des sources avec un état de contraintes mécaniques. Il est appliqué dans une configuration EMAT donnée pour illustrer l’apport des outils mis en place dans la conception d’EMAT pour le CND, et ses prédictions sont comparées avec succès à des résultats de mesure. / An electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT) induces without contact dynamic sources in a ferromagnetic material which radiate ultrasonic waves used for its nondestructive evaluation (NDE).Taking account of the anhysteretic magnetic and magnetostrictive constitutive laws predicted by a simplified multiscale approach, the transduction model derives the electro-magnetic and magnetostrictive stresses tensors, well-fitted for the definition of electromagnetic and magnetostrictive sources induced by EMAT, irrespective of the piece geometry, of the material properties and of the transducer design.To efficiently predict ultrasonic field radiation with the CIVA platform, a method to transform body sources into equivalent surface stresses is developed. As a result, an equivalent surface source is derived to accurately depict all the transduction processes induced by EMAT in nonlinear magnetic material. The model is used to quantify the weight of each transduction mecanism, to illustrate effects of nonlinear magnetoelastic behaviors of materials, to enlighten the impact of elastic residual stresses on transduction sources. It is applied in a given EMAT NDE configuration to illustrate how the developed tools can help optimizing EMAT design, and its predictions are succesfully compared to experimental measurements.

This work deals with the possibility of use of intelligent methods in construction machines control. These methods are based on GPS in combination with using laser and ultrasonic technology. There is in detail described especially control by robotic total station and 3D control, which includes digital model of construction site. The new trends of control are especially applied on the vibratory rollers. There are taken into consideration: achievement of sufficient degree of compaction on the basis of on-line information about conditions of subsoil.

HSLA-65 steel (6.4 mm thick) was friction stir welded at various welding speeds and spindle speeds. Varying weld parameters provided a range of heat inputs. Impact toughness was evaluated as a function of the different weld parameters and corresponding weld heat inputs. Charpy V-Notch (CVN) tests were conducted in parent material and at both the weld nugget centerline and heat-affected zone (HAZ) locations. The upper shelf CVN impact energy of the weld nugget was above that of the base metal for all weld parameters. The upper shelf impact toughness in the HAZ was largely unaffected by changing weld parameters. The nil-ductility transition (NDT) temperature in the weld nugget increased with increasing heat input. The toughness, with respect to the ductile-to-brittle transition, was negatively affected by the increase in heat input. The NDT temperature in the HAZ did not correlate with heat input. The microstructures and microhardness data were examined. Aspects of variation in the impact energy results were identified as the inhomogeneity of the weld microstructure and the placement of the V-notch. Weld nugget microstructures were more inhomogeneous than base metal. Hardness results showed varying values of hardness from the weld crown to the root, transversely across the weld, and longitudinally along the length. Variation due primarily to the inhomogeneity of the weld microstructure is compounded by the location of the V-notch.

No description available.

According to a 1999 Federal Highway Administration statistic, the U.S. has around 8.2 million lane-miles of roadways that need to be maintained and rehabilitated periodically. Therefore, in order to reduce rehabilitation costs, pavement engineers need to optimize the rehabilitation procedure, which is achieved by accurately knowing the existing pavement layer thicknesses and localization of subsurface defects. Currently, the majority of departments of transportation (DOTs) rely on coring as a means to estimate pavement thicknesses, instead of using other nondestructive techniques, such as Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR). The use of GPR as a nondestructive pavement assessment tool is limited mainly due to the difficulty of GPR data interpretation, which requires experienced operators. Therefore, GPR results are usually subjective and inaccurate. Moreover, GPR data interpretation is very time-consuming because of the huge amount of data collected during a survey and the lack of reliable GPR data-interpretation software. This research effort attempts to overcome these problems by developing new GPR data analysis techniques that allow thickness estimation and subsurface defect detection from GPR data without operator intervention. The data analysis techniques are based on an accurate modeling of the propagation of the GPR electromagnetic waves through the pavement dielectric materials while traveling from the GPR transmitter to the receiver. Image-processing techniques are also applied to detect layer boundaries and subsurface defects. The developed data analysis techniques were validated utilizing data collected from an experimental pavement system: the Virginia Smart Road. The layer thickness error achieved by the developed system was around 3%. The conditions needed to achieve reliable and accurate results from GPR testing were also established. / Ph. D.

The doctoral thesis deals with a non-destructive testing method (NDT) designed to evaluate the uniformity of distribution and determination of the concentration of steel fibres in steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC). At present, no non-destructive method is available in the field of diagnostics of building structures to assess the concentration and the homogeneity of SFRC. The Institute of Building Testing (SZK FAST BUT Brno) has several diagnostic devices, but their utility for the evaluation of selected parameters of SFRC has not proven during the research activity. This knowledge led to the design of a new measuring instrument in cooperation with the Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Electrical Engineering of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Communication (UTEE FEKT BUT in Brno) and the methodology for evaluation of these parameters. The proposed NDT method has been experimentally tested and verified for its utility for the evaluation of SFRC in building practice.

The purpose of this work is to contribute to a process formaking buildings with good function and to avoid prematurefaults. The design, construction and installation of low-slopedroofs are important parts of creating a durable building. Mostof the leakages in low-sloped roofs occur where materials withdifferent thermomechanical properties are joined together. Withbetter knowledge about these joints, the expected service lifecould better be estimated. Common roofing materials onlow-sloped roofs are roof membranes. To avoid damages and to minimise energy consumption thedetection of air and water leaks is essential. It can bedifficult to localise a leak in e.g. a roof since water canflow far within the construction. Leakage detection can beapplied both as a quality assurance method after installationof low-sloped roofs and as field inspection methods. Theleakage detection can also be extended to terrace slabs and thewhole building envelope. To investigate the strength of jointsbetween sheet metaland roofing membranes, several small-scale tests and somelarge-scale tests were performed. The test methods weredeveloped to match the loads that can be expected on this kindof joints. A number of water leak-detection methods were evaluatedthrough application on test roofs. Some of the methods todetect leaks on low-sloped roofs can also be used to detect airleakage in other parts of the building envelope. To develop andevaluate air leak-detection procedures, selected methods wereused in two case studies. The circumstances regarding welding of the material jointswere found to have great impact on the strength. The roofshould be designed so no long-term strain will appear since acomparatively low stress may damage the joint over time. The performance of the leak-detection methods depends on theroofing material. All methods tested were an improvementcompared to visual inspections. Different recommendedapproaches for leakage detection and quality control is given.The case studies show that air leakage detection could beperformed with good accuracy. The potential difference methodcould without doubt be a tool for leakage localisation inwaterproofing layers both on roofs and in terrace slabs. <b>Keywords:</b>Roofing, roof membrane, durability,waterproofing, leakage, wind-load, non-destructive testing,NDT, BSL4, BSL3, air leakage, building envelope

<p>The purpose of this work is to contribute to a process formaking buildings with good function and to avoid prematurefaults.</p><p>The design, construction and installation of low-slopedroofs are important parts of creating a durable building. Mostof the leakages in low-sloped roofs occur where materials withdifferent thermomechanical properties are joined together. Withbetter knowledge about these joints, the expected service lifecould better be estimated. Common roofing materials onlow-sloped roofs are roof membranes.</p><p>To avoid damages and to minimise energy consumption thedetection of air and water leaks is essential. It can bedifficult to localise a leak in e.g. a roof since water canflow far within the construction. Leakage detection can beapplied both as a quality assurance method after installationof low-sloped roofs and as field inspection methods. Theleakage detection can also be extended to terrace slabs and thewhole building envelope.</p><p>To investigate the strength of jointsbetween sheet metaland roofing membranes, several small-scale tests and somelarge-scale tests were performed. The test methods weredeveloped to match the loads that can be expected on this kindof joints.</p><p>A number of water leak-detection methods were evaluatedthrough application on test roofs. Some of the methods todetect leaks on low-sloped roofs can also be used to detect airleakage in other parts of the building envelope. To develop andevaluate air leak-detection procedures, selected methods wereused in two case studies.</p><p>The circumstances regarding welding of the material jointswere found to have great impact on the strength. The roofshould be designed so no long-term strain will appear since acomparatively low stress may damage the joint over time.</p><p>The performance of the leak-detection methods depends on theroofing material. All methods tested were an improvementcompared to visual inspections. Different recommendedapproaches for leakage detection and quality control is given.The case studies show that air leakage detection could beperformed with good accuracy. The potential difference methodcould without doubt be a tool for leakage localisation inwaterproofing layers both on roofs and in terrace slabs.</p><p><b>Keywords:</b>Roofing, roof membrane, durability,waterproofing, leakage, wind-load, non-destructive testing,NDT, BSL4, BSL3, air leakage, building envelope</p>

X-Ray Diffraction Contrast Tomography (DCT) is a recently developed, non-destructive synchrotron imaging technique which characterizes microstructure and grain orientation in polycrystalline materials in three dimensions (3D). By combining it with propagation based phase contrast tomography (PCT) it is for the first lime possible to observe in situ the 3D propagation behavior of short fatigue cracks (SFCs) within a set of fully characterized grains (orientation and shape). The combined approach, termed 3D X-ray Tomography of short cracks and Microstructure (3DXTSM), has been developed on the metastable beta titanium alloy "Beta21S". A large part of this work deals with the development of the 3DXTSM methodology. In the combined dataset, each point on the 3D fracture surface can be associated with a multidimensional data structure containing variables describing the grain orientation, the local fracture surface normal and the propagation history. The method uses a surface mesh composed of triangles that describes the crack (in other words: the fracture surface) in the last propagation state measured. Grain orientations, crack fronts, local growth rates and grain boundaries can be visualized by assigning colors to this mesh. The data structure can be interrogated in a number of different ways. Tools for extracting pole figures and pole density distribution functions have been implemented. An algorithm was developed that is capable of measuring the 3D local growth rate of a crack containing branches. The accuracy of the grain boundaries as reconstructed with OCT was evaluated and the elastic constants of Beta21S were determined.