This thesis investigates a novel optoelectronic platform based on the integration of superconductive structures, such as thin films and micro-constrictions, with optical waveguides for ultra-fast and ultra-sensitive devices with applications including high-speed optical communications, quantum optical information processing, and terahertz (THz) devices and systems. The kinetic-inductive photoresponse of superconducting thin films will be studied as the basic optoelectronic process underlying the operation of these novel devices. Analytical formulation for the non-bolometric response is presented, and experimental photodetection in YBCO meander-line structures will be demonstrated. A set of superconducting coplanar waveguides (CPW) are designed and characterized, which support the operation of the devices at microwave frequencies. Microwave-photonic devices comprising a microwave transmission line and a light-sensitive element, such as a meander-line structure, are designed and measured for implementation of optically tunable microwave components. In order to support low-loss and low-dispersion propagation of millimeter-wave and THz signals in ultra-fast and wideband kinetic-inductive devices, surface-wave transmission lines are proposed, incorporating long-wavelength Surface Plasmon Polariton (SPP) modes in planar metal-dielectric waveguides. The theory of superconducting optical waveguides, including analytical formulation and numerical methods, is developed in detail. The implementation of superconducting optical waveguides is discussed thoroughly, employing conventional dielectric-waveguide techniques as well as optical SPP modes. Superconductive traveling-wave photodetectors (STWPDs) are introduced as a viable means for ultra-fast and ultra-sensitive photodetection and photomixing. A modified transmission line formalism is developed to model STWPDs, where light is guided through an optical waveguide and photodetection is distributed along a transmission line. As an appendix, a systematic approach is developed for the analysis of carrier transport through superconducting heterostructures and micro-constrictions within the Bogoliubov-de Gennes (BdG) framework. The method is applied to study the role of Andreev reflection and Josephson-like phenomena in the current-voltage characteristics of inhomogeneous superconducting structures. I-V characteristics are experimentally demonstrated in YBCO micro-constrictions with potential applications in millimeter-wave and THz devices.

No description available.

Guided ultrasonic detection system has the ability to inspect long range and not accessible pipelines. Especially, the T(0,1) mode guided wave was used widely at the detection, because the property of non-dispersive. For rapidly judge common features on pipe, this thesis makes an artificial neural network diagnosis system to separate and recognize the signals on pipeline. In the experimental setup, the torsional mode signal are excited by using an array of transducers distributed around the circumference of the 6-inch standard pipe, and the reflected signals contain flange, weld, elbow, and defect on elbow. These features are extracted and have been further processed to limit the size of the neural network; then, the feature signal classify as axisymmetric called black, non-axisymmetric called red, and dividing between the two called R/B ratio. The research also uses finite element method to simulate the weld by building up different kind of profile to analyze its amplitude and simulate the flange, elbow, and defect on the elbow. Because the reflection waves of simulation are too idealize to be the network data, the training data and validation data are collected from the experimental wave. In the recognition of artificial neural network, the signals were getting from two pipes of industry. One has bitumen on it, which makes signals attenuation. The other has a clear elbow and a notch on elbow. The two-class recognition method successfully separates flange and weld in low frequency; but in high frequency, the weld signal amplitude is close to flange signal, because the signals decay when guided waves pass to bitumen, and this makes the judge become error. Furthermore, the network recognizes defects on elbow, where the signals have 3 peaks and 2 peaks when the elbow has defect on it. The training result shows that the 3 peaks have better convergent than the 2 peaks in the network. Finally, the developed method can recognize those defects on the elbow when the reflection signals have 2 peaks, and when reflection signals have 3 peaks, it could not make a good judge because the network limit by sample data.

It is usually to see a large number of pipelines separating around the refineries, chemical and petro-chemical plants. The corrosion and erosion defects are unavoidable to occur in transporting pipe line. Especially, the maintain stuff usually find out breakage pipe or leaking liquid at elbowing pipe line because of the corrosion and erosion defects. So it is essential to examine these pipelines with an efficient method. The use of guided waves method is very attractive to solve this problem since guided wave could be excited at one circle on the pipeline and propagate over considerable distance. To choose guided wave torsion mode T (0, 1) as excitation mode because its group velocity doesn¡¦t change with frequencies. And the research analyzes the mode conversion that occurred when T (0, 1) mode propagated after the elbow pipe. The research also discusses the signal difference in different depth, circumferential distribution and axial length defects on the elbow pipe. The erosion defect usually occurs in the elbow pipe line and it would change with fluid velocity, causticity of fluid and flow direction. Therefore, the research designs the defects according to the character of erosion defect by finite element method software and simulates T (0, 1) mode propagating in the pipe line. Then this research extracts and analyzes the reflection signals from defects. In this guided wave experiment, the research manufactures the defect on elbow pipe. Because the erosion defect could be usually found at outer side of elbow pipe, artificial defect would be set there. And the elbow pipe is manufactured with different depth, circumferential distribution and axial length defect. The research would discuss the relationship between change of defect and reflection signal. By elbow pipe defect signals of simulation and experiment consequence, the different depth, circumferential distribution and axial length defect signals could be still distinguished. The signals with different axial length defect that received from straight pipe and elbow pipe are similar and are affected by signal constructive and destructive interference. So the research could get maximum and minimum defect signal amplitudes from one-fourth wavelength axial defect and half wavelength axial defect. Therefore, the axial length defect of elbow pipe could be estimated from defect signals and this consequence could help judge the level of damaged elbow pipe. T (0, 1) mode has better sensitivity to outside of the pipe than inside of the pipe. So the bigger signal amplitude could be received from the notch at outside of the pipe. In the process of wave propagation simulation, there are overlapping waveforms and mode conversions occur at elbow pipe. This situation causes the defect signals were amplified at elbow pipe. In practical detection, the misjudgments of amplified defect signals should be attended to.

The guided wave technique is commonly used for rapidly long-range pipeline inspection without removing the insulation of pipes. The torsional mode T(0,1) of the guided waves is usually generated to detect the defects in pipelines, since it has the advantage of being non-dispersive across the whole frequency range. However, a large number of pipelines are carrying fluid, wrapped with the coating material, and supported with clamp for the necessary manufacturing process in refinery and petro-chemical industrials. When these works are employed on the pipeline, the propagating guided waves may vary with the contents of material and how well the material compact on the pipe. Some energy of the incident guided wave in the pipe wall may leak into inside of contents or outside of wrapped materials and reduce the wave propagation distance. The effect of the fluid-filled pipe, the wrapped pipe, and the clamp support mounted on the pipe for guided wave propagation is investigated by both simulative and experimental methods. The wave structure of the T(0,1) mode in the pipes is analyzed by using the DISPERSE software for various cases to evaluate its influence to the guided wave propagation on the pipe. The amplitudes of the reflected signals from various features on the pipe are also measured using pipe screening system for calculating the attenuation of guided waves due to the features. The trend for the results is in good agreement between the experiments andpredictions for all cases of researches in this dissertation. It is found that the low viscosity liquid deposited in the pipe, such as water, diesel oil, and lubricant, has no effect on the torsional mode; while the high viscous of the fuel oil deposited in the pipe attenuates the reflection signal heavily for the pipe carrying fluid. In addition, both the full-filled and half-filled contents in the pipe are also studied in this case. The effects of the half-filled are the same as the full-filled results obtained. For the pipe wrapped with the coated material, the adhesive strength of the coated material is strong, such as bitumen and polyethylene; the attenuation of the guided waves is high; and there is almost no effect for mineral wool coating. Furthermore, the traveling distance of the guided waves in the pipe is also evaluated for various cases of the coated materials. The results indicate that the higher attenuation of the guided waves for the coated material, the shorter of the traveling distance in the pipe. For the clamp support mounted on pipe, the attenuation of the guided waves for the clamp support with a rubber gasket in between the pipe and the clamp is heavier than the case of clamp support without the rubber gasket is. Furthermore, the higher torque setting on the clamp (with or without the rubber gasket), the higher amplitude of the reflected signal is measured for the guided wave propagation. The effect of the frequency excitation is additionally demonstrated in this dissertation. It is noted that the higher amplitude of the reflected signal, the lower frequency excitation; moreover, theresonant effect is observed in the case of the clamp support with rubber gasket during the torque setting in the experiments. Good agreement has been obtained between the experiments and theoretical calculations of this effect.

This research covers modeling of Electro Magnetic Acoustic Transducers (EMATs) and their application in excitation and detection of longitudinal guided Lamb wave modes for evaluation of flaws in cylindrical pipes. The combination of the configuration of transducers and the frequency of the input current is essential for successful excitation of desired guided wave modes and for proper interpretation of the results. In this study EMATs were successfully constructed and longitudinal modes L(0,1) and L(0,2) were excited in the pipe. From the recorded signals the level of simulated damage in pipes could be assessed. It is also possible to theoretically predict the location of the pipe flaws. Theoretical predictions are matched with experimental results. Dents and holes in pipes are detected by appropriate signal processing of received L(0,1) and L(0,2) modes.

Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexing (CWDM) is becoming a popular way to increase the optical throughput of fibers for short to medium haul networks at a reduced cost. The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has defned the CWDM network to consist of eighteen channels with channel spacings of 20 nm starting at 1270 nm and ending at 1610 nm.Four and eight channel AWGs on InP, suitable for CWDM, were fabricated using a novel and versatile S-shape design. The standard horseshoe layout will not work on semiconductor for AWGs with a free spectral range (FSR) larger than 30 nm. The AWG design provides operation insensitive to thermal and polarization fluctuations, which is key for low cost operation and packaging. It will be shown thatrefractive index changes over the large operating wavelength band produced negligible effects in the transmission spectrum.Standard AWG design assumes refractive index is a constant over the operating wavelength band. As a result, the output waveguide separations are held constant on the second star coupler. As the channel number increases, secondary focal dispersion causedfrom a changing refractive index can have detrimental effects on performance. A new design method will be introduced which includes refractive index dispersion by allowing the output waveguide separations to vary. The new design is consistent with standard design but is applicable in materials with a linear index dispersion over an arbitrarily large wavelength band.Lastly, a method for increasing the transmission using multimode waveguides is discussed. Traditionally, single mode waveguides are required in order to prevent higher order waveguide modes creating ghost images in the output spectrum. Using bend loss and waveguide junction offsets, higher order modes can be filtered from the output,thereby eliminating ghost images and at the same time, increase transmission.

abstract: Structural health management (SHM) is emerging as a vital methodology to help engineers improve the safety and maintainability of critical structures. SHM systems are designed to reliably monitor and test the health and performance of structures in aerospace, civil, and mechanical engineering applications. SHM combines multidisciplinary technologies including sensing, signal processing, pattern recognition, data mining, high fidelity probabilistic progressive damage models, physics based damage models, and regression analysis. Due to the wide application of carbon fiber reinforced composites and their multiscale failure mechanisms, it is necessary to emphasize the research of SHM on composite structures. This research develops a comprehensive framework for the damage detection, localization, quantification, and prediction of the remaining useful life of complex composite structures. To interrogate a composite structure, guided wave propagation is applied to thin structures such as beams and plates. Piezoelectric transducers are selected because of their versatility, which allows them to be used as sensors and actuators. Feature extraction from guided wave signals is critical to demonstrate the presence of damage and estimate the damage locations. Advanced signal processing techniques are employed to extract robust features and information. To provide a better estimate of the damage for accurate life estimation, probabilistic regression analysis is used to obtain a prediction model for the prognosis of complex structures subject to fatigue loading. Special efforts have been applied to the extension of SHM techniques on aerospace and spacecraft structures, such as UAV composite wings and deployable composite boom structures. Necessary modifications of the developed SHM techniques were conducted to meet the unique requirements of the aerospace structures. The developed SHM algorithms are able to accurately detect and quantify impact damages as well as matrix cracking introduced. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering 2012

No description available.

abstract: This dissertation presents the development of structural health monitoring and prognostic health management methodologies for complex structures and systems in the field of mechanical engineering. To overcome various challenges historically associated with complex structures and systems such as complicated sensing mechanisms, noisy information, and large-size datasets, a hybrid monitoring framework comprising of solid mechanics concepts and data mining technologies is developed. In such a framework, the solid mechanics simulations provide additional intuitions to data mining techniques reducing the dependence of accuracy on the training set, while the data mining approaches fuse and interpret information from the targeted system enabling the capability for real-time monitoring with efficient computation. In the case of structural health monitoring, ultrasonic guided waves are utilized for damage identification and localization in complex composite structures. Signal processing and data mining techniques are integrated into the damage localization framework, and the converted wave modes, which are induced by the thickness variation due to the presence of delamination, are used as damage indicators. This framework has been validated through experiments and has shown sufficient accuracy in locating delamination in X-COR sandwich composites without the need of baseline information. Besides the localization of internal damage, the Gaussian process machine learning technique is integrated with finite element method as an online-offline prediction model to predict crack propagation with overloads under biaxial loading conditions; such a probabilistic prognosis model, with limited number of training examples, has shown increased accuracy over state-of-the-art techniques in predicting crack retardation behaviors induced by overloads. In the case of system level management, a monitoring framework built using a multivariate Gaussian model as basis is developed to evaluate the anomalous condition of commercial aircrafts. This method has been validated using commercial airline data and has shown high sensitivity to variations in aircraft dynamics and pilot operations. Moreover, this framework was also tested on simulated aircraft faults and its feasibility for real-time monitoring was demonstrated with sufficient computation efficiency. This research is expected to serve as a practical addition to the existing literature while possessing the potential to be adopted in realistic engineering applications. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Mechanical Engineering 2019