Special Issue "Diagnostics and Nondestructive Testing as an Important Factor of Sustainability"

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Engineering and Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2021.

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Maciej Roskosz
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Robotics, AGH University of Science and Technology, Aleja Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Kraków, Poland
Interests: magnetic methods of nondestructive testing; electromagnetic properties sensing; residual magnetic field; Barkhausen Noise

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The 21st century world is a world of dynamic alterations, especially in engineering and sociology. Sociological changes pose new challenges for all branches of engineering. Societies of each country require greater necessities regarding their comfort of life and the reliability of the supply chain of basic goods (safety, food, housing, energy, and information). On the other hand, the development of engineering means that new products appearing on the market can replace older ones that still meet our needs. Accordingly, rich societies tend to replace fully functioning devices with new ones. This process applies to almost all sectors of the economy: ICT, construction, energy, transport, agriculture, and many others. Decisions on whether to replace devices are based on technical and economic analyses that include detailed calculated outlays and the resulting profits, in which the basic factors are efficiency and reliability. In this case, diagnostics and nondestructive testing play a key role. The development of reliable methods and means for assessing the state of technical infrastructure elements allows one to make sound investment decisions. Decisions on the continuation of operation or its termination (for technical and economic reasons) and the replacement of machines, devices, or a specific system of machines and devices, for new ones should be based on reliable, standardized, or innovative methods of diagnostics and nondestructive testing. What happens to products at the end of their useful life in rich societies? Is it possible to reuse them in countries where they are not morally (or economically) consumed? The answer seems to be clear. With proper identification of their technical condition via nondestructive testing, this is achievable. We can make our world better, but first we should understand how important the role of diagnostics and nondestructive testing in sustainability is.

Papers selected for this Special Issue were subject to the following:

  • Industrial development and energy crisis;
  • Changing consumption and production patterns;
  • Impact of safety, security, and disaster management on sustainability;
  • System analysis methods, including life cycle assessment and management;
  • Applications of sustainability;
  • Other topics related to sustainability.

Prof. Dr. Maciej Roskosz
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All papers will be peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Nondestructive testing
  • Destructive testing
  • New methods of inspections
  • Lifetime management
  • Durability

Published Papers (3 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Article
Low-Frequency Magnetic Fields in Diagnostics of Low-Speed Electrical and Mechanical Systems
Sustainability 2021, 13(16), 9197; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13169197 - 16 Aug 2021
Viewed by 330
Abstract
The magnetic field created by technical devices is a source of information. This information could be used in contactless diagnostics and predictive maintenance or for resolving problems along with standard NDT (nondestructive testing) methods, especially if we consider large, slow-speed devices, such as [...] Read more.
The magnetic field created by technical devices is a source of information. This information could be used in contactless diagnostics and predictive maintenance or for resolving problems along with standard NDT (nondestructive testing) methods, especially if we consider large, slow-speed devices, such as electromotors, transmissions, or generators. Identification of causalities of device failure processes with near magnetic field is one of the suitable NDT methods improving sustainability of systems. The measurements presented in the article were performed with the VEMA 04 fluxgate vector magnetometer with the DC-250 Hz bandwidth and 2 nT sensitivity. Postprocessing of the results was performed in the means of standard methods of discrete Fourier Transform, spectrogram creation and Wavelet Transform. The article presents data gathered during the measurement of a pair of extraction fans with power of 140 kW each and maximum revolutions up to 740 rev/min controlled by frequency converters and a single semi-Kaplan water power plant with 400 kW peak power at 1005 rev/min maximum generator speed. The measurements were performed before and after repairs of one of the ventilators in the ventilation system at 60% and 100% of maximal output power. The rotating magnetic fields of the fan electromotor stator, fan rotor revolutions, rotor slip frequency and ball-bearing frequencies were identified in frequency spectrums in the distance of 700 mm from fan electromotor axis in both cases. During the measurements on the semi-Kaplan turbine, the changes in states of mechanical and electrical components of the machine were monitored in the magnetic fields with increase of the power in the range of 0–95%, before and after phasing to the electrical grid. Standard processing methods, Discrete Fourier Transform, spectrograms and Discrete Wavelet Transform were used. In the spectrograms of the measured magnetic fields, the 1st–4th harmonics of the turbine shaft, generator shaft and also their side frequencies were identified. Significant changes of magnetic fields in time were identified in the area of 60–95% power. With the help of the Wavelet, transform intervals were identified where it is desirable to operate the turbine. The analyses of magnetic fields measurements performed on the power plant were compared with vibro-diagnostic principles. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Article
Analysis and Distribution of Conveyor Belt Noise Sources under Laboratory Conditions
Sustainability 2021, 13(4), 2233; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13042233 - 19 Feb 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 437
Abstract
In compliance with ecological policies, activities undertaken by surface mines in relation to environment protection should be comprehensive and must take into account the principle of sustained development. One of the most basic tasks in this area is to reduce the nuisance caused [...] Read more.
In compliance with ecological policies, activities undertaken by surface mines in relation to environment protection should be comprehensive and must take into account the principle of sustained development. One of the most basic tasks in this area is to reduce the nuisance caused by the noise emitted to the environment. The problem of above-standard noise levels caused by transportation systems operated in mines can be solved only after major noise sources are identified and analyzed in detail. This article first focuses on the literature studies to describe the possible sources of noise generated by a belt conveyor and in its second part it presents exploratory research into noise sources. The research was performed under laboratory conditions with the use of an acoustic camera as a tool for spatially identifying and classifying individual noise sources. The article identifies some phenomena related to the operation of main belt conveyor components and describes their characteristic frequency ranges. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Article
Influence of Design Parameters of Idler Bearing Units on the Energy Consumption of a Belt Conveyor
Sustainability 2021, 13(1), 437; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13010437 - 05 Jan 2021
Viewed by 1021
Abstract
This publication presents the results of laboratory tests of idler rolling resistance under operational loads. Operational loads are understood as radial and axial forces acting on the idler, with values corresponding to those that occur in the conditions of its operation in copper [...] Read more.
This publication presents the results of laboratory tests of idler rolling resistance under operational loads. Operational loads are understood as radial and axial forces acting on the idler, with values corresponding to those that occur in the conditions of its operation in copper ore mines. Knowing the rolling resistance is important not only at the stage of conveyor design, selection of the drive power or calculations of the necessary belt strength, but also when improving and searching for new idler design solutions. The idlers adopted for this research were differentiated in terms of bearings and idler axial clearance. The investigations were carried out on a unique test stand designed and built by the authors. The construction of the stand enables simulating operational loads while measuring the rolling resistance. The test rig measures idler bearing losses and rolling drag, not belt indentation rolling resistance. The object of the research were ø133×465 idlers, which are most commonly used in the raw materials industry. The results show the possibility of reducing the belt conveyor energy consumption by appropriate selection of the design features of the idler bearing unit. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop