Search Results (10)

In nonlinear ultrasonic testing, the quadratic and more recently cubic nonlinearity parameters are frequently measured as a quantitative indicator of damaged material state. Application of higher-order harmonics can improve the sensitivity of detection and monitoring for damages and microstructures due to their higher values of nonlinearity parameters. The excitation and reception of higher-order harmonics, so-called superharmonics, which use the third to fifth harmonics arising from nonlinear wave propagation, is not sufficiently investigated and applied. The purpose of this communication is to develop a highly sensitive superharmonic nondestructive technique that efficiently generates and receives third- and fifth-order harmonics using the odd harmonic resonances of a single piezoelectric crystal. The method focuses on the measurement of fifth harmonic generation and reception, and the calculation of the relative quintic nonlinearity parameter ($\delta ’$). The method also addresses the issue of source nonlinearity that may be contained in the measured fifth harmonic amplitude. The measurement results of $\delta ’$ for a series of precipitation heat-treated samples clearly show a much better sensitivity than the results of the cubic nonlinearity parameter ($\gamma ’$). The proposed method enables a highly sensitive and true pulse-echo mode nonlinear ultrasound testing. Full article

In nonlinear ultrasound testing, the relative nonlinear parameter is conveniently measured as a sensitive means of detecting and imaging overall variation of microstructures and damages. Compared to the quadratic nonlinear parameter (${\beta }^{\prime }$), the cubic nonlinear parameter (${\gamma }^{\prime }$), calculated as the third harmonic amplitude divided by the cube of the fundamental amplitude, has generally a higher value, providing better sensitivity in nonlinear parameter mapping. Since the third harmonic amplitude is about two orders of magnitude lower than the fundamental amplitude, efficient excitation and highly sensitive reception of third harmonic is very important. In this paper, we explore an odd harmonic thickness resonant transducer that meets the requirements for pulse-echo third harmonic generation (THG) measurements. We also address the problem of source nonlinearity that may be present in the measured amplitude of the third harmonic and propose a method to properly correct it. First, we measure ${\gamma }^{\prime }$ for a series of aluminum specimens using the through-transmission method to observe the behavior of ${\gamma }^{\prime }$ as a function of specimen thickness and input voltage, and examine the effects of various corrections such as attenuation, diffraction and source nonlinearity. Next, we apply the odd harmonic resonant transducer to pulse-echo THG measurements of precipitation heat-treated specimens. It is shown that such transducer is very effective in generation and detection of fundamental and third harmonics under finite amplitude toneburst excitation. The highly sensitive detectability of ${\gamma }^{\prime }$ are presented as a function of aging time, and the sensitivity of ${\gamma }^{\prime }$ is compared with that of ${\beta }^{\prime }$ and ${{\beta }^{\prime }}^2$. Full article

The single-phase isolated quasi-single-stage AC-DC converter has many virtues, such as high power density and efficiency; however, its grid current closed-loop control has not been solved. This paper aims to solve the remaining gap based on a large-signal model. In this paper, the large-signal model of this converter under triple-phase-shift modulation is built for the first time. It is verified that the built model is a zero-order linear system. Based on this built model, the effect of grid harmonics on this converter grid current is analyzed. The theoretical analysis reveals that the grid voltage low-order harmonics will cause the same order grid current harmonics and only varying the parameters of the filter is not an effective method to solve this problem. For the purpose of eliminating the effect of grid voltage harmonics on the grid current and realizing the zero-error control of the fundamental component of the grid current, a grid current closed-loop control strategy based on the proportional-resonant compound odd-mode repetitive controller is proposed. The operation principle, parameter constraint, and design rule of the proposed compound control strategy are analyzed comprehensively. The theoretical analysis and the compound control strategy put forward in this paper are tested, with detailed experimental results. Full article

In this paper, we present a dual-band microstrip bandpass filter (BPF) with an improved stopband, which was constructed by a quad-mode stub-loaded resonator (SLR). Since the SLR is able to produce multiresonance within a single unit, the area saving is significant. The proposed quad-mode SLR was implemented by two stubs allocated at symmetry places, thus the even-/odd-mode can be applied to analysis the resonance. Moreover, to shift the spurious passband, the step impedance structure was applied to shift the harmonic resonance to the higher frequency. Design procedure for high performance dual-band BPF is proposed, and filter examples were designed for wireless local area network (WLAN) of 2.4/5.2 GHz. The measured insertion losses, return losses and fractional bandwidths (FBW) are 1.43 dB, 10 dB, and 14.8% at 2.4 GHz and 1.34 dB, 10 dB, and 12.9% at 5.2 GHz. Moreover, by applying two quarter-wavelength stubs on the input/output ports, the passband selectivity with an isolation of 40 dB can be achieved. The simulation and measurement have a close match, verifying the design concept. Full article

This paper proposes an improved version of the play model for capturing the frequency-dependent hysteresis of a bimorph piezoelectric actuator that includes odd harmonic oscillation and interleaved hysteresis. The proposed model used a single mathematical structure to capture the changes in the actuator response observed with the increase in the input signal frequency. The refinements on the structure of the original play model for capturing the peculiar behavior of the bimorph piezoelectric actuator have been addressed in detail. The parameter identification has been conducted extensively for a range of 1 Hz to 110 Hz, which exceeds the resonance frequency specified by the manufacturer of the actuator. Improved modeling accuracy was confirmed as compared with our previous enhanced Bouc–Wen model based on the calculation of the fitness index. We also attempted to synthesize a hysteresis compensator based on direct inverse multiplication; the results of the experimental validation of the proposed control system are disclosed. Full article

This work presents the design of a control law based on the average model of a shunt active power filter considering an H-bridge neutral point clamped topology and its experimental validation. Therefore, the proposed controller is formed by three control loops, namely current (inner), regulation (outer), and balance control loops. The current loop aims to compensate both the displacement power factor and the harmonic distortion produced by nonlinear loads connected to the point of common coupling. To deal with harmonic current distortion, the current loop involves an adaptive mechanism based on a bank of resonant filters tuned at odd harmonics of the fundamental grid frequency. The regulation and balance loops are aimed to maintain the voltage of the capacitors forming the DC-link at a desired constant level. For this, proportional-integral controllers are designed. The design of all three loops considers the average model of the system. The performance of the proposed multi-loop control law is evaluated through numerical results and real-time experimental implementation, both considering a 2 kW academic benchmark with a constant switching frequency of 7 kHz. In order to provide harmonic distortion, a nonlinear load based on an uncontrolled diode bridge rectifier is considered. Additionally, step-load changes from 0.5 kW to 1 kW are considered for the nonlinear load. As a result, a suitable current tracking, voltage regulation, and balance are observed despite parametric uncertainties, load variations, and harmonic distortion. As a consequence, in steady state, simulation results indicate that the compensated grid current THD is 1.75%; meanwhile, the nonlinear load current THD is 52.5%. Experimental results indicate that the compensated grid current THD is 2.32%; meanwhile, the nonlinear load current THD is 53.8%. Full article

The expression of functional, folded, and isotopically enriched membrane proteins is an enduring bottleneck for nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies. Indeed, historically, protein yield optimization has been insufficient to allow NMR analysis of many complex Eukaryotic membrane proteins. However, recent work has found that manipulation of plasmid codons improves the odds of successful NMR-friendly protein production. In the last decade, numerous studies showed that matching codon usage patterns in recombinant gene sequences to those in the native sequence is positively correlated with increased protein yield. This phenomenon, dubbed codon harmonization, may be a powerful tool in optimizing recombinant expression of difficult-to-produce membrane proteins for structural studies. Here, we apply this technique to an inward rectifier K⁺ Channel (Kir) 3.1-KirBac1.3 chimera. Kir3.1 falls within the G protein-coupled inward rectifier K⁺ (GIRK) channel family, thus NMR studies may inform on the nuances of GIRK gating action in the presence and absence of its G Protein, lipid, and small molecule ligands. In our hands, harmonized plasmids increase protein yield nearly two-fold compared to the traditional ‘fully codon optimized’ construct. We then employ a fluorescence-based functional assay and solid-state NMR correlation spectroscopy to show the final protein product is folded and functional. Full article

In this paper, a single-phase single-stage photovoltaic (PV) grid-tied system is investigated. The conventional pulse width modulated (PWM) voltage source inverter (VSI) is replaced by a PWM current source inverter (CSI) for its voltage boosting capabilities, inherent short-circuit proof and higher reliability features. Modeling, design, and analysis of the considered CSI are presented altogether with enhanced proposed control loops aided with a modified PWM technique. DC-link even current harmonics are commonly reflected as low-order odd harmonics in the grid resulting in a poor quality grid current. In order to overcome the latter, a high performance proportional resonant controller, applied in the inverter inner grid current loop, is proposed using cascaded resonant control units tuned at low-order frequencies to eliminate injected grid current harmonics. Hence, with a less-bulky smoothing inductor at the CSI DC-side, grid power quality and system efficiency are simultaneously improved. Simulation and experimental results verify the proposed controller effectiveness. Full article

A 3.7 kW resonant wireless charging system (WCS) is proposed to realize the energy transmission for electric vehicles. In addition to designing the electrical modules functionally, coupling coils are designed and verified by physical prototype, which guarantees the accuracy of coils and subsequent simulations. Then, we focus on the magnetic field distribution of coupling coils in the vehicle environment. Four points (A1, A2, A3, A4) in different regions and three points (the head B1, chest B2 and cushion B3) in the driving seat are helped to measure the magnetic field strength. The magnetic field distribution of coils under five offsets of 60 mm, 120 mm, 180 mm, 240 mm and 300 mm are analyzed theoretically and simulated correspondingly. The simulation results indicate that the magnetic field strength of test points are within the limits, but the strength at A3 is larger than 30.4 A/m required by SAE J2954 at 40% offset and 50% offset. Taking into account the composition of the actual magnetic field, the magnetic field distribution due to side-band and odd harmonic current are also obtained. An experimental bench for the proposed 3.7 kW WCS is built to validate the rightness and feasibility of the simulated scheme. The results of simulation and experiments of magnetic field distribution have less error and are often in good agreement. Full article

The human primary motor cortex has dual representation of the digits, namely, area 4 anterior (MI-4a) and area 4 posterior (MI-4p). We have previously demonstrated that activation of these two functional subunits can be identified independently by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) using independent component-cross correlation-sequential epoch (ICS) analysis. Subsequent studies in patients with hemiparesis due to subcortical lesions and monoparesis due to peripheral nerve injury demonstrated that MI-4p represents the initiation area of activation, whereas MI-4a is the secondarily activated motor cortex requiring a “long-loop” feedback input from secondary motor systems, likely the cerebellum. A dynamic model of hand motion based on the limit cycle oscillator predicts that the specific pattern of entrainment of neural firing may occur by applying appropriate periodic stimuli. Under normal conditions, such entrainment introduces a single phase-cluster. Under pathological conditions where entrainment stimuli have insufficient strength, the phase cluster splits into two clusters. Observable physiological phenomena of this shift from single cluster to two clusters are: doubling of firing rate of output neurons; or decay in group firing density of the system due to dampening of odd harmonics components. While the former is not testable in humans, the latter can be tested by appropriately designed fMRI experiments, the quantitative index of which is believed to reflect group behavior of neurons functionally localized, e.g., firing density in the dynamic theory. Accordingly, we performed dynamic analysis of MI-4p activation in normal volunteers and paretic patients. The results clearly indicated that MI-4p exhibits a transition from a single to a two phase-cluster state which coincided with loss of MI-4a activation. The study demonstrated that motor dysfunction (hemiparesis) in patients with a subcortical infarct is not simply due to afferent fiber disruption. Maintaining proper afferent signals from MI-4p requires proper functionality of MI-4a and, hence, appropriate feedback signals from the secondary motor system. Full article