Abstract: Systems, devices and methods enable generation and monitoring of support platform structural conditions in a manner that overcomes drawbacks associated with conventional approaches (e.g., load cells) for generating and monitoring similar operating condition information. In preferred embodiments, such systems, devices and methods utilize fiber optic strain gauges (i.e., fiber optic sensors) in place of (e.g., retrofit/data replacement) or in combination with conventional load cells. The fiber optic sensors are strategically placed at a plurality of locations on one or more support bodies of a support platform. In preferred embodiments, the fiber optic strain gauges are placed in positions within a hull and/or one or more pontoons of an offshore platform. Such positions are selected whereby resulting operating condition data generated by the fiber optic strain gauges suitably replaces data received by conventionally constructed and located load cells of an offshore platform (e.g., a TLP).

Abstract: A load indicator apparatus which is compact, portable and detachably mounted on the tie-rod. The load indicator apparatus includes a first reference fixture configured for attachment at a first position on the tie-rod, a second fixture configured for attachment at a second position on the tie-rod and an elongation gauge extending between the first reference fixture and the second fixture and configured to measure displacement of the second fixture relative to the first reference fixture during elongation of the tie-rod. A displacement transducer is connected to the second fixture to measure a capacitance value proportional to the loading acting on the tie-rod and transfers it to a load monitoring unit which translates the measured capacitance into a visual load reading and an electronic load output value.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for a load-sensing hitch utilizing a system of strain gauges. An example apparatus includes a hitch including a first support including a first end, a second end, and a mid-portion located between the first end and the second end, the mid-portion having a cross-sectional area smaller than the cross-sectional area of the first end or the cross-sectional area of the second end, a strain gauge located at the mid-portion of the first support, a frame attachment to couple the hitch to a frame of a vehicle, the support coupled to the frame attachment, and a load manager to determine a load condition based on sensor data from the strain gauge.

Abstract: Cracks in foundations may be detected by sensing motion within the foundation. Sensors may be applied to a foundation, and the positions of the sensors may be read. At subsequent points in time the positions of the sensors may be read again. If the positions of the sensors are changing in a way that suggests that portions of the foundation are moving apart from each other, then it may be inferred that a crack is forming in the foundation. The formation of cracks may be used to take various actions. For example, the owner of the building that rests on the foundation may be information of the crack so that he or she may take remedial action.

Abstract: An apparatus includes at least one memory configured to store at least one image of multiple pieces of deburring media used in a vibration deburring machine. The apparatus also includes at least one processor configured to analyze the at least one image to determine a condition of each of the multiple pieces of deburring media and determine an overall condition of the deburring media. The at least one processor is also configured to generate a graphical user interface containing a notification based on at least one of: the conditions of the multiple pieces of deburring media and the overall condition of the deburring media.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a coil sensor-based tensile force measurement system capable of temperature compensation. The coil sensor-based tensile force measurement system includes: a coil sensor configured to magnetize an inspection target object, and to detect information about a magnetic flux density formed by the magnetized inspection target object; a thermistor disposed to detect the temperature of a place where the coil sensor is installed; and a tensile force measurement server configured to acquire magnetic hysteresis curve information based on the temperature for the inspection target object, based on information collected by the coil sensor and the thermistor.

Abstract: To provide a fracture-visualization sensor capable of visualizing the fracture behavior of a composite material and a composite-material fracture-visualization system using the fracture-visualization sensor. A first luminescent film including a mechanoluminescent material is provided on one surface of a composite material. The first luminescent film has a maximum stress per unit of cross-sectional area within the range of 19-43 N/mm2.

Abstract: Changes to the vibrational frequencies of a drill string or BHA are monitored for prognostic health monitoring purposes. When one or more orders of resonance frequencies deviate from a baseline frequency, the magnitude of the deviation, and possibly the rate of deviation, is evaluated. When the deviation exceeds a threshold value, an alert is triggered. The alert may be triggered by downhole processing of the vibration data and conveyed to an operator to allow changes in operational parameters or removal of the component from the wellbore. The alert may instead be triggered by post-run processing of stored and dumped data, that can be used to evaluate whether the tool can be re-run, or whether it should be inspected, repaired, or scrapped.

Abstract: A system for monitoring a drill string comprising: a plurality of image capture devices disposed around a wellbore and adapted to record images of a portion of the drill string; and a logic device adapted to determine linearity of the portion of the drill string based on a form factor deviation. A method of monitoring a drill string comprising: capturing images of a portion of the drill string with an image capture device; assessing a form factor deviation of the portion of the drill string; and determining a linearity of the portion of the drill string based on the form factor deviation.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for predictive machining for forging distortions. In one aspect, a method includes obtaining a mesh model of a machined part to be machined from a forged part and residual stress field data for the forged part, where the mesh model includes multiple nodes corresponding to at least one boundary of the machined part, updating the mesh model by applying the residual stress field data to the multiple nodes corresponding to the at least one boundary to change positions of the multiple nodes in the mesh model, repeating the updating until an amount of change to each of the positions of the multiple nodes in the mesh model satisfies a correction criteria, and providing the compensated mesh model for use in machining the machined part from the forged part.

Abstract: A rotor rotation control system for a wind turbine and a control method thereof are provided. The control system includes a rotation unit configured to drive a rotor of the wind turbine to rotate relative to an engine base of the wind turbine, a driving unit configured to drive the rotation unit, and a processor configured to determine a bending moment load switching position on a rotating shaft of the rotor, and output an adjustment instruction to the driving unit based on the bending moment load switching position.

Abstract: A method simulates behavior of a structure by finite element calculation in which a global model represents the structure, a local model represents an area of the structure including geometric details, and an auxiliary model represents the area without the geometric details. The method includes determining by finite element calculation in the global model of a nodal displacement field corresponding to a loading applied to the global model; applying the nodal displacement field to the local and auxiliary models and determining the corresponding forces; calculating a correction when convergence of the solution obtained for the global model is not achieved, and the applying is resumed with a nodal displacement field calculated in the global model after implementing the correction; determining values of internal variables for the different loading increments; and assessing the evolution in the behavior of the structure over time as a function of these values.

Abstract: A method is disclosed. The method receives a two dimensional or a three dimensional computer generated representation of an area, receives a plurality of images of the area captured by one or more video cameras, detects a first moving object in the plurality of images, generates a computer representation of the first moving object, correlates the images of the area captured by the one or more video cameras with the two dimensional or three dimensional computer generated representation of the area, and displays the computer representation of the first moving object in the two dimensional or the three dimensional computer generated representation of the area.

Abstract: In a breaking prediction method of predicting a breaking portion of a component, which is obtained by forming a metal sheet, by using a finite element method, the breaking portion is easily and reliably extracted.

Abstract: A motive system for a patient lifting assembly, a patient lifting assembly and a method of operating a patient lifting assembly. The motive system includes an electric motor, numerous sensors and an adaptive control unit cooperative with one another so that a memory and processor that are part of the control unit that can respectively store and execute a computer readable and executable instruction set. By comparing collected data from the sensors during operation of the motor to corresponding reference values associated with one or more motor operational parameters—such as accumulated motor wear over time or differences in operating temperature of the motor—the system can selectively adjust the maximum amount of current available for use by the motor. In this way, changes in motor efficiencies that arise with these parametric changes can be taken into consideration when determining an upper limit on how much electrical current may be delivered to the motor for a given load.

Abstract: A method to assemble a highly stretchable and highly sensitive strain sensor. Carbon nanofibers prepared by electrospinning of PAN followed by stabilization and carbonization, are sandwiched in two layers of elastomer PU. The CNFs/PU strain sensor shows large strain range of 300%, high sensitivity with gauge factor up to 72.5, and superior stability and durability during 8000 cycles of stretch/release. The CNFs/PU strain sensor shows fast, stable and reproducible responses following the bending movement of fingers, wrists, and elbows. The flexible CNFs/PU strain sensor with has broad applications in wearable devices for human motion monitoring.

Abstract: A method of tip clearance estimation for a rotor blade is provided. The method includes measuring blade deflection of the rotor blade, generating a harmonic function for the rotor blade from the measured blade deflection, predicting tip displacement of the rotor blade using the generated harmonic function and adjusting a position of the rotor blade according to the predicted tip displacement.

Abstract: The invention is a method for obtaining the curved displacement of a flexible structure by using strain measurements obtained by strain sensors. By obtaining the displacement of structures in this manner, one may accurately construct the deformed shape of the structure under large geometric nonlinear deformations and display said deformed shape in real-time, enabling active control of the structure shape if desired.

Abstract: A method for measuring the applied load on a towing hook/or a tow bar accessory of a towing hook arrangement for a vehicle, and a towing hook arrangement for a vehicle. The towing hook arrangement comprises a towing hook and/or a tow bar accessory arranged on a tow bar, the towing hook arrangement also comprises a sensor arrangement having at least one actuator and at least one sensor, the sensor arrangement is adapted to detect an imparted vibration on the tow bar and use the detected imparted vibration to determine the applied load on the towing hook and/or the tow bar accessory.

Abstract: A method and system for rendering the quaternion shape and orientation of a three-dimensional structure. The proposed system and method keeps track of twist/roll angles and updates its effect on pitch and yaw orientations. The system relies on a single or multi-core optical fiber or multi-fiber bundle containing fiber Bragg grating sensors (FBGs) arrayed in rosettes at 45° deltas and spaced at uniform intervals along the entire length of the structure to be monitored. A tunable laser is used to interrogate the sensors using optical frequency domain reflectometry (OFDR), which detects shifts in the wavelength reflected by the sensors in response to strain on the fibers. Each sensor is continuously queried by software which determines the strain magnitude (?L/L) for each fiber at a given triplet. Given these measured strain values, the software implements a novel quaternion approach to rendering the 3D shape of the fiber including twist.

Abstract: A method of monitoring the health of a semiconductor power electronic switch such as an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) is provided. The method having the steps of: measuring one or more parameters selected from the group consisting of: a rate of change of voltage ( dV dt ) across the switch; a rate of change of current ( di dt ) through the switch, a charge present on a gate of the switch (QG), a peak overshoot voltage (VPO) across the switch, and a peak overshoot or reverse recovery current (IRR) through the switch; and estimating the health of the switch based on the measured parameter(s).

Abstract: Provided is a strain sensor which includes: a linear bearing including a first member and a second member which are supported such that the first member and the second member are relatively movable only in an axial direction of a predetermined axis; a connecting member including fixed portions, which are respectively fixed to the first member and the second member, and a strain generation portion which connects the fixed portions with each other; and a strain detecting element disposed on the connecting member so as to be capable of detecting strain in at least a moving direction.

Abstract: An organic substrate includes a core layer including organic materials; a first buildup layer on a top surface of the core layer; a second buildup layer on a bottom surface of the core layer; and at least one correction layer formed on at least one part of surfaces of the first buildup layer and the second buildup layer, wherein the correction layer has a thickness which has been calculated using properties of constituent materials including the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and the Young's modulus of the core layer, and CTEs and the Young's modulus of the first and the second buildup layers for reducing warpage of the organic substrate.

Abstract: An Internet of Thing (IoT) device includes a head portion; an elongated stress sensor coupled to the head portion, the stress sensor coupled to a surface; a processor coupled to the stress sensor; and a wireless transceiver coupled to the processor.

Abstract: A method of operating a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) includes executing tire pressure monitoring of at least one tire installed on a vehicle in a first mode, and transmitting frequency signal loss information to a center if a loss of a frequency signal in the first mode occurs in a designated time period.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for analysis of a leading edge rib of a fixed leading edge section of an aircraft wing. The apparatus may identify geometric or inertial properties of a plurality of stiffeners of the rib, and based thereon perform an analysis to predict a failure rate of the leading edge rib under an external load. From the failure rate, the apparatus may determine a structural integrity of the leading edge rib under the external load. Performing the analysis may include importing a plurality of section cuts into a finite element model of the rib and thereby identifying nodes proximate the section cuts. Under an external load, internal load distributions may be extracted from elements proximate the nodes and elements, and the failure rate of the leading edge rib under the external load may be predicted based on the internal load distributions of the elements.

Abstract: A method is provided that includes providing a first digital representation of a first member and a second digital representation of a second member. The first member and the second member are configured to be joined. The method also includes aligning the first digital representation and the second digital representation in a same coordinate system. Further, the method includes determining, in the coordinate system, a virtual deformation corresponding to at least one of the first digital representation or the second digital representation corresponding to an applied loading. Also, the method includes determining shim dimensions for a shim to be interposed between the first member and the second member based on the virtual deformation. The method further includes fabricating a shim having the shim dimensions.

Abstract: This internal pressure loading system includes an internal pressure loading device and an information processing device. The internal pressure loading device is set at an inner face of a pipe, and includes a load meter which detects the load applied to the inner face of the pipe and a displacement meter which detects the deformation amount of the pipe. When the internal pressure loading device is expanded so as to increase the load to be detected by the load meter, the width of the pipe at which the displacement meter is located is reduced. On the basis of the load detected by the load meter and the deformation amount detected by the displacement meter, the information processing device evaluates the remaining strength of the pipe.

Abstract: A device (1) assisting with the placement of an orthopedic instrument (2) intended to be inserted in a receiving bone (3) by impaction, by means of an impacter (10) comprising at least one striking surface (11) designed to come into contact with an impact surface coupled to said orthopedic instrument in order to apply an impaction force to said orthopedic instrument (2), said device being characterized in that it comprises a force sensor (12) able to measure, upon each impact, said impaction force applied by the impacter (10) to said impact surface and to supply a measurement signal indicative of the temporal variation of said applied impaction force, said force sensor (12) being connected to processing means (30) designed to determine, on the basis of the temporal variation of said impaction force supplied for each impact in succession, an indicator representative of the degree of insertion of said orthopedic instrument (2) in the receiving bone (3).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transforming a finite element model is provided. A set of joint elements to the finite element model of a structure is created at a set of joint locations in the finite element model of the structure. A local coordinate system is assigned to each of the set of joint elements that is independent of a global coordinate system of the finite element model to generate a transformed finite element model. The transformed finite element model is generated with improved consistency and efficiency.

Abstract: A fatigue life management system for determining a remaining fatigue life of a component of an aircraft. The fatigue life management system may generate probability density functions of minimum load, maximum load, and timeframe damage for predetermined time intervals based on selected flight data of the aircraft and regression models for probabilistic prediction of minimum load, maximum load, and timeframe damage of the component. The fatigue life management system may further compute an accumulated fatigue damage estimation based on the probability density functions and a probabilistic fatigue strength model. The fatigue life management system may then generate a distribution of the accumulated fatigue damage estimation of the component. If desired, the processing circuit may compare the distribution of the accumulated fatigue damage estimation with a reliability requirement to determine the remaining fatigue life of the component.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for analysis of a leading edge rib of a fixed leading edge section of an aircraft wing. The apparatus may identify geometric or inertial properties of a plurality of stiffeners of the rib in which respective stiffeners are represented by a collection of geometry within a solid model of the rib, and perform an analysis to predict a failure rate of the leading edge rib under an external load. From the failure rate, the apparatus may determine a structural integrity of the leading edge rib under the external load. Identifying the properties may include, extracting a section cut of the geometry that corresponds to and has one or more properties of the respective stiffener, and identifying the properties of the cross-section and thereby the respective stiffener based on a correlation of the cross-section to a generic profile of a plurality of different cross-sections.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for assessing an arterio-venous malformation (AVM) may include, for example, receiving a patient-specific model of a portion of an anatomy of a patient; using a computer processor to analyze the patient-specific model for identifying one or more blood vessels associated with the AVM, in the patient-specific model; and estimating a risk of an undesirable outcome caused by the AVM, by performing computer simulations of blood flow through the one or more blood vessels associated with the AVM in the patient-specific model.

Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, devices, apparatus, and computer program products for detecting battery status and failure. In general, detecting mechanical swelling of a battery cell along with optional measurement of temperature increases can be used to identify a battery cell as failing or failed. Force strain sensors or similar extension/compression sensors can be mounted in a (e.g., fire resistant) sleeve surround a battery pack and/or between cells in a battery pack. In some embodiments, extension/compression sensors are used along with temperature probes to detect battery cell failure.

Abstract: A method for applying stress conditions to integrated circuit device samples during accelerated stress testing may include partitioning each of the integrated circuit device samples into a first region having a first functional element, partitioning each of the integrated circuit device samples into at least one second region having at least one second functional element, applying a first stress condition to the first region having the first element, applying a second stress condition to the at least one second region having the at least one second element, determining a first portion of the integrated circuit device samples that functionally failed based on the first stress condition, and determining a second portion of the integrated circuit device samples that functionally failed based on the second stress condition. An acceleration model parameter is derived based on the determining of the first and second portion of the integrated circuit samples that functionally failed.

Abstract: A method of analyzing press-forming of a press-forming material including analyzing press-forming, analyzing springback and analyzing a change in shape of the press-forming material. The analyzing press-forming may include setting an initial temperature distribution for the heated press-forming material and performing a press-forming analysis by combining temperature analysis and structural analysis to obtain shape information, temperature distribution, stress distribution, and strain distribution. The analyzing springback may occur with and without consideration of contact heat transfer between a press-forming tool and the press-forming material. The method may further include modifying the temperature distribution obtained in the analyzing springback and then re-analyzing the change in shape of the press-forming material. The analyzing the change in shape may be performed until a temperature distribution in the press-forming material is within the range of ±5° C.

Abstract: A unit for recording operating information of an electronically commutated motor (ECM) is described. The unit includes a system controller communicatively coupled to an ECM. The system controller includes a processing device configured to control the unit. The unit also includes a memory device communicatively coupled to the system controller. The memory device is configured to receive and store ECM operating information provided by the processing device.

Abstract: A device for managing an accumulator, including: a plurality of strain gauges including at least three strain gauges, the strain gauges being arranged to measure stresses along at least three distinct stress axes; a measuring device measuring strains undergone by each gauge along its stress axis; a reversible electrical switch; a calculating device controlling opening and closing of the electrical switch, depending on measurements carried out by the measuring device.

Abstract: A method of identifying a cause of springback includes a step of performing a press forming analysis, a step of performing a springback analysis on the basis of information acquired by the press forming analysis, a step of dividing a shape of a press forming product acquired by the press forming analysis into a plurality of regions, a step of changing Young's modulus in a designated direction in any region of the divided regions, a step of performing the springback analysis on the press forming product whose Young's modulus is changed, a step of acquiring springback amount differences on the basis of multiple springback analysis results, and a step of identifying the cause of the springback on the basis of the acquired springback amount differences.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for nonlinear ultrasonic testing. In one aspect there is provided a method, which may include generating at least one ultrasonic wave to enable the at least one ultrasonic wave to propagate through a solid; detecting the at least one ultrasonic wave propagating through the solid; and determining a stress of the solid based on at least one of an imaginary component of a wavenumber, a wave amplitude, a wave strength, a statistical moment in a time domain, or a statistical moment in a frequency domain of the at least one ultrasonic wave.

Abstract: System, methods and articles of manufacture for replicating relational data on multiple nodes. An embodiment comprises receiving an update request message from a node, wherein the update request message comprises a node identification and an application identification, accessing an application schema based on the application identification, identifying a partition residing in the application schema based on the node identification, accessing a server schema, identifying a second partition residing in the server schema based on the application identification, determining at least one data change stored in the second partition that changes data associated with the first partition, retrieving at least one data change from the second partition, formatting data change in an update response message, and transmitting the update response message to the node.

Abstract: A bending fracture limit stress is calculated for each of (bend radius at sheet thickness center of a metal sheet)/(initial sheet thickness of the metal sheet); a fracture limit curve and a fracture limit stress are calculated from work hardening characteristics; a fracture limit curve corresponding to (the metal sheet bend radius at sheet thickness center)/(the initial sheet thickness of the metal sheet) is calculated; a corresponding fracture limit stress is calculated from stress of the element subject to determination and the fracture limit curve; a risk ratio that is a ratio between the stress of the element subject to determination and the fracture limit stress is computed; and performing fracture determination for the element subject to determination based on the risk ratio.

Abstract: A structure having collocated magnetic field sensing elements can be used to simultaneously determine magnetic field and mechanical stress. A primary magnetic field sensing element generates a primary signal responsive to a magnetic field and a secondary magnetic field sensing element generates a secondary signal responsive to mechanical stress. A system includes a stress compensation module to receive the primary and signals, and to compensate for mechanical stress in the primary signal.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for assessing an arterio-venous malformation (AVM) may include, for example, receiving a patient-specific model of a portion of an anatomy of a patient; using a computer processor to analyze the patient-specific model for identifying one or more blood vessels associated with the AVM, in the patient-specific model; and estimating a risk of an undesirable outcome caused by the AVM, by performing computer simulations of blood flow through the one or more blood vessels associated with the AVM in the patient-specific model.

Abstract: Method and system of determining ground-to-tire friction coefficient for an aircraft landing event. The method uses an aircraft computational model to repeatedly model the landing event, varying one or more initial conditions of the aircraft model until a best match between a modelled value and a provided value of aircraft vertical acceleration is determined. The method uses initial conditions associated with the best match of modelled and provided vertical acceleration values and a strain value from a sensor on the aircraft landing gear, with the ground-to-tire friction coefficient is a variable. The method models the landing gear to generate a modelled strain value and compares this with the measured strain value, and repeats the landing gear modelling step with a different value for the ground-to-tire friction coefficient until a best match between the modelled strain value and the measured strain value is determined and outputting the respective friction coefficient value.

Abstract: A system for calculating forces exerted into an aircraft component includes a test hinge assembly and a monitoring system. In at least one embodiment, the test hinge assembly is a triangular shaped assembly, and includes at least one beam, at least one connecting joint having a channel configured to receive and retain a fastening member, and at least one strain gage secured to an outer surface of the beam(s). The strain gage(s) is configured to detect one or more strains exerted into the beam(s). The monitoring system is in communication with the strain gage(s). The monitoring system is configured to calculate forces exerted into the fastening member(s) by analyzing the strain(s) exerted into the beam(s).

Abstract: A fastener for fastening a first element to a second element comprising: a first part; a second part fastenable to the first part via a first fastening mechanism; and a third part fastenable to the second part via a second fastening mechanism. The third part comprises at least one protruding member for inserting thereof to the second element for fastening the second element between the second and third parts. The first fastening mechanism is configured such that to open the fastening of the first part to the second part an external tool such as a key or a magnet should be applied.

Abstract: A method and device for evaluating inhomogeneous deformations in a first wafer bonded by molecular adhesion to a second wafer. This evaluation method includes the steps of making at least one reading of a plurality of measurement points, the reading corresponding to a surface profile of the first wafer along a predefined direction and over a predefined length, computing a second derivative from the measurement points of the surface profile and evaluating a level of inhomogeneous deformations in the first wafer according to the second derivative.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a micro-fabricated test structure includes a structure mechanically coupled between two rigid anchors and disposed above a substrate. The structure is released from the substrate and includes a test layer mechanically coupled between the two rigid anchors. The test layer includes a first region having a first cross-sectional area and a constricted region having a second cross-sectional area smaller than the first cross-sectional area. The structure also includes a first tensile stressed layer disposed on a surface of the test layer adjacent the first region.

Abstract: Defects in ferromagnetic materials are detected and characterized by analyzing the items' magnetic fields to find portions of the magnetic fields that differ in characteristic ways from residual magnetic fields generated by non-defective portions of the items. The portions of the magnetic fields that differ in the characteristic ways correspond to locations of the defects. The residual magnetic fields correspond to portions of the items distant from the defects. The defect characterization may include volume of material lost due to each defect and/or width and/or depth of each defect.