An AE-signal detecting device for an abrasive wheel includes: an AE sensor which outputs an AE signal upon receipt of an elastic wave generated in an annular abrasive wheel sandwiched between a fixed flange fixed to a rotating shaft and a movable flange provided capable of getting closer to/separating from the fixed flange; a transmission circuit portion which wirelessly transmits the AE signal output from the AE sensor; and a reception circuit portion which receives the AE signal transmitted wirelessly, wherein the AE sensor is disposed on the movable flange or the fixed flange, detects the elastic wave transmitted from the abrasive wheel, and outputs the AE signal.

An apparatus comprising an array of polymer-based capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers positioned on a substrate. The substrate may be at least substantially transparent to ionizing radiation, be flexible, and/or have walls positioned thereon to protect the transducers.

A method of processing a glass material includes guiding and/or focusing light from a light source to glass material in a hot stage of a processing system, where the light source provides light at a wavelength λ that interacts with crystals that may be formed in the glass material. The method includes collecting and/or guiding light directed from the glass material in the hot stage to a wavelength separator, and separating the light directed from the glass material to provide a spectrum δ having wavelengths that are within about twenty nanometers of the wavelength λ. The method includes observing with a detector light of the spectrum δ to identify nano-scale shifts in the wavelength λ caused by interaction with crystals, if present, within the glass material in the hot stage of the processing system.

An inventive approach is disclosed to integrate Digital Image Correlation (DIC) with the Acoustic Emission method that may be used for structural health monitoring and assessment of critical structural components in civil, mechanical, and aerospace industries. The inventive approach relies on passively recording acoustic emission across the specimen being tested and activating the DIC cameras automatically to measure deformation on the specimen's surface. The resulting acousto-optic system can be used to determine damage initiation, progressive damage development, identify critical regions and make lifetime predictions of the tested specimen.

The present invention relates to a method for evaluating the thermal expansion properties of a titania-containing glass body. On the basis of measured values, obtained at a certain temperature, for a physical parameter that changes depending on the titania concentration and a physical parameter that changes depending on the fictive temperature, the thermal expansion coefficient of the titania-containing silica glass body and the slope of the thermal expansion coefficient are calculated using a linear relational expression represented by a plurality of physical properties. The thermal expansion properties of the titania-containing silica glass body are evaluated on the basis of the calculated thermal expansion coefficient and thermal expansion coefficient slope.

An ultrasonic sensing technique and a signal interpretation method based on a spectral element multiphase poromechanical approach overcomes critical gaps in permafrost, frozen soil, and saturated soil characterization. Ultrasonic sensing produces high-quality response signals that are sensitive to the soil properties. A transfer function denoting a ratio of induced displacement and applied force in the frequency domain, is independent of the distribution of the stress force applied by the transducer to the sample, and allows interpretation of the measured electrical signal using a theoretical transfer function relation to efficiently determine the most probable properties from response signals using an inverse spectral element multiphase poromechanical approach. This ultrasonic sensing technique enables rapid characterization of soil samples in terms of both physical and mechanical properties. The Quantitative Ultrasound (QUS) system can be used in a laboratory setup or brought on site for in-situ investigation of permafrost, frozen, and saturated soil samples.

Methods for determining reservoir characteristics of a well can include receiving a first core from the well; performing an experiment to determine the wave velocity associated with a first direction of the first core, the experiment including: transmitting an ultrasonic wave through the first core in the first direction; receiving the transmitted ultrasonic wave; and determining a directional wave velocity of the first core based on the transmitted ultrasonic wave and the received transmitted ultrasonic wave, wherein the directional wave velocity represents a wave velocity along the first direction; rotating the first core about a longitudinal axis of the first core; and performing the experiment along a second direction of the first core.

A TBM-mounted system and method for quickly predicting compressive strength of rocks based on rock mineral composition and fabric characteristics. The system is mounted on gripper shoe's side surface of an open-type TBM, and includes a protective device, hydraulic device, servo motor, detection device, control system and a data comprehensive analysis platform. The hydraulic device is mounted on the protective device's side wall, for controlling movement of detection device horizontally. The servo motor controls rotation of detection device. The detection device collects a variety of geological parameters of target surrounding rock affecting compressive strength of rock and providing basic data for compressive strength prediction of rock. The control system controls work of hydraulic device, servo motor and each detection device. The data comprehensive analysis platform is connected to each detection instrument, receives geological parameters collected, processes and analyzes each parameter, and gives a prediction of compressive strength of rock.

Provided is a test system for hard rock breaking by a microwave intelligent loading based on true triaxial stress, including: a true triaxial stress loading device consisting of a loading frame and a rock sample moving structure; a microwave-induced hard rock breaking device consisting of an excitation cavity, a rectangular waveguide, a magnetron, a thermocouple, a circulator, a cold water circulation device, a flowmeter, a power meter, an automatic impedance tuner, a coupler, a microwave heater and a shielding cavity; and a dynamic rock response monitoring and intelligent microwave parameter control system consisting of a CCD industrial camera, a temperature acquisition device and an anti-electromagnetic high-temperature resistant acoustic wave-acoustic emission integrated sensor. According to the test system, the microwave-induced hard rock breaking test, dynamic monitoring temperature and rock breaking in microwave-induced breaking process and intelligent control over microwave power and heating time are achieved.

Methods and systems for characterizing multiple properties of a cement composition for use at downhole conditions using ultrasonic analysis tools are provided. In some embodiments, the methods comprise: transmitting at least a first p-wave and a second p-wave having different frequencies through a cement composition; determining velocities of the first and second p-waves through the sample; transmitting at least a third p-wave having a third frequency through the cement composition while allowing the cement composition to at least partially hydrate, wherein the third frequency is higher than the second frequency; determining at least a velocity of the third p-wave through the cement composition; based at least in part on the velocities of the p-waves, determining at least the compressibility, Poisson's ratio, Young's modulus, and shear modulus of the cement composition.