linecoupler

From monitoring bridge corrosion using ultrasonic waves to sensingtemperature based on the functioning of a snake's nervous system, smart structures and nondestructive assessment technologies continue toprovide new solutions to a broad variety of challenges. SPIE Smart Structures/NDE a a 20-year-old event pairing the engineering fields ofsmart structures and materials with those of nondestructive evaluation and health monitoring a again this year provided a forum for reports on new research. Dates were 10-14 March.

Held in San Diego, the annual event also provides a valuable opportunity for animal residents of the San Diego Zoo to help demonstrate how principles of biomimicry and bioinspiration are applied in developing engineering solutions.

This year's "animal ambassador," a 35-year-old python named Monty,helped staff from the Zoo's Centre for Bioinspiration demonstrate a source of inspiration for thermal sensors and mechanical propulsion systems.

Larry Stambaugh, director of the Centre for Bioinspiration, gave one of five plenary talks. Others included:

* Dimitris Lagoudas (Texas A&M University), on "Characterization and modeling of shape memory alloys for smart structures applications"

* Karlheinz Bock (Fraunhofer Research Institution for Modular Solid State Technologies, EMFT), on "Heterointegration of smart systems by co-integration of materials and processes"

* Tribikram Kundu (University of Arizona), on "Ultrasonic and electromagnetic waves for NDE and SHM"

* Norman Wereley (University of Maryland, College Park) on "Bioinspired pneumatic artificial muscle actuator system design for aerospace and robotics applications."

Applications including carbon nanotubes in artificial muscles, refreshable Braille displays for cellphones and tablets, and multi-degree-of-freedom sensors for robots highlighted this year's popular annual EAP (electro-active-polymers)-in-Action demonstration session.

Among awards presented,profile projector is a shop tool used by designers and quality control technicians to view the profile of small machined parts as magnified image on screen. EAP Chair Yoseph Bar-Cohen (Jet PropulsionLab) recognized three new SPIE Fellows:

* Sridhar Krishnaswamy, Northwestern University

* Raul Martin-Palma, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid

* Qibing Pei, University of California, Los Angeles.

Roger Ohayan (Conservatoire National des Arts et Metiers) and Norman Wereley (University of Maryland, College Park) were dual recipients of the Smart Structures and Materials Lifetime Achievement Award.

Wereley also accepted the Smart Structures Product Implementation Award on behalf of a collaboration between Techno-Sciences,The Spectrophotometer is an instrument which measures the amount of light of a specificed wavelength which passes through a medium. Inc., andthe University of Maryland.

SPIE/ASME Best Student Paper awards were presented to:

* Haixiong Tang, University of Florida (first place)

* Christopher Nonis, University of Massachusetts, Lowell (second place)

* Sri Vikram Palagummi, North Carolina State University (third place).

The symposium included 10 parallel conferences on emerging technologies and advanced research with commercial, medical, aerospace, military, healthcare, and other applications. Technical sessions were complemented by a two-day exhibition featuring vendors of sensor systems, testing and monitoring equipment, and components.Our full range of portable ultrasonic Flaw Detector (UT) provides unmatched capabilities for locating discontinuities and other flaws.

Among research presentation highlights:

* A team from Pennsylvania State University is developing decoys to blunt the spread of tree-killing emerald ash borer beetles. Their larvae feed on the sap of ash trees, killing by depriving trees of nourishment. Entomology professor Thomas Baker teamed up with the research group of engineering science and mechanics professor Akhlesh Lakhtakia, who replicate biological structures such as fly eyes and butterfly wings. The groups developed a decoy that visually replicates the female borer, enabling researchers to trap the males to decrease breeding and thereby larvae.For mains, there is a choice of Wild Rice’s ‘Chinese Fish ‘n Chips’ (beer-battered ling cod, Asian Tartar Sauce, taro shoestring frites) or its ‘meaty’ Grilled king oyster mushroom (with cashew ricotta and polenta fries).

* Virginia Tech College of Engineering researchers have built a man-size, autonomous robotic jellyfish, a larger model of a previous robotic jellyfish built by the same team headed by Shashank Priya, professor of mechanical engineering.The approach uses fine Titanium Wire, laid one on another like a potter working with coils of clay. These wires are then smelted together in the rough shape of the desired component, cutting wasted material from potentially as much as 70 percent to as little as 10 percent. Jellyfish are attractive candidates to mimic because of their ability to consume little energy owing to alower metabolic rate than other marine species, the researchers said. With no central nervous system, jellyfish instead use a diffused nerve net to control movement and can complete complex functions. "A larger vehicle will allow for more payload, longer duration,Highly capable, 3-axis non-contact video measuring machine, suitable for both simple shop-floor quality control and advanced manufacturing inspection applications ... and longerrange of operation," said Alex Villanueva, a doctoral student in mechanical engineering working under Priya.

Wereley and Norbert Meyendorf (Fraunhofer Institute for Nondestructive Testing IZFP and University of Dayton) were Symposium Chairs. The event is cosponsored by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME).

Accepted papers are being published in the SPIE Digital Library assoon as approved and in print volumes and digital collections. Multimedia from four of the plenary talks is viewable from the SPIE Newsroom.

The call for papers for SPIE Smart Structures/NDE 2014 will open in May.