Sinusoidal phase-modulating laser diode interferometer for measuring angular displacement

We propose a sinusoidal phase-modulating laser diode interferometer for measuring small angular displacement. The interferometer is based on a Fabry-Perot plate. It has a simple structure and is insensitive to external disturbance. Sinusoidal phase-modulating interferometry is used for improving the measurement accuracy. A charge-coupled device (CCD) image sensor is used for measuring the distance between the reflected beams from two faces of the Fabry-Perot plate. From the distance, the initial angle of incidence is calculated. Compared with Michelson interferometers and autocollimators, this interferometer has the advantage of compact size and simple structure. The numerical calculation and experimental results verify the usefulness of this novel interferometer. (C) 2004 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers.

Parallel plate interferometer with a reflecting mirror for measuring angular displacement

A parallel plate interferometer with a reflecting mirror for measuring angular displacement is proposed. A deflection angle of a beam caused by an angular displacement is amplified by use of a reflecting mirror to increase the optical path difference (OPD) in the plane-parallel plate, which provides high sensitivity of the phase measurement. Detection of light transmitted through the plane-parallel plate with a position sensitive detector (PSD) enables high accurate measurement of the initial angle of incidence to the plane-parallel plate with insensitivity to stray light. The improved parallel plate interferometer achieves a measurement repeatability of 10(-8) rad. (C) 2007 The Optical Society of Japan.

Accuracy analysis of parallel plate interferometer for angular displacement measurement

The measurement accuracy of a parallel-plate interferometer for angular displacement measurement is analyzed. The measurement accuracy of angular displacement is not only related to the accuracy of phase extraction, but also related to initial incident angle, refraction index and thickness of plane-parallel plate as well as wavelength's stability of laser diode, etc. Theoretical analysis and computer simulation show that the measurement error of the angular displacement bears a minimum value when choosing an optimal initial incident angle in a large range. These analytical results serve as a guide in practical measurement. In this interferometer, reducing the refraction index or increasing the thickness of the parallel plate can improve the measurement accuracy; and the relative error of the phase measurement is 3.0 x 10(-4) corresponding to 1 degrees C temperature variation. Based on these theoretical and experimental results, the measurement accuracy of the parallel-plate interferometer is up to an order of 10(-8) rad. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

High sensitivity fiber optic angular displacement sensor and its application for detection of ultrasound

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Distribution transformers modeling with angular displacement: actual values and per unit analysis

In this work a detailed modeling of three-phase distribution transformers aimed at complementing well-known approaches is presented. Thus, incidence of angular displacement and tapping is taken into account in the proposed models, considering both actual values and per unit. The analysis is based on minimal data requirement: solely short-circuit admittance is needed since three-phase transformers are treated as non-magnetically-coupled single-phase transformers. In order to support the proposed methodology, results obtained through laboratory tests are presented.

Geometrical parameter analysis of a high-sensitivity fiber optic angular displacement sensor

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Aplicação de sensor de deslocamento angular em fibra óptica para medição de concentração de líquidos via ondas acústicas guiadas

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Effects of pediatric obesity on joint kinematics and kinetics during 2 walking cadences

Objective: To determine whether differences existed in lower-extremity joint biomechanics during self-selected walking cadence (SW) and fast walking cadence (FW) in overweight- and normal-weight children.---------- Design: Survey.---------- Setting: Institutional gait study center.---------- Participants: Participants (N=20; mean age ± SD, 10.4±1.6y) from referred and volunteer samples were classified based on body mass index percentiles and stratified by age and sex. Exclusion criteria were a history of diabetes, neuromuscular disorder, or recent lower-extremity injury.---------- Main Outcome Measures: Sagittal, frontal, and transverse plane angular displacements (degrees) and peak moments (newton meters) at the hip, knee, and ankle joints.---------- Results: The level of significance was set at P less than .008. Compared with normal-weight children, overweight children had greater absolute peak joint moments at the hip (flexor, extensor, abductor, external rotator), the knee (flexor, extensor, abductor, adductor, internal rotator), and the ankle (plantarflexor, inverter, external/internal rotators). After including body weight as a covariate, overweight children had greater peak ankle dorsiflexor moments than normal-weight children. No kinematic differences existed between groups. Greater peak hip extensor moments and less peak ankle inverter moments occurred during FW than SW. There was greater angular displacement during hip flexion as well as less angular displacement at the hip (extension, abduction), knee (flexion, extension), and ankle (plantarflexion, inversion) during FW than SW.---------- Conclusions: Overweight children experienced increased joint moments, which can have long-term orthopedic implications and suggest a need for more nonweight-bearing activities within exercise prescription. The percent of increase in joint moments from SW to FW was not different for overweight and normal-weight children. These findings can be used in developing an exercise prescription that must involve weight-bearing activity.

Reliability in the Parameterization of the Functional Reach Test in Elderly Stroke Patients: A Pilot Study

BACKGROUND: Postural instability is one of the major complications found in stroke survivors. Parameterising the functional reach test (FRT) could be useful in clinical practice and basic research. OBJECTIVES: To analyse the reliability, sensitivity, and specificity in the FRT parameterisation using inertial sensors for recording kinematic variables in patients who have suffered a stroke. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. While performing FRT, two inertial sensors were placed on the patient's back (lumbar and trunk). PARTICIPANTS: Five subjects over 65 who suffer from a stroke. MEASUREMENTS: FRT measures, lumbosacral/thoracic maximum angular displacement, maximum time of lumbosacral/thoracic angular displacement, time return initial position, and total time. Speed and acceleration of the movements were calculated indirectly. RESULTS: FRT measure is  12.75±2.06 cm. Intrasubject reliability values range from 0.829 (time to return initial position (lumbar sensor)) to 0.891 (lumbosacral maximum angular displacement). Intersubject reliability values range from 0.821 (time to return initial position (lumbar sensor)) to 0.883 (lumbosacral maximum angular displacement). FRT's reliability was 0.987 (0.983-0.992) and 0.983 (0.979-0.989) intersubject and intrasubject, respectively. CONCLUSION: The main conclusion could be that the inertial sensors are a tool with excellent reliability and validity in the parameterization of the FRT in people who have had a stroke.

Comparison of kinematic variables obtained by inertial sensors among stroke survivors and healthy older adults in the Functional Reach Test: cross-sectional study

Background Balance dysfunction is one of the most common problems in people who suffer stroke. To parameterize functional tests standardized by inertial sensors have been promoted in applied medicine. The aim of this study was to compare the kinematic variables of the Functional Reach Test (FRT) obtained by two inertial sensors placed on the trunk and lumbar region between stroke survivors (SS) and healthy older adults (HOA) and to analyze the reliability of the kinematic measurements obtained. Methods Cross-sectional study. Five SS and five HOA over 65. A descriptive analysis of the average range as well as all kinematic variables recorded was developed. The intrasubject and intersubject reliability of the measured variables was directly calculated. Results In the same intervals, the angular displacement was greater in the HOA group; however, they were completed at similar times for both groups, and HOA conducted the test at a higher speed and greater acceleration in each of the intervals. The SS values were higher than HOA values in the maximum and minimum acceleration in the trunk and in the lumbar region. Conclusions The SS show less functional reach, a narrower, slower and less accelerated movement during the FRT execution, but with higher peaks of acceleration and speed when they are compared with HOA.

Inertial sensor real-time feedback enhances the learning of cervical spine manipulation: A prospective study

Background Cervical Spinal Manipulation (CSM) is considered a high-level skill of the central nervous system because it requires bimanual coordinated rhythmical movements therefore necessitating training to achieve proficiency. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of real-time feedback on the performance of CSM. Methods Six postgraduate physiotherapy students attending a training workshop on Cervical Spine Manipulation Technique (CSMT) using inertial sensor derived real-time feedback participated in this study. The key variables were pre-manipulative position, angular displacement of the thrust and angular velocity of the thrust. Differences between variables before and after training were investigated using t-tests. Results There were no significant differences after training for the pre-manipulative position (rotation p = 0.549; side bending p = 0.312) or for thrust displacement (rotation p = 0.247; side bending p = 0.314). Thrust angular velocity demonstrated a significant difference following training for rotation (pre-training mean (sd) 48.9°/s (35.1); post-training mean (sd) 96.9°/s (53.9); p = 0.027) but not for side bending (p = 0.521). Conclusion Real-time feedback using an inertial sensor may be valuable in the development of specific manipulative skill. Future studies investigating manipulation could consider a randomized controlled trial using inertial sensor real time feedback compared to traditional training.

Strain gradient theory with couple stress for crystalline solids

A new phenomenological strain gradient theory for crystalline solid is proposed. It fits within the framework of general couple stress theory and involves a single material length scale Ics. In the present theory three rotational degrees of freedom omega (i) are introduced, which denote part of the material angular displacement theta (i) and are induced accompanying the plastic deformation. omega (i) has no direct dependence upon u(i) while theta = (1 /2) curl u. The strain energy density omega is assumed to consist of two parts: one is a function of the strain tensor epsilon (ij) and the curvature tensor chi (ij), where chi (ij) = omega (i,j); the other is a function of the relative rotation tensor alpha (ij). alpha (ij) = e(ijk) (omega (k) - theta (k)) plays the role of elastic rotation reason The anti-symmetric part of Cauchy stress tau (ij) is only the function of alpha (ij) and alpha (ij) has no effect on the symmetric part of Cauchy stress sigma (ij) and the couple stress m(ij). A minimum potential principle is developed for the strain gradient deformation theory. In the limit of vanishing l(cs), it reduces to the conventional counterparts: J(2) deformation theory. Equilibrium equations, constitutive relations and boundary conditions are given in detail. For simplicity, the elastic relation between the anti-symmetric part of Cauchy stress tau (ij), and alpha (ij) is established and only one elastic constant exists between the two tensors. Combining the same hardening law as that used in previously by other groups, the present theory is used to investigate two typical examples, i.e., thin metallic wire torsion and ultra-thin metallic beam bend, the analytical results agree well with the experiment results. While considering the, stretching gradient, a new hardening law is presented and used to analyze the two typical problems. The flow theory version of the present theory is also given.

Simplified Navier-Stokes equations (SNSE)

Ten kinds of the simplified Navier-Stokes equations (SNSE) are reviewed and also used to calculate the Jeffery-Hamel flow as well as to analyze briefly the seven kinds of flows to which the exact solutions of the complete Navier-Stokes equations (CNSE) have been found. Analysis shows that the actual differences among the solutions of the different SNSE can go beyond the range of the order of magnitude of Re-1/2 and result even in different flow patterns, therefore, how to choose the viscous terms included in the SNSE is worthy of notice where Re=S∞u∞ L/μ∞ is the Reynolds numbers. For the aforesaid eight kinds of flows, the solutions to the inner-outer-layer-matched SNSE and to the thin-layer-2-order SNSE agree completely with the exact solutions to CNSE. But the solutions to all the other SNSE are not completely consistent with the exact solutions to CNSE and not a few of them are actually the solutions of the classical boundary layer theory. The innerouter-layer-matched SNSE contains the shear stress causing angular displacement of the inormal axis with respect to the streamwise axis and the normal stress causing expansion-contraction in the direction of the normal axis and the viscous terms being of the order of magnitude of the normal stress; and it can also reasonably treat the inertial terms as well as the relation between the viscous and inertial terms. Therefore, it seems promising in respects of both mechanics and mathematics.

一种基于PSD器件的改进型角度测量方法

提出一种基于平行平板干涉仪的改进型角度测量方法。为了实现较大的偏转角度测量，该平行平板干涉仪引入了一位置探测系统。平面反射镜的引入提高了角度测量的分辨率。实验验证了可在近3度的范围内实现被测偏转角度的高精度测量。并且作为一位相调制型干涉仪，其小角位移测量实验的重复精度可达5.5×10^(-8)rad。

平行平板角位移干涉测量仪的优化设计

提出一种可提高平行平板角位移干涉测量仪测量精度的优化设计方法。对角位移干涉测量系统进行了误差分析，讨论了影响角位移测量精度的主要因素。分析了在干涉仪光路中入射到平行平板上的初始入射角度、平行平板的折射率以及厚度等参数的选取对角位移测量精度的影响。结果表明，优化选取最佳的初始入射角度以及元件参数，并在干涉光路中附加引入一平面反射镜形成光程差放大系统，可实现的角位移测量精度达10-8 rad数量级。