A NEW TYPE OF ELECTROMAGNETICALLY PROPELLED VIBRATION ACTUATOR FOR APPEARANCE INSPECTION OF IRON STRUCTURE

Abstract

Due to economic development, many social infrastructures such as various large structures are
being constructed around the world. Inspection and maintenance of social infrastructure such as huge bridges
and tanks is one of the most important items in the world. In the present study, a new vibration actuator that
extends the principle of operation invented by the authors was proposed and tested. New principle of
operation for the actuator capable of reciprocating movement by controlling the phase of two vibration
components has been considered. The principle of operation for the actuator was established by a very simple
analysis. The experimental results indicate that reciprocating motion can be realized by controlling the phase
of the vibration of the two vibration components. Experimental results reveal that this vibration actuator is
able to pull a load mass of 190 g and the maximum efficiency of the actuator was about 12.5 % for the case
with own-weight. The actuator was confirmed to be able to easily control the direction of movement with
two-channel function generator and power amplifier.