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Gdańsk University of Technology

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Publications from the year 2024

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  • The role of microbial coagulants on the physicochemical, proteolysis, microstructure and sensory properties of low-fat Edam cheese manufactured from ultrafiltered buffalo milk
    • Safaa A.M. El-Aidie
    • Roberto Castro Munoz
    • Basim Abu-Jdayil
    • Samia M. El-Dieb
    2024 Full text INTERNATIONAL DAIRY JOURNAL

    This work investigates the influence of using microbial coagulants, including Rhizomucor miehei (MCR) protease and Cryphonectria parasitica (MCC) protease, on the quality characteristics of low-fat Edam cheese made from ultrafiltered buffalo milk (LFUE). Concurrently, a benchmark with calf rennet (CR) has been also performed. Throughout a 90-day ripening period, the cheeses were assessed for their physicochemical features, proteolysis, texture, free amino acid and free fatty acid content, microstructure, and sensory attributes. The study revealed that both microbial coagulants had no significant impact on the physicochemical composition and firmness of the cheeses while slightly affected the free fatty acids. Cheeses made with microbial coagulants displayed higher proteolysis, with MCR and MCC cheeses exhibiting greater levels of water-soluble nitrogen and 12% trichloroacetic acid-soluble nitrogen than CR cheese. MCR and MCC cheeses exhibited more extensive breakdown of αs- and β-caseins, as indicated by the SDS-PAGE electrophoretogram, compared to CR cheese during ripening. As for the proteolytic activity, the microbial coagulant contributed to shaping the free amino acid content, microstructure, and sensory qualities of the cheeses. Notably, MCC cheese outperformed MCR or CR cheeses in terms of free amino acid levels. MCR and MCC cheeses resulted in smooth microstructures with uniform protein networks as observed by microscopy, while CR cheese displayed rough, granular surfaces. With the highest scores for appearance, body, texture, and flavor, MCC cheese demonstrated superior sensory properties compared with MCR and CR cheeses.

  • The role of resilience in explaining hotel growth: A fuzzy-set QCA approach
    • Diana Dryglas
    • Anna Lis
    • Marcin Suder
    2024 Full text Journal of Entrepreneurship, Management and Innovation

    Purpose: Due to the detrimental effects of the recent pandemic on the hotel sector, hotel resilience research and its impact on hotel recovery have received lots of academic attention. However, a sustainable perspective on hotel resilience, as an approach for investigating its impact on long-term hotel growth, has been largely overlooked in the hospitality resilience literature. Therefore, this paper aims to address the research gap by identifying the configuration of factors that constitute sustainable hotel resilience leading to the growth of selected hotels operating in Poland. Methodology: Data for analysis were obtained from surveys conducted with the participation of 120 managers of one- and two-star hotels. To achieve the goal, a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) was chosen, which belongs to the group of configurational analysis methods. Findings: Due to the asymmetric nature of the method, the analysis reveals configurations both of factors leading to high hotel growth and those leading to low growth. In both cases, two such factor configurations were obtained. For high levels of hotel growth, it was found that maintaining a high level of three factors simultaneously, namely employee resilience, CSR activities and leadership resilience or CSR activities, team resilience and leadership resilience, provided sufficient conditions. On the other hand, for low levels of growth, fsQCA indicated sufficient conditions in the form of a low level of CSR activities and leadership resilience or a low level of employee resilience and team resilience. These findings emphasise the role of combining different factors to improve hotel growth. Implications for theory and practice: The research contributes to the literature on resilience in the hospitality industry by developing a new theoretical perspective on the complex nature of combinations of factors that contribute to sustainable hotel resilience leading to both high and low growth. The research results also provide significant implications for entrepreneurs and managers, indicating the role of different combinations of factors in determining hotel growth. Originality and value: The knowledge regarding sustainable hotel resilience is still insufficient. The study identified the best combinations of factors (both internal and external) that constitute sustainable hotel resilience, which may be vital for hotel growth.

  • The role of the combined nitrogen-sulfur-carbon cycles for efficient performance of anammox-based systems
    • Dominika Derwis
    • Hussein Al-Hazmi
    • Joanna Majtacz
    • Przemysław Kowal
    • Slawomir Ciesielski
    • Jacek Mąkinia
    2024 SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT

    The combined anammox/mixotrophic denitrification process was conducted in two granular sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) during a 200-day operation. Both reactors were fed with synthetic medium, but SBR2 was enriched with additional sulfate (SO4 2 ) which influenced sulfate reduction ammonium oxidation (SRAO) and heterotrophic reduction of SO4 2 by sulfate reducing bacteria. It was hypothesized that the addition of SO4 2 could positively impact the removal rates of N-S-C compounds. A low C/N ratio (0.4–1.6) was maintained to prevent inhibition of anaerobic ammonium oxidizing bacteria (AnAOB), and alternating chemical oxygen demand (COD) on/off conditions were used to regenerate AnAOB during COD-off phases and heterotrophic denitrifiers during COD-on phases. Stoichiometric analysis showed that introducing SO4 2 in SBR2 enhanced the ammonium utili zation rate, which was approximately 10 % higher compared to SBR1 in the final stage of the experiment (25.8 vs. 22.8 mg N/(g VSS⋅h)). The total nitrogen removal efficiencies ranged from 62 % to 99 % in both reactors, with SBR2 consistently exhibiting approximately 4 % higher efficiency than SBR1. In SBR2, the maximum overall SO4 2 utilization efficiency reached 27 % under COD-off conditions, while overall COD utilization was almost complete under COD-on conditions. A strong correlation (R2 =0.98) was observed between SO4 2 production and COD utilization. The key players responsible for N and S transformations in response to SO4 2 addition were Candidatus Brocadia and Chloroflexi - Anaerolineae. This study highlights the potential to enhance the overall efficiency of N-S-C removal by implementing an integrated anammox/mixotrophic denitrification process. The combination of cycles emerges as a sustainable approach for treating wastewater rich in N-S-C compounds.

  • The scope of fiscal decentralisation in EU countries: a comparative analysis
    • Alicja Sekuła
    • Karol Flisikowski
    2024 Full text EKONOMIA I PRAWO

    Motivation: Decentralization is one of the main challenges in public sector reform. In democratic countries the level of decentralisation in individual countries is not identical. The varying scope of decentralization affects the quality, quick and efficient decision-making by public leaders. Aim: Comparison of the extent of fiscal decentralisation in EU Member States; creation of groups of states with similar levels of decentralisation; identification of characteristics of countries where the average level of decentralisation is similar. Results: As a result of the study 4 clusters were created. The first includes centralized countries (small area, small population, e.g. Malta, Cyprus). The level of decentralization is a little bit higher in federal states and most of the countries that joined the EU in 2004 or later (cluster 2, the most numerous). Larger and more numerous countries are characterized by a higher level of decentralization (cluster 3, e.g. Italy, Poland, France). Clusters 4th is composed of the Nordic countries, i.e. in countries where a welfare state model with an extensive public sector has been implemented. As a result, it was found that the level of decentralization is related to the size of the country, population and political system.

  • The shape of an ROC curve in the evaluation of credit scoring models
    • Błażej Kochański
    2024 Full text STATISTICS IN TRANSITION

    The AUC, i.e. the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, or its scaled version, the Gini coefficient, are the standard measures of the discriminatory power of credit scoring. Using binormal ROC curve models, we show how the shape of the curves affects the economic benefits of using scoring models with the same AUC. Based on the results, we propose that the shape parameter of the fitted ROC curve is reported alongside its AUC/Gini whenever the quality of a scorecard is discussed.

  • The Smith-Watson-Topper parameter and fracture surface topography relationship for additively manufactured 18Ni300 steel subjected to uniaxial variable-amplitude loading
    • Wojciech Macek
    • Zbigniew Marciniak
    • Grzegorz Lesiuk
    • Przemysław Podulka
    • Cho-pei Jiang
    2024 Full text THEORETICAL AND APPLIED FRACTURE MECHANICS

    In this paper, the association between Smith-Watson-Topper (SWT) parameter and fracture surface topography is studied in additively manufactured maraging steel exposed to variable-amplitude fatigue loading. The post-failure fracture surfaces were examined using a non-contact 3D surface topography measuring system and the entire fracture surface method. The focal point is on the correspondence between fatigue characteristics, articulate by the SWT parameter, and the fracture surface topography features, represented by areal, volume, and fractal dimension parameters. A fatigue life prediction model based on SWT and fracture surface topography factors is proposed. The presented model expresses good compliance with fatigue test results. This model can be useful for post-mortem analysis of engineering elements under variable-amplitude loading fatigue, especially for materials produced by additive manufacturing (AM).

  • The study on the appearance of deformation defects in the yacht lamination process using an AI algorithm and expert knowledge
    • Paweł Szalewski
    • Tacjana Niksa-Rynkiewicz
    • Mariusz Deja
    2024 Full text Scientific Reports

    This article describes the application of the A-priori algorithm for defining the rule-based relationships between individual defects caused during the lamination process, affecting the deformation defect of the yacht shell. The data from 542 yachts were collected and evaluated. For the proper development of the algorithm, a technological process of the yacht lamination supported by expert decisions was described. The laminating technology is a complex process of a sequential application of individual laminates according to a special strategy. The A-priori algorithm allowed for obtaining the set of association rules defining the relationships between the defects resulting from the lamination process and influencing the deformation defect of the yacht shell, which is one of the most common errors in yacht production. The obtained aggregated rules were compared with the expert knowledge of the employees of the production, quality control, mould regeneration, and technology departments of the yacht yard. The use of the proposed A-priori algorithm allowed for the generation of relationship rules consistent with the general opinion of experts. Associative rules additionally took into account detailed causes of a specific error, which were not always noticed by employees of specific departments. The assessment of the lamination process using an artificial intelligence algorithm turned out to be more objective, which made it possible to gradually reduce the total number of errors occurring in the yacht shell lamination process, and thus shorten the time needed to repair errors and the total time of producing the yacht.

  • The Timber economy in the Baltic Sea, 1600-1939
    • Luciano Segreto
    2024

    The work analyses the evolution of the timber economy in the Baltic Sea from the 17th century until WW2

  • The (Un)Real City by Magdalena Abakanowicz: Guidelines for Cities in Times of Planetary Crisis
    • Izabela Mironowicz
    2024 Full text TEKA KOMISJI URBANISTYKI I ARCHITEKTURY Oddział PAN w Krakowie

    Three decades have passed since Magdalena Abakanowicz presented her concept of Bois de Nanterre — Arboreal Architecture, in response to a call for a broader reflection on approaches to urban landscaping and a reinterpretation of the meaning and evolution of the Grand Axis in Paris. This paper analyses the work presented by the artist from an urban planning perspective. It shows how the rich and multi-layered metaphor for the 21st-century city, embodied in the concept of the Bois de Nanterre, offers a pioneering and radical lesson for addressing contemporary urban problems.

  • The use of a 4 PB strain sweep fatigue test to evaluate characteristics of carbon grid reinforced asphalt beams
    • Marcin Stienss
    • Piotr Jaskuła
    • Cezary Szydłowski
    2024

    The article presents research results concerning pre-bituminized carbon grids for asphalt pavement reinforcement, which are used to prevent cracking and crack reflection thus increasing bearing capacity and durability of pavement. Research program involved testing of large sized double-layer samples, both reinforced and unreinforced. The advantage of using a carbon grid was especially visible after crack initiation. The energy during crack propagation phase was about three times higher in comparison with unreinforced samples. The maximum dissipated energy was significantly higher in the fatigue test for a reinforced samples, with also higher level of tensile strain.

  • The use of a genetic algorithm in the process of optimizing the shape of a three-dimensional periodic beam
    • Łukasz Doliński
    • Arkadiusz Żak
    • Wiktor Waszkowiak
    • Paweł Kowalski
    • Jacek Szkopek
    2024 Journal of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics

    Mechanical periodic structures exhibit unusual dynamic behavior thanks to the periodicity of their structures, which can be attributed to their cellular arrangement. The source of this periodicity may result from periodic variations of material properties within their cells and/or variations in the cell geometry. The authors present the results of their studies on the optimization of physical parameters of a three-dimensional axisymetrical periodic beam in order to obtain the desired vibroacoustic properties. The aim of the optimization process of the unit cell shape was to obtain band gaps of a given width and position in the frequency spectrum.

  • The use of chain extenders as processing aids in the valorization of single-use polylactide (PLA) products by rotomolding
    • Mateusz Barczewski
    • Joanna Aniśko
    • Aleksander Hejna
    • Mariusz Marć
    • Marta Safandowska
    • Krzysztof Lewandowski
    • Zaida Ortega
    • Patryk Mietliński
    • Jacek Andrzejewski
    2024 JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION

    Biodegradable plastics in single-use products have increased in popularity as a way to reduce the negative environmental impact of conventional plastics and meet the tightening law regulations. However, their recyclability needs to be assessed, as the environmental behavior of single-use plastics, even if compostable, is not negligible. Polylactide (PLA) is susceptible to thermal, oxidative, hydrolytic, and mechanical degradation during reprocessing, so the conditions of such cycles must be accurately controlled. The necessity of using additives to reduce such degradations during rotational molding, a process with long cycle times and oxidizing atmosphere, has been demonstrated. Chain extenders based on a carbodiimide (Bioadimide® 100 - KI), a methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI), and a polystyrene-acrylic copolymer (Joncryl® ADR-4368c - J) have been added to postconsumer PLA wastes. It has been demonstrated that these three chain extenders enabled obtaining a higher molecular weight of the reprocessed polymer, compared to the ~50% reduction for the neat PLA. The use of carbodiimide yielded the most similar performance to that of unprocessed raw material. All samples provided adequate thermal stability and processing parameters for the rotational molding. Carbodiimide is considered the most efficient additive, as it increases the molecular mass of the polymer as it remains unchanged after processing. Similarly, KI-modified PLA rheological behavior remains unchanged after processing, which means this compound can reduce thermooxidative and hydrolytic degradation reactions. Thus contributing to the achievement of improved processability and better performance; in particular, impact strength increased from 1.06 ± 0.56 for PLA to 8.12 ± 2.28 kJ/m2 for KI-modified PLA, and toughness of 5.36 ± 1.61 to 61.49 ± 8.01 J/ mm3, respectively, leading to rotomolded items without structural defects. On the opposite, the use of Joncryl® and MDI led to structural defects in the rotomolded parts despite a higher molecular weight of the polymer, which resulted in poor mechanical properties, although better than PLA without any additive. All three chain extenders resulted in an amorphous PLA structure with increased glass transition temperature and improved thermal stability, which correlated with the reduced emissions of volatile compounds compared to neat recycled PLA.

  • The Use of Cluster Analysis to Assess the Wear Resistance of Cermet Coatings Sprayed by High Velocity Oxy-Fuel on Magnesium Alloy Substrate
    • Ewa Stanisława Jonda
    • Dariusz Fydrych
    • Leszek Łatka
    • Hanna Myalska-Głowacka
    2024 Advances in Science and Technology Research Journal

    Cermet coatings are one of the best surface protection of machine elements against wear. On the other hand, the most universal and economically justified method of applying such coatings is high velocity oxy-fuel (HVOF) spraying. This method makes it possible to produce coatings characterized by compact structure, low porosity and very good adhesion to the substrate. All these fundamental properties contribute to the high wear resistance of these coatings. However, carrying out full wear tests (e.g. ball-on-disc) is time-consuming, especially when it is necessary to select the proper feedstock material and carefully selected process parameters. The aim of the following researches was to statistically investigate the possibility of replacing long-term wear resistance tests with estimation of this performance on the basis of determining the fundamental mechanical properties of the coatings. Three types of coating materials were selected: WC-12Co, WC-10Co-4Cr and WC-20Cr3 C2 -7Ni, which were deposited on AZ31 magnesium alloy substrates from three different spray distances: 320, 360 and 400 mm. On the basis of the tests carried out and using cluster analysis techniques (the Ward and k-means methods), the relative similarity between the obtained coatings was determined. The applied methodology allowed to select from the analyzed cermet coatings such samples that were characterized by improved resistance to abrasive wear. The obtained results of the analyzes were also referred to the results of tests of resistance to abrasive wear

  • The Use of Ultra-Fast Gas Chromatography for Fingerprinting-Based Classification of Zweigelt and Rondo Wines with Regard to Grape Variety and Type of Malolactic Fermentation Combined with Greenness and Practicality Assessment
    • Anna Stój
    • Wojciech Wojnowski
    • Justyna Płotka-Wasylka
    • Tomasz Czernecki
    • Ireneusz Kapusta
    2024 MOLECULES

    In food authentication, it is important to compare different analytical procedures and select the best method. The aim of this study was to determine the fingerprints of Zweigelt and Rondo wines through headspace analysis using ultra-fast gas chromatography (ultra-fast GC) and to compare the effectiveness of this approach at classifying wines based on grape variety and type of malolactic fermentation (MLF) as well as its greenness and practicality with three other chromatographic methods such as headspace solid-phase microextraction/gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with carboxen-polydimethylosiloxane fiber (SPME/GC-MS with CAR/PDMS fiber), headspace solid-phase microextraction/gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with polyacrylate fiber (SPME/GC-MS with PA fiber), and ultra performance liquid chromatography–photodiode array detector-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-PDA-MS/MS). Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed that fingerprints obtained using all four chromatographic methods were suitable for classification using machine learning (ML). Random Forest (RF) and Support Vector Machines (SVM) yielded accuracies of at least 99% in the varietal classification of Zweigelt and Rondo wines and therefore proved suitable for robust fingerprinting-based Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) procedures. In the case of wine classification by the type of MLF, the classifiers performed slightly worse, with the poorest accuracy of 91% for SVM and SPME/GC-MS with CAR/PDMS fiber, and no less than 93% for the other methods. Ultra-fast GC is the greenest and UPLC-PDA-MS/MS is the most practical of the four chromatographic methods.

  • Theoretical modelling of efficient fire safety water networks by certified domination
    • Joanna Raczek
    • Mateusz Miotk
    2024 Full text Scientific Reports

    This paper explores a new way of designing water supply networks for fire safety using ideas from graph theory, focusing on a method called certified domination. Ensuring a good water supply is crucial for fire safety in communities, this study looks at the rules and problems in Poland for how much water is needed to fight fires in different areas and how this can be achieved at a lowest possible cost. We present a way to plan water supply networks for fire protection as a graph, where each point(node) is a place that needs water, and the lines (links) show where water can go between these points.The main idea is to find the best places to put pumping stations and wells in the network to save money and still meet all the fire safety requirements. Our approach assumes that it costs more to build a pumping station than a well. We use some examples to show how this method can find cost-effectivesolutions for water supply networks, while ensuring that they meet fire safety requirements and are not too expensive to build. This approach is a new and efficient way to improve the design of water supply networks for fire safety. Key challenges that are solved in this paper are a linear time algorithm finding an optimal solution for networks without cycles and a BLP (Binary Linear Programming)algorithm solving the problem in arbitrary networks.

  • Therapeutic biomaterials – application in neurology and cardiology
    • Klaudia Malisz
    • Beata Świeczko-Żurek
    2024 Review and Research on Cancer Treatment

    Biomaterials are of interest in most medical fields. It's hard to imagine life without them. And due to the ever-increasing demand, scientists are developing new materials. Diseases of the nervous and cardiovascular systems are still a big problem, which are associated with a limited ability to regenerate brain or heart tissues. Therefore, this review discusses the advancement in biomaterial engineering for the treatment of neurological and cardiovascular diseases. Neurodegenerative diseases affect a large percentage of older people. Therefore, the review presents treatment options for Alzheimer's (AD), and Parkinson's diseases (PD). Another serious problem is cardiac ischemia. To regenerate heart tissue, scientists have proposed the use of extracellular vesicles, injectable hydrogels, and biomaterial-based cardiac patches. In addition to tissue engineering, implants are also developing in the field of cardiology. More and more modern materials are being created, e.g., for valve prostheses or vascular stents.

  • Thermally activated natural chalcopyrite for Fenton-like degradation of Rhodamine B: Catalyst characterization, performance evaluation, and catalytic mechanism
    • Jiapeng Yang
    • Kai Jia
    • Shaoyong Lu
    • Yijun Cao
    • Grzegorz Boczkaj
    • Chongqing Wang
    2024 Full text Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering

    In this work, catalytic activity of natural chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) was improved by thermal activation. The modified chalcopyrite was used as efficient catalyst for degradation of organic dye Rhodamine B (RhB) through advanced oxidation process (AOP). Effects of catalyst dosage, H2O2 concentration, reaction temperature, solution pH, anions, and natural organic matter on the degradation efficiency of RhB were investigated. This study revealed that thermal activation at 300 °C changed the chemical valency of surface elements rather than transforming the major chemical phase of natural chalcopyrite. The Fenton-like degradation of RhB was significantly improved by thermally activated chalcopyrite. RhB degradation could be obtained under broad pH and showed high resistance to natural organic matter and anions. Under optimal conditions of H2O2 43.0 mM, catalyst 0.75 g/L, initial pH 5.1, and reaction temperature 25 °C, the degradation of RhB reached 96.7% at 50 min. Based on the rate constant of reaction kinetics, the activation energy for RhB degradation was calculated to be 9 kJ/mol. Radical scavenging experiments and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) technique demonstrated that RhB degradation was dominated by the generated hydroxyl radicals in activated chalcopyrite/H2O2 system. The formation of surface sulfates resulted from thermal activation induced the dissolved copper or iron ions, and promoted H2O2 activation and facilitated RhB degradation by reactive hydroxyl radicals. This work provides an in-depth understanding of the mechanism behind thermal activation to enhance the activity of natural chalcopyrite, offering a theoretical basis for utilizing natural minerals for Fenton-like treatment of organic wastewater towards cleaner production.

  • Thermosensitive composite based on agarose and chitosan saturated with carbon dioxide. Preliminary study of requirements for production of new CSAG bioink.
    • Adrianna Banach-Kopeć
    • Szymon Mania
    • Robert Tylingo
    • Agata Wawrzynowicz
    • Monika Pawłowska
    • Katarzyna Czerwiec
    • Milena Deptuła
    • Michał Pikuła
    2024 Full text CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS

    This study introduces a method for producing printable, thermosensitive bioink formulated from agarose (AG) and carbon dioxide-saturated chitosan (CS) hydrogels. The research identified medium molecular weight chitosan as optimal for bioink production, with a preferred chitosan hydrogel content of 40–60 %. Rheological analysis reveals the bioink's pseudoplastic behavior and a sol-gel phase transition between 27.0 and 31.5 °C. The MMW chitosan-based bioink showed also the most stable extrusion characteristic. The choice of chitosan for the production of bioink was also based on the assessment of the antimicrobial activity of the polymer as a function of its molecular weight and the degree of deacetylation, noting significant cell reduction rates for E. coli and S. aureus of 1.72 and 0.54 for optimal bioink composition, respectively. Cytotoxicity assessments via MTT and LDH tests confirm the bioink's safety for L929, HaCaT, and 46BR.1 N cell lines. Additionally, XTT proliferation assay proved the stimulating effect of the bioink on the proliferation of 46BR.1 N fibroblasts, comparable to that observed with Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS). FTIR spectroscopy confirms the bioink as a physical polymer blend. In conclusion, the CS/AG bioink demonstrates the promising potential for advanced spatial cell cultures in tissue engineering applications including skin regeneration.

  • Three dimensional simulations of FRC beams and panels with explicit definition of fibres-concrete interaction
    • Ireneusz Marzec
    • Jan Suchorzewski
    • Jerzy Bobiński
    2024 ENGINEERING STRUCTURES

    High performance concrete (HPC) is a quite novel material which has been rapidly developed in the last few decades. It exhibits superior mechanical properties and durability comparing to normal concrete. HPC can achieve also superior tensile performance if strong fibres (steel or carbon) are implemented in the matrix. Thus, there exist the unabated interest in studying how the addition of different types of fibres modifies the behaviour of HPC. Nowadays, a standard numerical approaches to model the behaviour of fibre reinforced concrete (FRC) are carried out by means of the smeared or discrete crack modelling of homogenous media with appropriately changed stress-strain relationships. The objective of this paper is to develop a new and efficient mesoscale modelling approach for steel fibre reinforced high-performance concrete. The main idea of presented approach is to assume the fully 3D modelling with taking into account explicitly the distribution and orientation of the steel fibres. As a benchmark, results obtained from experimental campaign on beams and panels made from high-performance concrete with steel fibres of different sizes and dosages were taken. Results of numerical simulations were directly compared with experimental outcomes in order to validate and calibrate FE-model and to introduce the efficient numerical modelling tool.

  • Three modes of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements performed on vanadium redox flow battery
    • Joanna Krakowiak
    • Wojciech Bącalski
    • Grzegorz Lentka
    • Pekka Peljo
    • Paweł Ślepski
    2024 Sustainable Materials and Technologies

    This article presents an innovative approach to monitor working redox flow batteries using dynamic electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, diverging from the commonly sequential impedance methods carried out under potentiostatic or galvanostatic conditions close to the open circle voltage. The authors introduce a fresh variation of dynamic impedance measurement that leverages an amplitude-modulated multi-frequency alternating current perturbation signal. This technique leads to a reduction in measurement time, making it possible to monitor impedance in real-time under typical operational conditions. Consequently, it effectively addresses the limitations stemming from the absence of stationary conditions during impedance measurements. There is no doubt that measurement techniques enabling the study of processes during the operational life of a battery provide the most valuable insights into the properties of these systems. The potential of this proposed approach is exemplified through the examination of a full vanadium redox flow battery as a case study. Classical impedance measurements were also conducted under potentiostatic and galvanostatic conditions with sequential frequency signal change, which requires stopping the battery operation, resulting in electrode potential changes of over 200 mV compared to the working system. Spectra for all modes of measurements were compared. In the case of dynamic measurements, such significant differences in spectra during charging and discharging are not observed, which is characteristic of classical measurements. The authors deliberately and consciously refrain from analyzing the results by fitting equivalent circuits.