Numerical analysis of undercut anchor effect on rock

The paper presents the results of a numerical analysis using the Finite Element Method (FEM) of the friction issue in the contact between the undercut anchor head and rock during anchor pull-out. Formation of failure zone of rock medium was analysed assuming different Coulomb friction coefficients in the contact zone of conical anchor head with a rock. The problem is interesting as regards practical aspects of rock mass loosening during anchor pull-out. The analysis revealed a significant effect of the friction coefficient on the propagation and extent of the failure zone. Increasing the friction factor significantly decreases the extent of the failure zone measured on a free rock surface.

Age biases the judgment rather than the perception of an ambiguous figure

Older participants who are briefly presented with the ‘my wife/mother-in-law’ ambiguous figure estimate its age to be higher than young participants do. This finding is thought to be the result of a subconscious social group bias that influences participants’ perception of the figure. Because people are better able to recognize similarly aged individuals, young participants are expected to perceive the ambiguous figure as a young woman, while older participants are more likely to recognize an older lady. We replicate the difference in age estimates, but find no relationship between participants’ age and their perception of the ambiguous figure. This leads us to conclude that the positive relationship between participants’ age and their age estimates of the ambiguous ‘my wife/mother-in-law’ figure is better explained by the own-age anchor effect, which holds that people use their own age as a yard stick to judge the age of the figure, regardless of whether the young woman or the older lady is perceived. Our results disqualify the original finding as an example of cognitive penetrability: the participants’ age biases their judgment of the ambiguous figure, not its perception.

Perception of an Ambiguous Figure: Subconscious Social Group Bias or Anchor Effect?

Older participants who are briefly presented with the ‘my wife and my mother-in-law’ ambiguous figure estimate its age to be higher than young participants do. This finding is thought to be the result of a subconscious social group bias that influences participants’ perception of the figure. Because people are better able to recognize similarly aged individuals, young participants are expected to perceive the ambiguous figure as a young woman, while older participants are more likely to recognize an older lady. We replicate the difference in age estimates, but find no relationship between participants’ age and their perception of the ambiguous figure. This leads us to conclude that the positive relationship between participants’ age and their age estimates of the ambiguous ‘my wife and my mother-in-law’ figure is better explained by the own-age anchor effect, which holds that people use their own age as a yard stick to determine the age of the figure, regardless of whether the young woman or the older lady is perceived. Assimilation of others’ characteristics to one’s own is particularly likely to occur in uncertain circumstances that provide little information to base judgments on, such as estimating the age of a briefly presented ambiguous figure.

Fabrication of Three-Dimensional Microstructure Film by Ni-Cu Alloy Electrodeposition for Joining Dissimilar Materials

Metals with a three-dimensional microstructure film can be joined to plastics by the anchor effect. The three-dimensional microstructure films can be electrodeposited by a Ni-Cu alloy. In this study, the effects of the ratio of the concentration of Ni amidosulfate and Cu sulfate in the plating solution and plating current density on the shapes and microstructures of electrodeposited films were investigated. When the ratio of the concentration of the Ni amidosulfate and the Cu sulfate is 0.47-1.4:0.06 (M/L), a dendritic-type electrodeposited structure was generated at plating current density of 10 mA/cm2. When the ratio of the concentration of the Ni amidosulfate and the Cu sulfate is 0.47:0.6-1.2 (M/L), a feathery-type and needle-type electrodeposited structure was generated.

An experimental investigation on the installation and loading performance of model-scale deep helical piles in very dense sand

The use of helical piles has grown over the years owing to different advantages, such as large uplift capacity due to the anchor effect of the helix, and installation torque-capacity correlation. Although the use of helical foundations is expanding worldwide, some key aspects fundamental to the design are not well understood to date. The practical experience indicates that the installation forces and loading performance of helical piles in sand are dependent on the helices characteristics and confining stresses. Therefore, for a better understanding of these dependencies, the effects of the helix-to-shaft diameter ratio (wing ratio) and vertical confining stress on the installation torque and forces, and on the uplift and compression capacities of helical piles, were evaluated from nine calibration chamber tests, conducted on instrumented single-helix piles in very dense sand. Among other findings, this study indicated that for a certain shaft diameter: (i) the wing ratio influences the installation torque but does not affect the installation vertical force; (ii) the ultimate uplift pressure mobilized on the helix decreases with the increase of the wing ratio; (iii) for vertical stresses higher than 100 kPa the growth rate of the helix bearing resistance with the confining pressure become reduced for piles with larger wing ratio.

Anchor Effect in Polymerization Kinetics: Case of Monofunctionalized POSS

The effect of the anchoring group on the detailed polymerization kinetics was investigated using monomethacryloxy-heptaisobutyl POSS (1M-POSS). This compound was copolymerized with lauryl methacrylate (LM) as the base monomer, at various molar ratios. The process was initiated photochemically. The polymerization kinetics were followed by photo-DSC and photorheology while the polymers were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). For comparison, a methacrylate containing the branched siloxy-silane group (TSM) was also studied. It was found that the modifiers with a bulky substituent have a dual effect on the termination process: (i) At low concentrations, they increase the molecular mobility by increasing the free volume fraction, which leads to an acceleration of the termination and slows the polymerization; while (ii) at higher concentrations, they retard molecular motions due to the “anchor effect” that suppresses the termination, leading to acceleration of the polymerization. The anchor effect can also be considered from a different point of view: The possibility of anchoring a monomer with a long substituent (LM) around the POSS cage, which can further enhance propagation. These conclusions were derived based on kinetic results, determination of polymerization rate coefficients, and copolymer analysis.