Flow and arrest in stressed granular materials

Flowing granular materials often abruptly arrest if not driven by sufficient applied stresses. Such abrupt cessation of motion can be economically expensive in industrial materials handling and processing, and is...

Delivering

Automated materials handling and RFID technology are becoming more common in libraries. Libraries are using supply chain technology to enhance both patron and staff user experiences. This article discusses the strategies and experiences we encountered bringing different departments together, revising workflows and establishing user-focused processes as we transitioned from a manual, barcode centered system to an autmated, RFID focus.

Assessments of Work Gloves in Terms of the Strengths of Hand Grip, One-Handed Carrying, and Leg Lifting

Gloves are used at workplaces to protect hands and fingers from potential hazards. Three types of work gloves were assessed in terms of the strength of grip, carrying, and lifting. Thirty adults (14 males and 16 females) joined as human participants. The strength data were measured under bare hand and three gloved conditions. The grip spans in the grip strength measurements included 45 mm, 55 mm, 65 mm, and 75 mm. The carrying strength was measured for both dominant and non-dominant hands under leg straight and semi-squat postural conditions. The lifting strength was measured at a semi-squat posture. The results showed that glove (p < 0.0001), grip span (p = 0.001), gender (p < 0.0001), and handedness (p < 0.0001) all affected grip strength significantly. Wearing the gloves tested in this study led to a decrease of grip strength up to 22.9%, on average, depending on gender, grip span, and hand tested. Wearing the cotton gloves led to a decrease of one-handed carrying strength ranged from 3.5% to 9.7% for female participants. All the participants took advantages in carrying strength when wearing the cut-resistant gloves. The leg lifting strength data indicated that the effects of the gloves were insignificant. The information of this study is beneficial for practitioners in the design of manual materials handling tasks concerning the use of work gloves.

Integrated Measurement System of Postural Angle and Electromyography Signal for Manual Materials Handling Assessment

Improper design of manual materials handling (MMH) tasks at workplace can cause musculoskeletal disorders such as muscle strain to industrial workers. To avoid these disorders, ergonomists and engineers require an integrated measurement system which allows them to study the interaction of body posture and muscle effort during performing MMH tasks. However, far too little attention has been paid to develop an integrated measurement system of body posture and muscle activity for assessing MMH tasks. The aim of this study was to develop and test a prototype of integrated system for measuring postural angles and electromyography (EMG) signals of a worker who doing MMH tasks. The Microsoft Visual Studio software, a 3D camera (Microsoft Kinect), Advancer Technologies muscle sensors and a microcontroller (NI DAQ USB-6000) were applied to develop the integrated postural angle and EMG signal measurement system. Additionally, a graphical user interface was created in the system to enable users to perform body posture and muscle effort assessment simultaneously. Based on the testing results, this study concluded that the patterns of EMG signals are depending on the postural angles which consistent with the findings of established works. Further study is required to enhance the validity, reliability and usability of the prototype so that it may facilitate ergonomists and engineers to assess work posture and muscle activity during MMH task.

Trunk Posture during Manual Materials Handling of Beer Kegs

Craft brewing is a rapidly growing industry in the U.S. Most craft breweries are small businesses with few resources for robotic or other mechanical-assisted equipment, requiring work to be performed manually by employees. Craft brewery workers frequently handle stainless steel half-barrel kegs, which weigh between 13.5 kg (29.7 lbs.) empty and 72.8 kg (161.5 lbs.) full. Moving kegs may be associated with low back pain and even injury. In the present study, researchers performed a quantitative assessment of trunk postures using an inertial measurement unit (IMU)-based kinematic measurement system while workers lifted kegs at a craft brewery. Results of this field-based study indicated that during keg handling, craft brewery workers exhibited awkward and non-neutral trunk postures. Based on the results of the posture data, design recommendations were identified to reduce the hazardous exposure for musculoskeletal disorders among craft brewery workers.

Application of Calculus of Variation in the Optimization of Functional Parameters of Compacted Modified Soils: A Simplified Computational Review

Fixed endpoint problems (FEPPs) in constrained systems like the effect of curing time or the effect of certain additives in soil stabilization operations have been reviewed illustratively for sustainability purposes in geotechnics. The calculus of variation (CoV) technique of Hamilton’s problem was demonstrated using a typical case in geotechnics; the effect of curing time on the unconfined compressive strength of expansive soils is utilized as foundation materials. The era of smart technologies is evolving, and to key into this fast-moving area to help the field of geotechnics, it is required that these new areas are deployed to study their usefulness. The use of CoV in modeling or simulating geotechnical properties of soil behavior is not prominent and has been played down due to the uncertainties surrounding it. However, this work has identified that if any geotechnical system can be demonstrated in graphs, then the use of CoV becomes easy with the mathematical concept that curves are elements of straight paths. The results of this work show that CoV is a powerful tool to achieving sustainable optimization of quality properties of stabilized for sustainable and optimal materials handling, design, and construction.

Characterization of Gosa Municipal Solid Wastes at Abuja, Nigeria

The study examined municipal solid wastes characteristics of Gosa dumpsite at Abuja, Nigeria. Waste characterization has not yet been given adequate attention in management of waste in Nigeria and it is a major problem that affects waste materials handling and recovery processes. Wastes samples from Gosa waste dump site, Abuja, were randomly collected and subjected to moisture content, composition, density and size distribution determinations according to prescribed standards in literature. The moisture content of the Gosa waste solid was 19.3%. The results of the characterization of the Gosa municipal solid wastes show 34% organic, 10% paper, 28% plastic, 2% glass, 6% metal, 4% fabric, 2% rubber and 14% dust. The average density of glass, metal, plastic, fabric, rubber, paper, organic and dust materials were 0.044 kg/m3, 0.045 kg/m3, 0.176 kg/m3, 0.043 kg/m3, 0.042 kg/m3, 0.074 kg/m3, 0.143 kg/m3 and 0.098 kg/m3, respectively. The size distribution of the Gosa solid waste ranges from 10-28 cm for metals and plastics and 3-13 cm for paper and glass. The rubber had size ranges from 8-23 cm while size ranges of organic was from 3-6 cm. The large presence of organic, plastic, paper and metal wastes at Gosa waste dump site, is an indication that the municipal solid wastes can be sorted, recycled and processed to other useful products, using the characteristics as a guide.Keyword: Characterization, Density, Municipal Solid Waste, Size Distribution, Waste Management