Numerical analysis of stiffened plates subjected to transverse uniform load through the constructal design method

When it comes to engineering, high performance is always a desired goal. In this context, regarding stiffened plates, the search for better geometric configurations able to minimize the out-of-plane displacements become interesting. So, this study aimed to analyze several stiffened plates defined by the Constructal Design Method (CDM) and solved through the Finite Element Method (FEM) using the ANSYS® software. After that, these plates are compared among each other through the Exhaustive Search (ES) technique. To do so, a non-stiffened rectangular plate was adopted as reference. Then, a portion of its steel volume was converted into stiffeners through the ϕ parameter, which represents the ratio between the volume of the stiffeners and the total volume of the reference plate. Taking into consideration the value of ϕ = 0.3, 75 different stiffened plates arrangements were proposed: 25 with rectangular stiffeners oriented at 0°; 25 with rectangular stiffeners oriented at 45° and 25 with trapezoidal stiffeners oriented at 0°. Maintaining the total volume of material constant, it was investigated the geometry influence on the maximum deflection of these stiffened plates. The results have shown trapezoidal stiffeners oriented at 0° are more effective to reduce the maximum deflections than rectangular stiffeners also oriented at 0°. It was also observed that rectangular stiffeners oriented at 45° presented the smallest maximum deflections for the majority of the analyzed cases, when compared to the trapezoidal and rectangular stiffeners oriented at 0°.

On prismatic and bending bifurcations of fiber-reinforced elastic membranes under swelling with application to aortic aneurysms

The influence of swelling on prismatic and bending bifurcation modes of inflated thin-walled cylinders under axial loading is examined. The bifurcation criteria for a membrane cylinder subjected to combined axial loading, internal pressure, and swelling is provided. We consider orthotropic materials with two preferred directions which are mechanically equivalent and symmetrically disposed. The mechanical behavior of the matrix is described by a swellable isotropic model. The isotropic material is augmented with two functions that are equal, each one of them accounting for the existence of a unidirectional reinforcement. Two reinforcing models that depend only on the stretch in the fiber direction are considered: the so-called standard reinforcing model and an exponential one. The analysis of bifurcation modes for these models under the conditions at hand may establish the connection with modeling of the normal and diseased aorta in arterial wall tissue. The effects of the axial stretch, the strength of the fiber reinforcement and the fiber winding angle on the onset of prismatic and bending bifurcations are investigated. It is shown that for membranes without fibers, prismatic bifurcation is not feasible. On the other hand, bending bifurcation is more likely to occur for swollen cylinders. However, for a particular model of fiber-reinforced membranes, the standard model, there exists a domain of deformation values together with material constant values that may trigger prismatic bifurcation. The exponential model does not allow prismatic bifurcations. Both models allow bending bifurcation and may or may not trigger it depending on the deformation together with material parameters.

The Effect of Catalysts Addition to Silicone Rubber as Pressure Transmitting Medium in the Pebble Fuel Production Process

Pebble Fuel is a spherical fuel for high temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTGR). This fuel must have a homogeneous density distribution. Hyperelastic material is used as a pressure transmitting medium (PTM) material in making Pebble fuel using the cold quasi-isostatic pressing method. PTM material properties and characteristics were predicted using the finite element analysis method. The problem is the type of material used and its suitable composition to make a pressure-transmitting medium that has the properties and characteristics of the material as predicted. This research discusses the manufacture of tensile specimens for pressure-emitting media using RTV-586 silicone rubber. The composition comprises three different variants with two major ingredients, namely RTV-586 silicone rubber and catalyst. The test results are then analyzed using the finite element method to determine the material composition that is appropriate or close to the predicted properties and characteristics of the PTM material. This initial study used the Mooney-Rivlin hyperelastic model. The Mooney-Rivlin model shows good similarity to the test result data. In future studies, it will make comparisons with other hyperelastic models to get a suitable PTM material constant.

The new innovative optic complete method of identification of oil and its fraction

Development and demonstration of a new method for highly accurate forecasting of the hydrocarbon composition of oil based on determining the spectrum of its universal material constant–dielectric function, as by direct measurement using the method of spectroscopic ellipsometry, are today accepted as the world standard for determining the optical functions of any substance in a liquid or solid state, and by its quantum-mechanical calculation from first principles to complete coincidence with the measurement results. A methodology will be proposed for the complete description of any oil and the identification of it belonging to a particular oilfield. The methodology is not only universal and highly accurate, but also economical. In this work, we obtained several groups of fractions of crude oilsamples from different oil fields in Azerbaijan, which were accessed by spectroscopic ellipsometry over the 1.5–6.5 eV spectral range at room-temperature. Optical constants and dielectric function were obtained for massive samples of each substance and fractions. The proposed method is a complete dielectric fingerprint of oils for widespread use, including for environmental monitoring of oil-contaminated areas of the sea and land.

Similarity and automatic imitation

Individuals automatically imitate a wide range of different behaviors. Previous research suggests that imitation as a social process depends on the similarity between interaction partners. However, some of the experiments supporting this notion could not be replicated and all of the supporting experiments manipulated not only similarity between actor and observer, but also other features. Thus, the existing evidence leaves open whether similarity as such moderates automatic imitation. To directly test the similarity account, in four experiments, we manipulated participants’ focus on similarities or differences while holding the stimulus material constant. In Experiment 1, we presented participants with a hand and let them either focus on similarities, differences, or neutral aspects between their own hand and the other person’s hand. The results indicate that focusing on similarities increased perceived similarity between the own and the other person’s hand. In Experiments 2 to 4, we tested the hypothesis that focusing on similarities, as compared with differences, increases automatic imitation. Experiment 2 tested the basic effect and found support for our prediction. Experiment 3 and 4 replicated this finding with higher-powered samples. Exploratory investigations further suggest that it is a focus on differences that decreases automatic imitation, and not a focus on similarities that increases automatic imitation. Theoretical implications and future directions are discussed.

Electrospun Nickel Manganite (NiMn2O4) Nanocrystalline Fibers for Humidity and Temperature Sensing

Nickel manganite nanocrystalline fibers were obtained by electrospinning and subsequent calcination at 400 °C. As-spun fibers were characterized by TG/DTA, Scanning Electron Microscopy and FT-IR spectroscopy analysis. X-ray diffraction and FT-IR spectroscopy analysis confirmed the formation of nickel manganite with a cubic spinel structure, while N2 physisorption at 77 K enabled determination of the BET specific surface area as 25.3 m2/g and (BJH) mesopore volume as 21.5 m2/g. The material constant (B) of the nanocrystalline nickel manganite fibers applied by drop-casting on test interdigitated electrodes on alumina substrate, dried at room temperature, was determined as 4379 K in the 20–50 °C temperature range and a temperature sensitivity of −4.95%/K at room temperature (25 °C). The change of impedance with relative humidity was monitored at 25 and 50 °C for a relative humidity (RH) change of 40 to 90% in the 42 Hzπ1 MHz frequency range. At 100 Hz and 25 °C, the sensitivity of 327.36 ± 80.12 kΩ/%RH was determined, showing that nickel manganite obtained by electrospinning has potential as a multifunctional material for combined humidity and temperature sensing.

Temperature Profile in Starch during Irradiation. Indirect Effects in Starch by Radiation-Induced Heating

Present research deals with exposure of granular starch to the accelerated electron of 5.5 MeV energy in order to examine: (i) the temperature evolution in starch within an irradiation process and (ii) the indirect effects generated in starch by radiation-induced heating. The temperature evolution in potato and corn starches within the irradiation process was investigated by placing two different sensors inside each starch batch and recording the temperature simultaneously. Each starch batch was sampled into distinct location sectors of different absorbed radiation levels. The output effects in each sample were analyzed through physicochemical properties such as moisture content, acidity and color attributes. The outcomes showed that a starch temperature profile had different major stages: (i) heating during irradiation, (ii) post-irradiation heating, up to the maximum temperature is reached, and (iii) cooling to the room temperature. A material constant with signification of a relaxation time was identified by modeling the temperature evolution. Changes of the investigated properties were induced both by irradiation and radiation-induced heating, depending on the starch type and the batch sectors. Changes in the irradiated batch sectors were explained by irradiation and radiation-induced heating whereas changes in the sector of non-irradiated starch were attributed only to the heating.

The Effect of Surface Layer Thickness in a Wide-Area Simulation in Different Models: Susceptibility Mapping of Rainfall-Induced Landslide

In recent years, sediment disaster has frequently been caused by heavy rainfall and has cost many human lives and great property losses. To estimate such risks, Wakai et al. [1] proposed a simplified prediction method to calculate the variation of groundwater levels in natural slopes both at the time of rainfall in wide areas and in real time. To calculate the variation of groundwater levels using this method, the slope conditions (such as material constant and initial conditions) must be determined in advance. This study takes the 2017 heavy rainfall in Northern Kyushu as an example to analyze surface layer thickness, one of the slope conditions that most significantly influences slope stability, over wide areas. The findings reveal that the prediction of slope failure distribution differs depending on how the surface layer thickness and sliding surface are determined.