scholarly journals Mechanics of wood boring by beetle mandibles

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lakshminath Kundanati ◽  
Nimesh R. Chahare ◽  
Siddhartha Jaddivada ◽  
Abhijith G. Karkisaval ◽  
Nicola M. Pugno ◽  
...  

AbstractWood boring is a feature of several insect species and is a major cause of severe and irreparable damage to trees. Adult females typically deposit their eggs on the stem surface under bark scales. The emerging hatchlings live within hard wood during their larval phase, avoiding possible predation, whilst continually boring and tunneling through wood until pupation. A study of wood boring by insects offers unique insights into the bioengineering principles that drive evolutionary adaptations. We show that larval mandibles of the coffee wood stem borer beetle (Xylotrechus quadripes: Cerambycidae) have a highly sharp cusp edge to initiate fractures in Arabica wood and a suitable shape to generate small wood chips that are suitable for digestion. Cuticle hardness at the tip is significantly enhanced through zinc-enrichment. Finite element model of the mandible, based on the differential material properties at the tip, intermediate and base regions of the mandible, showed highest stresses in the tip region; these decreased to significantly lower values at the start of the hollow section. A hollow architecture significantly reduces bending stresses at mandibular base without compromising the structural integrity. A scaling model based on a fracture mechanics framework shows the importance of the mandible shape in generating optimal chip sizes. These findings contain general principles in tool design and put in focus interactions of insects and their woody hosts.

Author(s):  
Nak-Kyun Cho ◽  
Youngjae Choi ◽  
Haofeng Chen

Abstract Supercritical boiler system has been widely used to increase efficiency of electricity generation in power plant industries. However, the supercritical operating condition can seriously affect structural integrity of power plant components due to high temperature that causes degradation of material properties. Pressure reducing valve is an important component being employed within a main steam line of the supercritical boiler, which occasionally thermal-fatigue failure being reported. This research has investigated creep-cyclic plastic behaviour of the pressure reducing valve under combined thermo-mechanical loading using a numerical direct method known as extended Direct Steady Cyclic Analysis of the Linear Matching Method Framework (LMM eDSCA). Finite element model of the pressure-reducing valve is created based on a practical valve dimension and temperature-dependent material properties are applied for the numerical analysis. The simulation results demonstrate a critical loading component that attributes creep-fatigue failure of the valve. Parametric studies confirm the effects of magnitude of the critical loading component on creep deformation and total deformation per loading cycle. With these comprehensive numerical results, this research provides engineer with an insight into the failure mechanism of the pressure-reducing valve at high temperature.


2014 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 201-210
Author(s):  
Ari Isokangas ◽  
Kari Ala-Kaila ◽  
Markku Ohenoja ◽  
Aki Sorsa ◽  
Kauko Leiviskä

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to analyse the log loading process of wood room, which is typically the first processing unit in pulp and paper mills. The aim is to improve the log loading process to obtain production with a constant log flow of well de-iced logs to the debarking drum. This way it is possible to reduce costs and enhance product quality. The research was carried out utilising a log loading simulator. The parameters of the simulation model were selected on the basis of process observations on a mill. The results indicate that it is essential to adjust the process and equipment parameters, raw material properties and truck loader operation together in order to reach the target capacity with minimum costs. Especially the speed of the infeed conveyor affects all performance criteria and should be selected carefully. In addition, wood yard logistics and raw material properties have a remarkable effect on the wood room performance. The results can be utilised in mills to allow the upper level control perform in a planned way so that small wood loss and good product quality can be obtained.


2021 ◽  
pp. 174425912198938
Author(s):  
Michael Gutland ◽  
Scott Bucking ◽  
Mario Santana Quintero

Hygrothermal models are important tools for assessing the risk of moisture-related decay mechanisms which can compromise structural integrity, loss of architectural features and material. There are several sources of uncertainty when modelling masonry, related to material properties, boundary conditions, quality of construction and two-dimensional interactions between mortar and unit. This paper examines the uncertainty at the mortar-unit interface with imperfections such as hairline cracks or imperfect contact conditions. These imperfections will alter the rate of liquid transport into and out of the wall and impede the liquid transport between mortar and masonry unit. This means that the effective liquid transport of the wall system will be different then if only properties of the bulk material were modelled. A detailed methodology for modelling this interface as a fracture is presented including definition of material properties for the fracture. The modelling methodology considers the combined effect of both the interface resistance across the mortar-unit interface and increase liquid transport in parallel to the interface, and is generalisable to various combinations of materials, geometries and fracture apertures. Two-dimensional DELPHIN models of a clay brick/cement-mortar masonry wall were created to simulate this interaction. The models were exposed to different boundary conditions to simulate wetting, drying and natural cyclic weather conditions. The results of these simulations were compared to a baseline model where the fracture model was not included. The presence of fractures increased the rate of absorption in the wetting phase and an increased rate of desorption in the drying phase. Under cyclic conditions, the result was higher peak moisture contents after rain events compared to baseline and lower moisture contents after long periods of drying. This demonstrated that detailed modelling of imperfections at the mortar-unit interface can have a definitive influence on results and conclusions from hygrothermal simulations.


Author(s):  
Yongjian Gao ◽  
Yinbiao He ◽  
Ming Cao ◽  
Yuebing Li ◽  
Shiyi Bao ◽  
...  

In-Vessel Retention (IVR) is one of the most important severe accident mitigation strategies of the third generation passive Nuclear Power Plants (NPP). It is intended to demonstrate that in the case of a core melt, the structural integrity of the Reactor Pressure Vessel (RPV) is assured such that there is no leakage of radioactive debris from the RPV. This paper studied the IVR issue using Finite Element Analyses (FEA). Firstly, the tension and creep testing for the SA-508 Gr.3 Cl.1 material in the temperature range of 25°C to 1000°C were performed. Secondly, a FEA model of the RPV lower head was built. Based on the assumption of ideally elastic-plastic material properties derived from the tension testing data, limit analyses were performed under both the thermal and the thermal plus pressure loading conditions where the load bearing capacity was investigated by tracking the propagation of plastic region as a function of pressure increment. Finally, the ideal elastic-plastic material properties incorporating the creep effect are developed from the 100hr isochronous stress-strain curves, limit analyses are carried out as the second step above. The allowable pressures at 0 hr and 100 hr are obtained. This research provides an alternative approach for the structural integrity evaluation for RPV under IVR condition.


2013 ◽  
Vol 486 ◽  
pp. 205-210
Author(s):  
Zuzana Lašová ◽  
Robert Zemcik

This work is focused on identification of material properties of piezoelectric patch transducers used e.g. for structural health monitoring before attaching to the substrate structure. Two experimental methods were concerned. At first two piezoelectric patches were supplied with a pair of collocated strain gauge rosettes. Both transducers were actuated with the same periodical signal. Significant difference in the results for two transducers was found, however it was claimed to be within tolerance by the producer. As an alternative method a measurement in an optical microscope was chosen. The patch was clamped at one side and actuated by a voltage signal. The displacement of the free end was captured by the microscope and processed in a graphical editor. Finally, a finite element model of the transducer was created and its material data were obtained by calibration with experimental data.


Author(s):  
Komei Suzuki ◽  
Etsuo Murai ◽  
Yasuhiko Tanaka ◽  
Iku Kurihara ◽  
Tomoharu Sasaki ◽  
...  

Closure head forging (SA508, Gr.3 Cl.1) integrated with flange for PWR reactor pressure vessel has been developed. This is intended to enhance structural integrity of closure head resulted in elimination of ISI, by eliminating weld joint between closure head and flange in the conventional design. Manufacturing procedures have been established so that homogeneity and isotropy of the material properties can be assured in the closure head forging integrated with flange. Acceptance tensile and impact test specimens are taken and tested regarding the closure head forging integrated with flange as very thick and complex forgings. This paper describes the manufacturing technologies and material properties of the closure head forging integrated with flange.


Author(s):  
Sean M. Finley ◽  
J. Harley Astin ◽  
Evan Joyce ◽  
Andrew T. Dailey ◽  
Douglas L. Brockmeyer ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVE The underlying biomechanical differences between the pediatric and adult cervical spine are incompletely understood. Computational spine modeling can address that knowledge gap. Using a computational method known as finite element modeling, the authors describe the creation and evaluation of a complete pediatric cervical spine model. METHODS Using a thin-slice CT scan of the cervical spine from a 5-year-old boy, a 3D model was created for finite element analysis. The material properties and boundary and loading conditions were created and model analysis performed using open-source software. Because the precise material properties of the pediatric cervical spine are not known, a published parametric approach of scaling adult properties by 50%, 25%, and 10% was used. Each scaled finite element model (FEM) underwent two types of simulations for pediatric cadaver testing (axial tension and cardinal ranges of motion [ROMs]) to assess axial stiffness, ROM, and facet joint force (FJF). The authors evaluated the axial stiffness and flexion-extension ROM predicted by the model using previously published experimental measurements obtained from pediatric cadaveric tissues. RESULTS In the axial tension simulation, the model with 50% adult ligamentous and annulus material properties predicted an axial stiffness of 49 N/mm, which corresponded with previously published data from similarly aged cadavers (46.1 ± 9.6 N/mm). In the flexion-extension simulation, the same 50% model predicted an ROM that was within the range of the similarly aged cohort of cadavers. The subaxial FJFs predicted by the model in extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation were in the range of 1–4 N and, as expected, tended to increase as the ligament and disc material properties decreased. CONCLUSIONS A pediatric cervical spine FEM was created that accurately predicts axial tension and flexion-extension ROM when ligamentous and annulus material properties are reduced to 50% of published adult properties. This model shows promise for use in surgical simulation procedures and as a normal comparison for disease-specific FEMs.


2022 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 878
Author(s):  
Pedro O. Santos ◽  
Gustavo P. Carmo ◽  
Ricardo J. Alves de Sousa ◽  
Fábio A. O. Fernandes ◽  
Mariusz Ptak

The human head is sometimes subjected to impact loads that lead to skull fracture or other injuries that require the removal of part of the skull, which is called craniectomy. Consequently, the removed portion is replaced using autologous bone or alloplastic material. The aim of this work is to develop a cranial implant to fulfil a defect created on the skull and then study its mechanical performance by integrating it on a human head finite element model. The material chosen for the implant was PEEK, a thermoplastic polymer that has been recently used in cranioplasty. A6 numerical model head coupled with an implant was subjected to analysis to evaluate two parameters: the number of fixation screws that enhance the performance and ensure the structural integrity of the implant, and the implant’s capacity to protect the brain compared to the integral skull. The main findings point to the fact that, among all tested configurations of screws, the model with eight screws presents better performance when considering the von Mises stress field and the displacement field on the interface between the implant and the skull. Additionally, under the specific analyzed conditions, it is observable that the model with the implant offers more efficient brain protection when compared with the model with the integral skull.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oguz DOGAN ◽  
Celalettin YUCE ◽  
Fatih KARPAT

Abstract Today, gear designs with asymmetric tooth profiles offer essential solutions in reducing tooth root stresses of gears. Although numerical, analytical, and experimental studies are carried out to calculate the bending stresses in gears with asymmetric tooth profiles a standard or a simplified equation or empirical statement has not been encountered in the literature. In this study, a novel bending stress calculation procedure for gears with asymmetric tooth profiles is developed using both the DIN3990 standard and the finite element method. The bending stresses of gears with symmetrical profile were determined by the developed finite element model and was verified by comparing the results with the DIN 3990 standard. Using the verified finite element model, by changing the drive side pressure angle between 20° and 30° and the number of teeth between 18 and 100, 66 different cases were examined and the bending stresses in gears with asymmetric profile were determined. As a result of the analysis, a new asymmetric factor was derived. By adding the obtained asymmetric factor to the DIN 3390 formula, a new equation has been derived to be used in tooth bending stresses of gears with asymmetric profile. Thanks to this equation, designers will be able to calculate tooth bending stresses with high precision in gears with asymmetric tooth profile without the need for finite element analysis.


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