scholarly journals Behaviour of Polymer Filled Composites for Novel Polymer Railway Sleepers

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 1324
Author(s):  
Wahid Ferdous ◽  
Allan Manalo ◽  
Choman Salih ◽  
Peng Yu ◽  
Rajab Abousnina ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Limit State ◽  
Performance Requirements ◽  
Stiffness Properties ◽  
Static Performance ◽  
Low Performance ◽  
Strength And Stiffness ◽  
Railway Sleeper ◽  
Novel Concept ◽  
Infill Material ◽  
The Cost

A novel concept of polymer railway sleeper is proposed in this study that has the potential to meet static performance requirements within the cost of hardwood timber. The existing challenges of composite sleepers, such as low performance or high cost, can be overcome using this innovative concept. Such a proclamation is proven through limit state design criteria and a series of experimentations. Results show that polyurethane foam as an infill material can provide sufficient strength and stiffness properties to the sleeper, but the inadequate screw holding capacity could be a problem. This limitation, however, can be overcome using a particulate filled resin system. The findings of this study will help the railway industry to develop a timber replacement sleeper.

Methylglyoxal in diabetes: link to treatment, glycaemic control and biomarkers of complications

2014 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 450-456 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul J. Beisswenger
Keyword(s):  
Glycaemic Control ◽  
Diabetic Complications ◽  
Predictive Biomarkers ◽  
Complication Rates ◽  
Specific Chemical ◽  
End Products ◽  
Carboxymethyl Lysine ◽  
Genetic And Environmental Factors ◽  
Novel Concept ◽  
The Cost

Diabetic complications are major health problems worldwide, with the cost of caring for diabetes rising to US$245 billion in 2012 in the U.S.A. alone. It is widely recognized that non-enzymatic glycation in diabetes is a major cause of damage and dysfunction of key vascular cells. MG (methylglyoxal) is directly toxic to tissues, and is a major precursor of AGEs (advanced glycation end-products). Various propensities to diabetic complications are seen among individuals with diabetes, with accelerated rates occurring in some individuals with modest hyperglycaemia, while others never progress in spite of poor glycaemic control over many years. Since production and detoxification of MG is ultimately controlled by enzymatic mechanisms, both genetic and environmental factors could regulate tissue glycation and potentially account for these variable complication rates. Activation of pathways that determine MG levels occurs in susceptible patients, indicting an important role in pathogenesis. MG leads to formation of specific AGEs, which are likely to predict propensity to diabetic complications. We have shown recently that three specific plasma AGE biomarkers [MG-H1 (MG-derived hydroimidazolones), CEL (Nε-carboxyethyl-lysine) and CML (Nε-carboxymethyl-lysine)] predict biopsy-documented fast DN (diabetic nephropathy) progression. Since two of the predictive biomarkers are MG end-products, these outcomes support a role for MG in the development of DN. Our studies on MG and its end-products have also shown anti-complication effects of the drug metformin, which binds and inactivates MG, thus reducing MG-related AGEs. We have also shown that reducing post-meal glucose decreases MG levels, as well as levels of MG-related AGEs. Our clinical outcome studies have been based on the novel concept that the unique glycation products that we can measure reflect the activity of specific chemical pathways that are selectively activated by hyperglycaemia in patients that are inherently more susceptible to diabetic complications, and can be used to solve other diabetes-related medical questions.

scholarly journals Interlocking birch plywood structures

2021 ◽  
pp. 095605992110222
Author(s):  
Chrysl A Aranha ◽  
Markus Hudert ◽  
Gerhard Fink
Keyword(s):  
High Surface ◽  
Surface Hardness ◽  
Experimental Tests ◽  
Digital Fabrication ◽  
Element Model ◽  
Component Level ◽  
Geometrical Properties ◽  
Stiffness Properties ◽  
The Face ◽  
Strength And Stiffness

Interlocking Particle Structures (IPS) are geometrically stable assemblies, usually fabricated from plate type elements that are interconnected by slotted joints. IPS are demountable and their components have the potential to be used and reused in different structures and configurations. This paper explores the applicability of birch plywood panels, which are characterized by a high surface hardness, for this type of structural system. Experimental tests were conducted to determine the mechanical properties of birch plywood plates. Moreover, IPS connections with different geometrical properties were investigated for two different load exposures: bending and rotation. The characteristics under bending exposure are influenced by the orientation of the face-veneers. For the rotational load exposure, very small strength and stiffness properties have been identified. A linear elastic finite element model is presented that shows a wide agreement with the test results. The study serves as an initial probe into the performance of IPS structures at the component level. Various aspects that are relevant for the design of IPS, such as the assembly, the accuracy and challenges regarding digital fabrication, the durability, and the structural performance are discussed.

scholarly journals Materials for Automotive Lightweighting

2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 327-359 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan Taub ◽  
Emmanuel De Moor ◽  
Alan Luo ◽  
David K. Matlock ◽  
John G. Speer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Galvanic Corrosion ◽  
Low Carbon Steel ◽  
High Strength Steels ◽  
High Strength ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
New Materials ◽  
Specific Strength ◽  
Advanced High Strength Steels ◽  
Strength And Stiffness ◽  
The Cost

Reducing the weight of automobiles is a major contributor to increased fuel economy. The baseline materials for vehicle construction, low-carbon steel and cast iron, are being replaced by materials with higher specific strength and stiffness: advanced high-strength steels, aluminum, magnesium, and polymer composites. The key challenge is to reduce the cost of manufacturing structures with these new materials. Maximizing the weight reduction requires optimized designs utilizing multimaterials in various forms. This use of mixed materials presents additional challenges in joining and preventing galvanic corrosion.

scholarly journals Mechanical behaviour of calcareous waste under consolidated drained triaxial compression testing in saturated conditions

2019 ◽  
Vol 106 ◽  
pp. 01016
Author(s):  
Jakub Zięba
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Behaviour ◽  
Pore Water Pressure ◽  
Water Pressure ◽  
Triaxial Compression ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Excess Pore Water Pressure ◽  
Stiffness Properties ◽  
Construction Purpose ◽  
Strength And Stiffness ◽  
Excess Pore

The article presents the mechanical behaviour of calcareous waste under consolidated and drained condition in Triaxial compression test (CD). The host material currently being considered for the construction purpose of several buildings in Poland. One of the location of calcareous waste is in Łagiewniki area (in Cracow) [1,2]. In this work, particular attention has been paid to the to ensure fully saturation for all the tested soil samples and avoid generation of unwanted excess pore water pressure during shearing stage. The saturation level of soil samples was estimated based on Skempton’s law (B>0.95). CD Triaxial test have been conducted in order to derive information on its strength and stiffness properties.

scholarly journals Investigations on Efficiently Interfaced Steel Concrete Composite Deck Slabs

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. N. Lakshmikandhan ◽  
P. Sivakumar ◽  
R. Ravichandran ◽  
S. Arul Jayachandran
Keyword(s):  
Longitudinal Shear ◽  
Advanced Technology ◽  
Shear Connector ◽  
Premature Failure ◽  
Shear Connectors ◽  
Reinforced Concrete Slabs ◽  
Composite Slabs ◽  
Strength And Stiffness ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Deck Slab

The strength of the composite deck slab depends mainly on the longitudinal shear transfer mechanism at the interface between steel and concrete. The bond strength developed by the cement paste is weak and causes premature failure of composite deck slab. This deficiency is effectively overcame by a shear transferring mechanism in the form of mechanical interlock through indentations, embossments, or fastening studs. Development of embossment patterns requires an advanced technology which makes the deck profile expensive. Fastening studs by welding weakens the joint strength and also escalates the cost. The present investigation is attempted to arrive at a better, simple interface mechanism. Three types of mechanical connector schemes are identified and investigated experimentally. All of the three shear connector schemes exhibited full shear interaction with negligible slip. The strength and stiffness of the composite slabs with shear connectors are superior about one and half time compared to these of the conventional reinforced concrete slabs and about twice compared to these of composite slabs without mechanical shear connectors. The scheme2 and scheme3 shear connector mechanisms integrate deck webs and improve strength and stiffness of the deck, which can effectively reduce the cost of formworks and supports efficiently.

FLOORPLAN DESIGN WITH LOW POWER CONSIDERATIONS

1996 ◽  
Vol 07 (02) ◽  
pp. 305-322
Author(s):  
KAI-YUAN CHAO ◽  
D. F. WONG
Keyword(s):  
Power Consumption ◽  
Low Power ◽  
Low Power Design ◽  
Network Size ◽  
Total Power ◽  
Wire Length ◽  
Performance Requirements ◽  
Total Power Consumption ◽  
Distribution Of Power ◽  
The Cost

In this paper, a floorplanner for low power design is presented. Our objective is to optimize total power consumption and area during the selection and placement of various implementations for circuit modules. Furthermore, the proposed method considers performance requirements, power line noises, and distribution of power consumption in order to generate lower and evenly distributed power dissipation over the resulting circuit floorplan with a specified performance. For a set of benchmark circuits we tested, on the average, our floorplanner can achieve decreases of total power consumption, wire-length, and power/ground network size by 18.3%, 4.6%, and 24%, respectively, at the cost of an area increase of 8.8% when compared with an existing area/wire-length driven floorplanner.

scholarly journals Task Balanced Workflow Scheduling Technique considering Task Processing Rate in Spot Market

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daeyong Jung ◽  
JongBeom Lim ◽  
JoonMin Gil ◽  
Eunyoung Lee ◽  
Heonchang Yu
Keyword(s):  
Cloud Computing ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Task Completion ◽  
Workflow Scheduling ◽  
Performance Improvements ◽  
Processing Rate ◽  
Computing Paradigm ◽  
Low Performance ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Advanced Computing

Recently, the cloud computing is a computing paradigm that constitutes an advanced computing environment that evolved from the distributed computing. And the cloud computing provides acquired computing resources in a pay-as-you-go manner. For example, Amazon EC2 offers the Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) instances in three different ways with different price, reliability, and various performances of instances. Our study is based on the environment using spot instances. Spot instances can significantly decrease costs compared to reserved and on-demand instances. However, spot instances give a more unreliable environment than other instances. In this paper, we propose the workflow scheduling scheme that reduces the out-of-bid situation. Consequently, the total task completion time is decreased. The simulation results reveal that, compared to various instance types, our scheme achieves performance improvements in terms of an average combined metric of 12.76% over workflow scheme without considering the processing rate. However, the cost in our scheme is higher than an instance with low performance and is lower than an instance with high performance.

Predicting Changes in Vibration Behavior With Respect to Multiple Variables Using Empirical Sensitivity Functions

2010 ◽  
Vol 132 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chulho Yang ◽  
Douglas E. Adams
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Data ◽  
Structural Systems ◽  
Structural Dynamic ◽  
Single Degree Of Freedom ◽  
Mass Distributions ◽  
Sensitivity Functions ◽  
Stiffness Properties ◽  
Vehicle Component ◽  
Multiple Variables ◽  
The Cost

Engineers must routinely predict how structural systems will vibrate after design modifications are made to the mass, damping, or stiffness properties of the components. To reduce the cost of product development, sensitivity prediction methods are desired that can be applied using only empirical data from an initial prototype. Embedded sensitivity functions derived solely from empirical data have previously been applied (a) to identify optimal design modifications for reducing linear vibration resonance problems and (b) to predict the change in frequency response. In this previous work, predictive methods were developed that assumed that only one design parameter in the system was modified. In many applications, it is necessary to extend this approach to all major parameters for a more accurate prediction of the structural dynamic response. This paper utilizes a multivariable Taylor series to take into account multiple parameter changes that affect a broadband frequency range. The method is applied to a single degree of freedom analytical model to determine the accuracy of the predictions. Finite element analyses are then conducted on a three-story structure and an automotive vehicle component with modifications to the stiffness and mass distributions to demonstrate the feasibility of these predictions in applications to more complicated structural systems.

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