Tensile stress relaxation in unsaturated granular materials

The mechanics of granular media at low liquid saturation levels remain poorly understood. Macroscopic mechanical properties are affected by microscale forces and processes, such as capillary forces, inter-particle friction, liquid flows, and particle movements. An improved understanding of these microscale mechanisms is important for a range of industrial applications and natural phenomena (e.g. landslides). This study focuses on the transient evolution of the tensile stress of unsaturated granular media under extension. Experimental results suggest that the stress state of the material evolves even after cessation of sample extension. Moreover, we observe that the packing density strongly affects the efficiency of different processes that result in tensile stress relaxation. By comparing the observed relaxation time scales with published data, we conclude that tensile stress relaxation is governed by particle rearrangement and fluid redistribution. An increased packing density inhibits particle rearrangement and only leaves fluid redistribution as the major process that governs tensile stress relaxation.     

Synthesis of Quaternary,Long-Chain N-Alkyl Amides and Their Corrosion Inhibition in Acidic Media

New cationic surfactants were synthesized by the quaternization of a number of straight-chain amide derivatives with triethylamine or pyridine. The corrosion inhibition tests of the surface-active compounds were performed at room temperature for 24 h on carbon steel coupons in acidic media using the gravimetric method. The acidic media used were 1.5 M HCl and 1.5 M H₂SO₄. Almost all of the synthesized cationic surfactants showed efficient inhibition of corrosion in the test. To establish the inhibition efficiencies of the inhibitors, surface characterization studies (contact angle measurements, SEM analysis and optical profilometer images) of the metal coupons used were performed.     

Uncertainty Analysis of Four-Terminal-Pair Capacitance Characterization up 30 MHz

The Impedance Group Laboratories of National Metrology Institute of Turkey previously developed a new method for the characterization of Agilent 16380A-type four-terminal-pair air dielectric capacitance standards ranged from 1 to 1,000 pF up to 30 MHz. This method is based on obtaining all resonance frequencies of standard capacitors using a vector network analyzer in order to calculate inductive residual parameters of the standards. As a continuation of the study, this paper gives a detailed uncertainty analysis for the method.     

Suitable Impact Parameters for High-Speed Joining and Influence on the Bonding Zone Microstructure

Welding by electromagnetic forming is an interesting alternative for material combinations which are not suitable for conventional welding by melting. Even though the underlying bonding mechanisms and the right choice of process parameters are thoroughly discussed in the current literature, there is still a lack of target-oriented process dimensioning. The present paper describes the model experiment used for studying the dependencies between bonding quality and design parameters for three material combinations (mild steel, aluminum base alloy, pure titanium). The resulting bonding zones were analyzed by means of optical microscopy and electron probe microanalyses. Limits for the process parameters are described and the results demonstrate increasing bonding qualities for increasing collision energies and collision angles.     

Combined Effects of Different Overload Ratios and Nitriding Process on Fatigue Crack Growth of AISI 4140 Steel

The combined effects of different overload ratios(OLRs)and nitriding process on fatigue crack growth(FCG)were analyzed.Steel compact tension specimens made of AISI 4140 steel were subjected to the plasma nitrification process using agas mixture of 50% N2 and 50% H2 at 500℃for 2h.Structural properties of the samples were studied by scanning electron microscopy,optical microscopy,microhardness testing and digital imaging.Plasma nitriding slowed down FCG,but the crack growth retardation caused by the overload was reduced when the OLR was 2.0and 2.5.Nitriding did not take effect when the OLR was 1.5and 3.0.     

Assessment of physical strain in younger and older subjects using heart rate and scalings of perceived exertion

Physical strain is usually evaluated physiologically by using the heart rate (HR) or psychologically using scaled perceived exertion (PE). In order to explore the relationship between these approaches, we compared the series of both measurements taken simultaneously during work on a bicycle ergometer. A total of 29 participants aged between 27 and 41, 42 and 56, and 57 and 71 years took part in 28 minutes of cycling with systematically increased and decreased load as well as in 7 hours of continuous cycling with low to medium exertion, interrupted by brief peak loads at high to very high exertion levels. Results revealed that, while both measurements are suitable to capture physical strain, HR is not as specific as PE. The older participants further perceived comparable physical loads as more demanding as the younger participants. With an aging workforce, results have potential implications for the organisation of work places.