Degradation of Stiffness of Cemented Calcareous Soil in Cyclic Triaxial Tests

The deformation characteristics of artificially cemented calcareous soil subjected to undrained cyclic triaxial loading are investigated at different confining pressure and cyclic stress levels. The influence of cementation on the shear stiffness is investigated by comparing the behavior of cemented and uncemented soils with similar initial conditions. It is observed that the deviator stress and the deviatoric strain at yield reduced with increasing number of cycles for cemented sand due to progressive degradation of bond, which results in significant decrease in stiffness. On the other hand, a strain-hardening effect is observed in uncemented sand and this results in increasing yield stress and strain with progressive number of cycles. A linear relationship between degradation index and number of cycles is observed for cemented sand. This relationship has been synthesized in the form of an empirical equation by modifying a previously proposed equation for cohesive soils. This empirical equation was further used to evaluate the fatigue life of soils by adopting a failure criterion.     

Modelling of fatigue damage progression and life of CFRP laminates

A progressive fatigue damage model has been developed for predicting damage accumulation and life of carbon fibre‐reinforced plastics (CFRP) laminates with arbitrary geometry and stacking sequence subjected to constant amplitude cyclic loading. The model comprises the components of stress analysis, fatigue failure analysis and fatigue material property degradation. Stress analysis of the composite laminate was performed by creating a three‐dimensional finite element model in the ANSYS FE code. Fatigue failure analysis was performed by using a set of Hashin‐type failure criteria and the Ye‐delamination criterion. Two types of material property degradations on the basis of element stiffness and strength were applied: a sudden degradation because of sudden failure detected by the fatigue failure criteria and a gradual degradation because of the nature of cyclic loading, which is driven by the increased number of cycles. The gradual degradation of the composite material was modelled by using functions relating the residual stiffness and residual strength of the laminate to the number of cycles. All model components have been programmed in the ANSYS FE code in order to create a user‐friendly macro‐routine. The model has been applied in two different quasi‐isotropic CFRP laminates subjected to tension–compression (T–C) fatigue and the predictions of fatigue life and damage accumulation as a function of the number of cycles were compared with experimental data available in the literature. A very good agreement was obtained.     

Roles for Psychologists in End-of-Life Care: Emerging Models of Practice.

Professional psychologists are increasingly likely to encounter opportunities to work with patients and families facing end-of-life issues. Psychologists can provide psychological assessment, intervention for patients and families, consultation with and support of health care team members, grief therapy, and program development and evaluation. Psychological services are useful for healthy individuals who wish to make thoughtful plans about their own future care, patients with life-limiting illnesses, families stressed by providing end-of-life care, bereaved individuals, and health care providers who face issues of burnout and strain. Several challenges for psychologists working in end-of-life care are noted, including training, development of clear roles, and reimbursement. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Gold Medal Award for Life Achievement in the Application of Psychology: Edwin A. Fleishman.

The 2004 Gold Medal Award for Life Achievement in the Application of Psychology was awarded to Edwin A. Fleishman, for his significant contributions to the science and applications of psychology, which he has sustained over his remarkable career. He is cited for his research, which has had a profound influence on our understanding of human capabilities, their measurement, their development, and their application in the world of work. Through his many influential leadership roles, as president of the International Association of Applied Psychology and three divisions of the American Psychological Association, and as editor of the Journal of Applied Psychology, he has helped shape our profession. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

用模糊综合评判法评估钢制储罐的寿命

针对影响钢制储罐寿命的因素具有复杂性、非确定性以及时变性的特点,提出了用动态二级模糊综合评判的方法对其寿命进行评估,建立了评估的数学模型和评估流程。在对某石油库油罐的寿命分析中,考虑到保留所有评判因素的影响,采用了乘、加型模糊算子,并用层次分析法来确定评价指标权重。计算结果表明,该方法能够解决储罐寿命评估中的一些复杂因素的处理问题,具有一定的实际工程意义。     

CALS及其在武器装备全寿命管理中的应用

简要介绍了连续采办与全寿命保障(continuous acquisition and life—cycle support，CALS)产生背景，着重研究了CALS的体系结构和关键技术，CALS对武器装备全寿命中各阶段的影响；对我国武器装备实施CALS战略的可能性进行了初步探讨；指出：CALS战略是21世纪武器装备全寿命管理的必然选择。     

Structural integrity in electronics

With continuing miniaturisation, increased performance demands and the requirement to remove lead from solder alloys, the challenges to structural integrity and reliability of electronic equipment are substantial and increasing. This paper outlines typical features in electronic equipment of which the structural integrity community may be generally unaware. Potential failure modes in service are described, and the problems of scale and material characteristics are considered. Progress in the application of fracture mechanics to the life prediction of interconnections is reviewed. The limited evidence available suggests that the crack growth resistance of silver‐containing lead‐free solders is superior to that of the traditional Sn‐37Pb under cycle‐controlled conditions but there is no difference when time‐dependent conditions prevail. In several respects, it is contended that the electronics sector is faced with challenges at least equivalent to those encountered in gas turbines and nuclear power generation.     

超动型长寿命铅蓄电池池的几点建议

报导了国内外起动用长寿命铅酸蓄电池的概况，根据笔多年积累的经验并针对这类电池的应用特点，具体介绍了起动型铅酸蓄电池在原辅材料，零部件，生产设备和制造工艺等方面如何采取有效措施以提高这类电池的使用寿命。     

Encapsulation of PV modules using ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer as a pottant: A critical review

The primary purpose of this work is to review the literature about what is and is not known about using ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA0 copolymer as the encapsulant (or pottant) material in photovoltaic (PV) modules. Secondary purposes include elucidating the complexity of the encapsulation problem, providing an overview about encapsulation of PV cells and modules, providing a historical overview of the relevant research and development on EVA, summarizing performance losses reported for PV systems deployed since ca. 1981, and summarizing the general problems of polymer stability in a solar environment. We also provide a critical review of aspects of reported work for cases that we believe are important.Failure modes resolved in the early work to establish reliability of deployed modules and the purposes and properties of pottants, are summarized. Typical performance losses in large field-deployed, large-scale systems ranging from 1% to 10% per year are given quantitatively, and qualitative reports of EVA discoloration are summarized with respect to ultraviolet (UV), world-wide location and site dependence.The general stability of polymers and their desirable bulk properties for solar utilization are given. The stabilization formulation for EVA, its effectiveness, and changes in it during degradation are discussed. The degradation mechanisms for the base resin, e.g., unstabilized Elvax 150^TM, and stabilized EVA are indicated for literature dating to the early 1950s, and the role played by unsaturated chromophores is indicated. The limited number of studies relating discoloration and PV cell efficiency are summarized.Observed degradation of EVA or the unstabilized base resin in the laboratory and examples used to measure the degradation are summarized in sections entitled: (1) thermally-induced degradation; (2) photodegradation and photothermal degradation of EVA in different temperature regimes; (3) photobleaching and photodegradation of the UV absorber and cross-linking agent; (4) acetic acid and metal and metal-oxide catalyzed oxidative degradation; and (5) discolaration and PV cell efficiency losses.Processing effects/influences on EVA stability are discussed in sections entitled: (1) EVA raw materials and extruded, uncured films; (2) thermal encapsulation processes; (3) effects of lamination, curing, and curing peroxide on gel content and chromophores formed; and (4) incomplete shielding of curing-generated chromophores. A summary is given for the limited number of accelerated lifetime testing efforts and examples of erroneous service lifetime predictions for EVA are discussed. The known factors that effect the discoloration rate of several EVA formulations are discussed in which the reduction in rate by using UV-absorbing superstrates is a prime example. A summary is given of what is and is not known about EVA degradation mechanisms, degradation from exposures in field-deployed modeules and/or laboratory testing, and factors that contribute to EVA stability or degradation. Finally, conclusions about using Elvax 150 in EVA formulations are summarized, and future prospects for developing the next-generation pottant for encapsulating PV modules are discussed.     

Life quality index for the estimation of societal willingness-to-pay for safety

The engineering and management of human safety is an important societal objective that includes extensive efforts by governments, both legislative and administrative, to enhance the health and safety of the public. Although the achievement of safety goals depend primarily on individuals and organizations responsible for safety, much support is drawn from expertise in diverse scientific and engineering disciplines. The activities range from structural safety (dams, tunnels, bridges to tall buildings) to safe operation of hazardous industrial installations (energy generation facilities, LNG terminals, petrochemical plants) to transportation systems (airline, rail, car safety) to technologies designed to minimize adverse impacts on the environment. All these activities are crucially concerned with risk: with the likelihood and the probable effects of various measures on life and health. We have developed a unified rationale and a clear basis for effective strategic management of risk across diverse sectors. Safety is an important objective in society but it is not the only one. The allocation of society's resources devoted to safety must be continually appraised in light of competing needs, because there is a limit on the resources that can be expended to extend life. The paper presents the Life Quality Index (LQI) as a tool for the assessment of risk reduction initiatives that would support the public interest and enhance safety and quality of life. The paper provides an intuitive reformulation of the LQI as equivalent to a valid utility function that is consistent with the principles of rational decision analysis. The LQI is further refined to consider the issues of discounting of life years, competing background risks, and population age and mortality distribution. The LQI is applied to quantify the societal willingness-to-pay, which is an acceptable level of public expenditure in exchange for a reduction in the risk of death that results in improved life-quality.