Identity of identity

Discussing on the subject of Identity, and reaching a common understanding is sometime difficult even between people having a similar background. It represents a formidable challenge when people originate from different disciplines (such as security, law or IT), and when they have totally different backgrounds (such as academics or practitioners). This article presents how FIDIS, a Network of Excellence, is addressing this challenge     

Life extension technology for steam pipe systems—I. Development of material properties

Material properties of A106B low-carbon steels were developed for life prediction analyses of steam pipes operated at elevated temperatures but in the sub-creep temperature range. Tensile, fracture toughness, fatigue crack growth rate and low-cycle fatigue properties were obtained on the piping steel at 24°C (75°F) and 288°C (550°F). The latter temperature corresponded to the highest operating temperature of nuclear plant steam piping. Increasing the test temperature from 24°C (75°F) to 288°C (550°F) decreased the yield strength and fracture toughness of the steel. Fatigue crack propagation rate properties at 24°C (75°F) and 288°C (550°F) were found to be comparable.

In the low-cycle fatigue tests, below a strain amplitude level of approximately 0.5%, cyclic softening was observed, while at higher strain levels, cyclic hardening was present. Based on the results of tensile and incremental-step fatigue testing, the strain-life curve was predicted. The predicted strain-life curve was found to be in agreement with the experimental result.

The fracture surfaces of fracture toughness specimens showed ductile fracture, while striations were observed on those of fatigue crack growth specimens. Fatigue striations were also observed on the fracture surfaces of low-cycle fatigue specimens. Fatigue initiation was associated with inclusions. It was shown that plastic straining in A106B steel could be detected by acoustic emission and by monitoring the eddy current response. These nondestructive evaluation techniques exhibit possibilities for in-situ monitoring of fatigue deformation.

While the development of material properties for the life prediction assessment of steam pipes is included in Part I of this paper, the establishment of a quantitative life prediction methodology and inspection criteria is contained in Part II. The developed life prediction methodology quantifies the effects of operating parameters on the remaining life of steam pipes using the material properties obtained in Part I.     

Large induction motor anti-friction bearing selection

The majority of motor specifications utilize L₁₀ life as the sole selection criterion for anti-friction bearings. At times, L ₁₀ lives in excess of 100,000 hours are specified in an attempt to prevent recurring field problems when the failures are originating from nonL₁₀ mechanisms. In some cases, these failures occur indirectly from overspecifying L₁₀ life. Some general examples of this occurence are described. A successful bearing design requires the consideration of many equally important factors, which are discussed in this article     

Robust H ∞ static output feedback stabilization of T-S fuzzy systems subject to actuator saturation

This paper proposes a method for designing robust H_?? static output feedback stabilization of Takagi-Sugeno (T-S) fuzzy systems under actuator saturation. In this paper, the input saturation is represented by a polytopic model and the modeling error is assumed a norm-bounded uncertainty. A set invariance condition for robust H_?? static output feedback system under actuator saturation is first established. Then, the estimation of the largest domain of attraction for the system is formulated and solved as a Linear Matrix Inequality (LMI) optimization problem. Two examples are used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed design method.     

A new variety of low-linolenic rapeseed oil; Characteristics and room-odor tests

Two Canadian rapeseed oils, “Westar” and “low-linolenic”, supplied by the Canola Council were studied and compared with a French rapeseed. The linolenic acid content of the low-linolenic variety is about 3%. This drop in the C18∶3 is completely compensated for by an increase in the C18∶2. Seventy-two percent of the triglycerides with at least one linolenic chain disappeared. A strong increase in the OOL and OLL was observed. The room-odor tests showed that the “low-linolenic” had a significantly higher odor score than the French rapeseed and the “Westar”, both of these being very similar. A fruity odor dominated in the “low-linolenic”, and the fishy painty odors were particularly reduced.     

Mixing of a self-assembled supramolecular polymer and a covalent polymer in organic solutions

We report on a neutron scattering study of the molecular structure of a self-assembled supramolecular polymer composed of a bicopper complex within a solution of a covalent polymer (atactic polystyrene/trans-decalin). The study is achieved by putting two binary phases in contact and allowing for diffusion of both components in either phase. It is shown that the one-dimensional bicopper filaments are compatible to a high extent with the atactic polymer. These results are discussed in the light of a recently devised encapsulation process of the bicopper filaments within the fibrils of a physical network of isotactic polystyrene.     

Ultrasonic Dispersion of Ceramic Powders

Ultrasonication is very effective in dispersing alumina and barium titanate slurries. When optimum conditions are used, very short durations (2 to 3 min) are enough to achieve well-dispersed, stable suspensions.     

Composition and structure of triacylglycerols in brown adipose tissue of rats fed fish oil

This study examines the incorporation of highly unsaturated n−3 fatty acids (HUFA) into triacylglycerols (TAG) of brown adipose tissue (BAT), and their effect on the positional distribution of saturated (SFA) and of unsaturated (UFA) 16- or 18-carbon fatty acids. To this end, rats were fed a fish oil diet for up to four weeks. The stereospecific analysis of TAG was based on generation ofsn-1,2- andsn-2,3-acylglycerols by Grignard degradation, followed by synthesis of phosphatidic acid and specific hydrolysis with phospholipase A₂. From the end of the first week of fish oil feeding, a steady-state in the fatty acid composition of TAG in BAT was reached. HUFA concentration increased 30-fold, mainly at the expense of n−9 UFA and of SFA. The amount of SFA decreased selectively at position 3, where these fatty acids were progressively replaced by n−3 HUFA. By contrast, the amount of UFA decreased at all positions, and their positional distribution was not affected. About 60% of HUFA was incorporated at position 3. Nearly twice as much 22∶6n−3 was incorporated into TAG than had been previously observed in white adipose tissue (WAT) [Leray, C., Raclot, T., and Groscolas, R. (1993)Lipids 28, 279–284]. At the steady-state, the distribution of HUFA was characterized by high proportions of 22∶6n−3 and 20∶5n−3 in position 3. Moreover, in each position of TAG, a steady level was reached rapidly (within 1 wk). It is concluded that, during fish-oil feeding, fatty acids in TAG of BAT show characteristic time-course changes that lead to a characteristic composition and a tissue-specific positional distribution. This suggests that adipose tissue has its own specificity in controlling the build-up of TAG stores, which is likely to be regulated by the specificity of acylating enzymes as well as molecular rearrangements.     

Imaging and probing catalytic surface reactions on the nanoscale: Field Ion Microscopy and atom-probe studies of O2–H2/Rh and NO–H2/Pt

We present dynamic studies of surface reactions using video-Field Ion Microscopy (FIM) along with Pulsed Field Desorption Mass Spectrometry (PFDMS). Catalytic water formation is followed using rhodium and platinum 3D field emitter crystals for the oxidation of hydrogen with either oxygen (Rh) or NO (Pt). Strongly non-linear dynamics are observed with nanoscale spacial resolution. For both reactions quasi-oscillatory behaviour exists under certain conditions of temperatures and partial pressures. An influence of the probing electric field is observed and possibly essential in establishing oscillatory behaviour. Local chemical probing of selected surface areas with up to 400 atomic surface sites proves catalytic water formation to take place. Since water ions (H₂O⁺/H₃O⁺) cause image formation of the O₂–H₂ reaction on Rh, respective videos provide space-time resolved information on the catalytically active sites. Atom-probe data also reveal that the surface of the Rh sample reversibly switches from a metallic to an oxidized state during oscillations. As to the NO–H₂ reaction on Pt, fast ignition phenomena are observed to precede wave fronts. After catalytic water formation, NO molecules diffuse into emptied areas and cause high image brightness. Depending on the size of the Pt crystal, the reaction may ignite in planes or kinked ledges along the <100> zone lines. Thus FIM provides clear experimental evidence that kinks are more reactive than steps in the catalytic NO + H₂ reaction. Pt surface oxidation occurs and has probably been underestimated in previous FIM studies.     

Sorption of ethene and ethane on the V2O5(001)/TiO2(001) anatase interface

Simulation techniques have been employed to investigate the differences in the low energy adsorption configurations of ethene and ethane on the TiO₂ supported and unsupported V₂O₅(001) surface. We find that the ethene molecule approaches much closer to thesupported V₂O₅(001) surface which is reflected in the 40 kj mol^–1 higher adsorption energy. The low energy adsorption configuration located for ethane on the supported V₂O₅ shows that the molecule does not approach as close to the supported V₂O₅ surface as does ethene, resulting in the adsorption energy of ethane being 52 kJ mol^–1 lower than that of ethene on the supported V₂O₅ surface.