A fast experimental beam hardening correction method for accurate bone mineral measurements in 3D μCT imaging system

Bone mineral density plays an important role in the determination of bone strength and fracture risks. Consequently, it is very important to obtain accurate bone mineral density measurements. The microcomputerized tomography system provides 3D information about the architectural properties of bone. Quantitative analysis accuracy is decreased by the presence of artefacts in the reconstructed images, mainly due to beam hardening artefacts (such as cupping artefacts). In this paper, we introduced a new beam hardening correction method based on a postreconstruction technique performed with the use of off‐line water and bone linearization curves experimentally calculated aiming to take into account the nonhomogeneity in the scanned animal. In order to evaluate the mass correction rate, calibration line has been carried out to convert the reconstructed linear attenuation coefficient into bone masses. The presented correction method was then applied on a multimaterial cylindrical phantom and on mouse skeleton images. Mass correction rate up to 18% between uncorrected and corrected images were obtained as well as a remarkable improvement of a calculated mouse femur mass has been noticed. Results were also compared to those obtained when using the simple water linearization technique which does not take into account the nonhomogeneity in the object.     

The dynamic creep rupture of a secondary superheater tube in a 43 MW coal-fired boiler by the decarburization and multilayer oxide scale buildup on both sides

A dynamic creep mechanism has been proposed and verified through a case study. A secondary superheater tube burst occurred in a 43 MW coal-fired boiler. Microstructural examination indicates that the overheating temperatures reached 900 °C (above Ac3). The overheating duration was estimated to be 3 h by calculating with LMP formula. The 710 μm steam-side scale and 960 μm fireside scale built-up in the short time of overheating. The burst scenario was a short-term severe overheating on the basis of the long-term creep. The multilayer oxide scales on both sides have been studied with ESEM/EDS, indicating FeO. At 900 °C, full decarburization had gone throughout the tube. As the strength reduced due to the decarburization, the creep mechanism transformed from long-term intergranular creep to short-term transgranular rupture. The two types of dimples on the fractograph and two types of cracks in the microstructures confirmed the mechanism transformation. The overheating, the scale buildup and the decarburization constituted the full picture of the dynamic creep rupture.     

Energy dissipation capacity of fibre reinforced concrete under biaxial tension–compression load. Part I: Test equipment and work of fracture

The objective of this research was to analyse the differences in the dissipated energy under uniaxial tension and biaxial tension–compression load of fibre reinforced concretes using the Wedge Splitting Test. Under biaxial load the specimens were subjected to compressive stress ratios from 10% to 50% of the concrete compressive strength perpendicular to the direction of the tensile load.Under biaxial tension–compression load the energy dissipation capacity of the specimens decreases compared to the uniaxial tension load case on average 20–30%. It is believed that the decrease is a result of the damage mechanism of the concrete matrix and deterioration of the fibre–matrix and/or aggregate–cement paste interfaces in case the section is additionally loaded with compression stresses. This indicates that dimensioning of concrete elements under biaxial stress states using material parameters obtained from tests conducted on specimens under uniaxial tensile load is unsafe and could potentially lead to a non-conservative design.In the second part of this paper the extent of the fracture process zone under uniaxial tension and biaxial tension–compression load will be examined with the Acoustic Emission technique and the reasons for decrease of the energy dissipation capacity under biaxial load will be further discussed.     

Investigation of separation phenomenon in high-toughness X70 thick-walled linepipe steel

Separation is a commonly observed phenomenon during drop weight tear testing in high-toughness linepipe steels. Severe separation is harmful because it may cause fracturing or bursting of pipes. In this study,a quantitative measurement of separation was proposed,and using this new method,a relationship between the separation and microstructure was determined and discussed. The microstructures observed using optical and scanning electron microscopy revealed that the separation was related to the mixed ferritic and bainitic microstructures,or rather,it was related to the carbon enrichment in bainite.     

Engraftment of Prevascularized,Tissue Engineered Constructs in a Novel Rabbit Segmental Bone Defect Model

The gold standard treatment of large segmental bone defects is autologous bone transfer, which suffers from low availability and additional morbidity. Tissue engineered bone able to engraft orthotopically and a suitable animal model for pre-clinical testing are direly needed. This study aimed to evaluate engraftment of tissue-engineered bone with different prevascularization strategies in a novel segmental defect model in the rabbit humerus. Decellularized bone matrix (Tutobone) seeded with bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells was used directly orthotopically or combined with a vessel and inserted immediately (1-step) or only after six weeks of subcutaneous “incubation” (2-step). After 12 weeks, histological and radiological assessment was performed. Variable callus formation was observed. No bone formation or remodeling of the graft through TRAP positive osteoclasts could be detected. Instead, a variable amount of necrotic tissue formed. Although necrotic area correlated significantly with amount of vessels and the 2-step strategy had significantly more vessels than the 1-step strategy, no significant reduction of necrotic area was found. In conclusion, the animal model developed here represents a highly challenging situation, for which a suitable engineered bone graft with better prevascularization, better resorbability and higher osteogenicity has yet to be developed.     

汽轮机转子钢断裂韧度试验方法的研究

采用载荷分离法和多试样法对汽轮机某高压转子钢材料在高温下的断裂韧度值进行了测试,讨论了载荷分离法测断裂韧度的可靠性,并与传统的多试样法进行了对比。     

A novel multiscale approach to brittle fracture of nano/micro‐sized components

Principles and advantages of a new concept based on the ab initio aided strain gradient elasticity theory are shown in comparison with the classical Barenblatt cohesive model. The method is applied to the theoretical prediction of the critical energy release rate and the crack tip opening displacement at the crack instability in nanopanels made of germanium and molybdenum crystals. The necessary length scale parameter l₁ is determined for germanium and molybdenum by the best gradient elasticity fits of ab initio computed screw dislocation displacements and phonon dispersions. Values of ab initio computed critical energy release rates and crack opening profiles revealed that the length l₁ is related to inflexion points of profiles. A novel ab initio method in combination with continuum mechanics was successfully tested to replace molecular statics dependent of availability of interatomic potentials. The asymptotic strain gradient elasticity solution for displacement components near the crack tip in materials with cubic lattice was also derived.     

Inhibition of stress corrosion cracking in 304 stainless steel through titanium ion implantation

The effects of titanium ion implantation on the stress corrosion cracking (SCC) behaviour of 304 austenitic stainless steel were studied. Slow strain rate tests (SSRTs) were conducted on 304 steel in air and in 5?wt-% NaCl solution. The microscopic effects of ion implantation were evaluated by Stopping and Range of Ions in Matter Procedures (SRIM). Fracture morphologies and microstructures were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The fracture surfaces illustrate that ion implantation significantly inhibits the corrosion pits that initiate SCC. A dense passive film, which inhibits SCC, was formed during the ion implantation process. SCC initiation was restrained due to the dense dislocation nets that were generated by titanium ion implantation.

Highlights

• Ion implantation inhibits SCC susceptibility.

• The lack of Cr at the grain boundary leads to the expansion of SCC along the grain boundary.

• Implantation-induced damage leads to high-density dislocations.

• The surface was amorphised due to high-density dislocations.