Evaluation of different modelling conditions in the cohesive zone analysis of single-lap bonded joints

Cohesive Zone Models (CZM) are widely used for the strength prediction of adhesive joints. Different simulation conditions, such as damage initiation and growth criteria, are available for use in CZM analyses to provide the mixed-mode behaviour. Thus, it is highly relevant to understand in detail their influence on the simulations’ outcome. This work studies the influence of different conditions used in CZM simulations to model a thin adhesive layer in single-lap joints (SLJ) under a tensile loading, for an estimation of their influence on the strength prediction under diverse geometrical and material conditions. Validation with experimental data is considered. Adhesives ranging from brittle to highly ductile and overlap lengths (L_O) between 12.5 and 50 mm were considered. Different studies were considered: Variation of the elastic stiffness of the cohesive laws, different mesh refinements, study of the element type, and evaluation of several damage initiation and growth criteria. The analysis carried out in this work confirmed the known suitability of CZM for static strength prediction of bonded joints and pointed out the best set of numerical conditions for this purpose. Inaccurate results can be obtained if the choice of the modelling conditions is not the most suitable for the problem.     

Optimized protocol for the biocompatibility testing of compression stockings and similar products with close skin contact in vitro

Biocompatibility of six different compression stockings and cytotoxic effects were determined using HaCaT keratinocytes, L929 mouse fibroblasts, primary adult and juvenile keratinocytes Cells were quantified using a luminometric ATP assay and the photometric BCA test. Cytotoxic effects were determined by LDH release. An area-based extraction ratio of 1.25 cm²:mL could be shown to be superior to the weight-based extraction of test material. Extraction medium should be an acidic sweat solution as this helps to recreate in vivo conditions. Monolayer cultures of HaCaT keratinocytes or L929 mouse fibroblasts should be used for testing. Primary adult keratinocytes or primary juvenile keratinocytes can also be used. For the latter, testing under DMEM with FCS is recommended to achieve comparable results. It was found that the compression stockings tested exhibited no negative influence on cell viability in vitro and no direct cytotoxic effects measured as release of LDH. Hence, good biocompatibility could be asserted.     

Empirical examination of critical failure factors of continuous improvement deployments: stage-wise results and a contingency theory perspective

Organisations implement various Continuous Improvement (CI) practices such as Total Quality Management, Lean, Six Sigma and Lean Six Sigma (LSS) for improving their processes. Drawing from the success and failure stories of these structured CI practices, scholars enumerated Critical Success Factors and Critical Failure Factors (CFFs). This study empirically examines the occurrence of various CFFs across different stages of CI deployment. Further, from a contingency theoretic perspective, this study investigates their associations with contextual variables by collecting survey data from 213 business units from the USA, the UK, China, and India. Principal Component Analysis is used to group CFFs across five CI deployment stages leading to an empirically refined framework for CI. Crosstab analysis using the chi-square likelihood ratio presented associations of CFFs with contextual variables. Findings reveal significant differences in the occurrence of CFFs across countries. There is evidence that LSS is less prone to failures when compared with TQM, Lean and Six Sigma. The occurrence of CFFs has been relatively lower in smaller and medium-sized enterprises operating in the service sector. Findings also reveal that lessons learned from each CI deployment cycle, contribute to organisational learning, and thence, leading to success at the strategic CI level of maturity.     

铠装硅酸钾胶黏剂在特殊工况下的绝缘失效分析

为探索铠装硅酸盐胶黏剂在特殊环境下的绝缘特性，本文制备不同碱金属离子含量及固液配比的硅酸钾胶黏剂样品，将其固封于不锈钢管体中，在潮湿环境与高温条件下分析其绝缘性能并进行失效分析。结果表明：在潮湿环境中，胶体中的固液配比及碱金属（K⁺）含量会影响铠装试样的整体绝缘性能，当固液配比为2∶1时，硅酸钾与硅溶胶质量比在（2～1）∶1之间时，其绝缘效果较佳；在高温条件下，随着温度的升高及保温时间的延长，铠装壳体中部分合金元素渗入胶体表面，造成样品绝缘性能较大幅度的下降。     

含V型相交裂隙岩体的力学特性及破坏模式试验

为深入了解V型相交裂隙岩体试件的力学特性和裂纹演化规律,采用MTS815电液伺服控制试验机对含不同夹角V型相交裂隙岩体试件进行了常规单轴压缩试验,基于试验结果,详细分析了试件的应力-应变曲线、强度与变形特性、裂纹演化与破坏模式及能量耗散特征。研究结果表明:①裂隙试件的应力-应变曲线进入裂纹萌生与扩展阶段早于完整试件,在峰前出现了明显的应力降现象,在峰后破坏阶段,完整试件表现为应力-应变曲线的快速跌落,而裂隙试件呈现台阶状多阶段性跌落,甚至缓慢水平下降,体现出明显的延性破坏特征;②裂隙试件的峰值应力、弹性模量和峰值应变均有明显减小。峰值强度和弹性模量随裂隙夹角的增加呈先增大后减小的变化趋势。轴向峰值应变主要受裂隙夹角的影响,总体随夹角的增大呈线性减小的趋势;③裂隙的存在能够完全改变岩体试件的破坏模式,随着裂隙夹角的逐渐增加,裂隙试件破坏模式的演化过程为:台阶式张拉-剪切复合破坏(30°)→张拉-八字形剪切复合破坏(60°)→台阶式平行双斜面剪切破坏(90°)。当裂隙夹角为60°时,试件的裂纹演化和破坏模式体现出对加载方向近似的结构对称性特征;④相交裂隙试件单轴压缩破坏的弹性应变能、耗散能、总能量和能量耗散率均较完整试件有大幅度的减小。裂隙试件产生的裂纹数量越多,试件表面的脱落现象越明显,耗散能和能量耗散率也越大。拉-剪复合破坏比单纯剪切破坏要消耗更多的能量。试件的破坏特征和破坏模式能很好地反映试件的能量耗散特性。     

The roles of focal adhesion and cytoskeleton systems in fluid shear stress-induced endothelial cell response

Focal adhesions are polyproteins linked to extracellular matrix and cytoskeleton, which play an important role in the process of transforming force signals into intracellular chemical signals and subsequently triggering related physiological or pathological reactions. The cytoskeleton is a network of protein fibers in the cytoplasm, which is composed of microfilaments, microtubules, intermediate filaments, and cross-linked proteins. It is a very important structure for cells to maintain their basic morphology. This review summarizes the process of fluid shear stress transduction mediated by focal adhesion and the key role of the cytoskeleton in this process, which focuses on the focal adhesion and cytoskeleton systems. The important proteins involved in signal transduction in focal adhesion are introduced emphatically. The relationship between focal adhesion and mechanical transduction pathways are discussed. In this review, we discuss the relationship between fluid shear stress and associated diseases such as atherosclerosis, as well as its role in clinical research and drug development.     

全尾砂和废石联合胶结充填体最佳配比及应用

针对红岭铅锌矿分级充填骨料来源不足、地表废石堆积污染环境的情况,提出将该矿选厂产生的全尾砂和地表废石作为充填骨料的联合胶结充填方案。分别测试了全尾砂和地表废石的物理化学性质,验证了碎石和全尾砂作为联合充填骨料的可行性。通过充填配比试验,分析了不同配比全尾砂废石充填体强度特性,得出了最佳充填配比。结果表明,充填试块的强度随灰砂比减小而减小,随养护龄期增加呈增大趋势,随充填料浆质量浓度增大而增大,最佳配比为: 胶结充填灰砂比1∶8、普通充填灰砂比1∶12,全尾砂∶废石配比4∶6,质量浓度78%。根据研究结果,在红岭铅锌矿进行了全尾砂废石充填技术工业应用,证实该技术可行。     

金属基聚合物内衬复合压力容器界面剥离失效及预防

基于构建的裂纹剥离扩展失效过程的模拟方法，提出了预测临界载荷的方法，并通过界面的临界应变能释放率与损伤起始应力，构建了预防界面裂纹剥离扩展失效的等值临界真空压力约束预防控制线和设计准则。结果表明，临界压力载荷受控于界面初始预裂纹长度、复合界面的临界应变能释放率（GIC）和损伤起始应力（T0），与界面初始预裂纹长度呈负关联关系，而与临界应变能释放率与损伤起始应力呈正关联关系；当初始预裂纹长度由11.11 %增至15.55 %时，临界压力载荷（Pc）由87.6 kPa降至为57 kPa，降幅为34.9 %；内衬界面剥离韧性参数（T0，GIC）的坐标点位于等值临界真空压力约束控制线之上，可有效预防内衬界面剥离扩展失效。     

Failure of high power varistor ceramic components

Ceramic varistors are electronic components which have a sharp change (over several orders of magnitude) of their electrical resistance at a well-defined voltage (switching voltage). Starting at low voltages, the resistance is large. But by exceeding the switching voltage the resistance drops dramatically and the component acts as a good conductor. Mounted parallel to a consumer, they are used as protection devices against over voltage loading. In the technical routine yearly billions of varistors are used to protect power lines, transformation stations, electronic devices, microelectronic systems or even LEDs.In service large temperature differences may come into existence, which cause severe mechanical stresses that even may destroy the components. The basic principles of the varistor behaviour are explained and examples of mechanical failure are discussed.     

Fatigue strength evaluation of self-piercing riveted Al-5052 joints under different specimen configurations

In this study, static and fatigue tests were conducted using coach-peel, cross-tension and tensile–shear specimens with Al-5052 plates for evaluation of the fatigue strength of the SPR joints. For the coach-peel, cross-tension and tensile–shear geometries, the ratios of the fatigue endurance limit to static strength were 11%, 14% and 34%, respectively, assuming fatigue cycles of 10⁶ for an infinite lifetime. The equivalent stress intensity factor range can properly predict the current experimental fatigue lifetime. Fatigue crack initiation occurred due to fretting damage between the upper and lower sheets and between the rivet and these sheets.