Characterization of Fatigue Fractures in Closed-Cell Aluminum Foam Using x-ray Micro-Computed Tomography

A post-mortem study of Alporas closed-cell aluminum foam specimens previously failed under strain-controlled fully reversed tension-compression fatigue was conducted using x-ray micro-computed tomography (μCT). Volumetric renders of the 3D structure of the material were produced. Fractures were identified and marked throughout voxel-based images of the specimens. This produced a 3D plot of fracture locations. At high strain amplitudes (0.175-0.5%), fractures formed an interconnected planar zone oriented approximately perpendicular to the loading axis; typically, the angle of the plane differed from that of a tension failure. Conversely, at low strain amplitudes (0.05-0.1%), short fractures have been formed diffusely within the specimen. In both cases, observed fractures were tortuous. Our previous work with surface strain mapping via digital image correlation (DIC) suggested that for all strain amplitudes, a crack, evidenced by a zone of high extensile strain, was formed and propagated through the material. This result was confirmed at high strain amplitudes, but not at low strain amplitudes. The discrepancy is attributed to three potential causes. Using DIC, short cracks cannot be accurately resolved with relatively coarse light intensity patterns. DIC images indicate fractures under load, while μCT imaging was conducted under zero load. Finally, the localized extension seen in DIC images could be attributed to strain with no resultant fractures.     

The Effect of Material Variables on the Fatigue Life of AISI 52100 Steel Ball Bearings

The effect of material variables on the fatigue life of AISI 52100 steel in ball bearings is examined. An apparently significant negative correlation with the abundance of certain trace alloying elements has been found. An effect of gas content has not been proven. Some difference in the endurance of bearings tempered for various lengths of time at different temperatures is shown. The most effective means available for obtaining improved fatigue life are certain techniques of vacuum melting. An approximate two-fold increase over catalog fatigue life is obtained by single vacuum melting, and a 7.7-fold increase has been achieved in tests using multiple consumable electrode vacuum remelting. This, in conjunction with previously reported evidence for the existence of a lower limit for fatigue life, suggests the possibility of producing bearings with better than 99.5% reliability at catalog life.     

Energy conservation tests with simulated occupancy

Whether testing the heating systems or the role of factors like house insulation, it is difficult to relate experimental results to ‘real’ situations. Occupiers' reactions vary, and the vagaries of the weather at different periods can also confuse the picture. An experiment at the UK Building Research Establishment uses two identical houses at the same location, both unoccupied and both controlled with a micro-processor, to simulate automatically occupier's behaviour in great detail— drawing curtains at night, running hot water, dining, watching TV and so on.     

An innovative low-profile monolithic constant-temperature anemometer

A constant-temperature anemometer has been developed which uses a single high-fidelity speaker driver as a combined signal and power amplifier. Owing to its small size and simplicity of construction, the anemometer is well suited for applications requiring a large number of channels (such as hot-wire rakes) as well as applications requiring the embedding of instrumentation within confined experimental models (such as reduced-scale wind turbine blades). The anemometer is shown to have performance characteristics similar to those of a commercial anemometer when used under its design conditions. An operating bandwidth as high as 10 kHz can be achieved, which is greater than most available time-resolved digital particle-image velocimetry systems and is shown to be sufficient to track large-scale turbulence structures in channel flow.     

Evaluation of baking procedures for incorporation of barley roller milling fractions containing high levels of dietary fibre into bread

BACKGROUND: Roller milling of hull‐less barley generates fibre‐rich fractions (FRF) enriched in non‐starch polysaccharides from the endosperm cell walls (β‐glucans and arabinoxylans). This investigation was initiated to compare the suitability of different baking processes and to determine the optimal conditions for incorporation of barley FRF into pan bread. RESULTS: Addition of FRF from waxy and high‐amylose starch hull‐less barley genotypes was evaluated in pan bread prepared from Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) and Canada Western Extra Strong (CWES) wheat flour. Three bread processes were used: Canadian short process (CSP), remix‐to‐peak, and sponge‐and‐dough. Addition of 20% FRF (equivalent to enrichment with 4.0 g of arabinoxylans and β‐glucans per 100 g of flour) disrupted dough properties and depressed loaf volume. CSP was not suitable for making FRF‐enriched bread because dough could not be properly developed. FRF‐enriched remix‐to‐peak bread was better, especially for the stronger CWES flour. The better bread quality compared to CSP was probably due to redistribution of water from non‐starch polysaccharides to gluten during fermentation prior to remixing and final proof. The sponge‐and‐dough process produced the best FRF‐enriched bread because of the positive effect of sponge fermentation on gluten development and hydration. FRF was added at the dough stage to fully developed dough. CONCLUSION: The method of bread production strongly influences bread quality. Pre‐hydration of FRF improved bread quality. CWRS and CWES flour produced comparable FRF‐enriched sponge‐and‐dough bread. Addition of xylanase to the sponge‐and‐dough formula improved the loaf volume, appearance, crumb structure and firmness of FRF‐enriched bread. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry