A parametric investigation on seat/occupant contact forces and their relationship with initially perceived discomfort using a configurable seat

The present work investigates the contact forces between sitters and seat as well as their correlations with perceived discomfort. Twelve different economy class aeroplane seat configurations were simulated using a multi-adjustable experimental seat by varying seat pan and backrest angles, as well as seat pan compressed surface. Eighteen males and 18 females, selected by their body mass index and stature, tested these configurations for two sitting postures. Perceived discomfort was significantly affected by seat parameters and posture and correlated both with normal force distribution on the seat-pan surface and with normal forces at the lumbar and head supports. Lower discomfort ratings were obtained for more evenly distributed normal forces on the seat pan. Shear force at the seat pan surface was at its lowest when sitters were allowed to self-select their seat-pan angle, supporting that a shear force should be reduced but not zeroed to improve seating comfort.

Practitioner Summary: The effects of seat-pan and backrest angle, anthropometric dimensions and sitting posture on contact forces and perceived discomfort were investigated using a multi-adjustable experimental seat. In addition to preferred seat profile parameters, the present work provides quantitative guidelines on contact force requirement for improving seating comfort.     

Gradient-based Pareto front approximation applied to turbomachinery shape optimization

Engineering with Computers - Multi-objective optimization has been rising in popularity, especially within an industrial environment, where several cost functions often need to be considered during...     

Controlling Salmonella infections in pig farms: A framework modelling approach

Human salmonellosis is an important food-borne disease and S. Typhimurium is the most common serotype attributed to pork products. Under a farm-to-fork strategy, reducing the levels of Salmonella-positive pigs entering the slaughterhouse is an important goal. A framework model was developed, where the effect of dynamic (infection characteristics) and non-dynamic (cleanness and disinfection, biosecurity measures, etc.) factors were considered. Four baseline scenarios were created, corresponding to different levels associated with national Salmonella monitoring programs, and sensitivity analyses were run for the non-dynamic factors. Moreover, the option of vaccination was incorporated into the model, in order to provide with a tool for the formulation of an optimum vaccination strategy depending on the characteristics of the vaccine.     

Viscoelastic,thermal, and morphological analysis of HDPE/EVA/CaCO<Subscript>3</Subscript> ternary blends

High density polyethylene (HDPE), calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), and ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) ternary reinforced blends were prepared by melt blend technique using a twin screw extruder. The thermal properties of these prepared ternary blends were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry. The effect of EVA loading on the melting temperature (T _m) and the crystallization temperature (T _C) was evaluated. It was found that the expected heterogeneous nucleating effect of CaCO₃ was hindered due to the presence of EVA. The melt viscosities of the ternary reinforced blends were affected by the % loading of CaCO₃, EVA, and vinyl acetate content. Viscoelastic analysis showed that there is a reduction of the storage modulus (G′) with increasing of EVA loading as compared to neat HDPE resin or to HDPE/CACO₃ blends only. The morphology of the composites was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The dispersion and interfacial interaction between CaCO₃ with EVA and HDPE matrix were also investigated by SEM. We observed two main types of phase structures; encapsulation of the CaCO₃ by EVA and separate dispersion of the phases. Other properties of ternary HDPE/CaCO₃/EVA reinforced blends were investigated as well using thermal, rheological, and viscoelastic techniques.     

Laboratory Simulation of Urban Runoff and Estimation of Runoff Hydrographs with Experimental Curve Numbers Implemented in USEPA SWMM

The prognostic capabilities of a lumped hydrologic modeling approach may be complicated by routing and connectivity among infiltrative and impervious surfaces. We used artificial rainfall to generate runoff from impervious and bare soil boxes arranged in series to simulate different extents and connectivity of impervious surfaces under different moisture conditions for pervious areas. Curve numbers were calculated from observed rainfall and runoff data, compared with published values, and used in the curve number infiltration algorithm in the U.S. EPA Storm Water Management Model 5 (USEPA SWMM5) to generate runoff hydrographs. Experimental curve numbers were higher than tabular USDA values, ranging from 91 to 96. Simulations of infiltration and runoff response with experimental curve numbers showed overall good agreement with observed data, although SWMM5 was unable to re-create early term infiltration patterns, and simulated runoff lagged observed, which is attributed to implicit accounting for soil moisture and other assumptions of the SWMM5 curve number application. Our results highlight some prospects for the use of curve numbers in modeling infiltration and runoff.     

Crystallization behavior of poly(lactic acid)/elastomer blends

Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) was used to evaluate the crystallization behavior of poly(lactic acid) and its blends with elastomer. It has been observed that the cold crystallization temperature of the blends decreased as the weight fraction of elastomer increased as well as the onset temperature of cold crystallization also shifted to lower temperature. In non-isothermal crystallization experiments, the crystallinity of poly(lactic acid) increased with a decrease in the heating and cooling rate. The melt crystallization of poly(lactic acid) appeared in the low cooling rate (1, 5 and 7.5 °C/min). The presence of low elastomer tends also to increase the crystallinity of poly (lactic acid). The DSC thermogram at ramp of 10 °C/min showed the maximum crystallinity of poly(lactic acid) is 36.95% with 20 wt% elastomer contents in blends. In isothermal crystallization, the cold crystallization rate increased with increasing crystallization temperature in the blends. The Avrami analysis showed that the cold crystallization was in two stages process and it was clearly seen at low temperature. The Avrami exponent (n) at first stage was varying from 1.59 to 2 which described a one-dimensional crystallization growth with homogeneous nucleation, whereas at second stage was varying from 2.09 to 2.71 which described the transitional mechanism to three dimensional crystallization growth with heterogeneous nucleation mechanism. The equilibrium melting point of poly(lactic acid) was also evaluated at 176 °C.