A physical model for plastic deformation

A general theoretical model for plastic deformation is presented, which is based on considerations of the variation of internal stored energy during deformation. It is proposed that the deformation rate will always be such that the rate of energy dissipation in the deforming material is minimal. The physical justification of this principle is discussed. The model is applied to dislocation deformation in metals and the result is then compared with experimental observations in aluminium.     

Standard for takeout containers helps reduce plastic waste

正First association standard for takeout containers was released recently in Shanghai,urging takeout industry to use coated paper boxes characterized by more mature technology of production in place of plastic takeout boxes.It is expected to help reduce more than 75%of plastic waste after widely implemented.     

A model for signal processing and predictive control of semi-active structural control system

The theory for structural control has been well developed and applied to perform excellent energy dissipation using dampers. Both active and semi-active control systems may be used to decide on the optimal switch point of the damper based on the current and past structural responses to the excitation of external forces. However, numerous noises may occur when the control signals are accessed and transported thus causing a delay of the damper. Therefore, a predictive control technique that integrates an improved method of detecting the control signal based on the direction of the structural motion, and a calculator for detecting the velocity using the least-square polynomial regression is proposed in this research. Comparisons of the analytical data and experimental results show that this predictor is effective in switching the moving direction of the semi-active damper. This conclusion is further verified using the component and shaking table test with constant amplitude but various frequencies, and the El Centro earthquake test. All tests confirm that this predictive control technique is effective to alleviate the time delay problem of semi-active dampers. This predictive control technique promotes about 30% to 40% reduction of the structural displacement response and about 35% to 45% reduction of the structural acceleration response.     

A dynamic model for ranking-based conjoint analysis with no-choice options

Behaviormetrika - In ranking data analysis, it is common for all preference ranks to be obtained in each trial. However, if there is a no-choice option in alternatives such as conjoint profiles,...     

A model for simulating the grinding and classification cyclic system of waste PCBs recycling production line

Crushing and separating technology is widely used in waste printed circuit boards (PCBs) recycling process. A set of automatic line without negative impact to environment for recycling waste PCBs was applied in industry scale. Crushed waste PCBs particles grinding and classification cyclic system is the most important part of the automatic production line, and it decides the efficiency of the whole production line. In this paper, a model for computing the process of the system was established, and matrix analysis method was adopted. The result showed that good agreement can be achieved between the simulation model and the actual production line, and the system is anti-jamming. This model possibly provides a basis for the automatic process control of waste PCBs production line. With this model, many engineering problems can be reduced, such as metals and nonmetals insufficient dissociation, particles over-pulverizing, incomplete comminuting, material plugging and equipment fever.     

A multi-depot vehicle-routing model for the explosive waste recycling

The explosive waste recycling is a significant concern because it has immense impacts on economy and safety during its transportation among multiple depots. A number of studies on the hazardous waste management have been documented in the past. However, the vehicle-routing optimisation, including the tour planning, the vehicle acquisition and the return-trip design of such activities, has been overlooked. In this study, we develop a multi-depot vehicle-routing model with the minimisations of total cost and total risk. Unlike other works in the literature, this model is formulated through the two-commodity flow formulation, and it is characterised by simultaneously planning tours and vehicle acquisitions for the explosive waste collection, and designing the return-trips between collection centres and recycling centres. To solve this bi-objective problem, a modified lexicographic weighted Tchebycheff method is proposed. A case study in Nanchuan of South-west China and related test instances are provided to elucidate the developed approach.     

Microprocessor system for controlling household electronic equipment

We propose three variants for systems for controlling household heating devices. We consider the feasibility of using these systems in various household consumer services (for therapeutic purposes, security systems, etc.). Translated from Izmeritel’naya Tekhnika, No. 7, pp. 30–32, July, 1999.     

Using waste plastic bottles as additive for stone mastic asphalt

Currently, polymer modified asphalt mixture is a relatively costly mixture for paving roads. One way to reduce the cost of such constructions and rendering them more convenient is by using inexpensive polymers, i.e. waste polymers. The main purpose of this research is to determine the effect of incorporating waste plastic bottles (Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)) on the engineering properties of stone mastic asphalt (SMA) mixture. The volumetric and mechanical properties of asphalt mixes that include various percentages of PET (0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, 8% and 10%) were calculated and assessed with laboratory tests. The appropriate amount of PET was found to be 6% by weight of bitumen. The outcomes were statistically analysed and the determination of the significance at certain confidence limits was performed with the two factor variance analysis (ANOVA). Moreover, some studies conducted on polyethylene modified asphalt mixture have also been taken into consideration in this paper. The results show that the addition of PET has a significant positive effect on the properties of SMA and it can promote the re-use of waste material in industry in an environmentally friendly and economical way.     

Ultrafast laser processing: New options for three-dimensional photonic structures

Abstract

Using tightly focused ultrashort laser pulses allows the direct writing of three-dimensional photonic structures in different glasses and also crystalline media. One of the main drawbacks of this technology is, however, the limited writing speed achieved so far. In this paper we shall review our recent advances in the direct writing of three-dimensional integrated-optical devices and discuss a new approach using a fibre-based femtosecond laser system producing 300 fs pulses with pulse energies of 0.6 μJ at 2 MHz repetition rate. Using this laser system we fabricated low-loss waveguides (less than 0.5 dBcm^?1) at writing speeds of 100 mms^?1 for the first time. The influence of the writing speed on the produced structures as well as their optical properties will be discussed in detail.     

A conflict model for the international hazardous waste disposal dispute

A multi-stage conflict model is developed to analyze international hazardous waste disposal disputes. More specifically, the ongoing toxic waste conflicts are divided into two stages consisting of the dumping prevention and dispute resolution stages. The modeling and analyses, based on the methodology of graph model for conflict resolution (GMCR), are used in both stages in order to grasp the structure and implications of a given conflict from a strategic viewpoint. Furthermore, a specific case study is investigated for the Ivory Coast hazardous waste conflict. In addition to the stability analysis, sensitivity and attitude analyses are conducted to capture various strategic features of this type of complicated dispute.     

A model for crack initiation in elastic/plastic indentation fields

A model is proposed for the initiation of microfracture beneath sharp indenters. Using a simple approximation for the tensile stress distribution in the elastic/plastic indentation field, in conjunction with the principle of geometrical similarity, fracture mechanics procedures are applied to determine critical conditions for the growth of penny-like median cracks from sub-surface flaws. The analysis provides a functional relationship between the size of the critical flaw and the indentation load necessary to make this flaw extend. Initiation is well defined (unstable) only if the critical flaw lies within a certain size range; outside this range, large flaws can extend stably but small flaws can not extend at all. No flaws can extend below a characteristic minimum load, values of the indentation variables at this load accordingly providing useful threshold parameters. These quantities involve the intrinsic deformation/fracture parameters, hardness and toughness, in a fundamental way, thereby establishing a basis for materials selection in fracture-sensitive applications.     

Scenario evaluation for the management of household solid waste in small Brazilian municipalities

As achieving Brazil’s National Policy on Solid Waste-based goals effectively is not simple, there are alternatives such as intermunicipal cooperation by consortium or privatization. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the Greenhouse Gas emissions and energy use of six scenarios in two landfills contexts (private and consortium) for small municipalities (less than 100,000 inhabitants as per Brazilian standards) located in São Paulo, Brazil. Through the technique of scenario building and method of Waste Reduction Model was possible to obtain the total energy, the amount of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂E) and carbon equivalent (CE) emissions. The best scenario integrates composting and recycling, reducing 72 % for CO₂E and CE emissions, and saving about 410 % in energy. The landfill consortium will only take advantage, if the location is the most ideal as far as possible. Small municipalities that do not dispose their waste in landfills compatible with regulatory standards may seek for intermunicipal cooperation and adopt integrated waste-management programmes to reduce their environmental impacts.     

A plastic fracture mechanics model for characterization of multiaxial low-cycle fatigue

The near-tip stress and strain fields of small cracks in power-law hardening materials are investigated under plane-stress, general yielding, and mixed mode I and II conditions by finite element analyses. The characteristics of the near-tip strain fields suggest that the experimental observations of shallow surface cracks (Case A cracks) propagating in the maximum shear strain direction can be explained by a fracture mechanics crack growth criterion based on the maximum effective strain of the near-tip fields for small cracks under general yielding conditions. The constant effective stress contours representing the intense straining zones near the tip are also presented. The results of the J integral from finite element analyses are used to correlate to a fatigue crack growth criterion for Case A cracks. Based on the concept of the characterization of fatigue crack growth by the cyclic J integral, the trend of constant J contours on the Γ-plane for Case A cracks compares well with those of constant fatigue life and constant crack growth rate obtained from experiments.     

A note on the Stouffer-Bodner constitutive model for anisotropic plastic flow

Stouffer and Bodner present constitutive equations governing the multi-dimensional behavior of Inelastic materials. The equations feature an Internal state variable, defined by its evolution equation, related to work hardening. Three different classifications of mechanical properties are defined in terms of restrictions upon this Internal variable. The authors' assumptions, however, render these three classes mutually Indistinguishable. A modification of the generalization to three dimensions and a redefinition of the material classes are proposed in this note.     

A constitutive model for the deformation induced anisotropic plastic flow of metals

A mathematical framework is established for the equations governing inelastic deformation under multi-dimensional stress states and for the associated evolution equations of the internal state variables. The formulation is based on a generalization of the Prandtl-Reuss flow law. In the evolution equations for the inelastic state variables that control plastic flow, it is assumed that part of the rate of change is isotropic and the remaining part varies according to the sign and orientation of the current rate of deformation vector. This leads to a minimum of twelve components of the internal state tensor which represents resistance to inelastic deformation. In this manner, both initial and load history induced plastic anisotropy can be modeled. A specific set of equations for anisotropic plastic flow is developed consistent with the inelastic state variables.