Law,liability and expert systems

This paper examines some of the possible legal implications of the production, marketing and use of expert systems. The relevance of a legally useful definition of expert systems, comprising systems designed for use both by laymen and professionals, is related to the distinctions inherent in the legal doctrine underlying provision of goods and provision of services. The liability of the sellers and users of, and contributors to, expert systems are examined in terms of professional malpractice as well as product liability. A recurring theme indicates that legislators may be inclined to restrict possibilities of liability suits in order to avoid disincentives to the creation of expert systems.     

Optimal characteristic polynomials for digital multistep pseudorandom numbers

The digital multistep method generates uniform pseudorandom numbers by transforming sequences of integers obtained by multistep recursions. The statistical independence properties of these pseudorandom numbers depend on the characteristic polynomial of the recursion. We describe a method of calculating characteristic polynomials that are optimal with respect to statistical independence of pairs of successive pseudorandom numbers. Tables of such optimal characteristic polynomials for degrees ≤64 are included.     

Moving punch on a highly orthotropic elastic layer

Summary An analytical solution was given to the problem of a long rigid punch moving rapidly on a strip of a highly orthotropic material. This elastic layer rests in turn on a rigid frictionless foundation. Obviously, the problem presents a lot of interest from the view-point both of geophysical and mechanical sciences. The solution was effected by means of integral transforms and the Wiener-Hopf technique. Asymptotic results were obtained valid near the edge of the moving punch.With 3 Figures     

Biaxiale Ermüdung reibrührgeschweißter Strukturelemente

Biaxial fatigue of friction stir welded stiffened panels Within the framework of the European WelAir project, cruciform specimens made from stiffening FSW overlap joints were fatigued in the DLR biaxial test rig. To resemble the loading situation of pressurized fuselage structures, proportional loading without any phase shift, but with different load ratios λ between the loading components in both directions was applied.Natural crack initiation and subsequent crack growth were governed by the stiffness gradient caused by introducing the stringer. Cracks initiated and propagated at run‐in and run‐out locations in a direction perpendicular to the weld seam. The shortest fatigue life was observed for uniaxial loading in welding direction (λ = 0). An additional stress component perpendicular to the joint line (λ > 0) resulted in a higher number of cycles to failure. Similar to single stringer panels, increasing the load ratio also increased the number of cycles to failure for FSW clip‐stringer structural members, but additionally gives a different location of the fatal crack.     

Der PC in zehn Jahren und seine Auswirkungen auf die Gesellschaft

In this article it is argued that in ten years’ time personal computers as we know them now won’t exist anymore — all their functions will by then be integrated in mobiles which will be our steady companions. As such, mobiles will change our lives to an enormous extent. Technology as well as consequences will be discussed in this paper.     

Possibilities and extension of XRD material response analysis in failure research for the advanced evaluation of the damage level of Hertzian loaded components

Due to clearly distinguishable damage symptoms, it is differentiated between the surface and sub‐surface failure mode of rolling bearings. Material states red out by X‐ray diffraction (XRD) residual stress measurements point to a variety of loading conditions especially at raceway surfaces that are associated with several competing failure mechanisms. The corresponding lifetime reduction can range from the lower fatigue strength region to material ratcheting in extreme cases. Relevant position of the microstructural changes and nature of the failure mechanisms are characterized. The time alteration of the XRD material parameters measured at or near the surface and at the depth of the maximum equivalent stress correlates, in a different manner, with the statistical parameter of the 10 % bearing life. Both failure modes are illustrated by concrete examples. Contaminated lubricant and boundary lubrication, which represent practically important surface‐induced failures, are discussed in more detail. Gray staining, i.e. shallow pitting, often occurs without distinct indication of global material aging by means of XRD characteristics. Here, scanning electron microscopy observations and electron microprobe analyses point to corrosion fatigue as acting surface failure mechanism. The interaction between material and lubricant under complex loading regimes particularly of mixed friction and corrosion opens further failure research areas in the field of tribology.