A study to maximize the crash energy absorption efficiency within the limits of crash space

The design of an engine room is important to protect the passenger from a crash impact by improving the absorption of the crash impact energy. The side member in the engine room absorbs most of the crash impact energy when the vehicle experiences a frontal crash. The side member is of two types: hat and ‘U.’ Analysis of the extent of energy absorption and the mechanism of the side member are necessary through a collapse mode in various load conditions. In this study, the design of experiments was used for evaluating the characteristics of the absorption of crash energy by side members through design variables. First, crash analysis was performed by experiment number extracted from the design of the experiment. Then, using the results of crash analysis, multiple regressions were conducted and sensitivity analysis performed for each design variable. Finally, the optimum design was developed for maximizing the absorption energy per unit weight considering various boundary conditions. In the present study, as a basic step for modeling the fatigue behavior of an extruded Al alloy cylinder, the fatigue crack growth data of the alloy was collected in two orientations. Microstructural analysis revealed that the material had recrystallized grains and clusters of constituent particles aligned in the direction of extrusion. Fatigue life of the samples revealed a shorter fatigue life representing a higher fatigue crack growth rate in the transverse direction.     

Anti-plane moving crack in a functionally graded piezoelectric layer between two dissimilar piezoelectric strips

The dynamic propagation of a crack in a functionally graded piezoelectric material (FGPM) interface layer between two dissimilar piezoelectric layers under anti-plane shear is analyzed using integral transform approaches. The properties of the FGPM layers vary continuously along the thickness. The FGPM layer and two homogeneous piezoelectric layers are connected weak-discontinuously. A constant velocity Yoffe-type moving crack is considered. The Fourier transform is used to reduce the problem to two sets of dual integral equations, which are then expressed to the Fredholm integral equations of the second kind. Numerical values on the dynamic energy release rate (DERR) are presented for the FGPM to show the effects on electric loading, gradient of the material properties, crack moving velocity, and thickness of the layers. The following are helpful to increase resistance to crack propagation in the FGPM interface layer: (a) certain direction and magnitude of the electric loading, (b) increasing the thickness of the FGPM interface layer, and (c) increasing the thickness of the homogeneous piezoelectric layer to have larger material properties than those of the crack plane in the FGPM interface layer. The DERR always increases with the increase of crack moving velocity and the gradient of the material properties.     

Output power measurement of a blood pump considering pulsating flows

A blood flow simulator is one of the most useful tools for investigating the dynamic properties of a cardiovascular system. The blood pump in a blood flow simulator generates pulsating flows by oscillating a membrane mechanically at different pulse rates. To evaluate the performance of the blood pump properly, the flow characteristics of the pulsating flows should be considered. In this paper, two basic indicators for evaluating the blood pump characteristics, the output power and the overall efficiency, were determined with consideration of the pulsating flows, based on a phase-averaged analysis. These indicators were obtained by integrating closed contours in a P − Q diagram. The measured output power was expected to be meaningful for understanding the dynamic effects caused by pulsating flows.     

A numerical simulation of train-induced unsteady airflow in a tunnel of Seoul subway

This study has been conducted to investigate numerically the characteristics of train-induced unsteady airflow in a subway tunnel. A three-dimensional numerical model using the dynamic layering method for the moving boundary of a train is applied. The validation of the present study has been carried out against the experimental data obtained by Kim and Kim [1] in a model tunnel. After this, for the geometries of the tunnel and subway train which are very similar to those of the Seoul subway, a three-dimensional unsteady tunnel flow is simulated. The predicted distributions of pressure and air velocity in the tunnel as well as the time series of mass flow rate at natural ventilation ducts reveal that the maximum exhaust mass flow rate of air through the duct occurs just before the frontal face of a train reaches the ventilation duct, while the suction mass flow rate through the duct reaches the maximum value just after the rear face of a train passes the ventilation duct. The results of this study can be utilized as basic data for optimizing the design of tunnel ventilation systems.     

Improved dynamic equations for the generally configured Stewart platform manipulator

In this paper, a Newton-Euler approach is utilized to generate the improved dynamic equations of the generally configured Stewart platform. Using the kinematic model of the universal joint, the rotational degree of freedom of the pods around the axial direction is taken into account in the formulation. The justifiable direction of the reaction moment on each pod is specified and considered in deriving the dynamic equations. Considering the theorem of parallel axes, the inertia tensors for different elements of the manipulator are obtained in this study. From a theoretical point, the improved formulation is more accurate in comparison with previous ones, and the necessity of the improvement is clear evident from significant differences in the simulation results for the improved model and the model without improvement. In addition to more feasibility of the structure and higher accuracy, the model is highly compatible with computer arithmetic and suitable for online applications for loop control problems in hardware.     

In vivo remineralization of acid-etched enamel in non-brushing areas as influenced by fluoridated orthodontic adhesive and toothpaste

This study aimed to evaluate the in vivo remineralization of acid-etched enamel in non-brushing areas as influenced by fluoridated orthodontic adhesive and toothpaste. One hundred and twenty teeth from 30 volunteers were selected. The teeth were assigned to four treatments: no treatment (negative control); 37% phosphoric acid-etching (PAE) (positive control); PAE + resin-modified glass ionomer cement (RMGIC); and, PAE + composite resin. Patients brushed teeth with fluoridated (n = 15) or non-fluoridated (n = 15) toothpastes, so that etched enamel was protected with screens and it was not in contact with the brush bristles. Remineralization was evaluated by means of laser fluorescence (LF), environmental scanning electronic microscopy, and energy dispersive spectrometry after extraction. The LF means were compared by means of Wilcoxon and Mann Whitney tests. Environmental scanning electron microscopy scores were compared among the groups using a Kruskal Wallis test, whereas the Ca/P ratio was evaluated by means of an Analysis of Variance with subparcels (treatments) and Tukey's post-hoc test. There were no statistically significant differences between the tooth pastes and between the orthodontic adhesives evaluated. Most teeth presented only partial enamel remineralization. Therefore, the fluoride released by the RMGIC was not enough to cause increased crystal regrowth in the acid-etched enamel. The use of fluoridated toothpaste did not provide positive additional effect.     

Effect of source tuning parameters on the plasma potential of heavy ions in the 18 GHz high temperature superconducting electron cyclotron resonance ion source

Plasma potentials for various heavy ions have been measured using the retarding field technique in the 18 GHz high temperature superconducting ECR ion source, PKDELIS [C. Bieth, S. Kantas, P. Sortais, D. Kanjilal, G. Rodrigues, S. Milward, S. Harrison, and R. McMahon, Nucl. Instrum. Methods B 235, 498 (2005); D. Kanjilal, G. Rodrigues, P. Kumar, A. Mandal, A. Roy, C. Bieth, S. Kantas, and P. Sortais, Rev. Sci. Instrum. 77, 03A317 (2006)]. The ion beam extracted from the source is decelerated close to the location of a mesh which is polarized to the source potential and beams having different plasma potentials are measured on a Faraday cup located downstream of the mesh. The influence of various source parameters, viz., RF power, gas pressure, magnetic field, negative dc bias, and gas mixing on the plasma potential is studied. The study helped to find an upper limit of the energy spread of the heavy ions, which can influence the design of the longitudinal optics of the high current injector being developed at the Inter University Accelerator Centre. It is observed that the plasma potentials are decreasing for increasing charge states and a mass effect is clearly observed for the ions with similar operating gas pressures. In the case of gas mixing, it is observed that the plasma potential minimizes at an optimum value of the gas pressure of the mixing gas and the mean charge state maximizes at this value. Details of the measurements carried out as a function of various source parameters and its impact on the longitudinal optics are presented.     

Kidney injury and cell therapy: Preclinical study

The aim of this study is to show histological and immunofluorescence analysis of renal parenchyma of agoutis affected by gentamicin‐induced renal disease after the infusion of bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMC) stained with Hoechst®. Nine agouti's males were divided into three groups: Test group (TG): renal disease by gentamicin induced (n = 3), cell therapy group (CTG): renal disease by gentamicin induced and BMMC infusion (n = 3), and control group (CG): nonrenal disease and BMMC infusion (n = 3). TG and CTG were submitted to the protocol of renal disease induction using weekly application of gentamicin sulfate for 4 months. CG and CTG received a 1 × 108 BMMC stained with Hoechst and were euthanized for kidney examination 21 days after BMMC injection and samples were collected for histology and immunofluorescence analysis. Histological analysis demonstrated typical interstitial lesions in kidney similarly to human disease, as tubular necrosis, glomerular destruction, atrophy tubular, fibrotic areas, and collagen deposition. We conclude that histological analysis suggest a positive application of agouti's as a model for a gentamicin inducing of kidney disease, beyond the immunofluorescence analysis suggest a significant migration of BMMC to sites of renal injury in CTG. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Ultrasonic Velocity as a Tool for Physical and Mechanical Parameters Prediction within Geo-Materials: Application on Cement Mortar

This paper discusses the ability of ultrasonic wave velocity to evaluate some physical parameters within mortar. The behavior of ultrasonic pulse velocity within mortar subjected to incremetal stress was also studied. For experimentation, we carried out ultrasonic measurements on mortar samples before and during uniaxial compressive strength, perpendicularly to the stress direction. The water/cement ratios were varied in order to contribute certain specific characteristics. A set of expressions was obtained linking the initial velocities of longitudinal ultrasonic waves with compressive strength, density, porosity and load at elastic limit.The evolution of ultrasonic velocity through mortar samples under continuous incremental uniaxial stress were also investigated. The results illustrated the behavior of ultrasonic pulse velocity as a function of the applied stress. It was observed that velocity did not decrease under initial loading and until about 70% of the ultimate stress, where sudden decrease occurred, followed by the failure of the material.     

Full Curve Damage Process of Polypropylene Fiber Reinforced Mortars under Dynamic Tensile Loading Based on Acoustic Emission Technique

The study of the full curve damage process of polypropylene fiber reinforced mortars under medium strain rate (10^–6 s^–1–10^–4 s^–1) could enrich the understanding of the dynamic damage characteristics of polypropylene fiber reinforced structures. In order to explore the physical mechanisms of polypropylene fiber in the dynamic damage process of the polypropylene fiber reinforced mortars. The real-time dynamic acoustic emission (AE) technology was applied to monitor the damage process of polypropylene fiber reinforced mortars at different strain rates. The analysis of characteristics of AE wavelet energy spectrum and the average AE peak frequency of polypropylene fiber reinforced mortars with different polypropylene fiber content at different strain rates were conducted. The results show that with the accumulation of damage, the AE wavelet energy spectrum in ca8 frequency band increases first and then decreases and the average AE peak frequency increases gradually. The AE wavelet energy spectrum in ca8 frequency band and the average AE peak frequency decreases gradually with the increase of the strain rate, but them increases first and then decreases with the increase of polypropylene fiber content. The above AE characteristics could provide important information for the identification of dynamic damage mechanism of polypropylene reinforced fiber mortars.