Residual stress state after the laser surface remelting process

Residual stresses are a result of elasto-plastic deformations induced in the workpiece material during the heat treatment process. The extent and magnitude of internal stresses depend on temperature conditions in heating and cooling and physical properties of the workpiece material. This contribution discusses the extent and distribution of residual stresses after laser remelting a thin surface layer on ductile iron 80-55-06 (ASTM specification) or Gr 500-7 according to ISO. Residual stresses are not only induced by temperature differences but also result from stresses due to microstructural changes between the surface and the core of the specimen subsequent to cooling to the ambient temperature. The distribution and extent of residual stresses in the remelted thin surface layer depend mostly on melt composition and cooling conditions. Different rates of solidification and subsequent cooling of the remelted layer are reflected in the volume proportions of the created cementite, residual austenite, and martensite in the microstructure. The rate of heating and cooling of the thin surface layer is a function of laser power, beam diameter on the workpiece surface, and interaction time. In addition, the number of passes of the laser beam over the workpiece surface and different degrees of laser trace overlapping were increased to see how these can affect the thermal conditions in the workpiece. To determine the residual stresses, the relaxation method was used. This is based on measuring the specimen strain during electrochemical material removal.     

Effect of location in the canopy on the colour development of three apple cultivars during growth

BACKGROUND: Homogeneity in appearance is one of the quality aspects asked for in the supply chain. Decreasing the biological variation in batches of harvested apples (cultivars Braeburn, Fuji and Gala) becomes increasingly important. Skin colour is one of the aspects that determine both optimal harvest and stage of development. Skin colour is affected by location in the canopy. The rules of development of biological variation are now established and will be used on skin colour data. RESULTS: The Minolta colour aspects a*, b* and L* measured before commercial harvest change in a sigmoidal fashion and can be analysed including the biological variation, with a logistic model in indexed nonlinear regression, obtaining explained parts of above 90%. The mechanism of colour change is not affected by state of development or location in the canopy. The location in the canopy affects the intensity of both red and green colouring compounds. The variation in colouration is not affected by the location in the canopy. CONCLUSION: The red‐coloured apple cultivar (Gala) depends more on the location in the canopy than the less‐coloured cultivars (Fuji and Braeburn). The colour development in Fuji apples is considerably slower, with a much larger variation in stage of development. The location in the canopy affects all aspects of biological variation (biological shift factor and asymptotic starting level of colouration) for all three colour aspects L*, a* and b*, but only the mean value, not the standard deviation. The biological shift factors per colour aspects are linearly related. Once induced, variation remains constant during development. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Mercury,selenium, PCBs and fatty acids in fresh and canned fish available on the Slovenian market

In order to contribute to the general understanding of the risks and benefits of consuming fish and fish products, total mercury (THg), monomethylmercury (MeHg), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), selenium (Se), n-3 and n-6 fatty acids were determined in fresh and canned fish on the Slovenian market. Furthermore, the mercury exposure of pregnant women in Slovenia was assessed by determining total mercury (THg) in hair, and through fresh and canned fish consumption obtained by a food frequency questionnaire. Based on the frequency of fish consumption and levels of MeHg, THg and PCBs determined in the present study, it can be concluded that fish available on the Slovenian market do not represent a health risk. It was also confirmed that fish are important sources of selenium and n-3 fatty acids.     

Influence of Particle Size Distribution,Moisture Content,and Particle Shape on the Flow Properties of Bulk Solids

Abstract

There has been a great deal of research on characterising bulk solids. However, some of the characteristics, particularly the time‐dependent and random changes of properties, still remain insufficiently understood. The focus of this article is to study the influence of particle size, size distribution, moisture content, and particle shape on the unconfined yield strength of bulk solids. We present some interesting results about the influence of the particle size distribution on the unconfined yield strength of a bulk solid and a new method for determining the influence of particle shape on the unconfined yield strength of a bulk solid, which was made possible by the design and use of a novel attritor.     

A chamber for biomechanical,electrochemical and electrophysiological measurements in functional segments of peripheral nerves

The aim of the work was to develop the chamber to be used in biomechanical, electrochemical and electrophysiological measurements in functional segments of peripheral nerves, when electrical stimulating pulses are selectively applied to preselected locations along the nerve and neural responses are measured.     

Effects of international collaboration and status of journal on impact of papers

This study examines the effect of international collaboration of Slovenian authors and the status of journals where papers are published (as determined by their impact factors) on the impact of papers as measured by the number of citations papers receive. Research programme groups working in Slovenia in the 2004–2008 period in the fields of physics, chemistry, biology, biotechnology, and medical science were used for analyses. The results of the analyses show that the effects of the two factors differ among the fields. We discuss possible reasons for this, including the possibility that differences are the result of Slovenia’s science policy.     

Online assessment of power transmission belt geometry by using laser triangulation and profile parameterisation

We present a method that enables an automated assessment of the geometrical dimensions of power transmission belts and the detection of surface defects and small deviations from the ideal shape that are difficult to detect with a visual inspection. The method is based on the acquisition of belt surface profiles using a laser triangulation and automated profile assessment based on a custom-developed algorithm. The algorithm uses a novel approach to profile segmentation, featuring a template that defines the expected profile shape in advance and so, allows a faster implementation of the algorithm. It enables an automated calculation of the basic geometrical dimensions, which define the profile shape in the technical drawing and are important for online quality control in the production line. A macrolanguage was developed for a rapid and flexible definition of the mathematical operations used in the calculation of the profile's dimensions and thus, an adaptation to the requirements of a particular application. We demonstrate the use of the automatic belt profile geometry assessment on randomly chosen samples.