Implementation of a mechanics-based system for estimating the strength of timber

The most accurate way of determining the strength of lumber requires destructive testing. An intelligent mechanics-based lumber-grading system was developed to provide a better estimation of the strength of a board nondestructively. This system processed X-ray-extracted geometric features (of 1080 boards that eventually underwent destructive strength testing) by using finite element methods to generate associated stress fields. The stress fields were then fed to a feature-extracting-processor, which produced 26 strength predicting features. The best strength predicting features were determined from the coefficient of determination (correlation r/sup 2/) between the features and actual strengths of the boards. The coefficients of determination of each feature (or combination of features), with the actual strength of the board, were calculated and compared. A coefficient of determination of 0.4158 was achieved by using a longitudinal (along the local grain angle) maximum stress concentration (MSC) feature to predict the estimated strength of lumber.     

Thermal Transformations of an Aluminoborophosphate Binder

Thermal transformations of a commercial aluminoborophosphate binder are studied in a broad temperature range by optical microscopy, x-ray diffraction, IR spectroscopy, and thermal analysis. The introduction of B₂O₃ reduces the temperature of phosphate polycondensation, enhances the stability of cyclometaphosphates in a broad temperature range (180–1100°C), and reduces the stability of hydrogen phosphates.     

The Simulation of Impact Loads on Beam-type Structures using a Pseudo-dynamic Procedure

Abstract:  This study proposes an alternate method for the analysis of beams with solid cross-section or built as a framed structure and subjected to transverse impact loads from an external striker. The procedure used in the analysis is a combination of two essential tools using pseudo-dynamic techniques. The method reported here involves only one degree of freedom for the structure modelling and assumes an elastic contact between an external striker and the beam structure, which in reality does not happen. As only one degree of freedom is considered in the analysis, some important limitations are inherent to the method proposed here. Essentially, there is the difficulty of modelling the displacement field associated with the transient structure behaviour accurately, as a consequence of fast-rate impact loads. Another difficulty faced by the method refers to a local structure behaviour associated with contact loads. The present method can deal with large displacements in transversely loaded beams associated to a collapse mechanism having a simple geometry and defined with precision from a single parameter. This ensures reasonable accuracy in the evaluation of the strain energy absorbing capacity of transversely impacted beam structures using a single degree of freedom model in a pseudo-dynamic procedure.     

A Theoretical Framework for Core Material Properties Identification in Cellular Solids using Novelty Detection

Abstract:  This paper presents a novelty detection-based technique to identify core material properties of honeycombs and cellular structures. A numerical model (finite element) representing full scale and/or reduced size of the cellular solid is used to generate transmissibilities between topological homologous points at cells in different locations. In order to make the procedure robust against noise, these transmissibilities are artificially corrupted. This step is representative of a series of experimentally obtained measurements which automatically return information relating to the size and shape of data noise along with the mean measurement. The next stage, both in this paper and in the proposal for the experimental approach, is to generate several further sets of transmissibilities from the finite element model; the only difference being that the core material properties are altered from the original values. A novelty detection framework is then adopted to find a similarity measure between each of these 'test' transmissibilities and the original set thereby identifying the material properties. Although this work is concerned with identifying only one material property, the methodology extends to identifying several properties.     

Plasma spraying of nanostructured partially yttria stabilized zirconia powders

Nanosized partially yttria stabilized zirconia particles, prepared using a co-precipitation method, were reprocessed into agglomerate powders using two methods for plasma spraying. The first method was to make micrometer-sized agglomerates directly following the grinding of the calcined yttria–zirconia agglomerates. The second method was to reconstitute the nanosized particles into micrometer agglomerates using spray drying. The deposition efficiency, porosity, microhardness and average grain size of the deposits made from these two reprocessed powders were studied. Distinct results related to the process parameters were obtained for the two types of powders. The second type of powder was more suitable for plasma spraying than the first one. Using the second type of powder, some unique results distinguished from those of the conventional partially yttria stabilized zirconia powders were observed and an optimized coating with a porosity of 3.8%, Hv_0.3 of 953 and mainly consisting of 1–3 μm columnar grains in the columnar direction and smaller than 100 nm in their cross-sections was achieved.     

Least privilege and more [computer security]

With new methods for enforcing security policies comes the opportunity to formulate application-specific policies. But leveraging that flexibility might prove a difficult problem, not only in practice, but also in theory.     

Efficient manipulator collision avoidance by dynamic programming

This paper describes a research effort in the area of collision avoidance path planning for robotic manipulators. A robotic arm with known geometry is to perform a spatial manipulation in the presence of known obstacles in its workspace. The task is to generate a series of waypoints for its path to pass through which will guarantee a safe, collision-free trajectory from its predefined starting point to its predefined goal position.This is an important topic in the area of automated manufacturing. Automated factories are becoming increasingly important for the goals of greater manufacturing efficiency, better equipment utilization, and lower overall manufacturing costs. Robotic devices, including manipulator arms and assembly devices, are finding more uses in these factories.The approach is to discretize the robot's workspace into a transition network. The optimal path through this network, in terms of angular displacement of the manipulator's joints, is generated by dynamic programming. While this approach has been used previously, this paper adds the innovation of variable-node spacing, with the node density in various parts of the network reflecting the need for precise position control in each local area of the workspace. In this way, precise motion control is possible without an undue computational burden.     

A cathode readout gas sampling calorimeter with conductive plastic tubes

We constructed and tested a prototype gas sampling electromagnetic calorimeter of the Pb-proportional tube sandwich type. The calorimeter uses conductive plastic tubes and cathode pad readout with a tower structure which resulted in reasonable energy and spatial resolutions for electrons in the momentum range 0.5–4.0 GeV/c; $\text{σ}{}_{\mathrm{E}}\text{E =}\text{21\%}\text{(E(}\text{GeV}\text{)}\text{)}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{, σ}{}_{\mathrm{x}}\text{= 6}\text{mm}\text{(at 3 GeV}$/c). This paper describes the test and the performance studied under various conditions.     

On mass transfer effect due to electrolytically evolved gas

Based on the Ibl penetration model mass transfer equations for gas-evolving electrodes were derived and compared to the effect of forced convection. Experimental studies were conducted in a rectangular flow channel with the working electrode facing downward. The variables were linear bubble velocity, linear electrolyte velocity, nature of the gas and electrode position. Up to bubble velocities (U_x) of 2 and 6 cm s⁻¹ for O₂ and H₂ gases respectively, the thickness of the Nernst diffusion layer (δ_av) was described well by the equation δ_av = [Dd_eL/(U_x)_av]^1/3. Intermediate slopes between − 1/3 and − 1 were observed for O₂ bubble velocities between 2 and 6 cm s⁻¹. A theoretical derivation suggests that in the absence of bubble coalescence, the mass transfer effect due to laminar flow induced by electrolytically evolved gas exceeds that due to forced external laminar flow for all practical channel designs.     

Ionization of Acetylacetone in Me2SO—Water Mixtures. Reactivity—Selectivity Principle or Principle of Imperfect Synchronization?

Rate constants for the reversible deprotonation of acetylacetone were measured in carboxylate and amine buffers in water and in 50%, 90% and 95% Me₂SO at 20°C. The Brønsted plot for the carboxylate ions is curved in the Me₂SO—water mixtures, but straight in water. The curvature is in the direction predicted by the Reactivity—Selectivity Principle (RSP). However, the Brønsted plot for the reaction with primary amines is straight in all solvents. This suggests that the curvature observerd with the carboxylate ions is caused by loss of solvation of the base; this loss of solvation is ahead of bond formation in the transition state rather than being a manifestation of the RSP. (Note that all Brønsted plots are based on pK_a values measured in the respective solvents.) The intrinsic rate constant (k₀) for proton transfer increases with the addition of Me₂SO, and more so with the carboxylate buffers than with the amines. This increase in k₀ is attributed to delayed solvation of the developing enolate ion in the transition state; with the carboxylate buffers, an additional factor is the early loss of solvation of the base. The various solvation effects observed in this study can all be understood in the context of the Principle of Imperfect Synchronization (PIS).