Effect of material,geometry, surface treatment and environment on the shear strength of single lap joints

The single lap joint is the most studied type of adhesive joint in the literature. However, the joint strength prediction of such joints is still a controversial issue as it involves a lot of factors that are difficult to quantify such as the overlap length, the yielding of the adherend, the plasticity of the adhesive and the bondline thickness. The most complicated case is that where the adhesive is brittle and the overlap long. In any case, there is still a problem that is even more difficult to take into account which is the durability. There is a lack of experimental data and design criteria when the joint is subjected to high, low or variable temperature and/or humidity. The objective of this work is to carry out and quantify the various variables affecting the strength of single lap joints in long term, especially the effect of the surface preparation. The Taguchi method is used to decrease the number of experimental tests. The effect of material, geometry, surface treatment and environment is studied and it is shown that the main effect is that of the overlap length.In order to quantify the influence of the adhesive (toughness and thickness), the adherend (yield strength and thickness), the overlap, the test speed, the surface preparation and durability on the lap shear strength, the experimental design technique of Taguchi was used in the present study. An experimental matrix of 18 tests was designed and each test was repeated three times. The influence of the eight previously-mentioned variables could be assessed using the statistical software Statview^®. In this paper a simple predictive equation is proposed for the design of single lap joints.     

Ultraviolet light effect on electrical properties of a flexible organic thin film transistor

We have fabricated pentacene-based transistors on a transparent and flexible substrate made of polyethylene-terephthalate. We have shown that using an optical excitation at a wavelength of 365 nm photoconductivity modifies the carrier density without changing the mobility. The performance of the flexible organic phototransistors is mostly due to high-photosensitivity in the off-state with a ratio of photocurrent to dark current of about 2 10⁴. Furthermore, the response times of the phototransistor are lower than 0.1 s. These results indicate that such transistors could be potentially used in photodetectors or amplifiers ordered by an optical gate. Moreover, we have noticed that there is no significant change in the mobility value when the transistor is bent in the direction of the current flow.     

Investigation of the thermal and structural properties of single-molecule magnet/polymer nanocomposite films

The inclusion of manganese-based single-molecule magnets (SMMs) into solvent cast films of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) or polycarbonate (PC) was found to influence the thermal stability of these polymers. Examination of the thermal decomposition profiles of PMMA films by thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) established that increasing weight % of SMM results in both enhancement of the rate of decomposition initiated at “head-to-head” linkages along with suppression of the rate of decomposition initiated at vinylidene chain ends. In the case of PC films, the temperature at which the primary thermal decomposition occurs decreases with increasing weight % of SMM. The extent of these decomposition trends is correlated to the degree of SMM dispersal, as studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Favourable interactions between the ligands coordinated to the SMMs and the polymer or solvent used in film preparation dictated the degree of SMM dispersal, with the ligand–polymer interactions being dominant on the nano-length scale (1–100 nm) and ligand–solvent interactions being dominant on the micro-length scale (>100 nm).     

Production of thin calcium phosphate coatings from glass source materials

Calcium phosphate (CaP) coatings, from 40 000 to 200 000 nm thick, on titanium and titanium alloy substrates, were produced using radio frequency (RF) sputtering. Such coatings on dental implants have the potential for improving initial bone ingrowth rates. The success of these coatings may allow the movement from two stage implant systems to single stage implant systems, significantly reducing the time required for healing and fixture placement. Glass source materials were developed for the RF sputtering facility and the resultant coatings were characterized and compared to coatings sputtered from a conventional plasma sprayed hydroxyapatite (HA) source material. The coatings were characterized according to their chemistry, crystalline orientation, and residual strain.     

Technology to facilitate ethical action: a proposed design

As emerging technologies support new ways in which people relate, ethical discourse is important to help guide designers of new technologies. This article endeavors to do just that by presenting an ethical analysis and design of technology intended to gather and act upon information on behalf of its users. The article elaborates on socio-technological factors that affect the development of technology to support ethical action. Research and practice implications are outlined.     

Logic design for printability using OPC methods

The steps that create physical shape data in a typical logic device design-to-reticle flow are cell layout, place and route, tapeout, OPC or RET, data fracture, and reticle build. Here, we define OPC as the transformation of reticle data to compensate for lithographic and process distortions so that the final wafer pattern is as close to the target pattern-the designed layout-as possible. We define RETs as the general class of transformations for reticle data that aim to improve the patterning process window; therefore, OPC is a subset of RET. DFM is traditionally considered to be implemented at the cell layout or routing stages of this flow. Examples include the optimization of a layout based on critical-defect area, the addition of redundant contacts and vias, wire spreading, upsizing of metal landing pads, and the addition of dummy metal tiles to improve the planarity after chemical-mechanical planarization (CMP). We presented a detailed analysis of these techniques in an earlier work. In contrast, this article analyzes the possibility of extending these traditional methods into the OPC stage and introduces new post-tapeout RET methods for improving printability.     

Integration of radar and Landsat-derived foliage projected cover for woody regrowth mapping, Queensland, Australia

In Queensland, Australia, forest areas are discriminated from non-forest by applying a threshold (∼ 12%) to Landsat-derived Foliage Projected Cover (FPC) layers (equating to ∼ 20% canopy cover), which are produced routinely for the State. However, separation of woody regrowth following agricultural clearing cannot be undertaken with confidence, and is therefore not mapped routinely by State Agencies. Using fully polarimetric C-, L- and P-band NASA AIRSAR and Landsat FPC data for forests and agricultural land near Injune, central Queensland, we corroborate that woody regrowth dominated by Brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) cannot be discriminated using either FPC or indeed C-band data alone, because the rapid attainment of a canopy cover leads to similarities in both reflectance and backscatter with remnant forest. We also show that regrowth cannot be discriminated from non-forest areas using either L-band or P-band data alone. However, mapping can be achieved by thresholding and intersecting these layers, as regrowth is unique in supporting both a high FPC (> ∼ 12%) and C-band SAR backscatter (> ~ − 18 dB at HV polarisation) and low L-band and P-band SAR backscatter (e.g. < =∼ 14 dB at L-band HH polarisation). To provide a theoretical explanation, a wave scattering model based on that of Durden et al. [Durden, S.L., Van Zyl, J.J. & Zebker, H.A. (1989). Modelling and observation of radar polarization signature of forested areas. IEEE Trans. Geoscience and Remote Sensing, 27, 290-301.] was used to demonstrate that volume scattering from leaves and small branches in the upper canopy leads to increases in C-band backscattering (particularly HV polarisations) from regrowth, which increases proportionally with FPC. By contrast, low L-band and P-band backscatter occurs because of the lack of double bounce interactions at co-polarisations (particularly HH) and volume scattering at HV polarisation from the stems and branches, respectively, when their dimensions are smaller than the wavelength. Regrowth maps generated by applying simple thresholds to both FPC and AIRSAR L-band data showed a very close correspondence with those mapped using same-date 2.5 m Hymap data and an average 73.7% overlap with those mapped through time-series comparison of Landsat-derived land cover classifications. Regrowth mapped using Landsat-derived FPC from 1995 and JER-1 SAR data from 1994-1995 also corresponded with areas identified within the time-series classification and true colour stereo photographs for the same period. The integration of Landsat FPC and L-band SAR data is therefore expected to facilitate regrowth mapping across Queensland and other regions of Australia, particularly as Japan's Advanced Land Observing System (ALOS) Phase Arrayed L-band SAR (PALSAR), to be launched in 2006, will observe at both L-band HH and HV polarisations.     

Using informal notes for sharing corporate technology know-how

Corporate and academic communities have focused a great deal of attention on formalized approaches for creating, capturing, and propagating knowledge. Far less attention has been paid to the informal mechanisms that individuals share and employ to help them navigate complex processes in order to ‘get things done.’ In this paper, we examine the creation, use, and content of informal documents for supporting users of an enterprise resource planning system in a Fortune 500 company. We contend that such notes, which are commonly used for supporting information systems-related work, are an overlooked source of knowledgeability about organizational practices. This study is a first but necessary step in analyzing the types of information that can be derived from informal notes so that organizations can more fully utilize this largely untapped resource.     

A histomorphological study in age related changes in the elastic fiber system of the basilar artery

The aim of the study was to quantify the distribution of elastic fibers within the wall of the basilar artery. Three age groups were studied: 1) 0-1 yr.; 2) 20-50 yr. 3) > 50 yr. A histomorphometrical study was undertaken using an estimation of the linear density of the components of the fibrous elastic tissue system: the full length in the proximal and distal segments of the basilar artery was evaluated. Our results showed that: The elastic tissue of the basilar artery is not evenly distributed throughout the tunica media. Compared to the 0 to 1-year age group, mature elastic, elauninic and oxytalan fibers decreased with age. In all age groups the linear density of the mature elastic fibers was more evident in the proximal than in the distal segment of the artery.     

3D Visualization for 2D GIS: an Analysis of the Users' Needs and a Review of Techniques*

Most of the existing geographical information systems (GIS) make limited use of algorithms for advanced computer graphics and visualization. One explanation is that few attempts are made to identify the visualization needs for different uses of GIS, and to couple such needs to the available algorithms. Another explanation is that most GIS are designed to handle two-dimensional (20) data with few obvious relationships to three-dimensional (30) visualization. In an attempt to provide a better understanding of the application of visualization in GIS, we propose a conceptual framework linking several aspects of the two fields. At the user-level, we link different uses of GIS to different categories of audience and presentation styles. At the level of implementation, we first propose different ways to create 3D data for visualization from 2D GIS data, and then we review algorithms and techniques for 3D visualization with respect to support of different presentation styles.