Reliability of MDOF-systems

To estimate the safety and reliability of nonlinear structural (MDOF)-systems subjected to random dynamic loading the response surface methodology (RSM) and Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) respectively appear to be the most general approaches to calculate the failure probabilities of such systems. In an effort to reduce the number of computational time consuming simulations as generally required for direct MCS, only a small part of which is important for the assessment of failure rates, a new selective MCS technique named ‘Double and Clump’ (D&C) is suggested. The main idea of this procedure is to increase for each time step the relatively low number of response samples containing higher mechanical energy. The selective MCS procedure is tested by analysing nonlinear SDOF oscillators, for which exact analytical solutions exist. A good agreement between the distributions F(x) in the tails is obtained covering a wide range, i.e. 10⁻⁷ < F(x) < 1·0–10⁻⁷. The efficiency of selective MCS is demonstrated by applying it to a six-storey frame structure subjected to earthquake excitation. A comparison with results obtained by using the RSM is presented and discussed.     

The Determination of the Level of Bicarbonate, Carbonate, or Carbon Dioxide in Aqueous Solutions

A rapid and convenient method for the measurement of bicarbonate, carbonate, or carbon dioxide in water was developed using fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Bicarbonate and carbonate are converted to carbon dioxide by lowering the pH of the solution, then the absorbance of the dissolved carbon dioxide at 2345 wavenumbers is measured using a liquid sample cell. If the measurement of dissolved carbon dioxide is the objective, the pH is not adjusted, and the carbon dioxide in the free form can be measured without interference from low levels of carbonates. The method is linear from 10.48 ppm to a minimum of 366.8 ppm carbon dioxide (r squared = 0.9996). The coefficient of variation at 10.48 ppm (LOD 3 signal/noise), 52.4 ppm, and 262 ppm is 45.6, 4.0, and 3.9, respectively. The average percent recovery at 10.48 ppm, 52.4 ppm, and 262 ppm is 74.5, 104.2, and 104.0, respectively.     

Characterization of Al-doped n-type ZnSe prepared under a zinc-rich growth condition by low-pressure organometallic chemical vapor deposition

High conductivity n-type ZnSe with = 0.01 ωcm and n = 2.4 × 10¹⁸ cm⁻³ is obtained on (100) GaAs substrates by low pressure organometallic chemical vapor deposition. The 14 meV full width at half maximum of the 77 K photoluminescence near-band-edge emission shows a high quality of as-grown Al-doped ZnSe epilayers. With a suitable Al doping level, a strong photoluminescence intensity of near-band-edge emission is obtained. The behavior of near-band-edge emission and of self-activated emission related to the incorporation of aluminum are discussed in this paper.     

International orientation,efficiency of and regard for research in East and West Germany: A bibliometric investigation of aspects of technology genesis in the United Germany

The efficiency of areas of science was evaluated using the DEA method. Areas achieving a maximum orientation or regard of international publication are rated as efficient. The areas of reproductive medicine, organic and inorganic chemistry in the former Federal Republic can thus be regarded as efficient areas of science. No area of scientific research in the former East Germany was able to achieve the optimum. The determinant in this connection is the adverse situation with respect to international orientation whilst no substantial difference in regard for further research could be detected between East and West German research.     

The thermoelastic behaviour of semicrystalline and of glassy poly(ether-ether-ketone)

A thermoelastic evaluation, based on simultaneous measurements of the mechanical work and of the concomitant heat of deformation by a stretching micro calorimeter, was performed on semicrystalline and glassy PEEK. The objective of this study was to utilize the sensitive technique to detect differences that would account for observed effects of micro structure on mechanical performance. A clear difference was detected beyond a 0.6% strain, where the behaviour of glassy PEEK began to exhibit inelastic features such as yielding and plastic deformation. This difference between the glassy and the semicrystalline polymers was considered the reason for the superior mechanical fatigue and fracture properties produced by the latter micro structure.     

Bridging process and structure through criteria

Scholars in design face two central challenges in design methods inquiry: firstly, to integrate process and solution, and secondly, to examine developmental junctures leading to innovation. With these goals in mind, we maintain that design criteria deserve greater attention and illustrate this position with a study of noted designers' use of criteria. The primary finding was that five criteria functions were considered during the design process. The study also explored potential relationships between designer variables (i.e., professional expertise and personality type) and criteria use.     

FOCUS-type fuel assembly for PWRs

In recent years the development efforts for Siemens PWR fuel assemblies were mainly concentrated on reducing the fuel cycle costs and increasing the operational reliability of the fuel assemblies.The first objective was aimed at increasing the average discharge burnup to > 50 MWd/kgU and increasing the critical heat flux. The high envisaged burnup required to develop a corrosion resistant cladding tube outside the Zry-4 range. The decision was made to use a Duplex cladding tube consisting of a corrosion optimized outer layer on a Zry-4 base material. A ZrSnFeCr alloy with reduced tin content was chosen for the outer layer. The critical heat flux could be increased by introducing mixing vanes on the spacer grids within the active length.To reach the second objective, reliable avoidance of spacer grid damage during core loading and unloading and reduction of fuel rod defects by debris fretting, the spacer grid corners were improved and a debris separation grid was developed.These design improvements were introduced into the new FOCUS-type fuel assembly. The name FOCUS stands for “Fuel assembly with Optimized Cladding and Upgraded Structure”.     

Crack growth measurements on components under cyclic loading: comparison of different methods

The cyclic crack growth behaviour was measured by means of d.c. potential drop, a.c. potential drop, ultrasonic and crack-opening displacement (COD) methods. The methods were applied to component tests on straight pipes with an outer diameter of approximately 800 mm and a wall thickness of approximately 50 mm. The pipes were subjected to constant internal pressure (about 15 MPa) and either an alternating (or pulsating) or a quasi-static bending moment using d.c. potential drop, a.c. potential drop, ultrasonic and flaw-opening (COD) methods. The efficiency of the particular methods has been proved by comparison with fractographical analysis of the fracture surfaces.