High strength steel tension splices with one or two bolts

The paper presents experimental research of 38 tension splices with bolts in double shear. Steel grade S690 was used. The objective of the research was to determine ductility and resistance of such connections. The experimental resistance is compared to Eurocode provisions and a new bearing resistance formula is developed. The reliability assessment is given according to EN 1990, Annex D.     

Dynamic Optimization Model for Mining Equipment Repair by Using the Spare-Parts Inventory

We present the dynamic control system for the service rate in an M/M/1 queuing system, to optimize the inventory of critical repairable spare components for a fleet of mobile equipment in presence of an adjustable single server repair facility, namely, the repair rate can be expedited or slowed down. We consider the normal and expedited rates, when the faster repair rate implies higher repair costs. The repair rate selection depends on the number of units in operational condition; actual operating units plus stock on hand is generated at the moment of demand for a spare. The resulting optimal policy is to minimize the expected cost per unit time for the inventory system in the long run.     

On the slope of the fatigue resistance curve for laser stake‐welded T‐joints

The paper investigates the influence of highly localised stress distribution around the notch tips of the laser stake‐welded T‐joints to the slope of the fatigue resistance curve. The study considers experimental data of eight series involving joints under tension or bending loads. Various boundary conditions and plate thicknesses are considered. The stress distribution in the singularity‐dominated zone ahead of the notch tips is investigated by means of the finite element analysis. The aim is to relatively distinguish the stress distribution from one case to another. The growth rate of the elastic singular stress with respect to the distance from the tip is described by the dimensionless gradient. This gradient is equal to the slope of the linear stress‐distance function when presented in double‐logarithmic scale. The slope of the fatigue resistance curve varies approximately from 4 to 8. It is observed that the change of the slope can be closely associated with the gradient of the maximum principal stress evaluated in the plane that is orthogonal to the crack path. The orthogonal plane corresponds to the maximum principal stress direction. In contrast, there is a large scatter in the relation between the slope and the gradient evaluated in the commonly assumed crack plane. The study shows that the dimensionless gradient exhibits sensitivity towards plate thicknesses, local weld geometry and the loading condition.     

Maximum-likelihood reconstruction of photon returns from simultaneous analog and photon-counting lidar measurements

We present a novel method for combining the analog and photon-counting measurements of lidar transient recorders into reconstructed photon returns. The method takes into account the statistical properties of the two measurement modes and estimates the most likely number of arriving photons and the most likely values of acquisition parameters describing the two measurement modes. It extends and improves the standard combining ("gluing") methods and does not rely on any ad hoc definitions of the overlap region nor on any background subtraction methods.     

Image Synthesis for Branching Structures

We present a set of techniques for the synthesis of artificial images that depict branching structures like rivers, cracks, lightning, mountain ranges, or blood vessels. The central idea is to build a statistical model that captures the characteristic bending and branching structure from example images. Then a new skeleton structure is synthesized and the final output image is composed from image fragments of the original input images. The synthesis part of our algorithm runs mostly automatic but it optionally allows the user to control the process in order to achieve a specific result. The combination of the statistical bending and branching model with sophisticated fragment‐based image synthesis corresponds to a multi‐resolution decomposition of the underlying branching structure into the low frequency behavior (captured by the statistical model) and the high frequency detail (captured by the image detail in the fragments). This approach allows for the synthesis of realistic branching structures, while at the same time preserving important textural details from the original image.     

Correlation Between Strain Energies of Proper Fullerenes and Their Topological Invariants. Part II. Fullerenes with Isolated Pentagons

By selecting 5 or 6 parameters from the 14 possible topological parameters referring to the disposition of the 5- and 6-membered rings around each edge in a proper fullerene with isolated pentagons, it is possible to obtain good correlations with calculated (MM+) energies of fullerenes. The correlations were tested on all isomers of IPR fullerenes with 94 to 100 carbon atoms, and standard deviations around 2.5 kcal/mol were obtained.     

Analytical modelling in low-frequency electromagnetic measurements of steel casing properties

Published studies on low-frequency (10 Hz–100 kHz) electromagnetic measurements of oil-well steel casing properties are mainly experimental and focus on certain regions of the space and frequency distributions of an exciter magnetic field inside a casing. We present an analytical model, based on the work of Dodd and Deeds, and employ it to analyse the whole space–frequency characteristic. We show that the model predictions and sensitivity analysis are consistent with the known effects of coil separation and excitation frequency on the measurements. The modelled responses to pulsed excitation are in good quantitative agreement with the experiments. The model can be applied in optimal design of the measurement systems and model-based measurement of the casing properties.     

An analysis of induction hardening of ferritic ductile iron

Achievements of the induction hardening of ferritic ductile iron were investigated. Ductile iron is not advisable for use in induction hardening because of the small carbon content in the metal matrix of ferritic ductile iron. The carbon content in the metal matrix of ductile iron can be increased by additional preparation of metal matrix before final induction heat hardening. Wear resistance of the induction hardened ferritic ductile iron can increase as result of increased carbon content of the metal matrix and higher hardness after induction hardening. Some heat pretreatments for metal matrix preparation were applied before the induction hardening of ferritic ductile iron. The process parameters of the induction hardening heat pretreatment were analyzed and optimized. According to recommended elemental composition of ferritic ductile iron and required mechanical properties, the process parameters of the investigated induction heat pretreatment were optimized. The efficiency of pretreatment processes of induction hardening was analyzed. Applicability and manufacture ability of engineering components by proposed heat pretreatments were investigated. The limitations of the investigated heat pretreatment applications were estimated by the comparison of mechanical properties of heat-treated specimens.     

Contribution of activation products to occupational exposure following treatment using high-energy photons in radiotherapy

When high-energy photon beams are used for irradiation in radiotherapy, neutrons that are the result of photonuclear reactions create activation products that affect the occupational dose of radiotherapy staff. For the assessment of activation products in situ gamma spectroscopy was performed parallel to dose-rate measurements following irradiation, by using a high-energy photon beam from a linear accelerator Elekta Precise (Elekta, Stockholm, Sweden) used in radiotherapy. The major identified activation products were the following radioisotopes: (28)Al, (24)Na, (56)Mn, (54)Mn, (187)W, (64)Cu and (62)Cu. Based on the typical workload and dose-rate measurement, the assessed additional annual occupational dose ranged from 1.7 to 0.25 mSv. As the measured dose rate arising from the activation products rapidly decreases as a function of time, the assessed additional dose is negligible after 10 min following irradiation. To keep the occupational dose as low as reasonably achievable, it is recommended to delay entrance to the therapy room at least 2-4 min, when high-energy photons are used. This would reduce the effective dose by 30%.