Positive Pressure Ventilation in Single Medium-Sized Premises

The objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility, for the fire and rescue services, of using mobile fans as a pro-active means of ventilating smoke in medium-sized premises. The efficacy of various types of such fans was therefore tested in two different-sized premises by measuring air pressures and volume flow rates in the premises. Three different types of mobile fans were used. The study was a cold exercise, i.e. the effects of heat and smoke were not considered, in view of the fact that we were primarily interested in the volume flow capacity and pressure. In order better to illustrate and understand the experimental data, simple theoretical models were developed which describe how various parameters affect the results. The parameters considered in the model were the size of the supply and exhaust openings, the primary air flow of the fan, volume flow and static pressure in the building.     

Proposed design methods for lateral torsional buckling of unrestrained steel beams in fire

The behaviour of unrestrained steel I-beams has been studied by means of numerical analysis and published experimental results. The numerical model was developed using a commercial finite element program, MSC.MARC Mentat. A series of different UB and UC sections and different spans, subjected to both uniform moment and midspan point loads, are considered. The numerical predictions of the buckling moments are then compared with published experimental results. Consequently, a new approach is proposed to provide more accurate and safe predictions of the fire resistance of unrestrained beams, as well as to overcome certain weaknesses in the EC3:1.2 [European committee for standardization (CEN). Eurocode 3: Design of steel structures, Part 1.2: General rules — structural fire design, EN 1993-1-2. Brussels (Belgium); 2005] design formula. In addition, to provide a quick and simple design approach for engineers, a straightforward and rational method known as the Rankine method is introduced to predict the LTB failure load of steel beams in fire. It is shown that the Rankine approach generally provides a good lower bound value for numerical predictions.     

Isotopenuntersuchungen zur Wechselwirkung von Grund- und Oberflächenwasser in der Entstehungsphase von Bergbauseen

Environmental isotopes such as ³ H, ² H, ¹⁸ O, ³⁴ S and ²²² Rn were applied to characterize relationships within and between ground and surface waters in two developing mining lakes. Using a two-component-model the portion of saline waters ascending through the lake bottom into the lakes was estimated. Similarly the contribution of pyritic sulphur participating in the lake sulfate has been assessed. Locally, the lakes are hydrochemically stratified. Mixing processes are reflected by all isotopes mentioned above. δ ¹³ C _DIC values of the most mineralized lake water did not correspond with those of deep groundwater from Zechstein strata revailing additional effects such as CO ₂ production. ²²² Rn was checked for assessing groundwater fluxes through the lake bottom. ²²² Rn was found in lake water regions with elevated salt contens but being always in an equilibrium with radium (excepting the sediment-lake water interface). Thus, radium must be taken in consideration in order to interprete radon values in saline groundwaters.     

A field survey of metal binding to metallothionein and other cytosolic ligands in liver of eels using an on-line isotope dilution method in combination with size exclusion (SE) high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to Inductively Coupled Plasma time-of-flight Mass Spectrometry (ICP-TOFMS)

The effect of metal exposure on the accumulation and cytosolic speciation of metals in livers of wild populations of European eel with special emphasis on metallothioneins (MT) was studied. Four sampling sites in Flanders showing different degrees of heavy metal contamination were selected for this purpose. An on-line isotope dilution method in combination with size exclusion (SE) high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to Inductively Coupled Plasma time-of-flight Mass Spectrometry (ICP-TOFMS) was used to study the cytosolic speciation of the metals. The distribution of the metals Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn among cytosolic fractions displayed strong differences. The cytosolic concentration of Cd, Ni and Pb increased proportionally with the total liver levels. However, the cytosolic concentrations of Cu and Zn only increased above a certain liver tissue threshold level. Cd, Cu and Zn, but not Pb and Ni, were largely associated with the MT pool in correspondence with the environmental exposure and liver tissue concentrations. Most of the Pb and Ni and a considerable fraction of Cu and Zn, but not Cd, were associated to High Molecular Weight (HMW) fractions. The relative importance of the Cu and Zn in the HMW fraction decreased with increasing contamination levels while the MT pool became progressively more important. The close relationship between the cytosolic metal load and the total MT levels or the metals bound on the MT pool indicates that the metals, rather than other stress factors, are the major factor determining MT induction.     

Cross‐Magnetron‐Effekt und ITO‐Schichtabscheidung

Cross Magnetron Effect and ITO Film Deposition The large area deposition of TCO films requires a strictly homogeneous lateral distribution of the process parameters at the substrate position. In view of that, Cross Corner Effect (in case of a single magnetron source) and Cross Magnetron Effect (for dual magnetrons) can cause problems. Measurements confirm a distinct influence of these effects on the functional properties of indium tin oxide films. The effect will be discussed in terms of the concentration of the dissociated oxygen in the process gas, which depends on the plasma properties and the oxygen partial pressure.     

火灾中无约束钢梁的扭转弯曲的设计方法

采用数字分析和相关试验结果研究了无约束钢I截面梁的行为,采用有限元程序拓展了数学模型。在相同弯矩和中跨集中荷载的情况下,对一系列不同的UB和UC截面以及不同跨度,进行了研究。比较了预估的弯矩值与相关试验结果。在此基础上,对无约束梁提出了一种新的更精确和安全防火预报的方法,该方法克服了欧洲规范（EC3：1．2）设计公式中的一些弱点。另外,给设计者提供了一个便捷和简单的设计方法,即该方法易懂又合理,称为兰金方法。可用于预估钢梁在火中的LTB破坏荷载。兰金方法为数值预估提供了一个适宜的下界值。     

Zeolite HNU-87: synthesis, characterization and catalytic properties in the shape-selective conversion of methylnaphthalenes

The synthesis of the high-silica zeolite NU-87 and its physicochemical characterization are reported. The catalytic properties of zeolite HNU-87 were investigated in the conversion of 1- and 2-methylnaphthalene. Both isomerization to the corresponding methylnaphthalene and transalkylation to naphthalene and dimethylnaphthalenes are observed. The influence of reaction temperature and the modified residence time on the product distributions is reported and discussed in terms of shape selectivity effects in the peculiar pore system of NU-87. For comparison, typical results obained with zeolite HMCM-22, which possesses a similar pore architecture, are also included. The results of methylnaphthalene conversion over HNU-87 are compared to those obtained in the alkylation of naphthalene with methanol on the same zeolite catalyst. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Aerobic Oxidation of Vicinal Diols Catalyzed by an Anderson‐Type Polyoxometalate, [IMo6O24]5–

An Anderson‐type polyoxometalate, [I^VIIMo₆O₂₄]^5–, has been used as a catalyst for the aerobic oxidation at 80 °C of vicinal diols (glycols). This is the first report on the use of such a polyoxometalate as an oxidation catalyst. Reactivity and selectivity were dependent on the substrate. Thus, aryl‐substituted diols yielded mostly the carbon‐carbon bond cleavage products, while 1,2‐cyclohexanediol yielded cyclohexanone‐2‐ol and 1,2‐cyclohexanedione. Aliphatic diols were less reactive but yielded carbon‐carbon bond cleavage products in the presence of additional acid. An abbreviated mechanistic study was carried out indicating that the polyoxometalate oxidizes the diol to the various products even under anaerobic conditions. The reduced polyoxometalates (heteropoly blues and heteropoly browns) formed in the oxidation of the diols are re‐oxidized by the molecular oxygen.     

Estimation of water absorbed by expanding clay aggregates during structural lightweight concrete production

The estimation of water absorption in aggregates is still one of the major challenges related to the production of structural lightweight aggregate concrete (SLWAC). At present these predictions are only based on common practice and a more soundly based approach is required. Aggregate absorption is mainly affected by its microstructure, surface characteristics, percentage of broken particles, initial water content and characteristics of the surrounding mortar. These are the key parameters taken into account in this paper, where the absorption of different types of Iberian aggregates with varying initial water content is analysed in detail. Based on experimental tests, and by introducing new parameters which take into account the microstructure and water content of the aggregates, a new procedure for predicting absorption by aggregates in concrete is suggested. This procedure will make it possible to more accurately specify the amount of mixing water to be used in SLWAC production, and it is almost independent of the type of aggregate. Therefore, the proposed method should be easily extended to other types of aggregate. Finally, the proposed method was checked experimentally by producing several concrete mixtures, and the results were promising.