Reciprocal Tree-Like Fractal Structures

Sometimes the complex structures of nature inspire human constructions. Gothic construction has shown that forces can cross space along intricate paths that may even be arbitrary if correctly dimensioned. In some way, ribbed structures are like trees where the branches conduct forces instead of sap; they operate as branches and trunks descending by fractal ways. Here we discuss reciprocal tree-like fractal structures and the difficulty in their design and erection and solutions for constructive details, as well as the possible analytical questions and automatic generation by means of proper software. The results are shown in the design of the Natural Interpretation Centre in Melilla where we have proposed two connected trees like shown at figures included below.     

DMTO – a method for Discrete Material and Thickness Optimization of laminated composite structures

This paper presents a gradient based topology optimization method for Discrete Material and Thickness Optimization of laminated composite structures, labelled the DMTO method. The capabilities of the proposed method are demonstrated on mass minimization, subject to constraints on the structural criteria; buckling load factors, eigenfrequencies, and limited displacements. Furthermore, common design guidelines or rules, referred to as manufacturing constraints, are included explicitly in the optimization problem as series of linear inequalities. The material selection and thickness variation are optimized simultaneously through interpolation functions with penalization. Numerical results for several parameterizations of a finite element model of a generic main spar from a wind turbine blade are presented. The different parameterizations represent different levels of complexity with respect to manufacturability. The results will thus give insight into the relation between potential weight saving and design complexity. The results show that the DMTO method is capable of solving the problems robustly with only few intermediate valued design variables.     

Study of Ozonated Sunflower Oil Using 1H NMR and Microbiological Analysis

Prior studies have proven that ozonated vegetable oils present a high germicidal power. Ozonation of sunflower oil at different applied ozone dosage was carried out and peroxide and aldehydes indices along with antimicrobial activity were determined. The reaction products were identified using Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (¹H NMR). The principal signals intensity values were used for following the reaction course between ozone and sunflower oil. The reaction was following up to peroxide index values of 1202 mmol-equi/kg. The intensities of olefinic proton signals decreased with the gradual increase in ozone concentration but without disappearing completely. The Criegee ozonides obtained at 107.1 mg/g of ozone doses were approximately 3.9-fold higher than that at beginning of the reaction. The aldehyde protons were observed as a weak intensity signal in all the spectra. The signals belonging to olefinic protons from hydroperoxides appeared weak and increased with the increase in ozone doses. Signals from other oxygenated groups were assigned. The highest action spectrum of antimicrobial activity was obtained with the higher peroxide index. It was concluded that at higher applied ozone doses, the higher the antimicrobial activity potential of ozonized sunflower oil     

Evaporation of polymer-solvent mixtures

Summary The Stefan-Winkelmann diffusion technique has been used to determine vapor pressures of high boiling point compound-solvents mixtures. Data are reported at a temperature of 67°C for the mixtures polyphenyl ether (6 rings) — benzene and carbowax 1500 — benzene and at a temperature of 100°C for the mixtures polyphenyl ether (6 rings) — toluene and tricresylphosphate-toluene. The range of concentration is only limited by the appearance of a solid phase, and results are in good agreement with those determined by vapor pressure osmometry.Nomenclature A Vapour source - B Flowing gas phase - c Concentration, g-mol/cm³ - D_AB Molecular diffusion coefficient, cm₂/s - h_i Total interface depth, cm - K Parameter defined by equation (6), dimensionless - I Polymer or high boiling point compound - M_A Molecular weight - N_AZ Molar flux, g-mol/(cm₂) (s) - P_A Partial pressure at the interface, atm - P Total pressure, atm - R Gas constant, (atm) (cm₃) / (°K) (g-mol) - T Temperature, °K - t Time, s - Y_A Molar fraction at the interface, dimensionless - z_o Initial interface depth, cm - z_i Drop of the interface depth, cm - z Interface position Greek Letters _A Density of the liquid phase, g/cm³     

Invariant‐set‐based fault diagnosis in Lure systems

In this paper, we present an invariant‐set‐based method for actuator and sensor fault detection and isolation in Lure systems. The Lure plant is controlled by an observer‐based feedback tracking controller, designed for the nominal (fault‐free) system. Suitable residual signals are constructed from measurable system outputs and estimates associated with the nominal observer. Faults are diagnosed by online contrasting the residual signal trajectories against sets of values that the residuals are shown to attain under healthy or faulty operation. These values are obtained via set‐invariance analysis of the system closed‐loop trajectories. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The Building Blocks of a PaaS

Traditional cloud computing providers enable developers to program and deploy applications in the cloud by using platform as a service (PaaS) providers. Despite the benefits of such an approach, this service model usually comes with a high level of the lock in effect into the service provider. The lock in effect occurs when a software developer needs to change its cloud provider. When this happens, it usually means a major application rewrite, specific for the new PaaS. This paper details the initial results of a project whose goal is to build a PaaS where vendor lock in does not occur. With this PaaS, developers wishing to deploy their applications into the cloud may continue to program using their usual development environments. There are no necessary changes required to make the application PaaS compatible. As a proof of concept, we developed an open source PaaS management application as a regular web application and then deployed it on the cloud.     

Assessment of weld line performance of PP/Talc moldings produced in hot runner injection molds

Weld lines are weak regions in thermoplastic injection moldings caused by low molecular entanglement and unfavorable orientation. Their occurrence may lead to a significantly reduced mechanical performance of the products. Therefore, when weld lines are likely to occur in molded products, they must be taken into account during the mechanical and technological design processes. The weld lines become more critical when particulate fillers are compounded with the polymer. The performance of weld lines in talc‐filled polypropylene box moldings produced with a double‐gated hot runner mold is assessed in this work. The processing conditions were varied in order to cause morphology and tensile‐impact resistance changes. The weld performance at room temperature was assessed in terms of the energy absorbed in the impact tests. It was found that the performance depends on the injection temperature, the injection rate, and the orientation of the talc particles in the weld‐line plane. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 13:159–165, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers     

The ring transformations of 1,2,3,4-diepoxybutane (2,2′-bioxirane) catalysed by various aluminosilicates

The transformations of a molecule containing two adjacent epoxide rings, 2,2-bioxirane that is, were studied over various acidic aluminosilicates (HZSM-5, HY-FAU, AlMCM-41), for the first time, In the 373–473 K temperature range, in a pulse reactor, a ring-opening–ring-enlargment reaction producing furan only occured over the zeolites and it was the predominant reaction on AlMCM-41 as well. The driving force of this transformation route is water formation via elimination from 2,2-bioxirane. Suprising is the lack of the mono- or dialdehyde, the would-be products of the cleavage of the sterically more hindered C–O bonds – an acid-catalysed reaction typical for alkyl-substituted oxiranes.     

Enhancing thermal and dynamic-mechanical properties of epoxy reinforced by amino-functionalized microcrystalline cellulose

In this study, microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) was chemically modified with 3-(aminopropyl)triethoxysilane and added to epoxy to improve chemical, thermal and dynamic-mechanical characteristics of the composites. The composites were manufactured aided by sonication with 1.0%, 2.5%, or 5.0% wt/wt of untreated MCC or amino-functionalized MCC (MCC-Si). The epoxy/MCC-Si composites showed a decrease in the ─OH band by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction analysis indicated better dispersion. The incorporation of MCC-Si in epoxy resin decreased the heat of reaction, increased activation energy values (E_a) and pre-exponential factor (A), and did not affect thermal degradation. All conversion degree (α) versus temperature curves for the composites showed a sigmoidal shape. MCC-Si composites showed better dynamic-mechanical properties than the MCC counterparts, and the functionalization effect was evidenced in storage modulus (E') and loss modulus (E"). At 2.5% wt/wt of MCC-Si content an increase of 119% in E' at the glassy region, 127% in E' at the rubbery region and 173% in E" was observed compared to the neat resin, whereas the T_g barely changed among samples. Good adhesion between the amino-functionalized MCC and the epoxy matrix was observed at the fracture surface, evidencing that surface modification of MCC improves their chemical interaction.     

Rheological,thermal, and morphological properties of blends based on poly(propylene), ethylene propylene rubber,and ethylene-1-octene copolymer that could result from end of life vehicles: Effect of maleic anhydride grafted poly(propylene)

The objective of this work is to study the properties of blends that could result from the recycling of end-of-life vehicles (ELV). While ethylene propylene rubber (EPR) and ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) have been used extensively as elastomeric additives in poly(propylene) (PP), they can be substituted by ethylene-1-octene copolymer (EOC). As a consequence, the matter resulting from the sorting of ELV might be more complex and made of PP, EPR, and EOC. The effect of incorporating EOC [that is a polyethylene elastomer (PEE)] and maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (PP-g-MAH) on the rheological, thermal, and morphological properties of PP/EPR blends has been investigated. Blends of various compositions (with and without compatibilizer) were prepared using a corotating twin-screw extruder. The results were compared to the ones presented by a commercial (PP/EPR) blend. The EPR phase is dispersed in the form of spherical particles in (PP/EPR). The EOC phase is dispersed in the form of aggregated particles. Dynamic viscoelastic and differential scanning calorimetry properties of (PP/EPR)/EOC blends shows the incompatibility of the components even in presence of PP-g-MAH copolymer. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 47:1009–1015, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers