A limit analysis of nonlinear elastic lateral displacements of thin-walled reinforced and prestressed beams

An incremental iterative process based on direct energy minimization is presented for a limit analysis of nonlinear elastic lateral displacements and twists of reinforced and prestressed beams. Problems encountered with the constitutive relations are discussed and two possible material models are presented.     

Thirty years later: Attitudes toward the employment of older workers.

Replicated W. K. Kirchner and M. D. Dunnette's (see record 1955-03161-001) study on attitudes toward older workers with 71 male and 5 female hourly employees (aged 18–61 yrs) and 22 male supervisors (aged 27–63 yrs) of a nonunion manufacturing plant. Ss completed a questionnaire that was nearly identical to the one administered in the Kirchner and Dunnette study. Results are similar to those obtained in the earlier study: Hourly workers held more positive attitudes toward older employees than did supervisors, and attitude score correlated strongly with the age of hourly workers but not with the age of supervisors. (9 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A Graphene Field-Effect Device

In this letter, a top-gated field-effect device (FED) manufactured from monolayer graphene is investigated. Except for graphene deposition, a conventional top-down CMOS-compatible process flow is applied. Carrier mobilities in graphene pseudo-MOS structures are compared to those obtained from the top-gated Graphene-FEDs. The extracted values exceed the universal mobility of silicon and silicon-on-insulator MOSFETs     

Autonomous mental development: soaring beyond tradition

This article provides a brief overview of the history of autonomous mental development as a discipline     

Modeling of anaerobic treatment of wastewater in ponds.

A mathematical model to simulate the performance of anaerobic ponds was developed incorporating both settling of particulate components and the biological anaerobic digestion process. The biological activity includes solubilization of particulate organic matter; methanogenesis and the sulphate reduction process. The model considers that an anaerobic pond comprises a series of equal size columns. Each column has three compartments viz. liquid layer, active sediment layer and inert sediment layer. The existence of organic matter and sulphate removal mechanisms both in the bulk as well as sediment layer of the ponds and the exchange of the soluble components between the layers has been included in the model. The model was transferred to a computer program using VisSim Basic software. The model was verified by comparing simulated results with full-scale as well as with laboratory-scale anaerobic pond performance data. A good agreement between the simulated and the observed pond performance was achieved.     

Multicriteria procedure for the design and the management of infiltration systems.

Infiltration systems are frequently used as an option to manage urban storm drainage. By reducing flows and volumes in downstream sewers or in surface waters, they decrease the overflows and make it possible to recharge groundwater. They come in various forms with different uses; therefore, their performance is diverse and integrates multiple aspects. Consequently, a multicriteria approach was developed in order to quantify the performance of these systems and to help in decision making problems. For that purpose, a list of performance indicators integrating technical, economical, environmental and social aspects was developed. The performances were defined with the help of a working group composed of engineers from different technical or strategic departments from Greater Lyon and researchers from different fields. The paper presents the last version of the performance indicators tested according to a set of quality requirements: availability of data, relevance, fidelity, precision, sensitivity/robustness. This critical review of the set of indicators has led us to redefine a certain number of indicators, identify numerous biases and allow putting forward general instructions for criterion or indicator construction. The last phase is to propose multicriteria decision aid methods; a procedure using ELECTRE methods should be used.     

New regulations and rules for ATEX directives

This article deals with directive 94/9/EC which applies to products that exist in an oil and gas company under the responsibility of the electrical, instrumentation engineers. Directive 1999/92/EC applies to users and defines the minimum requirements for improving the safety and health protection of workers, is under the responsibility of the safety division (HSE). These new ATEX directives are called the "new approach," which aims to ensure free movement of the products to which it applies by removing barriers to trade. It also aims to improve the safety of products and users. The main advantage of the new approach is that it is no longer necessary to make an adaptation to technical developments in order to keep up with technical developments