Dynamic-mechanical properties of polybutadiene rubbers

The dynamic properties of high-cis (98%) and cis-trans (42% cis) polybutadienes, crosslinked with 0.1 to 1.0% of crosslinking agent, have been studied using a torsion pendulum method over the temperature range ?170 to +20°C. For the high-cis rubber plots of damping factor (tan δ) against temperature showed the expected peak in the glass-transition region with an additional peak in the neighbourhood of 0°C attributable to crystallization. The cis-trans rubber showed two damping maxima in the transition region, separated by 30 to 40°C (depending on the degree of crosslinking), suggesting incipient phase separation of the component structures. The rebound resilience of the high-cis rubber at room temperature exceeded that of the cis-trans, reaching 92% at the highest crosslink density. Plots of resilience versus temperature for both rubbers showed a single minimum in the glass transition region.     

Acoustic emission technique for leak detection in an end shield of a pressurised heavy water reactor

This paper discusses the successful application of the Acoustic Emission Technique (AET) for detection and location of leak paths present on the inaccessible side of an end shield of a Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR). The methodology was based on the fact that air and water leak AE signals have different characteristic features. Baseline data was generated from a sound end-shield of a PHWR for characterizing the background noise. A mock up end-shield system with saw cut leak paths was used to verify the validity of the methodology. It was found that air leak signals under pressurisation (as low as 3 psi) could be detected by frequency domain analysis. Signals due to air leaks from various locations of a defective end-shield were acquired and analysed. It was possible to detect and locate leak paths. Presence of detected leak paths were further confirmed by alternate test.     

Allelopathic effects of giant foxtail on germination and radicle elongation of loblolly pine seed

Water extracts of giant foxtail grass inhibited germination and radicle elongation of loblolly pine seed in a laboratory test. Most of the toxic effects came from extracts of dried foxtail tops, with lesser amounts from fresh tops and roots. Soil texture affected the phytotoxicity of the extracts. Eight chemical compounds known to be phytotoxins inSetaria were identified in extracts of foxtail leaves but could not be found in soil samples under the leaves.     

Incremental transmission logic: The kinematics of the quadriratio stage

The paper discusses the basic component of a mechanical incremental transmission system. It is called a quadriratio stage because it is capable of four distinct gear ratios. Several stages can be combined to provide a wide gear-ratio range. The paper concludes with a design example showing a 9:1 to 1:1 range transmission having 64 gear ratios.     

Phase interaction in composite materials Zr-Mo,W

Conclusions Composite materials based on the thermodynamically unstable systems Zr-Mo and Zr-W have satisfactory kinetic stability of the structure up to 1373°K. At higher temperatures there occurs intense interaction between fibers and matrix entailingthe formation of solid solutions and intermetallic phases. The course of the diffusion processes in the investigated CM is determined by the history of their components, and this makes it possible to a certain extent to control these processes by corresponding preliminary thermomechanical treatment of the components.Translated from Poroshkovaya Metallurgiya, No. 12(300), pp. 40–44, December, 1987.     

Individual differences in extended practice functions and solution strategies for basic addition facts.

Practice on addition basic facts and changes in solution strategies were examined in 3rd- and 4th-grade students, practicing over 3 months. Response latencies decreased, indicating positive practice effects. Each of 3 student groups demonstrated different solution–strategy mixtures. Different mixtures led to different practice effects, indexed by shifts to more efficient counting strategies and more direct retrieval. Expectations about effects of practice and instructional strategies for optimizing practice must be sensitive to a child's actual strategy pattern. Most students had decreasing latency practice functions. However, quantitative functions fit to the practice session data indicated a high proportion of cases where the latency pattern over sessions was nonmonotonic. Trends over a small number of practice sessions may be inadequate for decisions about the utility of further practice, because such data may poorly represent long-term, cumulative effects on modifying strategy usage. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)