Quantification of different effects occurring during fatigue tests on bituminous mixtures

Quantification of different effects (nonlinearity, heating, thixotropy, and fatigue) occurring during fatigue tests on bituminous mixtures is presented in this paper. A focus is given on the nonlinearity phenomenon. Continuous fatigue tests and a test with specific protocol (called fatigue tests to estimate biasing effects) were performed in tension/compression mode on cylindrical samples of the same material. The analysis of results reveals that reversible effects (nonlinearity, heating, and thixotropy) are important (more than 90% decrease at 100,000 cycles for a strain amplitude of 100 μm/m at 10 Hz) and cannot be ignored when interpreting classical fatigue tests. The nonlinearity effects respect the time‐temperature superposition principle, and they are more pronounced at “high” temperature (at the same frequency). Direction of nonlinearity curve in the Cole‐Cole axes is shown to be independent of temperature and frequency for the considered range.     

Nonlinearity of bituminous mixtures

This paper presents an experimental characterization of the strain dependency of the complex modulus of bituminous mixtures for strain amplitude levels lower than about \(110~\upmu\mbox{m}/\mbox{m}\). A series of strain amplitude sweep tests are performed at different temperatures (8, 10, 12 and 14°C) and frequencies (0.3, 1, 3 and 10 Hz), during which complex modulus is monitored. For each combination of temperature and frequency, four maximum strain amplitudes are targeted (50, 75, 100 and \(110~\upmu\mbox{m}/\mbox{m}\)). For each of them, two series of 50 loading cycles are applied, respectively at decreasing and increasing strain amplitudes. Before each decreasing strain sweep and after each increasing strain sweep, 5 cycles are performed at constant maximum targeted strain amplitude.Experimental results show that the behavior of the studied material is strain dependent. The norm of the complex modulus decreases and phase angle increases with strain amplitude. Results are presented in Black and Cole–Cole plots, where characteristic directions of nonlinearity can be identified. Both the effects of nonlinearity in terms of the complex modulus variation and of the direction of nonlinearity in Black space seem to validate the time–temperature superposition principle with the same shift factors as for linear viscoelasticity.The comparison between results obtained during increasing and decreasing strain sweeps suggests the existence of another phenomenon occurring during cyclic loading, which appears to systematically induce a decrease of the norm of the complex modulus and an increase of the phase angle, regardless of the type of the strain sweep (increasing or decreasing).     

Stochastic algorithms for robustness of control performances

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in developing statistical learning methods to provide approximate solutions to “difficult” control problems. In particular, randomized algorithms have become a very popular tool used for stability and performance analysis as well as for design of control systems. However, as randomized algorithms provide an efficient solution procedure to the “intractable” problems, stochastic methods bring closer to understanding the properties of the real systems. The topic of this paper is the use of stochastic methods in order to solve the problem of control robustness: the case of parametric stochastic uncertainty is considered. Necessary concepts regarding stochastic control theory and stochastic differential equations are introduced. Then a convergence analysis is provided by means of the Chernoff bounds, which guarantees robustness in mean and in probability. As an illustration, the robustness of control performances of example control systems is computed.     

Distribution-preserving statistical disclosure limitation

One approach to limiting disclosure risk in public-use microdata is to release multiply-imputed, partially synthetic data sets. These are data on actual respondents, but with confidential data replaced by multiply-imputed synthetic values. A mis-specified imputation model can invalidate inferences based on the partially synthetic data, because the imputation model determines the distribution of synthetic values. We present a practical method to generate synthetic values when the imputer has only limited information about the true data generating process. We combine a simple imputation model (such as regression) with density-based transformations that preserve the distribution of the confidential data, up to sampling error, on specified subdomains. We demonstrate through simulations and a large scale application that our approach preserves important statistical properties of the confidential data, including higher moments, with low disclosure risk.     

Robust stabilization of second-order image-based affine systems

In this paper, the problem of robust relative positioning between a 6-DOF robot camera and an object of interest is considered. Assuming weak perspective camera model and local linear approximation of visible object's surface, an image-based state space representation of robot camera–object interaction model is derived, based on the matrix of 2-D affine transformations. Dynamic extension of the visual model permits to estimate 3-D parameters directly as functions of state variables. The proposed nonlinear robust control law ensures asymptotic stability but at image singularities, assuming exact model and state measurements. In the presence of bounded uncertainties, under appropriate choice of control gains, ultimate boundedness of the state error is also formally proved. Simulation results validate the theoretical framework both in terms of system convergence and control robustness.     

Computational models of myocardial endomysial collagen arrangement

Collagen extracellular matrix is one of the factors related to high passive stiffness of cardiac muscle. However, the architecture and the mechanical aspects of the cardiac collagen matrix are not completely known. In particular, endomysial collagen contribution to the passive mechanics of cardiac muscle as well as its micro anatomical arrangement is still a matter of debate. In order to investigate mechanical and structural properties of endomysial collagen, we consider two alternative computational models of some specific aspects of the cardiac muscle. These two models represent two different views of endomysial collagen distribution: (1) the traditional view and (2) a new view suggested by the data obtained from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in NaOH macerated samples (a method for isolating collagen from the other tissue). We model the myocardial tissue as a net of spring elements representing the cardiomyocytes together with the endomysial collagen distribution. Each element is a viscous elastic spring, characterized by an elastic and a viscous constant. We connect these springs to imitate the interconnections between collagen fibers. Then we apply to the net of springs some external forces of suitable magnitude and direction, obtaining an extension of the net itself. In our setting, the ratio forces magnitude /net extension is intended to model the stress /strain ratio of a microscopical portion of the myocardial tissue. To solve the problem of the correct identification of the values of the different parameters involved, we use an artificial neural network approach. In particular, we use this technique to learn, given a distribution of external forces, the elastic constants of the springs needed to obtain a desired extension as an equilibrium position. Our experimental findings show that, in the model of collagen distribution structured according to the new view, a given stress /strain ratio (of the net of springs, in the sense specified above) is obtained with much smaller (w.r.t. the other model, corresponding to the traditional view) elasticity constants of the springs. This seems to indicate that by an appropriate structure, a given stiffness of the myocardial tissue can be obtained with endomysial collagen fibers of much smaller size.     

Fatigue of bituminous mixtures

This paper presents an interlaboratory test campaign organized by the RILEM 182-PEB Technical Committee. In the campaign, 11 different test methods, comprising uniaxial tension/compression, 2-, 3- and 4-point bending and indirecttension tests, were utilized in order to investigate fatigue characteristics of a dense graded asphalt concrete mixture. The testing conditions specified were sinusoidal excitation at 10Hz and 10°C using controlled strain and stress modes. In total, more than 150 fatigue tests were carried out during the investigation. The fatigue test results were analyzed using both classical as well as continuum damage mechanics approaches. The fatigue test results obtained using the classical fatigue approach are considerably influenced by test type and mode of loading (controlled stress or strain) used. Consequently, this approach has limited use in realistic fatigue characterization of bituminous materials and pavement structures. In contrast to the classical approach, models founded on continuum damage theory may serve to isolate intrinsic fatigue characteristics from the influence of so-called biased effects, which are largely caused by the accelerated laboratory testing. The continuum damage models investigated may constitute steps, towards a rational mechanistic fatigue characterization model, which are important for effective future pavement design.     

Nanoconfined mixed Li and Mg borohydrides as materials for solid state hydrogen storage

Several mixtures of LiBH₄ and Mg(BH₄)₂ borohydrides in different stoichiometric ratios (1:0, 2:1, 1:1, 1:2, 0:1), prepared by high energy ball milling, have been investigated with X-ray powder diffraction and thermal programmed desorption (TPD) volumetric analysis to test the dehydrogenation kinetics in correlation with the physical mixture composition. Afterwards mixed and unmixed borohydrides were dispersed on high specific surface area ball milled graphite by means of the solvent infiltration technique. BET and statistical thickness methods were used to characterize the support surface properties, and SEM micrographs gave a better understanding of the preparation techniques. It has been observed by TPD volumetric measurements that the confinement of the reactive borohydrides on the nanoporous supports leads to a lower dehydrogenation temperature compared to unsupported borohydrides. Moreover, a further decrease of the dehydrogenation temperature has been observed by increasing the specific surface area of the support and the pores volume and by using the prepared mixtures instead of pure materials. The dehydrogenation process seems to be favoured by the heterogeneous nucleation on the graphite surface of decomposition products or intermediate phases from melted liquid borohydrides.     

Size of web domains and interlinking behavior of higher education institutions in Europe

The aim of this paper is to empirically test whether interlinking patterns between higher education institutions (HEIs) conform to a document model, where links are motivated by webpage content, or a social relationship model, where they are markers of underlying social relationships between HEIs. To this aim, we analyzed a sample of approximately 400 European HEIs, using the number of pages on their web domains and the total number of links sent and received; in addition we test whether these two characteristics are associated with organizational size, reputation, and the volume of teaching and research activities. Our main findings are as follows: first, the number of webpages of HEI websites is strongly associated with their size, and to a lesser extent, with the volume of their educational activities, research orientation, and reputation; differences between European countries are rather limited, supporting the insight that the academic Web has reached a mature stage. Second, the distribution of connectivity (as measured by the total degree of HEI’s) follows a lognormal distribution typical of social networks between organizations, while counts of weblinks can be predicted with good precision from organizational characteristics. HEIs with larger websites tend to send and receive more links, but the effect is rather limited and does not fundamentally modify the resulting network structure. We conclude that aggregated counts of weblinks between pairs of HEIs are not significantly affected by the web policies of HEIs and thus can be considered as reasonably robust measures. Furthermore, interlinking should be considered as proxies of social relationships between HEIs rather than as reputational measures of the content published on their websites.