An approach for real world data modelling with the 3D terrestrial laser scanner for built environment

Capturing and modelling 3D information of the built environment is a big challenge. A number of techniques and technologies are now in use. These include EDM, GPS, and photogrammetric application and also remote sensing applications. In this paper, we discussed 3D laser scanning technology, which can acquire high density point data in an accurate, fast way. Besides, the scanner can digitize all the 3D information concerned with a real world object such as buildings, trees and terrain down to millimetre detail Therefore, it can provide benefits for refurbishment process in regeneration in the Built Environment.

A series of scans externally and internally allows an accurate 3D model of the building to be produced. This model can be sliced through different planes to produce accurate 2D plans and elevations. This novel technology improves the efficiency and quality of construction projects such as maintenance of buildings or group of building that are going to be renovated for new services in the Built Environment. In addition, the laser scanner technology can be used in integration with differential GPS for terrain modelling for the analysis and inspection of terrain structure accurately.

In this paper, two case studies are introduced to demonstrate the use of laser scanner technology in Built Environment. These case studies are the Jactin House Building in East Manchester and the Peel building in the campus of University Salford. Through these case studies, while use of laser scanners are explained, the integration of it with various technologies and systems are also explored for professionals in both Built and Natural Environment.     

Thermally exfoliated graphene oxide reinforced fluorinated pentablock poly(l‐lactide‐co‐ε‐caprolactone) electrospun scaffolds: Insight into antimicrobial activity and biodegradation

Three‐dimensional fluorinated pentablock poly(l ‐lactide‐co‐ε‐caprolactone)‐based scaffolds were successfully produced by the incorporation of thermally exfoliated graphene oxide (TEGO) as an antimicrobial agent with an electrospinning technique. In a ring‐opening polymerization, the fluorinated groups in the middle of polymer backbone were attached with a perfluorinated reactive stabilizer having oxygen‐carrying ability. The fiber diameter and its morphologies were optimized through changes in TEGO amount, voltage, polymer concentration, and solvent type to obtain an ideal scaffold structure. Instead of the widely used graphene oxide synthesized by Hummer's method, TEGO sheets having a low amount of oxygen produced by thermal expansion were integrated into the fiber structure to investigate the effect of the oxygen functional groups of TEGO sheets on the degradation and antimicrobial activity of the scaffolds. There was no antimicrobial activity in TEGO‐reinforced scaffolds in the in vitro tests in contrast to the literature. This study confirmed that a low number of oxygen functional groups on the surface of TEGO restricted the antimicrobial activity of the fabricated composite scaffolds. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 43490.     

Comparison of abrasive wear behavior of ductile iron with different dual matrix structures

Abrasive wear behavior of ductile irons with different dual matrix structures has been investigated. In order to obtain ductile irons with different dual matrix structures an unalloyed ductile iron specimens were austenitized in the two-phase region (α + γ) at various temperature (795 °C and 815 °C) and then rapidly transferred to a salt bath held at the 365 °C for austempering for 30, 90 and 120 min. Some specimens were quenched from same intercritical austenitizing temperatures and tempered at 550 °C for 60 and 300 min. Some specimens were also conventionally austempered and/or quenched from 900 °C for comparison. Experimental results showed that, the tensile strength increased and ductility decreased with increasing martensite volume fraction in the specimen with martensite dual matrix structure. By increasing the tempering time, the yield and UTS decreased and ductility increased. In addition, the specimens with ausferrite dual matrix structures exhibited much greater ductility than conventionally austempered ones. The tensile strength increased while ductility decreased with increasing ausferrite volume fraction. Furthermore in all austenitized specimens, the abrasive weight loss of austempered specimens (A series) was lower than those of quenched specimens (Q series) irrespective of all loads due to increased AFVFs and total elongation. It was shown that wear loss of both tested materials in abrasive wear was proportional to the applied load. However, there was a decreasing trend in the weight loss of the A795 with dual matrix structure austempered for 30 and 90 min with increasing load. The reason was because of the fact that the specimen surface was work hardened with cutting efficiency of the abrasive reduced through clogging, and attrition jointly leading to less weight loss. Moreover, increasing the austempering time caused more ductile ausferritic structure to displace hard martensite. In all austempered samples, the abrasive weight loss increased with increasing the austempering time. As for the case of Q samples, the abrasive weight loss increased more or less linearly with load since an increase in the applied load might increase the contact stress. Among the Q samples, the highest weight loss was obtained for the Q795-300, Q815-300 sample because of lower martensite volume fraction, but the lowest weight loss was observed for the Q900 sample due to the highest martensite volume fraction. For Q900 samples, the amount of fracture of the abrasives was found to be increase with the harder specimen, and it may have contributed somewhat to the increased wear.Furthermore, microchips were dominant wear mechanism by cutting mode for higher ductile materials while micro-ploughing was predominant wear for harder materials, but wear also occurred by combinations of ploughing and embedding particles into the surface for Q samples. Cross-section examination by SEM through the wear surfaces revealed that a more smoother surface was observed for the A795 sample than that of the Q795 sample. However, a more rougher surface was observed for the A900-120 sample than that of the Q900 sample.     

Sulfur capture for fluidized-bed combustion of high-sulfur content lignites

Sulfur release and capture behavior of lignites with highly combustible sulfur-contents were investigated by extending a previously-developed comprehensive model to incorporate sulfur retention. The predictive performance of the model was tested by comparing the model predictions with on-line concentration measurements of O₂, CO₂, CO and SO₂. Favorable comparisons are obtained between the predicted and measured concentrations of gaseous species along the combustor. Results show that freeboard sulfur-capture is enhanced significantly with recycling of elutriated sorbent particles as the sulfur release to the freeboard is significant for fuels rich in combustible sulfur.     

Polyurethaneurea–silica nanocomposites: Preparation and investigation of the structure–property behavior

Nanocomposites consisting of thermoplastic polyurethane–urea (TPU) and silica nanoparticles of various size and filler loadings were prepared by solution blending and extensively characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermal analysis, tensile tests, and nanoindentation. TPU copolymer was based on a cycloaliphatic diisocyanate and poly(tetramethylene oxide) (PTMO-2000) soft segments and had urea hard segment content of 20% by weight. TPU/silica nanocomposites using silica particles of different size (29, 74 and 215 nm) and at different loadings (1, 5, 10, 20 and 40 wt. %) were prepared and characterized. Solution blending using isopropyl alcohol resulted in even distribution of silica nanoparticles in the polyurethane–urea matrix. FTIR spectroscopy indicated strong interactions between silica particles and polyether segments. Incorporation of silica nanoparticles of smaller size led to higher modulus and tensile strength of the nanocomposites, and elastomeric properties were retained. Increased filler content of up to about 20 wt. % resulted in materials with higher elastic moduli and tensile strength while the glass transition temperature remained the same. The fracture toughness increased relative to neat TPU regardless of the silica particle size. Improvements in tensile properties of the nanocomposites, particularly at intermediate silica loading levels and smaller particle size, are attributed to the interactions between the surface of silica nanoparticles and ether linkages of the polyether segments of the copolymers.     

Surveillance and prevention of hepatitis B virus transmission

We have demonstrated a microfabricated single-molecule DNA sizing device. This device does not depend on mobility to measure molecule size, is 100 times faster than pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, and has a resolution that improves with increasing DNA length. It also requires a million times less sample than pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and has comparable resolution for large molecules. Here we describe the fabrication and use of the single-molecule DNA sizing device for sizing and sorting DNA restriction digests and ladders spanning 2-200 kbp.