Methodological Challenges in Union Commitment Studies.

Methodological problems in studies of union commitment were identified and illustrated with data from 4,641 members and 479 stewards in 297 local teachers' unions. Using a 20-item union commitment scale, results confirmed the existence of 3 substantive factors and 1 method factor at the individual level of analysis: loyalty to the union, responsibility to the union, willingness to work for the union, and a factor of negatively worded items. Tests of measurement invariance showed that the scale captured commitment for rank-and-file members but not for union stewards. The authors also found partial measurement invariance between long-time and newer members and full measurement invariance between men and women. Finally, the authors found that violation of the statistical assumption of independence reduced model fit when individual commitment scores were analyzed without attention to the hierarchical nature of the data. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Criteria and methodology for the evaluation of conservation interventions on treated porous stone susceptible to salt decay

Susceptibility of stone to salt decay is directly related to its microstructural and mechanical characteristics. In the present work, a porous stone from a quarry in Cyprus was examined. Samples of this stone were consolidated and protected with certain conservation materials. The modification of microstructural characteristics of the stone was evaluated by mercury intrusion porosimetry, while its mechanical characteristics were measured by compressive and bending strength tests. From these data, the susceptibility of Cyprus stone to salt (NaCl) decay was estimated. The values of crystallization pressure of NaCl were calculated and compared to the experimentally measured compressive and tensile strength of the stone, in order to examine the probability of stone disruption due to salt crystallization. The development of the phenomenon after coarse pores’ filling with crystals, i.e. crystallization of salts in capillaries or mechanical failure of the stone, was determined by thermodynamic analysis. Additionally, artificial weathering tests of marine salt spray were performed for the evaluation of stone’s durability after the conservation. The treated stone proved to be resistant to salt decay, as it presented ameliorated microstructural and mechanical characteristics, concerning decay due to soluble salt crystallization. The most possible thermodynamic scenario was small pores repletion with crystals, avoiding mechanical failure of the stone.     

Delamination Analysis for Laminated Composites. II: Numerical Verification

A validation of the delamination analysis models developed in a companion paper is provided through comparisons of predictions with finite‐element and elasticity solutions. The models are applied to the analysis of composite compression specimens reinforced with end tabs. An elasticity solution for the gage section of the specimens is developed. A comparison of the characteristic roots shows that the predictions of the models include the material and geometric parameters that control the behavior, and the roots corresponding to the basic stretching and bending modes are accurately predicted. The stress distribution at the interface between tabs and specimen is in good agreement with a finite‐element simulation. The interlaminar shear and peel stresses show an exponential increase with a maximum intensity at the free edges of the tabs. The behavior of previously tested specimens is explained; and practical guidelines for specimen design are provided to avoid unwanted extraneous modes of failure. The influence of the deformation modes associated with each model is investigated. An assessment of the accuracy and level of complexity is presented.     

Long-chain fatty ammonium quaternaries in papermaking

A series of long-chain quaternary ammonium halogen esters (UKK-chemicals), quaternary dimethyl tallow epoxypropyl ammonium halogens (EPK1), quaternary ditallow methyl epoxypropyl ammonium halogens (EPK2), and EPK2 oligomers (EPK2P) were synthesized. At acidic, neutral, or slightly basic conditions, EPK1-, EPK2-, EPK2P-, and UKK-chemicals operate as cationic chemicals. They can be used, for example, as stock sizings, surface sizings, or fixatives. Stock sizing, surface sizing, and fixative experiments indicate that EPK1-, EPK2-, EPK2P-, and UKK-chemicals function at least as well as or better than the corresponding synthetic chemicals used in papermaking.     

On integral equation approaches to the mechanics of fibre-crack interaction

The paper examines the problem of a penny-shaped crack which is formed by the development of a crack in both the fibre and the matrix of a composite consisting of an isolated elastic fibre located in an elastic matrix of infinite extent. The composite region is subjected to a uniform strain field in the direction of the fibre. The paper presents two integral-equation based approaches for the analysis of the problem. The first approach considers the formulation of the complete integral equations governing the associated elasticity problem for a two material region. The second approach considers the boundary integral equation formulation of the problem. Both methods entail the numerical solution of the governing integral equations. The solutions to these integral equations are used to evaluate the stress intensity factor at the boundary of the penny-shaped crack.     

Effect of Compressive Load on Uplift Capacity of Model Piles

Thirty six tests on model tubular steel piles embedded in sand were carried out in the laboratory to assess the effects of compressive load on uplift capacity of piles considering various parameters. The model piles were of 25 mm outside diameter and 2 mm wall thickness. The soil–pile friction angles were 21 and 29° in loose and dense conditions of sand. The piles were embedded in sand for embedment length/diameter ratios of 8,16, and 24 inside a model tank. They were subjected to a static compressive load of 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100% of their ultimate capacity in compression and subjected to pull out loading tests. The experimental results indicated that the presence of the compressive load on the pile decreases the net uplift capacity of a pile and the decrease depends on the magnitude of the compressive load. A logical approach, based on the experimental results, has been suggested to predict the net uplift capacity of a pile considering the presence of compressive load.     

结构粘结剂的试验研究

粘结剂是粘钢加固技术的关键材料,通过对粘结剂的试验研究,得到了粘结剂的拉压试验曲线与材料力学指标以及粘附于各种标号混凝土时,粘结层的抗剪强度;并且还进行了粘结剂的短期流变试验。     

混凝土芯砂石桩复合地基加固堤防软基试验研究

介绍了一种新型的地基处理方法——混凝土芯砂石桩复合地基法及其在水利防洪堤软基加固工程中的应用情况。通过现场原位观测和试验,研究了混凝土芯砂石桩复合地基固结变形、孔压消散、桩土应力分担及承载力特性,结果表明混凝土芯砂石桩强度高,排水固结能力强,能迅速提高桩间土强度和承载力,应用于水利堤防工程既能控制堤防深厚软基的工后沉降,又能提高堤防边坡的稳定性,推广应用前景良好。     

Progress in multilayer devices as X-ray optical elements

A new kind of mirror based on multilayering techniques gives the possibility of preparing artificial Bragg reflectors over all the X-UV range. The possibility to choose most of the parameters governing the reflectivity opens the possibility to get a very good efficiency, even under normal incidence. Main parameters, evaporating techniques and tests are described. Some example of recent results are compared to the theoretical predictions.     

Influence of load and speed on wear characteristics of grey cast iron in dry sliding — selection for minimum wear

The wear of grey cast iron in dry sliding conditions has been studied with the aims of (1) finding the influence of working conditions on the wear rate, and (2) determining the region of speed and load where low wear is accomplished. Grey cast iron with flake and nodular graphite was submitted to investigation using a pin-on-disc machine. The results indicate that the flake graphite cast iron is more suitable for applications at speeds greater than 4 m s⁻¹ and lower loads, while nodular cast iron has greater wear resistance at lower speeds in the range of loads investigated - from 50 N cm⁻² to 200 N cm⁻²