Resistance to delamination of 3D woven textile composites evaluated using End Notch Flexure (ENF) tests: Cohesive zone based computational results

The flexural response of 3D woven textile composite panels containing an edge crack is evaluated using the End Notch Flexure (ENF) test. In doing so, the effectiveness of 3D reinforcement in increasing and/or eliminating delamination is demonstrated. A finite element model of the ENF configuration using the Discrete Cohesive Zone Model (DCZM) was used to evaluate the deformation response and fracture properties corresponding to the experimental results presented in Pankow et al. (2011) [1]. A modified trapezoidal traction law was used in the DCZM to computationally evaluate the ENF test results. Good agreement between experimental results and predictions are reported, up to the point at which the crack reaches under the loading roller and damage begins to occur locally under the roller.     

Dynamic response of full-scale sandwich composite structures subject to air-blast loading

Glass-fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) sandwich structures (1.6 m × 1.3 m) were subject to 30 kg charges of C4 explosive at stand-off distances 8–14 m. Experiments provide detailed data for sandwich panel response, which are often used in civil and military structures, where air-blast loading represents a serious threat. High-speed photography, with digital image correlation (DIC), was employed to monitor the deformation of these structures during the blasts. Failure mechanisms were revealed in the DIC data, confirmed in post-test sectioning. The experimental data provides for the development of analytical and computational models. Moreover, it underlines the importance of support boundary conditions with regards to blast mitigation. These findings were analysed further in finite element simulations, where boundary stiffness was, as expected, shown to strongly influence the panel deformation. In-depth parametric studies are ongoing to establish the hierarchy of the various factors that influence the blast response of sandwich composite structures.     

Experimental and numerical study of oblique impact on woven composite sandwich structure: Influence of the firing axis orientation

During flight, aircrafts can be submitted to complex loadings. The reliability of their structure is an essential aspect in ensuring passenger safety. In the specific case of helicopters, blades are subjected to impact loading. The following work will focus on the experimental and numerical study of an oblique impact on the skin of the blade. It is equivalent in a first approach to an impact on a sandwich panel comprising a foam core and a thin woven composite skin. This study aims to identify the mechanisms of damage to the skin for different orientations of the firing axis, and to develop a representative model of the damage kinetics adapted to the modeling of the complete structure. Thus, an F.E. semi-continuous explicit model has been developed. It relies on the development of a specific damageable element at the woven mesh scale. Numerical results obtained are accurate, allowing the identification of the damage mechanism of the woven skin for different firing orientations.     

Biomechanical comparison of carpet-stretching devices

Peak impact forces, measured from seven male carpetlayers using a knee-kicker over 39 trials were 2933?N (SD 397), taking 9·5?ms (SD ± 1·1) to reach peak. The knee-kicking cycle involved high knee decelerations of 880?m.s^?2 (SD ±271). Angles at peak force for the knee (63° SD ± 10°) and hip (80° SD ± 35°) showed considerable variation between individuals. Kneeling forces on the non-kicking leg during the kick cycle were 894?N: comparative forces were 368?N and 476?N measured during use of the power stretcher and crab re-stretcher, respectively. Under dynamic conditions the effective mechanical advantage of the knee-kicker was less than 1·0. In comparison, the mechanical advantage of the power stretcher was approximately 14 times greater over the stretch action. When tested with a crab re-stretcher, the breaking strength of the smooth-edge to which the carpet attaches averaged 2384?N (SD ± 245). Design guidelines for an improved carpet stretching device are provided.     

Theoretical and empirical approaches to quantitatively valuing research

Abstract

This article provides historical narratives describing approaches to studying, managing, and quantitatively valuing research; methods used by industry, particularly the pharmaceutical industry and approaches taken by economists, including government economists using the Leontief Input–Output framework. The article documents the persistent belief that research expenditures generate future economic value along with the equally persistent frustrations of attempting to measure such value, particularly for basic research. The article then discusses the results of applying the Leontief method to Association of University Technology Manager (AUTM) data. Strengths and weaknesses of these approaches are noted. Additional studies and calls for data capture are suggested and the potential benefits of such efforts are described.     

Study of impact energy propagation phenomenon and modal characteristics of an armored vehicle undergoing high velocity impact

A new manufacturing technology is being employed to build a new type of armored vehicle. While thick panels are welded together in the old manufacturing technology, relatively thin panels are welded to a frame structure in the new manufacturing technology. The structural integrity of the new type of armor vehicles can be maintained mainly by the frame structures while the panel thickness is reduced significantly to reduce the total vehicle weight. Since the dynamic characteristics of a frame-panel hybrid structure are different from those of the old type of structure which consists of only thick panels, they should be identified to achieve a good performance of the vehicle. For this purpose, a proper FE model of the hybrid type of structure needs to be developed. In the present study, FE models are proposed to represent the frame-panel hybrid type structure efficiently. The impact energy propagation, the transient response and the modal characteristics are investigated with the FE models. This paper was presented at the 4th Asian Conference on Multibody Dynamics(ACMD2008), Jeju, Korea, August 20–23, 2008. Hong-Hee Yoo received a B.S. and M.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Seoul National University in 1980 and 1982. He then went on to receive his Ph.D. degree from Michigan State University in 1989. Dr. Yoo is currently a Professor at the School of Mechanical Engineering at Hanyang University in Seoul, Korea. His research interests are in the area of Flexible body dynamics, vibration.     

Social media usage and organizational performance: Reflections of Malaysian social media managers

Social media usage among organizations is growing tremendously. Organizations are now building and maintaining social media public pages to improve their social network salience, enhance interest in their organizations, and build relationships with the online public. The majority of the studies on social media usage are based on the individual perspective while some are from the organizational perspective. However, not many studies have investigated the actual impact of social media usage on organizational performance. Therefore, using the qualitative approach, this study investigates the various purposes of social media usage and its impact on organizational performance. This study however, focuses only on the social media managers’ views. The senior managers of six organizations that are using social media are interviewed from which we find that social media is used for various purposes in organizations, such as advertising and promotion, branding, information search, building customer relations and many more. The results also show that social media has a greater impact on the performance of organizations in terms of enhancement in customer relations and customer service activities, improvement in information accessibility and cost reduction in terms of marketing and customer service.     

Ti对铬钼钒模具钢奥氏体化组织与性能的影响

??The microstructure and properties of die steels with Ti and without Ti at different austenitizing temperatures were studied through the combination of thermodynamic calculation and experiment. The results show that the total solution temperature of Cr23C6, Cr7C3, VC, V2C, V8C7, MoC, Mo2C and TiC is 748. 2, 952. 7, 977. 3, 632. 9, 1116. 0, 1131. 2, 645. 3 and 1044. 1??, respectively. Hardness and impact toughness both increase with the increase in temperature. When the austenitizing temperature is above 1200 ??, it has a greater influence on the hardness. Toughness of die steel with Ti is better than that without Ti. The grain becomes coarse and the amount of martensite increases with the increase of temperature. The average grain size of the die steel with Ti is 21. 4??m smaller than that without Ti, and the size of the undissolved phase of the former is about 0. 2??m smaller than that of the latter.     

Mechanical Properties of Nylon 6,6/Polyvinyl Butyral Blends

The mechanical properties of Nylon 6,6 blended with recycled scrap material, polyvinyl butyral (PVB), using maleated styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene block copolymer (SEBS-g-MA) as a compatibilizer are discussed. Control samples of Nylon 6,6/PVB blends and Nylon 6,6/SEBS-g-MA blends were also compared. The results show Nylon 6,6/PVB blends give higher tensile strength than Nylon 6,6/SEBS-g-MA blends. As for Nylon 6,6/SEBS-g-MA/PVB blends, impact strength increases with increasing the dosage of SEBS-g-MA. PVB improves flexural and tensile properties but sacrifices impact strength of the blends. Meanwhile, the ductile-brittle transition temperature (DBTT) increases with increasing PVB content. Through morphology observation, hole sizes are smaller with increasing SEBS-g-MA content. In summary, suitable amounts of PVB scrap are vital to balance both rigidity and toughness of blends. This study helps to understand the role of PVB in Nylon 6,6 blend systems, which allows PVB to find a practical application based on economic and environmental concerns.     

端羟基聚醚改性环氧树脂研究

合成了不同分子量(450,1200,2000)的端羟基聚醚(mPEG)改性双酚A型环氧树脂,通过DSC、动态热机械分析(DMA)研究了mPEG/EP的固化反应活性及改性环氧树脂酸酐固化体系的热性能与冲击性能进行了研究,并用扫描电子显微镜(SEM)分析了冲击试样断面。结果表明,改性体系的固化反应活性略有降低;在mPEG含量为15%时固化体系的冲击韧性都达到最大值;改性环氧树脂固化体系的玻璃化转变温度(Tg)随mPEG的含量增大有所降低,且相同质量下mPEG分子量越小下降幅度越大。