An element-based formulation for ES-FEM and FS-FEM models for implementation in standard solid mechanics finite element codes for 2D and 3D static analysis

Edge-based and face-based smoothed finite element methods (ES-FEM and FS-FEM, respectively) are modified versions of the finite element method allowing to achieve more accurate results and to reduce sensitivity to mesh distortion, at least for linear elements. These properties make the two methods very attractive. However, their implementation in a standard finite element code is nontrivial because it requires heavy and extensive modifications to the code architecture. In this article, we present an element-based formulation of ES-FEM and FS-FEM methods allowing to implement the two methods in a standard finite element code with no modifications to its architecture. Moreover, the element-based formulation permits to easily manage any type of element, especially in 3D models where, to the best of the authors' knowledge, only tetrahedral elements are used in FS-FEM applications found in the literature. Shape functions for non-simplex 3D elements are proposed in order to apply FS-FEM to any standard finite element.     

Optimization of nutrient-induced germination of Bacillus sporothermodurans spores using response surface methodology

Spores of Bacillus sporothermodurans are known to be contaminant of dairy products and to be extremely heat-resistant. The induction of endospore germination before a heat treatment could be an efficient method to inactivate these bacteria and ensure milk stability. In this study, the nutrient-induced germination of B. sporothermodurans LTIS27 spores was studied. Testing the effect of 23 nutrient elements to trigger an important germination rate of B. sporothermodurans spores, only d-glucose, l-alanine, and inosine were considered as strong independent germinants. Both inosine and l-alanine play major roles as co-germinants with several other amino acids. A central composite experimental design with three factors (l-alanine, d-glucose, and temperature) using response surface methodology was used to optimize the nutrient-induced germination. The optimal rate of nutrient-induced germination (100%) of B. sporothermodurans spores was obtained after incubation of spore for 60 min at 35 °C in presence of 9 and 60 mM of d-glucose and l-alanine, respectively. The results in this study can help to predict the effect of environmental factors and nutrients on spore germination, which will be beneficial for screening of B. sporothermodurans in milk after induction their germination. Moreover, the chosen method of optimization of the nutrient-induced germination was efficient in finding the optimum values of three factors.     

Study of the Mechanical Properties of Fibers Extracted from Tunisian Agave americana L.

Agave americana L. fibers, the most abundant variety in Tunisia, have a quite important textile potential. This potential is demonstrated by studying the extraction of these fibers from leaves, their physical properties such us fineness or density and their mechanical behavior in tensile tests. In this work, results of a mechanical behavior study of fibers extracted from the Agave americana L. plant are presented. These results deal with the principal and mechanical characteristics of these fibers which are the strain at break, the elasticity modulus and the rupture facture. These results permitted to situate these fibers, compared to the other textile fibers, as materials that can be used in technical applications such as reinforcing composites or geotextile. In order to understand the mechanical properties of these fibers, a correlation study between the properties already cited and the fine structure was done. The obtained results showed that the mechanical properties of Agave americana L. fibers are closely related to the individual fibers deformations and to the natural matrix (lignin and gums) that are linked to these elementary fibers.     

Fleece Production,Scouring Yield,and Down Hair Yield of Tunisian Dromedary

The results show that the greasy fleece weight varied from 0.3 kg to 2.42 kg with an average of 0.75 kg. The fleece weight decreases according to the animal age. In fact, the factor “age” has a significant effect on the dromedary fleece weight. Average scoured yield was 96% with V% of 1.6%. This indicated that matter loss, after scouring dromedary fibres, was lower than wool and cashmere. Scoured yield did not vary between samples of varied dromedary body areas in any age. The down hair yield for the fleece of the Tunisian dromedary varies between 34% and 61% with a mean of 45%. This raises interest when compared to the cashmere yield. There is a clearly decreased dromedary down hair yield according the factor “age”. The analysis of the variance shows that the dromedary down hair yield was affected by the factors “age” and body area of the animal.

Following this work it will be possible to predict the amount of down yield in the fleece of Tunisian dromedary knowing age. Consequently, it will be possible to estimate the total amount of textile material camel from dromedary located in Tunisia.     

Stability of acrylamide in model systems and its reactivity with selected nucleophiles

Since the discovery of relatively high amounts of the carcinogenic acrylamide in heat-processed food products, many studies have been devoted to the formation of acrylamide. However, as acrylamide is an α,β-unsaturated amide, subsequent reactions can provoke the desired removal of this compound. Therefore, the stability of acrylamide and its reactivity with various food-relevant nucleophiles were studied.The results showed that acrylamide was quite stable in aqueous solutions, but much less in dry reaction conditions. Buffer type and pH had a significant influence on the decrease of free acrylamide. The presence of amino acids with a nucleophilic side chain considerably decreased the free acrylamide, due to Michael-type addition reactions. The highest reactivity was noted for cysteine, leading to the formation of the mono-addition product cysteine-S-β-propionamide, as well as to the double addition product. Other nucleophiles, such as lysine, arginine, serine and ascorbic acid, were less reactive, but yielded comparable condensation products.     

Quality differences between pre‐pressed and solvent extracted rapeseed oil

Most seed oils are obtained by pre‐pressing the crushed seeds followed by solvent extraction of oil from the press cake. The prepressed oil will contain no solvent residues, and is moreover expected to contain more nutritionally valuable compounds, which can in turn enhance the oxidative stability of the oil. However, reports on differences between extracted and pressed oils are scarce. Therefore, in this study, for a case study on rapeseed oil, the composition and quality were systematically compared between pre‐pressed and solvent extracted oil. In the extracted oil, solvent residues and a clear sensory difference were detected, which disappeared almost completely during refining. The crude oils had a high content in free fatty acids and in primary and secondary oxidation products, which were higher in the extracted than in the pressed oil. However, surprisingly, also the content of minor compounds was slightly higher in the extracted oil than in the pressed oil. This can be explained by a selective extraction of those compounds into the solvent. During refining, a difference between pressed and extracted oils still existed but was less pronounced. The slight difference in antioxidants content might explain the higher oxidative stability of extracted over pressed oils. Practical applications : Traditionally, high yields of vegetable oils are obtained by pre‐pressing the seeds, followed by solvent extraction of the residual oil from the press cake. The solvent extraction leads to higher oil yields, but is expected to affect the composition and quality of the oil, and has moreover negative environmental impacts. In this study, the solvent extracted oil contained slightly higher levels of tocopherols and phytosterols, and had slightly higher oxidative stability, which are desirable quality aspects. In contrast, the solvent extracted oil contained also higher levels of undesirable phospholipids, as well as solvent residues, which were, however, removed during degumming and deodorization, respectively. These results suggest that the final quality of refined pre‐pressed and solvent extracted oils is comparable from nutritional and safety point of view. A choice for pressing instead of solvent extraction will, therefore, rather be driven by sustainability concerns than by nutritional aspects.     

Kenaf fibre-reinforced polyester composites: flexural characterization and statistical analysis

This paper deals with the effect of the chemical treatment, fibre ratio and fibre reinforcement structure on the flexural properties of kenaf-polyester composites. Composites were made from an unsaturated polyester matrix reinforced with an alkali-treated and virgin kenaf fibres in a loose fibres and nonwovens. Results reveal that alkali treatment improves the flexural properties of composites expect elongation. The same result was obtained when using a nonwoven structure us reinforcement. The best flexural properties were observed for 11.1% fibre weight ratio with the nonwoven structure reinforce composite. The flexural strength and the flexural modulus were 69.5 MPa and 7.11 GPa, respectively, for this composite while it was 42.24 MPa and 3.61, respectively, for polyester samples (no fibre reinforcement). A statistical study was carried out in order to study the effect of the alkali treatment, reinforcement structure and the reinforcement weight ration on the composite properties. This study proved that the parameter with most impact on the measured properties is the fibre-to-matrix weight ratio. And also this study aims to determine the optimum parameters allowing maximising all measured properties and we found that when using a nonwoven structure made with chemically-treated fibre at 11.10% fibre weight ratio, is the optimum solution.