Lateral stiffness of steel plate shear wall systems

The accuracy of the finite element method and strip method of analysis for calculating the lateral stiffness of steel plate shear wall (SPSW) systems is assessed by making comparisons with experimental findings. Comparisons revealed that while both methods provide acceptable accuracy, they also require the generation of sophisticated computer models. In this paper, two alternative methods are developed. The first one is an approximate hand method based on the deep beam theory. The classical deep beam theory is modified in the light of parametric studies performed on restrained thin plates under pure shear and pure bending. The second one is a computer method based on the truss analogy. Stiffness predictions using the two alternative methods are found to compare well with the experimental findings. In addition, lateral stiffness predictions of the alternate methods are compared against the solutions provided using finite element and strip methods of analysis for a class of test structures. These comparisons reveal that the developed methods provide estimates with acceptable accuracy and are simpler than the traditional analysis techniques.     

The effect of contact pad hardness on the fretting fatigue behaviour of AZ61 magnesium alloy

In the present study, the effect of hardness of contact material on fretting fatigue strength was experimentally investigated as a function of stress ratio. AZ61 magnesium alloy used in defense and transportation industries was used as the material for both the specimen and the contact pad. Two levels of hardness of contact material, 55.3 Vickers Hardness (HV) and 83.3 HV, were prepared by heat treatments. According to the results, with increasing hardness, the fretting fatigue strength decreased. The relative slip amplitude increased with increasing hardness, while the tangential force amplitude was not influenced by the hardness. It was speculated that because the local tangential stress at the contact edge increases with increasing hardness, the fretting fatigue strength decreases with increasing hardness.     

Thoracic outlet compression syndrome caused by a schwannoma of the C7 nerve root

This is the first report of a schwannoma originating from the C7 nerve root causing thoracic outlet compression syndrome. The patient was a 30-year-old woman with a 3-year history of numbness on the radial side of the left hand, left arm tiredness, nocturnal pain in the left forearm and pain in the left elbow, shoulder and neck. Conservative treatment and previous operations, including carpal tunnel release and first rib resection, provided no relief. A left scalenectomy was performed. During the removal of the anterior scalene muscle, a mass approximately 3 cm long and 1.5 cm in diameter was noted under the anterior scalene muscle involving the C7 nerve root. The tumour was encapsulated and covered with attenuated and stretched nerve fascicles. It was completely excised without disturbing the nerve fascicles. The clinical impression was schwannoma, which was confirmed on pathological examination.     

Prediction of (n,3He) cross-sections around 14 MeV

A comprehensive review of the neutron-induced cross-sections for (n,³He) reactions has been made for the interval of 14⩽Z⩽84 around 14 MeV neutron energy. For practical purposes, an empirical expression has been found by using the experimental (n,³ He) cross section values as a function of (N-Z) and (E_n-E_th) where (N-Z) is the neutron excess of the target nucleus, E_n and E_th are the incident neutron energy and the (n,³He) threshold energy, respectively. The derived empirical relation gives a good fit with the experimental values     

The nitriding of Fe-V alloys

Fe-V alloys containing 1.06 wt pct V, 5.23 wt pct V and 15.55 wt pct V, have been nitrided in purified NH₃ gas in temperatures ranging between 773 K and 1173 K. The nitriding kinetics of all these alloys in this temperature range obey a parabolic rate law. The comparison of the nitriding rate constants evaluated from experimental results and from the calculations based on Wagner's internal oxidation model show a deviation which is explained in terms of the effect of the lattice strains on the solubility and diffusivity of nitrogen in the Fe matrix. The hardness of the nitrided zone increases with the vanadium content in solution and reaches a saturation value of about 1300 VHN (12.75 GNm⁻²) which corresponds to about 4 wt pct V. The hardening in the nitrided region is cuased by the precipitation of VN which cannot be observed on specimens nitrided at the lower limits of the temperature range. Precipitates grown in size can be seen on specimens nitrided at 1073 K and 1173 K.     

The cross thumb to index finger pedicle

By careful technique the dorsum of the thumb can be used as a donor area to cover exposed bone of index fingertip amputations and, in certain cases, avulsions of the nailbed. In this procedure an oblique, radially based flap from the dorsum of the proximal phalanx is used.     

Assessment of gas radiative property models in the presence of nongray particles

In this study, a radiation code based on the method of lines solution of the discrete ordinates method for the prediction of radiative heat transfer in nongray gaseous media is developed by incorporation of two different spectral gas radiative property models, banded spectral line-based weighted sum of gray gases (banded SLW) and gray wide band (GWB) approximation in the presence of nongray absorbing–emitting–scattering particles. The aim is to introduce an accurate and CPU efficient spectral gas radiation model, which is compatible with spectral fuel/ash particle property models. Input data required for the radiation code and its validation are provided from two combustion tests previously performed in a 300 kWt atmospheric bubbling fluidized bed combustor test rig burning low calorific value Turkish lignite with high volatile matter/fixed carbon (VM/FC) ratio in its own ash. The agreement between wall heat fluxes and source term predictions obtained by global and banded SLW models reveal that global SLW model can be converted to an accurate wide band gas model (banded SLW) which can directly be coupled with spectral particle radiation. Furthermore, assessment of GWB approximation by benchmarking its predictions against banded SLW model shows that GWB gives reasonable agreement with a higher CPU efficiency when the particle absorption coefficient is at least in the same order of magnitude with the gas absorption coefficient.     

Gluten contamination in manufactured gluten-free foods in Turkey

ABSTRACT

Gluten contamination in manufactured gluten-free foods (mGFFs) is a major health, well-being and economic issue worldwide for both mandatory and voluntary GFF-consumers. Although scarce, a number of surveys have shown that up to 21.5 % of mGFFs in circulation in the market are contaminated with gluten. However, at the present time there is no published work reporting gluten contamination in mGFFs produced in Turkey. In this paper miscellaneous mGFFs produced in Turkey were analysed for gluten concentration (G) to fill this knowledge gap, and to compare the situation in Turkey with worldwide efforts on this issue. A total of 200 mGFFs from 8 product categories (snack, pasta, bread, cookie, cracker, farina, traditional and others), and manufactured using 7 main ingredients (cereal mixture, buckwheat, corn, rice, locust bean, potato, and others) were analysed. A significant portion of mGFFs (17.5 %) were contaminated with gluten and therefore unacceptable as being GFF. The results point to buckwheat as the main cause of this contamination. If buckwheat is excluded, the ratio of unacceptable mGFFs dramatically decreases to 6.3 % and probably to 1.8 %, which are comparable figures to those reported for other countries. Almost all countries are subjected to the same regulations on GFFs, and the problem of gluten contamination could readily be solved to a great extent if pre-market measures are mandated. Enforcing mGFF-producers to screen their raw materials and final products to detect the presence of gluten, and preventing the release of contaminated mGFFs into the market would be a practical measure in favour of all stakeholders involved in GFF-consumption.     

Microstructural changes on high temperature treatment of a cold-worked and nitrided Fe–1%V alloy

An Fe–1.06%V alloy was used to study the control of recrystallization through fine VN precipitates in cold-worked and nitrided ferritic matrix. Nitriding was carried out at 475°C in ammonia atmosphere. Subsequent high temperature annealing process was performed in hydrogen gas for 795, 820, 860 and 880°C, respectively. The data on recrystallization indicates that kinetics of recrystallization obeys an Avrami type equation with a temperature independent time exponent. Transmission electron microscopy techniques were used to measure the precipitate sizes and to study the changes in the microstructure. The activation energy evaluated for recrystallization was found to be consistent with that governing the VN particle coarsening. From these findings it was concluded that the initiation of recrystallization is dominated by the interface reaction controlled growth of VN stringers at subgrain boundaries. After the disappearance of stringers, the interaction of fine precipitates with subgrain boundaries is minimized and hence recrystallization starts. © 1998 Chapman & Hall