A novel specimen for investigating the mechanical behavior of elastomers under multiaxial loading conditions

In this paper we describe the design and manufacture of an axial-torsion test specimen, and provide relationships needed when conducting stress-strain characterization experiments with the specimen. The specimen is a short hollow cylinder of rubber bonded between two steel mounting rings, in which simultaneous axial and shear strains are produced via independently controlled axial and twist displacements. We present calculations for the strain-displacement and stress-load relationships, and strain energy density. These relationships have been established and validated via a combination of analytical and experimental techniques, and finite element analysis. We have investigated the extent and effects of strain and stress field non-uniformity in the test specimen. The specimen design is sufficiently simple that a closed-form expression for the strain-displacement relationship has been successfully developed.     

A procedure for measuring the flexibility of single wood-pulp fibres

A way of determining the flexibility of wood-pulp fibres is developed, which involves i) a precise measurement of the topology of single-fibres by using a confocal laser scanning microscope and ii) the measurement of the elastic modulus of the fibres by using a single-fibre fatigue cell. Reported in this paper are the initial results of tests carried out on black spruce fibres, which have been subjected to three different levels of mechanical refining energy, namely ∼1100, 2300, and 3500 kWh/t. It is found that the fibre flexibility rises significantly between the first and second energy levels, but it does not change to the same degree between the second and third ones. The described procedure of measuring the flexibility of fibres may be used to establish the appropriate refiner energy necessary for the production of a specific grade of paper. Russian translation published in Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 42, No. 1, pp. 115–128, January–February, 2006.     

气密性碳涂覆光纤筛选强度与电阻关系研究

通过实验分析确立了把光纤电阻作为衡量气密性碳涂覆光纤通过２％应变筛选的过渡标准。要拉制２％应变筛选的碳涂覆光纤，其电阻值应小于３０ｋΩ／ｃｍ。     

稀土复合变质对新型铸造热锻模具钢组织与性能的影响

研究了稀土复合变质对新型铸造热锻模具钢（CHD钢）组织与性能的组织。结果表明，稀土复合变质能细化晶粒，并且随着稀土量的增加。细化效果明显；加入适量的稀土复合变质后，夹杂物数量明显减少，夹杂物趋于球化并均匀地分布在钢中，形态和分布得以了改善，向钢中加入稀土进行复合变质，能促进贝氏体、奥氏体和位错亚结构的形成，细化马氏体板条。当残留稀土含量为0.02%时，CHD钢的硬度、强度变化不大，断裂韧性（KIC）和疲劳裂纹扩展门槛值（△Kth）有所提高，冲击韧性、延伸率、断面收缩率提高了近一倍，抗热疲劳性能也最好。     

Some microrheological aspects of wood-pulp fibres subjected to fatigue loading

Wood-pulp fibres are recognized as concentrically-layered, laminated composite tubes of structural reinforcing material, the cellulose microfibrils, embedded in a cementing matrix of hemicellulose and lignin. When the single fibres are subjected to cyclic mechanical action, their morphological behaviour is characterized by the fatigue growth of micro-voids and surface damage which individually and collectively give rise to stress concentrations, and eventually crack development. The progressive damage phenomena, evinced by the surface imaging and optical sectioning techniques through utilizing confocal laser scanning microscopy, are understood to be consequences of the cumulative material micromechanical degradation and subsequent microstructural breakdown of the cellulose microfibrillar framework. This structural breakdown is believed to effect the fibrillation and flexibilization of the fibres This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Use of D–T-produced fast neutrons for in vivo body composition analysis: a reference method for nutritional assessment in the elderly

Body composition has become the main outcome of many nutritional intervention studies including osteoporosis, malnutrition, obesity, AIDS, and aging. Traditional indirect body composition methods developed with healthy young adults do not apply to the elderly or diseased. Fast neutron activation (for N and P) and neutron inelastic scattering (for C and O) are used to assess in vivo elements characteristic of specific body compartments. Non-bone phosphorus for muscle is measured by the ³¹P(n,)²⁸Al reaction, and nitrogen for protein via the ¹⁴N(n,2n)¹³N fast neutron reaction. Inelastic neutron scattering is used to measure total body carbon and oxygen. Body fat is derived from carbon after correcting for contributions from protein, bone, and glycogen. Carbon-to-oxygen ratio (C/O) is used to measure the distribution of fat and lean tissue in the body and to monitor small changes of lean mass. A sealed, D–T neutron generator is used for the production of fast neutrons. Carbon and oxygen mass and their ratio are measured in vivo at a radiation exposure of less than 0.06 mSv. Gamma-ray spectra are collected using large BGO detectors and analyzed for the 4.43 MeV state of carbon and 6.13 MeV state of oxygen, simultaneously with the irradiation. P and N analysis by delayed fast neutron activation is performed by transferring the patient to a shielded room equipped with an array of NaI(Tl) detectors. A combination of measurements makes possible the assessment of the quality of fat-free mass. The neutron generator system is used to evaluate the efficacy of new treatments, to study mechanisms of lean tissue depletion with aging, and to investigate methods for preserving function and quality of life in the elderly. It is also used as a reference method for the validation of portable instruments of nutritional assessment.     

Europium-sensitized luminescence determination of oxytetracycline in catfish muscle

An europium-sensitized time-resolved luminescence (TRL) method was developed to determine oxytetracycline (OTC) in cultivated catfish muscle. Extraction of OTC from fish muscle was performed with pH 4.0 ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)-McIlvaine buffer and clean up with hydrophilic-lipophilic balanced copolymer solid phase extraction (SPE) cartridges. The eluate was used without further concentration for TRL measurement in pH 9.0 micellar tris(hydroxylmethyl)aminomethane (TRIS) buffer. Cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTACl) was used as surfactant and EDTA as a co-ligand. The excitation and emission wavelengths were set at 388 and 615 nm, respectively. The linear dynamic range was 0-1000 ng g⁻¹ (R²=0.9995). The recovery was 92-112% in the fortification range of 50-200 ng g⁻¹ and the limits of detection (LOD) ranged from 3 to 7 ng g⁻¹. Incurred catfish samples were used to demonstrate the performance of the method around 100 ng g⁻¹, the European Union maximum residue level.     

Relationship between Muscle Flexibility and Characteristics of Muscle Contraction in Healthy Women during Different Menstrual Phases

Objective: Skeletal muscle function is vital for preventing injury during exercise. It has been reported that skeletal muscle function fluctuates with the menstrual cycle and is considered one of the causes of injury. This study aimed to clarify the relationship between muscle flexibility and muscle contraction characteristics and their changes with the menstrual cycle. Methods: The subjects were healthy women who voluntarily participated in the study through recruitment posters. Muscle flexibility was measured with the passive knee extension (PKE) test, isokinetic knee flexor strength, and the maximum muscle strength exertion angle under two conditions of 60°/s and 120°/s in dominant hamstrings. Additionally, their correlations were analyzed and compared between the menstrual and ovulatory phases. Results: Sixteen subjects (mean age: 20.56 ± 0.73 years; body mass index: 20.21 ± 1.60) participated in the study. Correlation analysis showed a significant negative correlation between PKE and the maximum muscle strength exertion angle under the condition of 60°/s during the menstrual phase (r = –0.54; p = 0.03). No significant difference was observed in the two-group comparison of the variables measured during the menstrual and ovulatory phases. Conclusion: This study confirmed that the more flexible muscles generate the maximum strength at a more contracted position during the menstrual phase in women. In the future, it is necessary to examine the relationship between the results of this study and exercise performance and injury occurrence.     

基于SWT方法的钢绞线索微动疲劳特性分析

为得到钢绞线索丝间接触区的应力场分布并预测微动疲劳裂纹萌生位置和微动疲劳寿命,本文利用参数化方法建立了精细化的钢绞线拉索有限元模型,包括整索模型和不同层丝间接触区域的局部精细化子模型.分析了钢绞线索在两种交变荷载工况下的应力场变化情况,并基于多轴疲劳SWT(Smith-Watson-Topper)临界平面法进行了疲劳特性分析和疲劳寿命预测.主要结论如下:钢绞线索内接触区边缘处的微动幅值较大,中心处几乎没有相对滑动,微动疲劳的初始裂纹萌生点位于接触区域边缘;经不同区域子模型分析比较,在轴向循环荷载作用下,外层钢丝的接触区域比内层钢丝更易发生微动疲劳损伤;在横向位移循环荷载作用下,同层钢丝因位置角度不同而产生了较大的疲劳特性差异,且相比轴向循环拉伸,该工况下最不利单丝的微动疲劳寿命更低;与非接触区域相比,接触区的疲劳寿命大幅降低,微动现象对钢绞线索的抗疲劳性能有明显降低作用.