On Publications on the Brittle Fracture Mechanics of Prestressed Materials

The paper analyzes new publications on the brittle fracture mechanics of prestressed materials. It is found out that new scientific results published in the International Journal of Solids and Structures in 2002 are a particular case of the results obtained at the Institute of Mechanics 20 years ago     

Age related changes in the thermal transition of Turkey leg flexor tendon collagen

A differential scanning calorimetric, thermogravimetric and electron microscopic investigation has been carried out on the uncalcified areas of turkey leg flexor tendon as a function of age. Rehydrated samples exhibit an increase of thermal stability with age. The H_D values drop from about 11 cal·g^–1 in the first weeks of life down to 7 cal·g^–1 after the 11th week.At about 11 weeks, the collagen fibril diameter distribution passes from unimodal to multimodal. The DSC curves as well as the TG-DTG curves recorded from dried samples do not show any appreciable difference with ageing. The variations in thermal behaviour of rehydrated samples and fibril diameter distribution could be related to modifications in water binding with ageing.The Authors are grateful to Dr. G. Fabris for discussion and help in the selection of the samples. They also wish to thank Mr. G. Pizzuto for excellent technical assistance. The financial support by Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche is gratefully acknowledged.     

Changes in ADC caused by tensile loading of rabbit achilles tendon: evidence for water transport

Water diffusion measurements were performed on rabbit Achilles tendons during static tensile loading and tendons in an unloaded state. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) was measured along two directions: parallel and perpendicular to the long axis of the tendon. Tendons were studied after being prepared in two ways: (a) after being stored frozen in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and (b) freshly isolated. Statistically significant directional anisotropy was observed in the ADC in all tendons. The ADC was significantly greater in the direction parallel to the long axis of the tendon than in the perpendicular direction. The anisotropy is attributed to the greater restrictions seen by the water molecules in the perpendicular direction and is consistent with the known geometry of the tendon. Storage in PBS caused tendons to swell. This increased the ADC measured along both directions and reduced the anisotropy. The existence of anisotropy in the ADC was not related to the orientation of the specimen in the magnet. The ADC increased along both directions following the application of a 5-N tensile load; the increase was greatest along the perpendicular axis of the tendon. In order to determine whether load-related changes in the ADC reflected changes in interfibrilar spacing, we used electron microscopy to measure load-related changes in fibril spacing. Load-related changes in fiber spacing could not account for the observed changes in the ADC. The increase in ADC caused by loading was attributed to the extrusion of tendon water into a bulk phase along the outside surface of the tendon. In PBS-stored samples, enough fluid was extruded that it could be visualized. The transient response of the ADC to a 5-N tensile load was also studied. The absolute ADC in both directions increased with loading and recovered to baseline upon unloading. The transient changes in ADC, for both loading and unloading, had a mean time constant of approximately 15 min. The magnitude of the load-induced transient ADC changes was comparable to that seen in the static-loading experiments.     

Dipolar contrast for dense tissues imaging

A new type of contrast called dipolar contrast is obtained by a decrease in the dipolar line broadening of protons. This contrast is usable for dense tissue NMR imaging and more generally for the study of dipolar linked protons in biological tissues. The sequence used is based on a variant of the Magic Sandwich Echoes (MSE) technique. In vitro experiments on a tendon sample are used to reinforce the image intensity of regions where the direct proton dipolar interaction exists.     

2种参数对预应力混凝土梁性能的影响分析

分析了跨高比、加载方式对预应力混凝土梁抗弯强度和结构性能的影响．利用平面梁弯曲理论导出单元切线刚度矩阵，提出了新的分析模型可用于预测预应力混凝土梁从开始加载直至失效的非线性全过程响应，并利用建立的分析模型详细评估了跨高比及加载方式等参数对预应力混凝土梁的弯曲强度和受力性能的影响．     

无粘结力后张预应力钢筋在桥梁建设中的应用

为了解决天津永和斜拉桥主梁块件预制，首次提出在三向预应力块力中竖向预应力篇采用无粘结为预应为粗钢筋，主要解决块件断面较弱制孔困难，压浆串浆，简化施工工序。     

宾汉姆体的缓凝砂浆在单螺杆挤出机中的流动

在实验的基础上，研究了宾汉姆体的缓凝砂浆在单螺杆挤出机中的流动；运用流变学理论， 建立了缓凝砂浆螺旋输送物理模型；对缓凝砂浆螺旋输送与包裹机构的工作机理进行了分析 与研究，得出了缓凝砂浆连续输送的条件，螺杆转速必须大于临界转速. 实验发现：宾汉姆 体的缓凝砂浆在螺旋输送与包裹机构中当螺杆转速在78$\sim$240\,r/min范 围内可实现连续输送和包裹.     

预应力索-桁架结构形状优化设计

就预应力索-桁架结构形状优化设计问题,考虑了施加预应力阶段、预应力与荷载共同作用阶段的性态约束条件,建立了设计变量包括截面尺寸、索力值、杆件及索节点坐标的形状优化数学模型;在求解方法上将设计变量分为两个子空间:第一子空间为索力值和截面尺寸优化设计空间,第二子空间为形状优化设计空间; 第一子空间给出新的求解方法以减轻结构重量,第二子空间用节点渐进法优化结构形状和布索位置以增加结构刚度.算例表明,该方法能使结构重量逐步减轻,结构刚度不减,形状逐步达到最优.