A study on 3-D stress distributions in the bi-adhesively bonded T-joints

In this study, the normal (σ_x, σ_y, σ_z) and shear stress (τ_xy, τ_yz, τ_zx) distributions occurring in a bi-adhesively bonded T-joint with was investigated via a non-linear three dimensional finite element analysis. For this purpose, first of all, using 2024-T3 aluminum alloy as the adherend and the support, a two-part paste (DP 460) and a film type (SBT 9244) as adhesive, two different types of T-joint samples (single-adhesively bonded T-joint and bi-adhesively bonded T-joint) were produced for experimental studies. After experimental studies on the three different T-joint types were conducted, stress analyses in the T-joints were performed with a three-dimensional finite element analysis by considering the geometrical non-linearity and the material non-linearities of the adhesive (DP460 and SBT9244) and adherend (AA2024-T3). Finally, for a given adherend, the lower the stiffness of the adhesive used in the overlap, the lower the stress concentration, leading to potentially higher joint strength. The use of relatively low stiffness adhesives at the ends of the overlap in a bi-adhesive can decrease the stress concentration and, therefore, potentially lead to higher joint strength.     

An Instrumental Correction for the Determination of Mercury in Biological and Sediment Samples Using Cold Vapor Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry

Low recovery rate and inconsistent measurements were found in the determination of mercury by method of cold vapor atomic absorption spectrophotometry using the hydride formation system (Hitachi HFS-2, Hitachi Ltd., Tokyo). To overcome this problem of insufficient reaction time we developed a simple T-joint device attaching to the commercial HFS-2 system for the determination of mercury in various biological tissues and sediment samples. The T-joint device was designed to combine sample and reductant injection which increased the reaction time of the sample allowing a complete formation of mercury vapor and speeding up the analysis process in comparison to the traditional cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometric method. Recoveries of mercury were in the range 95% - 100%. The corrected procedure gave precise and accurate readings with several certified reference materials: NIES No. 2 from the Japan Environment Agency; IAEA-356 from the International Atomic Energy Association, and DOLT-2, DORM-2, TORT-2, PACS-1 and MESS-2 from the National Research Council of Canada. Simple acid digestion methods were developed based on the sample Hg level and the nature of the sample. The sample detection limits were 0.0125 μg g⁻¹ fresh weight and 0.0625 μg g⁻¹ dry weight for biological samples, and as low as 0.0125 μg g⁻¹ dry weight for sediment samples. These analytical protocols we established met the general requirements in environmental research and monitoring of mercury pollution.     

Interaction of Lamb mode (A(o)) with structural discontinuity and generation of "Turning modes" in a T-joint

In the present work, the interaction of the fundamental anti-symmetric guided Lamb mode (A_o) with a structural discontinuity in a composite structure was studied through Finite Element numerical simulations and experiments. The structural component selected for this study was a T-joint section made from glass/epoxy material. This co-cured composite structure is made-up of an upper shell (skin) and a spar as the sub-components. It was observed that when A_o mode interacts with the junction (structural discontinuity) of these sub-components, a mode-converted S_o mode is generated. Experiments were conducted using air-coupled ultrasound to validate the numerical simulations. The back-propagating “Turning modes”, which propagate from the thin region to the spar web and vice versa, were also numerically simulated and experimentally verified.