Time domain identification and ranking of noise sources in a pneumatic nail gun

This paper investigates the noise sources in a pneumatic nail gun. The study combines two complementary experimental approaches. The first uses simultaneous data observation, with sound, acceleration and air pressure signals simultaneously recorded in conjunction with a nail gun motion high speed video. This strategy allows the identification of the physical processes involved in the operation of the machine at different time instants, as well as the associated noise generation mechanisms. However, since multiple noise sources radiate at the same time, this observation technique is not sufficient for noise source identification and ranking. Thus, a second approach introduces a selective wrapping procedure, and the strategy assures a reliable classification of the noise sources. The investigation considers the following noise origins: the air exhaust, the machine body and the workpiece/worktable.     

Topological Aspects of Liquid Crystals

Using -mapping method and topological current theory, the properties and behaviors of disclination points in three-dimensional liquid crystals are studied. By introducing the strength density and the topological current of many disclination points, the total disclination strength is topologically quantized by the Hopf indices and Brouwer degrees at the singularities of the general director field when the Jacobian determinant of the general director field does not vanish. When the Jacobian determinant vanishes, the origin, annihilation, and bifurcation of disclination points are detailed in the neighborhoods of the limit point and bifurcation point, respectively. The branch solutions at the limit point and the different directions of all branch curves at the first- and second-order degenerated points are calculated. It is pointed out that a disclination point with a higher strength is unstable and will evolve to the lower strength state through the bifurcation process. An original disclination point can split into at most four disclination points at one time.     

Anchorage strength models for end-debonding predictions in RC beams strengthened with FRP composites

The increase in the flexural capacity of RC beams obtained by externally bonding FRP composites to their tension side is often limited by the premature and brittle debonding of the external reinforcement. An in-depth understanding of this complex failure mechanism, however, has not yet been achieved. With specific regard to end-debonding failure modes, extensive experimental observations reported in the literature highlight the important distinction, often neglected in strength models proposed by researchers, between the peel-off and rip-off end-debonding types of failure. The peel-off failure is generally characterized by a failure plane located within the first few millimetres of the concrete cover, whilst the rip-off failure penetrates deeper into the concrete cover and propagates along the tensile steel reinforcement. A new rip-off strength model is described in this paper. The model proposed is based on the Chen and Teng peel-off model and relies upon additional theoretical considerations. The influence of the amount of the internal tensile steel reinforcement and the effective anchorage length of FRP are considered and discussed. The validity of the new model is analyzed further through comparisons with test results, findings of a numerical investigation, and a parametric study. The new rip-off strength model is assessed against a database comprising results from 62 beams tested by various researchers and is shown to yield less conservative results. Russian translation published in Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 44, No. 3, pp. 373–388, May–June, 2008.     

光纤传感器测量FRP加固结构的损伤

A distributed fiber optic sensor is developed for condition monitoring of civil infrastructure sys-tems. The fiber optic sensor is especially useful in applications involving structures strengthened by fiberreinforced polymer (FRP) composites. The sensor principles are simple and therefore, practical for detec-tion of cracks, debonding and deformation measurements. Structural monitoring capability of the sensor     

Interfacial stresses in curved members bonded with a thin plate

The use of steel plates or externally bonded fibre-reinforced polymer laminates for flexural strengthening of concrete, masonry, timber or metallic structures is a technique that has become very popular. The effectiveness of this technique hinges heavily on the performance of the bond between the strengthening plate and the substrate, which has been the subject of many existing studies. In particular, the interfacial stresses between a beam and a soffit plate within the linear elastic range have been addressed by numerous analytical investigations. Surprisingly, none of these investigations has examined interfacial stresses in members with a curved soffit, despite that such members are often found in practice. This paper presents an analytical model for the interfacial stresses between a curved member of uniform section size and a thin plate bonded to its soffit. The governing differential equations for the interfacial shear and normal stresses are formulated and then solved with appropriate simplifying assumptions. Two numerical examples are presented to illustrate the effect of the curvature of the member on the interfacial stress distributions in a simply supported curved beam for the two cases of a point load and a uniformly distributed load. The analytical solution is verified by comparing its predictions with those from a finite element model.     

杂交梁界面剪应力的理论分析和数值模拟

采用解析和数值方法研究FRP-混凝土杂交梁的界面应力问题。提出了杂交梁的新的力学模型和假设,克服了以往的分析模型中界面应力表达式非常复杂和界面应力的解析解与数值解相差较大的缺点,本文得到的FRP板加固梁的界面剪应力表达式与数值结果符合很好,并且具有简捷的表达式。利用有限元法研究了杂交梁各物理参数对界面剪应力的影响。研究表明,界面剪应力在FRP板的端部存在应力集中或应力奇性,这是造成杂交梁界面破坏的主要原因。这项研究对进行杂交结构的工程设计具有理论指导和参考价值。     

FRP筋粘结式锚具的界面径向弹性模量分析

建立了FRP(Fibre Reinforced Polymer)筋粘结式锚具粘结界面的Rib-scale模型和Bar-scale模型,然后利用Fourier-Bessel级数推导了FRP筋、混凝土以及钢套筒等在径向应力作用下的解析解.解析解与数值解吻合较好,验证了用Fourier-Bessel级数表达的解析解的有效性....     

Moment redistribution in continuous reinforced concrete beams strengthened with carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer laminates

The results of tests on continuous steel-fiber-reinforced concrete (RC) beams, with and without an external strengthening, are presented. The internal flexural steel reinforcement was designed so that to allow steel yielding before the collapse of the beams. To prevent the shear failure, steel stirrups were used. The tests also included two nonstrengthened control beams; the other specimens were strengthened with different configurations of externally bonded carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminates. In order to prevent the premature failure from delamination of the CFRP strengthening, a wrapping was also applied. The experimental results obtained show that it is possible to achieve a sufficient degree of moment redistribution if the strengthening configuration is chosen properly, confirming the results provided by two simple numerical models. Russian translation published in Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 43, No. 5, pp. 667–686, September–October, 2007.     

Square and rectangular concrete columns confined by CFRP: Experimental and numerical investigation

The results of an experimental and theoretical investigation into the deformation behavior of CFRP-confined square and rectangular concrete columns under axial loads are presented. Three types of columns are considered: unwrapped; fully wrapped; and fully wrapped, with L-slaped steel angles placed at the corners. A mechanical deformation model for them is proposed, which is based on a nonuniform distribution of the stresses caused by the confining device. The results given by the model are in a good agreement with the experimental results obtained. Russian translation published in Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 44, No. 3, pp. 417–442, May–June, 2008.     

Systematic Modulation of Thiol Functionalities in Inexpensive Porous Polymers for Effective Mercury Removal

Through accumulation, mercury contamination in aquatic systems still poses serious health risks despite the strict regulations on drinking water and industrial discharge. One effective strategy against this is adsorptive removal, in which a suitably functionalized porous material is added to water treatment protocols. Thiol (SH) group-grafted structures perform commendably; however, insufficient attention is paid to the cost, scalability, and reusability or how the arrangement of sulfur atoms could affect the Hg^II binding strength. We used an inexpensive and scalable porous covalent organic polymer (COP-130) to systematically introduce thiol functional groups with precise chain lengths and sulfur content. Thiol-functionalized COP-130 demonstrates enhanced wettability and excellent Hg^II uptake of up to 936 mg g⁻¹, with fast kinetics and exceptionally high selectivity. These Hg adsorbents are easily regenerated with HCl and can be used at least six times without loss of capacity even after treatment with strong acid, a rare performance in the domain of Hg-removal research.