Effect Of Loading Research Articles

The Effects of Mechanical Loading on Resonant Response of a Conformal Load-Bearing Antenna System.

Glass fibre-reinforced polymer (GFRP) is a suitable substrate material for constructing a Conformal Load-Bearing Antenna Structure (CLAS). The relative permittivity of the CLAS substrate, which determines its resonant frequency, is affected by damage sustained by GFRP. This paper investigates the effects of damage (induced by mechanically loading the substrate) on the resonant response of the CLAS. Decoupling the antenna from the substrate was essential to evaluate the CLAS's true response to the induced damage. This paper details a systematic investigation examining how the frequency response of a "pristine" antenna and a surface-mounted antenna respond to a substrate subjected to quasi-statically induced mechanical damage and cyclic fatigue loading. The results demonstrate that the resonant frequency of the CLAS varies as a function of the substrate's mechanical damage. The prepared CLAS is tolerant to a certain degree of mechanical loading and related damage with its resonant frequency remaining within an acceptable bandwidth.

Enhancing energy dissipation in mortar utilizing recycled brick fine aggregate impregnated with polymer emulsion under uniaxial cyclic load

Optimizing the damping properties of materials can enhance the energy dissipation capacity of structures and mitigate the negative effects of dynamic loads on building components. This study investigated the effects of the polymer emulsion-impregnated recycled brick fine aggregate (PRBFA) replacement rate, emulsion-impregnation treatment method, and emulsion solid content on the dynamic damping properties of PRBFA-prepared mortar (PBM). Combined with microscopic tests, the enhanced damping mechanism of PBM was discussed. The results show that under the same stress amplitude, the equivalent damping ratio and loss modulus of PBM increase with the PRBFA replacement rate and emulsion solid content. The drying treatment of PRBFA demonstrates superior damping characteristics of PBM, with the equivalent damping ratio and loss modulus increased by 84.9%–129.4 % and 71.0%–117.2 %, respectively, compared to those of PBM with undried PRBFA. The damping enhancement of PBM is attributed to the weak interface between the aggregate and cement matrix, which facilitates slippage and friction. The damping layer formed between the high viscoelastic emulsion and the aggregate, or between the emulsion and the cement matrix, is conducive to energy dissipation. The optimal PRBFA replacement rate for balancing the mechanical and damping properties of PBM is between 38% and 60 %.

Numerical analysis of the Thermal EHL line contact problem under intermittent motion

Abstract A mathematical model of time-varying thermal elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) is developed using a sleeve chain as the object of study. The effects of thermal effect, load, speed, rest time and equivalent radius of curvature on its EHL are investigated using theoretical simulations. The results show that during intermittent motion, a portion of oil is entrapped in the contact zone at the end of the deceleration phase, after which this entrapped oil gradually moves out of the contact zone with the onset of speed, and a lower film of oil at the lubrication inlet passes through the center of the contact zone. In simple sliding intermittent motion, the temperature rise plays a crucial role in the variation of the oil film, particularly during the motion phases, and is an unavoidable factor. An increase in stop time reduces the film thickness and increases the following friction coefficient in the acceleration stage. An increase in the equivalent radius of curvature increases the film thickness and thermal rise in the contact zone as well as decreases the friction coefficient. Since the sleeve chain is one of the most commonly used mechanism in industry, high priority should be given to the lubrication design of this structure.

Investigation of Indirect Shear Strength of Black Shale for Urban Deep Excavation

This study thoroughly investigated the compressive and tensile strength characteristics of black shale using both experimental and analytical approaches. Uniaxial compression tests were conducted to determine the elastic constants of black shale modeled as idealized, linear elastic, homogeneous, and transversely isotropic. Additionally, Brazilian tests were carried out on shale, considering it a transversely isotropic material. Strain measurements were recorded at the center of disc specimens subjected to diametric loading. By placing strain gages at the disc centers, the five elastic constants were accurately estimated. The effects of experimental methods and diametric loading on the elastic constant determination were evaluated and analyzed, and the indirect shear strength of the black shale, considering anisotropy, was determined using the estimated stress concentration coefficient. This study revealed that the indirect tensile strength of black shale is significantly influenced by the angle between the anisotropic planes and the diametric loading direction. Moreover, it was revealed that the stress concentration coefficients for anisotropic rocks vary from those of isotropic rocks, depending on the inclination angle of the bedding planes. This study confirms that the shear (tensile) strength of anisotropic black shale is not constant but varies with the orientation of the anisotropic planes in relation to the applied load.

Reliability of Girder Bridge System under Lateral Uneven Vehicular Overloads

Truck presence on bridges is random. Trucks may centrically or eccentrically appear on a bridge span in one or more lanes, which will cause extra load effects on girder components and eventually influence structural performance. Especially when trucks are heavily loaded, their eccentric passage is possible to induce damage in components, and, thus, the prescribed load- delivery path will be changed among components within the system. Therefore, component- and system-level structural performance of bridges subjected to aggressive vehicular overloads need to be thoroughly addressed. In this study, a WIM-based 5-axle overloaded truck model is chosen, and it is gradually applied to the finite element models of two girder bridges with different eccentric distance, considering two loading scenarios of single truck and multiple trucks. In detail, trucks are transversely loaded with an incremental eccentric distance, to investigate the impacts of eccentric loadings on structural performance, including failure sequences of components, load distribution factors among components, as well as system redundancy, as structures entering nonlinear stage. Finally, the reliability indices of the two bridges under uneven overloads are assessed at the component level and system level, respectively. The results of this study were beneficial to structural evaluation bridges subjected to overloads to ensure their serviceability and integrity.

Effect of Music and Perceptual Load on Decision Making

There are various kinds of information present in the environment, due to which it affects an individual’s ability to accurately detect and distinguish information. Therefore, the current study aims at understanding the effect of perceptual load (high load and low load) and music (tempo) on decision making (i.e., during a conjunction search task). 62 participants were recruited for the experiment and the responses were collected through Open Sesame. The participants were asked to report whether a red circle is present or absent, while listening to music. Two-way Anova, one-way Anova and student’s t-test were employed. The results indicate that perceptual load does not have a significant effect on the accuracy of responses. However, tempo of the music has a significant effect on the accuracy of responses (pes=0.08), in a conjunction search task. There is a significant difference between the proportion of hits and correct rejections, across different perceptual and tempo conditions. Students and workers listen to various kinds of music during their task involving varying levels of difficulty and perceptual systems. The perception during this process can either be facilitated or hindered with. Various studies have investigated upon the influence of music (i.e., classical, jazz, pop) but only few have focused upon Bollywood music with varying tempo.

Carbon capture via electrochemically mediated alkaline absorption: Lab-scale continuous operation

Energy-efficient capture technologies need to be deployed by 2050 to abate global warming caused by excessive carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. CO2 capture using alkaline solutions and absorbent regeneration mediated through bipolar membrane electrodialysis (BMED) have been tested previously as a standalone technology. However, the continuous operation of an integrated system remains largely unclear. Here, a bench-scale study was conducted using an integrated prototype to analyze the performance of CO2 capture and electrochemical regeneration using potassium hydroxide (KOH) aqueous solution. A wide range of current densities from 150 to 1000 A/m2 was applied to demonstrate the continuous operation of the CO2 capture system emphasizing the stability in attainable high rich carbon loading and CO2 desorption. The electrochemical regeneration module achieved CO2 desorption efficiency of 70% and absorbent recovery up to 89% under industrial relevant current densities of 500–1000 A/m2. The absorbent recovery has been identified to be a result of the combined effect of load ratio and rich carbon loading. The observed inefficient CO2 separation indicates significant potential to enhance energy efficiency. These results represent a pivotal step forward in electrochemically mediated CO2 capture technology, with promising potential for rapid industrial scale-up in the near future.

The Effect of Dietary Acid Load on Cardiometabolic Risk, Psychological Resilience and Sleep Quality in Adolescents with Obesity

The Effect of Dietary Acid Load on Cardiometabolic Risk, Psychological Resilience and Sleep Quality in Adolescents with Obesity

Shear performance of horizontally curved steel box bridge girders under hydrocarbon fire exposure conditions: Numerical investigation and design implications

Recent fire incidents indicated that fire-induced bridge collapse is commonly associated with local shear failures occurred in web plates. However, current studies provided failure modes only related to deflection arose from steel bridge girders, irrespective of the underlying shear mechanism. To bridge the knowledge gap, this study presents an investigation on structural behavior of horizontally curved steel box bridge girders (HCSBBGs) under the combined effects of hydrocarbon fire exposure and shear-dominant loadings. The numerical models are developed utilizing the ANSYS program, incorporating a validated thermal-structural analysis model and a shear limit analysis model that accounts for web initial imperfections. These models are further employed to examine effects of fire-shear load scenarios, curvature radius, web slenderness ratio, and aspect ratio on shear performance of HCSBBGs. Herein, deflections, degradation of shear capacity, and web out-of-plane displacement (WOPD) of the steel box bridge girders are discussed in detail. Failure modes of steel box bridge girders can be determined via moment-shear interaction diagrams as specified by Eurocode 3 (EC3). The findings indicate that decreasing web slenderness ratio and web aspect ratio can enhance shear capacity of steel box girders. Further, shear failure modes are predominant when fire occurs near side support of HCSBBGs. Current fire-resistant design practices relying on deflection or flexural limit based failure criteria, cannot be applicable in predicting fire resistance of steel box bridge girders under shear failure mode. Therefore, a failure criterion based on the ultimate web out-of-plane displacement ratio (UWOPDR), related to the web shear limit state, can be more suitable for predicting fire resistance of HCSBBGs.

Numerical investigation on effects of blast loading on anti-fragment performance of hollow cylindrical UHMWPE cross-ply laminate

Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fiber composites are widely applied for bullet and explosion proofing. This study numerically investigated the dynamic response of a hollow cylindrical UHMWPE cross-ply laminate subjected to combined blast and fragment loading produced by an improvised explosive device (IED). A strain-rate-dependent, anisotropic, elastoplastic constitutive model with progressive failure was adopted for the laminates via a user subroutine and comprehensively verified against the experimental results from the literature. Three sets of simulations of fragment-only loading, blast-only loading and the combined loading were performed on different configurations of IEDs and laminates. It was found that the effects of the blast loading were much weaker than those of the fragment loading and caused very small deformation of the laminate’s middle, including somewhat pre-tension along the circumferential direction but almost no fiber fracture. Both with and without blast loading, the dense penetrations of the multiple fragments dominated the response of laminates, including perforated holes that were interconnected with each other and global ply splitting. As a result, the blast effects barely affected the anti-fragment performance of the laminates.

Study of the effects of shallow-buried charge parameters on the lower limb injuries of occupant in special vehicle body

In the process of military missions, special vehicles often encounter shallow buried charge threats that will greatly affect the safety of the occupants. To study the integrated effects of shallow buried charge detonation point, height-to-diameter ratio, burial inclination, weight, and other key parameters on the lower limb injuries of occupant, this study was based on the special body of a shallow buried explosive test and numerical calculation methods. The reliability of the numerical model and the load effect mechanism of the shallow burial charge were studied. Based on this, the lower limb injuries response law of occupant was analyzed with respect to each parameter. The results showed that the bottom charge load mainly came from two-stage ejection loading, in which the first stage was a strong load with short-duration local impact loading and the second stage was a weak load with long-duration extended range loading. By comparing the lower limb injury response of occupant under different charge parameters, we found that the weight of charge had the greatest effect on the extent of occupant injury, followed by the height-to-diameter ratio and burial inclination, while the detonation position had a relatively small effect on the injury magnitude. Finally, a comprehensive prediction model of the lower limb injuries of occupant was obtained by using the Latin hypercube sampling method and the least-squares method, and it was verified that the model had a good matching accuracy.

Which ERP components are effective in measuring cognitive load in multimedia learning? A meta-analysis based on relevant studies.

The open and generative nature of multimedia learning environments tends to cause cognitive overload in learners, and cognitive load is difficult for researchers to observe objectively because of its implicit and complex nature. Event-related potentials (ERP), a method of studying potential changes associated with specific events or stimuli by recording the electroencephalogram (EEG), has become an important method of measuring cognitive load in cognitive psychology. Although many studies have relied on ERP output measurements to compare different levels of cognitive load in multimedia learning, the results of the effect of cognitive load on ERP have been inconsistent. In this study, we used a meta-analysis of evidence-based research to quantitatively analyze 17 experimental studies to quantitatively evaluate which ERP component (amplitude) is most sensitive to cognitive load. Forty five effect sizes from 26 studies involving 360 participants were calculated. (1) The results of the studies analyzed in subgroups indicated high level effect sizes for P300 and P200 (2) Analyses of moderating variables for signal acquisition did not find that different methods of signal acquisition had a significant effect on the measurement of cognitive load (3) Analyses of moderating variables for task design found that a task system with feedback was more convenient for the measurement of cognitive load, and that designing for 3 levels of cognitive load was more convenient for the measurement of cognitive load than for 2 levels of cognitive load. (4) Analyses of continuous moderating variables for subject characteristics did not find significant effects of age, gender, or sample size on the results.

Combined extension and torsion of hydrogels with chemo-mechanical coupling: Revealing positive poynting effect

In this paper, combined extension and torsion of hydrogel subject to a chemo-mechanical coupled loading is described in the framework of continuum mechanics, where the free energy density consists of the elastic, mixing and chemical contributions. A simplified, closed-form and exactly analytical solution to the mechanical response is obtained, which accounts for the coupling effect of external loading, chemical potential and microstructural parameters, such as crosslinking degree, Flory-Huggins parameter, etc. In particular, the effect of free swelling and microscopic diffusion on deformation of the hydrogel at equilibrium state is discussed, reaching some fundamental conclusions. Negative axial forces are captured, revealing the typical positive Poynting effect where the cylinder tends to elongate on twisting, and an inhomogeneous deformation, induced by torsion, along the radial direction is demonstrated. Furthermore, the dynamic competition between external loading and solvent environment is revealed and investigated, where the direct connection between internal micro-physical parameters and macroscopic deformation is demonstrated. The theoretical results presented in this paper may provide predictions and guidance for the mechanical analysis and design of hydrogel cylinder subject to extension and torsion in a solvent.

Finite Element Modeling and Analysis of RC Shear Walls with Cutting-Out Openings

In recent decades, reinforced concrete (RC) shear walls have been one of the best structural solutions to resist lateral load in high-rise buildings. Shear wall openings are essential for preparations and architectural requirements, which weaken the wall, reducing bearing capacity, energy absorption, and stiffness while also causing stress concentrations. This paper presents a comprehensive finite element (FE) investigation of the behavior and performance of RC shear walls with openings and subjected to lateral loads. The study aims to evaluate the influence of various parameters, such as opening location, size, wall aspect ratio, axial load, and concrete strength, which affect the performance of shear walls. FE models were developed to simulate the seismic response of RC shear walls under the combined effect of constant axial and lateral loads. The obtained results from the FE model showed a successful validation using the experimental data available in the literature. The FE analysis results demonstrate that the inclusion of lower openings leads to a 25% decrease in the bearing capacity of the wall when compared to the upper openings. Moreover, it was observed that augmenting the sizes of the openings and the aspect ratios of the wall resulted in declines in the strength, stiffness, and energy absorption capacity of the wall while simultaneously enhancing the ductility and displacement of the RC shear walls.

Novel Bio-based Immiscible Blends of Poly(Butylene Succinate)/Poly(Ethylene Brassylate): Effect of PEB Loading on Their Rheological, Morphological, Thermal and Mechanical Properties

Novel Bio-based Immiscible Blends of Poly(Butylene Succinate)/Poly(Ethylene Brassylate): Effect of PEB Loading on Their Rheological, Morphological, Thermal and Mechanical Properties

Semi‐Analytical Solution for One‐Dimensional Nonlinear Consolidation of Multilayered Soil Considering Self‐Weight and Boundary Time Effect

ABSTRACTThe self‐weight stress in multilayered soil varies with depth, and traditional consolidation research seldom takes into account the actual distribution of self‐weight stress, resulting in inaccurate calculations of soil consolidation and settlement. This paper presents a semi‐analytical solution for the one‐dimensional nonlinear consolidation of multilayered soil, considering self‐weight, time‐dependent loading, and boundary time effect. The validity of the proposed solution is confirmed through comparison with existing analytical solutions and finite difference solution. Based on the proposed semi‐analytical solution, this study investigates the influence of self‐weight, interface parameter, soil properties, and nonlinear parameters on the consolidation characteristics of multilayered soil. The results indicate that factoring in the true distribution of self‐weight leads to a faster dissipation rate of excess pore water pressure and larger settlement and settlement rate, compared to not considering self‐weight. Both boundary drainage performance and soil nonlinearity have an impact on consolidation. If the boundary drainage capacity is inadequate, the influence of soil nonlinearity on consolidation diminishes.

Cell‐preserving scheme for mechanobiological research on dedifferentiation of chondrocytes

AbstractIn the present work, we introduce a scheme for efficient mechanobiological research on the dedifferentiation of chondrocytes (CHs) using a deep neural network (DNN) model that does not require sacrificing the cells and thus, saving resources. Cells are a part of active biological systems subjected to physical stimuli such as mechanical loading. Such loading affects cellular processes including proliferation, differentiation, and the interplay with the surrounding environment. CHs are mechanosensitive cells that produce and maintain the cartilaginous matrix that allows cartilage to bear and distribute mechanical loads in joints; their role in cartilage regeneration and treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) has been the focus of research projects. Nevertheless, it remains an open challenge to fully understand the effect of mechanical stimuli on CHs. One of the unresolved mechanobiological behaviors of CHs is dedifferentiation. Dedifferentiation of CHs is the phenomenon where isolated CHs alter their phenotype when cultured in a 2D in vitro environment over passages. While intact, cobblestone‐shaped CHs mainly produce collagen II, dedifferentiated CHs with elongated shapes produce fibroblastic collagen I. This limits the scalability of a promising treatment for OA, called ‘autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI)’. To overcome this limit, research is being carried out to understand the dedifferentiation mechanism in detail. This proposed scheme is composed of three parts: (i) the cell‐seeded specimens are loaded in a bioreactor system, (ii) an optical microscope is used to obtain the phase‐contrast images of living cells, and (iii) the images are analyzed using a DNN. This scheme provides an efficient tool to analyze the ratio of intact to dedifferentiated CHs while preserving cells on our way to elucidate the effects of mechanical loading on the dedifferentiation of CHs.

Evolution of Permeability and Sensitivity Analysis of Gas-Bearing Coal under Cyclic Dynamic Loading

It is imperative to conduct experimental studies on the seepage behavior of gas-bearing coal under cyclic dynamic loading conditions. This paper focuses on the evolution of coal permeability under the combined effects of dynamic loading, static loading, and gas adsorption. The principal conclusions are as follows: (1) As the frequency and amplitude of dynamic loading increase, the development of pore and fissure structures within the coal body becomes increasingly pronounced during dynamic loading cycles, resulting in a gradual rise in permeability. Notably, as the coal approaches its yielding stage, the permeability can increase by up to 47%. (2) The permeability curve is divided into four regions: the compaction reduction zone, the oscillation zone, the gradual recovery zone, and the abrupt failure increase zone. Ultimately, in the failure phase, the permeability surges dramatically, potentially reaching four to five times the initial permeability. (3) When the static loading stage and dynamic load are constant, the rate of change in coal permeability decreases with increasing adsorption amounts. When the adsorption amount is constant, the rate of change in permeability of the coal under dynamic loading increases with the increase in the static loading stress stage, with the maximum increase reaching 75.2%. It can be concluded from the rate of change in permeability and the dynamic loading sensitivity coefficient that the permeability of coal is highly sensitive to cyclic dynamic loading, with increased sensitivity associated with larger static loading stages and decreased sensitivity with greater adsorption amounts.

Effect of continuous and discontinuous non-proportional loadings on formability of DX54 sheet material

Both continuous and discontinuous non-proportional loadings occur in multi-stage automotive stamping processes. Discontinuous loading is widely studied, but due to requiring sophisticated experimental procedures, continuous loading has been studied less. This study explores the impact of continuous loading on DX54 steel utilising an innovative experimental setup that enabled cruciform samples to undergo uniaxial to biaxial strain path change continuously without unloading. A similar two-stage discontinuous loading from uniaxial to biaxial with unloading in between was generated in DX54 to understand the differences in macro-strain, micro-strain, microstructure, and micro-texture evolution between the continuous and the discontinuous loadings. The stress state of the material during continuous loading was different to that during discontinuous loading. In this study, the occurrence of ‘pseudo-localisation’ was observed during continuous loading, and the observed rotation of high-strain bands differed between continuous and discontinuous loading. The discontinuous loading induced a higher strain, hardening rate, and increased elongation compared to the continuous loading. These results suggest the potential for higher formability during the discontinuous loading compared to the continuous loading.

Design Features of a Removable Module for Securing Containers in Gondola Cars

Purpose. The main purpose of the study is to highlight the design features of the design of a removable module for fastening containers in gondola cars. Methodology. For the safe transportation of containers in gondola cars, it is proposed to use a removable module. This module operates on the principle of an intermediate adapter between the container and the open wagon body. The choice of the profiles of the beams of the frame of the removable module was made according to the moments of resistance of their components. To do this, the core system of the removable module frame was constructed and calculated using the Lira CAD software package. According to the maximum bending moment acting in the module frame due to the moment of resistance and the known permissible stresses, the profile of the frame beams was selected. Taking into account the selected profile of the frame, its spatial model was built and strength calculations were performed. The finite element method implemented in SolidWorks Simulation was used for strength calculations. The calculation was carried out for two loading schemes of the removable module: the effect of a vertical load and the effect of vertical and longitudinal loads. Findings. Based on the calculation, the profile of the removable module was selected according to the determined value of the resistance moment - a square pipe with a height and width of 300 mm and a wall thickness of 5 mm. The results of the strength calculations of the removable module showed that for the case of its perception of a vertical load, the maximum stresses are 112.5 MPa. The maximum displacements occur in the upper parts of the superstructures and are about 1 mm. For the case of the vertical and longitudinal loads perceived by the removable module, the maximum stresses in its structure amounted to 287.6 MPa. The maximum displacements occurred in the end superstructure located on the side of the load applied to the removable module. These displacements amounted to 2.16 mm. Thus, the strength of the removable module for the considered loading schemes is ensured. Originality. A scientific approach to the design of a removable module for securing containers in gondola carsis proposed. Practical value. The research will contribute to the creation of recommendations for the design of modular-type vehicle structures, as well as to improving the efficiency of railway transport operation.