Effect Of Restraint Research Articles

Behavior of Concrete-Filled Steel Tube Columns with Multiple Chambers and Round-Ended Cross-Sections under Axial Loading

Concrete-filled round-ended steel tubes (CFRTs) are a unique type of composite stub columns, which have the advantage of aesthetics and a well-distributed major–minor axis. Thus, the structure has been widely employed as piers and columns in bridges. To improve the mechanical performance of CFRTs with a large length–width ratio and to enhance the restraint effect of steel tubes on concrete, this study investigates the compressive property of multi-chamber, concrete-filled, round-ended steel tubular (M-CFRT) stub columns using a combination of experimental and numerical analyses. A detailed compression test on eight specimens is conducted to examine the compressive property of M-CFRT stub columns. The study focuses on understanding the influence of some key parameters on ultimate bearing capacity, failure stage, damage modes, and ductility. Additionally, the accuracy of the finite element modeling method in simulating the ultimate bearing capacity of the structure is verified. Finally, the calculating formula for the ultimate bearing capacity of M-CFRT stub columns is proposed on the basis of the experimental and numerical findings. Results of the formula calculation are consistent with the experimental data. These research findings serve as a valuable reference for designing similar structures in engineering practice.

GRILLAGE ANALYSIS OF CELLULAR PLATE STRUCTURESOF VARYING DEPTH WITH INCL

A static analysis of cellular plate structures of linearly varying depth is presented by using thesimplified grillage method. The cellular plate structure in this study consists of top and bottomflange plates (non-parallel) separated by longitudinal webs having varying depth. A variationalformulation of thin-walled beam element with linearly varying depth has been carried out for thederivation of the stiffness matrix of the grillage members for various warping restraint effects. Theeffect of warping restraint in stiffness is included by two methods, firstly; the implicit method(through the torsional constant) and secondly; by the explicit method (as independent warpingdegree of freedom). Two differer,t approaches are used to derive the torsional stiffness matrix,namely:by the assumed displacement field and by the differential equation of equilibrium. Theeffect of secondary shear stresses from the warping restraint is also considercd.The varying cross section properties of the eguivalent grillage members are derived from theproperties of the actual cellular plate structure.Several numerical examples and applications are presented . The results are compared with thoseobtained from the flat plate / shell elements of MSCA.{ASTRAN program. Acceptable agreement isobtained.

대학생의 신체수치심과 직관적 섭식과의 관계

This study aims to investigate the mediating effect of dietary restraint in the relationship between body shame and intuitive eating among college students. The participants included 364 college students (239 males and 125 females), and data were collected by using online questionnaires assessing body shame, dietary restraint, and intuitive eating. Descriptive statistics and correlation analyses were conducted separately for males and females using SPSS 23.0, and the mediating effects were analyzed using Process Macro Model 4. The results are as follows. First, body shame and dietary restraint both had a significant impact on intuitive eating. Second, dietary restraint had a partial mediating effect on the relationship between body shame and intuitive eating. Third, there were no gender differences in the effect of body shame on intuitive eating, mediated by dietary restraint. The significance of this study is that it confirmed the impact of body shame and dietary restraint on intuitive eating and found that there were no gender differences in men as well as women. In the future, it will be necessary to expand the research subjects to include general adults and clinical groups and conduct experimental and longitudinal studies that can measure the relationship between variables for intuitive eating more precisely.

Study of spatial temperature features of road tunnel fires under multiple factors

AbstractAfter a highway tunnel fire, the rapid change of the internal ambient temperature directly affects the personal safety of pedestrians. Based mainly on the lateral possibility of fire location and considering the coupling effect of multiple factors in a two‐lane highway tunnel, this study systematically carried out 63 full‐size tunnel fire simulation studies relying on Fluent software. The smoke temperature distribution patterns in the transverse and longitudinal spaces of the tunnel after the fire were revealed. This study shows that the smoke temperature below the tunnel vault is susceptible to the effect of sidewall restraint, making the maximum temperature of the tunnel vault of the offset fire source large; considering the lateral location of the fire source, the maximum temperature prediction formula of the tunnel vault is modified to expose the change law of the longitudinal temperature decay of the vault. This paper reveals for the first time the law of temperature distribution changes at the characteristic height of the human eye on the evacuation platform in the tunnel; the systematic study of the fire source cross‐sectional temperature distribution changes at the key lining structure points, and it is found that a low‐temperature space conducive to personnel escape exists in the lower part of the tunnel away from the fire source side. The results of the study are beneficial to the design of safe evacuation paths in the tunnel and the active emergency evacuation of personnel in the near‐fire source area.

Increased freedom of head movement mitigates stress and bacterial load in the airways of horses during transport.

Protection of horse welfare during transport is crucial. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of head and neck restraint on behavior and airway bacteria. In a randomized crossover study, six healthy Thoroughbreds were transported by road for 22 h in an individual bay with tight head restraint (50 cm short-rope) or loose head restraint (95 cm long-rope). Behavioral parameters relating to head position, eating, and stress were monitored during transportation. Tracheal wash samples were obtained 6 days before and immediately after transport for bacterial culture and metagenomic analysis. Compared to before transport, bacterial load (CFU/mL) after transport was significantly increased in the short-rope group (p = 0.04), whereas no changes were observed in the long-rope group. Transport significantly reduced Simpson index at phylum, class, order, and family levels in both groups (p < 0.001) of tracheal microbiota. In both groups, this reduction was associated with increases in the dominant members of relative abundance at phylum (Firmicutes: +24% in long-rope and +14% in short-rope), class (Bacilli: +20% in long-rope and +22% in short-rope) and family (Streptococcaceae: +22% in long-rope and +23% in short-rope) levels. Licking behavior during transportation with short-rope restraint was more frequent than in horses with long-rope restraint. These results suggest loose head restraint during transportation is likely to ameliorate stress and mitigate the associated increased bacterial load in the lower airways associated with transport. Further, head position during transportation is likely a more important determinant of airway hygiene and distress than duration of travel.

Study on the Compressive Properties of RPC Restrained by CFRP Sheet under Low-Temperature Curing

Abstract To address the problem of significant degradation of compressive properties of reactive powder concrete (RPC) after freezing during the curing period in a low-temperature environment, carbon fiber–reinforced polymer (CFRP) was used to restrain RPC specimens with carbon fiber filament content of 0 or 1 %, and axial compression tests were performed after low-temperature curing (20°C, −5°C, −15°C, and −25°C). The effects of temperature, restraint, and carbon fiber filament content on the compression properties of the RPC were analyzed. Results of the analysis showed that the mechanical properties of RPC under compression decreased with decreasing curing temperature. The use of CFRP sheets for the restraint of RPC specimens and the addition of carbon fiber filaments can both increase the ultimate load capacity of RPC specimens at each curing temperature, and the specimens were relatively intact after damage. With the addition of carbon fiber filaments, which can slow down the rate of decay of load capacity as curing temperature decreases, the degree of load capacity improvement is greater the lower the temperature. The degree of load capacity increase of the CFRP sheet decreases with decreasing temperature because of the weakening of the epoxy resin adhesive bond strength in the CFRP sheet at low temperatures. Both CFRP sheets and carbon fiber filament can increase the compressive pre-crack energy absorbed by RPC at each of the temperatures and can increase the toughness of RPC at low temperatures.

Mechanical properties of uniaxial compression of total tailings paste under lateral restraint effect

After the filling of paste into the mined-out area, significant disparities are evident between the mechanical characteristics and the unconfined conditions, primarily caused by the lateral extrusion of the surrounding rock. To research the mechanical properties of paste under the influence of lateral restraint effect, a device was developed to apply lateral pressure to the paste. This was then combined with an existing uniaxial press machine to carry out uniaxial compression testing of the paste subject to lateral restraint effect. The device was used to carry out uniaxial compression tests under different curing ages and dry and wet conditions under the lateral restraint effect, and compared with the unconfined condition. The study revealed a considerable increase in the paste's strength caused by the lateral restraint effect, resulting in a growth rate ranging from 12.35% to 64.51%. The mathematical model of lateral stress and strength was established, and it was found that the two showed a significant quadratic function relationship. By acquiring the stress-strain data of the loading process, the evolution characteristics of the stress-strain curve of the paste under the influence of the lateral restraint effect are revealed, and the change rule of the elastic modulus is explored. Under the influence of the lateral restraint effect, the growth rate reaches 1.93% to 64.04%. When comparing the crack propagation characteristics of the paste with and without the influence of the lateral restraint effect, it was observed that the failure mode of the paste under uniaxial compression shifts from tensile failure to shear failure. Finally, this paper proposes the strength design method for backfill with considerations to the lateral restraint effect. The reliability of the suggested method is established through actual sampling results in the mine. The research findings hold significant guiding value for the secure and efficient extraction of paste backfill mines.

Towards a better living environment-compressive strength and water absorption testing of mini compressed stabilized earth blocks and fired bricks

The escalating demand for eco-friendly and energy-efficient building materials underscores a pivotal shift towards sustainable development catalyzed by heightened public consciousness. Leveraging community production optimizes local resources and curtails transportation overheads, fostering broader access to superior housing solutions. Emphasizing less-intensive construction techniques enhances material strength, insulation, and thermal attributes while significantly shrinking carbon footprints and waste generation. Particularly vital during crises, these methods invigorate local employment and champion environmental conservation. This study juxtaposes the performance metrics of Mini Compressed Stabilized Earth Blocks (MCSEB) and fire-burned clay bricks, focusing primarily on their compressive strength. The conventional production of fire-burned clay bricks poses notable challenges, especially regarding energy consumption and pollution. Their manufacturing, anchored in coal utilization, directly exacerbates greenhouse gas emissions. Compressed Stabilized Earth Blocks (CSEBs) emerge as a promising alternative in this context. Crafted by pressure on soil, their production eschews the need for coal or other combustibles, resulting in a significantly reduced carbon and energy footprint. When benchmarked against traditional fire-burned bricks, CSEBs, if demonstrating analogous compressive strengths, emerge as a viable replacement. A pivotal element in assessing compressive strength lies in factoring in the specimen’s dimensions, with platen restraint effects as a crucial metric. This research harnesses the platen test to comprehensively compare the compressive strengths of Fire Burnt Clay Bricks and Mini Compressed Stabilized Earth Blocks. This correlation suggests that Mini Compressed Stabilized Earth Blocks, when adjusted for size, can be deemed comparable in strength to Fire fire-burnt clay Bricks, making them a promising sustainable alternative in construction.

Experimental study on seismic behavior of RC beams confined by corroded stirrups

PurposeTo understand the seismic behavior of reinforced concrete (RC) beams confined by corroded stirrups, low-reversed cyclic loading tests were carried out on seven RC beam specimens with different stirrup corrosion levels and stirrup ratios to investigate their mechanical characteristics.Design/methodology/approachThe failure mode, hysteresis behavior, skeleton curves, ductility, stiffness degradation and energy dissipation behavior of RC specimens are compared and discussed. The experimental results showed that the restraint of concrete provided by corroded stirrups is reduced, which leads to a decline in seismic performance.FindingsFor the specimens with the same ratios of stirrup, as the corrosion level increased, the load-carrying capacity, stiffness, plastic deformation capacity and energy-dissipation capacity dropped significantly. Compared with the uncorroded specimen, the failure modes of specimens with high corrosion level changed from ductile bending failure to brittle failure. For the specimens with the same levels of corrosion, the higher the stirrup ratio was, the stronger the restraint effect of the stirrups on the concrete, and the seismic behavior of the specimens was obviously improved.Originality/valueIn this paper, a total of seven full-size RC beam specimens at joints with different stirrup corrosion levels and stirrup ratios were designed and constructed to explore the influences of corrosion levels and stirrup ratios of stirrups on the seismic performances. The failure modes, strain of reinforcement, hysteretic curves, skeleton curves, stiffness degradation and ductility factor of RC specimens are compared and discussed.

Axial compression performance of high-temperature-exposed concrete-filled steel tubular columns repaired with carbon fiber reinforced polymer

Axial compression tests were conducted on high-temperature-exposed round concrete-filled steel tube (CFST) short columns repaired with carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) to test the influence of temperature, CFRP-wrapped layers and concrete strength on compressive performance. The experimental data were plotted as load–displacement and load–hoop strain curves, and the variation laws of the curves were analyzed. The load–displacement curves contain elastic, elastoplastic, and plastic strengthening phases. A finite element model of a high-temperature-exposed CFST column repaired with CFRP was established to analyze the stress changes in the CFRP, steel tube, and concrete. CFRP improves the bearing capacity, stiffness and ductility of CFST columns that were damaged by high temperatures. As the number of CFRP layers increased, the bearing capacity of the repaired columns improved, and deformation was delayed. Taking into account the damage of temperature and the restraint effect of CFRP, an equation was developed to evaluate the axial compression bearing capacity of high-temperature-exposed CFST columns repaired with CFRP.

Component test for the assessment of delayed hydrogen-assisted cracking in thick-walled SAW joints for offshore applications

Offshore wind turbines continuously increase in size and weight and demand adequate offshore foundations concepts like monopiles, tripods, or jackets. These components are typically constructed using submerged arc welding (SAW) with high-strength thick steel plates like the S420ML. During welding, the occurrence of delayed hydrogen-assisted cracking (HAC) must be anticipated. HAC is a critical combination of the local hydrogen concentration within a susceptible microstructure under certain mechanical load, i.e., the occurring (welding) residual stresses. The welding sequence of the thick-walled plates complicates the residual stress distribution due to the necessary repeated thermal cycling, i.e., welding seam/layer deposition to fill the joint. For that purpose, SAW with two-wire-technique was used to weld a specially designed and prototype-like mock-up of a real component with a thickness of 50 mm, filled with over 20 passes and a seam length of 1000 mm. Additional welded stiffeners simulated the effect of a high restraint, to achieve critical HAC conditions. The necessity of a minimum waiting time (MWT) before the NDT can be conducted (to exclude HAC) was critically verified by the application of ultrasonic testing of the welded joint at different time-steps of the NDT of up to 48 h after the completion welding. The residual stresses were determined by a robot XRD goniometer. Tensile residual stresses up to the yield limit are found both in the weld metal and in the heat-affected zone. Numerical modeling allowed the qualitative estimation of the hydrogen diffusion in the weld. No noticeable HAC occurrence was identified and confirms the high cracking resistance of the investigated material. Finally, the applicability of the MWT concept should be critically discussed.

Quantifying the effect of end support restraints on vibration serviceability of mass timber floor systems: Testing

Design of mass timber floor systems is commonly governed by vibration serviceability due to high stiffness-to-weight ratio and low inherent damping of timber. Research and design practice have shown that static deflection under a concentrated load and fundamental natural frequency can be effective and robust indicators for vibration performance of mass timber floors. These design parameters are normally calculated by assuming simply supported conditions in existing design methods. However, such an assumption deviates from actual floor supports, especially in platform-framed buildings, and in-situ end support restraints have been widely recognized as a significant factor affecting the vibration performance. The purpose of the study is to quantify the influence of end support restraints on vibration serviceability of mass timber floors in platform construction through a comprehensive experimental program and analytical treatment. This paper is the first part and focus specifically on the experimental work on cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels. In particular, extensive laboratory tests have been conducted on different CLT floor panels with various end support restraints induced by top loads, self-tapping screws and steel angle brackets. The fundamental natural frequency and mid-span deflection under a concentrated load were measured for each end support configuration. The rotational restraint stiffness was determined by comparing results of restrained supports to those of simple supports and represented as end fixity factors. The analysis of test results shows that the CLT floor-to-wall connection exhibited inherent non-linear behaviour and such characteristic was more significant for higher top loads. Compared with screws and brackets, the top loads dominated the partially restrained effect but such dominance gradually diminished for lower-level top loads. In addition, support wall thickness notably impacts the support restraint. It was then suggested that the clear span could be used to determine deflection and frequency in the design, but further investigation is needed.

Free vibration and sound radiation of ABH-type functionally graded sandwich plates under elastic boundary restraints

Based on the first-order shear deformation theory, the free vibration and sound radiation of ABH-type functionally graded sandwich plates (ABH-type FG sandwich plate) under elastic boundary restraints are studied. The displacement field of the plate is described as an improved form of double Fourier cosine series and several closed-form auxiliary polynomial functions. The dynamic equation is solved by using the Rayleigh-Ritz method. The accuracy of the present method is validated and the effects of thickness variation coefficients and elastic boundary restraints on the vibr-acoustic characteristics are discussed. The research can provide an idea for the design of sandwich structures.

Mechanical performance study of a novel modular gymnasium inner sleeve all-bolt cross connection joint – part Ⅰ: Experiments and finite element modeling

The authors propose a novel movable modular gymnasium based on modular building technology to meet people's sports needs. However, the huge roof load puts higher requirements on the performance of modular units and their connecting joints. In light of this, the authors propose a novel connection joint using the inner sleeve and bolted connections, which connect the upper and lower columns of the modular unit to give it higher performance. In addition, it connects the upper and lower beams of the modular unit by bolts to improve its overall performance. The authors evaluated the mechanical properties of the connecting joints through experiments and simulations. The results indicate that the welding quality determines the beam-oriented bearing capacity of the connections while having little impact on the column-oriented bearing capacity. It is difficult for the inner sleeve to enhance the initial stiffness and beam-oriented bearing capacity of the joints due to the initial gap between the inner sleeve and the modular column. The restraint effect of the stiffening ribs induces the deformation of the inner sleeve, and its bearing capacity increases up to 91%. The inner sleeve improves the column-ward bearing capacity and deformation capacity of the joints, and its bearing capacity rises to 135%.

Numerical modelling and analysis on axial loading behaviors of composite column-in-column system

Previous studies have showed that severe earthquake could cause damage to concrete filled steel tube (CFST) column. Although the energy dissipator can be used to improve the seismic performance of the CFST column, its enhancement is limited. Based on a new passive control strategy, the authors recently proposed a novel composite column-in-column (CIC) system to enhance the seismic performance of the CFST column. The CIC system was composed of an exterior column, an interior column, and a series of connecting springs and dashpots, and its load-bearing capacity and seismic mitigation effectiveness was experimentally and numerically demonstrated respectively. The test results revealed that under compression tilting might occur to the interior column when the interior column was not restrained by the springs and dashpots, which resulted in the underestimation of the ultimate axial loading capacity of the CIC system. This paper extends the previous experimental study by further conducting numerical investigation to clarify the restraint effect provided by the springs and dashpots on the axial loading behaviors of the CIC system. The influences of the length-to-diameter ratio, diameter-to-thickness ratio, concrete strength and steel strength on its axial loading capacity are comprehensively examined. Moreover, according to the codes EC4, AISC 360–16, GB 50936–2014 and T/CCES 7–2020, formulae for predicting the ultimate axial loading capacity of the system are developed and validated by the test and numerical results. Results show that, by employing the optimized springs and dashpots, the exterior and interior columns can work compatibly to avoid the tilting and global buckling in the CIC system, providing a good axial loading behavior with favorable ductility and post-peak performance. The prediction formulae are reliable for the CIC system design and analysis.

Stress intensity factor analysis for mixed-mode fracture behavior of inclined semi-elliptical surface crack in stiffened plate under tension load

This study aims to investigate the mixed-mode fracture behavior of stiffened plates with inclined semi-elliptical surface cracks (ISSCs). For this purpose, a new numerical model is developed for the fracture analysis using FRANC 3D in combination with ABAQUS. Normalized stress intensity factors (SIFs) are used to analyze the fracture behavior at the surface and deepest points of the surface crack. Additionally, an arrest parameter ψ is proposed to quantify the level of crack arrest under mixed-mode conditions. Then, a thorough investigation is conducted to examine the fracture behavior of stiffened plates with ISSCs, focusing on the effects of aspect ratio, relative depth, spacing ratio, stiffness coefficient, crack angle, and loading mode. The findings indicate that the restraint effect of stiffeners on the fracture of large surface cracks is significantly stronger compared to small surface cracks. It is also identified that the restraint effect is more pronounced at the surface point than at the deepest point. Finally, a set of novel formulas is derived to evaluate the mixed-mode SIFs in stiffened plates through statistical analysis of the results.

Research on mode-I fracture characteristics of basalt fiber reactive powder concrete

Basalt fiber reactive powder concrete (BFRPC) has strong potential application value because of its green environmental protection and good comprehensive properties. However, basalt fiber content is the important factor affecting the mode-I fracture characteristics of reactive powder concrete (RPC). Through the three-point bending fracture experiments, the effect of different basalt fiber content (0 %∼2.0 %) on the fracture parameters of RPC was studied. Based on DIC technology, the crack propagation and fracture process zone (FPZ) evolution of BFRPC were deeply studied, and the deformation and failure ability of BFRPC was evaluated by horizontal displacement standard deviation. The results showed that the double-K fracture toughness of RPC reaches the maximum (0.71 and 1.78 MPa mm1/2) under the action of 1.5 % basalt fiber content. However, the interfacial fracture energy is positively correlated with the basalt fiber content. Due to the bridging and restraint effect of basalt fiber on RPC, an appropriate amount of basalt fiber (0.5%–1.5 %) can effectively reduce the length of FPZ. The basalt fiber content has a positive effect on the growth of horizontal displacement standard deviation of BFRPC, which further highlights the excellent ability of BFRPC to resist deformation and failure.

Electrochemical crystalline/amorphous Ni(OH)S@CoFe-LDH/NF for efficient oxygen evolution reaction

Developing efficient electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) to promote catalytic activities is a significant approach for renewable energy conversion. Herein, a novel crystalline/amorphous composite supported on nickel foam (denoted as Ni(OH)S@CoFe-LDH/NF) was successfully designed and synthesized through a facile hydrothermal and cathodic electrodeposition. Notably, Ni3S2 in Ni(OH)S was converted into amorphization due to the coupling effect and restraint effect of surface ion diffusion and controllable ion diffusion rate. The activated crystalline/amorphous structure enhanced the adsorption of reactants because of the highly unsaturated structure. In 1.0 M KOH, the Ni(OH)S@CoFe-LDH/NF exhibited enhanced activity with a low overpotential of 238 mV at 100 mA cm−2 toward OER. Furthermore, small Tafel slope values and excellent durability were also provided for OER process. DFT calculations confirmed that crystalline/amorphous composite could decrease the energy barrier to promote catalytic activity. This study could pave a way to enable the evolution of electrocatalysts by constructing crystalline/amorphous composite via a top-down strategy for OER process.

French validation of the Compensatory Eating and Behaviors in Response to Alcohol Consumption Scale (CEBRACS) in a university student sample

PurposeFood and Alcohol Disturbance (FAD) is characterized by the combination of problematic alcohol use and eating disorder symptoms to offset caloric intake associated with alcohol drinking and/or to enhance intoxication. The Compensatory Eating and Behaviors in Response to Alcohol Consumption Scale (CEBRACS) is a proven tool for measuring FAD, validated in English and Italian populations but never in the French population. The present study aims at validating a French version of the CEBRACS in a representative sample of university students and to determine its validity and reliability.Methods2267 university students completed the CEBRACS and measures of eating disorders, alcohol consumption and exercise.ResultsAn exploratory factor analysis revealed a 4-factor structure: enhancement of the effects of alcohol, dietary restraint and exercise, purging and vomiting and extreme fasting. The internal consistency for these subscales ranged from good to excellent. Correlations between the CEBRACS and eating disorders, alcohol and exercise measures revealed a good concurrent validity. No gender differences were found in the CEBRACS scores. Participants with a CEBRACS total score > 21 points were at higher risk for developing eating disorders and alcohol-related problems.ConclusionsThese findings highlight the reliability and validity of the French version of the CEBRACS. The distinct factors identified in the CEBRACS allow to distinguish between participants with different motives for engaging FAD behaviour and thus to prevent future development of eating and/or alcohol use disorders. The CEBRACS seems to be a relevant scale to capture FAD behaviors and thus to prevent negative and deleterious consequences.Level of evidence: Level III, evidence obtained from well-designed cohort or case–control analytic studies.

Discretizing continuous variables in nutrition and obesity research: a practice that needs to be cut short

Background/objectivesNutrition and obesity researchers often dichotomize or discretize continuous independent variables to conduct an analysis of variance to examine group differences. We describe consequences associated with dichotomizing and discretizing continuous variables using two cross-sectional studies related to nutrition.Subjects/methodsStudy 1 investigated the effects of health literacy and nutrition knowledge on nutrition label accuracy (n = 612). Study 2 investigated the effects of cognitive restraint and BMI on fruit and vegetable (F/V) intake (n = 586). We compare analytic approaches where continuous independent variables were either discretized/dichotomized or analyzed as continuous variables.ResultsIn Study 1, dichotomization of health literacy and nutrition knowledge for 2 × 2 ANOVA revealed health literacy had an effect on nutrition label accuracy. Nutrition knowledge has an effect on nutrition label accuracy, but the health literacy by nutrition knowledge interaction was not significant. When analyzed using regression, the nutrition knowledge effect was significant. The simple effect of health literacy was also significant when health literacy equals zero. Finally, the quadratic effect of health literacy was negative and significant. In Study 2, dichotomization and discretization of cognitive restraint and BMI were used for three ANOVAs, which discretized BMI in three ways. For all ANOVAs, the BMI main effect for predicting fruit and vegetable intake was significant, the interaction between BMI and cognitive restraint was non-significant, and cognitive restraint was only significant when both variables were dichotomized. When analyzed using regression, the continuous mean-centered variables, and their interaction each significantly predicted F/V intake.ConclusionsDichotomizing continuous independent variables resulted in distortions of effect sizes across studies, an inability to assess the quadratic effect of health literacy, and an inability to detect the moderating effect of BMI. We discourage researchers from dichotomizing and discretizing continuous independent variables and instead use multiple regression to examine relationships between continuous independent and dependent variables.