Impact Behavior Research Articles

Machine learning approach to evaluating impact behavior in fabric-laminated composite materials

Fabric-layered composites play a crucial role in safety and surveillance applications, making it imperative to accurately predict their impact behavior. This research focuses on creating a machine-learning model to predict the impact behavior of fabric-stacked composites, specifically carbon and Kevlar fabrics. Low-velocity impact tests were performed with varying parameters, and the impact energy and laminate thickness information were used to train machine-learning models to predict impact properties such as impact force, displacement, and absorbed energy. It was observed that the impact force increased by 118.5 % in carbon-laminated fibers and 175.8 % in Kevlar-laminated fibers, while the hybrid layer showed a 101.4 % increase upon impact from 16J. Displacement can affect the stability of the layered structure; thus, a similar stacking sequence is less stable than the hybrid laminated structure. In terms of absorbed energy, as the laminated layers increase, carbon fiber laminate absorbs 4.8 times more energy, and Kevlar fiber and hybrid laminated structures absorb 3 times more energy at higher impact energy. Furthermore, four machine learning models were used to investigate the impact behavior of identical and mixed-layered laminated composites. The impact force and displacement were predicted with higher accuracy using the polynomial regression model, achieving 80 % and 89 % accuracy, respectively. The support vector machine predicted the absorbed energy with approximately 96 % accuracy. In continuing, the experimental results closely matched the predictions made by the other machine learning models utilized in this study. Additionally, the importance of distinctive features and their influence on the performance of the machine learning-based model were interpreted using transposed features of importance and dependency plots. Various failure modes in fabric laminated composites were also identified, providing insights to enhance the performance of stacked fiber materials.

Water Impact: When a Sphere Becomes Flat.

A large hydrodynamic force accompanies the vertical impact of bodies on water. While added mass phenomena govern these forces for both spherical and flat impactors, the dynamics of a trapped gas layer critically alters the flat case, reducing the peak pressure below that predicted by water hammer theory. An impactor with a spherical nose cap looks increasingly flat as the nose curvature approaches zero. This causes one to ask at what curvature a spherical cap impactor transitions to flat impact behavior. We find this transition, relate limiting behaviors to theories, and dispel the long-held belief that the largest water impact forces occur for flat bodies.

Mechanical performance of eco-friendly self-compacting concrete (SCC) mixtures and two-way slabs partially containing cement kiln dust as cement replacement and internally reinforced with waste plastic mesh

A large quantity of cement kiln dust (CKD) is produced annually during the production of Portland cement. The majority of the produced CKD remains unused except in specific cases related to soil stabilization projects. The current research investigates the production of self-compacting concrete (SCC) mixtures, in which CKD is used as a substitute for cement in different weight proportions, 3 %, 6 %, 9 %, 12 %, and 15 %. The hardened mechanical properties of SCC, such as compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, and flexural strength, as well as the fresh state characteristics (i.e., slump flow diameter, T500, V-funnel, and L-box tests), were recorded and compared with the control mixture which was entirely cast using cement. Results revealed that with an increase in the CKD content beyond 6 %, the slump flow diameter of SCC mixtures significantly decreased. Also, the increase ratios in the V-Funnel flow time for self-compacting concrete mixtures, when replacing cement with CKD ratios of 3 %, 6 %, 9 %, 12 %, and 15 %, were 13.3 %, 30 %, 46 %, 58 %, and 66.7 % respectively, compared with the reference mixture. Additionally, the impact behavior of two-way SCC slabs cast using CKD ratios ranging from 3 to 15 % and internally strengthened using various patterns of recycled plastic mesh was investigated. Strengthening the SCC slabs using two layers of recycled plastic grids proved to be effective in preventing the projectile from penetrating the whole thickness of the SCC slabs, regardless of the CKD content.

A multi-region recurrent circuit for evidence accumulation in rats.

Decision-making based on noisy evidence requires accumulating evidence and categorizing it to form a choice. Here we evaluate a proposed feedforward and modular mapping of this process in rats: evidence accumulated in anterodorsal striatum (ADS) is categorized in prefrontal cortex (frontal orienting fields, FOF). Contrary to this, we show that both regions appear to be indistinguishable in their encoding/decoding of accumulator value and communicate this information bidirectionally. Consistent with a role for FOF in accumulation, silencing FOF to ADS projections impacted behavior throughout the accumulation period, even while nonselective FOF silencing did not. We synthesize these findings into a multi-region recurrent neural network trained with a novel approach. In-silico experiments reveal that multiple scales of recurrence in the cortico-striatal circuit rescue computation upon nonselective FOF perturbations. These results suggest that ADS and FOF accumulate evidence in a recurrent and distributed manner, yielding redundant representations and robustness to certain perturbations.

Impact and migration behavior of triclosan on waste-activated sludge anaerobic digestion

Triclosan (TCS), a hydrophobic antibacterial agent, is extensive application in daily life. Despite a low biodegradability rate, its hydrophobicity results in its accumulation in waste-activated sludge (WAS) during domestic and industrial wastewater treatment. While anaerobic digestion is the foremost strategy for WAS treatment, limited research has explored the interphase migration behavior and impacts of TCS on WAS degradation during anaerobic digestion. This study revealed TCS migration between solid- and liquid-phase in WAS digestion. The solid–liquid distribution coefficients of TCS were negative for proteins and polysaccharides and positive for ammonium. High TCS levels promoted volatile-fatty-acid accumulation and reduced methane production. Enzyme activity tests and functional prediction indicated that TCS increased enzyme activity associated with acid production, in contrast to the inhibition of key methanogenic enzymes. The findings of the TCS migration behavior and its impacts on WAS anaerobic digestion provide an in-depth understanding of the evolution of enhanced TCS-removing technology.

Low‐velocity impact characterization of polyurethane rubber/nano‐clay enriched sustainable sandwich composites: Synergy of experimentation and simulations

AbstractThis research proposes a novel sustainable composite using basalt (B), hemp (H) and polyurethane rubber (Pu) reinforced in nano clay functionalised epoxy matrix for sacrificial structural applications prone to low‐velocity impact (LVI). To this end, symmetric and asymmetric laminates such as HHHH, BBBB, BHHB, BHPuHB, BBPuHH and BPuBPuHPuH are fabricated using compression molding techniques and subjected to LVI at three different impact energies of 19.66, 39.39, and 59.05 J. The hemp fibers were treated with NaOH solution before fabrication. Material characterization such as X‐ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and morphological studies has been carried out. The impact and post‐impact properties of the proposed composites are experimentally evaluated and validated with the finite element (FE) results. The effect on the residual tensile strength degradation of laminates at different interlayers and energy levels is also investigated using the Caprino analytical model. The barely visible impact damages (BVID) are investigated through non‐destructive dye‐penetration tests, which facilitate easy identification of the prominent LVI damages like “Plateau” and “Cliff‐drop” impressions. Based on the impact energy absorption and residual tensile strength, proposed laminates followed BHPuHB > BBBB > BHHB > HHHH. The experimentation suggests that Polyurethane core laminates support maximum impact energy absorption by favoring a structural change in interlayers. Also, the residual tensile strength decreases as impact velocity increases.Highlights Low‐velocity impact behavior of sustainable composites is experimented. Basalt, hemp and polyurethane rubber are reinforced in nano clay epoxy matrix. A FE framework to validate the experimentation is proposed. Dye penetrant NDT is adopted to investigate the damages. Morphological studies are conducted to understand LVI responses.

Experimental study on the dynamic behavior of pile-anchor structures under impact loading of debris flow and rockfall

The pile-anchor structure is widely used in slope/landslide reinforcement, and is also applicable to debris flow and rockfall barriers in mountainous areas. However, the impact behavior of this structure has not been studied. To promote the use of this retaining structure in the prevention of slope geological disasters, this study investigated the dynamic responses and impact behavior of pile-anchor structures through a set of impact experiments, wherein dry granular materials with different particle size and sliding blocks with different masses were adopted to simulate different impact loading scenarios of granular flow and rockfall. The impact pressure on the pile-anchor structure, the seismic signals induced inside the slope during the sliding and impact processes, and the deformation characteristics and failure modes of the piles and anchors were systematically investigated. The results indicate that the peak impact force and intensity of the seismic signal are affected by the particle size of the impact granular materials. As the impact loading of sliding blocks increased, the tensile force of the anchor increased nonlinearly, the distribution pattern of the pile's impact dynamic moment changed, and anchor prestress loss was observed. The preliminary results obtained by this study are expected to provide the theoretical basis for designing relevant barriers in areas prone to debris flow and rockfall, and promote the inclusivity of the impact behavior of slope retaining structures in existing design codes pertaining to retaining structures.

Stepwise crystallization method combining isotactic polypropylene-based plastic waste film to prepare high-performance polypropylene random copolymer

Upcycling of waste plastic film is increasingly important at the background of energy shortage and environmental crisis. However, direct reuse of the waste plastics as reworked material inevitably downgrades the mechanical properties. Herein, a stepwise crystallization method was used to enable the recycling of waste isotactic polypropylene (iPP) film value-added in iPP-based homocomposites. In detail, the effect of β-nucleating agent (β-NA) and iPP on crystallization behaviors of polypropylene random copolymer (PPR) was investigated at first. The stepwise crystallization procedure was further introduced to promote the β-crystallization of PPR/iPP/β-NA composites in which the crystal structures, polymorph compositions and phase morphologies were systematically researched. At last, impact behaviors of PPR/iPP/β-NA composites were characterized and a penitential toughening mechanism was proposed. It was found that the stepwise crystallization boosted β-crystallization and growth of rubbery phase during the isothermal procedure, resulting in an increase of relative β-crystal content and low temperature impact toughness from 0 % and 2.02 kJ/m2 of neat PPR to 33.4 % and 3.06 kJ/m2 of PPR/iPP/β-NA composites. This work provides a simple, implementable, and effective method for the recycling of waste iPP films and the low-temperature toughening of PPR.

Experimental and Numerical Analysis of the Damage Mechanism of an Aramid Fabric Panel Engaged in a Medium-Velocity Impact.

The aim of this study is to analyze the ballistic impact behavior of a panel made of Twaron CT736 fabric with a 9 mm Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) projectile. Three shots are fired at different velocities at this panel. The ballistic impact test procedure was carried out in accordance with NIJ 010106. The NIJ-010106 standard is a document that specifies the minimum performance requirements that protection systems must meet to ensure performance. The 9 mm FMJ projectile is, according to NIJ 010106, in threat level II, but the impact velocity is in threat level IIIA. Analysis of macro-photographs of the impact of the Twaron CT736 laminated fabric panel with a 9 mm FMJ projectile involves a detailed examination of the images to gather information about the material performance and failure mechanisms at the macro- or even meso-level (fabric/layer, thread). In this paper, we analyze numerically and experimentally a panel consisting of 32 layers, made of a single material, on impact with a 9 mm FMJ projectile. The experimental results show that following impact of the panel with three projectiles, with velocities between 414 m/s and 428 m/s, partial penetration occurs, with a different number of layers destroyed, i.e., 15 layers in the case of the projectile velocity of 414 m/s, 20 layers of material in the case of the panel velocity of 422 m/s and 22 layers destroyed in the case of the projectile velocity of 428 m/s. Validation of the simulated model is achieved by two important criteria: the number of broken layers and the qualitative appearance. Four numerical models were simulated, of which three models validated the impact results of the three projectiles that impacted the panel. Partial penetration occurs in all four models, breaking the panel in the impact area, with only one exception, i.e., the number of layers destroyed, in which case the simulation did not validate the validation criterion. The performance of Twaron CT736 fabric is also given by the indentation depth values by two methods: according to NIJ 0101.06 and by 3D scanning. The NIJ 010106 standard specifies that a panel provides protection when the indentation depth values are less than 0.44 mm.

Low Pre-Conception Health Among Iraqi College Women Linked to Age and Socioeconomic Status

This study explores pre-conception health behaviors among female college students at the University of Baghdad, highlighting a critical gap in non-Western contexts. Conducted from October 2023 to March 2024 with 144 participants, the cross-sectional study assessed pre-pregnancy health behaviors using a validated 5-point Likert scale. Results showed that 74.4% of students exhibited low pre-conception health behaviors, with significant predictors being age (p = 0.008), academic grade (p = 0.041), and socioeconomic status (p = 0.035). The average participant age was 20.63 years, with most in their first academic year and living with parents. The findings emphasize the need for targeted interventions and educational programs to improve pre-pregnancy health awareness and behaviors in this demographic. Highlights: High Prevalence: 74.4% exhibited low pre-conception health behaviors. Influential Factors: Age, grade, and socioeconomic status significantly impacted behaviors. Intervention Needed: Educational programs essential for improving pre-conception health awareness. Keywords: pre-conception health, female college students, predictive factors, socioeconomic status, health behaviors

Viscoelasticity and impact behaviour of green epoxy bio-composites made of date palm leaflets

Natural fibres can replace traditional synthetic fibre composites in applications for which sustainability is a critical aspect. Elghas date palm leaflets in their natural state and with handwoven fabric reinforcements—the latter from customary and regional carpet productions—are included into new bio-based composites that are produced and characterized in this work. The two classes of bio-composites have the same weight fraction in terms of reinforcement. The date palm leaflets reinforcements are dispersed in a green resin matrix. Bio-composites reinforced with leaflets tree have twice the static bending strength than those with leaflets fabric reinforcements. The viscoelastic behaviour of those bio-composites shows an opposite trend, with the laminates reinforced with leaflets fabric being the least sensitive. For an impact energy of 3 J, the strength of bio-composites with leaflets fabric is double than the analogous value shown by bio-composites with leaflets tree. The impact strength however increases by 4.7 times for lower impact energies of 1 J. The results shown here further demonstrate the possibility of developing bio-composites from agro-industrial products, waste, and local textile traditions for secondary structural applications.

Investigating low velocity impact and compression after impact behaviors of carbon fiber/epoxy composites reinforced with helical multiwalled carbon nanotubes

Pre-damage and undetected micro-defects in fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites are significant challenges compromising the integrity and mechanical performance of composite structures in aerospace applications. To address this challenge, this experimental study investigated the low velocity impact (LVI) and compression after impact (CAI) behaviors of carbon fiber/epoxy (CF/E) reinforced with 0.0 (control sample), 0.2, and 0.4 wt% helical multiwalled carbon nanotubes (HMWCNTs). The LVI test results showed that the control samples, with epoxy as the predominant phase, registered the lowest peak force compared to the 0.2 wt and 0.4 wt% HMWCNT/epoxy composite laminates. The CAI test results showed a decrease in strength with increased impact energy and an increase in the weight percent of HMWCNTs. Consequently, the 0.4 wt% HMWCNT ladened composites could withstand higher load without undergoing significant deformations, exhibiting the highest impact resistances due to the presence of CNTs, which function as load-bearing material. The HMWCNT interleaved CF/E composite laminate samples subjected to 25 J of impact energy achieved a higher maximum force of 9870.25 N compared to 8527.26 N for the damaged samples at the same level of impact energies. This fact indicates that the damaged samples could not withstand sufficiently high impact forces due to local instability arising from existing damages. The results strongly suggest a high potential for HMWCNTs CF/epoxy laminate composites in making structural and substructural components in aircraft and automobiles due to their proven superior properties.

Influence of high strain rate and catalyst concentration on dynamic impact behavior of vitrimers

Influence of high strain rate and catalyst concentration on dynamic impact behavior of vitrimers

Dynamic wetting characteristics of two droplets impacting a spherical dust particle

The removal of dust based on water misting is one of the most effective measures for dust control, and the basis of this method lies in the liquid–solid impact behavior. To further improve the dust removal efficiency, in this work, the removal mechanism was studied at the microscopic level, and the dynamic impact between two water droplets and a spherical dust particle was simulated using the coupled level-set/volume-of-fluid (CLSVOF) method. The optimal parameter ranges for micron-level dust removal were determined through the method of variable control, and the reliability of the obtained results was experimentally verified. When two droplets continuously or simultaneously impact a spherical particle, the liquid film formed undergoes deformation phenomena such as fusion, rupture, stretching, contraction, and fragmentation. The liquid film is more likely to break at higher droplet velocities, leading to the filling of the gas film and hindering the wetting process. The optimum contact angle and velocity range of the liquid droplets to completely encapsulate the dust particles were found to be θ = 2 and V = 10–20 m/s, respectively. The experimental results also showed that for the same dust particle size, the dust removal efficiency initially increased but then decreased with increasing dust concentration. The optimum dust removal efficiency of 98.1 % was achieved for θ = 2 and V = 10 m/s. This study sheds new light on the dust removal mechanism of water mist-based dust removal technologies and can aid in the design and parameter optimization of more effective dust suppression systems.

Multi-point impact behavior and the relationship between CAI strength and DBIP of PMI foam sandwich structures

Sandwich structures are vulnerable to multi-point impacts, and such impacts can result in a reduction in residual strength even catastrophic accident. Therefore, the multi-point impact behaviors of PMI foam sandwich structure are investigated and studied using experimental and numerical coupled methods. Three impact energy levels and five Distances Between Impact Positions (DBIP) are considered in details, and representative impact characteristics are compared to reveal the association between Compression After Impact (CAI) strength and DBIP. Results indicate that the interference between the multi-point impact events has a dominant effect on CAI strength when DBIP is small, and the variation in bending stiffness induced by the boundary effect is the dominant factor affecting CAI strength when DBIP ranges from 20 mm to 60 mm. In addition, matrix damage represents the primary damage mode in multi-point impact, and the calculated ratio of energy absorbed by the top face sheet and honeycomb core, in relation to the total absorbed energy, serves as a clear indicator of the damage severity experienced by both components. This work is enlightening for the structural design of impact-resistant composites.

Droplet impact outcomes: Effect of wettability and Weber number

In this study, we experimentally explored the impact outcomes of droplets under a wide range of Weber numbers (0.2 ≤ We ≤ 200) and contact angles (91° ≤ θ ≤ 162°). Five impact outcomes were identified: deposition, rebound, partial rebound, receding breakup, and prompt splash. Compared to the literature, we gathered more comprehensive data on the impact outcomes at various contact angles, which were then organized into a complete phase diagram. Furthermore, we corroborated the accuracy of these outcomes through comparisons with other studies. We conducted a comprehensive analysis of the associated phenomena and underlying mechanisms of these outcomes. By introducing the concept of surface hysteresis energy, we also proposed identification criteria for partial rebound. This innovative approach provides an important reference for further understanding of droplet impact behavior and provides guidance for future research in this field.

Response of short jute fibre preform based epoxy composites subjected to low-velocity impact loadings

This work aimed to investigate the low velocity impact behaviour of short jute fibre non-woven preform epoxy matrix composites experimentally. Dry fibre preforms were developed using an optimised process and a laboratory made preforming device. The effects of alkali and poly vinyl alcohol (PVA binder) treatments on impact performances of jute composites were investigated and compared at 3 J and 6 J impact energy levels. To identify the failure modes of tested composites, the X-ray µCT tomography was employed. The results demonstrated that the developed untreated short jute fibre preform reinforced composites absorbed a higher impact energy, when they were compared to treated (alkali or PVA binder) composites. For untreated composites, maximum impact forces at 3 J and 6 J energies, were found as ⁓2478 N and ⁓2319 N, respectively; for the PVA treatment these values were measured as ⁓2457 N and ⁓2216 N, while, at same energy levels, alkali treated composites showed the lowest values as ⁓1683 N and ⁓1440 N, respectively. Untreated jute fibre contains natural matrices such as hemicellulose, lignin and waxes, which ensured a positive response to absorb more energy upon impact loading. In contrast, the alkali treatment facilitates a highly fibre packed composite structure, which accelerated the impact crack propagation in tested composites, resulting in lower resistance to impact energy. Although, PVA treated composites showed reduced impact properties compared to untreated composites due to the PVA polymer brittleness on the treated fibre surface during the impact incidents, this treatment demonstrated better impact responses over the alkali treatment. The application of PVA binder on alkali-treated fibres provided an extra support to fibres and a better fibre/matrix interface and hence, this combined treatment demonstrated a slightly better impact resistance (⁓2027 N and ⁓1874 N impact forces at 3 J and 6 J respectively) compared to only alkali treated fibre composites. The SEM fracture images and the X-ray µCT damage analysis revealed different impact damage modes, which supported the observed impact results. The obtained results from this investigation could be helpful for using short jute fibre composites in various load demanding applications where impact incidents are likely to be happened.

The Influence of Fashion bloggers on Consumer Behavior: Exploring Credibility, Engagement, and Homophily among consumers in Lahore, Pakistan

The fashion industry is a vibrant and globalized sector with a rich tapestry of style and culture. In recent years, the rise of fashion influencers has significantly impacted consumer behaviour. This study investigates the sway fashion bloggers hold over consumers’ purchasing intentions, examining the dimensions of credibility, engagement, and homophily, with research objectives containing probing brand preferences, gauging the influence of bloggers’ appearance, analyzing purchasing decisions based on recommendations, and scrutinizing the positive impact of homophily on consumer behaviour. By employing a survey research technique, this study collected responses from 700 respondents, comprising 411 females and 289 males, primarily sourced from Lahore, Pakistan. The data analysis involves correlation tests to explore the relationships between fashion bloggers' credibility, engagement, homophily, and consumers' buying intentions. The findings reveal significant correlations between these variables, indicating that fashion bloggers play a crucial role in influencing consumer behaviour. The study contributes to the understanding of the role of fashion bloggers in the contemporary marketing landscape and highlights the importance of considering bloggers' credibility, engagement, and homophily in marketing strategies. These findings stress the need for fashion brands to cultivate genuine connections with consumers through influencer collaboration, enabling them to develop more effective marketing strategies and strengthen brand loyalty in the digital landscape.

Experimental analysis of low-velocity impact behaviour on flax-balsa biobased sandwich

This article deals with a detailed experimental study dedicated to the evaluation of the overall mechanical behaviour of a bio-based composite structure used in transportation industries. The sandwich structure is designed to increase the lightening, vibration damping, and composite recyclability. The considered materials consist of a Flax/Elium® laminate composite for skins associated with a balsa core. The sandwich structure was obtained using a one-shot liquid resin infusion process. Low-velocity impact tests were carried out on different sandwich configurations with the aim of characterizing the effects of the stacking sequence and the density and thickness of the core. Furthermore, an experimental comparative analysis was conducted involving two composite laminate types: Glass/Elium and Flax/Elium to enhance the specific behaviour of flax fibre composite to be used as skins in the sandwich structures. The impact tests were carried out at low velocities and at different levels of impact energy using a drop-weight test bench. Notable damage mechanisms have been identified, and a chronological sequence of their development has been suggested. Ultrasonic analyses using C-Scan imaging were applied to the opposite side of the impacted specimen. The research proves the efficient energy-absorbing capability of the biobased sandwich structure during impact. Finally, this study enables a deeper understanding of various parameters that influence the behaviour of sandwiches during low-velocity impacts, thereby facilitating more informed material selection for practical applications.

Analysis of Shopee Pay Digital Payment Adoption in Jakarta with Innovation Diffusion Theory

The increase in internet users has significantly impacted people's behaviour patterns in making payment transactions from offline to online. One of the dominating online or digital payment systems with a large number of e-wallet users and frequency is Shopee Pay. The dominance of this application, which quickly outperforms its competitors, is inseparable from its users' good acceptance of something new. Technological diffusion theory explained how an innovation is adopted over time by examining the decision to adopt the process. Therefore, this research aimed to determine the factors affecting Shopee Pay services adoption in Jakarta.Data were collected from 100 Shopee Pay users in Jakarta. The descriptive statistics and statistical data analysis using Smart PLS software were carried out for outer and inner model analysis and hypothesis testing. The results showed that Relative Advantage, Observability and Perceived Risk significantly affect adoption. In contrast, Compatibility, Complexity, and Trialability have an insignificant effect on adoption. Number of respondent, coverage area of the survey and period of research. Future research is expected to be able to use other models besides the Diffusion of Innovation Theory to better identify other additional factors capable of affecting the adoption of Shopee Pay digital payment services and Shopee Pay digital payment is recommended to offer services that are more compatible with various lifestyle needs and beliefs to meet the expectations of current users. This survey has difference with previous research because of adoption level of digital payment specifically focus on Shopee Pay then using Innovation Diffusion Theory as model of research.