Percentage Reduction In Area Research Articles

A new technique for improved densitometric quantification of coronary artery stenoses in angiographic images

In vitro studies have demonstrated that densitometric quantification of coronary artery stenoses is superior to geometric methods to assess non-circular lumens. However, in patients, several authors have reported significant discrepancies between area reduction percentages obtained densitometrically from two different imaging projections. Some of the factors causing the discrepancies can be reduced by simple precautions taken during image acquisition. Some others may be compensated for during analysis. Nevertheless, two factors remain problematic. The first is the inadequate spatial orientation of the vessel axes at the stenotic and reference cross sections with respect to the x-rays. The second is the difficulty in identifying the same vessel cross section in both planes at the time of analysis. We have designed a new densitometric technique that eliminates the error contributions of these two factors. The technique requires simultaneously acquired biplane coronary angiograms and biplane images of a translucent cube bearing steel markers acquired in exactly the same biplane geometry. Using the two projection matrices calculated from the images of the cube, the centrelines and the edges of the coronary arteries can be reconstructed in space from the biplane angiograms. The angles between the vessel axes and the x-ray beams can be determined and the densitometric cross sections can be corrected accordingly. Moreover, the 3D reconstruction allows the identification of the same cross section in the two planes for the determination of the area reduction percentages. Validation measurements were performed on a Perspex phantom and in patients, before and after angioplasty. In both types of measurement, the interplane discrepancies could be roughly halved. The densitometric technique presented can be incorporated into routine angiography and could become a strong alternative to the geometric approach that is presently dominating this field. Keywords: coronary angiography, coronary stenosis, densitometry, QCA

Oxygen mass transfer calculations in large arteries.

The purpose of this study was to model the transport of oxygen in large arteries, including the physiologically important effects of oxygen transport by hemoglobin, coupling of transport between oxygen in the blood and in wall tissue, and metabolic consumption of oxygen by the wall. Numerical calculations were carried out in an 89 percent area reduction axisymmetric stenosis model for several wall thicknesses. The effects of different boundary conditions, different schemes for linearizing the oxyhemoglobin saturation curve, and different Schmidt numbers were all examined by comparing results against a reference solution obtained from solving the full nonlinear governing equations with physiologic values of Schmidt number. Our results showed that for parameters typical of oxygen mass transfer in the large arteries, oxygen transport was primarily determined by wall-side effects, specifically oxygen consumption by wall tissue and wall-side mass transfer resistance. Hemodynamic factors played a secondary role, producing maximum local variations in intimal oxygen tension on the order of only 5-6 mmHg. For purposes of modeling blood-side oxygen transport only, accurate results were obtained through use of a computationally efficient linearized form of the convection-diffusion equation, so long as blood-side oxygen tensions remained in the physiologic range for large arteries. Neglect of oxygen binding by hemoglobin led to large errors, while arbitrary reduction of the Schmidt number led to more modest errors. We conclude that further studies of oxygen transport in large arteries must couple blood-side oxygen mass transport to transport in the wall, and accurately model local oxygen consumption within the wall.

Domain---Specific High---Level Modeling and Synthesis for ATM Switch Prototyping

ATM switch, the core technology of an ATM networking system, is one of the major products in Fujitsu telecommunication business. However, current gate---level design methodology can no longer satisfy its stringent time---to---market requirement. It becomes necessary to exploit high---level methodology to specify and synthesize the design at an abstraction level higher than logic gates. This paper presents our prototyping experience on domain---specific high---level modeling and synthesis for Fujitsu ATM switch design. We propose a high---level design methodology using VHDL, where ATM switch architectural features are considered during behavior modeling, and a high---level synthesis compiler, MEBS, is prototyped to synthesize the behavior model down to a gate---level implementation. Since the specific ATM switch architecture is incorporated into both modeling and synthesis phases, a high---quality design is efficiently derived. The synthesis results shows that given the design constraints, the proposed high---level design methodology can produce a gate---level implementation by MEBS with about 15 percent area reduction in shorter design cycle when compared with manual design.

NUMERICAL STUDY OF STEADY LAMINAR FLOW THROUGH TUBES WITH MULTIPLE CONSTRICTIONS USING CURVILINEAR CO-ORDINATES

The flow field through tubes with multiple axisymmetric constrictions in tubes was studied numerically. Two practical problem cases were considered and the numerical scheme was developed for both. In the first case there are one, two, three and four constrictions in the tube. The effects of the number of constrictions on wall shear stress, pressure drop, streamline, vorticity and velocity distributions as the flow passes through the tube were studied and the development of the periodicity characteristics was investigated. In the second case there were multiple constrictions in the tube equidistant from each other. For this case the governing equations were reformulated for a module at a sufficient distance downstream from the inlet where the entrance region effects could be ignored and flow field is assumed to repeat itself. The flow field solutions were obtained in this region. The governing equations were formulated in curvilinear co-ordinates and a finite volume discretization procedure was used to solve the problem. The computations were carried out over a range of Reynolds numbers between 50 to 250 for constrictions with 75 percent area reduction. The method is validated by comparing some of the solutions with experimental results.

Fluid dynamics of a partially collapsible stenosis in a flow model of the coronary circulation.

The influence of passive vasomotion on the pressure drop-flow (delta P-Q) characteristics of a partially compliant stenosis was studied in an in vitro model of the coronary circulation. Twelve stenosis models of different severities (50 to 90 percent area reduction) and degrees of flexible wall (0 to 1/2 of the wall circumference) were inserted into thin-walled latex tubing and pressure and flow data were collected during simulated cardiac cycles. In general, the pressure drop increased with increasing fraction of flexible wall for a given flow rate and stenosis severity. The magnitude of this effect was directly dependent upon the underlying stenosis severity. The diastolic delta P-Q relationship of severe, compliant models exhibited features of partial collapse with an increase in pressure drop at a decreasing flow rate. It is concluded that passive vasomotion of a normal wall segment at an eccentric stenosis in response to periodic changes in intraluminal pressure causes dimensional changes in the residual lumen area which can strongly affect the hemodynamic characteristics of the stenosis during the cardiac cycle. This mechanism may have important implications for the onset of plaque fracture and the prediction of the functional significance of a coronary stenosis based on quantitative angiogram analysis.

Pulsatile albumin transport in large arteries: a numerical simulation study.

Albumin transport in a stenosed artery configuration is analyzed numerically under steady and pulsatile flow conditions. The flow dynamics is described applying the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations for Newtonian fluids, the mass transport is modelled using the convection diffusion equation. The boundary conditions describing the solute wall flux take into account the concept of endothelial resistance to albumin flux by means of a shear dependent permeability model based on experimental data. The study concentrates on the influence of steady and pulsatile flow patterns and of regional variations in vascular geometry on the solute wall flux and on the ratio of endothelial resistance to concentration boundary layer resistance. The numerical solution of the Navier-Stokes equations and of the transport equation applies the finite element method where stability of the convection dominated transport process is achieved by using an upwind procedure and a special subelement technique. Numerical simulations are carried out for albumin transport in a stenosed artery segment with 75 percent area reduction representing a late stage in the progression of an atherosclerotic disease. It is shown that albumin wall flux varies significantly along the arterial section, is strongly dependent upon the different flow regimes and varies considerably during a cardiac cycle. The comparison of steady results and pulsatile results shows differences up to 30 percent between time-averaged flux and steady flux in the separated flow region downstream the stenosis.

Characterization of blood flow turbulence with pulsed-wave and power Doppler ultrasound imaging.

Blood turbulence downstream of a concentric 86 percent area reduction stenosis was characterized using absolute and relative Doppler spectral broadening measurements, relative Doppler velocity fluctuation, and Doppler backscattered power. Bidimensional mappings of each Doppler index were obtained using a 10 MHz pulsed-wave Doppler system. Calf red cells suspended in a saline solution were used to scatter ultrasound and were circulated in an in vitro steady flow loop model. Results showed that the absolute spectral broadening was not a good index of turbulence because it was strongly affected by the deceleration of the jet and by the shear layer between the jet and the recirculation zones. Relative Doppler spectral broadening (absolute broadening divided by the frequency shift), velocity fluctuation, and Doppler power indices provided consistent mapping of the centerline axial variation of turbulence evaluated by hot-film anemometry. The best agreement between the hot-film and Doppler ultrasound methods was however obtained with the Doppler back-scattered power. The most consistent bidimensional mapping of the flow characteristics downstream of the stenosis was also observed with the Doppler power index. The relative broadening and the velocity fluctuation produced artifacts in the shear layer and in the recirculation zones. Power Doppler imaging is a new emerging technique that may provide reliable in vivo characterization of blood flow turbulence.

Vena Cava Replacement With a Peritoneum-Lined Vascular Graft

The use of the peritoneum as a venous conduit was analyzed because of the inherent fibrinolytic properties of the mesothelium. A canine model in which the infrarenal inferior vena cava was replaced with interposition grafts (2 cm) of either a peritoneal tube, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), or PTFE lined with peritoneum (lined graft) was studied. Venograms were performed 1 and 6 weeks after graft implantation for the percent area reduction of the lumen. Grafts were explanted at 6 weeks for light and scanning electron microscopy. The percent area reduction at 1 week for all grafts was found to be predictive of graft clotting by 6 weeks. At 6 weeks, one of three peritoneal tube grafts (33%), six of seven PTFE grafts (86%), and four of seven lined grafts (57%) were patent. Histologic studies demonstrated that stenosis of PTFE grafts was due to intraluminal thrombus formation, whereas lined grafts stenosed due to granulation tissue growth between the mesothelium and PTFE. A cellular circumferential intraluminal lining was found in four of four lined grafts, but in none of six PTFE grafts (p < 0.01). Furthermore, none of four lined grafts had intraluminal thrombus, but all of six PTFE grafts did (p < 0.01). Peritoneum-lined PTFE grafts maintain a continuous circumferential cellular lining, but have no improvement in short-term patency compared to PTFE alone.

Particle volumetric residence time calculations in arterial geometries.

The quantification of particle (platelet) residence times in arterial geometries is relevant to the pathogenesis of several arterial diseases. In this manuscript, the concept of "volumetric residence time" (VRT) is introduced. The VRT takes into account where particles accumulate and how long they remain there, and is well-suited to characterizing particle distributions in the complex geometries typical of the cardiovascular system. A technique for the calculation of volumetric residence time is described, which assumes that platelets are neutrally buoyant passive tracer particles, and which tracks small Lagrangian fluid elements containing a uniform concentration of platelets. This approach is used to quantify particle (platelet) residence times in the region of a modeled stenosis with a 45 percent area reduction. Residence time distributions are computed for a representative population of platelets, and for a subpopulation assumed to be "activated" by exposure to shear stresses above a threshold value. For activated platelets, high particle residence times were observed just distal to the apex of the stenosis throat, which can be explained by the presence of high shear stresses and low velocities in the throat immediately adjacent to the vessel wall. Interestingly, the separation zone distal to the stenosis showed only modestly elevated residence times, due to its highly mobile and transient nature. This calculation demonstrates the utility of the VRT concept for cardiovascular studies, particularly if a subpopulation of all particles is to be tracked. We conclude that the volumetric residence time is a useful tool.

Hemodynamic effects of the novel selective cAMP-phosphodiesterase III inhibitor R 80122 in anesthetized patients with moderate left ventricular dysfunction before coronary artery bypass grafting

To investigate the hemodynamic effects and safety of R 80122, a novel selective phosphodiesterase (PDE) III inhibitor, and its solvent hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin. Prospective, randomized study. Operating theater of a university hospital in the Netherlands. Twelve patients with impaired left ventricular function scheduled for coronary artery bypass grafting after induction of anesthesia were included. R 80122 (n = 6) or its solvent (n = 6) was administered using the same infusion regimen. A bolus of 0.1 mL/kg (= 0.1 mg/kg R 80122) was infused over 10 minutes followed by a maintenance infusion of 5 microliters/kg/min (5 micrograms/kg/min R 80122) over 20 minutes. Compared with the solvent, patients receiving R 80122 did not show any significant changes in heart rate, arterial blood pressure, or pulmonary artery pressures. However, R 80122 produced a marked increase (P < 0.05) in cardiac output (thermodilution) and echocardiographically obtained percentage area reduction. No arrhythmias or ischemic episodes occurred during the infusion period. The plasma half-life of R 80122 was 10.6 +/- 1.9 minutes. R 80122 appears to be a potent positive inotropic agent in these patients. Its use is not associated with marked vasodilation, it is devoid of positive chronotropic effects, and it can be administered safely in patients with impaired left ventricular function.

New Method for Real-Time Measurements of Changes in Lumenal Area of Microsection Expiants of Airways by Videomicrometry

Anew method was developed for assessing the changes in lumenal area in microexplants of airways caused by pharmacologic and physiologic activation. Microairway rings were sectioned from either 18 explanted guinea pig tracheal airways or 5 human bronchial airways and placed in microchambers containing 250 μL Hanks’ balanced salt solution. Tissues were focused through a stereozoom microscope, captured by video digitizing board, and transmitted continuously to the input of a video recorder. Changes in airway lumenal area were assessed as changes in pixel number by image analysis software and normalized as percent area reduction. As for isometrically fixed airway in large perfusate volume, microsection of airways caused a time-related spontaneous active tone.

784-4 Older Donor Age Predicts Increased Risk for Coronary Vasculopathy in the Year Following Transplantation: Serial Examination by Intravascular Ultrasound

We have previously shown a high prevalence of transmision of atherosclerosis to recipients examined by intravascular ultrasound within a few weeks of transplantation. However, the effect of donor characteristics on progression of vasculopathy is uncertain. We examined 22 patients by intravascular ultrasound within 1.0 ± 0.2 months after transplantation. Identical sites were imaged again at one year follow-up (12 ± 0.5 months) to determine donor-related factors associated with the development of intimal thickening during the first year. Intravascular imaging was performed in multiple coronary arteries (2.2 arteries/patient) using a 3.5 Fr, 30 MHz probe. A core laboratory, blinded to patient identity and to time from transplantation, quantified minimum lumen diameter, plaque cross-sectional area, intimal thickness, and percent area reduction. Donor gender, hypertension and smoking did not predict progression of vasculopathy in the first year. However, older donor age was a strong predictor of measures of disease progression. Donor Group: Increase in Intimal Thickness (mm) Plaque Area (mm2) Area Reduction % Age &lt; 35 0.12 0.63 4.7 Age &gt; 35 028 2.08 10.3 Pvalue &lt;0.008 &lt;0.001 &lt;0.024 Recipients of older donor hearts develop more intimal thickening in the first year following transplantation. Longer follow-up will be required to prove that this increase in intimal thickeness correlates with the subsequent development of severe vasculopathy. These findings have implications for donor organ acceptance criteria.

Changes in ultrasonic doppler backscattered power downstream of concentric and eccentric stenoses under pulsatile flow

The main objective of the present work was to investigate, under pulsatile flow, the patterns of variation of the Doppler power backscattered by blood and Sephadex particles upstream and downstream of concentric and eccentric stenoses ranging from 47% to 91% area reduction. Doppler measurements were performed at 5 diameters upstream and 5, 10, 15 and 20 diameters downstream of the constriction. For the concentric 75% and 85%, and the eccentric 79% and 91% area reduction stenoses, a progressive increase of the power backscattered by red cell suspensions at 40% hematocrit was measured downstream of the narrowing. The maximal power usually occurred around 10 diameters after the stenosis and dropped further downstream. In addition to the increase in the power, a cyclic variation of the backscattered intensity was observed within the flow cycle. For the concentric 52% and eccentric 47% area reduction stenoses, no variation of the Doppler power was measured during flow acceleration and deceleration for all recording sites. A coefficient of correlation of 0.82 was measured between the percentage of area reduction and the ratio of the Doppler mean power at 10 diameters downstream to that at 5 diameters upstream of the stenoses. Using Sephadex particles at low concentration, no increase of the Doppler power was found downstream of the 85% and 91% area reduction stenoses. The possible link between the intensity of turbulence and the power backscattered by blood is discussed along with the influence of the correlation between the scattering particles, under turbulent flow.

Doppler velocity ratio measurements evaluated in a phantom model of multiple arterial disease

The objective of this study was to evaluate in vitro the accuracy of the Doppler velocity ratio (VR) (intrastenotic velocity/prestenotic or poststenotic velocity) under different geometric conditions simulating the presence of multiple stenoses. A steady flow loop model was used to test the influence of the presence of a concentric obstruction of 84% area reduction positioned at a distance of 10, 20 and 30 tube diameters, either proximal or distal to the stenosis under study. The stenosis under evaluation was either concentric or eccentric and had a percentage of area reduction ranging from 20% to 91%. An ultrasound color Doppler system was used to perform both pulsed-wave (PW) Doppler and color-flow velocity measurements. VRs were computed by dividing the maximum velocity of the jet by the velocity at 6 and 10 diameters both proximal and distal to the stenosis under study. A strong correlation was obtained between VR computed using color flow and PW Doppler velocities ( r = 0.99). Results indicated that using the prestenotic velocity as a reference velocity generally provided a more sensitive VR index to grade arterial stenosis than using the poststenotic velocity. From a curve fit model, the measured percentages of stenosis were calculated from the VR data and compared to the true percentages. The correlation coefficient, r, was 0.95. When the proximal and distal stenoses were at 10 diameters of the stenosis investigated, r was 0.81, while it increased to 0.98 when the distance was 20 diameters or more. Although VR is theoretically not influenced by hemodynamic factors, we demonstrated that, in practice, the presence of multiple stenoses reduced its sensitivity. Volumetric flow measurements are suggested to obviate this limitation.

Thermal behavior of hydrostatically extruded polycarbonate and high‐impact polystyrene

AbstractEffects of hydrostatic extrusion on the thermal properties of polycarbonate (PC) and of high‐impact polystyrene (HIPS) were studied using differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) measurements. A glass transition temperature (Tg) and a peak temperature were determined from the DSC curves for both PC and HIPS extrudates. The Tg values of the PC extrudates, with a percentage reduction in area, R, from 40 to 50%, change appreciably from the value for the as–received PC. The results of the hydrostatic extrusion of the PC billets suggest that a two stage deformation process of molecular chains may be involved. Shear‐banding is observed for HIPS extrudates with R = 30 to 60%; this fact indicates that a sub‐glass transition (β‐transition) occurs at temperatures below Tg. It is suggested that the molecular chains of the HIPS extrudate with R = 70% are oriented in the direction of hydrostatic extrusion. The deformation mechanism of molecular chains caused by the hydrostatic extrusion is discussed.

Prospective, Multicenter Study of Managing Lower Extremity Venous Ulcers

Seventy patients with 90 venous ulcers were randomly assigned to hydrocolloid or conventional dressing and compression therapy at four study centers. The ulcers had been present for a mean of 47.8 in the control and 46.2 weeks in the treatment group and 42% of all patients had recurrent ulcers. Ulcers treated with hydrocolloid dressings reduced 71% and control treated wounds reduced 43% in area after 7.2 weeks of treatment. Thirty-four percent of all ulcers healed. Mean time to healing was 7 weeks for the hydrocolloid dressing group and 8 weeks for the control group. Most ulcers were less painful at final evaluation, but reduction in pain was more pronounced in hydrocolloid-dressed ulcers (p = 0.03). At baseline as well as during follow-up, significant differences between study centers were observed. Ulcers in patients in the United Kingdom were larger and less likely to heal (p = 0.001). Size of the ulcer at baseline was associated with treatment response and time to healing (p = 0.002). Percent reduction in ulcer area after 2 weeks was also correlated with treatment outcome (p = 0.004) and time to healing (p = 0.002). When all treatment outcome predictors were analyzed together, only percent reduction in area after 2 weeks remained statistically significant (p = 0.002), with percent reduction during the first 2 weeks of treatment > 30% predicting healing.

Assessment of anatomic and physiological severity of single-vessel coronary artery lesions by dipyridamole echocardiography. Comparison with positron emission tomography and quantitative arteriography.

The aim of this study was to compare the results of dipyridamole-echocardiography test (DET: two-dimensional echo monitoring during dipyridamole infusion up to 0.84 mg/kg over a period of 10 minutes) with both anatomic and physiological parameters of coronary artery disease severity, assessed by computer-assisted quantitative coronary arteriography, and regional coronary flow reserve, measured by [13N]ammonia (13NH3) and dynamic positron emission tomography (PET), respectively. We studied 31 patients with a history of chest pain and neither previous myocardial infarction nor resting wall motion abnormalities. Eighteen patients had single-vessel disease (> 50% stenosis of one major coronary vessel), and 13 had normal coronary arteries. The criterion for DET positivity was the appearance of a new transient regional wall motion abnormality. In patients with a positive DET, two parameters were evaluated: the dipyridamole time (ie, the time from the beginning of drug infusion to the development of obvious dyssynergy) and the wall motion score index (WMSI, a semiquantitative integrated estimation of extent and severity of the stress-induced dyssynergy). WMSI was derived by summation of individual segment scores divided by the number of segments interpreted. Quantification of regional myocardial blood flow was obtained by PET measurements of 13NH3 arterial input function and left ventricular myocardial tissue concentration both at control and after dipyridamole (0.56 mg/kg over 4 minutes). Maximal regional blood flow after dipyridamole in the region supplied by the stenotic vessel was significantly lower in the 11 patients with coronary artery disease and positive DET than in the 7 patients with coronary artery disease and negative DET (1.08 +/- 0.33 versus 1.98 +/- 0.37 mL.min-1.g-1, P < .01). In patients with a positive DET, regional coronary flow reserve correlated well with dipyridamole time (r = .87, P < .01) but not with peak WMSI (r = .25, P = NS). Patients with dipyridamole-induced akinesia or dyskinesia (n = 6) had a greater reduction in regional coronary flow reserve than did those showing hypokinesia (n = 5): 1.38 +/- 0.51 versus 2.17 +/- 0.42, P < .05. Percent area reduction was more severe in patients with DET positivity than in those with DET negativity (93.7 +/- 8.7% versus 77 +/- 10.3%, P < .01), and it correlated with regional coronary flow reserve (r = .64, P < .01) and dipyridamole time (r = -.59, P < .01). In patients with single-vessel disease, DET shows an excellent specificity but a limited sensitivity; in these patients, DET positivity is associated with a physiologically important coronary stenosis. Severity of the anatomic stenosis and impairment in regional flow reserve are greater when the dipyridamole-induced dyssynergy appears earlier during the test. Therefore, a stratification of the anatomo-physiological severity of coronary artery disease can be obtained with DET, based mainly on the temporal allocation of the transient dyssynergy.

Properties of electron-beam-welded and laser-welded austenitic Fe-28Mn-5Al-1C alloy

Austenitic Fe-28Mn-5Al-1C alloy was welded by electron-beam and CW CO2 laser techniques. Tensile tests, impact tests, potentiodynamic and cyclic polarization measurements were used to evaluate the mechanical properties and corrosion behaviour of the weld materials, Metallographic examination showed that the microstructure of the electron-beam-welded and laser-welded metals consisted mainly of the columnar and equiaxed austenitic structures. Grain growth in the heat-affected zone (HAZ) was minimal for welding with these two techniques. The tensile and impact tests indicated that the weld materials exhibited lower tensile strength, percentage elongation, percentage reduction in area and impact energy than those of the base alloy. The polarization measurements revealed that the anodic polarization behaviour of the HAZs of the electron-beam-welded and laser-welded materials was identical to that of the base alloy when exposed in 1M Na2SO4 solution. However, the electron-beam-welded and laser-welded metals exhibited a higher current density in the passive region than that of the base alloy when exposed to 1N H2SO4 acid solution.

Effect of Recovery Mode Following Hind-Limb Suspension on Soleus Muscle Compositum in the Rat

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of two different recovery modes from hind-limb suspension-induced hypodynamia on whole body and muscle (soleus) growth as well as soleus composition and size changes of different fiber types within this same muscle. Following 28 days of tail-suspension, rats were returned to their cages and sedentarily recovered (HS), or were exercised by running on a treadmill 5 days/wk, at progressively increasing workloads (HR) for one month. Sedentary and running control groups of animals (CS, CR) were also evaluated for comparative purposes. The exercise program, which was identical for CR and HR groups, had no effect on body wt., soleus wt., soleus muscle composition or fiber size in CR rats. Atrophied soleus muscle and reduced soleus wt./body wt. ratio (both 60% of control) had returned to control values by day 7 of recovery in both suspended groups despite the fact that whole body wt. gain was significantly reduced (p less than 0.05) in HR as compared to HS rats. Atrophied soleus Type I fiber mean cross-sectional area in both HR and HS groups demonstrated similar and significant (p less than 0.01) increases during recovery. Increases in Type IIa and IIc fiber area during this same period were significant only in the HR group. While the percentage area of muscle composed of Type I fibers increased in both hypodynamic groups during recovery, the reduction in area percentage of muscle made up of Type IIa fibers was again only significant in the HR group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Fatigue crack growth rate in ferrite-martensite dual-phase steel

An empirical study is made on the fatigue crack growth rate in ferrite-martensite dual-phase (FMDP) steel. Particular attention is given to the effect of ferrite content in the range of 24.2% to 41.5% where good fatigue resistance was found at 33.8%. Variations in ferrite content did not affect the crack growth rate da/ dN when plotted against the effective stress intensity factor range ΔK eff which was assumed to follow a linear relation with the crack tip stress intensity factor range ΔK. A high ΔK eff corresponds to uniformly distributed small size ferrite and martensite. No other appreciable correlation could be ralated to the microstructure morphology of the FMDP steel. The closure stress intensity factor K cl , however, is affected by the ferrite content with K cl/K max reaching a maximum value of 0.7. In general, crack growth followed the interphase between the martensite and ferrite. Dividing the fatigue crack growth process into Stage I and II where the former would be highly sensitive to changes in ΔK and the latter would increase with ΔK depending on the R = σ min /σ max ratio. The same data when correlated with the strain energy density factor range ΔS showed negligible dependence on mean stress or R ratio for Stage I crack growth. A parameter α involving the ratio of ultimate stress to yield stress, percent reduction of area and R is introduced for Stage II crack growth so that the da/ dN data for different R would collapse onto a single curve with a narrow scatter band when plotted against αΔS.