Ribbed Plate Research Articles

A Moving Kriging Interpolation Meshless for Bending and Free Vibration Analysis of the Stiffened FGM Plates in Thermal Environment

This paper adopts the Moving Kriging (MK) interpolation meshless method to analyze the static and dynamic behaviors of stiffened functionally graded material (FGM) plate in thermal environment based on the physical neutral surface. The ribbed FGM plate is regarded as a composite structure of a FGM plate and ribs. The displacement transformation relationship between stiffeners and FGM plates is obtained through the displacement compatible conditions and MK interpolation. The meshfree model for ribbed FGM plate is obtained by superimposing the total energy of the FGM plate and the stiffeners based on the first-order shear deformation theory (FSDT) and physical neutral surface. The nonlinear temperature field along thickness direction is introduced into the meshless model of stiffened FGM plate. The equations governing the bending and free vibration of the ribbed FGM plate in thermal environment are obtained according to the principle of Minimum Potential Energy and Hamilton’s Principle. Thereafter, several ribbed FGM plate examples in different temperatures and with different locations of ribs are calculated. The results are compared with those given by the ABAQUS and literature. The results show that the effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed method in analyzing the ribbed FGM plate in thermal environment.

Method of calculation of three-layer plates with discrete joint

Abstract The paper presents the basic principles of static calculations of plates with discrete filling–ribs; the method is based on the analytical solution of the problem of the stress state of a ribbed plate. The bottom line is to use special discontinuous functions at the stage of writing the initial assumptions of differential equations, as well as in the process of solving them due to the nature and physical meaning of the problem.

Enhancing the bifacial PV system by using dimples and multiple PCMs

According to the world's energy needs, the demand for bifacial photovoltaic (BPV) modules and their uses is rising quickly. So, the present study aims to design a bifacial PV-PCMs system consisting of two mono-facial PV cells, a ribbed aluminum plate, and multiple PCMs. Varying melting points among the multiple PCMs as well as the ribbed aluminum plates were used to enhance the PV cells' electrical and thermal performance. The bifacial PV-PCMs system was studied in three cases: firstly, a smooth unit with a single PCM (RT-35), second, a ribbed unit with multiple PCMs (RT-35, and RT-27), and finally, a bifacial case without cooling to get the optimum design. Data from the literature and the numerical model were in excellent agreement. A numerical investigation was done into the cell temperature and the system's electrical efficiency at different solar radiation (800, 1000, and 1200 W/m2). The results concluded that, in the ribbed case with multiple PCMs, the top cell electrical efficiency increased by 0.5 % compared to the smooth case with a single PCM. Besides that, the cell temperature is decreased by a significant value of roughly 13 °C in the proposed system compared to the bifacial cell without cooling. The cell electrical efficiency for the ribbed unit with multiple PCMs is roughly 16.68 % compared to 15.5 % in the bifacial case without cooling. The proposed design is suggested for future bifacial PV-PCMs systems for roof and small land applications.

Evaluation of the acoustic radiation of contrasted orthogonally stiffened plates from homogenized model

This paper presents a study of the acoustic radiation from a ribbed plate with inner resonance. Based on explicit design rules and homogenized model for flexural waves, it reminds that bending wave propagation significantly differs from classical models in case of strong contrast between constituents, resulting into inner resonance. In order to demonstrate that this model advantageously supplements the Timoshenko orthotropic plate model, it links the atypical structural response on common vibroacoustic indicators, which are of value to discuss on different levels of abstraction. In either infinite or finite cases, the resulting indicators obtained from the homogenized model matches with classical trends outside frequency bands associated with local resonance, however inner resonance yields additional frequency ranges in which acoustic radiation is either strongly reduced or enhanced. For both mechanical and acoustic quantities, key indicators are successfully compared with classical theory for either poorly and highly contrasted ribbed plates in order to confirm the diversification of acoustic behaviors encompassed by the homogenized model.

Investigation of column-to-base connections of pole-mounted solar panel structures

This study investigated the load-carrying capacity of solar panel structures focusing on the column-to-base connection of pole-mounted structural systems using full-scale testing and numerical simulations considering the connection details as a key variable. The aim was to develop a non-welding connection detail for improved durability. For the connection details, a total of 10 plinths with base plates and supporting plate units were developed. The plinths with supporting plate units included two different bolt layouts at the column and base connections. The experimental results indicated that most specimens had sufficient load-carrying capacity to withstand the calculated yielding force even for the non-welding connections with supporting plate units. The failure modes observed in the experiments included cracking in the welded region, local buckling of the column, and bolt tear-out. The numerical simulations demonstrated that the details of the connection, such as the shape of the side plates, use of rib plates, and bolt layout, affected the structural performance. In addition, it was found that some specimens had strong and weak axes, depending on the orientation and shape of the side plates. Therefore, the details of the column–base connections of pole-mounted solar panel structures should be carefully designed based on proper structural evaluation of the connection details.

Unified integral transform solution for vibration analysis of ribbed plate

This paper presents a unified integral transform solution for the analysis of free and forced vibration of ribbed rectangular plate with arbitrary classical boundary conditions, whereas previous integral transform techniques have mainly focused on the analysis of the mechanical behavior of bare plates. The one- and two-dimensional integral transform techniques are applied to the higher-order partial differential governing equations of the beams and the plates, respectively, which are transformed into a system of linear algebraic equations after a rigorous derivation. The unknown coupling force and moment are determined by the compatibility conditions at the beam-plate coupling interface to obtain a unified solution scheme for ribbed plates with arbitrary classical boundary conditions. Good agreements are found between the results of analytical solution, finite element analysis and literature. Moreover, experiments on vibration analysis of a ribbed plate with completely free boundary conditions are conducted to further verify the validity and accuracy of the unified solution scheme. The effect of rib on the vibration response of rectangular plates is also investigated. It is shown that the vibration is controlled by the plate stiffness when the rib plays as a mass loading. The proposed unified analytical solution can be widely used to provide theoretical guidance for the vibration prediction of various structures with ribbed plates, such as offshore platforms, high-speed carriages, and aircraft wings.

Fluid-Structure-Acoustic coupling analysis for external laminar and turbulent fluid flows

Controlling noise pollution is one of the most crucial parameters in various industries. The use of elastic plates has a substantial impact on noise pollution control and associated factors, such as transmission loss. Additionally, the transmission loss is affected by geometric variations. However, the effect of a rib and elastic plate on the acoustic properties of a channel for a wide range of Reynolds numbers has not yet been investigated, although their use could reduce noise pollution. This study thus investigates the acoustic and flow impacts of a rib and an elastic plate. The control variables for fluid-structure–acoustic coupling numerical simulations are rib height, rib angle, elastic plate length, elastic plate position, Reynolds number, and the Young module of the elastic plate. The governing equations are discretized using the Galerkin method. The results indicate that the transmission loss is 27% more at the elastic plate’s highest position. By decreasing the length of the elastic plate by 50%, the mean transmission loss is reduced by 9%. The findings of this study can be utilized by mechanical and aerospace engineers in the design of aircraft, automobiles, and cooling and heating systems, particularly fan coils.

Biodegradable Zn-0.5Li alloy rib plate: Processing procedure development and in vitro performance evaluation

• Whole fabricating process of biodegradable Zn-Li alloy rib plates is developed. • Zn-0.5Li alloy rib plates have mechanical properties comparable to pure Ti. • Uniform corrosion dominates during immersion tests in SBF up to 30 days. • The Zn alloy rib plates have better biocompatibility than pure Zn rib plates. Trauma kills more than four million people worldwide each year, with chest trauma accounting for 25% of these deaths. Rib fractures are the main manifestation of chest trauma. Biodegradable Zn alloys offer a new option to overcome clinical problems caused by permanent rib fracture internal fixation materials, e.g., long-term stress masking and secondary surgery. In this study, the fabrication procedure of biodegradable Zn-0.5Li alloy rib plates is successfully developed, which consists of casting, hot-warm rolling, cutting, and pressing sequentially. Biomechanical three-point bending performance of the Zn alloy rib plates is comparable to that of commercial pure Ti rib plates, much higher than that of pure Zn rib plates. In addition, the Zn alloy exhibits the best antibacterial ability against E. coli and S. aureus among the three materials. Although the Zn alloy exhibits a weaker MC3T3 cytocompatibility than pure Ti, it is better than pure Zn. This study provides a foundation for the future development of various biodegradable Zn alloy rib plates.

Natural convection heat transfer from a ribbed vertical plate: Effect of rib size, pitch, and truncation

Buoyancy-induced flows over ribbed vertical surfaces involve complex thermal and dynamic interactions between the mainstream and the surface texture, yielding contrasting effects on the heat transfer performance of the heated plate; proper analysis of the overall effect on the heat transfer rate is essential for efficient operation and optimization purposes. The present work pursues an insight into the different factors controlling this problem. Natural convection heat transfer from a vertical plate of 0.5 m height, regularly roughened with wooden transverse square ribs, is experimentally investigated. The surface temperature of the baseplate is varied so that a range of the plate Rayleigh number (Ra) from 3.4 × 108 to 4.9 × 108 is covered. The density of the roughness pattern and the rib pitch-to-height ratio (P/e) are varied by changing the number of ribs attached to the surface (from 10 to 40 rib rows) and using three different square cross-sections (of side lengths 2, 3, or 5 mm). The experimental work relies on the schlieren optical technique, through which the thermal boundary layer is visualized and the Nusselt number distribution is acquired. Analysis of the results reveals that enhancement of the local Nusselt number, relative to a corresponding smooth surface, may be attained only at the central part of the inter-rib region; this occurs exclusively for relatively large values of P/e. At a later stage, the effectiveness of rib truncation in enhancing the heat transfer from the baseplate is explored. Three staggered arrangements are considered, by varying the number of rib segments per row, and heat transfer enhancement, sensitive to the number of rib segments per row, is found. This paper also provides insight into the role of thermal-field disturbances close to turbulent transition, and sheds light on the potential of truncated ribs to amplify such perturbations.

Bonded connections of pultruded sections for floor system studied using digital image correlation

An experimental investigation of bonded connections of Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) pultruded sections for a new floor design is presented. Flat plates with T-up ribs are bonded to the lower flanges of I-beams and used as a structural form for the concrete floor. Adhesively bonded connections with or without mechanical fasteners of different types and configurations were examined through 48 bond specimens tested in tension. Digital Image Correlation (DIC) was used to capture strain and slip profiles along the connection interface, from which shear and peeling stress distributions were established. The study showed that connections reached 80–100% of the full capacity of the member, governed by the transverse strength of the I-beam. Most samples experienced mixed failure modes. The two highest occurrences were fiber-tear of the ribbed plate, where longitudinal fibers appeared on both surfaces, and adhesive failure, where epoxy appeared on one surface only in certain parts. Using fasteners with the adhesive increased the ultimate capacity by up to 19%. Embedment of fasteners inside the concrete had little effect on ultimate strength. A method was developed to convert DIC measured strains into peeling and shear stresses. The combined test data was used to establish the shear-peeling stress failure envelope, which agreed very well with the theoretical interaction expression. A bond-slip relationship was also deduced from the DIC test results.

Rib Plating Outcomes in Elderly Trauma Patients with Multiple Rib Fractures: A Community Hospital Experience

Rib plating has been shown to be beneficial among certain populations, such as patients with flail chest and failure to wean from the ventilator in patients without primary pulmonary pathology. Surgical intervention has been shown to decrease ventilatory requirements, decrease pain management modalities, and lower costs. A retrospective data analysis was done to determine the efficacy of rib plating in elderly trauma patients with rib fractures on a total of 244 patients, 63% male and 37% female, mean age is 64 ± 18.5 years, 76% had an associated comorbid condition, such as Diabetes Mellitus (DM), Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), or any combination, with 111 (46%) on anticoagulant therapy. 95% patients presented to the emergency department (ED) with Mild GCS range (13-15). Moderate GCS (9-12) was 4% and 3% of patients Severe GCS (3-8). The overall mortality rate was 4.5%.

Commentary: Thoracoscopic-Assisted Rib Plating: Where We Are and What We Have Learned.

Commentary: Thoracoscopic-Assisted Rib Plating: Where We Are and What We Have Learned.

Rib Plating Outcomes in Elderly Trauma Patients With Multiple Rib Fractures: A Community Hospital Experience.

Rib fractures in the elderly are one of the most common injuries in trauma patients admitted to the hospital, accounting for over 350,000 patients annually in the United States. Rib plating has been shown to be most beneficial among certain populations. Early surgical intervention is important to utilize approaches that limit the use of pain medications. This is a retrospective data analysis to determine the efficacy of rib plating in elderly trauma patients with rib fractures. A total of 253 patients were seen with rib fractures, 63% were male and 37% were female. The mean age is 64 ± 18.5years. Of these patients analyzed, 76% had an associated comorbid condition. A majority of patients (95%) presented to the emergency department (ED) with mild GCS range (13-15). Moderate GCS range (9-12) was 4%, and 3% of patients were with severe GCS (3-8.) The mean ISS was 10. The overall mortality rate was 4.5%. Patients were divided into 2 groups: group I consisted of patients who received open reduction and fixation of the fractured ribs, and group II was patients managed conservatively without surgery. Statistical analyses using Student's t-test and Chi-square test were performed. Institutional Review Board approval was obtained for this study. Rib plating in elderly trauma patients with multiple rib fractures has shown to be beneficial in terms of mortality. Furthermore, geriatric patients with comorbidities will benefit from early open reduction and fixation of rib fractures, though a larger study is needed to establish clearer criteria for rib plating.

Challenges in Complex Oncological Chest Wall Reconstruction with Free Anterolateral Thigh Flap and Titanium Rib Plate.

Extensive chest wall tumor resection and reconstruction possess a formidable challenge and require good collaboration between thoracic and reconstructive surgeons. In this article, we reviewed our experience in six consecutive cases requiring complex chest wall resection and reconstruction with titanium rib plates and free anterolateral thigh fasciocutaneous flap with fascia lata with a minimum 24 months follow-up postoperatively. Six patients with a mean age of 54 were diagnosed to have locally advanced malignant ( n = 5) and benign ( n = 1) tumors. They underwent wide local excision with a mean of six ribs resected, and the average size of the soft tissue defect was 389cm 2 . The integrity of the thoracic cage was restored by using titanium rib plates. Fascia lata was harvested along with free anterolateral thigh fasciocutaneous flap to achieve near airtight closure of pleural space for soft tissue coverage. Two patients required early flap exploration with successful flap salvage. One flap failure was reported on postoperative day 11 due to a mechanical cause and a redo surgery was required. With an average stay of 3 days in the intensive care unit, no perioperative pulmonary complications were recorded. Complex oncological chest wall resection and reconstruction with titanium rib plates and free anterolateral thigh fasciocutaneous flap with fascia lata yielded satisfactory aesthetic and physiological functional outcomes.

Comprehensive Review of Current Pain Management in Rib Fractures With Practical Guidelines for Clinicians.

Rib fractures are present in 15% of all traumas and 60% of patients with chest traumas. Rib fractures are not life-threatening in isolation, but they can be quite painful which leads to splinting and compromise of respiratory function. Splinting limits the ability of a patient to take a deep breath, which leads to atelectasis, atelectasis to poor secretion removal, and poor secretion removal leads to pneumonia. Pneumonia is the common pathway to respiratory failure in patients with rib fractures. It is noted that in the elderly, each rib fracture increases developing pneumonia by 27% and the risk of dying by 19%. From a public health perspective, rib fractures have long-term implications with only 59% of patients returning to work at 6 months. In this review we will examine the state of art as it currently exists with regard to the management of pain associated with rib fractures. Included in this overview will be a brief review of the anatomy of the thorax and some important physiologic concepts, the latest trends in pharmacologic and noninvasive means of managing rib pain, a special section on epidural anesthesia, some other alternative invasive methods of pain control, and a review of the recent literature on rib plating. Finally, a practical, easy to follow guideline, to manage the patient with pain from rib fractures will be presented.

Initial Outcomes Using Cryoablation in Surgical Management of Slipping Rib Syndrome

IntroductionMinimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum (MIRPE) and cartilaginous rib excision (CRE) for slipping rib syndrome (SRS) are painful procedures. Intercostal nerve cryoablation (Cryo) controls pain and decreases opioid use in MIRPE. Herein, we describe our experience with cryoablation in CRE. MethodsA retrospective chart review was performed of all patients undergoing CRE between 2018 and 2022. Data on demographics, clinical characteristics, operative details, and hospital course were collected. ResultsA total of 98 patients underwent CRE: 68 CRE without cryo, 22 CRE + Cryo, and 8 combined MIRPE + CRE + Cryo. Ninety percent of patients underwent bioabsorbable rib plating. Patients were predominantly female (79%, 73%, 50% respectively) with median ages 17.6, 16.9, and 14.2 years respectively. CRE + Cryo patients used significantly less opioids in hospital (0.6 OME/kg [0.1,1.2]) compared to CRE without cryo (1.0 OME/kg [0.6,2.1]), p < 0.05. The median length of stay (LOS) in CRE + Cryo was 1 day [1,2] compared to 2 days in CRE without cryo [1,2], p = 0.09. MIRPE + CRE + Cryo patients used 0.6 OME/kg [0.2,8.0] with a 2 day [1,5.5] LOS. Ninety-one percent of Cryo patients had cryoablation of T9 and/or T10 intercostal nerves, with no documented abdominal wall laxity at median follow-up of 16 days. Cryo was applied extra-thoracically in CRE + cryo without thoracoscopy or lung isolation, while MIRPE + CRE + Cryo used a combination extra-/intra-thoracic cryoablation in with thoracoscopy. ConclusionIntercostal nerve cryoablation reduces opioid use and LOS in patients undergoing cartilaginous rib excision for slipping rib syndrome. Cryotherapy to as low as T10 did not result in abdominal wall laxity and can be applied extra-thoracically without the need for thoracoscopy. Ongoing prospective studies are required to assess the long-term outcomes. Level of evidenceIII.

The effect of ribs on the sound radiation directivity of rectangular plates

An analytical solution utilizing a double finite sine integral transform method is presented in this study for the sound radiation prediction of a ribbed rectangular plate structure under various combinations of clamped and simply supported boundary conditions. An advantage of the modeling method is that the plate–beam structural coupling and the structure–fluid coupling are automatically defined in the integral transformation without the need to manually select the mode shape function. The model is then utilized to investigate the effect of ribs on the radiated sound power and directivity of the plate structure under resonant and non-resonant conditions, respectively. The result shows that the ribbing effect on the omnidirectional radiated sound field of the rectangular plate is consistent with the change of the radiated sound power. However, the radiated sound pressure may increase at certain directions even if the radiated sound power of the rectangular plate is suppressed by the inclusion of ribs. The effect of periodic ribs on the sound radiation of the rectangular plate is also explored. The insight gained from this study can inspire the noise design for structures, such as marine platforms and high-speed rail carriages.

Study on Wear Mechanism of Bell-shaped cover of Vertical Scraper Centrifuge

Based on the basic structure and working principle of vertical scraper discharge centrifuge and combined with the actual use, this paper puts forward the main influencing factors of bell-shaped cover wear, studies the wear characteristics of materials on bell-shaped cover, analyzes its wear mechanism, and determines the easily worn parts. Taking the bell-shaped bell-shaped cover of the LLL1200 vertical scraper discharge centrifuge as the research object, the speed and angle of materials eroding the bell-shaped cover at each position are calculated through the analysis of the movement track and force of solid materials in the centrifuge. The erosion and wear speed of materials on the outer end of the rib plate side is the maximum, 23.06 m/s, the speed on the inner wall of the coal retaining ring is slightly lower, 13.87 m/s, and the speed on the upper surface of the rib plate is the minimum, 0.53~ 0.69 m/s. In addition, two methods to prolong the service life of the bell-shaped cover are proposed. The industrial application shows that inlaying alumina wear-resistant ceramics on the bell-shaped cover is the most effective and simple method.

High complication rate with titanium plates for chest wall reconstruction following tumour resection.

The reconstruction of the chest wall defect after tumour resection presents a challenge. Titanium rib plates were presented as a reconstruction option due to its biocompatibility, flexibility and pliability. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of single-centre cohort treated with chest wall reconstruction after tumour resections, with a focus on the titanium rib plates reconstruction. We retrospectively reviewed the data of 26 patients who underwent wide resection for malignancies of the chest wall, where reconstruction was performed using polypropylene mesh, porcine dermal collagen mesh with or without titanium rib plates, operated on between 2012 and 2019. Events being associated with the surgery requiring revision were rated as complications. Most of the patients had primary tumours (n = 19; 73%). A mean of 3.7 ribs (range: 1-7) was resected. Reconstruction was performed with titanium rib plates (13 patients, 50%), of these 11 were performed with additional mesh grafts. The remaining 13 patients (50%) underwent reconstruction with mesh grafts only. Fourteen patients (54%) developed a complication requiring surgical revision, after a median of 5.5 months. The most common complication was wound healing deficit (n = 4), plate fracture (n = 2), mesh rupture (n = 2), infection (n = 2) and local recurrence (n = 2). The only factor being associated with the development of complications was the usage of a plate (P = 0.015), irrespective of defect size (P = 0.29). The high complication rate is found when using titanium plates for chest wall reconstruction after tumour resection. A high caution is recommended in choosing the chest wall reconstruction method.

Heat transmission and air flow friction in a solar air heater with a ribbed absorber plate: A computational study

The influence of geometrical parameters of V-symmetry ribs on heat flow and fluid flow characteristics of solar air heater (SAH) rectangular duct with ribbed absorber is investigated theoretically. Fabrication of ribs in repeated artificial protrusions pattern on the absorber surface appears as a simple approach for increasing the solar collectors radiation harnessing capacity. The various characteristics of artificial roughness protrusions include relative roughness height (e/Dh), relative roughness pitch (p/e), and angle of attack of flow (α), and the span of these parameters is determined based on experimental considerations of the device and working circumstances. To measure the improvement in the coefficient of heat transfer and friction factor, the outcomes were correlated to those of a smooth conduit under identical flow characteristics. The greatest increase in Stanton number and friction factor is 1.13 and 1.19 folds that of the smooth SAH duct, correspondingly.