UV protection and shade structures

[Abstract]: Broadband field measurements were conducted beneath three different sized public shade structures at a sub-tropical Southern Hemisphere site for relatively clear skies and for a changing solar zenith angle (SZA) of 13o to 76o. These data were compared to the diffuse UV to quantify the relationship between diffuse UV and the UV in the shade of the structures. On the horizontal plane, the ultraviolet protection factors (UPF) for the shade structures ranged from 1.5 to 18 for a decreasing SZA. The data from this research is significant, because it shows that as the SZA of the sun increases so does the relative proportion of scattered UV beneath the shade structures which in turn decreases the shade structures UPF. In Australia, erythemal UV in full sun can reach levels of approximately 2.5 MED/h or more in the middle of the day during winter. Therefore, it is necessary for people that live in similar latitudes to minimise UV exposure in all climatic conditions throughout the year. Based on this research, a standard for reporting the UV protection provided by shade structures is essential for the public to make an informed decision on the efficacy of particular structures in reducing personal UV exposure

The Consumer Financial Protection Agency

Examines the current regulatory structures for consumer financial services protection, its limitations, and concerns about the proposal to consolidate consumer protection functions under one agency with research, rule-making, and enforcement authority

Reconfigurable Flood Wall Inspired by Architected Origami

Recent interest in the art of origami has opened a wide range of engineering applications and possibilities. Shape changing structures based on origami have had a large influence on the drive for efficient, sustainable engineering solutions. However, development in novel macro-scale utilization is lacking compared to the effort towards micro-scale devices. There exists an opening for environmentally actuated structures that improve quality for life of humans and the natural environment. Specifically, resilient infrastructure systems could potentially benefit from the tailorable properties and programmable reconfiguration of origami-inspired designs. The realm of flood protection and overall water resources management creates a unique opportunity for adaptable structures. A flood protection system, or flood wall, is one application of the origami technique. In many situations, flood protection is visually displeasing and hinders an otherwise scenic natural environment within a cityscape. By applying a permanent, adaptable protection system in flood-prone areas, not only will general aesthetics be conserved, but quick deployment in disaster situations will be ensured. With a rapidly changing climate and an increase in storm disaster events, an efficient flood-protection system is vital. In this study, simple rigid flood barriers are compared to adaptable wall systems that utilize multi-stable configurations. The flood event is characterized by a surcharge of water that is suddenly introduced–like that of a flash flood–and sustained at steady-state. Small-scale prototypes are tested in a hydraulic flume and compared to a numerical simulation for validation.Ohio State University College of Engineering Undergraduate Research ScholarshipNo embargoAcademic Major: Civil Engineerin

Mechanical protection for composite structures submitted to low energy impact

Composite materials are widely used in aeronautical structures. These materials can be submitted to low energy impacts like tool drop, routine operations… Such impacts can generate damages in the material that significantly reduce the structure strength. A solution to reduce the severity of damages due to impact is to add a mechanical protection on composite structures (patent n° 2 930 478). In this paper, an experimental study on different concepts of protective layers is presented. This protection is made of a certain thickness of low density energy absorbent material (foam, honeycomb or stacking of hollow spheres) and a thin layer of composite laminate (Kevlar). Experimental impact tests with a spherical impactor of 20 mm diameter at low velocity and low energy are made on aluminum plates, with different protections, and for different levels of energy. Analyses of Load/Displacement curves enable to study the capability of each mechanical protection to absorb energy. Resistance of these protections is then compared and discussed, taking into account the thickness and the surface density of the protections

Mesh sensitivity in discrete element simulation of flexible protection structures

The Discrete Element Method (DEM) has been employed in recent years to simulate flexible protection structures undergoing dynamic loading due to its inherent aptitude for dealing with inertial effects and large deformations. The individual structural elements are discretized with an arbitrary number of discrete elements, connected by spring-like remote interactions. In this work, we implement this approach using the parallel bond contact model and compare the numerical results at different discretization intervals with the analytical solutions of classical beam theory. Successively, we use the same model to simulate the punching test of a steel wire mesh and quantify the influence of a different number of elements on the macroscopic response

Estimation of the EMR shielding effectiveness of knit structures

This paper describes the creation of and tests petformed on knit structures of three types (left-right stitch (I), double-layer (II), and double-layer with additional fillings (III)), which contain ferromagnetic materials and electroconductive materials and are designed for individual protection against occupational hazard. The ferromagnetic material is composed of two bunches of twisted filaments of ferromagnetic stainless steel made by Bekaert, Belgium, and the electroconductive material is a thread made of cotton and copper wire covered by silver made by Swiss Shield (R) yarns, Switzerland. Both the ferromagnetic and electroconductive materials form a hybrid yarn. Shielding effectiveness (SE) tests on knit structures were performed by the Central Institute for Labour Protection - National Research Institute, Poland and by the Institute of Architecture of Textiles, Poland. Analysis of the structures indicates a SE from both the electrical field and magnetical field in some narrow ranges

Active cooling from the sixties to NASP

Vehicles, such as the X-15 or National Aero-Space Plane, traveling at hypersonic speeds through the earth's atmosphere experience aerodynamic heating. The heating can be severe enough that a thermal protection system is required to limit the temperature of the vehicle structure. Although several categories of thermal protection systems are mentioned briefly, the majority of this paper describes convectively cooled structures for large areas. Convective cooling is a method of limiting structural temperatures by circulating a coolant through the vehicle structure. Efforts to develop convectively cooled structures during the past 30 years--from early engine structures, which were intended to be tested on the X-15, to structural--are described. Many of the lessons learned from these research efforts are presented

Approach to the assessment of the hazard

An overview of the carbon fiber hazard assessment is presented. The potential risk to the civil sector associated with the accidental release of carbon fibers from aircraft having composite structures was assessed along with the need for protection of civil aircraft from carbon fibers

Fragile States, Robust Structures: Illegal Police Protection in Buenos Aires

Weakness is a quality frequently ascribed to Latin American states. This diagnosis proves faulty since it is possible to find resistant structures inside those states that perpetuate such weaknesses. This article shows that this is the case in regards to the police force of the province of Buenos Aires. Here, I will demonstrate that the police have specialized in selling a service available to criminals and criminal organizations: illegal protection. With information taken from in-depth interviews and official documents, I will show that this protection – contrary to the views of Charles Tilly and Diego Gambetta – is characterized by a temporary suspension of the rule of law.police, protection, politics, organised crime, Buenos Aires