A fully implicit multi-axial solution strategy for direct ratchet boundary evaluation : theoretical development

Ensuring sufficient safety against ratchet is a fundamental requirement in pressure vessel design. Determining the ratchet boundary can prove difficult and computationally expensive when using a full elastic-plastic finite element analysis and a number of direct methods have been proposed that overcome the difficulties associated with ratchet boundary evaluation. Here, a new approach based on fully implicit Finite Element methods, similar to conventional elastic-plastic methods, is presented. The method utilizes a two-stage procedure. The first stage determines the cyclic stress state, which can include a varying residual stress component, by repeatedly converging on the solution for the different loads by superposition of elastic stress solutions using a modified elastic-plastic solution. The second stage calculates the constant loads which can be added to the steady cycle whilst ensuring the equivalent stresses remain below a modified yield strength. During stage 2 the modified yield strength is updated throughout the analysis, thus satisfying Melan’s Lower bound ratchet theorem. This is achieved utilizing the same elastic plastic model as the first stage, and a modified radial return method. The proposed methods are shown to provide better agreement with upper bound ratchet methods than other lower bound ratchet methods, however limitations in these are identified and discussed

A fully implicit multi-axial solution strategy for direct ratchet boundary evaluation : implementation and comparison

Ensuring sufficient safety against ratcheting is a fundamental requirement in pressure vessel design. However, determining the ratchet boundary using a full elastic plastic finite element analysis can be problematic and a number of direct methods have been proposed to overcome difficulties associated with ratchet boundary evaluation. This paper proposes a new lower bound ratchet analysis approach, similar to the previously proposed Hybrid method but based on fully implicit elastic-plastic solution strategies. The method utilizes superimposed elastic stresses and modified radial return integration to converge on the residual state throughout, resulting in one Finite Element model suitable for solving the cyclic stresses (Stage 1) and performing the augmented limit analysis to determine the ratchet boundary (Stage 2). The modified radial return methods for both stages of the analysis are presented, with the corresponding stress update algorithm and resulting consistent tangent moduli. Comparisons with other direct methods for selected benchmark problems are presented. It is shown that the proposed method evaluates a consistent lower bound estimate of the ratchet boundary, which has not previously been clearly demonstrated for other lower bound approaches. Limitations in the description of plastic strains and compatibility during the ratchet analysis are identified as being a cause for the differences between the proposed methods and current upper bound methods

Shakedown and limit analysis of 90° pipe bends under internal pressure, cyclic in-plane bending and cyclic thermal loading

The Linear Matching Method is used to create the shakedown limit and limit load interaction curves of 90 degree pipe bends for a range of bend factors. Two load cases are considered i) internal pressure and inplane bending (which includes opening, closing and reversed bending) and ii) internal pressure and a cyclic through wall temperature difference giving rise to thermal stresses. The effects of the ratios of bend radius to pipe mean radius (R/r) and mean radius to wall thickness (r/t) on the limit load and shakedown behaviour are presented

On a switching control scheme for nonlinear systems with ill-defined relative degree

This paper discusses the applicability of a switching control scheme for a nonlinear system with ill-defined relative degree. The control scheme switches between exact and approximate input-output linearisation control laws. Unlike a linear system under a switching control scheme, the equilibria of a nonlinear system may change with the switching. It is pointed out that this is not sufficient to cause instability. When the region of the approximate linearisation control law is attractive to the exact zero dynamics, it is possible that the closed-loop system under the switching control scheme is still stable. The results in this paper shows that the switching control scheme proposed in Tomlin and Sastry (Systems Control Lett. 35(3) (1998) 145) is applicable for a wider class of nonlinear systems

Energetics of Protein-DNA Interactions

Protein-DNA interactions are vital for many processes in living cells, especially transcriptional regulation and DNA modification. To further our understanding of these important processes on the microscopic level, it is necessary that theoretical models describe the macromolecular interaction energetics accurately. While several methods have been proposed, there has not been a careful comparison of how well the different methods are able to predict biologically important quantities such as the correct DNA binding sequence, total binding free energy, and free energy changes caused by DNA mutation. In addition to carrying out the comparison, we present two important theoretical models developed initially in protein folding that have not yet been tried on protein-DNA interactions. In the process, we find that the results of these knowledge-based potentials show a strong dependence on the interaction distance and the derivation method. Finally, we present a knowledge-based potential that gives comparable or superior results to the best of the other methods, including the molecular mechanics force field AMBER99

A direct method for the evaluation of lower and upper bound ratchet limits

The calculation of the ratchet limit is often vital for the assessment of the design and integrity of components which are subject to cyclic loading. This work describes the addition of a lower bound calculation to the existing Linear Matching Method upper bound ratchet analysis method. This lower bound calculation is based on Melan's theorem, and makes use of the residual and elastic stress fields calculated by the upper bound technique to calculate the lower bound ratchet limit multiplier. By doing this, the method combines the stable convergence of the upper bound method but retains the conservatism offered by the lower bound. These advantages are complemented by the ability of the Linear Matching Method to consider real 3D geometries subject to complex load histories including the effect of temperature dependent yield stress. The convergence properties of this lower bound ratchet limit are investigated through a benchmark problem of a plate with a central hole subject to cyclic thermal and mechanical loads. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the method, the ratchet limit of a thick walled pipe intersection, also subject to cyclic thermal and mechanical loads, is considered. Validation of these results is provided by full elastic-plastic FEA in Abaqus

Using autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) models to predict and monitor the number of beds occupied during a SARS outbreak in a tertiary hospital in Singapore.

BACKGROUND: The main objective of this study is to apply autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) models to make real-time predictions on the number of beds occupied in Tan Tock Seng Hospital, during the recent SARS outbreak. METHODS: This is a retrospective study design. Hospital admission and occupancy data for isolation beds was collected from Tan Tock Seng hospital for the period 14th March 2003 to 31st May 2003. The main outcome measure was daily number of isolation beds occupied by SARS patients. Among the covariates considered were daily number of people screened, daily number of people admitted (including observation, suspect and probable cases) and days from the most recent significant event discovery. We utilized the following strategy for the analysis. Firstly, we split the outbreak data into two. Data from 14th March to 21st April 2003 was used for model development. We used structural ARIMA models in an attempt to model the number of beds occupied. Estimation is via the maximum likelihood method using the Kalman filter. For the ARIMA model parameters, we considered the simplest parsimonious lowest order model. RESULTS: We found that the ARIMA (1,0,3) model was able to describe and predict the number of beds occupied during the SARS outbreak well. The mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) for the training set and validation set were 5.7% and 8.6% respectively, which we found was reasonable for use in the hospital setting. Furthermore, the model also provided three-day forecasts of the number of beds required. Total number of admissions and probable cases admitted on the previous day were also found to be independent prognostic factors of bed occupancy. CONCLUSION: ARIMA models provide useful tools for administrators and clinicians in planning for real-time bed capacity during an outbreak of an infectious disease such as SARS. The model could well be used in planning for bed-capacity during outbreaks of other infectious diseases as well

Does the use of specialist palliative care services modify the effect of socioeconomic status on place of death? A systematic review

© SAGE Publications. Background: Cancer patients in lower socioeconomic groups are significantly less likely to die at home and experience more barriers to access to palliative care. It is unclear whether receiving palliative care may mediate the effect of socioeconomic status on place of death. Aim: This review examines whether and how use of specialist palliative care may modify the effect of socioeconomic status on place of death. Design: A systematic review was conducted. Eligible papers were selected and the quality appraised by two independent reviewers. Data were synthesised using a narrative approach. Data sources: MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO and Web of Knowledge were searched (1997-2013). Bibliographies were scanned and experts contacted. Papers were included if they reported the effect of both socioeconomic status and use of specialist palliative care on place of death for adult cancer patients. Results: Nine studies were included. All study subjects had received specialist palliative care. With regard to place of death, socioeconomic status was found to have (1) no effect in seven studies and (2) an effect in one study. Furthermore, one study found that the effect of socioeconomic status on place of death was only significant when patients received standard specialist palliative care. When patients received more intense care adapted to their needs, the effect of socioeconomic status on place of death was no longer seen. Conclusion: There is some evidence to suggest that use of specialist palliative care may modify the effect of socioeconomic status on place of death