Measuring wheel/rail contact stresses using ultrasound

The investigation of contact area and pressure distribution in a wheel/rail contact is essential information required in fatigue and wear calculations to determine design life, regrinding requirements, and maintenance schedules. The aim of this work was to use ultrasound to non-destructively determine wheel/rail contact pressures. Three different contacts were investigated those resulting from; un-used, sand damaged, and worn wheel/rail specimens. A wheel/rail interface behaves like a spring. If the pressure is high the interface is very stiff, with few air gaps, and allows the transmission of an ultrasonic sound wave. If the pressure is low, interfacial stiffness is low and almost all the ultrasound is reflected. A spring model was used to determine maps of contact stiffness from wheel/rail ultrasonic reflection data. Pressure was then determined using a calibration experiment. Separate calibrations were performed for each of the three sets of wheel/rail specimens investigated. Measured contact pressure distributions are compared to those determined using analytical and computer bases numerical techniques

A Study of How the Results of the Third International Mathematics and Science Study Might be Used to Promote Improvement in Mathematics and Science Locally

An applied project submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Education Specialist at Morehead State University by Joyce O. Watson on May 10, 1998

New Female Playwrights in the American Theatre, 1973-1983: a Critical Analysis of Thought in Selected Plays.

Historically, the female playwright has been plagued by a lack of visibility. Long hindered by a limited number of women writers as role models, by the few receptive stages on which to mount their works, and by a public accustomed to a male dominated stage practice, female playwrights nevertheless in the last two decades have produced an extraordinary body of work, signifying a new thrust in the American theatre. Ten playwrights have been selected as representatives of this movement: Tina Howe, Rosalyn Drexler, Rose Goldemberg, Mary Gallagher, Adele Shank, Lavonne Mueller, Wendy Wasserstein, Ntozake Shange, Beth Henley and Marsha Norman. These innovative and prolific writers have invigorated the American stage and influenced their contemporaries, both male and female; two of them received Pulitzer Prizes. Since these playwrights were themselves influenced by preceding pioneers, their predecessors are examined to indicate the continuity of a phenomenal movement in drama. Similarly, the study acknowledges lesser know writers of their own era. As a collective, the ten female writers represent the creative impulse of the 80\u27s. Each has a distinctive body of plays, has had works produced in a major theatre setting, and was significantly productive during the decade of 1973-1983. The individual plays of the ten writers have been examined in terms of thought, as delineated among Aristotle\u27s six elements of drama and interpreted further by Oscar Brockett. My objective has been to focus on ideas, themes, objectives, and trends peculiar to these particular writers or applicable to an even larger collective of contemporary female playwrights. Each playwright has her unique vision, concerns, and style, presenting varying interpretations of human action and of the female in particular in her social, political, and artistic roles. The quest for familial bonds and individual autonomy emerge as constant themes among the selected plays. Despite the diversity, this study clearly celebrates the onset of a growing number of female playwrights in the mainstream of American theatre, and, as such, it adds to the scant critical dialogue available on American women dramatists who significantly contributed to the evolving drama during 1973-1983

Travel Without Fear: A Proposed Strategic Action Plan For Monitoring Road Transport Security in Nigeria

The alarming level of insecurity in Nigeria has fuelled the crime rate, which has made insecurity a topical issue in Nigeria today. Loss of lives and valuables on Nigerian roads induced by crime and criminalities is on the increase and worrisome. The robbery incidents which occurred between 2009-2014 where presented in a table and ranked alongside the highways where they occurred and the Lagos-Ore-Benin highway ranked first, meaning there has been more robbery incidents along that route than the others. The main aim of this paper is to propose a strategic action plan that will assist in monitoring security of road transport in Nigeria. The analysis of the current trend of Highway Armed Robbery incidents (HARIs) in Nigeria from 2009-2014 was done using the Microsoft excel statistical package which shows an increase in the trend of HARIs. The linear regression equation was used in predicting future incidents 2015-2030. The Future trend shows a continuous increase in HARIs in Nigeria if proactive measures are not put in place hence the proposal of the strategic action plan. The proposed strategic action plan will assist Policy makers and Security Personnel in taking proactive measures against Road Transport Insecurity in Nigeria. Keywords: Security, Highway robbery, Transportation, Strategic Action plan, Nigeria.

Model Formulation for Predicting Future Highway Armed Robbery Incidents in Nigeria

Insecurity is a topical issue in Nigeria today. Loss of lives and valuables on Nigerian roads induced by crime and criminalities is on the increase and worrisome. The main aim of this paper is to propose a model for predicting future Highway Armed Robbery incidents through the analysis of the current trends of Highway Armed Robbery incidents (HARIs) in Nigeria from 2009-2014. Statistical analysis was done using Microsoft Excel and SPSS version 20. The analysis shows an increasing trend in HARIs in Nigeria. Furthermore, regression analysis was done and the eleven models available namely: Linear, Logarithmic, Inverse, Quadratic, Cubic, Compound, Power, S, Growth, Exponential, Logistic were estimated and the model with the highest R square value (R2) was selected as the best Curvefit for the data and thus used for the model of prediction. The model that has been proposed can be used for predicting future HARIs that may guide policy makers and Security Personnel. Keywords: Highway robbery, transportation, model formulation, Nigeria