38 research outputs found
A new methodology for the characterization of mode II fracture of pinus pinaster wood
In this study, the End Notched Flexure (ENF) fracture test was used to obtain the mode II Rcurve of the Pinus pinaster wood in the RL crack propagation system. The test method was
numerically and experimentally analyzed. In the numerical study, three (3D) and twodimensional (2D) finite element analyses were conducted to determine the mode II critical strain energy release rate (GIIc) and the respective R-curve. Firstly, the 3D analysis was performed in order to obtain the strain energy release rates distributions at the crack tip, and
consequently, to identify the presence of spurious fracture modes that could affect the
measured GIIc. The P-δ-a values determined from the 3D model were compared with the same
values obtained from the 2D model. The main objective was to validate the 2D model, which
is computationally less expensive. On the other hand, measurement of the crack length in the ENF test is quite difficult in wood because crack tends to close during propagation. To avoid this experimental problem a Compliance-Based Beam Method (CBBM), based on equivalent crack approach, is proposed. Moreover, this method does not require additional experimental tests to obtain the elastic properties. Experimental tests were also executed in order to verify
the numerical results. The aim is to introduce the CBBM as a standard data reduction scheme in order to measure the GIIc value
Reduced costs with bisoprolol treatment for heart failure - An economic analysis of the second Cardiac Insufficiency Bisoprolol Study (CIBIS-II)
Background
Beta-blockers, used as an adjunctive to diuretics, digoxin and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, improve survival in chronic heart failure. We report a prospectively planned economic analysis of the cost of adjunctive beta-blocker therapy in the second Cardiac Insufficiency BIsoprolol Study (CIBIS II).
Methods
Resource utilization data (drug therapy, number of hospital admissions, length of hospital stay, ward type) were collected prospectively in all patients in CIBIS . These data were used to determine the additional direct costs incurred, and savings made, with bisoprolol therapy. As well as the cost of the drug, additional costs related to bisoprolol therapy were added to cover the supervision of treatment initiation and titration (four outpatient clinic/office visits). Per them (hospital bed day) costings were carried out for France, Germany and the U.K. Diagnosis related group costings were performed for France and the U.K. Our analyses took the perspective of a third party payer in France and Germany and the National Health Service in the U.K.
Results
Overall, fewer patients were hospitalized in the bisoprolol group, there were fewer hospital admissions perpatient hospitalized, fewer hospital admissions overall, fewer days spent in hospital and fewer days spent in the most expensive type of ward. As a consequence the cost of care in the bisoprolol group was 5-10% less in all three countries, in the per them analysis, even taking into account the cost of bisoprolol and the extra initiation/up-titration visits. The cost per patient treated in the placebo and bisoprolol groups was FF35 009 vs FF31 762 in France, DM11 563 vs DM10 784 in Germany and pound 4987 vs pound 4722 in the U.K. The diagnosis related group analysis gave similar results.
Interpretation
Not only did bisoprolol increase survival and reduce hospital admissions in CIBIS II, it also cut the cost of care in so doing. This `win-win' situation of positive health benefits associated with cost savings is Favourable from the point of view of both the patient and health care systems. These findings add further support for the use of beta-blockers in chronic heart failure
Experimental and numerical analyses of wood boards joining using wood-pin connectors
This paper addresses the joining of two wood boards considering bonding and wood pins connections.
Experimental tests involving these two assemblies were performed. Four different inclinations were con-
sidered for the four pins in order to assess the influence of this parameter on stiffness and strength of the
joint, which were compared with the bonded solution. A three-dimensional finite element analysis
including cohesive zone modelling was also performed. The experimental results of the tested cases were
used for the sake of the numerical model validation considering the load-displacement curves in addition
to damage profile and failure mode in wood members. Afterwards, the model was used to analyze differ-
ent arrangements varying the number of dowels and distance between them, targeting the enhancement
of load capacity and stiffness.The first author acknowledges FCT for the conceded financial
support through the reference project UID/EEA/04436/2013, COMPETE 2020 with the code POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006941. The fourth
author acknowledges the ‘‘Laboratório Associado de Energia,
Transportes e Aeronáutica” (LAETA) for the financial support by
the project UID/EMS/50022/2013, and to the funding of Project
NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000022 – SciTech – Science and Technology for Competitive and Sustainable Industries, co-financed by Programa Operacional Regional do Norte (NORTE2020), through
Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional (FEDER)