Free vibration of higher-order sandwich and composite arches, Part I: formulation

A higher-order refined model with seven degrees of freedom per node is presented in this paper for the free vibration analysis of composite and sandwich arches. The strain field is modeled through cubic axial, cubic transverse shear and linear transverse normal strain components. As the cross-sectional warping is accurately modeled by this theory, it does not require any shear correction factor. The stress-strain relationship is derived from an orthotropic lamina in a three-dimensional state of stress. The proposed higher-order formulation is validated, in this first part, through arches with various curvatures, aspect ratios, boundary conditions and materials

A stress correction procedure for the analysis of inelastic frames under transient dynamic loads

This paper attempts to present an algorithm (as a set of conditions and equations) for the correction of stresses of both strain-hardening and perfectly-plastic materials, for the analysis of frames under transient dynamic loadings. The validity of the proposed conditions and equations is verified through numerical experiments

Transient dynamics of laminated beams: an evaluation with a higher-order refined theory

A higher-order refined model with seven degrees of freedom per node and cubic axial, quadratic transverse shear and linear transverse normal strain components is presented for the transient dynamic analysis of composite and sandwich beams. This shear correction coefficient free theory considers each layer of the beam to be in a state of plane stress. A special lumping scheme is employed for the evaluation of the diagonal mass matrix and a central difference predictor scheme is used to solve the dynamic equilibrium equation. The excellent performance of the higher-order model in comparison with the first-order theory is clearly brought out through numerical experiments

Compressive characteristics of metal matrix syntactic foams

The compressive behaviour of eight different metal matrix syntactic foams (MMSFs) are investigated and presented. The results showed that the engineering factors as chemical compositions of the matrix material, the size of the microballoons, the previously applied heat treatment and the temperature of the compression tests have significant effects on the compressive properties. The smaller microballoons with thinner wall ensured higher compressive strength due to their more flawless microstructure and better mechanical stability. According to the heat treatments, the T6 treatments were less effective than expected; the parameters of the treatment should be further optimized. The elevated temperature tests revealed ~30% drop in the compressive strength. However, the strength remained high enough for structural applications; therefore MMSFs are good choices for light structural parts working at elevated or room temperature. The chemical composition – microballoon type – heat treatment combinations give good potential for tailoring the compressive characteristics of MMSFs

Axial-flexural coupled vibration and buckling of composite beams using sinusoidal shear deformation theory

A finite element model based on sinusoidal shear deformation theory is developed to study vibration and buckling analysis of composite beams with arbitrary lay-ups. This theory satisfies the zero traction boundary conditions on the top and bottom surfaces of beam without using shear correction factors. Besides, it has strong similarity with Euler–Bernoulli beam theory in some aspects such as governing equations, boundary conditions, and stress resultant expressions. By using Hamilton’s principle, governing equations of motion are derived. A displacement-based one-dimensional finite element model is developed to solve the problem. Numerical results for cross-ply and angle-ply composite beams are obtained as special cases and are compared with other solutions available in the literature. A variety of parametric studies are conducted to demonstrate the effect of fiber orientation and modulus ratio on the natural frequencies, critical buckling loads, and load-frequency curves as well as corresponding mode shapes of composite beams

Therapeutic exercises for affecting post-treatment swallowing in people treated for advanced-stage head and neck cancers.

The primary objective of this review is to determine the effects of therapeutic exercises on oral swallowing, aspiration and adverse events, in people treated curatively for an advanced-stage (stage III, stage IV) squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

Dietary Omega-3 Fatty Acids Do Not Change Resistance of Rat Brain or Liver Mitochondria to Ca2+ and/or Prooxidants

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) block apoptotic neuronal cell death and are strongly neuroprotective in acute and chronic neurodegeneration. Theoretical considerations, indirect data, and consideration of parsimony lead to the hypothesis that modulation of mitochondrial pathway(s) underlies at least some of the neuroprotective effects of n-3 PUFAs. We therefore systematically tested this hypothesis on healthy male FBFN1 rats fed for four weeks with isocaloric, 10% fat-containing diets supplemented with 1, 3, or 10% fish oil (FO). High resolution mass spectrometric analysis confirmed expected diet-driven increases in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6, n-3) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5, n-3) in sera, liver and nonsynaptosomal brain mitochondria. We further evaluated the resistance of brain and liver mitochondria to Ca2+ overload and prooxidants. Under these conditions, neither mitochondrial resistance to Ca2+ overload and prooxidants nor mitochondrial physiology is altered by diet, despite the expected incorporation of DHA and EPA in mitochondrial membranes and plasma. Collectively, the data eliminate one of the previously proposed mechanism(s) that n-3 PUFA induced augmentation of mitochondrial resistance to the oxidant/calcium-driven dysfunction. These data furthermore allow us to define a specific series of follow-up experiments to test related hypotheses about the effect of n-3 PUFAs on brain mitochondria

Curvas de maturação e graus-dia acumulados para frutos de plantas de laranjeira 'Folha Murcha'

The effect of thermal summation on orange fruit growth on different rootstocks has not been studied for the State of Paraná, Brazil. This research evaluated the growth of fruits by means of maturation curves, and quantified the growing degree-days (GDD) accumulation required for fruit maturation in 'Folha Murcha' orange trees budded on 'Rangpur' lime, 'Volkamer' lemon, 'Sunki' mandarin, and 'Cleopatra' mandarin, in Paranavaí and Londrina, PR. In both locations and all rootstocks, the fruits showed evolution in total soluble solids (TSS) content in relation to GDD accumulation, with a quadratic tendency of curve fitting; total titratable acidity (TTA) had an inverse quadratic fitting, and the (TSS/TTA) ratio showed a positive linear regression. Fruits in Paranavaí presented a higher development rate towards maturity than those in Londrina, for all rootstocks. The advancing of the initial maturation stage of fruits in Paranavaí in relation to those in Londrina occurred in the following descending order: 'Volkamer' lemon (92 days), 'Cleopatra' mandarin (81 days), 'Sunki' mandarin (79 days), 'Rangpur' lime (77 days). In Londrina, trees on 'Rangpur' lime and 'Volkamer' lemon were ready for harvest 8 and 15 days before those on the 'Cleopatra' and 'Sunki' mandarins, respectively. In Paranavaí, the beginning of fruit maturation in trees on 'Volkamer' lemon occurred 15, 19, and 28 days earlier than on 'Rangpur' lime, 'Cleopatra' mandarin, and 'Sunki' mandarin, respectively. Considering 12.8ºC as the lower base temperature, the thermal sum for fruit growth and maturation of 'Folha Murcha' orange ranged from 4,462 to 5,090 GDD.O efeito da soma térmica no crescimento do fruto de laranja em diferentes porta-enxertos não tem sido estudado no Estado do Paraná, Brasil. Esta pesquisa avaliou o crescimento dos frutos por meio de curvas de maturação e quantificou os graus-dia acumulados (GDA) necessários para a maturação dos frutos em laranjeiras 'Folha Murcha' enxertadas em limão 'Cravo', limão 'Volcameriano', tangerina 'Sunki' e tangerina 'Cleópatra', em Paranavaí e Londrina, PR. Para os dois locais e em todos os porta-enxertos, os frutos apresentaram evolução do teor de sólidos solúveis totais (SST) em relação ao acúmulo de graus-dia com ajuste de tendência quadrática da curva de regressão; a acidez titulável total (ATT) com ajuste quadrático inverso e o ratio (SST/ATT) regressão linear positiva. Os frutos em Paranavaí apresentaram maior índice de maturação do que em Londrina para todos os porta-enxertos, com antecipação do ponto inicial de maturação na seguinte ordem: limão 'Volcameriano' (92 dias), tangerina 'Cleópatra' (81 dias), tangerina 'Sunki' (79 dias), limão 'Cravo' (77 dias). Em Londrina, as plantas sobre os limões 'Cravo' e 'Volcameriano' apresentaram início da colheita 8 e 15 dias antes daquelas nas tangerinas 'Cleópatra' e 'Sunki', respectivamente. Em Paranavaí, o início da maturação dos frutos das plantas em limão 'Volcameriano' ocorreu 15, 19 e 28 dias mais precoce que o limão 'Cravo', tangerina 'Cleópatra' e tangerina 'Sunki', respectivamente. A soma térmica para o crescimento e maturação dos frutos de laranja 'Folha Murcha' variou de 4.462 a 5.090 GDA

Nitrate reductase activity in cotton plants under water deficit and after turgescence recovery

The activity of the enzyme nitrate reductase was studied in cotton plants (Gossypium hirsutum, L), cvs IAC 20 e IAC 13-1, subjected to increasing water deficits, and after turgescence recovery. The physiological activity of the leaves, represented by the activity of the enzyme, was decreased for water potentials bellow -1.5 MPa. Cultivars were not statistically different. Nitrate reductase activity was a very sensitive method to evaluate the effects of water stress on plant growth, being an indicative of plant metabolism.A atividade da redutase do nitrato foi estudada em plantas de algodão (Gossypium hirsutum, L.), cvs IAC 20 e IAC 13-1, submetidas a déficits crescentes de água, e posterior recuperação da turgescência. A atividade fisiológica das folhas, representada pela atividade da enzima, sofreu redução quando o y a foi menor que -1,5 MPa. Não ocorreram diferenças significativas entre os dois cultivares em relação ao estabelecimento do estresse, nem tampouco quanto ao padrão de recuperação da turgescência em plantas estressadas. O ensaio in vivo da atividade da redutase do nitrato mostrou ser um método sensível para a avaliação do efeito do estresse hídrico sobre o crescimento das plantas, constituindo-se em um parâmetro indicativo do nível geral do metabolismo na planta.27728