The Crowdsourced Replication Initiative: Investigating Immigration and Social Policy Preferences. Executive Report.

In an era of mass migration, social scientists, populist parties and social movements raise concerns over the future of immigration-destination societies. What impacts does this have on policy and social solidarity? Comparative cross-national research, relying mostly on secondary data, has findings in different directions. There is a threat of selective model reporting and lack of replicability. The heterogeneity of countries obscures attempts to clearly define data-generating models. P-hacking and HARKing lurk among standard research practices in this area.This project employs crowdsourcing to address these issues. It draws on replication, deliberation, meta-analysis and harnessing the power of many minds at once. The Crowdsourced Replication Initiative carries two main goals, (a) to better investigate the linkage between immigration and social policy preferences across countries, and (b) to develop crowdsourcing as a social science method. The Executive Report provides short reviews of the area of social policy preferences and immigration, and the methods and impetus behind crowdsourcing plus a description of the entire project. Three main areas of findings will appear in three papers, that are registered as PAPs or in process

Investigation of magnetic stray fields in an inhomogeneously deformed structural steel using passive-magnetic test methods

Die Metal Magnetic Memory (MMM) Methode ist ein standardisiertes, zerstörungsfreies Prüfverfahren, das für die Detektion von lokal geschädigten Materialbereichen in ferromagnetischen Bauteilen oder Proben verwendet wird. Es basiert auf der Annahme lokaler magnetoelastischer Wechselwirkungen an Spannungskonzentrationsstellen, die schwache magnetische Streufelder an den geschädigten Prüfkörper¬oberflächen hervorrufen. Die MMM-Methode überträgt dabei die für einachsige und elastische Verformungen entwickelten magnetoelastischen Modellvorstellungen ohne weitere Anpassungen in den Schädigungskontext, der jedoch mehrachsige Beanspruchungen und elastisch-plastische Deformationsprozesse erwarten lässt. Das Ziel der Arbeit ist es daher, die gängigen MMM-Hypothesen zur Signalentstehung fach- und skalenübergreifend und unter stärkerer Berücksichtigung mechanischer und mikrostruktureller Aspekte zu überprüfen. Zu diesem Zweck wurden zum einen gekerbte Flachzugproben aus einem unlegierten Baustahl inhomogen elastisch-plastisch verformt und die entstehenden magnetischen Streufelder an deren Oberflächen mit einem Drei-Achsen-GMR-Magnetometer detektiert. Die so ermittelten Magnetfeld-verteilungen wurden für unterschiedliche Verformungszustände ortsaufgelöst und richtungsabhängig mit gemessenen Dehnungsverteilungen (digitale Bildkorrelation) und mit simulierten Lastspannungs¬verteilungen korreliert. Die eingeschnürten Probenbereiche wurden zusätzlich topographisch mittels Streifenlichtprojektion und Weißlichtinterferenzmikroskopie vermessen, um den Magnetisierungs¬prozess ebenfalls vor dem Hintergrund geometrischer Effekte diskutieren zu können. Um systematische, verformungsinduzierte Veränderungen der magnetischen Mikrostruktur (magnetischer Domänen) im polykristallinen, quasi-isotropen Material nachzuweisen, wurde zum anderen ein in dieser Arbeit entwickelter statistischer Ansatz der Domänenanalyse angewandt. Hierfür wurde das Material zunächst durch Härteeindrücke mehrachsig elastisch-plastisch verformt, und die verformten Probenbereiche wurden anschließend mit Hilfe der Bitterstreifentechnik hauptsächlich bei niedriger Vergrößerung lichtmikroskopisch untersucht. Die beobachteten makroskopischen Domänen¬kontraste wurden über ein analytisches, kontaktmechanisches (ECM-) Modell und über Makro-Eigen¬spannungs¬messungen (energiedispersive Synchrotron-Beugungsuntersuchungen) charakteristischen Verformungszonen unter den Härteeindrücken zugeordnet. Die Ergebnisse dieser Untersuchungen belegen, dass die Entstehung der Streufelder – entgegen bisheriger Annahmen – nicht allein auf mechanische Spannungs- und Verformungsgradienten im Material zurückzuführen, sondern auch topographisch bedingt ist. Die Vernachlässigung überlagerter geometrischer Effekte kann zu sicherheitsrelevanten Fehlinterpretationen der magnetischen Signale führen. Einachsige magnetoelastische Modellvorstellungen sollten zudem nicht ohne Anpassungen auf komplexe Beanspruchungen übertragen werden, da u. a. sowohl mechanische Größen (wie Spannungen oder Dehnungen) als auch mikrostrukturelle Parameter (wie z. B. Versetzungsdichten) bei komplexen Belastungen als ortsabhängige Variablen behandelt werden müssen. Die in dieser Arbeit beobachteten Domänenkontraste lassen sich zweifelsfrei charakteristischen Verformungszonen zuordnen, mikro¬strukturell jedoch nicht allein mit anzunehmenden Gradienten der Versetzungsdichte erklären. Statt¬dessen entstehen beispielsweise lokale Verformungstexturen, die zusätzliche magnetische Anisotropien bewirken könnten. Da bisher weder die makroskopischen noch die mikrostrukturellen Ursachen der Streufeldentstehung hinreichend verstanden sind, scheint die MMM-Methode für die quantitative Bewertung des Schädigungszustands derzeit ungeeignet.The Metal Magnetic Memory (MMM) method is a standardized, nondestructive testing method used for the detection of locally damaged material areas in ferromagnetic components or samples. It assumes local magnetoelastic interactions in stress concentration zones, causing weak magnetic stray fields on the damaged specimen surfaces. The MMM method transfers magnetoelastic model conceptions developed for uniaxial and elastic deformations without further adjustments into the damage context, which is, however, associated with multiaxial stresses and elastic-plastic deformations. The objective of this thesis is therefore to verify prevalent MMM hypotheses concerning the signal generation, putting emphasis on complex mechanical and microstructural aspects of damage while using interdisciplinary and multi-scale approaches. To this end, on the one hand, notched tensile specimens made of an unalloyed structural steel were inhomogeneously (elastically and plastically) deformed and deformation-induced magnetic stray fields were then detected by a three-axis GMR magnetometer. The obtained surface magnetic field distributions were correlated with measured strain distributions (digital image correlation) and with numerically simulated mechanical stress distributions (finite element analysis). To enable discussions on the magnetization process against the background of geometrical effects, the necked specimen regions were additionally investigated using optical profilometry methods (fringe projection and white light interference microscopy). On the other hand, a newly developed meso-scale approach to magnetic domain analysis was applied to prove systematic, deformation-induced changes of the magnetic microstructure within the polycrystalline, quasi-isotropic material: After multiaxial elastic-plastic deformation of coupon specimens by hardness indentation, the deformed sample regions were studied by Bitter technique in optical microscopy, preferably at low magnification. The observed macroscopic domain contrasts were related to characteristic deformation zones below the indents by using an analytical model from the field of contact mechanics (ECM) and macro-residual stress measurements (obtained from energy-dispersive synchrotron diffraction experiments). It is demonstrated that the formation of magnetic stray fields, quite contrary to previous assumptions, results not only from mechanical (e.g. stress) gradients within the material, but is also topographically induced. The neglect of such superimposed geometric effects may also lead to safety-relevant misinterpretations of the magnetic signals. Furthermore, uniaxial magnetoelastic model concepts should not be applied to complex stress/strain conditions without adaptation since both mechanical quantities (such as stresses or strains) and microstructural parameters (such as dislocation densities) must be treated as location-dependent variables. The observed magnetic domain contrasts could clearly be assigned to characteristic deformation zones but cannot be explained solely by hypothesized gradients of the dislocation density. Instead, for example, local deformation textures emerge, which may cause additional magnetic anisotropies. The MMM method currently seems unsuitable for quantitative damage assessments of components or specimens since neither the macroscopic nor the microstructural origins of the stray field formation have yet been sufficiently understood

Self-magnetic-leakage field detection using magneto-optical sensor technique

Measurement of spontaneous magnetic stray field signals has been reported to be a promising tool for capturing macro-scale information of deformation states, defects and stress concentration zones in a material structure. This paper offers a new method for self-magnetic leakage field detection using a magneto-optical (MO) hand-held microscope. Its sensor has a dynamic field range between ±0.05 and ±2 kA/m and a lateral optical resolution of approx. 10 μm. We examined flat tensile test specimens of metastable austenitic steel AISI 304. Static tensile tests were repeatedly interrupted at various predetermined states of strain and the magnetic information was measured by the MO system. Comparative measurements using a high-precision magnetic field GMR-sensor, verify the outstanding capability of the MO microscope regarding spatial resolution of magnetic fields

The Role of Surface Topography on Deformation-Induced Magnetization under Inhomogeneous Elastic-Plastic Deformation

It is widely accepted that the magnetic state of a ferromagnetic material may be irreversibly altered by mechanical loading due to magnetoelastic effects. A novel standardized nondestructive testing (NDT) technique uses weak magnetic stray fields, which are assumed to arise from inhomogeneous deformation, for structural health monitoring (i.e., for detection and assessment of damage). However, the mechanical and microstructural complexity of damage has hitherto only been insufficiently considered. The aim of this study is to discuss the phenomenon of inhomogeneous “self-magnetization” of a polycrystalline ferromagnetic material under inhomogeneous deformation experimentally and with stronger material-mechanical focus. To this end, notched specimens were elastically and plastically deformed. Surface magnetic states were measured by a three-axis giant magnetoresistant (GMR) sensor and were compared with strain field (digital image correlation) and optical topography measurements. It is demonstrated that the stray fields do not solely form due to magnetoelastic effects. Instead, inhomogeneous plastic deformation causes topography, which is one of the main origins for the magnetic stray field formation. Additionally, if not considered, topography may falsify the magnetic signals due to variable lift-off values. The correlation of magnetic vector components with mechanical tensors, particularly for multiaxial stress/strain states and inhomogeneous elastic-plastic deformations remains an issue

Experimental data from service-like creep-fatigue experiments on grade P92 steel

This article refers to the research article entitled “Creep-Fatigue of P92 in Service-Like Tests with Combined Stress- and Strain-Controlled Dwell Times” [1]. It presents experimental mechanical data from complex service-like creep-fatigue experiments performed isothermally at 620°C and a low strain amplitude of 0.2 % on tempered martensite-ferritic grade P92 steel. The datasets in text file format provide cyclic deformation (minimum and maximum stresses) and the total (hysteresis) data of all recorded fatigue cycles for three different creep-fatigue experiments: 1) a standard relaxation fatigue (RF) test with symmetrical dwell times of three minutes introduced at minimum and maximum strain, 2) a fully strain-controlled service-like relaxation (SLR) test combining these three-minute peak strain dwells with a 30-minute dwell in between at zero strain, and 3) a partly stress-controlled service-like creep (SLC) test combining the three-minute peak strain dwells with 30-minute dwells at constant stress. Such service-like (SL) tests with additional long-term stress- and strain-controlled dwell times are non-standard, rare, and expensive, making these data very valuable. They may be used to approximate cyclic softening in the technically relevant range, for the design of complex SL experiments, or for detailed analyses of stress-strain hystereses (e.g., for stress or strain partitioning methods, for the determination of hysteresis energies (work), inelastic strain components, etc.). In addition, the latter analyses may supply important input for advanced parametric lifetime modeling of components under creep-fatigue loading or model calibration parameters

Evaluation of High Spatial Resolution Imaging of Magnetic Stray Fields for Early Damage Detection

Metal magnetic memory (MMM) technique with associated ISO 24497-1:3 [1] is gaining considerable interest in the magnetic NDT community. In contrast to traditional Magnetic Flux Leakage (MFL) testing, the inspection objects are not intentionally magnetized by an external magnetic field [1,2]. Due to the physical coupling between mechanical stress and magnetization of ferromagnetic materials [3], it is assumed that the distribution of the residual MFL correspond to the internal stress of the specimen [2,4], or in the most general sense, to a degradation of the material [1,2]. Usually, MMM measurements are performed by relatively bulky magnetic inspection sensors [2]. The evaluation of local magnetic field distribution is limited thereby. High precision GMR (Giant Magneto Resistance) measurements in the micrometer regime can provide a higher degree of information due to better spatial resolution [5]. We present a concise summary of studies on the correlation of magnetic structure and microstructure of steels. In particular, we compare residual stress measurements in S235JRC steel welds by means of neutron diffraction with high resolution magnetic field mappings. Results indicate a qualitative correlation between residual stresses and local stray field variation. In addition, stray field measurements of plastically deformed specimens for quasi- static and cyclic loading cases are discussed. The present study concludes that GMR sensors can detect inhomogeneous plastic deformations of S235JR steel in a very early stage, without specific signal processing according to the ISO 24497-1:3.</p

CO, NO_<i>x</i>, PCDD/F, and Total Particulate Matter Emissions from Two Small Scale Combustion Appliances Using Agricultural Biomass Type Test Fuels

In Germany, solid biomass fuels based on agricultural byproducts are only used in marginal amounts for small scale combustion. This is the consequence of several regulatory constraints, in particular requirements defined in the first ordinance of the German emission control act (1. BImSchV) including the mandatory utilization of dedicated licensed boilers for such fuels. For the licensing, test fuels with defined fuel composition representing straw and cereal grain like fuels are demanded, and strict emission thresholds have to be met both during type testing and during periodic chimney sweep measurements. To facilitate the market introduction of the first licensed boiler, agricultural biomass test fuels with characteristics being representative for the composition of these assortments were produced and utilized for combustion tests. Emission measurements (i.e., for CO, NO_<i>x</i>, PCDD/F, and total particulate matter) were performed by an accredited institute according to the relevant methods. It was demonstrated that test fuels with dedicated fuel composition can be produced on the bench scale. The results prove that compliance with the strict emission thresholds of 1. BImSchV in Germany can be realized even with challenging fuels if an appropriate boiler is combined with an efficient dust separator. Accordingly, PCDD/F emission levels and toxicity almost as low as for wood combustion were observed