The Leading World’s Most Innovative Universities

This open access book is unique in its contents. No other title in the book market has tackled this important subject. It introduces innovation as a way of practice for world-class universities. It, then, discusses the criteria for being innovative in the academic world. The book selects some of the top innovative world-class universities to study the factors that qualified them to be innovative, so that any other university can follow their steps to become innovative. The final chapter of the book presents some recommendations in this regard

Failure of Laminated Fibre-reinforced Composite Structures Subject to Combined Loadings

A new modified maximum strain failure criterion is proposed to predict the failure of the laminae of laminated fibre-reinforced composite structures when the laminate is subjected to combined loadings. The new criterion takes into account the layer non-linear behaviour which is an important factor in the failure prediction operation. The analysis of laminated structures containing laminae with non-linear stress-strain response is also studied and a new method is proposed for this analysis. The modified failure criterion introduces two levels of failure. The lower level is associated with the “yield” of the lamina, or the beginning of the lamina degradation, above which the lamina will exhibit irreversible damage. The higher failure level however, is associated with the “ultimate” failure of the lamina, above which the lamina cannot sustain any load. Cont/d.A new modified maximum strain failure criterion is proposed to predict the failure of the laminae of laminated fibre-reinforced composite structures when the laminate is subjected to combined loadings. The new criterion takes into account the layer non-linear behaviour which is an important factor in the failure prediction operation. The analysis of laminated structures containing laminae with non-linear stress-strain response is also studied and a new method is proposed for this analysis. The modified failure criterion introduces two levels of failure. The lower level is of the lamina degradation, above which the lamina will exhibit irreversible damage. The higher failure level, however, is associated with the “ultimate” failure of the lamina, above which the lamina cannot sustain any load. After the “ultimate” failure of a lamina in a certain direction, the post-failure model proposed in this study assumes the failed layer to unload in the failed direction only following a decreasing exponential function where the secant modulus decreases gradually to zero. The theoretical results are compared with experimental results obtained from tests carried out on tubular composite specimens under combined loading conditions. Acoustic emission, C-scanning and photomicrographic tests were also conducted to examine the damage caused when the linear limit is exceeded. The cylindrical specimens used in the experimental investigation introduced two additional problems which are also studied here. These are the design of the tubular test specimens, and the buckling of cylindrical shells under combined loading. Comprehensive survey of the previous theories for all the problems studied in this thesis is presented, and where possible, the results obtained by previous investigators are compared with the present proposed solutions and commented on

THE FRACTURE BEHAVIOR OF RANDOM FIBER-REINFORCED COMPOSITE SPECIMENS

An experimental investigation of the fracture behavior of random fiber-reinforced composites has been carried out using tension tests. The crack opening displacement (COD) was measured continuously with the applied load. The load-COD curves were used to draw the R-curves (crack growth resistance curves). Using the resulted R-curves, few analytical relationships have been obtained. From these relationships, the fracture toughness has been predicted. The present work gives a better understanding of the crack resistance characteristics of randomly distributed fiber composites

Restoration of Natural Frequency of Cracked Cantilever Beam Using CNT Composite Patch: A Finite Element Study

Cyclic loadings cause fatigue to the elements of machines leading to crack initiation and propagation. This phenomenon decreases the age of the elements. In particular, cracks decrease the stiffness of the parts and lower the parts natural frequency, leading to failure under normal working conditions. This paper introduces a new application to carbon nanotube (CNT) composites in the repairing process of a cracked specimen to restore the natural frequency of the specimen. Commonly, patches are made of high strength and high stiffness materials. This paper shows that even low stiffness materials, such as epoxy reinforced with CNT, can contribute to the repair of a cracked specimen. A 2D finite element (FE) simulation is used to study the effects of bonding CNT composite patches over the crack location to repair cracked metal specimens. The effects of the patch thickness, length, and CNTs weight concentration ratio are investigated. Results showed an increase in the natural frequency of 31% compared to the cracked specimen at a crack depth of 70% of the beam depth and at a distance of 20% of the total beam length from the support

The Leading World’s Most Innovative Universities

This open access book is unique in its contents. No other title in the book market has tackled this important subject. It introduces innovation as a way of practice for world-class universities. It, then, discusses the criteria for being innovative in the academic world. The book selects some of the top innovative world-class universities to study the factors that qualified them to be innovative, so that any other university can follow their steps to become innovative. The final chapter of the book presents some recommendations in this regard

Health in times of uncertainty in the eastern Mediterranean region, 1990–2013: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013

Background: The eastern Mediterranean region is comprised of 22 countries: Afghanistan, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Since our Global Burden of Disease Study 2010 (GBD 2010), the region has faced unrest as a result of revolutions, wars, and the so-called Arab uprisings. The objective of this study was to present the burden of diseases, injuries, and risk factors in the eastern Mediterranean region as of 2013. Methods: GBD 2013 includes an annual assessment covering 188 countries from 1990 to 2013. The study covers 306 diseases and injuries, 1233 sequelae, and 79 risk factors. Our GBD 2013 analyses included the addition of new data through updated systematic reviews and through the contribution of unpublished data sources from collaborators, an updated version of modelling software, and several improvements in our methods. In this systematic analysis, we use data from GBD 2013 to analyse the burden of disease and injuries in the eastern Mediterranean region specifically. Findings: The leading cause of death in the region in 2013 was ischaemic heart disease (90·3 deaths per 100 000 people), which increased by 17·2% since 1990. However, diarrhoeal diseases were the leading cause of death in Somalia (186·7 deaths per 100 000 people) in 2013, which decreased by 26·9% since 1990. The leading cause of disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) was ischaemic heart disease for males and lower respiratory infection for females. High blood pressure was the leading risk factor for DALYs in 2013, with an increase of 83·3% since 1990. Risk factors for DALYs varied by country. In low-income countries, childhood wasting was the leading cause of DALYs in Afghanistan, Somalia, and Yemen, whereas unsafe sex was the leading cause in Djibouti. Non-communicable risk factors were the leading cause of DALYs in high-income and middle-income countries in the region. DALY risk factors varied by age, with child and maternal malnutrition affecting the younger age groups (aged 28 days to 4 years), whereas high bodyweight and systolic blood pressure affected older people (aged 60–80 years). The proportion of DALYs attributed to high body-mass index increased from 3·7% to 7·5% between 1990 and 2013. Burden of mental health problems and drug use increased. Most increases in DALYs, especially from non-communicable diseases, were due to population growth. The crises in Egypt, Yemen, Libya, and Syria have resulted in a reduction in life expectancy; life expectancy in Syria would have been 5 years higher than that recorded for females and 6 years higher for males had the crisis not occurred. Interpretation: Our study shows that the eastern Mediterranean region is going through a crucial health phase. The Arab uprisings and the wars that followed, coupled with ageing and population growth, will have a major impact on the region's health and resources. The region has historically seen improvements in life expectancy and other health indicators, even under stress. However, the current situation will cause deteriorating health conditions for many countries and for many years and will have an impact on the region and the rest of the world. Based on our findings, we call for increased investment in health in the region in addition to reducing the conflicts. Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation