Indentation of a free beam resting on an elastic substrate with an internal lengthscale

The plane strain problem of a slender and weightless beam-plate loaded by a transversal point force in unilateral contact with a couple stress elastic foundation is investigated. The study aims to explore the consequences of the material internal lengthscale on the contact mechanics. In particular, compatibility between the beam and the foundation surface demands that both displacement and rotation match along the contact line. To this aim, couple tractions are exchanged besides the traditional contact pressure until separation between the beam and the foundation occurs. The problem is formulated making use of the Green's functions for a point force and a point couple acting atop of a couple stress elastic half-plane. A pair of coupled integral equations is thus derived, that governs the distribution of contact pressure and couple tractions, with one of them being immediately solved to provide an explicit relation between the two unknowns. In this sense, we retrieve the concept of a mechanically equivalent action, as it is the case of the Kirchhoff shear for plates. The remaining integral equation sets a cubic eigenvalue problem, whose linear term accounts for the microstructure. Its numerical solution is sought by expanding the equivalent contact pressure in series of Chebyshev polynomials vanishing at the contact region ends points, namely the lift-off points, and then applying a collocation strategy. The contact length, the distributions of contact pressure and couple tractions under the beam and the shearing force and bending moment along the beam are then obtained as a function of the material characteristic length. Results clearly indicate that accounting for the material internal lengthscale is mainly realized through exchange of the couple tractions, in the lack of which results much resemble those of the classical solution. Specifically, greater contact lengths and a stronger focusing effect about the loading point are encountered, which become very significant when the contact length approaches the internal lengthscale

Edge wrinkling in elastically supported pre-stressed incompressible isotropic plates

The equations governing the appearance of flexural static perturbations at the edge of a semi-infinite thin elastic isotropic plate, subjected to a state of homogeneous bi-axial pre-stress, are derived and solved. The plate is incompressible and supported by a Winkler elastic foundation with, possibly, wavenumber dependence. Small perturbations superposed onto the homogeneous state of pre-stress, within the three-dimensional elasticity theory, are considered. A series expansion of the plate kinematics in the plate thickness provides a consistent expression for the second variation of the potential energy, whose minimization gives the plate governing equations. Consistency considerations supplement a constraint on the scaling of the pre-stress so that the classical Kirchhoff-Love linear theory of pre-stretched elastic plates is retrieved. Moreover, a scaling constraint for the foundation stiffness is also introduced. Edge wrinkling is investigated and compared with body wrinkling. We find that the former always precedes the latter in a state of uni-axial pre-stretch, regardless of the foundation stiffness. By contrast, a general bi-axial pre-stretch state may favour body wrinkling for moderate foundation stiffness. Wavenumber dependence significantly alters the predicted behaviour. The results may be especially relevant to modelling soft biological materials, such as skin or tissues, or stretchable organic thin-films, embedded in a compliant elastic matrix

Effect of high temperature exposure on epoxy-coated glass textile reinforced mortar (GTRM) composites

An experimental investigation on the mechanical performance of epoxy-coated Alkali-Resistant (AR) glass textile reinforced mortar subjected to elevated temperature is presented. Two epoxy coatings are considered, which differ by the hardening agent alone. After 56 days dry curing, specimens are heated up to four different temperatures. After cooling down to ambient temperature, specimens are assessed in uni-axial tensile test according to Annex A of AC434. First cracking strength and elongation, ultimate tensile strength and elongation, cracked and uncracked moduli, transition point location and energy dissipation capability are evaluated. It is found that, in the explored temperature range, degradation is surprisingly mild and strongly dependent on the resin which is taken as coating agent. Indeed, temperature exposure may lead to strength enhancement. This positive outcome takes place at the expense of ductility and it is traced back, through Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), to a post-curing process. Nonetheless, energy dissipation still decreases with temperature and, remarkably, with the same power-law behaviour for both resins. Such behaviour is compatible with a cumulative Weibull distribution, that is adopted in thermal damage models for resins, and it indicates that the underlying damage mechanism indeed operates on the resin at the fabric-to-matrix interface. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Designing epoxy viscosity for optimal mechanical performance of coated Glass Textile Reinforced Mortar (GTRM) composites

Preliminary epoxy coating of the reinforcing fabric provides an effective approach for improving matrix-to-fabric strength in inorganic matrix composites. We investigate the effect of epoxy resin dilution in acetone on uni-axial tensile performance of coated alkali-resistant (AR) glass fabric embedded in a lime-based matrix. Remarkably, it is found that dilution has a mixed effect on performance and this trend is consistently retrieved for strength, ductility and energy dissipation. Indeed, performance initially decays and then it suddenly raises to a level close to or even exceeding that of the undiluted specimens. It is postulated that this behaviour is caused by resin viscosity, that falls off exponentially with the dilution degree. Once a viscosity threshold is breached, epoxy is capable of penetrating inside the yarn and thereby prevents telescopic failure, that is the sliding of the outer over the inner glass filaments. Furthermore, the interphase surface area increases dramatically and this enhances performance and narrows scattering. Besides, optimal viscosity is reached at an unexpectedly high dilution degree, whence material cost is significantly reduced. A cost-to-performance comparison of common strengthening technologies is presented, which shows that diluted epoxy composites score comparably to FRPs. It is concluded that epoxy coating optimization plays an important role in designing inorganic matrix composites

Effect of high temperature exposure on epoxy-coated glass textile reinforced mortar (GTRM) composites

An experimental investigation on the mechanical performance of epoxy-coated Alkali-Resistant (AR) glass textile reinforced mortar subjected to elevated temperature is presented. Two epoxy coatings are considered, which differ by the hardening agent alone. After 56 days dry curing, specimens are heated up to four different temperatures. After cooling down to ambient temperature, specimens are assessed in uni-axial tensile test according to Annex A of AC434. First cracking strength and elongation, ultimate tensile strength and elongation, cracked and uncracked moduli, transition point location and energy dissipation capability are evaluated. It is found that, in the explored temperature range, degradation is surprisingly mild and strongly dependent on the resin which is taken as coating agent. Indeed, temperature exposure may lead to strength enhancement. This positive outcome takes place at the expense of ductility and it is traced back, through Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), to a post-curing process. Nonetheless, energy dissipation still decreases with temperature and, remarkably, with the same power-law behaviour for both resins. Such behaviour is compatible with a cumulative Weibull distribution, that is adopted in thermal damage models for resins, and it indicates that the underlying damage mechanism indeed operates on the resin at the fabric-to-matrix interface. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

The GALILEO GALILEI small-satellite mission with FEEP thrusters (GG)

The Equivalence Principle, formulated by Einstein generalizing Galileo’s and Newton’s work, is a fundamental principle of modern physics. As such it should be tested as accurately as possible. Its most direct consequence, namely the Universality of Free Fall, can be tested in space, in a low Earth orbit, the crucial advantage being that the driving signal is about three orders of magnitude stronger than on Earth. GALILEO GALILEI (GG) is a small space mission designed for such a high-accuracy test. At the time of print, GG has been selected by ASI (Agenzia Spaziale Italiana) as a candidate for the next small Italian mission. Ground tests of the proposed apparatus now indicate that an accuracy of 1 part in 1017 is within the reach of this small mission

Designing epoxy viscosity for optimal mechanical performance of coated Glass Textile Reinforced Mortar (GTRM) composites

Preliminary epoxy coating of the reinforcing fabric provides an effective approach for improving matrix-to-fabric strength in inorganic matrix composites. We investigate the effect of epoxy resin dilution in acetone on uni-axial tensile performance of coated alkali-resistant (AR) glass fabric embedded in a lime-based matrix. Remarkably, it is found that dilution has a mixed effect on performance and this trend is consistently retrieved for strength, ductility and energy dissipation. Indeed, performance initially decays and then it suddenly raises to a level close to or even exceeding that of the undiluted specimens. It is postulated that this behaviour is caused by resin viscosity, that falls off exponentially with the dilution degree. Once a viscosity threshold is breached, epoxy is capable of penetrating inside the yarn and thereby prevents telescopic failure, that is the sliding of the outer over the inner glass filaments. Furthermore, the interphase surface area increases dramatically and this enhances performance and narrows scattering. Besides, optimal viscosity is reached at an unexpectedly high dilution degree, whence material cost is significantly reduced. A cost-to-performance comparison of common strengthening technologies is presented, which shows that diluted epoxy composites score comparably to FRPs. It is concluded that epoxy coating optimization plays an important role in designing inorganic matrix composites

Effect of high temperature exposure on epoxy-coated glass textile reinforced mortar (GTRM) composites

An experimental investigation on the mechanical performance of epoxy-coated Alkali-Resistant (AR) glass textile reinforced mortar subjected to elevated temperature is presented. Two epoxy coatings are considered, which differ by the hardening agent alone. After 56 days dry curing, specimens are heated up to four different temperatures. After cooling down to ambient temperature, specimens are assessed in uni-axial tensile test according to Annex A of AC434. First cracking strength and elongation, ultimate tensile strength and elongation, cracked and uncracked moduli, transition point location and energy dissipation capability are evaluated. It is found that, in the explored temperature range, degradation is surprisingly mild and strongly dependent on the resin which is taken as coating agent. Indeed, temperature exposure may lead to strength enhancement. This positive outcome takes place at the expense of ductility and it is traced back, through Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), to a post-curing process. Nonetheless, energy dissipation still decreases with temperature and, remarkably, with the same power-law behaviour for both resins. Such behaviour is compatible with a cumulative Weibull distribution, that is adopted in thermal damage models for resins, and it indicates that the underlying damage mechanism indeed operates on the resin at the fabric-to-matrix interface. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

On the edge-wave of a thin elastic plate supported by an elastic half-space

In this contribution, we consider edge-wave propagating in a thin elastic semiinfinite plate which is bilaterally supported by a homogenenous isotropic elastic half-space. The problem is formulated in terms of a eigenproblem constituted by a system of five linear PDEs in the plate transverse displacement and in the scalar and vector elastic potentials subject to mixed boundary conditions accounting for plate-fundation displacement continuity under the plate and zero normal stress outside. Zero tangential stress is envisaged throughout. The problem could be reduced to an inhomogenenous Wiener-Hopf functional equation in terms of the half-space surface displacement and of the plate-to-fundation contact pressure only. The kernel function is analyzed and the Rayleigh wave speed is obtained together with a novel dispersion equation. Finally, kernel factorization is performed

Bifidobacteria and lactobacilli in the gut microbiome of children with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: which strains act as health players?

Introduction: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), considered the leading cause of chronic liver disease in children, can often progress from non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). It is clear that obesity is one of the main risk factors involved in NAFLD pathogenesis, even if specific mechanisms have yet to be elucidated. We investigated the distribution of intestinal bifidobacteria and lactobacilli in the stools of four groups of children: obese, obese with NAFL, obese with NASH, and healthy, age-matched controls (CTRLs). Material and methods: Sixty-one obese, NAFL and NASH children and 54 CTRLs were enrolled in the study. Anthropometric and metabolic parameters were measured for all subjects. All children with suspected NASH underwent liver biopsy. Bifidobacteria and lactobacilli were analysed in children’s faecal samples, during a broader, 16S rRNA-based pyrosequencing analysis of the gut microbiome. Results: Three Bifidobacterium spp. (Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium bifidum, and Bifidobacterium adolescentis) and five Lactobacillus spp. (L. zeae, L. vaginalis, L. brevis, L. ruminis, and L. mucosae) frequently recurred in metagenomic analyses. Lactobacillus spp. increased in NAFL, NASH, or obese children compared to CTRLs. Particularly, L. mucosae was significantly higher in obese (p = 0.02426), NAFLD (p = 0.01313) and NASH (p = 0.01079) than in CTRLs. In contrast, Bifidobacterium spp. were more abundant in CTRLs, suggesting a protective and beneficial role of these microorganisms against the aforementioned diseases. Conclusions: Bifidobacteria seem to have a protective role against the development of NAFLD and obesity, highlighting their possible use in developing novel, targeted and effective probiotics