Modeling rot in wood by replacement of wood with sand : an experimental study

Rot is known to affect the strength properties of wood. At the same time, the damping properties of the attacked material have also been shown to change. This article presents the results of an experimental study in which rot in wood was modeled by the replacement of wood with sand. The procedure entailed the drilling of holes in the body of a wooden beam, filling the holes with sand, and monitoring the changes induced by the sand-filled holes on the values of the modulus of elasticity (MOE) and of the loss factor. The MOE was calculated from the resonance frequency of the first longitudinal mode of vibration, and the loss factor was obtained indirectly from the impulse response by means of a room acoustical technique. The results show that the MOE value, and hence the strength characteristic of the wood specimen, decreases at the same time as the loss factor increase

Structural, thermal and dissolution properties of MgO- and CaO-containing borophosphate glasses: effect of Fe2O3 addition

This paper investigated manufacture of high-durability phosphate glass fibres for biomedical applications. Five different borophosphate glass formulations in the systems of 45P2O5–5B2O3–5Na2O–(29 − x)CaO–16MgO–(x)Fe2O3 and 45P2O5–5B2O3–5Na2O–24CaO–(21 − x)MgO–(x)Fe2O3 where x = 5, 8 and 11 mol% were produced via melt quenching. The compositions and amorphous nature of the glasses were confirmed by ICP-MS and XRD, respectively. FTIR results indicated depolymerisation of the phosphate chains with a decrease in Q2 units with increasing Fe2O3 content. DSC analyses showed an increase in Tg by ~5 °C with an increment of 3 mol% in Fe2O3 content. The thermal properties were also used to calculate processing window (i.e. Tc,ons—Tg) and another parameter, Kgl, to determine the suitability for fibre drawing directly from melt, which equals (Tc,ons—Tg)/(Tl—Tc,ons). The degradation study conducted in PBS solution at 37 °C showed a decrease of 25–47% in degradation rate with increasing Fe2O3 content. This confirmed that the chemical durability of the glasses had increased, which was suggested to be due to Fe2O3 addition. Furthermore, the density measured via Archimedes method revealed a linear increase with increasing Fe2O3 content

Transportation Noise and Blood Pressure in a Population-Based Sample of Adults

Background: There is some evidence for an association between traffic noise and ischemic heart disease; however, associations with blood pressure have been inconsistent, and little is known about health effects of railway noise

Halal dating: changing relationship attitudes and experiences among young British Muslims

Young Muslims in the UK are making space to gain greater control over their personal lives through the diction of ‘halal’ and ‘haram’ when reflecting on and negotiating personal relationships. This article explores the significance of ‘halal dating’ within the lived experiences and sexual relationships of young British Muslims. It draws upon 56 in-depth interviews conducted with young (16–30 years) British Muslims of Pakistani heritage. This research shows that, contrary to popular stereotype and widespread expectations, many young British Muslims do date, or have dated. By entertaining the idea that certain forms of dating may be halal, these young Muslims are finding and claiming agency to make relationship choices of their own

Towards a general framework for including noise impacts in LCA

Industrial Ecolog

Combination of a Standard Viscoelastic Model and Fractional Derivate Calculus to the Characterization of Polymers

Polymeric materials are known to be more or less dispersive and absorptive. In the field of mechanical vibrations, dispersion has for consequence that the dynamic modulus is frequency dependent, and absorption is exhibited by the fact that these materials have the ability to absorb energy under vibratory motion. The phenomenon of dispersion in conjunction with the notion of complex Modulus of Elasticity, permits to establish the relation between the real and the imaginary components of the Modulus of Elasticity, i.e. respectively the dynamic and loss moduli. The loss factor is simply determined through taking the quote of these two components of the Modulus of Elasticity. The theoretical background for the interrelations between the dynamic modulus and the loss modulus is found in the Kramers-Kronig relations. However, and due to the mathematical difficulties encountered in using the exact expressions of these relations, approximations are necessary for applications in practical situations. On the other hand, several simple models have been proposed to explain the viscoelastic behaviour of materials, but all fail in giving a full account of the phenomenon. Among these models, the standard viscoelastic model, or more known as the Zener model, is perhaps the most attractive one. To improve the performance of this model, the concept of fractional derivates has been incorporated into it, and which results in a four-parameter model. Applications have also shown the superiority of this model when theoretical predictions are compared to experimental data of different polymeric materials. The aim of this paper is to present the results of applying this model to rubber, both natural and filled, and to some other selected more general polymer

Sound Propagation over Flat Ground with an Impedance Discontinuity

The problem of sound propagation over a flat plane with a line of impedance discontinuity is considered. The sound excitation source is assumed to be linear and set parallel to the line of impedance discontinuity. The solution to this problem is formulated by considering the plane wave spectrum decomposition of a cylindrical source, this is incorporated in the solution to the problem of plane wave diffraction by a wedge with different face impedances. The propagation over a plane surface is then taken as the special case of a wedge whose angle is equal to 180o. The present solution is, however, a high frequency asymptotic formulation, and comparisons are therefore made with two other available models, approximate also, but using instead a point-like sound source. A practical application of the present study would include the evaluation of the insertion loss of a noise barrier on a ground with different acoustical properties on either side of the barrier. The properties of the sound field above the ground may be studied prior to erecting the noise barrier at the line of impedance discontinuity.</p