Postbuckling behavior of graphite-epoxy panels

Structurally efficient fuselage panels are often designed to allow buckling to occur at applied loads below ultimate. Interest in applying graphite-epoxy materials to fuselage primary structure led to several studies of the post-buckling behavior of graphite-epoxy structural components. Studies of the postbuckling behavior of flat and curved, unstiffened and stiffened graphite-epoxy panels loaded in compression and shear were summarized. The response and failure characteristics of specimens studied experimentally were described, and analytical and experimental results were compared. The specimens tested in the studies described were fabricated from commercially available 0.005-inch-thick unidirectional graphite-fiber tapes preimpregnated with 350 F cure thermosetting epoxy resins

Infrared detection of concrete deterioration

Infrared detection of concrete deterioratio

Framing the Democratic Socialist Movement: A Discourse Analysis of Pro-Movement Literature

In light of the rising prominence of the democratic socialist movement (DSM) in the United States, this thesis performs a discourse analysis of the frames utilized in pro-movement literature. Through the evaluation of five full-length books, I strive to answer the following research questions: How has pro-movement literature framed the DSM? What is the significance of the frames that have been employed? Based on qualitative observations reinforced with a minor quantitative study, I identify thirteen frames that are significant across pro-DSM literature. Then, in analyzing these frames, I argue that they can largely be categorized into three groups: 1) as tools meant to highlight the ways the DSM rationally and morally merits support; 2) as structures meant to contrast the DSM with its ideological and political opponents in order to emphasize its supremacy; 3) as mechanisms that encourage readers to mobilize on behalf of the DSM so that the movement can flourish in the future. It is my assertion that these frames are significant because they represent an attempt to create new advocates for the causes of the DSM, strengthen the resolve of present DSM adherents, and help the movement to build on present momentum so that it can prosper

Alternative Rotational Grazing Systems at the Beef Teaching Farm

Fifty-six acres of central Iowa corn land were seeded to bromegrass and divided with high-tensile wire into eight seven-acre plots. This bromegrass was fertilized with 70 pounds of nitrogen each spring and fall, 1987-1990. In 1991 – 1995, the nitrogen was increased to 80 pounds both spring and fall. The plots were stocked with 1.3 cow/calf pairs per acre in 1987-1991 and 1993–1995, but in 1992 the plots were stocked with 1.55 cow/calf pairs per acre. The pairs were rotated using two distinct schemes among four cells for about 150 days. The plots averaged 607 pounds of net calf weight per acre per year over nine years. Rainfall was quite variable during the grazing seasons and was reflected in calf performance as well as summer feed costs. This intensive rotational grazing system has greatly reduced both weed population and the need for mechanical clipping

Managing Fat – The Future of the Beef Industry

Beef cattle are an important link in the food chain. These ruminants can turn roughage and by-products into highly digestible complete protein, energy, minerals, and vitamins

Using Carcass EPDs to Produce for Target Windows

The beef cattle industry is moving in the direction of a value-based marketing system. Within such a system, carcasses will be individually in value based on the amount of waste fat, salable lean meat, and quality attributes such as marbling and tenderness. The beef cattle industry has come to rely on growth and maternal EPDs as valuable tools in bull selection. In the future, more emphasis will be placed on using only bulls that will get a producer’s calves into target carcass windows. An understanding of how to apply EPDs beyond just predicting sire differences and into predicting target windows of acceptability will become important. The purpose of this study was to investigate the extent to which carcass expected progeny differences (EPD) can be used to predict progeny phenotype

Monitoring vegetation conditions from LANDSAT for use in range management

A summary of the LANDSAT Great Plains Corridor projects and the principal results are presented. Emphasis is given to the use of satellite acquired phenological data for range management and agri-business activities. A convenient method of reducing LANDSAT MSS data to provide quantitative estimates of green biomass on rangelands in the Great Plains is explained. Suggestions for the use of this approach for evaluating range feed conditions are presented. A LANDSAT Follow-on project has been initiated which will employ the green biomass estimation method in a quasi-operational monitoring of range readiness and range feed conditions on a regional scale

Monitoring the vernal advancement and retrogradation (green wave effect) of natural vegetation

The author has identified the following significant results. The Great Plains Corridor rangeland project utilizes natural vegetation systems as phenological indicators of seasonal development and climatic effects upon regional growth conditions. A method has been developed for quantitative measurement of vegetation conditions over broad regions using ERTS-1 MSS data. Radiance values recorded in ERTS-1 spectral bands 5 and 7, corrected for sun angle, are used to compute a band ratio parameter which is shown to be correlated with green biomass and vegetation moisture content. This report details the progress being made toward determining factors associated with the transformed vegetation index (TVI) and limitations on the method. During the first year of ERTS-1 operation (cycles 1-20), an average of 50% usable ERTS-1 data was obtained for the ten Great Plains Corridor test sites