On a theory of sandwich construction

The theory of sandwich construction developed in this paper proceeds from the simple assumption that the filling has only transverse direct and shear stiffnesses, corresponding to its functional requirements (§1). This supposition permits integration of the equilibrium equations for the filling (§2). The resulting integrals are used to study the compression buckling of a flat sandwich plate (§3). The formulae obtained are complex, but may be simplified in practical cases (§4). A second approach to sandwich problems is made in §5, where a theory of "bending" of plates is outlined. This generalises the usual theory, making allowance for flexibility in sheer. This approach is applied to overall compression buckling of a plate in §6, and agreement with the previous calculations is found. This suggests the possibility of calculating buckling loads for curved sandwich shells. A simple example, the symmetrical buckling of a circular cylinder in compression is worked out in §7. The theory developed would seem applicable to all cases of buckling of not too short a wave length (§8)

Notes on the problem of the optimum design of structures

The urgent need for a systematic approach to the problems of the optimum design of structures is stressed and ideal formulations of these problems are considered. Differential equations and a variational principle are derived for the case of plates loaded in their own planes; these can form the basis for approximate solutions, in the form of optimum distributions of plate thickness and the corresponding stress distributions which are required to equilibrate given systems of external loads

Plastic buckling of a plate in shear

This note derives the mathematical equations for the analysis of the shear buckling of a plate, in the case where the initial stresses exceed the elastic limit of the material. It is hoped at a later stage to apply this theory to test results, which are being obtained using rectangular torsion boxes

Solution of a load diffusion problem by relaxation methods

SUMMARY The need. to generalise the usual assumptions made in the analysis of load diffusion problems has been emphasised by recent experimental work (Ref. 3)1 which has shown the importance of bending of the edge members. Direct mathematical solution of the plate problems, which arise, is hardly feasible and so in this report a numerical solution using the 'relaxation method' is carried out. Results show the method to be suitable for design purposes/ but comparison with experiment still shows the need for further physical generalisations. These will form the subject of future work

Optimum structures

The design of the best structure for a given purpose depends upon the criterion used for optimisation. Structures may be designed to safely transmit a given system of forces using the least weight of material.. They may also be designed to have maximum stiffness of a certain type for a given weight or alternatively to have the greatest possible fundamental frequency of vibration. These problems, although in general distinct from one another, are closely related and much can be achieved towards maximisation of stiffness and frequency by the use of minimum weight designs. In fact it can be shown that a minimum weight framework is the stiffest structure of that weight for the force system, which it is designed to carry.x The present report is concerned exclusively with the problem of the design of structures of minimum weight, which are required to transmit specified forces. Some attention will be given to frameworks because, in particular, methods of approximate numerical analysis are more readily formulated for this type of structure, but the main emphasis will be placed upon the design of structures formed from plates of variable thickness reinforced by direct load carrying members. See para,l.

Interferência de plantas daninhas em diferentes cultivares de feijão do grupo carioca.

O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar a habilidade competitiva de cultivares de feijão do grupo carioca com plantas daninhas. As perdas de produtividade de grãos em cultivares de feijão carioca, decorrentes da interferência exercida pelas plantas daninhas, variaram de 42,2 a 61,2 %, sendo que as cultivares que apresentaram as menores perdas de produtividade também suprimiram em maior grau o crescimento das plantas daninhas. Não foi possível identificar, de forma consistente, características de plantas associadas à redução de produtividade de grãos em função da interferência de plantas daninhas

Sidewall Buckling of Equal-width RHS Truss X-Joints

This paper presents a new design methodology for equal-width rectangular hollow section (RHS) X-joints failing by sidewall buckling. In the new approach, a slenderness parameter is defined based on the elastic local buckling stress of the sidewall, idealized as an infinitely long plate under patch loading. A Rayleigh-Ritz approximation is thereby used to obtain a closed-form solution. The proposed design equation is verified against experimental results over a wide range of wall slenderness values obtained from the literature and complemented by a brief experimental program carried out by the authors. It is demonstrated that the new design equation yields excellent results against the experimental data. Finally, a reliability analysis is performed within the framework of both the Eurocode and the AISI standards to ensure that the proposed design equation possesses the required level of safety. The newly proposed equation strongly outperforms the current Comité International pour le Développement et l’Etude de la Construction Tubulaire (CIDECT) design rule for sidewall buckling and also further extends the range of applicability to a wall slenderness ratio of up to 50

Genome of the epsilonproteobacterial chemolithoautotroph Sulfurimonas denitrificans

Author Posting. © American Society for Microbiology, 2008. This article is posted here by permission of American Society for Microbiology for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology 74 (2008): 1145-1156, doi:10.1128/AEM.01844-07.Sulfur-oxidizing epsilonproteobacteria are common in a variety of sulfidogenic environments. These autotrophic and mixotrophic sulfur-oxidizing bacteria are believed to contribute substantially to the oxidative portion of the global sulfur cycle. In order to better understand the ecology and roles of sulfur-oxidizing epsilonproteobacteria, in particular those of the widespread genus Sulfurimonas, in biogeochemical cycles, the genome of Sulfurimonas denitrificans DSM1251 was sequenced. This genome has many features, including a larger size (2.2 Mbp), that suggest a greater degree of metabolic versatility or responsiveness to the environment than seen for most of the other sequenced epsilonproteobacteria. A branched electron transport chain is apparent, with genes encoding complexes for the oxidation of hydrogen, reduced sulfur compounds, and formate and the reduction of nitrate and oxygen. Genes are present for a complete, autotrophic reductive citric acid cycle. Many genes are present that could facilitate growth in the spatially and temporally heterogeneous sediment habitat from where Sulfurimonas denitrificans was originally isolated. Many resistance-nodulation-development family transporter genes (10 total) are present; of these, several are predicted to encode heavy metal efflux transporters. An elaborate arsenal of sensory and regulatory protein-encoding genes is in place, as are genes necessary to prevent and respond to oxidative stress.This work was performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, University of California, under contract W-7405-ENG-48. Genome closure was funded in part by a USF Innovative Teaching Grant (K.M.S.). S.M.S. received partial support through a fellowship from the Hanse Wissenschaftskolleg in Delmenhorst, Germany (http://www.h-w-k.de), and NSF grant OCE-0452333. K.M.S. is grateful for support from NSF grant MCB-0643713. M.H. was supported by a WHOI postdoctoral scholarship. M.G.K. was supported in part by incentive funds provided by the UofL-EVPR office, the KY Science and Engineering Foundation (KSEF-787-RDE-007), and the National Science Foundation (EF-0412129)