WTC2005-63646 ELLIPTICAL CONTACT AREA BETWEEN ELASTIC BODIES BOUNDED BY HIGH ORDER SURFACES

ABSTRACT Hertz theory fails when contacting surfaces are expressed by a sum of even polynomials of higher powers than two. An alternative analytical solution implies the knowledge of contact area. In the case of elliptical domains, there are some published proposals for the correlation between pressure distribution and surface normal displacement. This paper identifies the class of high order surfaces which lead to elliptical contact domains and solves a contact between fourth order surfaces

WTC2005-63646 ELLIPTICAL CONTACT AREA BETWEEN ELASTIC BODIES BOUNDED BY HIGH ORDER SURFACES

ABSTRACT Hertz theory fails when contacting surfaces are expressed by a sum of even polynomials of higher powers than two. An alternative analytical solution implies the knowledge of contact area. In the case of elliptical domains, there are some published proposals for the correlation between pressure distribution and surface normal displacement. This paper identifies the class of high order surfaces which lead to elliptical contact domains and solves a contact between fourth order surfaces

A Non-Renormalization Theorem for the d=1, N=8 Vector Multiplet

Sigma models describing low energy effective actions on D0-brane probes with N=8 supercharges are studied in detail using a manifestly d=1, N=4 super-space formalism. Two 0+1 dimensional N=4 multiplets together with their general actions are constructed. We derive the condition for these actions to be N=8 supersymmetric and apply these techniques to various D-brane configurations. We find that if in addition to N=8 supersymmetry the action must also have Spin(5) invariance, the form of the sigma model metric is uniquely determined by the one-loop result and is not renormalized perturbatively or non-perturbatively.Comment: Uses harvmac, 16 pages. We correct an error pointed out by E. Witte

2003TRIB-278 A NEW EXPERIMENTAL TECHNIQUE TO MEASURE CONTACT PRESSURE

ABSTRACT A new technique to measure the pressure in a real contact is proposed. One of contacting surfaces is covered, prior to contact establishment, by a special gel. The contact closing removes the excess gel and, during a certain time interval, the contact pressure transforms the entrapped substance in an amorphous solid. In each point, the refractive index of this solid depends on the pressure acting during transformation. After contact opening, the reflectivity of this coating depends on the former contact pressure and it is mapped by aid of a laser profilometer and becomes an indicator of contact pressure. Theoretical considerations show that the gel must possess certain optical parameters for the method to work. Several experimental reported results offer a clear image upon pressure distribution in Hertz point contacts, end effects in finite length line contacts, pressure distribution between rough surfaces and indicate the onset of plastic deformation

Global economic burden of unmet surgical need for appendicitis

Background There is a substantial gap in provision of adequate surgical care in many low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to identify the economic burden of unmet surgical need for the common condition of appendicitis. Methods Data on the incidence of appendicitis from 170 countries and two different approaches were used to estimate numbers of patients who do not receive surgery: as a fixed proportion of the total unmet surgical need per country (approach 1); and based on country income status (approach 2). Indirect costs with current levels of access and local quality, and those if quality were at the standards of high-income countries, were estimated. A human capital approach was applied, focusing on the economic burden resulting from premature death and absenteeism. Results Excess mortality was 4185 per 100 000 cases of appendicitis using approach 1 and 3448 per 100 000 using approach 2. The economic burden of continuing current levels of access and local quality was US $92 492 million using approach 1 and$73 141 million using approach 2. The economic burden of not providing surgical care to the standards of high-income countries was $95 004 million using approach 1 and$75 666 million using approach 2. The largest share of these costs resulted from premature death (97.7 per cent) and lack of access (97.0 per cent) in contrast to lack of quality. Conclusion For a comparatively non-complex emergency condition such as appendicitis, increasing access to care should be prioritized. Although improving quality of care should not be neglected, increasing provision of care at current standards could reduce societal costs substantially