Tópicos del análisis unidimensional de estructuras Parte 2. Placas y láminas

En esta serie de dos artículos, se muestra cómo las tradicionales presentaciones en rigidez o transferencia del equilibrio de vigas, arcos, placas o láminas tienen un origen común y único en la adecuada formulación del problema de valores iniciales correspondiente, siempre que éste implique integrar exclusivamente ecuaciones diferenciales en una variable. Ofrece, por lo tanto, una metodología unificada para llevar a cabo la resolución de un mismo problema conceptual independientemente del contexto goemétrico de aplicación.Peer Reviewe

Tópicos del análisis unidimensional de estructuras Parte 2. Placas y láminas

En esta serie de dos artículos, se muestra cómo las tradicionales presentaciones en rigidez o transferencia del equilibrio de vigas, arcos, placas o láminas tienen un origen común y único en la adecuada formulación del problema de valores iniciales correspondiente, siempre que éste implique integrar exclusivamente ecuaciones diferenciales en una variable. Ofrece, por lo tanto, una metodología unificada para llevar a cabo la resolución de un mismo problema conceptual independientemente del contexto goemétrico de aplicación.Peer Reviewe

Una generación energética de las condiciones de contorno en láminas de Love-Kirchhoff

Un problema clásico de la teoría de láminas de Love-Kirchhoff (lámina sin deformación transversal) reside en la correcta definición de las condiciones de contorno estáticas. Después de una serie de artículos principalmente dedicados a la presentación de teorías de láminas completas, autores exponen la obtención de las condiciones de contorno asociadas a una teoría incom.pleta como la de Love-Kirchhoff, denominada CTO en el texto, a partir de una formulación energética consistente con los trabajos anteriores.A classical problem in Love-Kirchhoff shell theory stays in statical boundary conditions definition. Following some papers mainly dedicated to the construction of complete shell theories, authors show how to obtain boundary conditions consistent with an uncomplete shell theory, as the Love-Kirchhoff theory, by an energy approach compatible with previous work.Peer Reviewe

Un elemento finito 3D para el análisis cinemáticamente no lineal de láminas elastoplásticas

En el análisis de láminas elastoplásticas se debe recurrir a temías de la plasticidad ad hoc, no derivadas de la teoría tridimensional general sino postuladas a priori y basadas en muchas simplificaciones, o bien tratar el cuerpo como 3D. En este segundo caso, la utilización de elementos convencionales en el Método de los Elementos Finitos (M.E.F.) plantea importantes problemas numéricos, y requiere un tiempo de compntación excesivamente dilatado. En este escrito se presenta un elemento finito 3D pensado especialmente para superar estos inconvenientes. Su desarrollo consta de tres partes bien diferenciadas: la obtención de las inatrices cineináticas necesarias para la resolución del problema estático de un continuo 3D cualquiera, supuesta conocida la interpolación del campo de desplazamientos; la particularización de éstas al caso laminar, mediante el uso del mode1,o de comportamiento transversal CT1 coino función de interpolación en el espesor; y la reorganización del algoritmo resultante de las dos fases anteriores para evitar el aumento desmesurado del tiempo de cálculo cuando se increiiienta el número de puntas de integración en el espesor. Finalmente se incluyen varios ejeinplos que muestran el buen comportamiento del elemento presentado, cuyas principales ventajas son: en primer lugar, que permite proceciar un elevado número de puntos de integración en el espesor con un coste computacional razonable, y a continuación, la capacidad para tratar cualquier geometría de la superficie de referencia de modo muy sencillo pero sin introducir siiiiplificaciones, y la posibilidad de tratar otros tipos estructurales derivados del laminar utilizando el misnio algoritiiio.When dealing with elastoplastic shell analysis, we must appeal either to suitable theories of plasticity, which aren't the result of the general three-dimensional theory as they have been forinulated a priori and based on many siinplifications, or to the treateinent of the body as a tliree dimensional one (3D). In tlie second case, there are a lot of numerical probleins arising from the use of conventional eleinents in the Finite Elenient Metliod (F.E.M.), and also, a long tinie of computation isrequired. In this paper we present a 3D finite element, which is aimed at overcoming the aforesaid disavantages. Its development is divided into three different parts, first of all the obtention of the kinematic matrices required to solve a static problem of whatever 3D continuous medium, once the interpolation for the displacement field is known. Secondly, their particularization to tbe shell case, through the use of the model of transversal behaviour CTl as the function of interpolation in thickness. The third one is the reorganization of the resulting algorithm from the two previous steps to avoid an excessive increase in the calculation time when the number OS integration points in thickness is raised. Finally we include severa1 examples showing the good results of the described element, having some advantages such as: first, the processing of a high number of integration points with a reasonable computational cost; secondly, the ability to deal with any reference surface geometry in a very simple way, without introducing any simplification, and in the third place, the possibility to deal with other kinds of structures derived from the shell model by using the same algorithm.Peer Reviewe

Un elemento finito 3D para el análisis cinemáticamente no lineal de láminas elastoplásticas

En el análisis de láminas elastoplásticas se debe recurrir a temías de la plasticidad ad hoc, no derivadas de la teoría tridimensional general sino postuladas a priori y basadas en muchas simplificaciones, o bien tratar el cuerpo como 3D. En este segundo caso, la utilización de elementos convencionales en el Método de los Elementos Finitos (M.E.F.) plantea importantes problemas numéricos, y requiere un tiempo de compntación excesivamente dilatado. En este escrito se presenta un elemento finito 3D pensado especialmente para superar estos inconvenientes. Su desarrollo consta de tres partes bien diferenciadas: la obtención de las inatrices cineináticas necesarias para la resolución del problema estático de un continuo 3D cualquiera, supuesta conocida la interpolación del campo de desplazamientos; la particularización de éstas al caso laminar, mediante el uso del mode1,o de comportamiento transversal CT1 coino función de interpolación en el espesor; y la reorganización del algoritmo resultante de las dos fases anteriores para evitar el aumento desmesurado del tiempo de cálculo cuando se increiiienta el número de puntas de integración en el espesor. Finalmente se incluyen varios ejeinplos que muestran el buen comportamiento del elemento presentado, cuyas principales ventajas son: en primer lugar, que permite proceciar un elevado número de puntos de integración en el espesor con un coste computacional razonable, y a continuación, la capacidad para tratar cualquier geometría de la superficie de referencia de modo muy sencillo pero sin introducir siiiiplificaciones, y la posibilidad de tratar otros tipos estructurales derivados del laminar utilizando el misnio algoritiiio.When dealing with elastoplastic shell analysis, we must appeal either to suitable theories of plasticity, which aren't the result of the general three-dimensional theory as they have been forinulated a priori and based on many siinplifications, or to the treateinent of the body as a tliree dimensional one (3D). In tlie second case, there are a lot of numerical probleins arising from the use of conventional eleinents in the Finite Elenient Metliod (F.E.M.), and also, a long tinie of computation isrequired. In this paper we present a 3D finite element, which is aimed at overcoming the aforesaid disavantages. Its development is divided into three different parts, first of all the obtention of the kinematic matrices required to solve a static problem of whatever 3D continuous medium, once the interpolation for the displacement field is known. Secondly, their particularization to tbe shell case, through the use of the model of transversal behaviour CTl as the function of interpolation in thickness. The third one is the reorganization of the resulting algorithm from the two previous steps to avoid an excessive increase in the calculation time when the number OS integration points in thickness is raised. Finally we include severa1 examples showing the good results of the described element, having some advantages such as: first, the processing of a high number of integration points with a reasonable computational cost; secondly, the ability to deal with any reference surface geometry in a very simple way, without introducing any simplification, and in the third place, the possibility to deal with other kinds of structures derived from the shell model by using the same algorithm.Peer Reviewe

Variability in disease phenotypes within a single PRNP genotype suggests the existence of multiple natural sheep scarpie strains within Europe

Variability of pathological phenotypes within classical sheep scrapie cases has been reported for some time, but in many instances it has been attributed to differences in the PRNP genotype of the host. To address this issue we have examined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and Western blotting (WB) for the disease-associated form of the prion protein (PrPd), the brains of 23 sheep from five European countries, all of which were of the same ARQ/ARQ genotype. As a result of IHC examinations, sheep were distributed into five groups with different phenotypes and the groups were the same regardless of the scoring method used, ‘long’ or ‘short’ PrPd profiling. The groups made did not respond to the geographical origin of the cases and did not correlate with the vacuolar lesion profiles, which showed a high individual variability. Discriminatory IHC and WB methods coincided to detect a ‘CH1641-like’ case but otherwise correlated poorly in the classification of disease phenotypes. No other polymorphisms of the PRNP gene were found that could account for the pathological differences, except perhaps for a sheep from Spain with a mutation at codon 103 and a unique pathological phenotype. Preliminary evidence indicates that those different IHC phenotypes correlate with distinct biological properties on bioassay, suggesting that they are indicative of strain diversity. We therefore conclude that natural scrapie strains exist and that they can be revealed by detailed pathological examinations, which can be harmonized between laboratories to produce comparable results

Hydrophilic surface modification of acrylate-based biomaterials

[EN] Acrylic polymers have proved to be excellent with regard to cell adhesion, colonization and survival, in vitro and in vivo. Highly ordered and regular pore structures thereof can be produced with the help of polyamide templates, which are removed with nitric acid. This treatment converts a fraction of the ethyl acrylate side groups into acrylic acid, turning poly(ethyl acrylate) scaffolds into a more hydrophilic and pH-sensitive substrate, while its good biological performance remains intact. To quantify the extent of such a modification, and be able to characterize the degree of hydrophilicity of poly(ethyl acrylate), poly(ethyl acrylate) was treated with acid for different times (four, nine and 17 days), and compared with poly(acrylic acid) and a 90/10%wt. EA/AAc copolymer (P(EA-co-AAc)). The biological performance was also assessed for samples immersed in acid up to four days and the copolymer, and it was found that the incorporation of acidic units on the material surface was not prejudicial for cells. This surface modification of 3D porous hydrophobic scaffolds makes easier the wetting with culture medium and aqueous solutions in general, and thus represents an advantage in the manageability of the scaffolds.The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: The authors acknowledge financing through project FP7 NMP3-SL-2009-229239 'Regeneration of cardiac tissue assisted by bioactive implants' (RECATABI) and projects MAT2011-28791-C03-02 and -03 from the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion. This work was also supported by the Spanish Ministry of Education through M. Arnal-Pastor FPU AP2009-1870 grant.Arnal Pastor, MP.; Comín-Cebrián, S.; Martínez-Ramos, C.; Monleón Pradas, M.; Vallés Lluch, A. (2016). Hydrophilic surface modification of acrylate-based biomaterials. Journal of Biomaterials Applications. 30(9):1429-1441. doi:10.1177/0885328215627414S1429144130

Comparison of two linearization schemes for the nonlinear bending problem of a beam pinned at both ends

The nonlinear bending problem of a constant cross-section simply supported beam pinned at both ends and subject to a uniformly distributed load qðxÞ is analyzed in detail. The numerical integration of the two-point boundary value problem (BVP) derived for the nonlinear Timoshenko beam is tackled through two different linearization schemes, the multi-step transversal linearization (MTrL) and the multi-step tangential linearization (MTnL), proposed by Viswanath and Roy (2007). The fundamentals of these linearization techniques are to replace the nonlinear part of the governing ODEs through a set of conditionally linearized ODE systems at the nodal grid points along the neutral axis, ensuring the intersection between the solution manifolds (transversally in the MTrL and tangentially in the MTnL). In this paper, the solution values are determined at grid points by means of a centered finite differences method with multipoint linear constraints (Keller, 1969), and a simple iterative strategy. The analytical solution for this kind of bending problem, including the extensional effects, can be worked out by integration of the governing two-point BVP equations (Monleón et al., 2008). Finally, the comparison of analytical and numerical results shows the better ability of MTnL with the proposed iterative strategy to reproduce the theoretical behavior of the beam for each load step, because the restraint of equating derivatives in MTnL leads to further closeness between solution paths of the governing ODEs and the linearized ones, in comparison with MTrL. This result is opposed to the conclusion reached in Viswanath and Roy (2007), where the relative errors produced by MTrL are said to be smaller than the MTnL ones for the simply supported beam and the tip-loaded cantilever beam problems. 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Merli Gisbert, R.; Lazaro, C.; Monleón Cremades, S.; Domingo Cabo, A. (2010). Comparison of two linearization schemes for the nonlinear bending problem of a beam pinned at both ends. International Journal of Solids and Structures. 47(6):865-874. doi:10.1016/j.ijsolstr.2009.12.001S86587447

SARS-CoV-2 outbreak on a Spanish mink farm: epidemiological, molecular, and pathological studies

Farmed minks have been reported to be highly susceptible to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and may represent a risk to humans. In this study, we describe the first outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 occurred on a mink farm in Spain, between June and July 2020, involving 92,700 animals. The outbreak started shortly after some farm workers became seropositive for SARS-CoV-2. Minks showed no clinical signs compatible with SARS-CoV-2 infection throughout the outbreak. Samples from 98 minks were collected for histopathological, serological, and molecular studies. Twenty out of 98 (20.4%) minks were positive by RT-qPCR and 82 out 92 (89%) seroconverted. This finding may reflect a rapid spread of the virus at the farm with most of the animals overcoming the infection. Additionally, SARS-CoV-2 was detected by RT-qPCR in 30% of brain samples from positive minks. Sequencing analysis showed that the mink sequences were not closely related with the other mink SARS-CoV-2 sequences available, and that this mink outbreak has its probable origin in one of the genetic variants that were prevalent in Spain during the first COVID-19 epidemic wave. Histological studies revealed bronchointerstitial pneumonia in some animals. Immunostaining of viral nucleocapsid was also observed in nasal turbinate tissue. Farmed minks could therefore constitute an important SARS-CoV-2 reservoir, contributing to virus spread among minks and humans. Consequently, continuous surveillance of mink farms is needed

Efficiency-based design of bending-active tied arches

[EN] Active bending is recently attracting considerable attention as a new paradigm to build lightweight structures both in research and practice. While there are many references dealing with form-finding methods for bending-active structures, the literature on their performance in relation to their shape and member proportioning is still scarce. This paper addresses the relationship between configuration finding and structural performance in bending-active tied arches: planar arches composed of a bent (active) rod, lower spanning cables and secondary struts that are joined to the rod and act as cable deviators. This simple bending-active arrangement allows to state key relationships between shape, proportion and performance. Starting from the fact that rod segments between struts behave as elastica segments, and selecting the mechanical slenderness of the rod as key parameter, scale-independent relationships between rise-to-span ratio, rod slenderness and stresses after activation have been established for a three-strut tied arch. The limitations posed by keeping stresses in cables after the activation within an acceptable range have been also addressed. Span-deflection ratios corresponding to Eurocode loads for the serviceability limit state have been obtained for a set of three-strut configurations using a non-linear structural model. Results have been represented in terms of rod slenderness, cable slenderness and rise-to-span ratio. The same procedure has been used to determine and represent proper utilization ratios for rod cross-sections in ultimate limit state. All the results have been combined to show the design space corresponding to the given constraints and to exemplify how to extract from it a suitable structural configuration. Finally, we explain how to extend the proposed method to design bending-active tied arches with an arbitrary number and proportion of deviators.The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness through grant BIA2015-69330-P (MINECO) and the support from CALTER Ingenieria and SOFiSTiK AG for providing a software license.Bessini, J.; Lazaro, C.; Casanova Colón, J.; Monleón Cremades, S. (2019). Efficiency-based design of bending-active tied arches. Engineering Structures. 200:1-11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2019.109681S11120