Application of quasi-homogeneous anisotropic laminates in grid-stiffened panel design

Composite laminates are derived for standard configurations with quasi-homogeneous anisotropic properties, whereby in-plane and out-of-plane stiffness properties are concomitant. Dimensionless parameters, and their relationship to the well-known ply- orientation-dependent lamination parameters, are also developed from which the elements of the extensional and bending stiffness matrices are readily calculated for any fiber/resin properties. The definitive list of laminate configurations for up to 21 plies is presented, together with graphical representations of the lamination parameter design space for standard ply orientations +45, -45, 0 and 90 degrees. Finally, the potential of quasi-homogeneous anisotropic laminates as an optimum design solution for anisogid structures is explored for cases where buckling and strength constraints are both active

The Philosopher as Moral Activist: A Call for Ethical Caution in Publication

It is normal to think that philosophers’ first dedication is to the truth. Publishers and writers consider ideas and papers according to criteria such as originality, eloquence, interestingness, soundness, and plausibility. I suggest that moral consequence should play a greater role in our choices to publish when serious harm is at stake. One’s credence in a particular idea should be weighed against the potential consequences of the publication of one’s ideas both if one turns out to be right and if one turns out to be wrong. This activist approach to philosophical writing combines moral concern with epistemic humility

Tapered hygo-thermally curvature-stable laminates with non-standard ply orientations

Stacking sequence configurations for hygro-thermally curvature-stable (HTCS) laminates have recently been identified in nine unique classes of coupled laminate with standard ply angle orientations +45, −45, 0 and 90°. All arise from the judicious re-alignment of the principal material axis of laminate classes with Bending-Twisting and/or Bending-Extension and Twisting-Shearing coupling; where off-axis material alignment of these parent classes gives rise to distinctly different mechanical coupling behaviour. However, for standard ply angle orientations, HTCS solutions were found in only 8-, 12-, 16- and 20-ply laminates. This article considers non-standard ply angle orientations +60, −60, 0 and 90°, which lead to solutions in all ply number groupings for 10 plies and above, thus offering a possibility for ply terminations and hence tapered HTCS laminate designs

The Magic Mirror - The Fashionista's world-view (and the rest of humanity's)

In this lecture, LCF Visiting Professor Peter York, author, journalist and broadcaster, looks at the contrasting attitudes to fashion amongst: 'fashionistas' (i.e. fashion professionals - but particularly high-end fashion journalists), and the rest of humankind. He argues that 'fashionistas' are - most of them - "quite astonishingly different" from the rest of humankind. This is a function of: * their 'expert' role * their place in the fashion market process * their milieu * their 'wardrobe opportunities' * their aesthetic education. 'Fashionistas', quite literally, see the world differently and talk about clothes differently. This means their reporting of fashion brings different criteria to bear, most of which are unacknowledged. Key differences are: * (at least while they're working) fashionistas develop the tastes of extremely rich women, and are enabled to satisfy them * fashionista language develops its own codes, distorting the meanings of familiar words (e.g. 'sexy') and introducing others (e.g. 'directional'), which only work in fashionland. * a total inability to acknowledge the role of age, class, the workplace or any other real world factors in real women's fashion options. The rest of humanity (broadly women readers of fashion coverage) have lives. These lives, situations and finances shape their views of fashion and their choices. Their concerns and language are wonderfully different from those of most 'fashionistas'. The misunderstandings between these contrasting world-views are richly comic and deeply sad

Weak-coupling expansion of the hot QCD pressure

We review recent progress made in determining the pressure of hot QCD up to the first non-perturbative term in its weak-coupling expansion.Comment: 11 pg, Talk given at 29th Johns Hopkins Workshop in Theoretical Physics: Strong Matter in the Heavens, Budapest, Hungary, 1-3 Aug 200

High Specification Offshore Blades Work Package: 1D: Blade Manufacturing

Blades are regarded as the only component unique to wind turbine blades. They represent only 10 – 15% of the total system cost so the perception is that a reduction in the cost of energy through blade cost improvements is constrained. However, the use of advanced manufacturing technologies is expected to directly reduce cost savings. The aim of this report is therefore to identify manufacturing technologies offering potential for facilitate the construction of very large offshore blades and their potential for (patentable) intellectual property exploitation. This report should be read in conjunction with Package 1C

High Specification Offshore Blades. Work Package: 1C – Blade Materials.

Blades are regarded as the only component unique to wind turbine blades. They represent only 10 – 15% of the total system cost so the perception is that a reduction in the cost of energy through blade cost improvements is constrained. However, the use of novel materials technologies is predicted to reduce design loading by 10 – 20%, which may indirectly lead to substantial cost savings. The aim of this report is therefore to identify materials technologies offering potential for improved blade performance and their potential for (patentable) intellectual property exploitation

Long-distance contributions to the QCD pressure

The QCD pressure is a most fundamental quantity, for which lattice data is available up to a few times the critical temperature $T_c$. Perturbation theory, even at very high temperatures, has serious convergence problems. Combining analytical and 3d numerical methods, we show that it is possible to compute the QCD pressure from about $2 T_c$ to infinity. We also describe an algorithm to generate and classify high order Feynman diagrams which is tailored to minimize computational effort.Comment: 5 pages; talk at Statistical QCD, Bielefeld, August 26-30, 200

Extension-twist coupled laminates for aero-elastic compliant blade design

A definite list of laminate configurations with extension-twisting (and shearing-bending) coupling is derived for up to 21 plies of identical thickness. The list comprises individual stacking sequences, containing standard angle-ply and cross-ply sub-sequences; combinations which are contrary to the previously assumed form for this class of laminate. The list also contains dimensionless parameters from which the extensional, coupling and bending stiffness terms are readily calculated for any fiber/matrix system. Lamination parameters are shown graphically to illustrate the extent of the design space with up to 21 plies. A special sub-group from this class of coupled laminate is identified that can be manufactured flat under a standard elevated temperature curing process; this sub-group possesses hygro-thermally curvature-stable behavior. Finally, bounds on the compression buckling strength are assessed using a closed form solution for all the laminate groups presented