Influence of unsupported sleepers on the dynamic stability of ballasted bed based on wheelset impact tests

The unsupported sleeper can change the load characteristics of ballast particles and thus affect the dynamic stability of a ballasted bed.In this work,a laboratory test was constructed on a ballasted track containing unsupported sleepers.The ballasted track was excited by a wheelset,and the influence of unsupported sleepers on the dynamic stability of a ballasted bed was studied.The results show that the main frequency of the sleeper vibration appeared at 670 Hz,and the first-order rigid vibration mode at the frequency of 101 Hz had a significant effect on the condition without the unsupported sleeper.When the sleepers were continuously unsupported,the vibration damping effect of ballasted bed within the frequency range of 0–450 Hz was better than that at higher frequencies.Within the frequency range of 70–250 Hz,the vibration damping effect of the ballasted bed with unsupported sleepers was better than that without the unsupported sleeper.Owing to the excitation from the wheelset impact,the lateral resistance of the ballasted bed with unsupported sleepers whose hanging heights were 30,60,and 90 mm increased by 37.43%,12.25%,and 18.23%,respectively,while the lateral resistance of the ballasted bed without the unsupported sleeper remained basically unchanged.The unsupported sleeper could increase the difference in the quality of the ballasted bed between two adjacent sleepers.In addition,test results show that the hanging height of the unsupported sleeper had little effect on the lateral resistance of a ballasted bed without external excitation,but had an obvious effect on the rate of change of the lateral resistance of a ballasted bed and the acceleration amplitude of the sleeper vibration under the wheelset impact.

Mechanism and Method of Testing Fracture Toughness and Impact Absorbed Energy of Ductile Metals by Spherical Indentation Tests

To address the problem of conventional approaches for mechanical property determination requiring destructive sampling, which may be unsuitable for in-service structures, the authors proposed a method for determining the quasi-static fracture toughness and impact absorbed energy of ductile metals from spherical indentation tests (SITs). The stress status and damage mechanism of SIT, mode I fracture, Charpy impact tests, and related tests were frst investigated through fnite element (FE) calculations and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations, respectively. It was found that the damage mechanism of SITs is diferent from that of mode I fractures, while mode I fractures and Charpy impact tests share the same damage mechanism. Considering the diference between SIT and mode I fractures, uniaxial tension and pure shear were introduced to correlate SIT with mode I fractures. Based on this, the widely used critical indentation energy (CIE) model for fracture toughness determination using SITs was modifed. The quasi-static fracture toughness determined from the modifed CIE model was used to evaluate the impact absorbed energy using the dynamic fracture toughness and energy for crack initiation. The efectiveness of the newly proposed method was verifed through experiments on four types of steels: Q345R, SA508-3, 18MnMoNbR, and S30408.

Instrumented oscillographic study on impact toughness of an axle steel DZ2 with different tempering temperatures

Compared with the conventional Charpy impact test method,the oscillographic impact test can help in the behavioral analysis of materials during the fracture process.In this study,the trade-off relationship between the strength and toughness of a DZ2 axle steel at various tempering temperatures and the cause of the improvement in impact toughness was evaluated.The tempering process dramatically influenced carbide precipitation behavior,which resulted in different aspect ratios of carbides.Impact toughness improved along with the rise in tempering temperature mainly due to the increase in energy required in impact crack propagation.The characteristics of the impact crack propagation process were studied through a comprehensive analysis of stress distribution,oscilloscopic impact statistics,fracture morphology,and carbide morphology.The poor impact toughness of low-tempering-temperature specimens was attributed to the increased number of stress concentration points caused by carbide morphology in the small plastic zone during the propagation process,which resulted in a mixed distribution of brittle and ductile fractures on the fracture surface.

Impact pressure of waves generated by landslides on bank slopes

Impulse waves that are generated by landslides in narrow reservoir areas threaten the stability of buildings and bank slopes.To discuss the action process and evolution law of the wave pressure on bank slopes,a three-dimensional physical model test that considers impulse waves generated by landslides was performed,and factors including landslide width,thickness,slope angles of the sliding surface,and bank slope angle were considered.Based on wave forms on the bank slopes,wave pressure curve characteristics,and peak value,the action process of wave pressure could be divided into the following stages:maximum pulsating pressure stage,wave impact stage(when waves break),and stationary pulsation stage.It was found that wave breaking is dependent on the value of the surf similarity parameterξ.The distribution pattern of impact pressure decays linearly on both sides of the maximum impact pressure point,and the attenuation degree decreases when it attains 40%of the maximum value.Thus,it is proposed that the prediction formula for the maximum effective impact pressure of the bank slope be related to the reciprocal of wave steepness,relative water depth,and slope rate.The prediction formula provides strong theoretical support for early safety warning and for predicting the bank slope under impulse waves generated by landslides.

Enhanced air-coupled impact echo technique by phase analysis of signals from multiple sensors

This paper presents an air-coupled impact echo(IE)technique that relies on the phase spectrum of the collected data to find the frequencies corresponding to the reflections from delaminations.The proposed technique takes advantage of the fact that the IE compression wave is not a propagating wave,but it is the 1st order symmetrical(S1)mode Lamb wave at zero group velocity(S1-ZGV).Therefore,it searches the phase spectra of the data collected by multiple sensors to locate the frequency corresponding to the lowest phase difference.As a result,the technique reduces the effect of propagating waves,including the direct acoustic wave and ambient noise.It is named the Constant Phase IE(CPIE).The performance of the CPIE is experimentally compared with the regular amplitude spectrum-based IE technique and two other multisensor IE techniques.The CPIE shows a performance advantage,especially in a noisy environment.

Entangled relationship:Chinese parents’involvement in young learners’English tests

Young learners’English(YLE)tests have become increasingly prevalent among and important to Chinese English learners and their parents.In China,parents are actively involved in their children’s education and test-taking decisions,and their participation has given rise to a series of social impacts.Although parent involvement has received increasing public and academic attention in newspaper and scholarly articles,there exists no thorough analysis of current research on parents’roles in young learners’test-taking.To address this gap,we systemically analyzed Chinese newspaper articles and academic articles between 2011 and 2021 to elicit Chinese parents’roles in YLE test-taking.Our thematic analysis of the literature identifies the ways in which parents influence their children’s test-taking experiences,and how the tests affect this influence.Specifically,our results elicit 1)parents’engagement in YLE testing;2)parents’understanding of the intended uses of YLE tests;3)parents’perception and consequences of their involvement in YLE testing;and 4)parents’backgrounds.This analysis reveals the popularity of YLE tests among young learners and their parents in China and public concern over test-related issues.It also broadens our understanding of YLE testing impact and suggests future potential research directions.

Dynamic fracture of Ti-6Al-4V alloy in Taylor impact test

The dynamic fracture behaviors of Ti-6Al-4V alloy at high strain rate loading were investigated systemically through Taylor impact test, over the range of impact velocities from 145 m/s to 306 m/s. The critical impact velocity of fracture ranges from 217 m/s to 236 m/s. Smooth surfaces and ductile dimple areas were observed on the fracture surfaces. As the impact velocity reached 260 m/s, the serious melting regions were also observed on the fracture surfaces. Self-organization of cracks emerges when the impact velocity reaches 260 m/s, while some special cracks whose ＂tips＂ are not sharp but arc and smooth, and without any evidence of deformation or adiabatic shear band were also observed on the impact end surfaces. Examination of the sections of these special cracks reveals that the cracks expand along the two maximum shear stress directions respectively, and finally intersect as a tridimensional ＂stagger ridge＂ structure.

Dynamic fracture toughness of TA15ELI alloy studied by instrumented impact test

The dynamic fracture toughness of TA15ELI alloy with two types of microstructures was studied by instrumented impact test.Charpy specimens with both the 0.2 mm U-notch and the a/W = 0.2 pre-crack were adopted to compare notch sensitivity in the two microstructures.The result shows that the specimen with Widmanst？tten microstructure exhibits a better dynamic fracture toughness and lower notch sensitivity than that with lath-like microstructure.Fracture surfaces in the case of the two microstructures are analyzed to have a ductile and brittle mixed feature under dynamic loading.The fracture surface of lath-like microstructure is composed of dimples and tear ridges,while that of Widmanst？tten microstructure is covered with rough block-like facets and dimples and tear ridges.The α phase boundaries and α/β interfaces act as locations for void nucleation and crack arrest and deviation.The decrease in width of α phase lamellae leads to the increase in the amount of boundaries and interfaces,which causes the increase in the consumption of impact energy and results in the improvement in dynamic fracture toughness.

Assessment of rapid impact compaction in ground improvement from in-situ testing

Ground improvement has been used on many construction sites to densify granular materials, in other word, to improve soil properties and reduce potential settlement. This work presents a case study of ground improvement using rapid impact compaction （RIC）. The research site comprises the construction of workshop and depots as part of railway development project at Batu Gajah-Ipoh, Malaysia. In-situ testing results show that the subsurface soil comprises mainly of sand and silty sand through the investigated depth extended to 10 m. Groundwater is approximately 0.5 m below the ground surface. Evaluation of improvement was based on the results of pre- and post-improvement cone penetration test （CPT）. Interpretation software has been used to infer soil properties. Load test was conducted to estimate soil settlement. It is found that the technique succeeds in improving soil properties namely the relative density increases from 45% to 70%, the friction angle of soil is increased by an average of 3°, and the soil settlement is reduced by 50%： The technique succeeds in improving soil properties to approximately 5.0 m in depth depending on soil uniformity with depth.

Effect of SACMA and QMW Test Methods on Compressive Properties of Composite Laminates after Low Velocity Impact

Experimental studies on the compressive behavior of composite laminates after low velocity impact was carried out with two test methods. One is SACMA Standard, and the other is a small dimensional specimen test method. Impact damage distributions, compressive failure process after impact, quasi static indentation and compression of laminates with a hole were brought into comparison between these two test methods. The results showed that there is a great difference between these two test methods. Compressive behavior of laminates after impact varies with different test methods. Residual compressive strength of laminates after low velocity impact measured with SACMA Standard can reflect stiffness properties of composite resins more wholely than that measured with the other method can do. Small dimensional specimen test method should be improved on as an experimental standard of compressive strength after impact. \{

The Application of Impact Echo Scanning on Nondestructive Test of Pavement

A new nondestructive test method-Impact Echo Scanning was introduced. Application of this method on pavement structure test was discussed. A method to increase the measurement accuracy of the test on multi-layers was proposed, and was verified by field test. The test results show that the basic structural information can obtained rapidly and accurately by 3-D scanning of the impact echo system.

Performance of identical rockbolts tested on four dynamic testing rigs employing the direct impact method

Impact drop tests are routinely used to examine the dynamic performance of rockbolts.Numerous impact tests have been carried out in the past decades on independently designed,constructed and operated testing rigs.Each laboratory has developed testing procedures;thus,the results are often reported in different ways by various laboratories.The inconsistency in testing procedures and reporting formats presents a challenge when comparing results from different laboratories.A series of impact tests of identical rockbolts was carried out using the direct impact method(i.e.the mass free-fall method)on the rigs in four laboratories in different countries.The purpose of these tests was to investigate the level of consistency in the results from the four rigs.Each rig demonstrated a high level of repeatability,but differences existed between the various rigs.The differences would suggest that there is noticeable equipment-dependent bias when test results obtained from different laboratories are compared.It was also observed that the energy dissipated for the plastic displacement of the bolt was smaller than the impact energy in the tests.The average impact load(AIL)and the ultimate plastic displacement(D)of the bolt describe the ultimate dynamic performance of the bolt.In the case where the bolt does not rupture,the specific plastic energy(SPE)is an appropriate parameter in describing the impact performance of the bolt.Two other relevant parameters are the first peak load(FPL)and the initial stiffness(K)of the bolt sample.The information from this test series will guide the formulation of standardised testing procedures for dynamic impact tests of rockbolts.

Tests to evaluate the ecological impact of treated ballast water on three Chinese marine species

Ballast water has been a topic of concern for some time because of its potential to introduce invasive species to new habitats. To comply with the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments, members of the International Maritime Organization(IMO) must equip their ships with on-board treatment systems to eliminate organism release with ballast water. There are many challenges associated with the implementation of this IMO guideline, one of which is the selection of species for testing the ecological impacts of the treated ballast water. In the United States, ballast water toxicity test methods have been defined by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. However, the test methods had not been finalized in China until the toxicity test methods for ballast water were established in 2008. The Chinese methods have been based on species from three trophic levels: Skeletonema costatum, Neomysis awatschensis, and Ctenogobius gymnauchen. All three species live in broad estuarine and open sea areas of China; they are sensitive to reference toxicants and acclimatize easily to different conditions. In this paper, the biological characteristics, test processes and statistical analysis methods are presented for the three species. Results indicate that the methods for evaluating these three organisms can be included in the ecological toxicity tests for treated ballast water in China.

State of the art of impact testers for spot welds

Impact testing is a primary method to evaluate the impact property of resistance spot welding,which is an important quality index in automotive industry.For testing impact properties of spot welds,many customized testers have been developed.This paper summarized some of the impact testers reported in open literatures and the emphasis was placed on the equipment structures,functions,technical parameters,advantages and disadvantage,etc.Some key issues about the development of the testers such as kinematic energy input mode,fixture design,combined load testing,sensor and data acquisition were discussed.Finally,the problems and prospects in the research and development of impact testers for spot welds were pointed out.

Comparative analysis by simulating and testing pole impact for hot stamping front crossbeam of automobile

Hot stamping 22MnB5 steel plate with ultra-high strength has been widely used for body structural members in consideration of automobile safety and lightweight.This paper presents a verification program of simulating and testing pole impact in order to verify if the front crossbeam reinforcement assembly can meet the design requirements,reduce the overall vehicle simulation and test cost and shorten the operation period.In the same condition,the simulation proved conforming to the design requirements;however,the bumper cracked at the impacting point in the course of pole impact test.The analysis of the crack by optical microscope,Vickers and scanning electron microscope indicates that mixture of ferrite,bainite and martensite was produced in the weld heat-affected zone of the 340/590DP tow hook holder and the 22MnB5 front crossbeam;therefore,their hardness and mechanical property were reduced obviously,so that they fractured when impacted.No welding process with continuous weld but spot welding or other bonding method may be employed for the reason that the capacity of the 22MnB5 steel plate in the weld heat-affected zone was reduced obviously.

Optimal design and dynamic impact tests of removable bollards

Anti-ram bollard systems, which are installed around buildings and infrastructure, can prevent unauthorized vehicles from entering, maintain distance from vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices （VBIED） and reduce the corresponding damage. Compared with a fixed bollard system, a removable bollard system provides more flexibility as it can be removed when needed. This paper first proposes a new type of K4-rated removable anti-ram bollard system. To simulate the collision of a vehicle hitting the bollard system, a finite element model was then built and verified through comparison of numerical simulation results and existing experimental results. Based on the orthogonal design method, the factors influencing the safety and economy of this proposed system were examined and sorted according to their importance. An optimal design scheme was then produced. Finally, to validate the effectiveness of the proposed design scheme, four dynamic impact tests, including two front impact tests and two side impact tests, have been conducted according to BSI Specifications. The residual rotation angles of the specimen are smaller than 30~ and satisfy the requirements of the BSI Specification.

Dynamic Fracture of Ti-5553 Alloy in Taylor Impact Test

The dynamic fracture behavior of a new near-beta Ti-5Al-5Mo-5V-3Cr-1Fe（Ti-5553）alloy under a high strain rate loading was investigated systemically using the Taylor impact test,over the impact velocity ranging from156 ms-1 to 256 ms-1.An optical microscope（OM）and a scanning electron microscope（SEM）were used to characterize the microstructure evolution.The experimental results have demonstrated that the velocity from deformation to fracture is 256 ms-1 for the alloy with anα＋βduplex microstructure including more primaryαphase,while the velocity is 234 ms-1 for the alloy with a duplex microstructure including less primaryα phase.From the impact fracture morphologies,smooth and smeared surfaces and ductile dimple areas can be observed.The failure mode of the titanium alloy with both microstructures is adiabatic shear banding.According to the fracture analysis,the ductile fracture area with the dimple area in the alloy with much more primaryαphase were more than that with less primaryαphase.Compared to the duplex microstructure with less primaryα phase,Ti-5553 alloy with more primaryαphase exhibited a better capability to resist an adiabatic shear damage.

Current State of Numerical Simulations and Testing for the Blast and Impact Protection of the Build Civil Engineering Infrastructure

The identification of the critical infrastructure has shown that the build civil engineering infrastructure is almost involved everywhere, even with the IT-infrastructure. Therefore, the passive safety of structures is demanded. Security associations have analysed that most assaults came along with explosion and impact scenarios, which amount in 80% of assaults. Consequently, these are the extraordinary loads the structures have to be planned and designed for. To carry out such an engineering job, the engineer has to be educated in multiple disciplines as physics, material science , continuum mechanics, numerical mechanics, testing, structural engineering and related specific fields as wave propagation etc. In this paper we will concentrate on the subjects of numerical simulation and testing.

Numerical test and evaluating method of impact trend of rock-coal system

The impact trend of reck-coal system was studied by the method of accumulating and releasing of deformation energy and interaction of rock-coal system. The system model of roof-coal-floor was established. Based on the RFPA software, rock fracture process analysis system, the numerical test of deformation, fracture and energy transmission of nonlinear and nonhomogeneous rock-coal system, and the numerical test and evaluating method of impact trend of reck-coal system were achieved. When the same coal seam was in different roof and floor conditions, the fracture process of reck-coal system can be classified as gradual, sudden and delayed fracture three kinds, and their impact trend can be classified as void, intense and medium correspondingly. The rock-coal system＇s impact trend is evaluated by the system impact index p and burst expanding forms. The criteria μ are μ〈1.0, 1.0≤μ〈l .5 and μ≥1.5 when the impact trend is void, intense or medium, which are tested and verified by the No.2 and No.4 coal seams in Sun- cun mine.

Deformation mechanism at impact test of Al-11% Si alloy processed by equal-channel angular pressing with rotary die

Al-11%Si(mass fraction)alloy was transformed into a ductile material by equal-channel angular pressing(ECAP)with a rotary die.Two mechanisms at impact test,slip deformation by dislocation motion and grain boundary sliding,were discussed.The ultrafine grains with modified grain boundaries and the high content of fine particles(<1μm)were necessary for attaining high absorbed energy.The results contradict the condition of slip deformation by dislocation motion and coincide with that of grain boundary sliding.Many fine zigzag lines like a mosaic were observed on the side surface of the tested specimens.These observed lines may show grain boundaries appeared by the sliding of grains.