Hashin Failure Theory Based Damage Assessment Methodology of Composite Tidal Turbine Blades and Implications for the Blade Design

A damage assessment methodology based on the Hashin failure theory for glass fiber reinforced polymer(GFRP)composite blade is proposed. The typical failure mechanisms including the fiber tension/compression and matrix tension/compression are considered to describe the damage behaviors. To give the flapwise and edgewise loading along the blade span, the Blade Element Momentum Theory(BEMT) is adopted. In conjunction with the hydrodynamic analysis, the structural analysis of the composite blade is cooperatively performed with the Hashin damage model. The damage characteristics of the composite blade, under normal and extreme operational conditions,are comparatively analyzed. Numerical results demonstrate that the matrix tension damage is the most significant failure mode which occurs in the mid-span of the blade. The blade internal configurations including the box-beam, Ibeam, left-C beam and right-C beam are compared and analyzed. The GFRP and carbon fiber reinforced polymer(CFRP) are considered and combined. Numerical results show that the I-beam is the best structural type. The structural performance of composite tidal turbine blades could be improved by combining the GFRP and CFRP structure considering the damage and cost-effectiveness synthetically.

Impact of failure mode and effects analysis-based emergency management on the effectiveness of craniocerebral injury treatment

BACKGROUND Craniocerebral injuries encompass brain injuries,skull fractures,cranial soft tissue injuries,and similar injuries.Recently,the incidence of craniocerebral injuries has increased dramatically due to the increased numbers of traffic accidents and aerial work injuries,threatening the physical and mental health of patients.AIM To investigate the impact of failure modes and effects analysis(FMEA)-based emergency management on craniocerebral injury treatment effectiveness.METHODS Eighty-four patients with craniocerebral injuries,treated at our hospital from November 2019 to March 2021,were selected and assigned,using the random number table method,to study(n=42)and control(n=42)groups.Patients in the control group received conventional management while those in the study group received FMEA theory-based emergency management,based on the control group.Pre-and post-interventions,details regarding the emergency situation;levels of inflammatory stress indicators[Interleukin-6(IL-6),C-reactive protein(CRP),and procalcitonin(PCT)];incidence of complications;prognoses;and satisfaction regarding patient care were evaluated for both groups.RESULTS For the study group,the assessed parameters[pre-hospital emergency response time(9.13±2.37 min),time to receive a consultation(2.39±0.44 min),time needed to report imaging findings(1.15±4.44 min),and test reporting time(32.19±6.23 min)]were shorter than those for the control group(12.78±4.06 min,3.58±0.71 min,33.49±5.51 min,50.41±11.45 min,respectively;P<0.05).Pre-intervention serum levels of IL-6(78.71±27.59 pg/mL),CRP(19.80±6.77 mg/L),and PCT(3.66±1.82 ng/mL)in the study group patients were not significantly different from those in the control group patients(81.31±32.11 pg/mL,21.29±8.02 mg/L,and 3.95±2.11 ng/mL respectively;P>0.05);post-intervention serum indicator levels were lower in both groups than pre-intervention levels.Further,serum levels of IL-6(17.35±5.33 pg/mL),CRP(2.27±0.56 mg/L),and PCT(0.22±0.07 ng/mL)were lower in the study group than in the control group(30.15±12.38 pg/mL,3.13±0.77 mg/L,0.38±0.12 ng/mL,respectively;P<0.05).The complication rate observed in the study group(9.52%)was lower than that in the control group(26.19%,P<0.05).The prognoses for the study group patients were better than those for the control patients(P<0.05).Patient care satisfaction was higher in the study group(95.24%)than in the control group(78.57%,P<0.05).CONCLUSION FMEA-based craniocerebral injury management effectively shortens the time spent on emergency care,reduces inflammatory stress and complication risk levels,and helps improve patient prognoses,while achieving high patient care satisfaction levels.

Fracture initiation and propagation in intact rock—A review

The initiation and propagation of failure in intact rock are a matter of fundamental importance in rock engineering. At low confining pressures, tensile fracturing initiates in samples at 40%-60% of the uniaxial compressive strength and as loading continues, and these tensile fractures increase in density, ultimately coalescing and leading to strain localization and macro-scale shear failure of the samples. The Griffith theory of brittle failure provides a simplified model and a useful basis for discussion of this process. The Hoek-Brown failure criterion provides an acceptable estimate of the peak strength for shear failure but a cutoff has been added for tensile conditions. However, neither of these criteria adequately explains the progressive coalition of tensile cracks and the final shearing of the specimens at higher confining stresses. Grain-based numerical models, in which the grain size distributions as well as the physical properties of the component grains of the rock are incorporated, have proved to be very useful in studying these more complex fracture processes.

From Novelty to Normalcy:Making Entomophagy a Common Diet

This paper presents an analysis of the future of insect eating in two dimensions:the barriers of making insect eating popular and possible pathways to make entomophagy a common diet.Firstly,the brief introduction is stated to make a clear statement of normalizing insect eating,discuss the topic's relevance with current news regarding COVID-19 and provide a clear thesis statement.Then,the obstacles that prevent many people eating insects are evaluated through the framework of Failure of Diffusion Theory and“Yuck”factors.In the last part,possible solutions are offered accordingly,to help accomplish the goal of making insect food popular.Finally,some end notes and closing thoughts are included in the conclusion.

Modified micro-mechanics based multiscale model for progressive failure prediction of 2D twill woven composites

To consider fiber random distribution at the microscale for the multiscale model based on the micro-mechanics failure(MMF)theory,clustering method is used for the extraction of amplification factors.As the clustering method is a kind of unsupervised machine learning method,the elements with similar mechanical behavior under external loading can be included in a cluster automatically at the microscale.With this modification,the fiber random distribution model can be used for multiscale damage analysis in the framework of MMF theory.To validate the modified multiscale analysis method,progressive damage analysis of a kind of 2D twill woven composites is conducted based on different microscale models.The stress values for microscale models with fiber hexagonal and random distribution patterns are compared first.Much higher stress concentration is generated in the fiber random distribution model due to the smaller inter-fiber distance especially under longitudinal shear loading.The obtained cluster distribution results exhibit the characters of the stress distribution in the two microscale models.Thereafter,tensile and compressive responses of the 2D twill woven composite are predicted with the modified multiscale analysis method and accuracy of the method is verified through comparison with published experimental results.From the simulation results,it can be found that the matrix damage initiation from the model based on the fiber random distribution model is premature compared with that from the model based on the fiber hexagonal distribution model.Besides,under tensile loading,the damage all initiates from the fill tows and propagates to the wrap tows.However,under compressive loading,the matrix damage initiates from the wrap tows in the model based on the fiber random distribution model.

Study on Functional Mechanical Performance of Honeycomb Array Structures Inspired by Gideon Beetle

To obtain bio-inspired structures with superior biological function,four bio-inspired structures named regular arrangement honeycomb structure(RAHS),staggered arrangement honeycomb structure(SAHS),floral arrangement honeycomb structure(FLAHS)and functional arrangement honeycomb structure(FUAHS)are designed by observing the microstructure of the Gideon beetle,based on the optimal size bio-inspired cells by response surface method(RSM)and particle swarm optimization(PSO)algorithm.According to Euler theory and buckling failure theory,compression deformation properties of bio-inspired structures are explained.Experiments and simulations further verify the accuracy of theoretical analysis results.The results show that energy absorption of FLAHS is,respectively,increased by 26.95%,22.85%,and 121.45%,compared with RAHS,SAHS,and FUAHS.Elastic modulus of FLAHS is 110.37%,110.37%,and 230.56% of RAHS,SAHS,and FUAHS,respectively.FLAHS perfectly inherits crashworthiness and energy absorption properties of the Gideon beetle,and FLAHS has the most stable force.Similarly,RAHS,SAHS,and FUAHS,respectively,inherit mechanical properties of the Gideon beetle top horn,the Gideon beetle middle horn,and the abdomen of the beetle.This method,designing bio-inspired structures with biological functions,can be introduced into the engineering field requiring the special function.

Ultimate Strength of Annular Reinforced Concrete Members Under Combined Actions

Annular reinforced concrete(RC) members are commonly used in bridge structures and offshore platforms. These RC members often fail under the combined actions of axial force, bending moment, shear force and torsion load in hazards of earthquake and wind. It is very important to study the failure mechanism of annular RC members under combined actions. This study proposes a model to analyze the ultimate strength of annular RC members under combined actions using limit failure theory. A new method is established to determine the geometric parameters of the warped failure surface, and the new calculation model for the ultimate strength is obtained using the equilibrium conditions based on the geometric parameters and the stress distribution on the failure surface. The proposed model calculations are compared with a series of experimental results of annular RC members, and they correspond well with the experimental results. The proposed model is feasible for engineering application.

Application of viscoelastic continuum damage approach to predict fatigue performance of Binzhou perpetual pavements

For this study, the Binzhou perpetual pavement test sections constructed in Shandong Province, China, were simulated for long-term fatigue performance using the layered viscoelastic pavement analysis for critical distresses （LVECD） finite element software package. In this framework, asphalt concrete was treated in the context of linear visco- elastic continuum damage theory. A recently developed unified fatigue failure criterion that defined the boundaries of the applicable region of the theory was also incorporated. The mechanistic modeling of the fatigue mechanisms was able to accommodate the complex temperature variations and loading conditions of the field pavements in a rigorous manner. All of the material models were conveniently characterized by dynamic modulus tests and direct tension cyclic fatigue tests in the laboratory using cylindrical specimens. By comparing the obtained damage characteristic curves and failure criteria, it is found that mixtures with small aggregate particle sizes, a dense gradation, and modified asphalt binder tended to exhibit the best fatigue resistance at the material level. The 15 year finite element structural simulation results for all the test sections indicate that fa- tigue performance has a strong dependence on the thickness of the asphalt pavements. Based on the predicted location and severity of the fatigue damage, it is recommended that Sections 1 and 3 of the Binzhou test sections be emoloved for perpetual pavement design.