Modeling Expected Failure Considering Repair Time and Degradation: A Rail System Case Study

The repeated failures of any equipment or systems are modeled as a renewal process. The management needs an assessment of the number of future failures to allocate the resources needed for fast repairs. Based on the idea of expectation by conditioning, special Volterra-type integral equations are derived for general types of repairs, considering the length of repair and reduced degradation of the idle object. In addition to minimal repair and failure replacement, partial repairs are also discussed when the repair results in reduction of the number of future failures or decreases the effective age of the object. Numerical integration-based algorithm and simulation study are performed to solve the resulting integral equation. Since the geometry degradation in different dimensions of a rail track and controlling and maintaining defects are of importance, a numerical example using the rail industry data is conducted. Expected number of failures of different failure type modes in rail track is calculated within a two-year interval. Results show that within a two-year period, anticipated occurrences of cross level failures, surface failures, and DPI failures are 2.4, 3.8, and 5.8, respectively.

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.

Failure analysis of polycrystalline diamond compact cutters for breaking rock by bending waves theory

The breakage mechanism of the polycrystalline diamond compact(PDC) cutters was analyzed by the energy theory of bending waves. The cutting tests of granite block were conducted on a multifunctional testing device by using the cutter at three kinds of negative fore angles of 30°, 45° and 60°. The results show that, when the edge of the PDC layer is broken, the layer of tungsten cobalt is broken a little under the angle of 30°, while the layer of tungsten cobalt is broken continuously under the angle of 60°, their maximum depths are about 2 and 7 mm respectively in the two cases. The eccentric distance mainly depends on the negative fore angle of the cutter. When the cutter thrusts into the rock under an attack angle of 60°, the energy of bending waves reaches the maximum since the eccentric distance is the maximum. So the damage of cutter is the most serious. This test result is consistent with the conclusion of theoretical analysis well. The eccentric distance from the axial line of cutter to the point of action between the rock and cutter has great effect on the breakage of the cutter. Thus during the process of cutting, the eccentric distance should be reduced to improve the service life of PDC cutters.

Retrospective and prospective review of the generalized nonlinear strength theory for geomaterials

Strength theory is the basic theory for calculating and designing the strength of engineering materials in civil,hydraulic,mechanical,aerospace,military,and other engineering disciplines.Therefore,the comprehensive study of the generalized nonlinear strength theory(GNST)of geomaterials has significance for the construction of engineering rock strength.This paper reviews the GNST of geomaterials to demonstrate the research status of nonlinear strength characteristics of geomaterials under complex stress paths.First,it systematically summarizes the research progress of GNST(classical and empirical criteria).Then,the latest research the authors conducted over the past five years on the GNST is introduced,and a generalized three-dimensional(3D)nonlinear Hoek‒Brown(HB)criterion(NGHB criterion)is proposed for practical applications.This criterion can be degenerated into the existing three modified HB criteria and has a better prediction performance.The strength prediction errors for six rocks and two in-situ rock masses are 2.0724%-3.5091%and 1.0144%-3.2321%,respectively.Finally,the development and outlook of the GNST are expounded,and a new topic about the building strength index of rock mass and determining the strength of in-situ engineering rock mass is proposed.The summarization of the GNST provides theoretical traceability and optimization for constructing in-situ engineering rock mass strength.

A CONFUSION IN THE APPLICATION OF DISTORTION ENERGY THEORY TO MULTIAXIAL FATIGUE FAILURE PREDICTION

In the application of distortion energy theory to multiaxial fatigue prediction problems,it isquite frequent to meet with a confusion in the evaluation of the extremum values of equivalentstresses.In this paper,a description about this error is presented and discussed thereafter.Neces-sary correction has been made towards this problem.

Construction of improved rigid blocks failure mechanism for ultimate bearing capacity calculation based on slip-line field theory

Based on the slip-line field theory, a two-dimensional slip failure mechanism with mesh-like rigid block system was constructed to analyze the ultimate bearing capacity problems of rough foundation within the framework of the upper bound limit analysis theorem. In the velocity discontinuities in transition area, the velocity changes in radial and tangent directions are allowed. The objective functions of the stability problems of geotechnical structures are obtained by equating the work rate of external force to internal dissipation along the velocity discontinuities, and then the objective functions are transformed as an upper-bound mathematic optimization model. The upper bound solutions for the objective functions are obtained by use of the nonlinear sequential quadratic programming and interior point method. From the numerical results and comparative analysis, it can be seen that the method presented in this work gives better calculation results than existing upper bound methods and can be used to establish the more accurate plastic collapse load for the ultimate bearing capacity of rough foundation.

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.

Palmer&Harvey:A Case of Governance and Audit Failure

Palmer&Harvey(P&H)is a recent example of a UK corporate failure which raises questions about current corporate governance practice,the quality and integrity of audit reporting,and the“sugar coating”of Annual Reports.P&H is but one example of UK firms currently struggling to survive,or failing.The paper presents some details about the P&H case,and then considers questions about corporate governance practice,and whether it is designed to truly safeguard the interests of stakeholders;it raises questions about conventional audit reporting,and whether it is too limited in its analysis and reporting.The paper recommends a strengthening of corporate governance guidelines and practice within the terms of the current Financial Reporting Council(FRC)review,and a wider adoption of forensic accounting practice and reporting,in part taking account of the impact of behavioural factors in management practice.A wider study is proposed to take this analysis and discussion further.

Wetting failure condition on rough surfaces

Wetting states and processes attract plenty of interest of scientific and industrial societies. Air entrainment, i.e.,wetting failure, on smooth plate in wetting process has been investigated carefully before. Liquid bath entries of "rough"silicon wafers are studied experimentally in the present work, and the air entrainment condition is analyzed specially with the lubrication theory. The roughness effects on the moving contact lines are therefore explored. The contact line pinning is found to be the main reason for the dynamically enhanced hydrophobicity of rough surface, which implies an effective microscopic contact angle of θ_e = θ_Y + 90° where θY is the Young's contact angle of the material. Our results suggest that the solid surfaces can be considered as hydrophobic ones for a wide range of dynamic process, since they are normally rough. The work can also be considered as a starting point for investigating the high-speed advancing of moving contact line on rough surfaces.

Cascading failure prevention of complex systems based on brittleness entropy game

A non-cooperative game model based on brittleness entropy is formulated for preventing cascading failure of complex systems.Subsystems of a complex system are mapped to the players of the game.The influence of collapsed subsystems to other subsystems is also taken into account in the definition of payoff function except for their own entropy increase.This influence is named brittleness entropy.Each player has two optional strategies;rational for negative entropy and irrational for negative entropy.The model is designed to identify the players who select an irrational strategy for negative entropy.The players who select the irrational strategy for negative entropy continue to compete for negative entropy after the recovery of ordered state and make other subsystems can' t get enough negative entropy to reduce entropy increase.It leads to cascading failure of the complex system in the end.Genetic algorithm is used to seek the solution of game model,and the simulation result verifies the effectiveness of the proposed model.The model provides a new way to prevent cascading failure of complex systems.

Failure mechanism of large-diameter shield tunnels and its effects on ground surface settlements

A new technique for the analysis of the three-dimensional collapse failure mechanism and the ground surface settlements for the large-diameter shield tunnels were presented.The technique is based on a velocity field model using more different truncated solid conical blocks to clarify the multiblock failure mechanism.Furthermore,the shape of blocks between the failure surface and the tunnel face was considered as an entire circle,and the supporting pressure was assumed as non-uniform distribution on the tunnel face and increased with the tunnel embedded depth.The ground surface settlements and failure mechanism above large-diameter shield tunnels were also investigated under different supporting pressures by the finite difference method.

Influence of Damage Evolution on the Failure Surface of Concrete

The damage which represents the alternation of internal slate of material was introduced to concrete strength theory according to the theory of mechanics of continuous medium and the failure criterion of deteriorated concrete was diseussions. In the tests, ultrasonic velocity is used to establish the damage variable and to establish the damage-eoupled failure criterion of concrete under freeze-thaw. The results show that the failure surface is gradually shrinking with the increase of freeze-thaw times. Furthermore, by the comparison between the theoretical data and the testing data from the literature, the rationality of strength theory proposed in the paper acquire confirmation. The damage-coupled failure criterion presented here can indicate the influence of damage evolution on the failure surface of concrete.

THE NEW CRITERIA OF ELASTIC AND FATIGUE FAILURE IN THE COMPONENT OF COMPLEX STRESS STATES

In this paper, a total criterion on elastic and fatigue failure in complex stress, that is. octahedral stress strength theory on dynamic and static states on the basis of studying modern and classic strength theories. At the same time, an analysis of an independent and fairly comprehensive theoretical system is set up. It gives generalized failure factor by 36 materials and computative theory of the 11 states of complex stresses on a point, and derives the operator equation on generalized allowable strength and a computative method for a total equation can be applied to dynamic and static states. It is illustrated that the method has a good exactness through computation of eight examples of engineering. Therefore, the author suggests applying it to engineering widely.

Study on Sinking-Sliding Failure Mechanism of Perilous Rock at Wangxia in Three Gorges of the Yangtze River, China

The giant perilous rock at Wangxia (named Wangxia perilous rock) is representative in Three Gorges of the Yangtze River, China, has threatened badly the navigation of the Yangtze River channel for a long period. The giant perilous rock is composed of siliceous limestone and argillaceous limestone, and includes two elements marking by W1 and W2, respectively. The W1 is an isolated pillar while the W2 is in clintheriform. The linking segment of dominant fissure in the W2 is composed by moniliform solution funnels at its back, and the locked segment of the dominant fissure at the base of the W2 is composed by two parts. For the locked part of the dominant fissure of the W2, the upper segment shows the same lithology with the perilous rock and it can be simplified as an elastic medium, for the lower segment composed by argillaceous shale and mudstone can be simplified as a strain-softening medium. Introducing the water-softened function, the constitutive curves with two kinds of medium materials for the locked segment in the dominant fissure of the W2 have been proposed. Based on energy principle, the cusp catastrophe model for perilous rock rupture is built and formulas for the transient elastic and impulsive acceleration and the elastic-impulsive velocity of perilous rock catastrophe rupture have been established. By the calculation, the elastic-impulsive acceleration for the catastrophe rupture of the W2 is 531.4 m/s2, while the average elastic-impulsive velocity is 2.608 m/s. Further, it is deduced that the elastic-impulsive velocity at the base of the W2 is about 5.2 m/s. For the transient ruture of the W2, there is a greater speed difference between the top and the base of the W2, which impels the giant perilous rock to be retroverted sliding rupture, coinciding with the fact. Undoubtedly, studies in this paper must play an important role to analyze the catastrophe rupture mechanism of giant perilous rocks at both banks in Three Gorges of the Yangtze River, China.

Hierarchical models for failure analysis of plates bent by distributed and localized transverse loadings

The failure analysis of simply supported, isotropic, square plates is addressed. Attention focuses on minimum failure load amplitudes and failure locations. von Mises’ equivalent stress along the plate thickness is also addressed. Several distributed and localized loading conditions are considered. Loads act on the top of the plate. Bi-sinusoidal and uniform loads are taken into account for distributed loadings, while stepwise constant centric and off-centric loadings are addressed in the case of localized loadings. Analysis is performed considering plates whose length-to-thickness ratio a/h can be as high as 100 (thin plates) and as low as 2 (very thick plates). Results are obtained via several 2D plate models. Classical theories (CTs) and higher order models are applied. Those theories are based on polynomial approximation of the displacement field. Among the higher order theories (HOTs), HOTsd models account for the transverse shear deformations, while HOTs models account for both transverse shear and transverse normal deformations. LHOTs represent a local application of the higher order theories. A layerwise approach is thus assumed: by means of mathematical interfaces, the plate is considered to be made of several fictitious layers. The exact 3D solution is presented in order to determine the accuracy of the results obtained via the 2D models. In this way a hierarchy among the 2D theories is established. CTs provide highly accurate results for a/h greater than 10 in the case of distributed loadings and greater than 20 for localized loadings. Results obtained via HOTs are highly accurate in the case of very thick plates for bi-sinusoidal and centric loadings. In the case of uniform and off-centric loadings a high gradient is present in the neighborhood of the plate top. In those cases, LHOTs yield results that match the exact solution.

慢性心力衰竭患者运动康复依从性量表的编制及信效度检验

背景慢性心力衰竭患者运动康复效果的维持有赖于良好的运动康复依从行为,有效及科学地评估其运动康复依从性具有重要的实践意义,但目前国内外尚缺乏公认的慢性心力衰竭患者运动康复依从性评价工具。目的编制慢性心力衰竭患者运动康复依从性量表,为快速便捷地评估慢性心力衰竭患者运动康复依从性提供科学、适宜的工具。方法在前期慢性心力衰竭患者运动康复最佳证据总结和质性研究的基础上,通过文献回顾、结合课题组意见,形成初始条目池;根据小样本预调查、德尔菲专家函询形成临床测试版量表。便利抽样法选取2020年11月—2021年2月在江苏省3所三级甲等医院心血管内科就诊的稳定期慢性心力衰竭患者作为研究对象。第一阶段发放有效量表274份,结合项目反应理论和经典测量理论对量表的条目进行筛选并进行探索性因子分析,形成正式版量表;第二阶段发放有效量表282份,对正式版量表进行验证性因子分析和信效度分析,形成最终版量表。结果正式量表包括2个维度11个条目。各条目的难度合理,且均未出现逆反阈值,条目区分度、项目信息量及项目特征曲线均较优。量表总的Cronbach’sα系数为0.905,其中“处方依从”维度Cronbach’sα系数为0.895,“监测依从”维度Cronbach’sα系数为0.910。总折半信度为0.724、重测信度为0.902。探索性因子分析结果显示2个因子能解释总变异的70.231%,进一步验证性因子分析的结果显示模型各参数较优,拟合较好。结论本研究构建的慢性心力衰竭患者运动康复依从性量表的条目难度、区分度合理,项目信息量较好,同时具有较高的信度和效度,可作为慢性心力衰竭患者运动康复依从性的评估工具。

非对称破坏模式下临坡地基的Meyerhof承载力新解

利用统一强度理论的平面应变强度方程,综合考虑中间主应力、基础至坡肩的水平距离、边坡高度和基底粗糙情况等因素,提出临坡地基坡面非对称破坏模式和坡底非对称破坏模式,继而建立条形基础下临坡地基新的Meyerhof承载力解答,给出具体应用步骤并开展理论退化分析与对比验证。研究表明:考虑坡后土体强度贡献所提出的非对称破坏模式更符合临坡地基的实际破坏形态;所得临坡地基Meyerhof承载力解答与文献模型试验和数值模拟均吻合良好;中间主应力可明显提高临坡地基的承载力;临坡地基承载力随边坡高度增加先减小后恒定。研究结果合理反映了土体强度的中间主应力效应、破坏模式的非对称性以及基础旁侧土体强度等工程实际情况,对临坡地基优化设计具有一定的理论指导意义。

基于正邪理论探讨Th17/Treg细胞在慢性心衰中的作用

慢性心力衰竭是多种心血管疾病的终末期阶段,心肌损伤后,免疫介导的Th17、Treg细胞在心衰的发病机制具有关键作用,通过分泌炎症因子,导致心肌纤维化、心室重塑。中医正邪理论内涵丰富,对于认识Th17/Treg细胞与心衰的发展及相互作用具有指导意义,隶属于正邪理论范畴,即Th17/Treg细胞平衡,有利于维持机体的免疫平衡,属于“正气”范畴;Th17/Treg细胞失衡可能破坏机体内环境的稳定,导致免疫异常,促进疾病的发生,属于“邪气”范畴。基于此,作者以正邪理论为切入点,从宏观、微观角度来阐述Th17/Treg细胞在慢性心力衰竭发展中的作用,提出心衰早期,正虚为主,邪实为辅;心衰中期,正虚邪实;心衰晚期,邪实为主,正虚为辅;心衰终末期,正虚为主。临床通过扶正祛邪,调整机体正邪平衡,恢复机体Th17/Treg细胞的动态平衡,以期为中医理论阐述Th17/Treg在心衰的发展作用的现代研究奠定基础,为心衰的诊治提供新的理论依据。

区间概率下基于证据理论的引信安全失效率评估方法

针对底事件基础数据匮乏给引信安全性评估带来的难题,采用证据理论对区间概率下的引信安全失效率进行分析和评估。通过构造基本信任分配函数来表征底事件区间概率的不确定性;在此基础上,利用累积似然函数和累计信任函数,基于故障树的结构函数将不确定性逐层传递,最终获得顶事件的概率包络。仿真结果表明,该方法不仅给出了引信安全失效率的上下界限,同时提供了其所有可能的累积分布函数,适用于对引信安全失效率进行评估和不确定性量化。

基于毒邪与络病学说探讨免疫炎症在慢性心力衰竭中作用

慢性心力衰竭(以下简称心衰),是各种心脏疾病的终末期阶段,其发病机制与免疫炎症密切相关。免疫细胞激活后,产生大量炎症因子,损伤心肌细胞,导致心肌纤维化、心室重构等病理改变。“毒损心络”是心衰发生、发展的主要病机,贯穿心衰发展的始终,以不同的形式影响心衰的发展及预后。该文通过查阅相关文献,基于毒邪与络病学说,从免疫炎症与心衰的关系及中药防治进行系统梳理,提出心衰早期,以心气虚为主,兼心气阴虚,尚未化毒、入络;心衰中期,心气亏虚为本,痰浊、瘀血、水饮留滞络脉,有化毒、入络趋势;心衰晚期,痰、瘀、水蕴结成毒,损伤心络。中药以复方治疗为主,多具有益气温阳、化瘀利水、解毒通络之功效,通过恢复M1/M2、Th1/Th2及Th17/Treg细胞之间的动态平衡,调节促炎/抗炎因子,从根本上祛除或缓解因毒邪产生的病理状态,减轻炎症,调整心之气血阴阳,达到扶正祛邪、保护心功能的作用,为临床防治心衰提供指导。