Comparison of finite element reliability methods

The spectral stochastic finite element method (SSFEM) aims at constructing a probabilistic representation of the response of a mechanical system, whose material properties are random fields. The response quantities, e.g. the nodal displacements, are represented by a polynomial series expansion in terms of standard normal random variables. This expansion is usually post-processed to obtain the second-order statistical moments of the response quantities. However, in the literature, the SSFEM has also been suggested as a method for reliability analysis. No careful examination of this potential has been made yet. In this paper, the SSFEM is considered in conjunction with the first-order reliability method (FORM) and with importance sampling for finite element reliability analysis. This approach is compared with the direct coupling of a FORM reliability code and a finite element code. The two procedures are applied to the reliability analysis of the settlement of a foundation lying on a randomly heterogeneous soil layer. The results are used to make a comprehensive comparison of the two methods in terms of their relative accuracies and efficiencies.     

Molecular Mechanisms of the Deregulation of Muscle Contraction Induced by the R90P Mutation in Tpm3.12 and the Weakening of This Effect by BDM and W7

Point mutations in the genes encoding the skeletal muscle isoforms of tropomyosin can cause a range of muscle diseases. The amino acid substitution of Arg for Pro residue in the 90th position (R90P) in γ-tropomyosin (Tpm3.12) is associated with congenital fiber type disproportion and muscle weakness. The molecular mechanisms underlying muscle dysfunction in this disease remain unclear. Here, we observed that this mutation causes an abnormally high Ca²⁺-sensitivity of myofilaments in vitro and in muscle fibers. To determine the critical conformational changes that myosin, actin, and tropomyosin undergo during the ATPase cycle and the alterations in these changes caused by R90P replacement in Tpm3.12, we used polarized fluorimetry. It was shown that the R90P mutation inhibits the ability of tropomyosin to shift towards the outer domains of actin, which is accompanied by the almost complete depression of troponin’s ability to switch actin monomers off and to reduce the amount of the myosin heads weakly bound to F-actin at a low Ca²⁺. These changes in the behavior of tropomyosin and the troponin–tropomyosin complex, as well as in the balance of strongly and weakly bound myosin heads in the ATPase cycle may underlie the occurrence of both abnormally high Ca²⁺-sensitivity and muscle weakness. BDM, an inhibitor of myosin ATPase activity, and W7, a troponin C antagonist, restore the ability of tropomyosin for Ca²⁺-dependent movement and the ability of the troponin–tropomyosin complex to switch actin monomers off, demonstrating a weakening of the damaging effect of the R90P mutation on muscle contractility.     

Characterization of magnetic materials using a scanning microwave microprobe

We investigated the electromagnetic properties of metals of iron, nickel, cobalt, aluminum, gold, copper, silver, and permalloy thin films on SiO(2) substrates using a near-field microwave microprobe. The electromagnetic properties of metal sheets were estimated by measuring the microwave reflection coefficient S(11) and compared with the theoretical values. We observed the hysteresis behavior of permalloy thin films on SiO(2) substrates using a near-field scanning microwave microprobes (NSMM) system. Experimental results are in good agreement with the theoretical model of transmission theory. In order to better characterize the electromagnetic properties of metals and magnetic metals instead of the usual method, we take advantage of the noncontact microprobing evaluation capabilities using a near-field microwave.     

Estimating the stresses in cantilever beam loaded by a parabolically distributed load with Airy stress functions

This study presents three mathematical methods namely the polynomial stress function approach, the Fourier series form approach and the approximated equations form approach for finding the stress distribution in a cantilever beam with rectangular cross section loaded by a parabolically distributed load. By taking the stress function as a polynomial of the seventh degree, it is attempted to find the coefficients either in complete or in full shape of the polynomial. In the Fourier series approach, the load is discreted to unlimited series of harmonic loads and superposing resultant stresses is the affect of parabolically distributed load on the beam. The resultant stresses are compared with some approximated stress formulas which have been provided before. Finite element analysis are done for square, short, medium and long cantilever beams and the mathematical results of stress distribution in five different height of the beam was compared with FEM results. It was found good results for τ _yy and τ _xy in all cross section of the beams and acceptable results for τ _xx only in y = 0. It is found that discreting loads to even a limit number of harmonic loads and superposing the resultant stresses can give the distribution of τ _yy and τ _xy with the acceptable precision in medium and long cantilever beams with rectangular cross section.     

Megawatt low-temperature DC plasma generator with divergent channels of gas-discharge tract

We have developed and studied a new effective megawatt double-unit generator of low-temperature argon plasma, which belongs to the class of dc plasmatrons and comprises the cathode and anode units with divergent gas-discharge channels. The generator has an efficiency of about 80–85% and ensures a long working life at operating currents up to 4000 A.     

Hydrogen production by Escherichia coli growing in different nutrient media with glycerol: Effects of formate,pH, production kinetics and hydrogenases involved

The Escherichia coli BW25113 or MC4100 wild type parental strains growth and H₂ production kinetics was studied in batch cultures of minimal salt medium (MSM) and peptone medium (PM) at pH of 5.5–7.5 upon glycerol (10 g L^?1) fermentation and formate (0.68 g L^?1) supplementation. The role of formate alone or with glycerol on growth and H₂ production via hydrogenases (Hyd) was investigated in double hyaB hybC (lacking large subunits of Hyd 1 and 2), triple hyaB hybC hycE (lacking large subunits of Hyds 1-3) and sole selC (lacking formate dehydrogenase H) mutants during 24 h bacterial growth. H₂ production was delayed and observed after 24 h bacterial wild type strains growth on MSM. Moreover, it reached the maximal values after 72 h growth at the pH 6.5 and pH 7.5. Biomass formation of the mutants used was inhibited ～3.5 fold compared with wild type, and H₂ production was absent in hyaB hybC hycE and selC mutants upon glycerol utilization on MSM at pHs of 5.5–7.5. Formate inhibited bacterial growth on MSM with glycerol, but enhanced and recovered H₂ production by hybC mutant at pH 7.5. H₂ evolution was delayed at pH 7.5 in PM, but observed and stimulated at pH 6.5 upon glycerol and formate utilization in hyaB hybC mutant. H₂ production was absent in hyaB hybC hycE and selC mutants upon glycerol, formate alone or with glycerol fermentation at pH 6.5 and pH 7.5; formate supplementation had no effect. The results point out E. coli ability to grow and utilize glycerol in MSM with comparably high H₂ yield: as well as they suggest the key role of Hyd-3 at both pH 6.5 and pH 7.5 and the role of Hyd-2 and Hyd-4 at pH 7.5 in H₂ production by E. coli during glycerol fermentation with formate supplementation. The results obtained are novel and might be useful in H₂ production biotechnology development using different nutrient media and glycerol and formate as feedstock.     

Joint First-Passage Probability and Reliability of Systems under Stochastic Excitation

The first-passage probability, describing the probability that a scalar process exceeds a prescribed threshold during an interval of time, is of great engineering interest. This probability is essential for estimating the reliability of a structural component whose response is a stochastic process. When considering the reliability of an engineering system composed of several interdependent components, the probability that two or more response processes exceed their respective safe thresholds during the operation time of the system is an equally essential quantity. This paper proposes simple and accurate formulas for approximating this joint first-passage probability of a vector process. The nth order joint first-passage probability is obtained from a recursive formula involving lower order joint first-passage probabilities and the out-crossing probability of the vector process over a safe domain. Interdependence between the crossings is approximately accounted for by considering the clumping of these events. The accuracy of the proposed formulas is examined by comparing analytical estimates with those obtained from Monte Carlo simulations for stationary Gaussian processes. As an example application, the reliability of a system of interconnected equipment items subjected to a stochastic earthquake excitation is estimated by linear programming bounds employing marginal and joint component fragilities obtained by the proposed formulas.     

One dimensional elasto-plastic wave interaction and boundary reflections

Elasto-plastic wave propagation in a one dimensional rod is treated by utilizing finite element analysis. The time dependence is handled by means of a variable time step numerical integration method. Elasto-plastic reflections from a fixed boundary and interaction of plastic waves are discussed.

Theoretical expressions are presented for determining the stress response for a material exhibiting bilinear hardening behavior during elasto-plastic wave interaction and boundary reflection. These expressions are employed to evaluate predictions made by the numerical procedure.

In the computations, steep wave fronts are approximated by ramps. The steepness of these ramps may be increased by refining the finite element grid. Excellent agreement is obtained between numerical and theoretical elastic and inelastic stress response levels.     

Determination of appropriate RF blocking impedance for MRI surface coils and arrays

Surface and phased array receiving coils in MRI typically require that RF excitation be accomplished using the body coil. This process requires that the receiving coils contain blocking circuitry to increase the overall circuit impedance during RF excitation and withstand the electromotive force induced by the applied electromagnetic field. The aim of this study was to determine the optimal impedance range required during RF excitation based on an assessment of image quality. The experimental results are fit by an exponential model and establish criteria that can be applied for general receiver coil design.