A numerical model has been developed which simulates the three-dimensional stability and transition of a periodically forced free shear layer in an incompressible fluid. Unlike previous simulations of temporally evolving shear layers, the current simulations examine spatial stability. The spatial model accommodates features of free shear flow, observed in experiments, which in the temporal model are precluded by the assumption of streamwise periodicity; e.g., divergence of the mean flow and wave dispersion. The Navier-Stokes equations in vorticity-velocity form are integrated using a combination of numerical methods tailored to the physical problem. A spectral method is adopted in the spanwise dimension in which the flow variables, assumed to be periodic, are approximated by finite Fourier series. In complex Fourier space, the governing equations are spatially two-dimensional. Standard central finite differences are exploited in the remaining two spatial dimensions. For computational efficiency, time evolution is accomplished by a combination of implicit and explicit methods. Linear diffusion terms are advanced by an Alternating Direction Implicit/Crank-Nicolson scheme whereas the Adams-Bashforth method is applied to convection terms. Nonlinear terms are evaluated at each new time level by the pseudospectral (collocation) method. Solutions to the velocity equations, which are elliptic, are obtained iteratively by approximate factorization. The spatial model requires that inflow-outflow boundary conditions be prescribed. Inflow conditions are derived from a similarity solution for the mean inflow profile onto which periodic forcing is superimposed. Forcing functions are derived from inviscid linear stability theory. A numerical test case is selected which closely parallels a well-known physical experiment. Many of the aspects of forced shear layer behavior observed in the physical experiment are captured by the spatial simulation. These include initial linear growth of the fundamental, vorticity roll-up, fundamental saturation, eventual domination of the subharmonic, vortex pairing, emergence of streamwise vorticity, and temporary stabilization of the secondary instability. Moreover, the spatial simulation predicts the experimentally observed superlinear growth of harmonics at rates 1.5 times that of the fundamental. Superlinear growth rates suggest nonlinear resonances between fundamental and harmonic modes which are not captured by temporal simulations.

This research was conducted to investigate the connective tissue contribution to toughness of cow beef and to find means to decrease it. Intra muscular connective tissue (IMCT) content of meat from cows (~6 years) and heifers (~16 months) varied significantly among muscles (P<0.0001) and maturity groups (P<0.05). Amount of total collagen in IMCT was a constant (37.3-46.3 %) among muscles and between maturity groups. Shear force of <i>biceps femoris</i>, <i>semimembranosus</i> and <i>longissimus</i> muscles had increased significantly with animal maturity (P<0.0001). Shear stress of <i>gluteus medius</i> was similar between maturity groups. Collagen solubility decreased with animal maturity, except for <i>biceps femoris</i>. <p> The impact of the temperature of aqueous heating (55 to 95 ºC) and time on thermolabile proteins, amorphous proteins, Ehrlich chromogen, pyridinoline, thickness change, shrinkage, weight gain, shear force, amide bands and morphology of epimysium was studied. Collagen contributed to 90% (w/w) of epimysial proteins. At 55 ºC, epimysial properties were changed only after exposure to long heating times. Shear stress values of raw cow (39.6 N/mm2) and heifer (30.8 N/mm2) epimysium decreased significantly to 11.6 and 2.1 N/mm2, respectively, at 70 ºC. Amount of epimysial amorphous collagen (14-16% w/w) detected after heating at 70 ºC and above was not related to shear stress decrease. Before and after heating, cow epimysium contained more pyridinoline cross-links than heifer epimysium.<p> The effects of strong and weak acids and alkalis on epimysial properties were studied following heating at 55 and 70 ºC for 15 min. As the concentration of HCl (0.1-0.5 M) and pre-equilibration time were increased at 70 ºC, shear stress decreased to <2 N/mm2. Increasing concentration of CH3COOH (0.1-0.5 M) and pre-equilibration times had decreased shear stress to ~5 N/mm2. At 55 ºC, HCl was not superior to CH3COOH in its ability to decrease epimysial shear stress. Increasing concentration of NaOH (0.01-0.05 M) and high temperature decreased shear stress to ~3 N/mm2. Lack of a shear stress decrease at 55 ºC and increased thermal denaturation temperature (66 ºC compared to 63 ºC in water), indicated that NH4OH had an epimysial stabilization effect, which was not eliminated at 55 ºC.

When cultivated properly in bioreactors, microalgae have been found to produce vast amounts of biomass. In the case of diatom cultivation where the organisms will fall out of suspension quite easily, paddle wheels or pumps are the primary means to maintain the necessary velocity in the raceway. This study will focus on the potentially harmful shear stress these devices may impart onto the organisms. The system used to impart shear stress to a diatom culture was a cone and plate viscometer. Cells were counted using a fluorescein diacetate staining method with a fluorescent and brightfield microscope. Under the white light all cells were visible while only the healthy cells were visible under fluorescent light. The sample was exposed to shear stress with the cone and plate viscometer at 6 Pascals for 10 minutes and compared against a non-sheared sample. For each sample, 5 pairs of white and fluorescent light images were captured, counted, and averaged. A non-sheared sample was paired with a sheared sample to calculate the decrease in cell viability. The slope was calculated from the plot of shear stress and cell viability for 9 strains. In each case shear stress resulted in a significant decrease in cell viability; however, there was no statistical difference between strains. While effective, this method would be impractical for a commercial algae cultivation facility as the viscometer in this study costs approximately $100,000. Therefore, tests were performed to determine if a rotary mixer could be substituted for the viscometer. The hypothesis was that the cell damage was a product of shear stress and exposure time. For the viscometer test, the shear exposure was 3600 Pa s. Two rotational mixer tests were performed, one at 1250 RPM for 7 hours and one at 313 RPM for 28 hours, providing the same 3600 Pa s shear exposure. After staining, cell viability decreased 35.62% and 11.07% in the 1250 RPM and 313 RPM test, respectively. This difference was significant compared to the 6.04% decrease in the viscometer test. The increased cell damage was attributed to turbulence in the mixer tests and the basis for further study.

Over the life span of a structure it may become necessary to retrofit, or strengthen certain components or elements. This may be due to construction errors, changes in use and occupancy, or changes due to material deterioration or damage. Slab-column connections in flat slab structures might need to be strengthened for punching shear. Using steel shear bolts to strengthen connections for punching shear is a new technique used for retrofit that was developed at the University of Waterloo. If the retrofitted part of the structure is exposed to the atmosphere, or to chemicals such as deicing salts, the steel can corrode, thus furthering to damage the structure. Non-corrosive materials that can replace the steel shear bolts can be a good practical alternative to steel. Reported in this thesis are the results of research on the development and use of non-corrosive shear bolts for reinforced concrete interior slab-column connections. Externally applied shear reinforcing bolts provide the punching shear reinforcement strength, while allowing the flexibility and ease of installation of an external application after construction. By providing a bearing area against both sides of the slab surface, the formation of punching shear cracks can be restrained, and the connection can become strengthened against punching shear failure. Three different types of non-corrosive shear bolts were developed and tested. The first was an off-the-shelf glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) bolt / nut product. The two others used two different GFRP core rods with aluminum fittings crimped to their ends. A total of six specimens were tested, four were tested under an increasing static load, while two were tested with an unbalanced pseudo-dynamic lateral load. All six specimens were designed to fail in punching shear before reaching their flexural capacity. The results are compared against previous test results of specimens both unreinforced and reinforced with steel shear bolts to determine their effectiveness. From the test results it was found that the GFRP shear bolts did strengthen the connections for punching shear. The GFRP nut and bolt did not strengthen the connection, and, in fact, decreased its overall strength when compared to the unreinforced specimen. The presence of the GFRP shear bolts also increased the connection ductility and the deflection capability. In the pseudo-dynamic tests the GFRP shear bolts significantly increased the amount of energy dissipated by the connection under reverse cyclic loading. The results of the testing appeared to be depended on the proper application of the crimping technique to place the bolts in the slab.

Over the life span of a structure it may become necessary to retrofit, or strengthen certain components or elements. This may be due to construction errors, changes in use and occupancy, or changes due to material deterioration or damage. Slab-column connections in flat slab structures might need to be strengthened for punching shear. Using steel shear bolts to strengthen connections for punching shear is a new technique used for retrofit that was developed at the University of Waterloo. If the retrofitted part of the structure is exposed to the atmosphere, or to chemicals such as deicing salts, the steel can corrode, thus furthering to damage the structure. Non-corrosive materials that can replace the steel shear bolts can be a good practical alternative to steel. Reported in this thesis are the results of research on the development and use of non-corrosive shear bolts for reinforced concrete interior slab-column connections. Externally applied shear reinforcing bolts provide the punching shear reinforcement strength, while allowing the flexibility and ease of installation of an external application after construction. By providing a bearing area against both sides of the slab surface, the formation of punching shear cracks can be restrained, and the connection can become strengthened against punching shear failure. Three different types of non-corrosive shear bolts were developed and tested. The first was an off-the-shelf glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) bolt / nut product. The two others used two different GFRP core rods with aluminum fittings crimped to their ends. A total of six specimens were tested, four were tested under an increasing static load, while two were tested with an unbalanced pseudo-dynamic lateral load. All six specimens were designed to fail in punching shear before reaching their flexural capacity. The results are compared against previous test results of specimens both unreinforced and reinforced with steel shear bolts to determine their effectiveness. From the test results it was found that the GFRP shear bolts did strengthen the connections for punching shear. The GFRP nut and bolt did not strengthen the connection, and, in fact, decreased its overall strength when compared to the unreinforced specimen. The presence of the GFRP shear bolts also increased the connection ductility and the deflection capability. In the pseudo-dynamic tests the GFRP shear bolts significantly increased the amount of energy dissipated by the connection under reverse cyclic loading. The results of the testing appeared to be depended on the proper application of the crimping technique to place the bolts in the slab.

This research was conducted to investigate the connective tissue contribution to toughness of cow beef and to find means to decrease it. Intra muscular connective tissue (IMCT) content of meat from cows (~6 years) and heifers (~16 months) varied significantly among muscles (P<0.0001) and maturity groups (P<0.05). Amount of total collagen in IMCT was a constant (37.3-46.3 %) among muscles and between maturity groups. Shear force of <i>biceps femoris</i>, <i>semimembranosus</i> and <i>longissimus</i> muscles had increased significantly with animal maturity (P<0.0001). Shear stress of <i>gluteus medius</i> was similar between maturity groups. Collagen solubility decreased with animal maturity, except for <i>biceps femoris</i>. <p> The impact of the temperature of aqueous heating (55 to 95 ºC) and time on thermolabile proteins, amorphous proteins, Ehrlich chromogen, pyridinoline, thickness change, shrinkage, weight gain, shear force, amide bands and morphology of epimysium was studied. Collagen contributed to 90% (w/w) of epimysial proteins. At 55 ºC, epimysial properties were changed only after exposure to long heating times. Shear stress values of raw cow (39.6 N/mm2) and heifer (30.8 N/mm2) epimysium decreased significantly to 11.6 and 2.1 N/mm2, respectively, at 70 ºC. Amount of epimysial amorphous collagen (14-16% w/w) detected after heating at 70 ºC and above was not related to shear stress decrease. Before and after heating, cow epimysium contained more pyridinoline cross-links than heifer epimysium.<p> The effects of strong and weak acids and alkalis on epimysial properties were studied following heating at 55 and 70 ºC for 15 min. As the concentration of HCl (0.1-0.5 M) and pre-equilibration time were increased at 70 ºC, shear stress decreased to <2 N/mm2. Increasing concentration of CH3COOH (0.1-0.5 M) and pre-equilibration times had decreased shear stress to ~5 N/mm2. At 55 ºC, HCl was not superior to CH3COOH in its ability to decrease epimysial shear stress. Increasing concentration of NaOH (0.01-0.05 M) and high temperature decreased shear stress to ~3 N/mm2. Lack of a shear stress decrease at 55 ºC and increased thermal denaturation temperature (66 ºC compared to 63 ºC in water), indicated that NH4OH had an epimysial stabilization effect, which was not eliminated at 55 ºC.

The Texas U-Beam standard designs were released in the 1990’s and have been used increasingly in bridges across the state since. While prototypes of the 54-in. deep prestressed concrete beam were built during the design phase, no full-scale load tests were performed. This study of the U-Beam had five goals: (i) determine the magnitude and location of stresses induced in reinforcing bars in the end region of the beam at prestress transfer, (ii) measure concrete curing temperatures in square and skewed end blocks, (iii) establish the vertical shear capacity of the standard section, (iv) evaluate interaction between behavior at prestress transfer and performance under shear-critical loads, and (v) identify design and detailing improvements and make recommendations. Eight full-scale Texas U54 prestressed concrete beams were fabricated to achieve these goals. Load testing of the first four of these beams revealed a critical weakness along the bottom flange-to-web interface of the beam. The weakness caused failures that occurred at loads well below the calculated shear capacity. Given the horizontal sliding observed, the failure mode was called horizontal shear. The next two beams were fabricated to test three modifications to the end-region design, two of which were deemed successful. The final two beam sections tested contained the recommended new standard reinforcement and concrete geometry. A method to evaluate the horizontal shear demand on and capacity of the bottom flange-to-web interface of prestressed concrete beams was developed. The calculations were formulated using the theories of beam bending and shear friction. This method was calibrated and verified using the U-Beam test data, a series of small-scale specimens, and results of shear tests in the literature. Stresses induced in reinforcing bars at prestress transfer met expectations set by existing codified equations. No modifications to the current U-Beam standard design are needed to manage these stresses. The induced stresses did not influence vertical shear behavior, and no interaction between the two is believed to exist for U-Beams. This dissertation contains the specifics of the beams tested and the data collected, and provides the details of recommended changes to the Texas U-Beam standard drawings. / text

Thesis (M.S.M.E.)--State University of New York at Binghamton, Watson School of Engineering and Applied Science, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--Michigan State University. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2006. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on Nov. 20, 2008) Includes bibliographical references (p. 96-97). Also issued in print.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2004. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 243-253). Also available on the Internet.