The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute is recognized for being a pioneer in naturalistic driving studies. These studies determine driving behavior, and its correlation to safety critical events, by equipping participant's vehicles with data acquisition systems and recording them for a period of time. The driver's habits and responses to certain scenarios and events are analyzed to determine trends and opportunities to improve overall driver safety. One of these studies installed strain gauges on the front and rear brake levers of motorcycles to record the frequency and magnitude of brake presses. The recorded data was sampled at 10 hertz and had a significant amount of noise introduced from temperature and electromagnetic interference. This thesis proposes a peak detection algorithm, written in MATLAB, that can parallel process the 40,000 trips recorded in this naturalistic driving study. This algorithm uses an iterative LOWESS regression to eliminate the offset from zero when the strain gauge is not stressed, as well as a cumulative sum and statistical concepts to separate brake activations from the rest of the noisy signal. This algorithm was verified by comparing its brake activation detection to brake activations that were manually identified through video reduction. The algorithm had difficulty in accurately identifying activations in files where the amplitude of the noise was close to the amplitude of the brake activations, but this only described 2% of the sampled data. For the rest of the files, the peak detection algorithm had an accuracy of over 90%. / Master of Science / The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute is recognized for being a pioneer in naturalistic driving studies. In these studies, participants are recorded with cameras and other sensors for a period of time. Researchers then look at this data and find the habits that tended to distract the drivers, like using their phones while driving, and other characteristics that bring insight on what causes crashes and unsafe driving behavior. One of these studies installed strain gauges on the front and rear brake levers of motorcycles to record how hard the brakes were pressed, as well as how often. The strain gauge was sampled ten times a second, and had a significant amount of variation in the signal from temperature changes and interference from other electronic systems on the bike. This thesis proposes a method, written in MATLAB, that can quickly find all the brake activations in the 40,000 trips recorded in this naturalistic driving study. This program uses an iterative LOWESS regression, cumulative sum, and other statistical concepts to determine the brake activations in the signal. This program was verified by comparing its brake activation it found to brake activations that were manually identified through video reduction. The algorithm had difficulty in accurately identifying activations in files where the peaks of the noise were close to the peaks of the brake activations, but this only described 2% of the sampled data. For the rest of the files, the program had an accuracy of over 90%.

Yes / Pantoea stewartii strain M073a is a Gram-negative bacterium isolated from a tropical waterfall. This strain exhibits quorum-sensing activity. Here, the assembly and annotation of its genome are presented. / High Impact Research Grants from the University of Malaya (UM.C/625/1/HIR/MOHE/CHAN/01, grant no. A-000001-50001 and UM-MOHE HIR Grant UM.C/625/1/HIR/MOHE/ CHAN/14/1, no. H-50001-A000027)

Blast resistance has recently become increasingly relevant for structural engineers. Blast loads are created by explosive devices that, upon detonation, create pressure loads that are much higher than most that a structure would ever experience. While there are many types of blast loads that are impossible to adequately prepare for, methods are presently being developed to mitigate these loads. This research investigates the possibility of using synthetic fiber ropes as a means of blast resistance. This is the third phase of a multi-stage research endeavor whose goal is to analyze Snapping-Cable Energy Dissipators (SCEDs) for reducing the effects of large-scale lateral loads. Finite element models of portal frames were developed using the commercial finite element program ABAQUS and dynamic models were run for varying blasts and frame systems. Blast pressures of 100, 2,000, and 4,000 psi were applied to a steel portal frame and comparisons were made between unbraced frames and frames braced with springs of different stiffnesses. Additional tests were run to examine the effects of strain rate dependent yield on the results of the models. Parallel research is being conducted on the specific material behavior of the synthetic fiber ropes so that the models developed for this research can be revised for a more accurate determination of the effects of the ropes on structural systems subjected to blast loads. / Master of Science

Yes / This is a study of the modelling and prediction of strain recovery in a polylactide. Strain recovery near the glass transition temperature is the underlying mechanism for the shape memory in an amorphous polymer. The investigation is aimed at modelling such shape memory behaviour. A PLA-based copolymer is subjected to stress–strain, stress relaxation and strain recovery experiments at large strain at 60 C just below its glass transition temperature. The material is 13% crystalline. Using published data on the mechanical properties of the crystals, finite element modelling was used to determine the effect of the crystal phase on the overall mechanical behaviour of the material, which was found to be significant. The finite element models were also used to relate the stress–strain results to the yield stress of the amorphous phase. This yield stress was found to possess strain rate dependence consistent with an Eyring process. Stress relaxation experiments were also interpreted in terms of the Eyring process, and a two-process Eyring-based model was defined that was capable of modelling strain recovery behaviour. This was essentially a model of the amorphous phase. It was shown to be capable of useful predictions of strain recovery. / Funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, grant number EP/L020572/1

Yes / This is a study of the modelling and prediction of strain recovery in a polylactide. Strain recovery near the glass transition temperature is the underlying mechanism for the shape memory in an amorphous polymer. The investigation is aimed at modelling such shape memory behaviour. A PLA-based copolymer is subjected to stress-strain, stress relaxation and strain recovery experiments at large strain at 60 °C just below its glass transition temperature. The material is 13% crystalline. Using published data on the mechanical properties of the crystals, finite element modelling was used to determine the effect of the crystal phase on the overall mechanical behaviour of the material, which was found to be significant. The finite element models were also used to relate the stress-strain results to the yield stress of the amorphous phase. This yield stress was found to possess strain rate dependence consistent with an Eyring process. Stress relaxation experiments were also interpreted in terms of the Eyring process, and a two-process Eyring-based model was defined that was capable of modelling strain recovery behaviour. This was essentially a model of the amorphous phase. It was shown to be capable of useful predictions of strain recovery. / Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, grant number EP/L020572/1. / . Not submitted within 3 months from acceptance or publication but is a Gold paper.

京都大学 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(工学) / 甲第25286号 / 工博第5245号 / 京都大学大学院工学研究科材料工学専攻 / (主査)教授 辻 伸泰, 教授 乾 晴行, 教授 安田 秀幸 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering) / Kyoto University / DGAM

This paper examines the relationship between income inequality and the homicide rate in 59 geographic areas in New York City known as Community District Tabulation Areas (CDTAs). The premise for this paper is that community members in each CDTA share similar social characteristics and therefore these areas provide a useful lens through which to analyze ecological social phenomena such as homicide. The main hypothesis for this paper is that the homicide rate in the CDTAs will vary directly with the level of income inequality within each CDTA. The outputs from several models testing this hypothesis do not support this hypothesis. The models failed to produce a result showing a relationship between income inequality and the homicide rate that is statistically significant. However, the models did produce results showing a strong relationship between a composite of several indicators of disadvantage and the homicide rate in the CDTAs. The model also produces results that show a moderate relationship between the homicide rate and the racial makeup of CDTAs along with a moderate inverse relationship between voter turnout and the homicide rate. / Master of Science / The causes behind fluctuations in violence rates has been the subject of much scholarship over the past several decades. Policymakers can use the results of these studies to design effective intervention programs. This study investigates to what extent there is a link between inequality and the homicide rate in New York City. This study uses several social theories such as social disorganization, strain theory, and collective efficacy to analyze homicide rates in 59 geographic areas throughout New York City known as Community District Tabulation Areas (CDTA). I use data from several sources to form variables that represent social phenomena in each CDTA, such as relative disadvantage, absolute disadvantage, and collective efficacy. I then explore the relationships between these variables against the homicide rate in each CDTA. This study concludes with findings on the relationships and discussion about the results.

Dual-Phase (DP) steels, part of the group of Advanced High Strength Steels (AHSS), are used by car manufactures due to its large strength to weight ratio. The high strength of the DP steel does have a negative impact on the formability during sheet metal forming and stretch forming, e.g. fractures often appear in shear cut edges during forming of blanks made of DP steel.   The main objective with this thesis is to develop a new punch for Volvo Cars that concentrates the strain to the sheared edges of a test specimen made from different types of DP steel. This is done to be able to measure and obtain maximum fracture strain during stretch forming tests in a press. The newly developed test method is called CTEST (Concentrated Trim Edge Strain Test).   The tests are performed with DP steel specimens with three different qualities of the shear cut edges; fine cut, medium cut and worn cut. DP steels tested are DP600GI, DP600UC and DP800GI from three different suppliers. 10 different types of DP steels are tested in this study with different thickness. Thickness of specimens tested are 1 mm, 1.1 mm, 1.5 mm and 2 mm and all specimens tested have a lengthwise (RD) rolling direction.   The quality of the sheared cut edge has a great impact to the formability and maximum fracture strain of the specimen. A specimen with a fine cut endures higher fracture strain than medium cut and a worn cut for all types of DP steel with different thickness. A 1 mm thick specimen endures a lower fracture strain than 1.5 mm and 2 mm specimen for all cut qualities.   Further, the impact of the orientation of the burr zone of a shear cut edge is studied. With the burr zone facing upwards from the CTEST punch the formability of the specimens is decreased compared to a burr zone facing downwards, especially for a worn cut specimen with micro cracks and imperfections in the edge surface.   ARAMIS Digital Image Correlation (DIC) system is used to analyze the specimen edges during press experiments. The ARAMIS results unveil that several small fractures appear in the sheared edges of a specimen just before the specimens split into two pieces. This phenomenon was seen for specimen with worn and medium shear cut qualities.   Finite Element (FE) simulations of the CTEST is performed in AutoForm to determine maximum values of the true strain for the three different cut qualities. The simulation in AutoForm does show a slightly higher value of the force and press depth than the value from the press test before maximum fracture strain in reached. The small fractures seen in ARAMIS just before the specimen split into two pieces cannot be seen in the simulation in AutoForm.

[pt] A magnetostricção é a propriedade dos materiais ferromagnéticos de se deformarem pela presença de um campo magnético externo. Trata-se de uma propriedade inerente ao material, que não muda com o tempo. Materiais que apresentam deformações da ordem de 10-3 são conhecidos como materiais de magnetostricção gigante (GMM). Esta dissertação de mestrado estuda a aplicação destes materiais em sensores de deslocamento onde não há contacto entre o elemento cursor (um ímã) e o elemento sensor (GMM). O princípio de funcionamento consiste em aplicar um gradiente de campo magnético ao GMM que está fixo. O gradiente de campo magnético é gerado por um ímã preso ao componente ou estrutura na qual se quer medir o deslocamento. As variações no campo magnético no material GMM originados pelo deslocamento do ímã (estrutura), provocam uma deformação no GMM, que é detectada com extensômetros do tipo Strain Gauge ou Redes de Bragg. Neste trabalho apresenta-se a caracterização da deformação de GMM em relação a um campo constante aplicado, e análises do seu comportamento para diferentes geometrias. Efeitos de pressão, polarização com um segundo ímã, e diferentes gradientes de campo magnético são também estudados. É observado um comportamento local para a deformação quando a medida é realizada em diferentes regiões do GMM. Os resultados obtidos permitiram a medição de deslocamentos de alguns micra estando o elemento sensor a até 10 mm de distância do elemento cursor. / [en] Magnetostriction is a property of ferromagnetic materials to deform in the presence of a magnetic field. Magnetostriction is an inherent property of magnetic materials, which is unchangeable with time. Materials exhibiting strains in the order of 10-3 are known as giant magnetostrictive materials (GMM).In this dissertation we study the application of these materials in displacement sensors where there is not contact between the cursor element (magnet) and sensor element (GMM). Its principle of operation consists of applying a magnetic field gradient to a GMM located at a fixed position. The magnetic field gradient is produced by a magnet attached to the component or structure in which the displacement will be measured.The variation on the magnetic field in the GMM position originated from the displacement of the magnet, results in a strain in the GMM that can be detected with a Strain Gauge or Bragg Grating extensometers. In this work is presented the characterization of the strain on GMM cuboids against a constant magnetic field and the analysis of its behavior for different geometries. Effects of pressure, polarization with a second magnet, and different gradients of magnetic field are also studied. It is observed a local behavior for strains when it is measured in different regions of GMM cuboid. The results obtained allow us to measure displacements of about few micra when the sensor is at a distance of 10 mm from the cursor element.

O sucesso a longo prazo dos implantes tem como fatores críticos a incidência e a transferência de estresses mecânicos sobre a prótese, intermediários, implantes e destes para o tecido ósseo adjacente, devendo cada parte deste sistema ser submetido somente a forças às quais estão aptos a receber. A proposta deste trabalho foi avaliar a deformação gerada nos intermediários e na região óssea peri-implantar diante da aplicação de cargas funcionais e parafuncionais em prótese parcial fixa de três elementos parafusadas sobre dois implantes. Para este trabalho, foi utilizado um modelo experimental homogêneo à base de poliuretano, simulando o tecido ósseo, com dois implantes do tipo hexágono externo paralelos que receberam intermediários do tipo multi-unit. Na superfície de cada intermediário foram instalados três sensores (strain gauges), capazes de medir a microdeformação dispostos de maneira eqüidistante entre si. Na região óssea simulada, foram instalados quatro sensores para cada implante, posicionados nas faces mesial, distal, vestibular e lingual. A aplicação da carga estática de 300N foi realizada em uma máquina de ensaios universais. As leituras foram realizadas em quatorze momentos para todos os corpos de prova, variando o direcionamento da carga (axial e inclinada à 30 graus) e simulando ainda sete diferentes pontos de aplicação de carga (1- pilar mesial, 2 - pôntico, 3- pilar distal, 4- simultaneamente no pilar mesial, pontico e pilar distal, 5- no pilar mesial e distal, sem contato no pôntico, 6- no pilar mesial e no pôntico, 7- no pilar distal e no pôntico). Os resultados mostraram que a direção da carga interferiu na magnitude e distribuição da microdeformação, de forma que, no osso simulado, os valores encontrados na carga axial se encontraram dentro da tolerância fisiológica independente do local de aplicação de carga. Observou-se uma distribuição mais uniforme quando a carga foi aplicada simultaneamente nos pilres mesial, pôntico e pilar distal. Por outro lado, valores de microdeformação acima do limite de tolerância foram observados para a carga inclinada e nesta situação o local de aplicação teve influência na microdeformação, com valores extremamente elevados e sem uniformidade na distribuição, devendo o carregamento oblíquo ser evitado. / Long-term success with implants has some critical factors such as incidence and transmission of mechanical stress to the prosthesis, abutments, and implants to the adjacent bone tissue. Each part of the system should be subjected to loads under its strength limit. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate abutment and peri-implant bone tissue strains during functional and parafunctional loads application in a three-unit screw-retained fixed prosthesis supported by two implants. In order to simulate the bone tissue, an experimental model made of homogeneous polyurethane was used wherein two external hexagon implants were placed parallel to each other, provided with multi-unit abutments. On the surface of each abutment three sensors (strain gauges) were positioned equidistant to each other to measure microstrains. The simulated bone around each implant received four strain gauges, positioned on the mesial, distal, buccal and lingual aspects. The tests were performed applying a 300N static load on a universal testing machine. The readings were made at fourteen moments for each specimen, changing load direction (axial and 30 degrees oblique) and also simulating seven different points of load application (1- mesial abutment, 2- pontic, 3- distal abutment, 4- simultaneously on the mesial abutment, pontic and distal abutment, 5- mesial and distal abutment (no pontic contact), 6- mesial abumtent and pontic, 7- distal abutment and pontic. The results showed that the load direction significantly influenced the magnitude and distribution of microstrains, so that for the simulated bone, the values found during axial load were within the physiological threshold independent of the point of load application; however, a more uniform distribution was observed when force was applied simultaneously on the mesial abutment, pontic and distal abutment. Furthermore, microstrain values above the tolerance limits were observed during oblique load, and for this condition, the point of load application significantly influenced the microstrains, with extremely high values and non-uniform distribution for all load conditions tested. Therefore, oblique loading must be avoided.