No / A novel method for manufacturing granules with a large particle at their core, referred to as seeded granules, is presented. As an example, calcium carbonate powders (Durcal) of different grades are used as primary particles and polyethylene glycol (PEG) as liquid binder in high shear granulators of different scales (Cyclomix, manufactured by Hosokawa Micron B.V., The Netherlands). The conditions giving rise to seeded granulations are specified in the form of an operational regime map. It is found that the seeded structure is strongly dependent on the impeller speed and the primary particles size distribution. It is shown that a Stokes number of around 0.1 represents the optimal dynamic conditions in the given example for producing seeded granules, regardless of the scale of the granulator.

No / The effect of the operating conditions of three continuous high shear granulators on the internal structure and strength of granules has been investigated and the possibility of seeded granulation has been explored. In a recently concluded programme of research on the scale-up of a high shear granulator, Cyclomix (manufactured by Hosokawa Micron B.V., The Netherlands), a novel method of granulation called seeded granulation was introduced, where each granule contained, at its core, a large particle from the upper tail end of the feed particle size distribution. Seeded granulation is particularly useful for process control of continuous granulators as there is the potential to control granulation by the flow rate of the seed particles. Hence, the performance of three different types of continuous granulators in terms of granule strength and structure has been evaluated here; these are Extrudomix, Modulomix (manufactured by Hosokawa Micron, UK and The Netherlands, respectively) and the Nica M6 Turbine continuous granulator (manufactured by GEA, UK). Calcium carbonate (Durcal 65) powder was granulated using an aqueous solution of polyethylene glycol (PEG) as binder in the same ratio as used previously in our batch granulation, to allow comparison between the continuous and batch processes. The crushing strength was characterised by quasi-static side crushing between two platens using a mechanical testing machine. The internal structure and morphology were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy and the extent of seeding quantified. Granules produced in all the three continuous granulators were significantly weaker than those of the batch granulator tested previously. Among the continuous granulators only the Modulomix granulator produced some seeded granules. It is considered that longer residence time is necessary to produce seeded granules.

No / Rainwater harvesting (RWH) can be used to reduce the demand for potable mains water. At the single-building scale, previous research has focused on water-saving potential, while financial assessment has either been omitted or considered in an ad hoc manner. This paper reports on the application of a more rigorous financial analysis of domestic RWH systems than had been conducted previously. Whole life costing was selected as the most appropriate financial assessment technique. A total of 3840 domestic system configurations were assessed at a daily time step, taking into account various stakeholder perspectives and future cost scenarios. In each case, it was found that harvesting rainwater was significantly less cost effective than relying solely on mains-only water. The domestic RWH systems generally resulted in financial losses approximately equal to their capital costs. Without significant financial support, domestic RWH is unlikely to be cost effective for all reasonably foreseeable scenarios.

No / In this paper, we study Bézier surfaces in View the MathML source three-dimensional Minkowski space. In particular, we focus on timelike and spacelike cases for Bézier surfaces. We also deal with the Plateau¿Bézier problem in View the MathML source, obtaining conditions over the control net to be extremal of the Dirichlet function for both timelike and spacelike Bézier surfaces. Moreover, we provide interesting examples showing the behavior of the Plateau¿Bézier problem in View the MathML source and illustrating the relationship between it and the corresponding Plateau¿Bézier problem in the Euclidean space R3.

No / Biomass feedstock is a viable alternative to finite fossil fuel resources to provide many of the same—plus others that petrochemicals cannot—chemical building blocks required to fabricate durable and high-performance materials. We demonstrate here for the first time a new generation of synthesized elastomers, namely bio-based engineering elastomers (BEE). These are of particular significance because they are synthesized from monomers derived from biomass, by routes which are suitable for large scale production, and they exhibit thermo-mechanical properties at least equivalent to current commercial petrochemical-derived elastomers. Bio-based monomers in large scale production, such as sebacic acid, itaconic acid, succinate acid, 1,3-propanediol, and 1,4 butanediol are chosen to generate the first synthetic BEE matrix through melting polycondensation—a comparatively simple reaction scheme offering good control and the potential for low cost, large-scale production. A novel linear BEE, an almost non-crystalline copolyester elastomer with low glass transition temperature (Tg) containing double bonds is designed and synthesized using multiple monomers (to help suppress crystallization). Silica nanoparticles are then introduced into the BEE matrix to achieve significant strengthening and improved environmental stability. Chemical crosslinks formed by peroxide and the pendant double bonds in the copolyester macromolecules endow the BEE with both the necessary high elasticity and required environmental stability. The BEE nanocomposites obtained exhibit excellent thermomechanical properties, such as an ultimate tensile strength of 20 MPa.

Yes / A simple unbonded-type shear strengthening technique for reinforced concrete beams using wire rope units is presented. Ten two-span reinforced concrete T-beams externally strengthened with wire rope units and an unstrengthened control beam were tested to failure, to explore the significance and shortcomings of the developed unbonded-type shear strengthening technique. The main parameters investigated were the type, amount and prestressing force of wire rope units. All beams tested failed, owing to significant diagonal cracks within the interior shear span. However, beams strengthened with closed type wire rope units exhibited more ductile failure than the unstrengthened, control beam or those strengthened with U-type wire rope units. The diagonal cracking load and ultimate shear capacity of beams with closed-type were linearly increased with the increase of vertical confinement stresses in concrete owing to the prestressing force in wire rope units, while those of beams with U-type were minimally influenced. It was also observed that average stresses in closed-type wire ropes crossing diagonal cracks at ultimate strength of beams tested were much higher than those in U-type wire ropes, showing better utilization in the former case. The shear capacity of beams with closed-type wire rope units is conservatively predicted using the equations of ACI 318-05, modified to account for the external wire rope units. A mechanism analysis based on the upper bound approach of the plasticity theory is also developed to assess the load capacity of beams tested. The predictions by the mechanism analysis for beams with closed-type wire rope units are in good agreement with test results and showed a coefficient of variation slightly less than the modified ACI 318-05 equations. However, the modified ACI 318-05 equations are more conservative and simpler to use for design purposes.

Yes / A mechanism analysis is developed to predict the shear capacity of reinforced concrete corbels. Based on shear failure observed in experimental tests, kinematically admissible failure mechanisms are idealised as an assemblage of two rigid blocks separated by a failure plane of displacement discontinuity. Shear capacity predictions obtained from the developed mechanism analysis are in better agreement with corbel test results of a comprehensive database compiled from the available literature than other existing models for corbels. The developed mechanism model shows that the shear capacity of corbels generally decreases with the increase of shear span-to-depth ratio, increases with the increase of main longitudinal reinforcement up to a certain limit beyond which it remains constant, and decreases with the increase of horizontal applied loads. It also demonstrates that the smaller the shear span-to-overall depth ratio of corbels, the more effective the horizontal shear reinforcement.

No / Most codes of practice, such as EC2 and ACI 318-05, recommend the use of strut-and-tie models for the design of reinforced concrete deep beams. However, studies on the validity of the strut-and-tie models for continuous deep beams are rare. This paper evaluates the strut-and-tie model specified by ACI 318-05 and mechanism analysis of the plasticity theory in predicting the load capacity of 75 reinforced concrete continuous deep beams tested in the literature. The influence of such main parameters as compressive strength of concrete, shear span-to-overall depth ratio, main longitudinal bottom reinforcement, and shear reinforcement on the load capacity is also investigated using both methods and experimental results. Experimental results were closer to the predictions obtained from the mechanism analysis than the strut-and-tie model. The strut-and-tie model highly overestimated the load capacity of continuous deep beams without shear reinforcement.

No / This paper focuses on the metamodel-based collaborative optimization (CO). The objective is to improve the computational efficiency of CO in order to handle multidisciplinary design optimization problems utilising high fidelity models. To address these issues, two levels of metamodel building techniques are proposed: metamodels in the disciplinary optimization are based on multi-fidelity modelling (the interaction of low and high fidelity models) and for the system level optimization a combination of a global metamodel based on the moving least squares method and trust region strategy is introduced. The proposed method is demonstrated on a continuous fiber-reinforced composite beam test problem. Results show that methods introduced in this paper provide an effective way of improving computational efficiency of CO based on high fidelity simulation models.

No / In a world of sensory overload, it is becoming increasingly important to provide environments that enable us to recover our sense of well being. Such restorative (`tranquil¿) environments need to comprise sufficient sensory stimulation to keep us engaged, whilst at the same time providing opportunity for reflection and relaxation. One essential aspect in safeguarding existing, or developing new `tranquil space¿, is understanding the optimum relationship between the soundscape and the visual composition of a location. This research represents a first step in understanding the effects of audio-visual interaction on the perception of tranquillity and identifies how the interpretation of acoustic information is an integral part of this process. By using uni and bi-modal auditory-visual stimuli in a two stage experimental strategy, it has been possible to measure the key components of the tranquillity construct. The findings of this work should be of particular interest to those charged with landscape management, such as National Park Authorities, Regional Councils, and other agencies concerned with providing and maintaining public amenity. / EPSRC, Wellcome Trust