A finite element model of a fracture test specimen is developed using the STAGS computer code (STructural Analysis of General Shells). The test specimen was an internally pressurized, aluminum cylindrical shell reinforced with two externally bonded aluminum tear straps around its circumference. The shell contained an initial, axial through-crack centered between the straps. The crack propagated slowly in the axial direction as the pressure increased above a certain value until a maximum pressure was attained, and then the crack propagated dynamically. The tear straps sufficiently toughened the shell such that the dynamic crack path bifurcated near the edges of the straps. The bifurcated crack branches ran circumferentially, parallel to the straps causing the shell wall to flap open. The STAGS analysis for the static equilibrium configurations of the fractured shell include geometric nonlinearity and elastic-plastic material behavior. The crack tip opening angle (CTOA) is used in the criterion for ductile crack growth, and the critical value of the CTOA is determined by correlating the STAGS predictions of the stable portion of the crack growth curve (internal pressure versus half crack length) to the test. With the employment of a new STAGS algorithm, the complete axial crack growth curve, including both the stable and unstable portions, through the tear strap is obtained. The complete axial crack growth curve indicates that crack growth through the strap is unlikely. STAGS models with long cracks which bifurcate at various half crack lengths are developed to assess the location of crack bifurcation. Three different stress based crack turning criteria are investigated from the axial crack growth results as a second method for assessing a location of bifurcation. The bifurcation analyses and stress based turning criteria corroborate the experimentally measured bifurcation point. A parametric study is then conducted to determine the influence of tear strap thickness and width on the location of crack bifurcation. / Master of Science

The strengthening of steel bridges using CFRP laminates has become a commonly used technique because of its numerous advantages compared to conventional repairs which involve welding or bolting of new steel plates. These structures will experience some sort of irregular cyclic loading during their lifetime and to analyze these complex loading cases, small scale testing is used to evaluate the fatigue performance between the steel substrate, adhesive layer and the CFRP laminate. In this research, double-strap joints (DSJ) were fabricated consisting of two high-modulus CFRP laminates and ASTM A36 steel plates bonded using a two-part epoxy adhesive. Two types of steel surface conditions were considered to evaluate the fatigue behavior under constant force amplitudes. Roughness on the steel substrate was achieved by ½ in (13 mm) diameter pits approximately 1/8 in (3.18 mm) deep to simulate an irregular surface. The results show that the surface condition has marginal influence on the total life of the specimens. To assess the damage accumulation in the DSJ, phenomenological methods like the nonlinear strength wearout Model (NLSW) and stiffness degradation were used. It was found that residual strength and stiffness decreased in a non-linear fashion. A non-linear model was used that agrees well with the experimental results and can be used to predict the residual strength of the specimens under variable amplitude fatigue (VAF). / Master of Science / With an aging and deteriorating infrastructure potentially being subjected to heavier loads than initially designed for, bridge engineers are increasingly looking for innovative, yet cost-effective solutions for repairing and maintaining the existing bridge inventory with sufficient capacity to carry legal loads. One alternative is to enhance the flexural strength of deteriorated steel members using carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRP). This research project will investigate whether the use of CFRP retrofits is feasible for fatigue strengthening. The research will serve as insight to help guide bridge engineers or researchers on when and where the use of CFRP retrofits is suitable for the strengthening of steel bridges.

Strap is a DNA damage responsive p53 cofactor, reflecting its control by the DNA damage signalling pathway. This study identified Strap at the mitochondria where it is damage regulated and can augment p53-dependent cytochrome c release leading to apoptosis. Moreover, p53 and Strap facilitate each other’s localisation from the mitochondria to the nucleus during the DNA damage response. Two ATM/ATR phosphorylation consensus sites in Strap were identified by mass spectrometry and phosphorylation of all the ATM/ATR consensus sites resulted in mitochondrial localisation of Strap during DNA damage. Targeting Strap to the mitochondria depletes cellular ATP when cells favour energy production through oxidative phosphorylation and sensitises cells to p53-dependent damage-induced apoptosis. These results thus imply that Strap co-ordinates different arms of the p53 response, and might be responsible for integrating its mitochondrial and nuclear functions.

This thesis looks into current requirements of having fire extinguisher in a car in both the Czech Republic and other countries. At first, there is an evaluation of current ways of mounting fire extinguishers in cars, as well as evaluation of various requirements concering safety and ergonomy of mounting fire extinguisher in a car and also what are the hazards of having unattached fire extihnguisher in the passenger compartment. The objective of this thesis is to desing and test a fire extinguisher holder which would fullfil these requirements and which will not require changes in the body of the vehicle. The final part of this thesis deals with evaluating of possibilities of mounting this holder into several types of vehicles.

Carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRP), which can be used to strengthen and repair damaged steel structures, have gained popularity in recent years. On the one hand, CFRP has demonstrated substantial advantages over conventional reinforcing techniques like welding and bolting, such as light weight, high strength, and corrosion resistance. Additionally, the CFRP application process is relatively easy, rapid, and labor-intensive. On the other hand, failure is more likely to happen at the bond interface due to the high strength characteristics of steel and CFRP. Thus, studying the bond behavior and failure mechanism of CFRP strengthened steel structures as well as the variables that are crucial to the bond quality. Prior to implementing these elements in an actual construction, it is necessary to thoroughly study the factors affecting this bond strength. Despite the fact that some theoretical predictive modeling for the strength between steel/CFRP joints under various loading situations has been published, in this work, by using finite element modelling, one may compute the failure loads and effective length of the steel/CFRP specimens quickly, simply and accurately. Additionally, factors affecting these parameters are also investigated in this study. / Master of Science / Structural Steel deteriorates over time. Due to this, engineers are constantly on the look-out for cheap and easy ways to repair and maintain these structures. One of the methods is the use of carbon fibred polymer or CFRP. In the literature, it has been frequently documented that CFRPs can make existing structures stronger. Additionally, CFRP has the advantages of not corroding and prevents the structure from becoming significantly heavier. Due to this high strength of CFRP, the failure occurs at the steel-CFRP interface and thus this bond and the factors affecting this bond needs to be studied. One way to do this is experimental testing and another way is finite element modelling which can give you data that is harder to get using experimental testing. Thus, this study focuses on finite element modelling of these joints and how it can be used for studying these joints.

<p>En undersökning om möjligheterna att använda återandvändningsbara pallband och de ekonomiska förutsättningarna för detta. En genomsökning av vad som finns på marknaden. Beräkning av de krafter som enhetslasten kan utsätta pallbanden för. Utveckling av egna förslag till återanvändningsbart pallband med snabbspänne och bandning på tre sidor. En översikt av de positiva och negativa effekter som blir vid ett byte från dagens bandning med PP-band till ett återanvändningsbart pallband</p> / <p>An investigation of the possibility to use reusable strapping and the economic conditions for this. Going trough what exist on the market. Calculation of the forces that the unit load can expose the strapping for. Developing of own suggestions for reusable strapping with quick buckle and strapping on three sides. A short look at the positive and negative effects that comes from a change from today’s strapping with PP-strap to a reusable strapping.</p>

En undersökning om möjligheterna att använda återandvändningsbara pallband och de ekonomiska förutsättningarna för detta. En genomsökning av vad som finns på marknaden. Beräkning av de krafter som enhetslasten kan utsätta pallbanden för. Utveckling av egna förslag till återanvändningsbart pallband med snabbspänne och bandning på tre sidor. En översikt av de positiva och negativa effekter som blir vid ett byte från dagens bandning med PP-band till ett återanvändningsbart pallband / An investigation of the possibility to use reusable strapping and the economic conditions for this. Going trough what exist on the market. Calculation of the forces that the unit load can expose the strapping for. Developing of own suggestions for reusable strapping with quick buckle and strapping on three sides. A short look at the positive and negative effects that comes from a change from today’s strapping with PP-strap to a reusable strapping.

ITC/USA 2008 Conference Proceedings / The Forty-Fourth Annual International Telemetering Conference and Technical Exhibition / October 27-30, 2008 / Town and Country Resort & Convention Center, San Diego, California / The U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) is exploring technologies to provide low-cost precision fires, applicable across both direct and indirect fire weapon systems. One of these applications involves a forward observer (FO) designating the target with a laser spot and a seeker on-board the munition detecting the reflected energy to allow terminal guidance. This approach, referred to as semi-active laser (SAL) guidance, has been utilized on numerous air-delivered munitions to include bombs, missiles and projectiles. However, the cost of these systems, driven by high quality optics, high sensitivity detectors and specialized electronics, has hampered their migration into gun-fired munitions such as mortars, artillery and grenades. To explore, develop and demonstrate minimal cost solutions, ARL invested in an Army Technical Objective (ATO) called Smaller, Lighter, Cheaper Munition Components (SLCMC). Specifically, SAL seeker hardware, predicated upon commercial components (COTS) and mass production techniques, is being prototyped for use with gun launched projectiles and laser target designators. The seeker system is comprised of several printed circuit board boards, a microprocessor, a quad-photo detector and, a molded optical lens unit. This seeker is designed to rapidly update the projectile boresight angle, interface with other strap-down sensors, and feed data into an on-board guidance, navigation & control (G,N&C) system to allow for projectile maneuvers. The seeker design and basic characteristics are discussed and presented through-out the paper and presentation.

The strap assembly serves to fix the ventilation duct. The used material is a ferritic stainless steel 1.4510 (DIN 17041) of unusual thickness 1.27 mm. As a production method from possible variations with regard to the production run 120000 pcs a year was selected the technology of shearing and bending. On the basis of structural calculations the tools were designed and the equipment chosen. The work includes drawings of selected parts of tools and complete sets. The cutting takes place in a fully automated line, the bending is controlled by employee. Costs were counted by economic calculations CZK 8.12 per part.

This article focuses on the distribution of backpack pressure on human body. We have noticed two interesting situations: whether the length of different backpack shoulder straps will change the pressure distribution of the backpack on the human body and whether different positions of the backpack load will change the pressure distribution of the backpack on the human body. To find the answer, we designed a backpack pressure detection system to collect data and use engineering software to analyse the data.We got the range that best fits the human body and the healthiest backpack: when the distance from the top of the backpack to the shoulder is about 1/5 of the length of the shoulder and the weight of the backpack is at the bottom of the backpack. At this time, the force of the three parts of the human body (shoulders, back) is the most uniform and relatively minimal. If the user wants to minimize the pressure on the shoulder, the shoulder strap of the backpack should be as short as possible. If the user only wants the pressure on the back to be minimal, the weight in the backpack is closer to the back, which is better for the back.