Fatigue crack growth in ±-Zirconium phosphate/epoxy nanocomposites was investigated. A new fatigue testing technique was implemented for miniature samples. Two different methods “strength of materials and Rayleigh-Ritz - were used in determining the bending stress. The fatigue stress and fatigue life of different nanocomposite specimens were plotted in a traditional stress-life (S-N) curve. It was inferred from the S-N plot that the values obtained from both the methods compare well. The experimental results showed that fatigue life of filled epoxy nanocomposite is more than that of the unfilled epoxy composite. A model for bending stresses, ultimate strength and the number of cycles to failure was obtained to predict a component service life without conducting elaborate tests. Scanning electron examination of the fractured surfaces revealed that the crack takes a tortuous path during its propagation course, indicating crack blunting and crack deflection roles of ZrP and CSR nanofillers, which consequently improve the fracture resistance. In case of the M-ZrP-epoxy systems, delamination of ZrP platelets from surrounding epoxy matrix was proposed as the reason behind crack growth. The improved fracture resistance of these nanocomposites was attributed to the delamination of ZrP platelets and deflection of crack direction. The superior behavior of CSR-ZrP-epoxy composites was attributed to the cavitation process and void coalescence due to CSR particles delamination.

Fatigue crack growth in ±-Zirconium phosphate/epoxy nanocomposites was investigated. A new fatigue testing technique was implemented for miniature samples. Two different methods “strength of materials and Rayleigh-Ritz - were used in determining the bending stress. The fatigue stress and fatigue life of different nanocomposite specimens were plotted in a traditional stress-life (S-N) curve. It was inferred from the S-N plot that the values obtained from both the methods compare well. The experimental results showed that fatigue life of filled epoxy nanocomposite is more than that of the unfilled epoxy composite. A model for bending stresses, ultimate strength and the number of cycles to failure was obtained to predict a component service life without conducting elaborate tests. Scanning electron examination of the fractured surfaces revealed that the crack takes a tortuous path during its propagation course, indicating crack blunting and crack deflection roles of ZrP and CSR nanofillers, which consequently improve the fracture resistance. In case of the M-ZrP-epoxy systems, delamination of ZrP platelets from surrounding epoxy matrix was proposed as the reason behind crack growth. The improved fracture resistance of these nanocomposites was attributed to the delamination of ZrP platelets and deflection of crack direction. The superior behavior of CSR-ZrP-epoxy composites was attributed to the cavitation process and void coalescence due to CSR particles delamination.

This diploma thesis deals with the lifestyle of lower secondary level teachers at the basic schools in Příbram. The theoretical part, which provides the grounding for the empirical part, describes the key term of lifestyle and the selected factors which have an essential impact on the choice of lifestyle considering the influences which directly or indirectly impact the choice. The topic is a very broad one therefore this thesis focuses on the most important aspects which are the subjective and objective agents impacting lifestyle positively or negatively. The empirical part deals with the research which was conducted via a questionnaire which was constructed to obtain the information concerning the lifestyle of teachers of lower secondary level schools in Příbram. The data was then statistically evaluated. The results were compared to the current knowledge in the field. The results show that teachers are threatened by insufficient physical exercise. 66 % or the respondents stated that they do not devote any time to physical exercise, also a high percentage of the respondents stated they can recognize some signs of being stressed. On the other hand, a positive finding was the fact that 76 % of teachers eat four to five times a day and 77 % of the respondents eat fruit and vegetables. Another positive finding was the fact that over half of the respondents do not smoke and 73 % stated there are content in their current job.

Orientador: Prof. Dr. João Batista de Aguiar / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal do ABC, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia Mecânica, 2014. / O objetivo desta dissertação consiste em desenvolver uma metodologia para o cálculo da vida em fadiga de um chassi de caminhão comercial leve usando o Método dos Elementos Finitos (MEF). Um estudo de caso foi desenvolvido utilizando um modelo simplificado da geometria real de um chassi de caminhão comercial leve de um fabricante nacional. A geometria foi discretizada por meio de elementos de vigas. O conteúdo de frequências do sinal de excitação foi comparado às frequências naturais da estrutura, revelando a possibilidade de modos naturais serem ativados. Baseado neste fato, uma análise linear dinâmica de tensões foi conduzida. Numa etapa inicial, vários coeficientes de amortecimento, numa faixa recomendada pela literatura, foram avaliados, e um coeficiente foi adotado para todas as análises subsequentes. O impacto do número de modos naturais de vibrar na reposta da análise de tensões por superposição modal também foi avaliado, e os coeficientes de influência modal foram calculados. O elemento mais crítico da estrutura foi identificado com base na Máxima Tensão Principal Absoluta e nos diagramas de esforços internos. Os efeitos de concentrações de tensões na seção crítica também foram contabilizados. O método de contagem de ciclos "contagem de ciclos de chuva" (Rainflow) foi aplicado ao histórico de tensões da seção crítica para reduzir o sinal á um conjunto de ciclos de amplitude constante. A vida útil da seção crítica foi então estimada por meio dos métodos Stress-Life e Strain-Life associados à teoria de acúmulo de dano de Palmgreen-Miner. Rotinas em MatLab® foram escritas para automatizar os cálculos das equações não-lineares desta etapa. / The aim of this dissertation is to develop a methodology to evaluate the fatigue life of a comercial truck chassis utilizing the Finite Element Method (FEM). A case study has been conducted utilizing a simplified model of an actual light truck chassis used by a local trucks manufacturer. The geometry has been discretized using beam elements. The frequency content of the excitation signal has been compared to the natural vibration modes frequencies of the structure, uncovering the possibility of activating natural modes. Based on this fact, a time domain dynamic stress analysis has been performed. Several Rayleigh damping coefficients have been selected from the literature recommended range, and its effect on the response of the structure have been evaluated. The impact of the number of extracted normal modes on the modal superposition stress analysis has also been assessed and the corresponding modal participation factors have been calculated. The most critical section has been identified with the aid of internal forces free body diagrams and based on the maximum absolute principal stresses. The effect of stress concentration on the critical section has also been accounted for. The Rainflow cycle counting method has been used to reduce the complex stress history to a set of cycles of constant amplitude. The life at the critical section has been calculated using the Stress Life and Strain Life methods with mean stress correction coupled to the Palmgreen-Miner damage summation technique. The stress calculation has been accomplished through the use of the commercial code Abaqus Student®, and all subsequent calculations have been carried-out utilizing routines written in MatLab®.

Orientador: Prof. Dr. Wesley Góis / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal do ABC, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia Mecânica, 2015. / O objetivo deste trabalho é realizar uma revisão sobre a metodologia clássica de previsão de falha por fadiga, Método S-N (Método Vida sob Tensão) para o desenvolvimento de uma ferramenta computacional com fins acadêmicos, cujo propósito é auxiliar docentes e discentes durante o ensino dessa metodologia em disciplinas da graduação. O algoritmo foi implementado em linguagem MatLab® e utiliza como dados de entrada a variação temporal do tensor de tensões para determinada região de um componente estrutural, bem como suas propriedades mecânicas. Durante todo processo interativo, a ferramenta apresenta em forma de "passo-a-passo" os fundamentos teóricos de previsão de falha por fadiga (Teoria da Elasticidade, Equação de Basquin, Critérios de Falha, Contagem de Ciclos, Regra de Dano Acumulativo, etc.). Essa é a grande vantagem do programa, pois proporciona dinamicamente a base teórica para a sua utilização, ao contrário de ferramentas puramente comerciais, que normalmente já pressupõem que o usuário tenha o conhecimento teórico para sua utilização. Por fim, como forma de validação da ferramenta, foram simulados, com auxílio da ferramenta desenvolvida neste trabalho, exercícios clássicos da literatura. alternativa, que mais recentemente vem sendo explorada, como solução para as limitações da formulação clássica do Método dos Elementos Finitos (MEF) ¿ de modo a estudar o impacto da mesma numa possível redução dos problemas de instabilidade numérica previamente citada. O algoritmo desenvolvido ao longo do trabalho é baseado no algoritmo apresentado em SIGMUND (2001), assim como alguns exemplos utilizados como referência. Por fim, exemplos numéricos apresentados ao longo do trabalho comprovam a redução parcial, ou em certos casos, completa do problema de instabilidade de tabuleiro de xadrez, demonstrando a viabilidade da utilização do MEFG como uma alternativa para obtenção da distribuição ótima de material no interior do domínio de projeto da estrutura. / The objective of this paper is to perform a revision of the classical methodology for fatigue life prediction, the Stress-Life Approach, to proceed with the development of a computational tool for academic purposes, for the use of masters and scholars during the teaching of this methodology. The algorithm was developed in Matlab® and it uses as input the temporal variation of stress tensor for a region of a structural component and its mechanical properties. During all of the interactive process, the tool shows "step-by-step" all the theoretical fundaments related to the methodology (Elasticity Theory, Basquin¿s Equation, Failure Criteria, Cycle Counting Methods, Palmgren-Miner¿s Linear Damage Rule, etc.). This is the main advantage of the software, since it offers dynamically the theoretical concepts to be used, unlike purely commercial tools, which normally consider that the users have a previous knowledge. Finally, the validation step of the tool considers the resolution of classical exercises.

No description available.

The suspension system in vehicles supports the vehicle's road stability and ride quality by scaling down the vibration responses resulting from road surface's roughness. This research focuses on fatigue life analysis of coil spring component. Static linear analysis is conducted on the 3D model of helical coil spring to investigate deformation and stress responses. Modal analysis evaluates the characteristics of vibration, i.e. natural resonance frequencies and corresponding mode shapes. The stress frequency response is generated after performing the harmonic analysis on the spring. Dynamics and performance of spring are analyzed over practical frequency range of 0 Hz to 200 Hz. Fatigue life estimation of vehicle suspension spring is performed using the stress data obtained from frequency response analysis. The stress-life (S-N) approach is utilized for fatigue life assessment of suspension spring. This durability analysis technique can be utilized in the automotive industry to improve reliability of vehicles. The outcome of this research can contribute in analysis and design of modern smart vehicles. / Master of Science / The suspension system in vehicles supports the vehicle's road stability and ride quality by scaling down the vibration responses resulting from road surface's roughness. This research focuses on the fatigue life analysis of suspension spring component. Initial phase of analysis is conducted to investigate the deformation and stress in 3D model of spring. Dynamics and performance of spring are analyzed over applicable frequency range of 0 Hz to 200 Hz. Fatigue life of vehicle suspension spring is evaluated using stress data from frequency response analysis. This durability analysis technique can be utilized in the automotive industry to improve reliability of vehicles. The outcome of this research can contribute in analysis and design of modern smart vehicles.

No description available.

This study addresses the fatigue life of the head–to–skirt welds of tall distillation columns. Fatigue tests were done on two types of weld geometries which approximate the head–toskirt configurations. From the fatigue tests it was determined that the fatigue life of the experimental samples can be substantially improved by applying weld build–up between the head and the skirt. The expected fatigue life of the test samples was determined by way of calculation employing the so called Nominal–Stress–Approach, the Effective–Notch–Stress–Approach and the Stress–Life–Approach. For both the Nominal–Stress–Approach and the Effective–Notch–Stress–Approach the predicted fatigue life was found to be overly conservative compared to the experimental results. The Stress–Life–Approach predicted the fatigue life to within a factor of 1.3 for both the geometries under investigation when displacements due to welding are taken into account. If displacements due to welding is omitted this factor is increased, for the geometry without weld build–up, to 2. For the geometry with weld build–up the factor remains 1.3. / Thesis (M.Ing. (Mechanical Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

This study addresses the fatigue life of the head–to–skirt welds of tall distillation columns. Fatigue tests were done on two types of weld geometries which approximate the head–toskirt configurations. From the fatigue tests it was determined that the fatigue life of the experimental samples can be substantially improved by applying weld build–up between the head and the skirt. The expected fatigue life of the test samples was determined by way of calculation employing the so called Nominal–Stress–Approach, the Effective–Notch–Stress–Approach and the Stress–Life–Approach. For both the Nominal–Stress–Approach and the Effective–Notch–Stress–Approach the predicted fatigue life was found to be overly conservative compared to the experimental results. The Stress–Life–Approach predicted the fatigue life to within a factor of 1.3 for both the geometries under investigation when displacements due to welding are taken into account. If displacements due to welding is omitted this factor is increased, for the geometry without weld build–up, to 2. For the geometry with weld build–up the factor remains 1.3. / Thesis (M.Ing. (Mechanical Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.