In this study, the material utilization efficiency in terms of cutting yield for two furniture frame models from a local upholstery company was evaluated using computer simulation software with optimization capacity. Effects of full panel size of wood-based composites, furniture frame number, and frame part shape and size on cutting yield were investigated. Simulation results indicate that the cutting yield is affected by full panel sizes and number of frames cut. Curve-shaped parts and small size parts can lower the material cutting yield. The overall material cutting yield obtained with simulation software can reach the range from 80 to 84%, which was higher than the current yield of 79.80% from the company. Optimum cutting yield of 84% can be achieved when 40 frames were produced with 4.5 by 8 feet panel.

Theoretical studies of pi-pi interactions on several dimers of curved polycyclic aromatic systems have been carried out. In the first part, dispersion corrected density functional theory methods (DC-DFT) were used to evaluate the basis set superposition errors (BSSE) in dispersion interactions of the corannulene dimer, and the accuracy of the calculations using DC-DFT methods was compared with high level benchmark calculations. In these calculations, Grimme’s B97D DC-DFT method provided reasonably accurate results with the benchmark calculations. In addition, BSSE obtained with the B97D method along with cc-pVQZ basis set was negligible. Furthermore, a series of calculations were carried out to obtain the pi-pi interaction energy and most stable conformation for the sumanene dimer system. In these calculations, Grimme’s B97D method was used. The potential energy minimum of the sumanene dimer was determined as the concave-convex stacked arrangement with one monomer unit rotated to 60°. The binding energy of the dimer was found to be 19.34 kcal/mol with a 3.72 angstrom distance between two monomer units. Dimers of three different heterosumanenes along with the parent sumanene were also studied. In this set of calculations, two different concave-convex dimer motifs were chosen, eclipsed and staggered (60° rotated). For all the heterosumanenes, as well as the parent sumanene, the staggered conformation is the most stable geometry. The parent sumanene had the highest binding energy. The –NH substituted sumanene produced the second highest binding energy, while the –O analog was the weakest bonded dimer. Finally, dispersion calculations were carried out for the planar aromatic compound of triphenylene. The pi-system of the dimer was distorted by rotating one monomer unit around the principle axis and parallel displacing one monomer unit relative to the other one. Among the rotational dimers, the 39° rotated dimer was the minimum energy conformation. Interaction energy of that dimer was 14.42 kcal/mol with 3.40 angstrom separation between monomers at the B97D/cc-pVQZ level. The parallel displaced minimum energy dimer has a binding energy about 1.0 kcal/mol smaller than the rotational minimum energy geometry.

No description available.

A set of equations describing the motion of a naturally curved and twisted slender elastic rod is determined in this thesis. In particular, a study of the vibration of a helical spring is made, and the natural frequencies from the theory presented are compared with those from a simpler theory. Comparison of the two theories shows that the simpler theory is valid for most springs. The simpler theory is then used to show how the natural frequencies for a helical spring can be obtained when the spring is subjected to any boundary conditions. Finally, an analytical and experimental study of the vibration of a helical spring clamped at both ends is made in order to investigate the validity of the theory presented. / Thesis / Master of Engineering (MEngr)

No description available.

No description available.

This thesis considered the design of new and improved foldcore sandwich panels suitable for high-performance energy absorption applications. This was achieved by utilising origami geometry design techniques to alter foldcore structures such that they possessed different mechanical behaviours and failure modes. The major findings of this thesis were in three areas as follows. First, a modified planar foldcore geometry was developed by introducing sub-folds into a standard foldcore pattern. The new geometry, deemed the indented foldcore, successfully triggered a high-order failure mode known as a travelling hinge line failure mode. This was found to have a much higher energy absorption than the plate buckling failure mode seen in an unmodified foldcore structure. A comprehensive numerical, theoretical, and experimental analysis was conducted on the indented core, which included the development of a new foldcore prototyping method that utilised 3D printed moulds. It was shown that compared to available commercial honeycomb cores, the indented foldcore had an improved uniformity of energy absorption, but weaker overall peak and crushing stresses. Second, rigid origami design principles were used to develop extended foldcore geometries. New parametrisations were presented for three patterns, to complete a set of Miura-derivative geometries termed first-level derivatives. The first-level derivative parametrisations were then combined to create complex, piecewise geometries, with compatible faceted sandwich face geometry also developed. Finally, a method to generate rigid-foldable, curved-crease geometry from Miura-derivative straight-crease geometry was presented. All geometry was validated with physical prototypes and was compiled into a MATLAB Toolbox. Third, the performance of these extended foldcore geometries under impact loadings was investigated. An investigation of curved-crease foldcores showed that they were stronger than straight-crease foldcores, and at certain configurations can potentially match the strength, energy-absorption under quasi-static impact loads, and out-of-plane stiffness of a honeycomb core. A brief investigation of foldcores under low-velocity impact loadings showed that curved-crease foldcores, unlike straight-crease foldcores, strengthened under dynamic loadings, however not to the same extent as honeycomb. Finally, an investigation of single-curved foldcore sandwich shells was conducted. It was seen that foldcore shells could not match the energy-absorption capability of an over-expanded honeycomb shell, but certain core types did exhibit other attributes that might be exploitable with future research, including superior initial strength and superior uniformity of response.

Call number: LD2668 .R4 1967 L46

Esse trabalho visa a estudar os efeitos dinâmicos provocados por um veículo classe 3C em uma ponte de concreto de seção unicelular, com curvatura em planta, por meio da modelagem do veículo, do pavimento, das forças de interação veículo-pavimento e da estrutura. Partiu-se do modelo do veículo com nove graus de liberdade, considerando o desacoplamento dos esforços longitudinais de interação dos esforços transversais (força de inércia centrífuga). Foram calculados os carregamentos provenientes do veículo modelado, primeiramente sobre tabuleiro rígido indeslocável, considerando as irregularidades geométricas apresentadas no pavimento, com perfis iguais ou distintos sobre cada linha de pneus. Estes carregamentos foram condensados estaticamente e aplicados em um modelo estrutural simplificado (\'unifilar\') de uma ponte em seção unicelular. Utilizou-se um método iterativo para a obtenção dos esforços de interação, até se alcançar a convergência. Ainda foram confrontados resultados para duas situações de tráfego, sendo a primeira para veículo isolado trafegando sobre a estrutura e a segunda para um comboio de veículos. Por fim, as respostas dinâmicas obtidas da interação veículo-estrutura do modelo foram comparadas com uma resposta quase-estática, para a obtenção dos coeficientes de amplificação dinâmica. / This dissertation aims at studying the dynamic effects produced by a 3C class vehicle on a curved concrete bridge with box girder section, by modelling the vehicle, the roughness profile, the bridge-vehicle interaction forces and the structure. It started from a model with nine degrees-of-freedom, considering the uncoupling of the longitudinal interaction forces of the transversal forces (centrifugal force of inertia). The loads are evaluated for the vehicle model travelling, firstly on a rigid uneven pavement, considering equal and different roughness profiles under the tires. These loads are statically condensed at the centre of gravity of the car and applied to a simplified (\'unifilar\') structural model of a concrete bridge with box girder section. An iterative method has been used to obtain the interaction forces until the convergence could be achieved. Furthermore, the results for two traffic situations were compared, the first being when a single vehicle is traveling along the structure, whereas the second refers to a train of vehicles. Finally, the dynamic response obtained from the bridge-vehicle interaction was compared with a quasi-static response, allowing for the evaluation of the dynamic amplification coefficients.

A proposta desse estudo in vitro foi avaliar a influência do pré-alargamento cervical no desgaste apical de canais simulados curvos preparados com instrumentos rotatórios de níquel-titânio. Foram confeccionados 30 blocos de resina com canais simulados de 20 graus de curvatura que foram divididos aleatoriamente em três grupos distintos (n=10) de acordo com o tipo de alargamento cervical realizado: Grupo I - sem alargamento cervical; Grupo II - alargamento cervical realizado com brocas CP Drill®; Grupo III - alargamento cervical realizado com brocas LA Axxess®. Previamente ao alargamento cervical os canais foram preenchidos com tinta nanquim em toda sua extensão e realizaram-se as fotografias iniciais com auxílio de máquina digital posicionada em estativa. Para o preparo apical utilizaram-se instrumentos rotatórios K3® na seqüência de 20.02 até 45.02, sendo que, entre o intervalo do uso de cada instrumento o canal foi preenchido, novamente, com tinta nanquim e realizada a fotografia final para cada instrumento. As fotografias pré e pós-operatórias foram sobrepostas e procedeu-se a mensuração do desgaste linear da parede interna e externa do canal simulado no ápice da curvatura e no ápice do canal proporcionado por cada instrumento, com auxílio do software Image Tool. A diferença entre esses valores, de acordo com cada área do canal avaliada, foi submetida à análise estatística. O teste de Regressão Linear permitiu estabelecer uma correlação entre o calibre do instrumento e o desgaste do canal, que pode ser traduzida em uma equação matemática, indicando que é diretamente proporcional. O teste de Kruskal-Wallis (complementado com pós-teste de Dunn) permitiu a comparação do desgaste entre os diferentes grupos experimentais. Por meio desses testes pode-se observar que grupo onde não foi realizado o pré-alargamento cervical apresentou padrões de desgastes diferentes daqueles onde o preparo foi executado. O grupo sem pré-alargamento provocou o desgaste acentuado do lado externo da curvatura, enquanto os grupos preparados com CP Drill® e LA Axxess® mostraram padrões de desgaste semelhantes, denotando a maior centralização do instrumento no canal em ambas as regiões analisadas (ápice da curva e ápice do canal). Pode-se concluir que o pré-alargamento cervical influenciou de forma positiva no preparo da região apical de canais simulados curvos, proporcionando preparos mais centralizados dessa região. / The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the influence of cervical preflaring on prepared canal shape in simulated curved root canals prepared with nickel-titanium rotary systems. Thirty resin blocks with simulated canals with 20º curvature were fabricated and randomly assigned to three groups (n=10) according to the type of cervical preflaring: Group I - no cervical preflaring; Group II - cervical preflaring with CP Drill® burs; Group III - cervical preflaring with LA Axxess® burs. Previously cervical preflaring, the canals were thoroughly filled with India ink and the initial photographs were taken using a digital camera fixed in a static position. Right after, apical preparation was performed using 20.02 to 45.02 K3® rotary instruments. At each change of file, the canals were refilled with India ink and the final photographs were taken for each instrument. The initial and final photographs were superimposed and linear dentin removal produced by each type of rotary instrument was measured with specific software at the internal and external portions of the curvature apex and at the canal apex. The difference between the initial and final values was analyzed statistically, according to each canal region. Statistical analysis by linear regression established a correlation between instrument size and canal transportation, which can be expressed by a mathematical equation. This correlation is directly proportional, which means that the greater instrument, the more accentuated the canal transportation. Additionally, Kruskal- Wallis test (complemented by the Dunn\' post-test) allowed comparing dentin removal among the different experimental groups. These tests revealed that the non-flared group presented different dentin removal patterns, as compared to the groups where cervical preflaring was undertaken. The group without preflaring presented a significantly greater dentin removal on the external side of curvature, while the groups preflared with CP Drill® and LA Axxess® exhibited similar dentin removal patterns, demonstrating a greater centralization of the instrument inside the canal, for both analyzed regions (curvature apex and canal apex). It may be concluded that cervical preflaring influenced positively the apical preparation of simulated curved canals, producing more centralized preparations in this region.