Tushar Kulkarni¹, Dr. Rashmi Uddanwadiker²

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.13, No.2, pp. 87-104, 2016, DOI:10.3970/mcb.2016.013.099

Abstract This paper aims to determine the force required for holding the objects by human hand. A static analysis is performed on mathematical models to obtain holding force considering lower arm as class three lever and by varying the joint angles. Three mathematical models are discussed to quantify the force required to hold any object, for different weight of the object and the joint angles. A noninvasive experimentation using surface electromyogram was performed to determine the forces required by human hand for the same objects used in the mathematical modeling. Twenty-one male subjects participated in this… More >

S.A. Yıldızel^1,2, A.U. Öztürk¹

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.52, No.1, pp. 41-52, 2016, DOI:10.3970/cmc.2016.052.041

Abstract In this study, artificial neural networks trained with swarm based artificial bee colony optimization algorithm was implemented for prediction of the modulus of rapture values of the fabricated glass fiber reinforced concrete panels. For the application of the ANN models, 143 different four-point bending test results of glass fiber reinforced concrete mixes with the varied parameters of temperature, fiber content and slump values were introduced the artificial bee colony optimization and conventional back propagation algorithms. Training and the testing results of the corresponding models showed that artificial neural networks trained with the artificial bee colony More >

G. Smith¹, E. Schlangen², P.E.J. Flewitt³, A.G. Crocker⁴, A. Hodgkins⁵

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.51, No.3, pp. 163-185, 2016, DOI:10.3970/cmc.2016.051.163

Abstract Two linked models have been developed to explore the relationship between the amount of porosity arising in service from both radiolytic oxidation and fast neutron damage that influences both the strength and the force-displacement (load-displacement) behaviour and crack propagation in pile grade A graphite used as a nuclear reactor moderator material. Firstly models of the microstructure of the porous graphite for both unirradiated and irradiated graphite are created. These form the input for the second stage, simulating fracture in lattice-type finite element models, which predicts force (load)-displacement and crack propagation paths. Microstructures comprising aligned filler More >

Smitha Gopinath^1,2, S. Meenu³, A. Ramach,ra Murthy¹

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.51, No.2, pp. 81-103, 2016, DOI:10.3970/cmc.2016.051.081

Abstract This paper presents experimental and analytical investigations on concrete beams reinforced with basalt fiber reinforced polymer (BFRP) and steel fibers without stirrups. Independent behaviour of BFRP reinforced beams and steel fiber reinforced beams were evaluated and the effect of combining BFRP bars and steel fiber was investigated in detail. It is found that combining steel fibers with BFRP could change the shear failure of BFRP reinforced beam to flexural failure. Further, the existing analytical models were reviewed and compared to predict the shear strength of both FRP reinforced and steel fiber reinforced beams. Based on More >

Houda Saad^1,2,*, Antonio Pizzi^3,4, Bertrand Charrier², Naceur Ayed¹, Karsten Rode⁵, Fatima Charrier - El Bouhtoury²

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.3, No.1, pp. 34-43, 2015, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2014.634130

Abstract The possible use of Tunisian pomegranate tannins in wood adhesive formulation was studied for the fi rst time. Colorimetric tests, Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-fl ight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry were used to examine pomegranate tannins. Analysis showed that pomegranate peels are rich in hydrolyzable tannins. The Stiasny number tests showed the low reactivity of pomegranate tannin extract to formaldehyde and thus the diffi culty of using it in wood adhesive formulation. Thermomechanical analysis (TMA) and strength analysis of pomegranate tannin/hexamine-based resin showed weak bonding properties. More >

Pronob Gogoi, Dhaneswar Das, Shyamalima Sharma, Swapan K. Dolui^*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.3, No.2, pp. 151-159, 2015, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2014.634129

Abstract Alkyd resins based on Jatropha curcas oil with different molar ratios of phthalic anhydride (PA) and maleic anhydride (MA) were prepared by alcoholysis followed by polyesterifi cation reaction. The progress of the reaction was traced by the determination of acid value at regular time intervals. From the kinetic study the extent of the reaction was found in the range of 52.4–61.2%. The prepared resins were blended with a commercially available fast-curing epoxy resin in order to improve the properties like curing time, chemical resistance, tensile strength, and thermal stability. The morphology study of the blends More >

D.N. Dorr, S.D. Frazier, K.M. Hess, L.S. Traeger, W.V. Srubar III^*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.3, No.3, pp. 195-204, 2015, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2015.634108

Abstract A study of the potential for gelatin-based derivatives to serve as biorenewable, biodegradable adhesives for wood and engineered wood products is presented in this article. The effect of gelatin-to-water weight percent on the mechanical, specifically ultimate breaking (bond) strength, and thermal properties was investigated using tensile testing and differential scanning calorimetry, respectively. The breaking strengths of the gelatin-based adhesives were characterized and compared to four commercially available wood adhesives. The effect of 1–5% tannin addition on the mechanical, thermal, and moisture absorption behavior of the gelatin-based adhesives was also investigated. Results show that the gelatin-based More >

William Eberts, Matthew T. Siniawski^*, Timothy Burdiak, Nick Polito

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.3, No.4, pp. 259-267, 2015, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2014.634137

Abstract Single-ply biocomposite laminates were fabricated with two different woven fabrics and a bio-based resin using a wet layup technique at room temperature. A highly elastic, stockinette weave bamboo fiber fabric and a thicker, inelastic plain weave bamboo fabric were both investigated. The elastic fabric was pre-strained at 25% intervals, ranging from 0–100% of its original length. Samples made with E-Glass and S-Glass, two common glass fiber reinforcements, were also fabricated using the bioresin as benchmarks. The ultimate strength and modulus of elasticity characteristics of the composites were determined using the ASTM D3039/ D3039M-08 standard test… More >

W.H. Chen¹, H.C. Cheng^2,3, C.F. Yu^1,3

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.109-110, No.1, pp. 1-13, 2015, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2015.109.001

Abstract This study aims at exploring the interfacial adhesion strength between solder bump and four typical under bump metallurgies (UBMs), i.e., Cu/Ni, Cu/TiW, Cu/Ni/Cr and /Cu/V/Cr, at atomistic scale. The average bond length and interfacial adhesion stress of the Sn-3.5Ag/Cu/Ni, Sn-3.5Ag/Cu/TiW, Sn-3.5Ag/Cu/Ni/Cr and Sn-3.5Ag/Cu/V/Cr micro-bump interconnects are calculated through the firstprinciples density functional theory (DFT) calculation to estimate the interfacial adhesion strength between the solder bump and UBMs. In addition, by investigating the electric field effect on the average bond length and adhesive stress, the combination of solder bump and UBM with better interfacial adhesion strength… More >

Xuwen An^1,2, Jianguo Hou³, P.D. Gosling⁴, Dong Dai⁵, Long Xiao⁶, Xiaoyi Zhou⁷

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.107, No.1, pp. 1-25, 2015, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2015.107.001

Abstract Studies on the theory of structural system reliability includes identification of main the failure modes and calculation of inclusive failure probabilities for the structural system. The efficient and accurate identification of failure modes in structural systems is difficult and represents a key focus for research in system reliability. The fundamental theory of the branch and bound algorithm for stage critical strength is reviewed in this paper. Some deficiencies in this method are highlighted. Corresponding approaches to overcome these deficiencies are proposed. Calculated system reliability solutions to the classical model, a truss with 10 elements, indicate More >