Scielo RSS http://www.scielo.br/rss.php?pid=1679-782520110001&lang= vol. 8 num. 1 lang. http://www.scielo.br/img/en/fbpelogp.gif http://www.scielo.br A study of microstructure and wear behaviour of TiB2/Al metal matrix composites]]> http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1679-78252011000100001&lng=&nrm=iso&tlng= The present paper deals with the study of microstructure and wear characteristics of TiB2 reinforced aluminium metal matrix composites (MMCs). Matrix alloys with 5, 10 and 15% of TiB2 were made using stir casting technique. Effect of sliding velocity on the wear behaviour and tribo-chemistry of the worn surfaces of both matrix and composites sliding against a EN24 steel disc has been investigated under dry conditions. A pin-on-disc wear testing machine was used to find the wear rate, in which EN24 steel disc was used as the counter face, loads of 10-60N in steps of 10N and speeds of 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 rpm were employed. The results showed that the wear rate was increased with an increase in load and sliding speed for both the materials. However, a lower wear rate was obtained for MMCs when compared to the matrix alloys. The wear transition from slight to severe was presented at the critical applied loads. The transition loads for the MMCs were much higher than that of the matrix alloy. The transition loads were increased with increase in TiB2 and the same was decreased with the increase of sliding speeds. The SEM and EDS analyses were undertaken to demonstrate the effect of TiB2 particles on the wear mechanism for each conditions. Modal analysis of pre and post impacted nano composite laminates]]> http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1679-78252011000100002&lng=&nrm=iso&tlng= Modal analysis is carried out on pre and post impacted nano composite laminates. The laminates are prepared using 3, 5 and 8 layers of 610gsm glass woven roving mats(WRM) with epoxy resin and montmorillonite(MMT) clay content is varied from 1% to 5%. Impulse hammer technique is used to find natural frequency and damping factor of laminates. Medium velocity impact tests are conducted by using a gas gun. The vibration responses of natural frequency and damping factor are obtained and are studied for laminates with all edges clamped boundary conditions. Results show considerable improvement in natural frequency and damping factor due to nano clay addition. It is also seen that the nano clay controls the delamination due to impact loading. On asymptotic analysis of spectral problems in elasticity]]> http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1679-78252011000100003&lng=&nrm=iso&tlng= The three-dimensional spectral elasticity problem is studied in an anisotropic and inhomogeneous solid with small defects, i.e., inclusions, voids, and microcracks. Asymptotics of eigenfrequencies and the corresponding elastic eigenmodes are constructed and justified. New technicalities of the asymptotic analysis are related to variable coefficients of differential operators, vectorial setting of the problem, and usage of intrinsic integral characteristics of defects. The asymptotic formulae are developed in a form convenient for application in shape optimization and inverse problems. Effect of blast loading on CFRP-Retrofitted RC columns - a numerical study]]> http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1679-78252011000100004&lng=&nrm=iso&tlng= This study aims to investigate the effect of blast loads generated as a result of explosive charges on the existing exterior RC circular columns of a typical building in the city of Riyadh. A procedure has been developed for evaluating the dynamic characteristics of the circular column with and without retrofitting. A wide range of parametric studies have been performed as part of this investigation to examine the effects of stand-off distance, charge weight and the presence of CFRP retrofitting on the level of damage to the RC column. The nonlinear finite element analysis was carried out using LS-DYNA software with explicit time integration algorithms. Different charge weights of 100, 200, 500 and 1000 kg equivalent weight of TNT at stand-off distances of 1, 4 and 15 m were considered. Results described in this paper indicate that CFRP strengthening could be an effective solution to limit the damage caused by moderate explosions. The stand-off distance was found to play a very important role in mitigating the adverse effects of a blast. The results also indicate that the maximum lateral deflection experienced by the column decreased exponentially with the increase in the stand-off distance and also decreased for the columns strengthened with CFRP, compared with the unstrengthened columns. Structural stability concepts in medieval and renaissance mechanics]]> http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1679-78252011000100005&lng=&nrm=iso&tlng= The identification of the origins of what we now call the theory of elastic stability is not an easy task. Most authors trace the origins to the pioneering work of Leonhard Euler in 1744, and some shift this origin to the experimental works of Petrus van Musschenbroek in 1729. However, other contemporary authors interested in the history of the discipline postulate that the works of Medieval and Renaissance scholars should be considered as the true sources of the buckling studies performed in the XVIII Century. This paper reports a historical research based on the original works of Al-Khazini, Jordanus de Nemore, Leonardo da Vinci, and Marini Merssene, in order to discuss what kind of Aknowledge they had about the topics of stability and lateral deflections of columns under axial loads. Our investigation shows that there were observations of the phenomenon considered, but those observations were not translated into a deeper understanding of the phenomenon, so that the causes of this efect or the role of strength on the response were not considered. Leonardo was closer than others in his understanding of the nature of the problem and produced some tentative rules of behavior; however, those were only documented in private writings and did not make an impact in his contemporaries or even 100 years later. We postulate that there was a continuity of problems between medieval authors and those who lived in the XVIII Century, rather than continuity in their concepts and approaches to solve those problems. The mechanical response of metallic sandwich beams under foam projectile impact loading]]> http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1679-78252011000100006&lng=&nrm=iso&tlng= The dynamic response of the clamped sandwich beams was investigated by impacting the beams at mid-span with metal foam projectiles. Efects of applied impulse, face-sheet thickness and core thickness on the impact resistance of sandwich beams are discussed. Using strain gauge measurement technique, the deformation mechanism of sandwich beams was analyzed in the paper. The results indicate that the structural response is sensitive to the configuration of sandwich structures. Based on the experiments, corresponding finite element simulations have been undertaken using the LS-DYNA software. A good agreement has been obtained between the numerical and experimental results. The deformation and failure modes of sandwich beams under impact loading are presented, i.e. large inelastic deformation, core compression and core shear with interfacial failure. Numerical results also show that the velocity-time histories of the mid-span of the front and back sheet of sandwich beams are related to not only core strength but also core thickness. The research results are of worth to the theoretical prediction of the dynamic response of metallic sandwich beam.