Evaluation of a self-equilibrium cutting strategy for the contour method of residual stress measurement

An assessment of cutting-induced plasticity (CIP) is performed, by finite element (FE) prediction of the plastic strain accumulation along the cut tip when the EDM wire sections the NeT TG4 weld benchmark specimen along two cutting directions. The first direction corresponds to a conventional (C) cutting strategy, whereby the EDM wire cuts through the thickness of the weld specimen and travels in a direction transverse to the weld. The second direction corresponds to a self-equilibrating cutting (SE) strategy, whereby the EDM wire cuts across the transverse direction of the weld specimens and travels through the thickness of the plate. The cutting thus progresses simultaneously through the compression-tension-compression regions of present weld residual stress (WRS) field. This type of cutting strategy is believed to minimize the CIP by minimising residual stress redistribution during cutting, due to stress equilibration across the sectioned material. The simulated cutting procedures are conducted under a range of clamping conditions to assess whether mechanical restraint has a primary or secondary influence on CIP accumulation. Both predictions of CIP and the resultant back-calculated WRS demonstrate that (i) mechanical restraint is the primary variable influencing CIP development, and (ii) under no circumstance does a self-equilibrating cutting strategy perform significantly better than a conventional cutting approach. The reason that self-equilibrating cuts are not effective is illustrated by calculating the Mode I (KI) stress intensity factor (SIF) along the cut tip, and correlating trends in KI to CIP development

Noncommutative spaces and covariant formulation of statistical mechanics

We study the statistical mechanics of a general Hamiltonian system in the context of symplectic structure of the corresponding phase space. This covariant formalism reveals some interesting correspondences between properties of the phase space and the associated statistical physics. While topology, as a global property, turns out to be related to the total number of microstates, the invariant measure which assigns {\it a priori} probability distribution over the microstates, is determined by the local form of the symplectic structure. As an example of a model for which the phase space has a nontrivial topology, we apply our formulation on the Snyder noncommutative space-time with de Sitter four-momentum space and analyze the results. Finally, in the framework of such a setup, we examine our formalism by studying the thermodynamical properties of a harmonic oscillator system.Comment: 12 two column pages, 2 figures, Final versio

Growth performance of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) with respect to nutritional factors in north Iran (Haraz River)

Monthly samples of six fish farms from January 2010 to December 2010 in the northern Iran, Haraz River, were used to determine relationship between chemical parameters of main water, inlet and outlet and their effects on fish growth and production. Results revealed that concentration of nutrients in outlet was more than that of inlet of farms, and statistical analysis showed that there were significant differences between stations (p0.05) in different months. Correlation between daily growth, SGR, FCR, production and chemical parameters of water were analyzed by Pearson correlation. The results revealed negative correlation (α= 0.01) between nitrite and daily growth (P=0.004, Pearson correlation=-0.24), ammonium and SGR (P=0.0001, Pearson correlation=-0.272), although there were no correlation for FCR, and nutritional parameters (p>0.05)

Effect of different light regimes on the maturational progress of the whitespotted rabbitfish (Siganus sutor)

In this study, the effects of different light regimes on the reproductive activity of a typical Indo-Pacific coral reef rabbitfish, Siganus sutor, were evaluated. Forty-five adult fish were exposed to nine different photoperiod (8L: 16D, 12L: 12D, 16L: 8D) and light intensity (1000, 2000, 3000 lux) combinations with three replicates and five other fishes reared under indoor light condition (Control). Gonadosomatic Index (GSI) and Hepatosomatic Index (HSI) were calculated after 60 days and compared among different experimental regimes in males and females. In the control group, GSI and HSI mean values were 4.67 and 3.24%, respectively, for females and 10.05 and 2.10%, respectively, for males, and these fish showed differences in comparison with the exposed fish. Females kept under 1000 and 2000 lux light intensities had a higher GSI mean value (9.26 and 10.39%, respectively) and also lower average HSI (2.10 and 2.31%, respectively) in 16L: 8D treatment. A similar result was also obtained for males, whereas the 3000 lux light intensity, 8L: 16D day length combination led to more gonadal development (GSIs of 16.41% in females and 12.03% in males). A comparison of results among different photoperiods also confirmed that maturation was induced better in fish maintained under 16L: 8D in both sexes. This investigation revealed the visible role of both photoperiod and light intensity on inducing maturity in the whitespotted rabbitfish, S. sutor. Thus, rearing of adults exposed to an artificial light regime, including 16L: 8D and 2000 lux light intensity, promotes more gonadal development than that occurring in the wild