Stress analysis and damage evaluation of flawed composite laminates by hybrid-numerical methods

Structural components in flight vehicles is often inherited flaws, such as microcracks, voids, holes, and delamination. These defects will degrade structures the same as that due to damages in service, such as impact, corrosion, and erosion. It is very important to know how a structural component can be useful and survive after these flaws and damages. To understand the behavior and limitation of these structural components researchers usually do experimental tests or theoretical analyses on structures with simulated flaws. However, neither approach has been completely successful. As Durelli states that 'Seldom does one method give a complete solution, with the most efficiency'. Examples of this principle is seen in photomechanics which additional strain-gage testing can only average stresses at locations of high concentration. On the other hand, theoretical analyses including numerical analyses are implemented with simplified assumptions which may not reflect actual boundary conditions. Hybrid-Numerical methods which combine photomechanics and numerical analysis have been used to correct this inefficiency since 1950's. But its application is limited until 1970's when modern computer codes became available. In recent years, researchers have enhanced the data obtained from photoelasticity, laser speckle, holography and moire' interferometry for input of finite element analysis on metals. Nevertheless, there is only few of literature being done on composite laminates. Therefore, this research is dedicated to this highly anisotropic material

Increasing Visibility and Enhancing Impact of Research

Publication is the beginning of research impact and visibility, thus dissemination of research publications have to be proactive. Researchers can promote their research work in three stages: (1) manuscript preparation and submission; (2) post-publication promoting; and (3) after receiving mentions/citations (monitoring)

Study of circularly polarized patch antenna for wireless Local Area Network access point application

Circular Polarized (CP) antennas are attractive for wireless communication applications because no strict orientation between the access point and the mobile unit are required. The purpose of this project is to make a comparative study between a CP patch antenna and a standard monopole antenna for Wireless Local Area Network Access Point (WLAN AP) applications at 2.4 ~ 2.485GHz frequency band. Circularly polarized operation is achieved by truncating two opposite corners of a square patch and airgap with a long probe feed is used as bandwidth enhancement technique. The best 3dB axial ratio bandwidth and 10dB impedance bandwidth reached 8.55% and 8.9% respectively, for gain of 6dBi with airgap thickness of 5mm. Details of the antenna design, the process involved, and the simulation and experimental results are presented

Reaction of Beta-Carotene with Metal Ions - Products Isolation and Characterisation

Reaction of β-carotene with ferric nitrate nonahydrate and anhydrous stannous chloride has been carried out. A π-complex of iron-β-carotene,Fe(N03)3.C40H56.2CH2Ch, been synthesized and characterized. No product was isolated from the reaction between stannous chloride and β-carotene. The structure of the iron-β-carotene complex was proposed on the basis of IR andUV -Vis spectra and elemental analyses

How Expressiveness of a Robotic Tutor is Perceived by Children in a Learning Environment

We present a study investigating the expressiveness of two different types of robots in a tutoring task. The robots used were i) the EMYS robot, with facial expression capabilities, and ii) the NAO robot, without facial expressions but able to perform expressive gestures. Preliminary results show that the NAO robot was perceived to be more friendly, pleasant and empathic than the EMYS robot as a tutor in a learning environment

Conservation of deltaic mangrove forest resources in Kuching, Sarawak: local communities' willingness to pay

The mangrove forest resources in the Kuching Delta are being exploited extensively for agricultural, industrial and other development purposes despite conservation efforts being carried out. This study was aimed at determining the willingness to pay by the local communities for the conservation of the mangrove resources. Data were collected from the local communities living near the mangrove forests and the WTP was obtained by using the contingency valuation technique. 316 respondents were interviewed and asked to indicate the maximum amount they were willing to pay for the conservation of mangrove forest resources. The majority of the local community members were willing to pay for the conservation of the resources, with a mean value of RM15.70 per year per person. Conservation of the resources was perceived positively by the residents with a mean value of 3.9 (out of 5 rating scale). Levels of education and income of the local communities have positive influence on the willingness to pay for conservation of the resources. Mangrove forest benefits could be obtained in perpetuity if conserved; the estimated gross present value of the benefits (WTP) is RM28.3 million, at the annual social discount rate of 4 %

An awkward looking pilomatrixoma

Pilomatrixoma is a rare and benign skin tumor of the hair follicle that tends to develop in the head and neck area. We report a case and briefly review the literature.peer-reviewe

Enhanced protein-energy provision via the enteral route in critically ill patients (PEP uP protocol): a review of evidence

Nutrition support is an integral part of care among critically ill patients. However, critically ill patients are commonly underfed, leading to consequences such as increased length of hospital and intensive care unit stay, time on mechanical ventilation, infectious complications, and mortality. Nevertheless, the prevalence of underfeeding has not resolved since the first description of this problem more than 15 years ago. This may be due to the traditional conservative feeding approaches. A novel feeding protocol (the Enhanced Protein-Energy Provision via the Enteral Route Feeding Protocol in Critically Ill Patients [PEP uP] protocol) was proposed and proven to improve feeding adequacy significantly. However, some of the components in the protocol are controversial and subject to debate. This article is a review of the supporting evidences and some of the controversy associated with each component of the PEP uP protocol