Perception Centered Transparency Evaluation of Wave-variable based Bilateral Teleoperation

Wave-variable transformation is a means to maintain stability of haptic teleoperation in the presence of communication time delays. Its drawback is that it affects haptic perception of remote properties and thereby degrades transparency. This paper studies the effect of wave-variable transformation on human haptic perception. Based on a...

Low-velocity impact behaviour of open-cell foams

Metal foams are cellular solids that show some unique properties which cannot be found in other natural or human-made materials. While the impact characteristics of closed-cell foams under static and impact loadings appear to be well-studied in the literature, the impact behaviour of open-cell foams is not yet well-understood. In this study,...

Temperature-dependent phonon spectra of magnetic random solid solutions

A first-principles-based computational tool for simulating phonons of magnetic random solid solutions including thermal magnetic fluctuations is developed. The method takes fluctuations of force constants due to magnetic excitations as well as due to chemical disorder into account. The developed approach correctly predicts the experimentally...

Piezoresistive properties of cementitious composites reinforced by PVA fibres

The use of fibres to enhance the ductility of cementitious composites has been extensively studied for the past few years. The addition of polymeric or metalic fibres with random orientation to the composite or even natural long and aligned fibres demonstrated a very successful reinforcement capable to reach a high mechanical performance....

Literature review on the assessment of masonry properties by tests on core samples

Starting point in this research is to find a quick and non-destructive method to characterize the mechanical properties of existing masonry. Tests on cylindrical cores have been recently introduced as a novel in-situ testing method to identify the properties of existing clay brick masonry. Currently, some researchers reported promising results,...

Advanced bredigite-containing magnesium-matrix composites for biodegradable bone implant applications

The present research was aimed at developing magnesium-matrix composites that could allow effective control over their physiochemical and mechanical responses when in contact with physiological solutions. A biodegradable, bioactive ceramic - bredigite was chosen as the reinforcing phase in the composites, based on the hypothesis that the...

The microstructural evolution and elemental distribution of a 3rd generation 1 GPa advanced high strength steel during double pulse resistance spot welding

This paper presents the effects of double pulse resistance spot welding (RSW) on the microstructural evolution, elemental distribution and mechanical properties of a 3rd generation 1 GPa advanced high strength steel (AHSS). In order to investigate the effect of double pulsing, the steel was exposed to single and various double pulse RSW...

Electrical and mechanical properties of asphalt concrete containing conductive fibers and fillers

Electrically conductive asphalt concrete has the potential to satisfy multifunctional applications. Designing such asphalt concrete needs to balance the electrical and mechanical performance of asphalt concrete. The objective of this study is to design electrically conductive asphalt concrete without compromising on the mechanical properties...

A multiscale micromechanical approach to model the deteriorating impact of alkali-silica reaction on concrete

The alkali-silica reaction (ASR) in concrete is one of the most harmful deterioration processes, which leads to expansion and cracking of the material. To understand the evolution of ASR in concrete and its deteriorating impact on the material, a multiscale material model, from aggregate to concrete level, is proposed. The concrete, which at...

The Deteriorating Impact of Alkali-Silica Reaction on Concrete: Expansion and Mechanical Properties

The assessment of concrete structures affected by alkali-silica reaction (ASR) is a complex problem due to the multiscale nature of this long-term phenomenon. The reaction starts within the concrete constituents with the formation of an expansive alkali-silica gel at reaction products level. Being the expansive gel confined within the concrete...

Influence of the alkali-silica reaction on the mechanical degradation of concrete

The alkali-silica reaction (ASR) is an important problem that has yet to be completely understood. Owing to the complexity of this<br/>phenomenon, a number of studies have been conducted to characterize its kinetics, its impact on the material, and its structural consequences.<br/>This paper focuses on the deteriorating impact of ASR on concrete...

Mechanical behaviour of thermoplastic composites spot-welded and mechanically fastened joints: A preliminary comparison

The in-plane and out-of-plane mechanical behaviour of both ultrasonically spot-welded and mechanically fastened joints was investigated by double-lap shear and pull-through tests, respectively. Spot-welded specimens showed comparable onset failure load and significantly higher joint stiffness compared to mechanical fasteners when carrying shear...

Tailoring the Mechanical Properties of Titanium Alloys via Plasticity Induced Transformations

Titanium alloys possess good corrosion properties, high temperature stability and high strength-to-weight ratio. However, they fall short in providing the optimum strength-ductility relation in the most demanding structural applications, including the aerospace sector. Inspired by the possibility of enhancing the strength-ductility relation in...