bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Effects of Sulfuric Acid on Calcium Carbonate Filled PVC Sewer Pipe Compounds
Authors: Hawkins TW , Mass TR
Published: March 2009

Even though calcium carbonate filled rigid polyvinyl chloride (UPVC) sanitary sewer pipe has been used since 1973, concerns are occasionally raised regarding its possible corrosion by sulfuric acid present in the sewer gas environment. In this study two calcium carbonate filled PVC pipe compounds, under prestressed conditions, are exposed to sulfuric acid (20%) for extended periods. The effects of the sulfuric acid on the calcium carbonate in the compounds are qualitatively measured by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and quantitatively determined by wavelength dispersive x-ray microanalysis (WDS). The study shows that only the calcium carbonate immediately at the surface is affected by the sulfuric acid. The calcium carbonate below the surface is well dispersed and completely encapsulated in a continuum of PVC with no inner-connectivity between neighboring calcium carbonate particles and is unaffected. Results for samples exposed for 14 days, 30 days, 90 days and 6 months are included.
Trenchless Pipeline Rehabilitation with Plastic Materials
Authors: Iseley DT , Najafi M , Bennett RD
Published: March 2009

This paper describes the state-of-the-art review for trenchless pipeline rehabilitation being conducted under the Construction Productivity Advancement Research (CPAR) program. For the purpose of this study, the existing trenchless rehabilitation methods will be classified into six groups: cured-in-placed pipe (CIPP), sliplining, in-line replacement, deformed & reshaped, point source repair, and sewer manhole rehabilitation. For each group, specific rehabilitation procedures will be provided and advantages and disadvantages of each method will be discussed. This information is being obtained through literature search and survey of manufacturers, utility owners and contractors of sewer rehabilitation products and services. However, the state-of-the-art review provides additional information such as an overview of design techniques with plastic pipes, the rehabilitation costs as a percentage of new installation and also to the amount of open-cut required for different methods. The intent of this state-of-the-art review is to provide information on capabilities of existing trenchless rehabilitation systems to assist design engineers and city officials to plan and conduct pipeline rehabilitation when dealing with a specific system.
Evaluation of PVC Pipe for Microtunneling
Authors: Najafi M , Iseley DT
Published: March 2009

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe is a suitable product for sewer system construction. However, in the past, due to axial thrust load limitations and lack of a suitable joint it was not possible to use PVC pipe in microtunneling. In June 1992, a full-scale field test was conducted at Louisiana Tech University and a sewer PVC profile pipe was successfully installed with a new microtunneling propulsion system. The 24-inch plastic pipe with smooth joint used for this evaluation program was inspected after installation and was monitored for one year for effects of construction loads and long-term vertical soil loads. The details and results of this field testing will be discussed in this paper.
Recent Improvements in Size Effects Correlations for DBTT and Upper Shelf Energy of Ferritic Steels
Authors: Kumar AS , Louden BS , Garner FA , Hamilton ML
Published: March 2009

Currently available correlations for the effects of specimen size on the upper shelf energy (USE) were developed for relatively ductile steels and do not serve as well when the steels become embrittled. Size effects correlations were developed recently for the impact properties of less ductile HT9 to be applied to other initially more ductile steels as they lose their ductility during irradiation. These new correlations successfully predict the ductile brittle transition temperature (DBTT) and USE of full-size Charpy specimens based on subsize specimen data. The new DBTT and the USE correlations were tested against published experimental data on other ferritic steels and shown to perform successfully at lower USE, particularly when both notched and precracked specimens as well as notched-only specimens were employed.
Fracture Toughness Evaluation of Neutron-Irradiated Composites by a Miniaturized Charpy Test
Authors: Hamada K , Sato S , Kohyama A
Published: March 2009

The impact properties of advanced metal matrix composites (MMCs) such as unidirectionally reinforced silicon carbide (SiC)/aluminum (Al) and C/Al have been investigated based on recent improvements in their mechanical properties. This paper details the effects of test temperature and neutron irradiation on the fracture toughness of these MMCs. The materials used were sheets of PCS-SiC/Al and PAN-C/Al. Miniaturized Charpy V-notched specimens were tested in an instrumented Charpy impact tester. Neutron irradiation was performed in the Japanese Materials Testing Reactor (JMTR), a light water reactor (LWR) at Oarai. The fracture energy increased with increasing test temperature and with neutron irradiation. SiC/Al was rather more insensitive to neutron fluence than C/Al, which was related to the difference in interfacial structure between the two systems.
On the Brittle-to-Ductile Transition Fracture Behavior
Authors: Varga T , Njo DH
Published: March 2009

Brittle-to-ductile transition behavior is one important aspect in the material behavior of ferritic steels. Because of the many influencing parameters involved, the transition behavior is known to cause great difficulties in its theoretical treatment and modeling as well as in the development of a sufficiently reliable empirical correlation. In spite of this, some means have to be provided to treat or characterize brittle-to-ductile transition behavior in an appropriate or at least in an acceptable way, especially for integrity assessments of components.

In this paper, some basic considerations and treatments of brittle-to-ductile transition, as well as relevant influencing parameters and their effects, will be discussed. Also, experimental results will be presented and conclusions drawn and new aspects discussed that can have significant consequences in the application of structural integrity assessment methods.
Fracture Toughness Measurements with Subsize Disk Compact Specimens
Authors: Alexander DJ
Published: March 2009

Special fixtures and test methods have been developed for testing small disk compact specimens (12.5 mm in diameter by 4.6 mm thick). Both unloading compliance and potential drop methods have been used to monitor crack extension during the J-integral resistance (J-R) curve testing. Provisions have been made to allow the necessary probes and instrumentation to be installed remotely using manipulators for testing irradiated specimens in a hot cell. Laboratory trials showed that both unloading compliance and potential drop gave useful results. Both techniques gave similar data and predicted the final crack extension within allowable limits. The results from the small disk compact specimens were similar to results from conventional compact specimens 12.7 mm thick. However, the slopes of the J-R curves from the larger specimens were lower, suggesting that the smaller disk compact specimens may have lost some constraint due to their size. The testing shows that it should be possible to generate useful J-R curve fracture toughness data from the small disk compact specimens.
Fracture Toughness Evaluation for Zircaloy-2 Pressure Tubes with the Electric-Potential Method
Authors: Huang FH
Published: March 2009

Zircaloy is commonly used for the cladding or pressure tubes in commercial nuclear reactors because of its strength, corrosion resistance, and low absorption of thermal neutrons. Fracture toughness test techniques using small samples fabricated from archival materials from the N Reactor pressure tubes of Zircaloy-2 were developed to study the factors affecting tube fracture toughness. Compact tension specimen thickness was limited by the wall thickness (7 mm) of the tubes. Specimens (5 mm thick) were prepared for fracture toughness testing, and results were analyzed using the J-integral approach. To reduce the high cost of irradiated specimen testing and to more easily precrack specimens remotely, single-specimen potential drop techniques were employed to evaluate the fracture toughness of Zircaloy-2.

The initiation fracture toughness was determined from J-R curves, which were constructed by plotting values of J as a function of crack extension computed from the electric-potential calibration curve. The J-R curves obtained from the calibration curve equation fit the initial portion of the blunting line and heat-tint data.

Results showed that at room temperature, the toughness of unirradiated N Reactor pressure Tube 1054 was the lowest and that of Tube 2755 was the highest. As the temperature was increased the fracture toughness decreased slightly, while the tearing modulus increased with temperature. The fracture resistance in the circumferential orientation was inferior to that for the longitudinal orientation. The effects of neutron fluence and hydrogen content on the fracture toughness of N Reactor pressure tubes were evaluated. Neutron irradiation substantially degraded fracture toughness. Increasing fluence decreased the fracture toughness of the alloy. Hydrogen also decreased fracture toughness, but this effect was insignificant for the pressure tubes tested.
Methods and Devices for Small Specimen Testing at the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute
Authors: Jitsukawa S , Kizaki M , Umino A , Shiba K , Hishinuma A
Published: March 2009

Devices for a punch test on annular notched specimens, small punch (SP) tests, and miniaturized tension tests in hot cells were developed. A micro-manipulator to handle small specimens and an electro-discharge machine (EDM) to extract miniaturized tension specimens and annular notched specimens from transmission electron microscopy (TEM) disks were also fabricated. These devices were designed and made for remote operation in hot cells. Preliminary tests to evaluate the applicability of test methods were carried out. Correlation between SP test results and tensile properties was not strong. Miniaturized tensile results were reasonably similar to the results with larger specimens. The ductile-brittle transition temperature (DBTT) by the punch test on annular notched specimens was higher than that obtained from the SP test. However, materials dependence of the DBTT was different from that measured by standard Charpy V-notch (CVN) tests. This may be due to a specimen size effect.
Limitations of the Slow Strain Rate Test Technique
Authors: Beavers JA , Koch GH
Published: March 2009

A state-of-the-art survey was performed on slow strain rate (SSR) testing methods for the Materials Technology Institute of the Chemical Process Industries, Inc. (MTI). The goal of the survey was to determine if SSR testing methods yield useful data in predicting stress-corrosion cracking (SCC) susceptibility of metals used in the chemical process industry (CPI). The information was obtained by searching the literature and by sending out questionnaires to relevant sources. It was concluded that most reported cases of anomalous behavior with the SSR test technique can be attributed to inadequate control or measurement of strain rate or potential, which are the major controlling parameters for a specific material-environment combination.
SSRT for Hydrogen Water Chemistry Verification in BWRs
Authors: Indig ME
Published: March 2009

The slow strain rate test (SSRT) has been used as a laboratory tool to investigate the susceptibility of austenitic stainless steels and other materials to intergranular stress corrosion cracking (IGSCC). During operation, IGSCC has occurred in the recirculation piping of Boiling Water Reactors (BWRs). The SSRT has demonstrated that weld or thermally sensitized T-304 stainless is susceptible to IGSCC in simulated BWR environments.

On the other hand, it has also been demonstrated that if the BWR environment can be modified, such that the electrochemical potential (ECP) is lowered sufficiently, IGSCC can be mitigated. A data base was developed indicating that the protection potential for T-304 stainless steel is ⩽-0.230 V(SHE).

In application to operating BWR power plants hydrogen is injected into the reactor feedwater system, which eventually decreases the ECP in the recirculation system. The effect in the recirculation piping water is measured by delivering water from the piping to an external test system. The test system often consists of two autoclaves, one of which measures the ECP, and the second where SSRT is performed. Typically, highly sensitized T-304 stainless steel is tested in the SSRT autoclave before hydrogen addition. In the normal BWR water chemistry (∼270°C, 200 ppb O2) IGSCC occurs usually after >100 h of testing. Subsequently, a second SSRT is performed when the target ECP is achieved in the BWR water, now modified with hydrogen. This second SSRT verifies that indeed IGSCC mitigation has been achieved. Results from a number of operating BWRs show that ECP control verified by SSRT provides reactor operators with criteria for IGSCC control.
Silicon Nitride Tensile Strength Database from Ceramic Technology Program PRocessing for Reliability Project
Authors: Foley MR , Pujari VK , Sales LC , Tracey DM
Published: March 2009

Tensile strength data generated in Norton's Ceramic Technology Program (CTP) Processing for Reliability Project is presented for a hot isostatically pressed (HIP'ed) 4 wt% yttria-silicon nitride (designation NCX-5102). This database represents the result of an extensive multi-variable experimental matrix designed to identify an optimized process directed at eliminating or minimizing critical flaws. The strength data follow from room temperature fast fracture tests of net-shaped-formed, pressure cast cylindrical buttonhead tensile bars. Results of over one hundred tensile tests coupled with detailed fractography are summarized using Weibull statistics including competing risk analyses. Specimen fabrication and mechanical testing issues (e.g. machining, strain gaging) which were addressed to ensure the integrity of the strength database will also be discussed.
Lifitime Prediction for Ceramic Tubular Components
Authors: Jadaan OM
Published: March 2009

The main objective of this research is to develop experimental and analytical methodologies to predict the lifetimes for internally pressurized SiC tubes from the lifetimes of simple specimens subjected to similar delayed failure modes. In general, two different mechanisms are responsible for delayed failure behavior in ceramics, depending on the material, microstructure, size of inherent flaws, and the level af applied stress. These delayed failure mechanisms are slow crack growth (SCG) and creep rupture. In this paper, a methodology to predict the lifetimes for sintered alpha silicon carbide (SASC) tubes, expected to fail due to SCG mechanism, will be shown. This methodology involved experimental determination of the SCG parameters for the SASC material and the scaling analysis to project the stress rupture data for small specimens (O-rings and compressed C-rings) to large tubular components. Also included in this paper is a methodology to predict the lifetimes for internally pressurized reaction bonded silicon carbide (SCRB210) tubes, for which delayed failure behavior is expected to be controlled by creep rupture mechanism. Finite element analysis (FEM) in association with the Monkman-Grant creep rupture criterion, were used to predict the lifetimes for the SCRB210 tubes. The relationship between the two delayed failure mechanisms, specimen size and applied stress level will also be discussed.
High Temperature Life Prediction of Monolithic Silicon Carbide Heat Exchanger Tubes
Authors: Sandifer JB , Edwards MJ , Brown TS , Duffy SF
Published: March 2009

The need for improved performance in high temperature environments is prompting industry to consider the use of structural ceramic materials in heat exchanger tubes and other high temperature components. In recognition of this need, the U. S. Department of Energy has supported work for the development of nondestructive methods for evaluating flaws in monolithic ceramic components, and the associated establishment of criteria for the acceptance of flawed components. Under this development of flaw assessment criteria, DOE supported the work being presented in this paper.

The approach to developing the life prediction model combines finite element predictions, considering creep behavior, with continuum damage mechanics and Weibull reliability statistics. ABAQUS is used to predict time dependent creep response of the component based on experimental creep data. A continuity parameter is then calculated at each time step following continuum damage mechanics methods. Finally, Weibull statistics are used with the resulting continuity parameter to predict the reliability at each time step, through the use of the NASA-Lewis computer program CARES, interfaced to ABAQUS with ABACARES.

There is very limited data available to characterize the creep, continuum damage and reliability behavior of the material. For the life prediction model reported, it is assumed that the material damages isotropically. Directional effects of the damage can be added as material databases improve.
Cornerstones for Future Directions in Head/Neck Injury Prevention in Sports
Authors: Clarke KS
Published: March 2009

Much progress has been made in the last two decades in the effort to minimize serious head and neck injuries in football. More importantly, much has been transferred to the attentions given the threat of catastrophic injuries in other sports. Issues arise, however, as to the need for, and nature of, further attentions. It is timely for this forum to address and update for future collective attentions what is known and acceptable as to each cornerstone supporting these attentions -- Awareness, Mechanism, Guidelines & Standards, and Shared Responsibility expectations.
A Summary of Head and Neck Injuries in Collegiate Athletics Using the NCAA Injury Surveillance System.
Authors: Dick RW
Published: March 2009

The NCAA Injury Surveillance System (ISS) was used to evaluate head and neck injuries in twelve intercollegiate sports for 3–6 years through the 1990 season. Sports were categorized as those with and without mandated head protection. Prevalence of head and neck injuries were expressed as both a percentage of all reported injuries in a specific sport (%) as well as an injury rate (IR). In addition the primary injury mechanism was noted. Concussions were also listed as a percentage of all reported injuries in a sport and as an injury rate. Of the sports with no head protection, field hockey, men's soccer and women's soccer had the highest prevalence of head injuries and concussions expressed as both % or IR. Ice hockey and football had the highest head injury values of the sports with head protection. Wrestling and football showed the highest % and IR for neck injury.
Risk Factors of Head and Neck Injuries in Equestrian Activities
Authors: Byrd JWT
Published: March 2009

Equestrian activities represent a very heterogenous population. The risk of injury varies greatly among the various disciplines. Most injuries do not occur in organized competition but occur in the leisure, recreational or working environment.

Factors associated with mounted injuries include lack of adequate protective headgear and a significant incidence of ETOH intoxication. Unmounted cranial injuries usually occur from being kicked, reflecting the significance of exercising precaution at all times, even in unmounted situations.

Helmets that meet the ASTM standards have been found to significantly reduce head injuries. Protective vests, although popular, are unproven. A properly constructed vest may give some added protection from a direct blow but they will offer no protection from major spinal injuries.
The Response of the Cervical Spine to Axial Loading: Feasibility for Intervention
Authors: Burstein AH , Otis JC
Published: March 2009

We present a two part study. The first part deals with the mechanics of cervical spine injury and the injury mechanism. We have established the parameters of a head first impact situation which gives rise to catastrophic cervical spine injuries. We have examined the parameters of head acceleration, time, neck and head force, and neck and trunk displacement associated with such injuries. We will present data on several types of football helmets, and show what alteration in the mechanics of injury can be expected from a helmet.

The second part is the study of injury parameters which may be useful in analyzing the efficacy of proposed protective devices. One such device, a collar air bag, will be presented and its performance criteria will be evaluated.
How to Make Professional Boxing Safer—The American Medical Association Controversy
Authors: Cantu RC
Published: March 2009

Cerebral concussions occur frequently in contact sports; more than 250 000 concussions occur annually in football alone. Definitions and classifications of severity of concussions vary, which makes evaluation of data extremely difficult. By combining elements of various definitions, the author has developed a practical, on-the-field grading scheme for identifying concussions in contact sports (grade 1: mild, with no loss of consciousness; grade 2: moderate, with less than five minutes of unconsciousness or more than 30 minutes of post-traumatic amnesia; grade 3: severe, with five or more minutes of unconsciousness or 24 or more hours of post-traumatic amnesia.) Also discussed are management of concussions and guidelines for determining when an athlete may safely return to play.

Boxing has been criticized as a brutal sport, and many have called for its abolition. The author reviewed the literature on the health hazards of boxing and found that it has a lower fatality rate than several other sports, including horseracing and parachuting. The most serious health effect of boxing is chronic encephalopathy that affects the pyramidal, extrapyramidal, and cerebellar systems. Often called punchdrunk syndrome, it appears to be directly related to skill level and frequency of participation. Symptoms usually do not appear until after the boxer has retired. The boxing council and a medical surveillance program are necessary to enforce uniform licensing and medical standards and to generate data for research.
The Historical and Medical Aspects - Boxing
Authors: Unterharnscheidt FJ
Published: March 2009

This paper presents a survey of historical and biomechanical aspects of boxing, acute and chronic clinical findings and acute and chronic morphological findings of body organs, and the central nervous system of boxers. The historical section begins with the development of fistfighting in Greece and Rome. The impact mechanics of boxing blows against the head is discussed. Successive sections describe facial injuries, eye injuries, hearing impairment, injuries to the hand and wrist, cardiac injuries, acute renal change, and the different knock-down and knock-out mechanisms. Also discussed are the oculecardiac reflex, boxing blows against the lateral region of the neck, the chronic clinical findings, and the acute and pathomorphological findings in the brain. It is shown that boxing leads to a severe permanent brain damage, in amateur and professional boxers, which depends mainly on the number of bouts and the weight class of the boxer.
Cyclic Fatigue Test as a Method for Distinguishing Between Cracking and Non-Cracking Shingles
Authors: Datta MM , Corbin RL
Published: March 2009

A servo-hydraulic fatigue tester attempts to simulate stress cycles that shingles undergo on the roof. The test measures a shingle's resistance to tensile fatigue. Shingle specimens are subjected to a specific load under tension. The tension is released and then brought up to the designated load again. This cycling occurs at a frequency of 10 Hz until the sample breaks. Cyclic fatigue results were definitive in discriminating shingles that performed poorly versus shingles that performed well in service. The results of the testing has provided information on the endurance limit of shingles at an accelerated rate of cyclic tension.
Effect of Adhesive Thickness and Surface Cleanness on Creep-Rupture Performance of Ethylene-Propylene-Diene Terpolymer (EPDM) Peel and Lap-Shear Joints
Authors: Rossiter WJ , Martin JW , Lechner JA , Embree E , Seiler JF
Published: March 2009

Results of a fractional creep-rupture experiment using seam specimens fabricated from an ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer (EPDM) roofing membrane material and a butyl-based adhesive are reported. Three variables were included: adhesive thickness (thin and thick), EPDM-surface cleanness (well-cleaned and particulate-contaminated), and test specimen configuration (peel and shear). Only a few of the shear specimens failed and the failures were for specimens having thin adhesive and contaminated rubber. In contrast, the majority of the peel specimens failed. The ranking, in decreasing order of the median creep-rupture lifetime of the peel specimens, was: thick, clean > thick, contaminated > thin, clean > thin, contaminated. The effect of adhesive thickness on lifetime was greater than the effect of surface cleanness. When the early-failure behavior of the peel specimens was examined, somewhat different results were found. The thick, clean specimens displayed significantly longer times to early failure, by a factor of at least 100, than those fabricated using the other three combinations of pplication conditions. However, the predicted early times-to-failure for the sets of specimens fabricated using the other three application conditions were similar. The results emphasize that, for the system investigated, proper application of seams using solvent-based adhesives requires both thick adhesive layers and clean rubber surfaces. It is recommended that creep-rupture testing, particularly in peel, be an integral part of any methodology that evaluates the performance of seams.
Laboratory and roofing exposures of cellular plastic insulation to verify a model of aging
Authors: Bomberg MT , Kumaran MK
Published: March 2009

The Montreal Protocol made industry alter the technology for manufacturing cellular plastics by eliminating the use of chlorofluorocarbons as blowing agents. This has resulted in new foam products with alternative blowing agents. Now, the industry faces a challenge to ensure good, long-term performance of these products. To this end, the Society of the Plastics Industry of Canada and the National Research Council Canada have taken up the challenge to develop appropriate evaluation methods.

A test methodology for evaluating long-term thermal performance has already been developed and applied to sprayed polyurethane foams. This methodology includes measurements of material characteristics such as nitrogen diffusion coefficient, extinction coefficient for IR radiation, concentration of blowing agent, foam morphology and aging curves measured on thin slices cut from different locations in the foam (surfaces and cores). Information from these tests serve as the input to an extrapolative model of heat and mass transfer (model of aging) that can predict the long-term performance of foam insulation.

Currently, this methodology for evaluating long-term performance is being applied to board-stock products such as extruded polystyrenes, polyurethanes, polyisocyanurates, and phenolics. Several Canadian and US manufacturers have produced materials which are being exposed in laboratory as well as on a test roof. Thermal properties of these specimens are being continuously monitored and the data gathered from these two exposures are used to verify the applicability of the model.

This paper reports interim findings from the SPI/NRC investigation. Even though the investigation is not yet completed, it appears that the extrapolative aging model may become an important tool for evaluating long-term thermal resistance (LTTR) of cellular plastics.
Predicting the Strength of Bonded Carbon Fibre/Epoxy Composite Joints
Authors: John SJ
Published: March 2009

This paper discusses the use of a two-Parameter technique for predicting the failure of adhesively bonded double lap joints. Double lap joints have been prepared and exposed to high humidity and temperature and the change in joint strength has been measured experimentally and results verified with this predictive technique. This technique, which focuses on the computed shear stresses in the adhesive layer of the joint, is rationalised from an energetics and physical viewpoint and is put forward as a tool for predicting the joint failure load by knowing the adhesive's shear yield strength alone.
Joint Design : Finite Element Aided Design of Adhesive Joints
Authors: Esteves JL , Aivazzadeh S , Marques AT
Published: March 2009

This paper presents a special purpose finite element program developed on microcomputers for the analysis and design of adhesives joints. The Program “Joint Design” has been completely developed for the design of adhesives joints. It is planned and adapted for them with the following major features: i) the use of mixed interface finite elements, ii) significant decrease of computational time, iii) interactive user friendly package making possible the use of the program by designers with little or no knowledge of internal structure and methods.
Producing Rapid Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria (SRB)-lnfluenced Corrosion in the Laboratory
Authors: Webster BJ , Newman RC
Published: March 2009

Rapid corrosion influenced by sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) of a creviced stainless steel (Fe-15Cr-10Ni) has been produced potentiostatically at -250 mV (SCE) using specially designed media. SRB-influenced corrosion was also produced using a two-compart-ment cell where a small anode was connected through a zero resistance ammeter (ZRA) to a large-aerated cathode. By conducting potentiostatic and ZRA-coupling tests in a number of media, it was found that the corrosion process was influenced by anionic ratios, that is, the ratio of chloride-ion concentration to total-other-anion concentration.

In addition, studies of a convection-free stainless-steel electrode in a ‘Microcell’ assembly were conducted to investigate the stability of SRB-influenced corrosion in a bulk-aerated environment. These results suggest corrosion of stainless steel could occur in an anaerobic, convection-free microenvironment with SRB activity, by using oxygen reduction as the cathodic reaction elsewhere on the material.
Electrochemical Techniques for Detection of Localized Corrosion Phenomena
Authors: Mansfeld F , Xiao H
Published: March 2009

Most corrosion reactions in microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) are of localized nature. It is therefore necessary to develop methods that can provide information concerning the corrosion reactions occurring under biofilms. Electrochemical techniques such as electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), electrochemical noise analysis (ENA), and measurements of pit propagation rates for thin metal foils have been evaluated as tools for the study of localized corrosion in MIC. Initial studies have been carried out in abiotic NaCl solutions. Software has been prepared for collection and analysis of electrochemical noise data. It has been found that use of potential noise alone can lead to erroneous conclusions concerning the occurrence of pitting for Al alloys and the inhibition of corrosion of iron. However, current noise seems to be directly related to the extent of pitting. EIS has been used to detect the initiation and propagation of localized corrosion and to confirm the conclusions reached for the ENA-data. For iron in NaCl, the noise resistance had similar values as the polarization resistance determined by EIS. In thin foil tests, penetration of Al and nickel foils has been measured during exposure to 0.5 N NaCl.
Spatial Distribution of pH at Mild Steel Surfaces Using an Iridium Oxide Microelectrode
Authors: Lewandowski Z , Funk T , Roe F , Little BJ
Published: March 2009

The distribution of pH near a metal surface indicates the positions of anodic (low pH) and cathodic sites (high pH). A microsensor, small enough that the pH sensing tip is confined to the diffusion layer, can be used to monitor pH near metal surfaces. This paper describes the mapping of pH near water-immersed mild steel surfaces using miniaturized iridium/iridium oxide pH microelectrodes in conjunction with a computer controlled micropositioner and data acquisition system. Two systems were analyzed: (1) a bare mild steel coupon exposed to artificial sea water, and (2) a mild steel coupon, first partially covered with the biopolymer, calcium alginate, and then exposed to artificial seawater. After 8 h exposure to seawater both coupons exhibited localized corrosion. On the coupon partially covered with calcium alginate gel, corrosion was limited to the area covered by biopolymer. On the bare coupon, corrosion was widespread. pH mapping of the coupons showed that low pH regions were identified with the corroded areas, and high pH regions with the uncorroded areas. These observations demonstrate that, in the abiotic environment, anodic sites on a mild steel surface can be fixed by partially covering the metal with biopolymer.
Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion (MIC) of Ductile Iron Pipes in Soils
Authors: Kajiyama F , Okamura K , Koyama Y , Kasahara K
Published: March 2009

Corrosion of ductile cast iron in soils containing iron-oxidizing bacteria (IOB), sulfur-oxidizing bacteria (SOB), iron bacteria (IB), and sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB), or both, was studied in the laboratory by applying electrochemical techniques such as EIS and corrosion potential measurement. Weight loss measurements were directly correlated to the EIS measurements, thereby establishing a good correlation to estimate the general corrosion rates from the EIS measurements. EIS technique provided information on the nature of corrosion processes involved in MIC phenomena.
Burning Characteristics of Upholstered Chairs
Authors: Grand AF , Priest DN , Stansberry HW
Published: March 2009

Upholstered chairs in many different styles, fabrics, and foams were evaluated under the fire test conditions of California Technical Bulletin 133 (Flammability Test Procedure for Seating Furniture for Use in Public Occupancies). Measurements obtained from these experiments included mass loss, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide concentrations, smoke density, temperature, and heat release rate. Analysis of the data have revealed certain unusual burning characteristics of the furniture items, some trends in fire properties, and certain recommendations for future testing. Comparisons of ceiling temperatures to heat release rates, for example, often explain why a particular chair failed the Category A criteria of TB133, while passing Category B. These and other anomalies are discussed in view of the proposed ASTM test method for flammability evaluation of upholstered chairs.

The shape and style of a piece of upholstered furniture, the fabric covering, the fire blocking layer, and the foam may have an impact on the flammability results obtained in the TB133 test. Some of the data from Omega Point Laboratories' large database have been tabulated or plotted in order to illustrate these effects. Office-style chairs, where the back cushion does not adjoin the seat cushion and where the arms are not fully upholstered, often produce very different results than similar chairs where the cushions are joined. Fabric types and fire blocker design have significant effects on the heat release rate values. These results are presented in order to gain insight into the use of these tests for regulatory purposes and into the potential hazard of these furnishings in realistic full-scale fire scenarios.
Cone Calorimeter Studies of Furniture Component System
Authors: Forsten HH
Published: March 2009

The thermal performance for a wide range of upholstery fabrics made in various weights and fiber types has been studied. A cone calorimeter was utilized for this work using simulated furniture mockups of cover fabric, with and without Kevlar Z-11 fire blocker fabric and foam. Results are discussed with regard to heat release characteristics and relative performance of various components.
Interior Surface Materials, Principles of Classification, and Evaluation of Classification Systems
Authors: Hovde PJ
Published: March 2009

In a Nordic research program, EUREFIC, it has been shown how the new fire test methods, Room/Corner Test and the Cone Calorimeter Test, can be used for testing and classification of linings and surface finish products. A new proposal for a classification system for such products, based on test results from the Room/Corner Test, has been worked out. This classification system is based on time to flashover.

In this paper, a comparison between the new proposed classification system and the classification system used for such products in the Nordic countries today is presented. The existing classification system is based on the use of a combination of test results from separate test methods. The actual small-scale test methods used are also presented.

The two classification systems (proposed and existing) have been evaluated and compared by using test results for eleven different products from the EUREFIC program. The results show that it is very difficult to perform a joint classification based upon two separate small-scale test methods. It may be that too much emphasis is put on the test results from one of the methods. The proposed classification system, however, reflects the large-scale fire behavior of the various products. A brief comparison with classification of the same products according to other European, national classification systems shows that neither of these systems are able to predict the large-scale fire behavior of all products as seen in the Room/Corner Test.
Mathematical Models for Calculating Heat Release Rate in the Room Corner Test
Authors: Karlsson B
Published: March 2009

An extensive research program, dealing with fire growth on combustible wall lining materials, has been ongoing in Sweden over the last decade. Several lining materials were tested in bench-scale fire tests in order to derive basic material flammability parameters. The same materials were also tested in a full scale room test and a ⅓ scale room test for two different scenarios, A and B. Scenario A refers to the case where walls and ceiling are covered by the lining material, Scenario B where lining materials are mounted on walls only.

This study utilizes the results from these experiments and presents mathematical models where material properties derived from standardized bench-scale tests are used as input data. The models predict fire growth in the full or ⅓ scale tests, and consist of submodels for calculating the rate of heat release, gas temperatures, radiation to walls, wall surface temperatures, and flame spread on the wall lining material.

A thermal theory of wind-aided flame spread on thick solids is examined and solutions are given and analyzed for flame spread velocities under ceilings.

The results from the models are compared with experiments on 22 materials tested in the full scale room for Scenario A. Comparisons for Scenario B are made with 10 materials tested in the ⅓ scale room. The results show reasonably good agreement for most materials between the model and the experiments.
Sorption Transport Models for Indoor Air Quality Analysis
Authors: Axley JW , Lorenzetti D
Published: March 2009

Sorption filtration is presently being investigated as one means to control the quality of air in buildings, yet methods to integrate models of sorption filtration devices with multi-zone indoor air quality analysis procedures, to enable rational design of these devices, have not appeared.

This paper reviews the theoretical bases of sorption models recently developed for multizone contaminant dispersal analysis and presents new work to extend these models to the problem of sorption filtration modeling. Four generic families of models are presented that account for (1) the equilibrium limits of reversible sorption processes with or without (2) boundary layer diffusion transport at the adsorbent surface and (3) diffusion transport within the adsorbent proper, and, for filtration devices, (4) convection-diffusion transport within the filtration medium. All models are formulated as mass transport elements that may be directly assembled with existing elements to model contaminant dispersal in multizone building/HVAC systems of arbitrary complexity. A comparison of the model families is made, criteria are presented to aid in the selection of the model family to use, and results of first applications of these models are presented that provide some validation of the theory.
On Validation of Source and Sink Models: Problems and Possible Solutions
Authors: Guo Z
Published: March 2009

While model validation remains the weakest part of the entire process of indoor air quality (IAQ) model development, special problems have made the validation of indoor source and sink models even more difficult. Many source and sink models have been developed, but few have been properly validated. Major problems with current procedures include: elusive model parameters, confusion in parameter estimation methods, uncertainty in scale-up and misleading scaling factors, unspecified validity ranges, and weakness in quantitative comparisons between models and experimental observation.

To improve validation procedures, we have identified a number of potential areas including: proper definition of validation scope, proper use of statistical comparison methods, development of mass transfer indices to bridge the gap between test chambers and real buildings, and development of a cooperative effort to build a source and sink database to facilitate validation.
Type, Location, and Severity of Hockey Injuries Occurring During Competition and Practice
Authors: Bancroft RW
Published: March 2009

This investigation identifies the type, location, and severity of injuries University of North Dakota ice hockey players experience during competition and practice over a competitive season, and compares the findings with those reported by other studies. More specifically, the sub-problems investigated were: (1) practice, competition, and overall injury rates; (2) injury type, severity, and location by frequency; (3) injury frequency by player position; and (4) injury trends that may be occurring, with a view toward prevention through equipment, rules, coaching, and training.

A modified version of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance System was used to collect athletic exposures and injury data. The results of this study were, for the most part, inconsistent with the previous studies that were analyzed, showing the need for further studies with good epidemiologic data. Only then will we be able to identify the injuries common to ice hockey, their trends, if any, and intervention proposed with rules, equipment, coaching, or training techniques, if necessary.
Chronological and Biological Age as Related to Performance in Young Elite Ice Hockey Players
Authors: Larivière G , Nicoletti I , Bossi A , Milani S
Published: March 2009

This study investigated if chronological age, as determined by month of birth, gives players of the same age an advantage in criteria related to ice hockey success. Elite players (N = 107), aged 15 years, were grouped per quartile of the year, according to their birth month. The frequency distribution of the subjects shows a significantly greater number of players born in the first quartile of the year: 56.5% (Q1) January to March, 22.2% in (Q2) April to June, 13.0% in (Q3) July to September, and 8.3% in (Q4) October to December. The subjects were submitted to a battery of on-and off-ice tests. The off-ice tests included measurements of height, weight, skeletal maturity, body fat, abdominal endurance, leg and hand strength, and anaerobic and aerobic power. The on-ice evaluation measured forward and backward skating speed, skating agility with and without the puck, as well as skating endurance. Analysis of variance reveals no significant difference between quartile of the year for any of the technical, physical, and fitness characteristics with the exception of skeletal age with Q1, Q2, and Q3 groups being significantly older than the Q4 group (p < 0.05). The mean skeletal age indicate an advanced biological maturity status for all the quartile groups. These results suggest that in ice hockey early maturation gives young players an important competitive edge.
NCAA Hockey Coaches' Perspectives on Current Issues
Authors: Chouinard N , Blann W
Published: March 2009

Participation in hockey at the amateur level in the United States has increased significantly over the past decade. This strong base of youth hockey players has provided more talent for college coaches striving to build competitive teams. This study investigated National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) hockey coaches' perspectives on some of the issues impacting the game of hockey. To obtain data on current issues, a questionnaire was sent to all NCAA hockey coaches. Academic progress of the student-athletes, officiating, recruitment of hockey players, and the amount of physical play were the four most pressing concerns expressed by coaches. Although some efforts are being made to address the concerns raised in this study, the authors believe a comprehensive, reeducative approach of the entire sport community is needed to bring about a lasting change. Game officials, coaches, athletic directors, and league commissioners must take the initiative and all work together to address these important issues and act as change agents in their struggle to make the game safer and more enjoyable for all student-athletes competing in intercollegiate hockey.
The Sports Mouthguard: Its Use and Misuse in Ice Hockey
Authors: Castaldi CR
Published: March 2009

The history of the sports mouthguard is reviewed from the early 1930s when it was first used by professional boxers, to the present, when American football, field hockey, ice hockey, and lacrosse players are required to wear a mouthguard. The methods whereby the mouthguard protects against injured teeth, broken jaws, and concussions are described.

The various types of mouthguards and the history of their use in those sports that require them are reviewed. The relatively inexpensive “boil and bite” mouthguard may be satisfactory for the stop-and-go action of American football, but it has no place in the high-speed, continuous action of upper level college hockey in which few time-outs are allowed. “Boil and bite” mouthguards are acceptable for youth and high school hockey, but college, junior, and professional players need custom-made mouthguards.

At the level of youth and high school hockey, compliance with the mouthguard rule is excellent. But at the college level, few players comply with the rule and little responsibility is taken by coaches or referees to see that the players comply, despite jaw fractures and an annual concussion rate of 4 to 5% over the past five years. The solution is not to discontinue the mouthguard rule as some have suggested, but to encourage the appointment of qualified team dentists, not only to fit players with proper mouthguards and identify untreated dental problems at the time of the preseason physical examination, but to ensure emergency dental services frequently required at the level of junior, international, and professional hockey where there are no effective face protection rules.
Where Real Product Quality Starts
Authors: Daly TA
Published: March 2009

Current master plans for “Total Quality Management” and the “Deming Approach” devote rleatively minor attention to a key operation- the actual design of the product. This paper discusses techniques and procedures for management of the design function to assure optimum product quality and reliability, with the objective of complete customer satisfaction. Areas covered are: Design Personnel, Product Design Specification, Formal Design Review, Fault Tree Analysis, Failure Mode and Effect Analysis, and Field Performance Data Collection and Use.