title: Comparing hardness tests to estimate, evaluate, and analyse the mechanical properties of structural steel

authors: Gopi, Govind

abstract: The paper investigates the mechanical properties of structural steels, focusing on hardness and toughness, which are important indicators used in industrial applications. In total, four major hardness testing methods were analysed: Vickers, Rockwell, Brinell, and Leeb, and the Charpy impact test was used to measure toughness. The hardness tests evaluated the precision with which steel resistance to deformation can be determined under different conditions, and the Charpy test examined their energy absorption capacity in case of sudden fractures and tensile testing was estimated on them to study the range of yield strength and ultimate tensile strength. This research has conducted 288 experimental tests to evaluate the correlation between various hardness testing methods (Brinell, Vickers, Rockwell, and Leeb) and the mechanical properties of the structural steel samples. Further, 42 experimental tests were performed for the Charpy impact test to evaluate a correlation between Charpy impact values and mechanical properties of the structural steel samples. 330 samples were prepared for the respective tests, representing various structural steel grades (Grade 300, 350, and 400). Among different grades of steel samples, 350-grade steel exhibited a higher impact energy of 94.4 J. Both Charpy Impact Values and Hardness Test Values were plotted against ultimate tensile strength and yield strength to determine if there is a correlation between the properties. The results reveal a better accuracy of Vickers and Rockwell tests as they revealed only an error percentage of 2.5% and 1.9%, respectively, especially for fine-grained materials, while Leeb is characterized by good convenience in large-scale testing at the site. Although the Brinell test is very effective for coarse structures, it was not as precise as martensite in more complex microstructures. Both hardness and tensile strength showed a strong correlation, indicating that hardness may accurately predict the material strength. The study also highlights the reverse relationship between hardness and toughness.  This research contributes to structural steel testing by proposing methods to predict mechanical properties using non-destructive testing techniques. It sets the stage for future improvementsin hardness testing models by incorporating factors like microstructural variations, strain hardening, and heat treatment, which can enhance the accuracy of predictions. Furthermore, the research underscores the importance of portable hardness testing methods and emphasizes the need for improved calibration protocols to ensure more accurate in-situ measurements.

text: Comparing hardness tests to estimate, evaluate, and analyse the mechanical properties of structural steel The paper investigates the mechanical properties of structural steels, focusing on hardness and toughness, which are important indicators used in industrial applications. In total, four major hardness testing methods were analysed: Vickers, Rockwell, Brinell, and Leeb, and the Charpy impact test was used to measure toughness. The hardness tests evaluated the precision with which steel resistance to deformation can be determined under different conditions, and the Charpy test examined their energy absorption capacity in case of sudden fractures and tensile testing was estimated on them to study the range of yield strength and ultimate tensile strength. This research has conducted 288 experimental tests to evaluate the correlation between various hardness testing methods (Brinell, Vickers, Rockwell, and Leeb) and the mechanical properties of the structural steel samples. Further, 42 experimental tests were performed for the Charpy impact test to evaluate a correlation between Charpy impact values and mechanical properties of the structural steel samples. 330 samples were prepared for the respective tests, representing various structural steel grades (Grade 300, 350, and 400). Among different grades of steel samples, 350-grade steel exhibited a higher impact energy of 94.4 J. Both Charpy Impact Values and Hardness Test Values were plotted against ultimate tensile strength and yield strength to determine if there is a correlation between the properties. The results reveal a better accuracy of Vickers and Rockwell tests as they revealed only an error percentage of 2.5% and 1.9%, respectively, especially for fine-grained materials, while Leeb is characterized by good convenience in large-scale testing at the site. Although the Brinell test is very effective for coarse structures, it was not as precise as martensite in more complex microstructures. Both hardness and tensile strength showed a strong correlation, indicating that hardness may accurately predict the material strength. The study also highlights the reverse relationship between hardness and toughness.  This research contributes to structural steel testing by proposing methods to predict mechanical properties using non-destructive testing techniques. It sets the stage for future improvementsin hardness testing models by incorporating factors like microstructural variations, strain hardening, and heat treatment, which can enhance the accuracy of predictions. Furthermore, the research underscores the importance of portable hardness testing methods and emphasizes the need for improved calibration protocols to ensure more accurate in-situ measurements.

year: 2024-11-23

title: Note on the occurrence of Taupo pumice in the Hamilton basin

authors: Tonkin, Philip J.

subjects: Hamilton basin

abstract: The presence of a thin layer of pumice lapilli and ash close to the surface of the Rukuhia and Moanatuatua peat bogs was recorded by Grange and Taylor (1939). Since this time a similar band of pumice has been noted in many of the other peat areas in the Hamilton basin. In the undeveloped fibrous peats of the Woodlands bog a layer of pumice lapilli 2 to 3 inches thick occurs at a depth of 18 to 20 inches from the surface. This is similar to the observations of Grange and Taylor. In the more loamy peats the pumice layer is predominantly fine ash and any lapilli present are extremely weathered and crush easily. In the fibrous peats it is thought that the fine ash that fell on the bog surface soon dispersed in the loose network of dead material, whereas the lapilli were of sufficient size to be trapped. In the loamy peats more active weathering took place in an acid environment as the organic matter was breaking down. This made the lapilli very fragile, so with drainage and compaction of the peat the lapilli were very soon crushed to fine ash size.

text: Note on the occurrence of Taupo pumice in the Hamilton basin The presence of a thin layer of pumice lapilli and ash close to the surface of the Rukuhia and Moanatuatua peat bogs was recorded by Grange and Taylor (1939). Since this time a similar band of pumice has been noted in many of the other peat areas in the Hamilton basin. In the undeveloped fibrous peats of the Woodlands bog a layer of pumice lapilli 2 to 3 inches thick occurs at a depth of 18 to 20 inches from the surface. This is similar to the observations of Grange and Taylor. In the more loamy peats the pumice layer is predominantly fine ash and any lapilli present are extremely weathered and crush easily. In the fibrous peats it is thought that the fine ash that fell on the bog surface soon dispersed in the loose network of dead material, whereas the lapilli were of sufficient size to be trapped. In the loamy peats more active weathering took place in an acid environment as the organic matter was breaking down. This made the lapilli very fragile, so with drainage and compaction of the peat the lapilli were very soon crushed to fine ash size.

year: 1967

title: A Communitarian Approach to Accountability for the Common Good: A Case Study of Community Participation in Planning and Policy Making for Lake Taupo

authors: Arunachalam, Murugesh

subjects: accountability

abstract: This thesis seeks to gain a theoretical and empirical understanding of the meaning of a communitarian approach to accountability for the common good (CAACG). The hermeneutic analysis adopted in this study starts by explaining the researcher's pre-understandings which includes contemporary ideas on accountability, communitarianism and sustainability. A theoretical communitarian model was designed by synthesising these ideas. Using the theoretical model the researcher attempted to advance the meaning of CAACG in multiple contexts which include: the global context on sustainability; the New Zealand context on local governance; and more specifically in the context of planning and policy making for the sustainable development of the Taupo District. The use of such multiple contexts is crucial for this study. This is because communitarian ideology in New Zealand has historical roots in Local Government which, in recent years has been influenced by the global discourse on sustainable development. The adoption of multiple contexts is aimed at providing a holistic and historical understanding of planning and policy making processes in the Taupo District and the manifestation of CAACG in the processes.

In this interpretive study the term  text  is defined as the empirical data which consists of public documents, website material, minutes of community meetings, field notes and transcriptions of interviews. The empirical data is about processes and outcomes of collaboration between the community groups, public authorities and private entities in formulating strategies and policies for sustainable development of the Taupo District. Interpretation of the empirical data involved understanding the  text  from the vantage point of the pre-understandings of the interpreter. The interpretation of the  text  is is aimed at explaining the manifestation of CAACG in the Taupo District. The methodological orientations of the thesis are predominantly consistent with the hermeneutic tradition of Gadamer (1975). However, although the interpreter started with the intention of strictly confining to the subjectivist approach of Gadamer (1975), at times the hermeneutic methodology adopted by the researcher encroached into the methodological orientations of objectivist hermeneutics. The use of objectivist hermeneutic was inevitable as it was necessary to understand the authorial intention in the text before the interpreter understands the text from the perspective of his pre-understandings. Hence, the researcher rejects the assumption of objective-subjective dichotomy and subscribes more to the philosophical arguments advanced by contemporary scholars (such as Boland Jr, 1989 and Ricoeur, 1981) who find both the subjective and objective philosophies as necessary for interpreting texts. 

The hermeneutic analysis undertaken in this study suggests that the meaning of CAACG appears in the context of communal processes (including planning and policy making processes) and the strategies and policies formulated by the Taupo community. The meaning of CAACG may not be obvious to any reader of the  text . It arises from the interpretation of the  text  from the perspective of the interpreter's pre-understandings on a communitarian approach to accountability. The interpretation suggests the existence of a community of interests, community values and concerns, and communal processes in the Taupo District.  Community values and concerns are associated with Lake Taupo. The primary concern of the community is the pollution of Lake Taupo caused by animal farming in the land surrounding the lake and the impact the pollution has on the environmental, economic and cultural values of the community. The communal processes involved collaboration between the community and public authorities in planning and policy making for the protection of Lake Taupo. The interpretation also indicates the manifestation of several dimensions of accountability in the communal processes; joint accountability or 360 degree accountability in the Taupo District; and the holistic meaning of environmental and social accounting.

In the Taupo District the operation of the CAACG can be affected by several factors. Symmetry of power can be affected in terms of the preferential treatment given to the indigenous community and its segregation from the rest of the community. The strong influence of local authorities in the planning and decision making processes makes the community appear helpless without the local authorities. Communitarian processes intended to empower the community may actually strengthen the position of local authorities. Power has actually shifted from Central Government to local authorities and may not necessarily have shifted to communities. However, the endeavours to engage the community in the Taupo District can be seen as attempts to build the capacity of the community to participate in the processes and time will tell how effective the CAACG will prove to be.

This thesis is the pioneer in advancing the theorization of the CAACG and has added a substantial contribution to accountability literature. It suggests a new way of looking at environmental and social accounting in which the emphasis is on community involvement through reporting and deliberation (dialectical dimension of accountability) on the impacts of human activities on the natural environment. The CAACG is premised on the centrality of community and the assumption of a 360 degree accountability in which everyone in the community has mutual responsibility to protect the common good and can be subject to critical enquiry for the adverse impacts of their activities on the common good. The CAACG does not accord private corporations the privilege status of  reporting entities  but considers environmental and social accounting as the agenda of the community. 

The concept of CAACG is not utopian as it may sound to some readers of this thesis. There are ample evidence of communities throughout the world demanding a voice in statutory planning and decision making for sustainable development. The increasing focus on environmental sustainability and community participation in the planning and decision making processes arises from greater awareness of the detrimental impacts of environmental pollution and the realisation that the decision on the common good cannot be left to free market forces and private corporations. The natural environment belongs to a community of interests which wants to participate in joint responsibility and collective planning and decision making. No individual or group has the right to make decisions about the natural environment without consulting the community.

text: A Communitarian Approach to Accountability for the Common Good: A Case Study of Community Participation in Planning and Policy Making for Lake Taupo This thesis seeks to gain a theoretical and empirical understanding of the meaning of a communitarian approach to accountability for the common good (CAACG). The hermeneutic analysis adopted in this study starts by explaining the researcher's pre-understandings which includes contemporary ideas on accountability, communitarianism and sustainability. A theoretical communitarian model was designed by synthesising these ideas. Using the theoretical model the researcher attempted to advance the meaning of CAACG in multiple contexts which include: the global context on sustainability; the New Zealand context on local governance; and more specifically in the context of planning and policy making for the sustainable development of the Taupo District. The use of such multiple contexts is crucial for this study. This is because communitarian ideology in New Zealand has historical roots in Local Government which, in recent years has been influenced by the global discourse on sustainable development. The adoption of multiple contexts is aimed at providing a holistic and historical understanding of planning and policy making processes in the Taupo District and the manifestation of CAACG in the processes.

In this interpretive study the term  text  is defined as the empirical data which consists of public documents, website material, minutes of community meetings, field notes and transcriptions of interviews. The empirical data is about processes and outcomes of collaboration between the community groups, public authorities and private entities in formulating strategies and policies for sustainable development of the Taupo District. Interpretation of the empirical data involved understanding the  text  from the vantage point of the pre-understandings of the interpreter. The interpretation of the  text  is is aimed at explaining the manifestation of CAACG in the Taupo District. The methodological orientations of the thesis are predominantly consistent with the hermeneutic tradition of Gadamer (1975). However, although the interpreter started with the intention of strictly confining to the subjectivist approach of Gadamer (1975), at times the hermeneutic methodology adopted by the researcher encroached into the methodological orientations of objectivist hermeneutics. The use of objectivist hermeneutic was inevitable as it was necessary to understand the authorial intention in the text before the interpreter understands the text from the perspective of his pre-understandings. Hence, the researcher rejects the assumption of objective-subjective dichotomy and subscribes more to the philosophical arguments advanced by contemporary scholars (such as Boland Jr, 1989 and Ricoeur, 1981) who find both the subjective and objective philosophies as necessary for interpreting texts. 

The hermeneutic analysis undertaken in this study suggests that the meaning of CAACG appears in the context of communal processes (including planning and policy making processes) and the strategies and policies formulated by the Taupo community. The meaning of CAACG may not be obvious to any reader of the  text . It arises from the interpretation of the  text  from the perspective of the interpreter's pre-understandings on a communitarian approach to accountability. The interpretation suggests the existence of a community of interests, community values and concerns, and communal processes in the Taupo District.  Community values and concerns are associated with Lake Taupo. The primary concern of the community is the pollution of Lake Taupo caused by animal farming in the land surrounding the lake and the impact the pollution has on the environmental, economic and cultural values of the community. The communal processes involved collaboration between the community and public authorities in planning and policy making for the protection of Lake Taupo. The interpretation also indicates the manifestation of several dimensions of accountability in the communal processes; joint accountability or 360 degree accountability in the Taupo District; and the holistic meaning of environmental and social accounting.

In the Taupo District the operation of the CAACG can be affected by several factors. Symmetry of power can be affected in terms of the preferential treatment given to the indigenous community and its segregation from the rest of the community. The strong influence of local authorities in the planning and decision making processes makes the community appear helpless without the local authorities. Communitarian processes intended to empower the community may actually strengthen the position of local authorities. Power has actually shifted from Central Government to local authorities and may not necessarily have shifted to communities. However, the endeavours to engage the community in the Taupo District can be seen as attempts to build the capacity of the community to participate in the processes and time will tell how effective the CAACG will prove to be.

This thesis is the pioneer in advancing the theorization of the CAACG and has added a substantial contribution to accountability literature. It suggests a new way of looking at environmental and social accounting in which the emphasis is on community involvement through reporting and deliberation (dialectical dimension of accountability) on the impacts of human activities on the natural environment. The CAACG is premised on the centrality of community and the assumption of a 360 degree accountability in which everyone in the community has mutual responsibility to protect the common good and can be subject to critical enquiry for the adverse impacts of their activities on the common good. The CAACG does not accord private corporations the privilege status of  reporting entities  but considers environmental and social accounting as the agenda of the community. 

The concept of CAACG is not utopian as it may sound to some readers of this thesis. There are ample evidence of communities throughout the world demanding a voice in statutory planning and decision making for sustainable development. The increasing focus on environmental sustainability and community participation in the planning and decision making processes arises from greater awareness of the detrimental impacts of environmental pollution and the realisation that the decision on the common good cannot be left to free market forces and private corporations. The natural environment belongs to a community of interests which wants to participate in joint responsibility and collective planning and decision making. No individual or group has the right to make decisions about the natural environment without consulting the community.

year: 2010