Earticle

This study is aimed to improve safety of ladle in the metal products manufacturing industry. Burns may occur from spills, spatters or eruptions of hot metal from ladles during pouring or transporting. According to the statistics of occupational accidents about the ladle, many victims were exposed to or contacted with extreme temperatures. The many fatal injuries occurred as a result of unexpected discharging of molten metal due to tipping over ladles. To prevent ladles from turning over, the trunnion axis shall be located below the center of gravity of the ladle at all operating condition. For this purpose, the equation is proposed to calculate the minimum location of a trunnion axis for definite static stability when tilting

Objective: This study aimed to determine the effects of neuromuscular electrical Stimulation (NMES) on ankle stability and static balance in persons with chronic ankle instability (CAI). Design: A randomized controlled trial. Methods: This study recruited 45 individuals with ankle instability, of which five were excluded based on certain criteria. Hence, this study included 40 participants. The participants were randomized to the NMES (n=20) or short-foot exercise (SFE) (n=20) groups. The intervention was administered to each group thrice weekly for four weeks. NMES was performed by placing electrodes 1-2 cm behind the navicular tuberosity at a frequency of 30 Hz to stimulate the abductor hallucis muscle. In the SFE method, the head of the metatarsal is drawn toward the floor and heel. All participants were assessed using the Cumberland ankle instability tool (CAIT) and static balance pre- and post-intervention. Results: In the intragroup comparison, both groups showed significant improvements in CAIT and static balance (p<0.05). In the intergroup comparison, there was no significant difference found between both groups. Conclusions: The NMES can be as effective as SFE for ankle stability and static balance in young adults with CAI. Accordingly, we propose the application of NMESas an effective intervention method in patients with CAI who cannot apply SFE due to paralysis of part of the body.

Objective: Tension-type headache is caused by hormones, foods, irritants, stress, obesity, fatigue, and neck and head trigger points-prolonged abnormal posture. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of relaxation approach on head posture, static postural stability, and headache in persons with tension-type headache. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: Thirty-five persons with tension-type headache participated in this study. This study was a pretest-posttest with a control group design for a duration of 4 weeks (60 min/3 times/1 wk). The participants were randomly allocated to the relaxation approach group (n=18) and the control group with conventional rehabilitation including thermotherapy and transcutaneous electrical stimulation for the same period (n=17). Outcome measures involved forward head posture (FHP), foot pressure, neck disability index (NDI), and six-item headache impact test (HIT-6). Results: Relaxation approach and control groups improved significantly in the amount of forward head posture, neck disability index, and six-item headache impact test scores after training (p<0.05). The control group was found to be significantly different in the amount of FHP, backward foot pressure, NDI, and HIT-6 after training compared to before training (p<0.05). The relaxation approach group significantly improved in forward head posture, neck disability index, and six-item headache impact test compared with control group after training (p<0.05). Neck disability index and six-item headache impact test significantly improved after training compared with before training in the control group (p<0.05). However, the foot pressure was not significantly different between relaxation approach and control groups. Conclusions: This study suggests that treatment with relaxation approach combined with self-exercise would be effective in reducing the amount of forward head posture, neck disability and headache impacts.

Purpose: This study was conducted in order to determine the effects of knee malalignment including genu varum, valgum, and recurvatum on static and dynamic postural stability. Methods: A total of 80 subjects were enrolled in this study. Subjects who showed over 3 cm in the distance between the knees were classified as the genu varum group, and subjects who showed over 3 cm in the distance between the ankles were classified as the genu valgum group. Subjects who showed over 1 cm in the distance between the patella and a table in prone position were classified as the genu recurvatum group. Static and dynamic stability were measured as overall, anterioposterior, and mediolateral balance index using a Biodex Balance System. Results: This study showed that knee alignment affected static and dynamic postural stability. In particular, there were significant differences in the mediolateral stability index among genu varum, valgum group, and the other groups, but no differences in overall and anteriolateral stability index. Significant differences in the anterioposterior stability index were observed between genu recurvatum and the other groups, however, there were no differences in overall and mediolateral stability index. Conclusion: The findings were that knee malalignment affects postural stability toward a specific direction. Treatment to improve postural stability for treatment of knee malalignment or to prevent falling or injuries is needed and postural stability toward a specific direction according to the knee alignment conditions should be considered.

Background: The foot is a complex body structure that plays an important role in static and dynamic situations. Previous studies have reported that altered foot posture might affect knee joint strength and postural stability, however their relationship still remains unclear. Objects: The purpose of this study was to identify whether pronated foot posture has an influence on knee isokinetic strength and static and dynamic postural stability. Methods: Forty healthy young males aged 18 to 26 years were included. Foot posture was evaluated using the Foot Posture Index-6 (FPI-6), and the subjects were divided into two groups according to their FPI-6 scores: a neutral foot group (n = 20, FPI-6 score 0 to +5) and a pronated foot group (n = 20, FPI-6 score +6 or more). Biodex Systems 3 isokinetic dynamometer was used to evaluate knee isokinetic strength and hamstring to quadriceps ratio at three angular velocities: 60°/sec, 90°/sec, and 180°/sec. The static and dynamic postural stability in a single-leg stance under the eyes-open and eyes-closed conditions were measured with a Biodex Balance System. Results: There were no significant differences between the groups in knee isokinetic strength and static postural stability (p > 0.05), but there was a significant difference in the medial-lateral stability index (MLSI) for dynamic postural stability under the eyes-closed condition (p = 0.022). The FPI-6 scores correlated significantly only with the dynamic overall stability index (OSI) and the MLSI (OSI: R = 0.344, p = 0.030; MLSI: R = 0.409, p = 0.009) under the eyesclosed condition. Conclusion: Participants with pronated foot had poorer medial-lateral dynamic stability under an eyes-closed condition than those without, and FPI-6 scores were moderately positively correlated with dynamic OSI and dynamic MLSI under the eyes-closed condition. These results suggest that pronated foot posture could induce a change in postural stability, but not in knee isokinetic strength.

이 논문은 단순지지된 변단면 기둥의 정적, 동적 안정해석에 관한 연구이다. 이 연구에서 기둥의 체적과 지간길이는 일정하다. 기둥의 단면은 정다각형 단면이고 단면깊이의 변화는 포물선형으로 채택하였다. 압축하중을 받는 이러한 기둥의 자유 진동을 지배하는 미분방정식과 경계조건을 무차원으로 유도하였다. 이 미분방정식을 수치해석하여 고유진동수와 진동형 및 좌굴하중을 산정하였다. 단면비와 고유진동수 및 좌굴하중의 관계를 분석하여 동적 최적단면비, 최적 고유진동수 및 최강기둥의 단면비 및 좌굴하중을 얻었다.

This study deals with the static and dynamic stability analyses of simple tapered columns with constant volume. The crosssections of column taper are the regular polygons whose depths are varied with the parabolic functional fashion. The hingedhinged end constraint is chosen as the boundary condition of the column. The non-dimensional ordinary differential equation governing free vibrations of such column subjected to an axial load is derived and solved numerically. From numerical results, the relationships between natural frequencies and section ratios are obtained, from which the configurations of dynamic optimal shapes of columns and the strongest columns are extracted.

상태 궤환 제어기 설계에 있어서 상태 정보에 대한 접근의 제한성 때문에, 출력 궤환 제어기 설계에 대한 많은 연구가 수행되어 왔다. 그럼에도 불구하고 최적의 출력 궤한 제어기 설계는 여전히 풀리지 않은 문제로 남아 있다. 따라서, 기존에 수행되었던 관련한 다양한 고정형 출력 궤한 제어기 설계 연구 결과를 리뷰하고 복잡도와 안정성 관점에서 성능을 평가 비교함으로써 이 분야의 연구의 방향을 찾고자 한다. 또한, 기존 연구에서 제한적인 시스템 구성에서 제시되었던 알고리즘들을 어떤 시스템 구성에서도 적용가능할 수 있도록 리뷰하는 알고리즘을 완벽하게 제공한다. 리뷰하는 알고리즘은 모의 실험을 통해서 안정성 성능과 연산 시간으로 측정된 복잡도를 통하여 비교 평가한다. 모의실험 결과에 따르면, 대수에 의한 제어기 설계 알고리즘[20]이 가장 적은 복잡도를 가지는 반면에 스케링 변환 기반의 선형 행렬 부등식 알고리즘[18]이 대부분의 경우에 고복잡도를 가지고 가장 좋은 성능을 갖음을 확인하였다.

Limited access to state information in the design of a feedback controller has brought out a significant amount of research on the design of an output feedback controller. Despite its long endeavor to find an optimal one, it is still an open problem. Thus, we focus on the comparison of existing states of arts in the design of a static output feedback controller in terms of stability and complexity so as to find further research direction in this field. To this end, we present eight design methods in a unified presentation. We also provide the complete description of algorithms which can be applicable to any system configuration. Stability performance and complexity in terms of processing time are evaluated through numerical simulations. Simulation results show that the algebraic controller (AC) algorithm [20] has the smallest complexity while the scaling linear matrix inequality (SLMI) algorithm [18] seems to achieve the best stability in most cases with much higher complexity.

ETX (Expected Transmission Count) is a well-known link quality metric which has been widely used to find reliable paths between sources and destinations in wireless networks. However, the performance of ETX worsens as the traffic load increases. In this work, we investigate the causes of the instability of ETX under high traffic load and show that the high increase of route request packets significantly affects ETX link metric values. To address this problem, this paper proposes a new link quality estimation metric called HETX (High Load – Expected Transmission Count). Simulations are conducted to compare the performance of three metrics – HETX, ETX and minimum hop-count. The simulation results show that HETX outperforms ETX and minimum hop-count under high load while it performs as well as ETX under light load.

Purpose: Leg length discrepancy (LLD) is one of the risk factors for postural imbalance. This study aimed to investigate the effect of induced leg length discrepancy on the limitation of stability (LOS) and static postural balance. Methods: Thirteen adults (males, 7; females 6) participated in this study. The LOS and static postural balance [sway length, sway area, and sway velocity of center of gravity (COG) displacement] were measured by the balance trainer system. The subjects were asked to move the COG for the anterior, posterior, and left and right directions maximally and to keep standing on the platform with and without induced LLD for 30 s in the open and closed eyes conditions, respectively. The LLD was artificially induced to 2 cm using insole. Wilcoxon test was used to compare the LOS and the static postural balance between with and without induced LLD. Results: The anterior and posterior LOS significantly decreased in induced LLD (p<0.05), and the left and right LOS were not significantly different between with and without LLD (p>0.05). Sway length, sway area, and sway velocity of the COG displacement significantly decreased in induced LLD (p<0.05). Conclusion: This study suggests that induced LLD could decease the antero–posterior LOS and increased the static postural balance. Therefore, the LLD could disturb the postural balance.

[PURPOSE] The purpose of this study was to evaluate effects of short term static · dynamic lumbar stability exercise on the trunk muscles strength and endurance of chronic low back pain female college students in their 20's. [METHODS] The subjects were consisted of twenty patients who had non specific chronic low back pain. All subjects randomly assigned to the static lumbar stabilizing exercise group(n=10)and dynamic lumbar stabilizing exercise group. Dynamic lumbar stabilizing exercise group received 3D balance, static lumbar stabilizing exercise group received bridge exercise during 4 weeks period. HUR was used to measure the isometric muscle strength. Time watch measure method was used to measure the abdominal and back muscle strength and endurance of trunk flexion and extension. [RESULTS] The trunk muscle strength was significantly difference between group(p<.05), Short term dynamic lumbar stabilizing exercise group was significantly increased than short term static lumbar stabilizing exercise group(p<.05). Endurance of trunk flexion, extension weren't significantly difference between group(p>.05). [CONCLUSIONS] Short term dynamic lumbar stabilizing exercise group showed increase in trunk muscle strength. Both group were increased endurance of trunk flexion, extension. Therefore, Short term dynamic and static lumbar stabilizing exercise will be available in the intervention of chronic low back pain patients.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine test-retest reliability and criterion-related validity of a trunk stability robot when measuring the weight-bearing symmetry static sitting and standing in stroke patients. Methods: For 27 stroke patients, weight-bearing symmetry was assessed twice, 7 days apart. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC2,1) and minimal detectable change (MDC) were used to examine the level of agreement between test and retest. The criterion-related validity of weight –bearing symmetry was demonstrated by Spearman correlation of modified Barthel index (MBI), the sit to stand test (STS), the timed up & go Test (TUG), and the function in sitting test (FIST). Results: the test–retest agreements were excellent for the weight-bearing symmetry of static sitting (ICC2,1: 0.90) and standing (ICC2,1: 0.89). It all showed that the acceptable MDC for the weight-bearing symmetry of static sitting and standing was 0.11 and 0.16, respectively (highest possible score<20 %), indicating that the measures had a small and acceptable degree of measurement error. The weight-bearing symmetry of static sitting was significantly correlated with the TUG(r=-0.45) and FIST(r=0.46)(p<0.05); the weight-bearing symmetry of static standing was also significantly correlated with MBI (r=0.65), TUG (r=-0.67), FIST (r=0.61)(p<0.01), and STS (r=-0.47)(p<0.05). Conclusion: The weight-bearing symmetry of static sitting and standing assessed by the trunk stability robot showed highly sufficient test-retest agreement and mild-to-moderate validity. It could also be useful for clinicians and researchers to evaluate balance performance and monitor functional change in stroke patients.

The objective of this paper is to present free vibration and static stability analyses of rotating composite beams reinforced with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) under uniform thermal loads. Beam structural equations and CNT-reinforced composite (CNTRC) beam formulations are derived based on Timoshenko beam theory (TBT). The temperature-dependent properties of the beam material, such as the elastic modulus, shear modulus, and material density, are assumed to vary over the thickness according to the rule of mixture. The beam material is modeled as a mixture of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) in an isotropic matrix. The SWCNTs are aligned and distributed in the isotropic matrix with different patterns of reinforcement, namely the UD (uniform), FG-O, FG-V, FG- Λ and FG-X distributions, where FG-V and FG- Λ are asymmetric patterns. Numerical examples are presented to illustrate the effects of several essential parameters, including the rotational speed, hub radius, effective material properties, slenderness ratio, boundary conditions, thermal force, and moments due to temperature variation. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this study represents the first attempt at the finite element modeling of rotating CNTRC Timoshenko beams under a thermal environment. The results are presented in tables and figures for both symmetric and asymmetric distribution patterns, and can be used as benchmarks for further validation.

In this paper, stability analysis of sandwich toroidal shell segments (TSSs) with carbon nanotube (CNT)-reinforced face sheets featuring various types of auxetic cores, surrounded by elastic foundations under radial pressure is presented. Two distinct types of auxetic structures are considered for the core, including re-entrant auxetic structure and graphene origami (GOri)-enabled auxetic structure. The nonlinear stability equilibrium equations of the longitudinally shallow shells are formulated using the von Karman shell theory, in conjunction with Stein and McElman approximation while considering Winkler-Pasternak's elastic foundation to simulate the interaction between the shell and elastic foundation. The Galerkin method is employed to derive the nonlinear stability responses of the shells. The numerical investigations show the influences of various types of auxetic-core layers, CNT-reinforced face sheets, as well as elastic foundation on the stability of sandwich shells.

This article represents a quasi-3D theory for the buckling investigation of magneto-electro-elastic functionally graded (MEE-FG) nanoplates. All the effects of shear deformation and thickness stretching are considered within the presented theory. Magneto-electro-elastic material properties are considered to be graded in thickness direction employing power-law distribution. Eringen's nonlocal elasticity theory is exploited to describe the size dependency of such nanoplates. Using Hamilton's principle, the nonlocal governing equations based on quasi-3D plate theory are obtained for the buckling analysis of MEE-FG nanoplates including size effect and they are solved applying analytical solution. It is found that magnetic potential, electric voltage, boundary conditions, nonlocal parameter, power-law index and plate geometrical parameters have significant effects on critical buckling loads of MEE-FG nanoscale plates.

The issue of the longitudinal stability of a WIG vehicle has been a very critical design factor since the first experimental WIG vehicle has been built. A series of studies had been performed and focused on the longitudinal stability analysis. However, most studies focused on the longitudinal stability of WIG vehicle in cruise phase, and less is available on the longitudinal static stability requirement of WIG vehicle when hydrodynamics are considered: WIG vehicle usually take off from water. The present work focuses on stability requirement for longitudinal motion from taking off to landing. The model of dynamics for a WIG vehicle was developed taking into account the aerodynamic, hydrostatic and hydrodynamic forces, and then was analyzed. Following with the longitudinal static stability analysis, effect of hydrofoil was discussed. Locations of CG, aerodynamic center in pitch, aerodynamic center in height and hydrodynamic center in heave were illustrated for a stabilized WIG vehicle. The present work will further improve the longitudinal static stability theory for WIG vehicle.

Purpose: Purpose: The usability of a mathematical model modified for analysis of the static stability of an asymmetric tractor-harvester system was investigated. Method: The modified asynchronous mathematical model was validated through empirical experiments, and the effects of movements of the center of gravity (CG) coordinates on the stability against lateral overturning were analyzed through simulations. Results: Changes in the lateral overturning angle of the system were investigated when the coordinates of the CG of the system were moved within the variable range. The errors between simulation results and empirical experiments were compared, and the results were -4.7% at the left side overturning and -0.1% at the right side overturning. The asymmetric system was characterized in such a way that the right side overturning had an increase in overturning angle in the (+) variable range, while it had a decrease in overturning angle in the (-) variable range. In addition, the left side overturning showed an opposite result to that of the right side. At the declination angle (296<${\gamma}$<76), the right side overturning had an increase in the maximum overturning angle of 3.6%, in the minimum overturning angle of 20.3%, and in the mean overturning angle of 15.9%. Furthermore, at the declination angle (284<${\gamma}$<64), the left side overturning had a decrease in the maximum overturning angle of 29.2%, in the minimum overturning angle of 44%, and in a mean overturning angle of 39.7%. Conclusion: The modified mathematical model was useful for predicting the overturning angle of the asymmetric tractor-harvester system, and verified that a movement of the CG coordinates had a critical effect on its stability. In particular, the left side overturning was the most vulnerable to stability, regardless of the direction of declination angle.

This paper investigates the effects of thermal load and shear force on the buckling of nanobeams. Higher-order shear deformation beam theories are implemented and their predictions of the critical buckling load and post-buckled configurations are compared to those of Euler-Bernoulli and Timoshenko beam theories. The nonlocal Eringen elasticity model is adopted to account a size-dependence at the nano-scale. Analytical closed form solutions for critical buckling loads and post-buckling configurations are derived for proposed beam theories. This would be helpful for those who work in the mechanical analysis of nanobeams especially experimentalists working in the field. Results show that thermal load has a more significant impact on the buckling behavior of simply-supported beams (S-S) than it has on clamped-clamped (C-C) beams. However, the nonlocal effect has more impact on C-C beams that it does on S-S beams. Moreover, it was found that the predictions obtained from Timoshenko beam theory are identical to those obtained using all higher-order shear deformation theories, suggesting that Timoshenko beam theory is sufficient to analyze buckling in nanobeams.

The static stability of a high-speed hovercraft is estimated by model tests, simplified restoring moment equations and CFD. Well-known methods to increase the stability of hovercrafts are introduced. Roll and pitch moments of a scaled model with a skirt system are measured over inclination angles. The tests are performed on cushion at zero speed both on-land and over-water. To predict the static stability performance, simple restoring moment equations and CFD approach are introduced. Both shows a quantitative difference from the model test results, however, could be used as a design tool for relative comparison prior to model tests.

In this paper, the thermo-mechanical buckling characteristics of functionally graded (FG) size-dependent Timoshenko nanobeams subjected to an in-plane thermal loading are investigated by presenting a Navier type solution for the first time. Material properties of FG nanobeam are supposed to vary continuously along the thickness according to the power-law form and the material properties are assumed to be temperature-dependent. The small scale effect is taken into consideration based on nonlocal elasticity theory of Eringen. The nonlocal governing equations are derived based on Timoshenko beam theory through Hamilton's principle and they are solved applying analytical solution. According to the numerical results, it is revealed that the proposed modeling can provide accurate critical buckling temperature results of the FG nanobeams as compared to some cases in the literature. The detailed mathematical derivations are presented and numerical investigations are performed while the emphasis is placed on investigating the effect of the several parameters such as material distribution profile, small scale effects and aspect ratio on the critical buckling temperature of the FG nanobeams in detail. It is explicitly shown that the thermal buckling of a FG nanobeams is significantly influenced by these effects. Numerical results are presented to serve as benchmarks for future analyses of FG nanobeams.