Optimum joint detail for a general cold-formed steel portal frame

In the design of cold-formed steel portal frames it is essential that joint flexibility is taken into account in frame analysis. This paper describes optimisation of the joint detail of a cold-formed steel portal frame, conducted concurrently with frame analysis. It is one of the outputs of an Industrial CASE award on the design of cold-formed steel portal frames, which is being used to support a KTP application.

Intellectual Property management in publicly funded R&D centres—A comparison of university-based and company-based research centres

Recent thinking on open innovation and the knowledge-based economy have stressed the importance of external knowledge sources in stimulating innovation. Policy-makers have recognised this, establishing publicly funded Centres of R&D Excellence with the objective of stimulating industry–science links and localised innovation spillovers. Here, we examine the contrasting IP management practices of a group of 18 university- and company-based R&D centres supported by the same regional programme. Our analysis covers all but one of the Centres supported by the programme and suggests marked contrasts between the IP strategies of the university-based and company-based centres. This suggests the potential for very different types of knowledge spillovers from publicly funded R&D centres based in different types of organisations, and a range of alternative policy approaches to the future funding of R&D centres depending on policy-makers’ objectives.

Behaviour of joints with bonded-in steel bars loaded parallel to the grain of timber elements

Within the sustainability context, this paper is extremely timely and relevant. The research focuses on broadening the use of timber structurally. The insight gained forms the basis for sustainable, fire resistant, economic and aesthetically pleasing moment resistant connections in timber.

Precipitation, microstructure and mechanical properties of low nickel maraging steel

A maraging steel with a composition of Fe–12·94Ni–1·61Al–1·01Mo–0·23Nb (wt-%) was investigated. Optical, scanning electron and transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis were employed to study the microstructure of the steel after different aging periods at temperatures of 450–600°C. Hardness and Charpy impact toughness of the steel were measured. The study of microstructure and mechanical properties showed that nanosized precipitates were formed homogeneously during the aging process, which resulted in high hardness. As the aging time is prolonged, precipitates grow and hardness increases. Fractography of the as forged steel has shown mixed ductile and brittle fracture and has indicated that the steel has good toughness. Relationships among heat treatment, microstructure and mechanical properties are discussed. Further experiments using tensile testing and impact testing for aged steel were carried out.

Microstructure evolution of a 10Cr heat-resistant steel during high temperature creep

The microstructure evolution of a 10Cr ferritic/martensitic heat-resistant steel during creep at 600°C was investigated in this work. Creep tests demonstrated that the 10Cr steel had higher creep strength than conventional ASME-P92 steel at 600°C. The microstructure after creep was studied by transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and electron probe microanalysis. It was revealed that the martensitic laths were coarsened with time and eventually developed into subgrains after 8354 h. Laves phase was observed to grow and cluster along the prior austenite grain boundaries during creep and caused the fluctuation of solution and precipitation strengthening effects, which was responsible for the two slope changes on the creep rupture strength vs rupture time curve. It was also revealed that the microstructure evolution could be accelerated by stress, which resulted in the lower hardness in the deformed part of the creep specimen, compared with the aging part.