An enhanced method for determining the maximum strain a pipeline coating could tolerate

An enhanced mandrel bend testing method has been proposed for the evaluation of the maximum strain level that could be tolerated by an organic coating, and for the understanding of localised coating deformation and cracking behaviours under nonuniform mechanical strains. The aim is to develop a practical method that is suitable for selecting pipeline coatings in order to ensure that the selected coatings have sufficient flexibility to meet the high strain demand during the construction, hydrostatic testing and operation of high pressure pipelines. Two new mandrel bend testing setups have been designed by employing either centre or end clamps in order to improve the uniformity of strain distributions over coated steel coupons, and by using strain gauges to perform in situ measurements of local strains. A series of tests have been carried out to evaluate the new method for testing the flexibility of selected epoxy based pipeline industry coatings. Preliminary computational simulation has also been carried out for assisting the interpretation of mandrel bending test results.

High Stakes: Lessons from stakeholder groups in the biodiversity conservation network

Research in common property, participatory resource management, and community development points to the central importance of organizational arrangements in conservation and development interventions. The dilemma facing contemporary conservation practitioners is how best to assist and facilitate such arrangements in support of participatory resource management and sustainable livelihoods, given the range of organizations, societal processes, and structures in which interventions might engage. This article presents some key findings from a study of stakeholder groups at 4 project sites, with information from a further 16 sites, in the Biodiversity Conservation Network: (1) Longstanding organizations had an established community niche, but could become bogged down in bureaucratic procedures; (2) poor communication between organizations was common and could undermine resource management; and (3) charismatic individuals and local elite interests could dominate groups, diminishing their representativeness. Based on these findings, the article argues that conservation professionals need to build their capacity as facilitators and negotiators, paying greater attention to how stakeholder groups form and function, their links to wider arenas, and the aims and positions of groups and individuals.

Obesity prevention programs demand high-quality evaluations

Obesity prevention programs are at last underway or being planned in Australia and New Zealand. However, it is imperative that they are well-evaluated so that they can contribute to continuous program improvement and add much-needed evidence to the international literature on what works and does not work to prevent obesity. Three critical components of program evaluation are especially at risk when the funding comes from service delivery rather than research sources. These are: the need for comparison groups; the need for measured height and weight; and the need for sufficient process and context information. There is an important opportunity to build collaborative mechanisms across community-based obesity prevention sites to enhance the program and evaluation quality and to accelerate knowledge translation into practice and policy.

Defect assessment procedures for high temperature applications : final report TW5-TTMS-005, D5

The objective of this task is to develop the high temperature part of a design code for fusion reactor components build from EUROFER. This development includes fracture mechanical rules for the assessment of detected defects under creep and creep–fatigue conditions. The assessment procedures R5, R6, JNC, A16, Partial Safety Factors were investigated and tested. As the most suitable procedure is chosen R5 and it is further verified by comparison with finite element simulations using the EUROFER material data. These simulations consist of evaluation of C(t) parameter for several geometries (CT specimen,cylinder with fully circumferential crack subjected to the internal pressure, cylinder with semi–elliptical circumferential crack subjected to the internal pressure and Mock-Up test blanket module (TBM) geometry). The R5 procedure provides very good accordance with FE simulations and it is suitable for lifetime assessment. Therefore the guide for R5 application is implemented in the report.

Strategic planning to build transformational preparedness : an application of enterprise architecture practice

Enterprises are continuously evolving systems; this evolution can be directed or emergent. Enterprise transformation has special aspects due to the enterprise being a socio-technical system whereupon evolution happens on the levels of individuals / humans / organisation, on the level of the technology and on the level of the Information Systems that integrates the activities performed by humans and by technology. Furthermore, changes are typically continuous, due partly to external factors and partly to strategic foresights. Either way, transformation needs to happen so that the enterprise can keep satisfying its objectives. An important transformation mechanism is to perform mergers or acquisitions (M&As). Interestingly, literature reveals that an unacceptably high percentage of M&As do not achieve the aimed objectives and (as we demonstrate) the success of such trajectory depends on several factors. This article proposes a methodology to overcome potential problems by making necessary anticipatory transformations opening up a possibility to perform M&As with a better chance of success.

Comparative study of the microstructures and mechanical properties of direct laser fabricated and arc-melted AlxCoCrFeNi high entropy alloys

High entropy alloys (HEA) are a relatively new metal alloy system that have promising potential in high temperature applications. These multi-component alloys are typically produced by arc-melting, requiring several remelts to achieve chemical homogeneity. Direct laser fabrication (DLF) is a rapid prototyping technique, which produces complex components from alloy powder by selectively melting micron-sized powder in successive layers. However, studies of the fabrication of complex alloys from simple elemental powder blends are sparse. In this study, DLF was employed to fabricate bulk samples of three alloys based on the AlxCoCrFeNi HEA system, where x was 0.3, 0.6 and 0.85M fraction of Al. This produced FCC, FCC/BCC and BCC crystal structures, respectively. Corresponding alloys were also produced by arc-melting, and all microstructures were characterised and compared longitudinal and transverse to the build/solidification direction by x-ray diffraction, glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (EDX and EBSD). Strong similarities were observed between the single phase FCC and BCC alloys produced by both techniques, however the FCC/BCC structures differed significantly. This has been attributed to a difference in the solidification rate and thermal gradient in the melt pool between the two different techniques. Room temperature compression testing showed very similar mechanical behaviour and properties for the two different processing routes. DLF was concluded to be a successful technique to manufacture bulk HEA[U+05F3]s.