Testing white line strength in the dairy cow

The tensile strength of 576 pieces of white line horn collected over 6 mo from 14 dairy cows restricted to parity 1 or 2 was tested. None of the cows had ever been lame. Seven cows were randomly assigned to receive 20 mg/d biotin supplementation, and 7 were not supplemented. Hoof horn samples were taken from zones 2 and 3 (the more proximal and distal sites of the abaxial white line) of the medial and lateral claws of both hind feet on d 1 and on 5 further occasions over 6 mo. The samples were analyzed at 100% water saturation. Hoof slivers were notched to ensure that tensile strength was measured specifically across the white line region. The tensile stress at failure was measured in MPa and was adjusted for the cross-sectional area of the notch site. Data were analyzed in a multilevel model, which accounted for the repeated measures within cows. All other variables were entered as fixed effects. In the final model, there was considerable variation in strength over time. Tensile strength was significantly higher in medial compared with lateral claws, and zone 2 was significantly stronger than zone 3. Where the white line was visibly damaged the tensile strength was low. Biotin supplementation did not affect the tensile strength of the white line. Results of this study indicate that damage to the white line impairs its tensile strength and that in horn with no visible abnormality the white line is weaker in the lateral hind claw than the medial and in zone 3 compared with zone 2. The biomechanical strength was lowest at zone 3 of the lateral hind claw, which is the most common site of white line disease lameness in cattle.

The influence of hydration on the tensile and compressive properties of avian keratinous tissues

Despite recent research exploring the elastic properties of avian keratins, data on failure properties are less common in the literature. In this paper we present data on the failure properties and moduli of both avian feather and claw keratin in tension and the modulus of claw keratin in compression. Increased water content acts to decrease stiffness and strength but to increase strain at failure. The modulus of claw did not differ significantly when tested under tension and compression.

High-strength, healable, supramolecular polymer nanocomposites

A supramolecular polymer blend, formed via π-π interactions between a π-electron rich pyrenyl endcapped oligomer and a chain-folding oligomer containing pairs of π-electron poor naphthalene-diimide (NDI) units, has been reinforced with cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) to afford a healable nanocomposite material. Nanocomposites with varying weight percentage of CNCs (from 1.25 to 20.0 wt.%) within the healable supramolecular polymeric matrix have been prepared via solvent casting followed by compression molding, and their mechanical properties and healing behavior have been evaluated. It is found that homogeneously dispersed films can be formed with CNCs at less than 10 wt.%. Above 10 wt.% CNC heterogeneous nanocomposites were obtained. All the nanocomposites formed could be re-healed upon exposure to elevated temperatures although, for the homogeneous films, it was found that the healing rate was reduced with increasing CNC content. The best combination of healing efficiency and mechanical properties was obtained with the 7.5 wt.% CNC nanocomposite which exhibited a tensile modulus enhanced by as much as a factor of 20 over the matrix material alone and could be fully re-healed at 85 °C within 30 minutes. Thus it is demonstrated that supramolecular nanocomposites can afford greatly enhanced mechanical properties relative to the unreinforced polymer, while still allowing efficient thermal healing.

Residual stress influence on fatigue lifetimes of electroplated AISI 4340 high strength steel

Residual stresses play an important role in the fatigue lives of structural engineering components. In the case of near surface tensile residual stresses, the initiation and propagation phases of fatigue process are accelerated; on the other hand, compressive residual stresses close to the surface may increase fatigue life. In both decorative and functional applications, chromium electroplating results in excellent wear and corrosion resistance. However, it is well known that it reduces the fatigue strength of a component. This is due to high tensile internal stresses and microcrack density. Efforts to improve hard chromium properties have increased in recent years. In this study, the effect of a nickel layer sulphamate process, as simple layer and interlayer, on fatigue strength of hard chromium electroplated AISI 4340 steel hardness - HRc 53, was analysed. The analysis was performed by rotating bending fatigue tests on AISI 4340 steel specimens with the following experimental groups: base material, hard chromium electroplated, sulphamate nickel electroplated, sulphamate nickel interlayer on hard chromium electroplated and electroless nickel interlayer on hard chromium electroplated. Results showed a decrease in fatigue strength in coated specimens and that both nickel plating interlayers were responsible for the increase in fatigue life of AISI 4340 chromium electroplated steel. The shot peening pre-treatment was efficient in reducing fatigue loss in the alternatives studied.

Improvement in the fatigue strength of chromium electroplated AISI 4340 steel by shot peening

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Evaluation of WC-10Ni thermal spray coating with shot peening on the fatigue strength of AISI 4340 steel

Fatigue failure is a result of a crack initiation and propagation, in consequence of a cyclical load. In aeronautical components as landing gear the fatigue strength is an important parameter to be considered in project, as well as the corrosion and wear resistance.The thermal sprayed HVOF technology it's normally used to protect components against wear and corrosion, and are being considerate an alternative to replace chromium by the aeronautical industry. With respect to fatigue life, the HVOF technique induces residual stress on the interface. In the case of tensile residual stresses, the initiation and propagation phases of fatigue process are accelerated; on the other hand, compressive residual stresses close to the surface may increase fatigue life. The technique to improve the coated materials fatigue strength is the shot peening process, which induces residual stress in the surface in order to delay the nucleation and propagation process.The aim of present study is to compare the influence of WC-10 Ni coating applied by HVOF on the fatigue strength of AISI 4340 steel, with and without shot peening. S-N curves were obtained in axial fatigue tests for material base, and tungsten carbide coated specimens. (C) 2010 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Fatigue strength of tungsten inert gas-repaired weld joints in airplane critical structures

In this work the effect of Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) repairs on the axial fatigue strength of an AISI 4130 steel welded joint used in airframe critical to the flight-safety was investigated. Fatigue tests were performed at room temperature on 0.89 mm thick hot-rolled plates with constant amplitude and load ratio of R = 0.1, at 20 Hz frequency. Monotonic tensile tests, optical metallography and microhardness, residual stress and weld geometric factors measurements were also performed. The fatigue strength decreased with the number of GTAW repairs, and was related to microstructural and microhardness changes, as well as residual stress field and weld profile geometry factors, which gave origin to high stress concentration at the weld toe. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.