Publication informationVehicle System Dynamics, 46 (6)
AbstractRoad roughness is a broad term that incorporates everything from potholes and cracks to the random deviations that exist in a profile. To build a roughness index, road irregularities need to be measured first. Existing methods of gauging the roughness are based either on visual inspections or using one of a limited number of instrumented vehicles that can take physical measurements of the road irregularities. This paper proposes the collection of data from accelerometers fixed in a specific vehicle type and the use of this data to estimate the road condition. While the estimate is approximate, accelerometers are being increasingly used by car manufacturers to improve suspension performance and the proposed method is relatively inexpensive to implement and provide road managers with constantly updated measurements of roughness. This approach is possible due to the relationship between the power spectral densities of road surface and vehicle accelerations via a transfer function. This paper shows how road profiles can be accurately classified using axle and body accelerations from a range of simulated vehicle-road dynamic scenarios. This is an electronic version of an article published in Vehicle System Dynamics, 46 (6): 483-499. Vehicle System Dynamics is available online at: http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/title~db=all~content=t713659010 2
This paper describes an experimental investigation into the influence of elevated temperatures on the mechanical properties of steel reinforcement. The study includes tests carried out under ambient temperature as well as steady-state and transient elevated temperature conditions. A complementary study, in which the residual post-cooling properties of reinforcing bars were examined, is also described. The tests focused on assessing the performance of 6 and 8 mm diameters, although 10 mm bars were also considered in some cases. The specimens included both plain and deformed bars. After providing an outline of the experimental set-up and loading procedures, a detailed account of the test results is presented and discussed. Apart from the evaluation of stress-strain response and the degradation of stiffness and strength properties, particular emphasis is given to assessing the influence of temperature on enhancing the ductility of reinforcement. The findings of this study have direct implications on procedures used for predicting the ultimate behaviour of structural floor elements and assemblages during, and following, exposure to elevated temperatures.
Ferritic stainless steels are low cost, price-stable, corrosion-resistant materials. Although widely used in the automotive and domestic appliance sectors, structural applications are scarce owing to a dearth of performance data and design guidance. The characteristics of ferritics make them appropriate for structures requiring strong and moderately durable structural elements with attractive metallic surface finishes. The present paper provides an overview of the structural behaviour of ferritic stainless steels, including a summary of the findings of a recent European project (SAFSS) on ferritics. Laboratory experiments have been completed including material tests as well as structural member tests, both at ambient and elevated temperature. The experimental data is supplemented by numerical analysis in order to study a wide range of parameters. The findings of this work have enabled design guidance to be proposed, as discussed herein.
This paper presents an experimental investigation into the behaviour of high strength steel structures (i.e. yield strength between 460 and 700 N/mm 2 ) in fire conditions. The paper proceeds with a description of the experimental programme that includes two different grades of high strength steel (HSS) with the aim of assessing (i) the mechanical properties at elevated temperature through tensile testing and (ii) the effect of chemical composition and processing route on the microstructure through a detailed metallurgical investigation. The investigation takes a holistic view of the analysis whereby the effect of processing route and composition on the microstructure and hence mechanical properties are assessed. In this paper, following a detailed description of the tests under isothermal conditions, the results are analysed to determine strength and stiffness reduction factors at elevated temperatures and these values are compared with literature and the design standards.
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