Many traits are known to be important in determining the value of Eucalyptus wood as sawn timber. The commercial importance of the microfi bril angle (MFA) for wood quality is well established for a range of softwoods, but is less clear for hardwood species. For instance, the relationships of MFA with wood stiffness and compressive strength are unknown in Eucalyptus. Therefore, the aim of this ...

Water content affects mortar and masonry properties however, it is often determined by the mason assessing mortar workability. This can lead to lack of consistency and variable masonry performance. This paper investigates the compressive, flexural and bond strength and stiffness of brick masonry bound with natural hydraulic limes (NHL2, 3.5 and 5), hydrated lime (calcium limeCL90s) and cement-l...

A hierarchical support vector regression (SVR) model (HSVRM) was employed to correlate the compositions and mechanical properties of bicomponent stents composed of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PGLA) film and poly(glycolic acid) (PGA) fibers for urethral repair for the first time. PGLA film and PGA fibers could provide ureteral stents with good compressive and tensile properties, respectively....

The tensegrity hypothesis holds that the cytoskeleton is a structure whose shape is stabilized predominantly by the tensile stresses borne by filamentous structures. Accordingly, cell stiffness must increase in proportion with the level of the tensile stress, which is called the prestress. Here we have tested that prediction in adherent human airway smooth muscle (HASM) cells. Traction microsco...

Several hypotheses exist for the etiology of decubitus ulcers, with external pressures exceeding internal capillary pressures over bony prominences claimed to be the major factor. This investigation evaluated the mechanical changes that occurred in human skin as a result of its exposure to static versus cyclic normal pressures of the magnitudes earlier recorded for the heels of human subjects o...

A novel, two-scale computational model has been developed to predict the progressive damage and failure responses of fiber-reinforced composite laminates using the material properties at the constituent (fiber and matrix) level. These properties were measured from coupon level tests on a unidirectional lamina of the same material system. In the proposed computational scheme, the macroscale fini...

Cyclic stresses applied to bones generate fatigue damage that affects the bone stiffness and its elastic modulus. This paper proposes a finite element model for the prediction of fatigue damage accumulation and failure in cancellous bone at continuum scale. The model is based on continuum damage mechanics and incorporates crack closure effects in compression. The propagation of the cracks is co...

The baculum is a nonappendicular bone found in the glans tissue of members of five orders of mammals. Its function during copulation is unknown. Anatomical examination of the baculum and corpus cavernosum in the Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus) shows that the two structures are connected by a layer of fibrocartilage, and that the distal tip of the corpus cavernosum swells during erection to surro...

The weakest specimens showed maximum compressive strengths ranging from 115 kN/m to 135 kN/m. The lowest load deformation response was observed for the Gf 9 specimen group, at 0.7 kN/mm. The strongest and stiffest results were observed for the 3-bag soil-filled specimen, with load deformation responses ranging from 8 kN/mm to 15 kN/mm, and compressive strength ranging from 1100 kN/m to 1300 kN/...