The study of human experts in the areas of design and manufacturing has lead to two hypotheses concerning the problem solving methods which these engineers utilize to attack difficult problems. The basis of both hypotheses is a modular approach to problem solving. One hypothesis addresses the nature of the modules utilized while the other hypothesis deals with the organization of the modules. A...

Department of Systems and Information Engineering, Ashikaga Institute of Technology, Ashikaga 326-8558, Japan † Fuzzy Logic Systems Institute, Iizuka 820-0067, Japan Abstract In this paper, we formulate an optimal riveted joints design (ORD) problem of a through gusset plate on a frame structure for a constrained allowable stress as a rigid structural calculation problem and solve it directly b...

This paper presents a system-based model for the fatigue assessment of old, deteriorating riveted railway bridge connections, which are built up of a number of basic components. A finite element model of a typical, short-span railway bridge is used to convert train loading into probabilistic fatigue load spectra via Monte Carlo train simulations. Uncertainties in terms of loading, resistance an...

In the current work, process-related thermo-mechanical changes in the rivet microstructure, joint local and global mechanical properties, and their correlation with the rivet plastic deformation regime were investigated for Ti-6Al-4V (rivet) and glass-fiber-reinforced polyester (GF-P) friction-riveted joints of a single polymeric base plate. Joints displaying similar quasi-static mechanical per...

In eddy current non-destructive testing of a multi-layered riveted structure, rotating current excitation, generated by orthogonal coils, is advantageous in providing sensitivity to defects of all orientations. However, when used with linear array sensors, the exciting magnetic flux density ( B x ) of the orthogonal coils is not uniform over the sensor region, resulting in an output signal magn...

This paper presents a probabilistic load model for fatigue assessment of old metallic railway bridges. The traffic basis of the model consists of trains obtained from past records and present-day trains obtained from codes. The traffic is divided into four distinct time periods each associated with particular characteristics in rail traffic. Traffic evolution scenarios for the future, in terms ...