Category Archives: White Papers

Heavy Duty Riveted Bridge Deck AASHTO H20 Loading and Fatigue Testing: Long Service Life Explored

Posted on December 8, 2010 by Breana Cronk

Heavy Duty Riveted Bridge Deck Grating has been field proven to provide long service life for heavily loaded bridges. Examples presented include riveted steel decks that are in almost new condition after over 15 years in service and others that are still in good condition after nearly 60 years of service with no evidence of significant damage or deterioration. This is in stark contrast to the service life exhibited by some welded type bridge decks. This paper begins to examine the fatigue resistance of heavy duty riveted style bridge decks. The results from static load and fatigue cycle testing of riveted grating under AASHTO H20 loading with a 30% impact factor are presented. The testing conducted during 2009 and 2010 at the University of Akron Civil Engineering Lab has examined the static behavior of the riveted grating and has included fatigue testing of full-scale decks to well over 1 million cycles. The extra heavy load levels and worst case load location were used to accelerate the testing, and show where cracks might originate. The results also provide insight into the best methods for attachment of the riveted grating to the support structure. Continue reading →

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Air Bending Accuracy: Recommendations to Ensure Accuracy and Consistency in Metalforming

Posted on October 18, 2010 by Breana Cronk

In any metalforming operation, achieving air bending accuracy is a critical component of quality production. This article will explain the wide range of factors and variables affecting accuracy, and a number of specific steps and guidelines that can be taken for improved air bending accuracy. Continue reading →

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Emission Control Technologies for Carbon Fiber Processing

Posted on December 3, 2009 by Todd Halt

Carbon fiber and graphite reinforced polymers are materials that have, and will continue to revolutionize the products we use everyday by making them stronger, lighter and more durable. However, the manufacturing process can have serious environmental ramifications and immediate danger to human health if careful consideration is not given to emission control at the production phase of these materials. Continue reading →

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The Plastic Pallet And Fire Protection

Posted on May 20, 2009 by Janet Pratt

This paper attempts to identify some of the specifics of the process used to obtain approval for use of plastic pallets as equivalent to wood pallets for use in warehouse storage. This paper is written to look at the issue in general and is not intended to cover all storage situations. Your specific situation should be evaluated by a fire protection specialist. Most plastic pallets are molded out of polyolefin materials such as high density polyethylene or polypropylene. These materials are more flammable than the wood used to make pallets. Over the years the industry has argued with the fire protection establishment that plastic pallets, while they burn hotter than wood, are much more difficult to ignite. Fire protection people counter with the fact that most warehouse fires are arson and if an arsonist wants to start a fire they will do what ever they need to do to get a fire started. Continue reading →

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Bellows With A Twist – Electrodeposited nickel bellows couplings flex to fit misaligned shafts yet remain torsionally stiff.

Posted on May 6, 2009 by briannat

What do a micron-precision silicon wafer cutter, a surgical microscope focusing mechanism, and a target sighting system for an MIA2 Abrams tank all have in common? Each contains an electrodeposited nickel bellows coupling. Such couplings excel in instrumentation and fractional-horsepower applications but are occasionally overlooked because they tend to cost more than other types. Couplings are typically rated by their torque capacity, rotational inertia, resistance to the elements, service life, windup and backlash levels, and flexibility. By all these measures, electrodeposited bellows couplings compare favorably to competitive designs. Continue reading →

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Oxidizer Energy Recovery

Posted on April 15, 2009 by Mike Meiresonne

The mainstream media today is full of allusions to energy awareness and conservation. Just as visible these days are media references to astronomical dollar figures that can boggle the mind. This article does not seek to break out of that mold, but rather to conform to it – as Oxidizer Stack Heat Recovery offers a tremendous opportunity for both energy conservation and energy cost reduction. Consider the following: At any hour of the day there are likely to be more than 10,000 oxidizer systems in service, using a high temperature reaction chamber (with or without catalyst) to treat the exhaust gases from a wide range of industrial processes… Continue reading →

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Environmental Test Chambers – Methods of Humidity Generation

Posted on March 19, 2009 by briannat

There are three common ways of creating moisture for humidity control in test chambers. Let’s review they types and the benefits and limitations of each. Type 1: ‘Steam Generator’ – A steam generator is a tank with an immersion heater. As the water in the tank is heated, steam rises up a tube to the chamber’s mixing plenum (where the main heaters and cooling coil are). The chamber, based on humidity demand, controls the output of the heater. Continue reading →

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The Advantages of Mass Flow Meters & Controllers in Fuel Cell Test Stands

Posted on March 11, 2009 by Janet Pratt

Fuel cell engineers use test stands to simulate the performance of fuel cells. The challenge is to mimic reality and determine the optimum fuel mixture and temperature, while also examining failure mechanisms. Another objective is to test the performance of anode/cathode materials, catalysts, and membranes. Fuel cell test stands consist of systems for mixing, delivering, and humidifying gases, all of which depend on reliable flow measurement and control. A typical test stand uses several thermal mass flow controllers (MFCs) of various flow rates to deliver the precise amount of blended gases to the fuel cell. Since the test stand must imitate normal operating conditions, these flow controllers must react to process signals quickly – much like a car accelerator – to provide a true test of the desired performance. In addition, the MFCs must have a broad turndown to mimic low and high fuel consumption rates. Many fuel cell test stands use MFCs that do not have the performance capabilities to adequately test fuel cells. Continue reading →

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Sensor Selection 101 – Optimal Temperature Sensor Selection: Your First Step to Achieving Accurate Temperature Measurement

Posted on March 2, 2009 by Todd Halt

There’s no simple solution to achieving accurate temperature measurement. It’s a combination of knowing the inherent accuracy of particular sensor types, but also how environmental factors can create further measurement uncertainty and the sensor calibration techniques available to reduce this uncertainty… Continue reading →

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High Performance Diaphragms and Their Use in Pumping Abrasive and Dense Slurries

Posted on February 19, 2009 by Todd Halt

Metering pumps have long been known for their accuracy and reliability to provide precise dosing of liquids to a process stream. This understanding was generally limited to homogeneous fluids or liquids under 500 cps. The use of a high performance diaphragm can boost the cps capable of being pumps exceeding 7,000 cps (depending on pump size) and handle large solids content. This has significant application where heavy materials, earth materials or conveyance of other solids bearing fluids is required. This discussion consolidates the selection and application of high performance diaphragms in these specialized applications… Continue reading →

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Non-Destructive Testing: What You See May Not Be What You Get

Posted on February 17, 2009 by Todd Halt

When you buy expensive metals, you might be getting something you don’t want and not know it. You could be buying defects that you would rather not have, and your supplier may not realize he sent you defective material. The only way to know for sure is to test he parts nondestructively… Continue reading →

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Compressed Air Energy Savings: Thermal Mass Flowmeters Find Wasted Cash

Posted on February 12, 2009 by briannat

In this era of rising energy costs and global competitiveness, compressed air waste in facilities can be a major financial drain to the bottom line. Air may be free, but compressed air certainly isn’t. According to Cary Carlisle, an expert compressed air auditor and seasoned technician from Air Compressor Supply, Inc. (ACS), over a 10-year period, electricity costs make up 76 percent of a factory’s operating costs… Continue reading →

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Good Nameplate Design: The Rules

Posted on February 10, 2009 by Todd Halt

New businesses need a logo that speaks, that is easily recognizable, that has style. Good nameplates are an extension of a good logo. Manufacturers often try to emulate the nameplate design of the most recognizable brands in their respective industry, often at a great expense: quality design… Continue reading →

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Cost Justification and Reliability Benefits of Multi-Jackbolt Tensioners

Posted on February 9, 2009 by Todd Halt

Multi-Jackbolt Tensioners are bolt tightening devices that have been around for over a decade. Although the concept is relatively simple, these tensioners have many benefits that are not commonly known. They have proven to be economical in terms of cost and in terms of equipment reliability, which will be the focus of this paper… Continue reading →

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Trends and Opportunities in the U.S. Automotive Component Markets: Original Equipment Manufacture (OEM) and Aftermarket

Posted on February 5, 2009 by Janet Pratt

The major emphasis of this review paper is on the trends of automotive components in the U.S. markets – OEM and aftermarket. However, since much of the business is now global, world-wide automotive component market trends are also discussed… Continue reading →

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Rapid Cooling of Aluminum Nitride Heaters

Posted on February 3, 2009 by Todd Halt

Single Iteration, a division of Watlow, has conducted preliminary concept generation and evaluation for several alternative solutions for providing rapid cooling of AlN based heaters. Cost/benefit analysis of the various alternatives indicated that forced air cooling would be preferred for many applications of the latest AlN heating technology… Continue reading →

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How To Properly Maintain And Service Your Oxidizer

Posted on February 2, 2009 by Todd Halt

Your air pollution control system represents a significant investment in not only initial capital but also ongoing maintenance and operation. Routine inspections performed by your staff combined with thorough maintenance plans… Continue reading →

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Lubrication: The Greener The Better

Posted on January 30, 2009 by Todd Halt

Manufacturing practices are becoming increasingly more scrutinized for their effect on the environment. Real changes are underway in the area of emissions, byproducts, packaging materials, fluid selection, and power consumption – to name only a few. While environmental payback may be the goal, many of these initiatives encounter obstacles, not the least of which is additional operational costs. Not so with lubrication – the greener the better. Utilizing very small amounts of lubricant at controlled intervals is productive for a number of reasons… Continue reading →

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Art or Science? Dilute Phase Pneumatic Conveying vs. Flexible Screw Conveying

Posted on January 28, 2009 by Todd Halt

by David Boger, Sales Manager and Allen Powell, Regional Applications Engineer Flexicon Corporation

The choice between dilute phase pneumatic conveying and flexible screw conveying is not always clear

Everyone has rules of thumb whe

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How to Write a Specification For and Evaluate a Design/Build Cleanroom Proposal

Posted on January 22, 2009 by Mike Meiresonne

With the increasing emphasis on utilizing the design/build method of delivery in the construction industry, and the desire to evaluate proposals using that old adage of ‘apples to apples’, it becomes incumbent upon the owner to create a specification which will insure that contractors have the appropriate information to propose the facility accurately… Continue reading →

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