José Benito Bouza-Rodríguez

Three-dimensional biomechanical analysis of the bovine humerus

There are few reports on the biomechanical analysis of the animal humerus. In this study, a three-dimensional finite element model of the bovine humerus was created, and loaded with the physiological forces acting when the cow is falling or jumping (weight and impact forces). Subsequently the corresponding stress and strain distribution in the humerus for different inclined positions of bone was determined.

A Graphical Method to Assist Quality Decisions throughout the Product Development Process

ABSTRACT In product development processes and in the engineering world in general, many situations arise in which a decision must be taken to choose the best alternative or concept from among several already existing ones. Among the most used methods in situations like these are those that use two-dimensional decision matrices, where the concepts or alternatives are compared by evaluating them according to the degree of compliance for preestablished quality criteria. The finally adopted decision is not only conditioned by the decision makers assessment of each alternative but also by the weightings initially assigned to the criteria. This means that variation in the assessment of any alternative or in the weighting of a criterion can lead to a distinct alternative being selected. In this article, we propose a graphical method that makes it simpler to view the margin for variation, for both the assessments of the alternatives and the weightings for the quality criteria, that does not affect the finally adopted decision. In this way, the decision-making team can analyze in greater depth the more critical assessments and weightings that, although consisting of small changes, could affect the decision. Finally, the applicability of the proposed method is demonstrated in a case study involving an electrical switch design.

Room Design for Underground Slate Workings: Analysis of Safety Factors for Keyblocks

Rock mass is a crucial element that influences operations throughout the life of a mine from its initial design, development and operation to its closure and environmental restoration. Most excavations are carried out in rock masses with very variable geological and geotechnical conditions resulting from the action of water, seismic effects, earth pressures or the dynamics of the mine itself (Prasad et al. 2013). Excavating a mining cavity in the rock mass generates risks for workers and equipment from possible rock falls caused by the effects of gravity or seismic activity. In this sense, we studied possible block instability in a slate mine in Quiroga (north-western Spain). Spain is currently a leading roofing-slate producer worldwide, and the slate mines are located in the Truchas syncline (between Ourense and Leon). Most of the existing workings are open-cast, with the slate layer being accessed by 5-m-high descending benches and large-scale removal of overburden. The continuity of these open-pit mines could be ensured by taking operations underground, as richer areas of the deposit could be mined without incurring the costs of land clearing and preparation (Alejano et al. 2011). Moreover, underground workings would mitigate the significant visual impact of this open-pit mine and would reduce the cost of landscape restoration. This study aims to: (a) determine the optimal advance direction for the underground excavation (b) develop crown support that ensures stability against rock detachment (c) calculate the maximum height for the rooms while maintaining the drift walls stable.

An application of Hebbian learning in the design process decision-making

The design of a product involves a process in which several different aspects are combined in order to obtain a final, suitable and optimum product. Designers must interact with different stakeholder groups, make decisions and complete the design process. In order to achieve this, different evaluation techniques are used. Depending on the chosen technique and on the field and environment in which each member of the design team was trained, each one of the members will consider one or several aspects of the design project but from a point of view or perspective in line with his/her particular professional background. As a result, all decisions which will affect the design process of the product are focused on these aspects and individual viewpoints. In this paper, an evaluation technique is proposed which allows one to take suitable decisions, taking into account all the factors and perspectives which affect the design process in the best way, searching for a balance among them in relation to the aims and interests of a specific design project. The development of this evaluation technique was inspired by the way in which neurons interact with one another in the brain and it has been based on the Hebbian learning rule for neural networks. Lastly, a real application of the proposed technique is presented to demonstrate its applicability in evaluating industrial designs.