Less Is More
It sounds all wrongdrilling holes in a piece of wood to make it more resistant to knocks. But it works because the energy from the blow gets distributed throughout the wood rather than focusing on one weak spot. The discovery should lead to more effective and lighter packaging materials.
Carpenters have known centuries that some woods are tougher than others. Hickory , for example, was turned into axe handles and cartwheel spokes because it can absorb shocks without breaking. White oak, for example, is much more easily damaged it is almost as dense. Julian Vincent at Bathe University and his team were convinced the woods internal structure could explain the differences.
Many trees have tubular vessels that run the trunk and carry water to the leaves. In oak they are large, and arranged in narrow bands, but in hickory they are smaller, and more evenly distributed. The researchers this layout might distribute a blows energy throughout the wood, soaking up a bigger hit. To test the idea, they drilled holes 0.65 millimetres across into a block of spruce , a wood with vessels, and found that withstood a harder knock. when there were more than about 30 holes per square centimetre did the woods performance drop off.
A uniform substance doesnt cope well with knocks because only a small proportion of the material is actually . All the energy from the blow goes towards breaking the material in one or two places, but often the pieces left are pristine .
But instead of the energy being concentrated in one place, the holes provide many weak spots that all absorb energy as they break, says Vincent. You are controlling the places the wood breaks, and it can then absorb more , more safely.
The researchers believe the principle could be applied to any material- example, to manufacture lighter and more protective packaging. It could be used in car bumpers, crash barriers and armour for military vehicles, says Ulrike Wegst, the Max Plank Institute for Mental Research in Stuttgart. But she emphasizes that you to design the substance with the direction of force in mind. The direction of loading is crucial, she says.
1 A in B since C for D at
2 A or B although C and D despite
3 A down B over C up D into
4 A knew B concluded C saw D thought
5 A no B per C each D every
6 A it B the idea C they D spruce
7 A If B Just C Only D Rarely
8 A effected B beaten C slapped D affected
9 A behind B beyond C for D in
10 A which B there C that D where
11 A water B air C energy D safety
12 A among B in C as D for
13 A also B besides C else D yet
14 A over B at C around D on
15 A have B must C should D had
【参考答案】
1. C 2. B 3. C 4. D 5. A
6. A 7. C 8. D 9. A 10. D
11. C 12. D 13. A 14. B 15. A
Director questions fine
Smokers on trains to face big fines
Govt smoking ban applauded
Nationwide good Samaritan law needed
Bitter cold returns to snarl US
Diaper firms set to clean up with disposables
Giving birth overseas a fast growing industry
Warmest New Year's Day in Beijing for six decades
Apology letter showed goodwill toward China
Terrorist cell smashed after attack in Xinjiang
Foreign demand for goods adds to air blight
Joint operation ensnares poachers
Government orders TV anchors, guests to use Mandarin
Vietnamese get first taste of McDonald's fast food
Prince's star rises amid scandals
Tainted farmland to be restored
Emotional Rodman apologizes on return from DPRK
Xi set for trip to Sochi Games
New family planning rule to create mini baby boom
Fired professor rejects claim he broke nation's one-child rule
Super Bowl braces for big chill on Feb 2
Africa will remain important pillar of China's diplomacy
Man offers $130m to gay daughter's suitor
H7N9 vaccine trials urged as new cases continue to emerge
Ancient expertise provides answers to Sichuan river project
Shrinking of wetlands spurs call for regulation
Curlers challenging pudgy stereotype
Weather authorities want to see holiday ban on fireworks
Influential bloggers set topics online
China eyes 2022 bid as it prepares for Sochi Games
| 不限 |
| 英语教案 |
| 英语课件 |
| 英语试题 |
| 不限 |
| 不限 |
| 上册 |
| 下册 |
| 不限 |