An investigation was made into the field of planar structural actuation with anisotropic active materials. The mechanisms for creating anisotropic actuators were discussed, and the impact of anisotropy was shown at the individual lamina level and at the laminated structure level. Models for laminated structures were developed using an augmented Classical Laminated Plate Theory incorporating induced stress terms to accommodate anisotropic actuator materials. A twistextension coupled laminate was used to exemplify how twist can be directly induced into isotropic host structures using anisotropic actuation. Four anisotropic actuators with different material anisotropies were compared using this example. Finally, a laminate incorporating piezoelectric fiber composite actuators was manufactured and tested. Excellent agreement was found between the predicted and experimental response.

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Previous studies have shown that insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) is a promising marker for the detection of growth hormone (GH) abuse in the horse. The significant increases observed with GH administration in comparison to natural levels imply the possibility of setting a threshold level for IGF-1 that would be indicative of GH abuse. Although an immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) has been identified as a reliable screening method, a more specific IGF-1 quantification method needs to be developed for the prosecution of GH abuse by horseracing authorities. This study describes such an HPLC electrospray mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS) method that was developed and then assessed for the specific analysis of IGF-1 at the low levels encountered in serum. The structural identity of IGF-1 was confirmed by endoproteinase Asp-N digestion followed by LC/MS and LC/MS/MS characterisation. This was followed by quantification of IGF-1 as the intact molecule against an internal standard.

Several aeroelastic stability analyses for a vertical fin similar to that of the National Aero-Space Plane are described. The objectives of the study were to design and obtain an experimental data base for a supersonic windtunnel model of the fin in order to examine the effects of thermal loading on the flutter characteristics. This paper describes the preliminary efforts to design the wind-tunnel model, including several of the geometric parameter variations that were analyzed. The dominant flutter mechanism involved a flap vibration mode and a fin bending mode. Variation of the thicknesses of flap and root flexures, used to attach the flap to the fin, and the fin to a support, significantly affected the flutter boundary.