Flexural behaviour of RC slabs strengthened with prestressed CFRP strips using different anchorage systems

The Externally Bonded Reinforcement (EBR) technique using Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymers (CFRP) has been commonly used to strengthen concrete structures in flexure. The use of prestressed CFRP material offers several advantages well-reported in the literature. Regardless of such as benefits, several studies on different topics are missing. The present work intends to contribute to the knowledge of two commercially available systems that differ on the type of anchorage: (i) the Mechanical Anchorage (MA), and (ii) the Gradient Anchorage (GA). For that purpose, an experimental program was carried out with twelve slabs monotonically tested under displacement control up to failure by using a four-point bending test configuration. The effect of type of anchorage system (MA and GA), prestrain level (0 and 0.4%), width (50 mm and 80 mm) and thickness (1.2 mm and 1.4 mm) of the CFRP laminate, and the surface preparation (grinded and sandblasted) on the flexural response were the main studied parameters. Better performance was observed for the slabs: (i) with prestressed laminates, (ii) for the MA system, and (iii) with sandblasted surface preparation.     

Study on maximum power point tracking of photovoltaic array in irregular shadow

Traditional maximum power point tracking (MPPT) methods can hardly find global maximum power point (MPP) because output characteristics curve of photovoltaic (PV) array may have multi local maximum power points in irregular shadow, and thus easily fall into the local maximum power point. To address this drawback, Considering that sliding mode variable structure (SMVS) control strategy have such advantages as simple structure, fast response and strong robustness, and P&O method have the advantages of simple principle and convenient implementation, so a new algorithm combining SMVS control method and P&O method is proposed, besides, PI controller is applied to reduce system chattering caused by switching sliding surface. It is applied to MPPT control of PV array in irregular shadow to solve the problem of multi-peak optimization in partial shadow. In order to verity the rationality of the proposed algorithm, the experimental circuit is built, which achieves MPPT control by means of the proposed algorithm and P&O method. The experimental results show that compared with the traditional P&O algorithm, the proposed algorithm can fast track the global MPP, tracking speed increases by 60% and the relative error decreased by 20%. Moreover, the system becomes more stable near the MPP, the fluctuations of output power is greatly reduced, and thus make full use of solar energy.     

Machine-learning paradigms for selecting ecologically significant input variables

Harmful algal blooms, which are considered a serious environmental problem nowadays, occur in coastal waters in many parts of the world. They cause acute ecological damage and ensuing economic losses, due to fish kills and shellfish poisoning as well as public health threats posed by toxic blooms. Recently, data-driven models including machine-learning (ML) techniques have been employed to mimic dynamics of algal blooms. One of the most important steps in the application of a ML technique is the selection of significant model input variables. In the present paper, we use two extensively used ML techniques, artificial neural networks (ANN) and genetic programming (GP) for selecting the significant input variables. The efficacy of these techniques is first demonstrated on a test problem with known dependence and then they are applied to a real-world case study of water quality data from Tolo Harbour, Hong Kong. These ML techniques overcome some of the limitations of the currently used techniques for input variable selection, a review of which is also presented. The interpretation of the weights of the trained ANN and the GP evolved equations demonstrate their ability to identify the ecologically significant variables precisely. The significant variables suggested by the ML techniques also indicate chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) itself to be the most significant input in predicting the algal blooms, suggesting an auto-regressive nature or persistence in the algal bloom dynamics, which may be related to the long flushing time in the semi-enclosed coastal waters. The study also confirms the previous understanding that the algal blooms in coastal waters of Hong Kong often occur with a life cycle of the order of 1–2 weeks.     

基于多尺度自回归模型体系的混凝土坝位移预报及工程应用

针对混凝土坝位移监测数据的时频非线性特征严重影响到数值模型预报精度的难题,通过小波技术解析原型数据中多重交叉环境驱动的效应实况,有机结合非线性自回归模型(Nonlinear Autoregressive Model with Exogenous Input, NARX)和差分整合移动平均自回归模型(Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average Model, ARIMA),建立了多尺度组合机制下的自回归模型体系,解决了内蕴复杂混沌特性的监测序列的信息挖掘难点。工程实例分析表明,所建模型的拟合精度及预测能力均得以提升,相比于传统模型具有较好的抗噪性和鲁棒性。此外,所建立的计算模型经一定的优化和拓展,亦可推广应用于其它水工建筑物的效应预报分析。     

含缺陷岩样三轴压缩变形破坏过程颗粒流模拟

为了研究岩桥倾角α对岩石力学行为和裂纹扩展机制的影响,采用PFC3D程序中的颗粒平行黏结模型,通过“试错法”获得一组能够反映完整花岗岩宏观力学特性的细观参数,并建立不同α下微孔洞与平行裂隙①、②组合的数值模型,对三轴压缩中岩样变形破坏过程进行了模拟分析。结果表明:α对起裂强度与峰值强度的比值未见显著的影响;当α=0°和75°时,裂纹扩展模式相似,裂隙①、②内外尖端均产生翼型裂纹,随后与微孔洞贯通;当α=15°、30°和90°时,裂纹的扩展模式比较接近,裂隙①、②内外尖端也可见翼型裂纹;当α=45°、60°时,裂纹呈类似方式扩展,裂隙①、②与微孔洞之间在剪切面上出现裂纹贯通,且在裂隙①、②外尖端有剪切裂纹,此时平行裂隙和微孔洞在剪切面上;剪切裂纹远多于拉伸裂纹,且微裂纹是从初始损伤部位开始扩展的。     

宁夏汉延渠灌区灌溉水利用系数测算分析与评价

农田灌溉水利用系数表示从水源引水被农作物吸收利用的过程,是反应灌区灌溉用水效率的一项指标。本文以汉延渠灌区为例,综合考虑宁夏的气候环境、土壤类型、灌溉制度及作物种植结构等因素,选取典型渠段和样点灌区,分别采用"连乘法"和"首尾法"计算宁夏汉延渠灌区2018—2019年的灌溉水利用系数,并对其进行对比分析评价,从而确定灌区适宜的计算方法。     

不同养护方式对水泥-锂渣浆体水化程度影响

为了分析水泥-锂渣浆体的水化程度, 采用高温煅烧法测试各龄期的化学结合水, 结果发现:水泥-锂渣浆体的化学结合水量随龄期的延长而增加, 水化3 d和7 d时能达到水化90 d时的60%和80%。高温养护、碱激发、高温和碱激发均能提高锂渣复合水泥基材料早期的化学结合水量, 最高可达3~4倍, 提高的幅度依次为碱激发和高温养护＞碱激发＞高温养护＞标准养护。高温和复合环境养护也能提高水泥的水化程度, 1~28 d内, 锂渣掺量在40%以内时, 水泥水化程度相对指数(ψ值)均大于1;掺量为60%时, ψ值均小于1。综上, 高温养护、碱激发、高温和碱激发均能提高锂渣和水泥的水化程度, 高温和碱激发复合作用时较为显著。     

利用十字板强度推算软土抗剪强度指标方法的探讨

软土结构性强,灵敏度高,常规室内试验测得强度参数偏小,而十字板剪切试验对土体扰动小,测定结果较为准确,但是十字板剪切试验无法直接得到土体的c,φ值,需要使用一定的方法进行转换。该文结合某一工程案例,探讨了目前常用的几种根据十字板剪切试验推算软土抗剪强度指标的方法,发现几种方法对于软土内摩擦角φ的推算均能达到较好的效果,但是粘聚力c偏大。最后,提出一种基于地基承载力公式修正c值的方法,对规范方法进行粘聚力修正,结果较为合理。     

Crack elongation and its width of large depth reinforced concrete beams

In order to meet the requirement of structural inspection,the crack spacing and crack width at various heights in the tensile zone of six large depth reinforced concrete beams were measured under several loading levels of serviceability state.The effects of the depth of normal section beams on the crack spacing and crack width were analyzed,and the modified model is proposed for calculating the average crack spacing by thinking about the depth of normal section,the reinforcement arrangement and the effective reinforcement ratio.The relationships of crack widths at any position in the tensile zone and at the reinforcement level on the side surface of beam were studied.By theoretical and statistical analysis,a method is proposed to calculate the ratios of crack widths between any position and the reinforcement level on the side surface of large depth reinforced concrete beams.