TBM performance estimation using a classification and regression tree (CART) technique

Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment - With widespread increasing applications of mechanized tunneling in almost all ground conditions, prediction of tunnel boring machine (TBM)...     

Analytical investigation on performance of special moment‐resisting connections with unequal beam depths

This study considers the effect of detailing of an interior beam to column connection with unequal beam depths on seismic performance of special moment‐resisting frame (SMRF), which has not explicitly been taken into account, despite its possible occurrence in engineering practice, by the current codes and provisions. Studied detailing consists of a continuity plate arrangement, cover plate, flange plate and haunch connection system as alternatives in order to connect a shallow beam and a deep beam to column. To improve the understanding of seismic performance in SMRF connections, coordinated analytical and experimental studies have been conducted to examine the effect of different geometries and the mentioned alternatives on the seismic performance of SMRF with unequal beam depths. This work describes the analytical studies and includes a summary of the experimental results used in the development and validation of the analytical models; the experiment and analyses show that some detailing could provide ductile behavior with a total storey drift angle of 0.06 rad before experiencing 20% strength degradation while other detailing would not satisfy this criterion. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Finding circular shapes in an image on a pyramid architecture

The problem of finding circular shapes in an image using a pyramid architecture is considered. In this paper we have defined a new transformation that converts circles in an image to a family of straight lines allowing the problem to be converted to line detection which can be solved by Hough transform algorithms. Also, based on this new transformation we have developed two algorithms for circle detection using a pyramid architecture.     

Physical and mechanical properties of PVDF/KNN composite produced via hot compression molding

One of the most important lead-free piezoelectric compounds that has been studied extensively belongs to alkali niobate family, the sodium-potassium niobium (KNN) compound. In this study, KNN/PVDF composite was fabricated through hot compression molding of the components and its mechanical, thermal and electrical properties were studied. For this purpose, KNN was first synthesized by solid-state reaction during two-step calcination and its structural evolution was studied using XRD. Composite samples were prepared at different KNN to PVDF weight ratios. The powder mixture was then formed into disks by hot compression molding. The microstructure of the composite samples was investigated by SEM. The prepared samples were perfectly dense with a density in the range of 97.44% to 99.11% of the theoretical density. The thermal properties of the prepared composites were evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis and it was observed that final weight loss due to material degradation was reduced with increasing KNN weight percent. In addition, samples with higher KNN contents showed increased Young's modulus and yield strength values in compression. In order to investigate the electrical properties, the dielectric constant, dielectric loss factor, piezoelectric charge and voltage coefficients and electric polarization were studied. The results showed that the dielectric constant increased with KNN content. The same trend was observed in the piezoelectric charge coefficient and the dielectric loss factor of the PVDF/KNN composites. At 80 wt% KNN, the composite showed a distinct ferroelectric behavior with a remanent polarization of 0.255 μC/cm² and 20.5 kV/cm coercivity. According to the results of the present study, hot compression molding is an effective method for producing KNN/PVDF composites with improved mechanical and thermal properties compared to its constituents.     

Impedimetric and potentiometric investigation of a sulfate anion-selective electrode: experiment and simulation

A new anion-selective polyvinyl chloride (PVC) membrane electrode based on {6,6'-diethoxy-2,2'-[2,2-dimethylpropane-1,3-diylbis(nitrilomethylidyne)]diphenolato}nickel(II)monohydrate as a carrier for the sulfate anion is reported. In this work, a new strategy for optimizing membrane components by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is presented. The performance of this electrode was investigated using potentiometric and EIS techniques. The potentiometric results indicated that the prepared electrode had a Nernstian slope of -28.9 ± 0.1 mV in a linear concentrations range of 1.0 × 10(-6) to 3.0 × 10(-1) M, a detection limit of 6.3 × 10(-7) M, an applied pH range of 4.0-9.0, and a response time of less than 15 s; while using the EIS technique, the linear concentrations range was 1.0 × 10(-9) to 1.0 × 10(-1) M and the pH range increased to 4.0-10.0. Finally, the impedance spectra were simulated using the Maple 13 software. A comparison of the experimental data and information obtained from the simulation confirmed the accuracy of the impedance measurement of this electrode.     

Chromium(III) porphyrin as a selective ionophore in a salicylate-selective membrane electrode

The construction, potentiometric response properties, and applications of a novel ion-selective electrode with high selectivity toward salicylate are described. Chromium(III) tetraphenylporphyrin chloride was used as ion carrier into plasticized PVC membrane. This ionophore is capable of serving as both a positively charged and neutral carrier, depending on the pH of the sample solution. The influence of several variables was investigated to optimize the potentiometric response and selectivity of the electrode. The resulting electrode demonstrates a near-Nernstian response over a wide range of salicylate concentration (10(-6)-10(-1) M). This electrode has a fast response time and micromolar detection limit and could be used over a wide pH range (3-9). The proposed electrode showed very high selectivity for salicylate over a number of common inorganic and organic anions. The specific interaction of salicylate with the central metal of porphyrin is described based on UV-visible absorption spectra. The electrode was successfully applied to the determination of salicylate in pharmaceutical preparations and clinical samples.     

Effect of drainage channel dimensions on the performance of wave-plate mist eliminators

We investigated the effects of drainage channel dimensions on droplet removal efficiency and pressure drop of the gas droplet flow in a wave-plate mist eliminator. Droplet dispersion in turbulent gas flows is numerically simulated using eddy interaction model (EIM) and Eulerian-Lagrangian method. Reynolds stress transport model (RSTM) with enhanced wall treatment and shear stress transport (SST) k-ω model are used for simulating the turbulent airflow. Comparison between the numerical simulations and available experimental data shows that eddy lifetime constant (C _L ) can affect the results significantly, and by selecting suitable values of the eddy lifetime constant, both turbulence models give reasonable predictions of droplet removal efficiency. Simulations of gas droplet flow in the eliminators with various drainage channel dimensions show that the drainage channel length (L _DC ) has a greater effect on droplet removal efficiency than the drainage channel width (W _DC ).     

An optimized ANN model based on genetic algorithm for predicting ripping production

Due to the environmental constraints and the limitations on blasting, ripping as a ground loosening and breaking method has become more popular in both mining and civil engineering applications. As a result, a more applicable rippability model is required to predict ripping production (Q) before conducting such tests. In this research, a hybrid genetic algorithm (GA) optimized by artificial neural network (ANN) was developed to predict ripping production results obtained from three sites in Johor state, Malaysia. It should be noted that the mentioned hybrid model was first time applied in this field. In this regard, 74 ripping tests were investigated in the studied areas and the relevant parameters were also measured. A series of GA–ANN models were conducted in order to propose a hybrid model with a higher accuracy level. To demonstrate the performance capacity of the hybrid GA–ANN model, a pre-developed ANN model was also proposed and results of predictive models were compared using several performance indices. The results revealed higher accuracy of the proposed hybrid GA–ANN model in estimating Q compared to ANN technique. As an example, root-mean-square error values of 0.092 and 0.131 for testing datasets of GA–ANN and ANN techniques, respectively, express the superiority of the newly developed model in predicting ripping production.