Effectiveness of automatic sprinkler systems in exhibition halls

In cooperation with Mayor Daley's Committee to investigate the McCormick Place Fire, Underwriters' Laboratories tested the effectiveness of automatic sprinkler systems in a simulated exhibition hall having ceiling heights of 30 ft and 50 ft. The results may prove surprising to some who doubt the value of sprinklers in high-ceilinged structures, such as McCormick Place. Fire Protection Department Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc.     

Prediction of the effectiveness of rolling dynamic compaction using artificial neural networks and cone penetration test data

Rolling Dynamic Compaction(RDC),which is a ground improvement technique involving non-circular modules drawn behind a tractor,has provided the construction industry with an improved ground compaction capability,especially with respect to a greater influence depth and a higher speed of compaction,resulting in increased productivity. However,to date,there is no reliable method to predict the effectiveness of RDC in a range of ground conditions. This paper presents a new and unique predictive tool developed by means of artificial neural networks(ANNs) that permits a priori prediction of density improvement resulting from a range of ground improvement projects that employed 4-sided RDC modules;commercially known as"impact rollers". The strong coefficient of correlation(i.e. R0.86) and the parametric behavior achieved in this study indicate that the model is successful in providing reliable predictions of the effectiveness of RDC in various ground conditions.     

Trace element analysis of Cretan wines and wine products

The object of this research is to investigate the ways and the degree of contamination of Cretan grapes from the area of Chania and their alcoholic products, with the elements aluminium, arsenic, cadmium, copper, chromium, iron, lead, manganese, nickel and zinc. Fifteen samples of grapes were collected and used for the production of experimental wines from rinsed and unrinsed grapes. A microwave furnace was used for the digestion and dissolution of the experimental wines, the precipitates that originated in these wines, as well as the wines of the corresponding producers. The analyses of all mentioned samples as well as 34 local alcoholic distillates were performed using total reflection X-ray fluorescence and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. The concentrations for all the elements that were determined were almost in all cases, well below the maximum permissible levels by the Greek and the European Union legislation.     

Tunnel fire and life safety within the world road association (PIARC)

This paper presents the global activities of the World Road Association (PIARC) in the area of fire and life safety in road tunnels. It traces the organizational structure in the form of technical committees, its publications, current activities and concludes with a summary as to the position of the organization with regard to fire and life safety in tunnels.     

Finite element three-dimensional elastic-plastic creep analysis

This paper presents a continued development of computationally efficient finite element methods for accurately predicting the isothermal three-dimensional elastic-plastic creep responses of thick and thin shell structures subjected to mechanical and thermal loads. This work is applicable to a wide range of engineering structures and most recently has been used in the elastic-plastic creep analyses of high-temperature nuclear reactor components and rotating turbine blades.Previous work in this area for elastic-plastic analysis has been demonstrated by Levy et al. In that reference, use of a variable number of stress points within an element to describe elastic-plastic behaviour was demonstrated. These ideas have been extended for combined plasticity and creep behaviour. Thus, within an element, the order of the allowable total kinematic strain distribution is dependent on the number of element nodes (assumed displacement distribution), and the order of the allowable plastic strain distribution (and hence the elastic-plastic boundaries) and/or creep strain distribution is dependent on the number and location of the stress points used to numerically integrate the inelastic effects. This allows for an accurate representation of the elastic-plastic creep behaviour within an element. This higher inelastic representation results in the use of a minimum number of degrees of freedom for a given nonlinear analysis, which is particularly important for combined creep and plasticity behaviour and for cyclic loading, where computer times can be prohibitive.The basic numerical solution procedure for the elastic-plastic creep analysis is an incremental predictor-corrector iterative scheme combined with the ‘initial strain’ approach. Attention has been given to the time step increment strategy for combined plasticity and creep as this governs efficiency and accuracy.The methods have been implemented into the three-dimensional solid element module (HEX) of the Grumman PLANS finite element program.Sample problems are used to demonstrate and investigate the accuracy and efficiency of these methods. Sample problems include combined plasticity and creep analysis of a simple rod under time varying load, stress-relaxation of a simple rod, thermal stress-relaxation of a plate subjected to a temperature variation across the width, and creep analysis of an internally loaded thick-walled pressure vessel.     

Separation of physical loading from photosynthesis/respiration processes in rivers by mass balance

Diurnal variations in physical and chemical concentrations, including nutrients, are observed in river ecosystems. Understanding these cycles and separating the effects of physical loading (from point and non-point sources) and biogeochemical processes are necessary for water management and the TMDL process. A chloride mass balance approach is used to separate the relative influences of physical loading and biogeochemical processes in the Bow River through Calgary, Canada, which has a significant influence on the river water chemistry. Sampling campaigns were conducted in December 2005, when minimal photosynthesis and respiration occur, and in July 2006, when river discharge is high and some photosynthesis and respiration activity is present. Samples in each campaign were collected at point source input and output along the river reach through the city every hour for a 24-hour period, allowing for time of travel. The two wastewater treatment facilities within the city contributed the majority of physical mass loading to the river, with temporal variations in effluent discharge, chloride, and nutrient concentrations. Wastewater effluent chloride to nutrient (as well as other parameter relationships) concentrations also varied diurnally. An hourly chloride mass balance was achieved, within 0.5% (average, S.D.=4.4) for December and 7.7% (average, S.D.=4.2) for July, between estimated cumulative sum values from all inputs and measured values at the river output downgradient of the city, allowing for the investigation of other parameter conservativeness. Some slight diurnal variations associated with photosynthesis and respiration were observed even with limited productivity in the river. Nitrate mass fluxes appeared to be most strongly influenced by photosynthesis and respiration processes, with phosphate being less influenced. Ammonia mass fluxes appeared to be most strongly influenced by wastewater effluent loading. Physical loading can mask or enhance biogeochemical diurnal fluctuations, creating errors in river process interpretations. Chloride was a useful tracer in the mass balance to distinguish between and assist in separating physical loading and biogeochemical processes in the river.     

An experimental behaviour of concrete-filled steel tubular columns

In this paper results of tests conducted on 27 concrete-filled steel tubular columns are reported. The test parameters were the column slenderness, the load eccentricity covering axially and eccentrically loaded columns with single or double curvature bending and the compressive strength of the concrete core. The test results demonstrate the influence of these parameters on the strength and behaviour of concrete-filled steel tubular columns. A comparison of experimental failure loads with the predicted failure loads in accordance with the method described in Eurocode 4 Part 1.1 showed good agreement for axially and eccentrically loaded columns with single curvature bending whereas for columns with double curvature bending the Eurocode loads were higher and on the unsafe side. More tests are needed for the case of double curvature bending.     

Interaction of bacteriophage R17 and reovirus type III with the clay mineral allophane

A study has been made of the adsorption of bacteriophage R17 and reovirus type 3 by the amorphous aluminosilicate clay mineral allophane. In agreement with previous studies of virus adsorption to other minerals such as montmorillonite and aluminium hydroxide, the principal factors influencing adsorption were found to be mixing time, pH and the concentrations and isoelectric points of both the virus and the absorbent. However, allophane was found to be a much better adsorbent for reovirus and R17 over the pH range 5–7, the natural pH range of many fresh waters.By using highly purified radioactive reovirus it was possible to follow both the distribution of radioactive virus in a clay suspension and the specific infectivity of the virus. This study revealed that when adsorbed virus was eluted by neutral phosphate solutions it retained its physical integrity but was of a lower specific infectivity.