Design equations for prediction of pressuremeter soil deformation moduli utilizing expression programming systems

Providing precise estimations of soil deformation modulus is very difficult due to its dependence on many factors. In this study, gene expression programming (GEP) and multi-expression programming (MEP) systems are presented to derive empirical equations for the prediction of the pressuremeter soil deformation modulus. The employed expression programming (EP) systems formulate the soil deformation modulus in terms of the soil physical properties. Selection of the best models is on the basis of developing and controlling several models with different combinations of the affecting parameters. The proposed EP-based models are established upon 114 pressuremeter tests on different soil types conducted in this study. The generalization capabilities of the models are verified using several statistical criteria. Contributions of the variables influencing the soil modulus are evaluated through a sensitivity analysis. The GEP and MEP approaches accurately characterize the soil deformation modulus resulting in a very good prediction performance. The result indicates that moisture content and soil dry unit weight can efficiently represent the initial state and consolidation history of soil for determining its modulus.     

An analytical solution for free vibration analysis of circular plates in axisymmetric modes based on the two variables refined plate theory

This paper presents, for the first time, an analytical solution for free vibrations of an isotropic circular plate in axisymmetric modes based on the two variables refined plate theory. This theory accounts for a quadratic variation of the transverse shear strains across the thickness, and satisfies the zero traction boundary conditions on the surfaces of the plate without using shear correction factors. Governing equations are derived using Hamilton’s principle and an analytical method on the basis of using Bessel functions is introduced to solve them. By this procedure, final form of the governing equations is obtained in matrix form. These equations are solved for classical boundary conditions and comparison studies are performed to verify the validity of the present results. It is found that the results obtained using RPT and TSDT are close to each other. As a benchmark, numerical results are presented in a dimensionless form for various values of thickness to radius ratio.     

CBR strength of reinforced soil with natural fibres and considering environmental conditions

This paper investigates the effect of including randomly spaced palm fibres in a soil matrix. The fibres in date palm have special properties such as low costs, plenitude in the region, durability, lightweight, high tension capacity and relative strength against deterioration. Thus, it is possible to use the palm fibres as an alternative low-cost natural material for soil reinforcement. As the objective of this research was to mix the soil and date palm fibres to use in the construction of soil roads, especially village road, we discuss the influence of date palm fibres on CBR (California Bearing Ratio) strength of fine sand. CBR tests were conducted under dry and submerged conditions. The durability of fibres was also investigated using the plain fibres and fibres coated with bitumen. Some samples were soaked for several months before being loaded. The results show that the addition of palm fibres increases the CBR strength of the sand specimens significantly. It is also seen that the sliding strength controls the failure of the specimens rather than the rupture strength.     

Tracking Performance of an Adaptive MIMO-OFDM LS Estimator via MSE Criterion Over a Wireless Time Correlated Fading Channel

In this contribution, the performance of an adaptive least squares channel estimator for a time correlated MIMO-OFDM channel is presented in a closed form relation. As a criterion for performance evaluation, the well-known mean square error (MSE) is employed. The pilot aided channel estimation is used to extract the channel coefficients. To minimize the MSE and arrange phase shift orthogonally, the pilots are constructed with equal power and space. The model of the channel is developed by implementing a first order Markov model, and it is proved that the performance of the system is dependent upon the defined forgetting factor, the number of transmit antennas, the number of multipath channel taps, transmitted power, and Doppler shift. The effect of each parameter on the performance of the system is discussed separately. The computer simulation results follow with the analytical results comprehensively.     

Numerical Simulation of the Mechanical Properties of Sintered and Bonded Perforated Hollow Sphere Structures (PHSS)

This paper investigated the uniaxial mechanical properties of a new type of hollow sphere structures. For this new type, the sphere shell was perforated by several holes in order to open the inner sphere volume and surface. The mechanical properties, i.e. elastic properties and initial yield stress of perforated hollow sphere structures (PHSS) in a primitive cubic arrangement were numerically evaluated for different hole diameters and different joining techniques of the hollow spheres. The results are compa...     

A Comprehensive Overview on the Latest Progress in the Additive Manufacturing of Metal Matrix Composites: Potential,Challenges, and Feasible Solutions

Nowadays, as an emerging technology, additive manufacturing(AM) has received numerous attentions from researchers around the world. The method comprises layer-by-layer manufacturing of products according to the 3D CAD models of the objects. Among other things, AM is capable of producing metal matrix composites(MMCs). Hence, plenty of works in the literature are dedicated to developing different types of MMCs through AM processes. Hence, this paper provides a comprehensive overview on the latest research that has been carried out on the development of the powder-based AM manufactured MMCs from a scientific and technological viewpoint, aimed at highlighting the opportunities and challenges of this innovative manufacturing process. For instance, it is documented that AM is not only able to resolve the reinforcement/matrix bonding issues usually faced with during conventional manufacturing of MMCs, but also it is capable of producing functionally graded composites and geometrically complex objects. Furthermore, it provides the opportunity for a uniform distribution of the reinforcing phase in the metallic matrix and is able to produce composites using refractory metals thanks to the local heat source employed in the method. Despite the aforementioned advantages, there are still some challenges needing more attention from the researchers. Rapid cooling nature of the process, significantly different coe fficient of expansion of the matrix and reinforcement, processability, and the lack of suitable parameters and standards for the production of defect-free AM MMCs seem to be among the most important issues to deal with in future works.     

Seismic design of special moment‐resisting steel frame with prevention of soft‐storey mechanism failure

Most structures with masonry infills that are continuous along their height, which are interrupted in the lowest storey, are damaged by earthquakes. These structures are anticipated to collapse due to the undesirable soft‐storey mechanism formed by lateral stiffness of masonry infills in other storeys. The seismic design criteria of UBC97 code for special moment‐resisting steel frame (SMRSF) are reviewed. In this paper, a new criterion for seismic design of such structures is presented. The proposed criteria are used to design three SMRSFs: 5, 8 and 15 storeys. Nonlinear time‐history dynamic analyses are applied for the designed SMRSFs based on the proposed criteria. Displacements and storey drifts, which are obtained by the proposed method, are compared with nonlinear time‐history dynamic analysis results, finally. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Conducting polymerized high‐internal‐phase emulsion/single‐walled carbon nanotube nanocomposite foams: Effect of the aqueous‐phase surfactant type on the morphology and conductivity

Poly(styrene‐co‐divinylbenzene)/single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) polymerized high‐internal‐phase emulsion (polyHIPE) nanocomposite foams were successfully synthesized with various types of aqueous‐phase surfactants. The effects of anionic, cationic, nonionic, and mixed surfactants on the morphology and electrical conductivity of the resulting nanocomposite foams were investigated. The use of an anionic surfactant, sodium dodecylbenzesulfonate (SDBS), did not completely result in the typical polyHIPE nanocomposite foam microstructure because of the partial instability of the high‐internal‐phase emulsion. The nanocomposite foams synthesized by nonionic surfactants, that is, Pluronic F127 and Triton X‐100, and the cationic/anionic mixture, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide/SDBS, exhibited the proper morphology, but the resulting nanocomposite foams were electrically insulators. Interestingly, the use of a Gemini‐like surfactant, sodium dioctylsulfosuccinate (SDOSS), significantly improved both the typical morphology and electrical properties of the resulting nanocomposite foams because of the probable stronger interactions of SDOSS molecules with SWCNTs. The typical morphology of the nanocomposite foam synthesized with the SDOSS/F127 mixed surfactant was significantly improved, but the electrical conductivity decreased to some extent compared with the SDOSS‐synthesized nanocomposite foams. This behavior was attributed to an increase in the tunneling length of the electrons between adjacent SWCNTs. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 43883.     

The morphology and gas‐separation performance of membranes comprising multiwalled carbon nanotubes/polysulfone–Kapton

The development of desirable chemical structures and properties in nanocomposite membranes involve steps that need to be carefully designed and controlled. This study investigates the effect of adding multiwalled nanotubes (MWNT) on a Kapton–polysulfone composite membrane on the separation of various gas pairs. Data from Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy confirm that some studies on the Kapton–polysulfone blends are miscible on the molecular level. In fact, the results indicate that the chemical structure of the blend components, the Kapton–polysulfone blend compositions, and the carbon nanotubes play important roles in the transport properties of the resulting membranes. The results of gas permeability tests for the synthesized membranes specify that using a higher percentage of polysulfone (PSF) in blends resulted in membranes with higher ideal selectivity and permeability. Although the addition of nanotubes can increase the permeability of gases, it decreases gas pair selectivity. Furthermore, these outcomes suggest that Kapton–PSF membranes with higher PSF are special candidates for CO₂/CH₄ separation compared to CO₂/N₂ and O₂/N₂ separation. High CH₄, CO₂, N₂, and O₂ permeabilities of 0.35, 6.2, 0.34, and 1.15 bar, respectively, are obtained for the developed Kapton–PSF membranes (25/75%) with the highest percentage of carbon nanotubes (8%), whose values are the highest among all the resultant membranes. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 43839.