New moment-rotation equation for welded steel beam-to-column connections

A three-parameter tangent inverse equation is generically proposed for the non-linear moment-rotation (M-θ) relationship of semi-rigid steel beam-to-column connections. The parameters are the initial stiffness, the plastic stiffness, and a reference moment. Two commonly used welded moment connections are picked up for moment-rotation calculation and comparison between the results of the proposed model and those of a detailed nonlinear finite elements modeling. Semi-analytical equations are proposed for calculating the parameters containing basic factors affecting behavior of the connections. The coefficients of the equations are computed based on a data bank developed in this study using the finite element method. A large number of finite elements models covering the whole range of common dimensions of the above connections are analyzed. Accuracy of the finite element model is verified on the basis of the available test results from previous studies. Tensile tests for determination of material properties of weld to be used in the modeling are conducted. Comparison between the results of the semi-analytical equations and the finite element models shows that the proposed model is able to estimate the moment-rotation curves of the welded beam-to-column connections with very good accuracy.     

Modeling-based optimization of a fixed-bed industrial reactor for oxidative dehydrogenation of propane

An industrial scale propylene production via oxidative dehydrogenation of propane(ODHP)in multi-tubular reactors was modeled.Multi-tubular fixed-bed reactor used for ODHP process,employing 10000 of small diameter tubes immersed in a shell through a proper coolant flows.Herein,a theory-based pseudo-homogeneous model to describe the operation of a fixed bed reactor for the ODHP to correspondence ole fin over V_2O_5/γ-Al_2O_3catalyst was presented.Steady state one dimensional model has been developed to identify the operation parameters and to describe the propane and oxygen conversions,gas process and coolant temperatures,as well as other parameters affecting the reactor performance such as pressure.Furthermore,the applied model showed that a double-bed multitubular reactor with intermediate air injection scheme was superior to a single-bed design due to the increasing of propylene selectivity while operating under lower oxygen partial pressures resulting in propane conversion of about 37.3%.The optimized length of the reactor needed to reach 100%conversion of the oxygen was theoretically determined.For the single-bed reactor the optimized length of 11.96 m including 0.5m of inert section at the entrance region and for the double-bed reactor design the optimized lengths of 5.72m for the first and 7.32 m for the second reactor were calculated.Ultimately,the use of a distributed oxygen feed with limited number of injection points indicated a signi ficant improvement on the reactor performance in terms of propane conversion and propylene selectivity.Besides,this concept could overcome the reactor runaway temperature problem and enabled operations at the wider range of conditions to obtain enhanced propylene production in an industrial scale reactor.     

Entropy Generation Due to Natural Convection in a Partially Open Cavity with a Thin Heat Source Subjected to a Nanofluid

This article presents a numerical study of natural convection cooling of a heat source mounted inside the cavity, with special attention being paid to entropy generation. The right vertical wall is partially open and is subjected to copper–water nanofluid at a constant low temperature and pressure, while the other boundaries are assumed to be adiabatic. The governing equations have been solved using the finite volume approach, using SIMPLE algorithm on the collocated arrangement. The study has been carried out for a Rayleigh number in the range 10³ < Ra < 10⁶, and for solid volume fraction 0 <? <0.05. In order to investigate the effect of the heat source and open boundary location, six different configurations are considered. The effects of Rayleigh numbers, heat source and open boundary locations on the streamlines, isotherms, local entropy generation, Nusselt number, and total entropy generation are investigated. The results indicate that when open boundary is located up, the fluid flow augments and hence the heat transfer and Nusselt number increase and total entropy generation decreases.     

Damage Assessment and Ductility Evaluation of Post Tensioned Beams with Hybrid FRP Tendons

The study presented in this article concentrated on investigating the ductility and characterization of damage in concrete beams post tensioned with hybrid carbon-glass fiber-reinforced polymer (HFRP) composites. The investigation included an approach for design of flexural members with HFRP tendons and characterization of damage, load deformation response, ultimate strength, and failure modes. Direct tensile tests of hybrid FRP rods in a previous study had indicated elastoplastic response, enhanced ductility, and increased strain capacity. In this context, the current study focused on design and fabrication of post tensioned beams using glass or steel rebars for partial prestressing. All the beams were tested in flexure under four-point bending configuration. Results of the study are presented in terms of ductility index and enhanced load-deflection response in comparison with the conventional FRP materials. Damage characterization involved evaluating the specific features of the acoustic emissions for detecting the elastoplastic transition in the hybrid tendons. The method involved use of a high-resolution fiber-optic interferometer for detection and separation of acoustic emissions. By using the time domain response, it was possible to spatially localize the damage at various stages of the loading. Spectral energy of the acoustic emissions facilitated separation of carbon and glass fiber fractures.     

Microstructural evolution of a commercial ultrafine alumina powder densified by different methods

The densification and grain growth of bodies made from a commercial ultrafine alumina powder was investigated. The primary powder was initially subjected to dry (uniaxial cold pressing) and wet shaping (slip casting), followed by conventional (CS)-, two step (TSS)-, and microwave (MS) sintering to explore the effect of each series of treatments on the densification and microstructural evolution of the specimens. It was demonstrated that a uniform microstructure with higher density would be obtained using the wet shaping method. In addition, microwave sintering was found to be more effective into the densification of the specimens and in yielding a finer grain structure. It is believed that the high heating rate and effective particle packing are responsible for the improvements in these properties. On this basis, it was also demonstrated that the fracture toughness of the samples increased significantly through the application of microwave sintering.     

Agitation of Herschel–Bulkley fluids with the Scaba–anchor coaxial mixers

The design of the coaxial mixers depends on many interrelated parameters including the geometry and dimensions of the mixing vessel, the location and type of the impellers, speed ratio, impeller diameter, rotation mode, and fluid rheology. No study has been reported in the literature regarding the mixing performance of the coaxial mixers in the agitation of yield-pseudoplastic fluids. Thus, the main objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of a Scaba–anchor coaxial mixer (a novel configuration) in the mixing of xanthan gum solutions (yield-pseudoplastic fluids). The Herschel–Bulkley model was used to describe the rheological behavior of the xanthan gum solutions. To develop new correlations for the generalized Reynolds and power numbers of the coaxial mixers employed in the agitation of this class of non-Newtonian fluids, we utilized numerous experimental and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) data. The new correlations were tested successfully at different operating conditions (e.g. speed ratio, fluid rheology, and operation mode).