Earthquake analysis of isotropic asymmetric multistory buildings

Isotropic multistory buildings are the ones characterized by the property: all load‐resisting planar frames have proportional lateral stiffness matrices. In the present paper it is proved that the modal analysis of an N‐story isotropic asymmetric, torsionally coupled, building (a problem of order 3N) can be separated into two independent sub‐problems: (a) a sub‐problem that corresponds to a single‐story asymmetric, torsionally coupled, building (a problem of order 3); and (b) a sub‐problem that corresponds to an N‐story, torsionally uncoupled, planar frame (a problem of order N). It is also demonstrated that the orientation of peak modal seismic forces of the building is independent of the orientation of seismic excitation, which affects only their size. The separation provides a better insight into the structural behavior of asymmetric multistory buildings under earthquake ground motion. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Experimental studies on the weatherability of the capivara dam basalts,rio paranapanema,brazil

The weatherability of the basalts in the Capivara Dam site, Rio Paranapanema, São Paulo State, Brazil, has been studied by means of saturation-drying tests. A great number of samples have disaggre — gated intensively with production of fines. The behavior of these rocks is related to their petrography, especially to their content in expansive clay minerals. These studies were performed in order to obtain data for the utilization of this material as rock fill, including ripraps.     

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.     

Smoke development at different energy flux levels in an NBS smoke density chamber

An automatically controlled high-energy flux heater has been developed and utilized in an NBS Smoke Density Chamber.     

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.     

The coagulation of a kaolinite suspension with aluminium sulphate

A study has been made of the coagulation of a 50 mg l⁻¹ aqueous suspension of kaolinite for a range of aluminium sulphate and hydrogen ion concentrations. The rate of flocculation was determined from jar tests after stirring for 1 h. The data permitted a stability limit diagram to be drawn from which some indication of the coagulation mechanisms of the system could be ascertained.     

Laboruntersuchungen zur Freisetzung von Unat aus einem Gestein unter oxischen naturnahen Bedingungen

Kurzfassung Im Labor wurden verschiedene Größen (pH-Wert, HCO ₃ —Gehalt, Präsenz von Fe(OH) ₃ ) untersucht, von denen angenommen werden konnte, dass sie die umweltrelevante Freisetzung von Uran aus Gesteinen (z. B. Haufwerken, Halden, Tailings) im neutralen und schwach basischen pH-Bereich (6 bis 9) beeinflussen. Hierzu wurde der Austrag von U _nat aus einem schwach vererzten Urangestein (2,31 %) in Batchversuchen untersucht. Diese Versuche wurden mit 8, 10 oder 40 g/l Gestein und Leitungs- bzw. Mineralwasser durchgeführt. Zum Vergleich wurden parallele Standversuche in deionisiertem Wasser, 0,1 M Na ₂ CO ₃ und 0,1 M H ₂ SO ₄ durchgeführt. Die Ergebnisse zeigen eine Begünstigung der Uranfreisetzung in Anwesenheit von Carbonat (gelöst oder in situ durch Dolomitauflösung entstanden), während die Rolle des Pyrits auf die Freisetzung deutlich komplexer ist. Das Erreichen eines Gleichgewichtszustands kann unter Umständen durch sorptive Einflüsse verzögert werden.

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Investigations for the release of U_nat from ore bearing rock under natural near oxic conditions

Abstract The effects of carbonate concentration and the presence of iron hydroxide phases on uranium release into the environment were investigated under oxic conditions and in the pH range from 6 to 9. For this purpose not-shaken batch experiments were conducted with a constant amount (8, 10 or 40 g/l) of a uranium bearing rock and different types of water (deionised, tap and mineral water). For comparison parallel experiments were conducted with 0.1 M Na ₂ CO ₃ and 0.1 M H ₂ SO ₄ . The use of dolomite confirmed the favourable role of carbonate bearing minerals for U transport while the presence of pyrite on Uranium mobilisation was shown to be considerably more complex. This study shows that the approach of equilibrium conditions can be strongly delayed by sorption processes.