Service Load Effective Compression Flange Width in Fiber Reinforced Polymer Deck Systems Acting Compositely with Steel Stringers

This paper reports on the field study of a steel stringer-fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) deck composite bridge in Pennsylvania. The objective of the study is to assess the effective compression flange width in the FRP deck and floor systems when they act compositely with underlying steel girders at service conditions. The research results reported herein support the notion of employing a design approach, for both interior and exterior girders of a composite floor system, that is philosophically consistent with current practice related to steel girders acting compositely with concrete decking. It appears from the results presented herein that FRP decks and floors acting compositely with underlying steel girders exhibit an effective width that is close to the actual girder spacing for interior beams, and approximately one-half this value for exterior beams.     

Design optimization of 3D steel structures: Genetic algorithms vs. classical techniques

In this paper an elitist genetic algorithm (GA) developed by the authors is compared with common commercial solutions for complex structural optimization. After its prior validation on two-dimensional (2D) structures, the GA was tuned and improved in order to obtain structural elements with minimum weights that satisfy the ultimate limit states of the applicable building code. Subsequently, the same spatial structures were optimized using a commercial structural analysis program. Finally, the cost and weight improvements obtained using the GA, although at a higher computational cost, are discussed.     

FODA — the formal specification of ODA document structures and its use as a basis for conformance testing

The Office Document Architecture (ODA) is an International Standard which is developed by TC 97/sc 18 of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in close collaboration with CCITT's Study Group VIII and with ECMA. This paper describes the current state of a formal specification of the ODA document structures by mathematical means and its use for conformance specification and conformance testing.     

建筑结构爆破震动效应及安全分析研究

从现代爆破作用原理出发。对岩体爆破的振动特性，影响因素及最新研究进展作了综合评述。并通过大量科研观测资料分析。结合我国某些工程实践经验。着重介绍了岩土爆破对闸坝工程，水工隧洞的作用特性。破坏机制和安全准则。     

On the cost of searching signature trees

A precise analysis of the retrieval of signature trees is presented. A signature tree is a data structure constructed over a signature file to speed up searching all those signatures, which match a given query signature. The methods used include a detailed study of probabilistic analysis in conjunction with suitable contour integration of complex variabled functions.     

Efficient modeling of panel-like structures in perforation simulations

This paper presents results of numerical simulations for impact effects in panel-like structures using solid and shell element modeling techniques. Three examples from experiments in literature have been numerically analyzed. The nonlinear transient dynamic analysis code, LS-DYNA is used in the simulations to model projectiles and panel-like targets. It is found that models established for panel-like targets using solid shell elements cannot only save significant computational effort, but also produce good results as long as the panel-like targets satisfy certain conditions. A criterion that governs the validity of modeling panel-like targets with shell elements is proposed in the paper.     

Electrooptic studies on polymer‐dispersed liquid‐crystal composite films. III. Poly(methyl methacrylate‐co‐butyl acrylate)/E7 and poly(methyl methacrylate‐co‐butyl acrylate)/E8 composites

Composite films composed of poly(methyl methacrylate‐co‐butyl acrylate) (PMMABA) and nematic‐type liquid crystals E7 and E8 (commercial products from E. Merck, Darmstadt, Germany) were prepared through solvent casting in chloroform. The morphology and electrooptic responses were studied. Scanning electron microscopy observations showed that the liquid‐crystal phase (E7 or E8), as larger, elongated, interconnected cavities, was continuously embedded in a spongelike PMMABA matrix. At a specific level of the liquid‐crystal (E7 or E8) loading (30/70 wt %), the effects of the voltage, temperature, and frequency of an applied alternating‐current electric field on the transmittance of the composite films were measured with a He–Ne laser (wavelength = 632.8 nm). The results were interpreted in terms of the aggregation structure, interfacial interaction, and solubility of the liquid crystal in the matrix polymer. The results indicated that, under these experimental conditions, the output could be controlled to a desired level by the selection of suitable liquid crystals to prepare polymer‐dispersed liquid‐crystal, electrooptic, active composite films with a response time of the order of only milliseconds or less. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2008     

Application of ultrasonic waves in activation of microcrystalline cellulose

In this work, microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) was activated with ultrasonic waves. The influences of ultrasonic treatment on the changes of supramolecular structures and morphology structure were studied by WAXS and SEM. The accessibility of the MCC was characterized by water retention value (WRV) and specific surficial area. The influence of ultrasonic treatment on the reactivity of MCC was investigated through the reaction of MCC being oxidized into 2,3‐diadehyde cellulose (DAC) by periodate sodium. The mechanism of the reactivity change of ultrasonically treated MCC was examined. The results showed that the degree of crystallinity of MCC decreased and the degree of polymerization showed little change after treatment with ultrasonic waves. The morphologial variation of the treated MCC was significant when compared with the untreated MCC, which contribute to the improvement of accessibility. The aldehyde content of DAC prepared from ultrasonically treated MCC was improved from 64.19 to 85.00%, indicating that the regioselective oxidation reactivity of MCC was significantly improved. The aldehyde content was found to first increase with time of ultrasonic treatment to a point, and then decrease as time progressed. In addition, the aldehyde content was found to increase with an increase in ultrasonic power. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Polymer transcrystallinity induced by carbon nanotubes

In this work, we provide the evidence of polymer transcrystallinity in the presence of carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The interfacial morphology of carbon nanotube fiber-polypropylene matrix is investigated by means of polarized optical microscopy (POM), wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The supramolecular microstructures of polypropylene transcrystals induced by the nanotube fiber are observed in the range of isothermal crystallization temperatures from 118 °C to 132 °C. The dynamic process of transcrystallization is analyzed by using the theory of heterogeneous nucleation. Microstructure analysis shows that the nanotubes can nucleate the growth of both α- and γ-transcrystal, and α-transcrystals dominate the overall interfacial morphology. Close to the nanotube fiber surface, a cross-hatched lamellar microstructure composed of mother lamellae and daughter lamellae is observed.     

Comparative Study of Models on Confinement of Concrete Cylinders with Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites

The use of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites for strengthening and/or rehabilitation of concrete structures is gaining increasing popularity in the civil engineering community. One of the most attractive applications of FRP materials is their use as confining devices for concrete columns, which may result in remarkable increases of strength and ductility as indicated by numerous published experimental results. Despite a large research effort, a proper analytical tool to predict the behavior of FRP-confined concrete has not yet been established. Most of the available models are empirical in nature and have been calibrated against their own sets of experimental data. On the other hand, the experimental results available in the literature encompass a wide range of values of the significant variables. The objective of this work is a systematic assessment of the performance of the existing models on confinement of concrete columns with FRP materials. The study is conducted in the following steps: the experimental data on confinement of concrete cylinders with FRP available in the technical literature are classified according to the values of the significant variables; the existing empirical and analytical models are reviewed, pointing out their distinct features; the whole set of available experimental results is compared with the whole set of analytical models; and strengths and weaknesses of the various models are analyzed. Finally, a new equation is proposed to evaluate the axial strain at peak stress of FRP-confined concrete cylinders.