Investigation into the time-dependent behaviour of reinforced concrete specimens strengthened with externally bonded CFRP-plates

This paper deals with the influence of an external CFRP-reinforcement on the time dependent behaviour of flexural concrete beams. For this purpose, four reinforced concrete beams are tested in relaxation under three-point bending. Three of the four are strengthened with a composite plate bonded to their tensile soffit. The latter is not strengthened. The phenomenon of relaxation leads to a decrease in the loading force in the course of time. The test results are analysed in three ways: the first is a comparison between the global behaviour of the four beams. The second is a detailed analysis of the internal equilibrium of the beams in the course of time. The third is a global approach based on an incremental method suited to time analysis of composite structures. It can be concluded that composite reinforcement has a positive influence on the long term behaviour of strengthened beams. Their time dependent behaviours are different depending on whether the beam is pre-cracked before being strengthened. This difference may be taken into account using a coefficient of influence applied to the composite reinforcement. The existence of a period of loading before strengthening has a positive influence on the long-term behaviour of the beam.     

Machine-learning paradigms for selecting ecologically significant input variables

Harmful algal blooms, which are considered a serious environmental problem nowadays, occur in coastal waters in many parts of the world. They cause acute ecological damage and ensuing economic losses, due to fish kills and shellfish poisoning as well as public health threats posed by toxic blooms. Recently, data-driven models including machine-learning (ML) techniques have been employed to mimic dynamics of algal blooms. One of the most important steps in the application of a ML technique is the selection of significant model input variables. In the present paper, we use two extensively used ML techniques, artificial neural networks (ANN) and genetic programming (GP) for selecting the significant input variables. The efficacy of these techniques is first demonstrated on a test problem with known dependence and then they are applied to a real-world case study of water quality data from Tolo Harbour, Hong Kong. These ML techniques overcome some of the limitations of the currently used techniques for input variable selection, a review of which is also presented. The interpretation of the weights of the trained ANN and the GP evolved equations demonstrate their ability to identify the ecologically significant variables precisely. The significant variables suggested by the ML techniques also indicate chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) itself to be the most significant input in predicting the algal blooms, suggesting an auto-regressive nature or persistence in the algal bloom dynamics, which may be related to the long flushing time in the semi-enclosed coastal waters. The study also confirms the previous understanding that the algal blooms in coastal waters of Hong Kong often occur with a life cycle of the order of 1–2 weeks.     

Effect of Magnetic Interaction on Thermally Activated Reversal in a Magnet With a Distribution of Energy Barriers

The time dependence of magnetization is usually expressed as M(t)=M₀-SInt [see Proc. Phys. Soc. 62, 562 (1949)] for magnetic viscosity experiments. Considering magnetic interaction during the thermal activation process, a form as M(t)=M₀-SIn(t+t₀) is deduced. The dipolar interaction and exchange coupling in a magnet can lead to positive and nonpositive t₀, respectively. In the experiments of the magnetic viscosity for nanocrystalline Pr₂Fe₁₄B ribbons, the existence of positive t₀ is confirmed.     

Volatilisation and catalytic effects of alkali and alkaline earth metallic species during the pyrolysis and gasification of Victorian brown coal. Part VII. Raman spectroscopic study on the changes in char structure during the catalytic gasification in air

FT-IR/Raman spectroscopies have been used to identify the structural features of Victorian brown coal chars during the gasification in air at 400 °C. The deconvolution of the Raman spectra has allowed us to identify the main structural sites in char where preferential reaction with O₂ takes place. The presence of Na and Ca catalysts is shown to alter the reaction pathways between char and O₂. In the absence of a catalyst, the O-containing functional groups formed in char during gasification were closely associated with the aromatic structure and thus tended to loosen the aromatic structure. The non-catalysed gasification was slow and took place on some specific (especially sp³-rich or sp²–sp³ mixture) sites distributed throughout the char. In the presence of a catalyst (Na or Ca), the O-containing functional groups were not closely associated with the main aromatic structure throughout the char. The catalytic gasification reactions were localised on the sites associated with the catalysts. The preferential removal of smaller aromatic ring systems and the persistence of cross-linking structures in the presence of a catalyst mean that the large aromatic ring systems were increasingly concentrated with little flexibility, affecting the dispersion of catalyst.     

人力资本约束下区域主导产业选择方法

为了合理的确立区域主导产业,制定符合区域一级发展模式的主导产业选择基准和相应指标,提出了区域主导产业选择的人力资本匹配基准,给出了相应指标的计算方法.实证结果表明:尽管中国的劳动力资源非常丰富,但整体的人力资本水平却依然很低,同时人力资本分配非常不平均,劳动力过剩和人力资本不足的结构性矛盾日益突出.考虑到中国各区域人力资本分配的地域差距,区域一方面应大力进行人力资本积累,改善人力资本现状,另一方面,正视区域人力资本现状的现实,在区域主导产业选择时理性抉择,才能实现人力资本积累与产业结构升级的同步和有效互动.     

有侧移半刚性连接组合框架柱的稳定分析

为了研究有侧移半刚性连接组合框架的稳定性能,利用三柱子框架模型,考虑了梁端和柱远端不同约束情况对柱有效长度系数的影响,提出柱有效长度系数的简化方法.通过算例研究了节点的非线性弯矩-转角关系和荷载水平大小对柱有效长度系数的影响,比较了简化方法、Barakat-Chen方法与精确方法的计算结果.研究表明:简化方法比Barakat-Chen方法有更好的精确度,与精确方法计算结果接近.     

Set methods of left-turn waiting zone at signalized intersection

To maximize the number of vehicles passing by the stop-line in a cycle and improve the operation efficiency of intersection in China,the settlement of left-turn lane waiting-zone is becoming prevailing. Based on conflicting-point method,the internal mechanism of left-turn flow after stopping line was analyzed through taking postposition left-turn lane waiting-zone intersection for instance. The relationship between the first left-turn vehicle and the last vehicle of previous phase passing the conflicting point was expounded. According to the time of successive arriving of two vehicle flows at conflicting-point,the reasonable layout for waiting area of left-turn vehicles was researched when the clearance index was less than 0. The results suggest that the appropriate layout for waiting area of left-turning vehicles can improve the operation efficiency of intersections.     

可拓集合论在专家系统知识表示中的应用

引入了可拓集合论来优化专家系统的设计过程,阐述了可拓集合论应用于专家系统的可行性,在分析知识表示的集合与分类特征的基础上,探讨了可拓集合论在知识表示中的应用,结合人工智能技术的发展趋势,对专家系统在可拓学中的应用前景做出了展望.