Proposition of new computer artificial intelligence models for shear strength prediction of reinforced concrete beams

Engineering with Computers - The study is investigated the capacity of new artificial intelligence (AI) methodologies for shear strength (Vs) computation of reinforced concrete (RC) beams. The...     

High Efficiency Poly(acrylonitrile) Electrospun Nanofiber Membranes for Airborne Nanomaterials Filtration

The potential of poly(acrylonitrile) electrospun membranes with tuneable pore size and fiber distributions were investigated for airborne fine‐particle filtration for the first time. The impact of solution concentration on final membrane properties are evaluated for the purpose of designing separation materials with higher separation efficiency. The properties of fibers and membranes are investigated systematically: the average pore distribution, as characterized by capillary flow porometry, and thermo‐mechanical properties of the mats are found to be dependent on fiber diameter and on specific electrospinning conditions. Filtration efficiency and pressure drop are calculated from measurement of penetration through the membranes using potassium chloride (KCl) aerosol particles ranging from 300 nm to 12 μm diameter. The PAN membranes exhibited separation efficiencies in the range of 73.8–99.78% and a typical quality factor 0.0224 (1 Pa^?1) for 12 wt% PAN with nanofibers having a diameter of 858 nm. Concerning air flow rate, the quality factor and filtration efficiency of the electrospun membranes at higher face velocity are much more stable than for commercial membranes. The results suggest that the structure of electrospun membranes is the best for air filtration in terms of filtration stability at high air flow rate.

     

Numerical analysis of multilayered CFRP retrofitted RC beams with partial interaction

This paper presents a theoretical model to simulate the behaviour of RC beams strengthened with multilayered CFRP matrix allowing for inter-layer slip. An element of the composite beam is assumed to be subjected to a system of forces that satisfy equilibrium and compatibility of deformations. The inter-layer slip is allowed for by relating the differential strain at the interfaces between the CFRP layers and the concrete to the longitudinal shear flow at the corresponding interface through the shear stiffness of the adhesive layer. The basic differential equations are derived in terms of displacement variables and solved numerically using finite differences. The results of the numerical simulation included slip values along the interfaces, maximum slip values, stresses and strains and deflections. The results compare reasonably well with experimental findings.     

AASHTO-LRFD Live Load Distribution for Beam-and-Slab Bridges: Limitations and Applicability

This paper presents a comparison between the live load distribution factors of simple span slab-on-girders concrete bridges based on the current AASHTO-LRFD and finite-element analysis. In this comparison, the range of applicability limits specified by the current AASHTO-LRFD is fully covered and investigated in terms of span length, slab thickness, girder spacing and longitudinal stiffness. All the AASHTO-PCI concrete girders (Types I–VI) are considered to cover the complete range of longitudinal stiffness specified in the AASHTO-LRFD. Several finite-elements linear elastic models were investigated to obtain the most accurate method to represent the bridge superstructure. The bridge deck was modeled as four-node quadrilateral shell elements, whereas the girders were modeled using two-node space frame elements. The live load used in the analysis is the vehicular load plus the standard lane load as specified by AASHTO-LRFD. The live load is positioned at the longitudinal location that produced the extreme effect, and then it is moved transversely across the bridge width in order to investigate all possibilities of one-lane, two-lane and three-lane design loads. A total of 886 bridge superstructure models were built and analyzed using the computer program SAP2000 to perform this comparison. The results of this study are presented in terms of figures to be practically useful to bridge engineers. This study showed that the AASHTO-LRFD may significantly overestimate the live load distribution factors compared to the finite-element analysis.     

The thermal performance of a Roof-Pond integrated to a building for heating during Cold-Winter Desert climate conditions in Saudi Arabia

This study reports an experiment to investigate the feasibility of a passive heating roof-pond system on an existing room in the cold winter conditions of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Statistical analyses of data recorded during the winter season of 1996–97, are carried out to evaluate the thermal peformance of the proposed system. Total effective heating and the heating power of the roof pond system are computed and analysed. Results indicate that the roof-pond system is capable of maintaining warm indoor air temperature conditions. The statistical formulae for this system are presented and used to estimate the indoor daily average air Dry Bulb Temperature (DBT_Avg-indoor] created by the system. Validation of the proposed formulae is also presented.     

KCNQ1 Haplotypes Associate with Type 2 Diabetes in Malaysian Chinese Subjects

The aim of this study was to investigate the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and haplotypes of potassium voltage-gated channel, KQT-like subfamily, member 1 (KCNQ1) with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in Malaysian Chinese subjects. The KCNQ1 SNPs rs2237892, rs2283228 and rs2237895 were genotyped in 300 T2D patients and 230 control subjects without diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Two logistic regression models of analysis were applied, the first adjusted for age and gender while the second adjusted for age, gender and body mass index. The additive genetic analysis showed that adjusting for body mass index (BMI) even strengthened association of rs2237892, rs2283228 and rs2237895 with T2D (OR = 2.0, P = 5.1 × 10(-5); OR = 1.9, P = 5.2 × 10(-5); OR = 1.9, P = 7.8 × 10(-5), respectively). The haplotype TCA containing the allele of rs2237892 (T), rs2283228 (C) and rs2237895 (A) was highly protective against T2D (Second model; OR = 0.17, P = 3.7 × 10(-11)). The KCNQ1 rs2237892 (TT), and the protective haplotype (TCA) were associated with higher beta-cell function (HOMA-B) in normal subjects (P = 0.0002; 0.014, respectively). This study found that KCNQ1 SNPs was associated with T2D susceptibility in Malaysian Chinese subjects. In addition, certain KCNQ1 haplotypes were strongly associated with T2D.     

New shakedown criterion and permanent deformation properties of unbound granular materials

Railway Engineering Science - Unbound granular material specifications for road pavements in Australia are primarily based on physical material specification rather than mechanical...     

Optimization of vendor-managed inventory systems in a rolling horizon framework

This paper aims at designing a dynamic VMI system. In this system, the entire supply chain performance is optimized in terms of production planning at vendor’s site, distribution strategy, and inventory management at manufacturer’s site. We also explore some of the complications involved in setting up such a system. The VMI system is modeled as a mixed-integer linear program (MILP) using discrete-time representation. The mathematical representation follows the resource-task network (RTN) formulation. To address the complexity of the problem, different optimization-based solution algorithms are proposed and compared in terms of solution quality and CPU time. First, the problem is solved directly using an exact detailed model. Secondly, an iterative procedure combines a novel aggregate model with the detailed model to provide aggregate pre-matches for the detailed binary variables. Finally, a novel rolling horizon approach that simultaneously combines the aggregate and the detailed models is designed to solve the problem. The entire VMI system is tested with an illustrative example.     

Tautomerism and Reactions of 1H-1,2,4-Triazole-5-thiones with Hydrazonoyl Halides

The acid dissociation constants (K_a) of a series of 3,4-diaryl-1H-1,2,4-triazole-5-thiones ( 1 ) were determined and were found to correlated linearly with Hammett substituent constants; log K_a = 1.06 σ_x − 11.01. Such a result indicates that 1 exists essentially in one tautomeric form namely the thione form. Reactions of 1 with hydrazonoyl chlorides 2 gave the thiohydrazides 5 . Similiar reaction of 3-phenyl-1H(4H)- 1,2,4-triazole-5-thione 1g with 2a gave the thiohydrazide 5h which was converted into 1,3,5-triphenyl-1,2,4-triazolo[3,4-c]-1,2,4-triazole ( 9 ). The latter was also prepared from 3-phenyl-5-methylthio-4H-1,2,4-triazole ( 6 ) and 2a . The mechanism of the reaction of 1 with 2 is discussed.     

Optimization of electro-oxidation and electro-Fenton techniques for the treatment of oilfield produced water

Electrochemical advanced oxidation processes are the most promising methods for destroying and degrading organic and inorganic pollutants present in produced water effluents. This study presents the electro-oxidation process using graphite electrodes and electro-Fenton process using iron electrodes for the treatment of real produced water. The effect of operating parameters such as current density on chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency was addressed. The result showed that electro-Fenton process was more efficient than electro-oxidation process where it gave 98% as maximum COD removal efficiency with energy consumption of 1.9 kWh/dm³ at H₂O₂ concentration of 12 mM, current density of 10 mA/cm², temperature of 25°C, pH of 3, and treatment time of 80 min compared with 96.9% as maximum COD removal efficiency with energy consumption of 3 kWh/dm³ at pH of 6, current density of 10 mA/cm², temperature of 40°C, and reaction time of 80 min when using electro-oxidation process. These results demonstrated that electrochemical technologies are very promising methods for the treatment of produced water from oil/gas industry, so it can be safely disposed of or effectively reused for injection and irrigation.