Fatigue Behavior and Retrofit Investigation of Distortion-Induced Web Gap Cracking

This paper studies a Kansas Department of Transportation welded plate girder bridge that developed fatigue cracks at small web gaps close to the girder top flange. Repair had been previously performed by softening the connection plate end with a slot retrofit, but cracks were recently found to have reinitiated at some of the repaired details and are again propagating. A comprehensive finite-element method study was performed to investigate the cracking behavior observed in the bridge and to recommend appropriate measures for future bridge retrofit. The analytical results show that stresses developed at the top flange web gaps could exceed yielding under the loading of an HS15 fatigue truck. The current slot repair used in the bridge was found to have introduced higher magnitude fatigue stresses in the web gap. To achieve a permanent repair of the bridge, it is recommended that a welded connection plate to flange attachment be used during future bridge retrofit. The web gap details should be able to withstand unlimited number of load cycles once this additional repair is performed.     

Selecting a waste management option using a life-cycle analysis approach

Solid-waste management, and in particular the disposal of used packaging, is currently the subject of much topical debate. This is driven by both consumer and legislative pressures. Consumers see used packaging as a highly visible element of municipal solid waste, complaining of excessive packaging and low levels of recycling. Legislators, perhaps in pandering to the views expressed by consumer bodies, have been active within the CEC and individual Member States by introducing (or proposing) legislation or similar regulatory tools and targets to facilitate a greater diversion of used packaging from disposal by landfill to alternative solid-waste management practices, in particular recycling, which are widely accepted to have a lower impact on the environment. In this paper the relative environmental profiles of pursuing alternative solid-waste management practices to disposal by landfill are explored, focusing not just on solid waste per se but also on associated considerations of energy consumption and emissions, which are invariably overlooked as factors contributing to the environmental impact of solid-waste management practices.     

Repair of Cracked Aluminum Overhead Sign Structures with Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites

Transportation departments have been using aluminum overhead sign structures since the 1950s. It is well documented that cracks develop in the welds between diagonal and chord members due to fatigue stresses from wind-induced vibration of the slender members. The cracks propagate to complete failure of the members, which can cause collapse of the truss and inflict injuries. The original design of overhead sign structures did not consider fatigue as a limit state. In addition, field welding of aluminum structures for any possible repairs is prohibited. A repair method for the cracked aluminum welded connections between diagonals and chord members using glass fiber reinforced polymer composites (GFRPs) is proposed. The static load carrying capacity of the welded connection, and the cracked connection repaired with GFRP composites are established. The paper describes the surface preparation of the aluminum tubular members, and the architecture and application sequence of the GFRP composite to retrofit the connection. Experimental results are presented from static tests of welded aluminum connections, welded aluminum connections retrofitted with GFRP composites, and new aluminum connections that depend only on GFRP composite elements for their strength. The results from monotonic static tests carried out on cracked welded specimens from actual sign structures show that the retrofitted connection with GFRP reinforcement achieved 1.17 to 1.25 times the capacity of the welded aluminum connection without any visible cracks. This result, and the minimal traffic disruption anticipated in the actual field application, makes this retrofit method a good candidate for implementation.     

The Dud-Alternative Effect in Likelihood Judgment.

The judged likelihood of a focal outcome should generally decrease as the list of alternative possibilities increases. For example, the likelihood that a runner will win a race goes down when 2 new entries are added to the field. However, 6 experiments demonstrate that the presence of implausible alternatives (duds) often increases the judged likelihood of a focal outcome. This dud-alternative effect was detected for judgments involving uncertainty about trivia facts and stochastic events. Nonnumeric likelihood measures and betting measures reliably detected the effect, but numeric likelihood measures did not. Time pressure increased the magnitude of the effect. The results were consistent with a contrast-effect account: The inclusion of duds increases the perceived strength of the evidence for the focal outcome, thereby affecting its judged likelihood. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

搅拌生物反应器的结构模型、放大及搅拌器改型

搅拌生物反应器（ＳｔｉｒｒｅｄＢｉｏｒｅａｃｔｏｒ－ＳＢＲ）是最重要的生物反应器，随着生物高新技术的发展，在医药、食品、化工及环境等领域对其提出了更高的要求。为此详细评述了最近１０年在ＳＢＲ的结构模型、放大及搅拌器改型方面的进展及存在的问题，特别强调了ＳＢＲ性能研究的总体战略及具体的方法步骤。还就本学科发展的研究工作提出了建议。     

The replacement of animal testing: ethical issues and practical realities

Increasing expectation that products and materials of many kinds should be 'safe' is leading to demands for more toxicity testing. At the same time, there is mounting pressure to reduce, refine and replace laboratory animal experimentation. The testing of cosmetics is particularly controversial. The only way out of this dilemma is the development, validation, acceptance and use of non-animal test procedures, i.e. replacement alternative methods. Given realism and determination, more funding, better science and good strategic planning, the future for replacement alternatives, and thus for human and animal welfare, could be a very bright one.     

Retrofitting of pedestrian overpass by Truss-Z modular systems using graph-theory approach

Installing pedestrian ramps is a common improvement towards a barrier-free environment. This paper introduces a graph-theoretical method of retrofitting of a single-branch Truss-Z (TZ) ramp in a constrained environment. The results produced by this exhaustive search method are usually ideal and better than those produced previously with meta-heuristic methods.A large case study of linking two sections of the Hongo Campus of Tokyo University using an overpass in an extremely constrained environment is presented. TZ modules with 1:12 (8.3%) slope are used, which is allowable in most countries for ramps for self-powered wheelchairs.The results presented here are highly satisfactory both in terms of structural optimization and aesthetics.Visualizations of the TZ ramp system, composed of 124 units, are presented.     

New hybrid COPRAS-G MADM Model for improving and selecting suppliers in green supply chain management

Greening the supply chain is an increasingly important concern for many business enterprises and a challenge for logistics management. Critical functions within green supply chain management are internal improvements and selection of green suppliers. This study proposes a novel, hybrid model that addresses dependent relationships between various criteria and the vague information coming from decision-makers. The Decision-making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) technique structures the relationships among criteria, thereby constructing an influential network relationship map (INRM). Meanwhile the DEMATEL-based, analytical network process (ANP) method aids in obtaining influential weights of the criteria. Decision-makers may hold diverse opinions and preferences due to incomplete information, differences in knowledge or simply conflicts that are inherent between various departments. This can make it difficult to judge the performance of alternatives. One remedy is to apply a modified COmplex PRoportional ASsessment of alternatives with Grey relations. Next, this is applied to improve each criterion for integration of the performance values obtained in closing the aspiration level from different expert opinions based on INRM. An empirical example using data from a Taiwanese electronics company is provided to demonstrate our proposed method. The results can provide firms with a knowledge-based understanding of the source of some problems, thus reducing the performance gaps and closing the aspiration levels. Finally, there is a discussion on certain managerial implications.     

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.     

Risk Management and Design of Critical Bridges for Terrorist Attacks

In the aftermath of the September 11th tragedies, the vulnerability of the United States' transportation infrastructure to terrorist attack has gained national attention. In light of this vulnerability, various governmental agencies are looking into ways to improve the design of structures to better withstand extreme loadings. Until recently, little attention has been given to bridges which are critical to our economy and transportation network. This paper summarizes the results of ongoing research to investigate economical, unobtrusive, and effective methods to mitigate the risk of terrorist attacks against critical bridges. It outlines a recommended plan to reduce these threats through proven risk management techniques, lists possible cost-effective security measures, discusses blast effects on bridges, and provides structural design and retrofit guidelines. It also discusses ongoing research oriented towards the development of a performance-based design methodology. In using proper risk management techniques, transportation managers and bridge engineers can mitigate the risk of terrorist attacks against critical bridges to an acceptable level, while ensuring efficient use of limited resources.