Wall Effects Research Articles

Effect of infill walls on the seismic performance of a severely damaged substandard RC building during the February 6, 2023, Kahramanmaras earthquake sequence

On February 6, 2023, two catastrophic earthquakes with moment magnitudes of Mw 7.7 and Mw 7.6 struck southern cities of Türkiye, occurring only nine hours apart. Spectral accelerations obtained from some of the recorded ground motions exceeded the design spectrum specified in the Turkish Building Earthquake Code (TBEC 2018) for the maximum credible earthquake level. This has prompted a review of seismic design practices within the framework of TBEC 2018. To address this concern, this study evaluates the performance of a reinforced concrete (RC) building with a ribbed slab that sustained heavy damage, according to official damage assessments, after the February 6th earthquake sequence. Numerical models were developed both with and without infill walls to assess their influence on the building’s response. Time history analysis and static pushover methods were used for its seismic performance assessment. Time history analyses were conducted under ground motions recorded at three different stations in close proximity to the investigated building. The inclusion of infill walls in the numerical model significantly influences the seismic performance analysis results. Peak floor accelerations of the building are determined to be higher at infilled model compared to the bare frame. The distribution of damaged columns in the actual building aligns well with the analysis results of the numerical model that includes infill walls. Notably, the numerical analysis using the ground motion record of the closest station to the building most accurately represents the actual damage distribution observed after the earthquakes. Finally, while the inclusion of infill walls in the model increases the lateral stiffness of the structure, it was also observed that displacement-dependent results obtained in the nonlinear time history analysis, such as relative story drifts, could increase depending on the selected ground motion record. This highlights the complex interaction between the infill walls, modal properties of the building, and the dynamic characteristics of the earthquake record.

Effects of probiotic and yeast extract supplement on liver functionality index and metabolic parameters in transition period of dairy cattle

This research sought to evaluate the potential effects of probiotics and yeast cell wall (YCW) supplements on the liver functionality index (LFI) and metabolic parameters of dairy cattle throughout the transitional period. A cohort of forty dry cows was randomly divided into four groups, namely the probiotic group (Pr) receiving a basal diet combined with a blend of Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus lechiniformis, Streptococcus Thermophilis, and Enterococcus faecium; the YCW group receiving a basal diet enriched with Saccharomyces cerevisiae; the probiotic and yeast cell wall extract group (P & Y) receiving a basal diet supplemented with a mixture of probiotic and yeast cell wall extract; and the control group adhering to the basal diet. The intervention was initiated 21 days before calving and persisted until 28 days post-calving, except for the control group. The study entailed the collection of blood samples at four sampling times, encompassing 21 days preceding calving, seven days before calving, seven days post-calving, and four weeks post-calving. Multiple biochemical parameters were assessed, including urea, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), total bilirubin (TB), albumin, total protein (TP), globulin, glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol, and liver functionality index. The results showed that the Pr group exhibited reduced average levels of GGT and glucose compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Similarly, the P & Y group demonstrated lower average BUN, TB, and cholesterol levels than the control (P < 0.05). Notably, the LFI exhibited a discernible trend towards elevation in the Pr group compared to the control group (P = 0.007) and the P & Y group (P = 0.007). In essence, supplementation of YCW and probiotics is associated with advantageous effects on metabolic parameters and liver function.

A maneuverable underwater vehicle for near-seabed observation

Underwater robots can collect comprehensive information on species and habitats when conducting seabed operations, enhancing localized insights and expanding underwater ecological understanding. One approach uses autonomous underwater vehicles, but proximity operations may disturb sediments and compromise observation quality. Another approach uses wheeled or legged benthic robots, but unavoidable contact limits their application in delicate ecosystems like coral reefs. To address these challenges, we propose a maneuverable underwater vehicle for near-seabed observations. This vehicle moves with minimal turbulence and shows strong resistance to external disturbances, enabling high-quality seabed observation as close as 20 cm. It rapidly detects intense disturbances like turbulence and wall effects, allowing real-time path planning to prevent bottoming. Multiple tests in various marine environments, including sandy areas, coral reefs, and sheer rock, show low sediment disturbance and improved adaptability to rugged underwater terrain.

Ordinal pattern-based analysis of an opposition-controlled turbulent channel flow

We conduct a numerical study on the drag-reduction mechanism of an opposition- controlled turbulent channel flow from the viewpoint of a symbolic dynamics approach. The effect of the virtual wall formed by the opposition control is maximised at the location of the detection plane $y_d^+ \approx 10$ . At this wall-normal location, the local link strength of the self-loop of network nodes representing the negative correlation pattern between the streamwise and wall-normal velocity fluctuations is maximised in the uncontrolled flow. In the controlled case, the multiscale complexity–entropy causality plane and the spatial permutation entropy at $y_d^+ \approx 10$ indicate that the drag-reduction effect is attributed to the reduction of the region where streaks actively coalesce and separate and the suppression of the regeneration cycle in the region near the wall.

Characteristics of Damage to Rural Houses in the High-Intensity Area of the Jishishan Mw 6.2 Earthquake

On 18 December 2023, a 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck Jishishan, affecting multiple counties and cities in Gansu and Qinghai Provinces. The seismic intensity of the meizoseismal area was VIII, resulting in extensive structural damage and building collapses. A damage assessment was conducted of the epicenter and surrounding high-intensity zones. To understand the typical structures and characteristics of the buildings that were damaged in these high-intensity zones, this study summarizes the characteristics of the damage to typical rural houses, compares the damage of the rural houses across different sites, and analyzes the causes behind these variations. The findings of the study indicate the following: (1) Timber and some brick–timber structures, due to their age, insufficient material strength, and lack of adequate connections between parts of the building, primarily experienced severe damage or total collapse, characterized by through-wall cracks, partial collapses, or complete collapses. (2) Brick–concrete structures predominantly suffered moderate to severe damage due to factors such as improper layout, uneven façades, and inadequate or incomplete seismic measures. The observed damage included significant wall cracks and extensive damage to two-story buildings. (3) Frame structures, mainly used for public facilities like schools, hospitals, and health centers, exhibited strong integrity and excellent seismic performance, resulting in minimal to no damage, with damage largely confined to non-load-bearing components. (4) The amplification effects of seismic waves in thick loess basin areas, slope sites, and the hanging wall effect of faults exacerbated structural damage to rural houses located in certain villages within the high-intensity areas. The results of this study can serve as a reference for post-disaster reconstruction and seismic retrofitting of buildings and contribute positively to enhancing the disaster resilience of rural housing.

An experimental study of pressure drop characteristics under single‐phase flow through packed bed microreactors

AbstractPacked bed microreactors offer a promising platform for intensifying heterogeneously catalyzed reactions. To understand hydrodynamics therein, N2 or water flow was investigated experimentally through microreactors packed with glass beads in this work, corresponding to a microreactor to particle diameter ratio (D/d) of 1.29–25.12. The porosity of a single pellet string microreactor (D/d &lt; 1.866) agrees with the literature's theoretical equation. For microreactors with larger D/d ratios, an empirical porosity correlation is proposed to address the dense packing nature of the bed. The existing correlations are inadequate to describe the pressure drop data in microreactors within the entire D/d ratios and modified Reynolds numbers (Rem &lt; 291). At D/d ≥ 3, the measured pressure drop is described by the modified Ergun equation using properties of the bulk bed zone to exclude the wall effect. At D/d &lt; 3, it can be predicted by introducing a correction term for the wall effect into the Ergun equation.

Effects of combustor wall cooling structure on combustor performances

For lean premixed low-emissions gas turbine combustors, the amount of air used for combustion chamber cooling is relatively low to maintain a “lean” state of the flame. However, the wall cooling structures may have significant effects on combustor performances such as pollutant emissions, outlet temperature distributions, and boundary temperatures since it can change the near-wall temperature distributions. Most of the existing studies focus on the influence of cooling hole structures on heat transfer characteristics, and few studies comprehensively investigate the comprehensive effects on the wall heat transfer, outlet temperature distribution, pollutant generation characteristics, flow field structure, and flame morphology. To explore the feasibility of enhancing combustor performance through the implementation of combustor wall cooling structures, this study conducted a series of experimental and numerical investigations using two combustion chamber liners. Results show that although the burner structure remains unchanged, using the improved liner can widen the low-emissions operation ranges, and will reduce CO emissions by 49.34 % under low-power operating conditions and NOx emissions by 7.95 % under high-power operation conditions. This is because it optimizes the distribution of the wall temperature gradient and the shape of the corner recirculation zone. Besides, the improved structure enhances the boundary wall heat transfer by about 10 %, which leads to a 14.31 K lower and more uniform temperature of the liner. This is because it eliminates the cooling air incident vortex and improves the heat transfer between different rows of cooling holes. Due to the change of flow-field and near-wall temperature distribution, the optimum fuel supply strategy is different for the two liner structures. In particular, the optimal fuel staging strategy for the original liner necessitates a higher inner stage equivalence ratio than that required for the improved liner configuration. The results of this study offer a solution strategy for effectively improving combustor performances by employing suitable liner cooling tactics.

Rat small intestine extract as a source of mammalian α- and β-glycosidases to study polyphenol bioaccessibility and deglycosylation in vitro: A case study with matrix-devoid and matrix-defined apple fractions

Most polyphenols are glycosylated, affecting their uptake, metabolism, and biological activity. However, the attached sugar must be removed before absorption and functionality can take place. Yet, despite the biological and chemical implications of polyphenol (de-)glycosylation, most in vitro digestion assays omit the utilization of intestinal brush border α- and/or β-glycosidases to study polyphenol bioaccessibility and deglycosylation. This study investigated the effect of rat small intestine extract (RSIE) as an affordable source of mammalian α- and β-glycosidases in different food matrices: matrix-devoid whole apple extract, whole apple, apple juice, and apple pomace. Using the INFOGEST 2.0 model, transepithelial polyphenol absorption, UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS, and the inclusion of RSIE at the 15 U*mL−1 maltase activity reported in the human epithelium, the role of RSIE in polyphenol bioaccessibility and deglycosylation was explored. Moreover, the effect of the plant cell wall (PCW) matrix on the role of RSIE was mechanistically investigated by comparing whole apple (or pomace) with their respective extracts. 36 glycosylated polyphenols were identified, including 33 β-O-glycosides and 3 α-O-glycosides. The content of bioaccessible polyphenol β-O-glycosides and α-O-glycosides was significantly lower (p < 0.001) when RSIE was present, which resulted in a concomitant generation of the aglycone forms (phloretin, quercetin, ferulic acid, caffeic acid and p-coumaric acid). However, the concentration of aglycones was much lower than the reduction in the concentration of glycosylated polyphenols, strongly suggesting that polyphenols bind to RSIE. Matrix-devoid whole apple extract, or pomace extract, exhibited higher polyphenol bioaccessibility than whole apple or pomace, likely due to reduced interactions between polyphenols and the food matrix. Importantly, these differences in bioaccessibility diminished with RSIE, suggesting that RSIE α-glycosidases cleaved α-glucans and disrupted the PCW structure.

Research on energy loss mechanism and optimization method of liquid ring vacuum pump based on entropy production theory

To solve the problem of high energy consumption of liquid ring vacuum pumps and serious hydraulic losses that make it difficult to improve the efficiency of the pumps. Firstly, the mechanism of the influence of radical clearance on the energy loss of liquid ring vacuum pumps is investigated, and a directional and quantitative analysis of the energy loss in the flow field within a liquid ring vacuum is made based on the entropy production theory. Then the structural parameter control model oriented to the maximum suction capacity and minimum wall effect entropy production of the liquid ring vacuum pump is established. The results indicate that turbulent entropy production and wall entropy production dominate the energy losses of liquid ring vacuum pumps with radial clearance of 24 mm, 28 mm, 32 mm, and 36 mm. The entropy production caused by the wall effect mainly occurs at the shell of the gas compression region. The optimized liquid ring vacuum pump model achieves an increase in suction capacity of 8.74 %, an increase in isothermal compression efficiency of 3.75 %, and a reduction in wall effect entropy production of 19.7 %.

Enhancing thermal performance of phase change materials in building envelopes

AbstractPhase change material in conjunction with a passive latent heat thermal energy storage approach is a potentially effective way to solve the growing concerns about building energy usage. This research examines the thermal performance of building envelopes in Miskolc, Hungary. The factors impacting the thermal performance of phase change material integrated into the building envelope were assessed. The findings indicate that the enthalpy and melting temperature of the phase change material significantly impact the effectiveness of phase change material-based walls. It was determined the optimal location of the phase change material layer is possible. This determination is intricately related to the thermal properties of the phase change material and the prevailing environmental conditions.

Cut-off walls alter nitrogen loads and fluxes in small islands

The measure of constructing cut-off walls in coastal islands has been tested effective to upgrade the freshwater lenses (FWL). Meanwhile, cut-off walls can also affect the FWL quality by changing the loads and fluxes of nitrogen (N). Previous research has been focused on the effects of cut-off walls on the N fluxes in groundwater (like, e.g., nearshore denitrification), assuming a constant N source while changes of the N loads and fluxes associated to the N source in shallow soils have only rarely been considered. In this study, we numerically simulated seawater intrusion and transport of land-sourced nitrate on a 2D, vertically oriented island equipped with a cut-off wall. A simplified framework was used to simulate the N fate in the shallow soil. We selected different aquifer permeability and the depth of cut-off wall. The cut-off wall effect on the N loads and fluxes in soil and groundwater, and on the nitrate concentration within the FWL, was quantitatively assessed. The results show that cut-off walls can considerably reduce the soil N load in high permeability islands (> 10−11.5 m2), because of the increased potential crop uptake due to the increased groundwater level and higher soil moisture. The opposite effect was observed in low permeability islands (< 10−11.5 m2) due to the smaller N leaching fluxes from soil to groundwater under the reduced groundwater flow rate. For the high and low permeability islands the leaching flux can generally be reduced by up to 63 %; for the intermediate permeability islands (10-11.5 m2 ≤ k ≤ 10-11 m2), however, the leaching is increased by up to 38 %. Highly depending on how the leaching changes, cut-off walls can reduce the groundwater N load and the nitrate concentration of FWLs, and thus improve the FWL quality in many cases except for the intermediate permeability islands. Therefore, special caution and investigation are required for constructing cut-off walls on islands with intermediate permeability. As a first attempt to assess the influence of cut-off walls on N loads and fluxes considering the N source dynamics, our study is important for the management of FWL quality and coastal environments.

Simulation method for the operation of magnetic flowmeters

The issues of testing magnetic flowmeters for liquid metal and studies of their metrological characteristics are considered. The existing liquid metal pouring flowmeters are unsuitable for experimental studies of error components, therefore it is necessary to use simulation methods to simulate the operation of magnetic flowmeters. The tests require the liquid metal plants or methods that allow you to examine flowmeters without plants that can reproduce the flow rate in various operating modes. By analogy with the simulation method of water flowmeters research, a simulation method for modeling the operation of magnetic flow meters for liquid metals has been developed. The proposed method estimates the error of magnetic flowmeters in operation mode. The components of the measurement error of flowmeters caused by a violation of the geometry of the primary converter (the size and location of the electrodes, the design of the inductor coils), a change in the hydrodynamic regime, and the temperature dependence of the shunting effect of the pipeline wall are considered. A representation is obtained for the signal of the primary converter in the form of an integral over the inner surface of the pipe from the product of the radial component of the magnetic field and the surface weight function. The expression found can be interpreted as a magnetic flux through an induction coil located on the inner surface of the channel, the turns of which are drawn along the level lines of the surface weight function. This expression can be interpreted as a magnetic flux through an induction coil located on the inner surface of the channel, the coils of which are placed along the lines of the level of the surface weight function. If such a coil is inserted in the flowmeter channel, the time-integrated voltage induced in the coil will be proportional to the voltage generated between the electrodes of the flowmeter. Since the surface weight function depends on the geometry of the channel, the kinematic structure of the flow, the ratio of wall and liquid conductivities, therefore, the metrological characteristics of the flowmeter can be studied by the simulation method when each of the above factors changes individually or together. To do this, it is enough to make an induction coil taking into account the surface weight function that reflects any of the factors under study or their combination. Simulation methods for studying the dependences of magnetic flowmeter signals on the velocity distribution in the channel and the shunting effect of the pipeline wall are considered.

Horizontal walls effect on the subsonic flow around airfoil by the image method

The aim of this work consists in developing a new numerical method and a calculation program making it possible to determine the effect of one and two horizontal walls on the distribution of the pressure ratio, and the aerodynamics coefficients of a subsonic flow around airfoils. The model is considered for the perfect gas. The calculation is presented by adding the effect of one and two walls on the discretization of the airfoils boundary to obtain a closed surface. The method is called by the image method. So for the case of the existence of one wall, we will see a single image of the main airfoil, and in the case of two walls, we will have an infinity of images. The equation system is obtained by considering the effect of all images using alternating digital series, whose convergence is ensured numerically. We therefore obtain a large system of equations, the resolution of which is done by the Khaletski method to obtain the velocities and pressure. The application is made for some practical interest’s airfoils. Since the airfoils boundary is given by tabulated values, the cubic spline interpolation is used to obtain an analytical equation of the upper and the lower surfaces. The comparison is made with the case of open air flow by extending the distance between the walls and the airfoil chord towards infinity.

Computer-aiding evaluation of north wall effects of a solar greenhouse: Multiphysics modelling of the indoor environment

The north wall (NW) of a solar greenhouse (SG), oriented away from direct sunlight, plays a crucial role in thermal insulation; however, impacts of the NW internal surface structure (ISS) on the SG indoor environment remains underexplored. Driven by in situ measurements, the temperature (Ti) and relative humidity (RHi) of a SG are evaluated for three typical NW designs: flat wall (FW), striped wall (SW) and alveolate/honeycombed wall (AW). In both sunny and cloudy scenarios, the AW setup ensures a more favourable thermal environment, well aligned with the power spectral analysis indicating enhanced thermal energy capture. The time-lagged cross correlation highlights solar radiation as the primary driver of SG internal thermal variability, with outdoor temperature being of secondary relevance. Additionally, the AW setup consistently maintains the lowest RHi on sunny days, promoting optimal conditions for plant growth, and ensures more stable humidity levels during cloudy nights. The revealed response of SG internal environments to modified NW ISS should offer some insights into SG design, particularly in optimising conditions for plant growth through modifications to the NW structure.

Ship-shaped vessel hydroelastic numerically supported analysis in a narrow ultra-reduced model tank with full scale extrapolation

Although the rigid body hypothesis is broadly used when studying floating bodies dynamics, it is known that a ship-shaped vessel will have hydroelastic responses. Considering a conventional closed main deck hull in which the ship's length is considerably greater than its breadth, it is expected that the vertical bending moments can represent an important load that must be considered to guarantee structural integrity. Numerical models can be developed to assess the hydroelastic response, but the validation process is necessary. Model tests can be performed to validate the numerical model and require specific considerations to properly represent hydroelastic phenomena, such as having equivalent bending stiffness when compared to the full-scale body. Many experimental facilities that can be used to perform such experiments consist of narrow wave channels, in which the wall effect will influence the model's dynamics. This work implements a Tank Green Function (TGF) to a numerical model developed in Capytaine to represent the wall effect on the body's response. The numerical results were then compared to experimental data from tests in a narrow wave channel and good adherence was found. The validated numerical model can then be used to simulate open-water conditions, so the results can be extrapolated to full scale without the need to perform model tests in an ocean tank in which the wall effect would not be relevant.

Investigating the potential effect of Holothuria scabra extract on osteogenic differentiation in preosteoblast MC3T3-E1 cells

The present medical treatments of osteoporosis come with adverse effects. It leads to the exploration of natural products as safer alternative medical prevention and treatment. The sea cucumber, Holothuria scabra, has commercial significance in Asian countries with rising awareness of its properties as a functional food. This study aims to investigate the effects of the inner wall (IW) extract isolated from H. scabra on extracellular matrix maturation, mineralization, and osteogenic signaling pathways on MC3T3-E1 preosteoblasts. The IW showed the expression of several growth factors. Molecular docking revealed that H. scabra BMP2/4 binds specifically to mammal BMP2 type I receptor (BMPR-IA). After osteogenic induction, the viability of cells treated with IW extract was assessed and designated with treatment of 0.1, 0.5, 1, and 5 µg/ml of IW extract for 21 consecutive days. On days 14 and 21, treatments with IW extract at 1 and 5 µg/ml showed increased alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and calcium deposit levels in a dose-dependent manner compared to the control group. Moreover, the transcriptomic analysis of total RNA of cells treated with 5 µg/ml of IW extract exhibited upregulation of TGF-β, PI3K/Akt, MAPK, Wnt and PTH signaling pathways at days 14. This study suggests that IW extract from H. scabra exhibits the potential to enhance osteogenic differentiation and mineralization of MC3T3-E1 preosteoblasts through TGF-β, PI3K/Akt, MAPK, Wnt and PTH signaling pathways. Further investigation into the molecular mechanisms underlying the effect of IW extract on osteogenesis is crucial to support its application as a naturally derived supplement for prevention or treatment of osteoporosis.

Effects of specimen thickness and fiber length on tensile and cracking behavior of UHPFRC: Uniaxial tensile test and micromechanical modeling

This study aims to investigate the effects of specimen thickness and fiber length on the tensile and cracking behaviors of ultra-high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete (UHPFRC). To this end, a uniaxial tensile test was conducted with three specimen thicknesses (30, 50, and 100 mm) and two fiber lengths (13 and 20 mm), and the fiber orientation, dispersion and specimen void were quantitatively evaluated based on image recognition. The test results indicated that fiber orientation was improved with the decreased specimen thickness and increased fiber length. Meanwhile, the initial cracking and peak stress, capacity to limit cracking were enhanced with the decreased specimen thickness. A modified prediction model considering the wall effect, flattening and squeezing effect was developed to predict the probability density function p(θ) of fiber orientation angle. Additionally, the uniformity factor μ2 was introduced to predict crack number, and the relationship between the μ2 and parameter ψ = (Vf × lf/df)/t was determined. Furthermore, a model was developed to convert the main crack width into uniaxial tensile strain. All models and relationships were validated using test data. A micromechanical model that considered the predicted p(θ) and conversion model was established to predict the uniaxial tensile response of UHPFRC, which was also successfully validated using test data.

On the Relative Effects of Wall and Intraluminal Thrombus Constitutive Material Properties in Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Wall Stress.

An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a dilation localized in the infrarenal segment of the abdominal aorta that can expand continuously and rupture if left untreated. Computational methods such as finite element analysis (FEA) are widely used with in silico models to calculate biomechanical predictors of rupture risk while choosing constitutive material properties for the AAA wall and intraluminal thrombus (ILT). In the present work, we investigated the effect of different constitutive material properties for the wall and ILT on 21 idealized and 10 unruptured patient-specific AAA geometries. Three material properties were used to characterize the wall and two for the ILT, leading to six material model combinations for each AAA geometry subject to appropriate boundary conditions. The results of the FEA simulations indicate significant differences in the average peak wall stress (PWS), 99th percentile wall stress (99th WS), and spatially averaged wall stress (SAWS) for all AAA geometries subject to the choice of a material model combination. Specifically, using a material model combination with a compliant ILT yielded statistically higher wall stresses compared to using a stiff ILT, irrespective of the constitutive equation used to model the AAA wall. This work provides quantitative insight into the variability of the wall stress distributions ensuing from AAA FEA modeling due to its strong dependency on population-averaged soft tissue material characterizations. This dependency leads to uncertainty about the true biomechanical state of stress of an individual AAA and the subsequent assessment of its rupture risk.

Investigating the Effects of PCM-Integrated Walls on Thermal Performance for UK Residential Buildings of Different Typologies

Phase change materials (PCMs) can improve the thermal performance of building facades. The integration position of a PCM in the facades is influenced by multiple factors including the material properties of the PCM, building types, and the internal and external conditions of a building. However, this has not been a focus within the UK dwelling stock, where many dwellings are not thermally protected. This paper, therefore, presents a numerical study with the aid of building simulation that comparatively analysed the thermal performance between four typical UK dwelling types (semi-detached house, terraced house, detached house, and apartment) situated in North East England. The PCM was implemented into the external wall of the dwellings with the positions altered to determine the most effective position. It was determined that the PCM positioned internally was the most effective for all the dwelling types. These results demonstrated that the PCM being implemented in the apartment, semi-detached, and terraced houses had only marginal heat loss reductions (by 8%, 14%, and 8%, respectively) in comparison with that of the detached house (by 30%). It was also found that the large external wall area of the detached house acted as significant thermal energy storage, which was capable of offsetting heat transmission and stabilising indoor thermal conditions. In summary, this paper contributes to the matters concerning the effect of PCMs on indoor thermal performance in dwellings of different typologies in the UK.

Shaking table test and numerical simulation of rocking wall frame structure considering dynamic soil-structure interaction

This study investigates the seismic response of a rocking wall frame structure considering dynamic soil-structure interaction (DSSI) through shaking table tests. A comparison with conventional frame structures and structures with fixed-base foundations is made to examine the influence of DSSI effects on various aspects including structural damage distribution, dynamic characteristics, and floor responses. Test results indicate that the presence of a rocking wall reduces structural responses across different site conditions, although the reduction is less significant under soft soil conditions compared to fixed-base foundation conditions. Overall, DSSI diminishes the mitigating effect of the rocking wall on the maximum structural response. Furthermore, a three-dimensional finite element model of the shaking table test is established. The numerical model employs the equivalent linear method to simulate the soil's nonlinear behavior and incorporates the concept of the rocking wall. Comparative analysis between experimental and simulated results demonstrates that the model effectively predicts the dynamic response of the rocking wall frame structure in DSSI systems.