Section Height Research Articles

Numerical analysis of flexural behavior of sandwich beams using the FGM approach

Analytical modeling to predict the flexural behavior of sandwich beams using a triangular finite element model, the Triangular Plate Finite Element with Airy Function (TPAF). The originality of this model lies in the use of the deformation approach, which comprises three nodes and three degrees of freedom per node (one translation Wi and two rotations θxi and θyi). The main aim of this work is to validate the model by comparison with other solutions, in particular by means of an analytical prediction based on layer theory and the results obtained using CSB software. The originality of this study lies in the fact that the mechanical properties vary according to an exponential function along the height of the FGM section and remain constant in the other parts of the different composite sections. Tabular and graphical results are presented to illustrate the impact of deffrents, such as geometric factors (thickness configurations and length/thickness ratios), as well as boundary conditions and loads, on the static behavior of the beam.

Features of restoration of precast reinforced concrete ribbed slabs of coverings of industrial buildings destroyed by bombardment

With the beginning of the fullscale war launched by the Russian invaders, buildings and structures of industrial purposeand critical infrastructure were damaged and destroyed. In case of partial damage to the supporting structures of the coating, it is possible to restore them or replace them with new ones.To replace the destroyed slabs with new ones, it is necessary to use tower cranes. With the existing development and high height of the buildings, it is not possible and economically unprofitable to use tower cranes. In addition, thework must be performed in a short time and with high quality, ensuring sufficient bearing capacity. To solve this problem, it was decided to use monolithic reinforced concrete slabs on corrugated flooring and metal beams. In such slabs, the corrugated flooring plays the role of both permanent formwork and external reinforcement. The arrangement of such slabs is performed on a coating of individual elements.To reduce the time for the work, quickhardening concrete is used [11, 12]. In this case, it is possible to use light lifting mechanisms. It is also necessary to ensure the dimensions of the slabs that existed. These are prefabricated ribbedreinforced concrete slabs with dimensions in plan of 6.0×1.5 m and a section height of 300 mm. For example, the results of the survey and reinforcement of the covering of two buildings of industrial and administrative purpose,performed by employees of the Department of Reinforced Concrete Construction of the KNUBA, were used. The paper presents a methodology for calculating a reinforced concrete slab covering on corrugated board and a complex metal-reinforced concrete beam. The calculations were performed at the construction stage and at the operation stage according to thecurrent standards for this type of structures [1…6, 13…25].

Unsteady forces on elongated bluff bodies

The aerodynamic shape of the bluff body plays a significant role in determining the unsteady drag force resulting from the three-dimensional (3D) distortion of approaching free-stream turbulence. This paper conducted pressure measurements of bluff bodies with four different cross sections (square, rectangular, circular, elliptic, with different aspect ratio δ = B/D, and B and D are the width and height of the cross section) to study the unsteady aerodynamic behavior of drag force, considering the influence of reduced dimension Lu/D (Lu is the longitudinal integral length scale). Generally, the body with a fixed separation point and a relatively small δ is more blunt, resulting in a higher drag coefficient, spectrum, and coherence than streamlined cross sections in turbulent flow compared to smooth flow. The aerodynamic shape significantly influences the high-frequency component of the one-wavenumber and two-dimensional aerodynamic admittance function (2D AAF). The greater the degree of bluntness of the model, the more pronounced the three-dimensional effect. As Lu/D increases, the drag coefficient and spanwise correlation of the model will both increase and approach the results of a smooth flow. Furthermore, the one-wavenumber AAF and 2D AAF increase at the high-frequency domain, and the 3D effect attenuates. This article proposes a 2D AAF model for modifying the distortion effect in wind tunnel tests.

Deformation Performance of Longitudinal Non-Uniformly Corroded Reinforced Concrete Columns.

Due to the complexity of the marine corrosive environment, the rebar corrosion in reinforced concrete (RC) bridge piers is usually longitudinal non-uniform. However, the study on the mechanical behavior of longitudinal non-uniformly corroded RC structural members is very limited. To systematically study the deformation performance of the longitudinal non-uniformly corroded RC columns, the finite element models of 106 RC columns with different parameters were established using the commercial software ABAQUS 2016. The effects of the height of the bottom section (represented in the text by the variable "position"), the length, and the rebar corrosion ratio of the corroded segment on the deformation performance of the longitudinal non-uniformly corroded RC columns were analyzed. It is found that the change in the position of the corroded segment on the column may change the most unfavorable section of the column and the failure mode. The length of the corroded segment significantly affects the yield deformation. The ultimate plastic deformation increases with the increase of position or length of the corroded segment. With the increase of rebar corrosion ratio of the corroded segment, the ultimate plastic deformation decreases.

Research on the cross-sectional geometric parameters and rigid skeleton length of reinforced concrete arch bridges: A case study of Yelanghu Bridge

To investigate the influence of cross-sectional parameters and the rigid skeleton length on the structural mechanics behavior of reinforced concrete arch bridges, this study focused on the Yelanghu Bridge with a span of 210 m. The sensitivity of the main arch rib's instability mode to cross-sectional parameters such as width, spacing between adjacent webs, height, and concrete thickness was examined by combining the finite element method and the theoretical derivation. Subsequently, research was conducted on the impact of the rigid skeleton length during construction on the static and dynamic performance of the structure relying on the Midas Civil software. The findings indicate that for the Yelanghu Bridge, the risk of in-plane instability is greater than that of out-of-plane and local instabilities. In-plane instability is most sensitive to the section height and the out-plane instability is most sensitive to the thickness of the roof and floor concrete. Under ultimate load-bearing conditions, the axial force in the critical sections of the bridge increases with the length of the rigid skeleton. The fundamental frequency of the Yelanghu Bridge is approximately 0.32, which is significantly lower than that of more rigid arch bridges but higher than those of structurally softer structures such as cable-stayed or suspension bridges. This indicates that large-span reinforced concrete arch bridges exhibit unique dynamic characteristics and belong to moderately flexible structures.

Hysteretic behavior of eccentric RHS beam-to-column joints under cyclic in-plane bending

This paper conducted experimental and numerical studies on the hysteretic behavior of eccentric rectangular hollow section (RHS) beam-to-column joints under cyclic in-plane bending. The study began with the design of both stiffened and unstiffened joints, followed by hysteresis tests that revealed failure modes like web weld tearing and stiffener fracture. The seismic performance of the joints was evaluated using hysteresis curves, skeleton curves, ductility coefficients, strength degradation coefficients, and energy dissipation coefficients. Compared to unstiffened joints, the stiffened joints exhibited a 30 % increase in peak load and a 18 % improvement in maximum energy dissipation coefficient. Subsequently, finite element (FE) analysis was performed, and the influence of key parameters on the hysteretic behavior was studied using validated FE models. The results indicated that the hysteretic behavior was positively correlated with the flange width ratio of beam to column, the ratio of beam section height to column flange width, and the thickness ratio of beam to column, while it was negatively correlated with the width-to-thickness ratio of the column. Finally, a mathematical model for the hysteretic behavior of both stiffened and unstiffened joints was developed and validated through experimental and FE comparison, offering practical applicability in engineering design.

Seismic performance of square concrete-filled steel tubular column-composite beam single-side bolted joints: An experimental and numerical study

The seismic behavior of square concrete-filled steel tubular (SCFST) column-composite beam single-side bolted joints has not been fully investigated. To address this gap, both experimental and numerical studies were conducted, focusing on the impact of various parameters. This research entailed constructing and testing nine prototypes of SCFST column-composite beam single-side bolted joints, scaled to a 1/2 zoom ratio, under conditions simulating seismic loads. Variables considered in these tests included the presence of stiffener ribs, bidirectional stirrups, the section height of the steel beam, and the axial compression ratio. A finite element model was developed and its accuracy was affirmed through comparison with the experimental outcomes. The analysis encompassed several aspects: the hysteretic response, skeleton curves, strain, ductility, stiffness degradation, and energy dissipation. The findings revealed that the design of bidirectional stirrups is crucial, especially under high axial compression ratios (n = 0.8), in preventing compression-flexure failures at the column ends. The hysteresis curves of the specimens manifested in two distinct shapes: spindle-shaped with bidirectional stirrups and bow-shaped without them. Enhancements such as the addition of stiffener ribs or an increase in the steel beam’s height resulted in a more comprehensive hysteresis curve, and improvements in the initial rotational stiffness, flexural bearing capacity, and energy dissipation capability of the specimens were observed. Notably, even when the beam-column bending capacity ratio in the SCFST column-composite beam single-side bolted joint reached 1.5, the joint’s energy absorption was predominantly governed by the beam’s energy dissipation.

Experimental and numerical study on flexural performance of ultra-high performance concrete frame beams reinforced with steel-FRP composite bars

This paper presents the bending tests of four ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) frame beams and one normal strength concrete (NSC) frame beam, all reinforced with steel-FRP composite bars (SFCBs). A comprehensive analysis was carried out, encompassing evaluation of the failure mode, crack propagation, bearing capacity, deformation, strain response, and plastic rotational capacity of the frame beams. Investigating the effects of concrete type, reinforcement type, and beam-end reinforcement ratio on the flexural performance of the frame beams was a key aspect of this study. A three-dimensional finite element (FE) model of the frame beam was established and rigorously verified. The developed model enabled a detailed parametric analysis involving the steel ratio, the yield strength of the inner core steel bar, the elastic modulus of the FRP, and the ultimate tensile strength of the SFCB. The results indicated a consistent failure mode of all frame beams: crushing of concrete at the beam-end, initiating a sequence of plastic hinge occurrence starting at the beam-end and then progressing to mid-span. The substitution of normal strength concrete with UHPC significantly enhanced various aspects of the frame beams, including the flexural capacity, deformation, ductility, ultimate energy dissipation, and plastic rotational capacity, while inhibiting the generation and expansion of cracks. Notably, the plastic rotation angle of SFCB-UHPC frame beams was 4.9 times greater than those of steel-UHPC frame beams, emphasizing the effectiveness of SFCB in enhancing the beam-end plastic rotational capacity. A decrease in the beam-end reinforcement ratio significantly reduced the flexural capacity, ultimate energy dissipation, and beam-end plastic rotational capacity, while improving ductility. Additionally, the study established a formula for calculating the equivalent plastic hinge length, utilizing the relative compressive zone height and effective section height of the beam-end controlling section as variables, which demonstrated good alignment between predicted and experimental results.

Differentiated In-Row Soil Management in a High-Density Olive Orchard: Effects on Weed Control, Tree Growth and Yield, and Economic and Environmental Sustainability

Two different in-row soil management techniques were compared in the Olive Orchard Innovation Long-term experiment of the Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Olive, Fruit, and Citrus Crops in Rome, Italy. Rows were managed with an in-row rotary tiller and with synthetic mulching using permeable polypropylene placed after cultivar Maurino olive trees planting. The effects of the two treatments were assessed through weed soil coverage and the growth of the olive trees. Results showed better agronomic performance associated with synthetic mulching. The weed control effect along the row of a young high-density olive orchard was higher with the synthetic mulching compared to hoeing. The effect of the synthetic mulching seemed to disappear when removed from the ground (spring 2023) since no significant differences were found for tree size and yield in the two tested in-row soil management systems at the end of 2023. Finally, the growth of the young olive trees (Trunk Cross Sectional Area, Height, and Canopy expansion) measured across the three years, was higher for the synthetic mulched row than the hoed one. The use of synthetic mulching along the row positively forced the vegetative growth of the young olive trees and anticipated the onset of fruit production compared to periodical hoeing: a significantly higher fruit production was registered three years after planting. Root diameter was higher under synthetic mulching one year after planting, and no differences were observed in the following sampling dates showing similar fluctuations linked to the seasonal growth pattern. The life cycle assessment and costing highlighted that the application of mulching had a higher eco- and economic-efficiency than the periodical in-row soil hoeing.

Data-driven axial bearing capacity analysis of steel tubes infilled with rubberized alkali-activated concrete

This study aims to employ machine learning algorithms to analyze the axial bearing capacity of rubberized alkali-activated concrete filled steel tubes. A dataset encompassing 327 synthesized instances and seven input features is adopted for training and testing six machine learning models, including Decision Tree, Random Forest, Extremely Randomized Trees, Adaptive Boosting, Gradient Boosting Decision Trees (GBDT), and eXtreme Gradient Boosting Trees (XGBoost). The SHapley Additive exPlanation algorithm is employed to elucidate the prediction process of machine learning models and to analyze the influence of each parameter on axial bearing capacity. Comparison of evaluating metrics shows that GBDT and XGBoost models achieve highest accuracy and generalization capabilities when their Coefficient of Determination values surpassing 0.98 and Mean Absolute Percent Error remaining below 3%. Moreover, the explanation analysis of machine learning models reveals that diameter/width of the cross section, rubber content, yielding strength and thickness of steel tubes are critical variables that affect the axial bearing capacity, while compressive strength of alkali-activated concrete, specimen height, and shape of cross section show negligible impact. Besides, GBDT model overemphasizes the effect of specimen height and might lead a conservative prediction for specimens with smaller heights. Finally, compressive strength of alkali-activated concrete and diameter/width, thickness, and yielding strength of steel tubes are positively correlated with axial bearing capacity, and the increase of rubber content in alkali-activated concrete leads to the decrease of capacity.

Structural optimization design of multi ribbed composite wall of building components under seismic load based on random optimization algorithm and resilience model

The multi ribbed composite wall structure is also known as the multi ribbed wall panel light frame structure. This structure is suitable for housing construction in the residential field. The special structural failure process and mode of multi ribbed composite walls are different from traditional walls. To fully utilize the excellent structural performance in building construction and improve the seismic performance of the building, based on the transformation principle of subset optimization algorithm for optimization problems, a constrained subset simulation optimization algorithm suitable for optimizing the maximum displacement angle of multi ribbed composite wall panels is designed. The Bayesian algorithm is used to construct a restoring force model for multi ribbed composite wall panels. The constrained subset simulation optimization algorithm and resilience model are used to optimize the seismic performance of 4-layer multi ribbed composite wall panels. The results show that the section height and the equivalent slant support width of the continuous column for the 4-story multi ribbed composite wall panel change from discrete distribution to aggregation with the increase of iteration. Finally, the sampling is stable in the 9th floor. At this time, the section height of the continuous column is 230 mm, and the equivalent slant support width is 525. After optimization, the failure probability of both extreme displacement angle states has decreased. When the peak ground acceleration is 1.0 g, the optimized second limit state failure probability is less than 100%. When the peak ground acceleration value is between 0.2 g and 0.6 g, both limit states show a rapid upward trend. The constrained subset simulation optimization algorithm and Bayesian quantitative resilience model proposed in the research can effectively optimize the seismic performance of multi ribbed composite walls.

Research on Work Performance of Monolithic Precast Concrete Shear Walls with Post-Cast Epoxy Resin Concrete

Precast concrete structures are popular in the building industry because of their high efficiency and environmental friendliness. In this paper, the U-type reinforcement ferrule connection technique was applied to study the seismic performance of precast concrete shear walls. Five shear wall finite element models and four shear wall specimens were prepared. Both experiments and finite element analysis were conducted to explore the impact of parameters on the work performance of precast reinforced concrete shear walls, such as the variety of post-cast concrete, the form of horizontal joints, and the buckle length of U-type reinforcements. On this basis, the mechanism of failure as well as the characteristics of hysteresis, ductility, and energy dissipation capacity were analyzed. According to the analytical results, the cast in situ reinforced concrete shear wall is inferior to the precast shear wall with post-cast epoxy resin concrete in terms of seismic performance. In addition, the specimen with a keyway on the horizontal joint interface outperforms the specimen without a keyway. With an increase in the buckle length of the U-type reinforcement, there is a rise in the sectional height and stiffness of the hidden beam at the bottom of the wall, while the horizontal load-bearing capacity of the wall is improved. However, its ductility and energy dissipation capacity are decreased. As revealed by a thorough analysis, the construction scheme most suitable for precast shear wall horizontal joints adopts epoxy resin concrete as the post-cast material, the buckle length of U-type reinforcements is approximately one-third the height of the horizontal joint, and there is a keyway at the interface of the joint.

Design cost minimization of a reinforced concrete column section using overnew swarm-based optimization algorithms

It is very tiresome for a practiser to detect the best feasible sizing design of structural members including reinforced concrete columns that is a highly nonlinear and complicated structural engineering optimization problem. This is due to such a design is practically conducted via conventional trial-and-error computing methods in which resistance to external loads, cost efficiency, and aesthetic factors, etc. have to be considered. This study focuses on minimizing the design cost of primarily proposed reinforced concrete column design problem via three overnew swarm-based optimizers such as Coati Optimization Algorithm, Fox Optimizer and Pelican Optimization Algorithm (POA) that are firstly utilized for this purpose. In this regard, the type of steel rebar distribution, the characteristic strength of the concrete, the height and width of the column section, and the number and diameter of the rebars are treated as discrete design variables of the newly proposed complex reinforced concrete column design cost optimization problem. In solution, the design requirements specified in practice code provisions should also be met. Here, Turkish Building Earthquake Code 2018 specifications are considered as practice structural design constraints. Consequently, the algorithmic performances of three overnew swarm-based metaheuristic optimization algorithms are compared and evaluated in detail. Amongst them, the POA shows most fruitful algorithmic design solution performance.

Numerical and artificial intelligence based investigation on the development of design guidelines for pultruded GFRP RHS profiles subjected to web crippling

This article presents a numerical and artificial intelligence (AI) based investigation on the web crippling performance of pultruded glass fiber reinforced polymers’ (GFRP) rectangular hollow section (RHS) profiles subjected to interior-one-flange (IOF) loading conditions. To achieve the desired research objectives, a finite element based computational model was developed using one of the popular simulating software ABAQUS CAE. This model was then validated by utilizing the results reported in experimental investigation-based article of Chen and Wang. Once the finite element model was validated, an extensive parametric study was conducted to investigate the aforementioned phenomenon on the basis of which a comprehensive, universal, and coherent database was assembled. This database was then used to formulate the design guidelines for the web crippling design of pultruded GFRP RHS profiles by employing AI based gene expression programming (GEP). Based on the findings of numerical investigation, the web crippling capacity of abovementioned structural profiles subjected to IOF loading conditions was found to be directly related to that of section thickness and bearing length whereas inversely related to that of section width, section height, section’s corner radii, and profile length. On the basis of the findings of AI based investigation, the modified design rules proposed by this research were found to be accurately predicting the web crippling capacity of aforesaid structural profiles. This research is a significant contribution to the literature on the development of design guidelines for pultruded GFRP RHS profiles subjected to web crippling, however, there is still a lot to be done in this regard before getting to the ultimate conclusions.

Experimental and numerical research on shear performance of GFRP bar reinforced seawater sea-sand concrete deep beams without stirrups

Using glass fibre-reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars to reinforce seawater sea-sand concrete (SWSSC) is a feasible way to replace traditional concrete structures. Thus, this paper aims to understand the shear response of GFRP bar-reinforced SWSSC (GFRP-SWSSC) deep beams. Experimental and numerical programs were carried out on four-point shear tests of GFRP-SWSSC deep beams without stirrups. Seventy specimens were tested to investigate the effects of key parameters on shear responses, including concrete categories, seashell content, section heights, and GFRP bar diameter. The test results indicated that the cracking strength of GFRP-SWSSC deep beams was slightly higher than ordinary concrete deep beams. The increased section height of GFRP-SWSSC deep beams and the decreased shell content remarkably enhanced the stiffness and shear ultimate strength. The corresponding finite element model (FEM) of GFRP-SWSSC specimens was established and validated by comparison with test results. Further, three guidelines predictions for the shear strength of GFRP-SWSSC beams were too conservative. The new design formulae derived from modified tension-compression theory were put forward to evaluate the shear strength of GFRP-SWSSC deep beams, and the comparisons demonstrated that the proposed design formulae achieved sufficient accurate predictions for practical engineering. Based on research on shear performance, the hybrid GFRP-SWSSC structure is a feasible solution to resource shortages, which provides a promising application prospect in marine engineering.

A numerical study on a novel demountable cold-formed steel composite beam with profiled steel sheeting

Cold-formed steel composite beams are known for their unique advantages, like being lightweight and ease of installation. The use of profiled steel sheeting in cold-formed composite beams reduces construction time and costs by acting as a permanent formwork in the composite beams. The current study presents a 3D finite element model of cold-formed steel composite beam specimens comprising a cold-formed double-lipped channel section, profiled steel sheeting, concrete slab, and bolted shear connector. Employing bolted shear connectors, structural components can be deconstructed and replaced after their service life expires or if they are damaged. The characteristics of the materials obtained from an experimental program were assigned to the finite element model. Geometric characteristics, material nonlinearities, and loading procedures were attentively simulated, and a dynamic explicit procedure was employed for the numerical analyses. A comparison of the results obtained from the finite element models and the available experimental results validated the precision of the models. Then, numerical studies were conducted to investigate the effects of various parameters, including compressive strength of concrete, thickness of concrete slab, height and grade of cold-formed steel section, thickness of profiled steel sheeting, number and diameter of shear connectors, on the behavior of the composite beam. The results showed that the height and grade of the cold-formed steel section and compressive strength and thickness of the concrete slab have a significant effect on increasing the capacity of the composite beam.

CFD Analysis of Pressure Drop Reduction in PEMFC Flow Channels with Distinct Cross-Section Shapes

Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) have great potential to produce renewable, sustainable and clean energy and reduce air pollutants to mitigate climate change. PEMFCs consist of distinct parts including anode and cathode bipolar plates having flow channels, gas diffusion layers, catalyst layers, and membrane. The flow channel geometry influences the flow and pressure drop characteristics of the channel and cell performance. In this work, a three-dimensional (3D) CFD model is built employing SOLIDWORKS and ANSYS Workbench. The innovative configurations are generated by changing the half of 0.2 x 0.2 mm square channel to 0.3 x 0.1 mm, 0.3 x 0.15 mm, 0.3 x 0.2 mm and 0.3 x 0.25 mm rectangular section at the top. The results showed that increasing rectangular section height significantly reduced pressure drop at the anode and cathode with a slight decrease in the current density at 0.4 and 0.6 V. The new configuration with 0.2 x 0.1 mm half square section at the bottom and 0.3 x 0.25 mm rectangular section at the top decreases the current density, anode and cathode pressure drop of 11%, 69% and 58%, respectively in comparison to 0.2 x 0.2 flow channel at 0.4 V. Taking into account pressure loss along the flow channels, this configuration is a good option to improve the cell performance.

Research on the flexural capacity of corroded recycled aggregate concrete beams by finite elements method

In this paper, based on the experimental fitting method of recycled concrete beams with corroded rebar, finite element analysis by changing the values of factors affecting the flexural capacity was conducted. The results showed that the flexural capacity of recycled concrete beams increased with the increase of section width and height.

Bending stresses in straight bars with a transverse centre hole: A case of beneficial notch effect?

The article investigates by finite elements the bending stresses around a centre transverse circular hole in straight bars with rectangular or circular cross-section. Four loading conditions are considered, pure bending and three variants of three-point bending (load concentrated on the bar surface above the hole, load directly applied to the hole as uniform pressure, load applied to the hole through a connecting pin). Mostly, the hole diameter is one-third of the section height and one-twentieth of the beam length. Holes of one-fourth and one half of the section on several beam lengths are also investigated for the flat bar in three-point bending to appraise the sensitivity to aspect ratios. The results show that, in all cases, the notch effect is mildly detrimental to the stress distribution and can even be beneficial in comparison with the unperforated bar. This is because the hole increases the stresses around the neutral axis, where the stresses are naturally low, thus taking away stresses from the surface where the bending stresses are naturally highest. The design of pivoted flexural machine elements like levers, yokes and balance arms can take advantage from this evidence.

Numerical study and orthogonal analysis of optimal performance parameters for vertical cooling of sintered ore

The sinter cooler, essential for cooling hot sintered ore to a specific temperature, has seen recent advancements with the introduction of a vertical sinter cooling furnace. This innovation aims to enhance energy efficiency, reduce emissions, and improve waste heat recovery. Despite significant research, a quantitative analysis of factors impacting its cooling and heat transfer efficiency is lacking. This study utilizes the Euler model and local non-equilibrium thermodynamic theory to identify key factors affecting the gas–solid cooperative cooling process in the vertical cooler. Through an orthogonal experimental approach, the paper determines the optimal structural and operational parameters for the furnace. Key findings include that a gas–solid ratio of 1200m^3/t, inlet air temperature of 50 ℃, cooling section height of 6m, and diameter of 13.25m maximize efficiency, achieving a weighted range normalization value of 0.962. This configuration meets sintered ore cooling requirements while optimizing waste heat recovery. The study reveals that the impact on heat transfer efficiency is influenced primarily by the gas–solid ratio, followed by the cooling section's height, diameter, and inlet air temperature. These insights are crucial for enhancing the vertical sinter cooler's design, contributing to more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly sintering processes.