Residual Ratio Research Articles

Full-scale seismic response test on a shallow foundation embedded in tire-derived aggregate for geotechnical seismic isolation

This paper presents results from full-scale tests aimed at characterizing the seismic response of shallow foundations embedded in tire derived aggregate (TDA) with large particle size. The high shear strength, low shear modulus, and high damping ratio of TDA with large particle sizes make it ideally suited for low-cost Geotechnical Seismic Isolation (GSI) systems. Unidirectional shake table tests were performed on a single-degree-of-freedom superstructure connected to a 0.46 m-deep concrete strip footing embedded within a 1.89 m-thick TDA layer inside a laminar box. The TDA-footing system was subjected to a series of sine sweep motions with varying amplitudes and frequencies between 0.4 and 10 Hz. Substantial nonlinearity was observed in the moment-rocking response of the footing, where the specimen experienced rocking stiffness softening at moment demands slightly below its moment capacity. While the footing exhibited moderate transient settlement and uplift during dynamic oscillation, it demonstrated low residual settlement. The TDA layer offered the footing an effective recentering system with an average residual recentering ratio of 0.991. In addition to being low-cost, abundant, and recycled, the TDA layer had both favorable energy dissipation and recentering, with better seismic resilience than structural hinging and conventional foundation rocking systems in soil.

Application of artificial intelligence in predicting the residual mechanical properties of fiber reinforced concrete (FRC) after high temperatures

The practical application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) approaches in estimating the mechanical properties of fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC) subjected to high temperatures was initiated by developing a dataset including concrete mixtures, geometrical and mechanical properties of fiber, and temperatures. The dataset contains compressive strength, tensile strength, and modulus of elasticity of concrete with two distinct types of fiber, i.e., steel and polypropylene with an extensive range of temperatures from 100 to 1200 ℃. The dataset determined the gaps in the literature and showed FRC with high fiber aspect ratios and higher content of fiber (>0.8%) are not studied enough. The AI-based models showed that steel fiber-reinforced concrete (SFRC) has higher residual compressive strength compared with polypropylene fiber-reinforced concrete (PFRC). An increase in steel fiber diameter and length resulted in a higher compressive strength ratio at all temperatures. Moreover, higher PP fibers content and longer PP fibers decrease the rate of tensile strength degradation. A large probabilistic analysis was performed, and it showed that the failure probability (Pf) for PFRC is independent of W/B ratios and is almost 50%;. In contrast, for SFRC, W/B ratios between 0.4 to 0.5 have lower failure probability in comparison with other W/B ratios. Moreover, Pf for both fibers at a W/B ratio of 0.5 is almost independent of fiber content. Furthermore, the critical temperature resulting in failure (defined as the residual strength ratio less than 0.5) for SFRC and PFRC is 550 ℃ and 430 ℃, respectively.

Cyclic loading tests and numerical simulations of an assembled X-shaped flexural steel damper

This paper proposes an assembled X-shaped flexural steel damper. Welding is waived for the novel damper. As the kernel element of the damper, the X-shaped flexural steel plates have the advantages of ease of installation and replacement if necessary. In the analytical part, the effective height of the flexural steel plate was suggested, and then, the yield displacement, yield load and initial stiffness of the damper were derived. The proof-of-concept cyclic loading test was conducted using one reduced-scale specimen within a four-bar linkage experimental setup. The hysteretic performance indexes, including strength, stiffness and energy dissipation, were quantified. The high-fidelity finite element (FE) models were established by ABAQUS. The parametric study was further conducted based on the verified FE model. The considered parameters were the height and thickness of the steel plates. The testing results indicate that the proposed damper has plump hysteretic curve with good energy dissipation capacity and excellent ductility, although slight slip behavior can be found due to the gap caused by the assembling process. The results obtained from analytical method and numerical model are in good agreement with the experimental data. The results of parametric analysis show that the numerical results well agree with analytical predictions, indicating the numerical model can reflect the mechanical behavior of AXSFD. A benchmark frame building was selected to demonstrate the seismic control efficacy of the damper. The nonlinear time history analysis results indicate that the damper reduced both peak and residual interstory drift ratios for the protected structure.

An analysis of the context factors influencing the diverse response of airports to COVID-19 using panel and group regression

Since 2020, the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has led to various levels of recovery across different aviation markets. To better plan for the future, post-pandemic era, air transport policies should consider the potential differential responses of airports to the pandemic based on their geographic network and competitive situations. Much literature provides policy recommendations for planning and development in the post-pandemic era, however fewer studies focus on the short-term recovery trends and diverse responses to the pandemic (that were) made by airports. This paper introduces four impact dimensions faced by airports as a result of the pandemic: airport operations, geographical location, socio-economic environment, and government pandemic policies. Panel and group regression were employed to explore the factors associated with airports’ response to the pandemic in relation to the four dimensions. The seat capacity at the airports was forecast for a non-pandemic scenario using ARIMA models. The residual ratios between the predicted and the actual seat capacity values were the dependent variables capturing the pandemic effect. The results show that, in addition to the direct effect of the pandemic policy, the location of the airport (and other transport modes in its vicinity) had a significant impact on its short-term recovery. Further, the extent of the impact varied by region. The findings of the correlation between different factors and airport responses provide policymakers with more targeted recovery strategies. At the macro-scale, the analysis of multidimensional factors suggests recommendations for airlines and planners for a faster and more efficient recovery of the aviation networks for future disruptions.

Preparation and characterization of colorless and transparent semi‐alicyclic fluoro‐containing polyimide nanocomposite films with enhanced high‐temperature dimensional stability via incorporation of colloidal silica nanofillers

AbstractColorless and transparent semi‐alicyclic fluoro‐containing polyimide (PI) nanocomposite films with enhanced high‐temperature dimensional stability and sustained optical transparency were designed and prepared via incorporation of nano‐sized colloidal silica (SiO2) fillers into the PI matrix derived from hydrogenated pyromellitic dianhydride (HPMDA) and 2,2′‐bis[(4‐aminophenoxy)phenyl]hexafluoropropane (BDAF). The derived PI composite films, abbreviated as 6FCPI‐X in which X stands for the weight percent of the SiO2 in the composite films, exhibited superior thermal and comparable optical properties to the pristine 6FCPI‐0 (6FDA‐BDAF) matrix film. For example, as for the thermal properties, 6FCPI‐35 composite film showed a glass transition temperature (Tg) of 279.1°C and a residual weight ratio at 750°C (Rw750) of 66.1%, which were apparently higher than those of 6FCPI‐0 matrix (Tg = 272.2°C; Rw750 = 47.1%). More importantly, the 6FCPI/SiO2 nanocomposite films showed obviously lower linear coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) values as compared with that of the 6FCPI‐0 matrix. 6FCPI‐35 composite film showed a CTE value of 36.1 × 10−6/K in the temperature range of 50–250°C, which was lower than half of that of the 6FCPI‐0 matrix (CTE = 77.9 × 10−6/K) in the same range of temperature. In addition, incorporation of nano‐sized colloidal SiO2 particles basically maintained the intrinsically good optical properties of the pristine 6FCPI‐0 matrix film. 6FCPI‐35 composite film showed the optical transmittances of 81.7%, 85.3%, and 87.2% at the wavelength of 400 nm (T400), 450 nm (T450), and 500 nm (T500), respectively, which were in the same level with those of the 6FCPI‐0 film (T400 = 84.0%; T450 = 86.3%; T500 = 87.6%). The 6FCPI series of nanocomposite films also exhibited similar CIE Lab color parameters, including the yellow indices (b*) lower than 2.0 and haze values lower than 1.0%.

Durability of geopolymer stabilized domestic waste incineration slag blending macadam in pavement base

In order to achieve the high quality and large-scale utilization of domestic waste incineration slag (WIS) in pavement base, a geopolymer prepared using fly ash from domestic waste incineration was used to replace the cement to stabilized WIS blending macadam used in the pavement base. The durability of the geopolymer stabilized WIS blending macadam (called as GeoWIS) was investigated, including the water stability, freeze-thaw resistance and dry shrinkage. The strength formation was identified using SEM analyses. Furthermore, the durability of GeoWIS was investigated and compared with those of cement stabilized macadam (CSM). Results show that the 7 days compressive strength of GeoWIS meets the strength criterion of the asphalt pavement base (≥2 MPa), except for the combination of 8% geopolymer and 100% WIS. The water stability coefficient and residual compressive strength ratio of GeoWIS increase as the geopolymer increases and WIS decreases. The cumulative dry shrinkage and dry shrinkage coefficient decrease as the WIS increases, while the cumulative water loss rate of GeoWIS increases. SEM analysis shows that the geopolymer reaction generates C-S-H gels, N-A-S-H gels, and Aft, which is the source of the GeoWIS strengths. GeoWIS has better water stability than CSM, and its freeze-thaw resistance and average dry shrinkage coefficient are lower than the average values for CSM.

Preparation of ceramsite using solid residue from anaerobic digestion of waste activated sludge and its enhancing effect on catalytic ozonation

Anaerobic digestion is an environmentally friendly method for reclaiming waste activated sludge. However, it cannot be overlooked that the solid residue generated from this process can still pose environmental risks and impose economic pressure on society. To mitigate and recycle the solid residue, this study utilized it as a primary raw material for manufacturing ceramsite with potential applications in wastewater treatment. The optimal ratio of solid residue to fly ash was demonstrated to be 6:4 with an additional 15% of clay supplementing the raw ceramsite materials. Furthermore, the optimal sintering process was established as preheating at 300 °C for 25 min followed by sintering at 1085 °C for 10 min, as determined through an L16 (44) Orthogonal test. The prepared ceramsite demonstrated advantageous performance parameters that exceeded the standards outlined in the Chinese industry standard CJ/T 299–2008 for water treatment artificial ceramsite. When utilized in an ozonation system, the ceramsite exhibited remarkable catalytic activity for phenol degradation by promoting the decomposition of molecular O3 into hydroxyl radicals. Additionally, it displayed minimal leaching of heavy metals and lower application costs. These findings emphasize its attractiveness in water and wastewater treatment processes and present a practical strategy for reclaiming this solid residue.

Cyclic behavior of self-centering RCFST column to beam joints with prefabricated connectors

This paper presents the cyclic behavior of reinforced concrete-filled steel tube (RCFST) column to beam joint with prefabricated connectors. The cyclic performance of four specimens was investigated to focus on the hysteretic behavior, reinforcement tension, residual deformation, and strain distribution of joints. The equivalent viscous damping coefficients (ξeq) corresponding to the four specimens range from 0.049 to 0.087 at the yield point. And the final residual drift ratio of the specimens ranged from 3.6% to 12.9%. The tested column-beam joint specimens had good hysteretic behavior, energy dissipation, and self-centering ability. The PT steel bars without hollow channel or weakened treatment enhanced the self-centering ability and workability of joints. The finite element models were developed to verify the main mechanical properties of the self-centering RCFST column to beam joint. The average of KE/ KFEA, Mc,y/ My,FEA and Mc,p/ Mp,FEA were 0.89, 0.98, and 1.03, respectively. The FEA models could predict mechanical properties of the joints with high accuracy.

Optimal Plant Density Improves Sweet Maize Fresh Ear Yield without Compromising Grain Carbohydrate Concentration

It is crucial to synergistically improve the yield and quality of sweet maize by implementing precise and strategic planting methods. However, a comprehensive understanding of how increasing plant density affects the sweet maize fresh ear yield, grain-filling rate, and grain carbohydrate concentration is not fully understood. Thus, a field experiment was performed using a split-plot design in Southeast China in 2021 and 2022, involving four sweet maize varieties (MT6855 and WT2015 were compact-type varieties, XMT10 and YZ7 were flat-type varieties) and three plant densities (D1: 4.5 plants m−2; D2: 6.0 plants m−2; and D3: 7.5 plants m−2). The results showed that an increasing plant density markedly increased the fresh ear yield of sweet maize varieties (MT6855 and WT2015) over the two years. However, it did not influence the fresh ear yield of XMT10 and YZ7. Across all four varieties in 2021 and 2022, the increasing plant density decreased the sweet maize filled ear length, while it did not affect the grain soluble solid concentration and grain residue ratio. The sweet maize grain weight, the maximum grain-filling rate, and the mean grain-filling rate decreased significantly with the increase in planting density across all four varieties. However, plant density did not significantly affect the grain soluble sugar, sucrose, fructose, and starch concentrations across different varieties at most stages during the grain filling. The current study also found that the sweet maize fresh ear yield was dramatically positively correlated with ears ha−1, grains per ear, grain-filling rate, and grain starch concentration but negatively correlated with the bare plant rate. Notably, a parabolic relationship existed between the fresh ear yield and 100-grain weight. These findings suggest that optimizing the plant density, particularly with compact-type varieties, can improve the sweet maize fresh ear yield without decreasing its quality.

Vulnerability assessments of urban rail transit networks based on extended coupled map lattices with evacuation capability

This paper proposes the evacuation capability of station to design the extended coupled map lattices and analyzes the passenger dynamics and station states of urban rail transit networks subjected to the external disturbances. Meanwhile, the commuting ability of station is designed to study the topological vulnerability and the residual flow ratio of passenger flow is involved to study the functional vulnerability of urban rail transit networks. Moreover, three malicious attacks are used to imitate the external disturbances, and Shanghai metro network is taken as the example to illustrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed model. The results show that urban rail transit networks have certain robustness subjected to the external disturbances and the global cascading failures will take place when the external disturbance R≥2.6, which indicates that R=2.6 is the critical threshold of external disturbances to smash urban rail transit networks subjected to three malicious attacks. By comparisons, we can declare that the nodes with the highest betweenness and the largest degree must be provided more protections in daily operation of urban rail transit networks, and the topological structure has a greater impact on network vulnerability compared with transportation function.

Proximate composition, functional and bioactive properties of cassava, garden egg and sorghum residue composite flours

The study aimed to determine the proximate, functional and antioxidant properties of composite flour from cassava, garden egg and sorghum residue. Cassava flour was blended with various ratios of sorghum residue and garden egg (ripe or unripe) flours at 2.5 % and 5 % levels, respectively while 100 % cassava flour served as the control. The result indicated increases in proximate compositions from 5.71 – 10.76 % (crude protein), 2.67 – 3.04 % (total ash), 1.70 – 3.29 % (crude fibre) but a reduction in carbohydrate content (80.07 – 67.65 %). The bulk density (0.63 – 0.75 g/cm3), water absorption capacity (0.94 – 1.52 g/g) and foaming capacity (3.92 – 12.11 %) increased in the composited flour compared to the control sample but the oil absorption capacity (0.96 – 1.33) was relatively comparable. The composited flours also showed significantly higher contents of total phenolic and flavonoid content but had comparably similar antinutrients with the control sample. Furthermore, the antioxidant and alpha-amylase inhibition properties indicated that the composited samples may contain more health-promoting constituents than the control. Therefore, it can be concluded that garden egg, which often deteriorates fast and sorghum residue, which is considered as waste and is discarded can used in composite flour formulation with improved nutritional and health-promoting properties. Overall, the 85:7.5:7.5 formulation was the best of the samples.

Experimental-analytical investigation of accelerated bridge construction concrete columns with self-centering Fe-SMA bars subjected to near-fault ground motions

Excessive seismic damage and residual deformation in bridge piers can result in time-consuming post-earthquake repair and replacement, which will adversely affect the recovery and seismic resilience of the transportation infrastructure. Seismic damage or permanent deformation in bridges can be minimized using advanced materials and novel technologies, of which shape memory alloy (SMA) has gained substantial momentum. The goal of this study is to investigate the feasibility of using unbonded iron-based shape memory alloy (Fe-SMA) bars as self-centering elements in accelerated bridge construction (ABC) piers to reduce residual seismic deformation. Shake table testing is performed on a one-third-scale bridge column specimen subjected to near-fault ground motions. A numerical model of the test specimen is developed in OpenSees, and the “pre-test” analysis results are compared with the experimental measurements. Acceptable correlations are observed between the simulated and measured residual drifts, accelerations, forces, and hysteretic responses. Furthermore, the test results are compared to that of a similar conventional cast-in-place RC column without self-centering elements. The maximum residual drift ratio in the tested Fe-SMA column specimen is found to be much smaller than the conventional column specimen highlighting the potential benefits of the proposed design.

Assesment of Borewell Irrigation Water Quality in Hiriyur Taluk Chitradurga District, Karnataka, India

In the quest for understanding the suitability of borewell groundwater for irrigation purposes in Hiriyur Taluk, Chitradurga District, we embarked on a comprehensive assessment of key physico-chemical parameters. Our study involved the collection and analysis of thirty water samples, drawn from both banana leaf margin-affected and their healthier counterparts within the taluk. These samples were meticulously scrutinized for pH levels, electrical conductivity (EC), calcium, magnesium, sulphate, nitrate, Exchangable sodium percentage (ESP), chloride, residual sodium carbonate (RSC) and sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), all vital components in the evaluation of irrigation water quality. The findings from this study not only underscore the importance of assessing and understanding these parameters but also advocate for proactive measures in promoting the development of borewell groundwater for sustainable and productive irrigation practices within the region.

Seismic behaviour of post-earthquake composite frame structures with different damage levels

Since earthquakes pose a huge threat to buildings, the post-earthquake safety assessment is quite important, especially in earthquake-prone areas. This paper investigates the seismic performance of post-earthquake composite frame structures with different damage levels. Two-stage nonlinear time history analysis is carried out for a ten-story steel–concrete composite frame and the peak ground acceleration (PGA) of the seismic waves is used as the main parameter characterizing the seismic intensity and damage level. In the first stage, the seismic waves with the PGAs of 0.20 g, 0.30 g and 0.40 g are applied to the frame to result in three different damage levels. The peak inter-story drift ratios, residual inter-story drift ratios and plastic hinge ratios of the structure in the first-stage earthquakes are analysed, which presents a uniform distribution pattern for the three damage levels. The composite frame is evaluated as structurally safe at all three damage levels based on the limits of residual inter-story drift ratios given in current standards. In the second stage, the seismic waves with the PGA of 0.40 g are used to explore the residual capacity of the structure subjected to strong earthquakes. The dynamic responses of the intact structure and the structure with different damage levels are compared. The results indicate that despite the recognised structural safety, pre-existing seismic damage can enlarge the lateral deformation, reduce the internal forces and resistance capacity and increase the plastic hinges when the composite frame is exposed to the second-stage earthquakes. Generally, the damage caused by earthquakes with the PGA of 0.40 g will have an obvious influence on the seismic behaviour of the post-earthquake structure, in which situation further safety assessment and structural repairs are necessary.

Axial compression behavior and stress–strain relationship of slurry-wrapping treatment recycled aggregate concrete-filled steel tube short columns

Abstract The utilization of recycled concrete can effectively solve the problems of large accumulations of construction waste and the constant consumption of natural aggregates. Slurry-wrapping modification and concrete-filled steel tubes (CFSTs) are effective approaches to enhance the utilization ratio of recycled concrete. The study involved 4 ordinary CFST columns and 16 slurry-wrapping recycled aggregate concrete-filled steel tube (SRACFST) columns. The variable parameters included the slurry-wrapping recycled aggregate replacement ratio and the section form. The result shows that the ultimate strength of the specimens reached the minimum and maximum at 25 and 100% aggregate replacement ratio. The favorable strength performance of the SRACFST columns is attributed to the dominant positive effect of the slurry-wrapping treatment in reducing matrix porosity over the negative impact of the recycled aggregate’s complex interface transition zone. Due to the hoop factor, the residual bearing ratio peaks at a 25% substitution ratio. Four design standards were used to predict the ultimate strength, with GB50936 and EC4 yielding more accurate estimations, while AISC360-10 and AIJ provided conservative estimations. This study presents the equations of the stress–strain curve for the whole axial compression process, which can be directly applied in the theoretical and numerical analysis of RACFST columns.

Nonlinear analysis model and seismic resilience assessment of LEM-filled CFS residence

Lightweight EPS materials (LEM)-filled cold-formed steel (CFS) shear wall structure is a new type of green, low-carbon and prefabricated rural residence, which has drawn in expanding consideration due to the promotion of the rural revitalization strategy. However, most of the existing research on this type of residence has focused on its behaviours of components, with little attention was paid to its overall response to resist earthquake disasters. During the past two decades, significant advancements have been made in effectively mitigating building collapses and reducing casualties resulting from earthquakes. Thus, the concept of seismic resilience is proposed, and the seismic performance requirements of structural design have been elevated from “safety” to “resilience”. To analyze the seismic resilience of LEM-filled CFS residence, this paper proposed a strut and tie- equivalent spring model to establish the simplified analysis model of a single composite wall, and the precision of the model was confirmed by test results, in which the nonlinear characteristic and the supporting effect of fillers was considered. Subsequently, three LEM-filled CFS residences are designed using the direct displacement-based design method. Then the three-D models are established for nonlinear analysis, and the inter-drift ratio (IDR) and residual inter-drift ratio (RIDR) are adopted to estimate the seismic response of the three archetypes. The seismic resilience of the three archetypes are assessed based on FEMA P58. This paper would provide a guidance for the nonlinear analysis and seismic resilience assessment of this type of residences, and promote the application and popularization of this kind of residence.

An Effective and Universal Long-Read Sequencing-Based Approach for SMN1 2 + 0 Carrier Screening through Family Trio Analysis

Abstract Background Population-wide carrier screening for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is recommended by professional organizations to facilitate informed reproductive options. However, genetic screening for SMN1 2 + 0 carriers, accounting for 3%–8% of all SMA carriers, has been challenging due to the large gene size and long distance between the 2 SMN genes. Methods Here we repurposed a previously developed long-read sequencing-based approach, termed comprehensive analysis of SMA (CASMA), to identify SMN1 2 + 0 carriers through haplotype analysis in family trios (CASMA-trio). Bioinformatics pipelines were developed for accurate haplotype analysis and SMN1 2 + 0 deduction. Seventy-nine subjects from 24 families composed of, at the minimum, 3 were enrolled, and CASMA-trio was employed to determine whether an index subject with 2 SMN1 copies was a 2 + 0 carrier in these families. For the proof-of-principle, SMN2 2 + 0 was also analyzed. Results Among the 16 subjects with 2 SMN1 copies, CASMA-trio identified 5 subjects from 4 families as SMN1 2 + 0 carriers, which was consistent with pedigree analysis involving an affected proband. CASMA-trio also identified SMN2 2 + 0 in six out of 43 subjects with 2 SMN2 copies. Additionally, CASMA-trio successfully determined the distribution pattern of SMN1 and SMN2 genes on 2 alleles in all 79 subjects. Conclusions CASMA-trio represents an effective and universal approach for SMN1 2 + 0 carriers screening, as it does not reply on the presence of an affected proband, certain single-nucleotide polymorphisms, ethnicity-specific haplotypes, or complicated single-nucleotide polymorphism analysis across 3 generations. Incorporating CASMA-trio into existing SMA carrier screening programs will greatly reduce residual risk ratio.

Deterioration mechanism of sulfoaluminate concrete at high temperature

In order to explore the deterioration law and mechanism of sulfoaluminate concrete under high temperature environment, this paper studied the deterioration law of sulfoaluminate concrete by observing the crack changes of sulfoaluminate concrete samples under different water/cement ratio, different ages and different temperatures after experiencing different high temperatures, and measuring the residual mass ratio, infrared temperature rise, ultrasonic pulse speed and compressive strength. The results show that the loss of strength and mass is the fastest when the temperature of sulfoaluminate concrete is 200 °C, and the loss of strength and mass becomes slower and slower with the increase in temperature. The main reasons for the deterioration of sulfoaluminate concrete are the destruction of microstructure by ettringite and Ca(OH)2 by dehydration at high temperature. The higher the initial strength of sulfoaluminate concrete, the greater the strength loss after high temperature, but the higher the residual strength.

Advancements in Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor-Compatible Tunnel Barrier Engineered Charge-Trapping Synaptic Transistors for Bio-Inspired Neural Networks in Harsh Environments.

This study aimed to propose a silicon-on-insulator (SOI)-based charge-trapping synaptic transistor with engineered tunnel barriers using high-k dielectrics for artificial synapse electronics capable of operating at high temperatures. The transistor employed sequential electron trapping and de-trapping in the charge storage medium, facilitating gradual modulation of the silicon channel conductance. The engineered tunnel barrier structure (SiO2/Si3N4/SiO2), coupled with the high-k charge-trapping layer of HfO2 and high-k blocking layer of Al2O3, enabled reliable long-term potentiation/depression behaviors within a short gate stimulus time (100 μs), even under elevated temperatures (75 and 125 °C). Conductance variability was determined by the number of gate stimuli reflected in the maximum excitatory postsynaptic current (EPSC) and the residual EPSC ratio. Moreover, we analyzed the Arrhenius relationship between the EPSC as a function of the gate pulse number (N = 1-100) and the measured temperatures (25, 75, and 125 °C), allowing us to deduce the charge trap activation energy. A learning simulation was performed to assess the pattern recognition capabilities of the neuromorphic computing system using the modified National Institute of Standards and Technology datasheets. This study demonstrates high-reliability silicon channel conductance modulation and proposes in-memory computing capabilities for artificial neural networks using SOI-based charge-trapping synaptic transistors.

Implementation of two-stage mixing approach to improve the performance of fiber reinforced concrete for sustainable construction

Concrete has a significant impact on the environment, and the use of fibers in concrete is a way to mitigate its environmental impact. In this study, two-stage mixing approach (TSMA), typically utilized to enhance the quality of the interfacial transition zone (ITZ) of recycled aggregate concrete mixtures, was employed to enhance the performance fiber reinforced concrete (FRC) mixtures by improving the fiber–matrix ITZ. To investigate the effectiveness, FRC mixtures were prepared using standard (ordinary) and modified (TSMA) mixing approaches. Subsequently, their mechanical properties were measured, and microstructural analyses were conducted to examine fiber–matrix ITZ. In the end, a case study for a concrete pavement was carried out to examine the effect of improved performance on the cost and environmental impact of FRC. Based on the results, up to a 30.6% increase in FRC residual flexural strength ratio was obtained for modified mixing method, without considerable change in strength and stiffness. Microstructural analyses were found to support the ITZ improvement provided by the employed mixing methodology. Furthermore, material-related cost and environmental impact values were found to decrease up to 6% based on the case study conducted. As a result, the implementation of TSMA for FRC was found to be a promising technique to enhance FRC performance and suggestions were provided for the future studies to further improve the obtained benefits.