Static Analysis Research Articles

Seismic Assessment of Existing Masonry Buildings Using Damage Mechanics

This paper presents research concerning the numerical simulation of existing masonry buildings when subjected to pushover analysis. A nonlinear static analysis is undertaken using the commercial software ABAQUS standard, in which masonry structures are modelled using damage mechanics. To validate the chosen input parameters, this study compares two different approaches for static nonlinear modelling, the Finite Element Method (FEM) and the Equivalent Frame Method (EFM), for a simple masonry building. The two methods are compared using the guidelines from Part 3 of Eurocode 8. This study identifies the advantages and disadvantages of various modelling approaches based on the results obtained. The results are also compared in terms of capacity curves and damage distributions for the simple case study of a masonry building created to compare numerical methods. Subsequently, nonlinear pushover analyses with ABAQUS (FEM) were performed on the North Tower of Monserrate Palace, Portugal, in which the material parameters were calibrated by considering the results of dynamic characterisation tests conducted in-situ. Regarding the circular body of Monserrate Palace, the damage distribution of the structure is analysed in detail, aiming to contribute to the modelling of such structural configurations through the Equivalent Frame Method.

Investigation of plastic hinge length in high-ductility reinforced concrete shear walls

In this study, the plastic hinge lengths of reinforced concrete (R/C) cantilever shear walls were analytically determined considering various design parameters. Nonlinear static (Pushover) analyses were conducted on R/C shear wall models and their nonlinear behavior was examined using ABAQUS software. In the study, 72 shear wall models with different parameters were analyzed under the influence of vertical and horizontal loads. Parameters whose effects on plastic hinge length were investigated height/length ratio (Hw/Lw), axial load ratio (N/No), and horizontal web reinforcement ratio (ρsh). The load-displacement graphs of the modelled shear walls were obtained. The plastic hinge height of shear walls was determined according to the heights of the deformations in the concrete and longitudinal steel reinforcement in the section when the shear walls lateral load decreased by 15%. The analytical plastic hinge lengths (Lpz) were determined with respect to the location of the yield occurred at the longitudinal steel reinforcement of the shear wall. The observed plastic hinge lengths (Lp) were determined based on the height of observed the crush as of the foundation top level in the concrete shear wall model. The relationship between the findings of this study and empirical formulas in the literature was determined. It was determined that there is greater closeness between the values obtained from empirical formulas in the literature and the observed plastic hinge length values. It was observed that the plastic hinge length generally increases as the shear span increases. It was observed that the change in ρsh was not a very effective parameter in plastic hinge formation. As the N/No decreases, the plastic hinge length values ​​ generally increase. The Lp/Lpz ratio varied within the range of 0.15-0.50. In addition to ductility (μ) values were determined by using the displacements determined according to both the crushing occurred in the shear wall concrete and the yield observed in the steel reinforcement. The observed that the ductility value depends more on Hw/Lw ratio as N/No ratio decreases.

Static bending analysis of pressurized cylindrical shell made of graphene origami auxetic metamaterials based on higher-order shear deformation theory

Static bending responses of a pressurized composite cylindrical shell made of a copper matrix reinforced with functionally graded graphene origami are studied in this paper. The kinematic relations are extended based on a new higher-order shear and normal deformation theory in the axisymmetric framework. The constitutive relations are extended for the composite cylindrical shell where the effective modulus of elasticity, Poisson's ratio, thermal expansion coefficient and density are estimated using the Halpin-Tsai micromechanical model and the rule of mixture. Some modified coefficients are employed for correction of the mentioned material properties in terms of the volume fraction and the folding degree of graphene origami, characteristics of copper and graphene nanoplatelets and thermal loads. The principle of virtual work is used to derive governing equations through computation of strain energy and external work. The static bending results including radial and axial displacements, circumferential strain and stress are presented along the longitudinal and radial directions in terms of volume fraction, folding degree and distribution of graphene origami. The results show an increase in radial displacement and circumferential strain with an increase in folding degree and a decrease in volume fraction of graphene origami. The main novelty of this work is investigating the effect of foldability parameter and various distribution of graphene origami on static results of short cylindrical shell.

Effect of Infilled Frames on Reduction Factor (R) for RC Irregular Structure

Investigating the modification factors as a critical seismic design tool, delineating the anticipated level of inelastic behavior within structural systems during seismic events. Both damping and ductility are included in this factor, particularly at movement nearing maximum capacity. Moreover, it offers valuable insights into buildings' response during earthquakes and the anticipated behavior of structures compliant with building codes during design earthquakes. Essentially, it mirrors the structure's capacity to dissipate energy via an inelastic mechanism. In this research, the infill (RC) structures with various structural irregularities were focused. The selected irregularities included dimension, elevation, and mass. Infill location, number of bays, and seismic zone were the expected R factors for RC frames. Non-linear static pushover analysis was adopted in numerical simulation. The available data gathered from the literature was used to validate the outcomes of the developed models. Additionally, the effects of different types of soil were taken into consideration, and the research results demonstrated that the value of the modification factor (R) for change in stiffness and mass of high-rise buildings for bare and infill (RC) structures is less compared to irregular (RC) structures. It was concluded that the same structure with different types of soil and different parameters has a great effect on the value of R for bare and infill regular and irregular (RC) structures. Furthermore, recommendations for accurate R estimation for RC structures were discussed. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2024-010-08-09 Full Text: PDF

Numerical and experimental investigation on flexural properties of selective laser melting (SLM) manufactured strut lattices structures from Ti-6Al-4V and Inconel 625

Lattice structures hold a significant importance in the aerospace industry due to their ability to tailor the physical, thermal, and mechanical properties of complex components for optimal performance. This study is focused on evaluating the flexural properties of four lattice configurations - re-entrant, truncated octahedron, Kelvin, and octet cells - through static finite element analysis (FEA) and experimental three-point bending tests, as well as examining their microstructural features (as they affect the materials’ mechanical properties). High-performance alloys used for gas turbines components manufacturing, Ti-6Al-4 V and Inconel 625, were fabricated using selective laser melting (SLM) process. The necessity of this research resulted from the lack of information in the scientific literature regarding flexural properties of various additive manufactured cell types and metallic materials. The aim was to compile data that could be used to create a comprehensive database for various industrial applications. Findings from both simulations and experimental analyses indicated that the octet cell had the highest performance, with experimentally measured flexural strengths of 878 MPa for Ti-6Al-4V, respective 674 MPa for Inconel 625. Contrarily, the re-entrant cell exhibited the lowest performance, with flexural strengths of 125 MPa for Ti-6Al-4V and 116 MPa for Inconel 625. Failure in the re-entrant cells was attributed to the bending fracture of vertical rods at the connecting nodes or lattice struts, while other cell types experienced damage through a combination of bending and shear mechanisms. Dimensional deviations observed in all specimens were attributed to defects such as surface roughness, the stair-stepping effect, and internal stresses.

Development of novel high entropy alloy feedstocks for powder bed fusion using equimolar CoFeNiCuMn composition

In this study, six different prediction models were used to generate a script to obtain the High Entropy Alloy (HEA) database from which CoFeNiCuMn was selected. The powder form of the alloy was utilized by high-pressure gas atomization. The samples were characterized by Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) for chemical analysis, Electron Back-Scattered Diffraction (EBSD) for grain size determination, X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) for phase analysis, and nanoindentation for mechanical properties. Equimolar CoFeNiCuMn samples had single face-centered cubic (FCC) structure, and the +106 μm showed 111 GPa elastic modulus and 2.97 GPa hardness. Also, each sample was evaluated for compatibility with powder bed fusion (PBF) by employing Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) for morphology, laser diffraction for particle size distribution, and static and dynamic flow analyses for the flowability examination. Considering all results, it was observed that three tests were sufficient to comparatively assess the novel alloy powders as suitable feedstock for PBF. The −15 µm sample exhibited widespread satellite particles in its morphology, resulting in the lowest apparent density of 4.28 g/cm³ and the highest specific energy of 2.60 mJ/g. In contrast, the other samples, with larger particle sizes, demonstrated discrete powder particles and improved flowability parameters.

3D electro-elastic static analysis of advanced plates and shells

The proposed three-dimensional (3D) coupled electro-elastic shell model allows the static analysis of smart structures embedding classical piezoelectric and functionally graded piezoelectric layers. Plates, cylindrical and spherical panels are investigated in both sensor and actuator configurations. The primary variables of the coupled model are displacement components and the electric potential. Therefore, displacements, stresses, strains, electric potential and electric displacements are calculated for smart structures used as sensors (applied mechanical load) and smart structures used as actuators (applied electric potential). In the case of spherical shells, 3D equilibrium equations are coupled with the 3D divergence electric displacement equation. The obtained coupled system is also valid for cylindrical shells and plates thanks to the use of a mixed curvilinear orthogonal reference system. The partial differential governing equations are solved using the Navier harmonic form and the exponential matrix method for simply supported structures. Preliminary assessments are proposed to validate the model and further benchmarks are analyzed to discuss the effects connected with the thickness ratio, the lamination scheme, the load conditions, the geometry of the structures and the employed materials. The main innovation point of the proposed model is the possibility to analyze several geometries including different materials and applied loads by means of a unique and general formulation where partial differential equations are solved in closed form. The use of functionally graded piezoelectric materials allows to eliminate all stress component discontinuities at each layer interface.

Static analysis of semi‐underground double‐storey squat silo

AbstractThe semi‐underground double‐storey squat silo (SUDSSS) is a new type of silo with the advantages of preserving grain quality. In this paper, a numerical model of SUDSSS was constructed using solid elements. The proposed numerical model was validated by test results of an experimental underground silo, and the results demonstrated that: (1) Before and after backfilling, the radial and circumferential stress of the underground storey reached their maximum at 2/3 from the bottom and 2/3 from the ground surface, respectively; (2) As the height of grain storage increases, the silo wall stress in the overground storey increases. From the top of the underground storey up to 1/4 height of the overground storey, the stress of silo wall increases. (3) For the underground storey, the maximum stress occurs at 1/3 of the way from the apex of bottom cone.Practical applicationsThe semi‐underground double‐storey squat silo is a new grain storage device proposed by this paper, which consists of two layers. The lower layer is located in the ground and can utilize the shallow ground temperature to realize the green and low‐temperature storage of grain, the upper layer is conducive to the turnover of grain, which can ensure the quality of grain storage. The new silo has the advantages of saving land, energy saving and carbon reduction. Based on the silo, this paper investigates the stress–strain properties of the silo before and after soil backfilling during the construction stage, and obtains the change pattern of the static mechanical properties of the silo. This paper analyses the mechanical properties of semi‐underground double‐storey squat silo under different storage conditions at the grain storage stage, and studies the change patterns of the mechanical properties of the silo body under different storage heights.

Seismic performance of a multipurpose hall building using nonlinear static analysis

Seismic performance of a multipurpose hall building using nonlinear static analysis

Progressive collapse of regular RC structure considering flexibility of slabs under gravity and wind loads

Abstract Progressive collapses are disastrous phenomena which occur in the structure due to manmade incidents or natural disasters. There are not any significant studies considering the flexibility of slabs in the structures, as an alternative to treating them as rigid diaphragms. The present study deals with the progressive collapse of a regular reinforced concrete structure considering flexibility of slabs, comparing the same when the slabs are considered as rigid diaphragms. 20 storey(G+19) building is modeled using ETABS software and nonlinear static analysis is performed under the action of gravity and wind loads. At the outset, the analysis is done for undamaged structure to find the behavior of structure and then the damaged models have been analyzed by removing one of the critical column in different locations at first storey, based on general services administration (GSA) guidelines[16]. Various response parameters such as base force capacity, storey stiffness and storey displacements have been compared for undamaged and damaged structures considering and not considering the flexibility of slabs. From the comparison of the results, it was noticed that the chance of progressive collapse is high when the corner column is damaged and also resistance to wind load is considerably higher when stiffness of slabs is considered for the analysis in both undamaged structure and the four cases of damaged structure (ii), which is about three times higher.

Reverse Engineering for Static Analysis of Android Malware in Instant Messaging Apps

Malware poses a significant threat to Android devices due to their high prevalence and vulnerability to attacks. Analyzing malware on these devices is crucial given the persistent and sophisticated threats targeting Android users. Static analysis of Android malware is a key approach used to detect malicious software without executing the application. This method involves meticulously examining the application's source code or binaries to identify signs of suspicious or harmful activities. The research methodology consists of three stages. The first stage involves collecting malware samples spread through instant messaging applications. The second stage employs reverse engineering, where APK files are decompiled to extract their contents. Following this, a static analysis is conducted, focusing on the AndroidManifest.xml file and the source code to identify the behavior and potential threats posed by the malware. The static analysis results revealed that Android malware often requests sensitive permissions to access personal data, such as receiving, reading, and sending SMS, as well as accessing location and contacts. Further analysis uncovered that after acquiring this data, the malware transmits it to the Telegram API via authenticated HTTP requests using specific tokens and chat_ids. These findings highlight that the permissions requested by the malware are designed to clandestinely collect and export personal data, posing a severe threat to the privacy and security of Android users.

Continuum and Discrete Analytical Methods for Vibration and Buckling Eigenvalues Shape Sensitivities

AbstractGradient-based optimization techniques need precise and efficient sensitivities. Numerical sensitivity methods such as finite differences are easy to implement but imprecise and computationally inefficient. In contrast, analytical sensitivity methods, such as the discrete and continuum ones are highly accurate and efficient. Continuum Sensitivity Analysis (CSA) is an analytical method used to calculate derivatives of shape or value parameters. While CSA has been successfully applied in static analysis and dynamic problems in the time domain, this work presents an extension of the approach to eigenvalue sensitivities for the first time. However, CSA revealed limitations, prompting the exploration of an alternative approach based on discrete analytical differentiation. This method is employed for the first time in shape sensitivities. The derivatives of the stiffness and mass matrices required by the method are calculated analytically, resulting in high accuracy and computational efficiency. In addition, an element agnostic approach has been developed leveraging primary analysis matrices to calculate their derivative. This characteristic, along with the nonintrusivity, makes the method employable with standard commercial software. Both approaches have been applied and validated in a wide range of scenarios, involving vibration and buckling problems.

锤片式粉碎机V型锤片设计及试验优化

Low productivity and high electricity consumption are considered problems of the hammer mill, which is widely used in current feed production. In this paper, a folded V-shaped hammer was designed to improve the performance of the hammer mill. To determine the optimal design parameters of the new hammer, the single-factor test and orthogonal tests were carried out with the inclination angle of hammer, the angle of hammer head, and the distance of hammer head as the influencing factors, and the productivity and output per kWh as evaluation indexes. The order of the influence on the productivity and output per kWh were the inclination angle of hammer>the angle of hammer head> the distance of hammer head. The parameters were optimized based on the orthogonal tests with the following results: the angle of hammer head was 160°, inclination angle of hammer was 110°, and the inclination distance of hammer head was 24 mm. The static analysis and modal analysis were carried out on the optimized hammer by using ANSYS software. The results showed that the new hammer satisfies the strength and stiffness requirements during working, does not resonate, and has good dynamic characteristics. The new hammer can effectively improve the performance of the hammer mill, and the research results can provide theoretical basis for the optimization design of the hammer mill.

An Investigation of Seismic Behaviour of Prestressed Concrete Frame Structures using Pushover Analysis

Abstract: The prestressed concrete system is a prominent material in civil engineering, with applications ranging from buildings, bridges, foundations, piling, silos, stadiums, roadways, and other infrastructure. However, this work is primarily concerned with its applicability to building frame constructions subjected to seismic loading. The prestressed concrete system for frame constructions not only reduces the amount of structural components, but it is also a cost-effective technology that provides outstanding strength and stiffness, as well as quick and simple site erection. Hence, we will be able to use these prestressed concrete components to their full capacity, unlocking engineering and social benefits that were previously impossible. Prestressed concrete designs, as opposed to reinforced concrete designs, can give structures with substantially longer spans, no cracks, or fewer cracks with tiny crack widths. Nonetheless, research on the seismic behaviour of prestressed concrete frame structures is relatively restricted, with the majority of studies focusing on reinforced concrete structures. Finally, the provisional versions of modern building codes such as ACI 318, GB50010, and EC2 do not provide thorough processes for seismic design of prestressed concrete structures. In this work, the seismic design and behaviour of prestressed concrete building frames are explored using the most recent design code. Three model-building codes will be investigated and compared, including ACI 318- 14, Eurocode 2004-2, and Chinese GB500010-2010. The 10-story prestressed concrete frame system is subjected to gravity and seismic loading, and the strong-column weak beam mechanism is archived to conform with the newly implemented building design code. To examine the behaviour of prestressed concrete frame structures, nonlinear static pushover analysis is used to capture the reaction under earthquake loading. The stiffness and strength needed will be designed in compliance with the three major building codes indicated. In addition, the finite element model will be created using CSI Sap200 to capture its actions.

Capital structure and performance nexus: Insights from fixed-effects and quantile analysis

The research utilizes a comprehensive dataset from MENA-listed companies, capturing data from 2013 to 2022 to scrutinize the influence of capital structure (CapSt) level on corporate performance across 11 distinct countries. This study analyzed 6870 firm-year observations using a quantitative research method through static and dynamic panel data analysis. The primary analysis reveals a positive correlation between the CapSt ratio and company performance using fixed effects (FE) techniques. Hence, the preliminary results were re-examined and affirmed using a two-step system generalized method of moment (GMM) estimator to address potential endogeneity concerns. This finding aligns with most studies conducted in advanced countries, indicating a positive correlation between CapSt and corporate performance. Furthermore, it is also consistent with some research conducted in less-developed markets. This research argues that, in the MENA region, the advantages of debt, such as tax saving, may outweigh the potential financial distress cost. Furthermore, it offers insights into the monitoring role of CapSt in MENA-listed companies. We strengthen our research results by employing various methodologies and using alternative measures of accounting performance and controlling size, notably panel quantile regression analysis.

Structural Design and Analysis of Portable Intelligent Wheelchair for Knee Rehabilitation

In order to address the issues of inconvenience, high medical costs, and lack of universality associated with traditional knee rehabilitation equipment, a portable intelligent wheelchair for knee rehabilitation was designed in this study. Based on the analysis of the knee joint's structure and rehabilitation mechanisms, an electric pushrod-driven rehabilitation institution was developed. A multi-functional module was designed with a modular approach, and the control of the wheelchair body and each functional module was implemented using an STM32 single-chip microcomputer. A three-dimensional model was established using SolidWorks software. In conjunction with Adams and Ansys simulation software, kinematic and static analyses were conducted on the knee joint rehabilitation institution and its core components. A prototype was constructed to verify the equipment's actual performance. According to the prototype testing, the actual range of motion for the knee joint swing rod is 15.1°~88.9°, the angular speed of the swing rod ranges from -7.9 to 8.1°/s, the angular acceleration of the swing rod varies from -4.2 to 1.6°/s², the thrust range of the electric pushrod is -82.6 to 153.1 N, and the maximum displacement of the load pedal is approximately 1.7 mm, with the leg support exhibiting a maximum deformation of about 1.5 mm. The intelligent knee joint rehabilitation wheelchair meets the designed functions and its actual performance aligns with the design criteria, thus validating the rationality and feasibility of the structural design.

DFier: A directed vulnerability verifier for Ethereum smart contracts

Smart contracts are self-executing digital agreements that automatically enforce the terms between parties, playing a crucial role in blockchain systems. However, due to the potential losses of digital assets caused by vulnerabilities, the security issues of Ethereum smart contracts have garnered widespread attention. To address this, researchers have developed various techniques to detect vulnerabilities in smart contracts, with fuzzing techniques achieving promising results. Nonetheless, current fuzzers are unable to effectively exercise suspicious targets because they overlook two key factors: comprehensively exploring all paths to the targets and providing high-quality directed seed inputs. This paper presents a Directed vulnerability veriFier (DFier), which elaborates effective transaction sequences with directed inputs for the fuzzer. This focuses on exploring target paths and automatically validating whether the specified locations are vulnerable. Specifically, DFier employs static analysis to help locate target paths, facilitating their comprehensive exploration. Additionally, we devise three heuristic strategies to enable our fuzzing technique to generate directed inputs that effectively validate the targets. Extensive experiments demonstrate that DFier is effective in verifying contract security, compared with three existing contract fuzzers (i.e., contractFuzzer, sFuzz, and conFuzzius), while the performance losses are in an acceptable range.

Correction: Static Modal Analysis: A Review of Static Structural Analysis Methods Through a New Modal Paradigm

Correction: Static Modal Analysis: A Review of Static Structural Analysis Methods Through a New Modal Paradigm

The value of net influx constant based on FDG PET/CT dynamic imaging in the differential diagnosis of metastatic from non-metastatic lymph nodes in lung cancer.

This study aims to evaluate the value of the dynamic and static quantitative metabolic parameters derived from 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography/CT (PET/CT) in the differential diagnosis of metastatic from non-metastatic lymph nodes (LNs) in lung cancer and to validate them based on the results of a previous study. One hundred and twenty-one patients with lung nodules or masses detected on chest CT scan underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT dynamic + static imaging with informed consent. A retrospective collection of 126 LNs in 37 patients with lung cancer was pathologically confirmed. Static image analysis parameters include LN-SUVmax and LN-SUVmax/primary tumor SUVmax (LN-SUVmax/PT-SUVmax). Dynamic metabolic parameters including the net influx rate (Ki) and the surrogate of perfusion (K1) and of each LN were obtained by applying the irreversible two-tissue compartment model using in-house Matlab software. Ki/K1 was then calculated as a separate marker. Based on the pathological findings, we divided into a metastatic group and a non-metastatic group. The χ2 test was used to evaluate the agreement of the individual and combined diagnosis of each metabolic parameter with the gold standard. The receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed for each parameter to determine the diagnostic efficacy in differentiating non-metastatic from metastatic LNs with high FDG-avid. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Among the 126 FDG-avid LNs confirmed by pathology, 70 LNs were metastatic, and 56 LNs were non-metastatic. For ROC analysis, in separate assays, the dynamic metabolic parameter Ki [sensitivity (SEN) of 84.30%, specificity (SPE) of 94.60%, accuracy of 88.89%, and AUC of 0.895] had a better diagnostic value than the static metabolic parameter SUVmax (SEN of 82.90%, SPE of 62.50%, accuracy of 74.60%, and AUC of 0.727) in differentiating between metastatic from non-metastatic LNs groups, respectively. In the combined diagnosis group, the combined SUVmax + Ki diagnosis had a better diagnostic value in the differential diagnosis of metastatic from non-metastatic LNs, with SEN, SPE, accuracy, and AUC of 84.3%, 94.6%, 88.89%, and 0.907, respectively. When the cutoff value of Ki was 0.022ml/g/min, it had a high diagnostic value in the differential diagnosis between metastasis and non-metastasis in FDG-avid LNs of lung cancer, especially in improving the specificity. The combination of SUVmax and Ki is expected to be a reliable metabolic parameter for N-staging of lung cancer.

Pragmatics of formally verified yet efficient static analysis, in particular, for formally verified compilers

Pragmatics of formally verified yet efficient static analysis, in particular, for formally verified compilers