Structural Response Research Articles

Simplified assessment of structures with clutching inertia-friction systems by equivalent linearization methods

The innovative Clutching Inertia System (CIS), has garnered increasing recognition for its effectiveness in mitigating structural vibrations. To enhance the efficiency of passive CIS, introducing suitable energy dissipation mechanisms for the rotation inertia component is imperative. This study delves into the dynamic behavior of CIS, augmented with additional friction damping. Initially, the influence of supplementary friction damping within the CIS framework is examined through a dynamic model of a Single-Degree-of-Freedom (SDOF) system, integrated with the CIS and incorporating the Coulomb friction model. Subsequently, to streamline the dynamic analysis of the CIS and optimize the friction force thereby enhancing control efficiency while minimizing inactive durations, the paper introduces two distinct Equivalent Linearization Methods (ELMs). Furthermore, an assessment of the CIS’s dynamic performance, subjected to various external excitations, is presented. The findings highlight the crucial role of supplemental friction damping in reducing the inactivity of CIS and enhancing its overall control effectiveness. The employed ELMs demonstrate commendable accuracy and practicality for both response assessment and CIS performance optimization. In essence, the CIS, when integrated with supplemental friction damping, exhibits superior performance in suppressing structural displacement responses across diverse excitations, particularly in longer-period structures. Conversely, a more pronounced efficacy in managing structural acceleration responses is observed in structures with shorter periods. The study concludes that for specific structural applications, enhancing supplemental friction damping is more advantageous for vibration control than increasing the CIS’s inertia.

Buffeting performance of long-span bridges with different span affected by parametric typhoon wind

Currently, typhoon-related performance of long span bridges usually focus on a specific wind record such as wind speed and turbulence intensity during a full typhoon, however, the inter-correlation among wind characteristic parameters under typhoon wind climate is ignored. The existing investigation about structural responses during typhoon attacks are still limited at case-study analysis, and hardly provide a generalized framework to evaluate the structural performance especially for typhoon landing whole process. This study utilizes the measured wind speeds of the strong typhoon "Hagupit" to establish a unified typhoon parametric model, during which the correlation of typhoon wind parameters including angle of attack (AoA), turbulence intensity, integral length scale and mean wind speed were taken into consideration. The measured typhoon process charactered with center-through effect with M-type average wind speed curve. Furthermore, the structural performance of long-span bridges with different spans from 1500 m to 2500 m main span was systematically studied. The aerodynamic parameters of the bridge deck section, including the aerostatic coefficients, flutter derivatives at different AoAs, and aerodynamic admittance under different oncoming flow conditions were identified through wind tunnel tests. Finally, the wind-induced buffeting performance was calculated by the buffeting frequency domain algorithm, showing various structural wind effect characteristics during the typhoon landing whole process. The maximal buffeting response is not necessarily related with the wind speed, and other wind characteristics especially turbulence intensity and AoA, etc. also affect on the results.

Mowing mitigates the negative impacts of long-term warming on community composition and niche characteristics of alpine meadow on the Tibetan Plateau

Climate warming and human disturbance are supposed to have significantly impacted the alpine grasslands. However, it is still unclear how human activity affects the community composition and niche characteristics in response to warming. We conducted a two-factorial experiment in an alpine meadow, and set up four treatments: warming, mowing, warming with mowing, and control. Based on the investigation of community composition and niche characteristics, we evaluated the impacts of soil carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus on species niche overlap. The results showed that mowing significantly increased species richness of Grass, Sedge, Forbs and the importance value of Sedge compared to warming (P < 0.05). The niche breadth of species (>50%) was reduced by warming, but increased under mowing. The niche overlap mainly occurred between Grass and Forbs in warming, while it was evenly distributed among species after mowing, which alleviated the negative effects of warming on interspecific competitiveness. Warming increased the number of species pairs with a niche overlap value >0.9 by 24.15%, while warming with mowing decreased it by 2.7%. The number of species pairs with niche overlap was significantly correlated with soil total nitrogen and soil available nitrogen (P < 0.05). In particular, the species pairs with highly competitive showed a greater dependency on soil nitrogen. Our work highlights that moderate utilization and soil nitrogen are two crucial factors influencing the response of community structure in alpine meadows to future climate change. The study provides an important reference for predicting and addressing the impact of global climate change on adaptive management and grassland protection.

A novel impact approach based on electromagnetic loading technology: A case study on CFRP/Al riveted structures

To investigate the mechanical response and damage behavior of aircraft fuselage composite structures under out-of-plane impact loads more efficiently and flexibility, this paper proposed a novel impact approach and testing platform based on inductive coils to yield electromagnetic impact force. The influence of system key parameters on the electromagnetic loading waveforms were analyzed using an electromagnetic field finite element model. Single/repeated impact tests on CFRP/aluminium alloy (Al) riveted structures were conducted at different voltages (energies) based on this approach. The results indicate that the electromagnetic impact (EMI) approach exhibits significant advantages in both variable strain rate loading and continuous impact loading scenarios. This device can efficiently achieve multi-point and multiple impact loading. The electromagnetic impact forces with various amplitudes and pulse-widths can be accurately obtained by altering voltage and capacitance values, which can demonstrate the good experimental consistency of such test approach. Besides, with this test method, the load threshold for damage formation can be clearly defined: once the impact force exceeds the damage threshold load, the delamination area of the CFRP laminates expand as the impact energy increases. Note that when the provided out-of-plane impact load is slightly higher than the damage threshold load by changing the voltage, significant delamination damage may suddenly manifest in any one impact event of the repeated impacts.

Dynamic responses of monopile offshore wind turbines under different wind-wave misalignment angles

Wind-wave misalignment is a common occurrence for monopile offshore wind turbines during extreme typhoon conditions. This phenomenon has a significant impact on the structural dynamic response of turbine structures and poses a threat to their structural integrity. In this study, finite element analysis is conducted on 75 sets of working conditions of monopile offshore wind turbines to investigate their dynamic response under different wind turbine operating states, wind-wave misalignment angles, and randomness of wind and wave load conditions. The results of the analysis indicate that the impact of wind-wave misalignment angles on the dynamic response of the monopile offshore wind turbine varies depending on the operational conditions. Furthermore, the study reveals that there are variations in the dynamic response of the monopile offshore wind turbine under different combinations of wind and wave loads. During the parked state and yaw system fault of the monopile offshore wind turbine, the most adverse working conditions need to consider wind-wave misalignment angles of 0° and 180°. In contrast, the most adverse working conditions for operational states emerge when the wind-wave misalignment angle is 90°. These findings highlight the importance of considering wind-wave misalignment angles and the randomness of wind and wave load conditions when assessing the dynamic response and structural integrity of monopile offshore wind turbines.

Seismic drifts of buildings through deep neural networks circumventing incremental dynamic analysis: Aims and pitfalls for robust and reliable predictions

In the field of seismic response assessment, simplified procedures have long been pursued to circumvent the rigorous, state-of-the-art nonlinear response history analysis (NRHA) and incremental dynamic analysis (IDA) that typically require tedious computations. To this end, this study investigates artificial neural networks (ANN) as prediction models to bypass IDA and quickly and reliably determine the structural drift responses of buildings, without employing surrogate models or analysis techniques that lower the quality of the estimates. Three designs of such prediction models are identified in terms of their scope, implementation and corresponding database, commonly employed in research, while identifying common pitfalls in their design. The investigations involve ten steel-frame multi-story structures, considering cyclic and in-cycle material deterioration and P-Delta phenomena. More than 17-thousand recorded ground motions (GM) are employed to perform IDA on these frame-building models, resulting in a unique database of responses ranging from linear to collapse, with more than 3-million NRHA. Based on this database, a prediction model is developed for each building, capable of predicting the IDA under a GM excitation not included in the database. Additionally, another prediction model is developed that can predict the IDA of a building under a GM excitation, both of which are not included in the database. These investigations show that ANN are excellent tools to circumvent IDA and capture the record-to-record uncertainty by rapidly and reliably predicting structural drifts ranging from linear responses to the collapse limit state, while building-to-building predictions are additionally feasible if the employed database is appropriate.

Nonlinear structural responses of the buried oval steel pipelines crossing strike-slip faults

The permanent ground deformation may lead to bending failure or fractures of the buried steel pipelines. In practical applications, the buried pipelines may also exhibit ovality defects due to soil pressure, gravity of the pipeline, and misalignment of joints, which have the potential to diminish the load-bearing capacity of the buried pipelines. This paper introduces a comprehensive analytical methodology to examine the dynamic behavior of pipelines with different initial ovality defects subjected to strike-slip faults. A modified permissible lateral displacement function is introduced to determine the strain distribution of the deformed pipelines. One may predict the yield displacement of the oval pipelines accurately based on the yield theory of classical beams and the static equilibrium method. Then, the accuracy of the proposed method was validated by developing a finite element model and other results. Good agreement was reached characterized by the yield displacement and the yield strain, respectively. Finally, a parametric analysis was conducted on the effects of different ovality, steel grades, diameter-to-thickness ratios, fault inclination angles, and soil properties on the displacement and strain distributions of the deformed pipeline.

Review Paper on Seismic Analysis of Multi-Storied Reinforced Concrete Building with Fluid Viscous Dampers

Abstract: Frequent earthquakes around the world and the large number of buildings at risk have made it essential to focus on controlling how structures respond to these events. This demand has driven the increased use of structural response control methods globally. This study investigates the seismic performance of multi-storied Reinforced Concrete (RC) Buildings, distinguishing between Regular and Irregular Plan , with a focus on the role of Fluid Viscous Dampers (FVDs). The study aims to quantify the improvements in seismic resilience provided by these damping devices in mitigating the adverse effects of seismic events. Buildings having Regular and Irregular Plans are analyzed, with and without FVD using ETABS2018. The story responses in terms of Pseudo Spectral Accelerations, Maximum Displacement, Story Drift and Story Shear have been compared. The results of the Time History Analysis represent the effectiveness of dampers in improving the structural response and the damping demand on structural systems

Validating the place of Underutilized Indigenous Vegetable (UIV) Marketers: A case of Agrarian Communities, Southwestern Nigeria

Over the years, staple crops have faced several challenges, and a step away from over-reliance on them is very important to achieve food security in Nigeria. Indeed, underutilized vegetables are usually indigenous ancient crops that are still used reasonably in local, national, and even international communities. Hence, this study validates the spatial pattern and network of underutilized indigenous vegetable (UIV) marketers in Ondo State, southwestern, Nigeria with emphasis on fluted pumpkin (Telfaria occidentalis), African eggplant (Solanum macrocarpon) and Amaranth (Amaranthus virides). A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select a total of 120 UIV marketers from 5 villages. Primary data were collected and gathered using structured questionnaires and responses from the interview were coded and analyzed with STATA and UCINET. The study further examines the factors influencing the performance of the UIV marketers and determines the predictors driving association membership using multiple linear regression and binary logistic regression, respectively. The analysis results revealed that the majority (90.83%) of the UIVs marketers are female with a large proportion of the marketers within the age range of 51-60 years. The primary occupation of most of the respondents is trading (51.67%). From the regression results, belonging to a vegetable association is not statistically significant and thus it can be concluded that being a member of a vegetable association does not affect the income of the marketers. This is in sync with the information gathered from the focus group interviews that the association only serve as a medium to get firsthand information on price, product quality, and vegetables demanded. However, from social network analysis, it can also be concluded that the major actors involved in UIV marketing are interrelated and that they transfer information between themselves with the association being the common ground for such exchange. The study recommends that the government should consciously push for the wide acceptance of vegetable cultivation and provide good network roads in rural areas.

Discordance between symptomatic response and changes in cardiac structure and function one year after transcatheter aortic valve implantation

Abstract Background Symptomatic improvement is one of the main goals of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis. We hypothesized that the degree of symptomatic response after TAVI is associated with improvement in cardiac structure and function after TAVI. Purpose We aimed to evaluate 1) the change in symptomatic burden measured by New York Heart Association (NYHA) and Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) functional class after TAVI, 2) the change in echocardiographic structural and functional parameters after TAVI, and 3) the association of symptomatic response with echocardiographic response as well as long-term survival. Methods In patients undergoing TAVI, we assessed New York Heart Association (NYHA) and Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) functional class at 12 months. Symptomatic response was defined as NYHA/CCS class I or ≥ 1 improvement in NYHA/CCS class compared to baseline at 12 months. Echocardiographic images at baseline and 6-18 months post-TAVI were analysed using an automated, validated, deep-learning workflow. Logistic regression was used to assess association between change in echocardiographic parameters and symptomatic change at 12 months. The association of symptomatic response and echocardiographic changes in the first 12 months after TAVI with survival beyond 12 months, was evaluated by landmark analysis using Kaplan-Meier analysis. Results Among 868 TAVI patients (median age 80 years, 53% female), the majority (74%) had NYHA/CCS class III at baseline and 77% of patients experienced improvement in symptoms at 12 months post-TAVI (Figure 1). Patients without an improvement in symptoms more often had COPD, atrial fibrillation and more heart failure medications compared to responders. Left ventricular systolic function did not show improvement compared to baseline, whereas a modest improvement in left atrial volume index, left ventricular mass index, E/A ratio, E/e’ ratio, mean e’ and tricuspid regurgitation peak jet velocity was observed. Symptomatic response was not associated with echocardiographic response. Beyond 12 months, patients with symptomatic improvement had lower mortality than those without symptomatic improvement (1.5 vs. 2.4 per 10 patient years; p = .001), whereas changes in echocardiographic parameters were not associated with subsequent mortality (Figure 2). Conclusion Patients undergoing TAVI for symptomatic severe aortic stenosis, showed substantial symptomatic improvement at one year after the procedure, whereas only a modest improvement in echocardiographic parameters was observed. Improvement in symptoms was not associated with improvement in echocardiographic measures of cardiac structure and function. Symptomatic improvement, but not improvement in cardiac structure and function at 12 months, was a strong predictor of subsequent survival.Change in NYHA/CCS class after TAVISymptoms and echo versus mortality

Progressive postoperative atrophy of ipsilateral thalamus, putamen, and globus pallidus in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy: A volumetric analysis.

Cortical atrophy close to medial temporal structures has been described consistently in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Successful TLE surgery may have a neuroprotective effect preventing further atrophy of temporal and extratemporal cortex. However, the effects of epilepsy surgery on subcortical structures demand additional enlightenment. This work aimed to determine how epilepsy surgery affects volumes of subcortical structures in medically refractory temporal lobe epilepsy patients. We compared MRI volumes of subcortical structures in 62 patients with TLE (36 left, 26 right) before and after anterior temporal lobectomy with 38 TLE patients (20 left, 18 right) who were considered to be good surgical candidates and had at least two brain MRIs. There were no volume differences in subcortical structures on preoperative and initial MRIs of non-operated TLE patients. At baseline, the ipsilateral thalamus and putamen in TLE patients were marginally smaller than contralateral structures. Operated patients showed a significant postoperative volume reduction in ipsilateral thalamus, putamen, and globus pallidus. In contrast, there were no significant volumetric reductions in non-operated patients longitudinally. There were no volumetric changes associated with different surgical outcomes or different postoperative cognitive outcomes. Our study demonstrated postoperative volume loss of thalamus, putamen and globus pallidus ipsilaterally to the side of resection. Our findings suggest surgery-related changes, likely Wallerian degeneration within subcortical networks not related to seizure or cognitive outcome. We studied 100 patients with epilepsy, comparing those who had surgery to those who did not. After surgery, the thalamus, putamen and globus pallidus on the same side as the surgery shrank significantly, but not in non-surgery patients. This suggests surgery-related changes in deeper brain structures, unrelated to seizure freedom or cognitive outcomes. This research sheds additional light on the response of the subcortical structure to epilepsy surgery, highlighting potential areas for further study.

Association between cardiac consultation and outcomes in patients with perioperative myocardial infarction/injury

Abstract Introduction Perioperative cardiac complications are a frequent occurrence and can lead to high short- and long-term mortality rates after major noncardiac surgery. No single intervention has yet demonstrated its effectiveness in treating perioperative myocardial infarction/injury (PMI). In this large prospective multicentre study, we aimed to evaluate the association between postoperative cardiac consultation and major adverse cardiac event (MACE) and all-cause death within 365 days in patients with PMI after undergoing major noncardiac surgery. Methods We prospectively included consecutive patients undergoing major inpatient noncardiac surgery at two hospitals who were eligible for the institutional active PMI surveillance and response programme. For this analysis, only patients with PMI who were directly transferred to the regular ward following surgery were included. In the case of a PMI, the standardised structured institutional response included assessing the patient for possible symptoms, recording a 12-lead ECG and a cardiac consultation. The specific scope of the PMI workup and management was determined by the attending clinical cardiologist following an institutional flowchart. Our primary endpoint was the occurrence of MACE (defined as a composite of cardiovascular death, MI, AHF, and life-threatening arrhythmia) within 365 days, excluding the initial PMI. All-cause death after 365 days was the secondary endpoint. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were used to evaluate the association of cardiac consultation with MACE and all-cause death after 365 days. Results During the period between October 2014 and September 2019, the BASEL-PMI study programme enrolled 14294 patients. After the exclusion of patients without PMI, with a postoperative ICU stay, multiple inclusion, or palliative setting 1048 patients remained. Among those, 434 patients received postoperative cardiac consultation (41.4%). Patients had a median age of 77 years and 44.8% were female. After adjustment, patients who received a postoperative cardiac consultation had a lower risk of having MACE after 365 days (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 0.54, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.37 - 0.79, p-value = 0.001) and a lower risk of death of any cause after 365 days (aHR = 0.66, 95%CI 0.44 - 1.00, p-value = 0.048). Conclusion In a large multicentre prospective cohort study, postoperative cardiac consultation in patients with PMI was associated with a reduced risk of MACE and all-cause death after 365 days.Kaplan-Meier curve for MACE

Structural, Electrical, and Optical Responses in Hybrid Perovskite Semiconductors: The Influence of Symmetry in Central Molecule Interactions

Structural, Electrical, and Optical Responses in Hybrid Perovskite Semiconductors: The Influence of Symmetry in Central Molecule Interactions

Response of Foldable Protein Conformations to Non-Physiological Perturbations: Interplay of Thermal Factors and Confinement.

Technological advances frequently interface biomolecules with nanomaterials at non-physiological conditions, necessitating response characterization of key processes. Similar encounters are expected in cellular contexts. We report in silico investigations of the response of diverse protein conformational states to lowering of temperature and imposition of spatial constraints. Conformational states are represented by folded form of the Albumin binding domain (ABD) protein, its compact denatured form, and structurally disordered nascent folding elements. Data from extensive simulations are evaluated to elicit structural, thermodynamic and dynamic responses of the states and their associated environment. Analyses reveal alterations to folding propensity with reduced thermal energy and confinement, with signatures of trend reversal in highly disordered states. Across temperatures, confinement has restrictive effects on volume and energetic fluctuations, leading to narrowing of differences in isothermal compressibility (κ) and heat capacities (Cp). While excess (over ideal gas) entropy of the hydration layer marks dependence on the conformational state at bulk, confinement triggers erasure of differences. These observations are largely consistent with timescales of protein-water hydrogen bonding dynamics. The results implicate multi-factorial associations within a simple bio-nano complex. We expect the current study to motivate investigations of more biologically relevant interfaces towards mechanistic understanding and potential applications.

An adaptive physics-informed deep learning approach for structural nonlinear response prediction

An adaptive physics-informed deep learning approach for structural nonlinear response prediction

Quasi-single-crystal Tin Halide Perovskite Films with High Structural Integrity for Near-infrared Imaging Array enabling Hidden Object Recognition.

Near-infrared (NIR) image sensors based on solution-processed thin film are gaining prominence in various applications, including security detection, remote sensing, medical imaging, and environmental monitoring, owing to superior penetration capabilities of NIR light. However, the reported perovskite image sensors suffer from limited resolution and performance due to poor structural integrity, bioincompatibility, and constrained response wavelength range from lead-based perovskite materials employed. In this study, we present non-toxic quasi-single-crystal (QSC) CH(NH2)2SnI3 (FASnI3) perovskite films, prepared via a simple spin-coating technique, that demonstrate high structural integrity and effective NIR response. Through a series of in situ characterizations, we reveal that the orderly growth mode of QSC-FASnI3 perovskite films enables a more oriented crystal growth with reduced trap and grain boundaries. Consequently, self-powered NIR photodetector based on QSC-FASnI3 films exhibited large detectivity over 1013 Jones in the NIR range (780-890 nm). Ultimately, due to the high structural integrity, the high-resolution 64 × 64 (4096) pixels NIR imaging array, exhibiting reduced photo and dark response non-uniformity value, was fabricated on the thin-film transistors (TFT) backplanes, enabling ultraweak NIR light (63 nW cm-2) real-time imaging, fingerprint imaging, and hidden object recognition. This work pioneers the application of lead-free perovskite for high-resolution NIR imaging arrays.

Incorporating soil‐structure interaction into simplified numerical models for fragility analysis of RC structures

AbstractSimplified building models are a valuable option for seismic assessment at the regional scale. These models often use calibrated springs to model column behaviour, and recent advances have made them suitable for capturing torsional response in Reinforced‐Concrete Moment‐Resisting‐Frames. Nevertheless, their validation is typically achieved using fixed‐base models, which do not include the influence of soil‐structure interaction (SSI). This study introduces a novel approach to quantify the accuracy of a recently developed simplified model while accounting for dynamic SSI, using a newly implemented, refined 3D Finite Element non‐linear soil model in OpenSees. The accuracy of the simplified structural model is assessed by comparing the results of non‐linear dynamic analyses with those of a refined model in terms of (i) a peak structural demand parameter such as the interstorey‐drift ratio and (ii) fragility curves computed from cloud analysis and accounting for collapse cases. The study presents details of the proposed refined approach for 3D soil modelling in OpenSees, focusing on implementing free‐field boundary conditions and structure‐to‐soil connections. Results show that the accuracy of the simplified model is maintained, even in the presence of SSI, and it successfully captures the overall structural response measured at peak demand. For the proposed case study, the difference between the simplified and refined models’ fragility curves’ medians is 4% and 2% for fixed and SSI models, respectively. The simplified structural model, combined with the refined soil model for SSI effects, presents an innovative and conservative, yet computationally efficient, alternative for seismic risk analysis, even in the presence of structural irregularity.

The role of fibrosis and inflammation for response and outcome prediction in candidates to cardiac resynchronization therapy: is response the right answer?

Abstract Background Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is an established treatment in selected patients suffering from heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). It has been proposed that myocardial fibrosis and inflammation could influence CRT "response" and outcome. Purpose Our study investigated the long-term prognostic significance of cardiac biomarkers in HFrEF patients with an indication for CRT. Methods 86 consecutive patients referred for CRT implantation were retrospectively evaluated. The soluble suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (sST2), galectin-3 (Gal-3), N-terminal portion of the B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were measured at baseline and after 1 year of follow-up. An echocardiographic reduction of LV end-systolic volume ≥15% was used to define a patient as responder to CRT. Multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate their correlation with the primary composite outcome of cardiovascular mortality and heart failure hospitalizations at a mean follow-up of 9 ± 2 years. Results 44% of patients experienced the primary outcome. the mean baseline values of NT-proBNP, Gal-3, and sST2 were significantly higher compared with the patients without cardiovascular events. At the multivariate analyses, baseline Gal-3 [cut-off: 38.5 ng/ml, AUC: 0.63, p=0.03, (OR 7.13 [1.12;45.41], p=0.03), together with TAPSE&amp;gt;17.5 mm (OR 10.86 [3.15;37.44], p&amp;lt;0.001) significantly correlated with the structural response to CRT in several prediction models. Baseline Gal-3 [cut-off: 16.6 ng/ml, AUC: 0.91, p&amp;lt;0.001, HR 8.33 (1.88–33.33), p = 0.005] and sST2 [cut-off: 35.6 ng/ml AUC: 0.91, p&amp;lt;0.001, HR 333 (250–1,000), p = 0.003] significantly correlated with the composite outcome in the prediction models with high likelihood (Table). At Kaplan-Meyer curve patients with both high baseline sST2 and Gal-3 had the lowest survival probability (Figure). Among the parameters evaluated at 1-year follow-up, sST2, eGFR, and the variation from baseline to 1-year of Gal-3 levels showed a strong association with the primary outcome [HR 1.15 (1.08–1.22), p &amp;lt; 0.001; HR: 0.84 (0.74–0.91), p = 0.04; HR: 1.26 (1.10–1.43), p ≤ 0.001, respectively]. Conversely, the echocardiographic definition of CRT response did not correlate with any outcome. Conclusion In HFrEF patients with CRT, sST2, Gal-3, and renal function were associated with the combined endpoint of cardiovascular death and HF hospitalizations at long term follow-up, while the echocardiographic CRT response did not seem to influence the outcome of the patients.

Modelling Sea-Surface Wave Motion and Ship Response Using Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics and Finite Element Analysis

The response of a ship or other vessel to surface sea waves, including extreme waves, may compromise crew and vessel safety and long-term operational capability. Herein, a novel high-fidelity numerical time-dependent simulation approach is presented using Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) for modelling sea waves coupled with Finite Element Analysis for modelling vessel structural response under wave loading conditions. The results are compared with physical scale model wave tank test results. Good agreement was obtained for heave and pitch motions and vertical bending moments for various forward (head) speeds in regular head waves, heave and pitch motions, and vertical bending moments. High computational demands can be met by the increasing availability of computation power. Ongoing research is outlined. The implications for the design of vessels such as ships and for through-life assessment are discussed.

Shaking Table Test and Numerical Modeling of Seismic Behavior of Rectangular Tunnel Structures Embedded in Soft Clay

In this paper, a series of 1-g shaking table model tests were carried out to investigate the seismic behavior of a relatively stiff rectangular tunnel structure installed in soft clay bed, accounting for different ground motions with varying peak accelerations. Using a validated numerical analysis procedure, a suite of three-dimensional (3D) finite element (FE) analyses was performed to systematically study the factors of tunnel burial depth, seismic intensity, flexural rigidity of the middle column and tunnel wall thickness on the seismic response of rectangular tunnel structures installed in clayey ground. It was found that, with the increasing burial depth, the seismic response of rectangular tunnel structure became more intense due to the increased inertial force arising from the overlying clay; in terms of improving the seismic performance of tunnel structure, increasing tunnel wall thickness seemed more effective than increasing flexural rigidity of the middle column. Furthermore, it was found that the existing simplified approaches generally tended to overestimate the earthquake-induced racking distortions of rectangular tunnels installed in clayey ground. A new semi-empirical relationship was derived for better correlating the racking ratio with flexibility ratio for rectangular tunnels embedded in soft clays, which could provide a useful reference for the seismic design and risk assessment of similar clay-tunnel systems.