Top Beam Research Articles

Local and global integrative retrofitting of reinforced concrete frames using in‐plane buckling steel braces

AbstractTwo large‐scale, single‐storey, single‐bay reinforced concrete (RC) moment frames, designed as per an outdated seismic code to represent a typical framing detail of a four‐storey building, have been tested under displacement‐controlled quasi‐static loading protocol as per ACI 374.1‐05. The RC frames include a plinth beam with brick infill underneath, a slab monolithically cast with the top beam and provision for applying axial load to the column to simulate real construction scenario. One of the frames has been tested as a bare frame, and the second one has been retrofitted with conventional steel braces designed to undergo in‐plane buckling. The size of the brace has been selected based on the result of a nonlinear time history analysis of representative low‐ to mid‐rise open‐ground storey RC buildings. Post‐installed chemical anchors have been utilized to connect the steel braces to the narrow RC frame members following the outcomes of an experimental investigation by the same authors. Local‐level retrofitting by steel jacketing using adhesives has been designed and utilized on columns and beams to achieve the desired seismic response. The seismic performance of the retrofitted frame has been compared with the bare frame in terms of strength, stiffness, ductility, energy dissipation and hysteretic damping. The tests provide insight into the role of the plinth beam, effect of RC slab on the strong‐column weak‐beam aspect and the achievement of the desirable hinge mechanism through a precise design and detailing of global and local level retrofitting technique.

Efficiency of FRPU strengthening of a damaged masonry infill wall under in-plane cyclic shear loading and elevated temperatures

This paper presents results of in-plane shear tests carried out at the ZAG laboratory in Ljubljana (Slovenia) on a RC frame with masonry infill made of clay blocks (KEBE OrthoBlock). The frame was loaded with constant vertical loads at the top of the columns and then by gradually increasing horizontal cyclic loads at the top beam level. Acquired forces and measured displacements allowed capturing hysteretic behavior for determination of dissipation energy. In addition, two Digital Image Correlation (DIC) systems, Aramis and the CivEng Vision, were used to visualize the behavior of the tested specimens, with an emphasis on computing locally required information about the behavior of highly deformable interfaces. Three types of specimens were tested in-plane: the reference specimen in form of plain RC frame, the reference specimen with constructed masonry infill without any strengthening and the specimen, previously damaged and then strengthened on both sides using glass mesh bonded to the infill and the RC frame using flexible adhesive made of polyurethane matrix (Glass Fiber Reinforced PolyUrethane - GFRPU system). The strengthening process, allowed the specimen to withstand additional cyclic loads, reaching a maximum drift of 3.6 % without serious damage disqualifying the structure from further exploitation. The GFRPU strengthening system was found to be highly effective in preventing infill collapse of damaged masonry infill wall during in-plane loading. Additionally, the results of extended thermal analysis of PU are presented as polymers are, in general, a material, poorly resistant to heat. However, the analyzed PU manifested stable properties up to 200 degrees Celsius, which makes this material promising in civil engineering applications at elevated temperatures.

Contribution to Adjustment of Partial Safety Factors for RC Water Tank Design

Traditionally, the optimisation of civil engineering structures is conducted by a deterministic approach based on global safety factors recommended by the dimensioning codes, such as the Algerian seismic code (RPA) and the Eurocode (EN 1990). These factors are applied to take into account the uncertainties related to the most important parameters of the structure as well as the actions and their effects, and implicitly provide a target level of reliability. The use of these factors aims to introduce a sufficient margin of safety in order to increase the safety of the structure design and to reduce the role of uncertainties on the performance of the optimised structure. In this research, the authors propose to use the semi-probabilistic method in the limit state design of the top ring beam of a Reinforced Concrete (RC) water tank placed on the ground for assessing the partial safety factors of both loadings and materials strength. The reliability approach is first conducted using a computer code developed with Matlab© software based on the Monte Carlo simulation method and on the First Order Reliability Method (FORM). Two random variables are considered, i.e. the static live load and the concrete compressive strength, both modelled by normal distribution laws. In the second part of this work, partial safety factors are adjusted in order to achieve the target reliability in a range of performance of the civil engineering structure. This semi-probabilistic approach is applied to a case study of an RC tank of capacity 250 m3 in order to adjust safety factors so as to obtain a compatible probability of failure with the appropriate target value as a function of consequence class. The results of the study conclude that this semi-probabilistic method allows adjusting adequate partial safety factors according to target reliability.

Research on the Method of Prestressing Tendon Layout for Large-Span Prestressed Components Continuous Rigid Frame Bridge Based on “Zero Bending Moment Dead Load Theory”

Based on the theory of zero bending moment under constant load, various optimization methods exist for the top beam of large-span continuous rigid frame bridges. These include achieving zero bending moment at the root of the cantilever beam, at the control stage section, and through the zero deflection method. This study aims to explore the methods and effects of optimizing roof beam design using the constant load zero bending moment method and the “three group bundle method”. Using finite element modeling, the total number and eccentricity of prestressed tendons required for each suspended pouring block are determined. Additionally, the “three group beam matching method” is employed to adjust the steel beam, adhering to the design concept of “large cantilever beam matching and small cantilever beam matching”, to achieve a reasonable configuration of the top plate beam. Through specific engineering examples, the results demonstrate that utilizing the constant load zero moment method and the “three group bundle method” can significantly enhance the structural performance and economy of large-span continuous rigid frame bridges. Moreover, it offers practical operability, providing an important reference basis for similar project designs.

Evaluating the effectiveness of two wavelengths of 810 and 980 nm Diode laser with two different beam profiles on tooth discoloration in bleaching: an experimental study

Teeth color has a significant impact on facial aesthetics. Tooth bleaching is the safest way to lighten the color of your teeth. Today, hydrogen peroxide is the most commonly used bleaching agent. The diode laser is one of the light sources that speeds up the bleaching process. One of the laser beam features is the laser beam profile, which depicts the distribution of laser intensity across the beam section. The goal of this study is to look into the effectiveness of Gaussian and Flat top beam profiles on tooth shade using two diode laser wavelengths of 810 and 980 nm in the tooth bleaching process. Fifty human anterior and premolar teeth were extracted and placed in a tea and coffee solution for three weeks before being divided into five groups. The first group did not receive laser radiation because 40% hydrogen peroxide was used; in the second and third groups, the profile of the flat top beam and the wavelength were 810 and 980 nm, respectively; and in the fourth and fifth groups, the wavelength of the Gaussian beam profile was 810 and 980 nm. The shade of the samples before and after bleaching was measured with a CIELab-based spectrophotometer, and the results were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s multiple comparison test. All bleaching methods resulted in a significant change in tooth color (ΔE>3.3). There was a significant difference in average shade changes across groups (P<0.001). The highest degree of shade change was observed in two groups of lasers with a wavelength of 980 nm and profiles of Flat top beam (ΔE=5.35) and Gaussian (ΔE=5.02). There were no differences between the remaining groups. We conclude that the 980 nm wavelength produces a greater shade change than the 810 nm wavelength and chemical method. The diode laser’s 810 nm wavelength has no effect on the shade of teeth.

Enhancement of skin tumor laser hyperthermia with Ytterbium nanoparticles: numerical simulation

Laser hyperthermia therapy (HT) has emerged as a well-established method for treating cancer, yet it poses unique challenges in comprehending heat transfer dynamics within both healthy and cancerous tissues due to their intricate nature. This study investigates laser HT therapy as a promising avenue for addressing skin cancer. Employing two distinct near-infrared (NIR) laser beams at 980 nm, we analyze temperature variations within tumors, employing Pennes’ bioheat transfer equation as our fundamental investigative framework. Furthermore, our study delves into the influence of Ytterbium nanoparticles (YbNPs) on predicting temperature distributions in healthy and cancerous skin tissues. Our findings reveal that the application of YbNPs using a Gaussian beam shape results in a notable maximum temperature increase of 5 °C within the tumor compared to nanoparticle-free heating. Similarly, utilizing a flat top beam alongside YbNPs induces a temperature rise of 3 °C. While this research provides valuable insights into utilizing YbNPs with a Gaussian laser beam configuration for skin cancer treatment, a more thorough understanding could be attained through additional details on experimental parameters such as setup, exposure duration, and specific implications for skin cancer therapy.

SEISMIC MITIGATION EFFECT FOR LARGE-SPACE UNDERGROUND STRUCTURES CONSIDERING SPATIALLY VARYING SOIL PROPERTIES

The seismic response of the large-space underground structure (LSUS) is significantly influenced by the physical properties of the surrounding soil media, while the soil owns a strong spatial variability. This study proposes a seismic response analysis process of the soil-LSUS interaction system is proposed, which can consider the characteristic of the spatially distributed soil properties. The proposed process begins with establishing the spatially random field model of the soil properties using the improved latent space method. Then, the model is calibrated based on the real data and Bayesian approach, and the realization of the random field is accomplished. Further, the soil-LSUS interaction finite element (FE) model is established, which incorporating the soil physical properties generated from the random field. Finally, the nonlinear time-history analysis of the soil-LSUS interaction FE model is conducted. As an illustration of the proposed process, a typical LSUS located in Guangzhou is selected as an example, and the seismic mitigation measure which the lead-filled steel tube damper (LFSTD) is installed between the intermediate column and the top beam is adopted for the LSUS. The influence of the spatial variability of soil properties on the seismic mitigation effect of the LSUS is investigated. Results indicate that the spatial variability of the soil properties can cause a minor influence on the force and deformation of the intermediate column and the energy dissipation ratio between the LFSTD and structure, while it can bring a significant influence on the maximum deformation and force and the shape of the hysteresis loop of the LFSTD.

Ionome mapping and amino acid metabolome profiling of Phaseolus vulgaris L. seeds imbibed with computationally informed phytoengineered copper sulphide nanoparticles

This study reports the effects of a computationally informed and avocado-seed mediated Phyto engineered CuS nanoparticles as fertilizing agent on the ionome and amino acid metabolome of Pinto bean seeds using both bench top and ion beam analytical techniques. Physico-chemical analysis of the Phyto engineered nanoparticles with scanning-electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy confirmed the presence of CuS nanoparticles. Molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the interaction of some active phytocompounds in avocado seeds that act as reducing agents with the nano-digenite further showed that 4-hydroxybenzoic acid had a higher affinity for interacting with the nanoparticle’s surface than other active compounds. Seeds treated with the digenite nanoparticles exhibited a unique ionome distribution pattern as determined with external beam proton-induced X-ray emission, with hotspots of Cu and S appearing in the hilum and micropyle area that indicated a possible uptake mechanism via the seed coat. The nano-digenite also triggered a plant stress response by slightly altering seed amino acid metabolism. Ultimately, the nano-digenite may have important implications as a seed protective or nutritive agent as advised by its unique distribution pattern and effect on amino acid metabolism.Graphical abstract

Predição da capacidade última de elementos em concreto armado usando metodologias de análises não linear

Abstract This work aims to investigate the ultimate capacity of reinforced concrete elements in terms of cracking and stiffness loss. Nonlinear finite element analysis (NLFEA) was performed in the ATENA software and compared with a proposed numerical simulation of nonlinear static analysis (NLSA), where material cracking is evaluated based on the loss of tangent stiffness of the elements. The analysis was applied to a low-rise reinforced concrete frame with constant axial loads in the columns, and monotonic lateral load applied at the top beam level. Both methodologies showed good agreement regarding the capacity curve and crack patterns, and the numerical simulation NLSA allowed the identification of the sequence of elements' stiffness loss. The results indicated a substantial similarity between the numerical simulation NLFEA and NLSA and the experimental test, indicating a high potential in predicting the nonlinear behavior of reinforced concrete.

Towards system reliability targeted design for flange-angle partially restrained steel moment connections

Partially or fully restrained steel moment connections are essential constituents of lateral force resisting moment frames. The constituents of the moment connection system – bolts, welds, plates and angles – are sized using their individual force demands by a limit state element-based load and resistance factor design procedure. The system reliability of the connection as a whole, which must be commensurate with reliabilities of adjoining frame components, has not been adequately investigated in the literature. This paper presents a methodology to determine the system reliability of commonly used steel moment connections that have been designed according to current element based procedures. A general expression is derived for a system factor that modifies element resistance factors to meet a specified system reliability target, as a function of the element’s relative importance within the system, and associated uncertainties. Uncertainties in element capacities (including their mutual dependence) and system demands are considered. The approach can be used to rationalize element design equations to achieve system reliability targets for the connection system. A detailed numerical example and a set of parametric studies on a partially restrained moment connection with angle supports at top and bottom beam flanges are presented. The results suggest the existence of beneficial system effects in current AISC provisions for the design of partially restrained moment connections.

Study on the High Strength Cable Truss System Control of the Surrounding Coal Roadway Excavated in Regions Left Intensively Mining-Induced Stresses

In coal mine roadway support, the arrangement of roadways in areas with high-stress concentrations is a challenging issue. It is crucial to solve this problem in order to ensure the safety and productivity of the mine. In this study, we selected a typical roadway in Zhong Xing Coal Mine, Fen Xi, Shanxi Province, as our research focus. We analyzed the deformation and failure characteristics of the surrounding rock under field mining pressure during roadway excavation through theoretical analysis, numerical simulation, and on-site measurements. Using the Flac3D numerical simulation technique, we studied the stress distribution characteristics of the roadway in the stress concentration area. To address the significant deformation of the roadway, we proposed a high-pretensioned top beam high-strength dual-anchor truss support system (HSCTS) and carefully studied its control mechanism and structural characteristics. After simulating and comparing its support effectiveness with the original support scheme and conducting on-site industrial tests, we determined the HSCTS support system as the alternative support system for roadway 1409. The test results showed that the convergence of the rib plates and the roof was no more than 79 mm and 191 mm, respectively. The significant influence of the roadway on the control of the surrounding rock also indicated effective control of the surrounding rock’s deformation along the 1409 goaf. The support control technology system can provide specific reference values for roadways under similar geological production conditions.

Out-of-Plane Dynamical Strength of Masonry Walls Under Seismic Actions

ABSTRACT The dynamic analysis of the out-of-plane response of masonry walls, with different reinforcing systems and hit by sequences of pulses alternating in sign, representative of the seismic action, is the aim of the paper. The analysis is done in the context of the Heyman model of the no tension masonry structures. We consider the wall of the last story of a simple masonry house, commonly reinforced at its head by a ring beam, usually in a reinforced concrete. It has also been considered the retrofitting of the wall by applying, on both its sides, vertical bands in FRP, or similar. The dynamics of the wall, activated by sequences of pulses, is analyzed in detail, considering the change of geometry occurring in the mechanism during the motion. The corresponding differential equation is integrated in a closed form. It is shown that, under the alternating sequence of shocks, the dynamical collapse of the wall takes place immediately after the occurrence of an accumulation of out-of-plane deformation of the wall that drags it into the configuration of zero strength, where any resistance, due to the weight, has been lost. The collapse takes place right after when the subsequent incoming pulse pushes the wall to go further beyond this configuration. The check of the seismic safety of the masonry wall concludes the paper. The smallest limit static strength of the wall required in order the wall, having pulsation p, could be able to sustain, at the limit of the dynamical collapse, the action of the asymptotic pulse sequence with acceleration intensity PGA and specific duration p T E /2 of the expected earthquake. It is shown that the wall, reinforced by a top ring beam, with the addition of vertical bands of glass or similar, of suitable length, pasted with lime mortar, can reach the required level of seismic safety.

Measurement of displacement and top beam attitude angle of advanced hydraulic support based on visual detection

We constructed an advanced hydraulic support test bench and proposed a visual detection-based approach for measuring the displacement and attitude angle of the advanced hydraulic support. Firstly, our methodology involved using a binocular camera for image acquisition and stereo rectification of the advanced hydraulic support. Then, we employed the ORB algorithm to detect feature points and the SGBM matching algorithm to determine the disparity value. Finally, the attitude angle solution algorithm and the triangulation method are written to calculate the support displacement and the top beam attitude angle. Results showed that the advanced hydraulic support had an average absolute error of 8 mm in displacement measurement and 0.4° in attitude angle measurement, meeting the accuracy requirements for fully mechanized mining face operations.

Study on failure behaviors and control technology of surrounding rock in a weakly cemented soft rock roadway: A case study

During coal mining, the deformation and failure of a weakly cemented soft rock roadway roof could cause difficulties for roadway support. In this paper, a combination of on-site measurement and theoretical analysis is used to solve this issue. Firstly this paper investigates the in situ deformation and failure behaviors of a soft rock roadway in a mine in Western China. Then, the failure mechanism and corresponding support principles are discussed and given. Third, various support schemes (bolt and cable reinforcement optimization, grouting, and single prop + top beam combined reinforcement) are proposed and tested. Results show the support capacity can meet the requirements after optimizing the bolt and cable reinforcement support. Due to the development of roof cracks and low grouting pressure, the grouting slurry did not completely fill the roof cracks, resulting in a poor roof control effect. The passive support of a “single prop + top beam” can effectively control the roof subsidence and achieve good application results.

Synthesis of Reconfigurable Multiple Shaped Beams of a Concentric Circular Ring Array Antenna Using Evolutionary Algorithms

The approach described in this paper uses evolutionary algorithms to create multiple-beam patterns for a concentric circular ring array (CCRA) of isotropic antennas using a common set of array excitation amplitudes. The flat top, cosec2, and pencil beam patterns are examples of multiple-beam patterns. All of these designs have an upward angle of θ = 0◦. All the patterns are further created in three azimuth planes (φ = 0◦, 5◦, and 10◦). To create the necessary patterns, non-uniform excitations are used in combination with evenly spaced isotropic components. For the flat top and cosecant-squared patterns, the best combination of common components, amplitude and various phases is applied, whereas the pencil beam pattern is produced using the common amplitude only. Differential evolutionary algorithm (DE), genetic algorithm (GA), and firefly algorithm (FA) are used to generate the best 4-bit discrete magnitudes and 5-bit discrete phases. These discrete excitations aid in lowering the feed network design complexity and the dynamic range ratio (DRR). A variety of randomly selected azimuth planes are used to verify the excitations as well. With small modifications in the desired parameters, the patterns are formed using the same excitation. The results proved both the efficacy of the suggested strategy and the dominance of DE over GA as well as FA.

Research on the hydraulic support top beam based on dynamic load bearing

Introduction: Aiming at the problem of structural damage of top beam and column in the actual bearing process of top coal caving hydraulic support caused by uneven roof pressure in the process of fully mechanized caving mining in thick coal seam coal mine, this paper analyzes the dynamic bearing performance of ZF20000/26/48 top coal caving hydraulic support based on the working conditions given by the 101 working face of Shaanxi Zheng-tong Coal Mine.Methods: Genetic algorithm was used to optimize the top beam of hydraulic support.Results: Under the same loading conditions, the maximum stress of the optimized support is reduced by 22.28MPa, and the stress of the top beam is more uniform, and the maximum stress is reduced by 24.53MPa.Discussion: The purpose of optimization design is achieved, and the bearing performance of hydraulic support is improved,A new method using genetic algorithm to optimize the top beam of hydraulic support is developed.

Parametric Numerical Study of Welded Aluminium Beam-to-Column Joints

Beam-to-column joints are one of the most common types of joints in metal structures. In the design of load-bearing aluminium structures, welding, as a joining method, is often avoided because of localised degradation of mechanical properties in the heat-affected zone (HAZ). However, recent experimental studies on the extent and strength of the HAZ show a significant difference compared to very conservative design rules when modern welding techniques are used. Therefore, the numerical study conducted in this paper addresses the influence of HAZ on the mechanical behaviour of the welded aluminium beam-to-column joint. Parametric numerical analyses were performed varying the aluminium alloys, the reduced mechanical properties of the HAZ, and different definitions of the HAZ extent. The obtained results show that the highest stress concentration occurs at the connection between the top beam flange and the column flange, resulting in plastic softening in this region. Different joint capacities were observed by varying the mechanical properties of the HAZ. A detailed overview of numerical models as well as the obtained moment–rotation curves show that the behaviour of some models is not as conservative as assumed in the design standards considered.

Dynamic Response Difference of Hydraulic Support under Mechanical-Hydraulic Co-Simulation: Induced by Different Roof Rotation Position and Hysteresis Effect of Relief Valve

As key supporting equipment in coal mining, hydraulic supports are vulnerable to impact pressure from roof movement and deformation. In this paper, a mechanical-hydraulic co-simulation platform for hydraulic supports is established. Moreover, the rationality of the simulation platform is verified. Based on this platform, the rigid-flexible coupling impact dynamics model of hydraulic support is built. Finally, by delaying the opening time of the relief valve, the energy dissipation problem of the relief valve hysteresis effect on the hydraulic support system under the rotary impact is discussed. The results indicate that the rotary load acting on the hydraulic support decreases gradually with the backward movement of the roof rotary position, which causes the peak pressure in the column to decrease (by 69 MPa). The hinge point load of different parts shows different load transfer laws. The hysteresis effect of the relief valve prolongs the energy release time of the system, increasing the pressure in the column by 23 MPa. The instantaneous opening speed of the relief valve spool reaches 15.7 m/s, and the hinge point between the top beam and the column is most sensitive to the hysteresis effect (impact coefficient increases by 0.63).

Posture and Dynamics Analysis of Hydraulic Support with Joint Clearance under Impact Load

A hydraulic support is one of the key pieces of equipment in a fully mechanized coal-mining face. The shaft is seriously worn due to repeated support shifting in coal-mining operations, and the hydraulic support bears a large amount of impact load in the support process, leading to a threat to its dynamic stability. In order to study the impact load on the posture and dynamics of a hydraulic support, and considering the joint clearance of the hydraulic-support hinge point, based on the dynamics software Adams, the equivalent variable-stiffness damping system is used to replace the column, and the impact analysis model of the hydraulic support with joint clearance is established. The roof pressure is vertically applied to the load balance area of the top beam by static load, and the impact load is vertically applied to the top beam downward. Based on the above model, considering the different distributions of joint clearance, research about the influence of joint clearance on the posture and dynamic characteristics of the hydraulic support is carried out. The results show that when there is joint clearance on both sides of the hydraulic support, when the top beam bears the impact load, the X-axis PMR (position movement ratio) at different positions of the top beam is more than 80%, and the forward-tilt posture is obvious. When the hydraulic support has only unilateral clearance, the front end of the top beam bears the impact load, and the front end of the top beam moves laterally, while the rear end of the top beam mainly moves longitudinally. When the end of the top beam bears the impact load, the vertical PMR of the top beam is less than 1%. When the impact load acts on the side with joint clearance, the top beam has a certain degree of lateral offset, and the offset directions on both sides of the top beam are inconsistent. At this time, the top beam presents a torsional-bearing posture. When the front end of the top beam is loaded, the mechanical curve of each hinge point is higher than the rear-end load. For the hinge point on the side without clearance, the maximum load-fluctuation coefficient reaches 1.04, while for the hinge point on the side with clearance, the minimum load is 0 kN, which will mean some hinge points cannot to play a supporting role. The analysis results will be helpful to research hydraulic supports considering joint clearance.

Generating EDU Extracts for Plan-Guided Summary Re-Ranking.

Two-step approaches, in which summary candidates are generated-then-reranked to return a single summary, can improve ROUGE scores over the standard single-step approach. Yet, standard decoding methods (i.e., beam search, nucleus sampling, and diverse beam search) produce candidates with redundant, and often low quality, content. In this paper, we design a novel method to generate candidates for re-ranking that addresses these issues. We ground each candidate abstract on its own unique content plan and generate distinct plan-guided abstracts using a model's top beam. More concretely, a standard language model (a BART LM) auto-regressively generates elemental discourse unit (EDU) content plans with an extractive copy mechanism. The top beams from the content plan generator are then used to guide a separate LM, which produces a single abstractive candidate for each distinct plan. We apply an existing re-ranker (BRIO) to abstractive candidates generated from our method, as well as baseline decoding methods. We show large relevance improvements over previously published methods on widely used single document news article corpora, with ROUGE-2 F1 gains of 0.88, 2.01, and 0.38 on CNN / Dailymail, NYT, and Xsum, respectively. A human evaluation on CNN / DM validates these results. Similarly, on 1k samples from CNN / DM, we show that prompting GPT-3 to follow EDU plans outperforms sampling-based methods by 1.05 ROUGE-2 F1 points. Code to generate and realize plans is available at https://github.com/griff4692/edu-sum.