Types Of Structural Elements Research Articles

Oral narrative of individuals with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.

To investigate and compare the oral narrative of individuals with FASD and individuals with typical language development (TLD), as well as to correlate the narrative performance with the score from 4-Digit Diagnostic Code. Participants were 20 individuals with FASD, of both genders, with chronological age between 6 and 16 years, and 20 individuals with TLD, same gender and similar to the FASD group in age and socioeconomic status. The oral narrative was elicited using the book Frog, where are you? and the data were analyzed in terms of macrostructure, microstructure and global coherence level. Measures regarding the macrostructure included the presence of typical structural elements of storytelling, while the microstructural aspects included words (total and different words), communication units (C-Units), lexical diversity, and mean length of C-Units. Low performance was found in the FASD group for all macrostructural aspects, with the exception of linguistic markers. Among the microstructural aspects, lexical diversity and incomplete C-Units were different between the FASD and TLD groups. The FASD group presented lower global coherence level compared to the TLD group. Negative correlations were found between macrostructural aspects, facial characteristics, and Central Nervous System impairment. Restricted use of typical structural elements of storytelling with lower levels of coherence and reduced vocabulary distinguished the FASD from the TDL group. Future studies may explore whether the association between narrative performance and the 4-Digit Diagnostic Code items present predictive values in the narrative performance of individuals with FASD.

Slip as the basic mechanism for formation of deformation relief structural elements

The experimental results of investigation of the nickel single crystal surface morphology after compression deformation are presented. The quasi-periodic character of the deformation profile, common for shear deformation of different types of relief structural elements, is found. It is demonstrated that the morphological manifestation of these structural elements is determined by local shear systems along octahedral planes. The regularities of the deformation structure in these regions defining the material extrusion and intrusion regions and the specific features of disorientation accumulation are established. If reorientation of local regions takes part in the relief element formation, along with octahedral slip, much stronger growth of the surface area is observed. The possibility of application of two-dimensional and three-dimensional surface roughness parameters for description of deformation relief is considered.

Bamboo Architectonic: Experimental Studies Using Bundled-Bamboo-Split (BBS)

Urban areas have a great role in the climate change. The sector of building construction engage with that issues through environmentally friendly design. Building material is one of the important role on that issue. Bamboo can be regarded as a sustainable construction material. Whilst, bamboo is considered as low-class material, even called as “the poor man timber” by many modern builder. Applying bamboo in contemporary design architecture effectively revamp the bamboo’s image. Nowadays, contemporary bamboo architects are exploring the organic building form, which requires curved structural elements. Sometimes, the natural bamboo’s curvature cannot fulfill the architects’ demands. Therefore, it’s required a technique to curve the element, one of which is using bundled bamboo split (BBS). The research issues are the effect of using BBS to formal-spatial function and mechanical function; and the effect of bamboo species and bundle’s interval to BBS’s compression strength. This experimental research was held in two kinds of experiments. Firstly, design and build experiments: implementing BBS into three types of curve structural elements. Secondly, laboratory-test experiments: comparing BBS’s compression strength based on bamboo species and bundle’s interval. This research could be concluded that (1) considering from formal function, using BBS as the structural element is very beneficial for a building with organic form; (2) considering from spatial function, Using BBS is appropriate to its function as dynamic spatial elements which contribute in creating atmosphere through its texture and color; and (3) considering from mechanical function, the selection of bamboo species and the bundle’s interval will affect the BBS’ compression strength. To get a higher compression strength, BBS can use bambu gombong with smaller bundle’s interval. Due to its compression strength, BBS is not recommended to be structural elements that distribute the pure compression load.

Similitude analysis of thin-walled composite I-beams for subcomponent testing of wind turbine blades

In this study, the I-beam structure of a utility-scale blade is used as the basis for the design of a small-scale subcomponent emulating the same type of structural element of a utility-scale wind turbine blade. Governing equations for the bending of a shear deformable thin-walled composite I-beam are considered. Similitude theory is applied to derive the corresponding scaling laws. Accuracy of the derived scaling laws in predicting the strain and displacement fields of the full-scale I-beam is considered as a design criterion for small-scale I-beams. Both complete and partial similarity cases are discussed. A novel approach is proposed to design partially similar scaled I-beams with totally different layups from those of the full-scale I-beam. Using the proposed technique, scaled-down composite I-beams are designed that predict the strain and displacement fields of their full-scale parent I-beam with very good accuracy.

Life Cycle Assessment of CO<sub>2</sub> Emission of Concrete Considering Carbonation and Structural Element Types

Concrete industry is the main contributor of CO2 emission, and abundant studies were done for evaluating life cycle CO2 during production stage, construction stage, and use stage. The uptake of CO2 due to carbonation in service life is not detailed considered. Furthermore, the uptake of CO2 in demolition stage and the influences of structural element types on CO2 uptake performance are also not detailed considered. To overcome the weak points of current study, this paper proposed a numerical procedure about life cycle assessment of CO2 emission of concrete considering carbonation and structural element types. The CO2 emission and uptake in production stage, construction stage, use stage, and demolition stage are calculated. The influences of structural element types, shapes, and sizes on CO2 uptake performance are clarified. For concrete structures with different structural types, such as frame structures and shear-wall structures, the relative ratios for different structural element are different, hence the CO2 uptake ability are also different.

An Adaptive Defect Weighted Sampling Algorithm to Design Pseudoknotted RNA Secondary Structures.

Computational design of RNA sequences that fold into targeted secondary structures has many applications in biomedicine, nanotechnology and synthetic biology. An RNA molecule is made of different types of secondary structure elements and an important RNA element named pseudoknot plays a key role in stabilizing the functional form of the molecule. However, due to the computational complexities associated with characterizing pseudoknotted RNA structures, most of the existing RNA sequence designer algorithms generally ignore this important structural element and therefore limit their applications. In this paper we present a new algorithm to design RNA sequences for pseudoknotted secondary structures. We use NUPACK as the folding algorithm to compute the equilibrium characteristics of the pseudoknotted RNAs, and describe a new adaptive defect weighted sampling algorithm named Enzymer to design low ensemble defect RNA sequences for targeted secondary structures including pseudoknots. We used a biological data set of 201 pseudoknotted structures from the Pseudobase library to benchmark the performance of our algorithm. We compared the quality characteristics of the RNA sequences we designed by Enzymer with the results obtained from the state of the art MODENA and antaRNA. Our results show our method succeeds more frequently than MODENA and antaRNA do, and generates sequences that have lower ensemble defect, lower probability defect and higher thermostability. Finally by using Enzymer and by constraining the design to a naturally occurring and highly conserved Hammerhead motif, we designed 8 sequences for a pseudoknotted cis-acting Hammerhead ribozyme. Enzymer is available for download at https://bitbucket.org/casraz/enzymer.

An efficient approach for assessing the seismic soil structure interaction effect for the asymmetrical pile group

All of the civil engineering structures involve some type of structural element which is in direct contact with soil. To estimate the accurate response of the superstructure it is necessary to consider the response of the soil supporting structure, and is well explained in the soil structure interaction analysis. Many attempts have been made to model the SSI problem numerically; however the soil nonlinearity, foundation interfaces and boundary conditions make the problem more complex and computationally costlier. To overcome this problem the attempt has been made to optimize the computational efficiency by applying the equivalent pier method for the deep foundation system. In this research paper the L-shape 11 storey building supported by a pile foundation with homogeneous local soil condition is analyzed for dynamic loading including the SSI effect. The significance of the SSI effect has been studied by comparing the responses of the system for fixed base and flexible base condition. A new approach has been proposed to provide simplicity in SSI modeling and reduce the computational cost (both memory and time wise). The approach includes the applicability of the equivalent pier method for the asymmetrical pile groups system, including SSI effect of the pile foundation system. The approach is validated for group effect and found that equivalent pile method can successfully be adopted and helps to reduce the computational cost of SSI problem. To understand the applicability of EPM approach, the parametric study has been carried out for different input of earthquakes and soil types. In accordance with this the three distinct earthquakes, including 1995 Chamba (M = 4.9), 1999 Uttarkashi (M = 6.9) and 2001 Bhuj (M = 7.7) and soil types including cohesive, cohesionless and C-Phi soils have been considered for SSI analysis. The study observed that, earthquake magnitude and soil type shows the major impact on the response of the SSI system.

Secondary Structure of Decorin-Derived Peptides in Solution

ABSTRACTDecorin is a small leucine-rich repeat proteoglycan supporting collagen fibril formation by controlling the rate of collagen fibrillogenesis and fibril dimensions. Peptides derived from the inner surface of decorin have been shown to bind to collagen, while peptides derived from the outer surface do not display such binding affinity. As typical secondary structural elements such as β-sheets and α-helical regions were found in the decorin X-ray crystal structure, here it was investigated by Circular Dichroism (CD) spectroscopy in solution, whether the same structural elements can be found in the derived peptides. Here it is shown that the peptide derived from decorin’s outer surface has the propensity to adopt helical conformation, as it was found in the crystal structure. The results were more pronounced in 80 vol% TFE solution, which led to an increase in the number as well as the length of helices. In contrast, peptides derived from the inner surface had a higher tendency to adopt β-sheet conformation, also in TFE, which corresponds to the conformation of the original sequence in the crystal structure of decorin. This suggests that the peptides derived from decorin adopt the structures present in the native protein.

Método de ensaio de cisalhamento utilizado em pilares mistos tubulares de aço preenchidos com concreto

The European Standard EN 1994-1-1:2004 introduces a standardized push test to characterize the behaviour of shear connectors applied in composite steel and concrete stuctures. However, when other types of structural composite elements are analyzed, this standard recommends that specific tests should be carried out. In the current literature are found different methodologies for push test performed in concrete-filled steel tube columns elements. In this paper, it is introduced an adapted push test methodology to characterize the behaviour of shear connectors applied in these columns. This methodology is based on the European standardized test and take into account different procedures found in the scientific literature. An exemple of application of this method is presented and the outputs shows its efficiency. Keywords: Push test, filled composite column, shear connector, load transfer.

An unusual triangle zone in the external northern Alpine foreland (Switzerland): Structural inheritance, kinematics and implications for the development of the adjacent Jura fold-and-thrust belt

Triangle zones represent typical structural elements of thin-skinned foreland fold-and-thrust belts. Here, we report the results of an in-depth structural analysis of a rather unusual triangle zone at the front of the easternmost Jura fold-and-thrust belt in the otherwise only very mildly deformed Alpine foreland of Northern Switzerland. The investigation is based on the interpretation of recently reprocessed and depth-migrated 2D reflection seismic sections. Classical bed-length and area cross-section balancing methods were used to validate the interpretation and unravel the tectonic evolution of the triangle zone. According to our interpretation the analyzed triangle zone formed along the Baden–Irchel–Herdern-Lineament (BIH-Lineament), a regional Paleozoic normal fault that shows evidence of Cenozoic reactivation. The triangle zone is composed of one major foreland-directed thrust rooting in Triassic evaporites and a back-thrust splaying from it in the Middle Jurassic Opalinus Clay, pointing to the importance of secondary detachments. Steeply dipping secondary reverse faults next to the triangle zone suggest reactivation of pre-existing normal faults. The formation of the thrust triangle is considered to relate to thin-skinned foreland deformation in Late Miocene time. Strain estimations of the thrust triangle along-strike show a laterally very uniform amount of shortening, which is in contrast to the southward adjacent Jura fold-and-thrust belt. We interpret this constant shortening to represent the maximum contractional strain attainable by the specific geometry of the BIH triangle zone. At this point, the complex structure became mechanically ineffective and further shortening led to the formation of new contractional structures in its hinterland. This kinematic hypothesis suggests an early-stage formation of the BIH triangle zone followed by back stepping of the deformation front. As such, it challenges the classical view of a purely forward-breaking sequence for the Jura fold-and-thrust belt in the northwestern foreland of the Alps.

G-Quadruplexes Involving Both Strands of Genomic DNA Are Highly Abundant and Colocalize with Functional Sites in the Human Genome.

The G-quadruplex is a non-canonical DNA structure biologically significant in DNA replication, transcription and telomere stability. To date, only G4s with all guanines originating from the same strand of DNA have been considered in the context of the human nuclear genome. Here, I discuss interstrand topological configurations of G-quadruplex DNA, consisting of guanines from both strands of genomic DNA; an algorithm is presented for predicting such structures. I have identified over 550,000 non-overlapping interstrand G-quadruplex forming sequences in the human genome—significantly more than intrastrand configurations. Functional analysis of interstrand G-quadruplex sites shows strong association with transcription initiation, the results are consistent with the XPB and XPD transcriptional helicases binding only to G-quadruplex DNA with interstrand topology. Interstrand quadruplexes are also enriched in origin of replication sites. Several topology classes of interstrand quadruplex-forming sequences are possible, and different topologies are enriched in different types of structural elements. The list of interstrand quadruplex forming sequences, and the computer program used for their prediction are available at the web address http://moment.utmb.edu/allquads.

Loading history and structure of fracture of material

The bearing capacity of the structured materials and features of their fracture depend on local reaction of elements of structure on loading history. The initial structure of material can be modified in the course of prefracture at the initial stage of loading such that at further deformation, including deformation with the changed ratio of loadings on axes, this induced structure determines the scenario of fracture of material and its strength. The effective strength of heterogeneous materials and scenarios of their fracture are influenced by the level of the intermediate main stress. At compression of a cracked body lack of significant reaction to stresses along the sliding plane is characteristic for initial microcracks (areas of sliding). In a porous body such effect is absent. Therefore at tests with the proportional mode of loading according to the Karman or Böker schemes the effective measured strength can differ.To estimate an influence of a type of initial structural elements – pores and microcracks - on a final phase of fracture at uniaxial compression within a plane problem, an approach based on their equivalence to action of some concentrated forces is used. If the main crack is formed by joining a system of microcracks – the sliding areas, the movement on which causes the wedging forces, then weakening of the action in the process of the main crack growth is small. In case of a porous structure an influence of pores, remote from the crack tip, on the effective stress intensity factor KI in the process of crack sizes increasing weakens much faster. Therefore in a porous body development of echelons of rather short cracks joining small number of pores (N ~ 2-3) is energetically preferable, while occurring of the main cracks is characteristic for a cracked body at a final stage of fracture at compression. For a body with microcracks in which after coalescence of cracks from two and more concentrators the stress intensity factors for the formed defect become larger than it was at the moment of microcracks coalescence, the choice of the fracture scenario – development of the main fault occurs at the initial stage of fracture.In the porous body, forming the cracks with an influence of pores, favorable conditions for initiation of fracture in the new source of fracture at the small size of cracks are only created near the crack tips. The induced structure of fracture arising at partial unloading also influences the fracture mechanism at the subsequent loading. Development of a system of the feathering of cracks in the vicinity of the main fault also belongs to such structures. The last can be used as a method for the main crack arresting.

Simulation of the State of the Rod Elements of the Building Construction

This article focuses on the formation of the rod model based on analytical expressions describing the elements of the building frame elements and taking into account their physical condition. The rod elements are extensively used in the construction of buildings. These are the frame elements - beams and columns, which usually have constant cross-sections. To a Single analytical models have been formed for typical structural elements to greatly simplify the modeling on the first level of the hierarchy superelement systems. Also the analytical expressions relating the internal characteristics of the straight bars with boundary conditions at the nodes (the equation of state of the rod) have been made. The use of analytical models can more fully take into account the state of load-bearing frame structures when performing, for example, the analysis of the viability of the building frame. Given that the basic elements of modern frame buildings are the rods (frame), then the use of the calculations discussed in the article about an analytical model is quite rational.

Axisymmetric Problem for an Elastic Cylinder of Finite Length with Fixed Lateral Surface with Regard for its Weight

UDC 539.3 We consider an elastic cylinder with regard for its weight. The conditions of sliding fixing are imposed on the lower base of the cylinder, its upper base is subjected to the action of an axisymmetric normal load, and the lateral surface is fixed. The Hankel integral transform is used to reduce the problem to an integral equation of the first kind for normal stresses acting on the fixed cylindrical surface. After finding the singularities of the unknown function, the solution of the integral equation is sought in the form of a series in Jacobi polynomials. The results of numerical evaluation of the normal stresses on the fixed surface of the cylinder are obtained both with regard for its weight and by neglecting its weight. Elastic cylinders of finite length can be regarded as one of the most extensively used types of structural elements. This explains a great number of publications devoted to the investigation of their stressed states. A survey of the main achievements in this field of mechanics prior to 1963 can be found in [1]. A survey of more recent achievements (after 1963) is presented in [7]. Nevertheless, despite a large number of approximate numerical methods aimed at the solution of axisymmetric problems of the theory of elasticity for solid cylinders of finite length, the analytic methods capable of construction of solutions in the form of explicit functional dependences on the type of load and geometric parameters of the cylinder are still insufficient. Attempts to obtain the exact solutions were made in [3] and [4]. In these works, the solution is constructed in the form of expansions in trigonometric, hyperbolic, and Bessel functions, which leads to infinite systems of linear algebraic equations. In [6], the technique of p -analytic functions is used to obtain the exact solutions. However, the numerical realization of the proposed algorithms of solution is not presented in these works. Among recent works, we should especially mention [5] and [14], where the methods of superposition and expansion in Fourier–Bessel series are used not only to reduce the solution of the problems to infinite systems of linear algebraic equations but also to obtain numerical values of stresses in the cylinder by the method of improved reduction. In [17], the solution of the problem of stressed state of a circular cylinder loaded at the end faces and along the cylindrical surface is also constructed in the form of Fourier–Bessel series, which leads to the necessity of solving infinite systems of linear algebraic equations with an aim to find the coefficients of these representations. In [18] and [19], the authors present the numerical results obtained in the case of a cylinder loaded by axisymmetric normal loads imposed on the end faces or along the cylindrical surface. In all works, including the recent results, the action of the bulk forces in the form of the weight of the material is not taken into account, which leads to the solution of inhomogeneous Lame equations. As an exception, we can mention the work [20] devoted to the numerical solution of the problem of stressed state for a hollow cylinder under the action of the weight of its material. An analytic method capable of the solution of these problems is outlined in [11], where it is also shown how to construct the exact solution of the axisymmetric problem for a finite elastic cylinder in the case where the conditions of sliding fixing are imposed on the cylindrical surface.

Numerical and Experimental Modeling of the Static Response of Simply Supported Thin-Walled Box Girder Bridges

This paper presents numerical and experimental modeling of the static response of simply supported thin-walled reinforced concrete box girder bridges. The work is executed to verify the validity of software developed by the authors for the finite strip analysis of continuous thin-walled box girder bridges and also to observe the effect of flange width on the static response of these type of structural elements under service load from experimental and numerical studies. The laboratory load/deformation relationship is presented in the form of deflection ratios that is displayed alongside the finite strip analysis results of the same loading condition. The results obtained from the laboratory experiment and the software showed very good agreement and are, averagely, 21.5% and 19.5% higher than that of the beam theory solution respectively. Verification of the software with published solutions is also conducted. The results from the developed software showed very good agreement with literature in terms of deflection and stress distributions. These results suggest that the effect of shear deformation, which is more significant on deflection than on stresses, increases with increase in flange width and that the developed software is capable of capturing the general behavior of thin-walled box girder bridges. http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/njt.v34i4. 4

Experimental testing of the seismic in-plane displacement capacity of masonry cross vaults through a scale model

Since cross masonry vaults represent one of the more widespread types of horizontal structural elements in historical constructions, understanding their behaviour is a crucial precondition for the accurate assessment of the global response of buildings to earthquakes. In spite of the importance of this topic, the complexity of evaluation three-dimensional response of vaults still represents a challenge for researchers. Experimental investigations can be a valid tool to analyse this difficult problem, as they provide useful results that can validate the reliability of the numerical and analytical tools developed for analysis. In this paper, the results of an experimental campaign on 1:5 scale model of a masonry cross vault are presented. The main aim was to evaluate the response of the vaults in the context of a global analysis of historic masonry buildings by determining their ultimate in-plane seismic capacity (diaphragm effect) in terms of stiffness, strength, and ultimate displacements. Their three-dimensional damage mechanisms on the vaults was also described. The model, made of 3D printed plastic blocks with dry joints, was tested by statically applying different horizontal displacements settings to the abutments in order to simulate differential displacements of the supports (walls or pillars). In particular, in-plane horizontal shear distortions and longitudinal opening/closing of the abutments, as they are the most common seismic damage mechanisms seen in masonry vault buildings, were applied.

Multi-disclinational description of pentagonal particles with subsurface layer free of twin boundaries

We present the results on the modelling of structural changes in pentagonal small particles (PSPs) during their growth. We prove that after a certain critical size it becomes energetically favourable for a PSP to form a subsurface layer free of twin boundaries (TBs), which are only typical structural elements for smaller size PSPs. In this layer, the low-angle dislocation boundaries (DBs) are formed. Our calculations of the energy stored in the transformed PSP are based on the disclination model of a PSP, in which the TB junctions, as well as TB–DB junctions are treated as wedge disclinations.

Shear-Type Mechanisms of Deformation Development in Structural Elements of a Deformation Relief

We studied basic structural elements of a deformation relief formed on lateral faces of nickel single crystals under compression. We correlated deformation heterogeneity with the type of structural elements of the relief. It was revealed that deformation heterogeneity did not depend on the type of a relief element or its scale. In addition, some studies were carried out to define ways of the deformation process in slip bands, mesa-and macrobands of deformation as well as in folds. It was found that a slip developed in separate slip bands resulted in their merging into micropackets with a slip occurring concurrently in several parallel planes. It led to the formation of a mesa-or macroscopic element of the deformation relief. We observed both intrusion and extrusion in the material in macrobands of [111]-single crystals as well as the formation of folding areas discussed.

BENDING BEHAVIOUR OF GLULAM BEAMS REINFORCED WITH CARBON FRP PLATES

The idea of reinforcing glued laminated timber (glulam) beams came in response to the need to improve the mechanical properties, as well as to ensure higher reliability of this type of structural elements. This paper describes an experimental program which examines the reinforcement in flexure of glulam beams with carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) plates. Fifteen beams reinforced with CFRP at the tension side and five unreinforced control beams were instrumented and tested to failure in a four-point bending configuration. The mechanical properties of reinforced beams are compared to those of unreinforced beams with regard to the load-deflection behaviour, failure mode, ultimate load capacity, stiffness and strain distribution. The experimental results demonstrated the beneficial effect of the proposed reinforcing solution in terms of strength, stiffness and ductility.

Energy Performance of Historical Brick Buildings in Northern Climate Zone

Abstract Historic buildings are considered to be one of the precious gems of Europe, which defines its character and rich cultural heritage. Therefore historical buildings with historical significance must be valued and preserved. The climate conditions to which buildings are subjected may deteriorate their structural elements therefore reducing their life span. As there are several types of historic building structural elements, there are also several types of possible solutions for historical building structural element protection from further deterioration. Also there is a necessity to assess current heat energy consumption in historical buildings to develop each specific case tailored energy efficiency improvement and facade protection measures. Therefore there is a necessity for historical building typology development, to distinguish different historical building structural elements with similar properties which may have similar measures for building envelope protection and heat energy reduction. This research focuses on historic brick building heat energy consumption analysis to define benchmarks and to analyse the influence of various different building material characteristics on historic building heat energy consumption.