• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.615-642
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• 2013

In this paper a study on prestressed concrete slab bridges is presented. A design philosophy based on the concept of load balancing through prestressing is proposed in order to minimize the effects of delayed deformations due to creep. Aspects related to the stress redistribution inside these bridges for time-dependent phenomena are analyzed and discussed, by applying the principles of aging linear visco-elasticity. Prestressing is seen as an equivalent external load which counterbalances the permanent loads applied to the bridge, nullifying the elastic deflections due to sustained loads, and thus avoiding the related delayed deformations. An optimization of the structural behavior through the use of one-way prestressing is achieved. The determination of a convenient variable depth of slab bridges and the correspondent layout of tendons is considered as a useful means for applying the load balancing concept in actual cases of structures like long cantilevers or bridge decks. A case-study related to the slab bridges built 30 years ago at Jeddah in Saudi Arabia is presented and discussed, in order to show the effectiveness of the proposed approach to the conceptual design of prestressed concrete bridges.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.9-13
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• 2007

Despite numerous researches on atomic-scale friction have been carried out for understanding the origin of friction, lots of questions about sliding friction still remain. It is known that friction at atomic-scale always shows unique phenomena called 'stick-slips' which reflect atomic lattice of a scanned surface. In this work, experimental study on the effects of system stiffnesses and load on the atomic-scale stick-slip friction of graphite was performed by using an Atomic Force Microscope and various cantilevers/tips. The objective of this research is to figure out the dependency of atomic-scale friction on the nanomechanical properties in sliding contact such as load, stiffness and contact materials systematically. From this work, the experimental observation of transitions in atomic-scale friction from smooth sliding to multiple stick-slips in air was first made, according to the lateral cantilever stiffness and applied normal load. The superlubricity of graphite could be verified from friction vs. load experiments. Based on the results, the relationship between the stickslip behaviors and contact stiffness was carefully discussed in this work. The results or this work indicate that the atomic-scale stick-slip behaviors can be controlled by adjusting the system stiffnesses and contact materials.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.81-85
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• 2009

Interests in micro/nano-particles have been greatly increasing due to their wide applications in various fields such as environmental and medical sciences as well as engineering. In order to obtain a fundamental understanding of the tribological characteristics at particle-surface contact interface, frictional behaviors according to load/pressure and materials were obtained by using atomic force microscope(AFM) cantilevers with different stiffnesses and tips. Lateral contact stiffnesses were observed in various tip-surface contact situations. Experimental results show that stick-slip friction behavior occurs even when the colloidal probes with a particle of a few micrometers in diameter, which have a relatively large contact area and lack a well-shaped apex, were used. This indicates that atomic stick-slip friction may be a more common phenomenon than it is currently thought to be. Also, experimental results were investigated by considering the competition between the stiffness of the interatomic potential across the interface and the elastic stiffnesses of the contacting materials and the force sensor itself.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.351-373
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• 2014

This paper investigates the seismic response of lightweight acceleration-sensitive non-structural components (NSCs) mounted on irregular reinforced concrete (RC) primary structures (P-structures) using non-linear dynamic finite element (FE) analysis. The aim of this paper is to study the influence of NSC to P-structure vibration period ratio, peak ground acceleration, NSC to P-structure height ratio, and P-structure torsional behaviour on the seismic response of the NSCs. Representative constitutive models were used to simulate the behaviour of the RC P-structures. The NSCs were modelled as vertical cantilevers fixed at their bases with masses on the free ends and varying lengths so as to match the frequencies of the P-structures. Full dynamic interaction is considered between the NSCs and P-structures. A set of 21 natural and artificial earthquake records were used to evaluate the seismic response of the NSCs. The numerical results indicate that the behaviour of the NSCs is significantly influenced by the investigated parameters. Comparison between the FE results and Eurocode (EC8) predictions suggests that EC8 underestimates the response of NSCs mounted on the flexible sides of irregular RC P-structures when the fundamental periods and heights of the NSCs match those of the P-structures. The perceived cause of this discrepancy is that EC8 does not take into account the amplification in the dynamic response of NSCs induced by the torsional behaviour of RC P-structures.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2001.07c
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• pp.1893-1895
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• 2001

In this paper, novel release technique using wet etch is proposed. The results of this technique and the results of SAMs (Self-Assembled monolayers) coated after release using this technique are compared. Fabricated structure have 100 um in width and experimental length is from 100 um to 1 mm. Thickness of aluminum sacrificial layer is 2 um and structure thickness is 2.5 um. Cantilevers and bridges are fabricated with electroplated gold and silicon nitride deposited on substrate. An aluminium sacrificial layer was evaporated thermally and removed in various wet etching solutions. Detachment length of cantilever is 200 um and detachment length of bridge is 1 mm after isooctane rinsing. And the SAMs coating condition which is appropriate for gold and nitride are studied respectively.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.125-137
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• 2003

The use of screw-retaind prosthesis on an osseointegrated implant is a popular treatment modality offering relative ease in the removal of the restoration. One of the complications associated with this modality is the loosening of the abutment and coping screws. Loosening of the screws results in patient dissatisfaction, frustration to the dentist and, if left untreated, component fracture. There are several factors which contribute to the loosening of implant components which can be controlled by the restorative dentist and lab technician. This article offers pratical solutions to minimize this clinical problem and describes the factors involved in maintaining a stable screw joint assembly. To avoid joint failure, adherence to specific clinical, as well as mechanical, parameters is critical. With respect to hardware, optimal tolerance and fit, minimal rotational play, best physical properties, a predictable interface, and optimal torque application are mandatory. In the clinical arena, optimal implant distribution; load in line with implant axis; optimal number, diameter, and length of implants; elimination of cantilevers; optimal prosthesis fit; and occlusal load control are equally important.

• Proceedings of the International Microelectronics And Packaging Society Conference
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• 2000.04a
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• pp.110-110
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• 2000

Cantilever-shaped lateral field emitters were fabricated and their electrical characteristics were tested. As shown in Fig.1, poly-silicon cantilevers were fabricated by the surface micromachining and they were used to the vacuum magnetic field sensors. The tunneling devices were vacuum sealed with the tubeless packaging method, as shown in Fig.2 and Fig.3. The soda-lime glasses were used for better encapsulation, so the sputtered silicon and the glass layers on the soda-lime glasses were bonded together at 1x10$^{-6}$ Torr. The getter was activated after the vacuum sealing fur the stable emissions. The devices were tested outside of the vacuum chamber. Through vacuum packaging, the tunneling sensors can be utilized. Fig.4 shows that the sensor operates with the switching of the magnetic field. When the magnetic field was applied to the device, the anode currents were varied by the Lorentz force. The difference of anode currents can be varied with the strength of the applied magnetic field.

• JSTS:Journal of Semiconductor Technology and Science
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.293-298
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• 2006

Thermopiezoelectric method, using poly silicon heater and a piezoelectric sensor, was proposed for writing and reading in a probe based data storage system. Resistively heated tip writes data bits while scanning over a polymer media and piezoelectric sensor reads data bits from the self-generated charges induced by the deflection of the cantilever. 34${\times}$34 array of thermopiezoelectric nitride cantilevers were fabricated by a single step wafer level transfer method. We analyzed the noise level of the charge amplifier and measured the noise signal. With the sensor and the charge amplifier 20mn of deflection could be detected at a frequency of 10KHz. Reading signal was obtained from the cantilever array and the sensitivity was calculated.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 1995.11a
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• pp.603-605
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• 1995

We present a novel method. to fabricate surface micromachined structures without their sticking on the substrate. An anhydrous HF/$CH_3OH$ vapor-phase etching (VPE) of sacrificial $SiO_2$ layers was employed to release 0.5-2 {\mu}m$ thick polysilicon cantilevers. The fabricated structures were observed using scanning electron microscope and 3-dimensional optical microscope. The results show that we can successfully make cantilever beams up to 1200{\mu}m$ long without sticking. Annealing effects on residual stress of polysilicon microstructures were also investigated. Anneal ins at 1100$^{\circ}C$ for 1 hour was found to be effective to release the residual stress of the polysilicon microstructures. These VPE and anneal ins techniques will be useful in surface micromachining technologies.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.156-163
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• 2003

Polypyrrole microactuators have been fabricated by the standard surface micromachining method combined with the electropolymerization of polypyrrole. The fundamental structure to verify the feasibility of the fabrication process is polypyrrole cantilever. Based on these process, polypyrrole grippers and valves for the manipulation of the cell have been fabricated. Grippers have the structure of bone and muscle which are rigid polymers and polypyrrole, respectively. Valves have the assembled structure of channels with polypyrrole cantilevers. The proposed fabrication process and structures are expected to be used for bio-related applications, for example, the cell manipulation.