• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.265-280
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• 2016

A NLFE model was proposed to investigate the mechanical behavior of short columns, cast using plain or fibrous lightweight aggregate concrete (LWAC), and subjected to elevated temperatures of up to $700^{\circ}C$. The model was validated, before its predictions were extended to study the effect of other variables, not studied experimentally. The three-dimensional NLFE model was developed using ANSYS software and involved rational simulation of thermal mechanical behavior of plain and fibrous LWAC as well as longitudinal and lateral steel reinforcement. The prediction from the NLFE model of columns' mechanical behavior, as represented by the stress-strain diagram and its characteristics, compared well with the experimental results. The predictions of the proposed models, considering wide range of lateral reinforcement ratios, confirmed the behaviors observed experimentally and stipulated the importance of steel confinement in preserving post-heating mechanical properties of plain and fibrous LWAC columns, being subjected to high temperature.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.361-382
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• 2011

This paper presents the results of an investigation on shear strengthening of RC beams externally reinforced with CFRP composite. A total of six full-scale beams of four CFRP strengthened and two unstrengthened were tested in the absence of internal stirrups in the shear span. The strengthening configurations contained two styles: discrete uniformly spaced strips and customized wide strips over B-regions. The composite systems provided an increase in ultimate strength as compared to the unstrengthened beams. Among the three layouts that had the same area of CFRP, the highest contribution was provided by the customized layout that targeted the B-regions. A comparative study of the experimental results with published empirical equations was conducted in order to evaluate the assumed effective strains. The empirical equations were found to be unconservative. Nonlinear finite element (NLFE) models were developed for the beams. The models agreed with test results that targeting the B-region was more effective than distributing the same CFRP area in a discrete strip style over shear spans. Moreover, the numerical models predicted the contribution of different configurations better than the empirical equations.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.111 no.1
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• pp.136-149
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• 2022

In this study, the performance of a nonlinear mixed-effects (NLME) model used to estimate the stem taper of Pinus densiflora in Gangwon Province was compared with that of a nonlinear fixed-effects (NLFE) model using several performance measures. For the diameters of whole tree stems, the NLME model improved on the performance of the NLFE model by 26.4%, 42.9%, 43.1%, and 0.9% in terms of BIAS, MAB, RMSE, and FI, respectively. For the cross-section areas of whole tree stems, the NLME model improved on the performance of the NLFE model by 67.7%, 44.7%, 45.8%, and 1.0% in terms of BIAS, MAB, RMSE, and FI, respectively. Based on the analysis of 12 relative height classes of tree stems, stem taper estimation performance was also reasonably improved by the NLME model, which showed better MAB, RMSE, and FI at every relative height class compared with those of the NLFE model. In some classes, the NLFE model had better BIAS than the NLME model (stem diameter: 0.05, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.8; stem cross-section area: 0.05, 0.3, 0.5, 0.6, and 1.0). However, the NLME model enhanced the performance of stem diameter and cross-section area estimations at the lowest stem part (0.2 m from the ground). Improvements for stem diameter in terms of BIAS, MAB, RMSE, and FI were 84.2%, 69.8%, 68.7%, and 3.1%, respectively. For stem cross-section areas, the improvements in BIAS, MAB, RMSE, and FI were 98.5%, 70.1%, 68.7%, and 3.1%, respectively. The cross-section area at 0.2 m from the ground occupied 22.7% of total cross-section area. Improvements in estimation of cross-section area at the lowest stem part indicate that stem volume estimation performance could also be enhanced. Although NLME models are more difficult to fit than NLFE models, the use of NLME models as a standard method for the estimating the parameters of stem taper equations should be considered.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.10
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• pp.881-888
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• 2018

During the cortical development, cells in the brain acquire somatic mutations that can be implicated in various neurodevelopmental disorders. There is increasing evidence that brain somatic mutations lead to sporadic form of epileptic disorders with previously unknown etiology. In particular, malformation of cortical developments (MCD), ganglioglioma (GG) associated with intractable epilepsy and non-lesional focal epilepsy (NLFE) are known to be attributable to brain somatic mutations in mTOR pathway genes and others. In order to identify such somatic mutations presenting as low-level in epileptic brain tissues, the mutated cells should be enriched and sequenced with high-depth coverage. Nevertheless, there are a lot of technical limitations to accurately detect low-level of somatic mutations. Also, it is important to validate whether identified somatic mutations are truly causative for epileptic seizures or not. Furthermore, it will be necessary to understand the molecular mechanism of how brain somatic mutations disturb neuronal circuitry since epilepsy is a typical example of neural network disorder. In this review, we overview current genetic techniques and experimental tools in neuroscience that can address the existence and significance of brain somatic mutations in epileptic disorders as well as their effect on neuronal circuitry.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.78 no.4
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• pp.455-471
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• 2021

The present work focuses on experimental and numerical performance of the ferrocement RC walls reinforced with welded steel mesh, expanded steel mesh, fiber glass mesh and tensar mesh individually. The experimental program comprised twelve RC walls having the dimensions of 450 mm×100 mm×1000 mm under concentric compression loadings. The studied variables are the type of reinforcing materials, the number of mesh layers and volume fraction of reinforcement. The main aim is to assess the influence of engaging the new inventive materials in reinforcing the composite RC walls. Non-linear finite element analysis; (NLFEA) was carried out to simulate the behavior of the composite walls employing ANSYS-10.0 Software. Parametric study is also demonstrated to check out the variables that can mainly influence the mechanical behavior of the model such as the change of wall dimensions. The obtained numerical results indicated the acceptable accuracy of FE simulations in the estimation of experimental values. In addition, the strength gained of specimens reinforced with welded steel mesh was higher by amount 40% compared with those reinforced with expanded steel mesh. Ferrocement specimens tested under axial compression loadings exhibit superior ultimate loads and energy absorbing capacity compared to the conventional reinforced concrete one.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.83 no.4
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• pp.475-493
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• 2022

The results of research focusing on the experimental and numerical performance of ferrocement RC beams with openings reinforced with welded steel mesh, expanded steel mesh, fiber glass mesh, and polyethylene mesh independently are presented in this article. Casting and testing of fourteen reinforced concrete beams with dimensions of 200×100×2000 mm under concentric compression loadings were part of the research program. The type of reinforcing materials, the volume fraction of reinforcement, the number of mesh layers, and the number of stirrups are the major parameters that change. The main goal is to understand the impact of using new appealing materials in reinforcing RC beams with openings. Using ANSYS-16.0 Software, nonlinear finite element analysis (NLFEA) was used to demonstrate the behavior of composite RC beams with openings. A parametric study is also conducted to discuss the variables that can have the greatest impact on the mechanical behavior of the proposed model, such as the number of openings. The obtained experimental and numerical results demonstrated the FE simulations' acceptable accuracy in estimating experimental values. Furthermore, demonstrating that the strength gained of specimens reinforced with fiber glass meshes was reduced by approximately 38% when compared to specimens reinforced with expanded or welded steel meshes is significant. In addition, when compared to welded steel meshes, using expanded steel meshes in reinforcing RC beams with openings results in a 16 percent increase in strength. In general, when ferrocement beams with openings are tested under concentric loadings, they show higher-level ultimate loads and energy-absorbing capacity than traditional RC beams.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.86 no.6
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• pp.793-815
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• 2023

The current study looks at the experimental and numerical performance of ferrocement RC channel slabs reinforced with welded steel mesh, expanded steel mesh, and fiber glass mesh individually. Ten RC channel slabs with dimensions of 500 mm×40 mm×2500 mm were subjected to flexural loadings as part of the testing program. The type of reinforcing materials, the number of mesh layers, and the reinforcement volume fraction are the key parameters that can be changed. The main goal is to determine the impact of using new inventive materials to reinforce composite RC channel slabs. Using ANSYS -16.0 Software, nonlinear finite element analysis (NLFEA) was used to simulate the behavior of composite channel slabs. Parametric study is also demonstrated to identify variables that can have a significant impact on the model's mechanical behavior, such as changes in slab dimensions. The obtained experimental and numerical results indicated that FE simulations had acceptable accuracy in estimating experimental values. Also, it's significant to demonstrate that specimens reinforced with fiber glass meshes gained approximately 12% less strength than specimens reinforced with expanded or welded steel meshes. In addition, Welded steel meshes provide 24% increase in strength over expanded steel meshes when reinforcing RC channel slabs. In general, ferrocement specimens tested under flexural loadings outperform conventional reinforced concrete specimens in terms of ultimate loads and energy absorbing capacity.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.90 no.4
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• pp.371-390
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• 2024

Investigating the impact of openings on the structural behavior of ferrocement I-beams with two distinct types of reinforcing metallic and non-metallic meshes is the primary goal of the current study. Up until failure, eight 250x200x2200 mm reinforced concrete I-beams were tested under flexural loadings. Depending on the kind of meshes used for reinforcement, the beams are split into two series. A control I-beam with no openings and three beams with one, two, and three openings, respectively, are found in each series. The two series are reinforced with three layers of welded steel meshes and two layers of tensar meshes, respectively, in order to maintain a constant reinforcement ratio. Structural parameters of investigated beams, including first crack, ultimate load, deflection, ductility index, energy absorption, strain characteristics, crack pattern, and failure mode were reported. The number of mesh layers, the volume fraction of reinforcement, and the kind of reinforcing materials are the primary factors that vary. This article presents the outcomes of a study that examined the experimental and numerical performance of ferrocement reinforced concrete I-beams with and without openings reinforced with welded steel mesh and tensar mesh separately. Utilizing ANSYS-16.0 software, nonlinear finite element analysis (NLFEA) was applied to illustrate how composite RC I-beams with openings behaved. In addition, a parametric study is conducted to explore the variables that can most significantly impact the mechanical behavior of the proposed model, such as the number of openings. The FE simulations produced an acceptable degree of experimental value estimation, as demonstrated by the obtained experimental and numerical results. It is also noteworthy to demonstrate that the strength gained by specimens without openings reinforced with tensar meshes was, on average, 22% less than that of specimens reinforced with welded steel meshes. For specimens with openings, this value is become on average 10%.