• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.62 no.3
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• pp.373-380
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• 2017

Concrete structures are often subjected to long-term static and short-term dynamic loads. Due to a relatively low tensile strength and energy dissipating characteristics, the impact resistance of concrete is considered poor. This study investigates the feasibility of using polypropylene fibers to improve the impact resistance of reinforced concrete slabs. Fourteen polypropylene fiber reinforced concrete slabs were fabricated and tested using a drop weight test. The effects of slab thickness, fiber volume fractions, and impact energy on the dynamic behaviors were evaluated mainly in terms of impact resistant, crack patterns, and failure modes. The post impact induced strains versus time responses were obtained for all slabs. The results showed that adding the polypropylene fiber at a dosage of 0.90% by volume of concrete leads to significant improvement in the overall structural behavior of the slabs and their resistance to impact loading. Interestingly, the enhancement in the behavior of the slabs using a higher fiber dosage of 1.2% was not as good as achieved with 0.90%.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.251-264
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• 2004

The effects of a class of nonlinear Tuned Mass Dampers on the aeroelastic behavior of SDOF systems are investigated. Unlike classical linear TMDs, nonlinear constitutive laws of the internal damping acting between the primary oscillator and the TMD are considered, while the elastic properties are keept linear. The perturbative Multiple Scale Method is applied to derive a set of bifurcation equations in the amplitude and phase and a parametric analysis is performed to describe the postcritical scenario of the system. Both cubic- and van der Pol-type dampings are considered and the dependence of the limit-cycle amplitudes on the system parameters is studied. These new results, compared with the previously obtained bifurcation scenario of a SDOF aeroelastic oscillator equipped with a linear TMD, show a detrimental effect on the maximum limit-cycle amplitude reduction of the nonlinear TMD. However, the analyses evidence that in the parameter region away from the perfect tuning condition the nonlinear connection can be used to tune the system with an enhancement of the limit-cycle amplitude reduction.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.405-420
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• 2016

Recently laser scanning technologies become widely used in many areas of the modern economy. In the following paper authors show a potential spectrum of use Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) in diagnostics of reinforced concrete elements. Based on modes of failure analysis of reinforcement concrete beam authors describe downsides and advantages of adaptation of terrestrial laser scanning to this purpose, moreover reveal under which condition this technology might be used. Research studies were conducted by Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Gdansk University of Technology. An experiment involved bending of reinforced concrete beam, the process was registered by the terrestrial laser scanner. Reinforced concrete beam was deliberately overloaded and eventually failed by shear. Whole failure process was tracing and recording by scanner Leica ScanStation C10 and verified by synchronous photographic registration supported by digital photogrammetry methods. Obtained data were post-processed in Leica Cyclone (dedicated software) and MeshLab (program on GPL license). The main goal of this paper is to prove the effectiveness of TLS in diagnostics of reinforced concrete elements. Authors propose few methods and procedures to virtually reconstruct failure process, measure geometry and assess a condition of structure.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.167-186
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• 2007

Ductility based design of reinforced concrete structures implicitly assumes certain damage under the action of a design basis earthquake. The damage undergone by a structure needs to be quantified, so as to assess the post-seismic reparability and functionality of the structure. The paper presents an analytical method of quantification and location of seismic damage, through system identification methods. It may be noted that soft ground storied buildings are the major casualties in any earthquake and hence the example structure is a soft or weak first storied one, whose seismic response and temporal variation of damage are computed using a non-linear dynamic analysis program (IDARC) and compared with a normal structure. Time period based damage identification model is used and suitably calibrated with classic damage models. Regenerated stiffness of the three degrees of freedom model (for the three storied frame) is used to locate the damage, both on-line as well as after the seismic event. Multi resolution analysis using wavelets is also used for localized damage identification for soft storey columns.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.5 no.5
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• pp.527-552
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• 2013

Development of flexural yielding and large rotation ductilities in the plastic hinge zones of frame members is synonymous with the spread of bar reinforcement yielding into the supporting anchorage. Yield penetration where it occurs, destroys interfacial bond between bar and concrete and reduces the strain development capacity of the reinforcement. This affects the plastic rotation capacity of the member by increasing the contribution of bar pullout. A side effect is increased strains in the compression zone within the plastic hinge region, which may be critical in displacement-based detailing procedures that are linked to concrete strains (e.g. in structural walls). To quantify the effects of yield penetration from first principles, closed form solutions of the field equations of bond over the anchorage are derived, considering bond plastification, cover debonding after bar yielding and spread of inelasticity in the anchorage. Strain development capacity is shown to be a totally different entity from stress development capacity and, in the framework of performance based design, bar slip and the length of debonding are calculated as functions of the bar strain at the loaded-end, to be used in calculations of pullout rotation at monolithic member connections. Analytical results are explored parametrically to lead to design charts for practical use of the paper's findings but also to identify the implications of the phenomena studied on the detailing requirements in the plastic hinge regions of flexural members including post-earthquake retrofits.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.515-527
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• 2017

Recently, Friction dampers become popular due to the desirable performance in the energy dissipation of lateral loads. A lot of research which has been conducted on these dampers results in developing friction dampers with low sensitivity to the number of cycles and temperature increases. Friction dampers impose high residual drifts to the buildings because of low post-yield stiffness of the damper which results from increasing lateral displacement and period of buildings. This issue can be more critical under strong aftershocks which results in increasing of structural damages. In this paper, in addition to the assessment of aftershock on steel buildings equipped with friction dampers, methods for controlling residual drifts and decreasing the costs of retrofitting are investigated. Utilizing rigid connections as a lateral dual system and activating lateral stiffness of gravity columns by adding elastic braces are as an example of effective methods investigated in this research. The results of nonlinear time history analyses on the low to medium rise steel frames equipped with friction dampers illustrate a rise in residual drifts as the result of aftershocks. In addition, the results show that different slip loads of friction damper can affect the residual drifts. Furthermore, elastic stories in comparison to rigid connections can reduce residual drifts of buildings in an effective fashion, when most slip loads of friction dampers are considered.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.715-732
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• 2020

High-strength steel composite Y-eccentrically braced frame (Y-HSS-EBF) is a novel structural system. In this study, the spatial substructure hybrid simulation test (SHST) method is used to further study the seismic performance of Y-HSS-EBF. Firstly, based on the cyclic loading tests of two single-story single-span Y-HSS-EBF planar specimens, a finite element model in OpenSees was verified to provide a reference for the numerical substructure analysis model for the later SHST. Then, the SHST was carried out on the OpenFresco test platform. A three-story spatial Y-HSS-EBF model was taken as the prototype, the top story was taken as the experimental substructure, and the remaining two stories were taken as the numerical substructure to be simulated in OpenSees. According to the test results, the validity of the SHST was verified, and the main seismic performance indexes of the SHST model were analyzed. The results show that, the SHST based on the OpenFresco platform has good stability and accuracy, and the results of the SHST agree well with the global numerical model of the structure. Under strong seismic action, the plastic deformation of Y-HSS-EBF mainly occurs in the shear link, and the beam, beam-columns and braces can basically remain in the elastic state, which is conducive to post-earthquake repair.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.802-810
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• 2007

Fibrobacter succinogenes, a Gram-negative, anaerobic ruminal bacterium is a major fibre digesting species in the rumen. It intensively degrades plant cell walls by an erosion type of mechanism, burrowing its way through the complex matrix of cellulose and hemicellulose with the release of digestible and undigested cell wall fragments. The enzymes involved in this process include a combination of glucanases, xylanases, arabinofuranosidase(s) and esterases. The genome of the bacterium has been sequenced and this has revealed in excess of 100 putative glycosyl hydrolase, pectate lyase and carbohydrate esterase genes, which is greater than the numbers reported present in other major cellulolytic organisms for which genomes have been sequenced. Modelling of the amino acid sequences of two glycanases, CedA and EGB, by reference to crystallized homologs has enabled prediction of the major features of their tertiary structures. Two dimensional gel electrophoresis in conjunction with mass spectroscopy has permitted the documentation of proteins over expressed in F. succinogenes grown on cellulose, and analysis of the cell surfaces of mutant strains unable to bind to cellulose has enabled the identification of candidate proteins with roles in adhesion to the plant cell wall substrate, the precursor to cellulose biodegradation.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.637-647
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• 2016

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) is a critical eukaryotic replication accessory factor that supports DNA binding in DNA processing, such as DNA replication, repair, and recombination. PCNA consists of three toroidal-shaped monomers that encircle double-stranded DNA. The diverse functions of PCNA may be regulated by its interactions with partner proteins. Many of the PCNA partner proteins generally have a conserved PCNA-interacting peptide (PIP) motif, located at the N- or C- terminal region. The PIP motif forms a 3₁₀ helix that enters into the hydrophobic groove produced by an interdomain-connecting loop, a central loop, and a C-terminal tail in the PCNA. Post-translational modification of PCNA also plays a critical role in regulation of its function and binding partner proteins. Structural and biochemical studies of PCNA-protein will be useful in designing therapeutic agents, as well as estimating the outcome of anticancer drug development. This review summarizes the characterization of eukaryotic PCNA in relation to the protein structures, functions, and modifications, and interaction with proteins.

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.261-286
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• 2013

I studied on the application of creativity to reading instruction in this paper. Reading strategies and creative thinking skills are categorized. And these are incorporated in the time process of reading instruction. In pre-reading process, Using Prior Knowledge and Reasoning of reading strategies are used and these are incorporated in Fluency and Creativity of the divergent thinking skill. In reading process, Increasing Sensitivity to Text Elements with the Highest Information Load and Structuring and Recognizing Structures of reading strategies are used and these are incorporated in Flexibility and Creativity of the divergent thinking skill. In post-reading process, Reasoning of reading strategies are used and these are incorporated in Creativity of the divergent thinking skill and convergent thinking skill.