• Membrane Journal
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.53-56
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• 2004

Direct Methanol Fuel Cell (DMFC) is considered as a candidate technology for applications in stationary, transportation as well as electronic power generation purposes. To develop a high performance direct methanol fuel cell(DMFC), a competent electrolyte membrane is needed. The electrolyte membrane should be durable and methanol crossover must be low. One of the approaches to increase the stability of generally used polymer electrolyte membranes such as Nafion against swelling or thermal degradation is to bond it with an inorganic material physically or chemically. In Noritake Company, we have developed a novel method of reinforcing the polymer electrolyte matrix with inorganic fibers. Methanol crossover values measured were significantly lower than the original polymer electrolyte membranes. These fiber reinforced electrolyte membranes (FREM) were used for DMFC study and stable power output values as high 160 mW/$\textrm{cm}^2$ were measured. The details of the characteristics of the membranes as well as I-V data of fuel cell stacks are detailed in the paper.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.149-162
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• 2004

This study was performed to evaluate the effect of freeze-dried bone graft on space-making capacity and bone formation in the procedure of guided bone regeneration with titanium reinforced ePTFE membrane. After decortication in the calvaria, GBR procedure was performed on 8 rabbits with titanium reinforced ePTFE membrane filled with human FDBA(Rocky Mountain Tissue Bank,Aurora Co., USA). Decortication was performed to induce the effect of bone forming factor from bone marrow. The animals were sacrificed at 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 8 weeks and 12 weeks after the surgery. Non-decalcified specimens were processed for histologic analysis. πle results of this study were as follows: 1. Titanium reinforced-ePTFE membrane was biocompatable and capable of maintaining the space-making. 2. FDBA particle was surrounded with connective tissues but there was no evidence on new bone formation. 3. FDBA particle resorbed continuously but it remained until 12weeks after the surgery. Within the above results, TR-ePTFE membrane could be used effectively for Guided bone regeneration but It was assumed that FDBA does not appear to contribute to bone formation.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.469-484
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• 2023

The response mechanism of simply supported two-way reinforced concrete (RC) slabs under fire was numerically studied from the view of stress redistribution using the finite element software ABAQUS. Results show that: (1) Simply supported two-way RC slabs undergo intense stress redistribution, and their responses show four stages, namely elastic, elastic-plastic, plastic and tensile membrane stages. There is no cracking in the fire area of the slabs until the tensile membrane stage. (2) The inverted arch effect and tensile membrane effect improve the fire resistance of the two-way slabs. When the deflection is L/20, the slab is in an inverted arch effect state, and the slab still has a good deflection reserve. The deformation rate of the slab in the tensile membrane stage is smaller than that in the elastic-plastic and plastic stages. (3) Fire resistance of square slabs is better than that of rectangular slabs. Besides, increasing the reinforcement ratio or slab thickness improves the fire resistance of the slabs. However, an increase of cover thickness has little effect on the fire resistance of two-way slabs. (4) Compared with one-way slabs, the time for two-way slabs to enter the plastic and tensile cracking stage is postponed, and the deformation rate in the plastic and tensile cracking stage is also slowed down. (5) The simply supported two-way RC slabs can satisfy with the requirements of a class I fire resistance rating of 90 min without additional fire protection.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.3 no.6
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• pp.439-454
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• 2006

This paper develops an artificial neural network (ANN) model for uniformly loaded restrained reinforced concrete (RC) slabs incorporating membrane action. The development of membrane action in RC slabs restrained against lateral displacements at the edges in buildings and bridge structures significantly increases their load carrying capacity. The benefits of compressive membrane action are usually not taken into account in currently available design methods based on yield-line theory. By extending the existing knowledge of compressive membrane action, it is possible to design slabs in building and bridge decks economically with less than normal reinforcement. The processes involved in the development of ANN model such as the creation of a database of test results from previous research studies, the selection of architecture of the network from extensive trial and error procedure, and the training and performance validation of the model are presented. The ANN model was found to predict accurately the ultimate strength of fully restrained RC slabs. The model also was able to incorporate strength enhancement of RC slabs due to membrane action as confirmed from a comparative study of experimental and yield line-based predictions. Practical applications of the developed ANN model in the design process of RC slabs are also highlighted.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.5 no.5
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• pp.599-608
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• 1997

The concrete stiffness matrices of membrane elements used in the finite element analysis of wall-type structures are reviewed and discussed. The behavior of cracked reinforced concrete membrane elements is first described by summarizing the constitutive laws of concrete and steel established for the two softened truss models (the rotating-angle softened-truss model and the fixed-angle softened-truss model). These constitutive laws are then related to the concrete stiffness matrices of the two existing cracking models (the rotating-crack model and the fixed-crack model). In view of the weakness in the existing models, a general model of the matrix is proposed. This general matrix includes two Poisson ratios which are not clearly understood at present. It is proposed that all five material properties in the general matrix should be established by new biaxial tests of panels using proportional loading and strain-control procedures.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2008.06a
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• pp.201-202
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• 2008

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.691-704
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• 2014

Reinforced concrete (RC) shear walls are commonly used for building structures to resist seismic loading. While the RC shear walls can have a high load-carrying capacity, they tend to fail in a brittle mode under shear, accompanied by forming large diagonal cracks and bond splitting between concrete and steel reinforcement. Improving seismic performance of shear walls has remained a challenge for researchers all over the world. Engineered Cementitious Composite (ECC), featuring incredible ductility under tension, can be a promising material to replace concrete in shear walls with improved performance. Currently, the application of ECC to large structures is limited due to the lack of the proper constitutive models especially under shear. In this paper, a new Cyclic Softening Membrane Model for reinforced ECC is proposed. The model was built upon the Cyclic Softening Membrane Model for reinforced concrete by (Hsu and Mo 2010). The model was then implemented in the OpenSees program to perform analysis on several cases of shear walls under seismic loading. The seismic response of reinforced ECC compared with RC shear walls under monotonic and cyclic loading, their difference in pinching effect and energy dissipation capacity were studied. The modeling results revealed that reinforced ECC shear walls can have superior seismic performance to traditional RC shear walls.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.491-510
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• 2005

This study was performed to evaluate the effect of inorganic polyphosphate on bone formation in the calvaria of rabbit in the procedure of guided bone regeneration with bovine cancellous bone graft and titanium reinforced expanded polytetrafluoroethylene(TR-ePTFE) membrane. The rabbits were divided into four groups. Control group I used only TR-ePTFE membrane, control group II used TR-ePTFE membrane and deproteinized bovine bone mineral soaked in saline, experimental group III and IV used TR-ePTFE membrane and deproteinized bovine bone mineral soaked in 1% or 2% inorganic polyphosphate respectively. After decortication in the calvaria, GBR procedure was performed on 12 rabbits with titanium reinforced ePTFE membrane filled with deproteinized bovine bone mineral soaked in saline or inorganic polyphosphate. The animals were sacrificed at 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks after the surgery. Decalcified and non-decalcified specimens were processed for histologic and immunohistochemistric analysis. 1. Titanium reinforced ePTFE(TR-ePTFE) membrane showed good spacemaking and cell occlusiveness capability, but it showed poor wound stabilization. 2. The deproteinized bovine bone mineral did not promote bone regeneration, but it acted as a space filler. 3. There was no complete resorption of the deproteinized bovine bone mineral within 8 weeks. 4. 1% inorganic polyphosphate did not promote bone formation, but 2% inorganic polyphosphate promoted bone formation. Within the above results, 2% inorganic polyphosphate could be used effectively for bone regeneration.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.325-354
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• 2004

Slabs in buildings and bridge decks, which are restrained against lateral displacements at the edges, have ultimate strengths far in excess of those predicted by analytical methods based on yield line theory. The increase in strength has been attributed to membrane action, which is due to the in-plane forces developed at the supports. The benefits of compressive membrane action are usually not taken into account in currently available design methods developed based on plastic flow theories assuming concrete to be a rigid-plastic material. By extending the existing knowledge of compressive membrane action, it is possible to design slabs in building and bridge structures economically with less than normal reinforcement. Recent research on building and bridge structures reflects the importance of membrane action in design. This paper describes the finite element modelling of membrane action in reinforced concrete slabs through optimisation of a simple concrete model. Through a series of parametric studies using the simple concrete model in the finite element simulation of eight fully clamped concrete slabs with significant membrane action, a set of fixed numerical model parameter values is identified and computational conditions established, which would guarantee reliable strength prediction of arbitrary slabs. The reliability of the identified values to simulate membrane action (for prediction purposes) is further verified by the direct simulation of 42 other slabs, which gave an average value of 0.9698 for the ratio of experimental to predicted strengths and a standard deviation of 0.117. A 'deflection factor' is also established for the slabs, relating the predicted peak deflection to experimental values, which, (for the same level of fixity at the supports), can be used for accurate displacement determination. The proposed optimised concrete model and finite element procedure can be used as a tool to simulate membrane action in slabs in building and bridge structures having variable support and loading conditions including fire. Other practical applications of the developed finite element procedure and design process are also discussed.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.281-302
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• 2010

An extended model for the response of a rigid footing on a reinforced foundation bed on super soft soil is proposed by incorporating the rough membrane element into the granular bed. The super soft soil, the granular bed and the reinforcement are modeled as non-linear Winkler springs, non-linear Pasternak layer and rough membrane respectively. The hyperbolic stress-displacement response of the super soft soil and the hyperbolic shear stress-shear strain response of the granular fill are considered. The finite deformation theory is used since large settlements are expected to develop due to deformation of the super-soft soil. Parametric studies quantify the effect of each parameter on the stress-settlement response of the reinforced foundation bed, the settlement and tension profiles.