• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.84 no.3
• /
• pp.311-321
• /
• 2022

In the buildings with long spans and high floors, such as logistics warehouses and semiconductor factories, it is difficult to install supporting posts under beams during construction. Therefore, the size of structural members becomes larger inevitably, resulting in a significant increase in construction costs. Accordingly, a prestressed hybrid wide flange (PHWF) beam with hollowed steel webs was developed, which can reduce construction costs by making multiple openings in the web of the steel member embedded in concrete. However, since multiple openings exist and prestress is introduced only into the bottom flange concrete, it is necessary to identify the shear resistance mechanism of the PHWF beam. This study presents experimental shear tests of PHWF beams with hollowed steel webs. Four PHWF beams with cast-in-place (CIP) concrete were fabricated, with key variables being the width and spacing of the steel webs embedded in the concrete and the presence of shear reinforcing bars, and web-shear tests were conducted. The shear behavior of the PHWF beam, including crack patterns, strain behavior of steel webs, and composite action between the prestressed bottom flange and CIP concrete, were measured and analyzed comprehensively. The test results showed that the steel web resists external shear forces through shear deformation when its width is sufficiently large, but as its width decreased, it exerted its shear contribution through normal deformation in a manner similar to that of shear reinforcing bars. In addition, it was found that stirrups placed on the cross section where the steel web does not exist contribute to improving the shear strength and deformation capacity of the member. Based on the shear behavior of the specimens, a straightforward calculation method was proposed to estimate the web-shear strength of PHWF beams with CIP concrete, and it provided a good estimation of the shear strength of PHWF beams, more accurate than the existing code equations.

• Advances in concrete construction
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.195-204
• /
• 2022

As a brittle failure mode, punching-shear failure can be widely found in traditional RC slab-column connections, which may lead to the entire collapse of a flat plate structure. In this paper, a novel RC slab-column connection with inner steel truss was proposed to enhance the punching strength. In the proposed connection, steel trusses, each of which was composed of four steel angles and a series of steel strips, were pre-assembled at the periphery of the column capital and behaved as transverse reinforcements. With the aim of exploring the punching behavior of this novel RC slab-column connection, a static punching test was conducted on two full-scaled RC slab specimens, and the crack patterns, failure modes, load-deflection and load-strain responses were thoroughly analyzed to explore the contribution of the applied inner steel trusses to the overall punching behavior. The test results indicated that all the test specimens suffered the typical punching-shear failure, and the higher punching strength and initial stiffness could be found in the specimen with inner steel trusses. The numerical models of tested specimens were analyzed in ABAQUS. These models were verified by comparing the results of the tests with the results of the analyzes, and subsequently the sensitivity of the punching capacity to different parameters was studied. Based on the test results, a modified critical shear crack theory, which could take the contribution of the steel trusses into account, was put forward to predict the punching strength of this novel RC slab-column connection, and the calculated results agreed well with the test results.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.45 no.1
• /
• pp.133-145
• /
• 2022

Steel fiber composite bar (SFCB) is a novel type of reinforcement, which has good ductility and durability performance. Due to the unique pseudo strain hardening tensile behavior of SFCB, different flexural behavior is expected of SFCB reinforced concrete (SFCB-RC) beams from traditional steel bar reinforced concrete (S-RC) beams and FRP bar reinforced concrete (F-RC) beams. To investigate the flexural behavior of SFCB-RC beam, four points bending tests were carried out and different flexural behaviors between S/F/SFCB-RC beams were discussed. An flexural analytical model of SFCB-RC beams is proposed and proved by the current and existing experimental results. Based on the proposed model, the influence of the fiber volume ratio R of the SFCB on the flexural behavior of SFCB-RC beams is discussed. The results show that the proposed model is effective for all S/F/SFCB-RC flexural members. Fiber volume ratio R is a key parameter affecting the flexural behavior of SFCB-RC. By controlling the fiber volume ratio of SFCB reinforcements, the flexural behavior of the SFCB-RC flexural members such as bearing capacity, bending stiffness, ductility and repairability of SFCB-RC structures can be designed.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.45 no.1
• /
• pp.67-82
• /
• 2022

In this paper, buckling and free vibration of imperfect, functionally graded beams, including porosities, are investigated, using a higher order shear strain theory. Due to defects during the manufacturing process, micro porosities may appear in the material, hence the appearance of this imperfection in the structure. The material properties of the beams are assumed to vary regularly, with power and sigmoid law, in the direction of thickness. A novel porosity distribution affecting the functionally graded volume fraction is presented. For the compact formulation used for cementite-based materials and already used in P-FGM, we have adapted it for the distribution of S-FGM. The equations of motion in the FG beam are derived using Hamilton's principle. The boundary conditions for beam FG are assumed to be simply supported. Navier's solution is used to obtain the closed form solutions of the FG beam. The numerical results of this work are compared with those of other published research to verify accuracy and reliability. The comparisons of different shear shape functions, the influence of porosity, thickness and inhomogeneity parameters on buckling and free vibration of the FG beam are all discussed. It is established that the present work is more precise than certain theories developed previously.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.49 no.5
• /
• pp.487-502
• /
• 2023

In the realm of nanotechnology, the nonlocal strain gradient theory takes center stage as it scrutinizes the behavior of spinning cantilever nanobeams and nanotubes, pivotal components supporting various mechanical movements in sport structures. The dynamics of these structures have sparked debates within the scientific community, with some contending that nonlocal cantilever models fail to predict dynamic softening, while others propose that they can indeed exhibit stiffness softening characteristics. To address these disparities, this paper investigates the dynamic response of a nonlocal cantilever cylindrical beam under the influence of external discontinuous dynamic loads. The study employs four distinct models: the Euler-Bernoulli beam model, Timoshenko beam model, higher-order beam model, and a novel higher-order tube model. These models account for the effects of functionally graded materials (FGMs) in the radial tube direction, giving rise to nanotubes with varying properties. The Hamilton principle is employed to formulate the governing differential equations and precise boundary conditions. These equations are subsequently solved using the generalized differential quadrature element technique (GDQEM). This research not only advances our understanding of the dynamic behavior of nanotubes but also reveals the intriguing phenomena of both hardening and softening in the nonlocal parameter within cantilever nanostructures. Moreover, the findings hold promise for practical applications, including drug delivery, where the controlled vibrations of nanotubes can enhance the precision and efficiency of medication transport within the human body. By exploring the multifaceted characteristics of nanotubes, this study not only contributes to the design and manufacturing of rotating nanostructures but also offers insights into their potential role in revolutionizing drug delivery systems.

• Journal of Practical Agriculture & Fisheries Research
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.14-18
• /
• 2023

White leg shrimps cultured in an inland private aquaculture farm with low salinity waters showed abnormal swimming behavior and appetite reduction in July 2022. Then, gradual mortality was observed in the aquaculture farm. During the diagnosis, bacterial strain KNUAF-SHP3 was isolated from the hepatopancreas of the dead shrimps. Based on the sequence of 16S rRNA gene, KNUAF-SHP3 was proved to be Shewanella sp., clustering into a group with S. algae MARS 14 and S. chilikensis JC5T. According to the result of experimental infection test, all shrimps challenged with high concentrations, 2.1×108 CFU/ml and 2.1×109 CFU/ml showed apparent disease symptoms and the cumulative mortality rates reached 100% in 7 days post challenge. These results emphasized that Shewanella isolate in this study can be a potential pathogen of white leg shrimp cultured in low salinity water.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
• /
• v.10 no.3
• /
• pp.207-220
• /
• 2023

The safety of bridges are critical in our transportation infrastructure. Bridge design and analysis require complex structural analysis procedures to ensure their safety and stability. One common method is to calculate the maximum moment in the girders to determine the appropriate bridge section. Girder distribution factors (GDFs) provide a simpler approach for performing this analysis. A GDF is a ratio between the response of a single girder and the total response of all girders in the bridge. This paper explores the significance of GDFs in bridge analysis and design, including their importance in the evaluation of existing bridges. We utilized Bridge Weigh-in-motion (B-WIM) measurements of five simple supported girder bridge in Indonesia to develop a simple GDF provisions for the Indonesia's bridge design code. The B-WIM measurements enable us to know each girder strain as a response due to vehicle loading as the vehicle passes the bridge. The calculated GDF obtained from the B-WIM measurements were compared with the code-specified GDF and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) bridge design specification. Our study found that the code specified GDF was adequate or conservative compared to the GDF obtained from the B-WIM measurements. The proposed GDF equation correlates well with the AASHTO LRFD bridge design specification. Developing appropriate provisions for GDFs in Indonesian bridge design codes can provides a practical solution for designing girder bridges in Indonesia, ensuring safety while allowing for easier calculations and assessments based on B-WIM measurements.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.16.1-16.19
• /
• 2023

Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine is the only licensed vaccine for tuberculosis (TB) prevention. Previously, our group demonstrated the vaccine potential of Rv0351 and Rv3628 against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection by directing Th1-biased CD4⁺ T cells co-expressing IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-2 in the lungs. Here, we assessed immunogenicity and vaccine potential of the combined Ags (Rv0351/Rv3628) formulated in different adjuvants as subunit booster in BCG-primed mice against hypervirulent clinical Mtb strain K (Mtb K). Compared to BCG-only or subunit-only vaccine, BCG prime and subunit boost regimen exhibited significantly enhanced Th1 response. Next, we evaluated the immunogenicity to the combined Ags when formulated with four different types of monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL)-based adjuvants: 1) dimethyldioctadecylammonium bromide (DDA), MPL, and trehalose dicorynomycolate (TDM) in liposome form (DMT), 2) MPL and Poly I:C in liposome form (MP), 3) MPL, Poly I:C, and QS21 in liposome form (MPQ), and 4) MPL and Poly I:C in squalene emulsion form (MPS). MPQ and MPS displayed greater adjuvancity in Th1 induction than DMT or MP did. Especially, BCG prime and subunit-MPS boost regimen significantly reduced the bacterial loads and pulmonary inflammation against Mtb K infection when compared to BCG-only vaccine at a chronic stage of TB disease. Collectively, our findings highlighted the importance of adjuvant components and formulation to induce the enhanced protection with an optimal Th1 response.

• Advances in nano research
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.231-249
• /
• 2024

When the amplitude of the vibrations is equivalent to that clearance, the vibrations for small amplitudes will really be significantly nonlinear. Nonlinearities will not be significant for amplitudes that are rather modest. Finally, nonlinearities will become crucial once again for big amplitudes. Therefore, the concrete panel system may experience a big amplitude in this work as a result of the high temperature. Based on the 3D modeling of the shell theory, the current work shows the influences of the von Kármán strain-displacement kinematic nonlinearity on the constitutive laws of the structure. The system's governing Equations in the nonlinear form are solved using Kronecker and Hadamard products, the discretization of Equations on the space domain, and Duffing-type Equations. Thermo-elasticity Equations. are used to represent the system's temperature. The harmonic solution technique for the displacement domain and the multiple-scale approach for the time domain are both covered in the section on solution procedures for solving nonlinear Equations. An effective data-driven solution is often utilized to predict how different systems would behave. The number of hidden layers and the learning rate are two hyperparameters for the network that are often chosen manually when required. Additionally, the data-driven method is offered for addressing the nonlinear vibration issue in order to reduce the computing cost of the current study. The conclusions of the present study may be validated by contrasting them with those of data-driven solutions and other published articles. The findings show that certain physical and geometrical characteristics have a significant effect on the existing concrete panel structure's susceptibility to temperature change and GPL weight fraction. For building construction industries, several useful recommendations for improving the thermo-mechanics' behavior of structural concrete panels are presented.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.89 no.6
• /
• pp.579-588
• /
• 2024

The present paper investigates the curvature ductility of confined reinforced concrete (RC) beams with normal (NSC) and high strength concrete (HSC). For the purpose of predicting the curvature ductility factor, an analytical model was developed based on the equilibrium of internal forces of confined concrete and reinforcement. In this context, the curvatures were calculated at first yielding of tension reinforcement and at ultimate when the confined concrete strain reaches the ultimate value. To best simulate the situation of confined RC beams in flexure, a modified version of an ancient confined concrete model was adopted for this study. In order to show the accuracy of the proposed model, an experimental database was collected from the literature. The statistical comparison between experimental and predicted results showed that the proposed model has a good performance. Then, the data generated from the validated theoretical model were used to train the artificial neural network (ANN) prediction model. The R² values for theoretical and experimental results are equal to 0.98 and 0.95, respectively which proves the high performance of the ANN model. Finally, a parametric study was implemented to analyze the effect of different parameters on the curvature ductility factor using theoretical and ANN models. The results are similar to those extracted from experiments, where the concrete strength, the compression reinforcement ratio, the yield strength, and the volumetric ratio of transverse reinforcement have a positive effect. In contrast, the ratio and the yield strength of tension reinforcement have a negative effect.