• Computers and Concrete
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.327-335
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• 2023

The most popular building material, concrete, is intrinsically linked to the advancement of humanity. Due to the ever-increasing complexity of cementitious systems, concrete formulation for desired qualities remains a difficult undertaking despite conceptual and methodological advancement in the field of concrete science. Recognising the significant pollution caused by the traditional cement industry, construction of civil engineering structures has been carried out successfully using Geopolymer Concrete (GPC), also known as High Performance Concrete (HPC). These are concretes formed by the reaction of inorganic materials with a high content of Silicon and Aluminium (Pozzolans) with alkalis to achieve cementitious properties. These supplementary cementitious materials include Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBFS), a waste material generated in the steel manufacturing industry; Fly Ash, which is a fine waste product produced by coal-fired power stations and Silica Fume, a by-product of producing silicon metal or ferrosilicon alloys. This result demonstrated that GPC/HPC can be utilised as a substitute for traditional Portland cement-based concrete, resulting in improvements in concrete properties in addition to environmental and economic benefits. This study explores utilising experimental data to train artificial neural networks, which are then used to determine the effect of supplementary cementitious material replacement, namely fly ash, Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBFS) and silica fume, on the compressive strength, tensile strength, and modulus of elasticity of concrete and to predict these values accordingly.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.86 no.1
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• pp.29-48
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• 2023

Pounding happens when contiguous structures with differing heights vibrate out of line caused by a seismic activity. The situation is aggravated due to the insufficient separation gap between the structures which can lead to the crashing of the buildings or total collapse of an edifice. Countries around the world have compiled building standards to address the pounding issue. One of the strategies recommended is the introduction of the separation gap between structures. AS1170.4-2007 is an Australian standard that requires 1% of the building height as a minimum separation gap between buildings to preclude pounding. This article presents experimental and numerical tests to determine the adequacy of this specification to prevent the occurrence of seismic pounding between steel frame structures under near-field and far-field earthquakes. The results indicated that the recommended minimum separation gap based on the Australian Standard is inaccurate if low-rise structure in a coupled case is utilised under both near and far field earthquakes. The standard is adequate if a tall building is involved but only when a far-field earthquake happens. The research likewise presents results derived by using the ABS and SRSS methods.

• Advances in materials Research
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.129-140
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• 2024

This study evaluates the ratio of Toluene di-isocyanate (TDI) functional group isocyanate (NCO) to the binder functional hydroxyl group (OH) in HTPB/AP/Al-based propellants on their mechanical properties, flow rate, and viscosity to determine the limitations of NCO/OH in the composition of solid propellants. The propellants consisted of hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) polyurethane (PU), aluminum (Al) and tri-modal ammonium perchlorate (AP). The tri-modal AP consisted of 30% of coarse AP, 30% of medium AP, and 8% of fine AP. The ratio of NCO/OH varies from 0.73 to 0.85, with two binder percentages of 10.5% and 12%. An increase in NCO/OH ratio with 10.5% binder provided 20%, 95%, and 8 to 9% increments in UTS, modulus, and hardness, respectively. However, the propellant elongation, density, and flow rate decreased by 170%, 0.2%, and 11-12%, respectively. Viscosity increased 20% based on initial hour reading. The 12% binder provides 27%, 47%, and 5~6% an increment of UTS, modulus and hardness respectively. However, the propellant elongation, density, and flow rate decreased by 47%, 0.17% and 27%, respectively. The viscosity increased 30% based on initial hour reading. This study suggests the NCO/OH value of 0.77 and 10.5~11% binder content in propellant based on the mechanical properties, flow rate, and viscosity for better processing and pot life.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.58 no.6
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• pp.1045-1075
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• 2016

Shallow footings are one of the most common types of foundations used to support mid-rise buildings in high risk seismic zones. Recent findings have revealed that the dynamic interaction between the soil, foundation, and the superstructure can influence the seismic response of the building during earthquakes. Accordingly, the properties of a foundation can alter the dynamic characteristics (natural frequency and damping) of the soil-foundation-structure system. In this paper the influence that shallow foundations have on the seismic response of a mid-rise moment resisting building is investigated. For this purpose, a fifteen storey moment resisting frame sitting on shallow footings with different sizes was simulated numerically using ABAQUS software. By adopting a direct calculation method, the numerical model can perform a fully nonlinear time history dynamic analysis to realistically simulate the dynamic behaviour of soil, foundation, and structure under seismic excitations. This three-dimensional numerical model accounts for the nonlinear behaviour of the soil medium and structural elements. Infinite boundary conditions were assigned to the numerical model to simulate free field boundaries, and appropriate contact elements capable of modelling sliding and separation between the foundation and soil elements are also considered. The influence of foundation size on the natural frequency of the system and structural response spectrum was also studied. The numerical results for cases of soil-foundation-structure systems with different sized foundations and fixed base conditions (excluding soil-foundation-structure interaction) in terms of lateral deformations, inter-storey drifts, rocking, and shear force distribution of the structure were then compared. Due to natural period lengthening, there was a significant reduction in the base shears when the size of the foundation was reduced. It was concluded that the size of a shallow foundation influences the dynamic characteristics and the seismic response of the building due to interaction between the soil, foundation, and structure, and therefore design engineer should carefully consider these parameters in order to ensure a safe and cost effective seismic design.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.368-375
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• 2006

Four rumen-fistulated dairy steers were randomly assigned according to a $4{\times}4$ Latin square design to investigate effects of supplementation levels of sodium dl-malate in concentrates on rumen ecology, ruminal fermentation, nitrogen balance, feed intake and digestibility of nutrients and ruminal microbial protein synthesis. The dietary treatments were cassava concentrate-based, containing sodium dl-malate supplementation at 0, 9, 18 and 27 g/hd/d with urea-treated rice straw (UTS) fed ad libitum. The experiment was conducted for four periods, each period lasting 21 days. Ruminal pH increased with incremental addition of malate (p<0.05). Additionally, molar proportions of propionate were higher in supplemented groups and was highest at 18 g/hd/d of malate supplement (p<0.05). Microbial protein synthesis tended to be higher in dairy steers receiving sodium dl-malate supplements and also was the highest at 18 g/hd/d. Variable bacterial populations, such as amylolytic, proteolytic and cellulolytic species were increased (p<0.05). Furthermore, protozoal populations were decreased significantly (p<0.05), while fungal zoospores were dramatically increased in dairy steers receiving sodium dl-malate supplement (p<0.05). These results suggested that supplementation of concentrate containing a high level of cassava chip at 18 g/hd/d with UTS in dairy steers could improve rumen fermentation efficiency and rumen microbial protein synthesis.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.306-313
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• 2017

This study investigated the microstructure, tensile strength, and high cycle fatigue properties of ADC12 aluminum alloys with different $Mg+Al_2Ca$ contents manufactured using die casting process. Microstructural observation identified the presence of ${\alpha}-Al$, eutectic Si, $Al_2Cu$, and Fe-intermetallic phases. The increase of $Mg+Al_2Ca$ content resulted in finer pore size and decreased pore distribution. Room temperature tensile strength tests were conducted at strain rate of $1{\times}10^{-3}/sec$. For 0.6%Mg ADC12, measured UTS, YS, and El were 305.2MPa, 157.0MPa, and 2.7%, respectively. For 0.8%Mg ADC12, measured UTS, YS, and El were 311.2 MPa, 159.4 MPa, and 2.4%, respectively. Therefore, 0.8% ADC12 alloy had higher strength and slightly decreased elongation compared to 0.6% Mg ADC12. High cycle fatigue tests revealed that 0.6% Mg ADC12 alloy had a fatigue limit of 150 MPa while 0.8% Mg ADC12 had a fatigue limit of 160MPa. It was confirmed that $Mg+Al_2Ca$ added ADC12 alloy achieved finer, spherical eutectic Si particles, and $Al_2Cu$ phases with greater mechanical and fatigue properties since size and distribution of pores and shrinkage cavities decreased as $Mg+Al_2Ca$ content increased.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.364-375
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• 1994

The microstructure of medium-carbon non-heat treated steels by air-cooling shows ferritepearlite structure. Compared to the conventional Q/T steels, the strength of these steels containing V, Nb and Ti are similar to Q/T steels. However, their toughness are inferior. In this study, the mechanical properties and microstructures of low-carbon Mo bearing steels produced by direct-quenching process were investigated. Especially, the effect of Mo on the direct-quenched steels was examined. The direct-quenched steels containing Mo were found to have higher strength and toughness. Mo seemed to be effective in producing the fine structure and dense precipitates because of decreasing transformation temperature. The best results were 1211 MPa in UTS and 127.5 J in toughness in the oil quenched 0.15C+O.llV+ 0.035Nb+ 1.81Mo steel. Compared to 0.4% C microalloyed steels, this results showed that UTS increased by 45% and toughness by 2 times.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.51-56
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• 2020

In this study, three kinds of metal chills such as SS400, AC4CH and brass, with different thicknesses of 40 ~ 80 mm, were applied for low pressure casting of Al-Si alloy to control cooling rate. The microstructural characteristics with increasing cooling rate were represented using factors including D₁, D₂, size of primary α phases and shape factor and size of eutectic Si. The tensile properties were investigated and additionally analyzed based on the microstructural characteristics. As the cooling rate increased, D₁, D₂, and sizes of primary α phases and eutectic Si apparently decreased and the shape factor of eutectic Si increased to over 0.8. The ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and yield strength (YS) increased with decreasing D₁, D₂, and size of primary α phases, while elongation increased with decreasing size of eutectic Si and concurrently increasing shape factor of eutectic Si. This indicated that the primary α phases and eutectic Si in Al-Si alloy were refined with increasing cooling rate, resulting in improvement of UTS and YS without sacrificing elongation. After the tensile test, preferential deformation of primary α phases was observed in the Al-Si alloy produced at higher cooling rates of more than 0.1 K/s.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.22 no.10
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• pp.499-503
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• 2012

The present study is intended to comparatively investigate the changes in microstructure and tensile properties at room and elevated temperatures in commercial AM50(Mg-5%Al-0.3%Mn) and 0.3 wt%CaO added ECO-AM50 alloys produced by permanent mould casting. The typical microstructure of AM50 alloy was distinctively characterized using two intermetallic compounds, ${\beta}(Mg_{17}Al_{12})$ and $Al_8Mn_5$, along with ${\alpha}$-(Mg) matrix in an as-cast state. The addition of a small amount of CaO played a role in reducing dendrite cell size and quantity of the ${\beta}$ phase in the AM50 alloy. It is interesting to note that the added CaO introduced a small amount of $Al_2Ca$ adjacent to the ${\beta}$ compounds, and that inhomogeneous enrichment of elemental Ca was observed within the ${\beta}$ phase. The ECO-AM50 alloy showed higher hardness and better YS and UTS at room temperature than did the AM50 alloy, which characteristics can be mainly ascribed to the finer-grained microstructure that originated from the CaO addition. At $175^{\circ}C$, higher levels of YS and UTS and higher elongation were obtained for the ECO-AM50 alloy, demonstrating that even 0.3 wt%CaO addition can be beneficial in promoting the heat resistance of the AM50 alloy. The combinational contributions of enhanced thermal stability of the Ca-containing ${\beta}$ phase and the introduction of a stable $Al_2Ca$ phase with high melting point are thought to be responsible for the improvement of the high temperature tensile properties in the ECO-AM50 alloy.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.61 no.4
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• pp.268-274
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• 2023

In this case, a CAD-CAM complete denture that can be easily remanufactured and reduced the number of visits was decided in consideration of the fact that it was difficult to visit the dental hospital and many existing dentures were lost because the patient was inpatient in a nursing hospital. In order to reflect the shape, vertical dimension, and maxillomandibular relationship of the existing provisional dentures adapted by the patient to the fabrication of the final denture, the existing provisional dentures were scanned and closed mouth impression was taken with the printed individual tray. After digital facebow transfer using UTS CAD and arranging artificial teeth in CAD software, the maxillary and mandibular complete dentures were fabricated by milling the denture base and artificial teeth at once with the monolithic disc.