• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.41-46
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• 2023

Sport has no age limit and can be done anywhere and in any condition with minimal equipment. The existence of sports spaces in all parts of the world is considered a citizen's right. One of the activities carried out in this field is installing sports equipment and structures in parks and encouraging citizens to use this equipment for physical health with the least cost and facilities. Installing sports structures in open spaces such as parks is a practical step for developing citizens' sports. Although using devices in parks is acceptable, it is more critical to meet scientific and technical standards. The components of these structures must have high strength and endurance against changes in environmental conditions such as humidity, temperature difference, and corrosion. Among the various causes of material degradation, corrosion has always been one of several fundamental causes of metal equipment failure. Sports structures in open spaces are not safe from corrosion. Uniform corrosion is the most common type of corrosion. This corrosion usually occurs uniformly through a chemical or electrochemical reaction across the surface exposed to the corrosive environment. Rust and corrosion of outdoor sports structures are examples of this corrosion. For this reason, in this research, with the green synthesis of silica nanoparticles and its application in outdoor sports structures, the life span of these structures can be increased for the use of physical exercises as well as their quality.

• Ocean Systems Engineering
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.267-284
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• 2022

A subsea pipeline designed across active shipping lane prones to failure against external interferences such as anchorage activities, hence risk assessment is essential. It requires quantifying the geometric probability derived from ship traffic distribution based on Automatic Identification System (AIS) data. The actual probability density function from historical vessel traffic data is ideal, as for rapid assessment, conceptual study, when the AIS data is scarce or when the local vessels traffic are not utilised with AIS. Recommended practices suggest the probability distribution is assumed as a single peak Gaussian. This study compares several fitted Gaussian distributions and Monte Carlo simulation based on actual ship traffic data in main ship direction in an active shipping lane across a subsea pipeline. The results shows that a Gaussian distribution with five peaks is required to represent the ship traffic data, providing an error of 0.23%, while a single peak Gaussian distribution and the Monte Carlo simulation with one hundred million realisation provide an error of 1.32% and 0.79% respectively. Thus, it can be concluded that the multi-peak Gaussian distribution can represent the actual ship traffic distribution in the main direction, but it is less representative for ship traffic distribution in other direction. The geometric probability is utilised in a quantitative risk assessment (QRA) for subsea pipeline against vessel anchor dropping and dragging and vessel sinking.

• International conference on construction engineering and project management
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• 2013.01a
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• pp.459-466
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• 2013

Risk exists in all construction projects and resides among the collection of subcontractors and their array of individual activities. Wherever risk resides, the interrelation of participants to one another becomes paramount for the way in which risk is measured. Inherent risk becomes recognizable and quantifiable within network schedules in the form of consuming float - the flexibility to absorb delays. Allocating, owning, valuing, and expending such float in network schedules has been debated since the inception of the critical path method itself. This research investigates the foundational element of a three-part approach that examines how float can be traded as a commodity, a concept whose promise remains unfulfilled for lack of a holistic approach. The Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) of financial portfolio theory, which describes the relationship between risk and expected return of individual stocks, is explored as an analogy to quantify the inherent risk of the participants in construction projects. The inherent relationship between them and their impact on overall schedule performance, defined as schedule risk -the likelihood of failing to meet schedule plans and the effect of such failure, is matched with the use of CAPM's beta component - the risk correlation measure of an individual stock to that of the entire market - to determine parallels with respect to the inner workings and risks represented by each entity or activity within a schedule. This correlation is the initial theoretical extension that is required to identify where risk resides within construction projects, allocate and commoditize it, and achieve actual tradability.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.369-376
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• 2023

The quick-charging performance of SiO electrodes is evaluated with a focus on solid electrolyte interphase (SEI)-reinforcing effects. The study reveals that the incorporation of fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC) into the SiO electrode significantly reduced the electrode fatigue, which is from the the viscoelastic properties of the FEC-derived SEI film. The impact of FEC is attributed to its ability to minimize the mechanical failure of the electrode caused by additional electrolyte decomposition. This beneficial outcome arises from volumetric stain-tolerant characteristics of the FEC-derived SEI film, which limited exposure of the bare SiO surface during 0.5 C-rate cycling. Notably, FEC greatly improves Li deposition during quick-charge cycles following aging at 0.5 C-rate cycling due to its ability to maintain a strong electrical connection between active materials and the current collector, even after extended cycling. Given these findings, we assert that mitigating SEI layer deterioration, which compromises the electrode structure, is vital. Hence, enhancing the interfacial attributes of the SiO electrode becomes crucial for maintaining kinetic efficiency of battery system.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.113-125
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• 2023

Purpose: Support policies for small and medium-sized retailers (SMSRs) have been promoted in various ways over the past 20 years, but they are generally regarded as unsuccessful. The purpose of this study is to analyze the process and impact of policy changes, identify the reasons for the lack of success, and explore policy alternatives. Research design, data and methodology: This study explored major policies in various categories such as the retail industry, traditional markets, and Micro-Enterprises from the mid-1990s to the present. It also analyzed the short- and long-term impacts of major policies at the retail format level like SMSRs, using data from Statistics Korea's service industry survey. Results: This research found that sudden shifts in policy philosophy conflicted with the existing market structure and reduced the effectiveness of policies. It also found that policies aimed at improving competitiveness at the SMSRs-level had some effect, while polices aimed at supporting expenses at the individual store-level were difficult to achieve their intended purpose. Conclusions: The failure of the policy to support SMSRs is fundamentally due to the late response and conflicts between policies. It was also not successful due to the policy's focus on individual store-level expenses and maintaining employment rather than structural improvements of SMSRs format.

• Composites Research
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.383-387
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• 2023

Carbon fiber-reinforced composites have excellent mechanical properties. However, the fracture toughness is a disadvantage due to brittle failure mode. The fracture toughness can be enhanced using hybridization with large-elongation fibers. In this study, polyamide (aramid) fibers are hybridized with carbon fiber with various stacking sequences. As a result, the Izod impact strength was enhanced by 63% with 25% aramid fiber hybridization. It is also shown that there is an optimal point in laminated composite hybridization, [CF/CAF₂/CF]_s stacking sequence.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.9-24
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• 2024

In order to study the shear mechanical behavior of prefabricated and assembled multi-key group stud connectors, this paper conducted push-out tests on 10 prefabricated and assembled multi-key group stud connectors, distributed in 5 groups, and detailed the failure modes of each specimen. Based on the finite element software, a total of 22 models of this type of stud connector are established, and validated the finite element models using the push-out tests. Furthermore, the effects of stud diameter, number of key groups, and spacing of key groups on the shear resistance of prefabricated and assembled multi-key group stud connectors are analyzed. Combined with the test and finite element, the force analysis is carried out for the stud and first-pouring and post-pouring concrete. The results show that the spacing and number of key groups have a significant impact on the shear capacity and shear stiffness of the specimen. For a single stud, the shear force is transferred to the surrounding concrete via the stud's root. When the stud is finally cut, the steel and the concrete plate are separated. Under vertical shear force, the top row of studs experiences the highest shear, while the middle row has the least. Based on statistical regression, a formula of assembled multi-key group stud connectors is proposed.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.183-199
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• 2024

In this paper, a closed-form rigorous solution for interfacial stress in continuous steel beam with variable section strengthened with bonded prestressed FRP plates and subjected to a uniformly distributed load is developed using linear elastic theory and including the variation of fiber volume fractions with a longitudinal orientation of the fibers of the FRP plates. The results show that there exists a high concentration of both shear and normal stress at the ends of the laminate, which might result in premature failure of the strengthening scheme at these locations. The theoretical predictions are compared with other existing solutions. Overall, the predictions of the different solutions agree closely with each other. A parametric study has been conducted to investigate the sensitivity of interface behavior to parameters such as laminate and adhesive stiffness, the thickness of the laminate and the fiber volume fractions where all were found to have a marked effect on the magnitude of maximum shear and normal stress in the composite member. This research gives a numerical precision in relating to the others studies which neglect the effect of prestressed plate and the shear lag impact. The physical and geometric properties of materials are taken into account, and that may play an important role in reducing the interfacial stresses magnitude.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.526-535
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• 2024

This paper proposes a safety-critical standby component unavailability model that contains aging effects caused by the elapsed time from installation, component degradation due to surveillance tests, and imperfect maintenance actions. An application of the model to a Motor-Operated Valve and a Motor-Driven Pump involved in the HPIS of a VVER/1000-V446 nuclear power plant is demonstrated and compared with other existing models at component and system levels. In addition, the effects of different unavailability models are reflected in the NPP's risk criterion, i.e., core damage frequency, over five maintenance periods. The results show that, compared with other models that do not simultaneously consider the full effects of degradation and maintenance impacts, the proposed model realistically evaluates the unavailabilities of the safety-related components and the involved systems as a plant age function. Therefore, it can effectively reflect the age-dependent CDF impact of a given testing and maintenance policy in a specified time horizon.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.629-641
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• 2024

The presence of excavations or cavities beneath the foundations of a building can have a significant impact on their stability and cause extensive damage. Traditional methods for calculating the bearing capacity and subsidence of foundations over cavities can be complex and time-consuming, particularly when dealing with conditions that vary. In such situations, machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) techniques provide effective alternatives. This study concentrates on constructing a prediction model based on the performance of ML and DL algorithms that can be applied in real-world settings. The efficacy of eight algorithms, including Regression Analysis, k-Nearest Neighbor, Decision Tree, Random Forest, Multivariate Regression Spline, Artificial Neural Network, and Deep Neural Network, was evaluated. Using a Python-assisted automation technique integrated with the PLAXIS 2D platform, a dataset containing 272 cases with eight input parameters and one target variable was generated. In general, the DL model performed better than the ML models, and all models, except the regression models, attained outstanding results with an R² greater than 0.90. These models can also be used as surrogate models in reliability analysis to evaluate failure risks and probabilities.