• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.11
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• pp.4026-4031
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• 2023

In this article, we report a new empirical formula for quick calculation of cross sections of (n, α) reactions with 14-15 MeV neutrons. Cross sections are analysed in terms of the compound nucleus model. A systematic trend for 14-15 MeV neutrons is found in the variation of (n, α) reaction cross sections with the parameters (N - Z + 1), (E_n + Q)^0.5 and N/Z. The empirical relation between the cross sections and these parameters has been obtained, which give fairly good fits with the experimental data. We have also investigated the odd-even effects on (n, α) cross sections considering binding energy systematic of the shell model. The present formula is very useful in predicting of the (n, α) cross sections, where the measurements are not available as well as in testing new experimental data.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.977-994
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• 2015

In this study, earthquake loads are investigated statistically and compared with the nominal earthquake loads calculated according to the Turkish Earthquake Code, namely: "Specifications for Structures to be Built in Earthquake Areas". For this purpose, the "actual" mean load values estimated from statistical methods and the nominal load values computed according the Seismic Code are compared, with respect to some variations in the basic parameters, such as the importance factor, building height, site coefficient, seismic zone and seismic load reduction factor. In addition to the data compiled from different regions of Turkey, the published data and information in the foreign literature are also used in the determination of the earthquake load statistics. Although the dead and live loads acting on a structure are independent of the geographical location of the structure, environmental loads, such as earthquake loads are highly dependent on the location of the structure. Accordingly, for the assessment of statistical parameters associated with earthquake loads, twelve different locations which can represent the different seismic zones of Turkey as accurately as possible are chosen. As a result of the code calibration procedure considered in this study, it is observed that the load values obtained from the Turkish Seismic Code may overestimate or underestimate the actual seismic loads in some of the seismic zones.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.1-18
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• 2010

Bonding of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites has become a popular technique for strengthening concrete structures in recent years. The bond stress between concrete and CFRP is the main factor determining the strength, rigidity, failure mode and behavior of a reinforced concrete member strengthened with CFRP. The accurate evaluation of the strain is required for analytical calculations and design processes. In this study, the strain between concrete and bonded CFRP sheets across the notch is tested. In this paper, indirect axial tension is applied to CFRP bonded test specimen by a four point bending tests. The variables studied in this research are CFRP sheet width, bond length and the concrete compression strength. Furthermore, the effect of a crack- modeled as a notch- on the strain distribution is studied. It is observed that the strain in the CFRP to concrete interface reaches its maximum values near the crack tips. It is also observed that extending the CFRP sheet more than to a certain length does not affect the strength and the strain distribution of the bonding. The stress distribution obtained from experiments are compared to Chen and Teng's (2001) analytical model.

• International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.415-425
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• 2015

Reinforced concrete beams with insufficient shear reinforcement were strengthened using glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) plates. In the study, the effect of the number of bolts on the load capacity, energy dissipation, and stiffness of reinforced concrete beams were investigated by using anchor bolt of different numbers. Three strengthened with GFRP specimens, one flexural reference specimen designed in accordance to Regulation on Buildings Constructed in Disaster Areas rules, and one shear reinforcement insufficient reference specimen was tested. Anchorage was made on the surfaces of the beams in strengthened specimens using 2, 3 and 4 bolts respectively. All beams were tested under monotonic loads. Results obtained from the tests of strengthened concrete beams were compared with the result of good flexural reference specimen. The beam in which 4 bolts were used in adhering GFRP plates on beam surfaces carried approximately equal loads with the beam named as a flexural reference. The amount of energy dissipated by strengthened DE5 specimen was 96 % of the amount of energy dissipated by DE1 reference specimen. Strengthened DE5 specimen initial stiffness equal to DE1 reference specimen initial stiffness, but strengthened DE5 specimen yield stiffness about 4 % lower than DE1 reference specimen yield stiffness. Also, DE5 specimen exhibited ductile behavior and was fractured due to bending fracture. Upon the increase of the number of anchorages used in a strengthening collapsing manner of test specimens changed and load capacity and ductility thereof increased.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.493-500
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• 2018

Due to the fact that the ratio of their height to their openings is very large compared to normal beams, there are difficulties in the design and analysis of deep beams, which differ in behavior. In this study, the optimum horizontal and vertical reinforcement diameters of 5 different beams were determined by using genetic algorithms (GA) due to the openness/height ratio (L/h), loading condition and the presence of spaces in the body. In this study, the effect of different mutation operators and improved double times sensitive mutation (DTM) operator on GA's performance was investigated. In the study following random mutation (RM), boundary mutation (BM), non-uniform random mutation (NRM), Makinen, Periaux and Toivanen (MPT) mutation, power mutation (PM), polynomial mutation (PNM), and developed DTM mutation operators were applied to five deep beam problems were used to determine the minimum reinforcement diameter. The fitness values obtained using developed DTM mutation operator was higher than obtained from existing mutation operators. Moreover; obtained reinforcement weight of the deep beams using the developed DTM mutation operator lower than obtained from the existing mutation operators. As a result of the analyzes, the highest fitness value was obtained from the applied double times sensitive mutation (DTM) operator. In addition, it was found that this study, which was carried out using GAs, contributed to the solution of the problems experienced in the design of deep beams.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.996-1005
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• 2017

In this paper, nuclear data for cross sections of the $^{64}Zn(n,2n)^{63}Zn$, $^{64}Zn(n,3n)^{62}Zn$, $^{64}Zn(n,p)^{64}Cu$, $^{66}Zn(n,2n)^{65}Zn$, $^{66}Zn(n,p)^{66}Cu$, $^{67}Zn(n,p)^{67}Cu$, $^{68}Zn(n,p)^{68}Cu$, and $^{68}Zn(n,{\alpha})^{65}Ni$ reactions were studied for neutron energies up to 40 MeV. In the nuclear model calculations, TALYS 1.6, ALICE/ASH, and EMPIRE 3.2 codes were used. Furthermore, the nuclear data for the (n,2n) and (n,p) reaction channels were also calculated using various cross-section systematics at energies around 14-15 MeV. The code calculations were analyzed and obtained using the different level densities in the exciton model and the geometry-dependent hybrid model. The results obtained from the excitation function calculations are discussed and compared with literature experimental data, ENDF/B-VII.1, and the TENDL-2015 evaluated data.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.437-453
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• 2019

This study investigates a new optimal placement method for viscous dampers between structures in order to prevent pounding of adjacent structures with different dynamic characteristics under earthquake effects. A relative displacement spectrum is developed in two single degree of freedom system to reveal the critical period ratios for the most risky scenario of collision using El Centro earthquake record (NS). Three different types of viscous damper design, which are classical, stair and X-diagonal model, are considered to prevent pounding on two adjacent building models. The objective function is minimized under the upper and lower limits of the damping coefficient of the damper and a target modal damping ratio. A new algorithm including time history analyses and numerical optimization methods is proposed to find the optimal dampers placement. The proposed design method is tested on two 12-storey adjacent building models. The effects of the type of damper placement on structural models, the critical period ratios of adjacent structures, the permissible relative displacement limit, the mode behavior and the upper limit of damper are investigated in detail. The results of the analyzes show that the proposed method can be used as an effective means of finding the optimum amount and location of the dampers and eliminating the risk of pounding.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.139-150
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• 2021

In this study, phytochemicals present in Propolis Extract (PE) were employed as reducing and stabilizing reagents to synthesize silver nanoparticles. Three propolis-reduced silver nanoparticles (P-AgNPs1-3) were synthesized using increasing amounts of PE. P-AgNPs were treated with different cancer cells-lung (A549), cervix (HeLa) and colon (WiDr) - for 24, 48 and 72 h to evaluate their anti-proliferative activities. A non-cancerous cell type (L929) was also used to test whether suppressive effects of P-AgNPs on cancer cell proliferation were due to a general cytotoxic effect. The characterization results showed that the bioactive contents in propolis successfully induced particle formation. As the amount of PE increased, the particle size decreased; however, the size distribution range expanded. The antioxidant capacity of the particles increased with increased propolis amounts. P-AgNP1 exhibited almost equal inhibitory effects across all cancer cell types; however, P-AgNP2 was more effective on HeLa cells. P-AgNPs3 showed greater inhibitory effects in almost all cancer cells compared to other NPs and pure propolis. Consequently, the biological effects of P-AgNPs were highly dependent on PE amount, NP concentration, and cell type. These results suggest that AgNPs synthesized utilizing propolis phytochemicals might serve as anti-cancer agents, providing greater efficacy against cancer cells.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.18.1-18.9
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• 2022

Objectives: This study evaluated alterations in neuronal conductivity related to calcium silicate cements (CSCs) by investigating compound action potentials (cAPs) in rat sciatic nerves. Materials and Methods: Sciatic nerves were placed in a Tyrode bath and cAPs were recorded before, during, and after the application of test materials for 60-minute control, application, and recovery measurements, respectively. Freshly prepared ProRoot MTA, MTA Angelus, Biodentine, Endosequence RRM-Putty, BioAggregate, and RetroMTA were directly applied onto the nerves. Biopac LabPro version 3.7 was used to record and analyze cAPs. The data were statistically analyzed. Results: None of the CSCs totally blocked cAPs. RetroMTA, Biodentine, and MTA Angelus caused no significant alteration in cAPs (p > 0.05). Significantly lower cAPs were observed in recovery measurements for BioAggregate than in the control condition (p < 0.05). ProRoot MTA significantly but transiently reduced cAPs in the application period compared to the control period (p < 0.05). Endosequence RRM-Putty significantly reduced cAPs. Conclusions: Various CSCs may alter cAPs to some extent, but none of the CSCs irreversibly blocked them. The usage of fast-setting CSCs during apexification or regeneration of immature teeth seems safer than slow-setting CSCs due to their more favorable neuronal effects.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.413-426
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• 2024

This paper investigates the dynamic behavior of a simply supported viscoelastic plate made of functionally graded carbon nanotube reinforced composite under dynamic loading. Carbon nanotubes are distributed in 5 different shapes: U, V, A, O and X, depending on the shape they form through the thickness of the plate. The displacement fields are derived in the Laplace domain using a higher-order shear deformation theory. Equations of motion are obtained through the application of the energy method and Hamilton's principle. The resulting equations of motion are solved using Navier's method. Transforming the Laplace domain displacements into the time domain involves Durbin's modified inverse Laplace transform. To validate the accuracy of the developed algorithm, a free vibration analysis is conducted for simply supported plate made of functionally graded carbon nanotube reinforced composite and compared against existing literature. Subsequently, a parametric forced vibration analysis considers the influence of various parameters: volume fractions of carbon nanotubes, their distributions, and ratios of instantaneous value to retardation time in the relaxation function, using a linear standard viscoelastic model. In the forced vibration analysis, the dynamic distributed load applied to functionally graded carbon nanotube reinforced composite viscoelastic plate is obtained in terms of double trigonometric series. The study culminates in an examination of maximum displacement, exploring the effects of different carbon nanotube distributions, volume fractions, and ratios of instantaneous value to retardation times in the relaxation function on the amplitudes of maximum displacements.