• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.6 no.5_6
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• pp.545-559
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• 2010

This paper presents the results of a pilot study and verification of a concept of a novel methodology for damage detection and assessment of water distribution system. The unique feature of the proposed noninvasive methodology is the use of accelerometers installed on the pipe surface, instead of pressure sensors that are traditionally installed invasively. Experimental observations show that a sharp change in pressure is always accompanied by a sharp change of pipe surface acceleration at the corresponding locations along the pipe length. Therefore, water pressure-monitoring can be transformed into acceleration-monitoring of the pipe surface. The latter is a significantly more economical alternative due to the use of less expensive sensors such as MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) or other acceleration sensors. In this scenario, monitoring is made for Maximum Pipe Acceleration Gradient (MPAG) rather than Maximum Water Head Gradient (MWHG). This paper presents the results of a small-scale laboratory experiment that serves as the proof of concept of the proposed technology. The ultimate goal of this study is to improve upon the existing SCADA (Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition) by integrating the proposed non-invasive monitoring techniques to ultimately develop the next generation SCADA system for water distribution systems.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.35-41
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• 2003

The principal fibers used in constructing the cocoon in the garden spider, Argiope aurantia, are large-diameter fibers developed from tubuliform glands and small-diameter fibers presumed to be spun by the aciniform silk glands. Scanning electron micrographs of the large-diameter fibers on both surfaces of the cocoon clearly reveal their fine structural differences. While the silk fibers on the inner surface have smooth and homogeneous appearances, each fiber on the outer surface represents a multicomponent internal structure. Examination of each fibers using transmission electron microscope also provides additional evidence that the multicomponent fibers contain numerous electron lucent fibrils embedded in an amorphous electron dense matrix. It has been also revealed that two types of secretory granules presumed to be the precursors of tubuliform fibers are closely related to the production of distinct coloration in luminal contents - brownish and yellowish components. Moreover, these electron-dense granules, possibly precursor of fibrillar component, and electron-lucent granules, possibly precursor of matrix component, are densely packed and remain close to each other without fusion. It is critical evidence that the individual tubuliform fiber is not only heterogeneous and multicomponent but also takes place in a variety at manners throughout the length of the gland.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.89-98
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• 2019

In this work, the thermal buckling characteristics of zigzag single-walled boron nitride (SWBNNT) embedded in a one-parameter elastic medium modeled as Winkler-type foundation are investigated using a nonlocal first-order shear deformation theory (NFSDT). This model can take into account the small scale effect as well as the transverse shear deformation effects of nanotubes. A closed-form solution for nondimensional critical buckling temperature is obtained in this investigation. Further the effect of nonlocal parameter, Winkler elastic foundation modulus, the ratio of the length to the diameter, the transverse shear deformation and rotary inertia on the critical buckling temperature are being investigated and discussed. The results presented in this paper can provide useful guidance for the study and design of the next generation of nanodevices that make use of the thermal buckling properties of boron nitride nanotubes.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.143-156
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• 2021

Rail transit lines usually pass through many complicated topographies in mountain areas. The influence of inclined bedrock on the train-induced soil vibration response was investigated. Model tests were conducted to comparatively analyze the vibration attenuation under inclined bedrock and horizontal bedrock conditions. A three-dimension numerical model was built to make parameter analysis. The results show that under the horizontal bedrock condition, the peak velocity in different directions was almost the same, while it obviously changed under the inclined bedrock condition. Further, the peak velocity under inclined bedrock condition had a larger value. The peak velocity first increased and then decreased with depth, and the trend of the curve of vibration attenuation with depth presented as a quadratic parabola. The terrain conditions had a significant influence on the vibration responses, and the inclined soil surface mainly affected the shallow soil. The influence of the dip angle of bedrock on the peak velocity and vibration attenuation was related to the directions of the ground surface. As the soil thickness increased, the peak velocity decreased, and as it reached 173% of the embedded pile length, the influence of the inclined bedrock could be neglected.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.649-662
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• 2020

Although several types of rigid shear connectors have been developed particularly to increase load-carrying capacity, application is limited due to the complicated details of such connection. In this study, push-out tests were performed for specimens with hybrid shear connectors using headed studs and shear plates to identify the effects of each parameter on the structural performance of such shear connection. The test parameters included steel ratios of headed stud to shear plate, connection length, and embedded depth of shear plates. The peak strength and residual strength were estimated using various shear transfer mechanisms such as stud shear, concrete bearing, and shear friction. The hybrid shear connectors using shear plates and headed studs showed large load-carrying capacity and deformation capacity. The peak strength was predicted by the concrete bearing strength of the shear plates. The residual strength was sufficiently predicted by the stud shear strength of headed studs or by shear friction strength of dowel reinforcing bars. Further, the finite element analysis was performed to verify the shear transfer mechanism of the connection with hybrid shear connector.

• Coupled systems mechanics
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.39-60
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• 2021

The present paper is concerned with the study of nonlinear ultrasonic waves in a magneto thermo (MT) elastic armchair single-walled carbon nanotube (ASWCNT) resting on polymer matrix. The analytical formulation is developed based on Eringen's nonlocal elasticity theory to account small scale effect. After developing the formal solution of the mathematical model consisting of partial differential equations, the frequency equations have been analyzed numerically by using the nonlinear foundations supported by Winkler-Pasternak model. The solution is obtained by ultrasonic wave dispersion relations. Parametric work is carried out to scrutinize the influence of the non local scaling, magneto-mechanical loadings, foundation parameters, various boundary condition and length on the dimensionless frequency of nanotube. It is noticed that the boundary conditions, nonlocal parameter, and tube geometrical parameters have significant effects on dimensionless frequency of nano tubes. The results presented in this study can provide mechanism for the study and design of the nano devices like component of nano oscillators, micro wave absorbing, nano-electron technology and nano-electro- magneto-mechanical systems (NEMMS) that make use of the wave propagation properties of armchair single-walled carbon nanotubes embedded on polymer matrix.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.165-174
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• 2022

In the present study, a hybrid model of artificial neural network (ANN) and internet of things (IoT) is proposed to overcome the difficulties in deriving governing equations and numerical solutions of the dynamical behavior of the nano-systems. Nano-structures manifest size-dependent behavior in response to static and dynamic loadings. Nonlocal and length-scale parameters alongside with other geometrical, loading and material parameters are taken as input parameters of an ANN to observe the natural frequency and damping behavior of micro sensors made from nanocomposite material with piezoelectric layers. The behavior of a micro-beam is simulated using famous numerical methods in literature under base vibrations. The ANN was further trained to correlate the output vibrations to the base vibration. Afterwards, using IoT, the electrical potential conducted in the sensors are collected and converted to numerical data in an embedded mini-computer and transferred to a server for further calculations and decision by ANN. The ANN calculates the base vibration behavior with is crucial in mechanical systems. The speed and accuracy of the ANN in determining base excitation behavior are the strengths of this network which could be further employed by engineers and scientists.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
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• v.59 no.2
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• pp.135-144
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• 2023

In order to provide basic data to increase the efficiency and stability of seamanship at anchoring, the characteristics of the hull motion including dragging anchor due to external forces were observed at Mokpo and Jinhae anchorage for the avoidance of the typhoon. As a result, it is necessary to check the embedding motion and holding power of the anchor according to at initial position to decrease dragging anchor. Dragging anchor at anchorage seems to have been easily caused according to discrepancy between embedded anchor flukes and the towing direction due to the change in wind direction, rather than the wind speed. This discrepancy, thus, should be considered when anchoring. This test vessel with a small radius of curvature of the stem is relatively vulnerable to the influence of wind direction and wind speed, so it is easy to cause a decrease in the holding power due to an increase in the rate of turn. When the current speed is greater than or equal to 1 knot, the range of the rate of turn is reduced resulting in a relatively increased holding power. In addition, during the swing, the tension of the chain was high according to the angular velocity change of heading at three-quarters of the swing length rather than the left and right ends.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2023

A growing trend of utilizing helical piles for soft soil strata to support infrastructure projects is currently observed in Saemangeum, South Korea. Recognized mainly due to its ease of installation and reusability proves to be far more superior compared to other foundation types in terms of sustainability. This study applies modified p-y springs to characterize the behavior of a laterally loaded helical pile with a shaft diameter of 89.1 mm affixed with 3 helices evenly spaced along its embedded length of 2.5 m. Geotechnical soil properties are correlated from CPT data near the test bed vicinity and strain gauges mounted on the shaft surface. A modification factor is applied on the p-y springs to adjust the simulated data and match it to the bending moment, soil resistance and deflection values from the strain gauge measurements. The predicted lateral behavior of the helical pile through the numerical analysis method shows fairly good agreement to the recorded field test results.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.81 no.2
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• pp.163-178
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• 2022

This paper aimed to study the local bond-slip behavior between ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) and a reinforcing bar after exposure to high temperatures. A series of pull-out tests were carried out on cubic specimens of size 150×150×150 mm with deformed steel bar embedded for a fixed length of three times the diameter of the tested deformed bar. The experimental results of the bond stress-slip relationship were compared with the Euro-International Concrete Committee (CEB-Comite Euro-International du Beton)-International Federation for Prestressing (FIP-Federation Internationale de la Precontrainte) Model Code and with prediction models found in the literature. In addition, based on the test results, an empirical model of the bond stress-slip relationship was proposed. The evaluation and comparison results showed that the modified CEB-FIP Model code 2010 proposed by Aslani and Samali for the local bond stress-slip relationship for UHPC after exposure to high temperatures was more conservative. In contrast, for both room temperature and after exposure to high temperatures, the modified CEB-FIP Model Code 2010 local bond stress-slip model for UHPC proposed in this study was able to predict the test results with reasonable accuracy.