• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.78 no.4
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• pp.485-496
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• 2021

So far analytical methods on collapse assessment of three-dimensional (3-D) steel frames have mainly focused on a single-column-removal scenario. However, the collapse of the Federal Building in the US due to car bomb explosion indicated that the loss of multiple columns may occur in the real structures, wherein the structures are more vulnerable to collapse. Meanwhile, the General Services Administration (GSA) in the US suggested that the removal of side columns of the structure has a great possibility to cause collapse. Therefore, this paper analytically deals with the robustness of 3-D steel frames in a two-side-column-removal (TSCR) scenario. Analytical method is first proposed to determine the collapse resistance of the frame during this column-removal procedure. The reliability of the analytical method is verified by the finite element results. Moreover, a design-based methodology is proposed to quickly assess the robustness of the frame due to a TSCR scenario. It is found the analytical method can reasonably predict the resistance-displacement relationship of the frame in the TSCR scenario, with an error generally less than 10%. The parametric numerical analyses suggest that the slab thickness mainly affects the plastic bearing capacity of the frame. The rebar diameter mainly affects the capacity of the frame at large displacement. However, the steel beam section height affects both the plastic and ultimate bearing capacity of the frame. A case study on a six-storey steel frame shows that the design-based methodology provides a conservative prediction on the robustness of the frame.

• Analyses & Alternatives
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.59-85
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• 2019

The Hong Kong's Anti-Ordinance Amendment Movement is the most serious radical social movement since the 1997 return, which has served as the promotion of the 2014 Occupy Central Movement and broken through the violence baseline. The movement came from a criminal case committed in Taiwan,which gave a good reason and motivation for the HK government to amend the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance. The HK government has responded to the protests by strictly limiting the legal scope and transfer procedure, even giving up the legislative motion. But the protests still say no and develop into the constantly violent activities. Many of the protests have committed the crimes in HK laws,part of whom have been arrested,prosecuted and under judicially judged. It is necessary for the offenders to be punished to protect the authority of rule of law in HK. Two different paths for HK have fought against each other since the 1997 return: one is the "democratic-welfare" path taken by the Pan-Democratic Camp, the other is the "Legal-development" path taken by the Pan-Establishment Camp. The second path shares some nuclear characteristics of the so-called The China Model mainly shaped from the 40-years Reforms and Openness. However, the HK people can't understand the China Model very well and show great fear and distrust on the judicial system of Mainland China. The foreign powers such as US and UK have illegally interfered the HK issues which are deemed to be the domestic affairs of China. The so-called Sino-UK Joint Declaration can't serve as the legal basis for the interference. Taiwan, as a part of China, also plays a negative role in this movement for its electoral and political interest. Up to now, the movement has gone down and the HK government has the legal capacity to solve the problems under the supports from the central government and the HK people. The HK people love its rule of law and order under the constitutional framework of One Country Two System. After the movement,One Country Two Systems will be go on, and the integrated development under the policies of the central government will be the main stream. However, the relevant problems exposed by this movement muse be checked and solved legally and strictly,especially concerning the social inequality and youth development.

• Research in Mathematical Education
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.15-27
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• 2013

Division of fractions is always a difficult topic for primary school students. Most of the presentations in teaching the topic in textbooks are procedural, asking students to invert the second fraction and multiply it with the first one, that is, $$\frac{a}{b}{\div}\frac{c}{d}=\frac{a}{b}{\times}\frac{d}{c}$$. Such procedural approach in teaching diminishes both the understanding of structure in mathematics and the interest in learning the subject. This paper discussed the formulation of teaching the division of fractions, which based on research lessons in some primary five classrooms. The formulated lessons started with an analogy to division of integers and working with division of fractions with equal denominators and then extended to division of fractions in general. It is found that the using of analogy helps students to invent their procedure in working the division problem. Some procedures found by students are discussed, with the focus on the development of their invention and mathematical thinking.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.385-403
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• 2016

The across-wind dynamic loads on L-shaped tall buildings with various geometric dimensions were investigated through a series of wind tunnel testing. The lift coefficients, power spectral densities and vertical correlation coefficients of the across-wind loads were analyzed and discussed in details. Taking the side ratio and terrain category as key variables, empirical formulas for estimating the across-wind dynamic loads on L-shaped tall buildings were proposed on the basis of the wind tunnel testing results. Comparisons between the predictions by the empirical formulas and the wind tunnel test results were made to verify the accuracy and applicability of the proposed formulas. Moreover, a simplified procedure to evaluate the across-wind dynamic loads on L-shaped tall buildings was derived from the proposed formulas. This study aims to provide a simple and reliable way for the estimation of across-wind dynamic loads on L-shaped tall buildings.

• KSTLE International Journal
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.34-42
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• 2000

A method and results of classification of four different metallic wear debris were presented by using their color features. The color image of wear debris was used far the initial data, and the color properties of the debris were specified by HSI color model. Particles were characterized by a set of statistical features derived from the distribution of HSI color model components. The initial feature set was optimized by a principal component analysis, and multidimensional scaling procedure was used fer the definition of a classification plane. It was found that five features, which include mean values of H and S, median S, skewness of distribution of S and I, allow to distinguish copper based alloys, red and dark iron oxides and steel particles. In this work, a method of probabilistic decision-making of class label assignment was proposed, which was based on the analysis of debris-coordinates distribution in the classification plane. The obtained results demonstrated a good availability for the automated wear particle analysis.

• Journal of Computational Design and Engineering
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.102-111
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• 2016

In this paper, we study the problem of computing smooth feature curves from CAD type point clouds models. The proposed method reconstructs feature curves from the intersections of developable strip pairs which approximate the regions along both sides of the features. The generation of developable surfaces is based on a linear approximation of the given point cloud through a variational shape approximation approach. A line segment sequencing algorithm is proposed for collecting feature line segments into different feature sequences as well as sequential groups of data points. A developable surface approximation procedure is employed to refine incident approximation planes of data points into developable strips. Some experimental results are included to demonstrate the performance of the proposed method.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.71-81
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• 2003

The governing differential equation for buckling of a one-step bar with the effect of shear deformation is established and its exact solution is obtained. Then, the exact solution is used to derive the eigenvalue equation of a multi-step bar. The new exact approach combining the transfer matrix method and the closed form solution of one step bar is presented. The proposed methods is convenient for solving the entire and partial buckling of one-step and multi-step bars with various end conditions, with or without shear deformation effect, subjected to concentrated axial loads. A numerical example is given explaining the proposed procedure and investigating the effect of shear deformation on the critical buckling force of a multi-step bar.

• Interaction and multiscale mechanics
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.381-396
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• 2008

The aerostatic instability of cable-supported bridges is studied, with emphasis placed on modeling of the geometric nonlinear effects of various components of cable-supported bridges. Two-node catenary cable elements, which are more rational than truss elements, are adopted for simulating cables with large or small sags. Aerostatic loads are expressed in terms of the mean drag, lift and pitching moment coefficients. The geometric nonlinear analysis is performed with the dead loads and wind loads applied in two stages. The critical wind velocity for aerostatic instability is obtained as the condition when the pitching angle of the bridge deck becomes unbounded. Unlike those existing in the literature, each intermediate step of the incremental-iterative procedure is clearly given and interpreted. As such, the solutions obtained for the bridges are believed to be more rational than existing ones. Comparisons and discussions are given for the examples studied.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.149-172
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• 2007

An experimental study of five full-scale coupling beam specimens has been conducted to investigate the seismic behavior of strengthened RC coupling beams by bolted side steel plates using a reversed cyclic loading procedure. The strengthened coupling beams are fabricated with different plate thicknesses and shear connector arrangements to study their respective effects on load-carrying capacity, strength retention, stiffness degradation, deformation capacity, and energy dissipation ability. The study revealed that putting shear connectors along the span of coupling beams produces no significant improvement to the structural performance of the strengthened beams. Translational and rotational partial interactions of the shear connectors that would weaken the load-carrying capacity of the steel plates were observed and measured. The hierarchy of failure of concrete, steel plates, and shear connectors was identified. Furthermore, detailed effects of plate buckling and various arrangements of shear connectors on the post-peak behavior of the strengthened beams are discussed.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.28-31
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• 2017

The number of laparosocpic liver resection performed every years has been increasing. There is a trend than more major hepatectomy and complex liver resection is being reported. However there has been a major obstacles in many centers because open liver resection is still considered as a gold standard and many surgeons are still getting used to the old method of liver resection. To start a new procedure, education and training is essential in order to achieve a good outcome without compromising the safety of the patients. A gradual progression is crucial in order to avoid dreadful complication. The development of the consensus meeting and difficulty score has facility the understanding of safe practice in the development of laparoscopic liver resection. In a long run, development of registry system will improve transparency and safety of this operation.