• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2009

An experimental investigation was conducted to evaluate the performance of mortars with and without Metakaolin (MK) exposed to elevated temperatures $200^{\circ}C$, $400^{\circ}C$, $600^{\circ}C$ and $800^{\circ}C$ for two hours. The binder to sand ratio was kept constant (1:5.23). The ordinary Portland cement (OPC) was replaced with MK at 0%, 5%, 10% 20% and 30%. All mixtures were designed to have a flow of $94{\pm}5%$. The compressive strength of mortars before and after exposure to elevated temperature was determined. The formation of various decomposition phases were identified using X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and differential thermal analysis (DTA). The microstructure of the mortars was examined using scanning electron microscope (SEM). Test results indicated that MK improves the compressive strength before and after exposure to elevated temperature and that the 20% cement replacement of MK is the optimum percentage.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.507-521
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• 2012

The capacity design of shear forces is one of the special demands of EC8 by which the ductile behavior of structures is implemented. The aim of capacity design is the formation of plastic hinges without shear failure of the elements. This is achieved by deriving the design shear forces from equilibrium conditions, assuming that plastic hinges, with their possible over-strengths, have been formed in the adjacent joints of the elements. In this equilibrium situation, the parameters (dimensions, material properties, axial forces etc) are random variables. Therefore, the capacity design of shear forces is associated with a probability of non-compliance (probability of failure). In the present study the probability of non-compliance of the shear capacity design in columns is calculated by assuming the basic variables as random variables. Parameters affecting this probability are examined and a modification of the capacity design is proposed, in order to achieve uniformity of the safety level.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.631-645
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• 2011

The capacity design rule for beam-column joints, as adopted by the EC8, forces the formation of the plastic hinges to be developed in beams rather than in columns. This is achieved by deriving the design moments of the columns of a joint from equilibrium conditions, assuming that plastic hinges with their possible overstrengths have been developed in the adjacent beams of the joint. In this equilibrium the parameters (dimensions, material properties, axial forces etc) are, in general, random variables. Hence, the capacity design is associated with a probability of non-compliance (probability of failure). In the present study the probability of non-compliance of the capacity design rule of joints is being calculated by assuming the basic variables as random variables. Parameters affecting this probability are examined and a modification of the capacity design rule for beam-column joints is proposed, in order to achieve uniformity of the safety level.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.1135-1141
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• 2018

Volume changes of soils induced by inorganic acids cause severe foundation and superstructure failures in industrial buildings. This study aimed to assess the potential of fly ash to control volume changes in soils under acidic environment. Two soils such as black cotton soil predominant with montmorillonite and kaolin clay predominant with kaolinite were used for the present investigation. Both soils exhibited an increase in swelling subjected to phosphoric acid contamination. Ion exchange reactions and mineralogical transformations lead to an increase in swelling and a decrease in compressibility in black cotton soil, whereas phosphate adsorption and mineral dissolution lead to an increase in swelling and compressibility in case of kaolin clay. Different percentages of Class F fly ash obtained from Ramagundam national thermal power station were used for soil treatment. Fly ash treatment leads to significant reduction in swelling and compressibility, which is attributed to the formation of aluminum phosphate cements in the presence of phosphoric acid.

• Journal of Korea Technology Innovation Society
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.301-319
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• 2011

This research focused on the strategy consulting of the 'Pankyo Technovalley' for the formation of the innovation clusters The study was performed based on both theoretical study and related qualitative study approaches. Particularly, 'scenario planning' as a foresight method was used for the strategy formulation of the innovation clusters. The major determinants for the success of the formation of the innovation clusters can be summarized as follows; the enhancement of the service of the host institution of clusters, the alignment of the national cluster policy with the strategy of the host institution and the networks of the clusters. In terms of the needs of times, this study regarding the strategy for the formation of the innovation clusters is anticipated to be a good reference for the R&D organizations and technology cluster participants in coming years.

• Advances in materials Research
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2017

The aim of the work was to evaluate the effect of ultraviolet-ozone ($UV-O_3$) irradiation with different times on the structure and thermal properties of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) in the form of a thin film to be used as bioequivalent materials according to their important broad practical and medical applications. HPMC thin films were exposed to $UV-O_3$ radiation in air at a wavelength of 184.9 nm.The beneficial effects of this treatment on the crystallinity and amorphousity regions were followed by X-ray diffraction technique and FTIR spectroscopy. Differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric and differntial thermal analyses were used in order to study the thermal properties of HPMC samples following the process of photodegradation. The obtained results indicated that the rate of degradation process was increased with increasing the exposure time. Variations in shape and area of the thermal peaks were observed which may be attributed to the different degrees of crystallinity after exposing the treated HPMC samples. This meant a change in the amorphousity of the treated samples, the oxidation of its chemical linkages on its surface and its bulk, and the formation of free radical species as well as bond formation.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.295-307
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• 2016

The present research work reports a low temperature ($40^{\circ}C$) chemical precipitation technique for synthesizing hydroxyapatite (HAp) nanoparticles of spherical morphology through a simple reaction of calcium nitrate tetrahydrate and di-ammonium hydrogen phosphate at pH 11. The crystallinity of the single-phase nanoparticles could be improved by calcinating at $600^{\circ}C$ in air. Thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA) revealed the synthesized HAp is stable up to $1200^{\circ}C$. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) studies confirmed the formation of spherical nanoparticles with average size of $23.15{\pm}2.56nm$ and Ca/P ratio of 1.70. Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) isotherm of the nanoparticles revealed their porous structure with average pore size of about 24.47 nm and average surface area of $78.4m2g^{-1}$. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to confirm the formation of P-O, OH, C-O chemical bonds. Cytotoxicity and MTT assay on MG63 osteogenic cell lines revealed nontoxic bioactive nature of the synthesized HAp nanoparticles.

• Biomaterials and Biomechanics in Bioengineering
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.33-45
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• 2015

To engineer tissue-like structures, cells are required to organize themselves into three-dimensional networks that mimic the native tissue micro-architecture. Here, we present agarose-based multi-well platform incorporated with electrical stimulation to build skeletal muscle-like tissues in a facile and highly reproducible fashion. Electrical stimulation of C2C12 cells encapsulated in collagen/matrigel hydrogels facilitated the formation 3D muscle tissues. Consequently, we confirmed the transcriptional upregulations of myogenic related genes in the electrical stimulation group compared to non-stimulated control group in our multi-well 3D culture platform. Given the robust fabrication, engineered muscle tissues in multi-well platform may find their use in high-throughput biological studies drug screenings.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.451-460
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• 2019

Thin film composite membranes incorporated with nano-sized hydrophilic zeolite -A were successfully prepared via interfacial polymerization (IP) on porous blend PES/PAN support for water desalination. The thin film nanocomposite membranes were characterized by SEM, contact angle and performance test with 7000 ppm NaCl solution at 7bar. The results showed that the optimum zeolite loading amount was determined to be 0.1wt% with permeate flux 29LMH.NaCl rejection was improved from 69% to 92% compared to the pristine polyamide membrane where the modified PA surface was more selective than that of the pristine PA. In addition, there was no significant change in the permeate flux of the thin film nanocomposite membrane compared with that of the pristine PA in spite of the formation of the dense polyamide layer. The stability of the polyamide layer was investigated for 15 days and the optimized membrane presented the highest durability and stability.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.239-247
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• 2010

A proposed topology method is introduced to measure the air content of fresh cement paste and hardened concrete. The method takes advantage of chromatographic analysis in void areas that are highlighted using different color schemes and later calculated using built-in computer software. The air content measured by the topology method is compared with results obtained from the conventional ASTM methods. It is concluded that the proposed method is reliable, and costs less and is easier to operate compared with the ASTM methods. In addition, 3 dimensional pore models can be created using image post-processing techniques. The proposed method helps researchers in understanding the formation and existence of concrete pores. This paper reports a detailed test program demonstrating the standard operating procedure used for the proposed method and presents a comparison of results between the proposed method and conventional ASTM Specifications. It is also concluded that the air content increases with increasing size of pores and increasing percentage of coarse aggregates.