• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.77 no.1
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• pp.115-135
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• 2021

This paper focuses on examining the effects of span arrangements on displacement responses of plan-symmetric RC frame buildings designed using the direct displacement-based design (DDBD) method by employing non-linear analyses and the skew seismic attack. In order to show the desired performance of DDBD design approach, the force-based design approach is also used to examine the seismic performance of the selected structures. To realize this objective, 8-story buildings with different plans are selected. In addition, the dynamic behavior of the structures is evaluated by selecting 3, 7, and 12-story buildings. In order to perform non-linear analyses, OpenSees software is used for modeling buildings. Results of an experimental model are used to validate the analytical model implemented in OpenSees. The results of non-linear static and non-linear dynamic analyses indicate that changing span arrangements does not affect estimating the responses of structures designed using the DDBD approach, and the results are more or less the same. Next, in order to apply the earthquake in non-principle directions, DDBD structures, designed for one-way performance, are designed again for two-way performance. Time history analyses are performed under a set of artificial acceleration pairs, applied to structures at different angles. It is found that the mean maximum responses of earthquakes at all angles have very good agreement with the design-acceptable limits, while the response of buildings along the height direction has a relatively acceptable and uniform distribution. Meanwhile, changes in the span arrangements did not have a significant effect on displacement responses.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.77 no.3
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• pp.329-342
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• 2021

In this paper, the effect of different steel bar configurations on the quasi-static punching and impact response of concrete slabs was studied. A total of forty RC square slab specimens were cast in two groups of concrete strengths of 40 and 63 MPa. In each group of twenty specimens, ten specimens were reinforced at the back face (singly reinforced), and the remaining specimens were reinforced on both faces of the slab (doubly reinforced). Two rebar spacing of 25 and 100 mm, with constant reinforcement ratio and effective depth, were used in both singly and doubly reinforced slab specimens. The specimens were tested against the normal impact of cylindrical projectiles of hemispherical nose shape. Slabs were also quasi-statically tested in punching using the same projectile, which was employed for the impact testing. The experimental response illustrates that 25 mm spaced rebars are effective in (i) decreasing the local damage and overall penetration depth, (ii) increasing the absorption of impact energy, and (iii) enhancing the ballistic limit of RC slabs. The ballistic limit was predicted using the quasi-static punching test results of slab specimens showing a strong correlation between the dynamic perforation energy and the energy required for quasi-static perforation of slabs.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.195-206
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• 2021

Contaminated marine sediment is a secondary pollution source in the coastal areas, which can result in increased nutrients concentrations in the overlying water. We analyzed the nutrients release characteristics into overlying water from sediments and the interaction among benthic circulation of nitrogen, phosphorus, iron, and sulfur were investigated in a preset sediment/water column. Profiles of pH, ORP, sulfur, iron, nitrogen, phosphorus pools were determined in the sediment and three different layers of overlying water. Variety types of sulfur in the sediments plays a significant role on nutrients transfer into overlying water. Dissimilatory nitrate reduction and various sulfur species interaction are predominantly embodied by the enhancing effects of sulfide on nitrogen reduction. Contaminant sediment take on high organic matter, which is decomposed by bacteria, as a result promote bacterial sulfate reduction and generate sulfide in the sediment. The sulfur and iron interactions had also influence on phosphorus cycling and released from sediment into overlying water may ensue over the dissolution of ferric iron intercede by iron-reducing bacteria. The nutrients release rate was calculated followed by release rate equation. The results showed that the sediments released large-scale quantity of ammonium nitrogen and phosphate, which are main inner source of overlying water pollution. A mechanical migration of key nutrients such as ammonia and inorganic phosphate was depicted numerically with Fick's diffusion law, which showed a fair agreement to most of the experimental data.

• International Journal of Computer Science & Network Security
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• v.22 no.7
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• pp.91-102
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• 2022

With the evolution of wireless sensor network (WSN) technology, the routing policy has foremost importance in the Internet of Things (IoT). A systematic routing policy is one of the primary mechanics to make certain the precise and robust transmission of wireless sensor networks in an energy-efficient manner. In an IoT environment, WSN is utilized for controlling services concerning data like, data gathering, sensing and transmission. With the advantages of IoT potentialities, the traditional routing in a WSN are augmented with decision-making in an energy efficient manner to concur finer optimization. In this paper, we study how to combine IoT-based deep learning classifier with routing called, Kriging Regressive Deep Belief Neural Learning (KR-DBNL) to propose an efficient data packet routing to cope with scalability issues and therefore ensure robust data packet transmission. The KR-DBNL method includes four layers, namely input layer, two hidden layers and one output layer for performing data transmission between source and destination sensor node. Initially, the KR-DBNL method acquires the patient data from different location. Followed by which, the input layer transmits sensor nodes to first hidden layer where analysis of energy consumption, bandwidth consumption and light intensity are made using kriging regression function to perform classification. According to classified results, sensor nodes are classified into higher performance and lower performance sensor nodes. The higher performance sensor nodes are then transmitted to second hidden layer. Here high performance sensor nodes neighbouring sensor with higher signal strength and frequency are selected and sent to the output layer where the actual data packet transmission is performed. Experimental evaluation is carried out on factors such as energy consumption, packet delivery ratio, packet loss rate and end-to-end delay with respect to number of patient data packets and sensor nodes.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.219-230
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• 2022

The Geo-Reservoir Experimental Analogue Technology (GREAT) cell was designed to recreate the thermal-hydro-mechanical conditions of deep subsurface in the laboratory. This apparatus can generate a polyaxial stress field using lateral loading elements, which rotate around the longitudinal axis of a sample and is capable of performing a fluid flow test for samples containing fractures. In the present study, numerical simulations were carried out for triaxial compression tests using the GREAT cell and the mechanical behavior of samples under different conditions of lateral loading was investigated. We simulated an actual case, in which triaxial compression tests were conducted for a polymer sample without fractures, and compared the results between the numerical analysis and experiment. The surface strain (circumferential strain) of the sample was analyzed for equal and non-equal horizontal confining pressures. The results of the comparison showed a good consistency. Additionally, for synthetic cases with a fracture, we investigated the effect of the friction and type of fracture surface on the deformation behavior.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.231-242
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• 2022

In this study, we developed a robot operating system (ROS)-based autonomous driving robot that estimates the robot's position in underground mines and drives and returns through multiple waypoints. Autonomous driving robots utilize SLAM (Simultaneous Localization And Mapping) technology to generate global maps of driving routes in advance. Thereafter, the shape of the wall measured through the LiDAR sensor and the global map are matched, and the data are fused through the AMCL (Adaptive Monte Carlo Localization) technique to correct the robot's position. In addition, it recognizes and avoids obstacles ahead through the LiDAR sensor. Using the developed autonomous driving robot, experiments were conducted on indoor experimental sites that simulated the underground mine site. As a result, it was confirmed that the autonomous driving robot sequentially drives through the multiple waypoints, avoids obstacles, and returns stably.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.83 no.6
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• pp.709-727
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• 2022

Fastening systems have a significant role in the response of railway slab track systems. Although experimental tests indicate nonlinear behavior of fastening systems, they have been simulated as a linear spring-dashpot element in the available literature. In this paper, the influence of the nonlinear behavior of fastening systems on the slab track response was investigated. In this regard, a nonlinear model of vehicle/slab track interaction, including two commonly used fastening systems (i.e., RFFS and RWFS), was developed. The time history of excitation frequency of the fastening system was derived using the short time Fourier transform. The model was validated, using the results of a comprehensive field test carried out in this study. The frequency response of the track was studied to evaluate the effect of excitation frequency on the railway track response. The results obtained from the model were compared with those of the conventional linear model of vehicle/slab track interaction. The effects of vehicle speed, axle load, pad stiffness, fastening preload on the difference between the outputs obtained from the linear and nonlinear models were investigated through a parametric study. It was shown that the difference between the results obtained from linear and nonlinear models is up to 38 and 18 percent for RWFS and RFFS, respectively. Based on the outcomes obtained, a nonlinear to linear correction factor as a function of vehicle speed, vehicle axle load, pad stiffness and preload was derived. It was shown that consideration of the correction factor compensates the errors caused by the assumption of linear behavior for the fastening systems in the currently used vehicle track interaction models.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.83 no.2
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• pp.153-166
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• 2022

Structural pounding due to strong seismic excitations can result in severe damage or even collapse of colliding structures. Many researchers focused on studying the mutual pounding between two adjacent structures while very few researches were concerned with the pounding of a series of structures. This paper aims to study the pounding effect on a series of four buildings having different natural frequencies. The paper also investigates the effect of different arrangements of the four buildings on their pounding response. For this, a mathematical model was constructed using Matlab code where, pounding was modeled using a contact force-based approach. A Non-Linear viscoelastic (Hertzdamp) contact element was used and activated only during the approach period of collision. The mathematical model was validated by comparing its prediction versus experimental results on three adjacent buildings. Then the model was used to study the pounding between four adjacent structures arranged in different sequences according to their natural frequencies. The results revealed that increasing the gap distance generally led to decrease the peak responses of the towers. Such response is somehow different from that predicted earlier by the authors for the case of three adjacent buildings. Moreover, the arrangement of towers has a significant effect on their pounding response. Significant difference between the natural frequencies of adjacent structures increases the pounding forces especially when the more flexible buildings are located at the outer edge of the series. The study points out the need for further researches on buildings in series to gain a better understanding of such complex phenomena.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.81 no.3
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• pp.281-292
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• 2022

This study aimed to analyze the dynamic punching shear performance of slab-column joints under cyclic loads with the use of double-hooked end (5D) steel fibers. Structural systems such as slab-column joints are widely found in infrastructures. The susceptibility to collapse of such structures when submitted to seismic loads is highly dependent on the structural performance of the slab-column connections. For this reason, the punching capacity of reinforced concrete (RC) structures has been the subject of a great number of studies. Steel fibers are used to achieve a certain degree of ductility under seismic loads. In this context, 5D steel hooked fibers provide high levels of fiber anchoring, tensile strength and ductility. However, only limited research has been carried out on the performance under cyclic loads of concrete structural members containing steel fibers. This study covers this gap with experimental testing of five different full-scale subassemblies of RC slab-column joints: one without punching reinforcement, one with conventional punching reinforcement and three with 5D steel fibers. The subassemblies were tested under cyclic loading, which consisted of applying increasing lateral displacement cycles, such as in seismic situations, with a constant axial load on the column. This set of cycles was repeated for increasing axial loads on the column until failure. The results showed that 5D steel fiber subassemblies: i) had a greater capacity to dissipate energy, ii) improved punching shear strength and stiffness degradation under cyclic loads; and iii) increased cyclic loading capacity.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.80 no.6
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• pp.645-655
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• 2021

Performance-based reliability analysis is a practical approach to investigate the seismic performance and stochastic nonlinear response of structures considering a random process. This is significant due to the uncertainties involved in every aspect of the analysis. Therefore, the present study aims to evaluate the performance-based reliability within a stochastic finite element (FE) framework for reinforced concrete (RC) shear walls that are considered as one of the most essential elements of structures. To accomplish this purpose, deterministic FE analyses are conducted for both squat and slender shear walls to validate numerical models through experimental results. The presented numerical analysis is performed by using the ABAQUS FE program. Afterwards, a random-effects investigation is carried out to consider the influence of different random variables on the lateral load-top displacement behavior of RC members. Using these results and through utilizing the Monte-Carlo simulation method, stochastic nonlinear analyses are also performed to generate random FE models based on input parameters and their probabilistic distributions. In order to evaluate the reliability of RC walls, failure probabilities and corresponding reliability indices are calculated at life safety and collapse prevention levels of performance as suggested by FEMA 356. Moreover, based on reliability indices, capacity reduction factors are determined subjected to shear for all specimens that are designed according to the ACI 318 Building Code. Obtained results show that the lateral load and the compressive strength of concrete have the highest effects on load-displacement responses compared to those of other random variables. It is also found that the probability of shear failure for the squat wall is slightly lower than that for slender walls. This implies that 𝛽 values are higher in a non-ductile mode of failure. Besides, the reliability of both squat and slender shear walls does not change significantly in the case of varying capacity reduction factors.