Deriving Pavement Deflection Indices from Layered Elastic Theory

Author(s):  
Christoffer P. Nielsen

Pavement deflection indices such as the surface curvature index or base damage index are widely used to characterize the condition of pavements. Often, the indices are constructed to provide an estimate of a particular strain component somewhere in the pavement structure. Since the pavement damage is a function of the strain, structural indices provide a simple way of estimating the damage rate in a pavement. Despite their widespread use, it has so far proven difficult to derive deflection indices from first principles; instead, new indices are found by evaluating a range of candidates using a trial-and-error approach. In this paper, a systematic method of deriving deflection indices is presented. The method is based on applying the convolution theorem for Hankel transforms to the solution of a layered elastic problem. Besides allowing for easy derivation of new deflection indices, the method can be used to account for the impact of varying layer thicknesses in the pavement.

Author(s):  
Sebastian Eisele ◽  
Fabian M. Draber ◽  
Steffen Grieshammer

First principles calculations and Monte Carlo simulations reveal the impact of defect interactions on the hydration of barium-zirconate.


RSC Advances ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (101) ◽  
pp. 57541-57546 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongping Li ◽  
Shuai Liu ◽  
Lin Chen ◽  
Jun Wu ◽  
Peng Zhang ◽  
...  

First-principles calculations are conducted to investigate the impact of Ta doping on the atomistic structures and electronic properties of the technologically relevant 2H-NbSe2.


Author(s):  
Iyyappa Rajan Panneerselvam ◽  
Pranay Chakraborty ◽  
qiong nian ◽  
Yongfeng Lu ◽  
Yiliang Liao ◽  
...  

Abstract The rational design of the electronic band structures and the associated properties (e.g., optical) of advanced materials has remained challenging for crucial applications in optoelectronics, solar desalination, advanced manufacturing technologies, etc. In this work, using first-principles calculations, we studied the prospects of tuning the absorption spectra of graphene via defect engineering, i.e., chemical doping and oxidation. Our computational analysis shows that graphene functionalization with single hydroxyl and carboxylic acid fails to open a band gap in graphene. While single epoxide functionalization successfully opens a bandgap in graphene and increases absorptivity, however, other optical properties such as reflection, transmission, and dielectric constants are significantly altered. Boron and nitrogen dopants lead to p- and n-type doping, respectively, while fluorine dopants or a single-carbon atomic vacancy cannot create a significant bandgap in graphene. By rigorously considering the spin-polarization effect, we find that titanium, zirconium, and hafnium dopants can create a bandgap in graphene via an induced flat band around the Fermi level as well as the collapse of the Dirac cone. In addition, silicon, germanium, and tin dopants are also effective in improving the optical characteristics. Our work is important for future experimental work on graphene for laser and optical processing applications.


2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Kuriplach ◽  
Aki Pulkkinen ◽  
Bernardo Barbiellini

Motivated by the need to understand the role of internal interfaces in Li migration occurring in lithium-ion batteries, a first-principles study of a coincident site lattice grain boundary in LiFePO4 cathode material and in its delithiated counterpart FPO4 is performed. The structure of the investigated grain boundary is obtained, and the corresponding interface energy is calculated. Other properties, such as ionic charges, magnetic moments, excess free volume, and the lifetime of positrons trapped at the interfaces are determined and discussed. The results show that while the grain boundary in LiFePO4 has desired structural and bonding characteristics, the analogous boundary in FePO4 needs to be yet optimized to allow for an efficient Li diffusion study.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. e000366 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Elera-Fitzcarrald ◽  
Cristina Reátegui-Sokolova ◽  
Rocio Violeta Gamboa-Cardenas ◽  
Mariela Medina ◽  
Francisco Zevallos ◽  
...  

IntroductionSerum uric acid levels have been reported as predictors of cardiovascular, pulmonary, neurological and renal morbidity in patients with SLE. However, their role in cumulative global damage in these patients has not yet been determined.ObjectiveTo determine whether serum uric acid levels are associated with new damage in patients with SLE.MethodsThis is a longitudinal study of patients with SLE from the Almenara Lupus Cohort, which began in 2012. At each visit, demographic and clinical characteristics were evaluated, such as activity (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index-2K or SLEDAI-2K) and cumulative damage (Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index or SDI). Treatment (glucocorticoids, immunosuppressive drugs and antimalarials) was also recorded. Univariable and multivariable Cox regression models were used to determine the impact of serum uric acid levels on the risk of new damage.ResultsWe evaluated 237 patients, with a mean age (SD) at diagnosis of 35.9 (13.1) years; 220 patients (92.8%) were women, and the duration of the disease was 7.3 (6.6) years. The mean SLEDAI-2K and SDI scores were 5.1 (4.2) and 0.9 (1.3), respectively. Serum uric acid level was 4.5 (1.4) mg/dL. Follow-up time was 3.1 (1.3) years, and 112 (47.3%) patients accrued damage during follow-up. In univariable and multivariable analyses, serum uric acid levels were associated with new damage (HR=1.141 (95% CI 1.016 to 1.282), p=0.026; HR=1.189 (95% CI 1.025 to 1.378), p=0.022, respectively).ConclusionHigher serum uric acid levels are associated with global damage in patients with SLE.


ACS Omega ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (25) ◽  
pp. 15502-15509
Author(s):  
Adil Alshoaibi ◽  
Mohammed Benali Kanoun ◽  
Bakhtiar Ul Haq ◽  
Salem AlFaify ◽  
Souraya Goumri-Said

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven Callander ◽  
Niko Matouschek

Innovation is often the key to sustained progress, yet innovation itself is difficult and highly risky. Success is not guaranteed as breakthroughs are mixed with setbacks and the path of learning is typically far from smooth. How decision makers learn by trial and error and the efficacy of the process are inextricably linked to the incentives of the decision makers themselves and, in particular, to their tolerance for risk. In this paper, we develop a model of trial and error learning with risk averse agents who learn by observing the choices of earlier agents and the outcomes that are realized. We identify sufficient conditions for the existence of optimal actions. We show that behavior within each period varies in risk and performance and that a performance trap develops, such that low performing agents opt to not experiment and thus fail to gain the knowledge necessary to improve performance. We also show that the impact of risk reverberates across periods, leading, on average, to divergence in long-run performance across agents. (JEL D81, D83, O31, O38)


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 1481 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shangshun Lin ◽  
Zhanghua Xia ◽  
Jian Xia

The large degradation of the mechanical performance of hollow reinforced concrete (RC) bridge piers subjected to multi-dimensional earthquakes has not been thoroughly assessed. This paper aims to improve the existing seismic damage model to assess the seismic properties of tall, hollow RC piers subjected to pseudo-static, biaxial loading. Cyclic bilateral loading tests on fourteen 1/14-scale pier specimens with different slenderness ratios, axial load ratios, and transverse reinforcement ratios were carried out to investigate the damage propagation and the cumulative dissipated energy with displacement loads. By considering the influence of energy dissipation on structural damage, a new damage model (M-Usami model) was developed to assess the damage characteristics of hollow RC piers. The results present four consecutive damage stages during the loading process: (a) cracking on concrete surface, (b) yielding of longitudinal reinforcements; (c) spalling of concrete, and (d) collapsing of pier after the concrete crushed and the longitudinal bars ruptured due to the flexural failure. The damage level caused by the seismic waves can be reduced by designing specimens with a good seismic energy dissipation capacity. The theoretical damage index values calculated by the M-Usami model agreed well with the experimental observations. The developed M-Usami model can provide insights into the approaches to assessing the seismic damage of hollow RC piers subjected to bilateral seismic excitations.


2015 ◽  
Vol 780 ◽  
pp. 503-535 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vladimir E. Zakharov ◽  
Sergei I. Badulin ◽  
Paul A. Hwang ◽  
Guillemette Caulliez

Assuming resonant nonlinear wave interactions to be the dominant physical mechanism of growing wind-driven seas we propose a concise relationship between instantaneous wave steepness and time or fetch of wave development expressed in dimensionless wave periods or lengths. This asymptotic physical law derived from the first principles of the theory of weak turbulence does not contain wind speed explicitly. The validity of this law is illustrated by results of numerical simulations, in situ measurements of growing wind seas and wind-wave tank observations. The impact of this new view of sea-wave physics is discussed in the context of conventional approaches to wave modelling and forecasting.


2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 405 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saeid Javadi Khederi ◽  
Mohammad Khanjani ◽  
Mansur Gholami ◽  
Enrico De Lillo

The erineum strain of Colomerus vitis (GEM) is the most destructive pest of vineyards in western Iran and sometimes causes considerable damages to the grapevine. Little information is available on the susceptibility of the grapevine to this pest and its knowledge can be useful for a sustainable management of GEM. The present study was aimed at evaluating the responses of the plants to the infestation of GEM in order to compare the resistance/susceptibility of some native cultivars to this pest. Also, the profiling of JA, SA and IAA in leaves of infested plants of Sezdang was studied. The experiment was carried out on eighteen native cultivars and the non-native Muscat Gordo which were selected amongst the most common in southern and western Iran. Potted plants were cultivated under greenhouse conditions at a temperature of 32 ± 3.8°C, 75 ± 5% R.H. and a photoperiod of L16: D8 h. The impact of GEM was evaluated on the basis of the leaf area and weight, number and size of the erinea, and percentage of leaves with erinea three months after the infestation. The cane length was measured, too. Mite density on galled leaves (three months after the infestation) and in buds (at the bud breaking) was assessed.        Cluster analysis based on the leaf damage index induced by GEM allowed to distinguish highly affected (Sezdang, Khalili, Ghalati and Rishbaba), moderately affected (Neyshaboori, Gazne, Muscat, Lale, Shahani Sefid, Ahmad, Monagha and Sia) and scarcely affected (Yaghuti, Rotabi, White Thompson, Atabaki, Koladari and Sahebi and Shahani Gerd) cultivars. The mite density into the buds and on the galled leaves was higher in the medium-late (Rishbaba and Khalili) and late ripening (Sezdang and Ghalati) cultivars rather than in the early (Sahebi and Shahani Gerd) and early-medium (Atabaki) ripening ones. The leaf damaged area, the leaf weight, the shoot length and the erineum development were correlated to the mite density and were the highest on Sezdang, Khalili, Ghalati and Rishbaba and the lowest on Atabaki, Koladari, Sahebi and Shahani Gerd. The highest density of the overwintering population was detected in proximal buds of all treated cultivars.        The plant responses and the mite density were investigated also in the second and third year after the first mite infestation on highly affected (Sezdang, Khalili, Ghalati, Rishbaba), a few of the moderately affected (Neyshaboori, Gazne, Muscat) and the scarcely affected cultivars (White Thompson, Atabaki, Koladari, Sahebi, Shahani Gerd). The leaf damaged area, the percentage of galled leaves, the percentage of cane length reduction and the mite density strongly decreased during all three years of observations on the highly affected Sezdang, Khalili and Gazne. On the contrary, Ghalati and Rishbaba displayed an increase of the leaf damaged area, leaf damaged index and mite density on galled leaves during the same period in comparison to the first year of observation. The percentage of the leaves with erinea, the leaf damaged area and the mite density of Sezdang were highly and positively correlated with IAA while a negative correlation was found between the leaf damaged area and the mite density with SA and JA in the assayed years. Almost all data currently collected allowed a recognition of White Thompson, Atabaki, Koladari, Sahebi and Shahani Gerd as the least affected cultivars.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document