scholarly journals Global Safety Factor or Nonlinear Design of Concrete Structures

2011 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
pp. 331-339 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sz. Wolinski

Abstract The paper focuses on different approaches to the safety assessment of concrete structures designed using nonlinear analysis. The method based on the concept of partial factors recommended by Eurocodes, and methods proposed by M. Holicky, and by the author of this paper are presented, discussed and illustrated on a numerical example. Global safety analysis by M. Holicky needs estimation of the resistance coefficient of variation from the mean and characteristic values of resistance, and requires two separate nonlinear analyses. The reliability index value and the sensitivity factor for resistance should be also identified. In the method proposed in this paper, the resistance coefficient of variation necessary to calculate the characteristic value of resistance may be adopted from test results and the resultant partial factor for materials properties, and may be calculated according to Eurocodes. Thus, only one nonlinear analysis from mean values of reinforcing steel and concrete is required

2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 879-904 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Parente Jr ◽  
G. V. Nogueira ◽  
M. Meireles Neto ◽  
L. S. Moreira

The analysis of reinforced concrete structures until failure requires the consideration of geometric and material nonlinearities. However, nonlinear analysis is much more complex and costly than linear analysis. In order to obtain a computationally efficient approach to nonlinear analysis of reinforced concrete structures, this work presents the formulation of a nonlinear plane frame element. Geometric nonlinearity is considered using the co-rotational approach and material nonlinearity is included using appropriate constitutive relations for concrete and steel. The integration of stress resultants and tangent constitutive matrix is carried out by the automatic subdivision of the cross-section and the application of the Gauss quadrature in each subdivision. The formulation and computational implementation are validated using experimental results available in the literature. Excellent results were obtained.


2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 165-172
Author(s):  
A. P. Miroshnichenko ◽  

Purpose: Estimate of the environment density of giant (with the linear size of about megaparsec) radio structures for galaxies and quasars with steep low-frequency spectra taken from the UTR-2 catalogue. Study of the cosmological evolution of environment density of giant radio sources. Determination of dependence of contribution of radio lobes into the emission of giant sources with respect to their environment density. Design/methodology/approach: We use the sample of sources from the UTR-2 catalogue of extragalactic sources to estimate the environment density for giant sources with steep low-frequency spectra. The selection criteria for the examined objects are the following: 1) the spectral index value is equal or larger than 1; 2) the fl ux density of emission at the frequency of 25 MHz is larger than 10 Jy; 3) the sample sources are optically identifi ed. The value of environment density of examined sources is obtained with the assumption of equality of source jet luminosity (at the synchrotron mechanism of radio emission) and its corresponding kinetic luminosity. The analysis of the estimates of environment densities is made for different classes of the sample objects (for galaxies and quasars with linear steep spectra and with break steep spectra). Findings: The estimates of environment density have been derived for giant radio structures formed by the jets of sources with steep spectrum from the UTR-2 catalogue. On the average, the environment density for the quasar structure (~ 10-28 g/sm3) is lesser than the one for the galaxies (~ 10-27 g/sm3 to ~ 10-26 g/sm3). The larger jet environment density is typical for the galaxies and quasars with the break steep spectra than for those with the linear steep spectra. The inverse power relation of the jet environment density and the source redshift (the cosmological evolution of the jet environment density) has been derived. The contribution of jet-related radio lobes into the emission of sources displays the inverse power relation for the environment density of the corresponding radio structures. Conclusions: The mean values of obtained estimates of environment density of giant jets of radio sources with steep low-frequency spectra indicate the lesser environment density of quasar jets than that for the galaxy jets. Giant radio sources with steep low-frequency spectrum (especially, with break steep spectrum) reveal considerable evolution of environment density of jets. The larger contribution of radio lobes (jets) into the emission of sources corresponds to the lesser environment density of sources taken from the UTR-2 catalogue. It can be due to propagation of jets (surrounded by radio lobes) from powerful radio sources to distances of about megaparsec, until the balance of source’s environment density and extragalactic environment density is reached. Key words: steep low-frequency radio spectrum; giant radio structure; jets; radio lobes; galaxies; quasars; environment density


Author(s):  
Ane de Boer ◽  
Max A. N. Hendriks ◽  
Eva O. L. Lantsoght

<p>The Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment is concerned with the safety of existing infrastructure and expected re-analysis of a large number of bridges and viaducts. Nonlinear finite element analysis can provide a tool to assess safety; a more realistic estimation of the existing safety can be obtained.</p><p>Dutch Guidelines, based on scientific research, general consensus among peers, and a long-term experience with nonlinear analysis, allow for a reduction of model and user factors and improve the robustness of nonlinear finite element analyses.</p><p>The 2017 version of the guidelines can be used for the finite element analysis of basic concrete structural elements like beams, girders and slabs, reinforced or prestressed. Existing structures, like box-girder structures, culverts and bridge decks with prestressed girders in composite structures can be analysed.</p><p>The guidelines have been developed with a two-fold purpose. First, to advice analysts on nonlinear finite element analysis of reinforced and pre-stressed concrete structures. Second, to explain the choices made and to educate analysts, related to the responsibility of limiting model uncertainty.</p><p>This paper contains an overview of the latest version of the guideline and its latest validation extensions. Most important impact is the extended operational lifetime of an existing reinforced concrete slab structure.</p>


2000 ◽  
Vol 88 (5) ◽  
pp. 1924-1932 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shu Zhang ◽  
Peter A. Robbins

Measurement of the acute hypoxic ventilatory response (AHVR) requires careful choice of the hypoxic stimulus. If the stimulus is too brief, the response may be incomplete; if the stimulus is too long, hypoxic ventilatory depression may ensue. The purpose of this study was to compare three different techniques for assessing AHVR, using different hypoxic stimuli, and also to examine the between-day variability in AHVR. Ten subjects were studied, each on six different occasions, which were ≥1 wk apart. On each occasion, AHVR was assessed using three different protocols: 1) protocol SW, which uses square waves of hypoxia; 2) protocol IS, which uses incremental steps of hypoxia; and 3) protocol RB, which simulates an isocapnic rebreathing test. Mean values for hypoxic sensitivity were 1.02 ± 0.48, 1.15 ± 0.55, and 0.93 ± 0.60 (SD) l ⋅ min− 1 ⋅ %− 1for protocols SW, IS, and RB, respectively. These differed significantly ( P < 0.01). The coefficients of variation for measurement of AHVR were 20, 23, and 36% for the three protocols, respectively. These were not significantly different. There was a significant physiological variation in AHVR ( F 50,100 = 3.9, P < 0.001), with a coefficient of variation of 26%. We conclude that there was relatively little systematic variation between the three protocols but that AHVR varies physiologically over time.


Author(s):  
Eniel Rodríguez-Machado ◽  
Osmany Aday-Díaz ◽  
Luis Hernández-Santana ◽  
Jorge Luís Soca-Muñoz ◽  
Rubén Orozco-Morales

Precision agriculture, making use of the spatial and temporal variability of cultivable land, allows farmers to refine fertilization, control field irrigation, estimate planting productivity, and detect pests and disease in crops. To that end, this paper identifies the spectral reflectance signature of brown rust (Puccinia melanocephala) and orange rust (Puccinia kuehnii), which contaminate sugar cane leaves (Saccharum spp.). By means of spectrometry, the mean values and standard deviations of the spectral reflectance signature are obtained for five levels of contamination of the leaves in each type of rust, observing the greatest differences between healthy and diseased leaves in the red (R) and near infrared (NIR) bands. With the results obtained, a multispectral camera was used to obtain images of the leaves and calculate the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). The results identified the presence of both plagues by differentiating healthy from contaminated leaves through the index value with an average difference of 11.9% for brown rust and 9.9% for orange rust.


2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lixiang Wang ◽  
Shihai Li ◽  
Guoxin Zhang ◽  
Zhaosong Ma ◽  
Lei Zhang

This study reports the GPU parallelization of complex three-dimensional software for nonlinear analysis of concrete structures. It focuses on coupled thermomechanical analysis of complex structures. A coupled FEM/DEM approach (CDEM) is given from a fundamental theoretical viewpoint. As the modeling of a large structure by means of FEM/DEM may lead to prohibitive computation times, a parallelization strategy is required. With the substantial development of computer science, a GPU-based parallel procedure is implemented. A comparative study between the GPU and CPU computation results is presented, and the runtimes and speedups are analyzed. The results show that dramatic performance improvements are gained from GPU parallelization.


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