The Design Strategy of High-Density Primary Schools in Shenzhen

The construction of high-density primary schools in Shenzhen is facing new challenges. Therefore, it is essential to look for ways to meet the demand for degrees, realize education and teaching reform, eliminate the shackles of design code, and adapt to the local climate. From the perspective of design methodology, this article discusses the design strategy of Shenzhen’s high-density primary school campus from four aspects: compact layout, multiple functions, open space, and personalized design, aiming to provide ideas for the construction of primary school campuses.

Algorithm to Estimate the Capacity Reserve of Existing Masonry Arch Railway Bridges

Most railway masonry arch bridges were designed according to codes that predate the 1950s; therefore, assessing their load-carrying capacity to comply with current codes is of the utmost importance. Nonetheless, acquiring the necessary information to conduct in-depth analyses is expensive and time consuming. In this article, we propose an expeditious procedure to conservatively assess the Load Rating Factor of masonry arch railway bridges based on a minimal set of information: the span, rise-to-span ratio, and design code. This method consists in applying the Static Theorem to determine the most conservative arch geometry compatible with the original design code; assuming this conservative geometrical configuration, the load rating factor, with respect to a different design load, is estimated. Using this algorithm, a parametric analysis was carried out to evaluate the Load Rating Factor of old arch bridges in respect of the modern freight load of the Trans-European Conventional Rail System, for different spans, rise-to-span ratios, and original design codes. The results are reported in easy-to-use charts, and summarized in simple, practical rules, which can help railway operators to rank their bridges based on capacity deficit.

LOAD-BEARING CAPACITY ANALYSIS FOR STRUCTURAL COLD-FORMED MEMBERS SUBJECTED TO CENTRAL COMPRESSION

The main purpose of the research was a deep analysis and verification of the consistency and completeness of the design code relating to calculation of load-bearing structural members made from cold-formed profiles. The work has been done in close connection with the implementation on the territory of Ukraine of this design code. The article has discussed and investigated the load-bearing capacity of structural members made of cold-formed profiles subjected to the action of central compression. A system of constraints has been presented, in which the strength and buckling constraints for thin-walled cold-formed column members are formulated, taking into account their possible post-buckling behavior, namely, the ability to resist external loads and effects even after the occurrence of the local buckling and/or distortional buckling phenomenon. The performed load-bearing capacity investigation has shown that for the mono-symmetric cold-formed profiles, the flexural-torsional buckling is determinative. For such cold-formed profiles, the effect of the overall dimensions ratio (flange width to web height) on the load-bearing capacity of cold-formed profiles has been estimated. It has been shown that for the same cross-sectional area the load-bearing capacity of a column structural member made from cold-formed profile and subjected to axial compression can be significantly increased by assigning an optimal ratio of flange width to web height. The paper also has presented the results of the load-bearing capacities for the structural cold-formed members subjected to central compression, calculated according to the design standard DSTU-N B EN 1993-1-3: 2012 and according to the design code DBN V.2.6-198: 2014. It has been shown that in some cases the difference in the assessment of the load-bearing capacity for such structural cold-formed members reached 25%. A comparison of the load-bearing capacities for the action of the central compression has been made for structural cold-formed members made from a C-shaped profile and with a composite section of two C-shaped profiles. It has been shown that the load-bearing capacity of the structural cold-formed member of the composite section exceeds the load-bearing capacity of the member with single C-shaped profile by more than 3 times, while cross-section areas of these structural members differ only doubly.

ANN-based Fatigue Strength of Concrete Under Compression

<p>When concrete is subjected to cycles of compression, its strength is lower than the statically determined concrete compressive strength. This reduction is typically expressed as a function of the number of cycles. In this work, we predict the reduced capacity as function of a given number of cycles by means of artificial neural networks (ANN). A 203-point experimental dataset gathered from the literature was used. The proposed ANN model results in a maximum relative error of 5.1% and a mean counterpart of 1.2% for the whole dataset. It’s shown that the proposed analytical model outperforms the existing design code expressions.</p>

Avoid Exchanger Replacement Using Advanced Analysis and Fit for Service Approach

Objective/Scope (25 - 75 word) Shell & Tube Heat exchangers are critical for incessant operation of processing plant. These exchangers may face integrity threats due to reduction in shell thicknesses at Nozzle to Shell Junction below design code requirements. This paper presents the Cost Effective fit for purpose approach utilizing advance Finite Element analysis to explore and recommend the solutions for existing numerous exchangers that are to be safely used even after reported low thickness on account of manufacturing imperfection. Methods, Procedures, Process (75 - 100 word) Reduction in Shell thickness below design value can affect its ability to sustain design pressure & vacuum including nozzle integrity for associated piping loads and service life reduction for exclusion of corrosion allowance. As short-term Mitigation methodology, weld overlay was adopted to restore the areas with lower thickness. For long term solution, fit for purpose review approach was adopted for continued usage of exchangers which involves nozzle load analysis using WRC & FEA based on PAUT thickness data and utilizing actual piping loads, derating of design pressure, comparison of thickness data to establish corrosion rate and service life of exchanger. Results, Observations & Conclusions (100 - 200 words) Thorough Integrity review based on design Code (ASME BPVC Section VIII) and WRC analysis have confirmed that majority of the exchangers have thickness higher than that required to sustain design pressure, vacuum conditions when considered with piping loads acting on nozzles. Thickness data comparison between three (03) year old manual UT and latest Phase array UT confirmed that majority of the exchangers are in clean non-corrosive service thus allowance for corrosion is not required. Where in the nature of exchanger service require corrosion allowance, it is considered in analysis and usage of stiffeners at nozzle to shell intersection and/or on full circumference of shell is recommended to prevent overstress due to piping loads / buckling distortion due to vacuum conditions respectively, based on detailed Finite element analysis (FEA). In order to establish more reliable long-term corrosion rate, next inspection after four (04) years is recommended and impact on integrity can be further evaluated based on the latest data. Change in exchanger nameplate is recommended to consider for design pressure as MAWP and accordingly adjust hydro test pressure followed by R-stamp requirements for rerating and repair. Shell side hydro test is restricted until recommendations are implemented Novel/Additive Information (25 - 75 words) Although conventional approach of replacing complete Shells to meet code requirement would have ensured process safety, performance and structural integrity. However, alternative fit for purpose approach utilizing advanced FEA has not only ensured all these but also led to potential cost saving of multimillion US$. Associated risks of thickness reduction due to corrosion may still be observed, however analysis confirmed structural integrity and safety of heat exchangers with low thicknesses. Accordingly, potential risk is mitigated.

The Thermal and Settlement Characteristics of Crushed-Rock Structure Embankments of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway in Permafrost Regions Under Climate Warming

The temperature difference at the top and bottom of the crushed-rock layer can drive the heat convection inside. Based on this mechanism, crushed-rock structures with different forms are widely used in the construction and maintenance of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway as cooling measures in permafrost regions. To explore the stability of different forms of crushed-rock structure embankments under climate warming, the temperature and deformation data of a U-shaped crushed-rock embankment (UCRE) and a crushed-rock revetment embankment (CRRE) are analysed. The variations in temperature indicate that permafrost beneath the natural sites and embankments is degrading but at different rates. The thermal regime of ground under the natural site is only affected by climate warming, while that under embankment is also affected by embankment construction and the cooling effect of the crushed-rock structure. These factors make shallow permafrost degradation beneath the embankments slower than that beneath the natural sites and deep permafrost degradation faster than that beneath the natural sites. Moreover, the convection occurring in the crushed-rock base layer during the cold season makes the degradation of permafrost beneath the UCRE slower than that in the CRRE. The faster degradation of permafrost causes the accumulated deformation of the CRRE to be far greater than that of the UCRE, which may exceed the allowable value of the design code. The analysis shows that the stability of the UCRE meets the engineering requirements and the CRRE needs to be strengthened in warm and ice-rich permafrost regions under climate warming.

Scheme Design and Data Analysis of Critical Physical Experiment for Hexagonal Casing Type Fuel Reactor

Based on the requirement of Hexagonal Casing Type Fuel Reactor (HCTFR) nuclear design and the critical physical experiment design method introduced by a single factor, 11 core critical physical experiments are proposed to validate the calculation accuracy and reliability of the nuclear design code CPLEV2. The experiment loading scheme fully takes into account the various components and more than one irradiate hole in the HCTFR core, which is used as critical physical experiment schemes successfully. According to the critical physical experiment data, the reactivity calculation deviations of all critical physical experiments are within ±1.0%. The validation results show that the nuclear design code CPLEV2 has high calculation accuracy and reliability for the core of hexagonal casing type fuel, and it can be used for HCTFR nuclear design.

Experimental Investigation and Design of Hollow Section, Centrifugal Concrete-Filled GFRP Tube Columns

The compressive response of hollow section, centrifugal concrete-filled GFRP tube (HS-CFGT) members is examined experimentally and reported analytically in this paper. A total of 17 specimens separated into two groups were tested; the specimens in each group were of four different lengths and included thirteen straight columns and four tapered columns. The details of the test rigs, procedures as well as key test observations composed of ultimate-moment capacities, load-displacement curves, and failure modes were truthfully reported. The test results were analyzed to evaluate the influence of initial eccentricity on the structural performance. Therefore, the aim of this paper is: (1) to propose a proper coefficient, φe, reflecting the effect of initial eccentricity based on the Chinese design code; and (2) to determine a new confinement coefficient, kcc = 1.10, for centrifugal concrete confined by GFRP tubes. Comparisons of the present design codes and specifications of confined concrete members with test results on 17 full-scale tube columns are also presented. Accordingly, new design equations, whose predictions generally agree well with the test results, are recommended to estimate the compressive capacity of the proposed HS-CFGT columns.

Evolution of Seismic Site Classification According to the Criteria in Chilean Design Codes

Design codes establish seismic site classifications to determine the seismic demand of a structure according to the response of the soil foundation under the action of earthquake ground motions; the site classification can even condition the feasibility of a project. The occurrence of great earthquakes in Chile has tested its design codes, generating much information and experience regarding the seismic design of structures that have allowed researchers to identify variations in seismic demands according to the kind of ground foundation and to propose seismic site classification methods in Chilean regulations since the 1930s; countries in the vanguard of seismic design, such as the USA, Japan, and New Zealand, proposed methods even earlier. In this document, the evolution of methodologies for seismic site classification according to the criteria in Chilean codes is analysed from their implementation in the 1930s to the most recently proposed design code NCh 433, 2018–2021. Although the distinctive features of each country shape the criteria in their design codes, clear knowledge of the evolution of established criteria from their origins is considered an important tool that contributes to the better understanding, interpretation and application of the seismic site classification methodologies contained in a design code with better criteria. Likewise, the review indicates a distinct need to conduct a continuous evaluation of the classification criteria supported by records of new earthquakes, as well as by physical and numerical models that allow incorporating variables which condition the response of the terrain such as topography, lateral heterogeneities, and basic effects.