Frequency Contour-Strip Method for Characterization of Damage in Structures under Noisy Conditions

Eigen-frequency, compared with mode shape and damping, is a more practical and reliable dynamic feature to portray structural damage. The frequency contour-line method relying on this feature is a representative method to identify damage in beam-type structures. Although this method has been increasingly applied in the area of damage identification, it has two significant deficiencies: inefficiency in establishing the eigen-frequency panorama; and incompetence to identify cracks in noisy conditions, considerably impairing the effectiveness in identifying structural damage. To overcome these deficiencies, a novel method, termed the frequency contour-strip method, is developed for the first time. This method is derived by extending the frequency contour line of 1D to frequency contour strip of 2D. The advantages of the frequency contour-strip method are twofold: (i) it uses the isosurface function to instantly produce the eigen-frequency panorama with a computational efficiency several orders of magnitude higher than that of the frequency contour-line method; and (ii) it can accommodate the effect of random noise on damage identification, thereby thoroughly overcoming the deficiencies of the frequency contour-line method. With these merits, the frequency contour-strip method can characterize damage in beam-type structures with more efficiency, greater accuracy, and stronger robustness against noise. The proof of concept of the proposed method is performed on an analytical model of a Timoshenko beam bearing a crack and the effectiveness of the method is experimentally validated via crack identification in a steel beam.

Application of Various Spectral Fatigue Analysis Methods for Ship Structures

The Spectral Fatigue Analysis (SFA) is a comprehensive fatigue life assessment method. The SFA is performed by following a systematic process at the onset of hydrodynamic analysis, structural analysis, and spectral analysis. Hydrodynamic analysis and finite element based structural analysis are numerically intense stages, and require a substantial amount of computational time and resources. In the present paper, some simplifications are imposed on individual stages to perform the SFA analysis in a practical time scale but not compromising on the underlying theoretical assumptions. Three distinct methods (semi-analytical formulation, 2D strip method, and 3D panel method) have been used to compute the wave-induced loads while the structural responses are obtained using the beam theory based formulations (in case of semi-analytical and 2D strip method) and finite element analysis (in case of 3D panel method). Fatigue damages are calculated using these methods at the selected locations of a bulk carrier and results are compared with each other. It has been shown that the first two methods (semi-analytical and 2D strip based methods) are quick and efficient and can be used in initial design assessment or identifying the fatigue prone locations. The third method is realistic and accurate and can be used in case of a comprehensive assessment of the design.

Performance Evaluation of the Gradient Diffusion Strip Method and Disk Diffusion Method for Ceftazidime–Avibactam Against Enterobacterales and Pseudomonas aeruginosa: A Dual-Center Study

Objectives: Ceftazidime–avibactam is a novel synthetic beta-lactam + beta-lactamase inhibitor combination. We evaluated the performance of the gradient diffusion strip method and the disk diffusion method for the determination of ceftazidime–avibactam against Enterobacterales and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.Methods: Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of 302 clinical Enterobacterales and Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from two centers were conducted by broth microdilution (BMD), gradient diffusion strip method, and disk diffusion method for ceftazidime–avibactam. Using BMD as a gold standard, essential agreement (EA), categorical agreement (CA), major error (ME), and very major error (VME) were determined according to CLSI guidelines. CA and EA rate > 90%, ME rate < 3%, and VME rate < 1.5% were considered as acceptable criteria. Polymerase chain reaction and Sanger sequencing were performed to determine the carbapenem resistance genes of all 302 isolates.Results: A total of 302 strains were enrolled, among which 182 strains were from center 1 and 120 strains were from center 2. A percentage of 18.21% (55/302) of the enrolled isolates were resistant to ceftazidime–avibactam. The CA rates of the gradient diffusion strip method for Enterobacterales and P. aeruginosa were 100% and 98.65% (73/74), respectively, and the EA rates were 97.37% (222/228) and 98.65% (73/74), respectively. The CA rates of the disk diffusion method for Enterobacterales and P. aeruginosa were 100% and 95.95% (71/74), respectively. No VMEs were found by using the gradient diffusion strip method, while the ME rate was 0.40% (1/247). No MEs were found by using the disk diffusion method, but the VME rate was 5.45% (3/55). Therefore, all the parameters of the gradient diffusion strip method were in line with acceptable criteria. For 31 blaKPC, 33 blaNDM, 7 blaIMP, and 2 blaVIM positive isolates, both CA and EA rates were 100%; no MEs or VMEs were detected by either method. For 15 carbapenemase-non-producing resistant isolates, the CA and EA rates of the gradient diffusion strips method were 100%. Whereas the CA rate of the disk diffusion method was 80.00% (12/15), the VME rate was 20.00% (3/15).Conclusion: The gradient diffusion strip method can meet the needs of clinical microbiological laboratories for testing the susceptibility of ceftazidime–avibactam drugs. However, the VME rate > 1.5% (5.45%) by the disk diffusion method. By comparison, the performance of the gradient diffusion strip method was better than that of the disk diffusion method.