An Experimental Study of Shear Resistance for Multisize Polypropylene Fiber Concrete Beams

To study the influence of polypropylene fibers with different thicknesses on concrete beams, inclined section shear tests of polypropylene fiber concrete beams were carried out. The cracking load, ultimate load, midspan deflection, reinforcement, and strain of polypropylene fiber concrete beams and conventional reinforced-concrete beams under shear were compared and analyzed. The load-bearing capacity of the rectangular beams was improved significantly by polypropylene fiber addition. Compared with conventional reinforced-concrete beams, the limit shear load of concrete beams with polypropylene fibers and multisize polypropylene concrete beams that were reinforced with three types of fibers increased by 8.67% and 17.07%, respectively. By mixing polypropylene fibers into concrete beams, the initial crack shear force of the beam was improved, the number of cracks was increased and the crack width was reduced, which can increase the beam ductility, inhibit crack formation and increase the strength. The computational formula of the shear ultimate bearing capacity of polypropylene fiber–concrete beams was revised according to composite material theory, and the calculated results were consistent with the test values.

Totimorphic assemblies from neutrally stable units

Inspired by the quest for shape-shifting structures in a range of applications, we show how to create morphable structural materials using a neutrally stable unit cell as a building block. This unit cell is a self-stressed hinged structure with a one-parameter family of morphing motions that are all energetically equivalent. However, unlike kinematic mechanisms, the unit cell is not infinitely floppy and instead exhibits a tunable mechanical response akin to that of an ideal rigid-plastic material. Theory and simulations allow us to explore the properties of planar and spatial assemblies of neutrally stable elements, and solve the inverse problem of designing assemblies that can morph from one given shape into another. Simple experimental prototypes of these assemblies corroborate our theoretical results and show that the addition of switchable hinges allows us to create load-bearing structures. Altogether, totimorphs pave the way for structural materials whose geometry and deformation response can be controlled independently and at multiple scales.

Does the Dome Defeat the Material Theory of Induction?

According to John D. Norton's Material Theory of Induction, all inductive inferences are justified by local facts, rather than their formal features or some grand principles of nature's uniformity. Recently, Richard Dawid (Found Phys 45(9):1101–1109, 2015) has offered a challenge to this theory: in an adaptation of Norton's own celebrated "Dome" thought experiment, it seems that there are certain inductions that are intuitively reasonable, but which do not have any local facts that could serve to justify them in accordance with Norton's requirements. Dawid's suggestion is that “raw induction” might have a limited but important role for such inferences. I argue that the Material Theory can accommodate such inductions, because there are local facts concerning the combinatoric features of the induction’s target populations that can licence the inferences in an analogous way to existing examples of material induction. Since my arguments are largely independent of the details of the Dome, Norton's theory emerges as surprisingly robust against criticisms of excessive narrowness.

Embodied Religious Belief: The Experience of Syahadatain Sufi Order in Indonesia

Several types of research on religion in Indonesia emphasise more on religious knowledge and belief and less on other approaches such as material aspects. Religion is always related to material aspects such as mosque buildings, veils or robes for prayer, or holy water obtained from grave visitors. This study uses embodiment approach and material theory of religion to the imposition of special fashion in prayer that gives consequences on awareness and attitude of a new morality in-group cohesion. This study is a case study through participatory observations and interviews of new members of Syahadatain congregation, Cirebon, Indonesia for three years. The result of the study shows two significant findings namely first, the establishment of rituals through special fashions exerts an influence on discursive awareness and moral behaviour; and second, the driving factor of the emergence of new moral behaviour from the practice is the social gaze. This study recommends the need for the study of material artifacts such as clothing can be an alternative to the study of religion in Indonesia using the embodiment approach.

Pelatihan Pembuatan Media Pembelajaran Kiddy Learning Binder Bagi Guru Paud

Through a workshop and coaching to make learning media, Kiddy Learning Binder aims to increase the knowledge and skills of early childhood teachers in making educative props in Pusaka KB/TK and Harapan Bangsa Kindergarten at Kecamatan Tuban Kabupaten Tuban. Kiddy Learning Binder is an educational teaching aid to intended as a media learning which to be easy in the process of teaching and learning activities. Based on the problem, according to the survey results obtained in the field that the learning media in PAUD institutions are still minimum, and most of skills PAUD teachers are lack to make learning media, they more often bought the learning media than innovate to make their own . The solution to this problem was solved by providing workshop to make Kiddy Learning Binder learning media in Pusaka KB/TK and Harapan Bangsa Kindergarten. The implementation phase of workshop and coaching begins with observation and permission to get society service partners. Next, identify the initial abilities and then implementation by providing material/theory explanations and conducting training practices, and finally the monitoring and evaluation stage by measuring the success of the media that has been made through the training provided. Keywords: educative props; kiddy learning binder; media learning Abstrak: Melalui pendampingan dan pelatihan pembuatan media pembelajaran Kiddy Learning Binder ini bertujuan untuk meningkatkan pengetahuan dan keterampilan guru PAUD dalam membuat alat peraga edukatif di KB/TK Pusaka dan TK Harapan Bangsa Kecamatan Tuban Kabupaten Tuban. Kiddy Learning Binder merupakan alat peraga edukatif yang diperuntukkan sebagai media pembelajaran yang memudahkan proses kegiatan belajar mengajar. Didasarkan pada permasalahan, sesuai hasil survei yang diperoleh di lapangan bahwa media pembelajaran pada lembaga PAUD tersebut masih minim, serta sebagian besar guru PAUD kurang mempunyai keterampilan dalam membuat media pembelajaran, mereka lebih sering untuk membeli media pembelajaran daripada berinovasi untuk membuat sendiri. Solusi permasalahan ini dipecahkan dengan memberikan pelatihan pembuatan media pembelajaran Kiddy Learning Binder di KB/TK Pusaka dan TK Harapan Bangsa Kecamatan Tuban Kabupaten Tuban. Tahap pelaksanaan pendampingan dan pelatihan diawali dari observasi dan perijinan untuk mendapatkan mitra pengabdian kepada masyarakat. Selanjutnya, mengidentifikasi kemampuan awal lalu pelaksanaan dengan memberikan penjelasan materi/teori dan melakukan praktek pelatihan, serta yang terakhir tahap monitoring dan mengevaluasi dengan mengukur keberhasilan media yang telah dibuat melalui pelatihan yang diberikan. Kata kunci: alat peraga edukatif; kiddy learning binder; media pembelajaran