Large deflection behavior effect in reinforced concrete columns exposed to extreme dynamic loads

Reinforced concretes (RC) have been widely used in constructions. In construction, one of the critical elements carrying a high percentage of the weight is columns which were not used to design to absorb large dynamic load like surface bursts. This study focuses on investigating blast load parameters to design of RC columns to withstand blast detonation. The numerical model is based on finite element analysis using LS-DYNA. Numerical results are validated against blast field tests available in the literature. Couples of simulations are performed with changing blast parameters to study effects of various scaled distances on the nonlinear behavior of RC columns. According to simulation results, the scaled distance has a substantial influence on the blast response of RC columns. With lower scaled distance, higher peak pressure and larger pressure impulse are applied on the RC column. Eventually, keeping the scaled distance unchanged, increasing the charge weight or shorter standoff distance cause more damage to the RC column. Intensive studies are carried out to investigate the effects of scaled distance and charge weight on the damage degree and residual axial load carrying capacity of RC columns with various column width, longitudinal reinforcement ratio and concrete strength. Results of this research will be used to assessment the effect of an explosion on the dynamic behavior of RC columns.     

Facile Synthesis of Calcium Borate Nanoparticles and the Annealing Effect on Their Structure and Size

Calcium borate nanoparticles have been synthesized by a thermal treatment method via facile co-precipitation. Differences of annealing temperature and annealing time and their effects on crystal structure, particle size, size distribution and thermal stability of nanoparticles were investigated. The formation of calcium borate compound was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Thermogravimetry (TGA). The XRD patterns revealed that the co-precipitated samples annealed at 700 °C for 3 h annealing time formed an amorphous structure and the transformation into a crystalline structure only occurred after 5 h annealing time. It was found that the samples annealed at 900 °C are mostly metaborate (CaB₂O₄) nanoparticles and tetraborate (CaB₄O₇) nanoparticles only observed at 970 °C, which was confirmed by FTIR. The TEM images indicated that with increasing the annealing time and temperature, the average particle size increases. TGA analysis confirmed the thermal stability of the annealed samples at higher temperatures.     

Phase Controlled Monodispersed CdS Nanocrystals Synthesized in Polymer Solution Using Microwave Irradiation

Cadmium sulfide (CdS) nanocrystals were synthesized in aqueous solution of polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) via the simple and rapid microwave irradiation method. It is revealed that sulfur source is a key factor in controlling the phase formation of the resulting nanocrystals. The hexagonal and cubic structure of CdS nanocrystals could be obtained with varying sulfur sources of thioacetamide and sodium sulphide respectively. The interaction mechanism of PVP with precursor ions of cadmium and sulfur sources in the preparation process was proposed. It is found that PVP compounded the CdS nanoparticles and protected them from agglomerating. With increasing of PVP concentration, the average particle size of CdS nanocrystals increased and subsequently their optical band gap decreased. At the appropriate dosage of PVP, well isolated nanoparticles with relatively narrow size distribution were obtained for both sulfur sources. Moreover the stability of CdS nanoparticles enhanced after coating with polymer.     

Statistical analysis on results of optimal power sharing between linked microgrids

The future distribution network will be made of interconnected distribution systems, so-called microgrids (MGs). MGs provide an effective means of utilising energy from small-scale renewable resources. The probabilistic power generation behaviour renewable generations and load forecasting errors are the most important uncertainties in the MG operation. The proposed methodology of this paper applies these uncertainties into the operation problem in order to find the practical solutions. So, in this research the economic operation of multi-MGs is formulated as a cost-based objective function which is minimised using particle swarm optimisation algorithm. As a result, the problem outputs must be defined by probability distribution functions (PDFs) in order to achieve comprehensive analysis of the literature. Another contribution of the paper, which rises the accuracy of the analysis in operation discussion, is applying suitable fitting criteria to select the best PDF for each obtained result based on Akaike's information criterion.     

Microfluidic encapsulation of cells in alginate particles via an improved internal gelation approach

An improved internal gelation approach is developed to encapsulate single mammalian cells in monodisperse alginate microbeads as small as 26 μm in diameter and at rates of up to 1 kHz with high cell viability. The cell damage resulting from contact with calcium carbonate nanoparticles as gelation reagents is eliminated by employing a co-flow microfluidic device, and the cell exposure to low pH is minimized by a chemically balanced off-chip gelation step. These modifications significantly improve the viability of cells encapsulated in gelled alginate particles. Two different mammalian cell types are encapsulated with viability of over 84 %. The cells are functional and continue to grow inside the microparticles.     

Correlation between process parameters,grain size and hardness of friction-stir-welded Cu-Zn alloys

In this study, the effects of tool rotational speed, tool traverse speed, and Zn content on the grain size and hardness of the friction-stir-welded(FSWed) Cu-Zn alloy joints were investigated. The microstructures of the joints were examined using optical microscope(OM) and scanning transmission electron microscope(STEM).Vickers hardness test was conducted to evaluate the hardness of the joints. In addition, the relationships between the process parameters, grain size, and hardness of the joints were established. The results show that the developed relationships predict the grain size and hardness of the joints accurately. The Zn content of the alloys is the most effective parameter on the grain size and hardness, where the tool traverse speed has the minimum effect. The relationship between the hardness and grain size of the joints has a deviation from the Hall-Petch equation due to formation of high dislocation density inside the grains. At higher Zn amounts, the dislocation tangles with high density form instead of dislocation cells, and hence, lower conformity with the Hall-Petch relationship is observed.     

Switchable & Configurable Feed Network for Array Antenna at C-Band Application

Wireless Personal Communications - The popularity of symmetrical services like video conferencing, telemedicine etc. is in an upsurge. With the rapid increase in the number of customers for such...