Multi-hazard loss analysis of tall buildings under wind and seismic loads

This paper presents a framework for life-cycle loss estimation for non-structural damage in tall buildings under wind and seismic loads. Life-cycle cost analysis is a useful design tool for decision- makers, aimed at predicting monetary losses over the lifetime of a structure, accounting for uncertainties involved in the problem definition. For tall buildings, sensitive to dynamic excitations like earthquake and wind, it can be particularly suitable to base design decisions not only on initial cost and performance but also on future repair expenses. The proposed approach harmonises the procedures for intervention costs evaluation of structures subjected to multiple-hazards, taking into account the peculiar differences of wind and earthquake, in terms of load characterisation, type and evolution of damage. Relative effect of the two hazards on damage to drift- and acceleration-sensitive non-structural elements are examined. The influence of uncertainty in structural damping is also taken into account. It is shown that, although it is commonly believed that the design of a given structure is usually dominated by either winds or earthquakes, when LCC-based design is performed, both winds and earthquakes may be important.     

Regional Planning and Economic Development in the South West Region,Western Australia

Abstract

The paper examines the influence of a regional planning and development authority (the South West Development Authority) on economic growth in the South West Region of Western Australia. Employment and population changes are analysed along sectoral and spatial criteria. The findings show that between 1983 and 1989, the Authority's influence on the creation of employment opportunities was limited, being confined mostly to some gains in the public sector and to the promotion of the region and the city of Bunbury as tourist destinations. This ineffectiveness is associated with a lack of power to attract private and direct public investment to the region.     

Mesoscopic nonequilibrium thermodynamics treatment of the grain boundary thermal grooving induced by the anisotropic surface drift diffusion

A systematic study based on the self-consistent dynamical simulations is presented for the grain boundary thermal grooving problem by strictly following the irreversible thermodynamic theory of surfaces and interfaces with singularities [T. O. Ogurtani, J. Chem. Phys. 124, 144706 (2006)]. This approach furnishes us to have auto-control on the otherwise free-motion of the grain boundary triple junction without presuming any equilibrium dihedral (wetting) angles at the edges. The effects of physicochemical properties and the anisotropic surface diffusivity on the transient grooving behavior, which takes place at the early stage of the scenario, were considered. We analyzed the experimental thermal grooving data reported for tungsten in the literature, and compared them with the carried simulation results. This investigation showed that the observed changes in the dihedral angles are strictly connected to the transient behavior of the simulated global system, and manifest themselves at the early stage of the thermal grooving phenomenon.     

Qualitative model for creep of AZ91D magnesium alloy

Creep properties of specimens taken from the core of AZ91D magnesium alloy ingots (9 pct Al, 1 pct Zn) were examined in the temperature range of 120 °C to 180 °C and stress range of 40 to 115 MPa. Solution-treated and aged creep specimens were also tested. The creep rates observed were about three orders of magnitude lower than those of pure magnesium, and elongations to fracture were seen to be at least twice those of pure magnesium. A minimum creep rate was reached after approximately 2/3 of the creep life of the specimens (except for the aged specimens, in which the minimum creep rate appears at the beginning of the test). A qualitative model for the creep process in proposed on the basis of the creep tests and optical, scanning electron, and transmission electron microscopy. This model proposes that dislocation motion on additional slip systems is the primary creep mechanism and that cracking acts as a stress relief mechanism. Structural instability dictates the amount of hardening and, hence, creep resistance.     

传统发酵饮料博扎中酵母菌的分离和鉴定

实验从新疆伊宁市采集的3个博扎样品中分离纯化,得到了12株酵母菌,并对其进行属的鉴定：包括形态学和生化鉴定。依据《酵母菌的特征与鉴定手册》和《The yeast: a taxonomic study》将其归入3个属,其中隐球酵母属（Cryptococcus）5株、酿酒酵母属（Scerevisiae）3株、假丝酵母属（Candida）4株。