33,416 research outputs found
Aging concrete structures: a review of mechanics and concepts
The safe and cost-efficient management of our built infrastructure is a challenging task considering the expected service life of at least 50 years. In spite of time-dependent changes in material properties, deterioration processes and changing demand by society, the structures need to satisfy many technical requirements related to serviceability, durability, sustainability and bearing capacity. This review paper summarizes the challenges associated with the safe design and maintenance of aging concrete structures and gives an overview of some concepts and approaches that are being developed to address these challenges
Estimation of Stress-Strength model in the Generalized Linear Failure Rate Distribution
In this paper, we study the estimation of , also so-called the
stress-strength model, when both and are two independent random
variables with the generalized linear failure rate distributions, under
different assumptions about their parameters. We address the maximum likelihood
estimator (MLE) of and the associated asymptotic confidence interval. In
addition, we compute the MLE and the corresponding Bootstrap confidence
interval when the sample sizes are small. The Bayes estimates of and the
associated credible intervals are also investigated. An extensive computer
simulation is implemented to compare the performances of the proposed
estimators. Eventually, we briefly study the estimation of this model when the
data obtained from both distributions are progressively type-II censored. We
present the MLE and the corresponding confidence interval under three different
progressive censoring schemes. We also analysis a set of real data for
illustrative purpose.Comment: 31 pages, 2 figures, preprin
Calculation of Weibull strength parameters and Batdorf flow-density constants for volume- and surface-flaw-induced fracture in ceramics
The calculation of shape and scale parameters of the two-parameter Weibull distribution is described using the least-squares analysis and maximum likelihood methods for volume- and surface-flaw-induced fracture in ceramics with complete and censored samples. Detailed procedures are given for evaluating 90 percent confidence intervals for maximum likelihood estimates of shape and scale parameters, the unbiased estimates of the shape parameters, and the Weibull mean values and corresponding standard deviations. Furthermore, the necessary steps are described for detecting outliers and for calculating the Kolmogorov-Smirnov and the Anderson-Darling goodness-of-fit statistics and 90 percent confidence bands about the Weibull distribution. It also shows how to calculate the Batdorf flaw-density constants by uing the Weibull distribution statistical parameters. The techniques described were verified with several example problems, from the open literature, and were coded. The techniques described were verified with several example problems from the open literature, and were coded in the Structural Ceramics Analysis and Reliability Evaluation (SCARE) design program
Observation of non-exponential magnetic penetration profiles in the Meissner state - A manifestation of non-local effects in superconductors
Implanting fully polarized low energy muons on the nanometer scale beneath
the surface of a superconductor in the Meissner state enabled us to probe the
evanescent magnetic field profile B(z)(0<z<=200nm measured from the surface).
All the investigated samples [Nb: kappa \simeq 0.7(2), Pb: kappa \simeq 0.6(1),
Ta: kappa \simeq 0.5(2)] show clear deviations from the simple exponential B(z)
expected in the London limit, thus revealing the non-local response of these
superconductors. From a quantitative analysis within the Pippard and BCS models
the London penetration depth lambda_L is extracted. In the case of Pb also the
clean limit coherence length xi0 is obtained. Furthermore we find that the
temperature dependence of the magnetic penetration depth follows closely the
two-fluid expectation 1/lambda^2 \propto 1-(T/T_c)^4. While B(z) for Nb and Pb
are rather well described within the Pippard and BCS models, for Ta this is
only true to a lesser degree. We attribute this discrepancy to the fact that
the superfluid density is decreased by approaching the surface on a length
scale xi0. This effect, which is not taken self-consistently into account in
the mentioned models, should be more pronounced in the lowest kappa regime
consistently with our findings.Comment: accepted in PRB 14 pages, 17 figure
Dielectric breakdown I: A review of oxide breakdown
This paper gives an overview of the dielectric breakdown in thin oxide layers on silicon. First test methods are discussed, followed by their application to the estimation of the oxide lifetime. The main part of the paper is devoted to the physical background of the intrinsic breakdown. Finally, defect-related or extrinsic breakdown is discussed
Inference on the Parameters of the Weibull Distribution Using Records
The Weibull distribution is a very applicable model for the lifetime data. In
this paper, we have investigated inference on the parameters of Weibull
distribution based on record values. We first propose a simple and exact test
and a confidence interval for the shape parameter. Then, in addition to a
generalized confidence interval, a generalized test variable is derived for the
scale parameter when the shape parameter is unknown. The paper presents a
simple and exact joint confidence region as well. %for the scale and shape
parameters. In all cases, simulation studies show that the proposed approaches
are more satisfactory and reliable than previous methods. All proposed
approaches are illustrated using a real example.Comment: Accepted for publication in SOR
Development of reliability methodology for systems engineering. Volume I - Methodology - Analysis techniques and procedures Final report
Reliability analyses for equipment in design stag
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