Design and Behavior of Steel Delta Girders

In steel structures, I-sections are commonly used for beams and columns. These cross-sections usually lack lateral rigidity and torsional stiffness. An effective method to improve their lateral rigidity and overall flexural resistance is to weld two inclined rectangular plates to the compression flange and the compression portion of the web of hot-rolled or welded I-section to form what is known as a Delta girder. This mixed cross-section, i.e., cross-section composed of an open profile attached to a closed profile, can provide enhanced torsional stiffness and hence noticeably higher lateral-torsional buckling (LTB) capacity for the beam. While Delta girders can be used for any beams, their main applications are the design of crane runway and bridge beams and strengthening of existing beams. The main objectives of this dissertation are to study the static behavior of these girders and to provide a set of design equations for their nominal flexural and shear capacities. The research includes deriving closed-form equations for the cross-section properties of Delta girders. These equations are then verified against solutions obtained numerically. Using these cross-section properties, the theoretical lateral-torsional buckling capacity of Delta girders are determined and compared against results obtained from a finite element (FE) analysis. The results show that the theoretical LTB equation derived for general monosymmetric sections can be applied to these Delta girders. Additionally, it is shown that a simplified expression for the coefficient of monosymmetry βx derived for I-sections can be used in the computation of the elastic LTB capacity of Delta girders. A parametric study is then performed based on elastic LTB capacity to demonstrate the effectiveness of Delta girders in achieving a favorable capacity-to-weight ratio when compared to standard I-section members. A refined three-dimensional (3D) nonlinear inelastic FE models are then developed to examine the capacity of simply-supported Delta girders under uniform bending and pure shear. The models take into considerations the effects of initial geometrical imperfections and residual stresses on the behavior of Delta girders. The FE model and the modeling techniques used are verified against the experimental result of a test beam that failed by inelastic LTB. The analysis covers a comprehensive range of Delta girder dimensions based on the dimensions of standard hot-rolled European H- and I-sections. A sensitivity study on the effects of using reduced imperfections magnitudes shows up to 18.2% increase in the LTB capacity of the girder. Based on the FE LTB simulation results, it is shown that the buckling curve in the AISC (2016a) specifications overestimates the buckling capacity of Delta girders by an average of 9% and a maximum value of 21%. On the other hand, buckling curves “a” and “b” for rolled sections or equivalent welded sections case in the EuroCode 3 (2005) for Delta girders with d⁄bc ≤2 and d⁄bc \u3e2, respectively, provide an average difference of only 2% and a maximum difference of 7% in comparison to the FE results. Hence, these two curves are recommended for the LTB design of Class 1 (compact) Delta girders. Additionally, design recommendations are provided for selecting the proper delta stiffeners dimensions based on the cross-section geometries of the corresponding I-sections. Shear capacity equations for Class 1 (compact) Delta girders are proposed based on FE simulation results. The equations provide the option of selecting a conservative value that ignores strain hardening in the cross-section or a value that allows for some strain hardening to occur. In comparison to I-sections, the Delta girders analyzed in this study show an increase in shear capacity in the range of 41% to 89%. Furthermore, it is shown that in contrast to I-sections, yielding is a gradual process in Delta girders due to the presence of a non-uniform elastic shear stress distribution in the cross-section

Culture and Guarantees for Non-Repetition

II discussed the history and cultural significance of the political murals in Belfast and how the post-Good Friday Agreement and public policy on mural imagery have been to move away from direct conflict-related depictions in Northern Ireland. The presentation for the Transitional Justice Institute's 'Foundations of Transitional Justice' module explored the cultural approach to GNR and debated whether GNR is a state attempt of 'papering over the cracks.’ The presentation examined the rebranding of political murals in Northern Ireland as an example of culturally-focused GNR, including considering what is lost (specific identity) as well as what may be gained

Inclusivity and Place: Where a University and Neighbours Draw Together

For this participatory action research project Dr. Omar El Masri, a sociologist from the School of Natural, Social and Sports Sciences; Kimberly Ellen Hall, a senior lecturer in Illustration in the School of Arts; the University of Gloucestershire neighbours in Cheltenham; and our students are co-creating a mural in the neighbourhood around our campus. We are examining the relationship between the University community and the local population, which are often separate groups. We’re investigating if, by engaging in participatory action research through drawing to create a mural, we can contribute to the development of an inclusive social space. Drawing as a method of learning, communication, and community-building is the strand we will explore in this paper. The project is constructed of moderated-knowledge exchange workshops where we build collaboration through experimental drawing practices. Where we really see the outcome of our question is in the drawing we do as a group; stories are explored and the participants share in unexpected ways. As we learn from the sociological tradition of observational research, so we share the possibilities of collecting data through embodied image-making. Working collaboratively across both illustration and sociology brings a cross-disciplinary approach that informs both our research methodology and our teaching practice. Working outside of our campus offers us the opportunity to break down the walls between inside & outside. Co-creating a mural allows all involved to explore the visual communication of local stories through drawing practice. The outcomes of the mural include a sharable toolkit for community engagement with public art, which we will provide to local agencies like the Cheltenham Paint Festival in order to improve community empowerment for public art

The worldwide NORM production and a fully automated gamma-ray spectrometer for their characterization

Materials containing radionuclides of natural origin, which is modified by human made processes and being subject to regulation because of their radioactivity are known as NORM. We present a brief review of the main categories of non-nuclear industries together with the levels of activity concentration in feed raw materials, products and waste, including mechanisms of radioisotope enrichments. The global management of NORM shows a high level of complexity, mainly due to different degrees of radioactivity enhancement and the huge amount of worldwide waste production. The future tendency of guidelines concerning environmental protection will require both a systematic monitoring based on the ever-increasing sampling and high performance of gamma ray spectroscopy. On the ground of these requirements a new low background fully automated high-resolution gamma-ray spectrometer MCA_Rad has been developed. The design of Pb and Cu shielding allowed to reach a background reduction of two order of magnitude with respect to laboratory radioactivity. A severe lowering of manpower cost is obtained through a fully automation system, which enables up to 24 samples to be measured without any human attendance. Two coupled HPGe detectors increase the detection efficiency, performing accurate measurements on sample volume (180 cc) with a reduction of sample transport cost of material. Details of the instrument calibration method are presented. MCA_Rad system can measure in less than one hour a typical NORM sample enriched in U and Th with some hundreds of Bq/kg, with an overall uncertainty less than 5%. Quality control of this method has been tested. Measurements of certified reference materials RGK-1, RGU-2 and RGTh-1 containing concentrations of K, U and Th comparable to NORM have been performed, resulting an overall relative discrepancy of 5% among central values within the reported uncertainty.Comment: 21 pages, 4 figures, 6 table

Characterization of greater middle eastern genetic variation for enhanced disease gene discovery

The Greater Middle East (GME) has been a central hub of human migration and population admixture. The tradition of consanguinity, variably practiced in the Persian Gulf region, North Africa, and Central Asia1-3, has resulted in an elevated burden of recessive disease4. Here we generated a whole-exome GME variome from 1,111 unrelated subjects. We detected substantial diversity and admixture in continental and subregional populations, corresponding to several ancient founder populations with little evidence of bottlenecks. Measured consanguinity rates were an order of magnitude above those in other sampled populations, and the GME population exhibited an increased burden of runs of homozygosity (ROHs) but showed no evidence for reduced burden of deleterious variation due to classically theorized ‘genetic purging’. Applying this database to unsolved recessive conditions in the GME population reduced the number of potential disease-causing variants by four- to sevenfold. These results show variegated genetic architecture in GME populations and support future human genetic discoveries in Mendelian and population genetics

Society and Learning Research Priority Area - Research share September 2021

The session, held in September 2021, is an introduction to the work of Society and Leaning Research Priority Area (RPA), in which we examine the nature and role of the RPA as well as the ways in which it supports research in the university. The largest part of the event is an opportunity for staff to share a slide on their research, including the focus of the work, ongoing and potential projects, and opportunities for others to get involved

Effects of hospital facilities on patient outcomes after cancer surgery: an international, prospective, observational study

Background Early death after cancer surgery is higher in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) compared with in high-income countries, yet the impact of facility characteristics on early postoperative outcomes is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the association between hospital infrastructure, resource availability, and processes on early outcomes after cancer surgery worldwide.Methods A multimethods analysis was performed as part of the GlobalSurg 3 study-a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study of patients who had surgery for breast, colorectal, or gastric cancer. The primary outcomes were 30-day mortality and 30-day major complication rates. Potentially beneficial hospital facilities were identified by variable selection to select those associated with 30-day mortality. Adjusted outcomes were determined using generalised estimating equations to account for patient characteristics and country-income group, with population stratification by hospital.Findings Between April 1, 2018, and April 23, 2019, facility-level data were collected for 9685 patients across 238 hospitals in 66 countries (91 hospitals in 20 high-income countries; 57 hospitals in 19 upper-middle-income countries; and 90 hospitals in 27 low-income to lower-middle-income countries). The availability of five hospital facilities was inversely associated with mortality: ultrasound, CT scanner, critical care unit, opioid analgesia, and oncologist. After adjustment for case-mix and country income group, hospitals with three or fewer of these facilities (62 hospitals, 1294 patients) had higher mortality compared with those with four or five (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 3.85 [95% CI 2.58-5.75]; p<0.0001), with excess mortality predominantly explained by a limited capacity to rescue following the development of major complications (63.0% vs 82.7%; OR 0.35 [0.23-0.53]; p<0.0001). Across LMICs, improvements in hospital facilities would prevent one to three deaths for every 100 patients undergoing surgery for cancer.Interpretation Hospitals with higher levels of infrastructure and resources have better outcomes after cancer surgery, independent of country income. Without urgent strengthening of hospital infrastructure and resources, the reductions in cancer-associated mortality associated with improved access will not be realised

Prognostic model to predict postoperative acute kidney injury in patients undergoing major gastrointestinal surgery based on a national prospective observational cohort study.

Background: Acute illness, existing co-morbidities and surgical stress response can all contribute to postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients undergoing major gastrointestinal surgery. The aim of this study was prospectively to develop a pragmatic prognostic model to stratify patients according to risk of developing AKI after major gastrointestinal surgery. Methods: This prospective multicentre cohort study included consecutive adults undergoing elective or emergency gastrointestinal resection, liver resection or stoma reversal in 2-week blocks over a continuous 3-month period. The primary outcome was the rate of AKI within 7 days of surgery. Bootstrap stability was used to select clinically plausible risk factors into the model. Internal model validation was carried out by bootstrap validation. Results: A total of 4544 patients were included across 173 centres in the UK and Ireland. The overall rate of AKI was 14·2 per cent (646 of 4544) and the 30-day mortality rate was 1·8 per cent (84 of 4544). Stage 1 AKI was significantly associated with 30-day mortality (unadjusted odds ratio 7·61, 95 per cent c.i. 4·49 to 12·90; P < 0·001), with increasing odds of death with each AKI stage. Six variables were selected for inclusion in the prognostic model: age, sex, ASA grade, preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate, planned open surgery and preoperative use of either an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or an angiotensin receptor blocker. Internal validation demonstrated good model discrimination (c-statistic 0·65). Discussion: Following major gastrointestinal surgery, AKI occurred in one in seven patients. This preoperative prognostic model identified patients at high risk of postoperative AKI. Validation in an independent data set is required to ensure generalizability

The impact of surgical delay on resectability of colorectal cancer: An international prospective cohort study

AIM: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has provided a unique opportunity to explore the impact of surgical delays on cancer resectability. This study aimed to compare resectability for colorectal cancer patients undergoing delayed versus non-delayed surgery. METHODS: This was an international prospective cohort study of consecutive colorectal cancer patients with a decision for curative surgery (January-April 2020). Surgical delay was defined as an operation taking place more than 4 weeks after treatment decision, in a patient who did not receive neoadjuvant therapy. A subgroup analysis explored the effects of delay in elective patients only. The impact of longer delays was explored in a sensitivity analysis. The primary outcome was complete resection, defined as curative resection with an R0 margin. RESULTS: Overall, 5453 patients from 304 hospitals in 47 countries were included, of whom 6.6% (358/5453) did not receive their planned operation. Of the 4304 operated patients without neoadjuvant therapy, 40.5% (1744/4304) were delayed beyond 4 weeks. Delayed patients were more likely to be older, men, more comorbid, have higher body mass index and have rectal cancer and early stage disease. Delayed patients had higher unadjusted rates of complete resection (93.7% vs. 91.9%, P = 0.032) and lower rates of emergency surgery (4.5% vs. 22.5%, P < 0.001). After adjustment, delay was not associated with a lower rate of complete resection (OR 1.18, 95% CI 0.90-1.55, P = 0.224), which was consistent in elective patients only (OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.69-1.27, P = 0.672). Longer delays were not associated with poorer outcomes. CONCLUSION: One in 15 colorectal cancer patients did not receive their planned operation during the first wave of COVID-19. Surgical delay did not appear to compromise resectability, raising the hypothesis that any reduction in long-term survival attributable to delays is likely to be due to micro-metastatic disease