Dynamic response and impact energy loss in controlled rocking members

Unbonded posttensioning anchors a rocking structural member to its foundation and produces its controlled rocking response when the member undergoes seismic action. Unlike rocking of free‐standing bodies, little attention has been given to the dynamic behavior of these controlled rocking members. This paper utilizes experiments of concrete structural members with unbonded posttensioning, varying member geometries, and levels of initial posttensioning force to (a) characterize the associated impact energy loss and (b) improve modeling of controlled rocking motions. Experimental results show that impact energy loss in controlled rocking members can be captured accurately using the coefficient of restitution (r) approach of the modified simple rocking model (MSRM). Based on the MSRM, a controlled rocking model (CRM) is developed that additionally accounts for the variations in contact length at the member‐to‐foundation (rocking) interface. The CRM reproduces the experimental responses of controlled rocking members with good accuracy and is used to investigate controlled rocking motions under horizontal base excitations

Collapse risk and residual drift performance of steel buildings using post-tensioned MRFs and viscous dampers in near-fault regions

The potential of post-tensioned self-centering moment-resisting frames (SC-MRFs) and viscous dampers to reduce the collapse risk and improve the residual drift performance of steel buildings in near-fault regions is evaluated. For this purpose, a prototype steel building is designed using different seismic-resistant frames, i.e.: moment-resisting frames (MRFs); MRFs with viscous dampers; SC-MRFs; and SC-MRFs with viscous dampers. The frames are modeled in OpenSees where material and geometrical nonlinearities are taken into account as well as stiffness and strength deterioration. A database of 91 near-fault, pulse-like ground motions with varying pulse periods is used to conduct incremental dynamic analysis (IDA), in which each ground motion is scaled until collapse occurs. The probability of collapse and the probability of exceeding different residual story drift threshold values are calculated as a function of the ground motion intensity and the period of the velocity pulse. The results of IDA are then combined with probabilistic seismic hazard analysis models that account for near-fault directivity to assess and compare the collapse risk and the residual drift performance of the frames. The paper highlights the benefit of combining the post-tensioning and supplemental viscous damping technologies in the near-source. In particular, the SC-MRF with viscous dampers is found to achieve significant reductions in collapse risk and probability of exceedance of residual story drift threshold values compared to the MRF. © 2016 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrech

Evidence for Metabolic Provisioning by a Common Invertebrate Endosymbiont, Wolbachia pipientis, during Periods of Nutritional Stress

Wolbachia are ubiquitous inherited endosymbionts of invertebrates that invade host populations by modifying host reproductive systems. However, some strains lack the ability to impose reproductive modification and yet are still capable of successfully invading host populations. To explain this paradox, theory predicts that such strains should provide a fitness benefit, but to date none has been detected. Recently completed genome sequences of different Wolbachia strains show that these bacteria may have the genetic machinery to influence iron utilization of hosts. Here we show that Wolbachia infection can confer a positive fecundity benefit for Drosophila melanogaster reared on iron-restricted or -overloaded diets. Furthermore, iron levels measured from field-collected flies indicated that nutritional conditions in the field were overall comparable to those of flies reared in the laboratory on restricted diets. These data suggest that Wolbachia may play a previously unrecognized role as nutritional mutualists in insects

Generalized Dynamic Analysis of Structural Single Rocking Walls (SRWs)

The investigation of structural single rocking walls (SRWs) continues to gain interest as they produce self-centering lateral load responses with reduced structural damage. The Simple Rocking Model (SRM) with modifications has been shown to capture these responses accurately if the SRW and its underlying base are infinitely rigid. This paper advances previous rocking models by accounting for: 1) the inelastic actions at or near the base of the SRW; and 2) the flexural responses within the wall. Included in the proposed advancements are hysteretic and inherent viscous damping associated with these two deformation components so that the total dynamic responses of SRWs can be captured with good accuracy. A system of nonlinear equations of motion is developed, in which the rocking base is discretized into fibers using a zero-length element to locate the associated compressive deformations and damage. The flexural deformations of the rocking body are captured using an elastic term, while the impact events are modeled using impulse-momentum equations. Comparisons with experiments of structural precast concrete and masonry SRWs show that the proposed approach accurately estimates the dynamic responses of different SRWs with and without unbonded posttensioning, for various dynamic excitations and degrees of hysteretic action. Using the proposed approach, a numerical investigation employs different configurations of structural SRWs to quantify the various sources of energy loss, including hysteretic action and impact damping, during various horizontal ground motions

Magnesium hydroxide recovery from magnesia waste by calcinations and hydration processes

In this study, hydration behavior of the magnesia waste, supplied from the electrostatic bag house of the sintering unit of MAS Company, Eskisehir-Turkey was studied to find out re-usability of the material as a source of magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)2) production. According to chemical and crystalline phase analyses, MgO content of the sample was determined as 49.9 wt% and consists of mainly raw magnesite (MgCO3), sintered magnesia-periclase (MgO) and small amount of serpentine (lizardite) phases. In hydration process, the reactivity of magnesium oxide determines the rate and extent of hydration of the sample. Therefore, the waste samples both calcined and uncalcined forms were hydrated in water and the efficiencies were compared according to sample source. The hydration experiments were carried out at temperatures ranging from 30 C and 80 C to evaluate the influence of temperature on particle morphology and surface areas of the products. The efficiency of the hydration was evaluated by using thermogravimetric (TG) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses. The test results suggest that the magnesia waste could be used as a source material for production of magnesium hydroxide

The effect of zeta potential on the sedimentation behavior of natural stone processing effluent

One of the main problems for the natural stone industry is treatment of huge amount of waste sludge resulting from the cutting and polishing of them to produce slabs or tiles. The effective treatment of this sludge is very important for reducing of the sludge volume and overall operating costs. Previous studies showed that settling rate and water clarity of the supernatant solution can be increased by flocculation process. In this study, detailed electrokinetic studies were performed on the travertine samples received as natural and slurry form. The natural form of the sample was supplied from a travertine quarry while the slurry was taken from the cutting and polishing process wastewater collector pool of the processing plant. The electrokinetic measurements were conducted to find out the effect of suspension pH and the solid content on the surface potential of solid particles show that zeta potential (ζ) of travertine is positive at pH 9.76 over the all solid contents studied in this work. However, ζ of the particles become negative at lower pH values for 1% solid weight content. In contrast, for travertine slurry (6.73% solid weight), different potential variations were determined. The particles were negatively charged between pH 6 and 8. The results highlighted the effect of dissolved specific ions in the waste slurry and sensitivity of ζ to the ionic strength of the solution. The ζ measurements for a raw travertine sample, performed with different amounts of NaCl additions into the solutions, confirmed the above findings. An addition of low amounts of NaCl decreases ζ of the solid surface. Finally, the ζ measurements in the presence of polymer concentration of 0.001% to 0.1 % (wt/vol) clearly indicated that the flocculant molecules are adsorbed extensively on the travertine particles, and increase the surface potential of the particles with increasing reagent concentration

Effect of process variables on the synthesis of MgB2 by high energy ball mill

Discovery of superconductivity of MgB2 with a critical temperature of -234 °C has offered the promise of important large-scale applications. Except for the other featured synthesis methods, mechanical activation, performed by high-energy ball mills to synthesis of bulk form of MgB2 or as a first step of wire and thin film production has considered as an effective alternative production route in recent years. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of process variables such as the ball-to-powder weight ratio (BPR), size of ball, milling time, annealing temperature and contribution of process control agent (toluene) on the product size, morphology and conversion level of precursor powders to MgB2 after subsequent heat treatment. Although, the test results revealed relatively lower weight percent of MgB2 phase formation compared with the literature, the reduced milling time, BPR and sinterability of pre-alloyed powder to MgB2 at lowered temperature (630 °C) enhanced the applicability of mechanical alloying with SPEX mill