42,626 research outputs found
The application of BIM tools to explore the dynamic characteristics of smart materials in a contemporary Shanashil building design element
Traditional architecture is known for its crafted facade features that respond to environmental, social and cultural requirements. Contemporary architecture produced façade features that attempted to enhance local design identity and local culture. Despite the advantages of modern technology, architectural elements have difficulties in fulfilling the idea of sustainable elegance that once traditional elements provided. This problem calls for an interdisciplinary design approach to deliver sustainable design solutions that positively adapt to the surrounding environment as well as maintain the state of elegance in design. With this in mind, the research aims to explore the role of new glass technologies to improve the performance and at the same time maintain the design value of traditional façade element âshanashilâ in Baghdadi buildings. This research utilises BIM tools and uses smart materials to restore the lost value in design, which mimics the dynamic characteristics observed in nature, inspired by biomimetics strategies. Such qualities are found in the characteristics of smart dynamic glazing material particularly in the switchable, reversible properties of transparency and coloration efficiency. The material characteristics are attached to a 3D digital prototype to visualise the difference between dynamic and static properties through the use of technology tools Revit plugin and smart glazing virtual reality prototype. This research concludes that the dynamic characteristics of smart glazing materials are effective in delivering a multifunctional design quality to collectively blend in harmony with the surrounding environment
Failure Mechanism of True 2D Granular Flows
Most previous experimental investigations of two-dimensional (2D) granular
column collapses have been conducted using three-dimensional (3D) granular
materials in narrow horizontal channels (i.e., quasi-2D condition). Our recent
research on 2D granular column collapses by using 2D granular materials (i.e.,
aluminum rods) has revealed results that differ markedly from those reported in
the literature. We assume a 2D column with an initial height of h0 and initial
width of d0, a defined as their ratio (a =h0/d0), a final height of h , and
maximum run-out distance of d . The experimental data suggest that for the low
a regime (a <0.65) the ratio of the final height to initial height is 1.
However, for the high a regime (a >0.65), the ratio of a to (d-d0)/d0, h0/h ,
or d/d0 is expressed by power-law relations. In particular, the following
power-function ratios (h0/h=1.42a^2/3 and d/d0=4.30a^0.72) are proposed for
every a >0.65. In contrast, the ratio (d-d0)/d0=3.25a^0.96 only holds for 0.65<
a1.5. In addition,
the influence of ground contact surfaces (hard or soft beds) on the final
run-out distance and destruction zone of the granular column under true 2D
conditions is investigated.Comment: 8 page
Non-equilibrium melting of colloidal crystals in confinement
We report on a novel and flexible experiment to investigate the
non-equilibrium melting behaviour of model crystals made from charged colloidal
spheres. In a slit geometry polycrystalline material formed in a low salt
region is driven by hydrostatic pressure up an evolving gradient in salt
concentration and melts at large salt concentration. Depending on particle and
initial salt concentration, driving velocity and the local salt concentration
complex morphologic evolution is observed. Crystal-melt interface positions and
the melting velocity are obtained quantitatively from time resolved Bragg- and
polarization microscopic measurements. A simple theoretical model predicts the
interface to first advance, then for balanced drift and melting velocities to
become stationary at a salt concentration larger than the equilibrium melting
concentration. It also describes the relaxation of the interface to its
equilibrium position in a stationary gradient after stopping the drive in
different manners. We further discuss the influence of the gradient strength on
the resulting interface morphology and a shear induced morphologic transition
from polycrystalline to oriented single crystalline material before melting
Kolmogorov-Smirnov method for the determination of signal time-shifts
A new method for the determination of electric signal time-shifts is
introduced. As the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, it is based on the comparison of
the cumulative distribution functions of the reference signal with the test
signal. This method is very fast and thus well suited for on-line applications.
It is robust to noise and its performances in terms of precision are excellent
for time-shifts ranging from a fraction to several sample durations.
PACS. 29.40.Gx (Tracking and position-sensitive detectors), 29.30.Kv (X- and
-ray spectroscopy), 07.50.Qx (Signal processing electronics)Comment: 8 pages, 7 figure
Collective Dynamics of Random Polyampholytes
We consider the Langevin dynamics of a semi-dilute system of chains which are
random polyampholytes of average monomer charge and with a fluctuations in
this charge of the size and with freely floating counter-ions in the
surrounding. We cast the dynamics into the functional integral formalism and
average over the quenched charge distribution in order to compute the dynamic
structure factor and the effective collective potential matrix. The results are
given for small charge fluctuations. In the limit of finite we then find
that the scattering approaches the limit of polyelectrolyte solutions.Comment: 13 pages including 6 figures, submitted J. Chem. Phy
Fast analytical methods for the correction of signal random time-shifts and application to segmented HPGe detectors
Detection systems rely more and more on on-line or off-line comparison of
detected signals with basis signals in order to determine the characteristics
of the impinging particles. Unfortunately, these comparisons are very sensitive
to the random time shifts that may alter the signal delivered by the detectors.
We present two fast algebraic methods to determine the value of the time shift
and to enhance the reliability of the comparison to the basis signals.Comment: 13 pages, 8 figure
The Sharing Economy and Collaborative Finance: the Case of P2p Lending in Vietnam
Peer-to-peer Online Lending (P2PO) has received increasing attention over the last years, not only because of its disruptive nature and its disintermediation of nearly all major banking functions, but also because of its rapid growth and expanding breadth of services. This model offers a new way of investing in addition to investing in traditional channels such as banking or financial company. The transaction process is done online, the personal information and terms of mobilization are completely transparent and secure in the best way. The strong development of P2PO also raises a number of issues that require careful attention to promote positive and to limit negative aspects. The research aims to highlight particular aspects of this new business model and to analyze the opportunities and risks for lenders and borrowers in Viet Nam. The research combines qualitative analysis and data survey to serve descriptive statistics about P2PO in Viet Nam. The research show the potential of online peer lending is enormous but the regulators will restrict the Sharing economy model in general and P2PO lending in particula
Programming DNA Tube Circumferences
Synthesizing molecular tubes with monodisperse, programmable circumferences is an important goal shared by nanotechnology, materials science, and supermolecular chemistry. We program molecular tube circumferences by specifying the complementarity relationships between modular domains in a 42-base single-stranded DNA motif. Single-step annealing results in the self-assembly of long tubes displaying monodisperse circumferences of 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, or 20 DNA helices
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