1,360 research outputs found

    Powerful Poetry [1st grade]

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    Seismic Behavior and Detailing of High-Performance Fiber-Reinforced Concrete Coupling Beams and Coupled Wall Systems

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    The seismic behavior of coupling beams and walls constructed with tensile strain-hardening, high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete (HPFRC) was studied through tests of large-scale precast coupling beams and coupled walls. A precast coupling beam design was developed to speed up construction and minimize interference with wall reinforcement. Three isolated precast coupling beam specimens with a span-to-depth ratio of 1.75 were tested under large displacement reversals. Test results indicate the use of HPFRC allows a reduction of the reinforcement required to achieve a stable coupling beam response by providing confinement and contributing to beam shear strength. A concrete design shear stress capacity of 0.41√fc’, [MPa] (5√fc’, [psi]), where fc’ is the compressive strength of the concrete, was found to be appropriate. In addition to the coupling beam tests, two four-story coupled wall specimens with precast HPFRC and regular concrete coupling beams were tested under lateral displacement reversals. Besides allowing the evaluation of seismic behavior of coupled walls with HPFRC coupling beams, the use of HPFRC in the plastic hinge regions of the walls as a means of relaxing transverse wall reinforcement was evaluated. The two coupled wall specimens exhibited drift capacities of at least 2.5%. The HPFRC coupling beams were more ductile and damage tolerant than the regular concrete beams. The incorporation of an HPFRC material in the wall allowed the use of a concrete design shear stress capacity of 0.33√fc’, [MPa] (4√fc’, [psi]) and a wider spacing of transverse reinforcement confining the wall boundary regions

    Seismic Response of Fiber-Reinforced Concrete Coupled Walls

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    The behavior of coupled T-shaped structural walls was studied through tests of two large-scale four-story specimens under reversed cyclic lateral displacements. The use of tensile strainhardening, high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete (HPFRC) in coupling beams and walls was evaluated as a means to reduce diagonal and confinement reinforcement. The Specimen CW-1 walls were constructed with reinforced concrete (RC) designed to satisfy ACI Building Code (ACI 318-08) seismic provisions. The walls in Specimen CW-2 were constructed with HPFRC and reduced shear and confinement reinforcement. Each specimen included one RC and three HPFRC precast coupling beams with span-depth ratios of 1.75. Both specimens sustained 80% of the peak lateral strength through loading cycles to at least 2.5% drift. Inelastic flexural deformations were more concentrated near the foundation in the HPFRC walls than in the RC walls, which led to a higher curvature demand at the base of the HPFRC walls. Although the walls in both specimens exhibited a flexuraldominated behavior, shear distortions in the first story of the walls reached 0.01 rad. Detailed data are presented regarding specimen behavior, including wall and coupling beam deformations

    Test of a Coupled Wall with High Performance Fiber Reinforced Concrete Coupling Beams

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    Results from the test of a large-scale coupled-wall specimen consisting of two T-shaped reinforced concrete structural walls joined at four levels by precast coupling beams are presented. Each coupling beam had a span length-depth ratio (ln/h) of 1.7, and was designed to carry a shear stress of 7vfc' [psi], (0.59vfc' [MPa]). One reinforced concrete coupling beam was included along with three strain-hardening, high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete (HPFRC) coupling beams to allow a comparison of their behavior. When subjected to reversing lateral displacements, the system behaved in a highly ductile manner characterized by excellent strength retention to drifts of 3% without appreciable pinching of the lateral load versus drift hysteresis loops. The reinforced concrete structural walls showed an excellent damage tolerance in response to peak average base shear stresses of 4.4vfc' [psi], (0.34vfc' [MPa]). This paper presents the observed damage patterns in the coupling beams and the structural walls. The restraining effect provided by the structural walls to damage-induced lengthening of the coupling beams is discussed and compared with that observed in component tests. Finally, the end rotations measured in the coupling beams relative to the drift of the coupled-wall system are also presented

    Major Powers and Militarized Conflict

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    This article attempts to answer the question of why major powers engage in more active foreign policy behaviors than minor powers. It does so by comparing two explanations for the increased conflict propensity of major powers. The first explanation focuses on major powers’ observable capabilities, while the second stresses their different behavior. We incorporate both into an ultimatum model of conflict in which a state’s cost of conflict consists of both observable and behavioral components. Using data from the period from 1870 to 2001, we empirically illustrate the observable and behavioral differences between major and minor powers. We then utilize a decomposition model to assess the relative significance of the two explanations. The results suggest that most of the difference in conflict propensity between major and minor powers can be attributed to observable differences

    Transforming the NHS through transforming ourselves

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    Abstract Background: Leadership development impacts on quality of care and workplace cultures for staff. Clinical Leadership embracing transformational and other collective leadership approaches are key enablers to developing effective workplace cultures at the micro-systems level. Following the development of a shared purpose and values framework, an internal, inter-professional clinical leadership programme was set up to grow a critical community of transformational leaders across one NHS organisation in England. This programme had previously been unsuccessful in engaging medical doctors. Aims and Objectives: This paper shares how a dedicated practice development based clinical leadership programme set out to support medical doctors across one organisation with their leadership journey, equipping them to become both transformational and collective leaders and facilitators with the skills to begin to develop and sustain effective workplace cultures, that are person centred, safe and effective. Methods: Practice development methodology with its collaborative, inclusive and participative approach for developing person centred cultures combined with clinical leadership strategies, formed the basis of the programme which emphasised the use of active and action learning drawing on the workplace as the main resource for learning, development and improvement. Self-assessment and co-creation of insights about clinical leadership together with collaborative analysis of evaluation data led to the syntheses of insights through the use of reflection and action planning. Findings/Results: Findings are presented at two levels: 1) Five individual authentic reflections by authors to illustrate their leadership journeys which also demonstrate how a range of tools were used and their impact from reflections. Insights and learning include recognition of the benefits of peer support and networking; development of a disciplined approach to learning and self-management; 2) A collaborative reflection and critique that embraced the feeling of a sense of team ethos and community cohesion, for the first time in a safe environment; as well as, a sense of collective shared purpose and values. Conclusions: We conclude that the programme helped to identify the impact of leadership on workplace cultures and to begin to embed ways of working that are collaborative, inclusive, participative and celebratory. This unique approach by one organisation to leadership development has enabled a journey of self-transformation for medical clinical leaders to commence. Practical implications arising from our learning: • An internal model grows clinical leadership capacity across the organisation through peer support and networking and collective leadership. • Investing in a safe confidential space for clinical leads and other staff groups is a strategy for leadership development practice. • There is need to develop more skilled critical companions to support leadership, improvement and development activities • Clinical leadership development, informed by practice development methodology, demonstrates potential for enabling transformative and collective leadership for achieving person-centred cultures in the workplace. Keywords: Clinical leadership, collective leadership, critical companionship, micro-systems, transformational leadership, workplace cultur

    Experimental Evaluation of Design Procedures for Shear Strength of Deep Reinfoced Concrete Beams

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    In this paper, results from the monotonic testing of four reinforced concrete deep beams are presented. The behavior of the deep beams is described in terms of cracking pattern, load-versus-deflection response, failure mode, and strains in steel reinforcement and concrete. Despite different failure modes, the failure loads and corresponding ultimate deflections were similar in all four specimens. Yielding of both longitudinal and transverse reinforcement occurred prior to failure. Based on the test results, the shear design procedures contained in the ACI 318-99 Code and Appendix A of the ACI 318-02 Code were evaluated. Both design procedures yielded conservative predictions of the shear strength of the single-span deep beams
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