3D discrete element modeling of concrete: study of the rolling resistance effects on the macroscopic constitutive behavior

The Discrete Element Method (DEM) is appropriate for modeling granular materials [14] but also cohesive materials as concrete when submitted to a severe loading such an impact leading to fractures or fragmentation in the continuum [1, 5, 6, 8]. Contrarily to granular materials, the macroscopic constitutive behavior of a cohesive material is not directly linked to contact interactions between the rigid Discrete Elements (DE) and interaction laws are then defined between DE surrounding each DE. Spherical DE are used because the contact detection is easy to implement and the computation time is reduced in comparison with the use of 3D DE with a more complex shape. The element size is variable and the assembly is disordered to prevent preferential cleavage planes. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the influence of DE rotations on the macroscopic non-linear quasi-static behavior of concrete. Classically, the interactions between DE are modeled by spring-like interactions based on displacements and rotation velocities of DE are only controlled by tangential forces perpendicular to the line linking the two sphere centroids. The disadvantage of this modeling with only spring-like interactions based on displacements is that excessive rolling occurs under shear, therefore the macroscopic behavior of concrete is too brittle. To overcome this problem a non linear Moment Transfer Law (MTL) is introduced to add a rolling resistance to elements. This solution has no influence on the calculation cost and allows a more accurate macroscopic representation of concrete behavior. The identification process of material parameters is given and simulations of tests performed on concrete samples are shown

Folsomia abrupta n. sp. (Collembola, lsotomidae) from southern Vietnam

A new lsotomid Collernbola, Folsomia abrupta n. sp., is described from the Bi Doup massif in southern Vietnam, where it frequently occurs in rnedium to high altitude forest soils. Together with F: minipunctata Zhao & Tamura, 1992 from China, it constitutes a well-defined species group restricted to Sou~heasAt sia. Key woras: Collembola, Isotomidae, Folsomia abrupta n. sp., New species, Vietnam.A new lsotomid Collernbola, Folsomia abrupta n. sp., is described from the Bi Doup massif in southern Vietnam, where it frequently occurs in rnedium to high altitude forest soils. Together with F: minipunctata Zhao & Tamura, 1992 from China, it constitutes a well-defined species group restricted to Sou~heasAt sia. Key woras: Collembola, Isotomidae, Folsomia abrupta n. sp., New species, Vietnam.A new lsotomid Collernbola, Folsomia abrupta n. sp., is described from the Bi Doup massif in southern Vietnam, where it frequently occurs in rnedium to high altitude forest soils. Together with F: minipunctata Zhao & Tamura, 1992 from China, it constitutes a well-defined species group restricted to Sou~heasAt sia. Key woras: Collembola, Isotomidae, Folsomia abrupta n. sp., New species, Vietnam

Asymptotics for the number of n-quasigroups of order 4

The asymptotic form of the number of n-quasigroups of order 4 is $3^{n+1} 2^{2^n +1} (1+o(1))$. Keywords: n-quasigroups, MDS codes, decomposability, reducibility.Comment: 15 p., 3 fi

Time Response of Shape Memory Alloy Actuators

Dieser Beitrag ist mit Zustimmung des Rechteinhabers aufgrund einer (DFG geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.This publication is with permission of the rights owner freely accessible due to an Alliance licence and a national licence (funded by the DFG, German Research Foundation) respectively.Force/displacement actuators with the high output power and time response can be fabricated from shape memory wires or ribbons. Typically Ni-Ti shape memory alloys are used as an active material in such actuators. They are driven by Joule heating and air convection cooling. In the present work, the time response of various types of Ni-Ti actuators having different transformation temperatures and geometrical sizes, is studied systematically under conditions of free and forced air convection. The simple analytical model for calculating the time response is developed which accounts for the latent heat and thermal hysteresis of transformation. For all the types of considered actuators, the calculated time response is in a good agreement with that observed experimentally. Finally, on the base of the suggested model, we present the time response of Ni-Ti actuators calculated as a function of their transformation temperature and cross section dimensions

Synthesis of di(Imdazolium) and di(Pyrazolium) Salts as Precursors for N-heterocyclic Dicarbene Complexes

Alpha,omega-bis(pyrazol-1-yl)alkanes and alpha,omega-bis(imidazol-1-yl)alkanes with spacers consisting of four to ten methylene groups have been prepared from pyrazole, 3,5-dimethylpyrazole or imidazole and corresponding dibromoalkanes in a superbasic medium KOH-DMSO. The proposed method of synthesis allowed the preparation of new flexible bidentate ligands without the need to use toxic solvents and tedious workup procedures. Bis(pyrazol-1-yl)alkanes were further functionalized for their use as precursors for “non-classical” mesoionic N-heterocyclic carbene ligands. One the first step, iodine atoms were introduced to positions 4 of pyrazole rings by oxidative iodination using I[2]-HIO[3] system. On the next step, nitrogen atoms in positions 2 of pyrazole rings were alkylated using several agents. Reaction with methyliodide unexpectedly led to the formation of only mono-alkylated products even after 7 days of refluxing in a neat alkyliodide. Methylation by trimethyloxonium tetrafluoroborate or methyltriflate led to dimethylated products in high yields. Bis(imidazol-1-yl)alkanes were easily alkylated by methyliodide to give di(imidazolium) salts – precursors to “classic” N-heterocyclic dicarbenes

Degradation and forgone removals increase the carbon impact of intact forest loss by 626%

Intact tropical forests, free from substantial anthropogenic influence, store and sequester large amounts of atmospheric carbon but are currently neglected in international climate policy. We show that between 2000 and 2013, direct clearance of intact tropical forest areas accounted for 3.2% of gross carbon emissions from all deforestation across the pantropics. However, full carbon accounting requires the consideration of forgone carbon sequestration, selective logging, edge effects, and defaunation. When these factors were considered, the net carbon impact resulting from intact tropical forest loss between 2000 and 2013 increased by a factor of 6 (626%), from 0.34 (0.37 to 0.21) to 2.12 (2.85 to 1.00) petagrams of carbon (equivalent to approximately 2 years of global land use change emissions). The climate mitigation value of conserving the 549 million ha of tropical forest that remains intact is therefore significant but will soon dwindle if their rate of loss continues to accelerate

Changes of the body functions during long-term hypokinesia

Prolonged hypokinesis (100-170 days) studied in 2000 rats kept in cages limiting their mobility provoked considerable changes in the gaseous and energetic metabolism: an elevation of the total gaseous metabolism and of the rate of O2 requirement by the muscles (in the late periods of hypokinesis) and a change in the intensity of tissue respiration of the liver and myocardium. There also proved to be a reduction in the level of phosphorylation and separation of oxidative phosphorylation in the myocardium, liver, and partially in the skeletal muscle. Prolonged hypokinesia led to changes in tissue metabolism: a disturbance of development of the animals, a marked delay and an increase in the weight of the organism and the muscular system, and disturbances of the mineral and protein metabolism. Prolonged hypokinesis also lead to exhaustion of the hypothalamus-hypophysis-adrenal cortex system