A new fault-tolerant configuration for the Cambridge Ring: the Hierarchical Ring-Star

The primary objective of this research is to look at ways of resolving the reliability problems of the Cambridge Ring local area network system. The result is a novel design to enhance the Cambridge Ring with fault tolerance by introducing redundant communication paths with dynamic reconfiguration. The proposed Ring-Star system combines the advantages of ring and star networks to create a network which is topologically resilient while retaining the efficient communication advantage of rings. [Continues.

Capacity of interlocking stub column with cement mortar infill under axial compression load

This paper presents an experimental investigation on interlocking stub column with cement mortar infill subjected to axial compression load. The interlocking stub column is produced by using load bearing interlocking blocks arranged in vertical direction to form a square shaped column section. The objective of this study is to investigate the compression capacity and failure mode of the column. Six specimens were tested in this study under axial compression load using universal testing machine. From the experiments, all specimens failed in crushing of interlocking blocks. The ultimate load carrying capacity for all tested specimens are in the range of 461.6kN to 577.6kN

A study on the error of extra particle /no/ by Singaporean secondary school students

Master'sMASTER OF ART

Engineering properties of bio-inspired cement mortar containing seashell powder

Cement mortar is a semi liquid formed by a composite of cement, sand and water. Generally, cement mortar is used as a medium for bricks laying in construction. Nowadays, the properties of various types of waste materials are studied as construction material in buildings such as blast furnace ash, fly ash and palm oil fuel ash. In this study, the seashell is used as a replacement of building material in cement mortar.Seashell consists of high amount of calcium carbonate that provides remarkable mechanical properties and suitable to be used as building material. The engineering properties of cement mortar is studied, which including the compressive strength, flexural strength, splitting tensile strength, durability, modulus of elasticity in compression, setting time, water absorption and shrinkage. Cockle (Anadaragranosa) and mussel (Pernaviridis) are selected to replace the sand in the cement mortar with a ratio of 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 percent by total weight of sand. A total number of 2800samples are prepared and tested up to 1 year and subjected to four exposure conditions, which are water, air, natural weather and wet-dry cycle.The replacement of seashell in cement mortar is likely to increase its engineering properties especially compressive strength due to high amount of calcium carbonate.The replacement of seashell in cement mortar will reduce the construction cost, improve the engineering properties of mortar and can be applied in various mortar applications

Cardiovascular disease in systemic sclerosis - an emerging association?

Microvascular disease is a prominent feature of systemic sclerosis (SSc) and leads to Raynaud's phenomenon, pulmonary arterial hypertension, and scleroderma renal crisis. The presence of macrovascular disease is less well established, and, in particular, it is not known whether the prevalence of coronary heart disease in SSc is increased. Furthermore, in terms of cardiac involvement in SSc, there remains conjecture about the relative contributions of atherosclerotic macrovascular disease and myocardial microvascular disease. In this review, we summarize the literature describing cardiovascular disease in SSc, discuss the pathophysiological mechanisms common to SSc and atherosclerosis, and review the surrogate markers of cardiovascular disease which have been examined in SSc. Proposed mediators of the vasculopathy of SSc which have also been implicated in atherosclerosis include endothelial dysfunction, a reduced number of circulating endothelial progenitor cells, and an increased number of microparticles. Excess cardiovascular risk in SSc is suggested by increased arterial stiffness and carotid intima thickening and reduced flow-mediated dilatation. Cohort studies of adequate size are required to resolve whether this translates into an increased incidence of cardiovascular events in patients with SSc

Experimental investigation of end-plate connection with cruciform column section

This paper presents an experimental investigation on typical end-plate connection with reduced beam-to-end plate welding, connected to cruciform column (CCUB) section. The study aims to reduce the cost of fabrication and materials. Two tests were conducted to study the behavior of the proposed connections and evaluate the failure modes, moment resistance, initial stiffness and rotational capacity of the connections. The experimental results indicated that the failure mechanisms for the tested specimens begin with the end-plate yielding followed by bolt slippage that was limited to the tension region of the joint due to the tension forces exerted through the top bolt rows. The experimental results will then be used to validate the theoretical model for the T-stub idealization of the tension zone

Monotonic behaviour of beam-to-column connections with double channel cold-formed steel sections

Cold-formed steel is a lightweight construction material generally in C or Z shaped produced by cold rolling from strip steel. It can be applied in the Industrialized Building System (IBS) in order to reduce the time and cost in construction project. Partial strength connection is a connection whereby the moment resistance of the connection is less than that of the moment capacity of the connected beam. In this paper, Numerical simulation is conducted by using ANSYS Workbench 14.0 in order to predict the structural behaviors of cold formed steel partial strength connection. The objective of this study is to develop moment rotation curve for flange-web-cleat connection using double channel cold formed steel section under monotonic loading. Experiment test results are then used to compare and validate the results from the finite element modeling. This study aims to understand the behaviour of cold-formed steel connections under monotonic loading. The beam section of 1.5-meter length and column of 3-meter length is modeled in this study. Three different beam depth have been selected in this study, which is 150mm, and the depth of column section is fix to 250mm. Brackets connections were chosen and all connections were formed using bolts. The monotonic load is applied at 1000mm from the column surface. The stiffness and moment capacity is obtained from the moment rotation curve which plotted from the modeling results. As a conclusion, The FEM initial results showed good agreement with experimental results

Temperature rise of cold-formed steel built-up back-to-back column under standard fire

Cold-formed steel (CFS) has been used for various applications in building structure. Due to its many advantages, the uses of CFS can be widened to build new or to renovate existing single one or two families private homes. However, the fire resistance of the CFS is a critical issue whereby inclined to lose its vigour when it is exposed to fire, compared to hot-rolled steel member. This study takes the opportunity to investigate the application of this material as column members subjected to the standard fire. Four columns were tested. One column with a static load was tested under the ambient condition, while the three other columns were loaded at different degrees of utilisation under the standard ISO 834 fire conditions. The increases of temperature on the column surface were monitored using thermocouple Type K and the analyses of this thermocouple reading was taken to evaluate the mean temperature of the column. The temperature behaviours of back-to-back column for all degrees of utilisation showed that, the web was a lower temperature compared to the flange due to the greater thickness of the web. Meanwhile, the failure temperature of the CFS could reach up to 651.0 ºC for 30.0 % degree of utilisation with 8.0 minutes of resistant time

Perceived technology trust among business owners : a study of e-business adoption in Sarawak’s SMES

E-Business platform is a strategic tool that provides many SMEs a platform turn their business from traditional into the advance business model. Due to the rapid growth of the Internet, it has led to increasing interest in how to inspire the owner or manager of SMEs in Sarawak. This paper examines the influence of privacy and security factors on attitude towards adoption which directly predicts e-business adoption in Sarawak’s SMEs. The motive of this study was the limited studies related to e-business adoption by SMEs, especially in Sarawak. Furthermore, most e-business studies focused on the acceptance level of the e-business adoption instead of the owner’s or manager’s attitude towards the adoption. Thus, this limits the understanding about e-business adoption by SMEs in Sarawak, as well as the privacy and security factors that influenced the attitude towards the rate of the e-business adoption in Sarawak’s SMEs. SPSS and SmartPLS 3.0 are used as the main analytical tool. Data were collected from 163 Sarawak’s SMEs and purposive sampling method was used for the research. The findings revealed that privacy and security factor is significant to the adoption attitude of Sarawak’s SMEs in the adoption of e-business platform. The findings extended the current understanding of e-business adoption by Sarawak’s SMEs. The results will be useful to SMEs, government, and policymakers devising e-business security and privacy policies. Several implications, limitations of the study, and the conclusion are outlined