Shear Strength of Continuous Lightly Reinforced Concrete Joist Systems

The objective of this research is to study the shear strength of continuous lightly reinforced concrete joist systems. Six two span joists, with and without web reinforcement, and two multiple web joists without web reinforcement were tested. The main focus of this study was to determine the shear cracking capacity and to investigate load sharing between joists. Shear cracking loads are determined using crack pattern and stirrup strain analyses. Behavior is evaluated in both the .o,.irive and the negative moment regions. The primary variables in this research are the longitudinal reinforcement ratio, p,.. (0.76% and 1.04% for negative moment regions and from 0.79% to 2.43% for positive moment regions), and nominal stirrup strength, Pvfvy (0 to 70 psi) for single web joists and placement of the load in multiple web joists. Stirrup effectiveness in joists is analyzed based upon ACI provisions and the number of stirrups intercepted by the critical shear crack. Nominal shear stresses and load sharing between the joists are compared with current ACI design pro , The tests indicate that ACI 318-89 overestimates the shear cracking load and shear capacity of lightly reinforced concrete joists in negative moment regions, and under estimates the shear cracking load but not the shear capacity in positive moment regiOns. In the study, the stirrup contribution in both the negative and positive moment regions equaled or exceeded the value predicted by ACI 318-89. In the positive moment regions of members with stirrups, the concrete contribution to shear capacity was often below the shear cracking load, contrary to the usual assumption. The study indicates that significant load sharing occurs between the joists, but that the load sharing is adequate only to distribute local overloads. The additional I 0% in the concrete contribution to shear capacity, as allowed by ACI 318-89, is not available for joist systems as a whole

Shear Strength of Continuous Lightly Reinforced T-Beams

The shear strength of continuous lightly reinforced concrete T -beams is studied. Six twospan T -beams with and without web reinforcement are tested. The primary variables are longitudinal reinforcement ratio (0.75% and 1.0%) and nominal stirrup strength (0 to 82 psi). The test results are analyzed and compared with the shear design provisions of "Building Code Requirements for Reinforced Concrete (ACI 318-89)" and predictions of other investigators, including predictions obtained using the modified compression field theory. The tests indicate that ACI 318-89 overpredicts the concrete shear capacity of lightly reinforced beams without shear reinforcement. Little difference exists between shear cracking stresses in the negative and positive moment regions for beams in the current study. For both the negative and positive moment regions, the stirrup contribution to shear strength exceeds the value predicted by ACI 318-89. Stirrup contribution to shear strength increases with increasing flexural reinforcement ratio. Overall, the ACI 318-89 shear provisions are conservative for the beams tested in the current study. Two procedures based on the modified compression field theory are also conservative. ACI 318-89 better predicts the nominal shear strength of the beams in the current study than either of the modified compression field theory procedures

Oxytocin and Vasopressin Are Dysregulated in Williams Syndrome, a Genetic Disorder Affecting Social Behavior

The molecular and neural mechanisms regulating human social-emotional behaviors are fundamentally important but largely unknown; unraveling these requires a genetic systems neuroscience analysis of human models. Williams Syndrome (WS), a condition caused by deletion of ∼28 genes, is associated with a gregarious personality, strong drive to approach strangers, difficult peer interactions, and attraction to music. WS provides a unique opportunity to identify endogenous human gene-behavior mechanisms. Social neuropeptides including oxytocin (OT) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) regulate reproductive and social behaviors in mammals, and we reasoned that these might mediate the features of WS. Here we established blood levels of OT and AVP in WS and controls at baseline, and at multiple timepoints following a positive emotional intervention (music), and a negative physical stressor (cold). We also related these levels to standardized indices of social behavior. Results revealed significantly higher median levels of OT in WS versus controls at baseline, with a less marked increase in AVP. Further, in WS, OT and AVP increased in response to music and to cold, with greater variability and an amplified peak release compared to controls. In WS, baseline OT but not AVP, was correlated positively with approach, but negatively with adaptive social behaviors. These results indicate that WS deleted genes perturb hypothalamic-pituitary release not only of OT but also of AVP, implicating more complex neuropeptide circuitry for WS features and providing evidence for their roles in endogenous regulation of human social behavior. The data suggest a possible biological basis for amygdalar involvement, for increased anxiety, and for the paradox of increased approach but poor social relationships in WS. They also offer insight for translating genetic and neuroendocrine knowledge into treatments for disorders of social behavior

Effect of reentrant cone geometry on energy transport in intense laser-plasma interactions

The energy transport in cone-guided low- Z targets has been studied for laser intensities on target of 2.5× 1020 W cm-2. Extreme ultraviolet (XUV) imaging and transverse optical shadowgraphy of the rear surfaces of slab and cone-slab targets show that the cone geometry strongly influences the observed transport patterns. The XUV intensity showed an average spot size of 65±10 μm for slab targets. The cone slabs showed a reduced spot size of 44±10 μm. The shadowgraphy for the aforementioned shots demonstrate the same behavior. The transverse size of the expansion pattern was 357±32 μm for the slabs and reduced to 210±30 μm. A transport model was constructed which showed that the change in transport pattern is due to suppression of refluxing electrons in the material surrounding the cone. © 2009 The American Physical Society