Complete Delocalization in a Defective Periodic Structure

We report on the existence of stable, completely delocalized response regimes in a nonlinear defective periodic structure. In this state of complete delocalization, despite the presence of the defect, the system exhibits in-phase oscillation of all units with the same amplitude. This elimination of defect-borne localization may occur in both the free and forced responses of the system. In the absence of external driving, the localized defect mode becomes completely delocalized at a certain energy level. In the case of a damped-driven system, complete delocalization may be realized if the driving amplitude is beyond a certain threshold. We demonstrate this phenomenon numerically in a linear periodic structure with one and two defective units possessing a nonlinear restoring force. We derive closed-form analytical expressions for the onset of complete delocalization and discuss the necessary conditions for its occurrence

Preventing Homelessness: Exploring the Role of Clinical Psychology in Adult Mental Health Services

Aims: With homelessness rates continuing to rise, the government have attempted to address this issue over recent years by turning to public authority employees to take preventative action to those faced with threat of homelessness. How clinical psychology can contribute to the reduction of homelessness in adult mental health services is yet to be explored. This study aimed to better understand the role of clinical psychologists working in adult mental health services to prevent homelessness. Secondly, this study aimed to understand the facilitators and barriers that may get in the way of the profession contributing to the prevention of homelessness. Method: Twelve clinical psychologists working within adult mental health services in the UK participated in individual semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis was used to identify the participants’ ideas on the role of clinical psychology in the prevention of homelessness within adult mental health services. Results: Three themes were identified through thematic analysis; (1) ‘Understanding Homelessness’ describing how clinical psychologists define and understand homelessness in addition to what influences their understanding. (2) ‘System Structures’ describing NHS structures which may create barriers to prevention, how clinical psychologists have learnt from other organisations and professions and the role of professional bodies, and (3) ‘Clinical Psychologists’ Skills and Relevance’ describing the skills clinical psychologists have to prevent homelessness in the profession before considering reasons why it may not be appropriate for clinical psychologists to intervene in this social issue. Conclusion: This study reviewed the role of clinical psychology in the prevention of homelessness from the perspective of clinical psychologists working in adult mental health services. Clinical psychologists can intervene at an individual, service and political level to prevent homelessness. The profession is encouraged to work at all levels to address the distress caused by social issues that perpetuate homelessness

Soil Liquefaction Analysis Based on Geotechnical Exploration and in Situ Test Data in the Tabriz Metro Line 2

Liquefaction is one of the most important and complex topics in geotechnical earthquake engineering. During this phenomenon, pore water pressure increases as long as it will be equal to confining stresses. Hence, the effective confining stress becomes zero and the soil will not have any shear resistance. As a result the soil mass is unstable and causes much destruction. In this research, according to information from boreholes of Tabriz Urban Train Line 2 all required parameters including total stresses, pore water pressures and effective stresses, the results according to soil type and water depth for all 53 preliminary boreholes were collected and evaluation of the liquefaction potential assessment based on energy standard penetration resistance test (SPT) has been compared. The depth of standard penetration resistance test (Nspt) in which the results were not available, the interpolation method were used for all layers. For evaluation of liquefaction potential based on (SPT) method the latest techniques offered by Idriss - Boulangr (2008) were used. In this paper, calculations are presented for an earthquake of 7.5 in the scale of Richters. Then the safety factor against liquefaction is computed by these methods for several boreholes at different depths, and liquefaction risk evaluation has been done by Iwasaki method. At last by comparison of 3 sample boreholes and considering difference between them it can be concluded that some areas of Tabriz metro line 2 is located in perfect liquefaction conditions

Geometric information provider platform

Renovation of existing buildings is known as an essential stage in reduction of the energy loss. Considerable part of renovation process depends on geometric reconstruction of building based on semantic parameters. Following many research projects which were focused on parameterizing the energy usage, various energy modelling methods were developed during the last decade. On the other hand, by developing accurate measuring tools such as laser scanners, the interests of having accurate 3D building models are rapidly growing. But the automation of 3D building generation from laser point cloud or detection of specific objects in that is still a challenge. The goal is designing a platform through which required geometric information can be efficiently produced to support energy simulation software. Developing a reliable procedure which extracts required information from measured data and delivers them to a standard energy modelling system is the main purpose of the project