Response Spectra Evaluation Including Pounding Effect

Most of the existing seismic resistant design codes are based on the response spectrum theory. The influence of inelastic deformations can be evaluated by considering inelastic type of resisting force and then the inelastic spectrum is considerably different from the elastic one. Also, the influence of stiffness degradation and strength deterioration can be accounted for by including more precise models from material point of view. In some recent papers the corresponding changes in response spectra due to the P- Ä effect are discussed. The experience accumulated from the recent earthquakes indicates that structural pounding may considerably influence the response of structures and should be taken into account in design procedures. The most convenient way to do that is to predict the influence of the pounding on the response spectra for accelerations, velocities and displacements. Generally speaking the contact problems such as pounding are characterized by large extent of nonlinearity and slow convergence of the computational procedures. Thus obtaining spectra where the contact problem is accounted for seems very attractive from engineering point of view because could easy be implemented into the design procedures. However it is worth nothing that there is not rigorous mathematical proof that the original system can be decomposed into single equations related to single degree of freedom systems. It is the porpose of the paper to study the influence of the pounding on the response spectra and to evaluate the amplification due to the impact. For this purpose two adjacent SDOF systems are considered that are able to interact during the vibration process. This problem is solved versus the elastic stiffness ratio, which appears to be very important for such assemblage. The contact between masses is numerically simulated using opening gap elements as links. Comparisons between calculated response spectra and linear response spectra are made in order to derive analytical relationships to simply obtain the contribution of pounding. The results are graphically illustrated in response spectra format and the influence of the stiffness ratio is clarified

DETERMINATION OF THE DYNAMIC STRESS INTENSITY FACTOR USING ADVANCED ENERGY RELEASE EVALUATION

In this study a simple effective procedure practically based upon the FEM for determination of the dynamic stress intensity factor (DSIF) depending on the input frequency and using an advanced strain energy release evaluation by the simultaneous release of a set of fictitious nodal spring links near the crack tip is developed and applied. The DSIF is expressed in terms of the released energy per unit crack length. The formulations of the linear fracture mechanics are accepted. This technique is theoretically based upon the eigenvalue problem for assessment of the spring stiffnesses and on the modal decomposition of the crack shape. The inertial effects are included into the released energy. A linear elastic material, time-dependent loading of sine type and steady state response of the structure are assumed. The procedure allows the opening, sliding and mixed modes of the structure fracture to be studied. This rational and powerful technique requires a mesh refinement near the crack tip. A numerical test example of a square notched steel plate under tension is given. Opening mode of fracture is studied only. The DSIF is calculated using a coarse mesh and a single node release for the released energy computation as well a fine mesh and simultaneous release of four links for more accurate values. The results are analyzed. Comparisons with the known exact results from a static loading are presented. Conclusions are derived. The values of the DSIF are significantly larger than the values of the corresponding static SIF. Significant peaks of the DSIF are observed near the natural frequences. This approach is general, practicable, reliable and versatile

DETERMINATION OF THE ROLLING RESISTANCE COEFFICIENT UNDER DIFFERENT TRAFFIC CONDITIONS

In this paper, an experimental study of the determination of the rolling resistance coefficient is carried out. The experiment tests a total of six different types of vehicles and calculates the rolling resistance coefficient depending on the condition of the surface and the type of tires. The main aim of the research is to introduce new values of the rolling resistance coefficient and its impact on fuel consumption in real traffic conditions. Motor vehicles are subjected to a "free stop" method on a horizontal road. In doing so, the vehicle speed is registered every 10 seconds from an initial speed to stopping. In order to eliminate an error of possible roadway inclination or wind impact, the experiment is repeated five times on the same road section as well as in the opposite direction. The experimental study was carried out during December 2016 and January 2017. Three sets of tires were used for each vehicle, the tires with tread depths of 8 mm, 6-7 mm and 4-5 mm, while the type of surface referred to dry and wet conditions of the roadway. Both hypotheses have been confirmed using Analysis of Variances. The results show that the tread depth of tires and the meteorological conditions affect increasing the values of the rolling resistance coefficient

Vortex Fluctuations in High-Tc Films: Flux Noise Spectrum and Complex Impedance

The flux noise spectrum and complex impedance for a 500 {\AA} thick YBCO film are measured and compared with predictions for two dimensional vortex fluctuations. It is verified that the complex impedance and the flux noise spectra are proportional to each other, that the logarithm of the flux noise spectra for different temperatures has a common tangent with slope $\approx -1$, and that the amplitude of the noise decreases as $d^{-3}$, where $d$ is the height above the film at which the magnetic flux is measured. A crossover from normal to anomalous vortex diffusion is indicated by the measurements and is discussed in terms of a two-dimensional decoupling.Comment: 5 pages including 4 figures in two columns, to appear in Phys. Rev. Let

TiO2 nanotubes film/FTO glass interface: Thermal treatment effects

Pure Ti films deposited by radio-frequency magnetron sputtering on FTO glass were anodized to fabricate TiO2 nanotubes (NTs) arrays. The TiO2 NTs/FTO samples were sintered at 450, 550 and 630°C, in ambient air. The thermal treatment did not influence the crystal phase composition, preserving in all cases the anatase single phase. As expected, the crystalline anatase quality improved with the annealing temperature. Nevertheless, slight differences in nanotubular morphology, such as the appearance of grains inside the walls, were observed in the case of the sample sintered at 630°C. Chemical analysis by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy of annealed samples revealed the presence of Sn inside TiO2 NTs, due to diffusion of Sn from the substrate to TiO2. For the substrate was used FTO glass whose top layer consists of SnO2 doped with F. Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry and Time-of-Flight Elastic Recoil Detection Analysis were carried out to study the elemental depth profile of the films. It was found that the temperature of sintering controls the Sn diffusion inside TiO2 film. Sn atoms diffuse towards the TiO2 NTs surface for the samples annealed at 450 and 550°C. The diffusion is however hindered in the case of the heat treatment at 630°C. Besides, the Ti diffusion into the SnO2 underlayer was observed, together with the formation of TiO2/SnO2 interfaces. One then expected but not a great difference in absorption between samples, since all contained anatase phase, as confirmed by Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy. A higher amount of Sn was however detected for the sample annealed at 550°C, which accounts for a slight red absorption shift. The importance of controlling the annealing parameters of the anodized TiO2/FTO structures was highlighted through the formation of TiO2-SnO2 interfaces and the Sn insertion from FTO, which can play an essential role in increasing the photoperformances of TiO2 NTs/FTO based structures of photovoltaic cells

ToF-ERDA/RBS analysis of annealed TiO2 nanotubes grown onto FTO glass

Different semiconductors have been studied as photoanode material for solar cells. Among them, TiO2 has been shown to be the best material due to its chemical stability and good charge transport capability. It is usually deposited onto FTO glass (F-SnO2), and then heated at high temperature in order to obtain inter-crystalline electric contact for improving electron conductivity. The focus of this research was chemical analysis of the TiO2 nanotubes (NTs) obtained by anodization of titanium film on FTO glass using NH4F in ethylene glycol electrolyte. There are only few studies suggesting that the electrolyte is a source of N dopant in TiO2, but also Sn diffusion from FTO support was reported. This study aims to show the chemical distribution of elements of interest along the nanotubes depth. For that purpose the time-of-flight elastic recoil detection analysis (ToF-ERDA) and Rutherford backscattering (RBS) methods were used as complementary techniques for chemical analysis of both light, such is N, and heavy elements, such is Sn. The TiO2 NTs films were annealed at different temperatures (450– 630 °C) and the impact of the heating temperature on the chemical distribution was followed

The importance of myo-inositol and D-chiro-inositol to support fertility and reproduction

This review details the physiologic roles of two insulin sensitizers, myo-inositol (MI) and D-chiro-inositol (DCI). In the human ovary, MI is a second messenger of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and DCI is an aromatase inhibitor. These activities allow a treatment for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) to be defined based on the combined administration of MI and DCI, where the best MI:DCI ratio is 40:1. In addition, MI plays a pivotal role in the physiology of reproduction, and has beneficial effects on the development of oocytes, spermatozoa, and embryos. By contrast, DCI has little effect on spermatozoa, but high concentrations in the ovary can negatively affect the quality of oocytes and the blastocyst. Overall, the evidence in the literature supports the beneficial effects of MI in both female and male reproduction, warranting clinical use of MI in assisted reproductive treatment (ART).Cette revue détaille les rôles physiologiques de deux sensibilisateurs à l'insuline, le myo-inositol (MI) et le D-chiro-inositol (DCI). Dans l'ovaire humain, le MI est un second messager de l'hormone folliculostimulante (FSH) et le DCI est un inhibiteur de l'aromatase. Ces activités permettent de définir un traitement du syndrome des ovaires polykystiques (SOPK) basé sur l'administration combinée de MI et de DCI, où le meilleur rapport MI:DCI est de 40:1. En outre, le MI joue un rôle essentiel dans la physiologie de la reproduction et a des effets bénéfiques sur le développement des ovocytes, des spermatozoïdes et des embryons. En revanche, le DCI a peu d'effet sur les spermatozoïdes, mais des concentrations élevées dans l'ovaire peuvent avoir un effet négatif sur la qualité des ovocytes et du blastocyste. Dans l'ensemble, les données de la littérature confirment les effets bénéfiques du MI dans la reproduction féminine et masculine, ce qui justifie l'utilisation clinique du MI dans l'assistance médicale à la procréation

Response of GaN to energetic ion irradiation: conditions for ion track formation

We investigated the response of wurzite GaN thin films to energetic ion irradiation. Both swift heavy ions (92 MeV Xe23+, 23 MeV I6+) and highly charged ions (100 keV Xe40+) were used. After irradiation, the samples were investigated using atomic force microscopy, grazing incidence small angle X-ray scattering, Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy in channelling orientation and time of flight elastic recoil detection analysis. Only grazing incidence swift heavy ion irradiation induced changes on the surface of the GaN, when the appearance of nanoholes is accompanied by a notable loss of nitrogen. The results are discussed in the framework of the thermal spike model