Study on rail fastener failure testing based on fractal theory

The residual vibration of steel rail is rich in the mechanical properties, which include the constraint, that was, the degree of tightness of the fastener. The aim of this research is to characterize the tightness of rail fastener. A fractal analysis procedure based on 1-D curve length calculation is proposed, which applies a length unit to cover fastening the behavior of fasteners. Using the rail vibration data under periodic pulse excitation measured by a track fastener inspection vehicle, this method can derive the fractal dimension of fastener tightness directly (D∈ [1, 2)). Furthermore, 1-D curve length method is also introduced into multi-fractal spectrum analysis for investigating fine scale information. The statistical analysis demonstrates that, fractal dimension Dl, Dr, and multi-fractal parameters αfmax, ∆α can reflect the change process of the tightness of rail fasteners effectively. Therefore, it shows potential to use the fractal parameters of the rail vibration signal to characterize the tightness of the fastener

Partially Ordered Statistics Demapping for Multi-Dimensional Modulation Formats

We propose a very low-complexity and high-performance algorithm for soft-demapping of multi-dimensional modulation formats. We assess its performance over the linear channel for four 8D formats, generated using binary arithmetics. This solution outperforms current algorithms in terms of complexity without loss in performances.Comment: Accepted in the Optical Fiber Communications Conference (OFC) 201

EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON THE VERTICAL SELF-WEIGHT STRESS DISTRIBUTION LAW OF SLOPE WITH GRANULAR MATERIALS UNDER DIFFERENT CONDITIONS

Topography is one of the important factors affecting the distribution of the self-weight stress field. However, granular materials are different from general continuum materials (such as fluids and solids). Only adopting the continuum theory research still has certain limitations, while the use of experimental methods can better reflect the actual stress state of the granular materials. Therefore, in order to further obtain the vertical self-weight stress distribution of single slope with granular materials, the indoor experimental study of quartz sand based on the point source method is carried out in this paper. The research results indicate that: The measured value of the vertical stress on the bottom surface of the quartz sand slope is generally smaller than the γh (Gravity × Buried depth) value of the corresponding point, and the closer the measuring point is to the slope top, the greater the difference between the test value and γh. Besides, the influence of slope heights and slope ratios on the vertical self-weight stress about slope with granular material is also analyzed. Stress depressions appear in some test conditions, that is, the measured stress peak on the bottom of the slope does not appear at the measuring point closest to the slope top. Whether there is a stress depression and the scope of the depression is mainly related to the slope height, while the slope ratio has little effect on it

Mechanical characteristics of large-section tunnel in soft rock based on various rock conditions and excavation footages

Taking the V-class surrounding rock section at the entrance and exit about Qianqi Tunnel as an example, the deformation rules as well as mechanics about the tunnel in different rock conditions and excavation footages are compared by numerical calculation, and the suitable excavation footage of the relied engineering is also proposed. The results show that the displacements about surrounding rock are greatly influenced by the excavation footage, namely, the arch settlements, horizontal convergences as well as surface settlement of the tunnel increase significantly with the excavation footage. For the preferred rock condition, the maximum bending moments about the preliminary linings at middle step after excavation occurs in the vault, and its increase amplitude has little correlation with the excavation footage. For the poor surrounding rock, the maximum bending moment is transferred from the vault to the arch waist with the increase of excavation footage, and it is basically manifested as the inner tension of the lining. The relationship between excavation footage and maximum deformation as well as mechanical index of vault is also revealed, respectively. The excavation footage of shallow-buried tunnel sections in V-grade surrounding rock is suggested, that is, 1.8m for the preferred surrounding rock condition and 1.2m for the poor surrounding rock condition

Mechanical characteristics and deformation law of tunnel in diatomite considering various softening conditions

At present, the research considering multi-factor softening conditions is rarely performed, and the research on the deformation law and mechanical properties of the tunnel in diatomite is even rarer. Diatomite is easy to soften in water, and its physical and mechanical properties change greatly after softening. Therefore, take the high-speed railway tunnel that passes through the diatomite stratum in East China as an example, considering various softening conditions (including softening degree and softening position), the deformation law and mechanical characteristics of the tunnel are obtained, and corresponding suggestions are also put forward according to different softening conditions. The results show that the deformation law and mechanical characteristics of the tunnel are greatly affected by the symmetry of softening part. The deformation of the inverted arch caused by the lower surrounding rock softening of the tunnel is the largest, and the maximum stress occurs at the arch foot when the upper surrounding rock of the tunnel softens. Different softening degrees and positions have a great influence on the mechanical characteristics and deformation law of the tunnel. The results obtained in this paper may provide some important references for similar projects in the future

Study on the settlement law of tunnel in diatomite stratum based on Strain Softening model

Nowadays, there is no precedent for building a high-speed railway in diatomite area. Due to the complex structure and poor mechanical properties of diatomite as well as the lack of relevant engineering experience, more attention has been paid to the proper constitutive model of the tunnel in diatomite layer using the numerical calculation method, while the traditional Elastoplastic calculation model is the most used yet. Therefore, relying on the Feifengshan tunnel, through FLAC3D software as well as the on-site monitoring, the analysis of the settlement law about tunnelling in diatomite stratum is carried out based on different constitutive models. The research results show that diatomite has obvious strain-softening characteristics. The calculated surface settlement and vault settlement based on the Strain Softening model was greater than that based on the Mohr Coulomb model. When compared with the on-site monitoring data, it was found that the Strain Softening model would more accurately show the settlement law of the tunnel in diatomite and has better applicability in the diatomite area. The above-mentioned research results may provide some references for the construction and design of tunnels in similar strata in the future

Analysis of the influence of side wall opening on the arch structure of metro station using the PBA method

In order to meet the traffic and commercial needs, it is sometimes necessary to open the side wall of the metro station, while the current research on the mechanical properties and safety of the arch caused by the opening of the side wall of the station by pile-beam-arch (PBA) method is rarely involved. In this paper, based on the Tianhe East Station project of Guangzhou Metro Line 11 located in soft-hard uneven stratum using PBA method, the settlement law and mechanical characteristics of the arch under different side wall opening conditions is analyzed, and the influence of opening construction and opening span on the safety of arch is also further studied. The results show that the settlement caused by the opening of the side wall is mainly concentrated in the upper part of the opening area, and gradually expands around the opening area with the increase of opening span, and the maximum settlement occurs in the middle part of the arch. Opening leads to the differential settlement at both ends of the arch. With the increase in opening span, the settlement growth trend of the right side of the arch is greater than that of the left side. The opening of the side wall leads to the increase of the safety factor of the arch body and the decrease of the safety factor of the right arch foot, while the change of the safety factor of the left arch foot is not obvious, and the safety factor meets the specification requirements

Pituitary stalk changes on magnetic resonance imaging following pituitary adenoma resection using a transsphenoidal approach

ObjectiveWe aimed to investigate the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and clinical significance of position and changes in morphology of the pituitary stalk following pituitary adenoma (PA) resection using a transsphenoidal approach.MethodsWe collected clinical and MRI data of 108 patients with PA after transsphenoidal surgery. Diameter, length, and coronal deviation of the pituitary stalk were measured pre-, post-, and mid-term post-operatively, to observe pituitary stalk morphology.ResultsOf 108 patients, 53 pituitary stalks were recognisable pre-operatively. The angle between the pituitary stalk and the median line was 7.22°-50.20° (average, 25.85°) in 22 patients with left-sided pituitary stalks and 5.32°-64.05° (average, 21.63°) in 20 patients with right-sided pituitary stalks. Of 42 patients with preoperative pituitary stalk deviation, 41 had an early postoperative recovery and 1 had increased deviation. In the mid-term postoperative period, 21 of 42 patients had pituitary stalks located centrally. In 53 patients, the pituitary stalk length was 1.41–11.74 mm (mean, 6.12 mm) pre-operatively, 3.61–11.63 mm (mean, 6.93 mm) in the early postoperative period, and 5.37–17.57 mm (mean, 8.83 mm) in the mid-term postoperative period. In the early postoperative period, 58 (53.70%) patients had posterior pituitary bright spots (PPBS) and 28 (25.92%) had diabetes insipidus (DI).ConclusionPre-operatively, the pituitary stalk was compressed and thinned. Post-operatively, it could be stretched to a “normal state”, and its position showed a gradual centring trend. Post-operatively, the length of the pituitary stalk gradually increased. The PPBS in the early postoperative period negatively correlated with postoperative DI