Modelling the mechanical behaviour of typical wall-to-floor connection systems for cross-laminated timber structures

This paper proposes a numerical model capable of predicting the mechanical behaviour and the failure me- chanism of typical wall-to-floor connections for Cross-Laminated Timber structures. Such systems are assembled with angle brackets and hold-downs, anchored to the wall and floor panels with profiled nails and bolts. The metal connector and the elements to which it is fastened are modelled using 3D solid bodies, while the steel-to- timber joints are simulated as non-linear hysteretic springs. Shear and tension tests are reproduced on two connection systems and results are compared to the test data obtained from similar configurations. Simulations lead to accurate predictions of the mechanical behaviour (i.e. elastic stiffness, maximum load-carrying capacity, and shape of the hysteresis cycles) and energy dissipation. Finally, the performance when lateral and axial loads are applied simultaneously is investigated. Analyses are carried out by varying the inclination of the load, with respect to the axis of the connector, between 0\ub0 and 90\ub0. Results exhibit a quadratic interaction relationship between shear and tension loads, and prove that their coupled effect influences the stiffness and the maximum load-carrying capacity

Numerical modelling of steel-to-timber joints and connectors for CLT structures

The mechanical behaviour of steel-to-timber joints with annular-ringed shank nails is investigated using numerical modelling and a component approach. These joints are used in Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) buildings to anchor metal connectors such as hold-downs and angle brackets to the timber panels. At first, a general hysteresis model is introduced, where a single fastener joint is schematized as an elasto-plastic beam embedded in a non-linear medium with a compression-only behaviour. A second hysteresis model is then presented, where the mechanical behaviour of the joint is simulated by a non-linear spring with three degrees of freedom. Both models are calibrated on the design rules prescribed by the reference standards. Moreover, average strength capacities are determined from the corresponding characteristic values assuming a standard normal distribution and suitable coefficients of variation. As first applicative examples of the proposed models, shear tests are simulated on single steel-to-timber joints with annular-ringed shank nails and on a connection made of an angle bracket and sixty nails. The scatter of mechanical properties in steel-to-timber joints is also taken into account in the simulations and a stochastic approach is proposed, demonstrating acceptable accuracy

Porous silicon solar cells

We developed a new process for the fabrication of crystalline solar cell, based on an ultrathin silicon membrane, taking advantage of porous silicon technology. The suggested architecture allows the costs reduction of silicon based solar cell reusing the same wafer to produce a great number of membranes. The architectures combines the efficiency of crystalline silicon solar cell, with the great absorption of porous silicon, and with a more efficient way to use the material. The new process faces the main challenge to achieve an effective and not expensive passivation of the porous silicon surface, in order to achieve an efficient photovoltaic device. At the same time the process suggests a smart way to selective doping of the macroporous silicon layers despite the through-going pores. © 2015 IEEE. SciVal Topic Prominence  Topic: Porous silicon | Silicon | macroporous silicon Prominence percentile: 66.984  Author keywords nanofabricationporous siliconsilicon nanoelectronicssolar cells Indexed keywords Engineering controlled terms: Crystalline materialsNanoelectronicsNanostructured materialsNanotechnologyPorous siliconSiliconSilicon wafersSolar cells Engineering uncontrolled terms Crystalline silicon solar cellsCrystalline solar cellsMacro porous siliconPhotovoltaic devicesPorous silicon surfacesPorous silicon technologySilicon nanoelectronicsUltrathin silicon membrane Engineering main heading: Silicon solar cells ISBN: 978-146738155-0 Source Type: Conference Proceeding Original language: English DOI: 10.1109/NANO.2015.7388710 Document Type: Conference Paper Sponsors: Nanotechnology Council Publisher: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc. References (9) View in search results format ▻ All Export  Print  E-mail Save to PDF Create bibliography 1 (2012) International Technology Roadmap for Photovoltaics Results 2012. Cited 24 times. ITRPV, Third Edition, Berlin 2012 www.ITRPV.net 2 Lehmann, V., Honlein, W., Stengl, R., Willer, J., Wendt, H. (1992) Verfahren Zur Herstellung Einer Solarzelle Aus Einer Substratscheibe. Cited 6 times. German patent DE4204455C1; Filing date: 29. 01. 3 Brendel, R., Ernst, M. Macroporous Si as an absorber for thin-film solar cells (2010) Physica Status Solidi - Rapid Research Letters, 4 (1-2), pp. 40-42. Cited 22 times. http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/fulltext/123215552/PDFSTART doi: 10.1002/pssr.200903372 Locate full-text(opens in a new window) View at Publisher 4 Ernst, M., Brendel, R., Ferré, R., Harder, N.-P. Thin macroporous silicon heterojunction solar cells (2012) Physica Status Solidi - Rapid Research Letters, 6 (5), pp. 187-189. Cited 16 times. doi: 10.1002/pssr.201206113 Locate full-text(opens in a new window) View at Publisher 5 Ernst, M., Brendel, R. Macroporous silicon solar cells with an epitaxial emitter (2013) IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics, 3 (2), art. no. 6472253, pp. 723-729. Cited 7 times. doi: 10.1109/JPHOTOV.2013.2247094 Locate full-text(opens in a new window) View at Publisher 6 Ernst, M., Schulte-Huxel, H., Niepelt, R., Kajari-Schröder, S., Brendel, R. Thin crystalline macroporous silicon solar cells with ion implanted emitter (Open Access) (2013) Energy Procedia, 38, pp. 910-918. Cited 2 times. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/18766102 doi: 10.1016/j.egypro.2013.07.364 Locate full-text(opens in a new window) View at Publisher 7 Nenzi, P., Kholostov, K., Crescenzi, R., Bondarenka, H., Bondarenko, V., Balucani, M. Electrochemically etched TSV for porous silicon interposer technologies (2013) Proceedings - Electronic Components and Technology Conference, art. no. 6575887, pp. 2201-2207. Cited 2 times. ISBN: 978-147990233-0 doi: 10.1109/ECTC.2013.6575887 Locate full-text(opens in a new window) View at Publisher 8 Perticaroli, S., Varlamava, V., Palma, F. Microwave sensing of nanostructured semiconductor surfaces (2014) Applied Physics Letters, 104 (1), art. no. 013110. Cited 3 times. doi: 10.1063/1.4861424 Locate full-text(opens in a new window) View at Publisher 9 De Cesare, G., Caputo, D., Tucci, M. Electrical properties of ITO/crystalline-silicon contact at different deposition temperatures (2012) IEEE Electron Device Letters, 33 (3), art. no. 6142006, pp. 327-329. Cited 28 times. doi: 10.1109/LED.2011.2180356 Locate full-text(opens in a new window) View at Publisher © Copyright 2017 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved. ◅ Back to results ◅ Previous 3of10 Next ▻  Top of page Metrics Learn more about article metrics in Scopus (opens in a new window)  0 Citations in Scopus 0 Learn more about Field-Weighted Citation Impact Field-Weighted Citation Impact PlumX Metrics Usage, Captures, Mentions, Social Media and Citations beyond Scopus.  Cited by 0 documents Inform me when this document is cited in Scopus: Set citation alert ▻ Set citation feed ▻ Related documents Thin crystalline macroporous silicon solar cells with ion implanted emitter Ernst, M. , Schulte-Huxel, H. , Niepelt, R. (2013) Energy Procedia Multilayer etching for kerf-free solar cells from macroporous silicon Schäfer, S. , Ernst, M. , Kajari-Schröder, S. (2013) Energy Procedia Macroporous silicon solar cells with an epitaxial emitter Ernst, M. , Brendel, R. (2013) IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics View all related documents based on references Find more related documents in Scopus based on: Authors ▻ Keywords ▻ About Scopus What is Scopus Content coverage Scopus blog Scopus API Privacy matters Language 日本語に切り替える 切换到简体中文 切換到繁體中文 Русский язык Customer Service Help Contact us Elsevier Terms and conditions ↗ Privacy policy ↗ Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V ↗. All rights reserved. Scopus® is a registered trademark of Elsevier B.V. We use cookies to help provide and enhance our service and tailor content. By continuing, you agree to the use of cookies. RELX Group We developed a new process for the fabrication of crystalline solar cell, based on an ultrathin silicon membrane, taking advantage of porous silicon technology. The suggested architecture allows the costs reduction of silicon based solar cell reusing the same wafer to produce a great number of membranes. The architectures combines the efficiency of crystalline silicon solar cell, with the great absorption of porous silicon, and with a more efficient way to use the material. The new process faces the main challenge to achieve an effective and not expensive passivation of the porous silicon surface, in order to achieve an efficient photovoltaic device. At the same time the process suggests a smart way to selective doping of the macroporous silicon layers despite the through-going pores

Laser Treatment to form An Effective Base Contact in a - Si:H/c-Si Heterojunction Solar Cells☆

Abstract In this paper we investigate the p-type a-Si:H/ia-Si:H/p-type c-Si structure, commonly used as base contact in amorphous/crystalline silicon heterojunction solar cell when fabricated on p-type c-Si wafer. Even though the most effective amorphous silicon/crystalline silicon heterostructure is based on n-type c-Si due to higher bulk lifetime, the p-type c-Si still remains the most common and cheaper substrate for silicon based solar cell. In particular we study the effect of localized 532 nm pulsed laser treatment at different laser conditions in order to reduce the cell series resistance due to the base contact. In this approach the p-type a-Si:H layer is used as a source of boron dopant. Depending on the thickness of the p-type a-Si:H film, when the laser beam is focused on p-type a-Si:H layer the boron can be transferred into the c-Si base to form an overdoped region and then an effective local Back Surface Field, able to enhance the hole collection at the metal of the base electrode in the p-type c-Si based heterojunction solar cell. The application of a thin Aluminum layer on top of the amorphous silicon to be treated by laser is also concerned. Series resistance of a transverse structure composed by the laser treated p-type a-Si:H/c-Si/opposite surface contacted by InGa is considered to optimize the laser procedure. Values as low as 0.5 Ωcm 2 are obtained when the aluminum layer is adopted

A hysteresis model for timber joints with dowel-type fasteners

Predicting the mechanical behaviour and the failure mechanism of timber joints with dowel-type fasteners re- quires consideration of several factors, including the geometrical and mechanical properties of the metal fas- tener, the physical properties of timber and the interaction between such elements. This paper proposes a nu- merical model where a joint is schematized as an elasto-plastic beam in a non-linear medium with a compression-only behaviour. Unlike the differential approach adopted by most of the hysteresis models pub- lished in literature, this model predicts the load-displacement response using simple mechanical relationships and basic input parameters. Furthermore, the model is capable of reproducing the effect of the cavity formed around the fastener by timber crushing, and simulates the hysteretic behaviour and the energy dissipation under cyclic conditions. Shear tests are reproduced on nailed steel-to-timber joints in Cross-Laminated Timber and results are compared to the experimental test data obtained on similar single fastener joints. Simulations lead to accurate predictions of both the mechanical behaviour (initial stiffness, maximum load-carrying capacity, global shape of the loading curve and of the hysteresis cycles) and the total energy dissipation observed in the tests

Assessment of the structural stability of Blockhaus timber log-walls under in-plane compression via full-scale buckling experiments

Blockhaus structural systems are obtained by assembling multiple timber logs able to interact with each other by means of simple mechanisms (e.g. contacts, tongues and grooves, and carpentry joints, also referred to as 'corner' joints). Although these systems have ancient origins, the structural behaviour of Blockhaus systems under well-defined loading and boundary conditions is still complex to predict. The paper focuses on the assessment of the typical buckling behaviour and resistance of in-plane compressed timber log-walls. The effects of various mechanical and geometrical aspects such as in-plane rigid inter-storey floors, load eccentricities, different types of lateral restraints, openings (e.g. doors or windows) or additional metal stiffeners, are investigated by means of full-scale buckling experiments. Results are then critically discussed and preliminarily assessed via analytical formulations taken from classical theory of plate buckling and column buckling. Although further advanced studies are required for the development of a generalized buckling design method, it is shown that several mechanical and geometrical aspects should be properly taken into account to correctly predict the structural capacity of Blockhaus systems under in-plane compression

Hydrogen Plasma and Thermal Annealing Treatments on a-Si:H Thin Film for c-Si Surface Passivation☆

Abstract High efficiency solar cells can be fruitfully built using the amorphous/crystalline silicon technology, taking advantage of the high V oc that occurs as a consequence of excellent c-Si surface passivation provided by a-Si:H films. Improvements of the interface quality can be obtained using post deposition treatments such as hydrogen plasma and thermal annealing. We propose the use of surface photovoltage technique, as a contact-less tool to evaluate the energetic distribution of the state density at amorphous/crystalline silicon interface, and FTIR spectroscopy of the same samples to appreciate the evolution of Si-H and Si-H 2 bonds. This approach leads to interesting applications for monitoring and improving the interface electronic quality, which is extremely susceptible to the different treatments adopted. We found that thermal annealing produces a metastable state which goes back to the initial state after just 48 hours, while the effect of hydrogen plasma post-treatment results more stable. Moreover H 2 plasma reduces the defect density of one order of magnitude with respect to thermal annealing and keeps it constant also after one month. The hydrogen plasma is able to reduce the defect density but at the same time increases the surface charge within the a-Si:H film due to the H + ions accumulated during the plasma exposure, leading to a more stable configuration

Ultrasound imaging of the axilla

: Axilla is a pyramidal-in-shape "virtual cavity" housing multiple anatomical structures and connecting the upper limb with the trunk. To the best of our knowledge, in the pertinent literature, a detailed sonographic protocol to comprehensively assess the axillary region in daily practice is lacking. In this sense, the authors have briefly described the anatomical architecture of the axilla-also using cadaveric specimens-to propose a layer-by-layer sonographic approach to this challenging district. The most common sonographic pathological findings-for each and every anatomical compartment of the axilla-have been accurately reported and compared with the corresponding histopathological features. This ultrasound approach could be considered a ready-to-use educational guidance for the assessment of the axillary region. CRITICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: Axilla is a pyramidal-in-shape "virtual cavity" housing multiple anatomical structures and connecting the upper limb with the trunk. The aim of this review article was to describe the anatomical architecture of the axilla, also using cadaveric specimens, in order to propose a layer-by-layer sonographic approach to this challenging district

Long term nucleotide and nucleoside analogs treatment in chronic hepatitis B HBeAg negative genotype D patients and risk for hepatocellular carcinoma

Background and rationale of the study. Effect of Long-term nucleoside/nucleotide (NUC) on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) incidence in a population of HBeAg-negative genotype D patients has not been adequately studied in real-life cohorts. Our aim was to evaluate the impact of liver fibrosis and other variables on HCC incidence in this population of patients. Of 745 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), 306 HBeAg-negative genotype D were selected and included in this study. All patients received treatment with NUC for at least 18 months. Patients with CHB or compensated cirrhosis were included. Patients with HCC diagnosed before or during the first 18 months of NUC therapy were excluded. Results. HCC was diagnosed in 2 CHB patients (1.0%) and 23 cirrhosis patients (20%) (OR = 24.41, 95% CI 5.40 < OR < 153.2; p < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis revealed that HCC risk was independently associated with age ≥ 60 years (OR = 6.45, 95% CI 1.22 to 34.0; p = 0.02) and liver cirrhosis (OR = 12.1, 95% CI 1.39 to 106.2; p = 0.02), but not with virological response (VR), and previous resistance to NUC, or rescue therapy. Multivariate analysis in cirrhosis patients revealed that only age ≥ 60 years was an independent risk factor associated with HCC (p = 0.003). Conclusions. Liver cirrhosis and age ≥ 60 years are the stronger risk factors for HCC in genotype D HBeAgnegative patients. Previous resistance to NUC in patients that achieved a VR after rescue therapy was not a predictive factor regarding HCC. VR does not appear to significantly reduce the overall incidence of HCC when a patient has already progressed to liver cirrhosis