Auditory spatial deficits following hemispheric lesions: Dissociation of explicit and implicit processing.

Auditory spatial deficits occur frequently after hemispheric damage; a previous case report suggested that the explicit awareness of sound positions, as in sound localisation, can be impaired while the implicit use of auditory cues for the segregation of sound objects in noisy environments remains preserved. By assessing systematically patients with a first hemispheric lesion, we have shown that (1) explicit and/or implicit use can be disturbed; (2) impaired explicit vs. preserved implicit use dissociations occur rather frequently; and (3) different types of sound localisation deficits can be associated with preserved implicit use. Conceptually, the dissociation between the explicit and implicit use may reflect the dual-stream dichotomy of auditory processing. Our results speak in favour of systematic assessments of auditory spatial functions in clinical settings, especially when adaptation to auditory environment is at stake. Further, systematic studies are needed to link deficits of explicit vs. implicit use to disability in everyday activities, to design appropriate rehabilitation strategies, and to ascertain how far the explicit and implicit use of spatial cues can be retrained following brain damage

Multilevel computational model for cost and carbon optimisation of reinforced concrete floor systems

The cost and carbon efficiency of building structures could be enhanced by the current developments in design automation and optimisation techniques. New ways to systematically assess design alternatives based on cost and carbon parameters are necessary. The study proposes a multilevel optimisation approach that combines Building Information Modelling (BIM) data and Finite Element Modelling (FEM) with a constrained genetic algorithm. The optimisation methodology is tested in a prototypical building floor system. Structural grid configurations, floor thicknesses and columns sizes and reinforcement details are identified. The results showed that the cost optimum design is 3% cheaper than the carbon optimum design but it has 7% more carbon. In addition, the concrete in the floor is the biggest contributor in both total cost and carbon. Relationships between cost- and carbon-optimum designs for the tested structural configuration are also discussed

A Quantitative Investigation of Thermosonics

Abstract The objectives of this study were to investigate the relationship between the ultrasonic vibrations of a specimen, with a vertical surface crack, and the thermal response. The heat required to be liberated by the defect to obtain a detectable surface temperature rise was modelled analytically for energy liberated only at the crack tip and over the sides of a crack. Experiments were carried out on a nickel based superalloy plate with a vertical surface crack. The strain around the defect and thermal image were measured simultaneously. Parameters were varied to change the strain to enable a correlation between the strain and surface temperature rise. From this the energy released from the defect was estimated using an optimisation algorithm

Ultrasonic signal modality: A novel approach for concrete damage evaluation

[EN] In this paper, a new approach for characterizing material damage, using ultrasonic waves, is proposed. Two concrete series with two types of cement with different C3A content and similar mechanical properties were subjected to external sulphate attack (ESA) and evaluated using a novel Recurrence Plot Quantification Analysis (RQA) method. This brand new technique was compared with several methods, such as mechanical tests (compressive and flexural strength determination), dynamic test (dynamic modulus) measurements, and traditional ultrasonic measurements (propagation velocity and ultrasonic wave attenuation). In these experiments, RQA showed a high sensitivity to damage in spoiled series, improving the reliability of damage detection with ultrasonics in non-homogeneous materials compared to other non-destructive techniques. Interesting advantages of this new non-destructive technique are: a) the RQA parameter is normalized (range of 0 to 1); b) a calibration process is not required; c) the values of its standard deviation show the dispersion of the damage. It can contribute greatly to the diagnosis of the degree of damage to a material, when combined with other traditional measures such as the attenuation of the material.This work was supported by the Spanish Government under grants TEC2011-23403, BIA2014-55311-C2-1-P and BIA2014-55311-C2-2-P. This work is protected by the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office (SPTO) under reference P201630212.Carrión García, A.; Genovés, V.; Gosálbez Castillo, J.; Miralles Ricós, R.; Paya Bernabeu, JJ. (2017). Ultrasonic signal modality: A novel approach for concrete damage evaluation. Cement and Concrete Research. 101:25-32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2017.08.011S253210

Investigating relationships between cost and CO₂ emissions in reinforced concrete structures using a BIM-based design optimisation approach

An integrated design approach for the cost and embodied carbon optimisation of reinforced concrete structures is presented in this paper to inform early design decisions. A BIM-based optimisation approach that utilises Finite Element Modelling (FEM) and a multi-objective genetic algorithm with constructability constraints is established for that purpose. A multilevel engineering analysis model is developed to perform structural layout optimisation, slab and columns sizing optimisation, and slab and columns reinforcement optimisation. The overall approach is validated using real buildings and the relationships between cost and carbon optimum solutions are explored. The study exhibits how cost effective and carbon efficient solutions could be obtained without compromising the feasibility of the optimised designs. Results demonstrate that the structural layout and the slab thickness are amongst the most important design optimisation parameters. Finally, the overall analysis suggests that the building form can influence the relationships between cost and carbon for the different structural components