Implementation and Validation of Fault-Rupture Response Spectrum Analysis Procedure in CSiBridge for Bridges Crossing Earthquake Fault Ruptures

This thesis evaluates the application of a simplified analysis procedure as implemented in version 16 of CSiBridgeTM for design of bridges crossing earthquake fault ruptures. The fault-rupture response spectrum analysis (FR-RSA) approximation method has been proved adequate for both straight and curved ordinary bridges, but lacked a comfortable interface to accommodate the method users. Computers and Structure, Inc. has implemented the FR-RSA procedure into CSiBridgeTM, a user-friendly integrated 3-D bridge design software, as an added seismic design feature. By combining the response of the bridge due to the quasi-static displacement from the fault strike-slip rupture and the pseudo-dynamic displacement from the earthquake response spectrum analysis, a combined seismic demand is approximated using the software. The CSiBridgeTM bridge model creation process and application of FR-RSA as the Caltrans Fault Crossing Seismic Design Request is explained and evaluated in this thesis. In order to validate the implementation of FR-RSA in CSiBridgeTM v.16, the bridge demands for a three span and a four span curved bridge crossing earthquake fault rupture zones from the analytical models developed in Open System for Earthquake Engineering Simulation (OpenSees) and CSiBridgeTM v.16 are compared and discussed. It was found that the displacement demands from the abutments and bents were comparable from the two programs, supporting the correct application of the approximation method. This thesis also presents recommendations for improving the analysis function of CSiBridgeTM v.16 for bridges crossing fault ruptures

Challenge Patient Dispatching in Mass Casualty Incidents

Efficient management of mass casualty incidents is complex, since regular emergency medical services struc-tures have to be switched to a temporary “disaster mode” involving additional operational and tactical struc-tures. Most of the relevant decisions have to be taken on-site in a provisional and chaotic environment. Data gathering about affected persons is one side of the coin; the other side is on-site patient dispatching requiring information exchange with the regular emergency call center and destination hospitals. In this paper we extend a previous conference contribution about the research project e-Triage to the aspect of patient data and on-site patient dispatching. Our considerations reflect the situation in Germany, which deserves from our point of view substantial harmonization

Free to Develop?

Academics have long debated whether relationship exists between freedom and development. Problems with these studies lead others to question the connection between these variables. In contributing to the scholarly debate, a new interactive variable is created that combines several measures of economic and political freedom, as suggested by Milton Friedman. The link between this new freedom variable and both economic and human development is examined across a series of cross-sections from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. Results indicate that this new freedom measure is strongly related to both forms of development for the developed and developing world

Weak one-basedness

We study the notion of weak one-basedness introduced in recent work of Berenstein and Vassiliev. Our main results are that this notion characterises linearity in the setting of geometric þ-rank 1 structures and that lovely pairs of weakly one-based geometric þ-rank 1 struc- tures are weakly one-based with respect to þ-independence. We also study geometries arising from infinite dimensional vector spaces over division rings

SLOPPGEN: A Problem Generator for the Two-Dimensional Rectangular Single Large Object Placement Problem With a Single Defect

In this paper, a problem generator for the Two-Dimensional Rectangular Single Large Object Placement Problem is presented. The parameters defining this problem are identified and described. The fea-tures of the problem generator are pointed out, and it is shown how the program can be used for the generation of reproducible random problem instances.two-dimensional cutting, defect, problem generator

Epistemic Supervenience

An encyclopedic article on epistemic supervenience in Blackwell companion to epistemology, 2 ed

Effect of Temperature on Development Rate and Survival of \u3ci\u3eNomophila Nearctica\u3c/i\u3e (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Development of Nomophila nearctica was studied under six constant tempera- tures in controlled temperature cabinets. Developmental threshold temperatures for egg, larval, and prepupal-pupal stages were 8.9, 1l.5, and 9.2°C. The overall mean developmental threshold temperature for all stages was 9.9°C. Degree-day summa- tions, based on the above threshold temperatures, averaged 50, 304, and 181 DD for the egg, larval, and prepupal-pupal stages, respectively. Total heat units of 535 DD are required for development from oviposition to adult emergence. Head capsule measurements indicated six larval instars

Observation of Surface-Avoiding Waves: A New Class of Extended States in Periodic Media

Coherent time-domain optical experiments on GaAs-AlAs superlattices reveal the exis-tence of an unusually long-lived acoustic mode at ~ 0.6 THz, which couples weakly to the environment by evading the sample boundaries. Classical as well as quantum states that steer clear of surfaces are generally shown to occur in the spectrum of periodic struc-tures, for most boundary conditions. These surface-avoiding waves are associated with frequencies outside forbidden gaps and wavevectors in the vicinity of the center and edge of the Brillouin zone. Possible consequences for surface science and resonant cavity ap-plications are discussed.Comment: 16 pages, 3 figure

Adsorption studies of DNA origami on silicon dioxide

Self-assembled DNA nanostructures promise low-cost ways to create nanoscale shapes. DNA nanostructures can also be used to position particles with nanometer precision. Yet, reliable and low-cost ways of integrating the structures with MEMS technology still have to be developed and innovations are of great interest to the field. We have examined in detail the adherence of DNA origami tiles on silicon oxide surfaces of wafers in dependence on pH-value and magnesium ion concentration. The results of this work will help to pursue new strategies of positioning DNA nanostruc-tures on SiO2. Precise control over the strength of structure-surface adhesion is a prerequisite of relia-ble processes