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Search results for: damage
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Degradation of stiffness of building columns exposed to bending and impact load during ground motions
PublicationThe safety of civil engineering structures under external loads, including ground motions, is one of the issues related to the idea of sustainable society. The earthquake-induced soft-storey failure is a typical type of damage observed in buildings due to seismic excitation. The failure of an intermediate soft storey of a structure results in large vertical impact loading acting on the lower floors due to the fall of the upper...
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Comparison of state feedback and PID control of pressurizer water level in nuclear power plant
PublicationThe pressurizer water level control system in nuclear power plant with pressurized water reactor (PWR) is responsible for coolant mass balance. The main control goal is to stabilize the water level at a reference value and to suppress the effect of time-varying disturbances (e.g. coolant leakage in primary circuit pipeline system). In the process of PWR power plant operation incorrect water level may disturb pressure control or...
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Stability of thin film diamond mirror for applications in interferometers under the short-time exposure on selected aggressive chemicals
PublicationIn presented study a thin boron-doped diamond film was proposed for application in the interferometry as a highly durable optical mirror. The unique properties of the diamond films, like high chemical stability and hardness, allow them to be used even in the chemically aggressive environment, where the commonly used silver mirrors can be susceptible to damage. The investigated nanodiamond layer was fabricated by uPE CVD method...
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Optimisation and field assessment of poroelastic wearing course bond quality
PublicationCompared to typical asphalt mixtures, poroelastic mixtures are characterised by high porosity and high flexibility, which are desirable for traffic noise reduction. However, the same properties increase the risk of debonding from the lower layer, which is a significant source of premature damage. The study investigates which of the factors – tack coat agent, type and texture of the lower layer – have the greatest impact on interlayer...
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Effective Gap Size Index for Determination of Optimum Separation Distance Preventing Pounding between Buildings during Earthquakes
PublicationSeismic excitations may lead to collisions between adjacent civil engineering structures causing major damage. In this paper, an effective equation for calculating the gap size index is proposed so as to provide the optimum separation distance preventing structural pounding during different earthquakes. Evaluation of the best prediction of the required separation distance between two adjacent buildings was carried out by using...
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Non-Destructive Diagnostics of Concrete Beams Strengthened with Steel Plates Using Modal Analysis and Wavelet Transform
PublicationExternally bonded reinforcements are commonly and widely used in civil engineering objects made of concrete to increase the structure load capacity or to minimize the negative effects of long-term operation and possible defects. The quality of adhesive bonding between a strengthened structure and steel or composite elements is essential for effective reinforcement; therefore, there is a need for non-destructive diagnostics of adhesive...
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Evaluation of fire hazard in electrical installations due to unfavorable ambient thermal conditions
PublicationEvaluation of fire hazard caused by electrical installations is a difficult and important topic, and it limits the possibility of loss of life or health of people, as well as the occurrence of significant property damage. In particular, this hazard was caused by power cables and especially photovoltaic (PV) installations. The authors proved that power cables directly exposed to strong solar radiation are likely to exceed maximum...
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MARSTRUCT benchmark study on nonlinear FE simulation of an experiment of an indenter impact with a ship side-shell structure
PublicationThis paper presents a benchmark study on collision simulations that was initiated by the MARSTRUCT Virtual Institute. The objective was to compare assumptions, finite element models, modelling techniques and experiences between established researchers within the field. Fifteen research groups world-wide participated in the study. An experiment involving a rigid indenter penetrating a ship-like side structure was used as the case...
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Preparation of DNA films for studies under vacuum conditions
PublicationExperiments were carried out to determine the optimum conditions required for the preparation of uniform films of supercoiled plasmid DNA to be used in irradiation experiments under high vacuum conditions. Investigations reveal that significant damage to the DNA molecules occurs due to the evacuation process when films were formed from DNA samples in ultra high purity water only. A variety of bases were tested for their possible...
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Localization and Orientation of Xanthophylls in a Lipid Bilayer
PublicationXanthophylls (polar carotenoids) play diverse biological roles, among which are modulation of the physical properties of lipid membranes and protection of biomembranes against oxidative damage. Molecular mechanisms underlying these functions are intimately related to the localization and orientation of xanthophyll molecules in lipid membranes. In the present work, we address the problem of localization and orientation of two xanthophylls...
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Induction motor bearings diagnostic indicators based on MCSA and normalized triple covariance
PublicationInduction motors are one of the most widely used electrical machines. Statistics of bearing failures of induction motors indicate, that they constitute more than 40% of induction motor damage. Therefore, bearing diagnosis is so important for trouble-free work of induction motors. The most common methods of bearing diagnosis are based on vibration signal analysis. The main disadvantage of those methods is the need for physical access...
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The Caucasian flora: a still-to-be-discovered rich source of antioxidants
PublicationCellular redox homeostasis is a state of balance between the formation of Usually Reactive Oxygen and / or Nitrogen Species (ROS/RNS), endogenous antioxidant defence systems, and exogenous dietary antioxidants. The disturbance of redox homeostasis, by the overproduction of endogenous ROS/RNS, may increase the risk of development of so-called civilisation diseases. The solution seems to be either the increased production of endogenous...
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Coastline change-detection method using remote sensing satellite observation data
PublicationCoastal zones are not only the fundaments for local economics based on trade, shipping and transport services, but also a source of food, energy and resources. Apart from offering diverse opportunities for recreation and tourism, coastal zones provide protection against storms and other meteorological disturbances. Environmental information is also essential because of the direct influence on a country’s maritime zones, which are...
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Multidecadal (1960-2011) shoreline changes in Isbjornhamna (Hornsund, Svalbard)
PublicationAsection of a gravel−dominated coast in Isbjørnhamna (Hornsund, Svalbard) was analysed to calculate the rate of shoreline changes and explain processes controlling coastal zone development over last 50 years. Between 1960 and 2011, coastal landscape of Isbjørn− hamna experienced a significant shift from dominated by influence of tide−water glacier and protected by prolonged sea−ice conditions towards storm−affected and rapidly...
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The novel sterilization device: the prototype testing
PublicationCurrently, there are numerous methods that can be used to neutralize pathogens (i.e., devices, tools, or protective clothing), but the sterilizing agent must be selected so that it does not damage or change the properties of the material to which it is applied. Dry sterilization with hydrogen peroxide gas (VHP) in combination with UV-C radiation is well described and effective method of sterilization. This paper presents the design,...
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Analysis of Ferroresonance Mitigation Effectiveness in Auxiliary Power Systems of High-Voltage Substations
PublicationFerroresonance in power networks is a dangerous phenomenon, which may result in overcurrents and overvoltages, causing damage to power equipment and the faulty operation of protection systems. For this reason, the possibility of the occurrence of ferroresonance has to be identified, and adequate methods need to be incorporated to eliminate or reduce its effects. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the effectiveness of ferroresonance...
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Settlement of a historic building due to seepage-induced soil deformation
PublicationThe research paper reviews issues associated with the impact of groundwater flow on soil characteristics and parameters, hence, the entire structure of a building set on it. Water seepage through the ground, building subsoil or structural elements of buildings made of soil affects the soil skeleton and may lead to changes in the arrangement of individual grains relative to each other, i.e., a modified soil structure. Soil solid...
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The influence of sterilization with EnbioJet Microwave Flow Pasteurizer on composition and bioactivity of aronia and blue-berried honeysuckle juices
PublicationIn this study, fruit juices that are rich sources of anthocyanins, obtained from aronia (Am. chokeberry, Aronia melanocarpa) and blueberry honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea L. var. edulis) were used to examine the preservation of plant phytochemicals and bioactivity upon sterilization -either thermal, or with an EnbioJet microwave flow pasteurizer. The chemical properties verified included determinations of anthocyanins and other...
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POSSIBILITY OF ASSESSMENT OF OPERATION OF SLIDING BEARINGS IN PISTON-CRANK MECHANISMS OF DIESEL ENGINES WITH REGARD TO LOAD AND TIME OF CORRECT WORK OF THE BEARINGS BY APPLYING ACOUSTIC EMISSION AS A DIAGNOSTIC SIGNAL
PublicationAbstract: The paper presents a possibility of determining (assessing) operation of sliding bearings with multilayer bushings in crank-piston mechanisms of diesel engines. Properties of load and wear, particularly fatigue and abrasive, are characterized in general. Acoustic emission as a diagnostic signal was proved to be useful for detection of the wear of sliding and barrier layers. Results of measurements of acoustic emission...
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Pounding mitigation of a short-span cable-stayed bridge using a new hybrid passive control system
PublicationThis paper investigates the effectiveness of a new hybrid passive control system on the seismic response of an existing steel cable-stayed bridge considering the pounding effect. The proposed hybrid passive control system comprises a seismic isolator and a metallic damper. The bridge is located in a high seismic zone and has suffered several damages including the earthquake-induced pounding damage during the 1988 earthquake....
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Electron-Induced Decomposition of 5-Bromo-4-thiouracil and 5-Bromo-4-thio-2′-deoxyuridine: The Effect of the Deoxyribose Moiety on Dissociative Electron Attachment
PublicationWhen modified uridine derivatives are incorporated into DNA, radical species may form that cause DNA damage. This category of molecules has been proposed as radiosensitizers and is currently being researched. Here, we study electron attachment to 5-bromo-4-thiouracil (BrSU), a uracil derivative, and 5-bromo-4-thio-20 -deoxyuridine (BrSdU), with an attached deoxyribose moiety via the N-glycosidic (N1-C) bond. Quadrupole mass spectrometry...
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MCSA with Normalized Triple Covariance as a bearings diagnostic indicator in an induction motor
PublicationStatistics of bearing failures in induction motors indicate, that they constitute more than 40% of IM damage, therefore bearing diagnosis is very important. Vibration methods for bearing diagnostics have one major disadvantage - they require the availability of the machine for sensors installation. This is the reason for seeking new methods based on motor supply current analysis. Diagnosis of induction motors, conducted remotely...
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Assessing Acute Toxicity of Selected Packages Internal Layers Extracts using Microtox®
PublicationIn the scientific literature related to the widely understood issue of packaging materials designed to have contact with food (food contact materials), there is much information on raw materials used for their production, as well as their physiochemical properties, types and parameters. Unfortunately, not much attention is given to the issues concerning migration of toxic substances from packaging and its actual influence on the...
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Electron-Induced Decomposition of Uracil-5-yl O-(N,N-dimethylsulfamate): Role of Methylation in Molecular Stability
PublicationThe incorporation of modified uracil derivatives into DNA leads to the formation of radical species that induce DNA damage. Molecules of this class have been suggested as radiosensitizers and are still under investigation. In this study, we present the results of dissociative electron attachment to uracil-5-yl O-(N,N-dimethylsulfamate) in the gas phase. We observed the formation of 10 fragment anions in the studied range of electron...
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Fatigue fracture surface metrology of thin-walled tubular austenitic steel specimens after asynchronous loadings
PublicationThis paper aims to study the effect of asynchronous axial-torsional strain-controlled loading histories on fracture surface behavior of thin-walled tubular X5CrNi18-10 (304/304L) austenitic steel specimens. Tests under pure axial loading and pure torsional loading are also conducted to better segregate the effect of multiaxiality. The fractures surface topographies were examined through the profiles over the entire surface with...
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DETERMINATION OF ADDITIONAL TENSION IN TOWED STREAMER CABLE TRIGGERED BY COLLISION WITH UNDERWATER MOVING OBJECT
PublicationThe paper deals with issues connected with the behaviour of a streamer cable towed by a survey seismic vessel when the cable undergoes a strike triggered by collision with an underwater moving object. The consequences of such collisions may be both threat to the life of marine animals or damage to underwater units and large economic losses suffered by vessel owners. The risk of such collisions has increased over the last years...
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Subjective Quality Evaluation of Speech Signals Transmitted via BPL-PLC Wired System
PublicationThe broadband over power line – power line communication (BPL-PLC) cable is resistant to electricity stoppage and partial damage of phase conductors. It maintains continuity of transmission in case of an emergency. These features make it an ideal solution for delivering data, e.g. in an underground mine environment, especially clear and easily understandable voice messages. This paper describes a subjective quality evaluation of...
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A constitutive law for concrete with smooth transition from continuous into discontinuous cracks’ description
PublicationPaper presents a constitutive model for concrete that combines a continuous and discontinuous crack’s description to simulate the concrete under tensile dominated loads. In a continuum regime, two different constitutive laws were used. First, a plasticity model with the Rankine failure criterion and an associated flow rule was used. Second, a constitutive law based on isotropic damage mechanics was formulated. Both model alternatives...
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Modelowanie dynamiki odbieraka prądu pojazdu kolejowego do celów diagnostycznych
PublicationNiewłaściwa współpraca odbieraka prądu i sieci trakcyjnej, w trudnych warunkach lokalnych, może prowadzić do uszkodzenia sieci trakcyjnej i pantografu. W ramach rozwoju metod monitoringu i diagnostyki dla tych podsystemów, tworzone są nowe i dokładniejsze narzędzia symulacyjne, których zakres obejmuje modelowanie zarówno napowietrznej sieci trakcyjnej i pantografu, a także ich dynamicznego oddziaływania. Głównym celem jest dokładniejsza...
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Dietary intervention with beetroot juice during doxorubicin cancer chemotherapy in vivo reduces markers of oxidative stress
PublicationCancer chemotherapy with doxorubicin, despite high antitumor activity and broad spectrum of this drug, is on decline due to toxic side effects. The clinical efficacy of anthracyclines have continuously prompted the search for new adjuvants to alleviate undesirable side toxicity incurred by this group of cytostatics. The recent approaches involve the application of synthetic or purified natural antioxidants in combination with doxorubicin...
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Searching for road deformations using mobile laser scanning
PublicationMillions of people use roads every day all over the world. Roads, like many other structures, have an estimated durability. In Poland a lot of the roads were built at the turn of the 20th and 21st c., especially for light cars. Many of these roads carry traffic and heavy goods vehicles which were not predicted when the traffic was first estimated. It creates a lot of problems with technical conditions and the infrastructure must...
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Corrosion degradation of spacers – examination of changes in bone cement coating.
PublicationSpacer is a special implant used at the time of infection after endoprosthetic surgery. It consists of a metal core and bone cement coating with an antibiotic. In the human body spacers are exposed to degradation processes. This paper looks at the effect of corrosion on spacers. Electrochemical corrosion tests were performer on titanium pins with bone cement coating in two solutions: Ringer’s solution and artificial...
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Photoinduced electron transfer in 5-bromouracil labeled DNA. A contrathermodynamic mechanism revisited by electron transfer theories
PublicationThe understanding of the 5-bromouracil (BrU) based photosensitization mechanism of DNA damage is of large interest due to the potential applications in photodynamic therapy. Photoinduced electron transfer (ET) in BrU labeled duplexes comprising the 50 -GBrU or 50 -ABrU sequence showed that a much lower reactivity was found for the 50 -GBrU pattern. Since the ionization potential of G is lower than that of A, this sequence selectivity...
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Using terrestrial laser scanning in inventorying of a hybrid constructed wetland system
PublicationThe goal of this paper was to evaluate the possibility of using terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) for inventorying of a hybrid constructed wetland (CW) wastewater treatment plant. The object under study was a turtle-shaped system built in 2015 in Eastern Poland. Its main purpose is the treatment of wastewater from theMuseumand Education Centre of Polesie National Park. The study showed that the CW system had been built in compliance...
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Increasing the Seismic Resistance of Wood-frame Buildings by Applying PU Foam as Thermal Insulation
PublicationWood-frame buildings are very common in regions that are exposed to earthquakes. Most of residential buildings are constructed using this technology; therefore, the seismic resistance of them is really essential in order to prevent human losses and structural damage. The aim of the present article is to show the results of the detailed numerical FEM analysis focused on the seismic behaviour of the wood-frame house with different...
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Microgrid Energy Management System
PublicationIn the era of rapid development of "green energy” and storage devices, microgrids implemented in line with the concept of distributed generation can be an effective form of power management. There is a need for an efficient, optimal and reliable control of the combined infrastructure. The article presents a flexible, configurable microgrid's resources control system, which executes the task of meeting the electricity demand of...
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Earthquake-Induced Structural Pounding
PublicationEarthquake-induced structural pounding between insufficiently separated build-ings, or bridge segments, has been repeatedly observed during ground motions. The reports after earthquakes indicate that it may lead to some local damage in the case of moderate seismic events or may result in considerable destruction or even collapse of colliding structures during severe ground motions. Pounding in build-ings is usually caused by the...
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New methods for assessment and stimulation of non-communicative patients employing advanced multimodal HCI . Nowe metody oceny i stymulacji pacjentów niekomunikatywnych z wykorzystaniem zaawansowanych interfejsów multimodalnych człowiek-komputer
PublicationIn most cases of patients with locomotor system damage it is possible to find a solution to the medical problems originating from the injury. However, it is much more difficult to prevent cognitive and emotional impairments. Therefore, we believe that the technological support of therapists working with such patients on an everyday basis may be essential. We have acquired experience in designing and providing diagnostic and therapeutic...
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Cyclic deformation and fracture behaviour of additive manufactured maraging steel under variable-amplitude loading
PublicationThe cyclic deformation and fracture behaviour of 18Ni300 maraging steel produced by laser beam powder bed fusion is studied under variable-amplitude loading. The tests were conducted under fully-reversed strain-controlled conditions with a loading sequence comprising three ascending cycles and three descending cycles repeated sequentially until failure. After the tests, fracture surfaces were examined using height and volume surface...
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Guided wave propagation in debonding detection in CFRP-reinforced steel plate-like structures
PublicationThe present study investigates the guided wave propagation in multilayered steel specimens reinforced with carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) through theoretical, numerical, and experimental means. The effectiveness of externally bonded reinforcement (EBR) relies heavily on the bonding quality between the CFRP and the substrate. Premature debonding, a prevalent and hazardous defect, can arise from suboptimal manufacturing processes,...
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Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis of Urinary Extracellular Vesicle Proteins as a New Challenge in Laboratory Medicine
PublicationUrinary extracellular vesicle (uEV) proteins may be used as specific markers of kidney damage in various pathophysiological conditions. The nanoparticle-tracking analysis (NTA) appears to be the most useful method for the analysis of uEVs due to its ability to analyze particles below 300 nm. The NTA method has been used to measure the size and concentration of uEVs and also allows for a deeper analysis of uEVs based on their protein...
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Crack monitoring in concrete beams under bending using ultrasonic waves and coda wave interferometry: the effect of excitation frequency on coda
PublicationConcrete is one of the most widely used construction materials in the world. In recent years, various non-destructive testing (NDT) and structural health monitoring (SHM) techniques have been investigated to improve the safety and control of the current condition of concrete structures. This study focuses on micro-crack monitoring in concrete beams. The experimental analysis was carried out on concrete elements subjected to three-point...
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Water absorption and blistering of glass fibre-reinforced polymer marine laminates with nanoparticle-modified coatings
PublicationMacro and microstructural damage was studied in typical glass fibre-reinforced polymer laminates with two types of coating systems – (a) isophtalic gel coat: pure or mixed with SiO2 nanoparticles 5 wt% (5%N) or 10 wt% (10%N) and (b) a two-layer coating system: urethane-modified vinyl ester-based gel coat and additional polyester barrier coat layer. Accelerated tests were performed at 50C for 50 days for specimens with nanoparticle-modified...
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Shaking table experimental study on the effectiveness of polymer bearings for seismic isolation of structures
PublicationSeismic isolation has been recognised to be a very effective way of protecting structures from damage during earthquakes. It allows us to extend the natural period of the structure and therefore avoid resonance with the ground motion. Moreover, by increasing damping in the isolation devices, more energy can be dissipated and thus the structural response can be further reduced. The aim of this paper is to show the results of the...
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An approach for the response of buildings subjected to impact load after soft-story failure due to earthquake excitation
Publicationhe soft-story failure is one of the most typical types of damage observed in buildings during earthquakes. The failure of an intermediate soft story of a structure results in large impact loading acting on the lower floors due to the fall of the upper stories. The aim of the present paper is to study the behavior of the structural members exposed to such extreme load conditions occurring under ground motion excitation. Special...
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High frequency dynamics of an isotropic Timoshenko periodic beam by the use of the Time-domain Spectral Finite Element Method
PublicationIn this work results of numerical simulations and experimental measurements related to the high frequency dynamics of an aluminium Timoshenko periodic beam are presented. It was assumed by the authors that the source of beam structural periodicity comes from periodical alterations to its geometry due to the presence of appropriately arranged drill-holes. As a consequence of these alterations dynamic characteristics of the beam...
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Featuring Semitransparent p–i–n Perovskite Solar Cells for High-Efficiency Four-Terminal/Silicon Tandem Solar Cells
PublicationTwo issues need to be resolved when fabricating p–i–n semitransparent perovskite solar cells (ST-PVSCs) for four-terminal (4 T) perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells: 1) damage to the underlying absorber (MAPbI3), electron transporting layer ([6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester, PCBM), and work function (WF) modifier (polyethylenimine, PEI), resulting from the harsh sputtering conditions for the transparent electrodes (TEs)...
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Nanocrystalline diamond sheets as protective coatings for fiber-optic measurement head
PublicationFiber-optic sensors find numerous applications in science and industry, but their full potential is limited because of the risk of damaging the measurement head, in particular, due to the vulnerability of unprotected tips of the fiber to mechanical damage and aggressive chemical agents. In this paper, we report the first use of a new nanocrystalline diamond structure in a fiber-optic measurement head as a protective coating of...
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Synthesis of eosin modified TiO2 film with co-exposed {001} and {101} facets for photocatalytic degradation of para-aminobenzoic acid and solar H2 production
PublicationOwing to the increasing photosensitivity and DNA damage properties of para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), concerns have been raised over the exposure of humans to PABA. Solar light-driven photocatalysis (SPC) provides a promising solution for the effective removal of organic pollutants especially when directed towards sulfate radical (SO4−) production. Herein, we have developed a sulfite-enhanced SPC using Eosin-Y sensitized TiO2/Ti...
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Shear fracture of longitudinally reinforced concrete beams under bending using Digital Image Correlation and FE simulations with concrete micro-structure based on X-ray micro-computed tomography images
PublicationThe paper presents experimental and numerical investigations of the shear fracture in rectangular concrete beams longitudinally reinforced with steel or basalt bar under quasi-static three point bending. Shear fracture process zone formation and development on the surface of beams was investigated by Digital Image Correlation (DIC) whereas thorough analyses of 3D material micro-structure, air voids, width and curvature of shear...