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Search results for: DEGRADATION OF STIFFNESS
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EXPERIMENTAL ANALYSIS OF RUBBER AND STYROFOAM BUMPERS INFLUENCE ON THE COLLIDING STRUCTURES
PublicationPast and recent investigations of colliding structures under seismic excitation confirmed that pounding may have a significant influence on the structural response. Interactions between adjacent buildings may cause serious damage to the structures, leading even to its total collapse. The main reason of earthquake-induced pounding, besides insufficient distance between structures, are differences in stiffness or mass of colliding structures....
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Compliance tests of the polymer layers used as hydrodynamic bearing coatings
PublicationOperational experience and scientific investigations results showed that polymer lined hydrodynamic bearings can withstand more severe operating conditions compared than white metal bearings. PTFE and PEEK-based coatings are the most frequently used as Babbitt alternatives. Both polymers differ significantly from the each other in material properties. According to catalogue data compression modulus of PTFE, it is about an order...
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Load-carrying capacity of axially loaded concrete-filled steel tubular columns made of thin tubes
PublicationAn experimental investigation was conducted on 30 CFST columns. An influence of the following factors on load-carrying capacity of the investigated columns was analyzed: the column slenderness (l1 = 42, l2 = 27 and l3 = 15), the tube thickness (the reinforcement ratio was equal to 4% or 6%), the way of applying the load to CFST columns (through the concrete core or through the entire cross-section), the bond strength between a...
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Structural Design and Sensitivity Analysis of Semi-Rigid Pavement of a Motorway
PublicationThis paper presents application of mechanistic-empirical methods in design of semi-rigid pavement for a section of a motorway in Poland. The stage construction was assumed. Three fatigue criteria were applied in the design. For asphalt fatigue cracking and subgrade soil the criteria from the Asphalt Institute (1981) were applied. For fatigue cracking of cement stabilized bases the Dempsey (1984) and De Beer (1992) criteria were...
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Further development of the poroelastic road surface within the new Polish project SEPOR
PublicationRoad surfaces have a direct impact on noise generated by rolling tyres, the main and dominant source of noise of moving vehicles. Road surface texture, porosity and stiffness/elasticity govern the pavement contribution to tyre/road noise the most. An experimental PoroElastic Road Surface (PERS) is a wearing course with a high content of interconnected voids (pores) and with an elastic behavior due to the use of small particles...
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Galerkin formulations of isogeometric shell analysis: Alleviating locking with Greville quadratures and higher-order elements
PublicationWe propose new quadrature schemes that asymptotically require only four in-plane points for Reissner–Mindlin shell elements and nine in-plane points for Kirchhoff–Love shell elements in B-spline and NURBS-based isogeometric shell analysis, independent of the polynomial degree p of the elements. The quadrature points are Greville abscissae associated with pth-order B-spline basis functions whose continuities depend on the specific...
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Multiparameter sensitivity analysis of a GFRP composite footbridge of a sandwich structure and U-shaped cross-section
PublicationThe paper deals with multiparameter sensitivity analysis of a composite footbridge. A shell‐like structure is 14.5 m long shows U‐shaped cross‐section and inner service dimensions 1.3 × 2.5 m. Glass fiber reinforced polymer GFRP laminate constitutes faces of a sandwich structure while PET foam received from recycled bottle builts a core. The structure was divided into 285 independent areas where the thickness of laminates and stiffness...
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Stability analysis of single-walled carbon nanotubes embedded in winkler foundation placed in a thermal environment considering the surface effect using a new refined beam theory
PublicationThis article is devoted to investigate the stability of different types of Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes (SWCNTs) such as zigzag, chiral, and armchair types which are rested in Winkler elastic foundations exposing to both the low and high temperature environments. Also, the Surface effects which include surface energy and surface residual stresses, are taken into consideration in this study. It may be noted that the surface energy...
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Experimental Study on Dynamics of Wooden House Wall Panels with Different Thermal Isolation
PublicationWood frame buildings are very popular in regions that are exposed to different dynamic excitations including earthquakes. Therefore, their seismic resistance is really important in order to prevent structural damages and human losses. The aim of the present paper is to show the results of experimental tests focused on the dynamic response of wall panels of a wooden frame building with thermal isolation made of mineral wool and...
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The vibration-based assessment of the influence of elevated temperature on the condition of concrete beams with pultruded GFRP reinforcement
PublicationConcrete beams reinforced with glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars subjected to elevated temperature have been experimentally studied. The influence of high temperatures on GFRP-reinforced concrete beams condition has been check both, destructively and nondestructively. The nondestructive tests foresaw vibration-based tests to obtain the natural frequency values after exposure to varying temperatures. The vibration-based...
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Problematyka konstrukcyjna zabytkowego obiektu przywracanego do użytkowania na przykładzie kamienicy przy ul. Staromiejskiej w Olsztynie = Structural aspects in restoring historical buildings for re-use: the case of a tenement building on Staromiejska Street in Olsztyn
PublicationThe paper discusses the issue of introducing structural changes into a historical building referring to the example of conservation work carried out in the tenement house at 6 Staromiejska in Olsztyn. Building work involved a general renovation. The paper reviews actions carried out in the restoration work, including strengthening and deepening of the foundations, introducing a post and beam system, and putting...
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Influence of separation gap on the response of colliding models of steel structures under seismic and paraseismic excitations
PublicationAs a result of high urbanization, the need to erect closely-spaced buildings forces designers to consider collisions between structures taking place during ground motions. Experimental and numerical studies have confirmed that such collisions (often referred to as structural pounding) may cause serious damage to the structural elements and even lead to total collapse of colliding structures. The main reason of earthquake-induced...
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Properties of water in the region between a tubulin dimer and a single motor head of kinesin
PublicationA kinesin is a molecular motor that can perform movement on a microtubule track in a stepping-like manner. This motion is connected with processes of association and dissociation of kinesin and tubulin. Water is an important participant in these kinds of molecular interactions. This is why we have decided to investigate the dynamical and structural properties of water in the region between the kinesin catalytic domain and the tubulin...
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The Impact of Homogeneity of High Modulus Asphalt Concrete Layer on Low-Temperature Cracking
PublicationDuring winter season of 2012 numerous transverse cracks developed in high-modulus asphalt concrete (HMAC) base of newly constructed motorway. Pavement cracked both in transverse joint locations and in the area between them. Research which was conducted during investigation of the causes and mechanisms of cracking consisted of: field examination, laboratory testing of specimens cored out of the existing pavement, computational analyses...
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Diagnosis of Damage in a Steel Tank Model by Shaking Table Harmonic Tests
PublicationDiagnosis of damage in civil engineering structures has recently become an important issue in the safety assessment procedure. Among a number of different approaches, a method of measuring the changes in natural frequencies is one of the most effective indicators of global damage. It has been successfully applied to relatively small. structures, however, the tests on large structures are very difficult and the practical application...
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Nano soil improvement technique using cement
PublicationNano soil-improvement is an innovative idea in geotechnical engineering. Nanomaterials are among the newest additives that improve soil properties. Herein, laboratory tests, such as unconfined compressive strength, direct shear test, and initial tests, were conducted to investigate the geotechnical properties of Kelachay clay with micro- and nanosized cement to evaluate its particles in untreated soil and observe changes in the...
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The Use of Direct Shear Test for Optimization of Interlayer Bonding Under a Poroelastic Layer
PublicationPoroelastic Road Surfaces (PERS) are characterised by porous structure with air void content of 20% or higher and stiffness almost 10 times lower than that of a standard asphalt course. Such properties enable noise reduction by up to 12 dB in comparison to SMA 11 mixture. However, the disadvantage of a poroelastic pavement is its low durability, which partially results from delamination from the lower layer. The paper aims to investigate...
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Elastic Fender-Dolphin Interaction for Economic Design of Berthing Dolphins
PublicationThe study addresses the question of the possible design benefits when considering the interaction between a modern marine modular rubber fender and a steel tubular pile substructure of a berthing dolphin. Absorption of the berthing kinetic energy of the vessel by a dualelasticity pile-fender berthing system is described in detail using the interactive treatment method (ITM). Application of the ITM is illustrated by a calculative...
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Investigating the effects of structural pounding on the seismic performance of adjacent RC and steel MRFs
PublicationAn insufficient separation distance between adjacent buildings is the main reason for structural pounding during severe earthquakes. The lateral load resistance system, fundamental natural period, mass, and stiffness are important factors having the influence on collisions between two adjacent structures. In this study, 3-, 5- and 9-story adjacent reinforced concrete and steel Moment Resisting Frames (MRFs) were considered to investigate...
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Perceptual and Motor Effects of Muscle Co-activation in a Force Production Task
PublicationWe tested several predictions of the theory of motor control with spatial referent coordinates related to effects of muscle coactivation on force production and perception. In particular, we predicted that subjects would produce unintentional force increase by finger flexors and be unaware of this force increase. Healthy subjects performed steady force production task in isometric conditions with visual feedback on the force level....
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The influence of chemical composition of amide block on the thermal properties and structure of terpoly(ester-b-ether-b-amide) elastomers
PublicationMultiblock terpolymers-(PBT-b-PTMO-b-PA12,10)(n)- constituting the polymer systems, in which one of the three blocks (PBT) does not dissolve in PA12,10 block (hard phase) and, depending on its molecular weight is slightly soluble in PTMO block (soft phase), have been obtained. The DSC method was applied to investigate the thermal properties of these polymers and it was found that PBT block acts as an element that produces stiffness...
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Non-linear static stability of bi-layer carbon nanosheets resting on an elastic matrix under various types of in-plane shearing loads in thermo-elasticity using nonlocal continuum
PublicationIn this research, the shear and thermal buckling of bi-layer rectangular orthotropic carbon nanosheets embedded on an elastic matrix using the nonlocal elasticity theory and non-linear strains of Von-Karman was studied. The bi-layer carbon sheets were modeled as a double-layered plate, and van der Waals forces between layers were considered. The governing equations and boundary conditions were obtained using the first order shear...
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Laboratory fatigue assessment of large geocomposite-reinforced double-layered asphalt concrete beams
PublicationGeosynthetic reinforcement of asphalt layers has been used for several decades. Evaluation of the influence of these materials on pavement fatigue life is still ongoing, especially for new types of geocomposites. This paper presents the evaluation of fatigue performance of large asphalt concrete beams reinforced with a new type of composite in which square or hexagonal polypropylene stiff monolithic paving grid with integral junctions...
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Laboratory fatigue assessment of large geocomposite-reinforced double-layered asphalt concrete beams
PublicationGeosynthetic reinforcement of asphalt layers has been used for several decades. Evaluation of the influence of these materials on pavement fatigue life is still ongoing, especially for new types of geocomposites. This paper presents the evaluation of fatigue performance of large asphalt concrete beams reinforced with a new type of composite in which square or hexagonal polypropylene stiff monolithic paving grid with integral junctions...
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Surface Treatment of Rubber Waste
PublicationThis chapter deals with the study of different approaches to improve the compatibility of waste rubber with polymeric matrixes of high density polyethylene (HDPE) by using surface treatments to increase adhesion. Different surface treatments such as etching with sulphuric and nitric acids, the use of a silane as a coupling agent and chlorination with trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCI) have been applied. The modification of waste rubber...
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The Experimental Determination of Bearings Dynamic Coefficients in a Wide Range of Rotational Speeds, Taking into Account the Resonance and Hydrodynamic Instability
PublicationMethods for the experimental determination of dynamic coefficients are commonly used for the analysis of various types of bearings, including hydrodynamic, aerodynamic and foil bearings. There are currently several algorithms that allow estimating bearing dynamic coefficients. Such algorithms usually use various excitation techniques applied to rotor–bearings systems. So far only a small number of scientific publications show how...
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Modelling the time-dependent behaviour of soft soils
PublicationTime-dependence of soft soils has already been thoroughly investigated. The knowledge on creep and relaxation phenomena is generally available in the literature. However, it is still rarely applied in practice. Regarding the organic soils, geotechnical engineers mostly base their calculations on the simple assumptions. Yet, as presented within this paper, the rate-dependent behaviour of soft soils is a very special and important...
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POM/EVA Blends with Future Utility in Fused Deposition Modeling
PublicationPolyoxymethylene (POM) is one of the most popular thermoplastic polymers used in the industry. Therefore, the interest in its potential applications in rapid prototyping is understandable. Nevertheless, its low dimensional stability causes the warping of 3D prints, limiting its applications. This research aimed to evaluate the effects of POM modification with ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) (2.5, 5.0, and 7.5 wt.%) on its processing...
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Determinants of the primary stability of cementless acetabular cup implants: A 3D finite element study
PublicationPrimary stability of cementless implants is crucial for the surgical success and long–term stability. However, primary stability is difficult to quantify in vivo and the biomechanical phenomena occurring during the press–fit insertion of an acetabular cup (AC) implant are still poorly understood. The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of the cortical and trabecular bone Young's moduli Ec and Et, the interference...
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Limits of enhanced of macro- and meso-scale continuum models for studying size effect in concrete under tension
PublicationThe paper investigates a mechanical quasi-static size effect in concrete during splitting tension at the macro- and meso-level. In experiments, five different diameters of cylindrical concrete specimens were tested. Twodimensional plane strain finite element (FE) simulations were carried out to reproduce the experimental size effect. The size effect in experiments by Carmona et al. was also simulated. Two enhanced continuum concrete...
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Metodyka badań rozwojowych nowego typu silników i pomp satelitowych
PublicationResearch and development of new type satellite motors and satellite pumps SM with small geometrical displacement, from 5 to 73 cm3/rev, has been conducted in cooperation with Stosowanie Maszyn company from Katowice (manufacturer of motors and pump SM). The improvement of construction of those machines, especially construction of axial compensation and construction of fluid distribution channels have been the main problem of research...
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Effect of Chitosan Solution on Low-Cohesive Soil’s Shear Modulus G Determined through Resonant Column and Torsional Shearing Tests
PublicationIn this study the effect of using a biopolymer soil stabilizer on soil stiffness characteristics was investigated. Chitosan is a bio-waste material that is obtained by chemical treatment of chitin (a chemical component of fungi or crustaceans’ shells). Using chitosan solution as a soil stabilizer is based on the assumption that the biopolymer forms temporary bonds with soil particles. What is important is that these bonds are biodegradable,...
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A LUMPED-CIRCUIT MODEL OF CIRCULAR PISTON TRANSDUCER FOR MODELING ITS PERFORMANCE IN DUAL FREQUENCY OPERATING MODES
PublicationThe paper presents novel network equivalent circuit of piezoceramic circular disc transducer that takes into account thickness and ra dial mode of vibrations. The starting point of the analysis is 4-port description of circular disc element representing the solution of wave equation set in radial and thickness directions. Th e approximate solution for harmonic case is represented in the form of 4x4 matrix, which is syn thesized...
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Experimental study on the effectiveness of polymer dampers in reduction of structural vibrations
PublicationVibrations of civil engineering structures, generated by dynamic loads, may be very dangerous to the structures themselves as well as may have significant influence on human perception and comfort. A number of different methods have been proposed in order to minimize such situations. This concern newly designed structures as well as those which dynamic properties have to be modified due to problems with excessive vibrations. One...
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Experimental study on effectiveness of polymer dampers in reduction of structural vibrations
PublicationVibrations of civil engineering structures, generated by dynamic loads, may be very dangerous to the structures themselves as well as may have significant influence on human perception and comfort. A number of different methods have been proposed in order to minimize such situations. This concern newly designed structures as well as those which dynamic properties have to be modified due to problems with excessive vibrations. One...
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Economical wood sawing with circular saw blades of a new design (Ekonomicno piljenje drva kruznom pilom novog dezajna)
PublicationMaterial-saving and energy-saving belong to the basic requirements imposed on contemporary manufacturing processes. The realization of these processes gives measurable profi ts, not only economical butalso ecological. In the case of wood sawing with circular saw blades, material- and energy-savings are dependent on total overall set of teeth (theoretical kerf) and teeth position accuracy in relation to the workpiece. Hence, it...
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Advanced fatigue and rutting characterisation of Polish asphalt mixtures based on the VECD model and viscoplastic shift model
PublicationThe advanced asphalt mixture performance-related specifications (AM-PRS) recently developed in USA can allow an optimisation of the design process of asphalt pavements thanks to the possibility to fully take into account the intrinsic material properties. In this study, four typical Polish mixtures, i.e. a Stone Mastic Asphalt (SMA) for wearing course, two mixtures for binder course with neat bitumen or Polymer modified Bitumen...
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Optimum shapes and dimensions of rubber bumpers in order to reduce structural pounding during seismic excitations
PublicationLarge displacement of structures observed during seismic excitations may lead to collisions between two adjacent, insufficiently-separated buildings and may result in major damages of both of them. In many building codes, appropriate equations or approximately recommended distances between structures in order to avoid pounding hazard have been introduced. Unfortunately, further, more detailed considerations show that safety situation...
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Assessment of Thermal Stresses in Asphalt Mixtures at Low Temperatures Using the Tensile Creep Test and the Bending Beam Creep Test
PublicationThermal stresses are leading factors that influence low-temperature cracking behavior of asphalt pavements. During winter, when the temperature drops to significantly low values, tensile thermal stresses develop as a result of pavement contraction. Creep test methods can be suitable for the assessment of low-temperature properties of asphalt mixtures. To evaluate the influence of creep test methods on the obtained low-temperature...
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Preparation, morphology and properties of natural rubber composites filled with untreated short jute fibres
PublicationGreen composites were obtained by incorporation of short jute fibres in natural rubber matrix using a laboratory two-roll mill. The influence of untreated fibre content (1, 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10 phr) on the mechanical properties, dynamic mechanical properties, swelling properties was examined. The behaviour of prepared green composites under cyclic compression was also investigated. Fibre dispersion in rubber matrix was studied by...
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Latest Achievements in Concrete Structures Three-Dimensional Printing
PublicationWe can hear about three-dimensional printed concrete structures for several years, up to date solutions in this technology allow entire printing settlements of tiny concrete houses. Due to technical limitations, these houses are still small and not very durable, but undoubtedly, this technology is developing. Home printed in three-dimensional technology can be an alternative to modular container buildings implemented in areas affected...
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Column base fixity in steel moment frames: Observations from instrumented buildings
PublicationThe rotational fixity of column base connections in Steel Moment Resisting Frames (SMRFs) strongly influences their seismic response. However, approaches for estimating base fixity have been validated only against laboratory test data. These approaches are examined based on strong motion recordings from four instrumented SMRF buildings in California to informbest practices for seismic response simulation. These buildings represent...
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Study on Methods to Control Interstory Deflections
PublicationOne of the possibilities to prevent building pounding between two adjacent structures is to consider appropriate in-between separation distance. Another approach might be focused on controlling the relative displacements during seismic excitations. Although the majority of building codes around the world recommend the use of some equations of various distances between structures to avoid pounding; a lot of reports after earthquakes...
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Drill holes decrease cancellous bone strength: A comparative study of 33 paired osteoporotic human and 9 paired artificial bone samples
PublicationThis study was designed to compare compressive strength of cancellous bone retrieved from the femoral head in a specimen with and without guide wire hole, with comparison to synthetic bone samples. Femoral heads retrieved from 33 patients who sustained femoral neck fractures and underwent hip arthroplasty were cut into cuboids leaving two matching samples from the same femoral head. Similar samples were prepared from synthetic femurs....
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Lateral forces determine dimensional accuracy of the narrow‑kerf sawing of wood
PublicationThe shrinking global forest area limits the supply of industrially usable raw resources. This, in combination with the ever‑increasing consumption of timber due to population growth can lead to the lack of a positive balance between the annual volumetric growth and consumption of wood. An important innovation toward increasing environmental and economic sustainability of timber production is to reduce the volume of wood residues...
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Mechanical Properties, Microstructure and Surface Quality of Polypropylene Green Composites as a Function of Sunflower Husk Waste Filler Particle Size and Content
PublicationAgricultural waste is a still untapped source of materials that can, in case of proper utilization, significantly improve the sustainability of polymers and their composites. In this work, polymer composites based on isotactic polypropylene were produced incorporating ground sunflower husk in the amount of 10 wt% and 20 wt%. The work’s main objective is to evaluate how preliminary fractioning of this agricultural waste filler affects...
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Seismic performance evaluation of steel buckling-restrained braced frames including SMA materials
PublicationThe permanent deformation of the building after seismic excitations can be determined by the Maximum Residual Interstory Drift Ratio (MR-IDR), which may be used for measuring the damage states. Low-post yield stiffness of the steel buckling-restrained braced frame (BRBF) makes this system vulnerable to large MR-IDR after a severe earthquake event. To overcome this issue, this paper investigates the seismic limit state performances...
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Processing and structure–property relationships of natural rubber/wheat bran biocomposites
PublicationIn this work, wheat bran was used as cellulosic filler in biocomposites based on natural rubber. The impact of wheat bran content [ranging from 10 to 50 parts per hundred rubber (phr)] on processing, structure, dynamic mechanical properties, thermal properties, physico-mechanical properties and morphology of resulting biocomposites was investigated. For better characterization of interfacial interactions between natural rubber...
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Enhancing rheological muscle models with stochastic processes
PublicationPurpose: Biological musculoskeletal systems operate under variable conditions. Muscle stiffness, activation signals, and loads change during each movement. The presence of noise and different harmonic components in force production significantly influences the behaviour of the muscular system. Therefore, it is essential to consider these factors in numerical simulations. Methods: This study aims to develop a rheological mathematical...
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Towards sustainable catalyst-free biomass-based polyurethane-wood composites (PU-WC): From valorization and liquefaction to future generation of biocomposites
PublicationA substantial aspect of materials engineering lies in the responsible process of designing polymer-based materials. Due to environmental pollution, excessive consumption of natural resources, and increasing environmental awareness of society, there is a massive need for polyurethane (PU) materials with reduced environmental impact. To date, research on catalyst-free polyurethane-wood composites (PU-WC) has demonstrated a huge potential...