Advanced Sheet Pile Curtain Design: Case Study of Cotonou East Corniche

This paper delves into the critical aspects of sheet pile walls in civil engineering, highlighting their versatility in soil protection, retention, and waterproofing, all while emphasizing sustainability and efficient construction practices. The paper explores two fundamental approaches to sheet pile design: limit equilibrium methods and numerical techniques, with a particular focus on finite element analysis. Utilizing the robust PLAXIS 2016 calculation code based on the finite element method and employing a simplified elastoplastic model (Mohr-Coulomb), this study meticulously models the interaction between sheet pile walls and surrounding soil. The research offers valuable insights into settlement and deformation patterns that adjacent buildings may experience during various construction phases. The central objective of this paper is to present the study’s findings and recommend potential mitigation measures for settlement effects on nearby structures. By unraveling the intricate interplay between sheet pile wall construction and neighboring buildings, the paper equips engineers and practitioners to make informed decisions that ensure the safety and integrity of the built environment. In the context of the Cotonou East Corniche development, the study addresses the limitations of existing software, such as RIDO, in predicting settlements and deformations affecting nearby buildings due to the substantial load supported by sheet pile walls. This information gap necessitates a comprehensive study to assess potential impacts on adjacent structures and propose suitable mitigation measures. The research underscores the intricate dynamics between sheet pile wall construction and its influence on the local environment. It emphasizes the critical importance of proactive engineering and vigilant monitoring in managing and mitigating potential hazards to nearby buildings. To mitigate these risks, the paper recommends measures such as deep foundations, ground improvement techniques, and retrofitting. The findings presented in this study contribute significantly to the field of civil engineering and offer invaluable insights into the multifaceted dynamics of construction-induced settlement. The study underscores the importance of continuous evaluation and coordination between construction teams and building owners to effectively manage the impacts of sheet pile wall construction on adjacent structures.

Solvothermal Synthesis and Characterization of Sheet Structure Containing Adamantane [Hg_2Sn_2S_(10)]^(8-) Anions

Sheet Rb2HgSnS4 was synthesized solvothermally and characterized by X-ray single crystal diffraction. The compound is comprised of sheets with admantane-like [Hg2Sn2S10]8– units. The crystals belong to the space group C2/c, with the unit cell parameters a=1.1063（2） nm, b=1.1071（2） nm, c=1.5741（3） nm, a=90o, β=100.13（3）o, γ=90o. A reflectance spectroscopy study reveals the nature of the semiconductor with an energy of 2.1 eV for the compound.

New Types of Wharf Structures in Chiwan Port

A bold innovation was carried out for the structural type of wharves in line with local conditions in Chiwan Port, in which a group of wharves with novel structures have been built in this port during the past ten years.

Process Design for Hybrid Sheet Metal Components

The global trends towards improving fuel efficiency and reducing CO;emissions are the key drivers for lightweight solutions. In sheet metal processing, this can be achieved by the use of materials with a supreme strength-toweight and stiffness-to-weight ratio. Besides monolithic materials such as high-strength or light metals, in particular metal–plastic composite sheets are able to provide outstanding mechanical properties. Thus, the adaption of conventional, wellestablished forming methods for the processing of hybrid sheet metals is a current challenge for the sheet metal working industry. In this work, the planning phase for a conventional sheet metal forming process is studied aiming at the forming of metal–plastic composite sheets. The single process steps like material characterization, FE analysis, tool design and development of robust process parameters are studied in detail and adapted to the specific properties of metal–plastic composites. In material characterization, the model of the hybrid laminate needs to represent not only the mechanical properties of the individual combined materials, but also needs to reflect the behaviour of the interface zone between them.Based on experience, there is a strong dependency on temperature as well as strain rate. While monolithic materials show a moderate anisotropic behaviour, loads on laminates in different directions generate different strain states and completely different failure modes. During the FE analysis, thermo-mechanic and thermo-dynamic effects influence the temperature distribution within tool and work pieces and subsequently the forming behaviour. During try out and production phase,those additional influencing factors are limiting the process window even more and therefore need to be considered for the design of a robust forming process. A roadmap for sheet metal forming adjusted to metal–plastic composites is presented in this paper.

Numerical simulation of water-slag elbow erosion-inhibiting by regulating the slag injection position with a novel preceding rotating sheet structure

The elbow erosion seriously jeopardizes the safe and stable operation of water–slag discharge pipeline of the coal gasification system.This work simulated water–slag elbow characteristics with various slag injection positions by simulating five simplified and representative erosion categories,including A-type horizontal-vertical elbow with an upstream flow,B-type horizontal-vertical elbow with a downstream flow,C-type vertical-horizontal elbow with an upstream flow,D-type vertical-horizontal elbow with a downstream flow and E-type horizontal-horizontal elbow.Compared with the C/D-type elbow,where particles were injected uniformly,the A-type elbow and E-type elbow were found to increase erosion rate,while the B-type elbow decreases erosion rate.An interesting discovery is that the elbow erosion rate is relatively low for small particles when particles are injected from the middle and bottom positions of the inlet section of the elbow.Based on the observation,a novel preceding rotating sheet structure was developed to regulate the particle injection position.It shows an excellent anti-erosion performance by reducing the maximum erosion rate of particles with diameters of 50,100,and 200μm by 23%,35%,and 43%,respectively.