A LOOP DRAWBEAD RESTRAINING FORCE MODEL IN SHEET METAL DEEP DRAWING PROCESS

In sheet metal forming, drawbeads are often used to control uneven material flow which may cause defects such as wrinkles, fracture, surface distortion and springback. Appropriate setting and adjusting the drawbead force is one of the most important pa- rameters in sheet metal forming process control. This paper derives the model of loop drawbead restraining force (DBRF) using plastic forming theory, and gives the min imum blankholding force. Experiments are carried out to verify the proposed DBRF model. The good agreement between the calculated values and experiments data justi- fies the proposed loop drawbead restraining force model.

Mathematical modeling and full-scale shaking table tests for multi-curve buckling restrained braces

Buckling restrained braces （BRBs） have been widely applied in seismic mitigation since they were introduced in the 1970s. However, traditional BRBs have several disadvantages caused by using a steel tube to envelope the mortar to prevent the core plate from buckling, such as： complex interfaces between the materials used, uncertain precision, and time consumption during the manufacturing processes. In this study, a new device called the multi-curve buckling restrained brace （MC-BRB） is proposed to overcome these disadvantages. The new device consists of a core plate with multiple neck portions assembled to form multiple energy dissipation segments, and the enlarged segment, lateral support elements and constraining elements to prevent the BRB from buckling. The enlarged segment located in the middle of the core plate can be welded to the lateral support and constraining elements to increase buckling resistance and to prevent them from sliding during earthquakes. Component tests and a series of shaking table tests on a full-scale steel structure equipped with MC-BRBs were carried out to investigate the behavior and capability of this new BRB design for seismic mitigation. The experimental results illustrate that the MC-BRB possesses a stable mechanical behavior under cyclic loadings and provides good protection to structures during earthquakes. Also, a mathematical model has been developed to simulate the mechanical characteristics of BRBs.

Experimental study of a highway bridge with shape memory alloy restrainers focusing on the mitigation of unseating and pounding

This paper presents an experimental study to investigate the performance of shape memory alloy(SMA) restrainers for mitigating the pounding and unseating of highway bridges when subjected to seismic excitations.Mechanical property tests of the SMA wire used in the restrainers are conducted first to understand the pseudo-elastic characteristics of the material.Then,a series of shaking table tests are carried out on a highway bridge model.The structural responses of the highway bridge model equipped with SMA restrainers,installed in the form of deck-deck and deck-pile connections,are analyzed and compared with the uncontrolled structures.The test results of this study indicate that the SMA restrainers are not only effective in preventing unseating but also in suppressing the seismic-induced pounding of the highway bridge model used in this study.

EXPERIMENTAL TESTING OF DRAW-BEAD RESTRAINING FORCE IN SHEET METAL FORMING

Due to complexities of draw-bead restraining force calculated according to theory and depending on sheet metal forming properties experiment testing system, a simplified method to calculate draw-bead restraining force is put forward by experimental method in cup-shaped drawing process. The experimental results were compared with numerical results and proved agreement. It shows the method is effective.

Assessment of early-age cracking of high-performance concrete in restrained ring specimens

High-performance concrete （HPC） is stronger and more durable than conventional concrete. However, shrinkage and shrinkage cracking are common phenomena in HPC, especially early-age cracking. This study assessed early-age cracking of HPC for two mixtures using restrained ring tests. The two mixtures were produced with water/binder mass ratio （mw/mB） of 0.22 and 0.40, respectively. The results show that, with greater steel thickness, the higher degree of restraint resulted in a higher interface pressure and earlier cracking. With steel thickness of 6 mm, 19 mm, and 30 mm, the age of cracking were, respectively, 12 days, 8 days, and 5.4 days with the mw/mB = 0.22 mixture; and 22.5 days, 12.6 days, and 7.1 days with the mw/mB= 0.40 mixture. Cases of the same steel thickness show that the ring specimens with a thicker concrete wall crack later. With the mw/mB = 0.22 mixture, concrete walls with thicknesses of 37.5 mm, 75 mm, and 112.5 mm cracked at 3.4 days, 8.0 days, and 9.8 days, respectively; with the mw/mB = 0.40 mixture, the ages of cracking were 7.1 days, 12.6 days, and 16.0 days, respectively.

Free vibrations of simply supported nonhomogeneous isotropic rectangular plates of bilinearly varying thickness and elastically restrained edges against rotation using Rayleigh-Ritz method

This paper addresses the free transverse vibrations of thin simply supported nonhomogeneous isotropic rectangular plates of bilinearly varying thickness with elastically restrained edges against rotation. The Gram-Schmidt process has been used to generate two-dimensional boundary characteristic orthogonal polynomials, which have been used in the Rayleigh-Ritz method to study the problem. The lowest three frequencies have been computed for various values of nonhomogeneous parameters, thickness parameters, aspect ratio and flexibility parameters. A comparison of the results with those available in the literature has been made. Three-dimensional mode shapes for the specified plate have been presented.

Chemical composition and free radicals restraining activity of extracts from three Manglietia species leaves

The extracts from leaves of Manglietia insignis （Wall） Blume, Manglietia chingii Dandy and Manglietia yuyuanensis Law were prepared by organic solvent extraction and their components were analyzed by GC/MS and quantified. Meanwhile, the free radicals restraining activities were detected. The 21 compounds in M. insignis, 36 compounds in M. chigii and 20 compounds in M. yuyuanensis were identified. There were 11 common components in the extracts from three Manglietia species, and 12 components in two Manglietia species. The results of relative contents of every component in three extracts showed that the main constituents of M. insignis were terpenoids and alkene, amounting to 38.93%, followed by alkane （28.18%）, the nitrogen containing compounds （15.73%） and aromatic compounds （7.23 %）. The main constituents of leaf extract from M. chingii were the terpenoids and alkene, carboxylic acid, alkane and aromatic compounds, amounting to 30.22%, 14.17%, 13.87% and 13.29%, respectively, The main constituents of M. yuyuanensis were alcohol compounds, the terpenoids and alkene, and aromatic compounds, amounting to 28.00%, 25.38% and 18.00% respectively. The results showed that the three extracts had strong function of restraining oxygen free radicals. The ultra oxygen anions activity was restrained at the highest level, when the three extracts were diluted by hundred-fold, whereas the restraining capacity of hydroxyl free radicals reached maximum, when the three extracts were diluted by twenty-fold. The above results provide scientific evidences for further approaching the ecological healthy function of three MangUetia species

Neuropeptide Y and nestin expression in the hippocampal CA3 region following restrained and inverted stress in rats

Our preliminary study demonstrated that neuropeptide Y （NPY）/nestin-positive cells exhibit a consistent spatial distribution in the hippocampus of normal adult rats. However, following severe acute and chronic stress-induced impaired learning and memory, synchronous decreased expression of nestin and NPY takes place in the hippocampus, and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In the present study, acute and chronic stress rat models were established using combined restrained and inverted stress. Results showed that learning and memory significantly decreased in acute and chronic stress rats. In addition, hippocampal cells were damaged, in particular in the acute stress rats, and nestin and NPY expression, as well as the number of NPY/nestin-positive cells in the CA3 region, significantly decreased. Furthermore, mature neurofilament 200-positive neurons were absent in the chronic stress rats. The NPY and cytoskeletal protein system equally contributed to stress-induced early learning and memory deficits as well as sustained cerebral iniurv in the adult hippocampus.

Time-dependent Early-age Behaviors of Concrete under Restrained Condition

To investigate the early-age behaviors of concrete under a restrained condition, a set of apparatus was developed. In this way, the tensile creep and other early-age properties can be investigated in depth. By measuring the modulus of elasticity of concrete, synchronous shrinkage of concrete and steel rings and free shrinkage of concrete, the deformations of concrete ring can be quantified respectively. The experimental results show the tensile stress in concrete is time-dependent, and the stress at cracking is much lower than the tensile strength at that age; the tensile creep plays an important role in relaxing the tensile stress and postponing the cracking of concrete.

Image segmentation algorithm based on high-dimension fuzzy character and restrained clustering network

An image segmentation algorithm of the restrained fuzzy Kohonen clustering network （RFKCN） based on high- dimension fuzzy character is proposed. The algorithm includes two steps. The first step is the fuzzification of pixels in which two redundant images are built by fuzzy mean value and fuzzy median value. The second step is to construct a three-dimensional （3-D） feature vector of redundant images and their original images and cluster the feature vector through RFKCN, to realize image seg- mentation. The proposed algorithm fully takes into account not only gray distribution information of pixels, but also relevant information and fuzzy information among neighboring pixels in constructing 3- D character space. Based on the combination of competitiveness, redundancy and complementary of the information, the proposed algorithm improves the accuracy of clustering. Theoretical anal- yses and experimental results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm has a good segmentation performance.

Element-free Galerkin method for free vibration of rectangular plates with interior elastic point supports and elastically restrained edges

The element-free Galerkin method is proposed to solve free vibration of rectangular plates with finite interior elastic point supports and elastically restrained edges.Based on the extended Hamilton＇s principle for the elastic dynamics system,the dimensionless equations of motion of rectangular plates with finite interior elastic point supports and the edge elastically restrained are established using the element-free Galerkin method.Through numerical calculation,curves of the natural frequency of thin plates with three edges simply supported and one edge elastically restrained,and three edges clamped and the other edge elastically restrained versus the spring constant,locations of elastic point support and the elastic stiffness of edge elastically restrained are obtained.Effects of elastic point supports and edge elastically restrained on the free vibration characteristics of the thin plates are analyzed.

Machine Learning-Based Seismic Fragility Analysis of Large-Scale Steel Buckling Restrained Brace Frames

Steel frames equipped with buckling restrained braces(BRBs)have been increasingly applied in earthquake-prone areas given their excellent capacity for resisting lateral forces.Therefore,special attention has been paid to the seismic risk assessment(SRA)of such structures,e.g.,seismic fragility analysis.Conventional approaches,e.g.,nonlinear finite element simulation(NFES),are computationally inefficient for SRA analysis particularly for large-scale steel BRB frame structures.In this study,amachine learning(ML)-based seismic fragility analysis framework is established to effectively assess the risk to structures under seismic loading conditions.An optimal artificial neural network model can be trained using calculated damage and intensity measures,a technique which will be used to compute the fragility curves of a steel BRB frame instead of employing NFES.Numerical results show that a highly efficient instantaneous failure probability assessment can be made with the proposed framework for realistic large-scale building structures.

Attitudes towards child restrains and seat belts usage in the learned population of Karachi,Pakistan

BACKGROUND:Motor vehicles crashes(MVCs) are the leading cause of injury related morbidity and mortality in developed countries. Recent evidence proves that properly used child seat belts can dramatically reduce the risk of severe and life-threatening injury from MVCs. There are rarities of thought and inspiration regarding the use of child seat belts in our society and region,therefore we lack of data regarding factors and paucity of usage of child seat belts in motor vehicles. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and attitudes of child seat belt usage among the educated population in Karachi,Pakistan.METHODS:Altogether 304 employees were investigated. They were employees of Aga Khan University who were using their cars and having children younger than 10 years old. A cross sectional observational study was designed,and a 36-item questionnaire in English was used to collect data on participants' demographic details,designation,educational level,economic status,validity of driving license,number of children and cars,availability of adult seat belts and child seat belts along with their functionality,awareness,knowledge and attitude toward its use,and reason of not using these devices. SPSS version 20 for Windows was used to analyze the data and the Chi-square test was used.RESULTS:Totally 290 participants were recruited with a response rate of 72%(212). Of 212 participants,126(59%) were male. 154(72.6%) participants had valid driver licenses,and 154(72.6%) had adult seat belts in their vehicles. Only 32(15%) reported regular use of adult seat belts. Although 168(79.2%) participants had some knowledge about child restrains(CRs),only 65(22%) had CRs in their cars. Eighty-two(38.7%) participants got the knowledge about CRs and seat belts from media. Mothers were more concerned about the use of CRs than fathers. Only 14(6.6%) parents were found to use both adult and child seat belts all the time. Of the 157 parents who did not us use CRs,42 considered unnecessary,35 lacked relevant knowledge. But 15 parents used CR against their children's wills.CONCLUSIONS:The pattern of CR usage among the employees at Aga Khan University,Karachi is dictated by the unavailability of CR,followed by ignorance,inconvenience,and nonacceptance by their children. The important issue of CR has consistently been ignored over the years and it has never gained enough popularity in Pakistan.

Ductility demands on buckling-restrained braced frames under earthquake loading

Accurate estimates of ductility demands on buckling-restrained braced frames(BRBFs)are crucial to performance-based design of BRBFs.An analytical study on the seismic behavior of BRBFs has been conducted at the ATLSS Center,Lehigh University to prepare for an upcoming experimental program.The analysis program DRAIN-2DX was used to model a one-bay,four-story prototype BRBF including material and geometric nonlinearities.The buckling- restrained brace(BRB)model incorporates both isotropic and kinematic hardening.Nonlinear static pushover and time- history analyses were performed on the prototype BRBF.Performance objectives for the BRBs were defined and used to evaluate the time-history analysis results.Particular emphasis was placed on global ductility demands and ductility demands on the BRBs.These demands were compared with anticipated ductility capacities.The analysis results,along with results from similar previous studies,are used to evaluate the BRBF design provisions that have been recommended for codification in the United States.The results show that BRB maximum ductility demands can be as high as 20 to 25.These demands significantly exceed those anticipated by the BRBF recommended provisions.Results from the static pushover and time- history analyses are used to demonstrate why the ductility demands exceed those anticipated by the recommended provisions. The BRB qualification testing protocol contained in the BRBF recommended provisions is shown to be inadequate because it requires only a maximum ductility demand of at most 7.5.Modifications to the testing protocol are recommended.

Catenary action of restrained steel beam against progressive collapse of steel frameworks

The changing law of internal forces during the whole deformation development process was analyzed. The process was divided into five stages based on the internal force state of the beam and the assumptions of internal force relationship of five stages were proposed. Then, the formulas for determining the midspan deflection of the steel beam under distributed load, which was restrained both in rotational and axial directions, were obtained using restraint coefficient method and rigid-plastic mechanism, thereby the deformation development process was expressed accurately in a quantified way. Priority was given to the analysis of the process from bending to tension-bending, then the final state totally depends on tension to resist the external loads, that is the problem of catenary action of the restrained beam under distributed load. Additionally, finite element analysis was carried out with soitware ABAQUS6.7 on a restrained steel beam under distributed load with different axial and rotational restraint coefficients. The accuracy of the formulas presented was verified by the results of the behavior of the restrained beams. Finally, error analysis was conducted and some formulas were corrected according to the reasons of errors. The calculated results of corrected formulas match the FEM analysis results better, thus the accuracy of these formulas is improve .

Hydration Process and Crack Tendency of Concrete Based on Resistivity and Restrained Shrinkage Crack

Hydration process, crack potential and setting time of concrete grade C30, C40 and C50 were monitored by using a non-contact electrical resistivity apparatus, a novel plastic ring mould and penetration resistance methods, respectively. The results show the highest resistivity of C30 at the early stage until a point when C50 accelerated and overtook the others. It has been experimentally confirmed that the crossing point of C30 and C50 corresponds to the final setting time of C50. From resistivity derivative curve, four different stages were observed upon which the hydration process is classified; these are dissolution, induction, acceleration and deceleration periods. Consequently, restrained shrinkage crack and setting time results demonstrated that C50 set and cracked the earliest. The cracking time of all the samples occurred within a reasonable experimental period thus the novel plastic ring is a convenient method for predicting concrete＇s crack potential. The highest inflection time（t_i） obtained from resistivity curve and the final setting time（t_f） were used with crack time（t_c） in coming up with mathematical models for the prediction of concrete＇s cracking age for the range of concrete grade considered. Finally, an ANSYS numerical simulation supports the experimental findings in terms of the earliest crack age of C50 and the crack location.

Experimental Study of A Pile-Restrained Floating Breakwater Constructed of Pontoon and Plates

A pile-restrained pontoon-plate floating breakwater is proposed in this paper. The laboratory physical-model tests are conducted to investigate the wave-dissipation property and heave-motion response of a model. The influence of the model＇s geometric parameters including relative pontoon width, plate width, number of plates and pontoon draft on wavedissipation performance and heave-motion response are discussed, as well as the correlation between these two factors. The result indicates that wave-dissipation performance of the proposed structure is better than the pontoon structure： its transmission coefficient and heave-motion height are reduced by 0.2 and 0.3, respectively, in comparison with those of the pile-restrained pontoon model at a relative pontoon width of 0.2.

STUDY ON RESTRAINING THE RESIDUAL VIBRATION OF FLEXIBLE ARM BY PLANNING ACCELERATION

The method of planning acceleration is discussed to restrain the residual vibration of flexible arm. Based on the built mathematical model of the flexible arm, the equations of vibration with acceleration,vibration frequency,damping and time are obtained theoretically.According to the vibration frequency and damping, the suitable acceleration is executed experimentally to the flexible arm at the corresponding time. The result shows that this way can give rise to good effect to restrain the residual vibration.

Mechanical Analysis of Concrete Specimen under Restrained Condition

In order to quantify the development of the tensile stresses and obtain a reliable estimation of the cracking risk, the concrete was subjected to restrained conditions. The fully restrained condition was achieved by keeping the length constant of a concrete specimen. Comparing the free shrinkage with the restrained shrinkage, tensile creep could be discriminated from shrinkage. The testing method was introduced in details, and the mechanical behoviors under tensile lond were analyzed. Results show that conerete exhibits a pronounced viscoelasticity. Under restroined condition, the self-induced tensile stress increases with time. The lower the water to cement ratio, the larger the tensile stress at the same age. The tensile creep of hardening concrete is much larger than that of hardened concrete. The relationships among autogenous shrinkage unter free condition, elastic strain and creep under restrained condition are described, and the mathematical model for the calculation of elastic strain and creep is propased.

Numerical Simulation and Assessment of Self-induced Tensile Stresses in Steel Ring Restrained Concrete

For a better understanding of the strains and stresses,numerical simulation was conducted by using ANSYS under the assumption of absolute bond between the steel and concrete.The results show that the stresses and strains in such concrete and steel rings are uneven;the curves of strains and stresses change gradually around the interface.To ease numerical computation,the mechanical system was simplified under the assumptions of synchronous deformation and uniform strains and stresses.The results of the numerical simulation and simplified stress calculation can match almost perfectly.It means that the simplified mechanical model can be used in stress and visco-elastic behavior quantification.