Landslide model tests with a miniature 2D principal stress sensor

Understanding the stress distribution derived from monitoring the principal stress(PS)in slopes is of great importance.In this study,a miniature sensor for quantifying the two-dimensional(2D)PS in landslide model tests is proposed.The fundamental principle and design of the sensor are demonstrated.The sensor comprises three earth pressure gages and one gyroscope,with the utilization of three-dimensional(3D)printing technology.The difficulties of installation location during model preparation and sensor rotation during testing can be effectively overcome using this sensor.Two different arrangements of the sensors are tested in verification tests.Additionally,the application of the sensor in an excavated-induced slope model is tested.The results demonstrate that the sensor exhibits commendable performance and achieves a desirable level of accuracy,with a principal stress angle error of±5°in the verification tests.The stress transformation of the slope model,generated by excavation,is demonstrated in the application test by monitoring the two miniature principal stress(MPS)sensors.The sensor has a significant potential for measuring primary stress in landslide model tests and other geotechnical model experiments.

Model tests and numerical analysis of emergency treatment of cohesionless soil landslide with quick-setting polyurethane

Shotcrete is one of the common solutions for shallow sliding.It works by forming a protective layer with high strength and cementing the loose soil particles on the slope surface to prevent shallow sliding.However,the solidification time of conventional cement paste is long when shotcrete is used to treat cohesionless soil landslide.The idea of reinforcing slope with polyurethane solidified soil(i.e.,mixture of polyurethane and sand)was proposed.Model tests and finite element analysis were carried out to study the effectiveness of the proposed new method on the emergency treatment of cohesionless soil landslide.Surcharge loading on the crest of the slope was applied step by step until landslide was triggered so as to test and compare the stability and bearing capacity of slope models with different conditions.The simulated slope displacements were relatively close to the measured results,and the simulated slope deformation characteristics were in good agreement with the observed phenomena,which verifies the accuracy of the numerical method.Under the condition of surcharge loading on the crest of the slope,the unreinforced slope slid when the surcharge loading exceeded 30 k Pa,which presented a failure mode of local instability and collapse at the shallow layer of slope top.The reinforced slope remained stable even when the surcharge loading reached 48 k Pa.The displacement of the reinforced slope was reduced by more than 95%.Overall,this study verifies the effectiveness of polyurethane in the emergency treatment of cohesionless soil landslide and should have broad application prospects in the field of geological disasters concerning the safety of people's live.

Design,Development and Testing of the JTech Bolt for Use in Static,Quasi-Static and Dynamic Domains

Designing a rock reinforcement element requires knowledge of:geomechanical behaviour,interaction of the reinforcement element with rock mass and the element’s mechanistic response in static and dynamic environments.Using this knowledge the JTech bolt was developed and subjected to a thorough program to test,gather data and validate the bolt performance in varying domains.By conducting FE(finite element)modeling,the simulation reviews the JTech bolt design evaluating the effects of threadbar geometric variation,threadbar and nut engagement results under high stress,coating friction response and effects of thread tolerance extremes on the failure mode.These results determine safety factors,tolerances and quality management criteria.Once manufactured,in-situ system testing,laboratory and underground short encapsulation testing,resin mixing testing,double shear testing and dynamic testing at varying velocity and mass,determine the system’s capacity and effectiveness in static,quasi-static and dynamic mining environments.In this paper,the process and results are described.

Seismic performance of double- skin steel- concrete composite box piers: Part Ⅰ——Bidirectional quasi-static testing

To study the seismic performance of double-skin steelconcrete composite box（ DSCB） piers, a total of 11 DSCB pier specimens were tested under bidirectional cyclic loading. The effects of the loading pattern, the steel plate thickness, the axial load ratio, the slenderness ratio and the aspect ratio were taken into consideration. The damage evolution process and failure modes of the tested specimens are presented in detail. Test results are also discussed in terms of the hysteretic curve, skeleton curve, ductility and energy dissipation capacity of DSCB pier specimens. It can be concluded that the hysteretic performance of DSCB piers in one direction is affected and weakened by the cyclic loading in the other direction. DSCB piers under bidirectional cyclic loading exhibit good performance in terms of load carrying capacity, ductility, and energy dissipation capacity. Overall, DSCB piers can meet the basic aseismic requirements. The research results can be taken as a reference for using DSCB piers as high piers in bridges in strong earthquakeprone areas.

Seismic performance evaluation of an infilled rocking wall frame structure through quasi-static cyclic testing

Earthquake investigations have illustrated that even code-compliant reinforced concrete frames may suffer from soft-story mechanism.This damage mode results in poor ductility and limited energy dissipation.Continuous components offer alternatives that may avoid such failures.A novel infilled rocking wall frame system is proposed that takes advantage of continuous component and rocking characteristics.Previous studies have investigated similar systems that combine a reinforced concrete frame and a wall with rocking behavior used.However,a large-scale experimental study of a reinforced concrete frame combined with a rocking wall has not been reported.In this study,a seismic performance evaluation of the newly proposed infilled rocking wall frame structure was conducted through quasi-static cyclic testing.Critical joints were designed and verified.Numerical models were established and calibrated to estimate frame shear forces.The results evaluation demonstrate that an infilled rocking wall frame can effectively avoid soft-story mechanisms.Capacity and initial stiffness are greatly improved and self-centering behavior is achieved with the help of the infilled rocking wall.Drift distribution becomes more uniform with height.Concrete cracks and damage occurs in desired areas.The infilled rocking wall frame offers a promising approach to achieving seismic resilience.

Sandwich structures with tapered tubes as core:A quasi-static investigation

In this article,the experimental and finite element analysis is utilized to investigate the quasi-static compression features of sandwich constructions built with tapered tubes.3D printing technology was utilized to create the hollow centers of the tapering tubes,with and without corrugations.The results demonstrate that the energy absorption(EA)and specific energy absorption(SEA)of the single corrugated tapered tube sandwich are 51.6% and 19.8% higher,respectively,than those of the conical tube sandwich.Furthermore,the results demonstrate that energy absorbers can benefit from corrugation in order to increase their efficiency.Additionally,the tapered corrugated tubes'resistance to oblique impacts was studied.Compared to a straight tube,the tapered tube is more resistant to oblique loads and has a lower initial peak crushing force(PCF),according to numerical simulations.After conducting a parametric study,it was discovered that the energy absorption performance of the sandwich construction is significantly affected by the amplitude,number of corrugations,and wall thickness.EA and SEA of DTS with corrugation number of 8 increased by 17.4%and 29.6%,respectively,while PCF decreased by 9.2% compared to DTS with corrugation number of 10.

Quasi-static and dynamic compressive behaviour of additively manufactured Menger fractal cube structures

This paper presents the first-ever investigation of Menger fractal cubes'quasi-static compression and impact behaviour.Menger cubes with different void ratios were 3D printed using polylactic acid(PLA)with dimensions of 40 mm×40 mm×40 mm.Three different orders of Menger cubes with different void ratios were considered,namely M1 with a void ratio of 0.26,M2 with a void ratio of 0.45,and M3with a void ratio of 0.60.Quasi-static Compression tests were conducted using a universal testing machine,while the drop hammer was used to observe the behaviour under impact loading.The fracture mechanism,energy efficiency and force-time histories were studied.With the structured nature of the void formation and predictability of the failure modes,the Menger geometry showed some promise compared to other alternatives,such as foams and honeycombs.With the increasing void ratio,the Menger geometries show force-displacement behaviour similar to hyper-elastic materials such as rubber and polymers.The third-order Menger cubes showed the highest energy absorption efficiency compared to the other two geometries in this study.The findings of the present work reveal the possibility of using additively manufactured Menger geometries as an energy-efficient system capable of reducing the transmitting force in applications such as crash barriers.

Experimental crushing behavior and energy absorption of angular gradient honeycomb structures under quasi-static and dynamic compression

The high variability of shock in terrorist attacks poses a threat to people's lives and properties,necessitating the development of more effective protective structures.This study focuses on the angle gradient and proposes four different configurations of concave hexagonal honeycomb structures.The structures'macroscopic deformation behavior,stress-strain relationship,and energy dissipation characteristics are evaluated through quasi-static compression and Hopkinson pressure bar impact experiments.The study reveals that,under varying strain rates,the structures deform starting from the weak layer and exhibit significant interlayer separation.Additionally,interlayer shear slip becomes more pronounced with increasing strain rate.In terms of quasi-static compression,symmetric gradient structures demonstrate superior energy absorption,particularly the symmetric negative gradient structure(SNG-SMS)with a specific energy absorption of 13.77 J/cm~3.For dynamic impact,unidirectional gradient structures exhibit exceptional energy absorption,particularly the unidirectional positive gradient honeycomb structure(UPG-SML)with outstanding mechanical properties.The angle gradient design plays a crucial role in determining the structure's stability and deformation mode during impact.Fewer interlayer separations result in a more pronounced negative Poisson's ratio effect and enhance the structure's energy absorption capacity.These findings provide a foundation for the rational design and selection of seismic protection structures in different strain rate impact environments.

Inflow and outflow permeability tests in a very soft clay under low stresses

In situ inflow and outflow permeability tests with the BAT probe at SarapuíII soft clay test site are presented.A description of the BAT permeability test is provided,discussing its advantages and shortcomings,especially in the case of very soft clays under low stresses.Pore pressures were monitored during probe installation and were found to be slightly lower than piezocone u2 pore pressures,consistent with the position of the filter.The role of filter tip saturation was investigated after the usual saturation procedure provided an unsatisfactory pore pressure response during probe installation.Results show that the vacuum saturation procedure provides adequate response during installation and increases the reliability of the coefficient of permeability determination in early measurements.Both inflow and outflow tests yielded similar results,indicating that careful execution of the test can lead to good test repeatability regardless of the loading condition.Various sequences of alternated inflow and outflow tests have yielded similar results,indicating that soil reconsolidation and filter clogging were negligible in the tests performed.Data are presented concerning the relationship between index parameters and the in situ coefficient of permeability for SarapuíII clay,which plot outside the range of existing databases.

Real-world utility of serological tests in patients with suspected scrub typhus in the Republic of Korea:A single-center,retrospective,observational study

Objective:Serological tests are widely used for scrub typhus diagnosis;however,their limitations are evident.This study aims to assess their practical value in clinical settings.Methods:We analyzed the data of adult patients with suspected scrub typhus who visited a tertiary care hospital in the Republic of Korea from September to December from 2019 to 2021.The included patients had an acute fever and at least one of the following ten secondary findings:myalgia,skin rash,eschar,headache,thrombocytopenia,increased liver enzyme levels,lymphadenopathy,hepatomegaly,splenomegaly,and pleural effusion.The diagnoses were grouped as scrub typhus or other diseases by two infectious disease physicians.Results:Among 136 patients who met the eligibility criteria,109 had scrub typhus and 27 had different diseases.Single and paired total antibodies using immunofluorescence assay(IFA),and total antibodies using immunochromatography-based rapid diagnostic testing(ICT)were measured in 98%,22%,and 75%of all patients,respectively.Confirmation using paired samples for scrub typhus was established at a median of 11[interquartile range(IQR)10-16]days following the first visit.Among the 82 admitted patients,the median admission time was 9(IQR 7-13)days.According to IFA,58(55%)patients with scrub typhus had total immunoglobulin titers≥1:320,while 23(85%)patients with other disease had titers<1:320.Positive ICT results were observed in 64(74%)patients with scrub typhus and 10(67%)patients with other diseases showed negative ICT results.Conclusions:Serological testing for scrub typhus is currently insufficient for decision-making in clinical practice.

A Practical Guide to Statistical Tests in the Biomedical Field: From Parametric to Nonparametric, Where and How?

Healthcare decisions are based on scientific evidence obtained from medical studies by gathering data and analyzing it to obtain the best results. When analyzing data, biostatistics is a powerful tool, but healthcare professionals lack knowledge in this field. This lack of knowledge can manifest itself in situations such as choosing the wrong statistical test for the right situation or applying a statistical test without checking its assumptions, leading to inaccurate results and misleading conclusions. With the help of this “narrative review”, the aim is to bring biostatistics closer to healthcare professionals by answering certain questions: how to describe the distribution of data? how to assess the normality of data? how to transform data? and how to choose between nonparametric and parametric tests? Through this work, our hope is that the reader will be able to choose the right test for the right situation, in order to obtain the most accurate results.

Research on aiming methods for small sample size shooting tests of two-dimensional trajectory correction fuse

The longitudinal dispersion of the projectile in shooting tests of two-dimensional trajectory corrections fused with fixed canards is extremely large that it sometimes exceeds the correction ability of the correction fuse actuator.The impact point easily deviates from the target,and thus the correction result cannot be readily evaluated.However,the cost of shooting tests is considerably high to conduct many tests for data collection.To address this issue,this study proposes an aiming method for shooting tests based on small sample size.The proposed method uses the Bootstrap method to expand the test data;repeatedly iterates and corrects the position of the simulated theoretical impact points through an improved compatibility test method;and dynamically adjusts the weight of the prior distribution of simulation results based on Kullback-Leibler divergence,which to some extent avoids the real data being"submerged"by the simulation data and achieves the fusion Bayesian estimation of the dispersion center.The experimental results show that when the simulation accuracy is sufficiently high,the proposed method yields a smaller mean-square deviation in estimating the dispersion center and higher shooting accuracy than those of the three comparison methods,which is more conducive to reflecting the effect of the control algorithm and facilitating test personnel to iterate their proposed structures and algorithms.;in addition,this study provides a knowledge base for further comprehensive studies in the future.

Resistance of full-scale beams against close-in explosions.Numerical modeling and field tests

This paper explores the performances of a finite element simulation including four concrete models applied to a full-scale reinforced concrete beam subjected to blast loading. Field test data has been used to compare model results for each case. The numerical modelling has been, carried out using the suitable code LS-DYNA. This code integrates blast load routine(CONWEP) for the explosive description and four different material models for the concrete including: Karagozian & Case Concrete, Winfrith, Continuous Surface Cap Model and Riedel-Hiermaier-Thoma models, with concrete meshing based on 10, 15, and 20 mm. Six full-scale beams were tested: four of them used for the initial calibration of the numerical model and two more tests at lower scaled distances. For calibration, field data obtained employing pressure and accelerometers transducers were compared with the results derived from the numerical simulation. Damage surfaces and the shape of rupture in the beams have been used as references for comparison. Influence of the meshing on accelerations has been put in evidence and for some models the shape and size of the damage in the beams produced maximum differences around 15%. In all cases, the variations between material and mesh models are shown and discussed.

Retrospective analysis of discordant results between histology and other clinical diagnostic tests on helicobacter pylori infection

BACKGROUND A reliable test is essential for diagnosing Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)infection,and crucial for managing H.pylori-related diseases.Serving as an excellent method for detecting H.pylori infection,histologic examination is a test that clinicians heavily rely on,especially when complemented with immunohistochemistry(IHC).Additionally,other diagnostic tests for H.pylori,such as the rapid urease test(CLO test)and stool antigen test(SA),are also highly sensitive and specific.Typically,the results of histology and other tests align with each other.However,on rare occasions,discrepancy between histopathology and other H.pylori diagnostic tests occurs.AIM To investigate the discordance between histology and other H.pylori tests,the underlying causes,and the impact on clinical management.METHODS Pathology reports of gastric biopsies were retrieved spanning August 2013 and July 2018.Reports were included in the study only if there were other H.pylori tests within seven days of the biopsy.These additional tests include CLO test,SA,and H.pylori culture.Concordance between histopathology and other tests was determined based on the consistency of results.In instances where histology results were negative while other tests were positive,the slides were retrieved for re-assessment,and the clinical chart was reviewed.RESULTS Of 1396 pathology reports were identified,each accompanied by one additional H.pylori test.The concordance rates in detecting H.pylori infection between biopsy and other tests did not exhibit significant differences based on the number of biopsy fragments.117 discrepant cases were identified.Only 20 cases(9 with CLO test and 11 with SA)had negative biopsy but positive results in other tests.Four cases initially stained with Warthin-Starry turned out to be positive for H.pylori with subsequent IHC staining.Among the remaining 16 true discrepant cases,10 patients were on proton pump inhibitors before the biopsy and/or other tests.Most patients underwent treatment,except for two who were untreated,and two patients who were lost to follow-up.CONCLUSION There are rare discrepant cases with negative biopsy but positive in SA or CLO test.Various factors may contribute to this inconsistency.Most patients in such cases had undergone treatment.

Optimal Design of High-Speed Partial Flow Pumps using Orthogonal Tests and Numerical Simulations

To investigate the influence of structural parameters on the performances and internal flow characteristics of partial flow pumps at a low specific speed of 10000 rpm,special attention was paid to the first and second stage impeller guide vanes.Moreover,the impeller blade outlet width,impeller inlet diameter,blade inclination angle,and number of blades were considered for orthogonal tests.Accordingly,nine groups of design solutions were formed,and then used as a basis for the execution of numerical simulations(CFD)aimed at obtaining the efficiency values and heads for each design solution group.The influence of impeller geometric parameters on the efficiency and head was explored,and the“weight”of each factor was obtained via a range analysis.Optimal structural parameters were finally chosen on the basis of the numerical simulation results,and the performances of the optimized model were verified accordingly(yet by means of CFD).Evidence is provided that the increase in the efficiency and head of the optimized model was 12.11%and 23.5 m,respectively,compared with those of the original model.

Dynamic response of mountain tunnel,bridge,and embankment along the Sichuan-Tibet transportation corridor to active fault based on model tests

The Sichuan-Tibet transportation corridor is prone to numerous active faults and frequent strong earthquakes.While extensive studies have individually explored the effect of active faults and strong earthquakes on different engineering structures,their combined effect remains unclear.This research employed multiple physical model tests to investigate the dynamic response of various engineering structures,including tunnels,bridges,and embankments,under the simultaneous influence of cumulative earthquakes and stick-slip misalignment of an active fault.The prototype selected for this study was the Kanding No.2 tunnel,which crosses the Yunongxi fault zone within the Sichuan-Tibet transportation corridor.The results demonstrated that the tunnel,bridge,and embankment exhibited amplification in response to the input seismic wave,with the amplification effect gradually decreasing as the input peak ground acceleration(PGA)increased.The PGAs of different engineering structures were weakened by the fault rupture zone.Nevertheless,the misalignment of the active fault may decrease the overall stiffness of the engineering structure,leading to more severe damage,with a small contribution from seismic vibration.Additionally,the seismic vibration effect might be enlarged with the height of the engineering structure,and the tunnel is supposed to have a smaller PGA and lower dynamic earth pressure compared to bridges and embankments in strong earthquake zones crossing active faults.The findings contribute valuable insights for evaluating the dynamic response of various engineering structures crossing an active fault and provide an experimental reference for secure engineering design in the challenging conditions of the Sichuan-Tibet transportation corridor.

Comparison of Type I Error Rates of Siegel-Tukey and Savage Tests among Non-Parametric Tests

This study aimed to examine the performance of the Siegel-Tukey and Savage tests on data sets with heterogeneous variances. The analysis, considering Normal, Platykurtic, and Skewed distributions and a standard deviation ratio of 1, was conducted for both small and large sample sizes. For small sample sizes, two main categories were established: equal and different sample sizes. Analyses were performed using Monte Carlo simulations with 20,000 repetitions for each scenario, and the simulations were evaluated using SAS software. For small sample sizes, the I. type error rate of the Siegel-Tukey test generally ranged from 0.045 to 0.055, while the I. type error rate of the Savage test was observed to range from 0.016 to 0.041. Similar trends were observed for Platykurtic and Skewed distributions. In scenarios with different sample sizes, the Savage test generally exhibited lower I. type error rates. For large sample sizes, two main categories were established: equal and different sample sizes. For large sample sizes, the I. type error rate of the Siegel-Tukey test ranged from 0.047 to 0.052, while the I. type error rate of the Savage test ranged from 0.043 to 0.051. In cases of equal sample sizes, both tests generally had lower error rates, with the Savage test providing more consistent results for large sample sizes. In conclusion, it was determined that the Savage test provides lower I. type error rates for small sample sizes and that both tests have similar error rates for large sample sizes. These findings suggest that the Savage test could be a more reliable option when analyzing variance differences.

Stress tensor determination by modified hydraulic tests on pre-existing fractures:Method and stress constraints

The hydraulic testing of pre-existing fractures(HTPF)is one of the most promising in situ stress measurement methods,particularly for three-dimensional stress tensor determination.However,the stress tensor determination based on the HTPF method requires at least six tests or a minimum of 14-15 tests(under different conditions)for reliable results.In this study,we modified the HTPF method by considering the shear stress on each pre-existing fracture,which increased the number of equations for the stress tensor determination and decreased the number of tests required.Different shear stresses were attributed to different fractures by random sampling;therefore,the stress tensors were obtained by searching for the optimal solution using the least squares criterion based on the Monte Carlo method.Thereafter,we constrained the stress tensor based on the tensile strength criterion,compressive strength criterion,and vertical stress constraints.The inverted stress tensors were presented and analyzed based on the tensorial nature of the stress using the Euclidean mean stress tensor.Two stress-measurement campaigns in Weifang(Shandong Province,China)and Mercantour road tunnel(France)were implemented to highlight the validity and efficiency of the modified HTPF(M-HTPF)method.The results showed that the M-HTPF method can be applied for stress tensor inversion using only three to four tests on pre-existing fractures,neglecting the stress gradient.The inversion results were confined to relatively small distribution dispersions and were significantly reliable and stable due to the shear stresses on the fractures and the stress constraints employed.The M-HTPF method is highly feasible and efficient for complete stress tensor determination in a single borehole.

Novel Method for Evaluating the Aging of Aviation Turbine Engine Oils via High-Temperature Bearing Deposit Tests

Aviation turbine engine oils require excellent thermal-oxidative stability because of their high-temperature environments.High-temperature bearing deposit testing is a mandatory method for measuring the thermal-oxidative performance of aviation lubricant oils,and the relevant apparatus was improved in the present study.Two different commercial aviation turbine engine oils were tested,one with standard performance(known as the SL oil)and the other with high thermal stability,and their thermal-oxidative stability characteristics were evaluated.After 100 h of high-temperature bearing testing,the SL oil was analyzed by using various analytical techniques to investigate its thermal-oxidative process in the bearing test,with its thermal-oxidative degradation mechanism also being discussed.The results indicate that the developed high-temperature bearing apparatus easily meets the test requirements of method 3410.1 in standard FED-STD-791D.The viscosity and total acid number(TAN)of the SL oil increased with the bearing test time,and various deposits were produced in the bearing test,with the micro-particles of the carbon deposits being sphere-like,rod-like,and sheet-like in appearance.The antioxidant additives in the oil were consumed very rapidly in the first 30 h of the bearing test,with N-phenyl-1-naphthylamine being consumed faster than dioctyldiphenylamine.Overall,the oil thermal-oxidative process involves very complex physical and chemical mechanisms.

Evaluation of the effects of EPS composite soil replacement on the dynamic performance of caisson structure using shaking table tests

The seismic performance of a caisson structure under two types of models with a saturated sandy foundation(CSS)and an expanded polystyrene(EPS)composite soil foundation(CES)are studied using shaking table tests.The macro phenomena of the two different foundation models are described and analyzed.The effects of the replacement of EPS composite soil on seismic-induced liquefaction of backfill and the dynamic performance of a caisson structure are evaluated in detail.The results show that the excess pore water pressure generation in the CES is significantly slower than that in the CSS during the shaking.The dynamic earth pressure acting on the caisson has a triangular shape.The response of horizontal acceleration,displacement,settlement,and rotation angle of the caisson in the CES is smaller than that in the CSS,which means the caisson in the CES has a better seismic performance.Furthermore,the out-of-phase phenomenon between dynamic earth thrust and inertial force in the CES is more obvious than that in the CSS,which is beneficial to reduce the lateral force and improve the stability of the caisson structure.