Seismic performance analysis and design suggestion for frame buildings with cast-in-place staircases

Many staircases in reinforced concrete （RC） frame structures suffered severe damage during the Wenchuan earthquake. Elastic analyses for 18 RC structure models with and without staircases are conducted and compared to study the influence of the staircase on the stiffness, displacements and internal forces of the structures. To capture the yielding development and damage mechanism of frame structures, elasto-plastic analysis is carried out for one of the 18 models. Based on the features observed in the analyses, a new type of staircase design i.e., isolating them from the master structure to eliminate the effect of K-type struts, is proposed and discussed. It is concluded that the proposed method of staircase isolation is effective and feasible for engineering design, and does not significantly increase the construction cost.

Effects of temperature on fracture behavior of Al-based in-situ composites reinforced with Mg_2Si and Si particles fabricated by centrifugal casting

An aluminum-based in-situ composites reinforced with Mg2Si and Si particles were produced by centrifugal casting A1-20Si-5Mg alloy. The microstructure of the composites was examined, and the effects of temperature on fracture behavior of the composite were investigated. The results show that the average fraction of primary Si and Mg2Si particles in the composites is as high as 38%, and ultimate tensile strengths （UTS） of the composites first increase then decrease with the increase of test temperature. Microstructures of broken specimens show that both the particle fracture and the interface debonding affect the fracture behavior of the composites, and the interface debonding becomes the dominant fracture mechanism with increasing test temperature. Comparative results indicate that rich particles in the composites and excellent interface strength play great roles in enhancing tensile property by preventing the movement of dislocations.

In-situ observation of porosity formation during directional solidification of Al-Si casting alloys

In-situ observation of porosity formation during directional solidification of two Al-Si alloys (7%Si and 13%Si) was made by using of micro-focus X-ray imaging.In both alloys,small spherical pores initially form in the melt far away from the eutectic solid-liquid (S/L) interface and then grow and coagulate during solidification.Some pores can float and escape from the solidifying melt front at a relatively high velocity.At the end of solidification,the remaining pores maintain spherical morphology in the near eutectic alloy but become irregular in the hypoeutectic alloy.This is attributed to different solidification modes and aluminum dendrite interactions between the two alloys.The mechanism of the porosity formation is briefly discussed in this paper.

Heat transfer behavior of AZ80-1%Y alloy during low-frequency electromagnetic casting

Heat transfer behaviors of AZ80?1%Y alloy during low frequency electromagnetic casting (LFEC) and direct chilling casting were studied by in-situ temperature measurement. The results demonstrated that the low frequency electromagnetic field (EM) caused forced convection in the melt during LFEC. The forced convection led to uniform solidification velocity and temperature field. EM frequency, excitation current intensity and casting temperature could control the heat transfer behavior. The forced convection could improve the microstructure and degrade the difference in microstructure between the edge and center of billet. Appropriate parameters of low frequency EM for casting Mg alloy are 20 Hz of frequency and 60 A of electric current intensity.

In-situ SEM observation on fracture behavior of austempered silicon alloyed steel

Crack initiation, propagation and microfracture processes of austempered high silicon cast steel have been investigated by using an in-situ tensile stage installed inside a scanning electron microscope chamber. It is revealed that micro cracks always nucleate at the yielding near imperfections and the boundary of matrix-inclusions due to the stress concentration. There are four types of crack propagations in the matrix: crack propagates along the boundary of two clusters of bainitic ferrite; crack propagates along the boundary of ferrite-austenite in bainitic ferrite laths; crack propagates into bainitic ferrite laths; crack nucleates and propagates in the high carbon brittle plate shape martensite which is transformed from some blocky retained austenite due to plastic deformation. Based on the observation and analysis of microfracture processes, a schematic diagram of the crack nucleation and propagation process of high silicon cast steel is proposed.

Study on in-situ WC particles/tungsten wire reinforced iron matrix composites under electromagnetic field

By applying electromagnetic field to a system consisting of tungsten wires and grey cast iron melt,the grey cast iron matrix composite reinforced by either in-situ WC particles or the combination ofin-situ WC particles and the residual tungsten wire was obtained.By means of differential thermal analysis(DTA),the pouring temperature ofiron melt was determined at 1,573 K.The microstructures of the composites were analyzed by using of X-ray diffraction(XRD),scanning electron microscopy(SEM) equipped with an energy dispersive spectrum(EDS) and pin-on-disc abrasive wear test.The obtained results indicated that,with the enhancing frequency of electromagnetic field,the amount ofin-situ WC particles gradually increases,leading to continuous decrease of the residual tungsten wires.When the electromagnetic field frequency was up to 4 kHz,tungsten wires reacted completely with carbon atoms in grey cast iron melt,forming WC particals.The electromagnetic field appeared to accelerate the elemental diffusion in the melt,to help relatively quick formation of a series of small FeW-C ternary zones and to improve the kinetic condition ofin-situ WC fabrication.As compared with the composite prepared without the electromagnetic field,the composite fabricated at 4 kHz presented good wear resistance.

High temperature mechanical properties of low carbon silicon-bearing steel by twin-roll strip casting

The tensile equipment of the advanced confocal scanning laser microscope （CSLM） was used to research the high temperature mechanical properties of low carbon silicon-bearing steel by twin-roll strip casting. The results show that, at the strain rate of 0. 000 5 s ^-1, the strip clearly shows signs of brittleness at around 600 ℃ and its plasticity falls considerably between 750 ℃ and 600 ℃. This is because during the transformation from austenite to ferrite, the low strength ferrite at the austenite grain boundaries greatly reduces the steel＇ s high temperature plasticity. The subsequent strip coiling process should be controlled at less than the brittle temperature of approximately 600 ℃, so cracks at the coiling stage can be prevented.

现浇楼梯对框架结构的抗震影响分析与设计建议

通过对计入和不计入楼梯的18个框架结构模型的分析对比,研究地震作用下楼梯对于框架结构整体性能和受力性能的影响。对于在整体结构中起着斜撑作用的楼梯的受力情况进行分析,并进行有限元分析。对于计入楼梯的框架结构模型采用弹塑性时程分析,了解结构屈服机制。通过计算分析比较,提出一种将楼梯与整体结构脱离的设计建议。

钢筋混凝土框架结构楼梯震害分析与设计建议

针对地震中遭受严重破坏,失去应急疏散安全通道作用,不能满足预期抗震设防要求的楼梯间,进行典型钢筋混凝土框架结构考虑和不考虑楼梯作用两种情况下,多遇地震作用的计算分析对比,考察楼梯对结构受力影响,并通过静力弹塑性分析探讨楼梯对框架结构屈服破坏机制的影响,分析钢筋混凝土框架结构现浇楼梯和预制楼梯破坏原因,并结合计算分析结果及楼梯设计方法,提出楼梯的改进设计建议。

The mystery of molten metal

Recent advances in scientific understanding of high-temperature materials processing using novel experimental methodologies have shed light on the complex role of surface and interface phenomena. New in-situ studies on molten metal/solid ceramic interactions using a unique experimental complex at the Foundry Research Institute, Krakow, have revealed a number of unusual observations in materials processing at high temperatures. We present some such unusual observations and their explanation with reference to liquid metal processing of Al, Ni, and Ti, and their alloys in contact with oxide ceramics. In particular, we focus on the following aspects: primary oxidation of Al from residual water vapor or oxygen, capillary purification to remove surface oxide, substrate protection by CVD carbon, roughening due to spinel whisker formation, inclusions in castings due to mechanical detachment, floatation due to buoyancy forces, and segregation due to directional solidifciation, modification of the solid surface morphology by metal vapor ahead of the liquid, and the complication due to multi-component alloys melted in crucibles made from complex oxide-based ceramics. In the case of Ti, rapid reactions with oxides result in undesirable volumetric changes that create difficulty in casting high-quality Ti parts, particularly by investment casting. Nanoscale (e.g., colloidal) coatings based on Y2O3 protect crucibles and hold ladles against such attack. Practical insights and recommendations for materials processing emerging from the fundamental studies on high-temperature interfacial phenomena have been described.

In-situ Observation of Tensile Fracture in A357 Casting Alloys

The mechanism of damage evolution and fracture in A357 casting alloys was investigated by in-situ scanning electron microscopy （SEM） tensile testing. Different microstructures of A357 casting alloys were produced by eutectic Si modification and T6 heat treatment. It is shown that microcracks in these alloys are predominantly formed in eutectic Si particles. Large and elongated eutectic Si particles in unmodified alloy show the greater tendency to cracking, whereas cracking of small and round eutectic Si particles in Sr modified and T6 heat treated alloys is relatively lag. The crack mainly propagates along the broken eutectic Si particles in unmodified and Sr modified alloys or along the deepened shear bands in T6 heat treated alloy with accumulating the applied strain. The results were discussed in terms of Weibull statistics and the fracture models were established.

现浇整体式混凝土楼梯施工

现浇整体式混凝土楼梯施工技术的主要技术核心在于能根据踏步尺寸和楼梯板厚度从而锯出和其厚度相同的凹槽,从而对楼梯的两侧起到很好的紧固作用,将踏步面层外楼梯形成良好的封闭状态。针对现浇整体式混凝土楼梯施工技术进行分析,提出了具体的应用对策,从而解决楼梯工程施工过程中存在的质量问题,提升美观度,为类似工程提供借鉴。

框架结构中现浇板式楼梯震害分析及设计建议

从钢筋混凝土框架结构中现浇板式楼梯的震害现象入手,探讨在地震作用下现浇板式楼梯发生破坏的原因,提出一些防御和减轻楼梯震害的经验、思路及改进措施。