Three-dimensional pseudo-dynamic reliability analysis of seismic shield tunnel faces combined with sparse polynomial chaos expansion

To address the seismic face stability challenges encountered in urban and subsea tunnel construction,an efficient probabilistic analysis framework for shield tunnel faces under seismic conditions is proposed.Based on the upper-bound theory of limit analysis,an improved three-dimensional discrete deterministic mechanism,accounting for the heterogeneous nature of soil media,is formulated to evaluate seismic face stability.The metamodel of failure probabilistic assessments for seismic tunnel faces is constructed by integrating the sparse polynomial chaos expansion method(SPCE)with the modified pseudo-dynamic approach(MPD).The improved deterministic model is validated by comparing with published literature and numerical simulations results,and the SPCE-MPD metamodel is examined with the traditional MCS method.Based on the SPCE-MPD metamodels,the seismic effects on face failure probability and reliability index are presented and the global sensitivity analysis(GSA)is involved to reflect the influence order of seismic action parameters.Finally,the proposed approach is tested to be effective by a engineering case of the Chengdu outer ring tunnel.The results show that higher uncertainty of seismic response on face stability should be noticed in areas with intense earthquakes and variation of seismic wave velocity has the most profound influence on tunnel face stability.

Numerical Study on Hydraulic Characteristics and Discharge Capacity of Modified Piano Key Weir with Various Inlet/Outlet Width Ratio

A modified piano key weir with a rounded nose and a parapet wall (MPKW) can improve the discharge capacity significantly compared to a standard piano key weir. However, the optimum of the inlet/outlet width ratio (Wi/Wo) on the discharge efficiency of MPKW is still not investigated numerically. The present work utilized the numerical modeling to investigate and analyze the effects of the inlet/outlet key width ratios on the hydraulic characteristics and discharge capacity of the MPKW. To validate the numerical model with the experimental data, the results indicate that the average relative error is 2.96%, which confirms that the numerical model is fairly well to predictthe specifications of flow over on the MPKW. Numerical simulation results indicated that the discharge capacity of the MPKW can be improved up to 8.5% by optimizing the Wi/Wo ratio ranging from 1.53 to 1.67 even if the other parameters of the MPKW keep unchanged. A big Wi/Wo ratio generally leads to an increase in discharge capacity at low heads and a little effect on the discharge efficiency at high heads. The discharge efficiency of the inlet and outlet crests increases up to 9.6% for high heads, while discharge efficiency of the lateral crest decreases up to 23.5% compared with the reference model. The findings of the study revealed that the intrinsic influencing mechanism of the Wi/Wo ratio on the discharge performance of MPKWs.

A CAPACITY EXPANSION PROBLEM WITH BUDGET CONSTRAINT AND BOTTLENECK LIMITATION

This paper considers a capacity expansion problem with budget constraint. Suppose each edge in the network has two attributes: capacity and the degree of difficulty. The difficulty degree of a tree T is the maximum. degree of difficulty of all edges in the tree and the cost for coping with the difficulty in a tree is a nondecreasing function about the difficulty degree of the tree. The authors need to increase capacities of some edges so that there is a spanning tree whose capacity can be increased to the maximum extent, meanwhile the total cost for increasing capacity as well as overcoming the difficulty in the spanning tree does not exceed a given budget D*. Suppose the cost for increasing capacity on each edge is a linear function about the increment of capacity, they transform this problem into solving some hybrid parametric spanning tree problems([1]) and propose a strongly polynomial algorithm.

Zero-Thermal Expansion and Heat Capacity of Zirconium Pyrovanadate Doped with Zirconia and Vanadium (V) Oxide

The dominant phase ZrV2O7 material, doped with zirconia and vanadium (V) oxide, was synthesized by solid state reaction and sol-gel methods. X-ray power diffraction patterns show that it is cubic structure. Thermal mechanic analysis measurements exhibit a zero-thermal expansion of this material above 150 degreesC. Meanwhile, the heat capacity dependent on temperature, determined by differential scanning calorimetry, keeps in constant almost in the same temperature range. The relationship between unusual thermal expansion and abnormal heat capacity is discussed with Gruneisen parameter.

Exact Traveling Wave Solutions to Phi-4 Equation and Joseph-Egri (TRLW) Equation and Calogro-Degasperis (CD) Equation by Modified (G'/G2)-Expansion Method

In this study, we will introduce the modified (G'/G2)-expansion method to explore some of the exact traveling wave solutions of some nonlinear partial differential equations namely, Phi-4 equation, Joseph-Egri (TRLW) equation, and Calogro-Degasperis (CD) equation. As a result, we have obtained solutions for the equations expressed in terms of trigonometric, hyperbolic and rational functions. Moreover, some selected solutions are plotted using some specific values for the parameters.

Decision Making for Capacity Expansion of Water Supply Systems

This study developed a systematic decision-making process for water supply capacity expansion using the analytic hierarchy process. The decision-making criteria were categorized into environmental, economic, technical and socio-cultural aspects. Capacity expansion of three water resources (Kpong, Weija and Teshie plants) of Accra-Tema Metropolitan Area (Ghana) was studied as a test case. The research resulted in the environmental criterion with the highest priority weight (52.4%), followed by the economic (30.6%), technical (11.3%) and socio-cultural criteria (5.8%). The overall analysis ranked the Kpong plant with a score of 36.1% followed by the Weija and Teshie plants with scores 33.8% and 30.2%, respectively.

Experimental Investigation of the Cooling Capacity of Gaseous Carbon Dioxide in Free Jet Expansion for Use in Portable Air-Cooling Systems

This paper investigates the possibility of using the free expansion of gaseous CO2 in portable air-cooling systems. The cooling capacity of the gaseous CO2 free jet expansion was calculated using three different approaches and the results showed that the simplified calculations would give approximated cooling values with an 11.6% maximum error. The mass flow rate, upstream pressure and cooling capacity of the gaseous CO2 decreased with time. A maximum 48.5 watts of cooling was recorded at minute 4 and a minimum value of 10.4 watts at the end of the test. The drop in cooling capacity is due to the evaporation of the liquid CO2 inside the small cylinder which cools the two-phase CO2 mixture and causes a pressure drop (from 6 MPa to 2.97 MPa), which also affects the mass flow rate of gaseous CO2 exiting the orifice (from 0.56 g/s to 0.24 g/s). If this cooling technique is to be considered in portable compact-cooling systems, the mass, pressure and cooling capacity drop with time must be solved. One of the solutions could be to cover the cylinder with a heating coat to compensate for the heat absorbed by the evaporation of the liquid CO2.

Characterizing Property of States: Effect of Defects on the Coefficient of Thermal Expansion and the Specific Heat Capacity of ZrB₂

Thermal storage potential and thermal expansion are characteristic properties for extreme applications. ZrB2 is a candidate for advanced applications in aircraft and fusion reactors. This article presents density functional theory calculations of its states, microstructure and quasi-harmonic levels calculations of thermophysical properties. Band structure highlighted dynamical instability with metallic impurities in ZrB2 structure based on frequency modes. The observed projected density of states (PDOS) appropriate 4d orbital of Zr dominated at low frequency both in perfect crystal in the presence or absence of covalent impurities while B 2s and 2p orbitals dominate higher frequency states. Temperature dependency and anisotropy of coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) were evaluated with various impurities. Various thermodynamic properties like entropy and free energy were explored for degrees of freedom resulting from internal energy changes in the material. Computed results for heat capacity and CTE were compared to available numerical and experimental data.

Studies on Capacity Expansion of Fuel Plants for Nuclear Research Reactors

The demand for nuclear fuel for research reactors is rising worldwide. Thus, the production facilities of this kind of fuel need reliable guidance on how to augment their production in order to meet the increasing demand efficiently and safely. We proposed a specific procedure for increasing production capacity. That procedure was tested with data from a real plant, which produces plate-type fuel elements loaded with LEU U3Si2-Al fuel. The test was made by means of discrete event simulation, and the results indicated the proposed procedure is efficient in raising production capacity.

Minimum Cost of Capacity Expansion for Time-Limited Transportation Problem On-Demand

The minimum cost of capacity expansion for time-limited transportation problem on-demand (MCCETLTPD) is to find such a practicable capacity expansion transportation scheme satisfying the time-limited T along with all origins’ supply and all destinations’ demands as well as the expanding cost is minimum. Actually, MCCETLTPD is a balance transportation problem and a variant problem of minimum cost maximum flow problem. In this paper, by creating a mathematical model and constructing a network with lower and upper arc capacities, MCCETLTPD is transformed into searching feasible flow in the constructed network, and consequently, an algorithm MCCETLTPD-A is developed as MCCETLTPD’s solution method basing minimum cost maximum flow algorithm. Computational study validates that the MCCETLTPD-A algorithm is an efficient approach to solving the MCCETLTPD.

Lenzing Decides on Capacity Expansion Program

The Lenzing Group, world market leader in cellulose fibers, will continue to expand production capacity in 2010 by investing a scheduled EUR 120 million in its European and Asian sites.The projects will be realized over the next two years. The key elements are the

H-M Bearing Capacity of A Modified Suction Caisson Determined by Using Load-/Displacement-Controlled Methods

This paper presents a series of monotonically combined lateral loading tests to investigate the bearing capacity of the MSCs （modified suction caissons） in the saturated marine fine sand. The lateral loads were applied under load- and displacement-controlled methods at the loading eccentricity ratios of 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5. Results show that, in the displacement-controlled test, the deflection-softening behavior of load-deflection curves for MSCs was observed, and the softening degree of the load-deflection response increased with the increasing external skirt length or the decreasing loading eccentricity. It was also found that the rotation center of the MSC at failure determined by the load-controlled method is slightly lower than that by the displacement-controlled method. The calculated MSC capacity based on the rotation center position in serviceability limit state is relatively conservative, compared with the calculated capacity based on the rotation center position in the ultimate limit state. In the limit state, the passive earth pressures opposite the loading direction under load- and displacement-controlled methods decrease by 46% and 74% corresponding to peak values, respectively; however, the passive earth pressures in the loading direction at failure only decrease by approximately 3% and 7%, compared with their peak values.

Lateral Bearing Capacity of Modified Suction Caissons Determined by Using the Limit Equilibrium Method

The modified suction caisson(MSC) adds a short-skirted structure around the regular suction caissons to increase the lateral bearing capacity and limit the deflection. The MSC is suitable for acting as the offshore wind turbine foundation subjected to larger lateral loads compared with the imposed vertical loads. Determination of the lateral bearing capacity is a key issue for the MSC design. The formula estimating the lateral bearing capacity of the MSC was proposed in terms of the limit equilibrium method and was verified by the test results. Parametric studies on the lateral bearing capacity were also carried out. It was found that the lateral bearing capacity of the MSC increases with the increasing length and radius of the external skirt, and the lateral bearing capacity increases linearly with the increasing coefficient of subgrade reaction. The maximum lateral bearing capacity of the MSC is attained when the ratio of the radii of the internal compartment to the external skirt equals 0.82 and the ratio of the lengths of the external skirt to the internal compartment equals 0.48, provided that the steel usage of the MSC is kept constant.

Exact Traveling Wave Solutions for the System of Shallow Water Wave Equations and Modified Liouville Equation Using Extended Jacobian Elliptic Function Expansion Method

In this work, an extended Jacobian elliptic function expansion method is proposed for constructing the exact solutions of nonlinear evolution equations. The validity and reliability of the method are tested by its applications to the system of shallow water wave equations and modified Liouville equation which play an important role in mathematical physics.

Conventional vs.modified pseudo-dynamic seismic analyses in the shallow strip footing bearing capacity problem

The conventional pseudo-dynamic(CPD)and modified pseudo-dynamic(MPD)methods are invoked to obtain the seismic bearing capacity of strip foundations using the limit equilibrium method,with a two-wedge failure mechanism.A spectral version of the conventional pseudo-dynamic method(SPD)is also invoked by considering the ground motion amplification factor,to be a function of the non-dimensional frequencyλ/B and soil damping.Numeric analyses show that bearing capacity results obtained by the MPD and SPD methods are generally consistent.Both experience the same general reduction in bearing capacity with the increase ofλ/B,with successive ups and downs corresponding to soil′s natural frequencies.For 5<λ/B<10,SPD and MPD results fluctuated between falling above and below CPD results.Forλ/B<2.5,SPD and MPD results were consistent with attenuation of the shear wave,while for 10<λ/B,amplification was exhibited.Results obtained by the CPD method monotonically decrease,due to the fact that CPD fails to inherently consider site effects and damping,and instead and relies on a single factor to consider the ground motion amplification.

Determinantal Expressions and Recursive Relations for the Bessel Zeta Function and for a Sequence Originating from a Series Expansion of the Power of Modified Bessel Function of the First Kind

In the paper,by virtue of a general formula for any derivative of the ratio of two differentiable functions,with the aid of a recursive property of the Hessenberg determinants,the authors establish determinantal expressions and recursive relations for the Bessel zeta function and for a sequence originating from a series expansion of the power of modified Bessel function of the first kind.

DEGREE OF SUBSTITUTION OF THE IONIZED STARCHES AND THEIR ADHESIVE CAPACITY TO POLYESTER / COTTON FIBERS

Adhesive capacity of quaternary ammonium starch and starch phosphate to the polyester / cotton fibers was studied by means roving method for the purpose of improving the sizing performance and decreasing the cost. By introducing different amount of quaternary ammonium or phosphate groups onto starch molecules, the modified starch with a series of defferent degree of substitution was prepared. Therefore the regularity of adhesive capacity, extended property and size-absorbing ability with the change in degree of substitution (DS) was obtained through the researches. The experiments demonstrate that the DS of the two modified starches show a marked influence upon the properties mentioned above. The starch phosphate is superior to quaternary ammonium starch as warp size for polyester / cotton yarns from the viewpoint of adhesive capacity and cost, although both of them are better than natural one. To improve the adhesive capacity to polyester / cotton fibers, DS≥0.027 is necessary for quaternary ammonium

Comment on “Application of the (G'/G)-Expansion Method for Nonlinear Evolution Equations”[Phys.Lett.A 372 (2008) 3400]

In this paper,some travelling wave solutions involving parameters of the Modified Zakharov-Kuznetsovequation [Phys.Lett.A 372 (2008) 3400] are investigated.We will show that these solutions are not new travellingwave solutions.

Capacity and outage probability analysis of downlink MRT-SC in distributed antenna system

This paper investigates the downlink capacity distribution and the outage probability of the interested area of maximum ratio transmission-selection combining(MRT-SC) scheme in the distributed antenna system(DAS).Composite fading channels are assumed,which include path loss,lognormal shadowing and multi-path Rayleigh fading.Analytical approximations of the capacity's cumulative distribution function(CDF),the outage capacity,the mean capacity,and the outage probability of the interested area are derived by means of moment generation function(MGF) and Gauss-Hermite series expansion based approaches.The influence of antenna number,path loss exponent,and shadowing standard deviation on the capacity distribution are investigated.The simulation results agree with the analytical approximations well,and thus the analytical approximations are able to substitute the time-intensive Monte Carlo simulation for further investigation.

Large-Capacity and High-Speed Instruction Cache Based on Divide-by-2 Memory Banks

An increase in the cache capacity is usually accompanied by a decrease in access speed.To balance the capacity and performance of caches,this paper proposes an instruction cache(ICache)architecture based on divide-by-2 memory banks(D2MB-ICache).The control circuit and memory banks of D2MB-ICache work at the central processing unit(CPU)frequency and the divide-by-2 CPU frequency,respectively,so that the capacity of D2MB-ICache can be expanded without lowering its frequency.For sequential access,D2MB-ICache can output the required instruction from memory banks per CPU cycle by dividing the memory banks with a partition mechanism and employing an inversed clock technique.For non-sequential access,D2MB-ICache will fetch certain jump instructions one or two more times,so that it can catch the jump of the request address in time and send the correct instruction to the pipeline.Experimental results show that,compared with conventional ICache,D2MB-ICaches with the same and double capacities show a maximum frequency increase by an average of 14.6%and 6.8%,and a performance improvement by an average of 10.3%and 3.8%,respectively.Moreover,energy efficiency of 64-kB D2MB-ICache is improved by 24.3%.