We report a novel double-shelled nanoboxes photocatalyst architecture with tailored interfaces that accelerate quantum efficiency for photocatalytic CO_(2) reduction reaction(CO_(2)RR)via Mo–S bridging bonds sites in...We report a novel double-shelled nanoboxes photocatalyst architecture with tailored interfaces that accelerate quantum efficiency for photocatalytic CO_(2) reduction reaction(CO_(2)RR)via Mo–S bridging bonds sites in S_(v)–In_(2)S_(3)@2H–MoTe_(2).The X-ray absorption near-edge structure shows that the formation of S_(v)–In_(2)S_(3)@2H–MoTe_(2) adjusts the coordination environment via interface engineering and forms Mo–S polarized sites at the interface.The interfacial dynamics and catalytic behavior are clearly revealed by ultrafast femtosecond transient absorption,time-resolved,and in situ diffuse reflectance–Infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy.A tunable electronic structure through steric interaction of Mo–S bridging bonds induces a 1.7-fold enhancement in S_(v)–In_(2)S_(3)@2H–MoTe_(2)(5)photogenerated carrier concentration relative to pristine S_(v)–In_(2)S_(3).Benefiting from lower carrier transport activation energy,an internal quantum efficiency of 94.01%at 380 nm was used for photocatalytic CO_(2)RR.This study proposes a new strategy to design photocatalyst through bridging sites to adjust the selectivity of photocatalytic CO_(2)RR.展开更多
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is an aggressive malignant neoplasm that requires liver transplantation(LT).Despite patients with HCC being prioritized by most organ allocation systems worldwide,they still hav...BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is an aggressive malignant neoplasm that requires liver transplantation(LT).Despite patients with HCC being prioritized by most organ allocation systems worldwide,they still have to wait for long periods.Locoregional therapies(LRTs)are employed as bridging therapies in patients with HCC awaiting LT.Although largely used in the past,transarterial embolization(TAE)has been replaced by transarterial chemoembolization(TACE).However,the superiority of TACE over TAE has not been consistently shown in the literature.AIM To compare the outcomes of TACE and TAE in patients with HCC awaiting LT.METHODS All consecutive patients with HCC awaiting LT between 2011 and 2020 at a single center were included.All patients underwent LRT with either TACE or TAE.Some patients also underwent percutaneous ethanol injection(PEI),concom-itantly or in different treatment sessions.The choice of LRT for each HCC nodule was determined by a multidisciplinary consensus.The primary outcome was waitlist dropout due to tumor progression,and the secondary outcome was the occurrence of adverse events.In the subset of patients who underwent LT,complete pathological response and post-transplant recurrence-free survival were also assessed.RESULTS Twelve(18.5%)patients in the TACE group(only TACE and TACE+PEI;n=65)and 3(7.9%)patients in the TAE group(only TAE and TAE+PEI;n=38)dropped out of the waitlist due to tumor progression(P log-rank test=0.29).Adverse events occurred in 8(12.3%)and 2(5.3%)patients in the TACE and TAE groups,respectively(P=0.316).Forty-eight(73.8%)of the 65 patients in the TACE group and 29(76.3%)of the 38 patients in the TAE group underwent LT(P=0.818).Among these patients,complete pathological response was detected in 7(14.6%)and 9(31%)patients in the TACE and TAE groups,respectively(P=0.145).Post-LT,HCC recurred in 9(18.8%)and 4(13.8%)patients in the TACE and TAE groups,respectively(P=0.756).Posttransplant recurrence-free survival was similar between the groups(P log-rank test=0.71).CONCLUSION Dropout rates and posttransplant recurrence-free survival of TAE were similar to those of TACE in patients with HCC.Our study reinforces the hypothesis that TACE is not superior to TAE as a bridging therapy to LT in patients with HCC.展开更多
Electrochemical water splitting represents one of the most promising technologies to produce green hydrogen,which can help to realize the goal of achieving carbon neutrality.While substantial efforts on a laboratory s...Electrochemical water splitting represents one of the most promising technologies to produce green hydrogen,which can help to realize the goal of achieving carbon neutrality.While substantial efforts on a laboratory scale have been made for understanding fundamental catalysis and developing high-performance electrocatalysts for the two half-reactions involved in water electrocatalysis,much less attention has been paid to doing relevant research on a larger scale.For example,few such researches have been done on an industrial scale.Herein,we review the very recent endeavors to bridge the gaps between fundamental research and industrial applications for water electrolysis.We begin by introducing the fundamentals of electrochemical water splitting and then present comparisons of testing protocol,figure of merit,catalyst of interest,and manufacturing cost for laboratory and industry-based water-electrolysis research.Special attention is paid to tracking the surface reconstruction process and identifying real catalytic species under different testing conditions,which highlight the significant distinctions of corresponding electrochemical reconstruction mechanisms.Advances in catalyst designs for industry-relevant water electrolysis are also summarized,which reveal the progress of moving the practical applications forward and accelerating synergies between material science and engineering.Perspectives and challenges of electrocatalyst design strategies are proposed finally to further bridge the gaps between lab-scale research and large-scale electrocatalysis applications.展开更多
We previously prepared nerve growth factor poly-lactide co-glycolid sustained-release microspheres to treat rat sciatic nerve injury using the small gap sleeve technique.Multiple growth factors play a synergistic role...We previously prepared nerve growth factor poly-lactide co-glycolid sustained-release microspheres to treat rat sciatic nerve injury using the small gap sleeve technique.Multiple growth factors play a synergistic role in promoting the repair of peripheral nerve injury;as a result,in this study,we added basic fibroblast growth factors to the microspheres to further promote nerve regeneration.First,in an in vitro biomimetic microenvironment,we developed and used a drug screening biomimetic microfluidic chip to screen the optimal combination of nerve growth factor/basic fibroblast growth factor to promote the regeneration of Schwann cells.We found that 22.56 ng/mL nerve growth factor combined with 4.29 ng/mL basic fibroblast growth factor exhibited optimal effects on the proliferation of primary rat Schwann cells.The successfully prepared nerve growth factor-basic fibroblast growth factor-poly-lactide-co-glycolid sustained-release microspheres were used to treat rat sciatic nerve transection injury using the small gap sleeve bridge technique.Compared with epithelium sutures and small gap sleeve bridging alone,the small gap sleeve bridging technique combined with drug-free sustained-release microspheres has a stronger effect on rat sciatic nerve transfection injury repair at the structural and functional level.展开更多
The electronic evolution of Mott insulators into exotic correlated phases remains puzzling,because of electron interaction and inhomogeneity.Introduction of individual imperfections in Mott insulators could help captu...The electronic evolution of Mott insulators into exotic correlated phases remains puzzling,because of electron interaction and inhomogeneity.Introduction of individual imperfections in Mott insulators could help capture the main mechanism and serve as a basis to understand the evolution.Here we utilize scanning tunneling microscopy to probe the atomic scale electronic structure of the spin-orbit-coupling assisted Mott insulator Sr_(3)Ir_(2)O_(7).It is found that the tunneling spectra exhibit a homogeneous Mott gap in defect-free regions,but near the oxygen vacancy in the rotated Ir O_(2)plane the local Mott gap size is significantly enhanced.We attribute the enhanced gap to the locally reduced hopping integral between the 5d electrons of neighboring Ir sites via the bridging planar oxygen p orbitals.Such bridging defects have a dramatic influence on local bandwidth,thus provide a new way to manipulate the strength of Mottness in a Mott insulator.展开更多
This article focuses on the investigation of the correlation between thermal bridging and various geometric configurations. The article employs QuickField software for conducting three-dimensional steady-state heat tr...This article focuses on the investigation of the correlation between thermal bridging and various geometric configurations. The article employs QuickField software for conducting three-dimensional steady-state heat transfer simulations to investigate the thermal behaviors of diverse geometric shapes. Significantly, this study involves the simulation of four distinct geometries including concrete circular, square, rectangular, and triangular column through an insulated concrete layer while all geometries maintain the consistent surface areas. The simulations yield findings indicating that circular thermal bridging has the best thermal performance, while rectangular thermal bridging displays comparatively the lowest thermal efficiency. Furthermore, the results indicate that alterations in the perimeter of thermal bridge interfaces, while maintaining a constant area, exert a more pronounced influence on the thermal performance of the geometries compared to proportional changes in area while preserving the perimeter. The study’s findings aid building designers and architects in creating more energy-efficient structural and architectural elements by incorporating thermally efficient geometries and forms. .展开更多
The deformation monitoring of long-span railway bridges is significant to ensure the safety of human life and property.The interferometric synthetic aperture radar(In SAR)technology has the advantage of high accuracy ...The deformation monitoring of long-span railway bridges is significant to ensure the safety of human life and property.The interferometric synthetic aperture radar(In SAR)technology has the advantage of high accuracy in bridge deformation monitoring.This study monitored the deformation of the Ganjiang Super Bridge based on the small baseline subsets(SBAS)In SAR technology and Sentinel-1A data.We analyzed the deformation results combined with bridge structure,temperature,and riverbed sediment scouring.The results are as follows:(1)The Ganjiang Super Bridge area is stable overall,with deformation rates ranging from-15.6 mm/yr to 10.7 mm/yr(2)The settlement of the Ganjiang Super Bridge deck gradually increases from the bridge tower toward the main span,which conforms to the typical deformation pattern of a cable-stayed bridge.(3)The sediment scouring from the riverbed cause the serious settlement on the bridge’s east side compared with that on the west side.(4)The bridge deformation negatively correlates with temperature,with a faster settlement at a higher temperature and a slow rebound trend at a lower temperature.The study findings can provide scientific data support for the health monitoring of long-span railway bridges.展开更多
The auto-parametric resonance of a continuous-beam bridge model subjected to a two-point periodic excitation is experimentally and numerically investigated in this study.An auto-parametric resonance experiment of the ...The auto-parametric resonance of a continuous-beam bridge model subjected to a two-point periodic excitation is experimentally and numerically investigated in this study.An auto-parametric resonance experiment of the test model is conducted to observe and measure the auto-parametric resonance of a continuous beam under a two-point excitation on columns.The parametric vibration equation is established for the test model using the finite-element method.The auto-parametric resonance stability of the structure is analyzed by using Newmark's method and the energy-growth exponent method.The effects of the phase difference of the two-point excitation on the stability boundaries of auto-parametric resonance are studied for the test model.Compared with the experiment,the numerical instability predictions of auto-parametric resonance are consistent with the test phenomena,and the numerical stability boundaries of auto-parametric resonance agree with the experimental ones.For a continuous beam bridge,when the ratio of multipoint excitation frequency(applied to the columns)to natural frequency of the continuous girder is approximately equal to 2,the continuous beam may undergo a strong auto-parametric resonance.Combined with the present experiment and analysis,a hypothesis of Volgograd Bridge's serpentine vibration is discussed.展开更多
A novel approach for analyzing coupled vibrations between vehicles and bridges is presented,taking into account spatiotemporal effects and mechanical phenomena resulting fromvehicle braking.Efficient modeling and solu...A novel approach for analyzing coupled vibrations between vehicles and bridges is presented,taking into account spatiotemporal effects and mechanical phenomena resulting fromvehicle braking.Efficient modeling and solution of bridge vibrations induced by vehicle deceleration are realized using this method.The method’s validity and reliability are substantiated through numerical examples.A simply supported beam bridge with a corrugated steel web is taken as an example and the effects of parameters such as the initial vehicle speed,braking acceleration,braking location,and road surface roughness on the mid-span displacement and impact factor of the bridge are analyzed.The results show that vehicle braking significantly amplifies mid-span displacement and impact factor responses in comparison to uniform vehicular motion across the bridge.Notably,the influence of wheelto-bridge friction forces is of particular significance and cannot be overlooked.When the vehicle initiates braking near the middle of the span,both the mid-span displacement and impact factor of the bridge exhibit substantial increases,further escalating with higher braking acceleration.Under favorable road surface conditions,the midspan displacement and the impact factor during vehicle braking may exceed the design values stipulated by codes.It is important to note that road surface roughness exerts a more pronounced effect on the impact factor of the bridge in comparison to the effects of vehicle braking.展开更多
From the standpoint of chemical structures,the organic backbones of energetic materials can be classified into aromatic rings,nonaromatic rings,and open chains.Although the category of aromatic energetic compounds exh...From the standpoint of chemical structures,the organic backbones of energetic materials can be classified into aromatic rings,nonaromatic rings,and open chains.Although the category of aromatic energetic compounds exhibits several advantages in the regulation of energetic properties,the nonaromatic heterocycles,assembling nitramino explosophores with simple alkyl bridges,still have prevailed in benchmark materials.The methylene bridge plays a pivotal role in the constructions of the classic nonaromatic heterocycle-based energetic compounds,e.g.,hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine(RDX)and octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine(HMX),whereas ethylene bridge is the core moiety of state-of-the-art explosive 2,4,6,8,10,12-hexanitro-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexaazaisowurtzitane(CL-20).In this context,it is of great interest to employ simple and practical bridges to assemble aromatic and nonaromatic nitrogen-rich heterocycles,thereby expanding the structural diversity of energetic materials,e.g.,bridged and fused nitrogen-rich poly-heterocycles.Furthermore,alkyl-bridged poly-heterocycles highlight the potential for the open chain type of energetic materials.In this review,the development of alkyl bridges in linking nitrogen-rich heterocycles is presented,and the perspective of the newly constructed energetic backbones is summarized for the future design of advanced energetic materials.展开更多
A shaking table test for a bridge foundation reinforced by anti-slide piles on a silty clay landslide model with an inclined interlayer was performed.The deformation characteristics of the bridge foundation piles and ...A shaking table test for a bridge foundation reinforced by anti-slide piles on a silty clay landslide model with an inclined interlayer was performed.The deformation characteristics of the bridge foundation piles and anti-slide piles were analyzed in different loading conditions.The dynamic response law of a silty clay landslide with an inclined interlayer was summarized.The spacing between the rear anti-slide piles and bridge foundation should be reasonably controlled according to the seismic fortification requirements,to avoid the two peaks in the forced deformation of the bridge foundation piles.The“blocking effect”of the bridge foundation piles reduced the deformation of the forward anti-slide piles.The stress-strain response of silty clay was intensified as the vibration wave field appeared on the slope.Since the vibration intensified,the thrust distribution of the landslide underwent a process of shifting from triangle to inverted trapezoid,the difference in the acceleration response between the bearing platform and silty clay landslide tended to decrease,and the spectrum amplitude near the natural vibration frequency increased.The rear anti-slide piles were able to slow down the shear deformation of the soil in front of the piles and avoid excessive acceleration response of the bridge foundation piles.展开更多
High-speed railway bridges are subjected to normative limitations concerning maximum permissible deck accelerations.For the design of these structures,the European norm EN 1991-2 introduces the high-speed load model(H...High-speed railway bridges are subjected to normative limitations concerning maximum permissible deck accelerations.For the design of these structures,the European norm EN 1991-2 introduces the high-speed load model(HSLM)—a set of point loads intended to include the effects of existing high-speed trains.Yet,the evolution of current trains and the recent development of new load models motivate a discussion regarding the limits of validity of the HSLM.For this study,a large number of randomly generated load models of articulated,conventional,and regular trains are tested and compared with the envelope of HSLM effects.For each type of train,two sets of 100,000 load models are considered:one abiding by the limits of the EN 1991-2 and another considering wider limits.This comparison is achieved using both a bridge-independent metric(train signatures)and dynamic analyses on a case study bridge(the Canelas bridge of the Portuguese Railway Network).For the latter,a methodology to decrease the computational cost of moving loads analysis is introduced.Results show that some theoretical load models constructed within the stipulated limits of the norm can lead to effects not covered by the HSLM.This is especially noted in conventional trains,where there is a relation with larger distances between centres of adjacent vehicle bogies.展开更多
Reinforcement corrosion is the main cause of performance deterioration of reinforced concrete(RC)structures.Limited research has been performed to investigate the life-cycle cost(LCC)of coastal bridge piers with nonun...Reinforcement corrosion is the main cause of performance deterioration of reinforced concrete(RC)structures.Limited research has been performed to investigate the life-cycle cost(LCC)of coastal bridge piers with nonuniform corrosion using different materials.In this study,a reliability-based design optimization(RBDO)procedure is improved for the design of coastal bridge piers using six groups of commonly used materials,i.e.,normal performance concrete(NPC)with black steel(BS)rebar,high strength steel(HSS)rebar,epoxy coated(EC)rebar,and stainless steel(SS)rebar(named NPC-BS,NPC-HSS,NPC-EC,and NPC-SS,respectively),NPC with BS with silane soakage on the pier surface(named NPC-Silane),and high-performance concrete(HPC)with BS rebar(named HPC-BS).First,the RBDO procedure is improved for the design optimization of coastal bridge piers,and a bridge is selected to illustrate the procedure.Then,reliability analysis of the pier designed with each group of materials is carried out to obtain the time-dependent reliability in terms of the ultimate and serviceability performances.Next,the repair time of the pier is predicted based on the time-dependent reliability indices.Finally,the time-dependent LCCs for the pier are obtained for the selection of the optimal design.展开更多
This paper investigates the impact of differential foundation settlement on the reliability of bridge superstructure based on loads and resistances statistical properties in Missouri State.Maximum deterministic differ...This paper investigates the impact of differential foundation settlement on the reliability of bridge superstructure based on loads and resistances statistical properties in Missouri State.Maximum deterministic differential settlement is often used in current AASHTO LRFD(load and resistance factored design)specification.However,the expected foundation settlement is quite different from the actual settlement due to the soil’s large variability.Therefore,it makes sense to consider settlement as a random variable.In this paper,a lognormal distribution with coefficient of variation of 0.25 of random settlement is considered in reliability analysis based on limited previous studies.Dead and live loads are modeled as random variables with normal and Gumbel Type I distributions,respectively.Considering the regional traffic condition on Missouri roadways,the live load effect on existing bridges based on weight-in-motion data is also investigated.The calibrated resistance statistical properties such as bias and COV(coefficient of variance)are used for reliability analysis.Total 14 existing bridges based on Strength I Limit State are analyzed.Since no differential settlement is considered in the past designed bridges in Missouri,small differential settlement can significantly reduce the reliability indices of the superstructure,depending upon the span length and rigidity of the girder.The analysis results also show that the reliability of existing steel-girder bridges is consistently higher than prestressed concrete and solid slab bridges;the shorter and stiffer the spans,the more significant the settlement’s effect on the reliability of bridge superstructures;As the span length ratio becomes less than 0.75,the girder and solid slab bridges’reliability drops significantly at small settlements.展开更多
For high-speed railways,the smoothness of the railway line significantly affects the operational speed of trains.When the train passes through the turnout on a long-span bridge,the wheel-rail impacts caused by the tur...For high-speed railways,the smoothness of the railway line significantly affects the operational speed of trains.When the train passes through the turnout on a long-span bridge,the wheel-rail impacts caused by the turnout structure irregularities,and the instability arising from the bridge's flexural deformation lead to a strong coupling effect in the vehicle-turnout-bridge system.This significantly affects both ride comfort and operational safety.For addressing this issue,the present study considered a long-span continuous rigid-frame bridge as an example and established a train-turnout-bridge coupled dynamic model of high-speed railway.Utilizing a selfdeveloped dynamic simulation program,the study analysed the dynamic response characteristics when the train passes through the turnouts on the bridge.It also investigated the influence of different span-to-depth ratios of the bridge on the vehicle dynamic response when the train passes through the main line and branch line of turnouts and then proposed a span-to-depth ratio limit value for a long-span continuous rigid-frame bridge.The research findings suggest that the changes in the span-to-depth ratio have a relatively minor impact on the train’s operational performance but significantly affect the dynamic characteristics of the bridge structure.Based on the findings and a comprehensive assessment of safety indicators,it is advisable to establish a span-to-depth ratio limit of 1/4500 for a long-span continuous rigid-frame bridge.展开更多
The deteriorated continuous rigid frame bridge is strengthened by external prestressing. Static loading tests wereconducted before and after the bridge rehabilitation to verify the effectiveness of the rehabilitation ...The deteriorated continuous rigid frame bridge is strengthened by external prestressing. Static loading tests wereconducted before and after the bridge rehabilitation to verify the effectiveness of the rehabilitation process. Thestiffness of the repaired bridge is improved, and the maximum deflection of the load test is reduced from 37.9 to27.6 mm. A bridge health monitoring system is installed after the bridge is reinforced. To achieve an easy assessmentof the bridge’s safety status by directly using transferred data, a real-time safety warning system is createdbased on a five-level safety standard. The threshold for each safety level will be determined by theoretical calculationsand the outcomes of static loading tests. The highest risk threshold will be set at the ultimate limit statevalue. The remaining levels, namely middle risk, low risk, and very low risk, will be determined usingreduction coefficients of 0.95, 0.9, and 0.8, respectively.展开更多
In order to study the residual stress distribution law of welded joints of arch ribs of large-span steel pipe concrete arch bridges,numerical simulation of temperature,stress and strain fields based on ABAQUS for weld...In order to study the residual stress distribution law of welded joints of arch ribs of large-span steel pipe concrete arch bridges,numerical simulation of temperature,stress and strain fields based on ABAQUS for welded joints of arch-ribbed steel tubes using 7-,8-and 9-layer welds is carried out and its accuracy is demonstrated.The steel pipe welding temperature changes,residual stress distribution,different processes residual stress changes in the law,the prediction of post-weld residual stress distribution and deformation are studied in this paper.The results show that the temperature field values and test results are more consistent with the accuracy of numerical simulation of welding,the welding process is mainly in the form of heat transfer;Residual high stresses are predominantly distributed in the Fusion zone(FZ)and Heat-affected zone(HAZ),with residual stress levels tending to decrease from the center of the weld along the axial path,the maximum stress appears in the FZ and HAZ junction;The number of welding layers has an effect on the residual stress distribution,the number of welding layers increases,the residual stress tends to decrease,while the FZ and HAZ high stress area range shrinks;Increasing the number of plies will increase the amount of residual distortion.展开更多
Segmentally assembled bridges are increasinglyfinding engineering applications in recent years due to their unique advantages,especially as urban viaducts.Vehicle loads are one of the most important variable loads acti...Segmentally assembled bridges are increasinglyfinding engineering applications in recent years due to their unique advantages,especially as urban viaducts.Vehicle loads are one of the most important variable loads acting on bridge structures.Accordingly,the influence of overloaded vehicles on existing assembled bridge structures is an urgent concern at present.This paper establishes thefinite element model of the segmentally assembled bridge based on ABAQUS software and analyzes the influence of vehicle overload on an assembled girder bridge struc-ture.First,afinite element model corresponding to the target bridge is established based on ABAQUS software,and the load is controlled to simulate vehicle movement in each area of the traveling zone at different times.Sec-ond,the key cross-sections of segmental girder bridges are monitored in real time based on the force character-istics of continuous girder bridges,and they are compared with the simulation results.Finally,a material damage ontology model is introduced,and the structural damage caused by different overloading rates is compared and analyzed.Results show that thefinite element modeling method is accurate by comparing with on-site measured data,and it is suitable for the numerical simulation of segmental girder bridges;Dynamic sensors installed at 1/4L,1/2L,and 3/4L of the segmental girder main beams could be used to identify the dynamic response of segmental girder bridges;The bottom plate of the segmental girder bridge is mostly damaged at the position where the length of the precast beam section changes and the midspan position.With the increase in load,damage in the direction of the bridge develops faster than that in the direction of the transverse bridge.Thefindings of this study can guide maintenance departments in the management and maintenance of bridges and vehicles.展开更多
The revitalization of the historic centre of Slany(Czech Republic)dealt by architects-experts in a historic town focused on their theoretical principles and verified practice.The bridge U Brodu is the first project of...The revitalization of the historic centre of Slany(Czech Republic)dealt by architects-experts in a historic town focused on their theoretical principles and verified practice.The bridge U Brodu is the first project of the revitalization.展开更多
The performance of bridge projects in Kenya is poor in terms of completion by schedule, cost, and quality (scope). Yet, there is less evidence of empirical research on what factors contribute to this outcome. This stu...The performance of bridge projects in Kenya is poor in terms of completion by schedule, cost, and quality (scope). Yet, there is less evidence of empirical research on what factors contribute to this outcome. This study aimed to bridge this gap by examining the effects of contractor-related factors on the performance of bridge construction projects in Kenya through a case study of the Bridge projects Implemented by the Kenya National Highway Agency (KeNHA). The theory of constraints (TOC) was adopted as its theoretical framework. Descriptive research was used, and the target population was 18 bridge construction projects, which were the units of analysis from 2012 to 2022. In each of these projects, 18 respondents, namely clients, consultants, contractors, engineers, environment and social guards, project managers, stakeholders, subcontractors, technical advisors, and inspectors, were included in a target population of 144 respondents. A census was conducted and a structured questionnaire was administered from which a response rate of 68% was achieved. The information was analyzed using descriptive, correlation, and multiple linear regression analysis. The contractor-related factors considered in the study were staff and management factors. The findings indicated that staff and management factors had a positive and significant outcome on performance of bridge construction projects. The study recommends continuous training and a safe learning environment for staff to improve their skills and performance in future projects. The study also recommends that a special category for bridge contractors be created in Kenya’s National Construction Authority rankings to ensure that only qualified contractors implement the Bridge projects.展开更多
基金the Natural Science Foundation of China(11922415,12274471)Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation(2022A1515011168,2019A1515011718,2019A1515011337)the Key Research and Development Program of Guangdong Province,China(2019B110209003).
文摘We report a novel double-shelled nanoboxes photocatalyst architecture with tailored interfaces that accelerate quantum efficiency for photocatalytic CO_(2) reduction reaction(CO_(2)RR)via Mo–S bridging bonds sites in S_(v)–In_(2)S_(3)@2H–MoTe_(2).The X-ray absorption near-edge structure shows that the formation of S_(v)–In_(2)S_(3)@2H–MoTe_(2) adjusts the coordination environment via interface engineering and forms Mo–S polarized sites at the interface.The interfacial dynamics and catalytic behavior are clearly revealed by ultrafast femtosecond transient absorption,time-resolved,and in situ diffuse reflectance–Infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy.A tunable electronic structure through steric interaction of Mo–S bridging bonds induces a 1.7-fold enhancement in S_(v)–In_(2)S_(3)@2H–MoTe_(2)(5)photogenerated carrier concentration relative to pristine S_(v)–In_(2)S_(3).Benefiting from lower carrier transport activation energy,an internal quantum efficiency of 94.01%at 380 nm was used for photocatalytic CO_(2)RR.This study proposes a new strategy to design photocatalyst through bridging sites to adjust the selectivity of photocatalytic CO_(2)RR.
基金Supported by Financiamento e IncentivoàPesquisa(FIPE/HCPA)of Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre,No.2020-0473.
文摘BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is an aggressive malignant neoplasm that requires liver transplantation(LT).Despite patients with HCC being prioritized by most organ allocation systems worldwide,they still have to wait for long periods.Locoregional therapies(LRTs)are employed as bridging therapies in patients with HCC awaiting LT.Although largely used in the past,transarterial embolization(TAE)has been replaced by transarterial chemoembolization(TACE).However,the superiority of TACE over TAE has not been consistently shown in the literature.AIM To compare the outcomes of TACE and TAE in patients with HCC awaiting LT.METHODS All consecutive patients with HCC awaiting LT between 2011 and 2020 at a single center were included.All patients underwent LRT with either TACE or TAE.Some patients also underwent percutaneous ethanol injection(PEI),concom-itantly or in different treatment sessions.The choice of LRT for each HCC nodule was determined by a multidisciplinary consensus.The primary outcome was waitlist dropout due to tumor progression,and the secondary outcome was the occurrence of adverse events.In the subset of patients who underwent LT,complete pathological response and post-transplant recurrence-free survival were also assessed.RESULTS Twelve(18.5%)patients in the TACE group(only TACE and TACE+PEI;n=65)and 3(7.9%)patients in the TAE group(only TAE and TAE+PEI;n=38)dropped out of the waitlist due to tumor progression(P log-rank test=0.29).Adverse events occurred in 8(12.3%)and 2(5.3%)patients in the TACE and TAE groups,respectively(P=0.316).Forty-eight(73.8%)of the 65 patients in the TACE group and 29(76.3%)of the 38 patients in the TAE group underwent LT(P=0.818).Among these patients,complete pathological response was detected in 7(14.6%)and 9(31%)patients in the TACE and TAE groups,respectively(P=0.145).Post-LT,HCC recurred in 9(18.8%)and 4(13.8%)patients in the TACE and TAE groups,respectively(P=0.756).Posttransplant recurrence-free survival was similar between the groups(P log-rank test=0.71).CONCLUSION Dropout rates and posttransplant recurrence-free survival of TAE were similar to those of TACE in patients with HCC.Our study reinforces the hypothesis that TACE is not superior to TAE as a bridging therapy to LT in patients with HCC.
基金supported by the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions(PAPD)supported by National R&D Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea(NRF),grant number 2021M3H4A1A01079300the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology Core Research Program funded by the Korea Research Council for Industrial Science and Technology,grant number KS2222-10.
文摘Electrochemical water splitting represents one of the most promising technologies to produce green hydrogen,which can help to realize the goal of achieving carbon neutrality.While substantial efforts on a laboratory scale have been made for understanding fundamental catalysis and developing high-performance electrocatalysts for the two half-reactions involved in water electrocatalysis,much less attention has been paid to doing relevant research on a larger scale.For example,few such researches have been done on an industrial scale.Herein,we review the very recent endeavors to bridge the gaps between fundamental research and industrial applications for water electrolysis.We begin by introducing the fundamentals of electrochemical water splitting and then present comparisons of testing protocol,figure of merit,catalyst of interest,and manufacturing cost for laboratory and industry-based water-electrolysis research.Special attention is paid to tracking the surface reconstruction process and identifying real catalytic species under different testing conditions,which highlight the significant distinctions of corresponding electrochemical reconstruction mechanisms.Advances in catalyst designs for industry-relevant water electrolysis are also summarized,which reveal the progress of moving the practical applications forward and accelerating synergies between material science and engineering.Perspectives and challenges of electrocatalyst design strategies are proposed finally to further bridge the gaps between lab-scale research and large-scale electrocatalysis applications.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China, No. 2016YFC1101603 (to DYZ)the National Natural Science Foundation of China, Nos. 31640045 (to YHW), 81901251 (to ML)the Natural Science Foundation of Beijing of China, No. 7204323 (to ML)
文摘We previously prepared nerve growth factor poly-lactide co-glycolid sustained-release microspheres to treat rat sciatic nerve injury using the small gap sleeve technique.Multiple growth factors play a synergistic role in promoting the repair of peripheral nerve injury;as a result,in this study,we added basic fibroblast growth factors to the microspheres to further promote nerve regeneration.First,in an in vitro biomimetic microenvironment,we developed and used a drug screening biomimetic microfluidic chip to screen the optimal combination of nerve growth factor/basic fibroblast growth factor to promote the regeneration of Schwann cells.We found that 22.56 ng/mL nerve growth factor combined with 4.29 ng/mL basic fibroblast growth factor exhibited optimal effects on the proliferation of primary rat Schwann cells.The successfully prepared nerve growth factor-basic fibroblast growth factor-poly-lactide-co-glycolid sustained-release microspheres were used to treat rat sciatic nerve transection injury using the small gap sleeve bridge technique.Compared with epithelium sutures and small gap sleeve bridging alone,the small gap sleeve bridging technique combined with drug-free sustained-release microspheres has a stronger effect on rat sciatic nerve transfection injury repair at the structural and functional level.
基金the National Key R&D Program of China(Grant No.2017YFA0302900)the Basic Science Center Project of National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.51788104)+4 种基金supported in part by the Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Future Chip(ICFC)Open Research Fund Program of the State Key Laboratory of Low-Dimensional Quantum Physicssupported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.12074424)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universitiesthe Research Funds of Renmin University of China。
文摘The electronic evolution of Mott insulators into exotic correlated phases remains puzzling,because of electron interaction and inhomogeneity.Introduction of individual imperfections in Mott insulators could help capture the main mechanism and serve as a basis to understand the evolution.Here we utilize scanning tunneling microscopy to probe the atomic scale electronic structure of the spin-orbit-coupling assisted Mott insulator Sr_(3)Ir_(2)O_(7).It is found that the tunneling spectra exhibit a homogeneous Mott gap in defect-free regions,but near the oxygen vacancy in the rotated Ir O_(2)plane the local Mott gap size is significantly enhanced.We attribute the enhanced gap to the locally reduced hopping integral between the 5d electrons of neighboring Ir sites via the bridging planar oxygen p orbitals.Such bridging defects have a dramatic influence on local bandwidth,thus provide a new way to manipulate the strength of Mottness in a Mott insulator.
文摘This article focuses on the investigation of the correlation between thermal bridging and various geometric configurations. The article employs QuickField software for conducting three-dimensional steady-state heat transfer simulations to investigate the thermal behaviors of diverse geometric shapes. Significantly, this study involves the simulation of four distinct geometries including concrete circular, square, rectangular, and triangular column through an insulated concrete layer while all geometries maintain the consistent surface areas. The simulations yield findings indicating that circular thermal bridging has the best thermal performance, while rectangular thermal bridging displays comparatively the lowest thermal efficiency. Furthermore, the results indicate that alterations in the perimeter of thermal bridge interfaces, while maintaining a constant area, exert a more pronounced influence on the thermal performance of the geometries compared to proportional changes in area while preserving the perimeter. The study’s findings aid building designers and architects in creating more energy-efficient structural and architectural elements by incorporating thermally efficient geometries and forms. .
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.42264004,42274033,and 41904012)the Open Fund of Hubei Luojia Laboratory(Grant Nos.2201000049 and 230100018)+2 种基金the Guangxi Universities’1,000 Young and Middle-aged Backbone Teachers Training Program,the Fundamental Research Funds for Central Universities(Grant No.2042022kf1197)the Natural Science Foundation of Hubei(Grant No.2020CFB282)the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(Grant Nos.2020T130482,2018M630879)。
文摘The deformation monitoring of long-span railway bridges is significant to ensure the safety of human life and property.The interferometric synthetic aperture radar(In SAR)technology has the advantage of high accuracy in bridge deformation monitoring.This study monitored the deformation of the Ganjiang Super Bridge based on the small baseline subsets(SBAS)In SAR technology and Sentinel-1A data.We analyzed the deformation results combined with bridge structure,temperature,and riverbed sediment scouring.The results are as follows:(1)The Ganjiang Super Bridge area is stable overall,with deformation rates ranging from-15.6 mm/yr to 10.7 mm/yr(2)The settlement of the Ganjiang Super Bridge deck gradually increases from the bridge tower toward the main span,which conforms to the typical deformation pattern of a cable-stayed bridge.(3)The sediment scouring from the riverbed cause the serious settlement on the bridge’s east side compared with that on the west side.(4)The bridge deformation negatively correlates with temperature,with a faster settlement at a higher temperature and a slow rebound trend at a lower temperature.The study findings can provide scientific data support for the health monitoring of long-span railway bridges.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant No.51879191。
文摘The auto-parametric resonance of a continuous-beam bridge model subjected to a two-point periodic excitation is experimentally and numerically investigated in this study.An auto-parametric resonance experiment of the test model is conducted to observe and measure the auto-parametric resonance of a continuous beam under a two-point excitation on columns.The parametric vibration equation is established for the test model using the finite-element method.The auto-parametric resonance stability of the structure is analyzed by using Newmark's method and the energy-growth exponent method.The effects of the phase difference of the two-point excitation on the stability boundaries of auto-parametric resonance are studied for the test model.Compared with the experiment,the numerical instability predictions of auto-parametric resonance are consistent with the test phenomena,and the numerical stability boundaries of auto-parametric resonance agree with the experimental ones.For a continuous beam bridge,when the ratio of multipoint excitation frequency(applied to the columns)to natural frequency of the continuous girder is approximately equal to 2,the continuous beam may undergo a strong auto-parametric resonance.Combined with the present experiment and analysis,a hypothesis of Volgograd Bridge's serpentine vibration is discussed.
基金supported by the Henan Provincial Science and Technology Research Project under Grant(152102310295).
文摘A novel approach for analyzing coupled vibrations between vehicles and bridges is presented,taking into account spatiotemporal effects and mechanical phenomena resulting fromvehicle braking.Efficient modeling and solution of bridge vibrations induced by vehicle deceleration are realized using this method.The method’s validity and reliability are substantiated through numerical examples.A simply supported beam bridge with a corrugated steel web is taken as an example and the effects of parameters such as the initial vehicle speed,braking acceleration,braking location,and road surface roughness on the mid-span displacement and impact factor of the bridge are analyzed.The results show that vehicle braking significantly amplifies mid-span displacement and impact factor responses in comparison to uniform vehicular motion across the bridge.Notably,the influence of wheelto-bridge friction forces is of particular significance and cannot be overlooked.When the vehicle initiates braking near the middle of the span,both the mid-span displacement and impact factor of the bridge exhibit substantial increases,further escalating with higher braking acceleration.Under favorable road surface conditions,the midspan displacement and the impact factor during vehicle braking may exceed the design values stipulated by codes.It is important to note that road surface roughness exerts a more pronounced effect on the impact factor of the bridge in comparison to the effects of vehicle braking.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.22075023,22205022,and 22235003)to provide fund for conducting experiments。
文摘From the standpoint of chemical structures,the organic backbones of energetic materials can be classified into aromatic rings,nonaromatic rings,and open chains.Although the category of aromatic energetic compounds exhibits several advantages in the regulation of energetic properties,the nonaromatic heterocycles,assembling nitramino explosophores with simple alkyl bridges,still have prevailed in benchmark materials.The methylene bridge plays a pivotal role in the constructions of the classic nonaromatic heterocycle-based energetic compounds,e.g.,hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine(RDX)and octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine(HMX),whereas ethylene bridge is the core moiety of state-of-the-art explosive 2,4,6,8,10,12-hexanitro-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexaazaisowurtzitane(CL-20).In this context,it is of great interest to employ simple and practical bridges to assemble aromatic and nonaromatic nitrogen-rich heterocycles,thereby expanding the structural diversity of energetic materials,e.g.,bridged and fused nitrogen-rich poly-heterocycles.Furthermore,alkyl-bridged poly-heterocycles highlight the potential for the open chain type of energetic materials.In this review,the development of alkyl bridges in linking nitrogen-rich heterocycles is presented,and the perspective of the newly constructed energetic backbones is summarized for the future design of advanced energetic materials.
基金Sichuan Science and Technology Program under Grant No.2023NSFSC0894Major Project of the Science and Technology Research and Development Program of the Ministry of Railways of China under Grant No.Z2012-061。
文摘A shaking table test for a bridge foundation reinforced by anti-slide piles on a silty clay landslide model with an inclined interlayer was performed.The deformation characteristics of the bridge foundation piles and anti-slide piles were analyzed in different loading conditions.The dynamic response law of a silty clay landslide with an inclined interlayer was summarized.The spacing between the rear anti-slide piles and bridge foundation should be reasonably controlled according to the seismic fortification requirements,to avoid the two peaks in the forced deformation of the bridge foundation piles.The“blocking effect”of the bridge foundation piles reduced the deformation of the forward anti-slide piles.The stress-strain response of silty clay was intensified as the vibration wave field appeared on the slope.Since the vibration intensified,the thrust distribution of the landslide underwent a process of shifting from triangle to inverted trapezoid,the difference in the acceleration response between the bearing platform and silty clay landslide tended to decrease,and the spectrum amplitude near the natural vibration frequency increased.The rear anti-slide piles were able to slow down the shear deformation of the soil in front of the piles and avoid excessive acceleration response of the bridge foundation piles.
基金This work was financially supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology(FCT)through the PhD scholarship PD/BD/143007/2018The authors would like also to acknowledge the financial support of the projects IN2TRACK2-Research into enhanced track and switch and crossing system 2 and IN2TRACK3-Research into optimised and future railway infrastructure funded by European funds through the H2020(SHIFT2RAIL Innovation Programme)and of the Base Funding-UIDB/04708/2020 of the CONSTRUCT-Instituto de I&D em Estruturas e Construções-funded by national funds through the FCT/MCTES(PIDDAC).
文摘High-speed railway bridges are subjected to normative limitations concerning maximum permissible deck accelerations.For the design of these structures,the European norm EN 1991-2 introduces the high-speed load model(HSLM)—a set of point loads intended to include the effects of existing high-speed trains.Yet,the evolution of current trains and the recent development of new load models motivate a discussion regarding the limits of validity of the HSLM.For this study,a large number of randomly generated load models of articulated,conventional,and regular trains are tested and compared with the envelope of HSLM effects.For each type of train,two sets of 100,000 load models are considered:one abiding by the limits of the EN 1991-2 and another considering wider limits.This comparison is achieved using both a bridge-independent metric(train signatures)and dynamic analyses on a case study bridge(the Canelas bridge of the Portuguese Railway Network).For the latter,a methodology to decrease the computational cost of moving loads analysis is introduced.Results show that some theoretical load models constructed within the stipulated limits of the norm can lead to effects not covered by the HSLM.This is especially noted in conventional trains,where there is a relation with larger distances between centres of adjacent vehicle bogies.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant Nos.51921006 and 51725801Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities under Grant No.FRFCU5710093320Heilongjiang Touyan Innovation Team Program。
文摘Reinforcement corrosion is the main cause of performance deterioration of reinforced concrete(RC)structures.Limited research has been performed to investigate the life-cycle cost(LCC)of coastal bridge piers with nonuniform corrosion using different materials.In this study,a reliability-based design optimization(RBDO)procedure is improved for the design of coastal bridge piers using six groups of commonly used materials,i.e.,normal performance concrete(NPC)with black steel(BS)rebar,high strength steel(HSS)rebar,epoxy coated(EC)rebar,and stainless steel(SS)rebar(named NPC-BS,NPC-HSS,NPC-EC,and NPC-SS,respectively),NPC with BS with silane soakage on the pier surface(named NPC-Silane),and high-performance concrete(HPC)with BS rebar(named HPC-BS).First,the RBDO procedure is improved for the design optimization of coastal bridge piers,and a bridge is selected to illustrate the procedure.Then,reliability analysis of the pier designed with each group of materials is carried out to obtain the time-dependent reliability in terms of the ultimate and serviceability performances.Next,the repair time of the pier is predicted based on the time-dependent reliability indices.Finally,the time-dependent LCCs for the pier are obtained for the selection of the optimal design.
文摘This paper investigates the impact of differential foundation settlement on the reliability of bridge superstructure based on loads and resistances statistical properties in Missouri State.Maximum deterministic differential settlement is often used in current AASHTO LRFD(load and resistance factored design)specification.However,the expected foundation settlement is quite different from the actual settlement due to the soil’s large variability.Therefore,it makes sense to consider settlement as a random variable.In this paper,a lognormal distribution with coefficient of variation of 0.25 of random settlement is considered in reliability analysis based on limited previous studies.Dead and live loads are modeled as random variables with normal and Gumbel Type I distributions,respectively.Considering the regional traffic condition on Missouri roadways,the live load effect on existing bridges based on weight-in-motion data is also investigated.The calibrated resistance statistical properties such as bias and COV(coefficient of variance)are used for reliability analysis.Total 14 existing bridges based on Strength I Limit State are analyzed.Since no differential settlement is considered in the past designed bridges in Missouri,small differential settlement can significantly reduce the reliability indices of the superstructure,depending upon the span length and rigidity of the girder.The analysis results also show that the reliability of existing steel-girder bridges is consistently higher than prestressed concrete and solid slab bridges;the shorter and stiffer the spans,the more significant the settlement’s effect on the reliability of bridge superstructures;As the span length ratio becomes less than 0.75,the girder and solid slab bridges’reliability drops significantly at small settlements.
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(2022YFB2602900)the 111 Project(B20040)the China Railway Science and Technology Research and Development Program Project(N2023T011-A(JB)).
文摘For high-speed railways,the smoothness of the railway line significantly affects the operational speed of trains.When the train passes through the turnout on a long-span bridge,the wheel-rail impacts caused by the turnout structure irregularities,and the instability arising from the bridge's flexural deformation lead to a strong coupling effect in the vehicle-turnout-bridge system.This significantly affects both ride comfort and operational safety.For addressing this issue,the present study considered a long-span continuous rigid-frame bridge as an example and established a train-turnout-bridge coupled dynamic model of high-speed railway.Utilizing a selfdeveloped dynamic simulation program,the study analysed the dynamic response characteristics when the train passes through the turnouts on the bridge.It also investigated the influence of different span-to-depth ratios of the bridge on the vehicle dynamic response when the train passes through the main line and branch line of turnouts and then proposed a span-to-depth ratio limit value for a long-span continuous rigid-frame bridge.The research findings suggest that the changes in the span-to-depth ratio have a relatively minor impact on the train’s operational performance but significantly affect the dynamic characteristics of the bridge structure.Based on the findings and a comprehensive assessment of safety indicators,it is advisable to establish a span-to-depth ratio limit of 1/4500 for a long-span continuous rigid-frame bridge.
文摘The deteriorated continuous rigid frame bridge is strengthened by external prestressing. Static loading tests wereconducted before and after the bridge rehabilitation to verify the effectiveness of the rehabilitation process. Thestiffness of the repaired bridge is improved, and the maximum deflection of the load test is reduced from 37.9 to27.6 mm. A bridge health monitoring system is installed after the bridge is reinforced. To achieve an easy assessmentof the bridge’s safety status by directly using transferred data, a real-time safety warning system is createdbased on a five-level safety standard. The threshold for each safety level will be determined by theoretical calculationsand the outcomes of static loading tests. The highest risk threshold will be set at the ultimate limit statevalue. The remaining levels, namely middle risk, low risk, and very low risk, will be determined usingreduction coefficients of 0.95, 0.9, and 0.8, respectively.
基金Sponsored by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.52268048)the Guangxi Key Technology Research and Development Program(Grant No.GUI-KEAB23026101)the Guangxi Science and Technology Major Special Project(Grant No.GUI-KEAA22068066).
文摘In order to study the residual stress distribution law of welded joints of arch ribs of large-span steel pipe concrete arch bridges,numerical simulation of temperature,stress and strain fields based on ABAQUS for welded joints of arch-ribbed steel tubes using 7-,8-and 9-layer welds is carried out and its accuracy is demonstrated.The steel pipe welding temperature changes,residual stress distribution,different processes residual stress changes in the law,the prediction of post-weld residual stress distribution and deformation are studied in this paper.The results show that the temperature field values and test results are more consistent with the accuracy of numerical simulation of welding,the welding process is mainly in the form of heat transfer;Residual high stresses are predominantly distributed in the Fusion zone(FZ)and Heat-affected zone(HAZ),with residual stress levels tending to decrease from the center of the weld along the axial path,the maximum stress appears in the FZ and HAZ junction;The number of welding layers has an effect on the residual stress distribution,the number of welding layers increases,the residual stress tends to decrease,while the FZ and HAZ high stress area range shrinks;Increasing the number of plies will increase the amount of residual distortion.
基金supported in part by the Key Research Projects of Higher Education Institutions in Henan Province(Grant No.24A560021)in part by the Henan Postdoctoral Foundation(Grant No.202102015).
文摘Segmentally assembled bridges are increasinglyfinding engineering applications in recent years due to their unique advantages,especially as urban viaducts.Vehicle loads are one of the most important variable loads acting on bridge structures.Accordingly,the influence of overloaded vehicles on existing assembled bridge structures is an urgent concern at present.This paper establishes thefinite element model of the segmentally assembled bridge based on ABAQUS software and analyzes the influence of vehicle overload on an assembled girder bridge struc-ture.First,afinite element model corresponding to the target bridge is established based on ABAQUS software,and the load is controlled to simulate vehicle movement in each area of the traveling zone at different times.Sec-ond,the key cross-sections of segmental girder bridges are monitored in real time based on the force character-istics of continuous girder bridges,and they are compared with the simulation results.Finally,a material damage ontology model is introduced,and the structural damage caused by different overloading rates is compared and analyzed.Results show that thefinite element modeling method is accurate by comparing with on-site measured data,and it is suitable for the numerical simulation of segmental girder bridges;Dynamic sensors installed at 1/4L,1/2L,and 3/4L of the segmental girder main beams could be used to identify the dynamic response of segmental girder bridges;The bottom plate of the segmental girder bridge is mostly damaged at the position where the length of the precast beam section changes and the midspan position.With the increase in load,damage in the direction of the bridge develops faster than that in the direction of the transverse bridge.Thefindings of this study can guide maintenance departments in the management and maintenance of bridges and vehicles.
文摘The revitalization of the historic centre of Slany(Czech Republic)dealt by architects-experts in a historic town focused on their theoretical principles and verified practice.The bridge U Brodu is the first project of the revitalization.
文摘The performance of bridge projects in Kenya is poor in terms of completion by schedule, cost, and quality (scope). Yet, there is less evidence of empirical research on what factors contribute to this outcome. This study aimed to bridge this gap by examining the effects of contractor-related factors on the performance of bridge construction projects in Kenya through a case study of the Bridge projects Implemented by the Kenya National Highway Agency (KeNHA). The theory of constraints (TOC) was adopted as its theoretical framework. Descriptive research was used, and the target population was 18 bridge construction projects, which were the units of analysis from 2012 to 2022. In each of these projects, 18 respondents, namely clients, consultants, contractors, engineers, environment and social guards, project managers, stakeholders, subcontractors, technical advisors, and inspectors, were included in a target population of 144 respondents. A census was conducted and a structured questionnaire was administered from which a response rate of 68% was achieved. The information was analyzed using descriptive, correlation, and multiple linear regression analysis. The contractor-related factors considered in the study were staff and management factors. The findings indicated that staff and management factors had a positive and significant outcome on performance of bridge construction projects. The study recommends continuous training and a safe learning environment for staff to improve their skills and performance in future projects. The study also recommends that a special category for bridge contractors be created in Kenya’s National Construction Authority rankings to ensure that only qualified contractors implement the Bridge projects.