Derivation of energy-based base shear force coefficient considering hysteretic behavior and P-delta effects

A modified energy-balance equation accounting for P-delta effects and hysteretic behavior of reinforced concrete members is derived. Reduced hysteretic properties of structural components due to combined stiffness and strength degradation and pinching effects, and hysteretic damping are taken into account in a simple manner by utilizing plastic energy and seismic input energy modification factors. Having a pre-selected yield mechanism, energy balance of structure in inelastic range is considered. P-delta effects are included in derived equation by adding the external work of gravity loads to the work of equivalent inertia forces and equating the total external work to the modified plastic energy. Earthquake energy input to multi degree of freedom（MDOF） system is approximated by using the modal energy-decomposition. Energybased base shear coefficients are verified by means of both pushover analysis and nonlinear time history（NLTH） analysis of several RC frames having different number of stories. NLTH analyses of frames are performed by using the time histories of ten scaled ground motions compatible with elastic design acceleration spectrum and fulfilling duration/amplitude related requirements of Turkish Seismic Design Code. The observed correlation between energy-based base shear force coefficients and the average base shear force coefficients of NLTH analyses provides a reasonable confidence in estimation of nonlinear base shear force capacity of frames by using the derived equation.

Influence of the gassing materials on the dielectric properties of air

Influence of the gassing materials, such as PA6, PMMA, and POM on the dielectric properties of air are investigated. In this work, the fundamental electron collision cross section data were carefully selected and validated. Then the species compositions of the air–organic vapor mixtures were calculated based on the Gibbs free energy minimization. Finally, the Townsend ionization coefficient, the Townsend electron attachment coefficient and the critical reduced electric field strength were derived from the calculated electron energy distribution function by solving the Boltzmann transport equation. The calculation results indicated that H;O with large attachment cross sections has a great impact on the critical reduced electric field strength of the air–organic vapor mixtures. On the other hand, the vaporization of gassing materials can help to increase the dielectric properties of air circuit breakers to some degree.

Extractive desulfurization of model fuels with a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic ionic liquid

A nitrogen-containing ionic liquid was synthesized using an aromatic nitrogen-containing heterocyclic and an amino acid,and applied to the extractive desulfurization process to remove benzothiophene,dibenzothiophene,and 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiphene from a model fuel oil.Chemical characterizations and simulation using Gaussian 09 software confirmed the rationality of an ionic liquid structure.Classification of non-covalent interactions between the ionic liquid and the three sulfur-containing contaminants was studied by reduced density gradient analysis.The viscosity of the ionic liquid was adjusted by addition of polyethylene glycol.Under extraction conditions of the volume of ionic liquid to oil as 1:1 and temperature as room temperature,the desulfurization selectivity of ionic liquid followed the order of 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiphene(15 min)<benzothiophene(15 min)≈dibenzothiophene(10 min).Addition of p-xylene and cyclohexene to the fuel oil had little effect.The extractant remained stable and effective after multiple regeneration cycles.