Proposal of a probabilistic assessment of structural collapse concomitantly subject to earthquake and gas explosion

In recent decades, many public buildings, located in seismic-prone residential areas, had to grapple with abnormal loads against which the structures were unguarded. In this piece of research, an ordinary three dimensional reinforced concrete building is selected as case study. The building is located in an earthquake-prone region; however, it is designed according to seismic building codes. Yet, it is not shielded against abnormal loads, such as blasts. It is assumed that the building suffers a blast load, due to mechanical/thermal installation failure during or after intense seismic oscillations. These two critical incidents are regarded codependent and compatible. So the researchers developed scenarios and tried to assess different probabilities for each scenario and carried out an analysis to ensure if progressive collapse had set in or not. In the first step, two analysis models were used for each scenario; a non-linear dynamic time history analysis and a blast local dynamic analysis. In the second step, having the structural destructions of the first step in view, a pushdown analysis was carried out to determine the severity of progressive collapse and assess building robustness. Finally, the annual probability of structural collapse under simultaneous earthquake and blast loads was estimated and offered.

Synthesis of High Surface Area and Well Crystallized Mesoporous WC at Low Temperature with a Pore Structure Collapsed Replication Route

An approach named ＂pore structure collapsed replication route＂ has been developed to prepare mesoporous WC materials with a high surface area （105 m2/g） and crystallized framework at a temperature as low as 700 ℃. The XRD, TEM, EDS, and BET characterizations were conducted to analyze the effects of the synthesis parameters and the template types on the structure of mesoporous WC. The compaction on the templates is the key to form mesoporous structure of WC while the templates help to control the size of crystalline. At a content of 7 wt% for the precursor of WC, the mesoporous WC could be formed with well ordered structure.

Relationship between gravitational flap structures in the backlimb of anticlinal breakthrough Fault-Propagation Folds:case study of the Southern-Central Tunisian Atlas

The development of orogenic belts structures in the Southern-Central Tunisian Atlas is influenced by the evolution of tectonic activities during different phases,which are also closely linked to the formation of gravitational collapse structure.The typical example is that of the northern flank of the Jebel Orbata particularly the Ben Zannouch fold.It is an asymmetrical anticline interpreted by the model of“Fault Propagation Folds”.The development of the Ben Zannouch structures is resulted from landslides,scree falls and inverted layers plunging to the south.The direction of resulted gravitational structure is parallel to the main thrust direction of the Bou Omrane anticline.The thrust activity of Bou Omrane fault is associated to the important paleo-slope facing south and plastic lithology(incompetent marl layers)of outcropped series,facilitates the development of the Ben Zannouch Flap structure.The definition of gravitational collapse structures for the first time in Tunisia particularly in the northern flank of the Jebel Orbata is controlled by many principal structural conditions:fragmentation of the landslide surfaces,rheology and topography.Other regional factors can be distinguished in the Southern-Central Tunisian Atlas as the seismic activity of the pre-existing Gafsa fault reactivated during compressive phases and the weather conditions during the postglacial period.

Field investigation on severely damaged aseismic buildings in 2014 Ludian earthquake

The 2014 magnitude 6.5 Ludian earthquake caused a death toll of 617, many landslides and tens of thousands of collapsed buildings. A field investigation to evaluate the damage to buildings was carried out immediately after the occurrence of the earthquake. Severely damaged aseismic buildings, which were basically observed in the downtown of Longtoushan Town, were carefully examined one by one with the aim to improve design codes. This paper summarizes the damage observed to the investigated aseismic buildings in both the structural and local levels. A common failure mode was observed that most of the aseismic buildings, such as RC frame structures and confined masonry structures, were similarly destroyed by severe damage or complete collapse of the first story. The related strong ground motion, which was recorded at the nearby station, had a short duration of less than 20 s but a very large PGA up to 1.0 g. The RC frames based on the new design codes still failed to achieve the design target for ＂strong column, weak beam＂. Typical local failure details, which were related to the interaction between RC columns and infill walls and between constructional columns and masonry walls, are summarized with preliminary analyses.

Stability Analysis of Space Compcoite Structore and Its Ultimate Bearing Capacity

In this paper, using incremental equilibrium equation, the authors have studiedthe effeet of ultimate bearing capacity of every component on structuralstability, and discussed the stability analysis method for space compositestructures. With the help of the test results for the concrete filled ateel tubeskeleton of the long-spen RC arch bridse, it is proved that the proposed methodis accurate and reliable.

Superconductivity in Sm-doped CaFe2As2 single crystals

In this article,the Sm-doping single crystals Ca1-xSmxFe2As2（x = 0 0.2） were prepared by the Ca As flux method,and followed by a rapid quenching treatment after the high temperature growth.The samples were characterized by structural,resistive,and magnetic measurements.The successful Sm-substitution was revealed by the reduction of the lattice parameter c,due to the smaller ionic radius of Sm3＋than Ca2＋.Superconductivity was observed in all samples with onset Tc varying from 27 K to 44 K upon Sm-doping.The coexistence of a collapsed phase transition and the superconducting transition was found for the lower Sm-doping samples.Zero resistivity and substantial superconducting volume fraction only happen in higher Sm-doping crystals with the nominal x 〉 0.10.The doping dependences of the c-axis length and onset Tc were summarized.The high-Tc observed in these quenched crystals may be attributed to simultaneous tuning of electron carriers doping and strain effect caused by lattice reduction of Sm-substitution.

Significance of Lateral Pillar in Osteonecrosis of Femoral Head:A Finite Element Analysis

Background： The lateral pillar of the femoral head is an important site for disease development such as osteonecrosis of the femoral head. The femoral head consists of medial, central, and lateral pillars. This study aimed to determine the biomechanical effects of early osteonecrosis in pillars of the femoral head via a finite element （FE） analysis. Methods： A three-dimensional FE model of the intact hip joint was constructed from the image data of a healthy control. Further, a set of six early osteonecrosis models was developed based on the three-pillar classification. The von Mises stress and surface displacements were calculated for all models. Results： The peak values of von Mises stress in the cortical and cancellous bones of normal model were 6.41 MPa and 0.49 MPa, respectively. In models with necrotic lesions in the cortical and cancellous bones, the von Mises stress and displacement of lateral pillar showed significant variability： the stress of cortical bone decreased from 6.41 MPa to 1.51 MPa （76.0% reduction）, while cancellous bone showed an increase from 0.49 MPa to 1.28 MPa （159.0% increase）; surface displacements of cortical and cancellous bones increased from 52.4 μm and 52.1 μm to 67.9 μm （29.5%） and 61.9 μm （18.8%）, respectively. In addition, osteonecrosis affected not only pillars but also adjacent structures in terms of the von Mises stress and surface displacement levels. Conclusions： This study suggested that the early-stage necrosis in the femoral head could increase the risk of collapse, especially in lateral pillar. On the other hand, the cortical part of lateral pillar was found to be the main biomechanical support of femoral head.

Energy Absorption and Deformation Mechanism of Lotus-type Porous Coppers in Perpendicular Direction

As metallic foams used for energy absorption in the automotive and aerospace industries, recently invented lotus-type porous metals are viewed as potential energy absorbers. Yet, solid conclusion on their eligibility as energy absorbers is still in question, particularly when compression is in the direction perpendicular to the axial orientation of cylindrical pores. In this work, the energy absorption of lotus-type porous coppers in the perpendicular direction is investigated at strain rates from 0.001 s^（-1） to^2400 s^（-1）. The energy absorption capacity and the energy absorption efficiency are calculated to be4–16 k J/kg and 0.32–0.7, respectively, slightly inferior to metal foams and the same porous solid compressed in the parallel direction due to the shortened extent of the plateau stress region. The deformation mechanism is examined experimentally in conjunction with finite element modeling. Both suggest that gradual squeeze and collapse of pores are the mechanisms accommodating the energy absorption. The deformation is generally evenly distributed over pore ligaments and independent of strain rate.

Palinspastic reconstruction and geological evolution of Jurassic basins in Mongolia and neighboring China

The important event in Jurassic tectonics in Mongolia was the subduction and closure of the Mongolia-Okhotsk ocean;correspondingly,basin evolution can be divided into two main stages,related to the orogeny and collapse of the orogenic belt,respectively.The developing of Early-Middle Jurassic basins to the north of the ocean resulted from back-arc extension.The fossil sutures,from the China-SE Asia sub-continent to the south of the ocean,were rejuvenated by subduction-related orogeny;in addition,the Yanshanian intra-continental movement occurred.Three Early-Middle Jurassic molasse basins were developed by movement in Inner Mongolia,all of which stretched westwards (or northwards) into Mongolia;therefore,the molasse basins in eastern and southern Mongolia had the same geometric and kinematic features as the basins in the Inner Mongolia.Owing to the collapse of the MongoliaOkhotsk orogenic belt,a group of rift basins developed during the Late Jurassic.In eastern Mongolia,the NE orientated extensional basins were controlled by the neogenic NE-structure.The contemporary basins in southern Mongolia and the neighboring areas in China were constrained by remobilization (inherited activation) of the latitudinal or ENE-directional basement structures.Three stages can be recognized in the evolution of the Early-Middle Jurassic basins after reversal;the basins also experienced four episodes of reformation.