Nonlinear Analysis of Structures by Total Potential Optimization Using Metaheuristic Algorithms (TPO/MA)

Structural analysis problems can be formulized as either root finding problems,or optimization problems.The general practice is to choose the first option directly or to convert the second option again to a root finding problem by taking relevant derivatives and equating them to zero.The second alternative is used very randomly as it is and only for some simple demonstrative problems,most probably due to difficulty in solving optimization problems by classical methods.The method called TPO/MA(Total Potential Optimization using Metaheuristic Algorithms)described in this study successfully enables to handle structural problems with optimization formulation.Using metaheuristic algorithms provides additional advantages in dealing with all kinds of constraints.

Analysis on Apple Tree Structures by Free Spindle Pruning Mode

To determine the correlation between the stem taperingness and central shaft by free spindle pruning mode on different apple cultivars, the central shaft growth data of three cultivars of free spindle short shoot ＂Fuji＂, free spindle long shoot ＂Fuji＂, free spindle ＂Huaguan＂ were investigated in Xingtang County of Hebei Province by SPSS analysis. The results showed that the stem taperingness on free spindle short shoot ＂Fuji＂ was in negative correlation with central shaft, but the correlation was not significant. While the stem taperingness on free spindle long shoot ＂Fuji＂ was in positive correlation with central shaft, but the correlation was not significant either. The stern taperingness on free spindle ＂Huaguan＂ was in negative correlation with central shaft, and the correlation between the stem taperingness and the central shaft total length was significant at the level of 0.01. The results.provided scientific theoretical basis for guiding the dwarfing rootstocks close planting apple tree pruning technology.

Suboptimal Rayleigh damping coefficients in seismic analysis of viscously-damped structures

An optimization method for the consistent evaluation of two Rayleigh damping coefficients is proposed. By minimizing an objective function such as an error term of the peak displacement of a structure, the two coefficients can be determined with response spectral analysis. The optimization method degenerates into the conventional method used in current practices when only two modes of vibration are included in the objective function. Therefore, the proposed method with all significant modes included for simplicity in practical applications results in suboptimal damping coefficients. The effects of both spatial distribution and frequency content of excitations as well as structural dynamic characteristics on the evaluation of Rayleigh damping coefficients were investigated with a five-story building structure. Two application examples with a 62-story high-rise building and a 840 m long cable-stayed bridge under ten earthquake excitations demonstrated the accuracy and effectiveness of the proposed method to account for all of the above effects.

LOCAL FLEXIBILITY BEHAVIOR OF TUBULAR JOINTS AND ITS EFFECT ON GLOBAL ANALYSIS OF TUBULAR STRUCTURES

In the tubular frames with simple joints, the joints may show considerable local flexibility, which causes excessive deformation and affects internal force distributions. It is useful and important to study turbular joint flexibility as well as the effect of joint local flexibility on the global behavior of tubular structure for the design and building of offshore platforms. A new method for computing the stiffness coefficients of simple tubular joints is developed in this paper based on two previous computing models. According to this method, the local flexibility of T, Y, TY tubular joints are computed. This method has merits of clear physical sense, simplicity of computations and less c.p.u. time. The effect of flexibility of tubular joints on the global behavior of framed tubular structures is investigated by comparing the computed results of tubular structures with flexible tubular joints with those with rigid connections. The comparison shows that the consideration of local flexibility of tubular joints and its effect on the stress analysis of offshore structures has its practical significance.

FUNDAMENTAL OF DYNAMICAL ANALYSIS OF THE BLAST-RESISTANT UNDERGROUND STRUCTURES

In this paper, the generalized variational principle of dynamic analysis for the blast-resistant underground structures is established, and the corresponding generalized functional of elastoplastic analysis for underground structures is derived, and the generalized variational principle of nonconservative system is given, thus the fundamental of dynamical analysis for underground structures to resist blast is proposed. Finally, for the underground cylindrical structure to resist blast, dynamical calculations are made, and compared with the test results.

Contrastive analysis and crashworthiness optimization of two composite thin-walled structures

For the safety protection of passengers when train crashes occur, special structures are crucially needed as a kind of indispensable energy absorbing device. With the help of the structures, crash kinetic-energy can be completely absorbed or dissipated for the aim of safety. Two composite structures(circumscribed circle structure and inscribed circle structure) were constructed. In addition, comparison and optimization of the crashworthy characteristic of the two structures were carried out based on the method of explicit finite element analysis(FEA) and Kriging surrogate model. According to the result of Kriging surrogate model, conclusions can be safely drawn that the specific energy absorption(SEA) and ratio of specific energy absorption to initial peak force(REAF) of circumscribed circle structure are lager than those of inscribed circle structure under the same design parameters. In other words, circumscribed circle structure has better performances with higher energy-absorbing ability and lower initial peak force. Besides, error analysis was adopted and the result of which indicates that the Kriging surrogate model has high nonlinear fitting precision. What is more, the SEA and REAF optimum values of the two structures have been obtained through analysis, and the crushing results have been illustrated when the two structures reach optimum SEA and REAF.

Seismic design and analysis of nuclear power plant structures

The seismic design and analysis of nuclear power plant (NPP) begin with the seismic hazard assessment and design ground motion development for the site. The following steps are needed for the seismic hazard assessment and design ground motion development:a. the development of regional seismo-tectonic model with seismic source areas within 500 km radius centered to the site;b. the development of strong motion prediction equations; c. logic three development for taking into account uncertainties and seismic hazard quantification;d. the development of uniform hazard response spectra for ground motion at the site;e. simulation of acceleration time histories compatible with uniform hazard response spectra. The following phase two in seismic design of NPP structures is the analysis of structural response for the design ground motion. This second phase of the process consists of the following steps:a. development of structural models of the plant buildings;b. development of the soil model underneath the plant buildings for soilstructure interaction response analysis;c. determination of instructure response spectra for the plant buildings for the equipment response analysis. In the third phase of the seismic design and analysis the equipment is analyzed on the basis of in-structure response spectra. For this purpose the structural models of the mechanical components and piping in the plant are set up. In large 3D-structural models used today the heaviest equipment of the primary coolant circuit is included in the structural model of the reactor building. In the fourth phase the electrical equipment and automation and control equipment are seismically qualified with the aid of the in-structure spectra developed in the phase two using large three-axial shaking tables. For this purpose the smoothed envelope spectra for calculated in-structure spectra are constructed and acceleration time is fitted to these smoothed envelope spectra.

Early Cretaceous Thrust and Nappe Tectonics in North Qilian Shan,Northern Tibetan Plateau:Evidence from Field Mapping,Geochronology,and Deep Structural Analysis

The North Qilian Shan fold and thrust belt,located at the northern Tibetan Plateau and southern margin of the Hexi Corridor,is a key tectonic unit to decode the formation and expansion of the plateau.Previous studies emphasize the Cenozoic deformation due to the far-field response to the Indo-Asian collision,but the Mesozoic deformations are poorly constrained in this area.We conducted detailed field mapping,structural analysis,geochronology,and structural interpretation of deep seismic reflectional profiling and magnetotelluric(MT)sounding,to address the superposed results of the Mesozoic and Cenozoic deformation.The results recognized the North Qilian thrust and nappe system(NQTS),the root and the frontal belt are the North Qilian thrust(NQT),and the Yumu Shan klippe(YK),respectively.The middle belt is located between the NQT and the YK.Monzonitic granite zircon U-Pb dating from the middle belt yields an age of ca.415 Ma,which is similar to south NQT.The thrusting displacement is estimated at ca.48 km by structural interpretation of deep profiles.The timing is constrained in the early stage of the Early Cretaceous by the formation of simultaneous growth strata.We suggest that the NQTS has resulted from the far-field effect of the Lhasa-Qiangtang collision,and the Yumu Shan is uplifted by the superposed Cenozoic deformation.

Time-Dependent Reliability Analysis of Offshore Structures

During the life of an offshore structure, its structural strength declines due to various kinds of damages related to the time factor. In this paper, four major kinds of damages, including damages caused by fatigue, dent, corrosion and marine life, are discussed. Based on these analyses, formulas for the evaluation of the damaged structure reliability are derived. Furthermore the computer program ISM for the analysis of structural reliability is developed by the use of Advanced First Order Second Moment method and Monte-Carlo Importance Sampling method. The reliability of a turbular joint and a beam are studied as numerical examples. The results show that the theory and the analysis method given in this paper are reasonable and effective.

THE RELIABILITY ANALYSIS OF AIRCRAFT STRUCTURES

This paper presents a set of fundamental equations for reliability analysis of single-critical-point aircraft structures.The mathematical model is formulated by considering the following factors:the static strength of structure,initial crack,the initiation and propagation and unstability of fatigue crack,the residual strength of structure,the statistical distribution of load,the periods of overhaul,accident damage,the communication of damage among fleets etc.Based on this mathematical model,the influence of these factors on the reliability can be quantitatively analyzed,and various criteria for fatigue design of aircraft structures can be evaluated from the aspect of reliability.

DYNAMIC BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS OF VISCOELASTICALLY DAMPED STRUCTURES

Analysis method for the dynamic behavior of viscoelastically damped structures is studied.A finite element model of sandwich beams with eight degrees of freedom is set up and the finite element formulation of the equations of motion is given for the viscoelastically damped structures.An iteration method for solving nonlinear eigenvalue problems is suggested to analyze the dynamic behavior of viscoelastically damped structures. The method has been applied to the complex model analysis of a sandwich cantilever beam with viscoelastic damping material core.

A Comparative Analysis for Land Utilization: Steel and R/C Interlaced Structures

In architecture,interlace structural concept is considered as a new design approach for cosmopolitan cities with high density to minimize the land use and increase the interaction.With various architectural approach,land resources can be minimized by this interlace concept for residential complexes.Such buildings will eliminate the reduction of land resource problem and on the other side safety measures in structural design is incorporated by interlace concept of buildings.This new concept can be constructed steel or reinforced concrete.In this paper,an analytical approach has been presented for these buildings in architecture and structural design.In the research,design considerations were taken for interlaced structures with reinforced concrete and steel.Components of steel structure,isolated footing,and columns.This paper is presenting a step wise process for interlaced structures.They are identification of project area,layout and model preparation,analysis and design of concrete interlaced structure,analysis and design of steel interlaced structure,drafting of the plans and costing and estimation of the structures.Comparison of both reinforced concrete and steel structures were carried out.The main aim of the paper is to provide a comparison between steel and concrete interlaced structure.A cost estimation was carried out to determine optimum design and construction for interlaced structures.

THE RATIONALISM THEORY AND ITS FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS METHOD OF SHELL STRUCTURES

In this paper, a kind of rationalism theory of shell is established which is of different mechanic characters in tension and in compression, and the finite element numerical analysis method is also described.

SHAKEDOWN ANALYSIS OF SHELL STRUCTURES OF KINEMATIC HARDENING MATERIALS

It is of great practical importance to analyze the shakedown of shell structures under cyclic loading, especially of those made of strain hardening materials.In this paper, same further understanding of the shakedown theorem for kinematic hardening materials has been made, and it is applied to analyze the shakedown of shell structures Though the residual stress of a real stale is related to plastic strain, the time-independent residual stress field as we will show in the theorem may be unrelated to the time-independent kinematically admissible plastic strain field For the engineering application, it will lie much more convenient to point this out clearly and definitely, otherwise it will be very difficult. Also, we have proposed a new method of proving this theorem.The above theorem is applied to the shakedown analysis of a cylindrical shell with hemispherical ends. According to the elastic solution, various possible residual sfcss and plastic strain Jlelds, the shakedown analysis of the structure can be reduced to a mathematical programming problem.The results of calculation show that the shakedown load oj strain hardening materials is about 30-40% higher than that of ideal plastic materials. So it is very important to consider the hardening of materials in the shakedown analysis,for it can greatly increase the structure design capacity, and meanwhile provide ascicntific basis to improve the design of shell structures.

Finite Element Analysis on the Pre-load Structures of the Central Solenoid for the HT-7U Device

The central solenoid is an important part of the HT-7U device. In this paper， the computational analysis of the stress and the displacement on the pre-load structures of the central solenoid have been made by the finite element analysis system COSMOS/M2.0 under room and/or operating temperature. According to the analytical results, the clip aprons and compression plates are all satisfied with safety design criteria.

Probing the effects of lithium doping on structures, properties, and stabilities of magnesium cluster anions

Bimetallic clusters have aroused tremendous interest because the property changes like structure,size,and composition have occurred.Herein,a structural search of the global minimum for anionic LiMg_(n)^(-)(n=2-11) clusters is performed using an efficient crystal structure analysis by particle swarm optimization(CALYPSO) structural searching program with subsequent density functional theory(DFT) calculations.A great variety of low energetic isomers are converged,and the most stable ones are confirmed by comparing their total energy of each size.It is found that the LiMg_(n)^(-)clusters are structurally consistent with corresponding Mg clusters anions except for LiMg_(5)^(-)and LiMg_(7)^(-).In all the doped clusters,the Li atom prefers to occupy the convex position.Simulated photoelectron spectra(PES),Infrared(IR),and Raman spectra of LiMg_(n)^(-)could be used as an essential evidence for identifying cluster structures experimentally in the future.Stability study reveals that a tower-like structure of LiMg_(9)^(-)has prominent stability and can be identified as a magic number cluster.The reason might be that there are both closed-shell 1S^(2)1P^(6)1D^(10)2S^(2) electronic configurations and stronger Li-Mg bonds caused by sp hybridization in the LiMg_(9)^(-)cluster.

Analysis of the Material Properties of Vehicle Suspension Coil Spring

The suspension coil spring is one of the most important components in a vehicle suspension system. Its primary function is to absorb the vibrational shocks that are occasioned by irregular road surface to provide the vehicle with stability and ride comfort. The main objective of this study is to design a suspension coil spring made of structural steel for light duty vehicles with the aim of weight and cost reduction. This study was motivated by the government of Ghana’s actions to industrialise the automotive sector of the country through government policies and programs. The study made use of high carbon steel and low carbon steel as the control materials and structural steel as the implementing material. This was done to determine the suitability of structural steel for vehicle suspension coil spring. The study analysed parameters such as total deformation, equivalent Von Mises stress, maximum shear stress, and safety factor in the static structural analysis. The fatigue analysis also analysed parameters such as fatigue life and fatigue alternating stress. The results of the study revealed that the suspension spring made of structural steel has superior properties against all the parameters set for this study apart from deformation. The two control materials that are known for suspension coil spring design and manufacture have better properties to withstand deformation than the implementing material.

An Educational GUI-Based Software for Dynamic Analysis of Framed Structural Models

This paper introduces a new version of the open-source educational software, LESM (Linear Elements Structure Model), developed in MATLAB for structural analysis of one-dimensional models such as frames, trusses, and grillages. The updated program includes dynamic analysis, which incorporates inertial and damping effects, time-dependent load conditions, and a transient solver with multiple time integration schemes. The software assumes small displacements and linear-elastic material behavior. The paper briefly explains the theoretical basis for these developments and the reorganization of the source code using Object-Oriented Programming (OOP). The updated Graphical User Interface (GUI) allows interactive use of dynamic analysis features and displays new results such as animations, envelope diagrams of internal forces, phase portraits, and the response of degrees-of-freedom in time and frequency domain. The new version was used in a structural dynamics course, and new assignments were elaborated to improve students’ understanding of the subject.

Survival Analysis Using Cox Proportional Hazards Regression for Pile Bridge Piles Under Wet Service Conditions

This paper studies the deterioration of bridge substructures utilizing the Long-Term Bridge Performance(LTBP)Program InfoBridge^(TM)and develops a survival model using Cox proportional hazards regression.The survival anal­ysis is based on the National Bridge Inventory(NBI)dataset.The study calculates the survival rate of reinforced and prestressed concrete piles on bridges under marine conditions over a 29-year span(from 1992 to 2020).The state of Maryland is the primary focus of this study,with data from three neighboring regions,the District of Columbia,Vir­ginia,and Delaware to expand the sample size.The data obtained from the National Bridge Inventory are condensed and filtered to acquire the most relevant information for model development.The Cox proportional hazards regres­sion is applied to the condensed NBI data with six parameters:Age,ADT,ADTT,number of spans,span length,and structural length.Two survival models are generated for the bridge substructures:Reinforced and prestressed concrete piles in Maryland and reinforced and prestressed concrete piles in wet service conditions in the District of Columbia,Maryland,Delaware,and Virginia.Results from the Cox proportional hazards regression are used to construct Markov chains to demonstrate the sequence of the deterioration of bridge substructures.The Markov chains can be used as a tool to assist in the prediction and decision-making for repair,rehabilitation,and replacement of bridge piles.Based on the numerical model,the Pile Assessment Matrix Program(PAM)is developed to facilitate the assessment and main­tenance of current bridge structures.The program integrates the NBI database with the inspection and research reports from various states’department of transportation,to serve as a tool for condition state simulation based on mainte­nance or rehabilitation strategies.

Structure and immunomodulatory activity of Lentinus edodes polysaccharides modified by probiotic fermentation

Plant-based fermentations provide an untapped source for novel biotechnological applications.In this study,a probiotic named Lactobacillus fermentum 21828 was introduced to ferment Lentinus edodes.Polysaccharides were extracted from fermented and non-fermented L.edodes and purified via DEAE-52 and Sephadex G-100.The components designated F-LEP-2a and NF-LEP-2a were analyzed by FT-IR,HPGPC,HPAEC,SEM,GC-MS and NMR.The results revealed that probiotic fermentation increased the molecular weight from 1.16×10^(4) Da to 1.87×10^(4) Da and altered the proportions of glucose,galactose and mannose,in which glucose increased from 45.94%to 48.16%.Methylation analysis and NMR spectra indicated that F-LEP-2a and NF-LEP-2a had similar linkage patterns.Furthermore,their immunomodulatory activities were evaluated with immunosuppressive mice.NF-LEP and F-LEP improved immune organ indices,immunoglobulin(Ig G and Ig M)and cytokines concentrations;restored the antioxidation capacity of liver;and maintained the balance of gut microbiota.F-LEP displayed better moderating effects on the spleen index,immunoglobulin,cytokines and the diversity of gut microbiota than NF-LEP(200,400 mg/kg).Our study provides an efficient and environment-friendly way for the structural modification of polysaccharides,which helps to enhance their biological activity and promote their wide application in food,medicine and other fields.