The Effect of Core Eccentricity on the Structural Behavior of Concrete Tall Buildings

The main purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of core eccentricity on the structural behavior of concrete tall buildings.Concrete buildings of 55 floors with plan dimensions 48.0×48.0 m2 were investigated.Three cases of main core locations are studied:centric(A),eccentric by one sixth(B)and one third(C)of building width.The three-dimensional finite element method has been used in conducting structural analysis through ETABS software.Gravity and lateral(wind and seismic)loadings are applied to all building cases.It has been concluded that the core location is the prime parameter governing the structural behavior of tall buildings.Although the first two cases(A,B)have acceptable and similar structural behaviors conforming to code limits,in the third case(C),the building behavior came beyond code limits.The author introduced remedial action by adding two secondary cores in the opposite direction of the main core(C-R)to restore the building behavior to the code limits.The results of this action were satisfactory.

Thermo-Physical Potential of Recycled Banana Fibers for Improving the Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Biosourced Gypsum-Based Materials

The development of bio-sourced materials is essential to ensuring sustainable construction;it is considered a locomotive of the green economy.Furthermore,it is an abundant material in our country,to which very little attention is being given.This work aims to valorize the waste of the trunks of banana trees to be used in construction.Firstly,the physicochemical properties of the fiber,such as the percentage of crystallization and its morphology,have been determined by X-ray diffraction tests and scanning electron microscopy to confirm the potential and the impact of the mode of drying on the quality of the banana fibers,with the purpose to promote the use of this material in construction.Secondly,the results obtained with the gypsum matrix allowed us to note a preponderant improvement in the composite’s thermal properties thanks to the variation of the banana fiber additive.Thirdly,the impact of the nature of the banana fiber distribution(either fiber mixed in matrix or fiber series model)on the flexural and compressive strengths of the composites was studied.The results obtained indicate that the insulation gain reaches up to 40%.It depends on the volume fraction and type of distribution of the banana fibers.However,the thermal inertia of the composites developed,represented by thermal diffusivity and thermal effusivity,was studied.Results indicate a gain of 40%and 25%,respectively,in terms of thermal diffusivity and thermal effusivity of the developed composites compared to plaster alone.Concerning the mechanical properties,the flexural strength depends on the percentage of the volume fraction of banana fibers used,and it can reach 20%more than the flexural strength of plaster;nevertheless,there is a significant loss in terms of the compressive strength of the studied composites.The results obtained are confirmed by the microstructure of the fiber banana.In fact,the morphology of the banana fibers was improved by the drying process.It reduces the amorphous area and improves the cellulosic crystalline surfaces,which assures good adhesion between the fiber and the matrix plaster.Finally,the dimensionless coefficient analysis was done to judge the optimal proportion of the banana fiber additive and to recommend its use even on false ceilings or walls.

Improve Computer Visualization of Architecture Based on the Bayesian Network

Computer visualization has marvelous effects when it is applied in various fields,especially in architectural design.As an emerging force in the innovation industry,architects and design agencies have already demonstrated the value of architectural visual products in actual application projects.Based on the digital image technology,virtual presentation of future scenes simulates architecture design,architectural renderings and multimedia videos.Therefore,it can help design agencies transform the theoretical design concept into a lively and realistic visual which can provide the audience with a clearer understanding of the engineering and construction projects.However,it is challenging for designers to produce satisfactory renderings due to the frequent fault data during rendering.In this paper,we use the 3Ds MAX as the operating platform and we present an algorithm based on the Bayesian network to construct a vector representation of the fault data.On this basis,a case study of 3D Max’application has also been presented.

Attaining Human Aspects to Avoid Alienation in Architecture

Architectural practice during the last century was influenced by Western architectural theories.These theories were reflections of the contradictions of human beings’lives:the result was contradictions in architecture.The research aims to launch a view of the fundamentals of what we might call Muslim architectural theory,fundamentals that can control the future of architecture.Thus,it offers a set of principles coming from Muslim thought;these principles highlight humanitarian needs to be fulfilled by architecture.This paper makes the following assumptions:(1)Re-forming architecture requires re-forming the human.(2)The interaction between the social environment on one side and the built environment on the other side achieves human comfort.(3)Principles derived from Muslim thought set up general rules that can order architectural practice.Based on these theories,this paper has a goal of crystallizing a new theory that governs present-day architecture.Thus,the paper studies human needs in architecture.Besides,it has an implementation part to explain how architecture fulfills human needs.It further shows the extent to which the built environment can satisfy those needs.The research includes thirty needs traced from Muslim thought.Consequently,the research examined the presence of these needs in one traditional Arabian house.

Tensile and tear-type fracture toughness of gypsum material:Direct and indirect testing methods

In this context,four specimens,i.e.(i)circumferentially notched cylindrical torsion(CNCT),(ii)circum-ferentially notched cylindrical direct tension(CNCDT),(iii)edge notch disc bend(ENDB)and(iv)three-point bend beam(3PBB),were utilized to measure the modesⅠandⅢfracture toughness values of gypsum.While the CNCT specimen provides pure modeⅢloading in a direct manner,this pure mode condition is indirectly produced by the ENDB specimen.The ENDB specimen provided lower KⅢc and a non-coplanar(i.e.twisted)fracture surface compared with the CNCT specimen,which showed a planar modeⅢfracture surface.The ENDB specimen is also employed for conducting pure modeⅠ(with different crack depths)and mixed modeⅠ/Ⅲtests.KIc value was independent of the notch depth,and it was consistent with the RILEM and ASTM standard methods.But the modeⅢfracture results were highly sensitive to the notch depth.While the fracture resistance against modeⅢwas significantly lower than that of modeⅠ,the greater work of fracture under modeⅢwas noticeable.

Intelligent System Application to Monitor the Smart City Building Lighting

A smart city incorporates infrastructure methods that are environmentally responsible,such as smart communications,smart grids,smart energy,and smart buildings.The city administration has prioritized the use of cutting-edge technology and informatics as the primary strategy for enhancing service quality,with energy resources taking precedence.To achieve optimal energy management in themultidimensional system of a city tribe,it is necessary not only to identify and study the vast majority of energy elements,but also to define their implicit interdependencies.This is because optimal energy management is required to reach this objective.The lighting index is an essential consideration when evaluating the comfort indicators.In order to realize the concept of a smart city,the primary objective of this research is to create a system for managing and monitoring the lighting index.It is possible to identify two distinct phaseswithin the intelligent system.Once data collection concludes,the monitoring system will be activated.In the second step,the operation of the control system is analyzed and its effect on the performance of the numerical model is determined.This evaluation is based on the proposed methodology.The optimized resultswere deemed satisfactory because they maintained the brightness index value(79%)while consuming less energy.The intelligent implementation system generated satisfactory outcomes,which were observed 1.75 times on average.

Assessing the Role of Environmental Factors in the Transmission of Infectious Diseases in Communal Spaces

Communal spaces provide different facilities for users while they are the primary place for the spread of diseases,especially respiratory.Transmission is possible through human behaviors,the way they communicate with each other and breathe in an environment by airborne pathogenic particles.Experts from various fields have gained valuable experience and achievements regarding how to prevent these diseases by means of environmental factors.Due to the spread of the corona virus in the past years,environmental planners and designers seriously considered the need to review the design and use of spatial components.This study provides a framework for decision making and design of communal spaces based on how environmental components can be effective in preventing the spread of respiratory diseases such as coronavirus and influenza.The research method used in this article is logical reasoning combined with ANP method and focus group discussion.According to the results of this research,indoor air quality plays the most crucial role in preventing the transmission of viruses(contagious respiratory diseases)based on expert groups.

基于地震作用下传递系数法的边坡稳定性分析

传递系数法是中国建筑边坡工程技术规范中推荐的边坡稳定性计算方法,适用于滑面为结构面的土质边坡和岩质边坡.地震对边坡稳定性有重要影响.规范中只考虑水平地震力的影响,这里研究不同地震力方向的影响.基于传递系数法,可以很方便地将求安全系数问题转换为一个优化问题,通过数值算例表明,安全系数关于地震力的水平方向是对称的.算例还将地震力方向对剩余下滑力的影响可视化地展示出来.

Impact of chilling accumulation and hydrogen cyanamide on floral organ development of sweet cherry in a warm region

The microscopic investigation of the floral development of sweet cherry（Prunus avium L. cv. Hongdeng） from a warm winter climate（Shanghai） and cold winter climate（Tai＇an, Shandong Province, China） was conducted to explore the reason of low fruit set. The effect of hydrogen cyanamide（HCN） on floral development under warm winter conditions was also investigated. Trees grown in Shanghai with insufficient chilling accumulation exhibited little difference in the progression of microspore development compared to trees in Tai＇an that accumulated adequate chilling, but showed substantial delays in ovule and embryo sac development. The growth of nucelli did not proceed beyond the macrospore mother cell and macrospore stages with abortion rates of 13, 15 and 45% by 6, 3 and 0 d before full bloom, respectively. These abnormalities in the ovule and embryo sac in the Shanghai-grown trees were eliminated by HCN application. These results suggest that chilling regulates the development of female floral organs in winter dormancy; therefore, insufficient chilling accumulation, causing abnormality of the female floral organs, restricts the cultivation of sweet cherry in warm winter regions. Interestingly, HCN application, which decreased the chilling requirements for Hongdeng, may be a potential strategy for sweet cherry cultivation in warm winter regions.

区域设计:景观规划设计与城市规划优秀传统的复兴

本文认为,当代区域设计起源于传统的区域规划。物质设计复兴和传统区域规划是当代区域设计的两个来源。区域设计致力于塑造区域的物质形态,它通过适宜地引导社区中居民点的布局规划一个区域的未来。作为适应增长的战略,区域设计提供了一个物质框架,用以决定或引导社区在区域中最有利的位置、功能、规模和相互关系。社区、联系通道和边缘区这三者是区域设计概念的支柱。区域设计致力于通过交通、通讯及其他联系方式将社区联接成为一个区域网络,但同时又保持这些社区的相对独立。

Slope stability evaluation and monitoring of a landslide: a case study from NE Turkey

Landslides are quite common natural hazards in the eastern Black Sea region of NE Turkey.Following the heavy rainfall in the K?prülü(Rize)village settlement area,located in this region where the slope debris overlies the agglomerates,a failure occurred.Due to the developed tension cracks and deformations on the ground,houses,tea gardens,and roads were damaged completely.To figure out the causes and mechanism of the sliding and to suggest the precautions,a detailed geotechnical study was carried out.Along the five survey lines,twelve boreholes were drilled with a total depth of 300 meters.Also,the geophysical surveys on ten profiles were conducted and the inclinometer measurements were taken in five boreholes.Undisturbed and disturbed samples were collected and laboratory experiments were performed.Inclinometer measurements indicated that the sliding started in the slope debris and then spread to the agglomeratic bedrock.The slope stability was examined using the limit equilibrium(LE)and finite element(FEM)analysis methods.The results of the slope stability analyses showed that the failure mode is talus slide with composite shape and outputs coincide with the inclinometer monitoring results.Based on the collected data,it is determined that there will be unavoidable engineering problems if no precautions are taken.Because of the negative reasons which make the application of supporting methods meaningless in the study area,it is considered that transferring the residences to a safer place without risk of natural hazards will be economical and reliable.

Resistance and Seakeeping Numerical Performance Analyses of a Semi-Small Waterplane Area Twin Hull at Medium to High Speeds

新半小的 waterplane 区域双胞胎壳(一行) 的水动力学分析对象小、中等的尺寸旅客渡船那样的各种各样的应用合适被介绍。这可以是源于合并二古典形状的一种吸引人的转线路配置：常规一行和快长筏。最后的壳设计与最大的横梁展出像楔的吃水线形状在严厉；壳与一个很狭窄的入口角度结束，有典型地代表一行容器的一个突出的球状的弓，并且展示完整对严厉安排 waterjet 推进器。我们与如此的建筑群执行对壳的水动力学表演的一个初步的评价的分析目的在常规头波浪在平静的水和经得起海上风浪的能力里以壳的抵抗塑造两个并且把表演与常规一行的作比较。分析用 preliminarily 在一个常规一行容器上被验证的一个边界元素方法被执行。

Mechanical Properties of Reactive Powder Concretes Produced Using Pumice Powder

We examined the applicability of the pumice aggregate on the concrete formed by considering the reactive powder concrete mixture ratios, for the rigid superstructure concrete road pavement and building construction. The natural pumice aggregate in fibrous and non-fibrous concrete samples was used in the production of concrete by fracturing in 0.1-0.6 mm dimensions in rotor mill. The concreted formed in this way is named after the pumice powder concrete(PPC). The PPC samples produced were taken 7 days as 20 ℃ standard water cure, 28 days as 20 ℃ standard cure and 9 different types of combined cures. The combined cures were applied different temperatures in different durations. PPC samples were subjected to some pressure and flexural tests at the end of the standard water and combined cures. The highest compressive and flexural strengths of PPC samples were obtained after the combined cures: 3 days in 20 ℃ as standard water curing + 2 days in 180 ℃ in drying-oven. The highest compressive strength of PPC samples without any fiber was found to be 47.27 MPa, as for the highest flexural strength, it is found to be 5.23 MPa, in the end of the study. The highest compressive strength of fibrous PPC samples was 51.12 MPa, while flexural strength was 6.57 MPa.

Determination AHP Analysis of the Virtual Stage-Gate Process in the Global Scale Automotive Design

In this study, it is aimed to determine the ranking importance levels of the stages to be taken into consideration for new product development on a global scale in the automotive design process. New product design activity and stage-gate process differences between local automotive firms (serial production factory and stage-gate department in Turkey) and global automotive companies (serial production factory and stage-gate department in Turkey) are examined comparatively in the research area. In the automotive industry, which has been developing for a century, the question of how the local company products operating in the last sixty years have not been able to spread globally or how to develop global products is the background question of the research. For this purpose, one on one interviews were held with the managers of 3 national and 3 international automotive companies, who worked in the same region and who had previously designed a new vehicle, with design and product development departments.?According to?the data obtained by the AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process) in the automotive design process, the importance of the criteria that should be taken into account for global product development has revealed. According to the results of the study, it was found that design validation stages were the most important globalization criterion in automotive design process as a new study area. In the comprehensive survey of the study, no other publication has been encountered to measure or evaluate the stages in the automotive design and new product development process in other sectors, including the vehicle industry. As in every industry sector, in the automotive industry, with the new product companies provide market development or competitive advantage. The new product is the life channel of a company and in the realization of this new vehicle;the disciplines of the automotive industry are formed by a hundred years of experience.

Uniqueness of rate-dependency, creep and stress relaxation behaviors for soft clays

This work focuses on the uniqueness of rate-dependency, creep and stress relaxation behaviors for soft clays under one-dimensional condition. An elasto-viscoplastic model is briefly introduced based on the rate-dependency of preconsolidation pressure. By comparing the rate-dependency formulation with the creep based formulation, the relationship between rate-dependency and creep behaviors is firstly described. The rate-dependency based formulation is then extended to derive an analytical solution for the stress relaxation behavior with defining a stress relaxation coefficient. Based on this, the relationship between the rate-dependency coefficient and the stress relaxation coefficient is derived. Therefore, the uniqueness between behaviors of rate-dependency, creep and stress relaxation with their key parameters is obtained. The uniqueness is finally validated by comparing the simulated rate-dependency of preconsolidation pressure, the estimated values of secondary compression coefficient and simulations of stress relaxation tests with test results on both reconstituted Illite and Berthierville clay.

Experimental Research on the Marine Hydrodynamic Action on the Consolidation Process of the Sediments in the Yellow River Estuary

Based on the in-situ measurements, the impact of the marine hydrodynamics, such as wave and tide, in the rapidly deposited sediments consolidation process was studied. In the tide flat of Diaokou delta-lobe, one 2 m × 1 m × 1 m test pit was excavated. The seabed soils were dug and dehydrated, and then the powder of the soil was mixed with seawater to be fluid sediments. And an iron plate covered part of the test pit to cut off the effect of the marine hydrodynamics, By field-testing methods, like static cone penetration test （SPT） and vane shear test （VST）, the variation of strength is measured as a function of time, and the marine hydrodynamics impact on the consolidation process of the sediments in the Yellow River estuary was studied. It is shown that the self-consolidated sediments＇ strength linearly increases with the depth. In the consolidation process, in the initial, marine hydrodynamics play a decisive role, about 1.5 times as much as self-consolidated in raising the strength of the sea-bed soils, and with the extension of the depth the role of the hydrodynamics is reduced. In the continuation of the consolidation process, the trend of the surface sediments increased-strength gradually slows down under the water dynamics, while the sediments below 50 cm are in opposite ways. As a result, the rapidly deposited silt presents a nonuniform consolidation state, and the crust gradually forms. The results have been referenced in studying the role of the hydrodynamics in the soil consolidation process.

RF Technologies and Challenges for Future MBR Systems in Cellular Base Stations

This paper describes the advances and features of future cellular base stations. Software defined radio （SDR） evolves to cognitive radio （CR）, which is smart and has wideband, and multiband radio （MBR） with reconfigurable wideband can be regarded as the basis of CR and an advanced level of SDR. Based on the SDR platform, several radio frequency （RF） solutions for implementing MBR systems are proposed, and some challenges to MBR implementation are discussed.