18,478 research outputs found
ADAM SMITH'S OPTIMISTIC TELEOLOGICAL VIEW OF HISTORY
No full textAdam Smith's four-stage theory provides the framework for his writings on history. The fourth stage is the commercial epoch; the culmination of history in this stage is a key component in the conventional interpretation of Adam Smith as a prophet of commercialism. In two historical case studies Smith shows the capacity of commercial society to regenerate itself. This potent capacity suggests that commercial society is inevitable. At a certain point in time it also overcomes the major obstacles to its permanence. Smith's philosophy of history anticipates the end of history views of Kant and Hegel.Political Economy,
Damage propagation in corroded reinforcing bars with the effect of inelastic buckling under low-cycle fatigue loading
No full textThe effect of inelastic buckling on low-cycle high amplitude fatigue life of reinforcing bars is investigated experimentally. The results show that the inelastic buckling, bar diameter and surface condition are the main parameters affecting the low-cycle fatigue life of reinforcing bars. Through nonlinear regression analyses of the experimental data a new set of empirical equations for fatigue life prediction of reinforcing bars as a function of the buckling length and yield strength are developed. Finally, these empirical models have been implemented into a new phenomenological hysteretic material model for reinforcing bars. Furthermore, the combined effect of inelastic buckling and chloride induced corrosion damage on low-cycle high amplitude fatigue life of embedded reinforcing bars is investigated experimentally. The low-cycle fatigue tests on corroded reinforcing bars varied in percentage mass loss, strain amplitudes and buckling lengths are conducted. The failure modes and crack propagation are investigated by fractography of fracture surfaces using scanning electron microscope
Curvature ductility and displacement-based assessment of corrosion damaged RC bridge piers in seismic zones
No full textHow Might Adam Smith Pay Professors Today?
No full textAdam Smith’s proposal for paying professors was intended to induce increased faculty knowledge. If students have imperfect information about what they learn, and universities can only imperfectly measure the input of faculty time in student learning, publications may be used to measure faculty knowledge. If professors’ ability to publish is positively related to their ability to produce student learning, which universities can imperfectly measure, publications may be necessary to attract more able professors. Since research signals faculty knowledge, schools that do not value publications per se could require higher publication standards and pay higher wages than schools that value only publications.
ADAM SMITH'S VIEW OF HISTORY: CONSISTENT OR PARADOXICAL?
No full textThe conventional interpretation of Adam Smith is that he is a prophet of commercialism. The liberal capitalist reading of Smith is consistent with the view that history culminates in commercial society. The first part of the article develops this optimistic interpretation of Smith's view of history. Smith implies that commercial society is the end of history because 1) it supplies the ends of nature that he identifies; 2) it is inevitable; and 3) it is permanent. The second part of the article shows that Smith has some dark moments in his writings where he seems to reject completely such teleological notions. In this more civic humanist mood he confesses that commercial society does not supply the ends of nature, nor is it inevitable, nor is it permanent. Both views exist in Smith and the commentator is forced to choose between passages in Smith's work in order to support a particular interpretation of the former's view of history.Political Economy,
Structural capacity assessment of corroded RC bridge piers
No full textA new numerical model is developed that enables simulation of the nonlinear flexural response of reinforced concrete (RC) components and sections with corroded reinforcement. The numerical model employs a displacement based beam-column element using the classical Hermitian shape function. The material nonlinearity is accounted for by updating element stiffness matrices using the moment-curvature response of the element section considering uniform stiffness over the element. The cover concrete strength is adjusted to account for corrosion induced cover cracking and the core confined concrete strength and ductility are adjusted to account for corrosion induced damage to the transverse reinforcement. The numerical model is validated against a bench mark experiment on a corroded RC column subject to lateral cyclic loading. The verified model is then used to explore the impact of corrosion on the inelastic response and the residual capacity of corroded RC sections. The results show that considering the effect of corrosion damage on RC sections changes the failure mode of RC columns
Use of a 3D optical measurement technique for stochastic corrosion pattern analysis of reinforcing bars subjected to accelerated corrosion
No full textThe 3D corrosion patterns of 23 reinforcing bars subjected to accelerated corrosion are characterised using an optical surface measurement technique. A stochastic signal processing methodology is employed for corrosion pattern analysis of the measured data. The statistical analysis of corrosion pattern data shows that a lognormal distribution model can represent the non-uniform distribution of pitted sections along the corroded bars. It was observed that the frequency of corrosion is independent from the mass loss ratio and the length of the bars. Finally, a set of probabilistic distribution models for the geometrical properties of corroded bars is developed
Stress-strain response of corroded reinforcing bars under monotonic and cyclic loading
No full textCorrosion of embedded reinforcement is the most common cause of deterioration of reinforced concrete (RC) structures and a major economic cost for maintenance of national infrastructures. This will affect the residual capacity of the RC structures and therefore is of concern to those who are in charge with ensuring safe operation of concrete structures. In addition, if the structure is located in an earthquake prone region, in the seismic assessment and evaluation of the structure consideration needs to be given to ductility of reinforcement in tension, and it’s buckling response in compression. This paper reports results from experimental investigations on the behaviour of corroded reinforcing bars in tension, compression and under cyclic loading (including buckling). The test results show that corrosion affects the response of reinforcing steel in tension. Pitting corrosion also affects the buckling load of reinforcing bars under monotonic compression loading and changes the behaviour of corroded bars under cyclic loading
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