18,363 research outputs found
Dynamic nonlinear analyses for the 4-storey infilled R/C frame: study of a retrofitting solution
No full textA research project on assessment and retrofitting of R/C frame structures is currently being developed under the research programme of the ICONS TMR-research network. This paper presents and discusses the preliminary experimental results from a 4-storey bare frame representative of the common practice of 40~50 years ago in most south European countries and devotes special attention to the study of a retrofitting solution based on bracing and rubber dissipaters, which intends to increase stiffness and damping reducing consequently the earthquake deformation demands.O estudo aqui apresentado concentra-se numa solução de reforço de um pórtico utilizando contraventamentos (k-bracing) com perfis de aço em conjunto com elementos elastoméricos de dissipação. Os resultados das análises não lineares da estrutura com e sem alvenaria e com reforço são apresentados e discutidos. Na segunda parte da comunicação apresentam-se os resultados experimentais já disponíveis e discute-se o problema da modelação recorrendo aos resultados experimentais e comparando os resultados obtidos com diferentes tipos de modelos
INDIRECT SAMPLING in the CONTEXT of DUAL FRAME SURVEYS
No full textUnder-coverage is one of the most common problems of sampling frames. To reduce the impact of coverage error on survey estimates several frames can be combined in order to achieve a complete (or nearly complete) coverage of the target population. Multiple frame estimators have been developed to be used in the context of multiple frame surveys. Sampling frames may overlap which is the case when a single unit of the sampling frame is related with more than one element of the target population. Indirect sampling (Lavallée, 1995) is an alternative approach to classical sampling theory in dealing with the overlapping problem of sampling frames on survey estimates. Not infrequently a survey may need more than one sampling frame in order to improve coverage and simultaneously the sampling frame overlap. In this paper a new class of estimators is presented which is the result from merging multiple frames estimators (only the particular case of dual frames will be presented) with indirect sampling estimators in order to bring together in a single estimator the effect of several frames on survey estimates.Indirect Sampling, Generalized Weight Share Method, Dual Frame Surveys
The role of Scene Type and Priming in the processing and selection of a spatial frame of reference
No full textJohannsen K, de Ruiter J. The role of Scene Type and Priming in the processing and selection of a spatial frame of reference. Frontiers in Psychology. 2013;4:182.The selection and processing of a spatial frame of reference (FOR) in interpreting verbal scene descriptions is of great interest to psycholinguistics. In this study, we focus on the choice between the relative and the intrinsic FOR, addressing two questions: (a) does the presence or absence of a background in the scene influence the selection of a FOR, and (b) what is the effect of a previously selected FOR on the subsequent processing of a different FOR. Our results show that if a scene includes a realistic background, this will make the selection of the relative FOR more likely. We attribute this effect to the facilitation of mental simulation, which enhances the relation between the viewer and the objects. With respect to the response accuracy, we found both a higher (with the same FOR) and a lower accuracy (with a different FOR), while for the response latencies, we only found a delay effect with a different FOR
Some properties of K-Operator Frame in Hilbert -modules
No full textIn this paper, we present some properties of K-operator Frame in Hilbert -modules.Topics that will be discussed include: K-operator Frame and Dual K-operator frame in Hilbert -modules.We will also study K-operator Frame in two Hilbert -modules with different -algebras
Continuous ⁎-K-G-Frame in Hilbert C⁎-Modules
No full textFrame theory is exciting and dynamic with applications to a wide variety of areas in mathematics and engineering. In this paper, we introduce the concept of Continuous ⁎-K-g-frame in Hilbert C⁎-Modules and we give some properties
Soil erodibility in Europe: a high-resolution dataset based on LUCAS
No full textThe greatest obstacle to soil erosion modelling at larger spatial scales is the lack of data on soil characteristics. One key parameter for modelling soil erosion is the soil erodibility, expressed as the K-factor in the widely used soil erosion model, the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) and its revised version (RUSLE). The K-factor, which expresses the susceptibility of a soil to erode, is related to soil properties such as organic matter content, soil texture, soil structure and permeability. With the Land Use/Cover Area frame Survey (LUCAS) soil survey in 2009 a pan-European soil dataset is available for the first time, consisting of around 20,000 points across 25 Member States of the European Union. The aim of this study is the generation of a harmonized high-resolution soil erodibility map (with a grid cell size of 500 m) for the 25 EU member states. Soil erodibility was calculated for the LUCAS survey points using the nomograph of Wischmeier and Smith (1978). A Cubist regression model was applied to correlate spatial data such as latitude, longitude, remotely sensed and terrain features in order to develop a high-resolution soil erodibility map. The mean K-factor for Europe was estimated at 0.032 t ha h ha-1 MJ-1 mm-1 with a standard deviation of 0.009 t ha h ha-1 MJ-1 mm-1. The yielded soil erodibility dataset compared well with the published local and regional soil erodibility data. However, the incorporation of the protective effect of surface stone cover, which is usually not considered for the soil erodibility calculations, resulted in an on average 15% decrease of the K-factor. The exclusion of this effect in K-factor calculations is likely to result in an overestimation of soil erosion, particularly for the Mediterranean countries, where highest percentages of surface stone cover were observed
Experimental assessment and retrofit of full-scale models of existing RC frames
No full textPSD tests on two full-scale models of existing non-seismic resisting RC frame structures are
described. The testing program covered several aspects, namely assessment of seismic
performance of existing frames without and with infill panels, retrofitting of the bare frame
using Selective Retrofitting techniques, strengthening of the infill panels using shotcrete and
retrofitting of the frame using K-bracing with shear-link dissipators. The main results from
the tests are summarized and discussed and the conclusions are drawn. The tests on the bare
frame have shown how vulnerable are existing structures constructed in the 60’s and the
beneficial effects of infill panels were confirmed from the tests on the infilled frame.
Important improvements, in terms of seismic performance, were achieved by the retrofitting
of the frames. However, it was also confirmed that strengthening of the existing infill panels
in poorly detailed frames may lead to dangerous ‘local’ failures, such as the shear out of the
external columns
Hysteretic Characteristics of Wood-Frame Structures Under Seismic Motions
No full textIn order to develop seismic codes that can effectively mitigate damage to wood-frame construction under seismic activity, the dynamic characteristics of wood-frame buildings must be well understood. Funding of full-scale structure experimental tests can be costly and may not be a true replica of real life scenarios. Therefore, data interpretation projects focusing on dynamic behavior of low-rise wooden shearwall buildings under large seismic motions have become increasingly important. Procedures include determining the modal parameters and extracting hysteretic characteristics from the available records. The results help extend the understanding of wood-frame structures and update building codes. Furthermore, the amount of information extracted can help evaluate the effectiveness of the current instrumentation program.
This work focuses on the seismic records from wood-frame structures during the 2004 Parkfield Earthquake. Studies involve verifying the amplitude dependence of modal parameters and retrieving pinching hysteresis curves that are common in wood-frame structures. Modal parameters are identified with a robust routine called MODE-ID. Equivalent viscous damping estimates in wood-frame buildings can range from 5% - 10% in largely linear behavior and 10% - 20% in significant nonlinear behavior. The discrepancies of damping estimates reported in the past are a result of inappropriate comparisons without understanding 1) the degree of nonlinear response and 2) the system identification methods used for the studies. By studying the hysteretic curves, insights can be obtained to reveal and to resolve the damping estimate discrepancies. Since displacement time histories of structures are not typically measured, the hysteretic curves are extracted from acceleration time histories. The proposed process accounts for inherent double integration errors and phase delay through filtering. It is still being debated that if the double integration can provide meaningful structural relative displacement time histories. In a laboratory setting with unilateral ground motion, the extraction process provides accurate hysteretic curves. However, this dissertation demonstrates that if the building experiences bi-directional ground motions, the nonlinear behavior of the diaphragm tampers with this process.
The results from modal identification and hysteresis curves serve as a basis for creating numerical models. Direct and gradient search methods were used for model updating. Bayesian updating and model selection provided the best results for dealing with hysteretic structural models. This probabilistic framework demonstrates potential benefits in a seamless integration with a seismic database. The selected hysteretic model showed great resemblance to the measured responses and had evidence of pinching hysteresis. Insights on the structure’s deformations and dissipation of energy can be inferred from the model.</p
Governing Low Profile Issues: A Frame Analysis of Drug Addiction in a Local Setting
No full textFrame analysis was developed by Erving Goffman as a sociological concept, used for understanding how individual actors relate themselves to the world, creating coherent frames out of individual social experiences. We apply frame analysis in the emergent field of sociology of governance, using the example of low profile public issue of drug addiction in a specific local social and political context of a municipality in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in order to understand the roles of governance actors and their social interactions in the attribution of meaning. We focus on mental organization of governance experiences related to drug addiction and the strategic involvement of different governance actors which use given frames. We discuss the importance of frame coherence and ways in which it can be achieved for the low profile issues.Frame Analysis, Sociology of Governance, Low Profile Issues, Frame Coherence
New Stationary Frame Control Scheme for Three Phase PWM Rectifiers Under Unbalanced Voltage Dips Conditions
No full textA new stationary frame control scheme for three-phase pulsewidth-modulation (PWM) rectifiers operating under unbalanced voltage dips conditions is proposed in this paper. The proposed control scheme regulates the instantaneous active power at the converter poles to minimize the harmonics of the input currents and the output voltage ripple. This paper's novelty is the development of a new current-reference generator implemented directly in stationary reference frame. This allows using proportional sinusoidal signal integrator (P-SSI) controllers for simultaneous compensation of both positive and negative current sequence components. No phase-locked loop (PLL) strategies and coordinate transformations are needed for the proposed current-reference generator. Experimental results are presented for a 20-kV A alternative current (ac)/direct current (dc) converter prototype to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme. A comparison with two other existing control techniques is also performed. Fast dynamic performance with small dc-link voltage ripple and input sinusoidal currents are obtained with this control scheme, even under severe voltage dips operating condition
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