Experimental study on the effective width of flat slab structures under dynamic seismic loading

This paper investigates the effective width of reinforced concrete flat slab structures subjected to seismic loading on the basis of dynamic shaking table tests. The study is focussed on the behavior of corner slab? column connections with structural steel I- or channel-shaped sections (shearheads) as shear punching reinforcement. To this end, a 1/2 scale test model consisting of a flat slab supported on four box-type steel columns was subjected to several seismic simulations of increasing intensity. It is found from the test results that the effective width tends to increase with the intensity of the seismic simulation, and this increase is limited by the degradation of adherence between reinforcing steel and concrete induced by the strain reversals caused by the earthquake. Also, significant differences are found between the effective width obtained from the tests and the values predicted by formula proposed in the literature. These differences are attributed to the stiffening effect provided by the steel profiles that constitute the punching shear reinforcement.

Simulation of wind farms in flat and complex terrain using CFD

Use of computational fluid dynamic (CFD) methods to predict the power production from wind entire wind farms in flat and complex terrain is presented in this paper. Two full 3D Navier–Stokes solvers for incompressible flow are employed that incorporate the k–ε and k–ω turbulence models respectively. The wind turbines (W/Ts) are modelled as momentum absorbers by means of their thrust coefficient using the actuator disk approach. The WT thrust is estimated using the wind speed one diameter upstream of the rotor at hub height. An alternative method that employs an induction-factor based concept is also tested. This method features the advantage of not utilizing the wind speed at a specific distance from the rotor disk, which is a doubtful approximation when a W/T is located in the wake of another and/or the terrain is complex. To account for the underestimation of the near wake deficit, a correction is introduced to the turbulence model. The turbulence time scale is bounded using the general “realizability” constraint for the turbulent velocities. Application is made on two wind farms, a five-machine one located in flat terrain and another 43-machine one located in complex terrain. In the flat terrain case, the combination of the induction factor method along with the turbulence correction provides satisfactory results. In the complex terrain case, there are some significant discrepancies with the measurements, which are discussed. In this case, the induction factor method does not provide satisfactory results.

Optimization of AlN thin layers on diamond substrates for high frequency SAW resonators

AlN/diamond heterostructures are very promising for high frequency surface acoustic wave (SAW) resonators. In their design, the thickness of the piezoelectric film is one of the key parameters. On the other hand, the film material quality and, hence, the device performance, also depend on that thickness. In this work, polished microcrystalline diamond substrates have been used to deposit AlN films by reactive sputtering, from 150 nm up to 3 μm thick. A high degree of the c-axis orientation has been obtained in all cases. SAW one port resonators at high frequency have been fabricated on these films with a proper combination of the film thickness and transducer size.

Super-high-frequency SAW resonators on AlN/Diamond

This letter describes the procedure to manufacture high-performance surface acoustic wave (SAW) resonators on AlN/diamond heterostructures working at frequencies beyond 10 GHz. In the design of SAW devices on AlN/diamond systems, the thickness of the piezoelectric layer is a key parameter. The influence of the film thickness on the SAW device response has been studied. Optimized thin films combined with advanced e-beam lithographic techniques have allowed the fabrication of one-port SAW resonators with finger width and pitch of 200 nm operating in the 10–14 GHz range with up to 36 dB out-of-band rejection.

Wide-angle, high-concentration photovoltaics to compete with flat plate systems

A novel photovoltaic concentrator enables highly uniform irradiance on a small number of efficient solar cells. The maximum electrical power of a photovoltaic (PV) energy installation depends on three factors: the available irradiance, the size of the systems collecting sunlight, and the rate at which the device transforms light into electricity (the conversion efficiency). Developers can maximize the irradiance by carefully selecting the site and orientation of the solar facility. But they can only expand their sunlight collection systems for standard flat plate PV devices by increasing the number of solar cells, at greater cost. Here, we consider the advantages of an alternative PV system that produces more energy without increasing the number of cells used (actually, reducing it), by improving the conversion rates.We also present a new device that may enhance the commercial viability of such technologies.

Moment transfer and influence of transverse beams in interior waffle flat plate-column connections under lateral loading

This paper addresses two aspects of the behavior of interior reinforced concrete waffle flat plate?column connections under lateral loads: the share of the unbalanced moment between flexure and excentric shear, and the effect of the transverse beams. A non-linear finite element model (benchmark model) was developed and calibrated with the results of quasi-static cyclic tests conducted on a 3/5 scale specimen. First, from this numerical model, the portion cv of the unbalanced moment transferred by the excentricity of shear about the centroid of the critical sections defined by Eurocode 2 (EC-2) and by ACI 318-11 was calculated and compared with the share-out prescribed by these codes. It is found that while the critical section of EC-2 is consistent with the cv provided by this code, in the case of ACI 318-11, the value assigned to cv is far below (about 50% smaller) the actual one obtained with the numerical simulations. Second, from the benchmark model, seven additional models were developed by varying the depth D of the transverse beam over the thickness h of the plate. It was found that the ductility of the connection and the effective width of the plate can respectively be increased up to 50% and 10% by raising D/h to 2 and 1.5.

A generalized method for flat plates impact detection and location

In the last years, many analyses from acoustic signal processing have been used for different applications. In most cases, these sensor systems are based on the determination of times of flight for signals from every transducer. This paper presents a flat plate generalization method for impact detection and location over linear links or bars-based structures. The use of three piezoelectric sensors allow to achieve the position and impact time while the use of additional sensors lets cover a larger area of detection and avoid wrong timing difference measurements. An experimental setup and some experimental results are briefly presented.

Influence of an upstream building on the wind-induced mean suction on the flat roof of a low-rise building

The effect of an upstream building on the suction forces on the flat roof of a low-rise building placed in the wake of the former is analyzed. The analysis has been performed by wind tunnel testing of a flat roof, low-rise building model equipped with pressure taps on the roof and different block-type buildings (only configurations where the upstream building is as high or higher than the downstream one are considered in this paper). The influence of the distance between both buildings on the wind loads on the downstream building roof is analyzed, as well as the height of the upstream one and the wind angle of incidence. Experimental results reveal that the wind load increases as the relative height of the upstream building increases, the wind load being highest for intermediate distances between buildings, when a passage between them is formed.

Plano Horizontal Plano. Del plano horizontal como límite entre lo estereotómico y lo tectónico = Flat Horizontal Plane. On Horizon

Plano Horizontal Plano. Del plano horizontal como límite entre lo estereotómico y lo tectónico

Flat Horizontal Plane - On Horizon

The Flat Horizontal Plane, the platform, is more than just one of the most basic mechanisms of Architecture. In this essay, I would like to move towards understanding this Flat Horizontal Plane not only as the primary mechanism of Architecture, but also, when it is erected, as the spatial limit between the stereotomic and the tectonic.

Temporally flat top pulse generation from gain switched semiconductor lasers based on a polarization interferometer with variable transfer function

We propose the use of a polarization based interferometer with variable transfer function for the generation of temporally flat top pulses from gain switched single mode semiconductor lasers. The main advantage of the presented technique is its flexibility in terms of input pulse characteristics, as pulse duration, spectral bandwidth and operating wavelength. Theoretical predictions and experimental demonstrations are presented and the proposed technique is applied to two different semiconductor laser sources emitting in the 1550 nm region. Flat top pulses are successfully obtained with input seed pulses with duration ranging from 40 ps to 100 ps.

Lack of bipolar see-saw in response to Southern Ocean wind reduction

A cessation of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) significantly reduces northward oceanic heat transport. In response to anomalous freshwater flux, this leads to the classic 'bipolar see-saw' pattern of northern cooling and southern warming in surface air and ocean temperatures. By contrast, as shown here in a coupled climate model, both northern and southern cooling are observed for an AMOC reduction in response to reduced wind stress in the Southern Ocean (SO). For very weak SO wind stress, not only the overturning circulation collapses, but sea ice export from the SO is strongly reduced. Consequently, sea ice extent and albedo increase in this region. The resulting cooling overcompensates the warming by the reduced northward heat transport. The effect depends continuously on changes in wind stress and is reversed for increased winds. It may have consequences for abrupt climate change, the last deglaciation and climate sensitivity to increasing atmospheric CO_2 concentration.

Thermogravimetric study of the decomposition of printed circuit boards from mobile phones

Thermal decomposition of printed circuits boards (PCB) is studied, using thermogravimetric analysis to compare the thermal behavior of PCB of mobile phones before and after the removal of the metallic fraction by acid washing. Several dynamic and dynamic + isothermal runs have been carried out at different heating rates (5, 10 and 20 K min−1), from room temperature to more than 1100 K. Also runs in the presence and in the absence of oxygen were performed (combustion and pyrolysis runs). Moreover, TG–MS experiments were performed (both in inert and oxidizing atmosphere) in order to better understand the thermal decomposition of these wastes and identify some compounds emitted during the controlled heating of these materials. Different reaction models are proposed, one for pyrolysis and one for combustion of the two kinds of wastes studied, which proved to simulate appropriately the experimental results at all the heating rates simultaneously.

Pollutant emissions during pyrolysis and combustion of waste printed circuit boards, before and after metal removal

The constant increase in the production of electronic devices implies the need for an appropriate management of a growing number of waste electrical and electronic equipment. Thermal treatments represent an interesting alternative to recycle this kind of waste, but particular attention has to be paid to the potential emissions of toxic by-products. In this study, the emissions from thermal degradation of printed circuit boards (with and without metals) have been studied using a laboratory scale reactor, under oxidizing and inert atmosphere at 600 and 850 °C. Apart from carbon oxides, HBr was the main decomposition product, followed by high amounts of methane, ethylene, propylene, phenol and benzene. The maximum formation of PAHs was found in pyrolysis at 850 °C, naphthalene being the most abundant. High levels of 2-, 4-, 2,4-, 2,6- and 2,4,6-bromophenols were found, especially at 600 °C. Emissions of PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs were quite low and much lower than that of PBDD/Fs, due to the higher bromine content of the samples. Combustion at 600 °C was the run with the highest PBDD/F formation: the total content of eleven 2,3,7,8-substituted congeners (tetra- through heptaBDD/Fs) was 7240 and 3250 ng WHO2005-TEQ/kg sample, corresponding to the sample with and without metals, respectively.