the present study sets out to integrate the performance-based seismic design approach with the connection topology optimization method. performance-based connection topology optimization concept aims to simultaneously optimize the size of members and the type of connections with respect to the framework of performance-based seismic design. this new optimization concept is carried out for unbrac...

1 General Introduction New methods for marine salvage and decommissioning of structures in the open sea are continually being sought in order to improve control and lower operational costs [1]. The concept design of a lightweight, cryogenic, marine, heavy lift, buoyancy system has been investigated [2]. The objective is to be able to raise or lower high mass objects controlled solely from a sur...

This paper presents a PEEK filled PTFE composite that exhibits low friction and ultra-low wear. It is hypothesized that a synergistic effect shuts down the dominant wear mechanism of each constituent. The friction coefficient and wear rate of this composite material on lapped stainless steel were evaluated for samples with PEEK wt.% of 0, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 70 and 100 using a linear recipro...

Owing to its controllable tolerance, simple operation and no need for welding at construction site, the composite system involving grouted cement material, steel material and ductile iron material is widely used as grouted splice sleeve (GSS) connector for connecting precast concrete structures. However, the current design recommendations for such a composite connection system do not accurately...

A vertical array carbon nanotubes (VACNTs)/polyaniline (PANi) composite membrane was prepared by microwave-assisted in situ polymerization. With microwave assistance, the morphology of PANi revealed a smaller diameter and denser connection. Meanwhile, thermogravimetric analysis showed improved thermal stability of microwave-assisted PANi for higher molecular weight. Focused ion beam thinning me...

An improved version of the membrane actuator has been designed and constructed based on our previous diaphragm actuator. It consists of ferromagnetic shape memory alloy composite (FSMA) diaphragm and an electromagnet system. The actuation mechanism of the membrane actuator is the hybrid mechanism that we proposed previously. The high momentum airflow will be produced by the oscillation of the c...

Galvanic Corrosion and Composites. “Galvanic corrosion is an electrochemical process in which one metal corrodes preferentially when it is in contact with a different type of metal and both metals are in an electrolyte [1].” Thus, corrosion of this type is always a concern when two different materials are to be in mutual contact. In the aerospace industry for instance, galvanic corrosion could ...

An important product of the software design phase is the speciication of the software structure at various levels of detail. Without reliable design documentation, signiicant software systems become less accessible to software engineers because structural information is buried in the intricate implementation source code. Reverse engineering techniques aim at recovering the structure of software...

tooth/implant supported fixed prostheses may present biomechanical design problems, as the implant is rigidly anchored within the alveolus, whereas the tooth is attached by the periodontal ligament to the bone allowing movement. many clinicians prefer tooth/implant supported fixed prosthesis designs with rigid connectors. however, there are some doubts about the effect of attachment placement i...

Abstract: This research work presents a new rigid connection constructed with channels. In order to assess its hysteresis behavior, three specimens with different cover plates and six specimens with different panel zone thickness have been considered. The energy absorbed by the connection and the behavior of the panel zone were studied during cyclic loading and compared with those of connectio...