The behavior of a complex system in a changing environment is strongly affected by the system's architecture. We present an analogy between the major phases of matter (solid, liquid, gas) and three major generic architectures of complex systems: tree structures, layered structures and grid networks. This analogy is realized using a graph-based formalism, with nodes and edges in a given configur...

The finite element alternating method is an attractive and efficient method for calculating the stress intensity factor of cracks emanating from fastener holes such as the problem of multiple site damage (MSD) at the fuselage skin of aging aircraft. While the alternating method has been used to solve various engineering problems in assessing the structural integrity of aging aircraft, this meth...

Harsh environments and confined spaces require that nondestructive inspections be conducted with robotic systems. Ultrasonic guided waves are well suited for robotic systems because they can provide efficient volumetric coverage when inspecting for various types of damage, including cracks and corrosion. Shear horizontal guided waves are especially well suited for robotic inspection because the...

This article reviews the diagnosis and treatment of cracked teeth, and explores common clinical examples of cracked teeth, such as cusp fractures, fractures into tooth furcations, and root fractures. This article provides alternative definitions of terms such as cracked teeth, complete and incomplete fractures and crack lines, and explores the scientific rationale for dental terminology commonl...

Sand flies belonging to the genus Sergentomyia Franca & Parrot, 1920, are hematophagous insects feeding mostly on reptiles and birds, but some species feed also on mammals including humans. Sergentomyia spp. frequently comprise the vast majority of sand flies trapped along with Phlebotomus spp., the vectors of mammalian leishmaniasis. Within the framework of a project on the ecology and transmi...

Stiffened plates are employed in various engineering structures including aerospace, civil, naval, etc. These may be subjected to harmonic loads. Therefore, it is essential understand the response of a cracked stiffened structure. This study presents effects crack location on free vibration and plates. For this purpose, horizontal vertical cracks modelled throughout fixed from two-side The anal...

Abstract: The performance of corroded reinforced concrete (RC) beams strengthened with externally bonded carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) materials may be affected by a weak interface caused either by defective bonding between the new and old concrete in the case of cover replacement or by expansive cracks in the case of direct application. To investigate this effect, thirteen strengthene...

In this paper, case study on outlet cracking is first conducted for the Goupitan and Xiaowan arch dams. A nonlinear FEM method is then implemented to study effects of the outlets on integral stability of the Xiluodu arch dam under two loading conditions, i.e., normal loading and overloading conditions. On the basis of the case study and the numerical modelling, the outlet cracking mechanism, ri...