This paper presents the study of strengthening R/C beams with large circular and square opening located at flexure zone by Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) laminates. A total of five beams were tested to failure under four point loading to investigate the structural behavior including crack patterns, failure mode, ultimate load and load deflection behaviour. Test results show that large o...

This Note presents a new asymmetric flexure design, the double parallelogram-tilted-beam double parallelogram (DP-TDP) flexure, that enables two times higher stroke in electrostatic comb-drive actuators, compared to the traditional symmetrically paired double parallelogram (DP-DP) flexure, while maintaining the same device footprint. Because of its unique kinematic configuration, the DP-TDP fle...

As a kind of important flexible joint, two-axis flexure hinges can realize in-plane and out-of-plane motions and can be used for constructing flexure-based spatial compliant mechanisms. The paper introduces a common two-axis elliptical-arc-filleted flexure hinge that is generated by two different elliptical-arc-filleted cutout profiles and that provides some new hinge types. The analytical comp...

A novel flexure hinge named half circular-elliptical hybrid flexure hinge was presented. Based on Castigliano’s Displacement Theorem, the compliance equations of the novel flexure hinge were formulated. A computer aided analysis and parametric design program of the half circular-elliptical hybrid flexure hinge was developed by VC++6.0. A specific half circular-elliptical hybrid flexure hinge wa...

Primary splenic flexure volvulus is a rare entity. We report an acute presentation of primary splenic flexure volvulus with gangrene in a 24-year-old man. Radiograph showed a massively-dilated large bowel loop with a coffee-bean sign. At emergency laparotomy, a distended and gangrenous splenic flexure was found, with absence of all three ligamentous attachments of the splenic flexure.

Background and study aims  A 70-year-old-man underwent an esophagectomy and posterior mediastinal reconstruction for esophageal cancer that was curatively resected. Although the patient was allowed to eat after surgery, he repeatedly vomited after drinking water or eating meals and required continuous hospitalization. An upper gastrointestinal series and endoscopic examination revealed an obstr...

One of the key damage observations in modern reinforced concrete (RC) frame buildings, damaged following 2010/2011 Canterbury and 2016 Kaikoura earthquakes, was localised cracking at beam-column interface capacity-designed beams. The beams due to curtailed longitudinal bars interface. Following these observations, without experimental data justify desirable seismic performance, controlled by we...