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Found 6327 publications

Elasto-plastic analysis and optimal design of composite integral abutment bridge extended with limited residual plastic deformation

Publication Name: Scientific Reports

Publication Date: 2023-12-01

Volume: 13

Issue: 1

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

Due to the growing significance of structural theories concerning the composite structure analysed and designed plastically, this paper introduces a new optimisation method for controlling the plastic behaviour of a full-scale composite integral abutment bridge by employing complementary strain energy of residual forces that existed within the reinforcing rebars. Composite bridges are structures made of components such as steel and concrete, which are frequent and cost-effective building methods. Thus, various objective functions were used in this work when applying optimum elasto-plastic analysing and designing the composite integrated bridge structure that was tested experimentally in the laboratory. In contrast, the plastic deformations were constrained by restricting the complementary strain energy of the residual internal forces aiming to find the maximum applied load and the minimum number of steel bars used to reinforce the concrete column part of the structure. The numerical model employed in this paper was validated and calibrated using experimental results, which were considered inside ABAQUS to produce the validated numerical model, using concrete damage plasticity (CDP) constitutive model and concrete data from laboratory testing to solve the nonlinear programming code provided by the authors. This paper presents a novel optimization method using complementary strain energy to control the plastic behaviour of a full-scale composite integral abutment bridge, with the original contribution being the incorporation of residual forces within reinforcing rebars to limit plastic deformations. Following that, a parametric investigation of the various optimisation problems revealed how models performed variously under different complementary strain energy values, which influenced the general behaviour of the structure as it transitioned from elastic to elasto-plastic to plastic; also results showed how the complementary strain energy value is connected with the amount of damaged accrued in both concrete and steel.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-32787-y

Harnessing the Synergy of the Cyanobacteria-Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria for Improved Maize (Zea mays) Growth and Soil Health

Publication Name: Sustainability Switzerland

Publication Date: 2023-12-01

Volume: 15

Issue: 24

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

Intensive use of chemicals in agriculture harms the soil, disrupts the ecological balance, and impacts microorganisms. Biofertilizers are gaining traction due to their eco-friendly and cost-effective benefits. This study evaluates the potential of the cyanobacterium MACC-612 (Nostoc piscinale) and plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) (Azospirillum lipoferum, Pseudomonas fluorescens) in enhancing crop growth, yield, and soil health. A two-year field study was conducted using a factorial approach and a completely randomized block design, comprising four replications. The three levels of the cynobacterium (0, 0.3, or 1 g/L of N. MACC-612) and different bacteria strains were used in the experiments. The results demonstrated substantial enhancements in seed number per ear, kernel weight, and yield when using N. piscinale and PGPB, whether used individually or in combination. The soil pH, humus, (NO3 + NO2)-nitrogen, and soil microbial biomass showed significant increases across both years. The combining application of the N. piscinale (0.3 g/L) with A. lipoferum increased grain yield by 33.20% in the first year and 31.53% in the second. The humus and (NO3 + NO2)-nitrogen content significantly rose in treatments involving N. piscinale at 0.3 g/L combined with A. lipoferum at about 20.25% and 59.2%, respectively, in comparison to the untreated control. Hence, the most effective approach was the combined use of N. piscinale and A. lipoferum, which enhanced maize growth and soil fertility.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3390/su152416660

AESTHETIC EXISTENCE AND THE THERAPY OF PASSIONS IN THE WORLD OF GEORGE SANTAYANA

Publication Name: Pragmatism Today

Publication Date: 2023-12-01

Volume: 14

Issue: 2

Page Range: 22-39

Description:

The protagonist of my study, George Santayana, by idealizing love and sublimating sexual desires, has become the author of an aesthetics of existence elevated to literature and philosophy. He made self-cultivation and a life of satisfying desires a philosophical problem. His life's work is based on aesthetics, but it cannot be clearly placed within either Pragmatism or Platonism. My interpretation of Santayana from the perspective of the philosophy of desire takes the philosopher out of the conservative interpretative framework. His philosophy was centred on sensory perception, and although he sought spiritualism through his Platonism, his The Sense of Beauty is based on pleasure. His personal life and individual motivations are a vague background to his poetry and theoretical writings, and it is therefore necessary to view his creative world as a whole.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: DOI not available

An extended stress-based forming limit diagram focusing on the wrinkling phenomenon and the effect of the normal pressure on clamped surfaces

Publication Name: Journal of Materials Processing Technology

Publication Date: 2023-12-01

Volume: 322

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

A novel wrinkling limit representation following the pattern of the conventional forming limit curves (FLCs) and the stress-based forming limit curves (SFLCs) as well as the application of the assumed criterion in finite element modelling are discussed in this manuscript. FLCs can partially refer to the wrinkling potential in the area left to the uniaxial tension line, but just like the SFLCs, cannot characterize the limits of the material behavior in a deeper sense, if negative in-plane stress and normal pressure act together on the sheet. This study predicts the wrinkling risk of clamped surfaces with a stress-based criterion through solving the analytical equations of the critical compressive stress causing wrinkling, and the corresponding blank holder pressure. The critical values were calculated based on the Wang and Cao's theory using Hill48 anisotropic yield function coupled with the Swift hardening law. The results draw a novel wrinkling limit curve representation methodology, in which the minor stress responsible for wrinkling and its ratio to the major stress are distinguished in the function of the applied blank holder pressure. The applicability of the calculated curves was investigated using finite element simulations, which showed that this method provides the opportunity to quantitatively interpret how close a component is to the wrinkling limit. The calculated wrinkling tendencies were verified by standard cup drawing tests supplemented by round shape error measurements on three different automotive steel sheets. It can be stated that the obtained numerical conditions of wrinkling were fitted to the experiments fairly well.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1016/j.jmatprotec.2023.118196

Reliability‑based probabilistic numerical plastically limited analysis of reinforced concrete haunched beams

Publication Name: Scientific Reports

Publication Date: 2023-12-01

Volume: 13

Issue: 1

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

This research proposes a novel method that considers the optimal reliability-based design of reinforced concrete haunched beams subjected to probabilistic concrete properties and complementary strain energy values. The theory is applied twice, once to evaluate a deterministic solution, where the plastic behaviour is constrained by the complementary strain energy of residual stresses induced within steel bars. Secondly, the same method is considered for a probabilistic solution where the concrete characteristics—compressive strength and modulus of elasticity—and complementary strain energy value vary randomly. The reliability index acts as a bound for the solution. It is important to mention that the model utilised in this publication is derived from recent research after being calibrated using Abaqus. This work represents an extension of that recent research that exclusively considered deterministic work. This research led deterministically to new estimates for the complementary strain energy, which will be interpreted as reflecting the behaviour of plastic thresholds and quantifying the associated loads. Afterwards, uncertainty is studied when probability interferes, showing various load values and damage in concrete and steel when the complementary strain energy and concrete properties are probabilistically evaluated, giving a less reliable solution as the load reduces. These effects are reflected in the varying plastic behaviour of the investigated haunched beams.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-29930-0

Chitosan and cyanobacterial biomass accounting physiological and biochemical development of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under nutrient stress conditions

Publication Name: Agrosystems Geosciences and Environment

Publication Date: 2023-12-01

Volume: 6

Issue: 4

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

In the spirit of getting back to nature and using science to increase crop productivity without posing any threat to the environment, researchers are paying attention to making natural products alternative sources of nutrients for plants at affordable prices. On top of this, chitosan and cyanobacteria have become popular in agriculture as metabolic enhancers, biofertilizers, and antimicrobial properties. Cyanobacteria are known to possess biostimulating properties while chitosan is well known for its inherent biological properties. With the aim of minimizing the application of nitrogen, this experiment was conducted for the first time to check if the application of chitosan, microalgae, or both with 50% nitrogen can balance the nutrient requirement for different physiological and biochemical development as effectively as a 100% nitrogen dose. The data were recorded only for the early vegetative stages, as the seeds were non-vernalized. The basic parameters recorded were hexose content, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total phenol content, and relative water content (RWC). In most of the parameters, comparable results were found between the control (with a 100% nitrogen recommended dose) and other treatments (where either microalga, chitosan, or both were added), whereas it was clearly shown that 50% of recommended nitrogen doses reduce the hexose, chlorophyll, and RWCs. Thus, the treatments were effective in supplementing the developmental requirements. Therefore, the combined use of chitosan and cyanobacteria on crops significantly lowers nitrogen fertilization, increases photosynthesis, enhances resistance to water stress, and enhances antioxidant activity in modern agriculture.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1002/agg2.20428

Interoperability of the revolutionary blockchain architectures and Islamic and conventional technology markets: Case of Metaverse, HPB, and Bloknet

Publication Name: Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance

Publication Date: 2023-12-01

Volume: 92

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: 112-131

Description:

This study examines how Islamic and conventional technology stock indices interact with blockchain technology assets including Metaverse, High-Performance Blockchain, and Blocknet, throughout different market conditions and horizons. A three-pronged approach is employed, namely the quantile cross-spectral coherency approach, the time-varying parameter vector autoregressions (TVP-VAR), and the Causality in quantiles methodology. The quantile coherency results show that connectivity between new generation blockchains and conventional and Islamic markets varies. It was found that the connectedness of the network of variables rises in the medium run and reaches its peak in the long run as a result of the TVP-VAR approach. It is evident from the results that the application of sharia screening only impacts the relationship between the technology stock index and digital assets significantly, but does not affect the connectedness and causality between the two. Technology managers, policymakers, and blockchain designers are able to gain new insights from these research findings.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1016/j.qref.2023.09.001

DES and IIoT fusion approach towards real-time synchronization of physical and digital components in manufacturing processes

Publication Name: Reports in Mechanical Engineering

Publication Date: 2023-12-01

Volume: 4

Issue: 1

Page Range: 161-174

Description:

Today's manufacturing systems offer more products to meet specific needs. Complex production systems in rapidly changing environments result from product variation, shorter product life cycles, and supply chain expansion. A cyber-physical production system (CPPS) can use manufacturing and logistics data to plan, monitor, and control production. Discrete event simulation (DES) and digital twin (DT) technology can model and evaluate manufacturing and logistics processes using high-level decision support and process monitoring. The cost of collecting input data from different enterprise data sources and mapping it into models and the lack of qualified experts prevent the widespread use of these methods in industry, especially in small and medium-sized enterprises and larger multinational companies. This research aims to create a modular digital twin framework for manufacturing process optimization and real-time monitoring in an industrial environment with few components. The system can identify and track the product through the manufacturing cycle while updating the DT in real-time and can be used independently to collect input parameters for discrete event-driven simulations and even for automatic simulation building in the future. The framework's operation will be shown through an example. With the proposed IIoT (industrial internet of things) system integration, it can detect faults and warn of deviations from normal operation, and DT can drastically reduce data collection and model building and support model reusability, increasing sustainability.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.31181/rme040115092023m

Cost-effective 3D scanning and printing technologies for outer ear reconstruction: current status

Publication Name: Head and Face Medicine

Publication Date: 2023-12-01

Volume: 19

Issue: 1

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

Current 3D scanning and printing technologies offer not only state-of-the-art developments in the field of medical imaging and bio-engineering, but also cost and time effective solutions for surgical reconstruction procedures. Besides tissue engineering, where living cells are used, bio-compatible polymers or synthetic resin can be applied. The combination of 3D handheld scanning devices or volumetric imaging, (open-source) image processing packages, and 3D printers form a complete workflow chain that is capable of effective rapid prototyping of outer ear replicas. This paper reviews current possibilities and latest use cases for 3D-scanning, data processing and printing of outer ear replicas with a focus on low-cost solutions for rehabilitation engineering.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1186/s13005-023-00394-x