The incorporation of substituted stilbenes in copolymers affects the resulting solution properties and their controlled radical polymerizations. Substituted stilbene monomers readily polymerize in an alternating fashion with acceptor comonomers such as maleic anhydride and maleimide. These sterically crowded polymer backbones are classified as semi-rigid. As this is an uncommon category of polymer backbone rigidity, examples of semi-rigid and rigid polyzwitterions in the literature were reviewed as well as stilbene-containing semi-rigid polymers. Using a deprotection strategy, anionic polyelectrolytes and polyampholytes of stilbene-maleic anhydride copolymers were synthesized and characterized by first synthesizing organic-soluble polymer precursors. Solution shear rheology and statistical segment length measurements reveal that carboxylated polyanions containing stilbene and maleic acid remain semi-rigid in aqueous solutions. It was found that these semi-rigid polyanions exhibited excellent anti-HIV activity possibly due to their more extended polymer chains. This was the first time that intrinsic polymer rigidity was introduced as a possible design parameter for microbicidal applications. Reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization techniques were used to copolymerize 4-diethylaminostilbene with maleic anhydride. These new semi-rigid copolymers were incorporated into double hydrophilic block copolymers (DHBCS) containing semi-rigid and flexible segments. The subsequent solutions properties of these DHBCs were evaluated with respect to pH and salt responsiveness. Notably, the DHBCs exhibited a "like-charge" attraction as ionic strength increased which was attributed to the semi-rigid character of the polyampholyte block copolymer. / Ph. D.

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Semi-rigid composite connections with precast hollowcore slabs are a newly developed technique with few applications in current construction practice. The research on the structural behaviour of this new type of connection is limited, with no existing method available to predict its important characteristics such as moment and rotation capacities. In this paper, based on the parametric studies of the three-dimensional finite element model and full-scale tests, analytical methods to calculate the moment and rotation capacity of this type of composite joint are proposed. A comparison between the proposed calculation method and the full-scale test results was made, and good agreement was obtained.

No / Composite construction incorporating steel beams and precast hollowcore slabs is a recently developed composite floor system for building construction. As the construction industry demands for rapid construction with reduction in cost and environmental impacts, this form of composite construction, which does not require major onsite concreting, has become very popular among the designers and engineers in the UK. This form of composite construction is so far limited to simple beam-column connections. A semi-rigid composite joint is developed which can provide sufficient moment and rotation capacity required for plastic analysis in composite beams design. An analytical model for the semi-rigid composite connection is proposed and is verified with the experimental data and good agreement is obtained.

This thesis investigates the torsional performance of steel structures with and without rigid diaphragm constraints through numerical simulations and evaluates the appropriateness of relevant design provisions in current seismic design codes. In the first part of the work, six theme structures with different (1) in-plane stiffness of diaphragm, and (2) horizontal configurations of vertical braced frames were designed and their performance evaluated through both nonlinear static and dynamic analyses. Comparisons of the analytical results between the structures with and without rigid diaphragm constraints indicate that the in-plane rigidity of the diaphragms affects the efficiency of in-plane force transfer mechanisms, resulting in different global ductility and strength demands. Rigid diaphragm structures exhibit higher global strengths as well as higher torsional rotation capacity because of the infinite in-plane stiffness of the diaphragm. Semi-rigid diaphragm structures have higher ductility demands due to the finite in-plane diaphragm stiffness. The inclusion of bi-axial forces in the analyses reduces the structural strength and increases the ductility demands on the peripheral frames. The axial forces in the collectors and chords that make up the diaphragm depend on (1) the sequence of brace buckling and (2) vertical configuration of the braced frames. The results show higher axial forces in collectors in the roof diaphragms, and higher chord axial forces in the third floor diaphragms. The shear connections in the beams that make up both the collectors and chords are susceptible to failure due to the significant increment of axial forces in those members. The conventional beam analogy used in design can severely underestimate the axial forces in chords and collectors when the structures step into the inelastic stage. / Ph. D.

Two types of connection are generally considered in the design of steel structures in practice. These are classified as completely rigid (moment) and simple (shear) connections. In theory, completely rigid connections can not undergo rotation and simple connections can not transfer moment. However, in reality rigid connections have a relative flexibility which makes them to rotate and simple connections have some reserve capacity to transfer moments. In many modern design specifications, this fact is realized and another type which is called partially restrained or semi-rigid connection is introduced. These types of connections have got the transfer of some beam moment to column together with shear. However, there is a lack of information on the amount of moment transferred and rotation of connection during the action of the moment transfer. The only way to quantify the moment and rotation of the partially restrained connections is to draw momentrotation curves. Nevertheless, drawing such curves requires great amount of expenses for experiments. Taking these into account, the use of finite elements with the help of increased computational power is one way to obtain moment-rotation curves of connections. Available test results guides the finite element analysis for justifications. So these analyses can be further implemented into design functions. This thesis is intended to conduct 3-D non-linear finite element analyses to compliment with tests results for different types of semi-rigid connections with angles and compare them with mathematical models developed by different researchers.

Neste trabalho, é desenvolvido um programa através do método dos deslocamentos, em que o mesmo leva em consideração a influência do efeito da semi-rigidez rotacional nas ligações formadas por dois parafusos sobre o comportamento mecânico da estrutura. Esta configuração de parafusos é devidamente escolhida em função de sua corrente aplicação em estruturas de madeira, principalmente em estruturas auxiliares ou de cobertura. Vários exemplos de estruturas típicas de cobertura são executados considerando-se as três formas que o presente programa analisa, evidenciando-se a importância do comportamento semi-rígido sobre as ligações. / In this work, a program is developed through the method of the displacements, in that the same get the worst of the influence of the effect of semi-rigidity rotational in the connections formed by two screws about the mechanical behaviour of the structure. This configuration of screws is chosen properly in function of your current application in wood structures, mainly in auxiliary structures or of covering. Several examples of typical structures of covering are executed being considered the three analysis forms in that the present program executes, being evidenced the importance of the semi-rigid behaviour about the connections.

As alternativas de reciclagem se apresentam com elevado potencial para acrescentar ganho à capacidade estrutural de um pavimento, simultaneamente, aproveitando os materiais compostos do pavimento existente, acarretando benefícios econômicos e ambientais, quando comparadas às soluções de reconstrução tradicionais. Diversos métodos de reciclagem de pavimentos têm sido aplicados no Brasil, particularmente, a reciclagem com adição de cimento, entretanto, não há um método consolidado para o dimensionamento estrutural dessa solução, o que gera dificuldades e muitas vezes desconfiança no seu emprego. Para se desenvolver um procedimento de dimensionamento que contemple esse tipo de solução, foram estudados métodos presentes na bibliografia internacional. Uma abordagem detalhada sobre cada método é apresentada, denotando seus principais aspectos, resultando em uma proposta de procedimento para o dimensionamento estrutural de pavimentos com camadas recicladas com cimento, de forma a atender a metodologia do Manual de Pavimentação do Departamento Nacional de Infraestrutura de Transportes (DNIT) aplicando conceitos de análise mecanicista. A fim de corroborar os assuntos abordados, foi realizado um estudo paramétrico com o desenvolvimento de equações para correlação entre as deformações críticas esperadas na estrutura reciclada, resultando em modelos de dimensionamento para a camada reciclada com cimento e, por fim, o estudo de caso com o dimensionamento estrutural pelos métodos abordados em segmentos da rodovia SP 270. / Recycling alternatives are presented with a high potential to add gain to the structural capacity of a pavement, making use of the existing pavement composite materials while bringing economic and environmental benefits when compared to traditional reconstruction techniques. Several methods of pavement recycling have been applied in Brazil, particularly the recycling with cement addition; however, there is no consolidated method for the structural design of this solution, which generates difficulties and often distrust regarding its employment. In order to develop a design procedure taking into account this sort of solution, methods described in international bibliography have been examined. A detailed approach to each method denoting its main aspects is presented, resulting in a proposed procedure for the structural design of pavements with cement recycled layers so as to comply with the methodology contained in the Paving Manual of National Department of Transport Infrastructure (DNIT) by applying concepts of mechanistic analysis. In order to corroborate the issues discussed, a parametric study has been carried out with the development of equations to correlate the critical deformations expected in the recycled structure, resulting in design models for the cement recycled layer and finally, the case study of a structural design on segments of Highway SP 270 using the methods discussed.