PC panel strengthening technique was developed in M.E.T.U. Structural Mechanics Laboratory in order to respond the need of practical and efficient pre-quake seismic strengthening procedures applicable to RC framed structures. The idea behind the method is simply to convert the non-structural infills into load bearing structural elements by gluing PC panels over the existing infill wall surface. The remarkable advantages of the procedure is not only the considerable amount of seismic performance improvement but also the simplicity of application, very low levels of disturbance to the occupants and most importantly, the applicability during service. A number of PC panel application parameters were experimentally investigated by previous researchers. The success of PC panel method on seismic performance improvement of RC frames with different aspect ratios was experimentally investigated in the present study. Total of fifteen, 1:3 scaled, one-bay, two-storey RC frames were tested in three various aspect ratio series. Constant axial load was applied to the columns and reversed cyclic load was applied in the lateral direction. Hollow brick v infilled frame and cast-in-place RC infilled frame were the lower and upper bound reference specimens, respectively. Seismic performance indicators such as response envelope curves, lateral load carrying capacities, cumulative energy dissipations, initial stiffness indicators and ductility values clearly showed the effectiveness of PC panel application over different geometry of RC frames of concern. Moreover, PC panel application either with rectangular or with strip shaped PC panels provided seismic performance improvement to be almost equal to that of cast-in-place RC infill application for all series. Equivalent diagonal strut concept was followed in analytical studies to simulate the infills of RC frame openings. The required strut material properties were estimated from total of eighteen individual wall panel tests. The bond-slip effect, due to utilization low strength of concrete and plain rebars, was also investigated and introduced to the analytical frame models. Non-linear push over analysis was performed for all specimens in OpenSees computer software. The analytical results were compared with that of experimental response envelopes.

<p>Continuous caster moulds are the last and most important stage in the steelmaking process, where inclusions can either be generated or removed. With increasing casting speed using conventional immersion nozzles critical problems, such as unstable bulk mould flow have been noticed. Mould flux entrapment due to vortex and shearing action from the oscillating surface waves have become of particular concern. It is therefore necessary to have a calm inlet flow at the entrance of the mould. Recently, it has been acknowledged that a swirl blade placed at the upstream of the immersion nozzle effectively resolves the problems arising from unstable bulk mould flow. Therefore, to increase the knowledge of effect of swirling flow on the flow pattern in the mould, fundamental mathematical models of a billet mould equipped with a swirl blade in the nozzle have been developed. The model was used to study the effect of divergent angle of the immersion nozzle and mould aspect ratio on the flow field and temperature distribution inside billets moulds. Data from water model experiments were used to verify the mathematical model predictions. A fairly good agreement was found between physical modeling data and predictions, which ensured that the numerical model is reliable. Thereafter, the differences between square and round billet moulds were studied. Next, the effect of changing aspect ratio of the rectangular mould on the fluid flow and heat transfer, while keeping mould surface area constant, was studied. Two types of immersion nozzles, bottomless and conventional, were also analyzed during the research. The model moulds were changed gradually from a square billet with an aspect ratio of 1x1 to a rectangular billet with an aspect ratio of 3x1. First, the temperature and velocity distributions were calculated. Later, unsteady calculations were done to determine velocity fluctuations on the meniscus level for two types of nozzles and several moulds geometries.</p>

Worldwide interest in gas production from shale formations has rapidly increased in recent years, mostly by the successful development of gas shales in North America. The Haynesville Shale is a productive gas shale resource play located in Texas and Louisiana. It produces primarily through enhanced exposure to the reservoir and improved permeability resulting from horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing. Accordingly, it is important to estimate the reservoir properties that influence the elastic and geomechanical properties from seismic data. This thesis estimates pore shapes, which affect the transport, elastic, and geomechancial properties, from wellbore seismic velocity in the Haynesville Shale. The approach for this work is to compare computed velocities from an appropriate rock physics model to measured velocities from well log data. In particular, the self-consistent approximation was used to calculate the model-based velocities. The Backus average was used to upscale the high-frequency well log data to the low-frequency seismic scale. Comparisons of calculated velocities from the self-consistent model to upscaled Backus-averaged velocities (at 20 Hz and 50 Hz) with a convergence of 0.5% made it possible to estimate pore aspect ratios as a function of depth. The first of two primary foci of this approach was to estimate pore shapes when a single fluid was emplaced in all the pores. This allowed for understanding pore shapes while minimizing the effects of pore fluids. Secondly, the effects of pore fluid properties were studied by comparing velocities for both patchy and uniform fluid saturation. These correspond to heterogeneous and homogeneous fluid mixing, respectively. Implementation of these fluid mixtures was to model them directly within the self-consistent approximation and by modeling dry-rock velocities, followed by standard Gassmann fluid substitution. P-wave velocities calculated by the self-consistent model for patchy saturation cases had larger values than those from Gassmann fluid substitution, but S-wave velocities were very similar. Pore aspect ratios for variable fluid properties were also calculated by both the self-consistent model and Gassmann fluid substitution. Pore aspect ratios determined for the patchy saturation cases were the smallest, and those for the uniform saturation cases were the largest. Pore aspect ratios calculated by Gassmann fluid substitution were larger because the velocity is inversely related to the aspect ratio in this particular modeling procedure. Estimates of pore aspect ratios for uniform saturation were 0.051 to 0.319 with the average of 0.171 from the velocity modeling using the self-consistent model. For patchy saturation, the aspect ratios were 0.035 to 0.296 with a mean of 0.145. These estimated pore aspect ratios from the patchy saturation case within the self-consistent model are considered the most reasonable set of values I determined. This is because the most likely in-situ fluid distribution is heterogeneous due to the extremely low permeability of the Haynesville Shale. Estimated pore aspect ratios using this modeling help us to understand elastic properties of the Haynesville Shale. In addition, this may help to find zones that correspond to optimal locations for fracturing the shale while considering brittleness and in-situ stress of the formation. / text

Thesis (Ph.D.); Submitted to the University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA (US); 1 Sep 2003. / Published through the Information Bridge: DOE Scientific and Technical Information. "LBNL--55023" Li, Liang-shi. USDOE Director. Office of Science. Office of Basic Energy Sciences (US) 09/01/2003. Report is also available in paper and microfiche from NTIS.

A dual-axis fluidic thrust vectoring (FTV) system is proposed where the supersonic propulsive jet of an aircraft is exhausted over a scarfed (swept), curved surface to produce flight control moments in both the pitch and yaw axes. This work contributes towards practical dual-axis FTV through expansion of fundamental curved-wall jet (CWJ) understanding, development of the novel Superimposed Characteristics technique for supersonic nozzle design, and performance evaluation of an experimental scarfed curved wall FTV configuration. Previous work has suggested that the use of a sheared exhaust velocity profile improves the attachment of supersonic jets to curved surfaces; however, evidence to support this is limited. To address this, an inviscid numerical CWJ model was developed using the two-dimensional method of characteristics. A major outcome is improved understanding of the effect of exhaust velocity profile on CWJ wave structure and subsequent jet attachment. A sheared velocity exhaust is shown to generate a wave structure that diminishes adverse streamwise pressure gradients within a supersonic curved-wall jet. This reduces the likelihood of boundary layer separation and as a result, a sheared exhaust velocity CWJ is expected to be less readily separated compared to other exhaust velocity profiles. A novel method termed Superimposed Characteristics was developed for the low-order design of supersonic nozzles with rectangular exits. The technique is capable of generating 3D nozzle geometries based on independent exit plane orientation and exhaust velocity distribution requirements. The Superimposed Characteristics method was used to design scarfed rectangular exit nozzles with sheared velocity exhaust profiles. These nozzles were then evaluated using finite volume computational methods and experimental methods. From the analysis, the Superimposed Characteristics method is shown to be valid for preliminary nozzle design. Experimental methods were used to study the on- and off-design attachment qualities of uniform and sheared velocity exhaust jets for a FTV configuration with an external curved wall termination angle of 90 degrees and scarf angle of 30 degrees. Experiments at the on-design nozzle pressure ratio (NPR) of 3.3 demonstrated pitch and yaw jet deflection angles of 78 degrees and 23 degrees respectively for the uniform exhaust velocity CWJ. The sheared exhaust velocity CWJ achieved lower pitch and yaw deflection angles of 34 degrees and 14 degrees respectively at the same on-design NPR. The lower jet deflection angles observed for sheared exhaust velocity jets is inconsistent with the CWJ model prediction of reduced adverse streamwise pressure gradients; however, there was insufficient experimental instrumentation to identify the cause. In the off-design experiments, the uniform exhaust velocity CWJ was observed to detach at an NPR of 3.6, whilst the sheared exhaust velocity CWJ remained attached at NPRs in excess of 4. The capability of sheared exhaust velocity CWJs to remain attached at higher NPRs is consistent with the analytical theory and the CWJ model predictions. An actuation study was carried out to achieve controlled jet detachment using secondary blowing injected normal to the curved wall. Full separation of the wall jets was achieved downstream of the injection point. This provided vectoring angles of more than 20 degrees in pitch and 10 degrees in yaw, exceeding expected vectoring requirements for practical aircraft control. At the on-design NPR, the uniform and sheared exhaust velocity jets required secondary blowing mass flow rates of 2.1% and 3.8% of the primary mass flow respectively to achieve full separation.

O presente trabalho destina-se ao estudo numérico da geometria de tubos de seção elíptica que facilite a transferência de calor adimensional e diminua a queda de pressão adimensional (Δ̃) sofrida pelo escoamento. O método aplicado é o Design Construtal, que visa determinar a geometria que apresentará a menor resistência ao escoamento, ou seja, busca-se determinar a razão de aspecto da elipse (=⁄) que favorece a transferência de calor e diminui a queda de pressão do escoamento. O fluido empregado neste estudo apresenta características de viscoplasticidade. A relação entre a tensão cisalhante e a taxa de deformação obedece ao modelo de Herschel-Bulkley modificado. Considera-se que o escoamento é incompressível, laminar, bidimensional, externo e ocorre em regime permanente. A solução numérica do problema proposto é realizada com um código comercial baseado no método dos volumes finitos. É investigada a influência do índice de potência, , sobre a seção elíptica que facilita o escoamento e, para isso, este índice é variado de 0,4 a 1. A influência dos números de Reynolds (√), Herschel-Bulkley (√) e Prandtl (√) sobre o comportamento do escoamento também é avaliada. √ é variado de 1 a 40, √ é variado de 1 a 100 e √ é variado de 0,1 a 100 Os resultados mostram que, para um escoamento com √=1, √=1 e √=1, o aumento do índice de potência influencia negativamente na transferência de calor adimensional e a seção elíptica, que maximiza esta transferência de calor adimensional, tende a ser mais alongada na direção do escoamento. Já e influenciam positivamente na transferência de calor adimensional. Para um escoamento com √=1, √=1, =0,4 conclui-se que com o aumento de a razão de aspecto ótima (q,opt), do ponto de vista térmico, diminui. Quando é considerado um escoamento com √=1, √=1, =0,4 conclui-se que q,opt diminui com o aumento de , ou seja, a elipse torna-se mais alongada no sentido do escoamento. A variação de √ em um escoamento com √=1, √=1, =0,4 mostra que o aumento deste parâmetro acarreta em aumento da taxa de transferência adimensional e de Δ̃. / The present work is aimed at the numerical study of the geometry of elliptic section tubes that facilitates the dimensionless heat transfer and decreases the dimensionless pressure drop (Δ̃) suffered by the flow. The applied method is the Construtal Design, which aims to determine the geometry that will present the least resistance to the flow, that is, to determine the aspect ratio of the ellipse (=⁄) that favors heat transfer and decreases the flow pressure drop. The fluid used in this study has viscoplasticity characteristics. The relationship between shear stress and strain rate follows the modified Herschel-Bulkley model. It is considered that the flow is incompressible, laminar, two-dimensional, external and occurs in steady state. The numerical solution of the proposed problem is carried out with a commercial code based on the finite volume method. The influence of the power index, n, on the elliptical section facilitating the flow is investigated, and for this, the index is varied from 0.4 to 1. The influence of the Reynolds number (√), Herschel-Bulkley number (√) and Prandtl number (√) on the flow behavior is also evaluated √ is varied from 1 to 40, √ is varied from 1 to 100 and √ is varied from 0.1 to 100. The results show that for a flow with √=1, √=1 and √=1, the increase of the power index negatively influences the dimensionless heat transfer and the elliptic section, which maximizes this dimensionless heat transfer, tends to be more elongated in the direction of flow. Already √ and √ influence positively the dimensionless heat transfer. For a flow with √=1, √=1, =0.4 it is concluded that with the increase of √ the optimum aspect ratio (q,opt), from the thermal point of view, decreases. When a flow is considered with √=1, √=1, =0.4 it is concluded that q,opt decreases with the increase of √, that is, ellipse becomes more elongated in the flow direction. The variation of √ in a flow with √=1, √=1, =0.4 shows that the increase of this parameter causes an increase of the dimensionless transfer rate and Δ̃.

O presente trabalho destina-se ao estudo numérico da geometria de tubos de seção elíptica que facilite a transferência de calor adimensional e diminua a queda de pressão adimensional (Δ̃) sofrida pelo escoamento. O método aplicado é o Design Construtal, que visa determinar a geometria que apresentará a menor resistência ao escoamento, ou seja, busca-se determinar a razão de aspecto da elipse (=⁄) que favorece a transferência de calor e diminui a queda de pressão do escoamento. O fluido empregado neste estudo apresenta características de viscoplasticidade. A relação entre a tensão cisalhante e a taxa de deformação obedece ao modelo de Herschel-Bulkley modificado. Considera-se que o escoamento é incompressível, laminar, bidimensional, externo e ocorre em regime permanente. A solução numérica do problema proposto é realizada com um código comercial baseado no método dos volumes finitos. É investigada a influência do índice de potência, , sobre a seção elíptica que facilita o escoamento e, para isso, este índice é variado de 0,4 a 1. A influência dos números de Reynolds (√), Herschel-Bulkley (√) e Prandtl (√) sobre o comportamento do escoamento também é avaliada. √ é variado de 1 a 40, √ é variado de 1 a 100 e √ é variado de 0,1 a 100 Os resultados mostram que, para um escoamento com √=1, √=1 e √=1, o aumento do índice de potência influencia negativamente na transferência de calor adimensional e a seção elíptica, que maximiza esta transferência de calor adimensional, tende a ser mais alongada na direção do escoamento. Já e influenciam positivamente na transferência de calor adimensional. Para um escoamento com √=1, √=1, =0,4 conclui-se que com o aumento de a razão de aspecto ótima (q,opt), do ponto de vista térmico, diminui. Quando é considerado um escoamento com √=1, √=1, =0,4 conclui-se que q,opt diminui com o aumento de , ou seja, a elipse torna-se mais alongada no sentido do escoamento. A variação de √ em um escoamento com √=1, √=1, =0,4 mostra que o aumento deste parâmetro acarreta em aumento da taxa de transferência adimensional e de Δ̃. / The present work is aimed at the numerical study of the geometry of elliptic section tubes that facilitates the dimensionless heat transfer and decreases the dimensionless pressure drop (Δ̃) suffered by the flow. The applied method is the Construtal Design, which aims to determine the geometry that will present the least resistance to the flow, that is, to determine the aspect ratio of the ellipse (=⁄) that favors heat transfer and decreases the flow pressure drop. The fluid used in this study has viscoplasticity characteristics. The relationship between shear stress and strain rate follows the modified Herschel-Bulkley model. It is considered that the flow is incompressible, laminar, two-dimensional, external and occurs in steady state. The numerical solution of the proposed problem is carried out with a commercial code based on the finite volume method. The influence of the power index, n, on the elliptical section facilitating the flow is investigated, and for this, the index is varied from 0.4 to 1. The influence of the Reynolds number (√), Herschel-Bulkley number (√) and Prandtl number (√) on the flow behavior is also evaluated √ is varied from 1 to 40, √ is varied from 1 to 100 and √ is varied from 0.1 to 100. The results show that for a flow with √=1, √=1 and √=1, the increase of the power index negatively influences the dimensionless heat transfer and the elliptic section, which maximizes this dimensionless heat transfer, tends to be more elongated in the direction of flow. Already √ and √ influence positively the dimensionless heat transfer. For a flow with √=1, √=1, =0.4 it is concluded that with the increase of √ the optimum aspect ratio (q,opt), from the thermal point of view, decreases. When a flow is considered with √=1, √=1, =0.4 it is concluded that q,opt decreases with the increase of √, that is, ellipse becomes more elongated in the flow direction. The variation of √ in a flow with √=1, √=1, =0.4 shows that the increase of this parameter causes an increase of the dimensionless transfer rate and Δ̃.

Este trabalho apresenta um novo modelo numérico para simulação de juntas de argamassa em estruturas de alvenaria no plano via método dos elementos finitos. Neste modelo, blocos de alvenaria e juntas de argamassa são representados separadamente. Elementos finitos com alta razão de aspecto são utilizados para representar as juntas de argamassa e são inseridos na malha de elementos finitos através de uma técnica de fragmentação de malha. A principal vantagem desta técnica consiste na utilização de modelos constitutivos contínuos para representar regiões descontínuas, uma vez que seu campo de deformações quando a altura do elemento de interface tende a zero é semelhante ao apresentado pela abordagem de aproximação contínua de descontinuidades fortes. Um modelo constitutivo contínuo baseado na mecânica do dano foi desenvolvido para representar o comportamento dos elementos de interface. Este modelo consegue representar a abertura e fechamento de fraturas, bem como o efeito de atrito em função da tensão de confinamento nas interfaces. Como o objetivo deste trabalho consiste na simulação da formação e propagação de fraturas ao longo das juntas de argamassa, comportamento elástico linear foi atribuindo aos elementos triangulares de três nós utilizados na discretização dos blocos de alvenaria. Vários exemplos numéricos são apresentados. Inicialmente, testes básicos são realizados para demonstrar as principais características do modelo quando submetido a carregamentos de tração, compressão e cisalhamento. Posteriormente, estruturas de alvenaria submetidas a carregamentos estáticos são analisadas e os resultados comparados com as respostas experimentais a fim de validar o modelo proposto. A técnica proposta se mostrou bastante promissora para simulação da formação e propagação de fratura em juntas de argamassa de estruturas de alvenaria. / This work presents a novel numerical model to simulate the failure process in masonry structures subjected to static loads via finite element method. Brick and mortar joints are modeled separately with their own constitutive equations. Interface finite element with high aspect ratio are used to simulate the mortar interface and inserted by the mesh fragmentation technique. The main advantage of this strategy is supported by the fact that, as the aspect ratio of a standard low-order solid finite element increases, the element strains also increase, approaching the same kinematics as the Continuum Strong Discontinuity Approach. A constitutive model was developed, based on the continuum damage mechanics, in order to represent the behavior of the interface finite elements. This model is able to simulate the creation and propagation of cracks, as well as, the frictional effects in dependence on stress confinement on the interfaces. Furthermore, as the objective of this work aims to simulate the failure in the mortar joints, the brick elements are assumed as linear elastic material. Three node standard triangular finite element are used to represent the bricks. Several numerical models are carried out. Initially, basics tests are show in order to demonstrate the main characteristics of the proposed model subjected to tensile, compression and shear loads. Subsequently, masonry structures are subjected to static loads are analyzed and the results compared with the experimental responses in order to validate the proposed model. This technique proved to be very promising for the simulation of failure onset and propagation in mortar joints of masonry structures.

As a leading figure of “The Six Generation” directors, Jia Zhangke’s films focus on reality of contemporary Chinese society, and record the lives of people who were left behind after the country’s urbanization process. He depicts a lot of characters who struggle with their lives, and he works to explore one common question throughout all of his films: “where do I belong?” Jia Zhangke uses unique filmmaking techniques in order to emphasize the feelings of people losing their sense of home. In this thesis, I am going to analyze his cinematic style from three perspectives: photography, musical scores and metaphors. In each chapter, I will use one film as the main subject of discussion and reference other films to complement my analysis. / Graduate

Contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are but one of a variety of nanosystems that have incredible potential for the detection and diagnosis of cancer. Nanosystems share a common disadvantage: they are quickly sequestered by biological processes that clear foreign material from the body, requiring ever larger doses to accumulate in targets, and reducing their overall effectiveness and viability. This thesis explores a pair of strategies for nanomaterials to boost their evasiveness from these defensive systems in the context of lanthanide MRI contrast agents, in an attempt to increase their probability to collect in cancerous tissue. Chapter 1 provides precedent and rationale for the modification of two parameters regarding novel nanosystem design: aspect ratio and zeta potential. Chapter 2 details the controlled syntheses and analysis of sodium dysprosium fluoride nanomaterials at a range of aspect ratios. Chapter 3 concerns the construction of tunable zwitterionic polymer coatings for synthesized nanomaterials to demonstrate control over the zeta potential in aqueous dispersion. Chapter 4 tests polymer-coated spherical nanoparticles and nanorods for internalization into or adsorbance onto a cancerous cell line. Chapter 5 summarizes the work of the previous chapters and suggests future research approaches. Though internalization or adsorbance onto HeLa cells was not observed for prepared nanomaterials, control over their aspect ratio at the synthetic level and zeta potential via constructed zwitterionic polymers was demonstrated, with implications for application to a plethora of nanosystems. / Graduate