A Simplified Method for Predicting Tunneling-Induced Ground Movement considering Nonuniform Deformation Boundary

Stochastic medium (SM) theory is a practical method in ground settlement prediction, while its nonintegrable double integral form makes the solution process complicated. A simplified analytical solution based on the SM theory is developed to predict the ground movement in tunneling excavation. With the simplified solution, the ground movement for single tunnel and twin tunnels could be predicted based on the gap parameter G and influence angle β. A feasible approach is developed to estimate these two parameters using the maximum ground settlement Smax and tunnel design parameters, including tunnel depth H and diameter R. The proposed approach can be used to predict the ground movement curve for both circular and noncircular cross section tunnels. To validate its accuracy, the results predicted by the simplified procedure are compared with those obtained by the SM theory and measured in situ. The comparisons show that the current results agree well with those obtained by the SM theory and measured in situ. The comparison of five tunnels in literature illustrates that the simplified method can provide a more reasonable prediction for the ground movement induced by tunneling.

Janus particles by simplified RAFT-based emulsion polymerization process for polymer coating

We describe a simplified method to synthesize film forming polymer Janus particles by phase separation during RAFT-based free radical emulsion polymerization. Fully crosslinked snowman- or football-shaped polystyrene Janus particles (PSJPs) were first produced in a one-step batch process using amphiphilic triblock macro-RAFT copolymers as stabilizers. Such particles were in turn employed as seeds in a continuous emulsion polymerization in which a monomer mixture of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and butyl acrylate (BA) (1/1 by weight) was constantly injected into the reaction in the presence of a water soluble initiator. The added monomers wetted seed particle surface and their polymerization led to formations of 93-nm film forming single- or two-headed Janus particles. The resulted latex was successfully used to disperse and encapsulate solid calcite extender. Graphical abstract

Conversion from dose-length product to effective dose in computed tomography venography of the lower extremities

For radiation dose assessement of computed tomography (CT), effective dose (ED) is often estimated by multiplying the dose-length product (DLP), provided automatically by the CT scanner, by a conversion factor. We investigated such conversion in CT venography of the lower extremities performed in conjunction with CT pulmonary angiography. The study subjects consisted of eight groups imaged using different scanners and different imaging conditions (five and three groups for the GE and Siemens scanners, respectively). Each group included 10 men and 10 women. The scan range was divided into four anatomical regions (trunk, proximal thigh, knee and distal leg), and DLP was calculated for each region (regional DLP). Regional DLP was multiplied by a conversion factor for the respective region, to convert it to ED. The sum of the ED values for the four regions was obtained as standard ED. Additionally, the sum of the four regional DLP values, an approximate of the scanner-derived DLP, was multiplied by the conversion factor for the trunk (0.015 mSv/mGy/cm), as a simplified method to obtain ED. When using the simplified method, ED was overestimated by 32.3%−70.2% and 56.5%−66.2% for the GE and Siemens scanners, respectively. The degree of overestimation was positively and closely correlated with the contribution of the middle and distal portions of the lower extremities to total radiation exposure. ED/DLP averaged within each group, corresponding to the conversion factor, was 0.0089−0.0114 and 0.0091−0.0096 mSv/mGy/cm for the GE and Siemens scanners, respectively. In CT venography of the lower extremities, ED is greatly overestimated by multiplying the scanner-derived DLP by the conversion factor for the trunk. The degree of overestimation varies widely depending on the imaging conditions. It is recommended to divide the scan range and calculate ED as a sum of regional ED values.

Identification of the flicker source in the power supply systems

THE PURPOSE. To consider issues related to the study of methods for determining the sources of violations of the quality of electrical energy in power supply systems, in particular consumers which create rapid voltage changes or voltage fluctuations that create rapid changes in the luminous flux in electric lighting installations. Show that electrical receivers with a sharply variable operating mode are sources of fluctuations in the consumed current and voltage in the electrical network of power supply systems, which in turn manifests itself in the form of unacceptable values of one of the indicators of the quality of electricity - flicker, defined as the subjective perception of fluctuations in the luminous flux of lighting devices. To study the possibilities of determining the places of occurrence of significant voltage fluctuations without the use of expensive and complex instruments for measuring flicker values in the electrical network. To develop a simplified method for determining the locations of electricity consumers that negatively affect the operation of electric lighting systems and, ultimately, the vision of personnel. Conduct a check on a computer model of a simplified method for determining the places of occurrence of voltage fluctuations that are inadmissible in their magnitude, which are expressed in the appearance of significant doses of flicker that exceed the standard values.METHODS. Solving the problem, a computer model was used, created in the Simulink extension package of the Matlab scientific and technical calculation system.RESULTS. The article describes the relevance of the problem, discusses the quality of electricity in power supply systems. It has been shown using experimental data that in electrical networks there is an excess of the standard values of flicker doses. The possibility of using interharmonic components of the mains voltage to determine the sources of unacceptable doses of flicker is considered. A simplified method for finding flicker sources based on obtaining the values of the derivatives of currents at various points of the electrical network is presented. Computer simulation of an electrical network diagram with electrical receivers, which have both calm and sharply variable nature of work, has been performed. It is shown that the use of the values of the derivatives of the current at various points of the electrical network makes it possible to identify the sources of the occurrence of unacceptable doses of flicker.CONCLUSION. The occurrence of significant rapid voltage changes in the electrical network negatively affects vision, which is inevitably accompanied by increased personnel fatigue and can lead to industrial injuries. The results obtained by the authors of the article show that it is possible to use it to determine the places of occurrence of large voltage fluctuations, which are manifested in unacceptable doses of flicker of the derivatives of currents. It should be taken into account when conducting surveys of power supply systems in order to use fairly simple hardware to identify sources of disturbance in the quality of electrical energy.

Analytical Method for the Bending Resistance of Slim Floor Beams with Asymmetric Double-T Steel Section under ISO Fire

The slim floor beams, characterized by the steel profile embedded in the concrete slab, may be found in different configurations, based on the shape of the steel profile cross-section, which can vary from a rectangular to double-T section. While the most common shape used nowadays is the double-T cross-section, the Eurocodes do not provide a simplified method for the fire resistance assessment. The literature offers a simplified method for computation of bending resistance under elevated temperature, based on existing research on thermal models, and was validated for a particular type of slim floor beams (SFB). The current study extends the scope of application of this method, for different types of slim floor beam, which include an asymmetric double-T steel cross-section. The objective was reached through a numerical procedure, by analyzing 162 configurations subjected to four different fire requirements (R30, R60, R90, R120), resulting in a total of 648 analyses, performed with a validated numerical model in SAFIR software. The results in terms of bending resistance showed that the simplified method represents a strong tool for the fire design of slim floor beams.

REALIZATION OF THE RIGID CHARACTERISTICS OF ROLLING RAIL GUIDES OF MACHINE EQUIPMENT

A simplified method of accounting and regulation of the stiffness characteristics of rolling rail guides of machine tools in volumetric finite element models is considered.

Procedure for determining the constants of JH-2 (Johnson – Holmquist) dynamic fracture model for brittle materials

A simplified method for evaluating the constants in the JH-2 (Johnson – Holmqvist) model of the dynamic fracture for brittle materials is presented. The classical procedure suggests the use of 21 independent parameters describe the material, and the problem of their determination entails a large number of calculations experiments which hamper the use of the JH-2 model. The proposed technique requires fewer complex calculations and experimental data to determine the parameters of the material thus making it more feasible in use. In this work, the technique is used to search for the parameters of aluminum oxide (Al2O3) with a density of 99.5%, which is the material of a ceramic barrier subjected to high-speed interaction with the impactor. We present the results of three tests for penetration of a corundum plate: two of them are used to determine the constants of the model, and the third is used to verify the obtained values. Note that, the results obtained using the presented approach match quite accurately the experimental data, which is demonstrated in the course verification of the procedure.

Determining the depth of plugging a pile with one layer of struts or anchors

The aim of the proposed work is to develop a simplified version of determining the depth of plugging a pile with one layer of struts or anchors. When setting the problem, the scheme by E.K. Jacobi was offered, which suggests, that the deepening of the wall should be such as to ensure the stability of the wall against soil protrusion. Methodologically, the problem is solved analytically. The calculations take into account the active and passive soil pressures, the intensity and shape of whose plots is determined using Coulomb's theory. Comparative results of the depth of pile plugging obtained by the simplified method and the method currently used in the calculations of single pile fences with one layer of fasteners are presented. It is shown that the depth of pile plugging and groove calculation made in a simplified way does not practically differ from the depth of wall immersion calculated by the existing method.