Search results for "Structural Engineering"
showing 10 items of 1998 documents
Smartphone-based bridge monitoring through vehicle-bridge interaction: analysis and experimental assessment
2022
AbstractIn this study, the results of a vast experimental campaign on the applicability of a smartphone-based technique for bridge monitoring are presented. Specifically, the vehicle–bridge interaction (VBI)-based approach is exploited as a cost-effective means to estimate the natural frequencies of bridges, with the final aim of possibly developing low-cost and diffused infrastructure monitoring system. The analysis is performed using a common hybrid vehicle, fully equipped with classical piezoelectric accelerometers and a smartphone MEMS accelerometer, to record its vertical accelerations while passing over the bridge. In this regard, the experimental campaign is carried out considering t…
Experimental validation of optimisation strategies in hydroforming of T-shaped tubes
2008
For three dimensional tube hydroforming operations (i.e. T or Y shaped tubes) the calibration of both material feeding history and internal pressure path during the process is crucial and many approaches to such optimization were presented; the authors developed some procedures to optimize pressure paths and punch velocity histories with the application of an integrated method FEM - Gradient based optimization tools. In this paper, an experimental validation campaign of the utilized optimization strategies is presented with the aim to assess the effectiveness of the developed procedures. An optimization procedure (gradient based techniques) was applied on the process parameters leading to t…
Experimental characterization and comparison of TLIM performances with different primary winding connections
2017
Abstract This paper presents an experimental characterization and comparison of the performances achieved by a Tubular Linear Induction Motor (TLIM) prototype with different typologies of primary winding connections. More in detail, three different configurations have been considered, analyzed and discussed: full-pitch star, 5/6 shortened pitch star and 5/6 shortened pitch double star. For this purpose, an experimental test bench at the Sustainable Development and Energy Saving Laboratory (SDESLab), University of Palermo, Italy, has been set-up. The obtained results have allowed the identification of the best winding configuration for different applications intended for the motor. Moreover,…
On the effects of the Double-Walled Tubes lay-out on the DEMO WCLL breeding blanket module thermal behavior
2019
Abstract The EU-DEMO Water-Cooled Lithium Lead Breeding Blanket (WCLL BB) concept foresees liquid Pb-15.7Li eutectic alloy as breeder and neutron multiplier, whereas pressurized subcooled water as coolant, with operative conditions typical of the PWR fission reactors (temperature in the range of 295–328 °C and pressure of 15.5 MPa). The cooling down of the BB is guaranteed by means of two separated cooling circuits: the one consisted in square channels housed within the complex of Side Walls and First Wall, and the one composed of a set of Double-Walled Tubes (DWTs) submerged in the Breeding Zone (BZ) and deputed to remove heat power therein generated. A parametric thermal study has been ca…
Parametric study of the influence of double-walled tubes layout on the DEMO WCLL breeding blanket thermal performances
2020
Abstract Within the framework of the EUROfusion activities regarding the EU-DEMO Breeding Blanket (BB) concept, the University of Palermo is long-time involved, in close cooperation with ENEA, in the design of the Water Cooled Lithium Lead (WCLL) BB, that is one of the two concepts under consideration for the DEMO reactor. It is mainly characterized by a liquid lithium-lead eutectic alloy acting as breeder and neutron multiplier, as well as by subcooled pressurized water flowing as coolant under PWR-like conditions (pressure of 15.5 MPa and inlet/outlet temperatures of 295 °C/328 °C). A research campaign has been recently carried out to study the potential influence of the Breeding Zone coo…
Behaviour of a speargun with a novel muzzle
2013
The paper presents the results of a numerical and experimental investigation performed on a barrel of a speargun equipped with two kinds of muzzle. In particular, a standard muzzle for speargun (having an elastic propulsion) has been compared with an innovative one called ‘roller’. This new muzzle is equipped with two rollers and special bands. The rubber bands, fixed at the lower side of the barrel, run through the rollers and are engaged in suitable seats of the shaft. These bands are, therefore, longer than the traditional ones and, consequently, with equal force applied by the diver, the roller speargun has a longer range. Thanks to the particular geometry of the new muzzle, one of the …
Fractional Spectral Moments for Digital Simulation of Multivariate Wind Velocity Fields
2012
In this paper, a method for the digital simulation of wind velocity fields by Fractional Spectral Moment function is proposed. It is shown that by constructing a digital filter whose coefficients are the fractional spectral moments, it is possible to simulate samples of the target process as superposition of Riesz fractional derivatives of a Gaussian white noise processes. The key of this simulation technique is the generalized Taylor expansion proposed by the authors. The method is extended to multivariate processes and practical issues on the implementation of the method are reported.
Concrete columns confined with fibre reinforced cementitious mortars: Experimentation and modelling
2014
Abstract The structural behaviour of concrete columns strengthened with a system made up of fibre nets embedded in an inorganic stabilized cementitious matrix under an uniaxial load was investigated. Medium size specimens with circular and square cross-section were cast and subjected to monotonic uniaxial compression, to investigate the efficiency of a p-Phenylene BenzobisOxazole (PBO) Fibre Reinforced Cementitious Mortar (FRCM) system in increasing both strength and ductility. The experimental results show that the confinement system adopted produced a noticeable increment in strength and ductility, though the low mechanical ratios of fibre considered were not always able to ensure hardeni…
Effect of FRP strengthening on the flexural behaviour of calcarenite masonry walls
2017
The use of fiber-reinforced polymers (FRP) for structural strengthening has become increasingly popular in recent years. Several applications of FRP have been proposed and applied, depending on the target of the technique, kind and/or material of the structural member. In particular, because of their great tensile strength, FRP materials are commonly used to enhance the out-of-plane behaviour of masonry walls, allowing to increase their strength, ductility and improving safety against overturning. For these reasons, FRP laminates are often applied in vulnerable ancient buildings in seismic areas to reinforce façades and walls with poor structural features. However, some issues arise when a…
FSW of Lap and T-Joints
2010
Even if in the last years several researches have studied the Friction Stir Welding (FSW) process, it should be observed that most of these studies are concerned with the butt joint and just a few of them extend to more complex geometries. It is worthy to notice that the acquired knowledge on FSW process of butt joints is not immediately extendable to lap and T-joints. The first observation is that in butt joints the surface to be welded is vertical, while in lap and T-joints it is horizontal and placed at the bottom of the top blank to be welded; in this way a major vertical component of the material flow is required to obtain sound joints. In the FSW of lap-joints four different geometric…