Search results for "Structural system"
showing 10 items of 47 documents
Dynamic Finite Element analysis of fractionally damped structural systems in the time domain
2015
Visco-elastic material models with fractional characteristics have been used for several decades. This paper provides a simple methodology for Finite-Element-based dynamic analysis of structural systems with viscosity characterized by fractional derivatives of the strains. In particular, a re-formulation of the well-known Newmark method taking into account fractional derivatives discretized via the Grunwald–Letnikov summation allows the analysis of structural systems using standard Finite Element technology.
Influence of column shear failure on pushover based assessment of masonry infilled reinforced concrete framed structures: A case study
2017
Structural frames, constructed either of steel or reinforced concrete (RC), are often infilled with masonry panels. However, during the analysis of the structural frames, it has become common practice to disregard the existence of infills because of the complexity in modeling. This omission should not be allowed because the two contributions (of infills and of frames) complement each other in providing a so different structural system. The use of different modeling assumptions significantly affects the capacity as well as the inelastic demand and safety assessment. In specific, the adoption of equivalent diagonal pin-jointed struts leaves open the problem of the evaluation of the additional…
Thoracic ultrasound: Potential new tool for physiotherapists in respiratory management. A narrative review
2016
International audience; The use of diagnostic ultrasound by physiotherapists is not a new concept; it is frequently performed in musculoskeletal physiotherapy. Physiotherapists currently lack accurate, reliable, sensitive, and valid measurements for the assessment of the indications and effectiveness of chest physiotherapy. Thoracic ultrasound may be a promising tool for the physiotherapist and could be routinely performed at patients' bedsides to provide real-time and accurate information on the status of pleura, lungs, and diaphragm; this would allow for assessment of lung aeration from interstitial syndrome to lung consolidation with much better accuracy than chest x-rays or auscultation…
Propofol sedation reduces diaphragm activity in spontaneously breathing patients: ultrasound assessment.
2017
BACKGROUND: The diaphragm is the most important respiratory muscle in humans, and the close relationship between inspired volume and diaphragmatic movement in normal subjects has led to investigations into diaphragmatic activity using ultrasound, during spontaneous breathing and sedative drug infusion. METHODS: A total of 36 consecutive patients undergoing diagnostic procedures under deep propofol sedation were studied. Ultrasound measurements included the following: diaphragmatic thickening end-inspiration (TEI) and endexpiration (TEE). Diaphragmatic thickening fraction (DTF) was calculated from [(TEI TEE) / TEE] at various time points (at T0 basal; at T1 during propofol infusion; at T2 aw…
Thoracic shaping technique to avoid residual space after extended pleurectomy/decortication
2013
Extended pleurectomy/decortication or radical pleurectomy is defined as a lung-sparing surgical procedure for malignant pleural mesothelioma. A significant size mismatch between the thoracic cavity and the reduced size of the remaining lung might occur as a result of multiple resections at different sites and lead to residual thoracic space. Residual thoracic space and significant air leakage might result in postoperative complications. A simple technique of diaphragm reconstruction to avoid the residual thoracic space and to reduce the incidence of postoperative complications is described.
Structural and functional identification of two distinct inspiratory neuronal populations at the level of the phrenic nucleus in the rat cervical spi…
2018
The diaphragm is driven by phrenic motoneurons that are located in the cervical spinal cord. Although the anatomical location of the phrenic nucleus and the function of phrenic motoneurons at a single cellular level have been extensively analyzed, the spatiotemporal dynamics of phrenic motoneuron group activity have not been fully elucidated. In the present study, we analyzed the functional and structural characteristics of respiratory neuron population in the cervical spinal cord at the level of the phrenic nucleus by voltage imaging, together with histological analysis of neuronal and astrocytic distribution in the cervical spinal cord. We found spatially distinct two cellular populations…
Effects of alkylxanthines on contractility of diaphragm fibres isolated from normal and sensitized guinea-pigs.
1993
Abstract This study investigates the effects of alkylxanthines on twitch tension generated by electrical stimulation (supramaximal pulses, 0·2 ms duration, 1 Hz) of diaphragm muscle fibres isolated from normal and actively-sensitized guinea-pigs. Caffeine, theophylline and theobromine increased, in a concentration-dependent manner (50–500 μm), twitch tension in normal and sensitized diaphragm. Caffeine (500 μm) enhanced contractility to a greater extent than theophylline or theobromine. Twitch potentiation by caffeine (500 μm) was significantly greater in sensitized diaphragm. Verapamil (0·1–100 μm) did not alter twitch contractions in the absence or presence of alkylxanthines in normal or …
Pumice concrete for structural wall panels
2003
Some properties of lightweight pumice stone concrete (LWPSC) are discussed, on account of a possible structural use of this material. Then the results of an experimental investigation are described, in order to show that pumice can really be considered an alternative to common artificial lightweight aggregates, taking into account the performance pointed out by loading tests carried out on structural systems made of LWPSC. Three different kinds of reinforced wall panels were made using LWPSC, lightweight expanded clay concrete and normal weight concrete; then their structural responses under horizontal cyclic and constant vertical forces were compared, above all with reference to lateral st…
Onthe repeatability of electromechanical impedance for monitoring of bonded joints
2015
The repeatability and sensitivity of the electromechanical impedance (EMI) method when employed for the structural health monitoring of bonded joints were investigated. A simple joint was assembled by bonding an aluminum strip to a square aluminum plate. Two rounds of experiments were performed. The first set aimed at verifying the repeatability of the method. The joint was monitored by using one piezoelectric sensor. The PZT was glued to the plate and never removed, whereas a poorly bonded joint was assembled and disassembled three times. For each case, the electromechanical signature was measured during the curing of the adhesive. After the three tests, the same joint was built with a dif…
A new dynamic identification technique: application to the evaluation of the equivalent strut for infilled frames
2003
A new time domain identification technique for systems under Gaussian white noise input is presented, requiring for its application the measurement of the system response but no information about input intensity. The technique proposed is based on the statistic moment equations derived by using a special class of mathematical models named "potential models". These models allow one to determine fundamental properties of the response statistics, making it possible to identify stiffness and dissipation features of a structural system, and also to determine the excitation input. The technique proposed is here applied to the identification of the strut equivalent to the infill of a single story-…