乳头状肾细胞癌的CT表现与手术病理对照

目的：分析乳头状肾细胞癌的cT影像,探讨其相对特异的CT表现。方法：回顾性分析10例经病理证实的乳头状肾细胞癌的临床、手术及CT资料。结果：全部病例均为单发肿块,位于右。肾7例,位于左肾3例,CT平扫肿瘤呈圆形或椭圆形,边缘清楚或欠清楚。病变长径1．0～4．5cm,平均2．5cm。瘤体小时（冬3cm）密度较均匀,无囊变和坏死：瘤体较大时（≥3cm）常出现坏死、囊变。肿瘤强化程度较低,三期呈渐进性轻度增强,特别是排泄期密度略降低。结论：与其他亚型。肾癌相比,乳头状肾细胞癌的cT表现有一定特征,多呈渐进性轻度强化,其确诊可为手术方式的选择提供依据。     

Seismic analysis of diagrid structural frames with shear-link fuse devices

This paper presents a new concept for enhancing the seismic ductility and damping capacity of diagrid structural frames by using shear-link fuse devices and its seismic performance is assessed through nonlinear static and dynamic analysis.The architectural elegancy of the diagrid structure attributed to its triangular leaning member configuration and high structural redundancy make this system a desirable choice for tall building design.However,forming a stable energy dissipation mechanism in diagrid framing remains to be investigated to expand its use in regions with high seismicity.To address this issue,a diagrid framing design is proposed here which provides a competitive design option in highly seismic regions through its increased ductility and improved energy dissipation capacity provided by replaceable shear links interconnecting the diagonal members at their ends.The structural characteristics and seismic behavior(capacity,stiffness,energy dissipation,ductility) of the diagrid structural frame are demonstrated with a 21-story building diagrid frame subjected to nonlinear static and dynamic analysis.The findings from the nonlinear time history analysis verify that satisfactory seismic performance can be achieved by the proposed diagrid frame subjected to design basis earthquakes in California.In particular,one appealing feature of the proposed diagrid building is its reduced residual displacement after strong earthquakes.     

Dynamic interaction numerical models in the time domain based on the high performance scaled boundary finite element method

Consideration of structure-foundation-soil dynamic interaction is a basic requirement in the evaluation of the seismic safety of nuclear power facilities. An efficient and accurate dynamic interaction numerical model in the time domain has become an important topic of current research. In this study, the scaled boundary finite element method （SBFEM） is improved for use as an effective numerical approach with good application prospects. This method has several advantages, including dimensionality reduction, accuracy of the radial analytical solution, and unlike other boundary element methods, it does not require a fundamental solution. This study focuses on establishing a high performance scaled boundary finite element interaction analysis model in the time domain based on the acceleration unit-impulse response matrix, in which several new solution techniques, such as a dimensionless method to solve the interaction force, are applied to improve the numerical stability of the actual soil parameters and reduce the amount of calculation. Finally, the feasibility of the time domain methods are illustrated by the response of the nuclear power structure and the accuracy of the algorithms are dynamically verified by comparison with the refinement of a large-scale viscoelastic soil model.     

Effective force testing using a robust loop shaping controller

Effective force testing (EFT) is one of the force‐based experimental methods used for performance evaluation of structures that incorporate dynamic force control using hydraulic actuators. Although previous studies have shown successful implementations of force control, controllable frequency ranges are limited to low frequencies (10 Hz). This study presents the EFT method using a robust loop shaping force feedback controller that can extend the frequency range up to 25 Hz or even higher. Unlike the conventional PID controllers, loop shaping controllers can provide robustness for a high level of force measurement noise. This study investigates the dynamic properties of hydraulic actuators and the design of a loop shaping controller that compensates for control–structure interaction and suppresses the effect of oil‐column resonance. The designed loop shaping controller was successfully implemented into an EFT setup at the Johns Hopkins University. An experimental investigation of the loop shaping controller was performed under step, random, and earthquake force loadings. Experimental results showed that the loop shaping controller provided excellent force tracking performance and robustness for dynamic force loadings. It was also shown that the loop shaping controller had the gain margin of 9.54 dB at the frequency of 28 Hz. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A web‐based methodology for the prediction of approximate IDA curves

A web‐based methodology for the prediction of approximate IDA curves, which consists of two independent processes, is proposed. The result of the first process is a response database of the SDOF model, whereas the second process involves the prediction of approximate IDA curves from the response database by using n‐dimensional linear interpolation. Such an approach enables user‐friendly prediction of the seismic response parameters with high accuracy. In order to demonstrate the capabilities of the proposed methodology, a web application for the prediction of the approximate 16th, 50th and 84th fractile responses of an RC structure was developed. For the presented case study, the response database was computed for a set of 30 ground motion records and the discrete values of six structural parameters. Very good agreement between the computed and the approximated IDA curves of the four‐storey RC building was observed. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Life‐cycle cost assessment of RC and ECC frames using structural optimization

In this study life‐cycle cost (LCC) assessment of structural frames is performed. Two different materials, reinforced concrete (RC) and reinforced engineered cementitious composites (ECC), with different response characteristics are used to model the frames. ECC is characterized by high tensile ductility and energy absorption and reduced crack widths when compared to conventional concrete. However, the material is more expensive than conventional concrete; therefore, in order to quantify the potential benefits that could be obtained by replacing concrete with ECC, the life‐cycle performance is evaluated in an optimization framework. Three different structural frames are considered: an RC only frame, an ECC only frame and a multi‐material (MX) frame in which ECC is selectively applied at the potential plastic hinge locations while the remainder of the frame is made of RC. The structural capacity and earthquake demand are evaluated using rigorous analysis methods to capitalize on different characteristics of concrete and ECC, and both aleatory and epistemic uncertainties are incorporated into the LCC formulation. It is found that both the initial and LCC of frames that use ECC are lower due to savings in material and labor cost of transverse reinforcement for the former and due to increased capacity and reduced demand for the latter. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Evaluation of the response modification coefficient and collapse potential of special concentrically braced frames

Special concentrically braced frames (SCBFs) are commonly used for seismic design of buildings. Their large elastic stiffness and strength efficiently sustains the seismic demands during smaller, more frequent earthquakes. During large, infrequent earthquakes, SCBFs exhibit highly nonlinear behavior due to brace buckling and yielding and the inelastic behavior induced by secondary deformation of the framing system. These response modes reduce the system demands relative to an elastic system without supplemental damping using a response modification coefficient, commonly termed the R factor. More recently, procedures put forth in FEMAP695 have been made to quantify the R factor through a formalized procedure that accounts for collapse potential. The primary objective of the research in this paper was to evaluate the approach for SCBFs. An improved model for SCBFs that permits simulation of brace fracture was used to conduct response history analyses. A series of three‐story, nine‐story and 20‐story SCBFs were designed and evaluated. Initially, the FEMAP695 method was conducted to estimate collapse and the corresponding R factor. An alternate procedure for scaling the multiple acceleration records to the seismic design hazard was also evaluated. The results show significant variation between the two methods. Of the three variations of buildings studied, the largest vulnerability was identified for the three‐story building. To achieve a consistent margin of safety against collapse, a significantly lower R factor is required for the low‐rise SCBFs (three‐story), whereas the mid‐rise and high‐rise SCBFs (nine‐story and 20‐story) may continue to use the current value of 6, as provided in ASCE‐07. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Multidegrees‐of‐freedom effective force testing: a feasibility study and robust stability assessment

This paper presents a feasibility study of multidegrees‐of‐freedom effective force testing (MDOF‐EFT). The study is intended to facilitate the development of a force feedback controller and investigation of performance as well as robustness of MDOF‐EFT. First, the dynamics of MDOF‐EFT systems are analytically investigated. Analytical transfer functions of the control plant, the valve‐to‐force relations, showed that the plant is dynamically coupled and the natural frequencies of test structures are the transmission zeros of the plant. Using a set of model parameters from a previous study, a case study that includes controller design, numerical simulations and robust stability assessment is performed. A decoupling loop shaping (DLS) controller consisting of a pseudo inverse of the plant and second‐order loop shaping controllers is adopted as the force feedback controller. It is shown that the DLS controller provides a stable control system while successfully decoupling the control loops and compensating the control‐structure interaction. Numerical simulations demonstrate that the DLS controller enables tracking of static and dynamic forces for multiple actuators. Robust stability of MDOF‐EFT with the DLS controller is assessed using Monte Carlo simulation. The stochastic simulation results show that the DLS controller is stable and robust, providing sufficient stability margins for uncertain models with maximum 50% errors in the estimated system parameters. This paper demonstrates that MDOF‐EFT is feasible with the DLS controller and can be implemented in experimental laboratories. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Modified fish-bone model: A simplified MDOF model for simulation of seismic responses of moment resisting frames

This paper presents a simplified Multi-Degree-Of-Freedom (MDOF) model through modification of fish-bone model (or generic frame). Modified Fish-Bone (MFB) model is developed through three enhancements: (i) the moment of inertia for half-beams is reduced slightly to modify the assumption of equal rotation at each story joints, (ii) a number of truss elements are inserted to the fish-bone model to simulate flexural deformation of moment frames due to axial elongation and contraction of columns, and (iii) moment–rotation relationship of representative rotational springs is supposed to be bilinear instead of trilinear in order to consider simultaneous yielding at both ends of the beam in moment frames. The proposed model is evaluated with respect to nonlinear dynamic analysis results of three classic moment resisting frames subjected to 94 records of FEMA-440 ground motion data set. Moreover, the adequacy of this model is compared with the fish-bone model and two predictors of nonlinear seismic demand. The statistical study of predicted interstory drift demonstrates the superiority of the proposed model over the fish-bone model and both seismic demand predictors.     

An advanced process for evaluating a linear dielectric constant–bulk electrical conductivity model using a capacitance sensor in field conditions

Abstract

The Hilhorst model was used to convert bulk electrical conductivity (σ_b) to pore water electrical conductivity (σ_p) under laboratory conditions by using the linear relationship between the soil dielectric constant (ε_b) and σ_b. In the present study, applying the linear relationship ε_b–σ_b to data obtained from field capacitance sensors resulted in strong positive autocorrelations between the residuals of that regression. We were able to derive an accurate offset of the relationship ε_b–σ_b and to estimate the evolution of σ_p over time by including a stochastic component to the linear model, rearranging it to a time-varying dynamic linear model (DLM), and using Kalman filtering and smoothing. The offset proved to vary for each depth in the same soil profile. A reason for this might be the changes in soil temperature along the soil profile.

Editor D. Koutsoyiannis; Associate editor M.D. Fidelibus