Collage of city images for Hongkou area Shanghai

LAUREA SPECIALISTICAThe project is related to high density housing for the city of Shanghai, based on the theory of collage city and the research of different images of voids and public spaces to be applied in the composition of the masterplan and conceptual backgroun

Whirling motions of a beam generated by in-plane pulses

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/30244/1/0000639.pd

Examining the Lived Experiences of Researchers in Using Scientific Social Networks: A Phenomenological Study

Purpose: The purpose of this research is to analyze the lived experiences of researchers of Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University in using scientific social networks.Methodology: The current research was conducted with a qualitative approach and interpretive phenomenology method. The population of this research were academic staff members of the university, and 20 samples were selected by the criteria-based purposeful sampling method to obtain their experiences. The interviews were conducted in a semi-structured manner and continued until the theoretical saturation stage. Findings: Based on the findings of the research, 349 codes were extracted from the lived experiences of researchers which were placed in 180 semantic units and 29 categories. Finally, four themes were extracted from 29 categories. The themes were how researchers get to know scientific social networks, contexts and reasons for using these networks, the capabilities of scientific networks, and barriers and challenges of these networks. Conclusion: The capabilities and facilities provided in scientific social networks are the reason for using such networks. Researchers' further familiarity with the capabilities of these networks and strengthening and fixing their shortcomings will lead to broader usage of this online space of scientific community

Experimental and Analytical Study on the Hysteretic Response of Stiffened Column Base Connections Subjected to Axial Load and Bending Moment

Prior research has illuminated the significance of the column base connections on the seismic performance of structural systems. Among the various configurations adopted worldwide, this dissertation predominantly focuses on stiffened column base (SCB) connections. The SCBs are the common practice in countries where the fabrication of thick plates for exposed column base (ECB) connections and the execution procedure of embedded column bases are challenging. The SCB configuration is characterized by integrating stiffeners atop an exposed base plate. The formed stiffened panels effectively reduce the required base plate thickness to resist the desired flexural strength compared to that demanded by comparable ECB configurations. Despite their application in low- to high-rise structures, empirical investigation on their hysteretic behavior is scarce, and their design methodologies either stem from theoretical principles or adaptations of existing ECB design approaches. Nonetheless, their distinctive features — the combination of rigid nature and thin base plate, alongside the incorporation of multi-row arrangement — notably diverge from those of ECBs. To bridge the gap between theory and practice, this dissertation investigates the hysteretic characteristics of SCB connections, both experimentally and analytically. The research effort presented herein first conducts an experimental testing campaign on SCBs to document the qualitative observations and quantitative outcomes of their responses to cyclic loadings. Four large-scale tests explore the impact of the inclusion of inner rods, construction features, and base plate thickness. The collected database provides the foundation to validate a virtual finite element (FE) framework. This robust simulation environment tackles the deficiency of mechanical evidence for the complex interactions between connection components. This study sheds light on the disregarded significance of the friction between anchor rods and concrete on the internal characteristics of hysteretic curves. The activated friction is attributed to the developed compressive forces in the anchor rods leading to their expansion. The observation of a punched foundation after experiments motivated an FE study to quantify the impact of the incorporation and location of leveling nuts on the behavior and hysteretic energy dissipation of column bases. Following this, SCB specimens featuring diverse anchor rod arrangements, axial loading levels, and stiffener layouts are simulated to generate a comprehensive dataset for subsequent evaluations. Through these sophisticated simulations, this work elucidates the hysteretic characteristics of SCBs, evaluates the efficiency of current design approaches in predicting yield strength, identifies potential unconservative design practices, and proposes a numerical method for predicting SCB connection behavior. The limitations of the project are outlined. The perspective derived will contribute to developing system-level analytical models to explore SCB's impact on structural performance