An Investigation of the Seismic Behaviour of an Ancient Masonry Bastion Using Non-Destructive and Numerical Methods

Determining the structural behavior of masonry structures is a challenge due to their lack of homogeneity. The seismic behavior of masonry structures is especially complex. The aim of this study was to examine the structural behavior of Za?anos Bastion using both experimental and numerical methods. The Operational Modal Analysis technique, including the Enhanced Frequency Domain Decomposition Method, and the Stochastic Subspace Identification Method were used to illustrate experimentally the dynamic characteristic of the bastion. A finite element model was developed using ANSYS software in order that the dynamic characteristics of the bastion, including natural frequencies and mode shapes, could be calculated numerically. Seismic analysis was carried out using the 1999 Kocaeli earthquake ground motion record to determine the linear and nonlinear seismic behavior of the bastion. The Turkish Earthquake Code and its general technical specifications were used to evaluate the seismic results. The results show that the maximum and minimum principal stresses exerted on the masonry components exceeded the code requirements at some points, but in general the requirements for the stresses were satisfied.     

The Power Model of Fittsʼ Law Does Not Encompass the Logarithmic Model

Whether Fittsʼ law, a well-known model of human pointing movement, is a logarithmic law or a power law has remained unclear so far. In two widely cited papers, Meyer et al. have claimed that the power model they derived from their celebrated stochastic optimized-submovement theory encompasses the logarithmic model as a limiting case. We show that Meyer et al.ʼs theory implies in fact a quasi-logarithmic, rather than quasi-power model, the two models being not equivalent.     

Synthesis of the polyethylene glycol solid-solid phase change materials with a functionalized graphene oxide for thermal energy storage

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a phase change material possesses three obstacles, such as leakage, low thermal conductivity and low thermal stability. A novel solid-solid phase change material (PCM) based on functionalized graphene oxide (GO), Polyethylene glycol (PEG) was prepared, and the three obstacles of PEG as a PCM was solved in one and the same material. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman and Transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TG) and thermogravimetric analysis/infrared spectrometry (TG-IR) were used to study the properties of supporting material and composite PCM (CPCM). The results indicated that the PEG was grafted on the surface of the supporting material; Compared with pure PEG, the latent heat of CPCM with 9.6 wt% supporting material decreased only 5.3%, however, the thermal conductivity of CPCM increased 111% and the heat peak release rate of CPCM decreased 33.4%.     

Anthracene Substituted Co (II) and Cu (II) phthalocyanines; Preparations,Investigation of Catalytical and Electrochemical Behaviors

An approach to investigation of catalytical behaviors of Co (II) and Cu (II) phthalocyanines is reported that is based on changing any parameter to effect these behaviors. Towards this end, new anthracene substituted Co (II) and Cu (II) phthalocyanines were prepared and characterized spectroscopic methods. New cobalt (II) and copper (II) phthalocyanines were used as catalyst for oxidation of different phenolic compounds (such as 2,3‐dichlorophenol, 4‐methoxyphenol, 4‐nitrophenol, 2,3,6‐trimethylphenol) with different oxidants. Then, electrochemical characterization of cobalt (II) and copper (II) phthallocyanines were determined by using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and square wave voltammetry (SWV) techniques. Although copper (II) phthalocyanine showed similar Pc based electron transfer processes, cobalt (II) phthalocyanine showed metal and ligand based reduction reactions as expected.     

The secondary X-ray fluorescence and absorption near the interface of multi-material: Case of EDS microanalysis

A simple model is proposed to take into account secondary X-ray fluorescence and absorption effects near the interface. This model is based on the investigation of the shape change of the first derivative equation that can fit the sigmoidal EDS profile obtained when a high vacuum electron beam passes through the interface of two adjacent materials. The contribution of the photoelectric absorption of primary X-rays (characteristic and Bremsstrahlung) and the secondary fluorescence on the degradation of the X-ray spatial resolution can be easily quantified. The close agreement between the simulated (Monte Carlo simulation using the Casino software) and the experimental data serves to assess the reliability of this developed model.     

The influence of diffusion temperature on the structural, optical and magnetic properties of manganese-doped zinc oxysulfide thin films

We investigated the structural, optical and magnetic properties of Mn-doped zinc oxysulfide films. Zn(O,S) films were deposited by a spray pyrolysis method on glass substrate. A thin Mn layer evaporated on these films served as the source for the diffusion doping. The XRD pattern of undoped films revealed the presence of two wurtzite phases corresponding to ZnS and ZnO with a strong preferred orientation along the ZnS (0 0 2) hexagonal plane direction. SEM showed a similar surface morphology for the undoped and Mn-doped films, displaying regular arrays of hexagonal micro-rods perpendicular to the substrate. The optical transmission measurements showed that both undoped and Mn diffusion-doped films had a low average transmittance less than about 10%. The gap energy is decreased from 3.42 to 3.33 eV upon annealing at 400 °C. Photoluminescence studies at 300 K show that the incorporation of manganese leads to a decrease of deep level band intensity compared to undoped sample. Clear ferromagnetic loops were observed for the Mn-doped Zn(O,S) films, which might be due to the presence of point defects.     

Synthesis and characterization of a new soluble metal-free and metallophthalocyanines bearing biphenyl-4-yl methoxy groups

The synthesis and characterization of peripherally tetra-biphenyl-4-yl-methoxy substituted metal-free (4), Ni(II) (5), Cu(II) (6), Zn(II) (7), Co(II) (8) and Pb(II) (9) phthalocyanine derivatives are reported. These new phthalocyanine derivatives show the enhanced solubility in organic solvents and they have been characterized by a combination of IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, UV–vis, mass spectral data, elemental analysis and thermal analysis methods (TG/DTA). The photophysical (fluorescence quantum yield and lifetime) and photochemical (singlet oxygen generation and photodegradation quantum yield) properties of tetra-biphenyl-4-yl-methoxy substituted zinc (II) phthalocyanine derivative (7) are also investigated. The fluorescence of this phthalocyanine derivative (7) is effectively quenched by addition of 1,4-benzoquinone (BQ).     

A proficiency test scheme for the quality control of black tea and development of quality control material for internal quality control

A proficiency test (PT) was organized for quality control analysis of black tea. Test materials for the analyses of total content of powder tea, moisture, total ash, acid-insoluble ash, water-soluble ash, alkalinity of water-soluble ash, water extract, crude fiber and caffeine were sent to the participant laboratories (n:43) in 2009. The assigned value, standard deviation of the parameters and z-scores of the participant laboratories were calculated using the data reported by the participants. The percentage of the reported results for analytes was found to be ranged from 67.5 to 100%. Acceptable z-scores were achieved by 80.5–97.5% of the participant laboratories. More than 15% of unacceptable results were obtained for acid-insoluble ash and caffeine analyses. The quality control material for quality control analysis of black tea was developed from the remaining material.     

Confined impinging twin air jets at high Reynolds numbers

An experimental study is carried out to investigate flow characteristics of confined twin jets issuing from the lower surface and impinging normally on the upper surface. Pressure distributions on the impingement and confinement plates were obtained for Reynolds numbers ranging from 30,000 to 50,000, nozzle-to-plate spacing (H/D) in the range of 0.5-4 and jet-to-jet spacing (L/D) in the range of 0.5-2. Smoke-wire technique was used to visualize the flow behavior. The effects of Reynolds number, nozzle-to-plate spacing and jet-to-jet spacing on the flow structure are examined. The subatmospheric regions occur on both impingement and confinement plates at the nozzle-to-plate spacing up to 1 for all studied Reynolds numbers and jet-to-jet spacings in consideration. They lie nearly up to the same radial location at both surfaces and move radially outward from the stagnation points with increasing nozzle-to-plate spacing and jet-to-jet spacing. It is concluded that there exists a relation between the subatmospheric regions and peaks in heat transfer coefficients for low spacings in the impinging jets.