Does mathematical learning occur in going from concrete to abstract or in going from abstract to concrete?

The notions of abstract and concrete are central to the conceptualization of mathematical knowing and learning. It is generally accepted that development goes from concrete toward the abstract; but dialectical theorists maintain just the opposite: development consists of an ascension from the abstract to the concrete. In this article, we reformulate the relationship of abstract and concrete consistent with a dialectical materialist approach to conscious human activity, as it was developed in the line of cultural-historical psychology. Our reformulation of development in and through interpretation shows that rather than being a movement from concrete to abstract or from abstract to concrete, development occurs in a double ascension that simultaneously moves in both direction: it is a passage of one in the other. In the proposed approach, the theoretical contradictions of earlier approaches to the issue of abstract have been eliminated.     

Prediction of the penetrated rust into the microcracks of concrete caused by reinforcement corrosion

Consider a steel-rust-concrete composite consisting of a circular cylindrical concrete cover and a coaxial uniformly corroding steel reinforcement. Prediction of the amount of rust penetrated into the microcracks of concrete cover from a set of data measured at the surface of the concrete is of particular interest. The steel is assumed to be linear isotropic and rust follows a power law stress–strain relation. For the concrete, anisotropic behavior and post-cracking softening model is employed. The formulations lead to a nonlinear boundary value problem which is solved analytically. A key parameter β, defined as the ratio of the volume of corrosion products inside the cracks to the volume of the cracks, is calculated. With some efforts, this parameter is also extracted from the available theoretical and experimental studies for the purpose of comparison. The effects of the mechanical properties of rust and concrete on β is addressed.     

Where do Fractions Encounter their Equivalents? – Can this Encounter Take Place in Elementary-School?

The concept of equivalence class plays a significant role in the structure of Rational Numbers. Piaget taught that in order to help elementary school children develop mathematical concepts, concrete objects and concrete reflection-enhancing-activities are needed. The “Shemesh” software was specially designed for learning equivalence-classes of fractions. The software offers concrete representations of such classes, as well as activities which cannot be constructed without a computer. In a discrete Cartesian system students construct points on the grid and learn to identify each such point as a fraction-numeral (a denominator-numerator pair). The children then learn to construct sets of such points, all of which are located on a line through the origin point. They learn to identify the line with the set of its constituent equivalent fractions. Subsequently, they investigate other phenomena and constructions in such systems, developing these constructions into additional fraction concepts. These concrete constructions can be used in solving traditional fraction problems as well as in broadening the scope of fraction meaning. Fifth-graders who used “Shemesh” in their learning activities were clinically interviewed several months after the learning sessions ended. These interviews revealed evidence indicating initial actual development of the desired mathematical concepts. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Bond-slip behavior of CFRP plate-concrete interface

The paper deals with evaluation of the bond performance between a CFRP plate and concrete with respect to various compressive strengths of concrete and bond lengths of the CFRP plate as parameters. To consider stress conditions in the tensile zone of reinforced concrete (RC) structures, double-lap axial tension tests were conducted for eight specimens with CFRP plates bonded to concrete prisms. In addition, a simple linear bond-slip model for the CFRP plate/concrete joints, developed from the bond tests, was used. To verify the model proposed, a total of seven RC beams were strengthened with CFRP plates and tested in flexure employing various bond lengths, strengthening methods, and numbers of CFRP plates. A nonlinear finite-element analysis, with the bond–slip model incorporated in the DIANA program, was performed for the strengthened RC beams. Also, the results of flexural test and analytical predictions are found to be in close agreement in terms of yield and ultimate loads and ductility.     

Numerical modelling of continuous concrete box girder bridges considering construction stages

The aim of this study is to analyse the concrete continuous box girder bridges by considering segmentally construction stages through balanced cantilever method. Time-dependent material properties of concrete and steel are also taken into account. Budan Bridge is selected as a numerical example. The Bridge constructed with balanced cantilever method and located on Artvin–Erzurum highway, Turkey, at 55 + 729.00–56 + 079.00 km is modelled using SAP2000 program. Geometric nonlinearities are taken into consideration in the analysis using P-Delta and large displacement criterion. Time-dependent material properties are considered as compressive strength, aging, shrinkage and creep for concrete, and relaxation for steel. The structural behaviour of the bridge at different construction stages is examined. Variation of internal forces such as bending moment, shear forces and axial forces, and displacements for bridge deck and pier are given with detail.Analyses show that, to obtain real behaviour of concrete bridges, segmentally construction stage analysis using time dependent material properties and geometric nonlinearity should be considered, because construction period continue along time and loads may change during this period and after.     

On the relation of abstract and concrete in scientists’ graph interpretations: A case study

The notions of abstract and concrete are central to the conceptualization of mathematical knowing and learning. Much of the literature takes a dualist approach, leading to the privileging of the former term at the expense of the latter. In this article, we provide a concrete analysis of a scientist interpreting an unfamiliar graph to show how engagement with some object leads to the working out of existing, concrete practical understanding and the articulation of categorical statements (“generalizations”); because the scientist knew something at the end of his interpretive work that he did not prior to it, the event is understood to constitute an episode of learning. The analysis shows that rather than being a movement from concrete to abstract or from abstract to concrete, development occurs in a movement that appears to be simultaneously from concrete to abstract and from abstract to concrete.     

A new model for the analysis of reinforced concrete members with a coupled HdBNM/FEM

As a truly boundary-type meshless method, the hybrid boundary node method (HdBNM) does not require ‘boundary element mesh’, either for the purpose of interpolation of the solution variables or for the integration of ‘energy’. In this paper, the HdBNM is coupled with the finite element method (FEM) for predicting the mechanical behaviors of reinforced concrete. The steel bars are considered as body forces in the concrete. A bond model is presented to simulate the bond-slip between the concrete and steels using fictitious spring elements. The computational scale and cost for meshing can be further reduced. Numerical examples, in 2D and 3D cases, demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed approach.     

混凝土搅拌站的选址问题研究

混凝土搅拌站的选址,在施工中占有十分重要的地位.针对混凝土需求随时间不规则变化的情况以及混凝土有效期短等特点,提出了混凝土需求不规则变化的选址模型.该模型把选址与各个时间段的资源配置结合起来确定混凝土搅拌站的位置,在保证需求最大限度得到满足的同时,使选址能够兼顾到尽可能多的需求点,最大化搅拌站的利润.应用该模型和算法成功地解决了一个实际问题,算例验证了模型和算法的有效性.     

A finitization of Littlewood's Tauberian theorem and an application in Tauberian remainder theory

In this paper we study Littlewood's Tauberian theorem from a proof theoretic perspective. We first use the Dialectica interpretation to produce an equivalent, finitary formulation of the theorem, and then carry out an analysis of Wielandt's proof to extract concrete witnessing terms. We argue that our finitization can be viewed as a generalized Tauberian remainder theorem, and we instantiate it to produce two concrete remainder theorems as a corollary, in terms of rates of convergence and rates metastability, respectively. We rederive the standard remainder estimate for Littlewood's theorem as a special case of the former.     

Cycling in proofs and feasibility

There is a common perception by which small numbers are considered more concrete and large numbers more abstract. A mathematical formalization of this idea was introduced by Parikh (1971) through an inconsistent theory of feasible numbers in which addition and multiplication are as usual but for which some very large number is defined to be not feasible. Parikh shows that sufficiently short proofs in this theory can only prove true statements of arithmetic. We pursue these topics in light of logical flow graphs of proofs (Buss, 1991) and show that Parikh's lower bound for concrete consistency reflects the presence of cycles in the logical graphs of short proofs of feasibility of large numbers. We discuss two concrete constructions which show the bound to be optimal and bring out the dynamical aspect of formal proofs. For this paper the concept of feasible numbers has two roles, as an idea with its own life and as a vehicle for exploring general principles on the dynamics and geometry of proofs. Cycles can be seen as a measure of how complicated a proof can be. We prove that short proofs must have cycles.

     

Nonlinear finite element reliability analysis of Concrete-Faced Rockfill (CFR) dams under static effects

The response of concrete slab on Concrete-Faced Rockfill (CFR) dams is very important. This study investigates the reliability of the concrete slab on a CFR dam by the improved Rackwitz–Fiessler method under static loads. For this purpose, ANSYS finite element analysis software and FERUM reliability analysis program are combined with direct coupled method and response surface method. Reliability index and probability of failure of the concrete are computed in the all critical points of the concrete slab by dam height. This study is also expanded for the reliability of CFR dams including different concrete slab thickness. In addition to the linear behavior, geometrically and materially non-linear responses of the dam are considered in the finite element analysis which is performed with reliability analysis. The Drucker–Prager method and the multi linear kinematic hardening method are, respectively, used for concrete slab and for rockfill and foundation rock. Finite element model used in the analyses includes dam–reservoir–foundation interaction. Reservoir water is modeled by the Lagrangian approach. Welded and friction contact based on the Coulomb’s friction law are considered in the joints of the dam. One-dimensional two noded contact elements are used to define friction. The self-weight of the dam and the hydrostatic pressure of the reservoir water are considered in the numerical solutions. According to this study, hydrostatic pressure, nonlinear response of the rockfill and the decrease in the concrete slab thickness reduce the reliability of the concrete slab of the CFR dam. Besides, the CFR dam models including friction are safer than the models including welded contact in the joints.     

Finite-element modeling of the interaction of reinforcement with concrete matrix

A finite-element model of a reinforced concrete beam with rebars modeled by a 3-D deformable body has been developed. An analysis of the stress-strain state of the beam allowed us to determine the stress distribution on cross sections of the rebars and the location of zones with cracks in concrete. It is found that the break of bond between the reinforcement and concrete goes outside the areas of intensely cracked concrete matrix. __________ Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 44, No. 3, pp. 309–316, May–June, 2008.     

Behavior of CFRP-confined concrete cylinders with a compressive steel reinforcement

The paper presents results of an experimental investigations carried out to estimate the cooperation between a steel bar reinforcement and round concrete cylinders confined by a carbon-epoxy composite, concerning the increase in the concrete compression strength due the composite wrapping. The steel bar reinforcement with its yield stress considerably increases the bearing capacity of concrete. This also happens above the unconfined concrete strength of specimens. The onset of reinforcement yielding roughly coincides with reaching of the unconfined concrete strength at a compressive strain of ≈0.20%, and therefore it does not produce a change in the tangent modulus of the stress-strain relationships above the limit of linearity. __________ Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 43, No. 3, pp. 293–308, May–June, 2007.     

Bond of FRP Reinforcement in Concrete - a Challenge

The bond of ordinary steel reinforcement in concrete depends on many factors, such as the pullout resistance, the geometry of a concrete member, the placement of a bar in the member cross section, the cover splitting, the confinement caused by concrete and the surrounding reinforcement, the order of bond-crack appearance, and the bond-stress distribution along the bond length. The bond of FRP reinforcement depends on even a greater number of factors. Moreover, the types of FRP bars are numerous. Their surface is weaker than that of steel bars and may fracture by bond forces. The surface of FRP bars is softer and does not create as high local stress concentrations in bond contact points to concrete as the harder steel bars do. This fact often delays the appearance of cover splitting cracks along the bars. However, the load necessary for developing the crack pattern of ultimate splitting failure in concrete is then very dependent on whether the bar surface is glossy or rough. The FRP reinforcement can also be used for external shear and/or flexural strengthening of existing members. For this application, FRP bars are placed in grooves cut on the surface of the member to be strengthened and are fixed there with a cement mortar or epoxy paste. In such an application, the performance of bond between the FRP rod and the mortar or resin and then between the mortar or resin and concrete is critical for the effectiveness of the technique. The presence of two interfaces increases the number of parameters needed to characterize the global joint behavior and introduces new possible failure modes. The fundament for the bond resistance estimation should be an accepted bond philosophy linked to appropriate models. A system of bond tests should provide necessary coefficients for the models.     

A moving two-reaction zones model: global existence of solutions

We address some aspects concerning the analysis of a moving-boundary system modeling concrete carbonation. The model is based on the fact that carbonation might be considered as a reaction which is localized on two distinct a priori unknown internal zones which progress into concrete. We report on the existence of local and global weak solutions. The main feature of the problem is that the nonlinear coupling of the system occurs due to the moving boundary and nonlinearity of the involved productions. (© 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Design equations for the assessment and FRP-strengthening of reinforced rectangular concrete columns under combined biaxial bending and axial loads

A simple procedure is proposed for the assessment of reinforced rectangular concrete columns under combined biaxial bending and axial loads and for the design of a correct amount of FRP-strengthening for underdesigned concrete sections. Approximate closed-form equations are developed based on the load contour method originally proposed by Bresler for reinforced concrete sections. The 3D failure surface is approximated along its contours, at a constant axial load, by means of equations given as the sum of the acting/resisting moment ratio in the directions of principal axes of the sections, raised to a power depending on the axial load, the steel reinforcement ratio, and the section shape. The method is extended to FRP-strengthened sections. Moreover, to make it possible to apply the load contour method in a more practical way, simple closed-form equations are developed for rectangular reinforced concrete sections with a two-way steel reinforcement and FRP strengthenings on each side. A comparison between the approach proposed and the fiber method (which is considered exact) shows that the simplified equations correctly represent the section interaction diagram. Russian translation published in Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 44, No. 3, pp. 443–462, May–June, 2008.     

Numerical and empirical approach in predicting the penetration of a concrete target by an ogive-nosed projectile

This paper demonstrates the application of both numerical simulation and empirical equation in predicting the penetration of a concrete target by an ogive-nosed projectile. The results from the experiment performed by Gran and Frew [In-target radial stress measurements from penetration experiments into concrete by ogive-nose steel projectiles, Int. J. Impact Eng. 19 (8) (1997) 715–726] are used as a benchmark for comparison. In the numerical simulations a 3.0-caliber radius-head steel ogival-nose projectile with a mass of 2.3 kg is fired against cylindrical concrete target with a striking velocity of 315 m/s. The simulation, performed using AUTODYN 2-D, assesses three numerical schemes, namely Langrange, Euler–Lagrange coupling and smooth particles hydrodynamics SPH–Lagrange coupling, in predicting the maximum depth of penetration and the radial stress–time response of the concrete target. When assessing the three solution techniques we hypothesize that the effect of strain rate on strength for the concrete target does not adversely affect the prediction on the maximum depth of penetration and the radial stress–time response of the concrete target. In the empirical approach the penetration equation developed by Forrestal et al. [An empirical equation for penetration depth of ogive-nose projectiles into concrete targets, Int. J. Impact Eng. 15 (4) (1994) 395–405] is used to determine the maximum depth of penetration and the deceleration–time response. The deceleration–time response for the projectile using the empirical approach is compared with those obtained from the numerical simulations. Results from both the numerical and empirical approaches are consistent. The calculated depth of penetration from both approaches yield relatively good agreement with that obtained from the experiment. The numerical simulations using each of the three numerical schemes are also able to reproduce the profiles from the radial stress measurements. Simulations using the SPH numerical scheme give the best overall agreement. The good overall agreement with the experimental radial stress measurements and consistent results between both empirical and numerical approach, enhanced the confidence in engineers and ballisticians when using these two approaches in complementing full-scale testing.     

Forbidden substructures and combinatorial dichotomies: WQO and universality

We discuss two combinatorial problems concerning classes of finite or countable structures of combinatorial type. We consider classes determined by a finite set of finite constraints (forbidden substructures). Questions about such classes of structures are naturally viewed as algorithmic decision problems, taking the finite set of constraints as the input. While the two problems we consider have been studied in a number of natural contexts, it remains far from clear whether they are decidable in their general form. This broad question leads to a number of more concrete problems. We discuss twelve open problems of varying levels of concreteness, and we point to the “Hairy Ball Problem” as a particularly concrete problem, which we give first in direct model theoretic terms, and then decoded as an explicit graph theoretic problem.