This is a poem review which analyzes The Mill that was written by a new poet in China, looking at it from the conceptual perspective. The conceptual shift and collocation between concreteness and abstractness enable h...This is a poem review which analyzes The Mill that was written by a new poet in China, looking at it from the conceptual perspective. The conceptual shift and collocation between concreteness and abstractness enable her poems to carry both linguistic power and emotional strength; the conceptual images created by her abstract thinking and unique perception make her poems achieve originality and readability; her conceptual self built by the use of first person pronouns is actually not that of a person but that of a personified mule who was indignant about its heavy workload yet unable to speak against its predestined destiny. Although suffering from brain paralysis, the poet is shown by this review to be a sensible manipulator of words, which reveal the unique beauty in her language and show the suppressed sadness in her heart.展开更多
The digital transformation of communication media has been widely adopted and has reshaped institutional investor interactions.We examine how the linguistic concreteness of investors'questions adapts to online med...The digital transformation of communication media has been widely adopted and has reshaped institutional investor interactions.We examine how the linguistic concreteness of investors'questions adapts to online media and face-to-face communication,using textual analysis of investor-company Q&A transcripts from Chinese listed firms.We find that online mediaenvironments induce investors to enhance linguistic precision,to compensate for reduced nonverbal cues and social presence,This mechanism is moderated by sender characteristics,message attributes and response concreteness patterns.Such adjustments counteract media-induced information loss,evidenced by improved analyst forecast accuracy.Our study represents a practical application of Lasswell's“5W”communication model in the context of corporate information disclosure and expands research on the impact of digital technology on communication media,offering insights into the balance between sender intent and media characteristics.展开更多
This study examined the relation between word concreteness and word translatability. Translatability was operationalized in terms of both lexical and semantic cross-transparency. Two separate scales were used to measu...This study examined the relation between word concreteness and word translatability. Translatability was operationalized in terms of both lexical and semantic cross-transparency. Two separate scales were used to measure the level of concreteness of 123 target English words and their translatability into Chinese. The results of this study showed that word concreteness and translatability are significantly correlated, and that word concreteness determines the extent of semantic closeness between the translation of English and Chinese word pairs. Concreteness might be a variable that influences how translatable a word is between English and Chinese. However, this influence mainly applies to the semantic cross-transparency between the two languages, not the lexical cross-transparency. A link was proposed between the levels of translatability of a translation pair according to concreteness and associated properties. The paper also discusses the implications of the findings for second language learning and teaching, in particular the ＂translation effect＂ and teachers＇ ＂codeswitching＂ behavior.展开更多
Concrete production often relies on natural aggregates,which can lead to resource depletion and environmental harm.In addition,improper disposal of thermoplastic waste exacerbates ecological problems.Although signific...Concrete production often relies on natural aggregates,which can lead to resource depletion and environmental harm.In addition,improper disposal of thermoplastic waste exacerbates ecological problems.Although significant attention has recently been given to recycling various waste materials into concrete,studies specifically addressing thermoplastic recycled aggregates are still trending.This underscores the need to comprehensively review existing literature,identify research trends,and recognize gaps in understanding the mechanical performance of thermoplastic-based recycled aggregate concrete.Accordingly,this review summarizes recent investigations focused on the mechanical properties of thermoplastic-based recycled aggregate concrete,emphasizing aspects such as compressive strength,tensile behavior,modulus of elasticity,and durability characteristics.The primary aim is to consolidate scattered research findings,identify key parameters influencing mechanical behavior,and propose future research directions.Understanding the influence of recycled thermoplastic aggregates on concrete performance significantly supports sustainable construction practices by reducing dependency on virgin aggregates and mitigating environmental impacts associated with waste disposal.In addition,assessing mechanical performance contributes to confidence in the practical application,encouraging the broader adoption of thermoplastic-based recycled aggregate concrete in construction projects.Through this critical synthesis,the review guides researchers and industry practitioners toward informed decisions on the feasibility and reliability of integrating thermoplastic waste into concrete,thereby promoting sustainable infrastructure development.展开更多
This study introduces superabsorbent polymers(SAP)into recycled concrete and,through freeze-thaw cycle tests,unconfined compressive strength tests,and nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR)analysis,evaluates the freeze-thaw ...This study introduces superabsorbent polymers(SAP)into recycled concrete and,through freeze-thaw cycle tests,unconfined compressive strength tests,and nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR)analysis,evaluates the freeze-thaw resistance and durability of recycled concrete samples under varying freeze-thaw cycles.The results indicate that an appropriate addition of SAP significantly enhances the freeze-thaw resistance of recycled concrete.After 200 freeze-thaw cycles,the RS0.6 sample retained good surface integrity,demonstrating the best performance.Compared to NAC,its mass loss decreased by 1.16%,the relative dynamic modulus improved by 7.01%,and the compressive strength loss rate decreased by 5.41%.Additionally,T2 spectrum analysis revealed that adding SAP optimized the pore structure of recycled concrete and mitigated pore development during freeze-thaw cycles.As the number of freeze-thaw cycles increased,the RS0.3 and RS0.6 samples demonstrated superior frost resistance compared to NAC.However,an excessive amount of SAP increased pore expansion during subsequent freeze-thaw cycles,ultimately weakening frost resistance.展开更多
We investigated the effects of fly ash(FA)content on the mechanical properties of recycled aggregate concrete(RAC)and its regeneration potential under freeze and thaw(F-T)cycles.The physical properties of second-gener...We investigated the effects of fly ash(FA)content on the mechanical properties of recycled aggregate concrete(RAC)and its regeneration potential under freeze and thaw(F-T)cycles.The physical properties of second-generation recycled concrete aggregates(RCA)were used to analyze the regeneration potential of RAC after F-T cycles.Scanning electron microscopy was used to study the interfacial transition zone microstructure of RAC after F-T cycles.Results showed that adding 20%FA to RAC significantly enhanced its mechanical properties and frost resistance.Before the F-T cycles,the compressive strength of RAC with 20%FA reached 48.3 MPa,exceeding research strength target of 40 MPa.A majority of second-generation RCA with FA had been verified to attain class Ⅲ,which enabled their practical application in non-structural projects such as backfill trenches and road pavement.However,the second-generation RCA with 20%FA can achieve class Ⅱ,making it ideal for 40 MPa structural concrete.展开更多
The engineering application of low-alkali sulphoaluminate cement(L-SAC)is hindered due to the difficulty in adjusting the setting and hardening time.In this paper,lithium hydroxide and borax are mixed into L-SAC to re...The engineering application of low-alkali sulphoaluminate cement(L-SAC)is hindered due to the difficulty in adjusting the setting and hardening time.In this paper,lithium hydroxide and borax are mixed into L-SAC to regulate its setting and hardening process,so as to prepare a sulphoaluminate concrete material with high early strength and high fluidity.The effects of the ratio of lithium hydroxide to borax on the properties of L-SAC concrete were studied by hydration heat,XRD,TG-DTG,SEM and MIP.The experimental results show that the slump increases with the increase of borax content,and the early(3 h)strength increases with the increase of lithium hydroxide content.When 0.05% lithium hydroxide and 0.4% borax are added,the 0.5 h slump reaches 195 mm,and the 3 h compressive strength reaches 15.9 MPa.The increase of lithium hydroxide will promote the formation of early hydration products AFt and AH3 gel and accelerate the hydration process,while borax will inhibit the dissolution and hydration of cement and delay the setting and hardening process of concrete.The combination of the two ensures that the concrete has the characteristics of high early strength and high fluidity,and the early workability and mechanical properties can be controlled by the mix ratio.For long-term mechanical properties,the special concrete does not produce AFm,which can ensure the continuous development of strength.展开更多
Based on the split hopkinson pressure bar(SHPB)tests results,the cubic specimens have been numerically modeled in this paper to investigate the impact of key factors,such as the rise time,duration,and incident pulse s...Based on the split hopkinson pressure bar(SHPB)tests results,the cubic specimens have been numerically modeled in this paper to investigate the impact of key factors,such as the rise time,duration,and incident pulse shape,on achieving stress uniformity.After analysis,the paper provides actionable methods aimed at optimizing the conditions for stress uniformity within the cubic specimen.Finally,the lateral inertia effect of cubic specimen has been scrutinized to address the existing gap in this academic area.展开更多
Nonlinear static procedures are widely adopted in structural engineering practice for seismic performance assessment due to their simplicity and computational efficiency.However,their reliability depends heavily on ho...Nonlinear static procedures are widely adopted in structural engineering practice for seismic performance assessment due to their simplicity and computational efficiency.However,their reliability depends heavily on how the nonlinear behaviour of structural components is represented.The recent earthquakes in Albania(2019)and Türkiye(2023)have underscored the need for accurate assessment techniques,particularly for older reinforced concrete buildings with poor detailing.This study quantifies the discrepancies between default and user-defined component modelling in pushover analysis of pre-modern reinforced concrete structures,analysing two representative low-and mid-rise reinforced concrete frame buildings.The lumped plasticity approach incorporates moment-rotation relationships derived from actual member properties and reinforcement configurations,while the distributed plasticity approach uses software-generated default properties based on modern codes.Results show that the distributed plasticity models systematically overestimate both the strength and the deformation capacity by up to 35%compared to lumped plasticity models,especially in buildings with poor detailing and low concrete strength.These findings demonstrate that default software procedures,widely used in practice but not validated for pre-modern structures,produce dangerously unconservative seismic performance estimates.The study provides quantitative evidence of the critical need for tailored modelling strategies that reflect the actual conditions of the existing building stock.展开更多
Accurate prediction of concrete compressive strength is fundamental for optimizing mix designs,improving material utilization,and ensuring structural safety in modern construction.Traditional empirical methods often f...Accurate prediction of concrete compressive strength is fundamental for optimizing mix designs,improving material utilization,and ensuring structural safety in modern construction.Traditional empirical methods often fail to capture the non-linear relationships among concrete constituents,especially with the growing use of supple-mentary cementitious materials and recycled aggregates.This study presents an integrated machine learning framework for concrete strength prediction,combining advanced regression models—namely CatBoost—with metaheuristic optimization algorithms,with a particular focus on the Somersaulting Spider Optimizer(SSO).A comprehensive dataset encompassing diverse mix proportions and material types was used to evaluate baseline machine learning models,including CatBoost,XGBoost,ExtraTrees,and RandomForest.Among these,CatBoost demonstrated superior accuracy across multiple performance metrics.To further enhance predictive capability,several bio-inspired optimizers were employed for hyperparameter tuning.The SSO-CatBoost hybrid achieved the lowest mean squared error and highest correlation coefficients,outperforming other metaheuristic approaches such as Genetic Algorithm,Particle Swarm Optimization,and Grey Wolf Optimizer.Statistical significance was established through Analysis of Variance and Wilcoxon signed-rank testing,confirming the robustness of the optimized models.The proposed methodology not only delivers improved predictive performance but also offers a transparent framework for mix design optimization,supporting data-driven decision making in sustainable and resilient infrastructure development.展开更多
Crushing waste coral concrete into recycled aggregates to create recycled coral aggregate concrete(RCAC)contributes to sustainable construction development on offshore islands and reefs.To investigate the impact of re...Crushing waste coral concrete into recycled aggregates to create recycled coral aggregate concrete(RCAC)contributes to sustainable construction development on offshore islands and reefs.To investigate the impact of recycled coral aggregate on concrete properties,this study performed a comprehensive analysis of the physical properties of recycled coral aggregate and the basic mechanical properties and microstructure of RCAC.The test results indicate that,compared to coral debris,the crushing index of recycled coral aggregate was reduced by 9.4%,while porosity decreased by 33.5%.Furthermore,RCAC retained the early strength characteristics of coral concrete,with compressive strength and flexural strength exhibiting a notable increase as the water-cement ratio decreased.Under identical conditions,the compressive strength and flexural strength of RCAC were 12.7% and 2.5% higher than coral concrete's,respectively,with porosity correspondingly reduced from 3.13% to 5.11%.This enhancement could be attributed to the new mortar filling the recycled coral aggregate.Scanning electron microscopy(SEM)analysis revealed three distinct interface transition zones within RCAC,with the‘new mortar-old mortar’interface identified as the weakest.The above findings provided a reference for the sustainable use of coral concrete in constructing offshore islands.展开更多
This study investigates the influence of loading frequency on the fatigue behavior of ballastless track concrete for high-speed railways,aiming to support the development of concrete capable of withstanding higher ope...This study investigates the influence of loading frequency on the fatigue behavior of ballastless track concrete for high-speed railways,aiming to support the development of concrete capable of withstanding higher operational speeds.Fatigue tests were conducted at loading frequencies ranging from 5 to 40 Hz,with a focus on fatigue life,damage evolution,energy dissipation,and residual fatigue strain in the concrete.The results indicate that between 5 and 15 Hz,the fatigue life and energy dissipation remain relatively stable,with minimal damage evolution and small residual strains.As the frequency increases to 15-20 Hz,the fatigue life and energy dissipation gradually decrease,while damage accumulation and residual strain increase.Beyond 20 Hz,both fatigue life and energy dissipation decrease rapidly,damage accumulation becomes more pronounced,and residual strain continues to rise.These phenomena are primarily attributed to the increased strain rate and load change rate at higher frequencies,which affect the microstructure evolution and lead to reduced fatigue performance.展开更多
Conventional low-carbon concrete design approaches have often overlooked carbonation durability and the progressive loss of cover caused by surface scaling,both of which can increase the long-term risk of reinforcemen...Conventional low-carbon concrete design approaches have often overlooked carbonation durability and the progressive loss of cover caused by surface scaling,both of which can increase the long-term risk of reinforcement corrosion.To address these limitations,this study proposes an improved design framework for low-carbon slag concrete that simultaneously incorporates carbonation durability and cover scaling effects into the mix proportioning process.Based on experimental data,a linear predictive model was developed to estimate the 28-day compressive strength of slag concrete,achieving a correlation coefficient of R=0.87711 and a root mean square error(RMSE)of 7.55 MPa.The mechanism-based equation exhibits strong physical interpretability,as each parameter corresponds to a clear physical process,satisfying the requirements of design codes for physical significance.By integrating the strength and carbon-emission models,the carbon-emission efficiency was further analyzed.Across all water–binder ratios(0.3,0.4,0.5),CO_(2) emissions per unit strength decreased steadily with increasing slag content,indicating that carbon efficiency is primarily governed by slag replacement rather than the water/binder ratio.Four design cases,all with a design strength of 30 MPa,were then evaluated to illustrate the combined effects of carbonation and scaling.In Case 1,without considering carbonation durability,the carbonation depth after 50 years exceeded the 25 mm cover,leading to potential corrosion.In Case 2,when carbonation durability was considered,the required actual strength increased to 31.28 MPa.When mild cover scaling of 3 mm was introduced(Case 3),the required strength rose to 34.59 MPa,and under severe scaling of 10 mm(Case 4),it increased to 45.73 MPa.These results indicate that intensified scaling demands higher strength and lower water/binder ratios to maintain durability.Overall,the proposed framework quantitatively balances strength,durability,and embodied carbon,supporting sustainable low-carbon concrete design.展开更多
Bolting steel angles at the bottom ends of columns provides a rapid and efficient method for repairing damaged structures,while also offering a viable approach to restore their potential bearing capacity.To validate t...Bolting steel angles at the bottom ends of columns provides a rapid and efficient method for repairing damaged structures,while also offering a viable approach to restore their potential bearing capacity.To validate the suitability of specific strengthening strategies,particularly the utilization of bolted steel angles,three reinforced concrete frame specimens were subjected to hysteresis testing.These specimens all featured RC columns strengthened with steel angle ends.Additionally,one control specimen without steel angle ends was included in the testing.The hysteresis effects of bolting steel angles were discussed in terms of typical failure mode,hysteresis and skeleton curves,stiffness degradation and energy dissipation.The experimental results revealed that the three specimens that had bolted steel angles exhibited ductile failure behavior.Through analysis of hysteresis and skeleton curves,it was observed that the frame demonstrated distinct plasticity,maintaining sufficient load-bearing capacity even after yielding and exhibiting superior displacement ductility performance.Considering equivalent viscous damping,the energy dissipation capacity of the RC frame increased linearly with drift and remained largely unaffected by structural damage.Therefore,bolting steel angles at specified cross-sections proved to be a viable technique for structural repair and restoration.展开更多
This study aims to develop an accurate and robust machine learning model to predict the carbonation depth of fly ash concrete,overcoming the limitations of traditional predictive methods.Five ensemble-based models,suc...This study aims to develop an accurate and robust machine learning model to predict the carbonation depth of fly ash concrete,overcoming the limitations of traditional predictive methods.Five ensemble-based models,such as adaptive boosting(AdaBoost),categorical boosting(CatBoost),gradient boosting regressor(GBR),hist gradient boosting regressor(HistGBR),and extreme gradient boosting(XGBoost),were developed and optimized using 729 high-quality dataset points incorporating seven input parameters,including cement,CO_(2),exposure time,water-binder ratio,fly ash,curing time,and compressive strength.Several performance evaluation metrics were used to compare the models.The GBR model emerged as the best-performing model,based on high coefficient of determination(R^(2))values and balanced error metrics across both validation and testing datasets.While all models performed exceptionally well on the training data,GBR demonstrated superior generalization capability,with R^(2) values of 0.9438 on the validation set and 0.9310 on the testing set.Furthermore,its low mean squared error(MSE),root mean square error(RMSE),mean absolute error(MAE),and median absolute error(MdAE)confirmed its robustness and accuracy.Moreover,shapley additive explanations(SHAP)analysis enhanced the interpretability of predictions,highlighting the curing time and exposure time as the most critical drivers of carbonation depth.展开更多
This study presents a physics-informed modelling framework that combines finite element method(FEM)simulations and supervised machine learning(ML)to predict the self-healing performance of microbial concrete.A FEniCS-...This study presents a physics-informed modelling framework that combines finite element method(FEM)simulations and supervised machine learning(ML)to predict the self-healing performance of microbial concrete.A FEniCS-based FEM platform resolves multiphysics phenomena including nutrient diffusion,microbial CaCO_(3) precipitation,and stiffness recovery.These simulations,together with experimental data,are used to train ML models(Random Forest yielding normalized RMSE≈0.10)capable of predicting performance over a wide range of design parameters.Feature importance analysis identifies curing temperature,calcium carbonate precipitation rate,crack width,bacterial strain,and encapsulation method as the most influential parameters.The coupled FEM-ML approach enables sensitivity analysis,design optimization,and prediction beyond the training dataset(consistently exceeding 90%healing efficiency).Experimental validation confirms model robustness in both crack closure and strength recovery.This FEM–ML pipeline thus offers a generalizable,interpretable,and scalable strategy for the design of intelligent,self-adaptive construction materials.展开更多
To study the durability of concrete in harsh environments in Northwest China,concrete was prepared with various durability-improving materials such as concrete anti-erosion inhibitor(SBT-TIA),acrylate polymer(AP),supe...To study the durability of concrete in harsh environments in Northwest China,concrete was prepared with various durability-improving materials such as concrete anti-erosion inhibitor(SBT-TIA),acrylate polymer(AP),super absorbent resin(SAP).The erosion mode and internal deterioration mechanism under salt freeze-thaw cycle and dry-wet cycle were explored.The results show that the addition of enhancing materials can effectively improve the resistance of concrete to salt freezing and sulfate erosion:the relevant indexes of concrete added with X-AP and T-AP are improved after salt freeze-thaw cycles;concrete added with SBTTIA shows optimal sulfate corrosion resistance;and concrete added with AP displays the best resistance to salt freezing.Microanalysis shows that the increase in the number of cycles decreases the generation of internal hydration products and defects in concrete mixed with enhancing materials and improves the related indexes.Based on the Wiener model analysis,the reliability of concrete with different lithologies and enhancing materials is improved,which may provide a reference for the application of manufactured sand concrete and enhancing materials in Northwest China,especially for the study of the improvement effects and mechanism of enhancing materials on the performance of concrete.展开更多
Unbonded post-tensioned(PT)concrete systems are widely used in safety-critical structures,yet model-ing practices for prestress implementation and tendon-concrete interaction remain inconsistent.This study investigate...Unbonded post-tensioned(PT)concrete systems are widely used in safety-critical structures,yet model-ing practices for prestress implementation and tendon-concrete interaction remain inconsistent.This study investigates the effects of sheath(duct)implementation and confinement assumptions through nonlinear finite element analysis.Four modeling cases were defined,consisting of an explicit sheath without tendon-concrete confinement(S)and three no-sheath variants with different confinement levels(X,N,A).One-way beams and two-way panels were analyzed,and panel blast responses were validated against experimental results.In both beams and panels,average initial stress levels were similar across models,through local stress concentrations appeared when the sheath was modeled.Under blast loading,these local effects became critical,and the sheath-implemented model reproduced experimental behavior most accurately,whereas non-implemented models deviated.Reduced blast intensity diminished the differences among models,thereby reaffirming that sheath-induced localization and damage propagation are critical factors.These findings highlight the importance of explicit sheath implementation for realistic numerical assessment of unbonded PT structures under extreme loads.展开更多
In modern construction,Lightweight Aggregate Concrete(LWAC)has been recognized as a vital material of concern because of its unique properties,such as reduced density and improved thermal insulation.Despite the extens...In modern construction,Lightweight Aggregate Concrete(LWAC)has been recognized as a vital material of concern because of its unique properties,such as reduced density and improved thermal insulation.Despite the extensive knowledge regarding its macroscopic properties,there is a wide knowledge gap in understanding the influence of microscale parameters like aggregate porosity and volume ratio on the mechanical response of LWAC.This study aims to bridge this knowledge gap,spurred by the need to enhance the predictability and applicability of LWAC in various construction environments.With the help of advanced numerical methods,including the finite element method and a random circular aggregate model,this study critically evaluates the role played by these microscale factors.We found that an increase in the aggregate porosity from 23.5%to 48.5%leads to a drastic change of weakness from the bonding interface to the aggregate,reducing compressive strength by up to 24.2%and tensile strength by 27.8%.Similarly,the increase in the volume ratio of lightweight aggregate from 25%to 40%leads to a reduction in compressive strength by 13.0%and tensile strength by 9.23%.These results highlight the imperative role of microscale properties on the mechanical properties of LWAC.By supplying precise quantitative details on the effect of porosity and aggregate volume ratio,this research makes significant contributions to construction materials science by providing useful recommendations for the creation and optimization of LWAC with improved performance and sustainability in construction.展开更多
This study investigates the thermo–mechanical behavior of C40 concrete and reinforced concrete subjected to elevated temperatures up to 700℃by integrating experimental testing and advanced numerical modeling.A tempe...This study investigates the thermo–mechanical behavior of C40 concrete and reinforced concrete subjected to elevated temperatures up to 700℃by integrating experimental testing and advanced numerical modeling.A temperature-indexed Concrete Damage Plasticity(CDP)framework incorporating bond–slip effects was developed in Abaqus to capture both global stress–strain responses and localized damage evolution.Uniaxial compression tests on thermally exposed cylinders provided residual strength data and failure observations for model calibration and validation.Results demonstrated a distinct two-stage degradation regime:moderate stiffness and strength reduction up to~400℃,followed by sharp deterioration beyond 500℃–600℃,with residual capacity at 700℃reduced to~20%–25%of the ambient value.Strain–damage analyses revealed the formation of a peripheral tensile strain band,which thickened and propagated inward with increasing temperature,governing crack initiation and cover spalling.Supplemental analyses highlighted that transverse reinforcement improved ductility and damage distribution at moderate temperatures(~300℃),but bond deterioration and steel softening beyond~600℃substantially diminished confinement effectiveness.The proposed CDP model accurately reproduced experimental stress–strain curves(R^(2)≈0.94–0.98 up to 600℃;≈0.90 at 700℃),with peak stress errors within 7%–10%and energy absorption captured within~12%.These findings confirm the robustness of the temperature-indexed CDP framework for simulating fire-damaged reinforced concrete and provide practical guidelines for post-fire assessment,spalling detection,and fire-resilient design of structural members.展开更多
文摘This is a poem review which analyzes The Mill that was written by a new poet in China, looking at it from the conceptual perspective. The conceptual shift and collocation between concreteness and abstractness enable her poems to carry both linguistic power and emotional strength; the conceptual images created by her abstract thinking and unique perception make her poems achieve originality and readability; her conceptual self built by the use of first person pronouns is actually not that of a person but that of a personified mule who was indignant about its heavy workload yet unable to speak against its predestined destiny. Although suffering from brain paralysis, the poet is shown by this review to be a sensible manipulator of words, which reveal the unique beauty in her language and show the suppressed sadness in her heart.
文摘The digital transformation of communication media has been widely adopted and has reshaped institutional investor interactions.We examine how the linguistic concreteness of investors'questions adapts to online media and face-to-face communication,using textual analysis of investor-company Q&A transcripts from Chinese listed firms.We find that online mediaenvironments induce investors to enhance linguistic precision,to compensate for reduced nonverbal cues and social presence,This mechanism is moderated by sender characteristics,message attributes and response concreteness patterns.Such adjustments counteract media-induced information loss,evidenced by improved analyst forecast accuracy.Our study represents a practical application of Lasswell's“5W”communication model in the context of corporate information disclosure and expands research on the impact of digital technology on communication media,offering insights into the balance between sender intent and media characteristics.
基金supported by the Fundamental Funds for the Central Universities,and the Research Funds of Remin University of China
文摘This study examined the relation between word concreteness and word translatability. Translatability was operationalized in terms of both lexical and semantic cross-transparency. Two separate scales were used to measure the level of concreteness of 123 target English words and their translatability into Chinese. The results of this study showed that word concreteness and translatability are significantly correlated, and that word concreteness determines the extent of semantic closeness between the translation of English and Chinese word pairs. Concreteness might be a variable that influences how translatable a word is between English and Chinese. However, this influence mainly applies to the semantic cross-transparency between the two languages, not the lexical cross-transparency. A link was proposed between the levels of translatability of a translation pair according to concreteness and associated properties. The paper also discusses the implications of the findings for second language learning and teaching, in particular the ＂translation effect＂ and teachers＇ ＂codeswitching＂ behavior.
文摘Concrete production often relies on natural aggregates,which can lead to resource depletion and environmental harm.In addition,improper disposal of thermoplastic waste exacerbates ecological problems.Although significant attention has recently been given to recycling various waste materials into concrete,studies specifically addressing thermoplastic recycled aggregates are still trending.This underscores the need to comprehensively review existing literature,identify research trends,and recognize gaps in understanding the mechanical performance of thermoplastic-based recycled aggregate concrete.Accordingly,this review summarizes recent investigations focused on the mechanical properties of thermoplastic-based recycled aggregate concrete,emphasizing aspects such as compressive strength,tensile behavior,modulus of elasticity,and durability characteristics.The primary aim is to consolidate scattered research findings,identify key parameters influencing mechanical behavior,and propose future research directions.Understanding the influence of recycled thermoplastic aggregates on concrete performance significantly supports sustainable construction practices by reducing dependency on virgin aggregates and mitigating environmental impacts associated with waste disposal.In addition,assessing mechanical performance contributes to confidence in the practical application,encouraging the broader adoption of thermoplastic-based recycled aggregate concrete in construction projects.Through this critical synthesis,the review guides researchers and industry practitioners toward informed decisions on the feasibility and reliability of integrating thermoplastic waste into concrete,thereby promoting sustainable infrastructure development.
基金Funded by the Science and Technology Program of Gansu Province(Nos.25JRRA497,23ZDFA017)the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(No.XDB0950000)High-level Talent Funding of Kashi。
文摘This study introduces superabsorbent polymers(SAP)into recycled concrete and,through freeze-thaw cycle tests,unconfined compressive strength tests,and nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR)analysis,evaluates the freeze-thaw resistance and durability of recycled concrete samples under varying freeze-thaw cycles.The results indicate that an appropriate addition of SAP significantly enhances the freeze-thaw resistance of recycled concrete.After 200 freeze-thaw cycles,the RS0.6 sample retained good surface integrity,demonstrating the best performance.Compared to NAC,its mass loss decreased by 1.16%,the relative dynamic modulus improved by 7.01%,and the compressive strength loss rate decreased by 5.41%.Additionally,T2 spectrum analysis revealed that adding SAP optimized the pore structure of recycled concrete and mitigated pore development during freeze-thaw cycles.As the number of freeze-thaw cycles increased,the RS0.3 and RS0.6 samples demonstrated superior frost resistance compared to NAC.However,an excessive amount of SAP increased pore expansion during subsequent freeze-thaw cycles,ultimately weakening frost resistance.
基金Funded by the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province(No.BK20220626)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52078068)+2 种基金Science and Technology Innovation Foundation of NIT(No.KCTD006)Jiangsu Marine Structure Service Performance Improvement Engineering Research CenterKey Laboratory of Jiangsu"Marine Floating Wind Power Technology and Equipment"。
文摘We investigated the effects of fly ash(FA)content on the mechanical properties of recycled aggregate concrete(RAC)and its regeneration potential under freeze and thaw(F-T)cycles.The physical properties of second-generation recycled concrete aggregates(RCA)were used to analyze the regeneration potential of RAC after F-T cycles.Scanning electron microscopy was used to study the interfacial transition zone microstructure of RAC after F-T cycles.Results showed that adding 20%FA to RAC significantly enhanced its mechanical properties and frost resistance.Before the F-T cycles,the compressive strength of RAC with 20%FA reached 48.3 MPa,exceeding research strength target of 40 MPa.A majority of second-generation RCA with FA had been verified to attain class Ⅲ,which enabled their practical application in non-structural projects such as backfill trenches and road pavement.However,the second-generation RCA with 20%FA can achieve class Ⅱ,making it ideal for 40 MPa structural concrete.
基金Funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52568032)Guangxi Key Research and Development Program(GKNos.AB24010020,AB23026071,and AD24010062)。
文摘The engineering application of low-alkali sulphoaluminate cement(L-SAC)is hindered due to the difficulty in adjusting the setting and hardening time.In this paper,lithium hydroxide and borax are mixed into L-SAC to regulate its setting and hardening process,so as to prepare a sulphoaluminate concrete material with high early strength and high fluidity.The effects of the ratio of lithium hydroxide to borax on the properties of L-SAC concrete were studied by hydration heat,XRD,TG-DTG,SEM and MIP.The experimental results show that the slump increases with the increase of borax content,and the early(3 h)strength increases with the increase of lithium hydroxide content.When 0.05% lithium hydroxide and 0.4% borax are added,the 0.5 h slump reaches 195 mm,and the 3 h compressive strength reaches 15.9 MPa.The increase of lithium hydroxide will promote the formation of early hydration products AFt and AH3 gel and accelerate the hydration process,while borax will inhibit the dissolution and hydration of cement and delay the setting and hardening process of concrete.The combination of the two ensures that the concrete has the characteristics of high early strength and high fluidity,and the early workability and mechanical properties can be controlled by the mix ratio.For long-term mechanical properties,the special concrete does not produce AFm,which can ensure the continuous development of strength.
基金Funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.52278518 and 51938011)the Natural Science Foundation of the Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions of China(No.24KJB560021)。
文摘Based on the split hopkinson pressure bar(SHPB)tests results,the cubic specimens have been numerically modeled in this paper to investigate the impact of key factors,such as the rise time,duration,and incident pulse shape,on achieving stress uniformity.After analysis,the paper provides actionable methods aimed at optimizing the conditions for stress uniformity within the cubic specimen.Finally,the lateral inertia effect of cubic specimen has been scrutinized to address the existing gap in this academic area.
文摘Nonlinear static procedures are widely adopted in structural engineering practice for seismic performance assessment due to their simplicity and computational efficiency.However,their reliability depends heavily on how the nonlinear behaviour of structural components is represented.The recent earthquakes in Albania(2019)and Türkiye(2023)have underscored the need for accurate assessment techniques,particularly for older reinforced concrete buildings with poor detailing.This study quantifies the discrepancies between default and user-defined component modelling in pushover analysis of pre-modern reinforced concrete structures,analysing two representative low-and mid-rise reinforced concrete frame buildings.The lumped plasticity approach incorporates moment-rotation relationships derived from actual member properties and reinforcement configurations,while the distributed plasticity approach uses software-generated default properties based on modern codes.Results show that the distributed plasticity models systematically overestimate both the strength and the deformation capacity by up to 35%compared to lumped plasticity models,especially in buildings with poor detailing and low concrete strength.These findings demonstrate that default software procedures,widely used in practice but not validated for pre-modern structures,produce dangerously unconservative seismic performance estimates.The study provides quantitative evidence of the critical need for tailored modelling strategies that reflect the actual conditions of the existing building stock.
文摘Accurate prediction of concrete compressive strength is fundamental for optimizing mix designs,improving material utilization,and ensuring structural safety in modern construction.Traditional empirical methods often fail to capture the non-linear relationships among concrete constituents,especially with the growing use of supple-mentary cementitious materials and recycled aggregates.This study presents an integrated machine learning framework for concrete strength prediction,combining advanced regression models—namely CatBoost—with metaheuristic optimization algorithms,with a particular focus on the Somersaulting Spider Optimizer(SSO).A comprehensive dataset encompassing diverse mix proportions and material types was used to evaluate baseline machine learning models,including CatBoost,XGBoost,ExtraTrees,and RandomForest.Among these,CatBoost demonstrated superior accuracy across multiple performance metrics.To further enhance predictive capability,several bio-inspired optimizers were employed for hyperparameter tuning.The SSO-CatBoost hybrid achieved the lowest mean squared error and highest correlation coefficients,outperforming other metaheuristic approaches such as Genetic Algorithm,Particle Swarm Optimization,and Grey Wolf Optimizer.Statistical significance was established through Analysis of Variance and Wilcoxon signed-rank testing,confirming the robustness of the optimized models.The proposed methodology not only delivers improved predictive performance but also offers a transparent framework for mix design optimization,supporting data-driven decision making in sustainable and resilient infrastructure development.
基金Funded by Natural Science Foundation of Guangxi(No.2025GXNSFBA069565)Guangxi Science and Technology Program(No.AD25069101)Guangxi Bagui Scholars Fund。
文摘Crushing waste coral concrete into recycled aggregates to create recycled coral aggregate concrete(RCAC)contributes to sustainable construction development on offshore islands and reefs.To investigate the impact of recycled coral aggregate on concrete properties,this study performed a comprehensive analysis of the physical properties of recycled coral aggregate and the basic mechanical properties and microstructure of RCAC.The test results indicate that,compared to coral debris,the crushing index of recycled coral aggregate was reduced by 9.4%,while porosity decreased by 33.5%.Furthermore,RCAC retained the early strength characteristics of coral concrete,with compressive strength and flexural strength exhibiting a notable increase as the water-cement ratio decreased.Under identical conditions,the compressive strength and flexural strength of RCAC were 12.7% and 2.5% higher than coral concrete's,respectively,with porosity correspondingly reduced from 3.13% to 5.11%.This enhancement could be attributed to the new mortar filling the recycled coral aggregate.Scanning electron microscopy(SEM)analysis revealed three distinct interface transition zones within RCAC,with the‘new mortar-old mortar’interface identified as the weakest.The above findings provided a reference for the sustainable use of coral concrete in constructing offshore islands.
基金sponsored by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.52438002)the New Cornerstone Science Foundation through the XPLORER PRIZE.
文摘This study investigates the influence of loading frequency on the fatigue behavior of ballastless track concrete for high-speed railways,aiming to support the development of concrete capable of withstanding higher operational speeds.Fatigue tests were conducted at loading frequencies ranging from 5 to 40 Hz,with a focus on fatigue life,damage evolution,energy dissipation,and residual fatigue strain in the concrete.The results indicate that between 5 and 15 Hz,the fatigue life and energy dissipation remain relatively stable,with minimal damage evolution and small residual strains.As the frequency increases to 15-20 Hz,the fatigue life and energy dissipation gradually decrease,while damage accumulation and residual strain increase.Beyond 20 Hz,both fatigue life and energy dissipation decrease rapidly,damage accumulation becomes more pronounced,and residual strain continues to rise.These phenomena are primarily attributed to the increased strain rate and load change rate at higher frequencies,which affect the microstructure evolution and lead to reduced fatigue performance.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52463034)supported by the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning funded by the Ministry of Trade,Industry and Energy(No.2025-02314098)of the Republic of Koreasupported by the Regional Innovation System&Education(RISE)program through the Gangwon RISE Center,funded by the Ministry of Education(MOE)and the Gangwon State(G.S.),Republic of Korea(2025-RISE-10-002).
文摘Conventional low-carbon concrete design approaches have often overlooked carbonation durability and the progressive loss of cover caused by surface scaling,both of which can increase the long-term risk of reinforcement corrosion.To address these limitations,this study proposes an improved design framework for low-carbon slag concrete that simultaneously incorporates carbonation durability and cover scaling effects into the mix proportioning process.Based on experimental data,a linear predictive model was developed to estimate the 28-day compressive strength of slag concrete,achieving a correlation coefficient of R=0.87711 and a root mean square error(RMSE)of 7.55 MPa.The mechanism-based equation exhibits strong physical interpretability,as each parameter corresponds to a clear physical process,satisfying the requirements of design codes for physical significance.By integrating the strength and carbon-emission models,the carbon-emission efficiency was further analyzed.Across all water–binder ratios(0.3,0.4,0.5),CO_(2) emissions per unit strength decreased steadily with increasing slag content,indicating that carbon efficiency is primarily governed by slag replacement rather than the water/binder ratio.Four design cases,all with a design strength of 30 MPa,were then evaluated to illustrate the combined effects of carbonation and scaling.In Case 1,without considering carbonation durability,the carbonation depth after 50 years exceeded the 25 mm cover,leading to potential corrosion.In Case 2,when carbonation durability was considered,the required actual strength increased to 31.28 MPa.When mild cover scaling of 3 mm was introduced(Case 3),the required strength rose to 34.59 MPa,and under severe scaling of 10 mm(Case 4),it increased to 45.73 MPa.These results indicate that intensified scaling demands higher strength and lower water/binder ratios to maintain durability.Overall,the proposed framework quantitatively balances strength,durability,and embodied carbon,supporting sustainable low-carbon concrete design.
基金National Key R&D Program of China under Grant No.2023YFC3805100Technologies R&D Project of China Construction First Group Corporation Limited under Grant No.PT-2022-09National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant No.52178126。
文摘Bolting steel angles at the bottom ends of columns provides a rapid and efficient method for repairing damaged structures,while also offering a viable approach to restore their potential bearing capacity.To validate the suitability of specific strengthening strategies,particularly the utilization of bolted steel angles,three reinforced concrete frame specimens were subjected to hysteresis testing.These specimens all featured RC columns strengthened with steel angle ends.Additionally,one control specimen without steel angle ends was included in the testing.The hysteresis effects of bolting steel angles were discussed in terms of typical failure mode,hysteresis and skeleton curves,stiffness degradation and energy dissipation.The experimental results revealed that the three specimens that had bolted steel angles exhibited ductile failure behavior.Through analysis of hysteresis and skeleton curves,it was observed that the frame demonstrated distinct plasticity,maintaining sufficient load-bearing capacity even after yielding and exhibiting superior displacement ductility performance.Considering equivalent viscous damping,the energy dissipation capacity of the RC frame increased linearly with drift and remained largely unaffected by structural damage.Therefore,bolting steel angles at specified cross-sections proved to be a viable technique for structural repair and restoration.
文摘This study aims to develop an accurate and robust machine learning model to predict the carbonation depth of fly ash concrete,overcoming the limitations of traditional predictive methods.Five ensemble-based models,such as adaptive boosting(AdaBoost),categorical boosting(CatBoost),gradient boosting regressor(GBR),hist gradient boosting regressor(HistGBR),and extreme gradient boosting(XGBoost),were developed and optimized using 729 high-quality dataset points incorporating seven input parameters,including cement,CO_(2),exposure time,water-binder ratio,fly ash,curing time,and compressive strength.Several performance evaluation metrics were used to compare the models.The GBR model emerged as the best-performing model,based on high coefficient of determination(R^(2))values and balanced error metrics across both validation and testing datasets.While all models performed exceptionally well on the training data,GBR demonstrated superior generalization capability,with R^(2) values of 0.9438 on the validation set and 0.9310 on the testing set.Furthermore,its low mean squared error(MSE),root mean square error(RMSE),mean absolute error(MAE),and median absolute error(MdAE)confirmed its robustness and accuracy.Moreover,shapley additive explanations(SHAP)analysis enhanced the interpretability of predictions,highlighting the curing time and exposure time as the most critical drivers of carbonation depth.
基金funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Grant Agreement No.945478(SASPRO2)supported by the ReBuilt project:Circular and Digital Renewal of Central Europe Construction and Building Sector CE0100390 ReBuiltthe Slovak Research and Development Agency under APVV-23-0383 and the Slovak Grant Agency VEGA No.2/0080/24.
文摘This study presents a physics-informed modelling framework that combines finite element method(FEM)simulations and supervised machine learning(ML)to predict the self-healing performance of microbial concrete.A FEniCS-based FEM platform resolves multiphysics phenomena including nutrient diffusion,microbial CaCO_(3) precipitation,and stiffness recovery.These simulations,together with experimental data,are used to train ML models(Random Forest yielding normalized RMSE≈0.10)capable of predicting performance over a wide range of design parameters.Feature importance analysis identifies curing temperature,calcium carbonate precipitation rate,crack width,bacterial strain,and encapsulation method as the most influential parameters.The coupled FEM-ML approach enables sensitivity analysis,design optimization,and prediction beyond the training dataset(consistently exceeding 90%healing efficiency).Experimental validation confirms model robustness in both crack closure and strength recovery.This FEM–ML pipeline thus offers a generalizable,interpretable,and scalable strategy for the design of intelligent,self-adaptive construction materials.
基金Funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52178216)the Research on the Durability and Application of High-performance Concrete for Highway Engineering in the Cold and Arid Salt Areas of Northwest China(No.2022-24)the Construction Project of the Scientific Research Platform of Provincial Enterprises Supported by the Capital Operating Budget of Gansu Province(No.2023GZ018)。
文摘To study the durability of concrete in harsh environments in Northwest China,concrete was prepared with various durability-improving materials such as concrete anti-erosion inhibitor(SBT-TIA),acrylate polymer(AP),super absorbent resin(SAP).The erosion mode and internal deterioration mechanism under salt freeze-thaw cycle and dry-wet cycle were explored.The results show that the addition of enhancing materials can effectively improve the resistance of concrete to salt freezing and sulfate erosion:the relevant indexes of concrete added with X-AP and T-AP are improved after salt freeze-thaw cycles;concrete added with SBTTIA shows optimal sulfate corrosion resistance;and concrete added with AP displays the best resistance to salt freezing.Microanalysis shows that the increase in the number of cycles decreases the generation of internal hydration products and defects in concrete mixed with enhancing materials and improves the related indexes.Based on the Wiener model analysis,the reliability of concrete with different lithologies and enhancing materials is improved,which may provide a reference for the application of manufactured sand concrete and enhancing materials in Northwest China,especially for the study of the improvement effects and mechanism of enhancing materials on the performance of concrete.
基金supported by the Nuclear Safety Research Program through the Korea Foundation of Nuclear Safety(KoFONS)using the financial resource granted by the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission(NSSC)of the Republic of Korea[RS-2025-02310881]the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning[KETEP]grant funded by the Ministry of Trade,Industry and Energy(MOTIE)[RS-2025-25447272].
文摘Unbonded post-tensioned(PT)concrete systems are widely used in safety-critical structures,yet model-ing practices for prestress implementation and tendon-concrete interaction remain inconsistent.This study investigates the effects of sheath(duct)implementation and confinement assumptions through nonlinear finite element analysis.Four modeling cases were defined,consisting of an explicit sheath without tendon-concrete confinement(S)and three no-sheath variants with different confinement levels(X,N,A).One-way beams and two-way panels were analyzed,and panel blast responses were validated against experimental results.In both beams and panels,average initial stress levels were similar across models,through local stress concentrations appeared when the sheath was modeled.Under blast loading,these local effects became critical,and the sheath-implemented model reproduced experimental behavior most accurately,whereas non-implemented models deviated.Reduced blast intensity diminished the differences among models,thereby reaffirming that sheath-induced localization and damage propagation are critical factors.These findings highlight the importance of explicit sheath implementation for realistic numerical assessment of unbonded PT structures under extreme loads.
基金supported by National Science Foundation of China(10972015,11172015)the Beijing Natural Science Foundation(8162008).
文摘In modern construction,Lightweight Aggregate Concrete(LWAC)has been recognized as a vital material of concern because of its unique properties,such as reduced density and improved thermal insulation.Despite the extensive knowledge regarding its macroscopic properties,there is a wide knowledge gap in understanding the influence of microscale parameters like aggregate porosity and volume ratio on the mechanical response of LWAC.This study aims to bridge this knowledge gap,spurred by the need to enhance the predictability and applicability of LWAC in various construction environments.With the help of advanced numerical methods,including the finite element method and a random circular aggregate model,this study critically evaluates the role played by these microscale factors.We found that an increase in the aggregate porosity from 23.5%to 48.5%leads to a drastic change of weakness from the bonding interface to the aggregate,reducing compressive strength by up to 24.2%and tensile strength by 27.8%.Similarly,the increase in the volume ratio of lightweight aggregate from 25%to 40%leads to a reduction in compressive strength by 13.0%and tensile strength by 9.23%.These results highlight the imperative role of microscale properties on the mechanical properties of LWAC.By supplying precise quantitative details on the effect of porosity and aggregate volume ratio,this research makes significant contributions to construction materials science by providing useful recommendations for the creation and optimization of LWAC with improved performance and sustainability in construction.
文摘This study investigates the thermo–mechanical behavior of C40 concrete and reinforced concrete subjected to elevated temperatures up to 700℃by integrating experimental testing and advanced numerical modeling.A temperature-indexed Concrete Damage Plasticity(CDP)framework incorporating bond–slip effects was developed in Abaqus to capture both global stress–strain responses and localized damage evolution.Uniaxial compression tests on thermally exposed cylinders provided residual strength data and failure observations for model calibration and validation.Results demonstrated a distinct two-stage degradation regime:moderate stiffness and strength reduction up to~400℃,followed by sharp deterioration beyond 500℃–600℃,with residual capacity at 700℃reduced to~20%–25%of the ambient value.Strain–damage analyses revealed the formation of a peripheral tensile strain band,which thickened and propagated inward with increasing temperature,governing crack initiation and cover spalling.Supplemental analyses highlighted that transverse reinforcement improved ductility and damage distribution at moderate temperatures(~300℃),but bond deterioration and steel softening beyond~600℃substantially diminished confinement effectiveness.The proposed CDP model accurately reproduced experimental stress–strain curves(R^(2)≈0.94–0.98 up to 600℃;≈0.90 at 700℃),with peak stress errors within 7%–10%and energy absorption captured within~12%.These findings confirm the robustness of the temperature-indexed CDP framework for simulating fire-damaged reinforced concrete and provide practical guidelines for post-fire assessment,spalling detection,and fire-resilient design of structural members.
