Sharif Digital Repository

A new method for image registration has been previously proposed by the authors, which the registration is based on physical forces. The registration parameters are translation and rotation. This method assumes images like charged materials that attract each other. In this case, one of the images moves in the same direction as the applied force while the other one is still. The movement of the image continues until the resultant force becomes zero. This approach estimates the registration parameters simultaneously and leading to a better optimized set of registration parameters. The registration error for this method is 1 to 3 pixels. In this paper we aim to develop this method for the... 

The purpose of this study is to analyze the nonlinear dynamic responses of functionally graded carbon nanotube-reinforced composite (FG-CNTRC) beams exposed to axial supersonic airflow in thermal environments. The dynamic model of the FG-CNTRC beam is developed with regard to the first-order shear deformation theory incorporating the von Kármán geometrical nonlinearity. The thermomechanical properties of the constituents are assumed to be temperature dependent. The third-order piston theory is adopted to estimate the nonlinear aerodynamic pressure induced by the supersonic airflow. Harmonic differential quadrature method is implemented to discretize the equations of motion in the spatial... 

Local scour around complex piers under steady clear-water condition was studied experimentally for a variety of configuration, including different sizes and shapes of complex piers. A total of 70 experiments were carried out. Three sets of experiments were performed over the entire range of possible pile cap elevations for complex piers with different geometrical characteristics. The collected data are used to quantify the pile cap elevations that maximize or minimize the local scour depth. Some of the available methodologies to estimate the maximum local scour depth around such complex piers are evaluated. The predictions of the scour depths improved by using the revised methods of... 

Experimental results of detailed flow measurements using an Acoustic-Doppler Velocimeter (ADV) around a complex bridge pier (CBP) are presented. The pier consists of a column, a pile cap (PC) and a 2×4 pile group. The time-averaged velocities, turbulence intensities, and Reynolds stresses are studied and presented at different horizontal and vertical planes. Streamlines obtained from the velocity fields are used to show the complexity of the flow around the pier. It is shown that the main feature of the flow responsible for the entrainment of the bed sediments is a contracted (pressurized) flow below the PC toward the piles. A deflected flow around the PC and a strong down-flow along its... 

The author utilized neuro-fuzzy based group method of data handling (NF-GMDH) to predict the local scour depth around pile groups under clear-water conditions. They collected the datasets from literature. To predict the local scour by using NF-GMDH, nine dimensional parameters were considered to define a functional relationship between input and output variables. The results of NF- GMDH networks were compared with that of the empirical equations. However, the collected datasets for pile group scouring, the method of implementing the empirical formula to calculate scour depth, and using the equation of Sheppard et al. (2004) suggested for single pier to predict local scouring around pile... 

In this paper, three-dimensional turbulent flow field around a complex bridge pier placed on a rough fixed bed is experimentally investigated. The complex pier foundation consists of a column, a pile cap, and a 2×4 pile group. All of the elements are exposed to the approaching flow. An acoustic-Doppler velocimeter was used to measure instantaneously the three components of the velocities at different horizontal and vertical planes. Profiles and contours of time-averaged velocity components, turbulent intensity components, turbulent kinetic energy, and Reynolds stresses, as well as velocity vectors are presented and discussed at different vertical and horizontal planes. The approaching... 

Prediction of threshold conditions and incipient motion is the essential issue for the study of sediment transport. This work compares existing empirical threshold curves proposed for Shields diagram, a method based on the concept of probability of sediment movement, and an empirical method based on movability number. These methods are used to predict the incipient motion conditions for experimental runs taken from various studies. Most of the experimental data, used in this work, have not been used before in derivation of alternative formulations for Shields diagram and other methods. The empirical threshold curves based on the Shields entrainment function was the least successful at... 

Groundwater vulnerability assessment of urban areas is a challenging task in the fast trend of urbanization around the globe. This study introduces a new approach for modifying well-known parameters of common vulnerability indexes to adjust them for urban areas. The approach is independent of a specific weighting system. The aquifer of Mashhad city, contaminated by domestic wastewater, is selected as a case in this study. In order to evaluate the aquifer vulnerability due to anthropogenic activities, at first, parameters of depth to groundwater, recharge, land use, and soil are modified based on their basic concepts and their influences on contamination attenuation. Then, the modified... 

The harmonic displacement response of a beam is utilized as the input signal function in wavelet analysis. Sudden changes in the spatial variation of transformed response identify the location of damages and defects. The damage incurred causes a change in the stiffness or mass of the beam. This causes a localized singularity which can be identified by a wavelet analysis of the displacement response. In this article, it is shown that using harmonic response is superior to the static deflection response and this approach is more effective in the presence of noise and more sensitive to the versatility of the applied harmonic loads. © 2007 SAGE Publications  

Numerical simulations of the turbulent flow around single and side-by-side piles at different spacing ratios (centre-to-centre distance to the pile diameter) with flow Reynolds number of 105 on the fixed flat-bed are presented. The calculations are performed using the computational fluid dynamics model, FLOW-3D, which solves the Navier–Stokes equations in three dimensions with a finite-volume method. The numerical results of time-averaged flow patterns around single and side-by-side piles are validated using the available experimental measurements. At the downstream of the single pile, dimensionless vortex shedding frequency (Strouhal number) is estimated as 0.22. The maximum values of bed... 

It is now known that at least 10% of samples with pancreatic cancers (PC) contain a causative mutation in the known susceptibility genes, suggesting the importance of identifying cancer-associated genes that carry the causative mutations in high-risk individuals for early detection of PC. In this study, we develop a statistical pipeline using a new concept, called gene-motif, that utilizes both mutated genes and mutational processes to identify 4211 3-nucleotide PC-associated gene-motifs within 203 significantly mutated genes in PC. Using these gene-motifs as distinguishable features for pancreatic cancer subtyping results in identifying five PC subtypes with distinguishable phenotypes and... 

AC electric arc furnaces (EAFs) highly reduce power quality of the network by generating disturbances such as flicker and harmonics. These disturbances are due to the nonlinear electromagnetic and thermal field behaviors of the AC arcs. Analysis of these nonlinear behaviors is required for improving power quality in the network. This paper presents a three-dimensional finite element modeling of the electromagnetic fields in an AC three-phase electric arc furnace. The model includes the electrodes, arcs and molten bath. Current density, voltage and magnetic field intensity in the arcs, molten bath and electrodes are predicted as a result of applying the three-phase AC voltages to the EAF.... 

Recently, the elliptic-braced moment resisting frame (ELBRF) which is a new lateral bracing system installed in the middle bay of the frame in the facade of buildings is introduced. This system not only prevents a solution for opening space problem in view of architectural aspects, but also improves the structural behavior. The main drawback of its using in view of numerical modeling in multistory buildings is lack of curved frame element in design and analysis software. To overcome this shortcoming, in this paper, for the first time, an equivalent element for elliptic brace is presented for ELBRF through a laboratory program and nonlinear finite element analysis, which will contribute to... 

The ongoing and rapid growth of atmospheric CO2 levels causes a crucial worldwide concern. Herein, an efficient electrocatalyst has been introduced for electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) to address the stability issue of ZIF-67. The catalyst consists of gold and silver nanostructures electrodeposited on the surface of a cobalt-based metal-organic framework (Au-Ag@ZIF-67). The uniform distribution of the Au-Ag alloy without any agglomeration on ZIF-67 was confirmed through microscopic observations. After 13.3 h of CO2RR, the specific surface area of Au-Ag@ZIF-67 slightly decreased, whereas that of ZIF-67 declined drastically, indicating excellent structural stability of the Au-Ag... 

Complex piers (CPs), consisting of a column, pile cap and pile group, are commonly built as foundations for hydraulic and marine structures. Scour-hole development around CPs is studied in this paper. A total of 52 tests is carried out on 4 CP models, with experiments durations ranging from 24 to 120 h. All of the available experimental data for clear-water scour around CPs including the collected data of the present study and those previously published are reviewed and combined into a database. A special case of bridge piers with deep foundation or caisson instead of pile caps is also considered, which is herein called compound piers. The database contains 367 experiments for CPs and 162... 

The performance of continuous solid state bioreactors having two different solid substrate flow patterns, namely plug flow and completely mixed flow, is quantified for both steady-state and transient operation using a simple mathematical model. The core assumption is that each substrate particle acts as an infinitesimal bioreactor. The residence time distribution of the particles is considered in the formulation of the equations for the mixed-flow bioreactor and the error that results from neglecting it is investigated by comparing the simulation results with those of a completely mixed, continuous bioreactor for submerged liquid fermentation (a chemostat). The model is extended to include... 

In this paper a multi-scale image enhancement strategy using wavelets as applied to digital mammograms is presented. For multiresolution wavelet analysis redundant dyadic discrete wavelet transform is utilized to allow translation invariance and low resolution enhancement capability. Two alternative nonlinear gain adjustments, piecewise linear and Gaussian form of gain adjustment are used for coefficient modification for the enhancement of subtle details such as microcalcification and low resolution edges of different lesion types. The results of comparing these methods of gain adjustment are presented. This comparing has done by defining new parameters for measuring quality of image based... 

This paper presents a state of the art design for the blade tip injection. The design includes the means, to inject high-pressure gas jet directly into a circumferential casing groove formed in the shroud adjacent to the blade tip. The casing groove is positioned over the blade tip and exceeds 30% of the blade axial chord beyond the impeller to both upstream and downstream directions. In order to validate the multi block model used in the tip gap region, main flow characteristics are verified with the experimental data for smooth casing with a design clearance of 0.5% span. Three arbitrary mass flow rates (1.75%, 2.45%, and 4.35% of choked mass flow) have been studied. The results indicate... 

The casing treatment and flow injection upstream of the rotor tip are two effective approaches in suppressing instabilities or recovering from a fully developed stall. This paper presents numerical simulations for a high-speed transonic compressor rotor, NASA Rotor 37, applying a state-of-the-art design for the blade tip injection. This is characterized by introducing a jet flow directly into the casing treatment machined into the shroud. The casing treatment is positioned over the blade tip region and exceeds the impeller axially by ∼30 per cent of the tip chord both in the upstream and in the downstream directions. To numerically solve the governing equations, the three-dimensional finite...