Sharif Digital Repository

The present paper studies the failure of concrete from the mesoscopic point of view. Biphasic cubic concrete samples containing spherical aggregates embedded in a homogenized mortar have been simulated using standard finite element method. Linear elasticity and damage-plasticity hypotheses are considered for the aggregates and mortar, respectively. Various triaxial loading conditions are assumed for each sample to generate adequate discrete failure points within the stress space. In the next step, the approximated failure surfaces of specimens are constructed using the Delaunay triangulation technique. The effects of mesostructural features such as aggregate grading curve, aggregate... 

This paper presents the design and implementation of a bidirectional distributed amplifier (BDDA) in a 0.18- boldsymbol mu ext{m} CMOS process. The performance of the BDDA is theoretically analyzed, and the optimum number of gain stages ( n-{ ext {opt}} ), maximum achievable power gain ( G-{P} ), and circuit bandwidth are formulated. In addition, a new formula for proper choice of the number of DA stages (i.e., n ) is offered where dc-power consumption of the circuit ( P-{ ext {dc}} ) is also considered. This formula optimizes G-{P}/P-{ ext {dc}} , and it is preferred over the conventional n-{ ext {opt}} formula. To validate the theoretical analyses, a 2-12-GHz BDDA with high output 1-dB... 

In this study, the thermal buckling analysis of hybrid laminated plates made of two-layered functionally graded materials (FGMs) that are integrated with surface-bonded piezoelectric actuators referred to as (P/FGM)s are investigated. Material properties for both substrate FGM layers and piezoelectric layers are temperature-dependent. Uniform temperature rise as a thermal load and constant applied actuator voltage are considered for this analysis. By definition of four new analytic functions, the five coupled governing stability equations, which are derived based on the first-order shear deformation plate theory, are converted into fourth-order and second-order decoupled partial differential... 

Droplet-based microfluidics offers significant advantages, such as high throughput and scalability, making platforms based on this technology ideal candidates for point-of-care (POC) testing and clinical diagnosis. However, the efficiency of co-encapsulation in droplets is suboptimal, limiting the applicability of such platforms for the biosensing applications. The homogeneity of the bioanalytes in the droplets is an unsolved problem. While there is extensive literature on the experimental setups and active methods used to increase the efficiency of such platforms, passive techniques have received less attention, and their fundamentals have not been fully explored. Here, we develop a novel... 

Feature vector extraction, based on local image texture, is a primitive algorithm for many other applications, like segmentation, clustering and identification. If these feature vectors are a good match to the human visual system (HVS), we can expect to get the appropriate results by using them. Gabor filters has been used for this purpose successfully. In this paper we introduce a novel refinement, with the use of Matching Pursuit (MP) to improve the Gabor based texture feature extractor. With this improvement, we show that the separability of different textures will increase. Another consideration in this work is computation complexity. Therefore, we limit the basis function set to reduce... 

Free surface vortex and air entrainment are not favorable experiences in hydropower and pumping projects. While complete omission of vortex and air entrainment is not always cost effective, partially weakened free-surface vortex flow is more economical and practical. Hence, in this study, a comprehensive set of experiments were conducted to partially reduce vortex strength and air entrainment at vertical pipe intakes, using rectangular anti-vortex plates. This phenomenon results in increasing water discharge compared with a corresponding free-surface vortex for the same water depth, i.e. in cases of shaft spillway. The plates were used as singles and in pairs and placed symmetrically and... 

The study of air-water, two-phase flows in hydraulic structures such as pressurized flow tunnels, culverts, sewer pipes, junctions, and similar conduits is of great importance for design purposes. Air can be provided by vortices at water intakes, pumping stations, aerators, steep channels, etc. Under certain conditions, air may also be introduced into pressurized intake systems, which may form large bubbles in portions of the pipe. The bubbles may, in turn, cause an unstable slug flow, or other flow patterns, that leads to sever periodic transient pressure. In this paper, an experimental model (a circular and transparent pipeline, 90 mm in ID and 10 m in length) is used to predict pressure... 

One of the sources of disturbance at intakes is the occurrence of free-surface vortices with an air core. The most common solution for avoiding air-entrainment is the use of anti-vortex devices and, especially, plates for large pipe or shaft intakes. If plates are used, then, the geometry and position of them should be studied experimentally. Since only general guidance for use of plates is available, a study for the more precise placement of plates is needed. Hence, a comprehensive set of experiments have been carried out using rectangular plates with different dimensions and at various positions with respect to the vertical outlet pipe intakes and two different pipe diameters (D = 75 and... 

Sigma-Delta modulator ADCs used in signal processing applications are usually implemented by switched-capacitor (SC) circuits and CMOS transmission gates. Clock feed-through effect is one of the main non-ideal parameters existing in SC integrators degrading modulator total SNDR and its linearity. In this paper, a comprehensive analysis of clock feed-through effect on CMOS transmission gates on both rising and falling edges on output node will be presented. The main interferer parameters such as clock signal timing model, input signal level and switch parameters effect on output error will be analyzed. Finally, circuit simulations using 0.18um CMOS technology in ADS environment show the...