The local asphalt concrete fracture properties represented by the fracture energy, J-integral, and stress intensity factor are calculated from the results of the three point bending beam test made for pre notches beams specimens with deformation rate of 1.27 ^mm/min. The results revealed that the stress intensity factor has increased by more than 40% when decreasing the testing temperature 10˚C and increasing the notch depth from 5 to 30^mm. The change of asphalt type and content have a limited effect of less than 6%.

The flexible joint robot manipulators provide various benefits, but also present many control challenges such as nonlinearities, strong coupling, vibration, etc. This paper proposes optimal second order integral sliding mode control (OSOISMC) for a single link flexible joint manipulator to achieve robust and smooth performance. Firstly, the integral sliding mode control is designed, which consists of a linear quadratic regulator (LQR) as a nominal control, and switching control. This control guarantees the system robustness for the entire process. Then, a nonsingularterminal sliding surface is added to give a second order integral sliding mode control (SOISMC), which reduces chartering effect and gives the finite time convergence as well. S

This article presents a new cascaded extended state observer (CESO)-based sliding-mode control (SMC) for an underactuated flexible joint robot (FJR). The control of the FJR has many challenges, including coupling, underactuation, nonlinearity, uncertainties and external disturbances, and the noise amplification especially in the high-order systems. The proposed control integrates the CESO and SMC, in which the CESO estimates the states and disturbances, and the SMC provides the system robustness to the uncertainty and disturbance estimation errors. First, a dynamic model of the FJR is derived and converted from an underactuated form to a canonical form via the Olfati transformation and a flatness approach, which reduces the complexity of th

This study examines the structural performance of concrete-encased pultruded Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) I-sections with shear connections. It specifically focuses on how different parameters affect the latter’s ductility, flexural strength, and load-carrying capacity. The key variables studied include various shear connector types, spacing, and geometries, as well as the compressive strength of concrete and the properties of GFRP. The finite element modeling and experimental validation show that the shear connectors significantly improve the ductility, ultimate capacity, and load transmission efficiency. The present review emphasizes that the shear connectors greatly enhance the structural performance when they are prop

      The subject of the evolution of fire insurance of the hottest topics accidents, because it falls within the commercial insurance, as its importance is reflected for being a security source and contentment of the insured person and so it is worth pointing out the importance of fire insurance in enterprises and organizations of all kinds, because of the guarantee of its assets from meridian as well as protection from the effects of the fire therefore ensure continuity in the performance of their activities

It is believed that culture plays an important role in the ELF classroom activities (Al- Mutawa, & Kilani, 1989:87). It is important for the teacher to recognize potential negative (culturally based) perceptions of their learners. In Iraq, for instance, it is not. Uncommon to meet silent expressionless students that arc supposedly English language learners. It is possible for the beginner to interpret this negatively as a lack of interest in the study of English. This interpretation may play a harmful role in the classroom methodology. An instructor has to be intercultural competent to be an effective teacher. It will be more effective if the instructor adopts a consistent style of instruction to allow learners to adapt within the bounds of