This research assesses the seismic resilience of structures with a lateral load-resisting system including moment frames and internal simple frames using statistical methods and probabilistic functions. For this purpose, two structures of 24 and 48 stories with bundled tube Resistant system were considered. The structural system of the studied models consists of nine integrated rigid cells. The studied bundled tube structures have been designed based on the sixth and tenth issues of the Iranian National Building Code (INBC) and the fourth edition of the Iranian Seismic Code (Standard No. 2800).The seismic behavior of the studied bundled tube structural systems is investigated in this paper by performing incremental dynamic analyses (IDA) and seismic fragility assessments under near-field ground motions with various directivity effects. The fragility curves of the studied structures have been plotted according to the FEMA provisions to calculate the probability of the Resistant Skeleton exceeding six seismic performance levels, namely the post-linear (PL), the immediate occupancy (IO), the damage control (DC), the life safety (LS), the collapse prevention (CP) and the probabilistic global instability (GI). Then, by determining the damage coefficients according to the HAZUS 2005 guidelines and applying the proposed formulation of the loss function by the MCEER-09-0009 report, the seismic resilience indexes of the studied structures were obtained.Based on the obtained results of the conducted nonlinear dynamic analyses, it was concluded that the 24 and 48-story studied bundled tube structures have a relatively sufficient safety margin against the probable collapse mode under near-field records containing velocity pulses. Moreover, the evaluation of the probabilistic values of occurrence of the various limit states for the studied structures shows that the bundled tube structural system can control the gradual process of stiffness deterioration and strength degradation with a more comprehensive formation of the geometric nonlinear behavior.The results of the performed fragility analyses indicate that the application of bundled tube Resistant Skeleton in high-rise buildings can provide a high capability of dynamic stability against the process of damage expansion. The robustness indexes of the 24 and 48-story studied bundled tube structures were also obtained as 83.6% and 84.8%, respectively. Based on the seismic resilience calculations, it was found that the 48-story studied structure loses a lower amount of strength and efficiency after strong earthquake tremors.

We define [k] ={1, 2, 3,…, k} to be a (totally ordered) alphabet on k letters. A word wof length n on the alphabet [k] is an element of [k] n. A word can be represented by a bargraph which is a family of column-convex polyominoes whose lower edge lies on the x -axis and in which the height of the i -th column in the bargraph equals the size of the i -th part of the word. Thus these bargraphs have heights which are less than or equal to k. We consider the site-Perimeter, which is the number of nearest-neighbour cells outside the boundary of the polyomino. The generating function that counts the site-Perimeter of words is obtained explicitly. From a functional equation we find the average site-Perimeter of words of length n over the alphabet [k]. We also show how these statistics may be obtained using a direct counting method and obtain the minimum and maximum values of the site-Perimeters.

The braced tube structure is one of the most efficient lateral load Resistant skeletal systems under seismic loads. This high-rise mega frame has desirable aspects in terms of seismic response. Also, this system increases the resistance potential of high-rise structures in comparison with three-dimensional steel rigid frames. The present study denotes the seismic response properties of four mega braced tube structural systems of 20-story with different bracing configurations, which are the same in plan and loading arrangements, subjected to strong near-field records. The two studied structures have skeletal configuration of centralized braced panels. Moreover, the two other studied models were designed based on mega braced tube system considered as the Resistant structure. In order to assess dynamic response parameters of the studied structures, several nonlinear time history analyses were performed. The selected earthquake records contain a variety of wave-like characteristics such as long period pulses and high amplitude spikes in the ground velocity and acceleration time histories. The analytical evaluation of seismic response parameters indicates the desirable performance of mega braced tube structural systems under powerful near-fault records. The aforementioned seismic performances were investigated in terms of maximum lateral displacement, interstory drift as well as absolute acceleration, relative velocity of floors and total base shear along with the integrated formations of skeletal nonlinear hinges. It was obtained that the concentrated configuration of a limited number of aligned braced panels in high-rise framed Skeleton is not relatively suitable. Also, dynamic response parameters of the 20-story models with the configuration of centralized braced panels are influenced more while being subjected to near-field ground motions in comparison to the mega braced tube systems. The application of centralized braced panels would lead to the more intensive variation in seismic response parameters. It should be noted that the application of single elements as well as concentric aligned braced panels cannot be effective in controlling the maximum lateral displacement and drift demands. The structural vulnerability assessment indicated that mega braced tube structures have better seismic performance than the other type of Resistant Skeletons under influencing of large coherent velocity pulses which displayed in the time history of strong earthquake records.

The osteology of the caudal Skeleton in representatives of 41 genera in 39 families of eurypterygian fishes was studied. The caudal Skeleton of eurypterygian fishes consists of five or six hypurals, a parhypural, one to three epurals, one or two pairs of uroneurals, ural centra 1 and 2, last preural centra and associated neural and haemal spines, and procurrent and principal rays. Eurypterygians like other teleosts have a diural caudal Skeleton (two ural cen-tra). Primitively in basal Acanthomorpha and Acanthopterygii, the caudal elements are autog-enous and several intercaudal and postcaudal cartilages support these isolated elements. Basal groups usually have six autogenous hypurals, three epurals, two pairs of autogenous neurals, autogenous ural centrum 2, and autogenous haemal and neural spines on the last centra. In some basal groups such as Myctophidae, many of the caudal elements are fused, because of the presence of primitive conditions in related taxa, the fusion in such a groups should be re-garded as secondary and independent from that in higher taxa. In higher groups, there is a tendency for the elements to fuse together and to the centra and caudal cartilage are lost due to lack of function. In specialized groups such as some Scorpaeniformes, all the elements are fused and the caudal cartilage is lost.

Purpose: To report findings that could suggest an elliptical shape of the capsular bag.Methods: Five eyes of three patients with axial length greater than 24 mm underwent phacoemulsification cataract surgery with plate‑haptic multifocal toric intraocular lens (IOL) implantation oriented in the vertical meridian.Results: In all cases, correct orientation of the IOLs was verified 30 minutes after surgery. After 24 hours, all eyes demonstrated unwanted rotation of the IOLs ranging from 15 to 45 degrees. The IOLs remained stable in the new position in all cases until adhesion of the capsular bag took place.Conclusion: These observations could suggest that the Perimeter of the capsular bag has an elliptical shape.Therefore, the IOL tends to become fixated in a meridian of the capsular bag that best fits the diagonal diameter of the IOL.

Algorithmic Skeleton has received attention as an efficient method of parallel programming in recent years. Using the method, the programmer can implement parallel programs easily. In this study, a set of efficient algorithmic Skeletons is introduced for use in implementing parallel genetic algorithm (PGA).A performance model is derived for each Skeleton that makes the comparison of Skeletons possible in order to select the best one for the application. The performance of the selected Skeleton can be increased by specifying the virtual topology required by the application. This is a novel approach with no precedent Nesting of Skeletons used here is another novelty of the study which has been employed only in few previous studies.

The effect of Perimeter fins on the thermal stress and low cycle fatigue life (LCF) of exhaust manifolds was investigated. For doing this, Solidworks software was used to model the exhaust manifolds. Three Perimeter fins with 4 mm thickness were attached to the modified exhaust manifolds outlet section. Then ANSYS Workbench software was used to determine stress and fatigue life based on Morrow and Smith-Watson-Topper (SWT) approaches. Finally, the improvement of the low cycle fatigue life was studied. The temperature-dependent of material parameters was considered to increase the accuracy of LCF life results. The results of finite element analysis (FEA) uncovered the fact that Perimeter fins reduce the temperature distribution in the exhaust manifolds about 32. 54°, C. As a result, the exhaust manifolds tolerates lower temperature, and fatigue life will increase. The results of thermo-mechanical analysis indicated that the stress in the modified exhaust manifolds decreased approximately 22MPa for the sake of depletion of temperature gradient, which can lead to higher fatigue lifetime. The results of LCF showed that the number of cycles of failure for modified exhaust manifold is approximately 55% higher than the results obtained from the original exhaust manifolds.

Construction of a reservoir may affect the stability of Perimeter areas and stimulate sliding of potentially unstable slopes. In this thesis, the issue is first studied and important aspects of the problem and available treatments (including stabilization methods) are extensively reviewed. Next, the study is focused on Golestan II Dam as a case study. As the dam site is covered with collapsible windy deposits namely Loess, the behavior of such soils needs to be scrutinized. Loess is ~ery sensitive to changes of water content, and the stability of loessial slopes decreases dramatically after submergence or saturation. The required soil strength parameters used in the slope stability analysis are obtained from the results reported by the consultant. Some laboratory testing has also been performed by the author to verify the above results. Deterministic and probabilistic stability analysis is performed for two methods of GLE and Modified Bishop. In the probabilistic analysis, some logical values for mean and variation values are assumed for friction angle and cohesion of soil as input data, and failure probability and mean probabilistic safety factors are computed. The total likely volume of sliding mass for all surrounding slopes of at the maximum reservoir capacity of 2nd Golestan Dam is estimated to be 4 percent of the capacity, which means 1,800,000 m3. It is concluded that the sliding could spread in whole shorelines but would not be massive or catastrophic. It is proposed to put some restriction on land use around the reservoir and establish a monitoring program in order to mitigate the sliding hazard.