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Jalan Majalengka-Rajagaluh is a road located in several sub-districts that is a link to the city and one of the connecting roads to Cirebon City. This design planning began in Cigasong sub-district and continued to Rajagaluh sub-district with a length of 5.3 kilometers on the Majalengka-Rajagaluh road. The results of the geometric design are visualized in the form of drawings using AutoCAD 2D. The design speed (Vd) is set at 60 km/h with a horizontal curve radius of 358 m, a maximum slope of 4%, and an elevation (e max) of 8%. Based on this design criterion, a spiral curve with a circular arch length (Lc) of 74,996 m was obtained. Furthermore, the results of the calculation of the vertical alignment of the length (L) of one type of convex curve in the PPV are also calculated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research examines the utility of combined crash modification factors (CMFs) in minimizing crash severity at urban roundabouts. Conventional CMFs typically assess the influence of singular interventions on road safety. However, traffic dynamics and the interactions among multiple safety measures necessitate a more comprehensive strategy. This study introduces a novel methodology for developing integrated CMFs that accounts for the interactive effects of multiple safety measures, providing a comprehensive understanding of their collective impact on road safety. The investigation utilized data from 16 urban roundabouts in Amman, Jordan, from 2015 to 2021. Regression models have been employed to develop individual and combined CMFs for various geometric and traffic characteristics, such as entry and exit widths, speed limits, and weaving patterns. Key findings indicate that interventions, such as reducing speed limits, modifying entry and exit widths, and adjusting weaving lengths, significantly improve safety. The analysis identifies hazardous roundabouts and proposes effective single and combined treatments to mitigate crash risks. This study highlights the importance of considering multiple treatments simultaneously to improve the predictive accuracy of safety assessments and supports the development of more effective road safety strategies tailored to specific crash types and severities. The approach demonstrates a significant potential to enhance road safety analysis and decision-making, ultimately contributing to safer road environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The double-scroll wrap can effectively increase the volume flow rate compared with the commonly used single-scroll structure, but its built-in volume ratio is extensively reduced. With the aim of improving its built-in volume ratio, this study presented a fully meshed double-scroll profile, or called modified double-scroll, and proposed a generation method for it; its profile equations as well as relationships between its geometric parameters were obtained, and effects of the geometric parameters on the compressor performance were analyzed. Moreover, thermodynamic characteristic and working process of the double-scroll compressor were numerically simulated and verified with its performance experiment. It is found that the proposed fully meshed double-scroll significantly increases the built-in volume ratio by 33.8 %; meanwhile, it increases the volume flow rate, reduces the friction velocity between the orbiting and fixed scrolls, and decreases scroll dimensions. The proposed fully meshed double-scroll can be applied to the design and manufacture of scroll compressors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dupin cyclides are interesting algebraic surfaces used in geometric design and architecture to join canal surfaces smoothly and to construct model surfaces. Dupin cyclides are special cases of Darboux cyclides, which in turn are rather general surfaces in R 3 of degree 3 or 4. This article derives the algebraic conditions for the recognition of Dupin cyclides among the general implicit form of Darboux cyclides. We aim at practicable sets of algebraic equations on the coefficients of the implicit equation, each such set defining a complete intersection (of codimension 4) locally. Additionally, the article classifies all real surfaces and lower-dimensional degenerations defined by the implicit equation for Dupin cyclides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the innovation and evolution of lithium batteries, different active materials are loaded onto the current collectors, leading to remarkable changes in the components that directly interact with the current collectors. The surface/interface of current collectors in lithium batteries is gradually becoming one of the key factors to improve the overall performance. The thickness, material composition, surface morphology, and intrinsic properties of current collectors are crucial for understanding chemo‐mechanical changes during electrochemical reactions. Despite the widely acknowledged importance of highly efficient electron transportation and improved interfacial performance of current collectors as one of the determinants of exceptional lithium battery performance, insufficient attention has been given to exploring targeted design strategies for current collectors used in various lithium batteries. Particularly, as the development of solid‐state lithium batteries in full swing, there are limited studies focused on current collectors in all‐solid‐state lithium batteries (ASSLBs). This review introduces recent advancements in current collector technology, while highlighting both similarities and differences between negative current collectors applied in conventional lithium batteries and ASSLBs. Furthermore, we propose promising prospects for utilization of alloy materials as next‐generation negative current collectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the effect of five geometric design features, including radius, superelevation, longitudinal grade, lane and shoulder width, on the average speed in the horizontal curve on a two-lane undivided rural road was investigated. The standardized regression coefficients showed that the most important factor affecting the speed was the radius (10.47) followed by the longitudinal grade (4.46). Superelevation and lane width had little effect. Shoulder width had no significant effect. This would be due to the wide width of the lanes. It was found that the relationships between speed and radius, longitudinal grade, superelevation and lane width were radical, quadratic, linear and linear, respectively. Increasing the longitudinal grade has increased the speed of the drivers. Increasing the superelevation was effective when its value changed from negative to positive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to their unique bistable characteristics, deployable self-locking structures are suitable for many engineering fields. Without changing the geometrical composition, such structures can be unfolded and locked solely by the elastic deformation of materials. However, their further applications are hampered by the lack of simple and systematic geometric design methodologies that consider arbitrary structural curvature profiles. This paper proposes such a methodology for double-layer semicylindrical grid structures to simplify their cumbersome geometric design. The proposed methodology takes joint sizes into account to ensure that the design results can be applied to actual projects without further adjustments. By introducing symmetry into the structural units (SUs) and selecting reasonable geometric parameters that describe the structural side elevation profile, a concise set of simultaneous nonlinear geometric constraint equations is established, the solution of which provides the geometric parameter values of the grid shape. On this basis, the remaining geometric parameter values, i.e., the geometric parameter values of the inner scissor-like elements (SLEs) of each SU, can be achieved from the equations derived from general SLEs. Design examples and the assembled physical grid structure indicate the feasibility and wide applicability of the proposed geometric design methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review presents a comprehensive analysis of vascular access in hemodialysis, focusing on the current modalities, their associated challenges, and recent technological advancements. It closely examines the status of three primary types of vascular access: arteriovenous fistulas, arteriovenous grafts, and central venous catheters. The review delves into the complications and pathologies associated with these access types, emphasizing the mechanobiology-related pathogenesis of arteriovenous access. Furthermore, it explores recent clinical trials, biomaterials, and device innovations, highlighting novel pharmaceutical approaches, advanced materials, device designs, and cutting-edge technologies aimed at enhancing the efficacy, safety, and longevity of vascular access in hemodialysis. This synthesis of current knowledge and emerging trends underscores the dynamic evolution of vascular access strategies and their critical role in improving patient care in hemodialysis.

Introduction-Motorized Two-Wheeler (MTW) is a convenient and affordable mode of transportation despite being highly vulnerable to rollover crashes. The possible fact may be that MTW is a single-track vehicle and thus lack longitudinal stability, particularly on horizontal curves (HC). This stability depends on external factors such as curve geometrics and contact surface properties. Therefore, this research aims to identify the impact of pavement surface conditions and roadway geometrics on MTW run-off road crashes on HC. Method-To consider the temporal effect of pavement surface conditions, this study analyzed different combinations of light and surface moisture conditions for pre- and post-pavement surfacing conditions. Thus, Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) linked with the log function was used to account for repeated observations. Sample data were collected bi-annually from 76 HC for two years of pre- and post-resurfacing. Pavement surface condition parameter includes skid resistance, rut depth, and international roughness index (IRI). However, to restrain the impact of pavement surface conditions, a separate analysis was carried out to investigate the impact of geometrical design attributes. Results-The analysis concluded that surface moisture condition, light condition, rut depth, and their interactions with AADT were found significant for pre-resurfacing. For post-resurfacing, surface moisture condition, and light condition, IRI and its interaction with AADT were found significant. Similarly, roadway geometrics such as curve radius and their interaction with the presence of sight distance, public activity centre and cross-slope were found significant. Conclusion-Overall, the study insights and confirms how and to what extent pavement surface properties and geometric attributes impact the subject crashes. The results will enhance the understanding of roadway architecture and may help highway designers to implement, either at the intervention or treatment level, to improve safety and comfort.

Engineering design often involves representation in at least two levels of abstraction: the system-level, represented by lumped parameter models (LPMs), and the geometric-level, represented by distributed parameter models (DPMs). Functional design innovation commonly occurs at the system-level, followed by a geometric-level realization of functional LPM components. However, comparing these two levels in terms of behavioral outcomes can be challenging and time-consuming, leading to delays in design translations between system and mechanical engineers. In this paper, we propose a simulation-free scheme that compares LPMs and spatially discretized DPMs based on their model specifications and behaviors of interest, regardless of modeling languages and numerical methods. We adopt a model order reduction (MOR) technique that a priori guarantees accuracy, stability, and convergence to improve the computational efficiency of large-scale models. Our approach is demonstrated through the model consistency analysis of several mechanical designs, showing its validity, efficiency, and generality. Our method provides a systematic way to compare system-level and geometric-level designs, improving reliability and facilitating design translation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stress-induced corrosion impairs the mechanical integrity of magnesium (Mg) and its alloys as potential orthopedic implants. Although there has been extensive work reporting the effects of stress on Mg corrosion in vitro, the geometric design principles of the Mg-based orthopedic devices still remain largely unknown. In this work, a numerical simulation model mimicking fractured bone fixation and surgical animal models were applied to investigate the effects of the geometric design of Mg screws on the stress distribution and the stress-induced degradation behavior. Finite element (FE) analysis was used for calculation of stress concentrations around the Mg screws, with different thread type, thread pitch, and thread width. Afterward, the Mg screws of the pre-optimization and post-optimization groups exhibiting the highest and lowest stress concentrations, respectively, were implanted in the fractured distal femora and back subcutaneous tissue of rabbits. Encouragingly, there was a significant difference between the pre-optimization and the post-optimization groups in the degradation rate of the stressed screw parts located around the fracture line. Interestingly, there was no significant difference between the two groups in the degradation rate of the non-stressed screw parts. Consistently, the Mg screw post-optimization exhibited a significantly lower degradation rate than that pre-optimization in the back subcutaneous implantation model, which generated stress in the whole screw body. The alteration in geometric design did not affect the corrosion rate of the Mg screws in an immersion test without load applied. Importantly, an accelerated new bone formation with less fibrous encapsulation around the screws was observed in the Mg group post-optimization relative to the Mg group pre-optimization and the poly (lactic acid) group. Geometry optimization may be a promising strategy to reduce stress-induced corrosion in Mg-based orthopedic devices. Stress concentrations influence corrosion characteristics of magnesium (Mg)-based implants. The geometric design parameters, including thread type, thread pitch, and thread width of the Mg screws, were optimized through finite element analysis to reduce stress concentrations in a fractured model. The Mg screws with triangular thread type, 2.25 mm pitch, and 0.3 mm thread width, exhibiting the lowest maximum von Mises stress, showed a significant decrease in the volume loss relative to the Mg screws pre-optimization. Compared with the Mg screw pre-optimization and the poly(lactic acid) screw, the Mg screw post-optimization favored new bone formation while inhibiting fibrous encapsulation. Collectively, optimization in the geometric design is a promising approach to reduce stress-induced corrosion in Mg-based implants. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction-Motorized Two-Wheeler (MTW) is a convenient and affordable mode of transportation despite being highly vulnerable to rollover crashes. The possible fact may be that MTW is a single-track vehicle and thus lack longitudinal stability, particularly on horizontal curves (H C). This stability depends on external factors such as curve geometrics and contact surface properties. Therefore, this research aims to identify the impact of pavement surface conditions and roadway geometrics on MTW run-off road crashes on H C. Method-To consider the temporal effect of pavement surface conditions, this study analyzed different combinations of light and surface moisture conditions for pre- and post-pavement surfacing conditions. Thus, Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) linked with the log function was used to account for repeated observations. Sample data were collected bi-annually from 76 H C for two years of pre- and post-resurfacing. Pavement surface condition parameter includes skid resistance, rut depth, and international roughness index (IRI). However, to restrain the impact of pavement surface conditions, a separate analysis was carried out to investigate the impact of geometrical design attributes. Results-The analysis concluded that surface moisture condition, light condition, rut depth, and their interactions with AADT were found significant for pre-resurfacing. For post-resurfacing, surface moisture condition, and light condition, IRI and its interaction with AADT were found significant. Similarly, roadway geometrics such as curve radius and their interaction with the presence of sight distance, public activity centre and cross-slope were found significant. Conclusion-Overall, the study insights and confirms how and to what extent pavement surface properties and geometric attributes impact the subject crashes. The results will enhance the understanding of roadway architecture and may help highway designers to implement, either at the intervention or treatment level, to improve safety and comfort. • Safety performance of wet & dry pavement surface condition was evaluated. • Generalized Estimating Equation (GEEs) was used developed the scenarios. • Separate controlled analysis quantified the impact of geometric design attributes. • Pavement resurfacing showed positive impact on relevant crashes. • Consideration at intervention/treatment level improves both safety and comfort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The following research deals with Al-Qastal Palace, one of the most important early Islamic structures. It dates specifically to the Umayyad era in Jordan. Its floors are decorated with geometric mosaics, which were revealed during a series of archaeological excavations. These mosaics are characterized by a high level of artistic skill in their execution, particularly as evidenced by the great diversity in their shapes and designs. This study marks a serious attempt to compare the palace's mosaics with their counterpart in Byzantine art as represented at various Byzantine sites, likewise, to show the influence of Byzantine models on Islamic mosaics. Our research suggests that there was a prevalent school of art that was widespread in the region. By comparing the mosaics with relatively nearby sites, we were able to arrive at a comprehensive overview of mosaic production in the region, and determine whether they all belong to a single school of art. A serious attempt is being made to identify the main sources of influence for Qasr al-Qastal, especially those coming from Asia Minor, but also from other places outside the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Pangalengan-Banjaran road section has a winding geometric condition. The large number of bend geometries resulted in many accidents due to visibility, radius, and widening of the pavement at the corner, inappropriate road slopes caused many accidents to occur. The research method used in this research is the evaluative research method and quantitative method. The growth of suburban highway infrastructure in Indonesia has previously improved suddenly lengthways with economic growth. The geometrical strategy of the highway has previously remained planned by the typical requirements and needs of the purposes of the highway amenities constructed. The submission of physical science ideas in planning the geometrical stage as a meaning in smearing theoretic physical science to the identical-geometric design. A centrifugal strength in the physical science idea is a straightforward value in scheming geometric straight configurations of the road. Theoretical thoughtful of engineering term of scheming geometrical design viewpoint, has remained created on the method of centrifugal strength in the circumstance of effort on vehicles drive in the highway caisson disease. The operation has constantly remained built on variable quantity which remained strong-minded by thoughtful to spread on reason of rational usefully. These measures are lumped through dipping the result of bigger centrifugal strength. Furthermore, the submission is also able to decrease chance-disposed to areas due to the impact of size-centrifugal services on the geometrical plan of the highway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research utilises statistical modelling to explore the impact of roadway infrastructure elements, primarily those related to cross-section design, on crash occurrences in urban areas. Cross-section design is an important step in the roadway geometric design process as it influences key operational characteristics like capacity, cost, safety, and overall functionality of the transport system entity. Evaluating the influence of cross-section design on these factors is relatively straightforward, except for its impact on safety, especially in urban areas. The safety aspect has resulted in inconsistent findings in the existing literature, indicating a need for further investigation. Negative binomial (NB) models are typically employed for such investigations, given their ability to account for over-dispersion in crash data. However, the low sample mean and under-dispersion occasionally exhibited by crash data can restrict their applicability. The generalised Poisson (GP) models have been proposed as a potential alternative to NB models. This research applies GP models for developing crash prediction models for urban road segments. Simultaneously, NB models are also developed to enable a comparative assessment between the two modelling frameworks. A six-year dataset encompassing crash counts, traffic volume, and cross-section design data reveals a significant association between crash frequency and infrastructure design variables. Specifically, lane width, number of lanes, road separation, on-street parking, and posted speed limit are significant predictors of crash frequencies. Comparative analysis with NB models shows that GP models outperform in cases of low sample mean crash types and yield similar results for others. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the relationship between road infrastructure design and crash frequency in urban environments and offers a statistical approach for predicting crash frequency that maintains a balance between interpretability and predictive power, making it more viable for practitioners and road authorities to apply in real-world road safety scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract With the innovation and evolution of lithium batteries, different active materials are loaded onto the current collectors, leading to remarkable changes in the components that directly interact with the current collectors. The surface/interface of current collectors in lithium batteries is gradually becoming one of the key factors to improve the overall performance. The thickness, material composition, surface morphology, and intrinsic properties of current collectors are crucial for understanding chemo‐mechanical changes during electrochemical reactions. Despite the widely acknowledged importance of highly efficient electron transportation and improved interfacial performance of current collectors as one of the determinants of exceptional lithium battery performance, insufficient attention has been given to exploring targeted design strategies for current collectors used in various lithium batteries. Particularly, as the development of solid‐state lithium batteries in full swing, there are limited studies focused on current collectors in all‐solid‐state lithium batteries (ASSLBs). This review introduces recent advancements in current collector technology, while highlighting both similarities and differences between negative current collectors applied in conventional lithium batteries and ASSLBs. Furthermore, we propose promising prospects for utilization of alloy materials as next‐generation negative current collectors.

In this study, the effect of five geometric design features, including radius, superelevation, longitudinal grade, lane and shoulder width, on the average speed in the horizontal curve on a two-lane undivided rural road was investigated. The standardized regression coefficients showed that the most important factor affecting the speed was the radius (10.47) followed by the longitudinal grade (4.46). Superelevation and lane width had little effect. Shoulder width had no significant effect. This would be due to the wide width of the lanes. It was found that the relationships between speed and radius, longitudinal grade, superelevation and lane width were radical, quadratic, linear and linear, respectively. Increasing the longitudinal grade has increased the speed of the drivers. Increasing the superelevation was effective when its value changed from negative to positive.

Concerns related to food security and animal welfare have led to increasing interest in analyzing the energy demands of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in livestock buildings. However, building energy simulation (BES) model, which facilitates precise HVAC systems energy analysis, is difficult to use for non-experts, and particularly, its usability drops significantly in livestock buildings, which are often constructed without involvement of building engineers. This study, therefore, developed a tool that can analyze the energy demand of pigsties by changing geometric design variables with only several numerical inputs without separate 3D modeling. Pigsty geometric design types were classified by examining pigsty architectural design manual and web portal map search. A simplified tool, utilizing EnergyPlus and MATLAB graphical user interface, was developed to analyze energy demand in pigsties by leveraging simple user inputs for geometric design modeling. This tool simplifies exploring potential energy savings through geometric design changes in the early design stages of livestock buildings. The methodology introduced in this study lays the groundwork for future enhancements, including the integration of various design-phase variables beyond geometric design.

By a fractional quadratic transformation, an indirect-PH curve can have rational offsets. In this paper, I study properties of planar sextic indirect-PH curves, in terms of their Bézier control polygon legs. With our results, sextic Bézier curves can be efficiently tested whether they are indirect-PH curves. The main strategy to achieve our results is using complex representation of planar parametric curve. Sextic indirect-PH curves can be classified into three classes according to different factorizations of their hodographs. Necessary and sufficient conditions for all classes of sextic indirect-PH curves can be described by non-linear complex systems. By analyzing these non-linear systems, algebraic conditions for a sextic Bézier curve to be an indirect-PH curve are first discussed, then geometric characteristics in terms of legs of its control polygon are revealed.

This study presents a novel approach to the design of a 3T1R parallel-based machine tool by incorporating local and global dexterity indices. The methodology focuses on the synthesis of geometric dimensions to optimize the mechanism's performance. Initially, the paper provides a brief overview of the inverse kinematics of the mechanism and develops a 2-degrees-of-freedom (2-DoF) design based on the desired workspace, which is defined as the largest enclosed operational area. The research also evaluates the kinematic precision and distance singularity of the manipulator using global and local dexterity indices. Subsequently, the optimal dimensions for the individual components of the 3T1R parallel-based machine tool are determined by combining two 2-DoF mechanisms that have undergone design improvements. The study then discusses various conditions related to each component and establishes enhanced dimensions for the 3T1R manipulator to achieve the desired workspace. The design process considers the appropriate range of global and local dexterity indices to improve the performance of the 3T1R manipulator components within the targeted workspace. With this enhanced design, the 3T1R manipulator is capable of achieving four degrees of motion at any given position, while avoiding singular points outside the workspace boundaries. This methodology can be applied to a wide range of parallel-based machine tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mughal gardens are a prominent figure in the history of landscape architecture, serving as a symbol of artistic talent and horticultural genius. The Mughal gardens thrived throughout the Mughal Empire's rule in South Asia, and this dissertation investigates the profound philosophy that underpinned its design planting methods. The study explores the sociocultural factors that influenced Mughal gardening practices within the historical framework of that period. This study makes use of both primary and secondary sources to illuminate the main components of Mughal Garden design, including the widespread use of geometric patterns, water features, and the blending of architecture and landscape. A strong link between the gardens and the Mughal worldview is shown when the research additionally looks at the spiritual and metaphorical meanings connected to the fauna and plants selected for these gardens. Additionally, the study focuses on the cultivation practices used by Mughal horticulturists, showcasing their creative approaches to attaining a harmonic fusion of form and function. Mughal gardens are renowned for their overall visual effect, mostly due to the careful selection and placement of their flora. This dissertation tries to uncover the underlying plantation philosophy of Mughal gardens through a thorough investigation of historical records and garden ruins, highlighting the complex interactions between art, culture, and environment throughout this era. Modern landscape designers and hobbyists may take inspiration from the Mughal approach to horticulture and apply its timeless wisdom to contemporary gardening techniques by comprehending the fundamental ideas that guided the building of these gardens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research examines the utility of combined crash modification factors (CMFs) in minimizing crash severity at urban roundabouts. Conventional CMFs typically assess the influence of singular interventions on road safety. However, traffic dynamics and the interactions among multiple safety measures necessitate a more comprehensive strategy. This study introduces a novel methodology for developing integrated CMFs that accounts for the interactive effects of multiple safety measures, providing a comprehensive understanding of their collective impact on road safety. The investigation utilized data from 16 urban roundabouts in Amman, Jordan, from 2015 to 2021. Regression models have been employed to develop individual and combined CMFs for various geometric and traffic characteristics, such as entry and exit widths, speed limits, and weaving patterns. Key findings indicate that interventions, such as reducing speed limits, modifying entry and exit widths, and adjusting weaving lengths, significantly improve safety. The analysis identifies hazardous roundabouts and proposes effective single and combined treatments to mitigate crash risks. This study highlights the importance of considering multiple treatments simultaneously to improve the predictive accuracy of safety assessments and supports the development of more effective road safety strategies tailored to specific crash types and severities. The approach demonstrates a significant potential to enhance road safety analysis and decision-making, ultimately contributing to safer road environments.

Dupin cyclides are interesting algebraic surfaces used in geometric design and architecture to join canal surfaces smoothly and to construct model surfaces. Dupin cyclides are special cases of Darboux cyclides, which in turn are rather general surfaces in R3 of degree 3 or 4. This article derives the algebraic conditions for the recognition of Dupin cyclides among the general implicit form of Darboux cyclides. We aim at practicable sets of algebraic equations on the coefficients of the implicit equation, each such set defining a complete intersection (of codimension 4) locally. Additionally, the article classifies all real surfaces and lower-dimensional degenerations defined by the implicit equation for Dupin cyclides.

Due to their unique bistable characteristics, deployable self-locking structures are suitable for many engineering fields. Without changing the geometrical composition, such structures can be unfolded and locked solely by the elastic deformation of materials. However, their further applications are hampered by the lack of simple and systematic geometric design methodologies that consider arbitrary structural curvature profiles. This paper proposes such a methodology for double-layer semicylindrical grid structures to simplify their cumbersome geometric design. The proposed methodology takes joint sizes into account to ensure that the design results can be applied to actual projects without further adjustments. By introducing symmetry into the structural units (SUs) and selecting reasonable geometric parameters that describe the structural side elevation profile, a concise set of simultaneous nonlinear geometric constraint equations is established, the solution of which provides the geometric parameter values of the grid shape. On this basis, the remaining geometric parameter values, i.e., the geometric parameter values of the inner scissor-like elements (SLEs) of each SU, can be achieved from the equations derived from general SLEs. Design examples and the assembled physical grid structure indicate the feasibility and wide applicability of the proposed geometric design methodology.

This study aimed to evaluate the subsurface drainage of a permeable friction course (PFC) via two-dimensional finite element analysis. To achieve the scope, PFCs with equivalent water flow paths of length values of 10, 15, 20, and 30 m and slope values of 0.5%, 2%, 4%, 6%, and 8% were modelled based on FEniCS and implemented entirely in Python programing language to extract the time for surface ponding according to a range of rainfall intensities. The results show that when the rainfall intensity and the length of equivalent water flow path of the PFC rose, the time for surface ponding decreased. For instance, with a rainfall intensity of 10 mm/h and a slope of 0.5%, when the length of equivalent water flow path increased by 20 m, the time for surface ponding dropped by 21 min. Moreover, when the slope of the equivalent water flow path and the thickness of the PFC increased, the time for surface ponding increased. For instance, with a rainfall intensity of 10 mm/h, and a PFC with an equivalent length of 10 m, when the slope increased by 16 times, the time for surface ponding increased more than two times. The current study highlights that the thickness of the PFC has the most influence on subsurface drainage. The findings of this study indicate that at high rainfall intensities, the subsurface drainage of a PFC is not sensitive to its geometric design. Further experimental investigations are needed to evaluate and validate the subsurface drainage of a PFC considering permeability, rutting, and environmental factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors have constructed a digital model of reservoir rock cores based on the problem of packing spherical particles in a cylindrical container. They proposed a new approach to mathematical modeling of the reservoir rock structure and calculating its porosity. A mathematical model of the problem of placing the maximum number of spheres with different diameters in a cylindrical container is presented. A solution algorithm is developed based on the optimization by groups of variables and the lattice decomposition strategy. The results of experimental petrophysical studies of real well cores are used as input data. The modeling results provide a good approximation of the absolute porosity of natural prototype. Applying this approach will help improve hydrocarbon extraction technologies and increase their efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The standard Brazilian school projects (EMEIs) were created for the Proinfância [Pro-Childhood] program to respond to the growing national demand for public schools. Unfortunately, the project disregards the Brazilian local climate, leading to an inadequate architectural design, especially in terms of energy performance. Within this context, this research aimed to assess the impact of a new geometric design and envelope proposal on the energy performance of a Brazilian school building. The study object is a standard project (EMEI) of the Proinfância program located in Pelotas, Brazil. Two distinct multi-objective optimizations were performed based on EnergyPlus coupled with the Strength Pareto Evolutionary Algorithm 2 (SPEA2), in which the objective functions were defined to minimize heating and cooling Energy Use Intensity (EUI) for different geometric designs (Base and Linear models). The design variables considered were window-to-wall ratio (WWR); thermal insulation thickness for walls and floor; solar absorptance values for walls and roof; and solar orientation. A total of 74.520 simulations were carried out, and the results indicated that the new geometric design combined with bioclimatic envelope strategies was capable of reducing 52% of the Energy Use Intensity when compared to the standard school project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article aims to create a digital model of rock-collector cores using the problem of packing spherical particles in a cylindrical container. A new approach to the mathematical modeling of the rock-collector structure is proposed. The computation of its porosity is provided. A mathematical model of the problem of placing the maximum number of spheres with different diameters in a cylindrical container is presented. A solution algorithm is developed based on the optimization by groups of variables and a lattice decomposition strategy. The results of experimental petrophysical studies of real well cores are used as input data. The modeling results provide a good approximation of the absolute porosity of the natural prototype. The application of this approach will help improve hydrocarbon extraction technologies and increase their efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To assess the influence of a flat‐side design on the geometry, metallurgy, mechanical performance and shaping ability of a novel nickel‐titanium rotary instrument. Methodology: Sixty‐five new 25‐mm flat‐side rotary instruments (size 25, taper 0.04) and their nonflat‐side prototypes (n = 65) were assessed for major deformations and examined regarding macroscopic and microscopic design, determination of nickel and titanium elements ratio, measurement of phase transformation temperature and evaluation of mechanical performance parameters including time/cycles to fracture, maximum torque, angle of rotation, maximum bending and buckling strengths and cutting ability. Additionally, unprepared canal areas, volume of hard tissue debris and percentage reduction of dentine thickness were calculated for each tested instrument after preparing mesial canals of mandibular molars (n = 12), using micro‐CT imaging. Statistical analyses were performed using the U‐Mann–Whitney test and independent Student t‐test (α = 5%). Results: The number of spirals (n = 8) and blade direction (clockwise) were similar between both flat and nonflat instruments, whilst the helical angles were equivalent (⁓25°). Flat‐instruments showed inconsistencies in the homogeneity of the gold colour on the flat‐side surface, blade discontinuity, and incomplete and variable S‐shaped cross‐sections. The titanium‐to‐nickel ratios were equivalent, but significant differences in the R‐phase finish and austenitic start phase transformation temperatures were observed between the flat and nonflat‐side instruments. The flat‐side instruments demonstrated superior cutting ability compared to the nonflat instruments, as well as, significantly lower values for time to fracture, rotation to fracture and maximum torque to fracture (p <.001). No statistical difference was observed between tested instruments regarding angle of rotation (p =.437), maximum bending (p =.152) and buckling load (p =.411). Preparation protocols using flat and nonflat instruments did not show any statistically significant differences (p >.05). All flat‐side instruments exhibited deformation after shaping procedures. Conclusions: The flat‐side instrument showcased enhanced cutting ability compared to its nonflat counterpart. However, it exhibited inferior performance in terms of time, rotation and maximum torque to fracture, along with distinct phase transformation temperatures. No differences were observed in the titanium‐to‐nickel ratios, angle of rotation, maximum bending, buckling load, preparation time, percentage of untouched canal walls, volume of hard tissue debris and percentage reduction of dentine thickness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The effects of RTL's geometric factors on crash frequency vary based on location and time. • Traffic roundabouts increase crashes by 65% more than intersections in urban counties. • RTLs in Southern Indiana have more crashes on snow days than in the North. • Exclusive RTLs on county roads decrease 14% of crashes more than the shared RTLs. • Increasing RTL's length increase crashes for RTLs on interstate and state roads. Introduction : Right-turn lane (RTL) crashes are among the key contributors to intersection crashes in the US. Unfortunately, the lack of deep insights into understanding the effects of RTL geometric design factors on crash frequency impedes improving RTL safety performance. Method : Taking the crash data in ten counties in Indiana state from 2013 to 2016 as a case study, this study investigates the safety performance of RTL geometric configuration based on multi-sources. We introduce the geographically and temporally weighted negative binomial model (GTWNBR) to capture the space and time instability in crashes. Results : The results show that the impacts of RTL geometric design factors on crash frequency vary significantly among space and time. Several key insights can be obtained from the state-wide and multi-years crash analysis by associating the estimated parameters with road classes, localities, and counties. Conclusions : First, the RTL's length, width, turning radius, and the installments of traffic roundabouts present higher spatiotemporal heterogeneity than other factors in modeling the crash frequency. Second, the effects of RTL's geometric factors vary significantly across space and time. The presence of bicycle and pedestrian lanes is more likely to increase crashes in urban areas than in rural ones, especially at nighttime. Third, while exclusive RTLs decrease the crash frequency compared to the shared RTLs, the exclusive RTLs are more likely to increase the crashes for RTLs on the county road than on other road classes. Increasing RTL's turning radius and decreasing RTL's length is more likely to promote crashes for RTLs on county roads than on other road classes. Practical Applications : The insights provide vital guidance to improve the safety performance of geometric configuration for RTLs and intersections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tessellation method, which is a mathematical concept used in geometric design, is also used in architecture and engineering, as in many other fields. In this study, it is aimed to investigate the tessellation configurations in structural systems within the scope of geometric design in architecture, to show the effectiveness of geometry in the architectural production in these structures and to highlight the tessellation-structure relationship. The number of studies emphasizing tessellation configurations in structural systems is limited. For this reason, the study will contribute to the literature. The research question of the study is how tessellation configurations are applied in structural systems and how this relationship is established. Depending on this research question, eight architectural buildings in different cities with different tessellation configurations were examined within the scope of this study. Content analysis was performed by looking at the architectural features of these structures, and a comparative analysis framework was created with the data obtained. Inferences were made on geometric and architectural features. As a result, it has been seen that tessellation patterns are used and will continue to be used on a wide scale in structural design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research utilises statistical modelling to explore the impact of roadway infrastructure elements, primarily those related to cross-section design, on crash occurrences in urban areas. Cross-section design is an important step in the roadway geometric design process as it influences key operational characteristics like capacity, cost, safety, and overall functionality of the transport system entity. Evaluating the influence of cross-section design on these factors is relatively straightforward, except for its impact on safety, especially in urban areas. The safety aspect has resulted in inconsistent findings in the existing literature, indicating a need for further investigation. Negative binomial (NB) models are typically employed for such investigations, given their ability to account for over-dispersion in crash data. However, the low sample mean and under-dispersion occasionally exhibited by crash data can restrict their applicability. The generalised Poisson (GP) models have been proposed as a potential alternative to NB models. This research applies GP models for developing crash prediction models for urban road segments. Simultaneously, NB models are also developed to enable a comparative assessment between the two modelling frameworks. A six-year dataset encompassing crash counts, traffic volume, and cross-section design data reveals a significant association between crash frequency and infrastructure design variables. Specifically, lane width, number of lanes, road separation, on-street parking, and posted speed limit are significant predictors of crash frequencies. Comparative analysis with NB models shows that GP models outperform in cases of low sample mean crash types and yield similar results for others. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the relationship between road infrastructure design and crash frequency in urban environments and offers a statistical approach for predicting crash frequency that maintains a balance between interpretability and predictive power, making it more viable for practitioners and road authorities to apply in real-world road safety scenarios.

One of the primary objectives of transportation engineering is to increase the safety of road infrastructure. This study seeks to determine the relationship between geometric design parameters in relation to road accident criteria based on accident hotspots on Jordan's Desert Highway. The road accident data (from 2016 to 2019) were collected from the Jordan Traffic Department. The spatial pattern of hotspots was identified using a GIS tool named Getis-Ord Gi* based on the severity index of road accidents. A topographic survey was conducted to investigate the road alignment and intersections at hotspot locations. The study utilized the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) technique via SmartPLS to highlight the correlation between geometric designs in relation to road accidents. The hotspot analysis (Gits-Ord Gi) discovered 80 road accident hotspots along the highway. The study found that horizontal alignment and road intersections significantly impact road accidents in hotspot locations. Furthermore, vertical alignment has no effect on road accidents in hotspot areas. The study enhanced the comprehension of the factors associated with road geometrics and intersections that affect the occurrence of road accidents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tessellation is a mathematical concept used in geometric design. As in many fields, this method is also encountered in architecture. In this study, it is aimed to investigate the tessellation configurations in marble and wooden-columned mosques within the scope of geometric design in architecture, to show the effectiveness of geometry in the architectural production in these buildings, and to draw attention to the relationship between tessellation and geometry in Islamic buildings. The research question of the study is how tessellation configurations are applied in marble and wooden-columned mosques in Islamic architecture and how this relationship is established. Depending on this research question, Beyşehir Eşrefoğlu Mosque, Sivrihisar Ulu Mosque, and Konya Alâeddin Mosque in Turkey were examined within the scope of this study. The common point of these Islamic buildings is the use of tessellation patterns in the minbar and mihrab sections. Content analysis was performed by looking at the architectural features of the marble and wooden-columned mosques and geometric analysis of the tessellation configurations in the minbars and mihrabs was conducted with the data obtained. As a result, it has been seen that various variations in tessellation configurations are used in marble and wooden-columned mosques, which are products of Islamic architecture. The academic study in which the tessellation method is emphasized in mosques is limited. Therefore, this study will fill the gap in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rope rail conveyor has certain advantages over the belt conveyor in long-distance transportation, but the antiskid problem of its driving system has not been paid attention to. Combined with the structure of the driving wheel and transmission mode, an antiskid meshing pair is designed. Based on kinematics and high degree meshing contact theory, the load-bearing curve of a second-order contact antiskid meshing pair meeting the conditions of non-interference and strength, and the overall structure are designed. The second-order contact antiskid meshing pair and line contact antiskid meshing pair are modeled and simulated, and the sliding condition of the second-order contact antiskid meshing pair is tested by a single factor. The results show that the stress of the second-order contact antiskid meshing pair is more uniform than that of the line contact antiskid meshing pair; the curvature radius and height of antiskid bump of the antiskid meshing pair shall be smaller, and the width shall be larger.

As a type of innovative intersection, Contraflow left-turn lane (CLL) intersection, has been increasingly implemented at the signalized intersections for increasing the leftturn capacity. This study developed a systematic method for determining the length of CLL and the signal timing plan for implementing CLL at signalized intersections. At first, the signal timing and geometric design requirements in the implementation of CLL were analyzed. Then, these requirements were thoroughly considered in the development of the proposed method. A case study was conducted for evaluating the operational benefits of redesigning a real-world CLL intersection using the recommended signal timing plan and CLL lengths. The results of the case study show that the redesigned CLL intersection outperforms the existing CLL intersection in terms of the average traffic delay, average vehicle travel time, and average queue length, and the CLL intersection can achieve its best performance at the recommended CLL lengths. These results indicate that the proposed method can provide useful guidelines to traffic engineers in the implementation of this innovative intersection design.

Passive-source exploration is a method of seismic exploration that has loose requirements on the conditions of the surface, is cheap, and does not require excitation by an active source. The ambient seismic signals collected from the field over an extended period of time can be used to generate virtual-shot seismic records similar to those obtained from the seismic exploration of an active source based on the relevant correlations, and this can in turn yield information on the underground structure through a series of conventional methods of processing seismic data. Three-dimensional (3D) processing can mitigate the influence of the azimuth of random noise to yield a more representative underground structure, but requires intensive computation. In this paper, we propose a 3D method to compute reflections of a passive source based on the geometry of seismic exploration. Assuming a high quality of imaging, we use information on the predesigned geometry to choose and correlate noisy synthetic data on the reflections by a seismic body to create virtual shot data, and subsequently capture images of the 3D data on passive reflection. The use of the predesigned geometry ensures that only the important and useful parts of the dataset are used for correlation and imaging, where this reduces the cost of computation. The proposed method can thus efficiently generate high-quality 3D synthetic data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low carbon road design has always been a research hotspot for scholars. One of the primary road variables affecting the carbon emission of automobiles is vertical curve, which serves as the primary geometric alignment of the longitudinal portion of the road. The instantaneous speed and acceleration data of cars on various vertical curve sections are gathered for this study by combining simulation and real vehicle experiment methods. This study then built a database of carbon emissions for cars on various vertical curve sections based on the Motor Vehicle Emission Simulator (MOVES) model, used Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) to analyze the data, and developed a carbon emission model for cars on various vertical curve sections. Finally, it was found that the average error of the carbon emission model for different vertical curve sections was 8.37%, and the accuracy of carbon emission modelling could meet the requirements. The results show that the main influencing factor of carbon emission of cars on vertical curve sections is the radius of vertical curve, and the carbon emission of cars is inversely proportional to the radius of vertical curve. The smaller the value of vertical curve radius is, the more the engine output increases and the greater the carbon emission level will be. This research will provide reference and theoretical support for low-carbon design of highway longitudinal slope sections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in renewable energies in view of the fact that fossil fuels are the leading cause of catastrophic environmental consequences. Ocean wave energy is a renewable energy source that is particularly prevalent in coastal areas. Since many countries have tremendous potential to extract this type of energy, a number of researchers have sought to determine certain effective factors on wave converters’ performance, with a primary emphasis on ambient factors. In this study, we used metaheuristic optimization methods to investigate the effects of geometric factors on the performance of an Oscillating Surge Wave Energy Converter (OSWEC), in addition to the effects of hydrodynamic parameters. To do so, we used CATIA software to model different geometries which were then inserted into a numerical model developed in Flow3D software. A Ribed-surface design of the converter’s flap is also introduced in this study to maximize wave-converter interaction. Besides, a Bi-level Hill Climbing Multi-Verse Optimization (HCMVO) method was also developed for this application. The results showed that the converter performs better with greater wave heights, flap freeboard heights, and shorter wave periods. Additionally, the added ribs led to more wave-converter interaction and better performance, while the distance between the flap and flume bed negatively impacted the performance. Finally, tracking the changes in the five-dimensional objective function revealed the optimum value for each parameter in all scenarios. This is achieved by the newly developed optimization algorithm, which is much faster than other existing cutting-edge metaheuristic approaches.

With the development of additive manufacturing (AM), research interest is currently focused on lattice structures development due to their interesting mechanical properties. It implies the opportunity at the engineering level to be able to specify – beyond the shapes – mechanical properties distributed in the space to be manufactured. The article aims at introducing a design and optimization framework for AM, which highlights variable-density lattice structures. By processing both a topology optimization within a rough design space and a design of experiments driven parametric optimization, the development process of suitable and specific strength structures for AM becomes seamless and efficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]