Hasil untuk "Bridge engineering"

M. K. Hubbert

Jiahong Xiang, Wenxiao He, Xihua Wang et al.

The Rust programming language presents a steep learning curve and significant coding challenges, making the automation of issue resolution essential for its broader adoption. Recently, LLM-powered code agents have shown remarkable success in resolving complex software engineering tasks, yet their application to Rust has been limited by the absence of a large-scale, repository-level benchmark. To bridge this gap, we introduce Rust-SWE-bench, a benchmark comprising 500 real-world, repository-level software engineering tasks from 34 diverse and popular Rust repositories. We then perform a comprehensive study on Rust-SWE-bench with four representative agents and four state-of-the-art LLMs to establish a foundational understanding of their capabilities and limitations in the Rust ecosystem. Our extensive study reveals that while ReAct-style agents are promising, i.e., resolving up to 21.2% of issues, they are limited by two primary challenges: comprehending repository-wide code structure and complying with Rust's strict type and trait semantics. We also find that issue reproduction is rather critical for task resolution. Inspired by these findings, we propose RUSTFORGER, a novel agentic approach that integrates an automated test environment setup with a Rust metaprogramming-driven dynamic tracing strategy to facilitate reliable issue reproduction and dynamic analysis. The evaluation shows that RUSTFORGER using Claude-Sonnet-3.7 significantly outperforms all baselines, resolving 28.6% of tasks on Rust-SWE-bench, i.e., a 34.9% improvement over the strongest baseline, and, in aggregate, uniquely solves 46 tasks that no other agent could solve across all adopted advanced LLMs.

MA Gao, WANG Zhaoyang

In order to avoid the problem of matrix cracking in textile-reinforced concrete (TRC), a reinforcement method of textile-reinforced engineered cementitious composites (ECC), namely TRECC composed of textile and high-performance ECC was proposed. However, the research on the axial compressive mechanical properties of TRECC-constrained concrete in China and abroad is still insufficient, and there is a lack of reliable strength and ultimate strain analysis models. A total of 116 axial compression test results of TRC-constrained concrete columns and 125 axial compression test results of TRECC-constrained concrete columns were collected. The confinement mechanisms and failure modes of TRECC and TRC-constrained concrete were compared. Then, the strength models and ultimate strain models of TRECC and TRC-constrained concrete were proposed. By taking into account the contributions of longitudinal and hoop reinforcement to the mechanical properties of the columns, the strength model and ultimate strain model for TRECC-constrained reinforced concrete columns were proposed. For the convenience of practical applications, strength and ultimate strain models were proposed for different types of mesh fabrics. The comparative analysis with the experimental results shows that the models have good prediction accuracy.

Alaa Al Hawarneh, M. Shahria Alam, Rajeev Ruparathna et al.

Given the growing emphasis on life-cycle analysis in bridge design, the design community is transitioning from the concept of performance-based design in structural engineering to a performance-based design approach within a life-cycle context. This approach considers various indicators, including cost, environmental impact, and societal factors when designing bridges. This shift enables a comprehensive assessment of structural resilience by examining the bridge's ability to endure various hazards throughout its lifespan. This study provides a comprehensive review of two key research domains that have emerged in the field of bridge life-cycle analysis, namely life-cycle sustainability (LCS) and life-cycle performance (LCP). The discussion on the LCS of bridges encompasses both assessment-based and optimization-based studies, while the exploration of LCP focuses on research examining structures subjected to deterioration over their service life due to deprecating phenomena such as corrosion and relative humidity changes, as well as extreme hazards like earthquakes and floods. Moreover, this study discusses the integration between LCS and LCP, highlighting how combined consideration of these factors can minimize damage costs, improve resiliency, and extend the lifespan of the structure. A detailed evaluation encompasses various life-cycle metrics, structural performance indicators, time-dependent modelling techniques, and analysis methods proposed in the literature. Additionally, the research identifies critical gaps and trends in life-cycle analysis within the realm of bridge engineering, providing a concise yet thorough overview for advancing considerations in the life-cycle design of bridges.

WANG Chao, ZOU Jinfeng, , SHU Dan, WU Qinhua

In order to investigate the safe construction distance of shield tunnel crossing the pile foundation of the existing bridges, taking the crossing construction at the orthogonal side as an example and considering the influences of the pile shear effects, we use the Pasternak two-parameter foundation model to establish the equilibrium differential equations for the horizontal displacements of the soil in the middle of the pile foundation of the existing bridges and the tunnels under construction, and the analytical solutions for the horizontal displacements of the pile-tunnel intermediate soil are derived. Based on the cusp catastrophe theory, the standard expression for the potential function of the pile-tunnel intermediate soil and the sufficient and necessary conditions for its system to be suddenly destabilized are determined. Accordingly, the method for calculating the critical safe distance of the pile foundation of the existing bridges is established, and its engineering applicability is verified through the numerical simulations and field measurements. The method is used to analyze the main influencing factors for the critical safe distance of the pile foundation of an existing bridge. The results show that the critical safe distance is approximately an exponential function with the diameter ratio of the pile foundation of the bridge, and the two parameters are positively correlated, while it follows a quadratic function of the shield tunnel depth ratio, and first increasing and then decreasing as the depth ratio increases, and reaches the maximum value when the depth ratio of the shield tunnel is 8.1. The theoretical values obtained by the proposed method and the estimated ones by the numerical simulation are well fitted, and the measured results and the relevant specifications also further verify the engineering applicability of this method. The proposed method provides theoretical guidance for the rational development of the design and construction program of similar tunnel crossing projects.

Gang Li, Wei Xiao, Yanlin Liang et al.

In foundation pit engineering, precise determination of the physical–mechanical parameters of the surrounding rock is essential for reliable simulation of rock deformation and anchor cable forces. A foundation pit engineering project in Shapingba District, Chongqing, was selected as a case study. A numerical model was developed using FLAC3D, and 64 working conditions were designed via orthogonal experiments to serve as training samples. Global optimization inversion of the samples was performed using a BP neural network enhanced by particle swarm optimization. Using selected monitoring data of surrounding rock displacement and anchor cable forces, inversion was conducted to determine the physical–mechanical parameters of the foundation pit surrounding rock, and the FLAC3D model inputs were subsequently updated. Finally, simulated results were validated against field measurements. The maximum relative error of surrounding rock displacement reached 8%, with only 3% at the pit center. The largest settlement occurred in the eastern section, where the relative error was 5%. For anchor cable forces, the maximum relative error was 7.9%. This study employed a PSO-BP neural network to invert the physical–mechanical parameters of the foundation pit surrounding rock and introduced a two-stage validation using measured displacements and anchor cable forces. The approach enhances inversion accuracy and provides a practical reference for similar foundation pit engineering applications.

Ahmed M. Elazzazy, Mohammed N. Baeshen, Khalid M. Alasmi et al.

The global nutraceutical industry is experiencing a paradigm shift, driven by an increasing demand for functional foods and dietary supplements that address malnutrition and chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, and cancer. Traditional plant- and animal-derived nutraceuticals face limitations in scalability, cost, and environmental impact, paving the way for microbial biotechnology as a sustainable alternative. Microbial cells act as bio-factories, converting nutrients like glucose and amino acids into valuable nutraceutical products such as polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), peptides, and other bioactive compounds. By harnessing their natural metabolic capabilities, microorganisms efficiently synthesize these bioactive compounds, making microbial production a sustainable and effective approach for nutraceutical development. This review explores the transformative role of microbial platforms in the production of nutraceuticals, emphasizing advanced fermentation techniques, synthetic biology, and metabolic engineering. It addresses the challenges of optimizing microbial strains, ensuring product quality, and scaling production while navigating regulatory frameworks. Furthermore, the review highlights cutting-edge technologies such as CRISPR/Cas9 for genome editing, adaptive evolution for strain enhancement, and bioreactor innovations to enhance yield and efficiency. With a focus on sustainability and precision, microbial production is positioned as a game-changer in the nutraceutical industry, offering eco-friendly and scalable solutions to meet global health needs. The integration of omics technologies and the exploration of novel microbial sources hold the potential to revolutionize this field, aligning with the growing consumer demand for innovative and functional bioactive products.

Wenshuo Gao, Xicheng Lan, Luyao Zhang et al.

Vector graphics, known for their scalability and user-friendliness, provide a unique approach to visual content compared to traditional pixel-based images. Animation of these graphics, driven by the motion of their elements, offers enhanced comprehensibility and controllability but often requires substantial manual effort. To automate this process, we propose a novel method that integrates implicit neural representations with text-to-video diffusion models for vector graphic animation. Our approach employs layered implicit neural representations to reconstruct vector graphics, preserving their inherent properties such as infinite resolution and precise color and shape constraints, which effectively bridges the large domain gap between vector graphics and diffusion models. The neural representations are then optimized using video score distillation sampling, which leverages motion priors from pretrained text-to-video diffusion models. Finally, the vector graphics are warped to match the representations resulting in smooth animation. Experimental results validate the effectiveness of our method in generating vivid and natural vector graphic animations, demonstrating significant improvement over existing techniques that suffer from limitations in flexibility and animation quality.

Alexandra Mazak-Huemer, Christian Huemer, Michael Vierhauser et al.

With the increasing significance of Research, Technology, and Innovation (RTI) policies in recent years, the demand for detailed information about the performance of these sectors has surged. Many of the current tools are limited in their application purpose. To address these issues, we introduce a requirements engineering process to identify stakeholders and elicitate requirements to derive a system architecture, for a web-based interactive and open-access RTI system monitoring tool. Based on several core modules, we introduce a multi-tier software architecture of how such a tool is generally implemented from the perspective of software engineers. A cornerstone of this architecture is the user-facing dashboard module. We describe in detail the requirements for this module and additionally illustrate these requirements with the real example of the Austrian RTI Monitor.

Jannatul Bushra, Md Habibor Rahman, Mohammed Shafae et al.

Reverse engineering can be used to derive a 3D model of an existing physical part when such a model is not readily available. For parts that will be fabricated with subtractive and formative manufacturing processes, existing reverse engineering techniques can be readily applied, but parts produced with additive manufacturing can present new challenges due to the high level of process-induced distortions and unique part attributes. This paper introduces an integrated 3D scanning and process simulation data-driven framework to minimize distortions of reverse-engineered additively manufactured components. This framework employs iterative finite element simulations to predict geometric distortions to minimize errors between the predicted and measured geometrical deviations of the key dimensional characteristics of the part. The effectiveness of this approach is then demonstrated by reverse engineering two Inconel-718 components manufactured using laser powder bed fusion additive manufacturing. This paper presents a remanufacturing process that combines reverse engineering and additive manufacturing, leveraging geometric feature-based part compensation through process simulation. Our approach can generate both compensated STL and parametric CAD models, eliminating laborious experimentation during reverse engineering. We evaluate the merits of STL-based and CAD-based approaches by quantifying the errors induced at the different steps of the proposed approach and analyzing the influence of varying part geometries. Using the proposed CAD-based method, the average absolute percent error between simulation-predicted distorted dimensions and actual measured dimensions of the manufactured parts was 0.087%, with better accuracy than the STL-based method.

Allysson Allex Araújo, Marcos Kalinowski, Matheus Paixao et al.

[Background] Emotional Intelligence (EI) can impact Software Engineering (SE) outcomes through improved team communication, conflict resolution, and stress management. SE workers face increasing pressure to develop both technical and interpersonal skills, as modern software development emphasizes collaborative work and complex team interactions. Despite EI's documented importance in professional practice, SE education continues to prioritize technical knowledge over emotional and social competencies. [Objective] This paper analyzes SE students' self-perceptions of their EI after a two-month cooperative learning project, using Mayer and Salovey's four-ability model to examine how students handle emotions in collaborative development. [Method] We conducted a case study with 29 SE students organized into four squads within a project-based learning course, collecting data through questionnaires and focus groups that included brainwriting and sharing circles, then analyzing the data using descriptive statistics and open coding. [Results] Students demonstrated stronger abilities in managing their own emotions compared to interpreting others' emotional states. Despite limited formal EI training, they developed informal strategies for emotional management, including structured planning and peer support networks, which they connected to improved productivity and conflict resolution. [Conclusion] This study shows how SE students perceive EI in a collaborative learning context and provides evidence-based insights into the important role of emotional competencies in SE education.

Anil Agrawal

It is my pleasure to share with you the inaugural issue of the newly established International Journal of Bridge Engineering, Management and Research.  The International Journal of Bridge Engineering, Management and Research (BER) is a fully open access online-only journal. It serves as a forum for the publication of scientific and technical papers related to all aspects of bridge engineering and management, including structural, seismic, hydraulic and geotechnical risk analysis, structural health monitoring, static and dynamic assessments, structural retrofitting, and resiliency enhancement. The journal also publishes research papers on tunnels focusing on the areas mentioned above.  Technical research papers and case studies dealing with innovative technological or computational solutions to bridges and tunnels, as well as experimental methods and novel design and theoretical analysis procedures are strong candidates for publication in the journal.  This inaugural issue features five high quality papers in bridge engineering.  Through this issue, I am also inviting you to register with the journal and submit your research manuscripts to the journal.  We are committed to expedited and thorough peer review and publication of your research.

Chaolan Wu, Xifeng Wang, Zhongya Zhang et al.

A novel embedded GFRP grid framework-UHPC composite plate without steel rebar was proposed to solve the problems of conventional reinforced concrete plate, such as heavy weight, easily cracking and poor durability. The composite plate is expected to be superior in mechanical mechanism and durability benefiting from the combination of UHPC and GFRP, and only minimal construction process was needed. The flexural properties of the novel composite plate, varying in centroid height of GFRP grid and loading shear span ratio, were investigated via four-point loading tests. The failure mode, load-deflection curve, sectional strain and ductility of the composite plate were analyzed. Experimental results showed that the flexural failure process of the composite plate could be divided into three stages: elastic stage, working stage with cracks and descent stage. The flexural failure of the composite plate was characterized by the tensile fracture of GFRP grid. The flexural bearing capacity and stiffness of the composite plate can be significantly improved, since the GRFP grid was more completely tensioned as the centroid of the embedded GFRP grid framework fell. The maximum bearing capacity of composite plates could reach 317.9 kN when the distance between GFRP grid and the plate bottom was 25 mm and the shear span ratio was 1.5. Shear failure was only observed in the composite plate with the distance between GFRP grid and the plate bottom of 0 mm and the shear span ratio of 1.5. Finite element (FE) models were established considering both geometric and material nonlinearities to further analyze the flexural failure mechanism of the composite plate. The reliable connection between GFRP grid and UHPC without additional shear connector was proved, and the numerical results coincided well with the experimental ones. Finally, the calculation method introducing the stress distribution non-uniformity coefficient of the GFRP grid plate was proposed to predict the flexural capacity of the composite plate.

Nianchun Deng, Haoxu Li, Jingyao Ni et al.

Abstract Concrete-filled steel tubes (CFSTs) have been increasingly utilized in engineering due to their excellent mechanical properties. Ensuring a solid bond between a steel tube and concrete is essential for optimizing their synergistic effect. This study introduces an internally welded steel bar structure within the inner wall of a steel tube to enhance the bond properties at the connection interface. The influence of various configurations of steel bars welded to the inner surface of the tube on the bond strength is investigated considering the impact of vibration on the load-bearing capacity of the component. This study comprises two groups of specimens, one with vibration and one without vibration, for a total of ten specimens. Each group included CFST members with five distinct internal welded steel bar structures. The experimental results, including load–displacement curves and strain data of the steel tube, were used to assess the impact of the internal welded steel bar configurations on the steel–concrete interface. The sliding process is described by correlating test data with curves and observed phenomena. To comprehensively compare the effects of structural dimensions on the bonding and slipping properties of the welded bars, finite element simulations replicating the experimental conditions were carried out using ABAQUS software, and the simulation results agreed with the experimental observations. The study demonstrated that incorporating internal welded steel bars substantially enhances the bond strength of steel pipe–concrete interfaces. While vibration weakens the bond strength in CFST members, internal welded steel bars mitigate this effect. These findings improve the structural performance of CFST structures and their resilience to external vibrations.

Madhava Krishna, Bhagesh Gaur, Arsh Verma et al.

The creation of a Software Requirements Specification (SRS) document is important for any software development project. Given the recent prowess of Large Language Models (LLMs) in answering natural language queries and generating sophisticated textual outputs, our study explores their capability to produce accurate, coherent, and structured drafts of these documents to accelerate the software development lifecycle. We assess the performance of GPT-4 and CodeLlama in drafting an SRS for a university club management system and compare it against human benchmarks using eight distinct criteria. Our results suggest that LLMs can match the output quality of an entry-level software engineer to generate an SRS, delivering complete and consistent drafts. We also evaluate the capabilities of LLMs to identify and rectify problems in a given requirements document. Our experiments indicate that GPT-4 is capable of identifying issues and giving constructive feedback for rectifying them, while CodeLlama's results for validation were not as encouraging. We repeated the generation exercise for four distinct use cases to study the time saved by employing LLMs for SRS generation. The experiment demonstrates that LLMs may facilitate a significant reduction in development time for entry-level software engineers. Hence, we conclude that the LLMs can be gainfully used by software engineers to increase productivity by saving time and effort in generating, validating and rectifying software requirements.

Haochen Li, Jonathan Leung, Zhiqi Shen

Large Language Models (LLMs) have shown prominent performance in various downstream tasks and prompt engineering plays a pivotal role in optimizing LLMs' performance. This paper, not only as an overview of current prompt engineering methods, but also aims to highlight the limitation of designing prompts based on an anthropomorphic assumption that expects LLMs to think like humans. From our review of 50 representative studies, we demonstrate that a goal-oriented prompt formulation, which guides LLMs to follow established human logical thinking, significantly improves the performance of LLMs. Furthermore, We introduce a novel taxonomy that categorizes goal-oriented prompting methods into five interconnected stages and we demonstrate the broad applicability of our framework. With four future directions proposed, we hope to further emphasize the power and potential of goal-oriented prompt engineering in all fields.

Sasa Cao, O. Ozbulut, Suiwen Wu et al.

In performance-based seismic design, bridges are expected to satisfy specific performance objectives under several levels of seismic hazard. In this paper, a multi-level SMA/lead rubber bearing (ML-SLRB) isolation system was proposed to ensure both isolation efficiency and capability to limit excessive bearing displacements under different levels of earthquake excitations. The ML-SLRBs also offer advantages such as the ability to provide re-centering forces and good fatigue and corrosion-resistant. The ML-SLRB isolation system consists of three groups of SMA cables, each is designed to be activated at a certain seismic hazard level, and a conventional lead rubber bearing. First, the design and working mechanism of this new isolation system were described in detail. Then, a design procedure was proposed for seismic isolation of bridge structures with ML-SLRBs. Next, the hysteretic response of ML-SLRBs was simulated in a general-purpose structural engineering software. A four-span continuous box-girder bridge was designed and modeled with different isolation systems including ML-SLRBs. Nonlinear dynamic analyses of the isolated bridges were conducted under both far-fault and near-fault earthquakes. Results show that compared to isolations systems that do not adapt their stiffness according to increasing seismic demand, e.g. the isolators with a bilinear force–displacement response, the proposed isolation system exhibits high isolation efficiency at small or moderate earthquakes, while effectively limits the bridge displacements to avoid pounding and girder unseating under extreme earthquakes.

P. Kossakowski, W. Wciślik

In this review, we discuss the basic issues related to the use of FRP (fiber-reinforced polymer) composites in bridge construction. This modern material is presented in detail in terms of the possibility of application in engineering structures. A general historical outline of the use and development of modern structural materials, such as steel and concrete, is included to introduce composites as a novel material in engineering, and the most important features and advantages of polymers as a construction material are characterized. We also compare FRP to basic structural materials, such as steel and concrete, which enables estimation of the effectiveness of using of FRP polymers as structural material in different applications. The first bridges made of FRP composites are presented and analyzed in terms of applied technological solutions. Examples of structural solutions for deck slabs, girders and other deck elements made of FRP composites are discussed. Particular attention is paid to the systems of deck slabs, especially those composed of pultruded profiles, sandwich panels and hybrid decks. The disadvantages of composites, as well as barriers and limitations in their application in engineering practice, are presented. Exemplary analyses of the costs of construction, maintenance and demolition of FRP composite bridges are presented and compared with the corresponding costs of concrete and steel bridges. The directions of development of composite bridge structures and the greatest challenges facing engineers and constructors in the coming years are discussed.

Yue Niu, Perry P. Gao, Xiangdong Gao

Achieving online inspection and recognition of laser welding quality is essential for intelligent industrial manufacturing. The weld penetration status is an important indicator for assessing the welding quality, and the optical signal is the most common changing feature in the laser welding process. This paper proposes a new method based on a photoelectric signal and neural network for laser welding penetration status identification. A laser welding experimental system platform based on a photoelectric sensor is built, the laser welding experimental material is DC01 mild steel, and the photoelectric signal in the laser welding process is collected. The collected signal is then processed, and features are extracted using wavelet packet transform and probability density analyses. The mapping relationship between the signal features and weld penetration status is investigated. A deep learning convolutional neural network (CNN)-based weld penetration status recognition model is constructed, with multiple eigenvalue vectors as input, and the model training and recognition results are analyzed and compared. The experimental results show that the photoelectric signal features are highly correlated with the weld penetration status, and the constructed CNN weld penetration status recognition model has an accuracy of up to 98.5% on the test set, demonstrating excellent performance in identifying the quality of the laser welding. This study provides the basis for the online inspection and intelligent identification of laser welding quality.

Seyyedbehrad Emadi, Haiying Ma, Jose Antonio Lozano-Galant et al.

Nodal rotations are produced by bending and shear effects and bending rotations can be easily calculated using Euler–Bernoulli’s stiffness matrix method. Nevertheless, shear rotations are traditionally neglected, as their effects are practically negligible in most structures. This assumption might lead to significant errors in the simulation of the rotations in some structures, as well as the wrong identification of the mechanical properties in inverse analysis. Despite its important role, no other works studying the calculation of shear rotations in deep beams were found in the literature. To fill this gap, after illustrating the errors of commercial software regarding calculating the rotations in deep beams, this study proposed a simple and intuitive method to calculate shear rotations in both isostatic and statically redundant beams. The new method calculates the shear rotation for all segments separately and introduces the result to the total rotation of the structure. This method can be applied to find the shear rotation in a redundant structure as well. A parametric study was carried out to calculate slenderness ratios to determine in what structural systems the shear rotations can be neglected. In addition, the errors in the inverse analysis of deep beams were parametrically studied to determine the role of shear rotation in different structural systems. Finally, to validate the application of the method in actual structures, a construction stage of a composite bridge was analyzed.