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Excessive tire wear can affect vehicle driving safety. While there are various methods for predicting the tire wear amount in real-time, it is unclear which method is the most effective in terms of the difficulty of sensing and prediction accuracy. The current study aims to develop prediction algorithms of tire wear and compare their performances. A finite element tire model was developed and validated against experimental data. Parametric tire rolling simulations were conducted using various driving and tire wear conditions to obtain tire internal accelerations. Machine-learning-based algorithms for tire wear prediction utilizing various sensing options were developed, and their performances were compared. A wheel translational and rotational speed-based (V and ω) method resulted in an average prediction error of 1.2 mm. Utilizing the internal pressure and vertical load of the tire with the V and ω improved the prediction accuracy to 0.34 mm. Acceleration-based methods resulted in an average prediction error of 0.6 mm. An algorithm using both the vehicle and tire information showed the best performance with a prediction error of 0.21 mm. When accounting for sensing cost, the V and ω-based method seems to be promising option. This finding needs to be experimentally verified.

The research of flat slab structures requires more investigation into the full-scale analysis of steel flat slab structures under vertical loads. The impact of slab dimensions on the maximum stress of slabs and columns, as well as the ultimate vertical load at the linear elastic stage, has been examined using full-scale finite element models. The particular structures selected for the analysis are 15-story steel flat slab structures with various slab dimensions under the static vertical load and standard earth gravity. This research also involves: (1) the verification of stress singularity at the corner of cubic columns in the finite element model; (2) the discussion about the variation of maximum stress of slabs and columns as the floor changes, and the interaction of columns and slabs; (3) the validation of the vulnerability of slab-column connection.

Contaminated soil can reduce the stability of structures and infrastructure, endangering their structural integrity. Hence, this study tries to determine how oil pollution influences the torsion behavior of model steel piles at varied soil densities. This study is critical for determining piles' structural integrity and stability in oil-contaminated situations. A mixture of heavy motor oil and clean sand samples was prepared in proportions ranging from 0 to 8% of the dry weight of the soil. In this study, the relative densities (Dr), pile slenderness ratio (Lp/Dp), oil concentration (O.C%), and contaminated sand layer thickness (LC) all varied. The study also includes an examination of piles of combined load (vertical and torsional). Results revealed that the pre-applied torsion force reduced the pile's vertical bearing capabilities. Furthermore, at Dr = 30%, we determined that the maximum vertical load under amalgamated load at constant torsional load T = (1/3Tu, 2/3Tu, and Tu) in cases of (Lc/Lp) = 1 and (Lp/Dp) = 13.3 is 1.67, 3.4, and 5% less than piles under pure vertical load, respectively. This highlights the importance of considering torsional forces in pile design to guarantee precise load-bearing capabilities. Engineers should carefully assess both vertical and torsional loads to optimize the performance and stability of piles in various conditions.

For autonomous vehicles, high-speed cornering can easily lead to degraded handling stability and increased risks of sideslip or even rollover. Therefore, vehicle phase-plane stability-region analysis has become an important topic in active safety-control research. However, most existing studies still construct phase-plane stability regions mainly based on simplified vehicle models, without sufficiently considering the influence of vertical load transfer during cornering on tire lateral forces and stability boundaries. To address this issue, this paper proposes a hierarchical control strategy based on phase-plane analysis for active inward tilt vehicles. This method adopts a three-degree-of-freedom vehicle dynamics model and a tire model. By carefully comparing the phase-plane stability regions of active inward tilt and passive roll vehicles and by further analyzing the state-trajectory convergence characteristics of active inward tilt vehicles under different longitudinal speeds, front wheel steering angles, and road adhesion coefficients, the effects of active inward tilt on stability-region expansion and vehicle-state convergence are revealed. Subsequently, a hierarchical control strategy is proposed as an integrated solution to improve vehicle handling stability. The upper-level controller dynamically adjusts the reference values and objective weights according to whether the vehicle state is located in the stable, critical, or dangerous region. The lower-level NMPC controller optimizes the front wheel steering angle and active suspension forces to achieve coordinated trajectory tracking and stability control. Double lane-change simulation results show that active inward tilt can improve the left–right vertical load distribution and expand the lateral stability region. Compared with passive roll and conventional active inward tilt control, the proposed strategy reduces the phase-plane state convergence area by 68% and 75%, respectively, thereby improving vehicle handling stability and active safety under extreme conditions.

Mud volcanoes are landforms produced by the emission of fluids or mud from below the surface. We investigated the relationship between surface deformation and subsurface structure at the Murono mud volcano in Tokamachi City, Niigata Prefecture, with pre- and post-2014 Kamishiro fault earthquake leveling data. The Murono site showed extensive uplift during the earthquake, as would be expected due to fluid entry from depth. To elucidate the cause mechanisms, a vertical concentrated load was placed as the basis function to represent the grid-based subsurface pressure field, and its intensity was estimated through inverse analysis, by reversing two periods of vertical displacement measurements in 2014: before the earthquake (Period I) and during the earthquake (Period II). The result shows that during Period I, uplift and subsidence were localized at depths shallower than approximately 30 m: uplift in the eastern, western, and northern parts of the Murono mud volcano, and subsidence in the central part. In Period II uplifts became widespread to depths of up to 40 m below the ground surface. These facts imply that the Kamishiro earthquake facilitated fluid migration from deep reservoirs, which is consistent with electromagnetic surveys that registered low-resistivity bodies beneath the area. While our elastic half-space model captured complex deformation patterns not available to typical spherical source models, it remains a simplification for fluid-saturated sediments. Poroelastic or hydro-mechanical more realistic approaches are needed. The time coincidence between seismic shaking and enhanced mud inflow also leads us to question whether earthquakes increase pore pressure directly or indirectly stimulate fractures, and this needs more multidisciplinary investigation. Comparison with other comparable seismically triggered mud volcanoes worldwide shows that Murono is a manifestation of regional earthquake–fluid interaction. Spatial gradients of computed displacements and loads display subsurface fluid movements, which show upward and downward signals representing inflow and blocked flow, respectively, and that their correlation with low-density regions proves complex fluid–structure interactions. Graphical abstract

Determining earth pressure on jacked pipes is essential for ensuring lining safety and calculating jacking force, especially for deep-buried pipes. To better reflect the soil arching effect resulting from the excavation of rectangular jacked pipes and the distribution of the earth pressure on jacked pipes, we present an analytical solution for predicting the vertical earth pressure on deep-buried rectangular pipe jacking tunnels, incorporating the tunnelling-induced ground loss distribution. Our proposed analytical model consists of the upper multi-layer parabolic soil arch and the lower friction arch. The key parameters (i.e., width and height of friction arch B and height of parabolic soil arch H 1 ) are determined according to the existing research, and an analytical solution for K l is derived based on the distribution characteristics of the principal stress rotation angle. With consideration for the transition effect of the mechanical characteristics of the parabolic arch zone, an analytical solution for soil load transfer is derived. The prediction results of our analytical solution are compared with tests and simulation results to validate the effectiveness of the proposed analytical solution. Finally, the effects of different parameters on the soil pressure are discussed.

The horizontal bearing capacity of the screw pile and monopile was analyzed by model tests. Results showed that the horizontal bearing capacity of the screw pile was significantly greater than that of the monopile under the same loading conditions. With the increase in horizontal loading speed, the ultimate horizontal bearing capacity of the two piles also increases, and the difference decreases gradually. Moreover, the influence of vertical loading on the horizontal bearing capacity of screw pile and monopile is studied at the horizontal loading speed of 2 mm s −1 . The findings indicate that vertical load evidently affects the horizontal bearing capacity of common piles, but slightly influences the horizontal bearing capacity of screw piles.

This article aims to analyse the mechanical response of masonry walls under cyclic loading using the finite element method with Abaqus software. The proposed model has been validated using available numerical and experimental results. This work provides an in-depth study of the cracking modes of masonry walls based on different vertical loads and the presence of openings. By using numerical simulations, it identifies the types of cracks that develop, their propagation, and their interaction with the structure. A parametric study will then be conducted to assess the influence of variations in vertical load and the effect of openings on the behaviour of the walls. Load-displacement curves and failure modes are presented and analysed. The results show that these parameters have a significant impact on wall behaviour. Specifically, an increase in vertical load improves the wall's resistance, while openings create weakness zones that promote degradation and reduce strength. A thorough understanding of the behaviour of unreinforced masonry structures is essential for making informed decisions regarding restoration methods.

Offshore monopile foundations endure complex loads during service. They bear vertical loads from the superstructure’s self-weight and lateral cyclic loads (e.g., wind, waves), while near-coastal seabeds are usually sloped. To resolve these issues, model pile tests under combined vertical and lateral cyclic loads were carried out to study how slope angle and vertical load affect monopile deformation. A numerical model was validated via comparison with test results and then used to reveal the development of cumulative deformation in offshore sloped monopiles under the above combined loads. The results show that, below 1000 cycles, the cumulative displacement of the pile increases logarithmically with the number of cycles. As the slope angle increases, the cumulative deformation increases. In these tests, the cumulative deformation of the pile increases by 114% compared to the results of the flat site, but it decreases with an increase in vertical load. As such, when a 3 N vertical load is applied to the pile top, its deformation at the flat site decreases by 20%, but its deformation at a 20° slope site decreases by 10%. Finally, a predicted formula is proposed for offshore monopiles with the effect of slope angle, and this formula can provide a preliminary assessment method of cumulative.

Column frames connected using Tang Dynasty straight tenon joints represent a unique structural system characterized by historical significance and architectural ingenuity. Consequently, an experimental model, resembling the straight tenon joint style of the Tang Dynasty Foguang Temple East Hall, was constructed using two square beams (Fangs) and three columns in this study. Through low-cycle repeated load tests, hysteretic curves, stiffness degradation, energy dissipation capabilities, and certain other indicators were analyzed under four distinct vertical load levels. The results reveal that increasing the vertical load can effectively improve the fullness of the hysteresis curve and the peak restoring force of the column frame. Moreover, a pronounced pinch effect was found in the hysteretic curve of the column frame, indicating that a higher vertical load can strengthen the frame’s restoring force within a specific range of horizontal displacement, thereby maintaining its structural stability. With increasing vertical loads, the maximum restoring force and stiffness of the column frame are elevated, enhancing the structure’s energy dissipation capacity and partially mitigating its stiffness degradation. However, it is noteworthy that as the horizontal load displacement increases, higher vertical loads result in a more rapid decline in the frame’s restoring force, reducing the effectiveness of improving the energy dissipation capabilities of the column frame.