In this paper, the correlation of reflection loss measured by an ultrasonic shear wave reflection
method and the microstructure in cement-based material is investigated. Three cement pastes
(Portland cement type I) with different water-cement ratios (0.35, 0.50 and 0.60) cured at 25
°C were examined. The ultrasonic shear wave reflection...
The gradual evolution of the material properties of a cement-based material, i.e. the stiffness of cement paste, is the result of the continuous change of the microstructure with the progress of the hydration process. Based on an existing micromechanical model for the simulation of the shear and elastic modulus of...
The Center for Advanced Cement-Based Materials (ACBM) is a consortium of researchers from: Northwestern University, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Purdue University, The University of Michigan, and The National Institute of Standards and Technology. This ACBM update contains information on the article "A better Maturity Meter?" by Surendra P. Shah...
The setting and hardening process of concrete is considered to be the most critical time period during the life of a concrete structure. Previous research has been conducted on an ultrasonic wave reflection method that utilizes a steel plate embedded in the concrete to measure the reflection loss of shear...
The nondestructive, in-situ testing of early-age concrete properties is a crucial point for the progress of many construction projects in the building sector. The application of such techniques can establish e.g. the earliest possible form removal from concrete construction elements, thereby opening highways to traffic or releasing prestress from steel...
This paper describes proposed schemes for describing and indexing two image collections and requirements for the software that would give the end-user access to thesaurus terms and a graphical display of the faceted classification structures of indexing records. Editorial cartoons comprise one collection, dance videos the other.
The Avalon Media System (Avalon) provides access and management for digital audio and video collections in libraries and archives. The open source project is led by the libraries of Indiana University Bloomington and Northwestern University and is funded in part by grants from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and Institute...
The U.S. has 542,000 bridges that consume billions of dollars per year in construction, rehabilitation and maintenance funds and which are the lifelines of U.S. commerce. The 1992 ISTEA (fntermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act) mandates the implementation of a quantitative computerized bridge management system by I 996. A prime need...
The in-depth inspection by WIDOT detected two sites that had visible cracks in the stiffener-to-hanger diaphragm welds, the east side of Hanger 6 in the north tie girder, and the east side of Hanger 4 in the south tie girder. Additionally, many ultrasonic indications were detected by WIDOT in the...
The segmental prestressed concrete box girder of Koror-Babeldaob (KB) Bridge in Palau, which had the record span of 241 m (791 ft.), presents a striking paradigm of serviceability loss due to excessive multi-decade deflections. The data required for analysis have recently been released and are here exploited to show how...
A study is conducted to determine the effects on the early hydration kinetics and
compressive strength by seeding of Portland cement and alkali-activated blast furnace
slag with a pure form of calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H). The effects of C-S-H seeding
during the early nucleation and growth period of each type...
A longstanding goal of synthetic biology has been the programmable control of cellular functions. Central to this is the creation of versatile regulatory toolsets that allow for programmable control of gene expression. Of the many regulatory molecules available, RNA regulators offer the intriguing possibility of de novo design – allowing...
In many dryland environments, vegetation self-organizes into bands that can be clearly identified in remotely-sensed imagery. The status of individual bands can be tracked over time, allowing for a detailed remote analysis of how human populations affect the vital balance of dryland ecosystems. In this study, we characterize vegetation change...
Perhaps better suited for the mosh pit than the orchestra pit, David Lang’s 1991 tour-de-force for solo bass clarinet, Press Release, is a minimalist marvel. Comprised of seven “groove sections” that evolve in seemingly unpredictable ways, Lang cleverly employs monophony to tell a robust story of motivic and harmonic development....
In the Western classical art music tradition, a high level of music performance is achieved at the intersection of a musician's emotional, cognitive, and physical processes. Expert classical musicians have both an aural imagining of the sound they intend to produce and the physical associations of what it feels like...
This study explored the mentoring experiences of doctoral students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) doctoral degree programs at Northwestern University. Research suggests that mentoring relationships support student success in STEM disciplines, and further, that lack of mentorship may be a barrier for female students. A mixed-methods approach employing...