http://hdl.handle.net/2142/8 This is the default community for all faculty, staff and students at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign https://www.ideals.uiuc.edu/retrieve/17 http://hdl.handle.net/2142/8 Search the Channel search https://www.ideals.uiuc.edu/simple-search http://hdl.handle.net/2142/8899 Title: Reassembling Writing Technologies: Historical and Situated Studies of Rhetorical Activity <br/> <br/>Authors: Van Ittersum, Derek <br/> <br/>Abstract / Summary: Through historical research on hypertextual, collaborative writing software and hardware in the 1960s and situated studies of writers’ digital memory and invention work in the present, this dissertation considers the emergent uses of technologies surrounding disruptive moments. Combining Bruno Latour’s actor-network theory with theories of mediated activity (Vygotsky, Wertsch, Engeström, Nardi), it uses historical and contemporary scenes to propose that the coordination of mediating technologies constitutes important rhetorical work. Breakdowns in literate practices lead to the opening of what Latour has called black boxes, which otherwise would conceal the mediating roles of artifacts, people, and ideologies. Thus, breakdowns provide opportunities to trace the connections between situated activity and wider social contexts. Reconsidering the history of Douglas Engelbart’s On-Line System (NLS) of the 1960s and 70s, I illustrate how the black-boxing of a specific group of technologies into the standard personal computer suppressed alternate configurations that were supported by writing theories strongly resembling those of the early process movement. Through interviews with, and observations of, writers today as they demonstrate their digital note-taking and bibliographic work, I explore the breakdowns they encounter in the course of adopting new technologies and examine how functional systems (consisting of institutions, conventions, people, and artifacts) shape and respond to these writers’ goals for their literate practices. The historical and contemporary case studies suggest that writers, teachers, and designers working within digital environments can benefit from increased consideration of the role of computing practices and artifacts in rhetorical work. <br/> <br/>Keywords: Rhetoric; Computers and writing; Engelbart, Douglas; Writing Studies Mon, 29 Oct 2007 22:58:59 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2142/8886 Title: Gait Regulation for Bipedal Locomotion <br/> <br/>Authors: Holm, Jonathan K. <br/> <br/>Abstract / Summary: This work explores regulation of forward speed, step length, and slope walking for the passive-dynamic class of bipedal robots. Previously, an energy-shaping control for regulating forward speed has appeared in the literature; here we show that control to be a special case of a more general time-scaling control that allows for speed transitions in arbitrary time. As prior work has focused on potential energy shaping for fully actuated bipeds, we study in detail the shaping of kinetic energy for bipedal robots, giving special treatment to issues of underactuation. Drawing inspiration from features of human walking, an underactuated kinetic-shaping control is presented that provides efficient regulation of walking speed while adjusting step length. Previous results on energetic symmetries of bipedal walking are also extended, resulting in a control that allows regulation of speed and step length while walking on any slope. Finally we formalize the optimal gait regulation problem and propose a dynamic programming solution seeded with passive-dynamic limit cycles. Observations of the optimal solutions generated by this method reveal further similarities between passive dynamic walking and human locomotion and give insight into the structure of minimum-effort controls for walking. <br/> <br/>Keywords: biped; robot; passive; walking; passive-dynamic; energy shaping; optimal; control Tue, 12 Aug 2008 22:58:59 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2142/8857 Title: Studies of Protein-Protein and Protein-Water Interactions by Small Angle X-Ray Scattering, Terahertz Spectroscopy, ASMOS, And Computer Simulation <br/> <br/>Authors: Kim, Seung Joong <br/> <br/>Abstract / Summary: The protein folding problem has been one of the most challenging subjects in biological physics due to its complexity. Energy landscape theory based on statistical mechanics provides a thermodynamic interpretation of the protein folding process. We have been working to answer fundamental questions about protein-protein and protein-water interactions, which are very important for describing the energy landscape surface of proteins correctly. At first, we present a new method for computing protein-protein interaction potentials of solvated proteins directly from SAXS data. An ensemble of proteins was modeled by Metropolis Monte Carlo and Molecular Dynamics simulations, and the global X-ray scattering of the whole model ensemble was computed at each snapshot of the simulation. The interaction potential model was optimized and iterated by a Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm. Secondly, we report that terahertz spectroscopy directly probes hydration dynamics around proteins and determines the size of the dynamical hydration shell. We also present the sequence and pH-dependence of the hydration shell and the effect of the hydrophobicity. On the other hand, kinetic terahertz absorption (KITA) spectroscopy is introduced to study the refolding kinetics of ubiquitin and its mutants. KITA results are compared to small angle X-ray scattering, tryptophan fluorescence, and circular dichroism results. We propose that KITA monitors the rearrangement of hydrogen bonding during secondary structure formation. Finally, we present development of the automated single molecule operating system (ASMOS) for a high throughput single molecule detector, which levitates a single protein molecule in a 10 µm diameter droplet by the laser guidance. I also have performed supporting calculations and simulations with my own program codes. <br/> <br/>Keywords: SAXS; Terahertz; Small angle X-Ray scattering; Simulation; KITA; THz; Protein-protein interaction; Biophysics; Protein-water interaction; hydration Sun, 10 Aug 2008 22:58:59 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2142/8790 Title: Bibliografía de la Gran Chiquitanía=Bibliography of the Gran Chiquitanía: A Guide to Materials Related to the Chiquitos Indigenous Group in Bolivia; ILLIPATHS No. 10 <br/> <br/>Authors: Harrison, Laura E. <br/> <br/>Abstract / Summary: The purpose of this pathfinder is to provide students with a list of selected works related to the Gran Chiquitanía, its citizens, and their history. The items compiled in this bibliography cover a wide range of topics including politics, history, literature, and social conditions. Also included are works dealing with agriculture, ecology, and music. Resources listed are articles, books, conference proceedings, sound recordings, theses and dissertations, and websites. Not all of the items are held by the University of Illinois Library, and while the bibliography is not comprehensive, it does serve as a starting point for researchers. This volume, No. 10, was largely compiled by searching the University of Illinois Library’s online catalog as well as WorldCat. The Library of Congress Subject Headings used to find these materials are listed on the next page. The resources found were complemented by those listed on the compact disc entitled Bibliografía Chiquitana: Inventario de títulos bibliográficos relacionados con la Chiquitanía, published by El Museo de Historia de Santa Cruz, La Organización Indígena de la Chiquitanía (OICH), and El Servicio Holandés de Cooperación al Desarrollo (SNV) in 2007. This disc, which also contains several photographs of the Chiquitos region and people, is itself included in the bibliography to augment the information available to researchers of the Gran Chiquitanía. A digital copy of this pathfinder will be sent to Dr. Jesús Muñoz Diez of the Universidad Católica Boliviana San Pablo at Chiquitos, to be added to their library, and to the Biblioteca y Archivo Nacional de Bolivia in Sucre. <br/> <br/>Keywords: Chiquito indians; Chiquitos (Bolivia : Province) Sat, 28 Jun 2008 22:58:59 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2142/8789 Title: Post Processing of Cone Penetration to Assess Seismic Ground Hazards, with Specific Application to the New Madrid Seismic Zone <br/> <br/>Authors: Liao, Tianfei; Mayne, Paul W. <br/> <br/>Abstract / Summary: The seismic cone penetration test (SCPTu) is the most efficient means for geotechnical site characterization and the evaluation of seismic ground hazards, as it provides up to 5 independent readings in a single sounding: cone tip stress (qT), sleeve friction (fs), penetration porewater pressure (ub), time rate of dissipation (t50), and downhole shear wave velocity (Vs). During SCPTu tests, a very large number of digital measurements are recorded. The overwhelming data provide more detailed information for engineering analysis, but also pose challenges in post-processing of “information overload”. In this thesis, software systems including ShearPro, ClusterPro, and InSituData, are developed to automate post processing of these SCPTu data. ShearPro is developed to automate the post-processing of the shear wave signals. ClusterPro uses the proposed threedimensional cluster analysis approach for soil stratification. InSituData facilitates the post processing of penetration data for seismic ground hazards analysis. A new threedimensional soil classification chart is also proposed in this thesis to help discern soil layers that may be subject to seismic ground hazards, such as loose liquefied sands and silty sands. These methods are then applied to SCPTu data collected at previously-identifed paleoliquefaction sites located in the New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ). For liquefaction evaluation, the cyclic stress ratio (CSR) is computed using site response analysis by DeepSoil and a measured profile of shear waves derived from the 30-m SCPTU soundings and deep suspension loggings in AR and TN. The natural resistance of the soil to liquefaction, termed the cyclic resistance ratios (CRRs), is evaluated based on both deterministic procedures and probabilistic procedures. Based on liquefaction evaluation results at selected paleoliquefaction sites, regional CRR criteria for liquefaction are developed for the NMSZ. As even the latest major earthquakes in NMSZ occurred nearly 200 years ago, aging effects might be an important factor to consider in utilizing the liquefaction criteria to assess the seismic parameters associated with the previous earthquakes. The aging effects in the NMSZ were investigated through large scale blast-induced liquefaction tests conducted by the USGS and supplemented by the author by series of CPTs. Then a procedure to estimate seismic parameters associated with previous earthquakes is proposed. It utilizes both the liquefaction criteria based on SCPTu tests and the empirical attenuation relations developed for the corresponding regions. The approach is validated through data evaluation related to the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquakes in California and then applied to previous historic earthquakes in the NMSZ. <br/> <br/>Keywords: MAE Center; Cone; Penetration; Hazards; NMSZ Mon, 26 Feb 2007 22:58:59 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2142/8788 Title: Out-of-Plane Capacity and Rehabilitation of Partial Height Masonry Partitions <br/> <br/>Authors: Goodno, Barry J.; Craig, James I.; Losiriluk, Thitikorn <br/> <br/>Abstract / Summary: This project examined the behavior of nonstructural components present in essential facilities in Mid-America. School buildings were chosen for detailed studies because of the vulnerability of their occupants and the importance of these particular facilities to post earthquake emergency response. An inventory of nonstructural components was made for this class of essential facilities using the categorization of components developed by FEMA. In addition, the results of an inventory of schools and other essential facilities from Project SE-1 (Inventories of Essential Facilities in Mid-America) were used in this study. Partial height interior unreinforced masonry walls were found in many schools and because of their clear vulnerability to seismic forces were selected as the focus of this study. The primary objective of the present investigation was to evaluate and then suggest retrofit strategies for these components to enable them to meet the life safety and/or immediate occupancy performance levels specified in current FEMA guidelines. Additional objectives were to assess the accuracy of current evaluation methods recommended by FEMA and if necessary to develop improved analysis procedures, rehabilitation guidelines, and performance measures. <br/> <br/>Keywords: MAE Center; Partial Height; Masonry; Capacity Mon, 26 Feb 2007 22:58:59 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2142/8787 Title: New Madrid Seismic Zone Catastrophic Earthquake Response Planning <br/> <br/>Authors: Cleveland, Lisa J.; Elnashai, Amr S.; Pineda, Omar <br/> <br/>Abstract / Summary: The New Madrid seismic zone in the Central USA has experienced some of the strongest earthquake ground motions observed nationwide. The historic series of three earthquakes during 1811 and 1812 shook this Midwest region with magnitudes around 8. The earthquakes were extensively reported. However, limited damage occurred because of the area was sparsely populated. A recurrence of the 1811 and 1812 earthquakes would cause widespread and severely impacts affecting over 45 million residents of the states surrounding the New Madrid seismic zone. A repeat of these historical events would subject the major urban center of Memphis, Tennessee to intense ground shaking while other urban centers such as St. Louis, Missouri, would experience less intense shaking. This does not indicate that St. Louis is less vulnerable, however. Though not undertaken in this report, subsequent work will include the examination of other hazard scenario within the region of interest. These scenarios will represent seismic activity in the Wabash Valley Seismic Zone of M7.1 as well as near St. Louis, Missouri, of M6.0. <br/> <br/>Keywords: MAE Center; FEMA; NMSZ; Response Planning Sat, 28 Apr 2007 22:58:59 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2142/8786 Title: Modeling of Hysteretic Behavior of Beam-Column Connections Based on Self-Learning Simulation <br/> <br/>Authors: Yun, Gun Jin; Ghaboussi, Jamshid; Elnashai, Amr S. <br/> <br/>Abstract / Summary: Current AISC-LRFD code requires that the moment-rotation characteristics of connections be known. Moreover, it requires that these characteristics be incorporated in the analysis and member design under factored loads (AISC, 2001). Conventional modeling approaches to improve the prediction of cyclic behavior starts with a choice of a phenomenological model followed by calibration of the model parameters. However, not only is the improvement limited due to inherent limitations of this approach, but also test results indicate a large variability in load-carrying capacity under earthquake loading. In this research, a new neural network (NN) based cyclic material model is applied to inelastic hysteretic behavior of connections. In the proposed model, two energy-based internal variables are introduced to expedite the learning of hysteretic behavior of materials or structural components. The model has significant advantages over conventional models in that it can handle complex behavior due to local buckling and tearing of connecting elements. Moreover, its numerical implementation is more efficient than the conventional models since it does not need an interaction equation and a plastic potential. A new approach based on a self-learning simulation algorithm is used to characterize the hysteretic behavior of the connections from structural tests. The proposed approach is verified by applying it to both synthetic and experimental examples. For its practical application in semi-rigid connections, design variables are included as inputs to the model through a physical principle based module. The extended model also gives reasonable predictions under earthquake loads even when it is presented with new geometrical properties and loading scenario as well. <br/> <br/>Keywords: Hysteretic; Beam-Column; Self-Learning; MAE Center Sun, 29 Jul 2007 22:58:59 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2142/8785 Title: Fragility Relationships for Populations of Buildings Based on Inelastic Response <br/> <br/>Authors: Gencturk, Bora; Elnashai, Amr S.; Song, Junho <br/> <br/>Keywords: Fragility; Buildings; Inelastic Sun, 29 Jul 2007 22:58:59 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2142/8784 Title: Deterministic and Probabilistic Evaluation of Retrofit Alternatives for a Five-Story Flat-Slab RC Building <br/> <br/>Authors: Bai, Jong-Wha; Hueste, Mary Beth <br/> <br/>Abstract / Summary: The effectiveness of seismic retrofitting applied to enhance seismic performance was assessed for a five-story reinforced concrete (RC) flat-slab building structure in the central United States. In addition to this, an assessment of seismic fragility that relates the probability of exceeding a performance level to the earthquake intensity was conducted. The response of the structure was predicted using nonlinear static and dynamic analyses with synthetic ground motion records for the central U.S. region. In addition, two analytical approaches for nonlinear response analysis were compared. FEMA 356 (ASCE 2000) criteria were used to evaluate the seismic performance of the case study building. Two approaches of FEMA 356 were used for seismic evaluation: global-level and member-level using three performance levels (Immediate Occupancy, Life Safety and Collapse Prevention). In addition to these limit states, punching shear drift limits were also considered to establish an upper bound drift capacity limit for collapse prevention. Based on the seismic evaluation results, three possible retrofit techniques were applied to improve the seismic performance of the structure, including addition of shear walls, addition of RC column jackets, and confinement of the column plastic hinge zones using externally bonded steel plates. Seismic fragility relationships were developed for the existing and retrofitted structure using several performance levels. Fragility curves for the retrofitted structure were compared with those for the unretrofitted structure. For development of seismic fragility curves, FEMA global drift limits were compared with the drift limits based on the FEMA member-level criteria. In addition to this, performance levels which were based on additional quantitative limits were also considered and compared with FEMA drift limits. Finally, recommendations are made for implementing the seismic fragility analysis results into MAEviz, the damage visualization module developed by the Mid- America Earthquake Center. <br/> <br/>Keywords: MAE Center; Retrofit Alternatives; Flat-slab; RC Building; Deterministic; Probabilistic Fri, 29 Dec 2006 22:58:59 GMT