Masine Md. Tap

An active tool-tracking system for increased productivity

Keeping track of tools is essential for smooth running of any production unit. Being one of the critical resources for production, non-availability of tools can affect productivity of any manufacturing shop floor seriously. In this paper, a novel tool-tracking system, which can be used to monitor the movements of tools in a shop floor to prevent tool loss and tool hoarding, is described. The system uses miniature transmitters embedded in the tools together with a number of receiver stations located strategically around the shop floor. Each tool intermittently transmits a coded signal so that it may be identified as well as located. Simulation studies show that the system is effective particularly in situations where the productivity would have been low because of high tool losses.

EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF TSUNAMI WATERBORNE DEBRIS IMPACT ON STRUCTURES

Tsunamis and hurricanes cause a lot of damage to structures. The water-borne debris that is produced during these natural disasters can cause a considerable damage to the many structures if they have not been constructed for such loads. Tsunami field survey observations have indicated that the damage is aggravated by heavy objects like wooden logs, automobiles, boats, storage barrels and other containers. This paper presented the results of experimental study for the quantification of the debris impact force on the structures. Moreover, it studied the formulas, which have been specified in the recently published tsunami- resistant engineering design guidelines (FEMA P-646, 2012) and the Coastal Construction Manual (FEMA P- 55, 2011) with the results of experiment.

STRUCTURAL SYSTEM OF SAFE HOUSE AGAINST TORNADO AND EARTHQUAKES

Every year earthquakes, tornadoes and other extreme windstorm cause fatalities or even kill people, devastate and millions of dollars worth of property. The likelihood that a tornado will strike building is a matter of probability. The study describes the analysis and design, the engineering process the new type of tornado safe room (Fig. 1) according to the FEMA guidance. It also evaluates the effects of in-fill frames and the linear response of reinforced concrete braced frames and comparison with frames with shear wall. The main conclusion drawn from this study is to elaborate that the masonry in-fills, are strongly influence the structural seismic response and contribute to the overall stiffness and can decrease drifts and displacements. Infill walls have significant role in the strength and ductility of RC framed structures and should be considered in both analysis and design globally. These walls make the structure significantly stiffer, and reduce the natural period of the structure. Locally, infill walls changed the load path, the distribution of forces between different elements of the structure, and the change the demand of forces on their adjacent elements of the bounding frame. Due to the high relative stiffness of the infill frames, they act as the main lateral load-resisting system and attract larger portions of the earthquake and tornado induced inertia forces.