Decision-making on economic maintenance of earthquake-resistant reinforced concrete structures
It is necessary to repair or reinforce earthquake-resistant reinforced concrete structures during their service time since their safety performance may gradually deteriorate due to environmental factors such as concrete carbonation, steel erosion, natural aging, or earthquake damage. This paper adopts a benefit-cost analysis and puts forward an economic decision-making method on preventive maintenance, pre-earthquake reinforcement, and post-earthquake repair and dismantling of structures, with consideration to earthquake damage accumulation, natural aging, and durability damage. It is of crucial theoretical significance and application value to the decision-making on the maintenance of structures.
Computer simulation on life of the structure based on service structure for the reinforced concrete frame
The distribution of the structure like in service is simulated through the simulation of the time and the intensity of earthquake and the elastoplastic response analysis of the reinforced concrete frame subjected to the acceleration of ground. This study is carried out under the consideration of the accumulated damage, the natural deterioration of the structure, durability of erosive damage and repair decision, combining with structural safety, durability and economical result. It provides a new thought and research method for forcasting the life of the structure.
The Impact of EU Unfair Contract Terms Law on U.S. Business-to-Consumer Internet Merchants
When the Court of Appeals for Versailles issued its decision in AOL France v. UFC Que Choisir2 in September 2005, it sent the message to U.S. Internet businesses that even contractual boilerplate localized for European markets may be invalid in European consumer transactions. In that case, a French consumer advocacy group challenged the terms AOL offered its French customers after AOL had made extensive revisions to its standard form contracts to respond to the concerns regarding those terms expressed in an advisory opinion by a French consumer protection agency. In 2004, a trial court invalidated nearly every term in the revised agreement; the appeals court affirmed on all counts. Subsequently, in July 2006 following concerns raised by the Office of Fair Trading (“OFT”), a United Kingdom government agency charged with “making sure markets work well for consumers,”3 Dell Corporation Limited changed its online terms and conditions to make them fairer to consumers.4 European consumer contract law had an impact in both cases. At issue for AOL France and Dell Corporation Limited was the application of France’s and the UK’s consumer contract law which is based on the Unfair Contract Terms Directive of 19945 and calls into question the validity of many of the terms that U.S. courts routinely enforce in transactions involving American consumers and merchants.