Dynamic elastic analysis of MDOF structures with random strengths

Optimal shakedown design of beam structures

The optimal design of plane beam structures made of elastic perfectly plastic material is studied according to the shakedown criterion. The design problem is formulated by means of a statical approach on the grounds of the shakedown lower bound theorem, and by means of a kinematical approach on the grounds of the shakedown upper bound theorem. In both cases two different types of design problems are formulated: one searches for the minimum volume design whose shakedown limit load is assigned; the other searches for the design of the assigned volume whose shakedown limit load is maximum. The optimality conditions of the four problems above are found by the use of a variational approach; such…

Structural Design of Frames Able to Prevent Element Buckling

Two formulations of a special multicriterion optimal design problem devoted to elastic perfectly plastic steel frame structures subjected to different combinations of static and dynamic loads are presented. In particular, two minimum volume design problem formulations are proposed: in the first one the structure is designed so as to be able to elastically behave for the assigned fixed loads, to elastically shakedown for serviceability seismic load conditions and to prevent the instantaneous collapse for suitably chosen combinations of fixed and ultimate seismic loadings; in the second one the structure must also satisfy further appropriate constraints related to element buckling. The action…

La luce nell'architettura del Mediterraneo

L’articolo precisa alcune considerazioni sul tema della luce nel Mediterraneo dove quest’ultima ha la capacità di incidere sull’architettura e ne evidenzia le forme. La forte relazione tra architettura e luce nel Mediterraneo è presente negli spazi delle Medine del Nord Africa come nelle famose moschee di Kairouan, Tunisi, Cordova, Damasco ecc. Il rapporto tra architettura e luce è già stato teorizzato nel viaggio d’Oriente di Le Corbusièr ed evidenziato nelle sue opere più importanti come Ronchamp e La Tourette, mentre nell’architettura contemporanea emergono progettisti come Alberto Campo Baeza, Louis Barragan, Tadao Ando ed Alberto Campo Baeza. In Alberto Campo Baeza il tema della luce è…

On the modern use of the bòvedas tabicadas

The paper concerns the study of the so-called “bòvedas tabicadas” (i.e. thin vaults constituted by layers of “rasillas” suitably superimposed) based on the results obtained by specific experimental investigations effected on the material of which they are constituted as well as on a vault that is still working. In particular, aim of the present research is the implementation of a first analysis of the structure in its present configuration (often unusable), with the purpose to evaluate the real structure serviceability related to the prescribed intensity of the acting loads, and moreover the execution of a new second analysis of the same structure but suitably reinforced by placing further …