Search results for "Forensic engineering"

Update on desiccant wheel model

2004

This short communication presents the update on the desiccant wheel models, developed earlier by the present authors. It is to be mentioned here that the psycrometric model presented earlier (Int. J. Energy Res., 2003; 27:17) is valid only for the desiccant wheel running with identical volume air-flows in supply and regeneration sides. However, when system runs with volume air flow ratio between supply and regeneration side (α), different from 1 (one), the model need further modifications. In the present work, correction factors were developed and incorporated in order to update the earlier model for predicting correctly the temperature and humidity of processed air at the outlet of desicca…

Influence of design mistakes and material degradation on the collapse of a long-span RC roof in South Italy

2020

Abstract In 2004, during ordinary maintenance work, consisting in the waterproofing of a building located in the South of Italy, the long-span (14.50 m) in situ cast reinforced concrete (RC) roof partially collapsed. The building, constructed in 1950, was in service as a cinema up to 1967 and utilized as a school up to 1985. Finally, it was a hotel up to 2000. In 2004, when the building was not in service and underwent maintenance work, it partially collapsed under the dead load. After the collapse, which involved a large portion of the roof, several beams and two columns, the Court nominated a first Official Technical Consultant in order to investigate on the causes of failure and related …

Diatomeenbefunde bei Wasserleichen

1964

An unsupervised Learning Algorithm for Fatigue Crack Detection in Waveguides

2009

Ultrasonic guided waves (UGWs) are a useful tool in structural health monitoring (SHM) applications that can benefit from built-in transduction, moderately large inspection ranges, and high sensitivity to small flaws. This paper describes an SHM method based on UGWs and outlier analysis devoted to the detection and quantification of fatigue cracks in structural waveguides. The method combines the advantages of UGWs with the outcomes of the discrete wavelet transform (DWT) to extract defect-sensitive features aimed at performing a multivariate diagnosis of damage. In particular, the DWT is exploited to generate a set of relevant wavelet coefficients to construct a uni-dimensional or multi-di…

Shear banding mechanism of plastic deformation in LiF irradiated with swift heavy ions

2012

The effect of ion irradiation on the behavior of plastic deformation at micro- and nanoindentation on (001) face of LiF has been investigated. The irradiation was performed using heavy ions (U, Au, Ti and S) with energy in the range from 3 MeV to 2 GeV at fluences up to 5x1013 ions/cm2. In non-irradiated LiF, the indentation produces dislocation gliding on the {110} planes along the and directions. At high fluence irradiation, the resource of the dislocation slip along the preferable directions becomes exhausted due to immobilization of dislocations by radiation defects and their aggregates. The present study demonstrates the change of the mechanism of plastic deformation from homogenous di…

Increasing the Capacity of Existing Bridges by Using Unbonded Prestressing Technology: A Case Study

2014

External posttensioning or unbonded prestressing was found to be a powerful tool for retrofitting and for increasing the life extension of existing structures. Since the 1950s, this technique of reinforcement was applied with success to bridge structures in many countries, and was found to provide an efficient and economic solution for a wide range of bridge types and conditions. Unbonded prestressing is defined as a system in which the post-tensioning tendons or bars are located outside the concrete cross-section and the prestressing forces are transmitted to the girder through the end anchorages, deviators, or saddles. In response to the demand for a faster and more efficient transportati…

Altitude exposure in sports: the Athlete Biological Passport standpoint

2013

The Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) is principally founded on monitoring an athlete's biological variables over time, to identify abnormal biases on a longitudinal basis. Several factors are known to influence the results of these markers. However, the manner in which the altitude factor is taken into account still needs to be standardized. Causal relationships between haematological variables should be correctly integrated into ABP software. In particular, modifications of haematological parameters during and after exposure to different altitudes/hypoxic protocols need to be properly included within detection models. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Utilization of Stretch‐Shortening Cycles in Cross‐Country Skiing

2010

Suitability of blends from virgin and reprocessed polylactide: performance and energy valorization kinetics

2018

[EN] A blending strategy of virgin and reprocessed polylactide may be postulated as an alternative to reduce the material cost at industrial level, and as a valorisation route to plastic waste management of production scraps. The performance of blends prepared from virgin polylactide and polylactide mechanically reprocessed up to two cycles (PLA-V/R) was assessed in terms of thermo-oxidative stability, morphology, viscoelasticity and thermal kinetics for energetic valorisation. PLA-V/R blends showed appropriate thermo-oxidative stability. The amorphous nature of polylactide was preserved after blending. The viscoelastic properties showed an increment of the mechanical blend effectiveness, w…

Identifying causes, dynamics and consequences of work accidents in forest operations in an alpine context

2016

Abstract In a sustainable perspective, where wood harvesting and use perfectly respond to environmental needs, social sustainability and related health and safety of forest workers cannot be disregarded. The aim of this study was the analysis of the accidents records in public companies in the Province of Trento, in Northern Italy, regarding forest operations in the period 1995–2013. Several information were available thanks to the up-to-date accident books compiled by each company. With an average Frequency index in the examined period of 88 injuries per million hours worked, forest operations were confirmed as one of the most dangerous works along all productive sectors. Monday had a sign…