Search results for "Structural Engineering"

Modal and Structural FEM Analysis of a 50 ft Pleasure Yacht

2012

In this paper a structural Finite Element analysis of a 50 ft pleasure vessel is presented. The study is performed under different loads conditions: modal analyses have been done in order to find the natural frequencies of the vessel, structural analyses to verify the strength of the vessel to design loads. The design loads for the vessel considered are computed according to RINA rules for the construction and classification of pleasure vessels [1]. Two different composites are used for the lamination: one is a monolithic sequence of short fibre and balanced glass lamina, used for the bottom of the vessel and for structural reinforcements, the other is a sandwich made of glass fibre composi…

Performance-Based Engineering of Wind-Excited Structures: A General Methodology

2016

The current prescriptive design philosophy that relies simply on meeting requirements stipulated in standards is shifting towards a performance-based design (PBD) approach for achieving designs that rationally meet society’s need for a truly safe built environment. Extensive research has facilitated the successful adoption of PBD in earthquake engineering, but the same cannot be said for wind engineering. Therefore, the need exists to initiate a similar effort by defining a framework that fully embraces the concepts of PBD during the design of building systems to resist severe wind events. This paper illustrates the development of such a PBD framework. In particular, a method is proposed sp…

Finite element method on fractional visco-elastic frames

2016

Viscoelastic behavior is defined by fractional operators.Quasi static FEM analysis of frames with fractional constitutive law is performed.FEM solution is decoupled into a set of fractional Kelvin Voigt elements.Proposed approach could be easily integrated in existing FEM codes. In this study the Finite Element Method (FEM) on viscoelastic frames is presented. It is assumed that the Creep function of the constituent material is of power law type, as a consequence the local constitutive law is ruled by fractional operators. The Euler Bernoulli beam and the FEM for the frames are introduced. It is shown that the whole system is ruled by a set of coupled fractional differential equations. In q…

Design of RC joints equipped with hybrid trussed beams and friction dampers

2021

Abstract The challenge of this research consists in the first attempt to apply a dissipative friction connection to beam-to-column joints with semi-prefabricated Hybrid Steel-Trussed Concrete Beams (HSTCB) and RC pillars cast in-situ. Nowadays, HSTCBs are widely adopted in civil and industrial buildings and, therefore, it is required to evaluate their compliance with the capacity design criteria and their seismic energy dissipation capability. However, the design of the reinforcement of such beams usually lead to the adoption of large amount of steel within the panel zone which becomes potentially vulnerable to the effects of seismic cyclic actions and dramatically reduce the dissipation ca…

The effect of vertical ground movement on masonry walls simulated through an elastic–plastic interphase meso-model: a case study

2019

The present paper proposes an interphase model for the simulation of damage propagation in masonry walls in the framework of a mesoscopic approach. The model is thermodynamically consistent, with constitutive relations derived from a Helmholtz free potential energy. With respect to classic interface elements, the internal stress contribute is added to the contact stresses. It is considered that damage, in the form of loss of adhesion or cohesion, can potentially take place at each of the two blocks–mortar physical interfaces. Flow rules are obtained in the framework of the Theory of Plasticity, considering bilinear domains of ‘Coulomb with tension cut-off’ type. The model aims to be a first…

Numerical simulation of the transient thermal-hydraulic behaviour of the ITER blanket cooling system under the draining operational procedure

2015

Abstract Within the framework of the research and development activities supported by the ITER Organization on the blanket system issues, an intense analysis campaign has been performed at the University of Palermo with the aim to investigate the thermal-hydraulic behaviour of the cooling system of a standard 20° sector of ITER blanket during the draining transient operational procedure. The analysis has been carried out following a theoretical-computational approach based on the finite volume method and adopting the RELAP5 system code. In a first phase, attention has been focused on the development and validation of the finite volume models of the cooling circuits of the most demanding mod…

Analysis of steady state thermal-hydraulic behaviour of the DEMO Divertor cassette body cooling circuit

2017

Abstract Within the framework of the Work Package DIV 1 – “Divertor Cassette Design and Integration” of the EUROfusion action, a research campaign has been jointly carried out by ENEA and University of Palermo to investigate the thermal-hydraulic performances of the DEMO divertor cassette cooling system. A comparative evaluation study has been performed considering the two different options under consideration for the divertor cassette body coolant, namely subcooled pressurized water and helium. The research activity has been carried out following a theoretical-computational approach based on the finite volume method and adopting a qualified Computational Fluid-Dynamic (CFD) code. CFD analy…

Discussion of “Shakedown under Elastic Support Conditions”

1982

Investigation of design strategies and quantification of energy flexibility in buildings: A case-study in southern Italy

2021

Abstract The need for nearly (net) zero energy buildings in the current European landscape does not merely refer to energy balances: the aim to investigate the interaction between generation and load and find sources of technical-economic energy efficiency is marking the rise in interest throughout research and practice of energy flexibility solutions in buildings. In this regard, the study aims at enhancing the energy flexibility of a building in southern Italy through Rule-Based Control algorithms for the control of the space heating system and the charge and discharge of an electricity storage. The influence of electricity pricing and the thermal comfort conditions on flexibility is also…

Optimization of the coagulation–flocculation treatment: influence of rapid mix parameters

1999

[EN] Turbid waters, containing suspended and colloidal particles, are normally treated by coagulation–flocculation followed by clarification; the process usually consists of the rapid dispersal of a coagulant into the raw water followed by an intense agitation commonly defined as rapid mixing. Rapid mixing is influenced by chemical and physical parameters and the final result of the whole treatment depends on this step. The study focused on the most important parameters of rapid mix design: velocity gradient and rapid mix time. Wastewaters from a tannery processing stored ovine hides were treated with aluminium(III) or iron(III) salts. Experimental results indicate that rapid mix time has a…