Search results for "Structural engineering"
showing 10 items of 1998 documents
The assessment of the reliability of an innovative 3rd generation solar cell integrated with “thermal belt” glass block
2017
Glass block is a building product widely used for the construction of translucent building façades and roofs. The need to adapt the product to the regulations in the field of energy saving and environmental sustainability has led to the design of innovative configurations, through the integration of different sub-components. These ones are able to improve its energy performance by means of the integration of a“thermal belt”, cold glued to the glass shells, which constitute the traditional glass block, and 3rd generation solar cells. This paper reports the first results of the experimental program designed to assess some durability components: inherent and critical reliability. <div id="g…
Natural assets in the right-of-way of A-4 Motorway in the Góra Świętej Anny Landscape Park, Opole Region
2014
Construction of the A-4 Motorway section in the Opole Region begun in Summer 1997. Very soon vigorous resistance of ecological NGOs was encountered. The bone of contention was the section of motorway that passes through the Góra Świętej Anny Landscape Park and verges the natural reserve of strict protection Ligota Dolna where rare species of thermophilic plants are sheltered. Between 2011 and 2013 a detailed mycological, geobotanical, floristic and fauna research took place within the right-of-way of the A-4 Motorway section crossing the Góra Świętej Anny Landscape Park in the Opole Region. The survey revealed several rare and protected species of fungi, plants and animals along the road, i…
Optimizing artificial neural networks for the evaluation of asphalt pavement structural performance
2019
Artificial Neural Networks represent useful tools for several engineering issues. Although they were adopted in several pavement-engineering problems for performance evaluation, their application on pavement structural performance evaluation appears to be remarkable. It is conceivable that defining a proper Artificial Neural Network for estimating structural performance in asphalt pavements from measurements performed through quick and economic surveys produces significant savings for road agencies and improves maintenance planning. However, the architecture of such an Artificial Neural Network must be optimised, to improve the final accuracy and provide a reliable technique for enriching d…
Biogenic Fenton process - A possible mechanism for the mineralization of organic carbon in fresh waters.
2020
To explore the mechanisms that mineralize poorly bioavailable natural organic carbon (OC), we measured the mineralization of OC in two lake waters over long-term experiments (up to 623 days) at different pH and iron (Fe) levels. Both the microbial and photochemical mineralization of OC was higher at pH acidified to 4 than at the ambient pH 5 or an elevated pH 6. During 244 days, microbes mineralized up to 60% of OC in the 10-mu m filtrates of lake water and more than 27% in the 1-mu m filtrates indicating that large-sized microbes/grazers enhance the mineralization of OC. A reactivity continuum model indicated that the acidification stimulated the microbial mineralization of OC especially i…
Investigating the Multi-Recyclability of Recycled Plastic-Modified Asphalt Mixtures
2023
Although the benefits of asphalt recycling have been scientifically proven and several best practices are being implemented, further research is required in specific and specialized areas. One of these circumstances is the recycling of Reclaimed Asphalt Pavements (RAPs) that contain asphalt modifiers such as elastomers and/or plastomers. Following the principles of the circular economy and considering the sustainability implications of asphalt mixtures, this paper deals with the multi-recyclability of asphalt mixtures containing 50% RAP with and without a recycled plastic asphalt modifier and rejuvenating agent. The recycled plastic asphalt modifier was made of hard recycled plastics and wa…
Sneaking into a Hotspot of Biodiversity: Coverage and Integrity of a Rhodolith Bed in the Strait of Sicily (Central Mediterranean Sea)
2022
Habitat mapping, physical characteristics and benthic community of a rhodolith bed in the Pelagie Islands (Strait of Sicily, Mediterranean Sea) were studied through Multi–Beam Echo–Sounder (MBES), Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) and grab samples. The geomorphological analysis revealed an articulated and wide rhodolith bed; video inspections highlighted a bed with high coverage, few sandy patches and with a prevalence of the boxwork morphotype. A total of 207 taxa with 876 specimens were identified, and Polychaeta was the dominant taxon. Linguimaera caesaris, a Lessepsian benthic amphipod, was recorded in all sampling sites, and its presence represents an input to deepen the benthic assembla…
Analysis of the effects of magnetic field on the induced stress in drilled plates
2013
Abstract A drilled plate of ferromagnetic material suitably coupled by coils of enameled copper wire fed by a DC power supply to 30 V is considered in this paper. It is analyzed with finite element and later experiments are performed to validate the obtained results. After polishing the plate, two strain gauges for measuring the deformation along the x axis and along the z axis are installed. The values of strain are 5 μm/m in z direction and −2 μm/m in x direction. The experimental–numerical comparison shows that the laboratory results are lower than numerical, while signs and orders of magnitude are the same. It is concluded that the results of the FEM analysis can be considered acceptabl…
Failure Load and Collapse Mode of an RC Beam in a Large Collapsed Roof
2021
The present work focused on the determination of the collapse load and of the failure mode of a collapsed framed structure constructed in the South of Italy and failed in 2004 under its self-weight. Information available was the results on extensive experimental test campaign, for the determination of mechanical properties of concrete and steel bars of beams, floors and columns involved in the failure. Moreover, draws of original design with construction details and design rules valid in Italy at the time of construction were found. A simple monodimensional beam model for prediction of load-deflection curve, able to include degradation of constituent materials (concrete, steel and bond) was…
Validation of the Cycling Behavior Questionnaire: A tool for measuring cyclists' road behaviors
2018
Abstract Introduction Even though cycling is an activity whose benefits in terms of urban mobility and health are globally recognized, its disproportional growth during the past few decades has led to some unexpected dynamics. In fact, the increasing number of traffic injuries and deaths involving cyclists has a high cost for public health systems. Considering the available empirical evidence, aberrant and positive behaviors on the road constitute relevant predictors for the injuries suffered by road users. Nevertheless, the scarcity of tools that measure and evaluate the behavior of road users, especially in the case of cyclists, constitutes a serious lack in terms of explaining, interveni…
RC Columns Strengthened with Steel Angles and Battens: Experimental Results and Design Procedure
2013
In this paper, an analytical model for the design of axially loaded strengthened RC columns with steel angles and battens is presented. Cases of directly loaded and not directly loaded steel angles are considered. The model considers the contribution in confinement pressures caused by transverse battens and steel angles and the contribution in terms of the load-carrying capacity of steel angles subjected to axial force and the bending moment. An experimental investigation on the compressive behavior of eight short, confined, RC columns externally strengthened with steel angles and steel battens with various pitches was carried out, and has been utilized as support for the analytical model. …