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Damage limitation requirements according Eurocode 8 for flexible reinforced concrete low-rise buildings
Get PDFThis study presents an analytical assessment for the reinforced concrete frame constructed with flat beams. The typology is known as frame with “embedded beam in the slab”, with a total height 25cm. Many similar structures have been constructed all around Balkans regions and Middle East. Sometime these structures have only in the perimeter the normal beam (thickness more than the slab). As it is well known the main advantages of using this type of reinforced concrete frames are that, they provide both, low economical cost for initial construction and a good architectural flexibility. Anyway in some literature, these types of structures are not recommended as being the only system for seismic forces resistance of a building.
The response of the frame with flat beams is compared with two other structural typologies, classical frame and uncoupled wall systems. Structures with 3 and 5 floors are selected for this analyse. The effect of infill masonry hallow clay bricks is also considered.
The criterions of comparisons are based mostly on Eurocode 8 and especially on damage limitation states. This criterion is chosen in this study due to the fact that this parameter is connected not simply to deformation but to the financial loss to. This investigation is made by using software ETABS. The investigation as was expected show that the frame with flat beams has much deformation than the classical frame and the uncoupled wall systems. The interstory drifts are much difficult to accommodate as per Eurocode 8 requirements. When infill walls are symmetrical in plan and well distributed in height the effect is positive in all structures. When are not continues on the ground story only the uncoupled wall systems represent consistent interstory drifts. Two other structural typologies are similar on their ability to present the negative effect of soft story
Monitoring the Condition of a Bridge using a Traffic Speed Deflectometer Vehicle Travelling at Highway Speed
Get PDFThe Traffic Speed Deflectometer (TSD) is a vehicle incorporating a set of laser Doppler vibrometers on a straight beam to measure the relative velocity between the beam and the pavement surface. This paper describes a numerical study to see if a TSD could be used to detect damage in a bridge. From this measured velocity it is possible to obtain the curvature of the bridge, from whose analysis, it will be demonstrate that information on damage can be extracted.
In this paper a Finite Element model is used to simulate the vehicle crossing a single span bridge, for which deflections and curvatures are calculated. From these numerical simulations, it is possible to predict the change in the curvature signal when the bridge is damaged. The method looks promising and it suggests that this drive-by approach is more sensitive to damage than sensors installed on the bridge itself
On the mechanics of “false vaults”: new analytical and computational approaches
Get PDFThe aim of this paper is to present new analytical and computational approaches for assessing the structural safety of “false vaults” structures like Trulli, and more generally for corbelled structures. In particular, the proposed procedure is capable of taking into account the three-dimensional behavior of such complex masonry structures
Impact of pier length and connection type in static and dynamic response of RC bridge structure
Get PDFIn this paper are presented analysis results of two bridges with similar geometry. The difference between them is in the length of piers.
3D (three-dimensional) mathematical model composed of RC piers (substructure) absolutely fixed at the base and RC deck (superstructure) are developed.
Both bridges are analyzed as Bridge Type 1 (with hinge connection between superstructure and substructure) and Bridge Type 2 (with fixed connection between superstructure and substructure). Superstructure is the same for both bridges.
Three analyses types are performed for both bridges:
- Static analysis including computation of displacements and element forces due to specified static loads.
- Analyses of structural dynamic characteristics including mode shapes and corresponding free-vibration periods.
- Dynamic response analyses under real earthquake ground excitation specified by corresponding input acceleration history.
Comparative analysis results of static and dynamic response for each Bridge Type, considering different connection between piers and superstructure are presented
Evaluation of Shoreline Dynamics Analyzing Spatial Temporal Data
Get PDFShoreline change is considered as one of the most dynamic processes in the coastal regions. Shoreline spatial location mentions to several different features such as vegetation line, high water line, low water line, or the wet/dry line. They can be generated from a variety of spatial temporal data sources, like satellite imagery, digital orthophotos, historical coastal-survey maps and field observed spatial data using Global Positioning System. The undertaken work focuses on analysing shoreline dynamics, using spatial temporal data, by taking advantage of Geographic Information System (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS). Multi year’s shoreline mapping is a valuable method for shoreline monitoring and assessment.
The study area extends from the Port of Shengjin (North), to the delta of Drini river (South), a segment of Drini bay shoreline with a length of about 17 km. The available data used to generate shorelines spatial location include topographic maps at scale 1: 75 000, year 1918 (MGI); topographic maps at scale 1: 50 000, year 1937 ( GMIF); topographic maps at scale 1: 25 000, year 1985 ( AGMI) ; digital orthophotos of year 2007 and field observed GPS data, year 2014. The net rates of variations NSM (Net Shoreline Movement) of the shoreline position are calculated according to transects inclined perpendicularly to the baseline and spaced equally along the coast using DSAS (Digital Shoreline Analysis System). NSM represents the distance between the oldest and youngest shorelines.
Analyses of the data shows that 35% of coastline of study area is in accretion process meanwhile 65% is in erosion process. Maximum rate of erosion is near to the mouth of Drini river with 10-12m/year in the last years, in average 7.5 m/year in the north side and 4 m/year in the south side of the river delta
Accessibility in Housing Design: A Critical Review of Prefabricated Housing, Tirana Albania
Get PDFThe main aim of the present research is to advance the state of the art of the accessibility in housing design. It addresses how to include the category of disabled people in the design process. In addition, the research includes the accessibility issues at different stages or completely accessible with different functions. The paper explores the key concepts via an in-depth theoretical background towards a barrier-free building design. Statistical evidences of the disabled people in Albania are illustrated. As case study, prefabricated buildings adopted in the early ’80 s are used to illustrate the accessibility limitations in housing design and to explore the modularity of the structure and the corresponding plan layouts. The results showed that prefabricated housing design is rather limited to accessibility, adaptability and universal design strategies
Migrant Crisis, a Security Challenge for the Republic of Macedonia
Get PDFThe migrant crisis is an imposed problem that requires a thorough solution. The complete understanding of the reasons for migration, as well as the situation in the Mediterranean basin and in the Middle East is a precondition for finding appropriate solutions. Eradication of poverty and disparity, the fight against terrorism and the ISIS extremism as well as the fight against other similar groups are just a fraction of the necessary preconditions for a successful dealing with the current challenges. The solution to the drama with the infinite wave of migrants from Syria and the Middle East, to which we are sad observers, seems is not to be seen soon. First of all, if we look at the European political elite and the general lack of a reliable and clear strategy for solving this problem, all we will see is helplessness and mutual accusations. The migrant or the refugee crisis is followed by a large number of incidents or series of events. The massive arrival of refugees in the European Union, usually illegal migrants from Asia, Africa and parts of Southeastern Europe, started in the mid of 2010 and escalated in 2015. The reasons for the mass arrival are traditionally associated with the chronic unemployment and poverty in these countries, but lately, are also result of the war, especially in Syria, where the civil war caused massive exodus of the population. The situation is similar in Libya, where the fall of Moamer Gaddafi’s regime led to anarchy, used by the well-organized networks of human traffickers. By mid-2015, the refugee crisis mainly took place on the Mediterranean coast of Italy, where refugees were arriving by ships and boats. In many cases, such attempts were futile and led to mass deaths. Lately, there has been a massive influx of refugees and migrants in the Balkans, using Greece and Croatia, EU member countries on the periphery of the Union, as entry point. But also, The Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Serbia, candidate countries for the EU, are not bypassed. Although the European political establishment met the refugees with sympathy and as victims of the horrors of war that EU needs to provide shelter for, in time, the attitude toward the refugees became subject to fierce criticism by part of the European public. Concerns about the additional burdening of the social services, worsening of the security situation or the possible disappearance of the Christian identity of Europe due to the massive influx of Muslims from war areas in the Middle East arose. Recently, the attitude toward the migrants became the subject of a heated debate - dispute between some European countries, especially between Germany, which insists on “open door” policy and Hungary, Slovakia and Poland, which claim that their countries will suffer consequences due to such policy. The refugee-migrant crisis is a threat in several aspects and already has influence on the economic and social stability as well as internal security in the countries through which the migrants transit or remain, including the Republic of Macedonia. The busiest western – Balkan route used for arrival in the Schengen zone, especially in Germany, Sweden and other western and Nordic countries, brings negative influence visible in the social aspect, genuine threat to the national identity (culture, language, religion) and such endangerment inevitably will lead to an increased incidence of xenophobia, nationalism and racism. At the end, conditions for emergence of social disintegration will be created in the countries through which the migrants transit or remain, including the Republic of Macedonia. The economic stability, being crucial for a social stability, but also, for internal security, will be affected due to the use of additional resources and capacities (accommodation, health, communal services, transport and education) that the affected countries, including the Republic of Macedonia, should provide and set in function due to the newly arisen situation
Energetic diplomacy and its role on creation of a new multipolar world
Get PDFInternational correlations through the last years have been remarked as dramatic in character, and very often followed through with unpredictable events, such as the Arab spring, chronic and confessional wars raging through the Middle east, than the unprincipled informal collation of the great forces merging with variety and different in character formal and less formal state-of-actors, than worth mentioning is the recent war prelude in Ukraine which on top has all been spiced and made far more constrictive indeed by the arrival of the global economic crisis in energy resources as well as naturally found ones, that has well paid so far contributing led to the overflowing of the crisis itself from the world’s center towards its margins. Since the end of the cold war, the most powerful and the most economically ascendant countries have started to promote a very new breed type of concept which deals with export and imposing of its own ideology. Diplomacy has well been turned into an instrument for realization of the external affair politics of the great powers and this diplomacy has been thus transformed from traditional in character to modern in origin, or better - public diplomacy. But this breed of public diplomacy had its own limits in terms of its range influence which was shortcut in the days of lack of energy resources as well as naturally found pack resources in the sense of energy excavation, and thus we witnessed the arrival of the newly formed type of diplomacy in place of the public diplomacy, named energetic diplomacy. Today energetic diplomacy is a representative of modern diplomacy or better a unique type of “stick and carrot” modulated for the weak and well developed rich states which are dependent on energy resources naturally found or not. During the era of the predomination of traditional politics over power in international correlations, it was then the most important thing who would be the one to deal with the most military power arsenal and later economic power as well that determined supreme leading force. Many of us would ask does this mean the reincarnation of the so called almost forgotten Cold War only now coming in such a shape that seems to be far more terrifying in character with a great deal of chance to impose the brink of a new world war and another humanitarian wash-out to humanity
The council of the employees in the Albanian Commercial Law
Get PDFLaw No. 9901/2008 on “Entrepreneurs and Commercial Companies”, marked a milestone in the reform of the commercial law in Albanian. Among other novelties, the Law introduced a new approach in regard to the employees and their participation in co determination. Actually, the involvement of the employees were not that unfamiliar in the former Albanian Commercial Legislation thought the social responsibility was. The Law brought in a new approach which was widely inspired from the EU Law, by establishing the Council of the Employees for any commercial company having more than 50 employees. It is true that unlike the trade unions, it is the company that bears the costs of the establishment and functioning of these councils, but besides the costs, it would mean to grant importance to the employees, as stakeholders of the corporate, by being part of the decision making process with regard to the use of special funds or actives of the company or to the allocation of the divided that the General Assembly resolves to allocate to the employees. This article will explore the legal provisions of the Law in regard to the Council of the Employees, its establishment, functioning and entitlement and how these provisions are enforced in practice from the companies in Albania
Sovereignity, statehood and self-determination in international law - The Kosovo case
Get PDFThe self-proclamation of Kosovo’s independence announced on February 17 invites us to some general considerations that may be linked to the specific event. The IL principle of Self-determination will be on the focus of this article to considering it as one of the way to archive the creation of new IL entity. Self-determination is a more recent principle then the others but its history, theory and practice is immense. The origin of the term and idea also is in discussion and debating among historian and lawyer. The term have been used simultaneously in the same period (end of WW I) by the US President Wilson and the USSR Premier Lenin referring to the right of the non self-governed territory like colony and occupied regions