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Seismic Displacement Demand of a Mid-Rise RC Building Considering Soil Structure Interaction
Get PDFThis study aims to evaluate the effect of soil structure interaction and the differences in linear and nonlinear modelling of the structure on seismic response. For this purpose, SSI and fixed base models of 7-story building were used. Both linear and nonlinear behavior of the building are taken into account for comparison.
The findings obviously indicate large variation in displacement demands depending on ground motion record, soil type, consideration of soil structure interaction and linear and nonlinear structure modelling. The displacement demands tend to increase for softer soils except few cases, especially for fixed base models. Significant differences are obvious for linear and nonlinear building models of fixed base case. The evaluation of obtained results and observations in the current study clearly indicate that the effects of SSI approach depend on dynamic characteristics of soil and structure. While soil deformations influence the seismic demands of structure in positive way for linear models, these effects are more complex for nonlinear models. It is difficult to mention about certain trend for nonlinear models. It should be also kept in mind that linear fixed base models are inappropriate for dynamic analysis due to high sensitivity of dynamic amplification and the use of fixed base linear models may cause inaccurate seismic demand estimates.
The outcomes and observations emphasize that the demand estimates are independent from the fixed base or SSI approaches and linear or nonlinear models for stiffer soils. All combinations provide reasonable demand estimates. However, the modelling approach becomes extremely important for softer soils. The best approach seems to be SSI with nonlinear modelling. The fixed base with nonlinear modelling also provides acceptable estimates
Design of flexible road pavements as affected by drainage conditions
Get PDFRoad pavement use is determined primarily by the vehicle type that will use the facility. Climatic conditions affect the behavior of pavement materials, as well as the sizes of traffic loads. The relative strength loss in a layer due to its drainage characteristics and the total time it is exposed to near-saturation moisture conditions is represented by drainage coefficients. The Transportation Laboratory of Democritus University of Thrace in Xanthi Greece has developed an algorithm for a computer-based procedure towards the calculation of the layer thickness of flexible pavements. The design equation used is that described by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. The present work deals with the effect of drainage on the total thickness of the structure as it directly influences the cost of large infrastructure projects like roads. The output of different cases solved is presented in table and schematic form. Changes in technology related to pavement design and construction practices will necessitate revisions to currently used computing techniques. There is a need for computerized methodologies for thickness design of flexible asphalt pavements (granular base course) for a wide variety of pavement uses providing users the capability to conduct structural analysis of special pavement structures. Improvements in computing times which will affect in a way the cost of computerized methods available to engineers are to be suggested in the near future. Empirically supported pavement designs used nowadays in Greece require modifications based on regional experience and on a better assessment of the drainage conditions prevailing in each area crossed by a roadway project. Since design considerations constantly change, it is obligatory to shift towards more sophisticated design methods
Characterization of pavement subgrade soil using gyratory compaction
Get PDFA parameter used to carry out the quality control of unbound compacted soil materials is the maximum dry unit weight obtained from a standard or modified Proctor test. However, these tests are far from simulating the field compaction mechanism produced by roller equipment. The gyratory compactor has been put forward as a new laboratory equipment to determine the compaction curves in the Highway Construction and Pavements Laboratory accommodated in the Polytechnic School of Democritus University in Xanthi Greece. Results of Proctor and modified compaction curves as well as those obtained from the gyratory compactor are presented in the current paper. The controlled variables in the gyratory compactor were the vertical pressure, the gyration angle, and of course the number of gyrations. The compaction curves are more or less similar disregarding the rate of gyration and gyration angle. The dynamic compaction yielded better results compared to those obtained by the gyratory compactor. The difference between the two compaction modes was greater at low moistures. Three different moistures were used. In any case, the dynamic method led to higher dry density values. California Bearing Ratio specimens prepared with dynamic or gyratory compaction have lower values with an increase in moisture contents and were generally greater in the case of dynamic compaction
Urban Preservation of Durres city, case study: “Liria” square
Get PDFLocated in the central western part of Albania, Durres is one of the most important cities in country. The footprint of historical changes has given a sense of unicity and authenticity to this city, although facing some issues regarding identity. This study will be focused on one of the most interesting and representative elements of the city: the “Liria” central square, an urban space surrounded by administrative, religious, commercial and residential units. The last year’s regeneration of this square arose polemics and debate regarding local identity and urban preservation strategies.
This study aims to make a description of the surrounding historical buildings and their impact in urban scale of “Liria” square, by a diachronic analysis of changes through years. The first paragraphs name and illustrate urban plans of Durres city since the early 20th century to nowadays. Ongoing, a general picture of “Liria” square as the heart of the city is made by describing historical changes of the square itself until the revitalization plan of last year. This diachronic analysis is followed by a historical analysis of the surrounding buildings, interpreting their authentic values which, got together, epitomize the unicity of place. At the end, urban regeneration, preservation or conservation of city centers, are some of the terms we deal with to understand the most appropriate way to deal with such spaces. Many strategies should be taken into account so that the intervention process could not deteriorate the spirit of a place.
We found that some of these strategies were put to use in the revitalization of “Liria” square. However, this intervention was followed with debates caused by not preservation of some historical representative elements.
In conclusion, we outline the importance of preservation of archaeological, architectural, social, historical and cultural values not only of “Liria” square, but of all historical and monumental buildings in Albania. This process should be done keeping in consideration varieties of object stratification and combine careful development strategies
Non-Destructive Damage Detection and Retrofitting Techniques on a Historical Masonry Tower
Get PDFThe aim of the paper is to detect the damage of the bell tower of the Church “Santa Maria della Natività”, Noci (Bari, Italy) that in 2012 was hit by a lightning and to propose a retrofitting solution. The solution must be designed to improve the constructive regularity, the strength and ductility of the structure, especially on the more resistant structural elements or on the mechanisms of collapse so as to transform them from brittle to ductile ones. The tower is 35 m tall and it is structurally connected to the Church for about one third of its height; the remaining part of the tower is totally disconnected from the structure of the Church. The results of the experimental tests have been analyzed in order to estimate the modal parameters of the tower and to calibrate a 3D finite element model of the tower in order to design ad hoc improvement interventions
Characters and models of Rural Architecture in Puglia
Get PDFThe farmhouse represents an example of rural buildings in the Puglia region, it consists of model types connected to functional efficiency and to saving the natural resources available, becoming an example of sustainable architecture.
The farmhouses built between the 16th and 18th century are the most significant model of traditional eco-sustainable architecture and can be broken down into the following types:
1. Landscape – morphology: connected to their insertion in a specific environmental context (with trulli in the Itria Valley and fortified farmhouse in the coastal areas);
2. Climatic – orography: connected to their location in the territory (with pitched roof in Capitanata and in Alta Murgia, flat roof in the plains and coastal areas, gabled roof with stone blocks in the Murgia hills of the Trulli);
3. Farming– productive: concerning the type of farming and production (agricultural – pasture, egg farming and/or vineyards;
4. Defensive – functional: concerning the presence of defensive elements (including fencing, wall-walks, watchtowers, trap doors, embrasures, raised steps, corner towers).
Apulian farmhouses are not only important historically and culturally, but also play a fundamental role in the agricultural production of the territory. This property must be safeguarded by envisaging structural recovery using traditional building techniques capable of preserving the rural identity and at the same time promoting eco-sustainable development criteria
Social Aspects Regarding the Single-Parent Families Vulnerability - The Case Of Arad County
Get PDFBased on empiric investigations and the study of documents from specialized public institutions, the authors analyse in this article the extent, manifestations, causes and consequences of single-parent families in Arad County. As social entities with a high risk of social exclusion, the authors identify practical measures for intervention by public authorities in the sense of optimizing socialization, social work and balancing these families, especially their children, by taking into account both Romanian and European legislation in this field. Preventing the reproduction/increase in the number of single-parent families must rely on the complete knowledge of this social phenomenon, with the need to establish databases and map the dispersion of single-parent families within administrative-territorial units. The decrease in the number of families with a high social risk over time is the result of correlated and harmonized public policies, aimed at fighting poverty, discrimination, unemployment, lack of access to education, while ensuring the general background for economic development and prosperity. The study is determined by the fact that many times the parents and the children of single parent families find themselves in the situation of not being able to make ends meet, the lack of finances, education and proper housing making it impossible for them to live a decent life. By identifying, through specific scientific methods such as document analysis, interviews, case studies, the particular types of problems facing single parent families, we consider we will succeed in offering a strong basis to motivate decision makers to establish additional social protection measures that will contribute to the reduction of the causes that maintain this social category among vulnerable groups
Ideological Meanings of Language
No full textIdeology is sometimes considered only as set of ideas, as Karl Mannheim’s relativist theory would put it, for instance. It is also sometimes considered more critically as set of ideas whose political aim is to help sustaining domination, by concealing the contradictions present in society. Drawing on Jan Blommaert, Norman Fairclough, Susan Gal and Antonio Gramsci, this paper investigates the link between ideology, meaning and power. Then, the issues of text, context and agency will be examined, firstly in relativist theoretical approaches to ideology and language, and secondly in critical approaches. It will eventually be shown that the two stances are in conflict about the meaning of the word ‘ideology’ itself, which brings to light the discrepancy between the implications of descriptive and critical research
LADY MARY WROTH’S PAMPHILIA TO AMPHILANTHUS: A FEMALE VOICE IN THE MALE TRADITION
No full textLady Mary Wroth(1587? - 1651?) as a female author of the Jacobean period did what was distinctive of her sex in a period when women were restricted to the domestic sphere devoid of their authentic voice: she appropriated the sonnet tradition, a genre allotted to men ever since its invention, and presented a female subjectivity through her lines. What differentiates Wroth from her contemporaries is that in her sonnet sequence Pamphilia to Amphilanthus,she creates a female voice within a male genre without merely imitating her predecessors but fashioning her own style to reveal her posture and, in so doing she goes further than her female counterparts who solely deal with religious works and translations. Wrothis the first English woman to write a complete sonnet sequence and her subversive work deserves more scholarly attention. In this context, I will attempt to demonstrate the distinctive qualities of Wroth’s selected sonnets suggesting that she deviates from the male sonneteers in order to create private space for herself within her lines in which she can reveal the inner self in the suffocating atmosphere of the Jacobean society
THE INFLUENCE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATION IN TEACHING FOREIGN LANGUAGES (THE ALBANIAN CASE)
No full textThe main objective of teaching and learning through Information Technologies and Communication (ITC) is to develop the students ‘personality to live and adapt in this world and to prepare them for future professional activities. These challenges are present in the Albanian society as well and day by day the education system requires a proper integration of ITC-s in the teaching and learning process. Their influence is increasing day by day, especially during the last years and in teaching and learning a foreign language. In order to see how much appreciated and preferred are ITC-s from the teachers and the students we organized to experimental teaching classes, one using ITC-s and in the other not, with a number of 50 students. After that the students had to fill in a questionnaire that had 6 questions and helped us to understand better how they relate with ITC-s tools. Last but not least this study made possible to create a clearer picture of how ITC-s are integrated in the class and how teachers and students reacted in a non-traditional academic environment