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Structural modeling: choices, uncertainties and… decisions
Get PDFDuring the process of structural designing for a building to be developed, as well as during the check-up of the structural integrity for an existing building or for a building that has undergone different interventions, assumes first of all, an accurate and precise structural model for the building design, through an accurate study.
This accurate study, prior to the design process, should take place and a multitude of different factors and criterions need to be taken into consideration, starting from the materials that will be used, their way of production, typology, shape, dimensions, and installation.
The study can than move to an accurate analysis of how the structural elements will be linked together, where the structure will be laid, how long will the building be used for.
The study can end with the consideration and analysis of the maintenance and possible future alterations and/or interventions during all the life of the building
Effect of Air voids in Fresh and Hardening properties of Concrete
Get PDFThe introduction of air into concrete mixes has some different effects on the properties of both the fresh and the hardened concrete. In fresh concrete, the tiny air bubbles act as a lubricant in the mix which improves its workability and increases its slump. Also, in a sense, the bubbles function as a third aggregate. Because of their small size, the bubbles act as fines, thereby cutting down the amount of sand needed. Because air entrainment affords increased slump in same time it is possible to decrease the amount of water to get higher strengths without affecting workability. The requested parameters based on the technical specifications of concrete in some of cases are oriented in percent of air voids in concrete and in same time the compression strength of concrete.
In this paper using the experiments and requested parameters we can analyze the relationship between the percent of air voids 6% and compression strength of concrete class C 35/45
Cadastre and territorial government: from the first surveys to GIS
Get PDFSince its birth, the Italian Cadastre has been an essential tool for the government of the territory, not only from the taxation’s point of view. During the initial stages, coinciding with the unification of the cadastres prior to the unification of Italy, was collected an impressive amount of data, which led to the formation of the Land Cadastre. Through a meticulous work of survey of the territory and of the land ownership boundaries, it was made a detailed cartographic representation of the country. The cadastral mapping was supported by a network of reference points more precise and dense that adopted by the IGM (Military Geographic Institute). Subsequently, with the formation of the building cadastre, we were added data on the plans of all buildings of the nation.
The paper, after a historical introduction, will illustrate the evolution of the Italian cadastre, which involved:
- the digitalization of archived data;
- vectorization of cartography;
- the involvement of professionals both in updating the maps both the plan’s archive, which now is carried out telematically;
- the creation of a GIS.
To these data are added those resulting by OMI (Observatory the real estate market) and by Real Estate Registry, allowing statistical processing of trades, real estate prices, surveys on economic and architectural features of the buildings and of the various areas in which it has divided each municipality.
The paper also discusses possible future developments of the cadastral database: by creating a SIT (Territorial Information System) fully computerized, you can consult, extract, compare all current and historical data relating to the whole country, with reference both to land both to buildings. The consultation will take place through the navigation of a vectorial map, with graphic interrogation of the building or of the parcel of land. This tool will be a valuable resource not only for the fiscal aspects, but also and especially for the management, planning and control of all the complex processes of transformation of the territory
An Experimental Study on XPS and Insulation Paint in Buildings
Get PDFThe depletion of energy resources consumed in all areas of daily life, the introduction of new energy sources, energy savings, research for the efficient use of energy became a priority. Made of thermal insulation for energy efficiency in buildings also has been made compulsory by the relevant standards. For energy efficiency; What kind of project would be implemented in an insulation material should be decided on and implemented in the construction phase. Thermal insulation materials used in building and developing diversity is increasing day by day. Containing ceramic thermal insulation coatings developed recently was able to take part in practice. There are lots of uncertainty since the new method found. Thermal performance of thermal insulation material widely used industry newcomer XPS heat insulation coating material made under this study is to shed light on these doubts were compared experimentally.
Three model building was produced as a testing apparatus which has 2x2m2 floor area and 2.5m height. One of the models is applied no insulation to make reference. One of the other models; 5 cm thick thermal insulation made using the XPS, the other heat-insulating coating material is applied. Temperature changes in all models in a first stage of the experiment were recorded at 10 min intervals for 10 days. In the second step of the test series, the same power in all models was heated for 5 hours between 19:20 to 00:20 hours heat sources placed, then allowed to cool. External environment and temperature variations of the model were followed by periods of 10 minutes and recorded. As a result of experimental studies; XPS heat insulation thermal performance while expected, the model does not apply any paint applied to insulated thermal insulation of the model; led to nearly the same thermal performance values
PUSHOVER ANALYSIS OF REINFORCED CONCRETE FRAMES DESIGNED AS PER ALBANIAN CODES OF PRACTICE
Get PDFNonlinear static analysis has recently become one of the most commonly used analysis
procedures for design and seismic performance evaluation of buildings, due to its simplicity and
practicality. One of the most important reasons seismic evaluation of an existing building may be
needed, is because the structure that is being evaluated has not been designed in compliance to
the modern building codes, or an upgrade has been made to the existing codes of design.
In this study, a pushover analysis is performed for an existing reinforced concrete frame building,
built in Albania around the year 1999. The building is designed based on the latest Albanian code
for seismic design, KTP-1989. The code has not been revised since the time it was put into
practice, but it is expected to be subjected to certain alterations in the near future, with the
purpose of adopting the Eurocode requirements.
Eleven theoretical cases are defined, taking into consideration the minimum and maximum
values of steel percentage in the reinforced concrete members, several combinations of limit
values (min, max) for steel and concrete strength based on the code, different plastic hinge
properties, and the implementation of steel yield strengths obtained by tensile test results of
steel commonly used for reinforced concrete buildings in Albania.
The pushover analysis is carried out in Sap2000. Observations show that an increase in steel
percentage, or an increase in concrete and steel strength results in significantly higher overall
capacity of the structure. Also, a combination of low concrete strength with high steel strength,
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results in a higher overall capacity, than a high concrete-low steel combination. Furthermore, the
analysis shows that the user-defined hinge model is more successful in capturing the nonlinear
behavior of the structure than the default hinge model.
The pushover analysis of the frame with steel obtained from the tensile tests, indicates that,
although the building is able to withstand the level of design earthquake, the examination of test
results shows that there isn’t yet a standard and a control over the steel used for reinforced
concrete structures
Well-Being in Developing Countries: Case of Albania
Get PDFThis thesis emphasizes Well-being of developing countries, more precisely focusing on perception of Albanian population for Well-being, considering different group ages of the society.
Conceptual framework will be examined by summering literature and theoretical explanation for Well-being perceptions and understandings. Detailed analysis of Well-being concepts and perceptions will be done for developing countries, considering Albania as sample.
In recent year, there have been many concerns about the adequacy of macro-economic indicators that are measuring the growth, development and prosperity of the countries. Also a broad concern is the fact that the measurements are not including social factor aspect of population while deciding on enhancement level of countries. Well-being could measure the quality of life, satisfaction level, living conditions and wealth of population in a country, by inter relating these factors with macro indicators to come up with a measure for development level of countries. This thesis will define well-being components and the effect that it would have on measuring the overall prosperity of the societies, by evaluating the results of the survey done on Albanian society, with a sample of people
Central-Local Government and Relations and Decentralization in Albania
Get PDFCentral-Local government relations and decentralization is an ever growing topic today. These two are better achieved through a good relationship between the local and the central governments. A coordinated relation between these two core institutions provides prosperity for the whole country. This paper aims to describe the notion of central-local relations, based on decentralization. It begins by showing the theoretical aspects of the abovementioned concepts of central-local relations and decentralization. The paper continues by giving an overview of these concepts in the Republic of Albania, by giving a snapshot of the historical situation in different periods and different regimes. The aim of this study is to show how the central-local relations have evolved during the years here in Albania and how much this relation has been concerned with decentralization and local self-governance. What did the different governments promise in their programs and how much did they realize their promises? Finally, this study presents some of the problems that the central-local government relation is facing today in Albania. The problem of politicization is presented as one of the most concerning issues which prohibit the advancement of decentralization and jeopardize the relations between the central and local authorities. This study shows how central government interferes into the local authority affairs and violates the principle of local self-governance and autonomy.Epoka Universit
Control of Inflation on the Road of the Accession to European Monetary Union, The Case of Albania
Get PDFThe aim of this thesis is to analyze the monetary policy and inflation targeting applied by the
Bank of Albania on the road to Euro adaption. There will be a comparison with the monetary
policy used by the European Central Bank for the countries aiming to join the European
Union and it will be shown if the Bank of Albania’s monetary policy rules adapt those of the
ECBs. The data of inflation and exchange rates in the Albanian economy in 2005-2013 has
been used. Since the variables are non-stationary and present unit roots, Johansen’s cointegration
technique has been applied. This methodology has allowed for obtaining of a cointegrating
relationship among the variables in the long-run. The co-integration results
provide evidence of a no co-integration. This indicates that inflation and exchange rate does
not move together in Albania in the long-run. According to the test results, it can be said that
in the long-run foreign currency does not main cause of inflation in Albania.Epoka Universit
The Efficiency of Microfinance Institutions in Albania
Get PDFMicrofinance refers to small financial services mostly loans and savings which are provided to farmers, micro or small enterprises, that produce, improve revenues from the rent of machines, equipment and other basic financial like insurance to poor people and other groups at local levels in urban and rural areas on developing counties.
Currently the microfinance in Albania is a significant factor which should be taken into consideration and such is analyzed throughout the element of this thesis.
This study analyzes the microfinance institutions efficiency in Albania from years 2002 to 2012. Furthermore, will be used Data Envelopment Analysis method (DEA) for assessing technical efficiency, the input-oriented and output-oriented model. According to this topic, there are limited studies in the efficiency of microfinance institutions (MFIs) in Albania meaning that the study on efficiency in this region is important and will contribute to the actual literatures. The aim of this study is to examine the efficiency levels of five MFIs in Albania. The MFIs that will be analyzed are: Besa fund, ASC-Albania, ProCredit Bank, FAF-DC and NOA. There will be investigating the efficiency performance and their help in poverty reduction. Moreover, result indicates an efficient measure for these MFIs as all of them have their score efficiency 1 except NOA in year 2008.Epoka Universit
Violence against Women a Case Study in Uznova- Albania
Get PDFThis paper describes the violence against women in a zone named “Uznove” in Albania, Berat. Such a study has always been needed to the Albanian society because, as they say, a world which is not it for women is not it for children either. For this study a simple survey was made and asked to 50% of the population. The sampling was randomly made and the survey happened in the end of 2014. All the 50 participants vulnerably decided to take the survey and was made sure that the illing of it was made under no pressure. By the conducted research we notice that violence against women can still be considered on a dangerous level. By the research we see that the role of woman in Albanian society after the communism period did not have any big change from the role they had during the communism period. All these disparities need to be solved and as a solution education seems to be a good start as it provides the right path towards solving these disparities and diminishing violence against women. Also, another point and the main one is religion. It provides a pure example how to respect even the ones who are naturally weaker than man. The age of women range from 35-50 years old