1,721,098 research outputs found
Thermal Assessment of Glass Façade Panels under Radiant Heating – Experimental and preliminary numerical studies
Full text linkNowadays, glass is increasingly being used as a load-bearing material for structural components in buildings and façades. Different structural member solutions (such as panels, beams, columns) and loading conditions were the subjects of several research studies in recent years. Most of them, however, were typically limited to experimental testing and numerical simulations on glass elements and assemblies at room temperature. Thermo-mechanical investigations, inclusive of the temperature-dependent behaviour of visco-elastic interlayers used in laminated glass solutions, as well as the typical thermo-mechanical degradation of glass properties in line with temperature increase, in this regard, are still limited. Such an aspect can be particularly important for adaptive façades, in which the continuous variation of thermal and mechanical boundary conditions should be properly taken into account at all the design stages, as well as during the lifetime of a constructed facility. Given the key role that thermo-mechanical studies of glazing systems can pe use of glass in façades, this paper focuses on Finite Element (FE) numerical modelling of monolithic and laminated glass panels exposed to radiant heating, by taking advantage of past experimental investigations. In the study discussed herein, being representative of some major outcomes of a more extended research project, one-dimensional (1D) FE models are used to reproduce the thermal behaviour of selected glass specimens under radiant heating, as observed in the past experiments. Given the high computational efciency but very basic assumptions of 1D assemblies, a critical discussion of experimental-to-numerical comparisons is then proposed for a selection of specimens
Robustness and Resilience of Structures under Extreme Loads
Full text linkMany of modern life activities involve the risk of fire, explosions, and impacts. In addition, natural extreme events are becoming more and more common. Thus, robustness, the ability to avoid disproportionate collapse due to an initial damage, and resilience, the ability to adapt to and recover from the effects of changing external conditions, represent two important characteristics of current structures and infrastructures. Their definitions are reviewed in this paper with the aim of sorting and describing the different approaches proposed in the literature and in the international standards. A simple example is also analysed in order to compare different methods
Special issue on "buildings and structures under extreme loads"
Full text linkExceptional loads on buildings and structures may have different causes, including high-strain dynamic effects due to natural hazards, man-made attacks, and accidents, as well as extreme operational conditions (severe temperature variations, humidity, etc.). All these aspects can be critical for specific structural typologies and/or materials that are particularly sensitive to unfavorable external conditions. In this regard, dedicated and refined methods are required for their design, analysis, and maintenance under the expected lifetime. However, major challenges are usually related to the structural typology and materials object of study, with respect to the key features of the imposed design loads. Further issues can be derived from the need for the mitigation of adverse effects or retrofit of existing structures, as well as from the optimal and safe design of innovative materials/systems. Finally, in some cases, no appropriate design recommendations are currently available in support of practitioners, and thus experimental investigations (both on-site or on laboratory prototypes) can have a key role within the overall structural design and assessment process. This Special Issue presents 19 original research studies and two review papers dealing with the structural performance of buildings and structures under exceptional loads, and can represent a useful answer to the above-mentioned problems
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Special Issue on “Buildings and Structures under Extreme Loads II”
Full text linkExceptional loads on buildings and structures are known to take origin and manifest from different causes, like natural hazards and possible high-strain dynamic effects, human-made attacks and impact issues for load-bearing components, possible accidents, and even unfavorable/extreme operational conditions. All these aspects can be critical for specific structural typologies and/or materials that are particularly sensitive to external conditions. In this regard, dedicated analysis methods and performance indicators are required for the design and maintenance under the expected lifetime. Typical issues and challenges can find huge efforts and clarification in research studies, which are able to address with experiments and/or numerical analyses the expected performance and capacity of a given structural system, with respect to demands. Accordingly, especially for existing structures or strategic buildings, the need for retrofit or mitigation of adverse effects suggests the definition of optimal and safe use of innovative materials, techniques, and procedures. This Special Issue follows the first successful edition [1] and confirms the need of continuous research efforts in support of building design under extreme loads, with 13 original research papers focused on various key aspects of structural performance assessment for buildings and systems under exceptional design actions and operational conditions
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Key structural aspects for adaptive facades - Activity progress from the EU-COST Action TU1403 'Structural' Task Group
Full text linkAdaptive facades are getting more and more widespread in modern buildings. These facade systems, among many others, need to fulfil the requirements of several structural considerations, such as structural safety, serviceability, durability, robustness and fire safety, being typically defined for standard facades and building enclosures in general. The current paper discusses special structural characteristics which need to be taken into account when designing adaptive facades and summarizes some recent efforts of the activities in progress carried out by the ‘Structural’ Task Group (TG2.4) of the European COST Action TU1403 ‘Adaptive Facades Network’
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