Obtaining the heat loss coefficient of a dwelling using its heating system(integrated coheating)

This paper presents the methodology,along with some of the initial findings and observations from tests performed on two dwellings,of differing construction and form,in which a coheating test was performed using the dwelling’s central heating system;this method is referred to as integrated coheating.Data obtained during the integrated coheating tests using a dwelling’s heating system have been compared with data obtained during electric coheating of the same dwelling.In one instance,integrated coheating test data from one dwelling was compared to a similar adjoining control dwelling that was simultaneously subject to an electric coheating test.The results show a good agreement between the heat loss coefficients(HLC)obtained using a dwelling’s own heating system and those obtained through electrical coheating.Initial analysis suggests the HLC estimate obtained from integrated coheating is likely to be more representative of how a dwelling performs in-use.The findings question the appropriateness of comparing current steady-state HLC predictions to those derived from in-use monitoring data.Integrated coheating has the potential to provide a more cost-effective and informative indication of whole house heat loss than electric coheating,as it enables in situ quantification of both fabric and heating system performance.     

Preservation and Regeneration of Beijing's Courtyard Houses Based on Typology Methods

Courtyard house is one of the symbols of Beijing’s traditional culture.However,illegal self-constructions,over population and the phenomenon of multiple families crowding in one courtyard house have seriously damaged the traditional courtyard houses and urban texture of Beijing.This article insists that due attention should be paid to the traditional cultures of the original residents and their actual requirements in the preservation and regeneration of the courtyard houses.It proposes a new prototype of multi-family courtyard house which might be a feasible mode for the preservation and regeneration of Beijing’s traditional courtyard houses.In addition,based on the typology methods,the article analyzes the evolution of multi-family courtyard houses through investigating the layout of courtyards,and brings forward an idea for its preservation and regeneration.Finally,taking some specific areas of Hutongs and courtyard houses as examples,it also presents a simulation model to validate the feasibility of this mode.     

Validation of a Value Management Approach Developed for the Saudi Public Sector

A VM （value management） approach was developed that better suits the culture and the context of the SPS （Saudi Public Sector）. This approach provided a comprehensive assessment of VM at institutional, organizational and project levels. This paper illustrates the procedures that were used to validate the developed VM approach. For the institutional and organizational levels, the VM approach was validated by conducting telephone interviews with three experts from three organizations that use VM and with two senior managers from the MOF （Ministry of Finance）. Mainly, it was found that the MOF should be supported by experts to set up a centre of excellence that can set VM policy, guidelines and standards for the promotion of VM in the SPS, in order to ensure achieving value for money spent in SPS projects. The developed VM approach, as it would be applied at the project level, was presented to 11 experts, all of whom completed a validation questionnaire and presented their comments. Subsequently, the questionnaires were analyzed and the VM approach was amended to reflect the inputs provided by these experts. It was concluded that VM should be applied at least twice on SPS projects. Firstly, it is to review and structure strategic and project briefs to sort out soft issues, and secondly, it is to optimize project designs and sort out hard issues.     

《驴与狗》

<正>A washer man had a donkey and a dog. Both the donkey and the dog helped his master in many ways. One night, a few thieves broke in the house of that washer man. The dog heard them and started barking. The washer man got up and so did the neighbors."What is that? A dog. Let us run," said the thieves. They feared it would be dangerous. By that time, many people gathered1in the street. They tried to run away but they were caught by the people.有一个洗衣工养了一头驴和一只狗,这头驴和这只狗对于主人来说都大有用处。一天晚     

Redlining in Residential Mortgages in Johannesburg,South Africa

The aim of the research in the paper was to study redlining practice within the greater Johannesburg area. The aim can be summarised by the following objectives： firstly, to investigate the evidence of redlining in the Greater Johannesburg area and to test its existence; secondly, to investigate the reasons why the areas were redlined; thirdly, to understand what the South Africa government and society did to combat the redlining practice. The research methodology was based on a questionnaire and interviews. A pool of respondents from the Greater Johannesburg suburbs that had interest or were affected by the practice of redlining was sought and interviewed. Analysis of the responses was made and conclusions were drawn from the responses. Secondary data was also sought from publications on the redlining practice to support the primary interviews data. From the interview responses and the secondary data, it was established that redlining existed in Greater Johannesburg and that the areas where redlining was practised could be marked on a map.     

Cornerstone by the Founder——Commending Academician WANG Ju-yuan for His Posthumous Work The History of Ancient Chinese Gardens

Landscape architecture was not a subject at college in China until 1951,though it has a history of 2000 years in this country according to historical documents.The subject was originally titled Gardening,and then gradually being developed into a comprehensive subject of Landscape Planning and Design.Mr.Wang Juyuan was one of the main founders.At that time,he and Mr.Wu Liangyong schemed the subject and submitted a formal proposal.When the application was authorized,the Department of Architecture at Tsinghua University and the Department of Horticulture at Beijing Agriculture University co-operated this subject.The first graduates were selected by BAU and finished the last two-year study at Tsinghua,so their degree was co-conferred by these two universities.Later,freshmen since 1952 studied at BAU,where teachers from Tsinghua taught some courses.In 1956,the Ministry of Education adjusted school subjects,reallocating Gardening subject to Beijing Forestry College and re-titling it Urban and Residential Greening.During that period,Mr.Wang founded the rudiment of this subject and gradually developed it for times' needs.     

Use of ANSYS for Thermal Analysis in Mass Concrete

With the increasing development of Brazil in recent years, major engineering construction works have been designed and built, partieutarly those involving large volumes of mass concrete, such as in the case of dams. Mass concrete, due to its large size and volume, presents a considerable temperature rise caused by cement grain hydration. This temperature rise can be sufficient to cause concrete crack and/or cracking, which may lead to serious problems. In this paper, we sought to study heat generation and temperature field in mass concrete through ANSYS software, which uses finite element method to analyze the problem. This program allows temperatures to be checked for different concrete ages. With that, it is possible to evaluate the temperatures obtained and the factors influencing the results in a short period of time at a low cost. With the help of the software, it is possible to check the temperatures for different concrete properties by analyzing them on different concreting days. Therefore, it was possible to establish that the properties of the concrete directly influence the temperature evolution phenomenon.     

Coupled hydro-mechanical effect of a fractured rock mass under high water pressure

To explore the variation of permeability and deformation behaviors of a fractured rock mass in high water pressure,a high pressure permeability test(HPPT),including measuring sensors of pore water pressure and displacement of the rock mass,was designed according to the hydrogeological condition of Heimifeng pumped storage power station.With the assumption of radial water flow pattern in the rock mass during the HPPT,a theoretical formula was presented to estimate the coefficient of permeability of the rock mass using water pressures in injection and measuring boreholes.The variation in permeability of the rock mass with the injected water pressure was studied according to the suggested formula.By fitting the relationship between the coefficient of permeability and the injected water pressure,a mathematical expression was obtained and used in the numerical simulations.For a better understanding of the relationship between the pore water pressure and the displacement of the rock mass,a 3D numerical method based on a coupled hydro-mechanical theory was employed to simulate the response of the rock mass during the test.By comparison of the calculated and measured data of pore water pressure and displacement,the deformation behaviors of the rock mass were analyzed.It is shown that the variation of displacement in the fractured rock mass is caused by water flow passing through it under high water pressure,and the rock deformation during the test could be calculated by using the coupled hydro-mechanical model.     

Sensitivity Study of Design Parameters of a Railway Route under Vertical Deformations

Studying the interaction of components is basic for a railroad project, which is also very important for creating maintenance procedures based on predictions from a model that assumes adequate performance. To determine these interactions, which can have a great number of combinations, the use of a computational model is of vital importance, in this case, the program FERROVIA 1.0 （RAILROAD 1.0） was used. A critical study developed the program FERROVIA 1.0, and its variables were characterized based on values observed in the literature. After initial characterization was carried out, a comparative study was performed on the sensitivity between these variables and the indications of significant behavior for a railway deformed by the known load of a wheel. A statistical program was used to correlate the elements. The intention was to launch the program FERROVIA 1.0 and later use it for 2,187 combinations. The data used in these correlations corresponded to the normal values for the elements used in railroad engineering practice. Our main goal is to understand the behavior of the track vertical deflection according to the variation of the scaling of the various elements of the railway,     

Unanticipated Bond Failure over Supporting Band Beams in Grouted Post-Tensioned Slab Tendons with Little or No Initial Prestress

After grouting the ducts in a large band beam and one-way slab post-tensioned floor system in a large shopping mall （in excess of 1.5 km2 in plan）, doubts arose concerning the level of initial prestress and the strength and serviceability of the slabs was questioned. To assess the strength of the slabs, it was assumed, as a worst case scenario, that some spans may have been constructed with zero initial prestress. Load tests on prototype specimens, with similar dimensions and reinforcement quantities as the floor slabs, were performed to assess the stress development in initially unstressed, but fully grouted, tendons. Unexpected bond failures occurred at the junctions of slab and band beam where the abrupt change in section depth caused a sudden change in tendon stress. The maximum stress that was developed in the initially unstressed tendons at these locations was about 60% of the strength of the tendons.