Model test and numerical analysis of a special joint for a truss bridge

This paper presents a study on the mechanical behaviours of a special joint between a rigid suspension cable and a truss girder in a rigid suspension stiffened steel truss bridge. Both a model test and a numerical finite element analysis (FEA) have been conducted, and relevant information about the models used, loading procedure and test scheme is presented. The model test shows that the maximum stress in the joint is less than the material allowable stress and the maximal stress induced from the secondary moment accounts for about 30% of the total stress. A three-dimensional finite element model is used in the numerical analysis and the results are in very good agreement with those of the model test. This study shows that the design of the special joint is reasonable and the structure safe. It is also expected that the results presented in this paper would be useful as references for future research and design of rigid suspension stiffened steel truss bridges and joints.     

A new methodology for the design of low energy buildings

The Kyoto protocol binded the developed countries to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions at least by 5% by 2008-2012 in order to tackle global warming and climate change. Some of the measures of the governments to achieve this goal are to promote new buildings construction and to retrofit existing buildings while satisfying low energy criteria. This means improving energy efficiency of buildings and energy systems, developing sustainable building concepts and promoting renewable energy sources.The design of a low energy building requires parametric studies via simulation tools in order to optimize the design of the building envelope and HVAC systems. These studies are often complex and time consuming due to a large number of parameters to consider. Hence, this paper aims to set up a methodology that simplifies parametrical studies during the design process of a low energy building. The methodology is based on the Design of Experiments (DOE) method which is a statistical method widely used in industry to perform parametric studies that reduces the required number of experiments.     

Protecting a whole building from critical indoor contamination with optimal sensor network design and source identification methods

To maintain a healthful and secure indoor environment, it is crucial to design an effective indoor air quality (IAQ) sensor network and interpret sensor outputs for prompt IAQ controls. This paper introduces how a probability concept based inverse modeling method – the adjoint probability method – can be used to assist in designing a high-performance IAQ sensor network and identifying potential contaminant source locations for an entire building based on limited sensor outputs. The study proposes a new IAQ sensor network design and optimization method for buildings with one or more compartments on the basis of the probability calculation. With responses from optimized sensors, a two-stage integrated inverse prediction algorithm is developed that is able to identify a potential IAQ source zone (or room) in a building as well as an exact location within the room. The paper demonstrates the design of sensor networks and the application of the source identification algorithms for a residential dwelling. The case study verifies the feasibility, effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed sensor design method and the two-stage algorithm for indoor contaminant control.     

钢板墙对方钢管柱-H型钢梁边框抗震性能影响的数值模拟

方钢管柱-H型钢梁边框内填钢板剪力墙是一种新型抗震剪力墙.为研究填充钢板墙对钢框架结构的抗震性能和受力性能的影响规律,该文进行了两层单跨方钢管柱-H型钢梁框架结构和内填带竖缝薄钢板框架剪力墙在单调加载和低周反复加载情况下的ANSYS数值模拟分析,研究对比分析了两种框架结构的承载能力、延性、耗能能力、破坏特征以及破坏机理。结果表明,钢板墙使钢框架的承载能力和初始刚度大幅度提高,同时也具有良好的抗震性能和耗能能力。     

软土隧道纵向不均匀沉降的诱因分析

软土中隧道的纵向不均匀沉降是当前中外工程技术人员关心的热点,各种研究提出了引起不均匀沉降的多种原因。限于分析列车激扰对隧道纵向不均匀沉降的问题,用有限元方法对土与隧道系统的平面应变问题,进行了静动力学的数值分析,得到了系统的动力特性,比较了上海在建隧道现场实测的试验结果,比较了地铁列车的激扰频率,得出了动力学激扰引起的振陷是软土隧道沉降不容忽视的诱因。     

Social preferences and economic valuation for water quality and river restoration: the Segura River,Spain

The Water Framework Directive (WFD) aims at improving the ecological status of the water bodies in Europe. In this context, some rivers are currently being restored and, in accordance with this Directive, the restoration actions have to be evaluated from a socio‐economic approach. This work applies the Choice Modelling method to the WFD provisions for river restoration. This method proves to be useful for the economic valuation of the restoration measures, as well as a very important tool for people's public participation. In this sense, the water quality improvement has been defined as a priority action from a social point of view. Moreover, the method used has provided answers to both basic questions included in the WFD: the calculation of the economic value of the Segura River's ecological flow, the decrease of which would pose an environmental cost, and the estimation of the environmental income generated by this river.     

Berechnung einer Kombinierten Pfahl‐Plattengründung am Beispiel des Hochhauses “Skyper” in Frankfurt/Main

Am Bespiel des Hochhauses “Skyper” wurden durch den Unterausschuss “Kombinierte Pfahl‐Platten‐ und Pfahlgruppengründungen” des DIN verschiedene Berechnungsverfahren zur Berechnung einer Kombinierten Pfahl‐Plattengründung angewendet. Die Ergebnisse werden verglichen und diskutiert, wobei sich für den vorliegenden Fall herausstellte, dass sowohl numerische Verfahren als auch vereinfachte Verfahren, die auf der Halbraumtheorie basieren, akzeptable Ergebnisse liefern. Für eine Auswahl der geotechnischen Berechnungsverfahren wurden Federmodelle für die Abbildung der Reaktion der Baugrundoberfläche und der Pfähle abgeleitet und mit Ansatz dieser Federmodelle die Fundamentplatte bemessen. Auf dieser Grundlage gibt der Unterausschuss eine Empfehlung zur Anwendung von Berechnungsverfahren. Calculation of a piled raft foundation as a case study for the high rise building “Skyper” in Frankfurt/Main. Various calculation methods were applied on the piled raft foundation of the high rise building ”Skyper“. The results are compared and discussed. Numerical methods as well as simplified methods based on the elastic half space theory lead in the actual case to reasonable results. With the derived subgrade reaction modulus and pile stiffness the raft reinforcement was computed. A recommendation for the application of numerical and simplified methods is given.     

Modelling of cold-formed steel sandwich purlin-sheeting systems to estimate the rotational restraint

Sandwich panels are attached to cold-formed steel purlins in roofs of industrial buildings to provide insulation. As the strength of the attached purlins is considerably increased due to the lateral and rotational restraints provided by the sandwich panels, estimating these restraints is important in the design of purlins. The rotational restraint is generally determined by experiments, as no design rules exist for sandwich purlin-sheeting systems. In this paper, a non-linear finite element model is presented to estimate the rotational restraint provided by the sandwich panels to the attached purlin. The model is validated with experimental tests and is in good agreement. In order to develop a design method for estimating the rotational restraint in sandwich purlin-sheeting systems, the model could be useful for parametric studies to investigate the influencing factors.     

A new plant-wide modelling methodology for WWTPs

This paper presents a new plant-wide modelling methodology for describing the dynamic behaviour of water and sludge lines in WWTPs. The methodology is based on selecting the set of process transformations needed for each specific WWTP to model all unit-process elements in the entire plant. This "transformation-based" approach, in comparison with the conventional "process-based" approach, does not require the development of specific transformers to interface the resulting unit-process models, facilitates the mass and charge continuity throughout the whole plant and is flexible enough to construct models tailored for each plant under study. As an illustrative example, a plant-wide model for a WWTP that includes carbon removal and anaerobic digestion has been constructed, and the main advantages of the proposed methodology for integrated modelling have been demonstrated. As a final consequence, this paper proposes a rewriting of the existing unit-process models according to the new standard transformation-based approach for integrated modelling purposes.     

An assessment of the impact of floodplain woodland on flood flows

This paper examines the potential role of floodplain woodland in flood alleviation. In theory, the presence of trees and associated woody debris on the floodplain increases the hydraulic roughness, thus slowing down flood flows and enhancing flood storage. One and two‐dimensional models were used to simulate a 2.2 km reach of river in south‐west England to test this theory for a 1 in 100 year flood using appropriate roughness parameters. Both models predicted a reduction in water velocity within the woodland, increasing water level by up to 270 mm and creating a backwater effect that extended nearly 400 m upstream. Flood storage increased by 15 and 71%, while flood peak travel time was increased by 30 and 140 min for the two scenarios simulated. The results suggest that there is considerable scope for using strategically placed floodplain woodland to alleviate downstream flooding. In particular, it offers a means of tackling the increased flood risk associated with climate change.