Dynamics of the internal reaction layer arising during carbonation of concrete

Carbonation is the reaction of environmental carbon dioxide with alkaline species in concrete. It is one of the major degradation mechanisms affecting the durability of reinforced concrete structures. In this paper, a mathematical model of the carbonation process is formulated and simulated using the finite-element method. Nonlinear reaction rates, Robin boundary conditions and a decrease of the concrete porosity in time are taken into account. A dimensional analysis based on a nondimensionalisation of the entire model is introduced to identify the key parameters and the different characteristic time and length scales of the whole process. Numerical simulations show the occurrence of an internal reaction layer travelling through the material. The speed and the width of the layer are rigorously defined via dimensionless quantities. A parameter study shows that the speed and the width are strongly related to the size of the Thiele modulus which is typically large. The relevance of other parameters is also investigated. The model is validated for accelerated and natural carbonation settings.     

The thermal kinetics of texture change and the analysis of texture variability for raw and roasted hazelnuts

Texture changes of hazelnuts which were dry roasted at temperatures from 120 to 180 °C, for durations ranging from 5 up to 60 min, were studied using instrumental analysis. The textural changes in hazelnuts were represented by the fracture force obtained from compression tests. The magnitudes of the parameters for the corresponding texture change model were determined using one step non‐linear regression. The order of the reaction was found by plotting isothermal curves of texture response against time; statistical analysis of the data showed that it was best represented by a first‐order reaction. The rate constants were assumed to have an Arrhenius‐type dependence on temperature. The activation energy and the frequency (pre‐exponential) factor at a reference temperature (150 °C) were determined to be 39.25 kJ mol^?1 and 0.0421 s^?1, respectively. Young's modulus and the fracture stress for roasted hazelnuts were calculated to be 4.93 and 1.54 MPa, respectively. Both roasting temperature and time had significant effects on the textural changes in hazelnuts, and the variability in the texture decreased during the roasting process. The physical properties of hazelnuts were correlated with the texture response. A possible major factor causing the high variability in texture was the internal cavity present at the core of each hazelnut. The development of a model of the thermal kinetics of texture change over a large roasting temperature and time range should allow optimization studies to be used for determining the best roasting schedule in terms of delivering the required product texture.     

Oxidation limited life times of chromia forming ferritic steels

Long term, cyclic oxidation studies of three high – Cr, ferritic steels were carried out at 800°C and 900°C in air. It was found that with decreasing sample thickness the life time of the mentioned alloys decreases due to breakaway phenomena. This effect is caused by faster exhaustion of the chromium reservoir from the bulk alloy in case of thinner components. The observed life time limits can be predicted with reasonable accuracy by a theoretical model, using oxide growth rate parameters, initial alloy Cr content and critical Cr content required for protective chromia scale formation. In the calculation it has, however, to be taken into account that the oxidation rates of the steels increase with decreasing specimen thickness.     

Assessing landscape preferences: a visual choice experiment in the agricultural region of Märkische Schweiz,Germany

Natural amenities and the aesthetic value of agricultural landscapes are important territorial assets for improving rural tourism and the quality of the living environment. To identify which characteristics shape the visual quality of a landscape, a stated-preference survey was conducted (N = 200) using photorealistic landscape visualisations of four different landscape attributes (point green elements, linear green elements, crop diversity and presence of livestock). We estimated respondents’ preferences for landscape attributes, examined the extent of agreement among respondents and identified socio-economic factors influencing their responses. Results revealed that point elements had the highest general preference. About 70% of respondents preferred diverse and highly structured landscapes, while about 30% of respondents had opposing preferences. Preferences were also found to be dependent on the individual’s sociocultural background, such as their level of education, gender or age. These results can help to improve the multi-objective targeting of policies by including an aesthetic value perspective.     

辐射热流下有限厚度PMMA着火特性研究

探究透明PMMA（聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯）厚度和4种不同恒定热流对材料表面温度、质量损失率、着火时间及着火温度的影响。利用反演模型并结合部分实验数据得到PMMA的热物性参数,将其他工况模拟结果与实验测量值及理论分析值相互对比,验证了数值模型和理论分析的准确性和可靠性。结果表明,PMMA着火时间的下降趋势随热流的增大而逐渐变缓。PMMA厚度小于3 mm时,表面温度和质量损失率随厚度增大而减小。PMMA厚度大于3 mm时,着火温度的平均值为（628±20） K,其着火特性几乎不随厚度的变化而变化,故着火温度可作为PMMA着火判据。     

Testing and modelling total suction effects on compressibility and creep of crushable granular material

Recent works have shown that delayed events of particle crushing are partially responsible of creep deformation in granular materials, and that Stress Corrosion Cracking promoted by high humidity within particles is the source of this mechanism. A number of experimental studies have focused on creep behaviour of water saturated samples and wetting-deformation after soaking dry material. However, there are few evidences of the effect of varying total suction in time-dependent deformation of partially saturated crushable material, and this mechanism have been rarely considered in constitutive models. The aims of this paper are to present experimental evidence of the effect of total suction on compressibility and creep of sandy sized samples from crushed rock, and to propose a simple one-dimensional elasto-plastic modelling approach based on the enhancement of an existing model. Oedometric compression tests at different total suctions are presented. The results show that compressibility and creep strains increase with both stress and humidity. The model proposed uses a time-dependent hardening law coupling suction with the amount of particle breakage. Based on preliminary calibrations, the model captures the effect of suction and time-dependent behaviour over a large range of total suction.     

Assessment of daylight in rooms with different architectural features

Results are presented from a parametric study that assessed the amount of daylight in rooms with different architectural features: the orientation, window size and visible glazing transmittance, room depth, external obstruction angle and site. Annual lighting simulations were run in order to understand how the daylight availability within a space changes as a function of the architectural features. A sub-dataset of the full result database is examined in detail for north- and south-facing rooms in Turin, north-west Italy, with a visible glazing transmittance of 70%. Each feature is analysed for its influence on the daylighting conditions. A simple graphical tool is presented to promote an easier reading of the results. This was developed to provide a synthesis of information to the design team. It shows the influence of preliminary design solutions on the amount of indoor daylight. This allows a design team to assess indoor daylighting from the earliest design phases onwards and to determine which combinations of architectural features are able to provide high, acceptable or low daylight levels within a room.     

Bridge condition modelling and prediction using dynamic Bayesian belief networks

The development of a condition-based deterioration modelling methodology at bridge group level using Bayesian belief network (BBN) is presented in this paper. BBN is an efficient tool to handle complex interdependencies within elements of engineering systems, by means of conditional probabilities specified on a fixed model structure. The advantages and limitations of the BBN for such applications are reviewed by analysing a sample group of masonry bridges on the UK railway infrastructure network. The proposed methodology is then extended to develop a time dependent deterioration model using a dynamic Bayesian network. The condition of elements within the selected sample of bridges and a set of conditional probabilities for static and time dependent variables, based on inspection experience, are used as input to the models to yield, in probabilistic terms, overall condition-based deterioration profiles for bridge groups. Sensitivity towards various input parameters, as well as underlying assumptions, on the point-in-time performance and the deterioration profile of the group are investigated. Together with results from ‘what if’ scenarios, the potential of the developed methodology is demonstrated in relation to the specification of structural health monitoring requirements and the prioritisation of maintenance intervention activities.     

Modelling and traceability for computationally-intensive precision engineering and metrology

In contrast to measurements of the dimensions of machined parts realized by machine tools and characterized by CMMs, software results are not fully traceable and certified. Indeed, a computer is not a perfect machine and binary encoding of real numbers leads to rounding of successive intermediate calculations that may lead to globally false results. This is the case for poor implementations and poorly conditioned algorithms. Therefore, accurate geometric modelling and implementations will be detailed. Based on the works of National Metrology Institutes, the problem of software traceability will also be discussed. Some prospects for this complex task will finally be suggested.