Adding new floors to old timber-framed buildings: An assessment of demolished and preserved courtyard houses in the historic centre of Madrid

The constructive analysis of Madrid's old timber-framed collective courtyard buildings, whether demolished, preserved intact, or enlarged, has achieved the dating of relevant case studies. New parameters established in this study set a chronology based on front sector original projects: old (1737–1788), pre-modern (1788–1847) and modern (1847–1892). The on-site inspection and archival research point to ongoing misleading construction in the historic Southern area. Some modern corralas erected on top of pre-existing buildings confirm the initial hypothesis. First dimensioning rules for new façades and the stability required in old ones before adding new storeys, maintaining the original masonry or double-layered system, are discovered. Undated buildings suggest their possible origin a la malicia and a later transformation into transitional corralas. Finally, an analysis of the demolished courtyards narrows down the dating and points to new conjectures in some preserved by showing their uneven layout, old features, and structural discordances in each sector.     

A PV installation framework concerning electricity variable rates

This paper assesses building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) installation parameters based on the profit generated by a photovoltaic system. It takes into consideration a home building case study and it investigates its monthly energy demand based on a specific location and a typical occupancy. The capability of a photovoltaic (PV) system to generate more profit occurs when solar intensity is maximum while the electric energy price is at its highest rate. The paper traces a framework that encompasses different aspects such as energy demand, energy price, and solar intensity. This framework identifies profit alternatives according to different installation parameters. A tool that predicts a PV installation hourly electric energy production is developed. The profit generated is simulated for home buildings located in Beirut (Lebanon) and Xihua (China), both at 33.8° latitude north. The paper highlights a new approach for BIPV installations, taking into account weather conditions, energy demand, and electric energy utility rates.     

环境中氚和碳-14

本文介绍了加拿大恰克河实验室有关氚和碳－14在环境中行为和评价的研究。     

Indicators for inspection and maintenance planning of concrete structures

Based on an idea introduced by Benjamin and Cornell (1970. Probability, statistics and decision for civil engineers. New York: McGaw Hill) and previous works by the authors it is demonstrated how condition indicators may be formulated for the general purpose of quality control and for assessment and inspection planning in particular. The formulation facilitates quality control based on sampling of indirect information about the condition of the considered components. This allows for a Bayesian formulation of the indicators whereby the experience and expertise of the inspection personnel may be fully utilized and consistently updated as frequentistic information is collected. The approach is illustrated on an example considering a concrete structure subject to corrosion. It is shown how half-cell potential measurements may be utilized to update the probability of excessive repair after 50 years. Furthermore in the same example it is shown how the concept of condition indicators might be applied to develop a cost optimal maintenance strategy composed of preventive and corrective repair measures.     

Assessment of Highway Bridge Upgrading by Dynamic Testing and Finite-Element Model Updating

The Land Transport Authority of Singapore has a continuing program of highway bridge upgrading for refurbishing and strengthening bridges to allow for increasing vehicle traffic and increasing axle loads. One subject of this program has been a short-span bridge taking a busy main road across a coastal inlet near a major port facility. Experiment-based structural assessments of the bridge were conducted before and after upgrading works including strengthening. Each assessment exercise comprised three separate components: (1) a strain and acceleration monitoring exercise lasting approximately one month; (2) a full-scale dynamic test carried out in a single day without closing the bridge; and (3) a finite-element model updating exercise to identify structural parameters and mechanisms. This paper presents the dynamic testing and the modal analysis used to identify the vibration properties and the quantification of the effectiveness of the upgrading through the subsequent model updating. Before and after upgrade, similar sets of vibration modes were identified, resembling those of an orthotropic plate with relatively weak transverse bending stiffness. Conversion of bearings from nominal simple supports to nominal full fixity was shown via model updating to be the principal cause of natural frequency increases of up to 50%. The utility of the combined experimental and analytical process in direct identification of structural properties has been proven, and the procedure can be applied to other structures and their capacity assessments.     

秦山核电厂气载放射性释放的环境影响

本文评价了秦山核电厂气载放射性流出物对环境的影响。应用现场及风洞大气扩释实验结果和厂址周围的人口与食谱调查资料,估算了秦山核电厂在正常运行和事故条件下释放的气载放射性流出物对公众产生的个人有效剂量当量和集体有效剂量当量。计算结果表明,正常运行时厂址边界(0.5km)处的最大个人有效剂量当量为2.7×10~(-2)mSv/a,该剂量的大部分来自~(137)Cs 的食入(主要由地表湿沉积引起);80km 范围内的集体有效剂量当量为1.1人·Sv/a,归一化集体有效剂量当量为3.7人·Sv/GW(e)·a。文中还给出了事故情况下剂量估算结果。     

Handwriting versus wordprocessed print: an investigation into teachers' grading of English Language and Literature essay work at 16 +

Abstract Selections of English Language and Literature CSE (now GCSE) course work essays are graded by a total of 411 teachers in two forms: handwritten and wordprocessed. Mistakes in the original handwritten versions are not edited out. It is found that the wordprocessed English Language essays are, on average, marked up a grade. However, it is found that relatively high quality English Literature work is not affected. Results suggest:
— that the less directly pupil work is specifically related to an external referent (such as a work of literature), the more likely it is that computer-assisted methods of presentation will significantly enhance its apparent quality relative to handwritten work.
— that relatively lower quality work will tend to be enhanced more than relatively higher quality work.
The implications of the results for examination boards are also considered.     

Novel Fiberoptic Sensing Array an Fundamental Experiments

A suitable fiberoptic sensing array embedded in the smart structure to monitor quasi-distrbuted froces on the structrue in presented in this paper.Artificial neural networks are used in processing of fiberoptic sensing array signals.Fundamental experiments have been done and the results are also given.     

一种公安队伍绩效考核系统的“问责制”方案设计

问责制有利于提高领导干部的工作效率与水平,提出一种用于公安系统的＂问责制＂方案,实现对部门领导实现问责绩效考核。此＂问责制＂方案可以广泛应用于公安系统、政府及企事业单位的部门绩效考核。     

实时系统安全评估机制及其仿真研究

研究了嵌入式实时系统弹性应对策略中的安全评估机制。工业控制系统中存在嵌入系统,现有嵌入式系统无法动态掌握系统运行时的安全状况并无法做出响应的问题。为了保证嵌入系统安全运行,提出了实时系统的弹性应对策略以改善系统的安全性,设计并实现了模式匹配的嵌入式实时系统安全等级评估模块,可以实现动态实时的系统安全状况评价,并为系统动态配置安全策略提供了决策支持。采用RT-Linux建立了仿真评估环境,对安全等级评估系统的性能进行了仿真测试。测试结果表明安全等级评估模块的系统开销很小,能够有效的保障嵌入式实时系统的安全运行,具有广泛的应用价值和前景。