bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
From stone masonry to emigrant’s mansions. Changes in vernacular architecture in central Portugal
Authors: Marcal Goncalves Marta , Teresa Perez Cano Maria , Rosendahl Stefan
Published: September 2019

The research made for this purpose was realized to study the connection between the way of life, the climate, the geology and the vernacular architecture in the parish of Cernache do Bonjardim, municipality of Sertã, central region of Portugal, where various styles of rural houses can be found. The traditional rural home of this territory is constituted by stone walls, mostly made of shales or granite and has two floors: a lower floor with a place for animals or food storage, and an upper floor with the kitchen/living-room and bedrooms. Usually, both floors are joined by outside stairs. Each available space, for instance under these stairs, is used to keep animals like swine or hens, goats or rabbits, and to store food. Usually there is a piece of ground around the house used for the plantation of vegetables and fruit trees. This kind of home is adapted to the people’s way of living and the climate, using local materials like stone or wood. In the 19th century there was an emigration wave to Brazil. When the people returned they wanted to show their acquired richness and (sometimes) culture to the neighbours in the village and constructed large houses of mansion-type, which didn’t show the strong adaption to the environment anymore, but had other functionalities and a better comfort. As the transportation means improved, the building material was no more limited to the local offer. The emigration from the sixties of the 20th century until today brought new kinds of buildings. Their style was influenced from the country of emigration. There is no more relation to the local style of building. For the construction, modern materials like concrete, tile walls and roof tiles are used. The major conclusions of the research are that the vernacular architecture of the studied region has changed from houses adapted to the climate and the rural way of life, to larger and no more “typical” buildings. The main reasons for this change are the return of emigrants from abroad and its influence, the availability of new materials, the better education and income of the people, the wish to life more comfortably, and the change of the people´s way of life from farming to employment.
Properties of gypsum composites with shavings
Authors: Regulska Katarzyna , Repelewicz Aleksandra
Published: September 2019

Gypsum composites have been gaining increasing interest within last decades. Nowadays, the environment-supporting options are regaining more advocates. Among other solutions, organic fillers are of interest. The physical and mechanical properties of gypsum composites with shavings were tested and are described in the paper. The influence of gypsum mixture composition, the water/gypsum ratio and appropriate mineralization on the composite properties were examined. Present study focuses on the durability, thermal properties, natural radioactivity and susceptibility to biological corrosion of gypsum composites with shavings.
Nonlinear Behavior of Reinforced Concrete Circular Tunnel under Seismic Motions in Clayey Soil
Authors: Hamad Ashraf , Zidan Ahmed , Adel Akl
Published: September 2019

In this paper, nonlinear response of reinforced concrete circular tunnels subjected to seismic loads in clayey soil is presented. A series of two dimensional finite element models were adopted to investigate the dynamic behavior of tunnel soil system. The influence of several parameters including ground motion intensity, soil type, tunnel depth and tunnel diameter on the tunnel response was computed. Firstly, 1D equivalent-linear viscoelastic analysis was conducted in the frequency domain to evaluate the profile of Rayleigh damping coefficients. Hence, these profiles were used in order to simulate the 2D fully coupled finite element adopting visco-elasto-plastic effective stress models for the soil. The dynamic behaviour of tunnel was presented in terms of internal forces induced in tunnel lining. The analyses indicated that in case of the stiff clay, the results of closed form solution were close enough to the 2D analysis and the earthquake effects are considerable when the tunnel is close to the bed rock. In case of medium clay deposits, the effects vary according to the tunnel dimensions. Furthermore, Soft clay soil yielded when it exposed to earthquakes of greater than 0.5g magnitude. Earthquakes of 0.25g magnitude have a slight effect on the circular tunnels located at any depth in clayey deposit, but if another time domain are used with the same beak ground acceleration value, different effects might appear.
Geoenvironmental Study of Groundwater in the Fundão Area - Portugal
Authors: Carvalho Paulo , Pais Luis , Ferreira Gomes Luis , Fernandes Joao
Published: September 2019

The area of implementation of the Cova da Beira’s irrigation system, due to its geographical situation and its sustainable socio-economic development requires the execution of geo-environmental studies, focusing on the behaviour of a set of variables with important ecological significance. This study is aimed to characterize the distribution patterns of variables in groundwater samples and their characterization in terms of chemical quality. Hence, an exploratory data analysis was performed in order to characterize the overall sample, followed by a stage in which a multivariate analysis was carried out through a dimensionality reduction technique (analysis of main components). The study of the dynamics of natural processes, anthropic and its influence on the dispersion, fixation and (re)mobilization of chemical elements, has contributed decisively to the optimization of the diagnostic strategy and the environmental management as well.
Legal Conditions and Theoretical Basis for the Arrangement of Water-Based Areas in Polish Cities
Authors: Lysien Mariusz
Published: September 2019

A series of diversified factors affect the arrangement of water-based areas in Poland. One of the most important elements are planning documents, such as the Act on Planning and Spatial Development, Water Law, or the Environmental Protection Law. These and other documents regulate the mutual relations between natural and cultural conditions as well as urbanized areas. At the same time, they affect the ability to conduct new investments in water areas – including those requiring the revitalization of post-industrial areas. The intense development in the last thirty years has meant that currently industrial facilities are in the city centre area. Authorities of many cities are trying to solve this problem, but it requires the application of not only interdisciplinary solutions, but also the establishment of large economic resources, without which it is impossible to restore the use of these areas. The adequate protection of the city against the effects of floods is an important issue related to the development of the water areas in the city. In this respect, there is a tendency to use expensive and ineffective methods of securing investment zones. The possibilities of water retention in flood control reservoirs are nearly five times smaller in Poland than in most other European countries. The scarce examples of polders show that this is one of the most effective methods of preventing damage caused by floods in urban areas. Such reservoirs are simultaneously valuable natural areas. In many intensively developing cities around the world, the generally accepted action is to strive to use the quays to create the signatures of cities. These places are designed to become an interesting space that people want to visit and which they want to use. Important city functions are located there, which are easily accessible due to public transport. However, it should be noted that in these spaces, their users have close contact with water. The current legal status and general public awareness (sometimes also of the city authorities) make it seem necessary to pay more attention to the comprehensive approach to the revitalization of vast water-based areas. It is important to integrate neighbouring functions and the way and quality of the arrangement of the whole area, and not just its fragment. The changes taking place in legal documents make the administrative path related to the transformation of water-based areas excessively complicated. However, it would be beneficial to specify the provisions of local spatial development plans and the general increase in coverage of plans of urban areas. The use of foreign standards seems to be valuable, where the revitalization of even vast areas is carried out in accordance with the precise assumptions. Such activities allow for creating interdisciplinary solutions, integrating numerous elements, which often leads to obtaining the synergy.
Revitalization of buildings and urban areas on the example of Gdańsk, Venice, Milano and Zabrze
Authors: Fross Klaudiusz , Guminska Anna
Published: September 2019

Revitalizations are becoming a common activity giving new life to the abandoned buildings, districts, degraded areas, etc. The necessity of such actions results, among others, from the changing needs of users of these spaces, climate change and new technologies used. These activities are a strategic element of urban policy. They also fit into the context of sustainable development, causing a change in the value, reception and perception of degraded spaces and objects. New functions give a new quality, but also affect the neighbourhood, improve the quality of the immediate environment. They also enable the elimination of spatial conflicts, as well as the introduction of ecosystem services that reinforce the multi-range potential of these areas and facilities. During the study trips, the authors analyse in detail interesting examples of successful revitalization. The revitalizations are discussed: the factory building in Venice on the Giudecca Island (Italy), the entire quarter in the old town of Gdansk (Poland), the mine shaft in the post-industrial (mining) city of Zabrze (Poland) and housing estates with office buildings of Milano (Italy). The aim of the research was to analyse the effects of revitalization activities in these European cities. Relationships and correlations in these activities were analysed. The research also concerned the applied principles that may have an impact on the effectiveness of revitalization and its positive implementation. The quality of revitalized space and its impact on the surroundings was also analysed. Particular attention was paid to the importance of qualitative research at the revitalization programming stage. The analyses concerned various sizes and scope of the revitalization activities, i.e. from the object to the building quarter. The research results indicate the existence of universal principles of successful revitalization, which are applicable at different scales of revitalization. At the same time, the applications indicate 12 golden rules for a successful revitalization. The importance of qualitative research at the revitalization programming stage is underlined. These studies constitute the success of revitalization. Qualitative research conducted at the stage of programming activities may ensure the coherence of activities in various scales of urban space (from the object to the city’s quarters) and prevent the transmission of conflicts and problems to other urban areas.
Investigating the Effect of Urban Compactness on Energy Efficiency in Recent Urban Communities in UAE
Authors: Galal Ahmed Khaled , Hossein Alipour S. M.
Published: September 2019

Studying the effect of urban compactness on energy consumption has been the locus of research for many Western researchers since the mid 1990s. In the last few years, the UAE federal and local governments have adopted agendas for energy efficiency in all sectors of development, especially in the building and urban development sectors. As a result, a shift from the conventional sprawl urban form to a more compact urban morphology has been attempted in some recently developed neighbourhoods in the UAE but with no scientific evidence about the effect of these new and more compact urban morphologies on energy efficiency in general, and the high cooling energy demand in specific. In a humble attempt to bridge this gap, this research adopted a comparative method for investigating the effect of urban morphology on energy efficiency through comparing the effect of the conventional sprawl vs. the effect of the recent more compact urban forms on operational and cooling energy demands. The main utilized tool in this comparative investigation was the UMI (Urban Modelling Interface) simulation conducted for Al Dhaher conventionally designed neighbourhood in Al Ain city, representing the conventional sprawl urban form, and Al Ghreiba, a recently developed more compact urban community in Al Ain city as well. The results revealed that the average operational and cooling Energy Use Intensities for Al Ghreiba were higher than those recorded Al Dhaher while the opposite was expected. To justify the results, the effects of increased building density, open space/street grid pattern, and building mass configurations on urban energy consumption, have been studied. It has been evident that simply compacting the urban form to some degree seems not only insufficient in saving operational and cooling energy, but it might also result in higher energy consumption if other influential measures are not appropriately considered.
From Socialist Realism to Modernism: Józef Zbigniew Polak - a Forgotten Champion on Poland’s Architectural Post-War Map
Authors: Mazur Rafal
Published: September 2019

The article concerns work by architect Józef Zbigniew Polak, who was the first Pole to win an international architectural competition in the Polish post-war era. As a lecturer, and graduate of the Faculty of Architecture at the Warsaw University of Technology, he continued the design school of Prof. Bohdan Pniewski. Polak’s architectural creativity can be divided into several phases, which are in turn closely connected to various developmental periods of architecture in post-war Poland. His designs and architectural realizations are often overlooked by researchers, which is among others the result of his later long-term activity in other countries.
The Influence of “Third Places” on The Quality of the Public Domain
Authors: Dudek Joanna
Published: September 2019

The attractiveness of public spaces depends on many factors. Both physical components, functional and spatial solutions as well as the number and variety of activities of people using them are significant. However, one of the most important roles of public spaces is to enable user integration and interaction — the existence of the so-called sphere of the “public domain” by facilitating establishing relationships between people. These relationships can be varied and determined among others by the length and type of contact between people, but also by the distance between the users. The greater the possibility of a deeper relationship, the more the quality of the “public domain” increases. Certain places with specific features give such an opportunity. They are so-called “third places”. They are informal public gathering places where people can interact and socialize. Care for the high level of the “public domain” and the broadly understood attractiveness of public spaces is important because it allows to increase the inhabitants’ quality of life. This fact, in turn, may also have a direct impact on the growth of the value of a given space both in the social, economic as well as cultural and political context. This article is intended to bring closer the types of interpersonal contacts occurring in the public space as well as different ways of their qualification. Above all, the basic aim of the work is to familiarize readers with the idea of “third places” and to present the possibilities of increasing the quality of the “public domain” both inside the buildings and between them.
Accumulated Damage-based Experimental Study on Seismic Performance of HRBF500 Rebar Reinforced RC Bridge Columns
Authors: Fu Qian , Wang Xuerong , Liang Shuting
Published: September 2019

The evolution of the damage and seismic behaviour of the reinforcement concrete (RC) bridge columns reinforced with HRBF500 rebar was investigated in this paper. Nine bridge column specimens with various strengths of longitudinal reinforcement, reinforcement ratios, axial compression ratios and stirrup ratios were tested under horizontal cyclic loading. The influences of the designed parameters of the mechanical properties such as failure mode, loading-displacement curve, skeleton curve, strength and stiffness degradation and energy dissipation were analysed in the view of damage. There are four conclusions brought by the tested results. The damage process of specimens could be divided into turn-crack development stage, damage accumulation stage and failure stage. The damage will accumulate gradually and the strength and stiffness will also be degenerated, resulting in lower ductility and energy dissipation capacity of the specimens, as the displacement amplitude increases. The failure modes are similar, with plastic hinges occurrence varying from 30 to 260 mm above the concrete bases, accompanied by the steel buckling, fractured and the concrete local crushing. The good ductility and energy dissipation capacity of the HRBF500 reinforced concrete bridge columns are illustrated by the relatively plumper shuttle-shaped hysteresis curves obtained. The damage development was faster and energy was comparably larger of the specimens under the variation of displacement amplitude cycle loading, comparing with the constant displacement amplitude cycle loading. The bearing capacity of the specimens will be certain influenced by the increased reinforcement ratios and the larger energy dissipation capacity, with more longitudinal bars. The axial compression ratio also has an important influence on the damage development of the specimens. There are not considerable increments of bearing capacity, with the increment of reinforcement ratio, however, the ductility and energy dissipation ability will be improved obviously. The laws of damage development analysed by the experimental results were shown in this paper. The seismic damage assessment and seismic damage model of this kind of structural members were established by the experimental results above.
Research on Mechanical Behaviour of High-rise Diagonal Grid Tube Structure and Case study
Authors: Fu Qian , Wang Xuerong , Dai Tao
Published: September 2019

In order to obtain the mechanical characteristics of high-rise diagonal grid tube structure under horizontal and/or vertical loads, three types of structure model, which were diagonal grid tube structure, diagonal grid–frame tube and framed tube structure, were established by the finite element software Etabs. The laws of internal force distribution, interstory displacement, base shear and shear hysteresis effect, were analysed deeply. The results from three-model showed that compared with the framed tube structure, the diagonal grid tube structure had the larger stiffness and the shorter period. Under the horizontal seismic load, the total shear force of the diagonal grid tube structure improved 20% by that of the conventional framed tube structure, with the interlayer shear force and the interlayer displacement angle distribution keeping basically the same. The inclining column to the diagonal grid structure could enhance the lateral stiffness in its plane effectively, but hardly improve the lateral stiffness out of its plane. Then, the performance under the vertical load was also discussed. Under the action of the vertical load, the shear hysteresis effect appeared, especially for the flange inclined column. Subsequently, the feasibility of the diagonal grid tube in the engineering projects was evaluated. The finite element software ABAQUS was used to analyse the dynamic elastoplastic time history performance of a one-way oblique grid system high-rise building under rare earthquakes. The results showed that the maximum interlayer displacement of the structure was less than the limit of Chinese codes and standards, and the structure could achieve the goal of anti-seismic fortification without collapse under strong earthquakes. There was a conclusion that the diagonal grid tube could be applied as a part of the overall structure for high-rise or super-tall buildings in the zones with seismic design intensity of 7 degree.
Possibilities for Creating Public Spaces in a Small Town: Case Study
Authors: Sikora Anna
Published: September 2019

Public spaces exist in each space which has been built. In the case of small European towns, they are usually strictly defined: and include market square, side squares and streets, which are often clearly connected with each other with regard to functions and composition. There are also municipal units, which have been created as a result of the development and expansion of residential developments located near important industrial plants (e.g. within the Central Industrial Region). These units were built in accordance with the modernist principle of a functional town in its original form and did not have traditionally defined public spaces. The article presents the history and possibilities of creating such spaces in a small industrial town based on an example of Nowa Dęba.
Test evaluating the effectiveness of hydrofugation in the protection of handmade brick walls against rainwater
Authors: Soledad Camino-Olea María , Llorente-Alvarez Álfredo , Cabeza-Prieto Alejandro , María Olivar-Parra Jose
Published: September 2019

The soaking of rainwater into brick walls of cultural heritage can be the source of various injuries due to the processes of migration and crystallization of salts, the formation of ice inside them in rainy and cold areas, as well as the growth of organisms in humid areas. The ancient handmade bricks and the mortar used in the construction of these walls are porous materials in which water penetrates easily and is therefore very exposed to these deterioration processes. One of the most usual solution to avoid it is to apply a surface treatment by water-repellent products to prevent the entry of rainwater. The handmade bricks are orthohedrons with more or less flat faces, which do not present grooves, recesses or perforations like mechanical bricks, meaning that at the interface between brick and mortar there may be discontinuities that facilitate the entry of rainwater. The values of water absorption and brick and mortar are high, which also favours the entry of direct rainwater through the materials. The hydrophobic facade treatments are usually applied by projection on the surface of the facade and the discontinuities that the surface of the facade presents could have the result that the application of the water repellent would not be effective. For this reason, a test procedure was designed and executed on four walls built in a garden. Above them, water was projected imitating rain. The data was captured by infrared thermography and humidity probes, in order to analyse the efficiency and hydrophobicity and to study if the test method was valid.
Evaluation of the Work of a Single-Span Beam in the Cracked Section - Calculation Example
Authors: Ordon-Beska Beata , Major Maciej
Published: September 2019

In Poland, in the last 20 years there have been large and often far-reaching changes in designing of construction works, including changes in normative regulations. Polish standards were gradually adapted to European eurocodes obligatory in European Union Member States, to be eventually replaced by publication of an identical text or by endorsement. Currently valid in Poland for the design of reinforced concrete structures Eurocode 2, part 1-1 was approved by the Polish Committee for Standardization in 2008 and eventually replaced the conflicting national standards in 2010. According to the information contained in the general provisions, it is intended to prove compliance of buildings and engineering structures with the requirements of Council Directive 89/106/EEC concerning, among other things, resistance and stability, applicable to new, designed structures. Part 1-1 EC2 concerns the design of reinforced concrete structures with the exception of plain surface bars previously used quite commonly in structural elements working under average values of loads: floor slabs or secondary beams for example. On the other hand, in point 7.3.4 of the mentioned code, containing the rules of calculations of crack width, there is a coefficient k1 taking account of the bond properties of the bonded reinforcement, permitting both ribbed and with an effectively plain surface bars. Therefore, in the presented article it was made an attempt to analytically assess the crack phenomenon of the beam with plain surface reinforcement and compare this with the results of experimental research. The calculations were made for a single-span beam with one-side tensile reinforcement only, loaded with two concentrated forces of equal values, placed symmetrically in relation to the half of the span. The presented assessment includes of the cracking moment, calculations of the spacing of cracks and the width of cracks at various load levels. The obtained results were compared with the results of experimental investigations of two beams made of the same concrete and the same rebars.
The Issue of Evolution of Opinions on Gothic Revival Adaptations of the St Martin’s Cathedral in Bratislava
Authors: Pohanicova Jana , Baxa Patrik
Published: September 2019

The St Martin’s Cathedral, one of the most significant medieval monuments in Bratislava, is the reflection of the intricate historical development of architecture and art. It reflects not only artistic styles characteristic for given period but poses an important testimony of history of local as well as regional architectural scene. From the point of view of broader European context and history of monument preservation in historic Hungary, it is important to mention the era of romantic Historicism and Gothic revival, which granted the opportunity to form opinions on and methodological approaches to monument restoration. Among the most pronounced interventions in the St Martin’s Cathedral in Bratislava were its Gothic revival adaptations in the 19th century. The contribution analyses the evolution of opinions on these interventions in the stylistic integrity of the cathedral, which strived to restore its original Gothic appearance. Nevertheless, even then, the Gothic revival restoration did not have a single methodology and already, during the purism approach to the interiors of the cathedral some of the former methodological decisions from the foregone period were re-evaluated. At the beginning of the 20th century, there were efforts to restore the spire to its former Gothic appearance, before the Gothic revival restoration. These never realised tendencies of Historicism were soon replaced by, likewise never actualized, thoughts of restitution of annihilated Baroque furnishings, above all the high altar by G. R. Donner’s workshop. In the second half of the 20th century, the great restoration of the cathedral, including removal of the most of the Gothic revival interventions, was done, aspiring to restore the cathedral to its authentic Gothic appearance. This approach disrupted the consistent style of the church and destroyed irretrievably the better part of one coherent cultural layer. The restoration continued in the 21st century, when all the developmental stages were considered of equal importance. The contribution, using the case study of the St Martin’s Cathedral in Bratislava, analyses the evolution of opinions on Gothic revival cultural layer on the medieval religious structure since mid-19th century. At the same time, it introduces personalities involved in the restoration and illustrates further European context. Given time frame belongs to those least explored periods of one of the most significant monuments of Bratislava in terms of the building history of the cathedral and its creators (architects, master builders, building companies, builders and artists).
The quality of indoor environment of intelligent building – global phenomena of sustainable architecture
Authors: Puskar Branislav , Vrablova Edita , Koclik Dusan
Published: September 2019

The issue of intelligent buildings can be perceived in the context of creating an architectonic concept that accepts the requirement of sustainable development. The architect defines a development scenario for building intelligent buildings and a methodology for its implementation, in order to support the user of the intelligent building and to fully accept his requirements for intelligent buildings. The term “intelligent building” represents a well-designed, implemented and functional building that meets the requirements of operators and users and, above all, is able to satisfy the users and residents of the building. The intelligent building is built with state-of-the-art technologies and is equipped with progressive devices and systems. Despite the intelligent building concept’s focus on technology, a sustainable architectonic concept would play an important role in its creation. In the interests of architecture, the intelligent building is not just an exact reflection of the user’s needs. The architectonic concept provides the intelligent building with both sustainability and a high social and aesthetic value.
Novel Architectural Strategies to Support an nZEB Mediterranean School
Authors: Crespo Sanchez Eva , Ramon Dacosta Diaz Juan , Kampouropoulos Konstantinos
Published: September 2019

The Educational Department of Catalan Government has designed a new public school located at the center of Catalonia, in the town of Solsona. For this new construction model, they have set a main goal to minimize the energy demands, which are a key factor in reducing carbon dioxide emissions over the whole life of the building. Specifically, the objective is to increase the envelope performance, permitting to reduce, as much as possible, the implementation and use of active heating and cooling systems. The most representative strategy to do so is the use of brick curtain wall, designed in analogy with glass curtain walls as a facade. It allows the use of thermal mass to cool the building passively during the night in summer time and it helps to ensure airtightness in the envelope to minimize air leaks. This facade is complemented with an architectonical element that produces electricity based on photovoltaic panels. Based on the energy simulation results and waiting for the actual building’s construction, some relevant conclusions can be made. The role of the architecture has been crucial to ensure an optimal result, especially contributing on the reduction of the overheating hours, resulting to the minimization of the cooling energy demand. The building does not require any installation of mechanical cooling systems, even being located in the Mediterranean climate. In south orientations, the use of doubled glazing seems to be efficient enough to achieve a low energy demand, while it optimizes at the same time the total economic construction cost. Photovoltaic production in schools must be combined with some other actions. The energy exportation to the grid, as well as the use of the energy for the electric vehicle charging, are feasible options for the future.
Measurement-Interpretation Methodology for the Evaluation of Human Perception of the Vibration in Buildings
Authors: Kowalska-Koczwara Alicja
Published: September 2019

The article contains guidelines related to the proper performance and analysis of the measurements of human perception of the vibration in buildings. The recommendations apply to both hardware requirements and the selection of measurement points as well as the analysis of the recorded signal. The buildings located in the so-called dynamic impact zone are the subjects of the analysis of the influence of vibrations on people in the buildings. In this article, the range of dynamic impact zones from different dynamic excitation is listed. An extremely important aspect of the measurements of the human perception of the vibrations in buildings is the selection of the location of measurement points. In different national standards, there are different guidelines which are compared in the article. The most proper locations are investigated. A separate issue is the selection of the measuring range and the selection of corrective filters for the analysis. New trends in this matter are shown and requirements according to the different standards are compared. A separate problem is determining the duration time of vibrations, which should be taken into analysis. It is worth noticing that the choice of duration can have a significant influence on all the results of the analysis of human perception of the vibration in buildings and many standards do not give any recommendations in this subject. The last problem of the methodology of measurements of human perception of the vibrations associated with the analysis of the measurement data is the sampling frequency of the recorded signal. The so-called N-qyst frequency has been shown in the paper and explained in a specific example…
Costs Analysis of the Floors that Can Ensure the Comfort in the Buildings
Authors: Kowalska-Koczwara Alicja , Pachla Filip , Tatara Tadeusz , Fedorczak-Cisak Malgorzata , Stypula Krzysztof , Bywalec Andrzej , Karczmarska Boguslawa
Published: September 2019

The aim of this article is to check comfort in the passive buildings located in Libertow (close to Cracow). The two aspects of comfort are described: a thermal comfort with tightness and humidity and a vibrational comfort. The main results of measurements of the comfort aspects are described and shown. Passive buildings which were investigated are very tight and well insulated. It is good for the energy saving and for the budget of the owners but it could be a problem for the humidity requirements. In such buildings, there also could be a problem with solar energy excess which could provide that the rooms are overheated. The vibrational aspect is also often neglected on the design stage, but it also could be a problem when the residents live in their homes. The problem is that when a house is built, the costs of changes to adapt the rooms to the appropriate comfort level are much higher than in the design stage. The alternative may be a properly designed floor which shall meet all thermal and vibrational aspects of comfort. In order to improve the quality of multi-faceted comfort, three types of flooring have been proposed. All three are clearly described and their advantages and disadvantages are shown. The main goal of this article is a detailed cost analysis of these three types of floor. Cost analysis was made according to the Polish requirements so-called Catalogs of Material Inputs in the NormaPRO. Costs were estimated using detailed, simplified and mixed methods. The most effective and economically justified type of floor was also chosen.
Integration of a Hybrid Method into an Efficient Reliability-Based Design Optimization Technique for Large Structures
Authors: Okasha Nader M. , Ahmed Mohamed Osama
Published: September 2019

The computational burden imposed by the repetitive and lengthy nature of the structural analyses of large structures has lead researches to continuously devise efficient methods for conducting their reliability analysis in addition to powerful methods for solving the design optimization problem. The presence of a considerably large number of random variables in the reliability analyses of large structure is another issue that tends to slow down the design optimization problem. In this paper, a hybrid method that was recently presented by the first author will be integrated into a structural reliability-based design optimization technique for large structures. In this technique, modified concepts of the weighted average simulation method are used to determine the most probable point of failure in a computationally efficient manner. The most probable point of failure is then transferred into the standard normal space, where the reliability index is calculated in closed-form. The firefly algorithm will be used for solving the optimization problem. It will be shown that the integrated approach significantly reduces the computational resources required for solving the design problem. The technique will be tested on a truss bridge. The results will shed light on the efficiency of the proposed technique in solving reliability-based design optimization problems.
Influence of Selected Factors on HPC Strength Properties
Authors: Wawrzenczyk Jerzy , Molendowska Agnieszka , Klak Adam
Published: September 2019

The paper presents the results of research, the objective of which was an evaluation of the influence of selected factors related to content on the resistance properties of high performance concrete. These factors were the water/binder ratio (W/S), the sand/binder ratio (P/S) and the PVA fibre content (Vf). An 18-point experiment plan was used. The mortars were made of the following ingredients: CEM I 52, 5R cement, silica fume, silica sand, PVA fibres, policarboxylate superplasticiser. The testing programme covered: tests of compressive strength per standard PN-EN 1015-11:2001 and tests of flexural strength per standard PN-EN 14651+A1:2007. Such an ingredient ratio was sought that will permit the achievement of the most advantageous strength properties (flexural strength and compressive strength). The conducted research shows that among the analysed factors, the greatest influence on flexural strength is exhibited by the content of PVA fibres. The highest values of flexural strength were achieved for a fibre content of Vf=3-3.7%. The addition of PVA fibres has lesser influence on compressive strength than the W/S ratio. The increase of the fibre content causes worsening of the workability of the concrete mix.
Building geometry and development form optimisation in terms of the energy efficiency
Authors: Fedorczak-Cisak Malgorzata , Furtak Marcin , Ciula Michal , Krupa Michal
Published: September 2019

The construction sector consumes around 40% energy for the purposes of heating. The policy of sustainable development that has been implemented for many years also transfers to actions in the construction sector. The European Union is introducing a standard of buildings with a near-zero energy demand. This standard can be achieved only by altering the manner of the design, construction and use of buildings. Such parameters like geometry or the placement of buildings relative to each other and the structure of their layout on the site, on the scale of groups of buildings, also have an impact on the energy consumption. The goal of this article is to assess the improvement of the effectiveness of actions taken in order to lower the energy demand for heating of designed buildings meant for permanent occupancy. The assessment takes into consideration the conditions of sustainable development. The analysis covers the impact of the geometry of a building and development structure on the energy balance.
Respecting a speed limit and its effectiveness in a traffic calming zone
Authors: Kempa Jan
Published: September 2019

The purpose of the study was to test the level of respecting the speed limit by drivers of vehicles in a traffic-calming zone that was not formally designated, located in a part of an old city in a middle of the Polish city. Due to the historic assets in that location, the applied means of traffic calming included only legal-organizational means, i.e. local speed limit signs. The analysis was carried out of vehicles speed in selected measuring sections; next, the level of respecting speed limits by drivers was determined. The results proved that just installing the speed limit signs at entrances to zones or at priority to the right intersections are insufficient to obtain the required speeds. The tests revealed that in all tested sections, drivers exceeded the speed limit of 30 km/h. An average speed varied from 32.1 km/h to 37.1 km/h, with the 85% quantile of speed amounting from 36.1 km/h to 42.7 km/h. A large percentage of drivers who exceed the speed limit was recorded, which was from 35% to 90%. The lowest percentage of drivers exceeding the maximum speed was recorded in sections where the surface was made of cobblestone (only 10%). This stemmed from the fact that in order to obtain the driving comfort, the drivers were forced to reduce the speed significantly. The results of tests show explicitly that in order to obtain desired traffic conditions from the safety perspective, it is necessary to apply physical means of traffic calming that force drivers to reduce speed. Such measures should include: an adjustment of the traffic corridor geometry in a general layout, narrowing a lane, speed bumps, raised speed tables at intersections, and raised pedestrian crossings. The applied traffic calming measures, including but not limited to areas that are subjects to the conserver’s supervision, should meet high functional, engineering, and visual standards, and be a harmonious part of the historic surrounding.
Measurements of Vibrations and computer simulations in the design of vibroinsulation of railroads
Authors: Koziol Krzysztof
Published: September 2019

Presented paper describes the problem of vibrations in buildings generated by rail transport. The dynamic analysis presented in this paper was based on two Polish standards developed at the Institute of the Structural Mechanics at the Cracow University of Technology: PN-2016/B-02170. Evaluation of the harmfulness of building vibrations due to ground motion and PN-2017/B-02171. Evaluation of vibration influence on people in buildings. These standards define the rules, methods and criteria of the performed evaluations. A prepared computational model of the building, as well as the way of propagation of vibrations generated by trains or trams, often requires experimental verification. It could be done due to measurements. The results of field tests should be recorded in the databases containing information related to the geometry of the structure (building itself, track bed and tunnel-housing in case of the metro), propagation path (its length and nature of soil layers) and finally material properties. Presented examples of computer simulation application during designing of the vibration isolation of railway tracks in the tunnel as well as tram line surface, showed that the basis of such calculations should be carried out by vibration measurements in a given case or taken from proper measurement databases. Predictions may concern not only the impact of vibrations on surrounding buildings and people staying in them, but also reduction of expected vibrations of the engineering structures. In order to verify the correctness of adopted due to computer simulations solutions minimizing vibrations, it is necessary to perform post-implementation measurements, which should be a supplement to the mentioned database. This approach to the design of vibroisolation allows checking the used numerical procedures as well as implemented material constants describing materials used in the numerical model or in the case of constructing the building the quality of the materials used.
Research to Evaluate the Effectiveness of the Diamond Disc for Grinding the Granite Surface
Authors: Rajczyk Marlena , Rajczyk Pawel
Published: September 2019

The material and geometric design of the diamond disc for grinding granite surfaces is in the aspect of increased global demand for the use of granite slabs for the construction industry an important and economically justified task in the development of innovative technologies for the surface treatment of the building materials. The task undertaken to increase the quality and efficiency of machining processes by increasing the quality parameters of the finishing discs consists of evaluating the geometry of the abrasive segments and a group of materials for making flexible diamond discs formed on the synthetic binders. Polyurethane resins modified with the copper powders and quartz flour were selected for making the shields. The discs used synthetic MBD diamond powder with a grain size of 40/45 # and a concentration of 25%. In the analysis of the structural solutions, the average geometric efficiency index of the active surface of the grinding discs with a diameter of 100 mm was determined, with a kinematic load of n = 366 ÷ 960 rpm, moving with a progressive speed of 0.02 m/s and results of pilot abrasion tests made on the experimental samples of the circular diamond segments operating at the kinematic load n = 660 rpm and pressure on the surface of the 40 N disc.
Analysis of Driver Reaction During Braking and Avoidance Maneuver
Authors: Bucsuhazy Katerina , Svozilova Veronika , Semela Marek , Stana Ivo , Gruberova Olga
Published: September 2019

One of the parts of the accident analysis is also the objective assessment of the responsibility of accident participants related to their behavior and objective ability to avert the imminent critical situation. During a critical situation, the driver can respond by avoidance maneuver, critical braking or a combination of both. However, most of the research studies have been focused on the analysis of the driver´s brake-reaction time. The aim of this paper is to analyze the driver´s reaction time in detail during the avoidance maneuver and critical braking. For the purpose of this study, the electromyography has been used. The combination allows detailed and accurate determination of the onset of the muscle activation during the reaction. For the elimination of the result distortion, the measurements were carried out in a real vehicle on a predetermined route and also in simulated condition. Participants responded to the various types of the critical incidents, mostly sudden braking of the leading vehicle. The obtained results demonstrate differences in the time necessary for the activation of the lower and the upper limb during a critical situation.