Numerical Analysis of Climatic Conditions Influence on the Current State of the St. Ann Church

Broumovská skupina kostelů patří mezi symboly bohatého historického a kulturního dědictví České republiky. Jedná se o unikátní soubor devíti barokních kostelů postavených v poměrně krátké době počátkem 18. století. Jedním z těchto architektonických skvostů je kostel sv. Anny ve Vižňově od Killiana Ignáce Dientzenhofera. Díky svému umístění a kvůli nedostatku údržby po mnoha desetiletí se kostel nachází v poškozeném stavu. Cílem této práce je analýza dopadu klimatických podmínek zejména teplotních změn na současný stav kostela. Základem analýzy je trojrozměrná numerická simulace přenosu tepla po dobu jednoho roku vycházející z klimatických dat a měření in situ, ve kterých jsou zahrnuty účinky větru a slunečního záření. Získaná teplotní pole jsou použita jako zatížení do následné mechanické analýzy stavu napjatosti a poškození konstrukce. Ve statickém konečně prvkovém modelu je nejdříve uvažováno lineární elastické působení materiálu pro získání základní představy o odezvě konstrukce na teplotní zatížení. Následně je analýza rozšířena o model nelineárního chování materiálu za účelem predikce možného poškození vlivem klimatických podmínek. Výsledky počítačové simulace, které jsou konfrontovány se současným stavem, ukazují na periodické teplotní namáhání konstrukce s horšími účinky v zimním období. Mezi nejzranitelnější části stavby patří stěny kolem schodiště spojující zvonici s hlavní lodí a západním koncem hlavní lodi a sakristie. Výsledky výpočtů jsou dále analyzovány s přihlédnutím k výsledkům předchozích studií provedených na tomto kostelu. Tuto termomechanickou analýzu lze využít jako podporu pro další plánované sanace a rekonstrukce.The Broumov Group of Churches, Baroque style monuments rich in history and architectural progression, is a symbol of Czech Republic's cultural heritage. The churches, built in a short amount of time, have several defining features making them unique for their architecture and cultural heritage. The St. Ann Church, built by Killian Ignaz Dientzenhofer in the early 18th century, belongs to the Broumov Group of Churches located in the small village of Viznov. Unfortunately, the church is found in its current damaged state in part due to its remote location and lack of maintenance over the decades. The aim of this thesis is to simulate the behaviour of the St. Ann Church caused by climatic loading mainly due to temperature changes during the year, and their effect on the stress state and a possible damage evolution of the church. A detailed condition assessment is completed to understand the structure and current damaged state. A one-way coupled heat transfer analysis to simulate the distribution of temperatures for a one-year cycle using in-situ measurements and climatic data is performed. Insolation, wind effects and changes in air temperature around the structure are included in the heat transfer analysis. The computed temperature fields are used as loading for the static analysis of the St. Ann Church. The 3D thermo-mechanical analysis focuses on masonry church walls. Subsequently, a mechanical analysis is followed as a prognosis of a current stress state and possible crack nucleation. The static model is completed using linear elastic then nonlinear material properties. The stresses, deformations and structure behaviour obtained by means of the 3D finite element model are compared with damages observed on site. Results show that the structure is periodically under temperature strain, with more adverse conditions affecting the structure under winter climatic loading. The most vulnerable parts of the structure include the thinly walled staircase connecting the bell tower to the main nave, the west end of the main nave near openings and the sacristy foundations and openings. The results from the numerical model are compared to observations made on the current state of the structure. Results of the computation are analyzed in cooperation with the results of previous analyses of the structure. The thermo-mechanical analysis is used as support for further structure reconstruction and rehabilitation

Bridge Structrural Health Monitoring Using a Cyber-Physical System Framework

Highway bridges are critical infrastructure elements supporting commercial and personal traffic. However, bridge deterioration coupled with insufficient funding for bridge maintenance remain a chronic problem faced by the United States. With the emergence of wireless sensor networks (WSN), structural health monitoring (SHM) has gained increasing attention over the last decade as a viable means of assessing bridge structural conditions. While intensive research has been conducted on bridge SHM, few studies have clearly demonstrated the value of SHM to bridge owners, especially using real-world implementation in operational bridges. This thesis first aims to enhance existing bridge SHM implementations by developing a cyber-physical system (CPS) framework that integrates multiple SHM systems with traffic cameras and weigh-in-motion (WIM) stations located along the same corridor. To demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed CPS, a 20-mile segment of the northbound I-275 highway in Michigan is instrumented with four traffic cameras, two bridge SHM systems and a WIM station. Real-time truck detection algorithms are deployed to intelligently trigger the SHM systems for data collection during large truck events. Such a triggering approach can improve data acquisition efficiency by up to 70% (as compared to schedule-based data collection). Leveraging computer vision-based truck re-identification techniques applied to videos from the traffic cameras along the corridor, a two-stage pipeline is proposed to fuse bridge input data (i.e. truck loads as measured by the WIM station) and output data (i.e. bridge responses to a given truck load). From August 2017 to April 2019, over 20,000 truck events have been captured by the CPS. To the author’s best knowledge, the CPS implementation is the first of its kind in the nation and offers large volume of heterogeneous input-output data thereby opening new opportunities for novel data-driven bridge condition assessment methods. Built upon the developed CPS framework, the second half of the thesis focuses on use of the data in real-world bridge asset management applications. Long-term bridge strain response data is used to investigate and model composite action behavior exhibited in slab-on-girder highway bridges. Partial composite action is observed and quantified over negative bending regions of the bridge through the monitoring of slip strain at the girder-deck interface. It is revealed that undesired composite action over negative bending regions might be a cause of deck deterioration. The analysis performed on modeling composite action is a first in studying composite behavior in operational bridges with in-situ SHM measurements. Second, a data-driven analytical method is proposed to derive site-specific parameters such as dynamic load allowance and unit influence lines for bridge load rating using the input-output data. The resulting rating factors more rationally account for the bridge's systematic behavior leading to more accurate rating of a bridge's load-carrying capacity. Third, the proposed CPS framework is shown capable of measuring highway traffic loads. The paired WIM and bridge response data is used for training a learning-based bridge WIM system where truck weight characteristics such as axle weights are derived directly using corresponding bridge response measurements. Such an approach is successfully utilized to extend the functionality of an existing bridge SHM system for truck weighing purposes achieving precision requirements of a Type-II WIM station (e.g. vehicle gross weight error of less than 15%).PHDCivil EngineeringUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/163210/1/rayhou_1.pd

Icing Effects on Power Lines and Anti-icing and De-icing Methods

Icing on power lines may lead to compromise safety and reliability of electric supply network. Prolong icing can lead to power breakdown and collapse of towers. Since power transmission lines are mostly overhead and could face the direct impact of icing, and it is one of the main challenges faced by power distribution companies in cold regions. When the ice accretion crosses the safety limit then deicing action can be carried out. We can find number of deicing methods that are used in different parts of the world. However, all of these deicing techniques have their own advantages and disadvantages on implementation. It is one of the most difficult as well as dangerous process to perform deicing on power lines. If a fault is detected and that has been occurred due to icing or during routine maintenance, extra care must be taken in order to ensure safety of the personals when performing de-icing of lines. However, as technology evolved, new ways and techniques are adopted with the help of sensors that give quick feedback to control room in the national grid via wireless communication network for real time action. In the thesis we have discussed atmospheric icing impacts on power lines in the cold regions across the world. A literature review has been done for anti-icing and deicing methods that are currently adopted in the power distribution network. Methods that are used against ice buildups have also been analyzed. This work also shows the impacts of icing and deicing techniques presently adopted, and also throws light on their pros and cons during maintenance operations. It provides an overview of the evolving technology trends that are practiced to ensure the availability of existing power transmission system in cold climate regions

Interannual variations in climate factors（understory air temperature, maximum snow depth, and snow cover duration）over 18 years（2003-2021）in the Gofukuji Beech Forest, Matsumoto City, central Japan

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Green roof retrofitting: a study into the structural implications associated with green roof retrofits.

Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.The realities of climate change have fast become apparent. It is for this reason that vast quantities of research explored potential mitigation methods to alleviate the strain placed on the environment and the planet by climate change. Structural engineers and the greater engineering community utilise green building practices in an effort to reduce carbon emissions and hence, lower the carbon footprint of a structure. One such practice has been the introduction of green roofs. This study looks at the potential of retrofitting structures with green roofs. It investigates various construction materials and their influence on the potential of retrofitting structures with green roofs. In addition, this thesis investigates the influence of considerations given during structural design such as a structure’s span and the utilisation of different section sizes, in an attempt to provide a general assessment into the practicality of a green roof retrofit. This study has shown that there is a significant potential in retrofitting existing structures with green roofs. In addition, the results of the study have shown that concrete structures are more likely to have a higher potential to be retrofitted. The potential to be retrofitted with a green roof depends on the carrying capacity that in turn depends on a range of factors. However, the primary factor in the magnitude of the carrying capacity is essentially the choice of element decided upon by the structural designer. This study has proved that green roofs have the potential to reduce the temperature of the substructure to a greater degree when compared to other roof types. It has further proved that green roofs possess the potential to significantly reduce storm water run-off in comparison to other roof types. However, this study has highlighted that there is significant basis for further investigation into structural implications associated with green roofs and other relevant area

Dissemination, Future Research and Education:

This booklet is one of three final documentations of the results of the COST-Action TU 1403 ‘ADAPTIVE FACADE NETWORK’ to be published next to the proceedings of the Final COST Conference ‘FACADE 2018 – ADAPTIVE!’ and a Special Issue of the Journal of Façade Design & Engineering (JFDE). While the proceedings and the journal present current scientific research papers selected through a traditional peer review process, these three final documentations have another focus and objective. These three documentations will share a more holistic and comparative view to the scientific and educational framework of this COST-Action on adaptive facades with the objective to generate an overview and a summary – different from the more specific approach of the proceedings and connecting to the first publication that was presenting the participating institutions. The three titles are the following and are connected to the deliverables of the responsible Working Groups (WG): Booklet 3.1 Case Studies (WG1) Booklet 3.2 Building Performance Simulation and Characterisation of Adaptive Facades (WG2) Booklet 3.3 Dissemination, Future Research and Education (WG4) Booklet 3.1 concentrates on the definition and classification of adaptive facades by describing the state of the art of real-world and research projects and by providing a database to be published on COST TU 1403 website (http://tu1403.eu/). Booklet 3.2 focusses on comparing simulation and testing methods, tools and facilities. And finally, Booklet 3.3 documents the interdisciplinary, horizontal and vertical networking and communication between the different stakeholders of the COST-Action organised through Short Term Scientific Missions (STSM), Training Schools and support sessions for Early Stage Researchers (ESR) / Early Career Investigators (ECI), industry workshops, and related surveys as specific means of dissemination to connect research and education. All three booklets show the diversity of approaches to the topic of adaptive facades coming from the different participants and stakeholders, such as: architecture and design, engineering and simulation, operation and management, industry and fabrication and from education and research. The tasks and deliverables of Working Group 4 were organized and supported by the following group members and their functions: – Thomas Henriksen, Denmark ESR/ECI – Ulrich Knaack, The Netherlands Chair (2015-16) – Thaleia Konstantinou, The Netherlands ESR/ECI – Christian Louter, The Netherlands Vice-Chair, STSM Coordinator – Andreas Luible, Switzerland Website, Meetings – David Metcalfe, United Kingdom Training Schools – Uta Pottgiesser, Germany Chair (2017-18) As editors and Chairs, we would like to thank the Working Group members and authors from other Working Groups for their significant and comprehensive contributions to this booklet. Moreover, we sincerely thank Ashal Tyurkay for her great assistance during the whole editing and layout process. We also want to thank COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology)

Drilling Optimisation on the Norwegian Continental Shelf: Opportunities in Well Design Practice

Master's Thesis in Petroleum EngineeringThe purpose of this thesis was to attempt to provide evidence that Norway’s drilling fraternity is long overdue for a re-think in the way it drills wells. In so doing, the author has chosen to focus on slim well drilling as a means of reducing drill costs. It was postulated that slim well drilling could lead to much lower drilling investment costs. This body of work therefore focuses on the regulatory, economic and technical implications of slim hole drilling in Norway. The study examined the historical trends of drilling optimisation, particularly in light of the recent downturn. It was discovered that drilling investment costs in Norway have increased three-fold since the year 2000 with drilling and wells contributing 50% of that overall investment (>NOK100B per year). Whilst there has indeed been some improvement in efficiency since 2014, there is still a major issue with hidden NPT and overall rig crew efficiency. There are, however, some exciting developments in play for slimming down explorations wells in Norway, with the possibility of even drilling with a single casing string being considered. To attempt to indicate that slim wells are indeed possible, six hypothetical exploration wells were examined. Two in the North Sea, another two in the Norwegian Sea and the remainder in the Barents Sea. These regions were chosen to give the broadest possible outlook for the opportunities and challenges at play for the Norwegian sector. For each region, one conventional well design and one slender well proposal was analysed and despite an absence of some data, realistic assumptions were made based on publically available data from Norwegian operators. From a technical standpoint, our analysis concluded the following: • For each conventional well presented, it was technically possible to remove one or two casing strings, with no lost production and well integrity remaining intact; • The limiting technical factor in slim well design is kick tolerance. All slim hole options required changes to casing set depth and hole size due to kick tolerance; • Due to recent advances in downhole technology, the use of tools such as alternate-flow through casing shoes mean ECD’s are not the problem they would otherwise be. By under-reaming certain hole sections and using managed pressure drilling, ECD’s can be further reduced, as can annular pressures during cementing; In assessing the technical merits of slim well drilling, an economic model was developed for each of the six drill proposals. A number of realistic assumptions were made based on ballpark materials pricing and some limited drill cost data from an undisclosed operator. Our economic analysis concluded the following: • Simply slimming down a well, all casing depths remaining equal may not necessarily be economically beneficial. This will depend entirely on operating time; • Material cost savings, while significant, only play a minute role in reducing wellbore costs. These savings will fluctuate depending on the operating company’s competitive market advantage in securing lower per-unit material costs; • The primary cost driver of economically successful slim well drilling is rig crew performance; The study rounds-up with an expose of the current opportunities and challenges facing industry today. Whilst it is easy to show evidence of the techno-economic merits of slim hole drilling, it was thought prudent to examine the current industry appetite for these sorts of wells, in light of the challenges which need to be overcome before commercialisation of slim hole drilling can occur. The biggest roadblocks currently hindering the commercial success of slim hole drilling are the preventive drilling rig certification costs for new rigs in Norway and the current state of the local OCTG market. A number of recommendations to industry were presented: • Standardisation of drilling rig certification processes and regulations between Denmark, Norway and the UK (North Sea sector); • Standardisation of manufacturing, operating and documenting practises across industry; • The implementation of rig crew performance incentive schemes, which are particularly important given that the economic merits of slim wells hinge on a high performing crew; • Implementing risk sharing models to ensure a more stable flow of income/expense, as well as reviewing the ways in which rig costs are set; • “Going digital”. Implementing digital well planning to drive down costs. In closing, this thesis concludes that slim wells are a lucrative option for Norwegian operating companies, in that they are technically sound for the Norwegian Continental Shelf and economically viable given a prevalence of the conditions outlined above.Pro Well Plan A

INTER-ENG 2020

These proceedings contain research papers that were accepted for presentation at the 14th International Conference Inter-Eng 2020 ,Interdisciplinarity in Engineering, which was held on 8–9 October 2020, in Târgu Mureș, Romania. It is a leading international professional and scientific forum for engineers and scientists to present research works, contributions, and recent developments, as well as current practices in engineering, which is falling into a tradition of important scientific events occurring at Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology in the George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy Science, and Technology of Târgu Mures, Romania. The Inter-Eng conference started from the observation that in the 21st century, the era of high technology, without new approaches in research, we cannot speak of a harmonious society. The theme of the conference, proposing a new approach related to Industry 4.0, was the development of a new generation of smart factories based on the manufacturing and assembly process digitalization, related to advanced manufacturing technology, lean manufacturing, sustainable manufacturing, additive manufacturing, and manufacturing tools and equipment. The conference slogan was “Europe’s future is digital: a broad vision of the Industry 4.0 concept beyond direct manufacturing in the company”