CRITERI PER LA CONSERVAZIONE DELLE COPERTURE LIGNEE TRADIZIONALI DELLA SICILIA OCCIDENTALE: RECUPERO DI PRATICHE COSTRUTTIVE E MATERIALI TRADIZIONALI LOCALI

The paper presents the result of a researched that aimed to identifying typical wooden span roof systems in the ancient architecture of western Sicily. For this study, seventy construction built with various building techniques have been selected for their peculiarities. The research has paid particular attention to the components and the functional parts of the covering which have also been compared with the information acquired from written historical hand book. This comparison it was aimed at the individuation of the best way to build this covering structures and the possible precautionary measures aimed at preserving the wooden structures from the development of decay phenomena. The work has been developed trough historical investigations, from which have information about the building component were realized to verify trough modern theories and laboratory tests. It’s allows to evaluation the performances given from the wooden elements both under the original conditions that different stadiums of decay

COLONNE IN VETRO STRATIFICATO: CRITERI DI PROGETTAZIONE

This paper concerns the key aspects of the design of laminated glass structural elements subjected to axial forces of compression. An analysis of the Italian and European design-code frame is conducted with the analysis of experimental results reported in literature. The present study shown the existing of many problems in the implementation of these structural elements, such as a significant reduction of the theoretical value of compressive strength. Finally, we report the design process and the numerical analysis of laminated glass columns of a canopy prototype designed by the authors, starting by the definition of the loads and boundary conditions, the definition of the supporting structures, the processing of three-dimensional model to finite elements and the final geometry and mechanics of glass structures

Evaluation of the Thermodynamic Performance of the Traditional Passive Systems

The need to reduce urban consumption of energy in the buildings, one of the major energy waster resulting in emission of CO2, is pushing research in the field of building design to the appreciation of passive air-conditioning systems that can be integrated with conventional systems and determine, therefore, the so-called hybrid systems. Historically this passive systems were developed in the Mediterranean and in the Middle East area. Actually the research activity has been focused on this problem, through an approach that involves the application of design strategies and the development of computational tools and control systems. The synergy between current scientific knowledge, advanced manufacturing and information technology allows to conceive hybrid systems. Through the use of computer programs CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamic) have been tested different conditions iterating the process until it gets to the structure that gives the greatest contribution for the environmental comfort. The paper shows the results of research developed to the Dipartimento di Architettura of the Università di Palermo, that develops a case study where is analyzed the effect of the natural ventilation in indoor comfort

ROCCIA E VETRO PER UNA COPERTURA TRASPARENTE

La memoria presenta uno studio condotto sulla possibilità di coprire uno spazio residuo tra il convento dei Mercedari di Modica in Sicilia e il costone roccioso adiacente. La nuova destinazione dell'edificio a Museo prevede la realizzazione di un percorso museale esterno coperto. Ciò ha fornito l’occasione per mettere alla prova le più audaci prestazioni del vetro strutturale per la realizzazione di una copertura a sbalzo. Il recente sviluppo di architetture che usano sempre più il vetro ha incentivato ricerche ed applicazioni di nuove tecnologie che hanno permesso di raggiungere elevatissimi livelli prestazionali, sia per quanto riguarda gli aspetti statici che di comfort e trasparenza: oggi è possibile combinare diversi processi di lavorazione del vetro, garantendo condizioni di sicurezza strutturale e regolando anche le proprietà di trasmissione delle radiazioni luminose. La particolare occasione di coprire il passaggio dei visitatori dagli agenti atmosferici e al contempo di lasciare integro il rapporto visivo tra la roccia viva e il profilo della facciata ha orientato la scelta progettuale su una copertura che fosse quanto meno invasiva possibile. Le lastre di vetro sono ammorsate al costone roccioso attraverso piastre in acciaio incastrate nella roccia, da questa si distaccano fino ai bordi costruiti della copertura del museo apparendo incastrate direttamente nella roccia senza elementi di supporto. The space back of the Mercedari Convent and the rock cliff, adapted to museum path, will be covered with a glass structure that gives the impression to directly come straight from the rock. The solution proposed favors both the shape of the rock and the different altimetrically trend of the building. The structure realized with stiffen and laminated glass, reaches a maximum overhang of 4.50 meters and it is made with big tile U-shaped with different dimensions

GLASS IN THE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION:BEYOND THE TRASPARENCY

In the last decades, the evolution of the methodology of the glass manufacturing processes has created the opportunity to craft external frames that include integrated multifunctional elements which enable the user to fully control different functions. The evolution of glass - from being a basic see-through material to becoming a system with high-tech potentiality - has given the designer the opportunity to satisfy different needs. These can be fulfilled without altering the structure of the material and without affecting its relation with the frame it is built for. The aim of the research was the analysis, classification and verification of the performance of the translucent products currently available in the marketplace and of the ones still at an experimental stage. As well as allowing their main function - the transmission of natural light and vision. These products are designed to control energy flows in order to manage the level of illumination and thermal insulation. The use of dedicated filtering methodologies, decreases and/or modifies the effect of the solar energy. Firstly, the performance and cost of the different translucent products were compared in order to set the standard. Afterwards, new avenues were investigated in order to elucidate some issues affecting the products currently on the market, including the cost/benefit ratio which is currently not advantageous

Coperture in vetro stratificato: criteri di progettazione

This paper concerns the design activity about laminated glass structures for the evaluation of criteria to optimize the design. This target is reached by using a preliminary study of the normative frame in national and international field. Forward by studying the bibliography on laminated glass structure. Application is on canopy designed by authors. Here are reported the step design procedures starting by definition of load, the restraints condition for structure element and a 3d model is produced by using a FEM method

Daylight-Transfer Systems: Physiological And Energetic Advantages

Daylight-transfer systems are devices designed to operate according to the law of reflection: they collect and transfer it to rooms lacking in light. On the whole, possible applications can deal with rooms which do not communicate directly with the outside. For instance, it can be the case of both basements and large-sized buildings like those devoted to the service industry. In recent years, the considerable attention devoted to sustainable development has prompted planners to reconsider the use of daylighting in architecture. Current research, partly examined in this article, aims at producing a range of systematised products and techniques according to some specific characteristics in order to highlight the advantages of these systems in terms of energy conservation as for essential artificial lighting and, consequently, to contribute towards decreasing the use of non-renewable sources of energy and related problems about sustainability

WARP liquid argon detector for dark matter survey

The WARP programme is a graded programme intended to search for cold Dark Matter in the form of WIMP's. These particles may produce via weak interactions nuclear recoils in the energy range 10-100 keV. A cryogenic noble liquid like argon, already used in the realization of very large detector, permits the simultaneous detection of both ionisation and scintillation induced by an interaction, suggesting the possibility of discriminating between nuclear recoils and electrons mediated events. A 2.3 litres two-phase argon detector prototype has been used to perform several tests on the proposed technique. Next step is the construction of a 100 litres sensitive volume device with potential sensitivity a factor 100 better than presently existing experiments.Comment: Proceeding of the 6th UCLA Symposium on Sources and detection of Dark Matter and dark Energy in the Univers