Probabilistic seismic hazard analysis of events occurred in Albania

Albania is a seismic region so the goal of many earthquake engineers is to ensure the durability of a structure for a given level of ground vibration. There are many uncertainties about magnitude, location and the intensity of the future earthquake. Probability methods allow us to speak quantitatively about variables phenomenon. Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Analysis (PSHA) aims to reveal these uncertain and to produce the distribution of the future earthquakes that may occur. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the calculation involved in PSHA and to give some qualifications about the probability of intense ground vibration at a place and their associated rates of exceedance. The results can be used to identify the ground vibration intensity, which has small probability of being exceeded. In calculation are involved the location and intensity of all the seismic events occurred in Albania

A Study on Tibiofemoral Joint Contact Area Stresses using Finite Element Method

The joints of the human body act as mechanical or building structures joints. Joints connect different segments by enabling the movement of these segments. The design of a joint that provides durability or static support differs from that one which provides only movement. Joints of the human body, as organic joints, are considered more complex than other types of joints. Finite element models help to comprehend the knee structure behavior under the action of dynamic and static loads. Deformations in the articulating cartilage and the distribution of loads from meniscus provide data to understand the effect of loads in different part s of the knee. This study aims to calculate the stresses in the contact area of the tibiofemoral joint, using the finite element model. During this process, it will be an approximation of geometric shape of the femur, tibias and articulating cartilage to their real shape, taking into account the physic-mechanical characteristics of their components. The study, based on results of numerical calculations, aims to provide practical recommendations for dimensioning the tibiofemoral articulating cartilage and for the quality of the materials, to be used in knee prosthesis industry

Degradation of Concrete Structures

Concrete has been the most useful material of construction in the recent centuries. It is a mixture, the properties of which change over time. In the residential buildings or infrastructure there have been used various forms of concrete. As a very useful material in the construction, concrete is the element that faces extreme environmental conditions. During the service, the quality of designed concrete can be improved by continuous contact with water as in the case of reservoirs, concrete foundations, etc . But the concrete also can worsen over time due to physical and chemical agents. Consequently, the structures are destroyed when they become unsafe. Degradation of concrete structures has become a crucial matter during the last 20-30 years. Some economically developed countries spend more on repairing and maintenance of structures. As a result, these countries appreciate the longevity of the building rather than the initial cost of its construction. The aim of this paper is to simplify the destruction schemes of concrete materials from atmospheric agents. As a result it is made an approach to the main phenomen that misbehave with concrete and the way it behaves different from the conditions in which it is located. It is concluded to achieve a long life for concrete, special care should be taken during its preparation and should be maken an intelligent choice as to its constituent materials and their reports

A Synthesis of Architectural Form for Three Different Structural Systems

Architectural form is often used but less frequently defined. Architectural form is an inclusive term that refers primarily to a building’s external outline or shape, and to a lesser degree references its internal organization and unifying principles. Shape encompasses various visual and relational properties; namely size, color and texture, position, orientation and visual inertia. Form is therefore generally and primarily understood as the shape or three dimensional massing, but also encompasses additional architectural aspects including structural configuration and form, in so far as they may organize and unify an architectural design