Spiders from ecological compensation areas in the Swiss cantons Aargau and Schaffhausen (Arachnida: Araneae) – with remarks on Phrurolithus nigrinus (Corinnidae)

The spider fauna of open habitats adjacent to arable land was investigated in northern Switzerland. The three habitat types were (1) herbaceous edges of fields (Sa), (2) fallow land sowed with flowers (BB), and (3) grass borders of fields (GS). Four funnel pitfall traps (10 cm diameter) were used to catch spiders in three stripe-types in two geographical regions in two years over 5 weeks in May and June: in total 12 sets of data. Spider species typical for open habitats were dominant, mostly lycosids (6 of the 10 most active species). The results were analysed together with environmental factors using a canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) and spiders were compared with carabid beetles (Coeloptera: Carabidae). Geographical region, though not very distant, had the largest influence on both spiders and carabids. The age and type of the habitats had a stronger influence on spiders than on carabids. In spiders a larger part of the total variance was explained by the analysed factors. Finally we discuss briefly a remarkable spider species. A review of all known records of Phrurolithus nigrinus in Switzerland and Germany, together with adjacent regions in France, is given. Its phenology is indicated, its habitat discussed and the overall distribution within Europe is listed

EXPERIMENTAL METHOD ON INVESTIGATION OF FIBRE REINFORCED CONCRETE AT ELEVATED TEMPERATURES

Generally speaking, adding a certain amount of steel fibres to a concrete mixture improves its mechanical properties. Currently, a lack of information considering tensile and post cracking behaviour of FRC at elevated temperatures is an issue to be faced. An experimental study of steel fibre reinforced concrete, also containing polymer fibres (FRC), subjected to high temperature is presented herein. Compressive strength, split tensile strength and ultimate bending strength were evaluated. Specimens were heated by the use of ceramic heaters and repacked for testing consequently. A finite-element based model was developed to predict the temperature distribution inside a specimen during both the heating and the cooling process

TO TESTING OF STEEL FIBRE REINFORCED CONCRETE AT ELEVATED TEMPERATURE

Addition of steel fibres improves properties of concrete. The lack of information considering tensile and post cracking behaviour of SFRC at elevated temperatures is an obstacle on the wide use of this composite material. This work presents an experimental study of steel fibre reinforced concrete subjected to high temperature. Compressive strength, split tensile strength and ultimate bending strength were evaluated. The specimens were heated by ceramic heaters and then repacked for testing