A model for pushover analysis of confined masonry structures : implementation and validation

Confined masonry (CM) is a typical building technique in Latin American countries. This technique, due to its simplicity of construction and similarity with traditional practices of reinforced concrete building, presents a potential of use in European regions with moderate-to-high seismicity. However, most of the procedures for seismic design in codes for Latin America are force-based, which appears to be inadequate due to the high dissipative response observed for CM. This paper presents a simplified numerical-analytical approach to model CM structures using pushover analysis, aiming to apply performance-based design procedures. First, a data mining process is performed on a database of experimental results collected from lateral tests on CM walls to adjust prediction models for the wall shear strength and to determine the input relevance through a sensitivity analysis. Then, an analytical model of CM structures for pushover analysis is proposed with basis on a wide-column approach that employs an adaptive shear load-displacement constitutive relation. The proposed method is compared with a discrete element model that represents explicitly the confinements-masonry interaction, against the experimental results obtained in a quasi-static test of a full-scale tridimensional CM structure. The accuracy of the predictions from both methods is very satisfactory, allowing to capture the base shear-displacement envelope and also the damage patterns of the structure, thus, demonstrating the ability of the methods to be used in performance-based seismic assessment and design of CM buildings.The first author acknowledges the financial support from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) through the Ph.D. Grant SFRH/BD/41221/2007

Religious transformations in the Middle Ages: towards a new archaeological agenda

The study of religious change in Europe between the collapse of the Roman Empire and the Reformation forms one of the cornerstones of medieval archaeology but has been riven by period, denominational and geographical divisions. This paper lays the groundwork for a fundamental rethink of archaeological approaches to medieval religions, by adopting a holistic framework that places Christian, pagan, Islamic and Jewish case studies of religious transformation in a long-term, comparative perspective. Focused around the analytical themes of ‘hybridity and resilience’ and ‘tempo and trajectories’, our approach shifts attention away from the singularities of national narratives of religious conversion towards a deeper understanding of how religious beliefs, practices and identity were renegotiated by medieval people in their daily lives

IFCRASC'12 - Ingegneria Forense, Crolli, Affidabilità Strutturale, Consolidamento

These Proceedings includes all papers presented at the IF CRASC ’12 Congress, which is the 2nd Congress on Forensic Engineering jointed with the 5th Congress on Collapses, Reliability and Retrofit of Structures. About three years after the IF CRASC ’09 Congress which was held at University of Naples Federico II, Italy, we organized a further meeting occasion at University of Pisa, which expressed its interest in Forensic Engineering topics. The quantity and quality of papers, which were more than doubled compared to the previous edition of the Congress, give great success to this scientific event. No one could forget complexities in the organization of this Congress in a very difficult moment for Italian Universities, professional activities, and the economy of the country. Nevertheless, this is the proof that one should invest in upper-level education programs and highly skilled professions just in crisis moments. Developing subjects such as Forensic Engineering, which is quickly broadening especially in the field of structural failures and reliability, create new job opportunities and provide a guide toward highly skilled activities. In particular, even though Forensic Engineering was born to provide both technical and legal expertise to those work as technical consultants in legal procedures, it extended to the wider field of non-legal consultancy and is affecting any job activity supported by law. It is not a coincidence that field inspections after recent Emilia Romagna earthquakes were considered to be Forensic Engineering operations. Recently someone said: “Forensic is nice and trendy!”. This also confirms the conjunction between Forensic Engineering and Collapses, Reliability and Retrofit of Structures (namely, the traditional fields of such a subject) was a forward-looking idea. The merit of this growth should mainly be attributed to the activity of the Italian Association of Forensic Engineering, which promoted the organization of this Congress, and some Universities such as that of Pisa, which shared its goals and supported the organization. These Proceedings do not offer a proper recognition of many efforts by all those who made possible the realization of this Congress, that is, academics, professionals, lawyers, judges, and entrepreneurs. In particular, we want to express our sincere gratitude to sponsors, young colleagues working in the Congress Secretariat, and administration office of the Department of Civil Engineering at University of Pisa. We also thank congress speakers, paper authors and all delegates whose participation made possible the success of this event. Nicola Augenti Mauro Sass

IFCRASC'12 - Ingegneria Forense, Crolli, Affidabilità Strutturale, Consolidamento

These Proceedings includes all papers presented at the IF CRASC ’12 Congress, which is the 2nd Congress on Forensic Engineering jointed with the 5th Congress on Collapses, Reliability and Retrofit of Structures. About three years after the IF CRASC ’09 Congress which was held at University of Naples Federico II, Italy, we organized a further meeting occasion at University of Pisa, which expressed its interest in Forensic Engineering topics. The quantity and quality of papers, which were more than doubled compared to the previous edition of the Congress, give great success to this scientific event. No one could forget complexities in the organization of this Congress in a very difficult moment for Italian Universities, professional activities, and the economy of the country. Nevertheless, this is the proof that one should invest in upper-level education programs and highly skilled professions just in crisis moments. Developing subjects such as Forensic Engineering, which is quickly broadening especially in the field of structural failures and reliability, create new job opportunities and provide a guide toward highly skilled activities. In particular, even though Forensic Engineering was born to provide both technical and legal expertise to those work as technical consultants in legal procedures, it extended to the wider field of non-legal consultancy and is affecting any job activity supported by law. It is not a coincidence that field inspections after recent Emilia Romagna earthquakes were considered to be Forensic Engineering operations. Recently someone said: “Forensic is nice and trendy!”. This also confirms the conjunction between Forensic Engineering and Collapses, Reliability and Retrofit of Structures (namely, the traditional fields of such a subject) was a forward-looking idea. The merit of this growth should mainly be attributed to the activity of the Italian Association of Forensic Engineering, which promoted the organization of this Congress, and some Universities such as that of Pisa, which shared its goals and supported the organization. These Proceedings do not offer a proper recognition of many efforts by all those who made possible the realization of this Congress, that is, academics, professionals, lawyers, judges, and entrepreneurs. In particular, we want to express our sincere gratitude to sponsors, young colleagues working in the Congress Secretariat, and administration office of the Department of Civil Engineering at University of Pisa. We also thank congress speakers, paper authors and all delegates whose participation made possible the success of this event. Nicola Augenti Mauro Sass