Nonlinear simulation of masonry vaults under earthquake loading

Masonry vaults are present in a large number of historical structures and often used as floor-ing and roofing systems in monumental palaces and religious buildings, typically incorporat-ing no backfill. Many of these structures are located in seismic regions and have been shownto be particularly vulnerable during recent earthquakes, with a need for accurate modelling to avoid future losses. Masonry vaults are often analysed using limit analysis procedures un-der the hypotheses of no-tension material and absence of sliding along the masonry joints.However, this method can be inaccurate for barrel vaults found in buildings, which are typi-cally slender with no backfill. In this case, the masonry tensile strength and the progressive damage propagation play an important role in the nonlinear behaviour and ultimate strength of the vault. In this study, a detailed mesoscale finite element mesoscale approach is used to model slender unreinforced barrel vaults subjected to cyclic quasi-static and dynamic load-ing. According to this approach, 3D solid elements connected by 2D damage-plasticity inter-faces are used to represent the arrangement of bricks and mortar present in the masonry. Theproposed numerical description is first validated against the results from physical tests on a barrel vault under quasi-static cyclic loading. Subsequently, the shear response of a prototype vault is analysed by performing nonlinear simulations under prescribed horizontal displace-ments at the supports, considering also the influence of previous damage induced by earth-quakes with different magnitudes

Combining machine learning and spatial data processing techniques for allocation of large-scale nature-based solutions

This is the final version. Available on open access from IWA Publishing via the DOI in this recordData availability statement: All relevant data are available from an online repository or repositories: (https://developers.google.com/earth-engine/datasets; https://search.asf.alaska.edu/#/; https://geo.gob.bo/; https://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=7/52.154/5.295; https://rsis.ramsar.org/; https://www.arcgis.com/apps/mapviewer/index.html?layers=cfcb7609de5f478eb7666240902d4d3d; https://land.copernicus.eu/en/products/corine-land-cover; https://worldcover2020.esa.int/viewer).The escalating impacts of climate change trigger the necessity to deal with hydro-meteorological hazards. Nature-based solutions (NBSs) seem to be a suitable response, integrating the hydrology, geomorphology, hydraulic, and ecological dynamics. While there are some methods and tools for suitability mapping of small-scale NBSs, literature concerning the spatial allocation of large-scale NBSs is still lacking. The present work aims to develop new toolboxes and enhance an existing methodology by developing spatial analysis tools within a geographic information system (GIS) environment to allocate large-scale NBSs based on a multi-criteria algorithm. The methodologies combine machine learning spatial data processing techniques and hydrodynamic modelling for allocation of large-scale NBSs. The case studies concern selected areas in the Netherlands, Serbia, and Bolivia, focusing on three large-scale NBS: rainwater harvesting, wetland restoration, and natural riverbank stabilisation. Information available from the EC H2020 RECONECT project as well as other available data for the specific study areas was used. The research highlights the significance of incorporating machine learning, GIS, and remote sensing techniques for the suitable allocation of large-scale NBSs. The findings may offer new insights for decision-makers and other stakeholders involved in future sustainable environmental planning and climate change adaptation.European Union Horizon 202

Nonlinear simulation of masonry vaults under earthquake loading

Masonry vaults are present in a large number of historical structures and often used as flooring and roofing systems in monumental palaces and religious buildings, typically incorporating no backfill. Many of these structures are located in seismic regions and have been shown to be particularly vulnerable during recent earthquakes, with a need for accurate modelling to avoid future losses. Masonry vaults are often analysed using limit analysis procedures under the hypotheses of no-tension material and absence of sliding along the masonry joints. However, this method can be inaccurate for barrel vaults found in buildings, which are typically slender with no backfill. In this case, the masonry tensile strength and the progressive damage propagation play an important role in the nonlinear behaviour and ultimate strength of the vault. In this study, a detailed mesoscale finite element mesoscale approach is used to model slender unreinforced barrel vaults subjected to cyclic quasi-static and dynamic loading. According to this approach, 3D solid elements connected by 2D damage-plasticity interfaces are used to represent the arrangement of bricks and mortar present in the masonry. The proposed numerical description is first validated against the results from physical tests on a barrel vault under quasi-static cyclic loading. Subsequently, the shear response of a prototype vault is analysed by performing nonlinear simulations under prescribed horizontal displacements at the supports, considering also the influence of previous damage induced by earthquakes with different magnitudes

Refined localization and yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) contig-mapping of genes and DNA segments in the 7q21-q32 region

The chromosome localizations for 159 gene and DNA segments have been refined to one of five intervals in the 7q21-q32 region through hybridization analysis with a panel of somatic cell hybrid lines. Seventy-two of these chromosome 7 markers are also mapped on common or overlapping yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) clones. In addition, the breakpoints of chromosome rearrangment contained in five of the somatic cell hybrid lines have been defined by flanking probes within YAC contigs. To provide a framework for further mapping of the 7q21-q32 region, we have established the physical order of a set of reference markers: cen-(COL1A2-D7S15-CYP3A4-PON)-D7S456-(breakpoint contained in cell hybrid 1EF2/3/K017)-GUSB-D7S186-ASL-(PGY1-PGY3-GNB2-EPO-ACHE)-D7S238- (proximal breakpoint in GM1059-Rag5)-D7S240-(CUTL1-PLANHI)-(breakpoints in 1CF2/5/K016 and 2068Rag22-2)-(PRKAR2B-D7S13)-LAMB1-(breakpoint in JSR-17S)-DLD-D7S16-MET-WNT2-CFTR-D7S8-tel.link_to_subscribed_fulltex