Influence of rebar diameter in concrete cracking studied using a discrete crack approach

The ability to model fracture propagation is critical to predict the structural response of a concrete member and possible failure mechanisms. Even for structures under normal service loads, good estimations on the overall deflections and associated stiffness are highly dependent on the onset of fracture and resulting crack pattern, both directly related with the tension-stiffening effect. With the aim of developing robust models to capture this behaviour, a preliminary numerical study is herein presented on the influence of rebar diameter in the cracking pattern of concrete beams captured numerically. Focus is first given to the performance of the numerical model and its mesh objectivity. Experimental results from concrete beams tested under flexural loads are adopted for validation. Two very distinct rebar diameters are used to assess the ability of the model in predicting the average crack opening, maximum crack opening and average crack spacing for a wide range of loads.ARC DE150101703, ARC DP14010052

O reforço de vigas de betão armado com chapas metálicas coladas com resina

Neste trabalho efectua-se a simulação do reforço com chapas metálicas coladas com resinas epoxy, em vigas de betão armado. Cada viga é inicialmente carregada à flexão e submetida a um elevado nível de dano. Posteriormente, sob carga constante, as fendas são reparadas com resina epoxy e aplica-se o reforço, colando a chapa metálica na face traccionada da viga. Conclui-se o teste aumentando a carga até se obter a rotura da viga reforçada. O nível de dano pré-reforço é modelado recorrendo a uma abordagem discreta com fendas embebidas e a ligação betão-resina-chapa é modelada em modo II de fractura através de elementos de interface com espessura inicial nula. Os resultados numéricos são comparados com os resultados obtidos em vigas ensaiadas experimentalmente de acordo com os procedimentos referidos

Numerical modelling of concrete beams at serviceability conditions with a discrete crack approach and non-iterative solution-finding algorithms

This paper describes the development and validation of a comprehensive numerical model enabling the simulation of reinforced concrete beams at serviceability conditions using a discrete crack approach. The highly non-linear behaviour introduced by the different material models and the multiple cracks localising and propagating within the member pose a challenging task to classic iterative solvers, which often fail to converge. This limitation is solved with a non-iterative solution-finding algorithm, in which a total approach is used to overcome critical bifurcation points. The finite element model is validated using experimental data concerning lightweight aggregate concrete beams under flexural loading. The model is shown to properly simulate both overall and particular features of the structural response, including curvature, crack openings and crack patterns. The model is then applied to carry out a small parametric study on the role of the longitudinal reinforcement ratio and crack widths in reinforced concrete beams.ARC DE150101703, FCT UID/ ECI/04029/201

Partial safety factors for prestressed concrete girders 2 strengthened with CFRP laminates

This paper provides a framework for the calibration of partial safety factors in prestressed concrete (PC) girders strengthened in flexure with carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminates. A hybrid approach was proposed to take advantage of comprehensive nonlinear numerical models in reliability analysis using a first-order reliability method (FORM) in conjunction with the response surface method (RSM). The PC girders selected for analyses were taken from real structures designed and built in the 1980s based on old standards that now require strengthening and upgrade due to partial corrosion of the prestressing strands. Using the proposed approach, a sensitivity analysis was performed to identify the most relevant variables and assess the area of CFRP laminates needed to restore capacity up to new design standards. A partial safety factor was proposed for strengthening PC girders using CFRP laminates. Sensitivity analysis showed that traffic loads and model uncertainties are the most important variables for calibration. (C) 2019 American Society of Civil Engineers.Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation (FCT)Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology [SFRH/BD/76345/2011]Australian Research CouncilAustralian Research Council [DE150101703, LP140100591]FCT, within Institute for Sustainability and Innovation in Structural Engineering (ISISE) [UID/ECI/04029/2013]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Partial safety factors for prestressed concrete girders strengthened with CFRP laminates

This paper provides a framework for the calibration of partial safety factors in prestressed concrete (PC) girders strengthened in flexure with carbon fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminates. A hybrid approach was proposed to take advantage of comprehensive non-linear numerical models in reliability analysis using a first order reliability method (FORM) in conjunction to the response surface method (RSM). The PC girders selected for analyses were taken from real structures designed and built since the 1980s, based on old standards, now requiring strengthening and upgrade due to partial corrosion of prestressing strands. Using the proposed approach, a sensitivity analysis was performed to identify the most relevant variables and assess the area of CFRP laminates needed to restore the capacity to new design standards. Following this study, a partial safety factor was proposed for strengthening PC girders using CFRP laminates. A sensitivity analysis also showed the traffic loads and model uncertainties to be the most important variables for calibration

Music and drama in primary schools in the Madeira Island - Narratives of ownership and leadership

Este artigo foi uma das publicações resultantes do projeto financiado pela FCT "Música e Drama no 1º ciclo do Ensino básico – o caso da Região Autónoma da Madeira" (PTDC/CED/72112/2006).A three-year-case study funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) from the Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education was designed to study a 30-year project of music and drama in primary schools in Madeira. This article reports on the narratives of the three main figures in the project as they elaborate on its construction according to the following themes: innovation, philosophies of music education and teacher education. Through the lens of a narrative inquiry, the discourses produced are analysed, taking into account the emerging concepts of ownership and leadership.

Cork oak and climate change: disentangling drought effects on cork chemical composition

Climate change induces in the Mediterranean region more frequent and extreme events, namely, heat waves and droughts, disturbing forest species and affecting their productivity and product quality. The cork oak (Quercus suber) is present along the western Mediterranean basin and its outer bark (cork) is sustainably collected and used for several products, mainly wine bottle stoppers. Since most cork properties arise from its chemical composition, this research studies the effect of drought on cork chemical composition (suberin, lignin, polysaccharides and extractives) and on polysaccharide and suberin monomeric composition. Three sets of cork samples, from the same site, were examined: in one set the cork grew without drought; in another two drought events occurred during cork growth and in the third one drought event happened. The results show that, in general, drought does not affect the proportion of the main components of cork, the monomers of suberin or of polysaccharides, with few exceptions e.g. drought increased ethanol extractives and xylose in polysaccharides and decreased arabinose in polysaccharides. The variability associated to the tree is much more relevant than the effect of drought conditions and affects all the parameters analyzed. Therefore, our research suggests that the tree genetic information, or its expression, plays a much more important role on the chemical composition of cork than the drought conditions occurring during cork growth. In practical terms, the potential increased occurrence of droughts arising from climatic changes will not compromise the performance of cork as a sealant for wine bottlesinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A Survey on Continuous Time Computations

We provide an overview of theories of continuous time computation. These theories allow us to understand both the hardness of questions related to continuous time dynamical systems and the computational power of continuous time analog models. We survey the existing models, summarizing results, and point to relevant references in the literature

Para que servem os inventários de fauna?

Inventários de fauna acessam diretamente a diversidade de uma localidade, em um determinado espaço e tempo. Os dados primários gerados pelos inventários compõem uma das ferramentas mais importantes na tomada de decisões a respeito do manejo de áreas naturais. Entretanto, vários problemas têm sido observados em diversos níveis relacionados aos inventários de fauna no Brasil e vão desde a formação de recursos humanos até a ausência de padronização, de desenho experimental e de seleção de métodos inadequados. São apresentados estudos de caso com mamíferos, répteis, anfíbios e peixes, nos quais são discutidos problemas como variabilidade temporal e métodos para detecção de fauna terrestre, sugerindo que tanto os inventários quanto os programas de monitoramento devam se estender por prazos maiores e que os inventários devem incluir diferentes metodologias para que os seus objetivos sejam plenamente alcançados.Inventories of fauna directly access the diversity of a locality in a certain period of time. The primary data generated by these inventories comprise one of the most important steps in decisions making regarding the management of natural areas. However, several problems have been observed at different levels related to inventories of fauna in Brazil, and range from the training of humans to the lack of standardization of experimental design and selection of inappropriate methods. We present case studies of mammals, reptiles, amphibians and fishes, where they discussed issues such temporal variability and methods for detection of terrestrial fauna, suggesting that both inventories and monitoring programs should be extended for longer terms and that inventories should include different methodologies to ensure that their goals are fully achieved