Research roadmap for information integration in construction

This Roadmap is developed for a challenging Global environment where fundamental paradigms such as data generation and analysis, are shifting at a seismic rate, while change in Construction Industries across the Globe is, in the main, confined to large-scale projects and slow. Against this background, the authors set out to also give a ‘voice’ to small-to-medium-scale projects through which the construction output Worldwide is delivered. Hence, project scale was one of the key considerations throughout this Roadmap. Moreover, the authors conceptualized data integration by taking the realities of ‘doing business’ in construction into consideration. The emergent framework facilitates the discussion of knowledge and data integration at organisational, team, operational and technical levels across key project phases. This approach recognizes that business is done through projects but change can only come about if appropriate organizational structures and processes are put in place. Last, but not least, the authors strived to ensure that data integration was not considered solely from a technical perspective. Organisational, team and individual aspects of data integration were integrated in the research framework. Through our work the individual’s willingness to collaborate emerged as a critical driver for high levels of integration, while our survey did identify “Reluctance to work across professional boundaries” as a major barrier to integration. Hence, we conclude that research on integration should pay due attention to the individual

Research roadmap for information integration in construction

This Roadmap is developed for a challenging Global environment where fundamental paradigms such as data generation and analysis, are shifting at a seismic rate, while change in Construction Industries across the Globe is, in the main, confined to large-scale projects and slow. Against this background, the authors set out to also give a ‘voice’ to small-to-medium-scale projects through which the construction output Worldwide is delivered. Hence, project scale was one of the key considerations throughout this Roadmap. Moreover, the authors conceptualized data integration by taking the realities of ‘doing business’ in construction into consideration. The emergent framework facilitates the discussion of knowledge and data integration at organisational, team, operational and technical levels across key project phases. This approach recognizes that business is done through projects but change can only come about if appropriate organizational structures and processes are put in place. Last, but not least, the authors strived to ensure that data integration was not considered solely from a technical perspective. Organisational, team and individual aspects of data integration were integrated in the research framework. Through our work the individual’s willingness to collaborate emerged as a critical driver for high levels of integration, while our survey did identify “Reluctance to work across professional boundaries” as a major barrier to integration. Hence, we conclude that research on integration should pay due attention to the individual

A damage-plasticity interface approach to the meso-scale modelling of concrete subjected to cyclic compressive loading

Concrete is characterised by stiff inclusions in a soft matrix separated by weak interfacial transition zones (ITZs). Subjected to cyclic loading, this material exhibits a strongly nonlinear response, which is characterised by the occurrence of hysteresis loops. Furthermore, for cyclic loading, failure may occur before the equivalent strength for monotonic loading is reached. The present work investigates, whether the occurrence of permanent displacements in different phases of the meso-structure of quasi-brittle heterogeneous materials, such as concrete, leads to damage evolution during repeated loading. A new three-dimensional interface model based on a combination of damage mechanics and the theory of plasticity is proposed, which allows one to control the ratio of permanent and total inelastic displacements. The model is based on only a few material parameters, which can be directly determined by experiments. The interface model is applied to the plane-stress analysis of an idealised heterogeneous material with cylindrical inclusions and ITZs subjected to cyclic compressive stresses

A parametric study of the meso-scale modelling of concrete subjected to cyclic compression

The present parametric study deals with the meso-scale modelling of concrete subjected to cyclic compression, which exhibits hysteresis loops during unloading and reloading. Concrete is idealised as a two-dimensional three-phase composite made of aggregates, mortar and interfacial transition zones (ITZs). The meso-scale modelling approach relies on the hypothesis that the hysteresis loops are caused by localised permanent displacements, which result in nonlinear fracture processes during unloading and reloading. A parametric study is carried out to investigate how aggregate density and size, amount of permanent displacements in the ITZ and the mortar, and the ITZ strength influence the hysteresis loops obtained with the meso-scale modelling approach

Non-Linear Analysis and Remaining Fatigue Life of Reinforced Concrete Bridges

The work provides methods for non-linear structural analysis and fatigue safety evaluation in assessment of existing railway bridges. The use of non-linear analysis leads to higher load carrying capacities, but also to improved understanding of the structural response, forming a better basis for decisions in the assessment. The methods for fatigue assessment lead to increased remaining service life of reinforced concrete railway bridges. The achievements of the work are: • Models for assessment of concrete bridges by non-linear analysis are described, and examples and general recommendations for practical application of the methods aregiven. • An overview of the effect of corrosion on the bond properties has been developed through non-linear analyses and tests found in literature. Recommendations for practical assessment of anchorage capacity in corroded railway concrete bridges are presented. • The determination of reliable in-situ material properties in old concrete bridges is described,including properties for fully probabilistic analysis. A particular aim was to develop better methods to describe development of concrete properties with age and degree of hydration. • Recommendations are given regarding re-distribution of sectional forces and moments, obtained through linear structural analysis (with FEM). In a case study, a typical slab bridge was designed using different methods, and its response evaluated through nonlinearanalyses. • A good understanding of the load-carrying mechanisms in combined bending-shear-torsion gives a possibility to make more accurate assessments than with standard code methods. Methods and examples are presented. • A state-of-the-art review of fatigue behaviour of reinforced concrete railway bridges is presented and a methodology to assess the remaining fatigue life of existing reinforced concrete bridges subjected to railway traffic is developed.EC Sixth Framework Program, Sustainable Bridges – Assessment for Future Traffic Demands and Longer Lives, TIP3-CT-2003-00165