Coherence and contradiction in Prefab Modular Aggregative Systems. Early experiences of organic growth based on the addition of prefab cells

Technology has been a fundamental factor in understanding the great social changes that took place during the 20th century. The progress made in the implementation of industrial organizational processes led to a quick development of aeronautics, the automotive industry and, to a lesser extent, construction. The application of industrialization techniques to the collective dwelling generated new formal compositions and architectural theories. Occasionally, idea and construction have advanced together (coherence), developing buildings based on the aggregation of prefabricated three-dimensional cells. In other cases, some projects tried to replicate the proper forms of three-dimensional modular aggregation, without using the characteristic technology that generates these forms (contradiction). This paper analyzes the relationship between the architectural concept (idea) and the technological system (construction) in post-war prefabricated housing buildings. Different compositional (shape) and structural (matter) models are identified, and the concept of “basic prefabricated module” and its variants are defined: geometric (modular frames), functional (housing unit) and / or constructive (cell or capsule)

Current Problems Involving the Dismantle of Asbestos- Cement Sheets in Buildings. The Case of Central Market in Alicante

The project and the works described in this article mainly deal with the removal of the current asbestos-cement covering of the roof of the Central Market in Alicante and its replacement with zinc diamond-shaped scales, similar to the originals which were implemented in 1921 when the building was put into service. These upgrades were necessary to avoid the causes (and consequences) of rainwater infiltration, as described in an earlier report in 2006, also drafted by the author of this article. The article illustrates the difficulties involving the practical application of Spanish Code RD 396/2006 (minimum safety and health requirements for work with risk of exposure to asbestos) in a complex case such as this, especially with regard to aspects such as economic (increasing costs), technical (increased difficulty of implementation), and the total duration of the work (total increase in duration due to interference with other trades)

Ventilated Stone Veneer: Mechanical Behaviour, Calculation Methodologies, Major Pathologies and Existing Tests

The increase of building pathologies related to the use of stone materials and the use of ventilated stone veneers, requires the reformulation of design concepts in building façades and also the reformulation of the architectural project. The aim of this paper is to identify, analyze and evaluate synthetically building pathologies in stone ventilated façades in order to obtain the main technical conditions to be considered in the architectural design, by interpreting its mechanical behavior and capabilities to prevent such pathologies and to ensure the proper features during the building lifetime. The methodology is based on both laboratory stone tests and in situ tests about construction systems, by analyzing physical and mechanical behavior of the outer layer in relation to other building requirements. The results imply the need of proper sizing, specific quality control and practical application of calculation methods, to control high concentration pressures in ventilated façades by reaching appropriate project solutions. In conclusion, the research about different pathologies of stone ventilated façades, the study of their mechanical behavior, their anchorage and their connection with their constructive aspects, will help to improve the construction quality of the stone ventilated façade in buildings and to enhance the use of natural stone in modern architecture

Photopolymers comparison for see-through applications

We have developed a coupled waveguide system based on slanted transmission gratings recorded in photopolymers. In this work we compare the behavior of four different photopolymers for this high demanded application.This work was supported by the “Generalitat Valenciana” of Spain (projects PROMETEO/2021/006 and IDIFEDER/2021/014, cofunded by European Union through the FEDER Programme) and by the Universidad de Alicante, Spain (UATALENTO18-10; ACIE-20-10)

Study of the conservation of different holograms sandwiched between glasses

Photopolymers are designed and engineered with versatile applications including optics and photonics. Holography is one of the classical porpoises that use photopolymers as holographic recording materials. The success of these materials can be seen in the market with the photopolymer fabricated by Covestro. Some of these holographic applications require a long-time life of the holograms recorded in photopolymers. Nevertheless, initial tests of Covestro holograms show significant degradation after less than one year of exposure even after sealing and degradation occurs under solar light exposition. In this sense, it is important to perform deeper studies of the different possibilities for hologram conservation. Usually, the first step after recording is the material cure, with UV or visible light, to eliminate the residual dye and monomer. With this process high efficiency holograms can also be obtained. Afterwards, an index matching technique can be used to cover the material with a glass or it is possible the application of aerosol sealant. In this paper we analyze the introduction of holograms between two glasses linked by pressure, using Bayfol HX 200 from Covestro as the recording material. In order to characterize the process, four different spatial frequencies were tested, which were stored either by transmission or reflection schemes. The data of the reconstruction step has been measured before and after the encapsulation. In addition, multiple holograms have been superposed in the same glass, where we have found that shrinkage is more significant.The work was supported by the “Generalitat Valenciana” (Spain) project PROMETEO/2021/006 and by the ‘‘Universidad de Alicante’’ (UATALENTO18-10; ACIE-20-10). Generalitat Valenciana (Spain) (IDIFEDER/2021/014, cofunded by European Union through the FEDER Programme and “Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación” of Spain (project PID2021-123124OB-I00)

OBL2013

En este estudio nueve estudiantes de últimos cursos de grado y postgrado han desarrollado competencias emprendedoras mediante la mentorización y evaluación de grupos de estudiantes de primer curso. Cada estudiante de último curso o de postgrado ha llevado a cabo la mentorización de dos grupos de estudiantes en la realización de un trabajo bibliográfico en equipo desarrollado en la asignatura OBLII de primer curso del Grado en Química. Para llevar a cabo dicha mentorización los estudiantes-tutores han realizado entre 6 y 10 reuniones con el equipo durante el semestre y finalmente han evaluado una serie de competencias transversales que suponen el 12% de la calificación de la asignatura. En todo momento ha existido una comunicación entre el estudiante-tutor y el profesor de la asignatura que finalmente corrige el trabajo realizado por los estudiantes. Mediante este sistema, los estudiantes-tutores no solo han sido capaces de transmitir a los estudiantes de nuevo ingreso nuevas metodologías de trabajo, habilidades para la búsqueda de información o como gestionar el tiempo, sino que han desarrollado una serie de competencias transversales como la capacidad de liderar un equipo, la capacidad y espíritu crítico o la comunicación oral adquiriendo así competencias emprendedoras de gran utilidad para su incorporación al mundo laboral

Angolan vegetable crops have unique genotypes of potential value for future breeding programmes

[EN] A survey was carried out in Angola with the aim of collecting vegetable crops. Collecting expeditions were conducted in Kwanza-Sul, Benguela, Huila and Namibe Provinces and a total of 80 accessions belonging to 22 species was collected from farmers and local markets. Species belonging to the Solanaceae (37 accessions) and Cucurbitaceae (36 accessions) families were the most frequently found with pepper and eggplant being the predominant solanaceous crops collected. Peppers were sold in local markets as a mixture of different types, even different species: Capsicum chinense, C. baccatum, C. frutescens and C. pubescens. Most of the eggplant accessions collected belonged to Solanum aethiopicum L. Gilo Group, the so-called 'scarlet eggplant'. Cucurbita genus was better represented than the other cucurbit crops. A high morphological variation was present in the Cucurbita maxima and C. moschata accessions. A set of 22 Cucurbita accessions from Angola, along with 32 Cucurbita controls from a wide range of origins, was cultivated in Valencia, Spain and characterised based on morphology and molecularity using a set of 15 microsatellite markers. A strong dependence on latitude was found in most of the accessions and as a result, many accessions did not set fruit. The molecular analysis showed high molecular variability and uniqueness in the collected accessions, as shown by their segregation from the set of global controls. In summary, the material collected is quite valuable because of its uniqueness and the potential of the breeding characteristics it possesses.This work, project A1/039611/11, was funded by the Agencia Espanola de Cooperacion Internacional para el Desarrollo (Spanish Agency of International Cooperation for the Development).Domingos, J.; Fita, A.; Picó Sirvent, MB.; Sifres Cuerda, AG.; Daniel, IH.; Salvador, J.; Pedro, J.... (2016). Angolan vegetable crops have unique genotypes of potential value for future breeding programmes. South African Journal of Science. 112(3):114-125. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/97771S114125112

Efficient and stable holographic gratings stored in an environmentally friendly photopolymer

Holographic gratings stored in low-toxicity photopolymer, Biophotopol, have been analyzed to achieve stable and efficient holograms. A curing process allows the hologram stabilization, but at the same time, it could produce a diffraction efficiency (DE) reduction. Here, a detailed low-cost LED curing protocol is shown to stabilize over time 1205 l/mm transmission holograms, and at the same time, a 33% DE increment (with respect non-curing holograms) have been demonstrated. Finally, to obtain a better understanding of DE change, a theoretical fit of our experimental result, based on Kogelnik’s coupled wave theory was carried out and discussed.Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, Spain, under projects FIS2017-82919-R (MINECO/AE/FEDER, UE) and FIS2015-66570-P (MINECO/FEDER); Generalitat Valenciana, Spain, under project CDEIGENT/2018/024 and GRE17-06