Behaviour of the Structure during the Fire

Chapter 8 in the book: The Dalmarnock Fire Tests: Experiments and Modelling, Edited by G. Rein, C. Abecassis Empis and R. Carvel, Published by the School of Engineering and Electronics, University of Edinburgh, 2007. ISBN 978-0-9557497-0-4the understanding of the global behaviour of heated concrete structures has received relatively little attention. This is in part due to the lack of experimental data on complete concrete structures in fire and in part due to the difficulties associated with numerical modelling of concrete structures. Fire tests on concrete structures are infrequent. Prior to the Dalmarnock test discussed here, the most complete set of test data available was that produced by a fire test on the reinforced concrete frame at Cardington, UK (Bailey, 2002; Canisius et al., 2003). Unfortunately this test suffered from instrumentation failure prior to the end of the test and so the dataset is incomplete. More recently, a number of tests have been conducted on model-scale concrete slabs with the aim of verifying design methods for composite structures in fire. However, the data available on heated concrete structures until the Dalmarnock tests remained very limited. In order to alleviate this lack of data, the Dalmarnock structure was heavily instrumented prior to Test One. The type of instrumentation installed, the results and their implications are the focus of this chapter. Dalmarnock Test One was the first structural test on a heated concrete structure in which both the fire and the structure were instrumented

Development and validation of a generalised engineering methodology for thermal analysis of structural members in fire

Presented at 5th International Seminar on Fire & Explosion Hazards, Edinburgh 23-27 April 2007A novel methodology for generalising CFD-based approaches for thermal analysis of protected steelwork in fire has been developed, known as GeniSTELA. This is a quasi-3D approach with computation of a "steel temperature field" parameter in each computational cell. The methodology accommodates both uncertainties in the input parameters and possible variants to the specification by means of parallel calculations. A framework for the inclusion of temperature/time-dependent thermal properties, including the effects of moisture and intumescence, has been established. Indicative values of intumescent material properties have been obtained by means of cone calorimeter testing. These are dependent on initial thickness and exposure heat flux. GeniSTELA has been implemented as a submodel within the SOFIE RANS CFD code. The model is validated against measurements from the BRE large compartment fire tests, which involved well-instrumented post-flashover fires in a 12 x 12m compartment, including steel indicatives with and without protection. Sensitivity studies reveal the expected strong dependencies on structural member specification and properties of protection materials. The computational requirements are addressed, considering aspects such as the number of simultaneous cases and frequency of GeniSTELA call, in order to achieve a reasonable balance between fluid and solid-phase analyses. It is established that the model can be a practical tool, performing c. 10-100 simultaneous thermal calculations before becoming dominant. These steel temperature field predictions provided by GeniSTELA can provide far more flexibility in assessing the thermal response of structures to fire than is available via existing methods

Aptamer-based multiplexed proteomic technology for biomarker discovery

Interrogation of the human proteome in a highly multiplexed and efficient manner remains a coveted and challenging goal in biology. We present a new aptamer-based proteomic technology for biomarker discovery capable of simultaneously measuring thousands of proteins from small sample volumes (15 [mu]L of serum or plasma). Our current assay allows us to measure ~800 proteins with very low limits of detection (1 pM average), 7 logs of overall dynamic range, and 5% average coefficient of variation. This technology is enabled by a new generation of aptamers that contain chemically modified nucleotides, which greatly expand the physicochemical diversity of the large randomized nucleic acid libraries from which the aptamers are selected. Proteins in complex matrices such as plasma are measured with a process that transforms a signature of protein concentrations into a corresponding DNA aptamer concentration signature, which is then quantified with a DNA microarray. In essence, our assay takes advantage of the dual nature of aptamers as both folded binding entities with defined shapes and unique sequences recognizable by specific hybridization probes. To demonstrate the utility of our proteomics biomarker discovery technology, we applied it to a clinical study of chronic kidney disease (CKD). We identified two well known CKD biomarkers as well as an additional 58 potential CKD biomarkers. These results demonstrate the potential utility of our technology to discover unique protein signatures characteristic of various disease states. More generally, we describe a versatile and powerful tool that allows large-scale comparison of proteome profiles among discrete populations. This unbiased and highly multiplexed search engine will enable the discovery of novel biomarkers in a manner that is unencumbered by our incomplete knowledge of biology, thereby helping to advance the next generation of evidence-based medicine

Learning from Blackpool Promenade: Re-enchanting sterile streets

In this article, the authors contend that contemporary urban streets are over-regulated, preoccupied with surveillance, commercial requirements and rapid transit, aesthetically homogeneous and sensually sterile. As an exemplary site of contrast, the article focuses on the recently redesigned Blackpool Promenade. First, it argues that this redesign honours the resort’s popular traditions, its potent heritage and the importance of innovation. Second, it explores how the promenade fosters playful interactions, conviviality and lingering. Third, the article focuses on sensory attributes that enhance the experience of promenaders

Clinical development of new drug-radiotherapy combinations.

In countries with the best cancer outcomes, approximately 60% of patients receive radiotherapy as part of their treatment, which is one of the most cost-effective cancer treatments. Notably, around 40% of cancer cures include the use of radiotherapy, either as a single modality or combined with other treatments. Radiotherapy can provide enormous benefit to patients with cancer. In the past decade, significant technical advances, such as image-guided radiotherapy, intensity-modulated radiotherapy, stereotactic radiotherapy, and proton therapy enable higher doses of radiotherapy to be delivered to the tumour with significantly lower doses to normal surrounding tissues. However, apart from the combination of traditional cytotoxic chemotherapy with radiotherapy, little progress has been made in identifying and defining optimal targeted therapy and radiotherapy combinations to improve the efficacy of cancer treatment. The National Cancer Research Institute Clinical and Translational Radiotherapy Research Working Group (CTRad) formed a Joint Working Group with representatives from academia, industry, patient groups and regulatory bodies to address this lack of progress and to publish recommendations for future clinical research. Herein, we highlight the Working Group's consensus recommendations to increase the number of novel drugs being successfully registered in combination with radiotherapy to improve clinical outcomes for patients with cancer.National Institute for Health ResearchThis is the final version of the article. It first appeared from Nature Publishing Group via http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nrclinonc.2016.7

Dynamic assessment of a FRP suspension footbridge through field testing and finite element modelling

The use of advanced fibre composite materials in bridge engineering offers alternative solutions to structural problems compared to traditional construction materials. Advanced composite or fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) materials have high strength to weight ratios, which can be especially beneficial where dead load or material handling considerations govern a design. However, the reduced weight and stiffness of FRP footbridges results in generally poorer dynamic performance, and vibration serviceability is likely to govern their design to avoid the footbridge being "too lively". This study investigates the dynamic behaviour of the 51.3 m span Wilcott FRP suspension footbridge. The assessment is performed through a combination of field testing and finite element analysis, and the measured performance of the bridge is being used to calibrate the model through an updating procedure. The resulting updated model allowed detailed interpretation of the results. It showed that nonstructural members such as the parapets can influence the dynamic behaviour of slender, lightweight footbridges, and consequently their contribution must be included during the dynamic assessment of a structure. The test data showed that the FRP footbridge is prone to pedestrian induced vibrations, although the measured response levels were lower than limits specified in relevant standards