Seismic analysis and risk mitigation of existing constructions

Following a thorough and lengthy procedure, we would like to thank all contributors for their highest calibre papers, which comprise the Special Issue on \u201cSeismic analysis and risk mitigation of existing constructions\u201d of the Open Construction and Building Technology Journal. The topic of the Special Issue encompasses a large number of issues spanning the design of special interventions for the reduction of the effects of earthquakes on civil structures and infrastructures, to the structural identification and assessment issues. The field of seismic engineering is continuously looking for new strategies and methods, which empower the designers and make them able to obtain more accurate response predictions. Researchers are involved in this process and are called to successfully encounter new challenges emerging from the increasing need for the assessment of existing constructions, especially when assuming strategic roles. As is also reflected by the papers presented in the Special Issue, the continuous advances of the research in this field moves across two basic directions. On the one hand, there is the direction of the robustness and the reliability of the recent nonlinear seismic assessment methods (static, dynamic, incremental dynamic). Several approaches can be followed to predict the response of structures to strong ground motions; however the results coming from each of them are in some cases conflicting and not always amenable to easy interpretation. On the other hand, the reliability of structural models still remains a major task of structural engineering and of seismic engineering in particular. Mathematical models have to reproduce the physics of structures and its evolution during complex damaging processes. Global and local models tend to reflect this by minimizing the loss of information. In the Special Issue, we are proud to present state-of-the-art research findings described in detail in 9 papers authored by 27 researchers of different universities in Italy, California (USA), Greece and United Kingdom. The papers deal with the seismic analysis and risk mitigation aiming to address different purposes by proposing numerical, analytical approaches and experimental tests

La Stima dei Moduli Elastici delle Murature Secondo le Norme Tecniche: il Confronto con la Sperimentazione

Nel presente lavoro viene proposto uno studio sperimentale per la caratterizzazione meccanica di diverse tipologie di muratura. Vengono in particolare valutati i moduli elastici longitudinali e tangenziali che come è noto condizionano la risposta di sistemi murari sotto carichi laterali. I valori sperimentali sono confrontati con quelli stimabili per mezzo dei modelli proposti dalle normative tecniche italiana (DM 14/01/2008) e europea (Eurocodice 6). Lo studio prende spunto dalla questio posta dalla norma americana (MSJC 2008) che, pur proponendo l’uso di tali modelli, riconosce la poca sperimentazione eseguita a supporto della loro validazione. La campagna sperimentale ha incluso prove di compressione sui componenti (malte e blocchi), prove di compressione diagonale e prove di compressione ordinaria (in direzione ortogonale ai letti di malta) su porzioni di muratura. I risultati conseguiti hanno consentito la valutazione diretta dei moduli elastici e successivamente di ottenere le grandezze meccaniche necessarie per l’utilizzo dei succitati modelli normativi

Modelling failure analysis of RC frame structures with masonry infills under sudden column losses

Abstract Robustness of structures is fundamental to limit progressive collapse of buildings in case of accidental loss of columns due to explosions, impacts or materials deterioration. Modelling of progressive collapse response of reinforced concrete (RC) frame structures needs considering extreme geometric and mechanical nonlinearities. Moreover, in the case of infilled frames the collapse mechanism becomes more complex because of the frame-infill interaction. This paper presents a numerical study aimed at proposing: a) an appropriate fiber-section modeling methodology for reinforced concrete frames under large displacement progressive collapse events; b) a new multi-strut fiber macro-element model to account for the influence of masonry infills in the progressive collapse response. Proposed numerical models are developed using the OpenSees software platform. The predictive capacity of the proposed methodology is widely validated in the paper through comparisons with experimental test results and refined numerical simulation pushdown test results. Results show that the new equivalent-strut modeling approach can be suitably employed as a simple assessment method when numerical simulation of progressive collapse scenarios is needed for bare and infilled reinforced concrete frames

Treatment of high strength industrial wastewater with membrane bioreactors for water reuse: Effect of pre-treatment with aerobic granular sludge on system performance and fouling tendency

In this study, the treatment of citrus wastewater with membrane bioreactors (MBRs) under different configurations was investigated for water reuse. In particular, one MBR and one aerobic granular sludge MBR (AGS+MBR) bench scale plants were operated for 60 days. The experimental campaign was divided into two periods. In Phase I, a conventional hollow fiber MBR was employed for the treatment of the raw high strength wastewater, whereas in Phase II a combination of in-series reactors (AGS plus MBR) was adopted for the treatment of the high strength citrus wastewater The results demonstrated that both plant configurations enabled very high COD removal, with average values close to 99%. Respirometric batch tests revealed a considerable high metabolic activity of the biomass in both plant configurations, with higher values in the AGS+MBR. It was speculated that the MBR reactor enriched in active biomass deriving from the erosion of the external granule layers in the upstream reactor. In terms of fouling tendency, higher resistance to filtration was observed in the AGS+MBR plant, also characterized by higher irremovable resistance increase compared to the MBR plant that might severely affect the membrane service life

Combination of the OSA process with thermal treatment at moderate temperature for excess sludge minimization

This study investigated the chance to couple the conventional Oxic Settling Anaerobic (OSA) process with a thermic treatment at moderate temperature (35 \ub0C). The maximum excess sludge reduction rate (80%) was achieved when the plant was operated under 3 h of hydraulic retention time (HRT). Compared with the conventional OSA system, the thermic treatment enabled a further improvement in excess sludge minimization of 35%. The observed yield coefficient decreased from 0.25 gTSS gCOD 121 to 0.10 gTSS gCOD 121 when the temperature in the anaerobic reactor was increased to 35 \ub0C, despite the lower HRT (3 h vs 6 h). Moreover, the thermic treatment enabled the decrease of filamentous bacteria, thereby improving the sludge settling properties. The thermic treatment enhanced the destruction of extracellular polymeric substances and the increase of endogenous decay rate (from 0.64 d 121 to 1.16 d 121) that reduced the biomass active fraction (from 22% to 4%)

New body metrics to determine asteroid size and weight directly in the field

Asteroids are an important group of predators in many marine ecosystems. The measure of body size is crucial in studying asteroid biology as this variable affects both prey selection and predation impact. Current field techniques for estimating asteroid size (i.e. total length TL, total weight TW) include the measure of correlated variables, such us the central disk (CD) and arm length (AL). However, these variables are often time-consuming and require a direct handling of the organism. We tested the accuracy of new asteroid body metrics, the arm height (AH) or arm width (AW), to rapidly estimate body size in asteroids. AH and AW were measured in three of the most common Mediterranean asteroids (Marthasterias glacialis, Ophidiaster ophidianus and Coscinasterias tenuispina), sampled from April to August 2008, along the coasts of Ustica Island off the northern coast of Sicily. We used both linear and exponential regression analyses to compare the performance of AH, AL, AW and CD in estimat- ing size for the three species studied. Results suggest that, in M. glacialis and C. tenuispina, AH is strongly correlated (p<0.001) with both TL and TW, whereas in O. ophidianus it gives a good correlation (p<0.001) with TW only. AW was poorly correlated with both TL and TW in M. glacialis and C. tenuispina, but not in O. ophidianus, where it showed the highest correlation with TW. Thus, only the novel AH measure constitutes a convenient and reliable way of measuring asteroid body size in the field.peer-reviewe

Influence of the Oxic-Settling-Anaerobic (OSA) Process on Methane Production by Anaerobic Digestion of Sewage Sludge

The present study evaluated different sludge-reduction mechanisms in the oxic-settling-anaerobic (OSA) process in terms of their effects on methane productivity by anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge. Two different layouts were investigated for the sludge return from an anaerobic side-stream reactor (ASSR) to the anoxic (scheme A) or the aerobic (scheme B) reactor of a pre-denitrification plant. Biochemical methane-potential (BMP) assays performed on the excess sludge revealed that scheme A promoted an overall increase of methane production in the OSA (20 mLCH4 gVSS−1d−1, +19%), although compared with a control CAS plant a significant decrease in the excess sludge production (31%) was obtained. Operating conditions in scheme A caused the occurrence of cell lysis and EPS hydrolysis, thereby increasing the biodegradability of sludge. In contrast, scheme B favoured the occurrence of uncoupling and a maintenance metabolism that did not involve sludge hydrolysis. Consequently, despite a higher reduction of excess sludge (82%), a significant decrease in methane productivity in the OSA (4 mLCH4 gVSS−1d−1, −41%) was observed. Based on the results, implementing the OSA process may allow high levels of methane production by anaerobic digestion to be maintained if specific sludge-reduction mechanisms are triggered in the waterline, also raising the possibility of co-digestion with other feedstocks

Definition of seismic vulnerability maps for civil protection systems: The case of lampedusa Island

The opportunity to locate and quantify the major criticalities associated to natural catastrophic events on a territory allows to plan adequate strategies and interventions by civil protection bodies involved in local and international emergencies. Seismic risk depends, most of all, on the vulnerability of buildings belonging to the urban areas. For this reason, the definition, by a deep analysis of the territory, of instruments identifying and locating vulnerability, largely favours the activities of institutions appointed to safeguard the safety of citizens. This paper proposes a procedure for the definition of vulnerability maps in terms of vulnerability indexes and critical peak ground accelerations for mid-small urban centres belonging to Mediterranean areas. The procedure, tested on the city centre of the Island of Lampedusa, is based on a preliminary historical investigation of the urban area and of the main formal and technological features of buildings involved. Moreover, the vulnerability of the constructions is evaluated by fast assessment methods (filling of evaluation forms). The vulnerability model, allowing the definition of the fragility curves, is calibrated on the basis of the results of an identification process of prototype buildings, selected to be adequately representative. Their characterizations have been provided using the results of an experimental dynamic investigation to develop high representative numerical model. Critical PGA values have been determined by pushover analyses. The results presented provided an unambiguous representation of the major criticalities with respect to seismic vulnerability and risk, of the city centre of the island, being a suitable tool for planning and handling of emergencies

Respirometric assessment of heterotrophic and autotrophic biomass activity in alternate oxic-anoxic MBR pilot plant

The paper reports the main results of an experimental study carried out on a Membrane Biological Reactor (MBR) pilot plant characterized by intermittent aeration. The effect of different aeration/non aeration ratio (TA/TNA) on biomass behavior, in terms of heterotrophic and autotrophic kinetic parameters and active biomass fraction, was studied. Moreover was proposed a method to evaluate the autotrophic active fraction, derived by a combination of the ASM1 model and biokinetic parameters directly evaluated by means of respirometry. The experimental observation outlined that TA/TNA in the cycle didn’t affect heterotrophic biomass kinetic and active fraction. This one instead, resulted strongly depended from the soluble substrate present in the influent wastewater. Furthermore, it was observed that a higher aerated phase within the cycle, may lead to a higher autotrophic biomass active fraction

Speckle-based imaging (SBI) applications with spectral photon counting detectors at the newly established OPTIMATO (OPTimal IMAging and TOmography) laboratory

Speckle-based imaging (SBI) is an advanced X-ray imaging technique that measures phase and dark-field signals, in addition to absorption signals. SBI uses random wavefront modulators to generate speckles and requires two images: one with a speckle pattern alone, and one with both the sample and speckles. SBI reconstruction algorithms retrieve three signals (transmission, refraction, and dark-field) by comparing the two images. In SBI, speckle visibility plays a crucial role in the retrieval of the three signals. When translating the technique from synchrotron sources to compact laboratory setups, the reduced coherence of the source and limitations in the available resolution yield lower speckle visibility, hampering the retrieval of phase and dark-field signals. In this context, direct-detection CdTe X-ray photon-counting detectors (XPCDs) provide an attractive solution, as they allow for a high detection efficiency and optimal spatial resolution enhancing speckle visibility. In this work, we present the newly established OPTIMATO (OPTimal IMAging and TOmography) laboratory for X-ray imaging hosted at the Elettra synchrotron (Trieste, Italy). The setup for SBI with resolutions up to 15 μm including an XPCD and a charge-integrating flat-panel detector (FPD) has been used to acquire SBI data. The main limiting factors when moving SBI applications from synchrotron facilities to compact laboratory setups are summarized. The advantages of XPCDs over FPDs are discussed by comparing the SBI images obtained using both detectors. The potential of the spectral decomposition approach via multi-threshold acquisitions using XPCDs is briefly introduced. The results shown in this work represent the first step toward the realization of a multimodal and multiresolution X-ray facility