Mechanical characterization of timber in structural sizes: bending and compression tests

This paper presents the results obtained in a series of tests on Pinus Pinaster Ait. timber specimens, using the prEN408:2000, to estimate the local and global Young’s modulus and strength both in bending and compression parallel to the grain. The results obtained are compared with the values presented in the Portuguese Nationally Determined Parameters of Eurocode 5, for the quality classes assign by Portuguese Standard NP4305:1994 by visual grading

Behaviour of traditional Portuguese timber roof structures

The aim of this paper is to present the results of a structural analysis of common trusses traditionally used in roof construction in Portugal. The study includes the results of a preliminary survey intending to assess the geometry, materials and on site pathologies, as well as a twodimensional linear elastic static and dynamic analysis. The trusses behaviour under symmetric and non-symmetric loads, the king post/tie-beam connection, the stiffness of the joints and the incorrect positioning of the purlins, were some of the structural aspects that have been investigated

Testing a dissipative kinetic k-essence model

In this work, we present a study of a purely kinetic k-essence model, characterized basically by a parameter $\alpha$ in presence of a bulk dissipative term, whose relationship between viscous pressure $\Pi$ and energy density $\rho$ of the background follows a polytropic type law $\Pi \propto \rho^{\lambda+1/2}$, where $\lambda$, in principle, is a parameter without restrictions. Analytical solutions for the energy density of the k-essence field are found in two specific cases: $\lambda=1/2$ and $\lambda=(1-\alpha)/2\alpha$, and then we show that these solutions posses the same functional form than the non-viscous counterpart. Finally, both approach are contrasted with observational data from type Ia supernova, and the most recent Hubble parameter measurements, and therefore, the best values for the parameters of the theory are founds.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figures, accepted in EPJ

The Dirichlet Problem for Curvature Equations in Riemannian Manifolds

We prove the existence of classical solutions to the Dirichlet problem for a class of fully nonlinear elliptic equations of curvature type on Riemannian manifolds. We also derive new second derivative boundary estimates which allows us to extend some of the existence theorems of Caffarelli, Nirenberg and Spruck [4] and Ivochkina, Trundinger and Lin [19] to more general curvature functions and less convex domains.Comment: 32 pages, no figures. Final version. Paper accepted to publication in Indiana University Mathematics Journa