Fiber optic civil structure monitoring system

A civil structure monitoring system based on fiber Bragg grating technology is presented. A complete set of new transducers, both for concrete and steel monitoring, is designed, fabricated, and successfully checked both in laboratory and in-field conditions

Future intelligent civil structures: Challenges and opportunities

An intelligent civil structure offers ultimate protection to its structure, contents and occupants in terms of safety and functionality against undesired dynamic loadings and structural deficiency. In this paper, the concept of the future intelligent civil structure featuring self-adaptive, selfprognostic, self-sensing, self-powering and self-repairing abilities, is proposed. A decade research efforts from Centre for Built Infrastructure Research, University of Technology Sydney, towards the development and concept proof of such intelligent structure is reviewed

Civil structure condition assessment by FE model updating: Methodology and case studies

Author's manuscript version. the version of record is available from the publisher via: doi:10.1016/S0168-874X(00)00071-8. Copyright © 2001 Elsevier Science B.V.Development of methodology for accurate and reliable condition assessment of civil structures has become increasingly important. In particular, the finite element (FE) model updating method has been successfully used for condition assessment of bridges. However, the success of applications of the method depends on the analytical conceptualization of complex bridge structures, a well-designed and controlled modal test and an integration of analytical and experimental arts. This paper describes the sensitivity-analysis-based FE model updating method and its application to structure condition assessment with particular reference to bridges, including specific considerations for FE modeling for updating and the model updating procedure for successful condition assessment. Finally, the accuracy analysis of damage assessment by model updating was investigated through a case study. © 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved

Semi-active vibration control of a non-collocated civil structure using evolutionary-based BELBIC

A buildings resilience to seismic activity can be increased by providing ways for the structure to dynamically counteract the effect of the Earth’s crust movements. This ability is fundamental in certain regions of the globe, where earthquakes are more frequent, and can be achieved using different strategies. State-of-the-art anti-seismic buildings have, embedded on their structure, mostly passive actuators such as base isolation, Tuned Mass Dampers (TMD) and viscous dampers that can be used to reduce the effect of seismic or even wind induced vibrations. The main disadvantage of this type of building vibration reduction strategies concerns their inability to adapt their properties in accordance to both the excitation signal or structural behaviour. This adaption capability can be promoted by adding to the building active type actuators operating under a closed-loop. However, these systems are substantially larger than passive type solutions and require a considerable amount of energy that may not be available during a severe earthquake due to power grid failure. An intermediate solution between these two extremes is the introduction of semi-active actuators such as magneto–rheological dampers. The inclusion of magneto–rheological actuators is among one of the most promising semi-active techniques. However, the overall performance of this strategy depends on several aspects such as the actuators number and location within the structure and the vibration sensors network. It can be the case where the installation leads to a non-collocated system which presents additional challenges to control. This paper proposes to tackle the problem of controlling the vibration of a non-collocated three-storey building by means of a brain–emotional controller tuned using an evolutionary algorithm. This controller will be used to adjust the stiffness coefficient of a magneto–rheological actuator such that the building’s frame oscillation under earthquake excitation, is mitigated. The obtained results suggest that, using this control strategy, it is possible to reduce the building vibration to secure levelsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Predicting Standard Penetration Test (SPT-N) Value from Electrical Resistivity Result

Soil investigation is the first stage of the process in order to obtain the parameter of the soil and also to understand the behavior of the subsoil before building any civil structure. It is important for optimizing the cost and to avoid from overdesigning of the foundation. Standard Penetration Test is the conventional and destructive method currently being used to obtain the soil profile of the tested site in order to obtain the parameter and characteristic of the soil

The competences of command cadre of the airport fire service on the example of safety assurance of Warsaw Okęcie Airport

The globalization process in almost all spheres of our life causes a possibility of making equal living standards in all countries of the world. An introduction to globalization was undoubtedly the development of air transport which greatly accelerated the possibility of travelling on all continents. Along with the development of technology, airplanes used for carrying people and cargo become much better, quicker, but they also become more and more complicated in respect of their construction. This also gives rise to requirements that airports have to comply with, i.e. in order to receive super modern machines they must be equipped with modern navigational facilities, modern equipment for surface handling of airplanes and passengers. This, in turn, requires a continuous development of knowledge and competence from airport staff to be flexible in the constantly modernized environment. In consideration of a rapid development of air transport, and consequently its increasing importance for the world economy countries face a problem how to assure the high quality of aviation services, its access for a man-in-the-street, and first of all safety in its broad meaning, which is a synonym of quality in air transport. Nowadays, this is the main problem in air transport which has priority before the comfort of a traveller. Safety in aviation is approached in two dimensions – prevention of occurrence events and removal of results of unforeseeable incidents, accidents or catastrophes. A special part in this area is performed by the airport rescue and firefighting service, commonly called the Airport Fire Service (AFS). The main requirement for airport rescuers set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is conducting rescue and firefighting operations in case of an aircraft or airport incident (disaster) [...]

Robust Stochastic Design of Linear Controlled Systems for Performance Optimization

This study discusses a robust controller synthesis methodology for linear, time invariant systems, under probabilistic parameter uncertainty. Optimization of probabilistic performance robustness for [script H]_2 and multi-objective [script H]_2 measures is investigated, as well as for performance measures based on first-passage system reliability. The control optimization approaches proposed here exploit recent advances in stochastic simulation techniques. The approach is illustrated for vibration response suppression of a civil structure. The results illustrate that, for problems with probabilistic uncertainty, the explicit optimization of probabilistic performance robustness can result in markedly different optimal feedback laws, as well as enhanced performance robustness, when compared to traditional “worst-case” notions of robust optimal control

Політичний вимір бідності сучасного українського суспільства

Здійснено аналіз політичного виміру бідності, окреслено шляхи її локалізації, які сприяють становленню громадянських структур сучасного українського суспільства. Показано, що зменшення обсягів тіньової економіки сприяє підвищенню авторитету чесної професійної праці, яка в належний спосіб матеріально і морально стимулюється, що, своєю чергою, є об’єктивним фактором мінімізації бідності сучасного українського соціуму.In the article analysis the political spice of the poverty and definite the main ways of her localization which assists formation of the civil structure of the modern Ukrainian society. There is showing interdependency between the deals of the “shady” economical and growing the priority of honest, professional labor. The labor is stimulating of moral and material factors. This is the objective determinate conditions to descries the poverty of the modern Ukrainian society

Optimal analysis, design and testing of an electromagnetic damper with resonantshunt circuit for vibration control of a civil structure

Control of vibration serviceability problems in civil engineering structures has received considerable attention in recent years. Most of this has been focused on classical technologies such as tuned mass dampers, viscous dampers, viscoelastic dampers and friction pendulum systems, which in many cases are able to provide satisfactory vibration suppression performance. By contrast, electromagnetic actuators and electromagnetic dampers (EMD) have been more extensively used in mechanical applications as a means of attenuating unwanted vibration. In this study, the use of an EMD is investigated for vibration suppression of a civil engineering structure. A voice coil motor is utilised as an EMD in which the terminal ends are connected with a shunt circuit and resonant shunt circuit to improve the damping performance. Therefore, the basic resistor series circuit and resistor, inductor and capacitor (RLC) oscillating circuit are chosen in this application, with both the H∞ and H2 optimisation techniques being used to determine the required shunt circuit components. The resulting electromagnetic shunt damper (EMSD) is experimentally employed for enhancing the damping performance of a five storey aluminium frame structure under random and harmonic excitation. In line with the analysis and design of the damper, it is found that the EMSD experimentally demonstrates good vibration suppression performance.The authors acknowledge financial support from UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) through a Leadership Fellowship Grant (Ref. EP/J004081/2) entitled "Advanced Technologies for Mitigation of Human-Induced Vibration