Abstract: This paper focuses on the different conceptual frameworks that govern the structural problem and provides an insight on the results obtained from structural analysis, towards a sound framework for structural design. The interdisciplinary of many aspects is highlighted, considering the developments on the sustainable development and the architectonic design, and the availability of modern technologies that nowadays are integrated in the structural forms. The paper provides significant concepts and case studies (long span bridges, offshore wind
turbines, high-rise buildings etc.), studied thoroughly in the last 10 years in the Sapienza University of Rome by the research group on structural analysis and design www.francobontempi.org.
Keywords: Structural Engineering, Analysis, Design, Knowledge.
5th International Workshop on Design in
Civil and Environmental Engineering
October 6-8th Sapienza University of Rome, ITALY
DCEE 2016 program overview draft 23/09/2016
This document summarizes the proceedings of the 4th International Workshop on Design in Civil and Environmental Engineering held in Taipei City, Taiwan from October 30-31, 2015. The workshop was organized by National Taiwan University and included 3 keynote speeches, 13 technical presentations, and a mini-workshop discussing the future of design in civil and environmental engineering. Presentations covered topics like environmental design, structural design, and engineering design education from researchers in Japan, the US, Denmark, Italy and Taiwan.
Ph.D. Course on DWACS Sapienza _ september 2017_ ANIVFranco Bontempi
PhD PROGRAM IN STRUCTURAL AND GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
DOTTORATO DI RICERCA IN INGEGNERIA STRUTTURALE E GEOTECNICA
Department of Structural and Geotechnical Engineering
Dipartimento di Ingegneria Strutturale e Geotecnica
TITLE:
DESIGN OF WIND-EXCITED CIVIL STRUCTURES:
PHENOMENOLOGICAL BASIS, PERFORMANCES ASSESSMENT, SOLUTIONS AND CASE STUDIES
The document is a 3 page curriculum vitae for Professor Jamal Khatib. It outlines his academic qualifications including a PhD from the University of Aberdeen. It details his professional experience as a Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Wolverhampton, and previous roles at other universities. It also lists over 350 publications and supervised 16 completed PhD students.
PROGRAMMA ATTIVITA’ DIDATTICA A.A. 2016/17
DOTTORATO IN INGEGNERIA STRUTTURALE E GEOTECNICA
___________________________________________________
STRUCTURAL DESIGN FROM EMPIRICAL TRADITION
Lecture Series by
Thomas E. Boothby, Ph.D., P.E., R.A.
The Pennsylvania State University
Visiting Professor
Sapienza University of Rome
5th International Workshop on
Design in Civil and Environmental Engineering
October 6-8th Sapienza University of Rome, ITALY
DCEE 2016 - www.dcee2016.eu
5th International Workshop on Design in
Civil and Environmental Engineering
October 6-8th Sapienza University of Rome, ITALY
DCEE 2016 program overview draft 23/09/2016
This document summarizes the proceedings of the 4th International Workshop on Design in Civil and Environmental Engineering held in Taipei City, Taiwan from October 30-31, 2015. The workshop was organized by National Taiwan University and included 3 keynote speeches, 13 technical presentations, and a mini-workshop discussing the future of design in civil and environmental engineering. Presentations covered topics like environmental design, structural design, and engineering design education from researchers in Japan, the US, Denmark, Italy and Taiwan.
Ph.D. Course on DWACS Sapienza _ september 2017_ ANIVFranco Bontempi
PhD PROGRAM IN STRUCTURAL AND GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
DOTTORATO DI RICERCA IN INGEGNERIA STRUTTURALE E GEOTECNICA
Department of Structural and Geotechnical Engineering
Dipartimento di Ingegneria Strutturale e Geotecnica
TITLE:
DESIGN OF WIND-EXCITED CIVIL STRUCTURES:
PHENOMENOLOGICAL BASIS, PERFORMANCES ASSESSMENT, SOLUTIONS AND CASE STUDIES
The document is a 3 page curriculum vitae for Professor Jamal Khatib. It outlines his academic qualifications including a PhD from the University of Aberdeen. It details his professional experience as a Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Wolverhampton, and previous roles at other universities. It also lists over 350 publications and supervised 16 completed PhD students.
PROGRAMMA ATTIVITA’ DIDATTICA A.A. 2016/17
DOTTORATO IN INGEGNERIA STRUTTURALE E GEOTECNICA
___________________________________________________
STRUCTURAL DESIGN FROM EMPIRICAL TRADITION
Lecture Series by
Thomas E. Boothby, Ph.D., P.E., R.A.
The Pennsylvania State University
Visiting Professor
Sapienza University of Rome
5th International Workshop on
Design in Civil and Environmental Engineering
October 6-8th Sapienza University of Rome, ITALY
DCEE 2016 - www.dcee2016.eu
ABILITAZIONE A PROFESSORE ORDINARIO DI TECNICA DELLE COSTRUZIONI.
Dalla valutazione del curriculum del candidato Ciampoli Marcello emerge:
- un’attività di ricerca sufficiente e sufficientemente regolare a cui corrisponde una limitata produzione
scientifica complessiva del candidato con collocazione editoriale di basso impatto;
- una insufficiente responsabilità scientifica per progetti di ricerca internazionali e nazionali;
- una sufficiente attività per quanto riguarda il coordinamento e conduzione di un gruppo di ricerca;
- una limitata attività, valutata nel suo complesso, per quanto riguarda gli incarichi di insegnamento o di
ricerca, la direzione e/o partecipazioni a comitati editoriali di riviste, collane editoriali, enciclopedie e trattati
di riconosciuto prestigio, i risultati ottenuti nel trasferimento tecnologico ed eventuali altri titoli.
La Commissione attribuisce all'unanimità una valutazione complessiva e collegiale NEGATIVA delle pubblicazioni e dei titoli del candidato Ciampoli Marcello.
Il tema della sicurezza, quando si parla di gallerie stradali, assume ancora più importanza, dato che un banale incidente o un guasto di un veicolo possono degenerare in uno scenario che causa un elevato numero di vittime. Ad esempio, il 24 marzo 1999, 39 persone sono rimaste uccise quando un mezzo pesante che trasportava farina e margarina prese fuoco all’interno del Tunnel del Monte Bianco. Nella prima parte dell’articolo vengono spiegate le fasi logiche che un modello messo a disposizione dalla PIARC/OECD, il Quantitative Risk Assessment Model (QRAM) [1-2], segue nel processo di Assegnazione del Rischio, e come esso ricava i valori dei relativi indicatori. Nella seconda parte dell’articolo, invece, viene mostrata un’applicazione di tale modello su una galleria esistente che si trova nel sud Italia, accompagnata da un’analisi di sensitività sui parametri che influenzano maggiormente il livello di rischio.
CONVEGNO
L’INVESTIGAZIONE ANTINCENDI:
STATO DELL’ARTE E SVILUPPI FUTURI
Roma, 22 marzo 2017
Istituto Superiore Antincendio
Lo sviluppo di eventi negativi come i collassi strutturali che mettono a rischio la sicurezza della Società richiede un attento studio al fine di capirne le ragioni e spiegarne lo sviluppo nello spazio e nel tempo, come illustrato schematicamente nella figura sotto riportata e relativa ad un incendio in un edificio alto.
Lo studio di questi eventi negativi è l’oggetto centrale della Ingegneria Forense, che ha anche il compito di attribuire le eventuali responsabilità tecniche ed eventualmente individuare azioni dolose. In tal modo, in termini generali, questa disciplina ha anche la possibilità di indicare nuovi metodi di progetto che comprendano concetti ampi o innovativi come la robustezza strutturale o la resilienza, aumentando la conoscenza complessiva dell’Ingegneria.
Nel presente contributo, nella prima parte, saranno introdotti i punti salienti che riguardano la natura accidentale di eventi come l’incendio, i modelli generali che permettono di inquadrare questi incidenti, i criteri che permettono la ricostruzione degli eventi accidentali, concludendo con alcuni aspetti giuridici.
Nella seconda parte, dopo aver ricordato alcuni aspetti meccanici fondamentali, saranno presentati alcuni casi notevoli, mettendo in evidenza come i concetti prima evidenziati si presentano in concreto.
mi sembra opportuno concludere
osservando in via generale che, relativamente ai metodi
di calcolo e alle normative, si debba evitare di dar loro
importanza eccessiva, per non mettere in ombra la progettazione
vera e propria. La quale ha nel calcolo soltanto una delle
sue fasi, seppure fondamentale, mentre trova in altre questioni
aspetti altrettanto qualificanti: intendo soprattutto la concezione
generale delle strutture; l’armonica distribuzione delle
masse; i particolari costruttivi; l’analisi dei problemi esecutivi e
dei costi; l’esame critico del comportamento generale della
costruzione comprendente anche, e non secondariamente, la
presenza di elementi non strutturali e della parte del terreno
coinvolta dalla struttura. Fatti, questi, che debbono entrare nel
vivo del processo progettuale, divenendo una forza unica e
ogni volta diversa. Fatti che non possono essere unitariamente
colti da elaborazioni numeriche e computers come invece
può riuscire a fare la mente umana con gli insostituibili ausili,
peculiari soltanto ad essa, dell’intuizione, dell’inventiva, della
fantasia, della creatività.
PROGRAMMA ATTIVITA’ FORMATIVE
DOTTORATO IN INGEGNERIA STRUTTURALE E GEOTECNICA
A.A. 2016/17
Dipartimento di Ingegneria Strutturale e Geotecnica
SAPIENZA UNIVERSITA’ DI ROMA
Per ulteriori informazioni e iscrizioni – necessarie alla partecipazione:
Daniela Menozzi
Bibliotecaria
Segretaria del Dottorato di Ricerca in Ingegneria Strutturale e Geotecnica
daniela.menozzi@uniroma1.it
SAPIENZA Università di Roma
DIPARTIMENTO DI INGEGNERIA STRUTTURALE E GEOTECNICA
Via Eudossiana 18, 00184 Roma
T +39 06 44585988 – 3204272015
Fax +39 0644585754
UNA VICENDA ESEMPLARE: PARTENDO DALLA DEBOLEZZA DI UN DETTAGLIO, L’ALLINEAMENTO
DI DIFFERENTI MANCANZE PORTA AL COLLASSO DI UN PONTE.
Strade & Autostrade
(EDI-CEM Srl – Rivista “Strade & Autostrade”) http://online.stradeeautostrade.it/
The Long Way towards a Sound Framework for Structural Design: 10 Years of Exp...Franco Bontempi
This paper focuses on the different conceptual frameworks that govern the structural problem and provides an insight on the results obtained from structural analysis, towards a sound framework for structural design. The interdisciplinary of many aspects is highlighted, considering the developments on the sustainable development and the architectonic design, and the availability of modern technologies that nowadays are integrated
in the structural forms. The paper provides significant concepts and case studies (long span bridges, offshore wind turbines, high-rise buildings etc.), studied thoroughly in the last 10 years in the Sapienza University of Rome by the research group on structural analysis and design www.francobontempi.org.
This document summarizes the System Design for Sustainability (SDS) course offered by Politecnico di Milano. The course aims to teach students about designing sustainable product-service systems. It is part of the Learning Network on Sustainability (LENS) project involving several European and Asian universities. Students will develop system concepts for a sustainable eating, clothing care, or work space for a university campus and receive feedback from professors at that university. The goal is to build shared visions of sustainability solutions.
The DCEE series of workshops explore what it would mean for design to be a discipline within CEE, what it means for design to be a discipline in other areas of engineering, and the implication for interdisciplinary design in cooperation with other fields such as architecture, urban planning, industrial design, product design and more.
We are pleased to invite you to the 5th International Workshop on Design for Civil and Environmental Engineering where we will explore the nature of design in civil and environmental engineering and establish the foundation for civil design research.
This paper deals with the general framework for the development and the maintenance of complex structural systems. In the first part, starting with a semantic analysis of the term ‘structure’, the traditional approach to structural problem solving has been reconsidered. Consequently, a systemic approach for the formulation of the different kinds of direct and inverse problems has been framed, particularly with regards to structural design and
maintenance. The overall design phase is defined with the aid of the performance-based design (PBD) philosophy, emphasizing the concepts of dependability and enlightening the role of structural identification. The second part of the present work analyses structural health monitoring (SHM) in the systemic way previously introduced. Finally, the techniques related to the implementation of the monitoring process are introduced and a synoptic overview of methods and instruments for structural health monitoring is
presented, with particular attention to the ones necessary for structural damage identification.
TEACHING ACTIVITY 2016/17
PROGRAMMA ATTIVITA’ DIDATTICA A.A. 2016/17
PhD PROGRAM IN STRUCTURAL AND GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
DOTTORATO DI RICERCA IN INGEGNERIA STRUTTURALE E GEOTECNICA
Department of Structural and Geotechnical Engineering
Dipartimento di Ingegneria Strutturale e Geotecnica
DESIGN OF WIND-EXCITED CIVIL STRUCTURES:
PHENOMENOLOGICAL BASIS, PERFORMANCES ASSESSMENT, SOLUTIONS AND CASE STUDIES
This document provides information about a course on System Design for Sustainability taught by Carlo Vezzoli at Politecnico di Milano. The course aims to teach the theory and practice of designing sustainable product-service systems. It includes 5 lectures on sustainability theory and an 8-week design exercise. Students will work in groups to design sustainable energy systems for households in African slums. The course is part of the Learning Network on Sustainability, a collaboration between European and Asian design schools to promote sustainability education.
The document provides information about Alta Scuola Politecnica (ASP), a two-year study program in Italy that selects 150 talented students each year for additional studies in architecture, design, and engineering. It details ASP's origins in 2004 as a joint venture between two universities. It also provides statistics on applicant numbers, admitted students, international students, and the academic backgrounds of enrolled students. The document outlines ASP's cultural focus on complex problem-solving and interdisciplinary teamwork. It lists the courses offered and gives examples of student projects focused on sustainability, social issues, technology and the environment. Finally, it discusses ASP student outcomes like employment and the alumni association.
ABILITAZIONE A PROFESSORE ORDINARIO DI TECNICA DELLE COSTRUZIONI.
Dalla valutazione del curriculum del candidato Ciampoli Marcello emerge:
- un’attività di ricerca sufficiente e sufficientemente regolare a cui corrisponde una limitata produzione
scientifica complessiva del candidato con collocazione editoriale di basso impatto;
- una insufficiente responsabilità scientifica per progetti di ricerca internazionali e nazionali;
- una sufficiente attività per quanto riguarda il coordinamento e conduzione di un gruppo di ricerca;
- una limitata attività, valutata nel suo complesso, per quanto riguarda gli incarichi di insegnamento o di
ricerca, la direzione e/o partecipazioni a comitati editoriali di riviste, collane editoriali, enciclopedie e trattati
di riconosciuto prestigio, i risultati ottenuti nel trasferimento tecnologico ed eventuali altri titoli.
La Commissione attribuisce all'unanimità una valutazione complessiva e collegiale NEGATIVA delle pubblicazioni e dei titoli del candidato Ciampoli Marcello.
Il tema della sicurezza, quando si parla di gallerie stradali, assume ancora più importanza, dato che un banale incidente o un guasto di un veicolo possono degenerare in uno scenario che causa un elevato numero di vittime. Ad esempio, il 24 marzo 1999, 39 persone sono rimaste uccise quando un mezzo pesante che trasportava farina e margarina prese fuoco all’interno del Tunnel del Monte Bianco. Nella prima parte dell’articolo vengono spiegate le fasi logiche che un modello messo a disposizione dalla PIARC/OECD, il Quantitative Risk Assessment Model (QRAM) [1-2], segue nel processo di Assegnazione del Rischio, e come esso ricava i valori dei relativi indicatori. Nella seconda parte dell’articolo, invece, viene mostrata un’applicazione di tale modello su una galleria esistente che si trova nel sud Italia, accompagnata da un’analisi di sensitività sui parametri che influenzano maggiormente il livello di rischio.
CONVEGNO
L’INVESTIGAZIONE ANTINCENDI:
STATO DELL’ARTE E SVILUPPI FUTURI
Roma, 22 marzo 2017
Istituto Superiore Antincendio
Lo sviluppo di eventi negativi come i collassi strutturali che mettono a rischio la sicurezza della Società richiede un attento studio al fine di capirne le ragioni e spiegarne lo sviluppo nello spazio e nel tempo, come illustrato schematicamente nella figura sotto riportata e relativa ad un incendio in un edificio alto.
Lo studio di questi eventi negativi è l’oggetto centrale della Ingegneria Forense, che ha anche il compito di attribuire le eventuali responsabilità tecniche ed eventualmente individuare azioni dolose. In tal modo, in termini generali, questa disciplina ha anche la possibilità di indicare nuovi metodi di progetto che comprendano concetti ampi o innovativi come la robustezza strutturale o la resilienza, aumentando la conoscenza complessiva dell’Ingegneria.
Nel presente contributo, nella prima parte, saranno introdotti i punti salienti che riguardano la natura accidentale di eventi come l’incendio, i modelli generali che permettono di inquadrare questi incidenti, i criteri che permettono la ricostruzione degli eventi accidentali, concludendo con alcuni aspetti giuridici.
Nella seconda parte, dopo aver ricordato alcuni aspetti meccanici fondamentali, saranno presentati alcuni casi notevoli, mettendo in evidenza come i concetti prima evidenziati si presentano in concreto.
mi sembra opportuno concludere
osservando in via generale che, relativamente ai metodi
di calcolo e alle normative, si debba evitare di dar loro
importanza eccessiva, per non mettere in ombra la progettazione
vera e propria. La quale ha nel calcolo soltanto una delle
sue fasi, seppure fondamentale, mentre trova in altre questioni
aspetti altrettanto qualificanti: intendo soprattutto la concezione
generale delle strutture; l’armonica distribuzione delle
masse; i particolari costruttivi; l’analisi dei problemi esecutivi e
dei costi; l’esame critico del comportamento generale della
costruzione comprendente anche, e non secondariamente, la
presenza di elementi non strutturali e della parte del terreno
coinvolta dalla struttura. Fatti, questi, che debbono entrare nel
vivo del processo progettuale, divenendo una forza unica e
ogni volta diversa. Fatti che non possono essere unitariamente
colti da elaborazioni numeriche e computers come invece
può riuscire a fare la mente umana con gli insostituibili ausili,
peculiari soltanto ad essa, dell’intuizione, dell’inventiva, della
fantasia, della creatività.
PROGRAMMA ATTIVITA’ FORMATIVE
DOTTORATO IN INGEGNERIA STRUTTURALE E GEOTECNICA
A.A. 2016/17
Dipartimento di Ingegneria Strutturale e Geotecnica
SAPIENZA UNIVERSITA’ DI ROMA
Per ulteriori informazioni e iscrizioni – necessarie alla partecipazione:
Daniela Menozzi
Bibliotecaria
Segretaria del Dottorato di Ricerca in Ingegneria Strutturale e Geotecnica
daniela.menozzi@uniroma1.it
SAPIENZA Università di Roma
DIPARTIMENTO DI INGEGNERIA STRUTTURALE E GEOTECNICA
Via Eudossiana 18, 00184 Roma
T +39 06 44585988 – 3204272015
Fax +39 0644585754
UNA VICENDA ESEMPLARE: PARTENDO DALLA DEBOLEZZA DI UN DETTAGLIO, L’ALLINEAMENTO
DI DIFFERENTI MANCANZE PORTA AL COLLASSO DI UN PONTE.
Strade & Autostrade
(EDI-CEM Srl – Rivista “Strade & Autostrade”) http://online.stradeeautostrade.it/
The Long Way towards a Sound Framework for Structural Design: 10 Years of Exp...Franco Bontempi
This paper focuses on the different conceptual frameworks that govern the structural problem and provides an insight on the results obtained from structural analysis, towards a sound framework for structural design. The interdisciplinary of many aspects is highlighted, considering the developments on the sustainable development and the architectonic design, and the availability of modern technologies that nowadays are integrated
in the structural forms. The paper provides significant concepts and case studies (long span bridges, offshore wind turbines, high-rise buildings etc.), studied thoroughly in the last 10 years in the Sapienza University of Rome by the research group on structural analysis and design www.francobontempi.org.
This document summarizes the System Design for Sustainability (SDS) course offered by Politecnico di Milano. The course aims to teach students about designing sustainable product-service systems. It is part of the Learning Network on Sustainability (LENS) project involving several European and Asian universities. Students will develop system concepts for a sustainable eating, clothing care, or work space for a university campus and receive feedback from professors at that university. The goal is to build shared visions of sustainability solutions.
The DCEE series of workshops explore what it would mean for design to be a discipline within CEE, what it means for design to be a discipline in other areas of engineering, and the implication for interdisciplinary design in cooperation with other fields such as architecture, urban planning, industrial design, product design and more.
We are pleased to invite you to the 5th International Workshop on Design for Civil and Environmental Engineering where we will explore the nature of design in civil and environmental engineering and establish the foundation for civil design research.
This paper deals with the general framework for the development and the maintenance of complex structural systems. In the first part, starting with a semantic analysis of the term ‘structure’, the traditional approach to structural problem solving has been reconsidered. Consequently, a systemic approach for the formulation of the different kinds of direct and inverse problems has been framed, particularly with regards to structural design and
maintenance. The overall design phase is defined with the aid of the performance-based design (PBD) philosophy, emphasizing the concepts of dependability and enlightening the role of structural identification. The second part of the present work analyses structural health monitoring (SHM) in the systemic way previously introduced. Finally, the techniques related to the implementation of the monitoring process are introduced and a synoptic overview of methods and instruments for structural health monitoring is
presented, with particular attention to the ones necessary for structural damage identification.
TEACHING ACTIVITY 2016/17
PROGRAMMA ATTIVITA’ DIDATTICA A.A. 2016/17
PhD PROGRAM IN STRUCTURAL AND GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
DOTTORATO DI RICERCA IN INGEGNERIA STRUTTURALE E GEOTECNICA
Department of Structural and Geotechnical Engineering
Dipartimento di Ingegneria Strutturale e Geotecnica
DESIGN OF WIND-EXCITED CIVIL STRUCTURES:
PHENOMENOLOGICAL BASIS, PERFORMANCES ASSESSMENT, SOLUTIONS AND CASE STUDIES
This document provides information about a course on System Design for Sustainability taught by Carlo Vezzoli at Politecnico di Milano. The course aims to teach the theory and practice of designing sustainable product-service systems. It includes 5 lectures on sustainability theory and an 8-week design exercise. Students will work in groups to design sustainable energy systems for households in African slums. The course is part of the Learning Network on Sustainability, a collaboration between European and Asian design schools to promote sustainability education.
The document provides information about Alta Scuola Politecnica (ASP), a two-year study program in Italy that selects 150 talented students each year for additional studies in architecture, design, and engineering. It details ASP's origins in 2004 as a joint venture between two universities. It also provides statistics on applicant numbers, admitted students, international students, and the academic backgrounds of enrolled students. The document outlines ASP's cultural focus on complex problem-solving and interdisciplinary teamwork. It lists the courses offered and gives examples of student projects focused on sustainability, social issues, technology and the environment. Finally, it discusses ASP student outcomes like employment and the alumni association.
This document provides information about the System Design for Sustainability (SDS) course taught by Carlo Vezzoli at Politecnico di Milano. It outlines the course structure, learning subjects, design exercise, and evaluation methods. The course teaches theories and practices of Product-Service System design for sustainability. It consists of lectures on sustainable development frameworks and tools, as well as a design exercise where students propose a locally-based sustainable energy system for households in African countries. The goal is to promote sustainable energy access through distributed renewable solutions.
This curriculum vitae summarizes the professional experience and qualifications of Andrea Gabrielli. It lists his work history including research positions in Italy and France from 1998 to present. It also provides details of his education including a PhD in Physics from the University of Rome in 1998. The CV lists over 100 publications in scientific journals with a total impact factor of over 300 and nearly 2000 citations. It highlights his research interests and experience in complex systems, networks, and statistical physics applied to diverse fields.
Research trends are tending towards sustainability in construction and project
delivery is drawing the interest and attention of great researchers. This review work in
trying to get better understanding of the research area and presents current research
trends in the area of research in sustainability and construction and project delivery from
2003-2017. This review is done through thorough analysis of 50 published research
papers by different authors retrieved from Google Scholar, and Science Direct online
databases in the field of sustainable construction project delivery. All the analysis
conducted covers the researchable areas, the countries that have been frontiers to the
research, the research approaches, the tools for data collection and analysis and the
contributions of authors relating to identified areas and identification of main authors
contribution and lastly the prediction of possible future researchable areas relating to the
field of sustainability and construction in delivery of projects. The results of this review
identified seven researchable areas relating to sustainability and construction in project
delivery. Further results revealed that literature review, interviews, semi structured
interviews, industry surveys and content analysis were the main approaches adopted for
carrying out research work while research data were collected mainly through
questionnaires, interviews, and site observations. Discourse analysis, factor analysis and
multiple regression analysis were the major methods used in analysing the data collected
although the use of software is also trending during research on sustainable construction
project delivery. Jiang Zuo, Bo Xiang, Cheng Sien Goh and Steve Rowlinson are
researchers who were identified as part of those who have contributed enormously, with
some other following suite and breaking grounds in research work in the field of
sustainable construction project delivery. However there are still areas like the climate
and its effects on sustainable construction, BIM in sustainability and Lean applications
The document provides an overview of the Social Construction of Technology (SCOT) framework proposed by Trevor Pinch and Wiebe Bijker. It discusses the authors and key aspects of SCOT such as interpretative flexibility, closure mechanisms, and the connection between closure and society. Criticisms of SCOT from scholars such as Langdon Winner and alternatives like Technological Determinism are also summarized. Finally, e-learning is presented as a case study for applying SCOT analysis.
ACROSS Architectural Research Through To Practice 48Th International Confere...Brandi Gonzales
This document provides an overview of the 48th International Conference of the Architectural Science Association held in Genoa, Italy from December 10-13, 2014. It includes the conference theme of promoting collaboration between academia, practice, and industry in architectural research. It lists the 56 papers presented across 15 research areas. It also acknowledges the international review committee, conference steering committee, and organizing committee who made the conference possible.
A Review of Multicriteria Assessment Techniques Applied to Sustainable Infras...► Victor Yepes
Given the great impacts associated with the construction and maintenance of infrastructures in both the environmental, the economic and the social dimensions, a sustainable approach to their design appears essential to ease the fulfilment of the Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations. Multicriteria decision-making methods are usually applied to address the complex and often conflicting criteria that characterise sustainability. The present study aims to review the current state of the art regarding the application of such techniques in the sustainability assessment of infrastructures, analysing as well the sustainability impacts and criteria included in the assessments. The Analytic Hierarchy Process is the most frequently used weighting technique. Simple Additive Weighting has turned out to be the most applied decision-making method to assess the weighted criteria. Although a life cycle assessment approach is recurrently used to evaluate sustainability, standardised concepts, such as cost discounting, or presentation of the assumed functional unit or system boundaries, as required by ISO 14040, are still only marginally used. Additionally, a need for further research in the inclusion of fuzziness in the handling of linguistic variables is identified.
A Design Theory For Digital Platforms Supporting Online Communities A Multip...Andrew Parish
This research article proposes and validates a design theory for digital platforms that support online communities. It aims to identify effective design principles for such platforms by generating and validating a set of testable propositions. The research draws on literature regarding information systems design theory, online communities, and platforms. It develops a conceptual framework to guide the development of the design theory. This involves meta-level constructs including testable propositions, justificatory knowledge, purpose and scope, and principles of form and function. The framework is used to generate initial propositions and validate them through a multiple case study analysis of different digital platforms including one for elderly care assistance and others like Twitter, Wikipedia, and Liquidfeedback. The research contributes to both research and
This document summarizes Takayuki Ito's presentation on facilitating large-scale collective discussion. Ito developed a web-based discussion forum called COLLAGREE to support facilitators in coordinating large online discussions. COLLAGREE was tested in a 15-day discussion with 264 citizens about city planning in Nagoya, Japan. Both users and facilitators felt facilitation was important for discussion coordination and consensus building. The experiment showed COLLAGREE could engage a wider demographic than traditional meetings. Ito aims to further develop automated facilitation and consensus building tools to help manage even larger online discussions.
Stronger S.r.l. is a consulting spin-off company that works between academia and industry in civil and environmental engineering. It offers tools and methodologies to design resilient, sustainable structures through specialized analysis and simulations. The company's expertise includes bridges, tunnels, tall buildings, offshore wind turbines, innovative connections, and energy harvesting devices. It provides consulting services in design, rehabilitation, fire/explosion design, forensic engineering, teaching, and research development.
Calcolo della precompressione:
DOMINI e STRAUS7
Corso di Gestione di Ponti e Grandi Strutture A.A. 2021/22
Prof. Ing. Franco Bontempi
Facoltà di Ingegneria Civile e Industriale
Sapienza Università di Roma
Scopo dell'evento è
• illustrare l'identità culturale, e tecnica – di cui il progetto è parte fondante – del SSD Tecnica delle Costruzioni nella didattica,
• evidenziando contemporaneamente le opportunità di collaborazione trasversale con altre discipline,
• con particolare riferimento ai corsi della lauree magistrali o
equivalenti, e livelli di formazione successivi (master e dottorati).
L’incontro ha l’obiettivo di delineare l'identità culturale, scientifica e tecnica della disciplina della Tecnica delle Costruzioni nella didattica, evidenziando contemporaneamente le opportunità di collaborazione trasversale con altre discipline, con particolare riferimento ai corsi della lauree magistrali o equivalenti, e livelli di formazione successivi (master e dottorati).
In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in permanent observation of the dynamic behaviour of bridges for longterm
monitoring purpose. This is due not only to the ageing of a lot of structures, but also for dealing with the increasing
complexity of new bridges. The long-term monitoring of bridges produces a huge quantity of data that need to be effectively
processed. For this purpose, there has been a growing interest on the application of soft computing methods. In particular,
this work deals with the applicability of Bayesian neural networks for the identification of damage of a cable-stayed bridge.
The selected structure is a real bridge proposed as benchmark problem by the Asian-Pacific Network of Centers for Research
in Smart Structure Technology (ANCRiSST). They shared data coming from the long-term monitoring of the bridge with the
structural health monitoring community in order to assess the current progress on damage detection and identification
methods with a full-scale example. The data set includes vibration data before and after the bridge was damaged, so they are
useful for testing new approaches for damage detection. In the first part of the paper, the Bayesian neural network model is
discussed; then in the second part, a Bayesian neural network procedure for damage detection has been tested. The proposed
method is able to detect anomalies on the behaviour of the structure, which can be related to the presence of damage. In order
to obtain a confirmation of the obtained results, in the last part of the paper, they are compared with those obtained by using a
traditional approach for vibration-based structural identification.
In recent years, structural integrity monitoring has become increasingly important in structural engineering and construction management. It represents an important tool for the assessment of the dependability of existing complex structural systems as it integrates, in a unified perspective, advanced engineering analyses and experimental data processing. In the first part of this work
the concepts of dependability and structural integrity are
discussed and it is shown that an effective integrity assessment
needs advanced computational methods. For this purpose, soft computing methods have shown to be very useful. In particular, in this work the neural networks model is chosen and successfully improved by applying the Bayesian inference at four hierarchical levels: for training, optimization of the regularization terms, databased model selection, and evaluation of the relative importance of different inputs. In the second part of the article,
Bayesian neural networks are used to formulate a
multilevel strategy for the monitoring of the integrity of long span bridges subjected to environmental actions: in a first level the occurrence of damage is detected; in a following level the specific damaged element is recognized and the intensity of damage is quantified.
Disegni strutturali e particolari costruttivi di ponti in cemento armato raccolti dall'Ing. Cosimo Bianchi.
Ad uso esclusivo degli Allievi del Corso di Teoria e Progetto di Ponti della Facoltà di Ingegneria della Sapienza - Prof. Ing. Franco Bontempi
Disegni strutturali e particolari costruttivi di ponti in acciaio raccolti dall'Ing. Cosimo Bianchi.
Ad uso esclusivo degli Allievi del Corso di Teoria e Progetto di Ponti della Facoltà di Ingegneria della Sapienza - Prof. Ing. Franco Bontempi
Libro che raccoglie le lezioni del Prof. Giulio Ceradini a cura del Prof. Carlo Gavarini.
Ad uso esclusivo degli Allievi del Corso di Teoria e Progetto di Ponti della Facoltà di Ingegneria della Sapienza - Prof. Ing. Franco Bontempi
A numerical approach to the reliability analysis of reinforced and prestressed concrete structures is presented. The problem is formulated in terms of the probabilistic safety factor and the structural reliability is evaluated by Monte
Carlo simulation. The cumulative distribution of the safety factor associated with each limit state is derived and a reliability index is evaluated. The proposed procedure is applied to reliability analysis of an existing prestressed concrete arch bridge.
This paper presents a general approach to the probabilistic prediction of the structural service life and to the maintenance
planning of deteriorating concrete structures. The proposed formulation is based on a novel methodology for the assessment of the time-variant structural performance under the diffusive attack of external aggressive agents. Based on this methodology, Monte Carlo
simulation is used to account for the randomness of the main structural parameters, including material properties, geometrical parameters, area and location of the reinforcement, material diffusivity and damage rates. The time-variant reliability is then computed with respect to proper measures of structural performance. The results of the lifetime durability analysis are finally used to select, among different maintenance scenarios, the most economical rehabilitation strategy leading to a prescribed target value of the structural service life. Two numerical applications, a box-girder bridge deck and a pier of an existing bridge, show the effectiveness of the proposed methodology.
This paper presents a novel approach using cellular automata to model the durability analysis of concrete structures exposed to aggressive environmental agents. The diffusion of these agents is modeled using cellular automata, which represent physical systems with discrete space, time, and state values. Mechanical damage from diffusion is evaluated using degradation laws. The interaction of diffusion and structural behavior is captured by modeling stochastic effects in mass transfer. Nonlinear structural analyses over time are performed using a deteriorating concrete beam element within a finite element framework. The approach is demonstrated on applications including a concrete box girder, T-beam, and arch bridge to identify critical members.
The paper deals with the assessment during time of r.c. structures under damage due to diffusion of external agents inside the structure. The diffusion process is modelled by a cellular automata based approach, taking the interaction with the mechanical state of the structures, i.e. the cracking state of the structures, into account. A so-called staggered process then solves the coupled problem. An application shows the effectiveness of the proposed analysis strategy, together some design considerations about the structural robustness.
Atti Congresso CTE, Pisa 2000
Discover the latest insights on Data Driven Maintenance with our comprehensive webinar presentation. Learn about traditional maintenance challenges, the right approach to utilizing data, and the benefits of adopting a Data Driven Maintenance strategy. Explore real-world examples, industry best practices, and innovative solutions like FMECA and the D3M model. This presentation, led by expert Jules Oudmans, is essential for asset owners looking to optimize their maintenance processes and leverage digital technologies for improved efficiency and performance. Download now to stay ahead in the evolving maintenance landscape.
The CBC machine is a common diagnostic tool used by doctors to measure a patient's red blood cell count, white blood cell count and platelet count. The machine uses a small sample of the patient's blood, which is then placed into special tubes and analyzed. The results of the analysis are then displayed on a screen for the doctor to review. The CBC machine is an important tool for diagnosing various conditions, such as anemia, infection and leukemia. It can also help to monitor a patient's response to treatment.
Null Bangalore | Pentesters Approach to AWS IAMDivyanshu
#Abstract:
- Learn more about the real-world methods for auditing AWS IAM (Identity and Access Management) as a pentester. So let us proceed with a brief discussion of IAM as well as some typical misconfigurations and their potential exploits in order to reinforce the understanding of IAM security best practices.
- Gain actionable insights into AWS IAM policies and roles, using hands on approach.
#Prerequisites:
- Basic understanding of AWS services and architecture
- Familiarity with cloud security concepts
- Experience using the AWS Management Console or AWS CLI.
- For hands on lab create account on [killercoda.com](https://killercoda.com/cloudsecurity-scenario/)
# Scenario Covered:
- Basics of IAM in AWS
- Implementing IAM Policies with Least Privilege to Manage S3 Bucket
- Objective: Create an S3 bucket with least privilege IAM policy and validate access.
- Steps:
- Create S3 bucket.
- Attach least privilege policy to IAM user.
- Validate access.
- Exploiting IAM PassRole Misconfiguration
-Allows a user to pass a specific IAM role to an AWS service (ec2), typically used for service access delegation. Then exploit PassRole Misconfiguration granting unauthorized access to sensitive resources.
- Objective: Demonstrate how a PassRole misconfiguration can grant unauthorized access.
- Steps:
- Allow user to pass IAM role to EC2.
- Exploit misconfiguration for unauthorized access.
- Access sensitive resources.
- Exploiting IAM AssumeRole Misconfiguration with Overly Permissive Role
- An overly permissive IAM role configuration can lead to privilege escalation by creating a role with administrative privileges and allow a user to assume this role.
- Objective: Show how overly permissive IAM roles can lead to privilege escalation.
- Steps:
- Create role with administrative privileges.
- Allow user to assume the role.
- Perform administrative actions.
- Differentiation between PassRole vs AssumeRole
Try at [killercoda.com](https://killercoda.com/cloudsecurity-scenario/)
Comparative analysis between traditional aquaponics and reconstructed aquapon...bijceesjournal
The aquaponic system of planting is a method that does not require soil usage. It is a method that only needs water, fish, lava rocks (a substitute for soil), and plants. Aquaponic systems are sustainable and environmentally friendly. Its use not only helps to plant in small spaces but also helps reduce artificial chemical use and minimizes excess water use, as aquaponics consumes 90% less water than soil-based gardening. The study applied a descriptive and experimental design to assess and compare conventional and reconstructed aquaponic methods for reproducing tomatoes. The researchers created an observation checklist to determine the significant factors of the study. The study aims to determine the significant difference between traditional aquaponics and reconstructed aquaponics systems propagating tomatoes in terms of height, weight, girth, and number of fruits. The reconstructed aquaponics system’s higher growth yield results in a much more nourished crop than the traditional aquaponics system. It is superior in its number of fruits, height, weight, and girth measurement. Moreover, the reconstructed aquaponics system is proven to eliminate all the hindrances present in the traditional aquaponics system, which are overcrowding of fish, algae growth, pest problems, contaminated water, and dead fish.
Comparative analysis between traditional aquaponics and reconstructed aquapon...
The Long Way towards a Sound Framework for Structural Design: 10 Years of Experience in Rome
1.
2. DCEE4
Proceedings of the
4th International Workshop on
Design in Civil and Environmental Engineering
Shang-Hsien (Patrick) Hsieh
Shih-Chung (Jessy) Kang
Editors
3. 4th International Workshop on
Design in Civil and Environmental Engineering
October 30TH
-31ST
, Taipei City, Taiwan
Organized by
National Taiwan University
Supported by
Ministry of Science and Technology, R.O.C.
4. Committees
Workshop Chairs
Shang-Hsien “Patrick” Hsieh
Shih-Chung “Jessy” Kang
Organizing Committee
Shang-Hsien “Patrick” Hsieh
Shih-Chung “Jessy” Kang
Hervé Capart
Shih-Yao Lai
Mei-Mei Song
Advisory Committee
Ren-Jye Dzeng
Bing-Jean Lee
Liang-Jenq Leu
Feng-Tyan Lin
Ching-Wen Wang
Pao-Shan Yu
International Advisory Committee
Franco Bontempi
Chris Brown
Tahar El-Korchi
Renate Fruchter
Timo Hartmann
Lotte Bjerregaard Jensen
Adib Kanafani
Giuseppe Longhi
Ashwin Mahlingram
Dominik Matt
Chansik Park
Ser Tong Quek
Mary Kathryn Thompson
Nicola Tollin
Nobuyoshi Yabuki
National Taiwan University
National Taiwan University
University of Rome “LA SAPIENZA”
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Stanford University
Twente University
Technical University of Denmark
University of California, Berkeley
Master Processi Construttivi Sostenibili IUAV
Indian Institute of Technology Madras
Fraunhofer Italia Research
Chung-Ang University
National University of Singapore
Technical University of Denmark
Bradford Centre for Sustainable Environments
Osaka University
National Taiwan University
National Taiwan University
National Taiwan University
National Taiwan University
Tamkang University
National Chiao Tung University
Feng Chia University
National Taiwan University
National Cheng Kung University
National Chung Hsing University
National Cheng Kung University
5. Foreword
Design has always been an essential subject in Civil and Environmental Engineering
(CEE) education and practice but needs more attention as it deserves. Buildings and
civil facilities are meant for a long period of time of use and are greatly related to the
safety and welfare of human society. In recent years, the increasing frequency and
impact of natural disasters resulted from global climate change have demanded the
CEE design to address more on the disaster prevention/reduction and sustainability of
built environments. Obviously, CEE designers and engineers have to think beyond now
and into the future more than ever before.
I am very glad to have the opportunity to organize DCEE 2015 in NTU, Taipei, Taiwan,
following previous successful DCEE workshops hosted by KAIST, South Korea in 2011,
WPI, USA in 2013, and DTU, Denmark in 2014. We planned a pre-conference workshop:
“Sustainable City – A Hundred Years from Now”, facilitated by Prof. Pirjo Haikola
(Finland) and Prof. Mei-Mei Song (Taiwan), in hope to bring on some discussions one
step further into the future and it turned out to be an inspiring event that enriches all
participants’ thinking about our future cities. This year’s workshop features 3 keynote
speeches and 13 technical presentations by researchers from Japan, U.S.A., Denmark,
Italy and Taiwan. The presentations spanned a wide range of studies related to Design
in CEE, from environmental design, structural design, to engineering design education.
A mini-workshop was also organized for discussing the futures of DCEE. The
discussions were facilitated using Futures Thinking tools and fruitful outcomes from
the discussions were reported at the end of this proceedings.
I would like to thank all of the presenters, particularly the three excellent keynote
speakers, Prof. Hideyuki Horii from Japan (Designing Innovation Workshop: i.School
UTokyo), Prof. Eduardo Miranda from USA (Performance Based Design), Mr. Ying-Chih
Chang from Taiwan (Structural design for best integration with Architecture), and the
two professors, Profs. Haikola and Song, for facilitating the pre-workshop and mini-
workshop. My sincere thanks also go to my co-chair, the organizing committee,
international advisory committee, sponsors and all the participants and staff of the
workshop.
Finally, we are very much looking forward to the next DCEE Workshop to be held in
Sapienza University of Rome, Italy in October 6-8, 2016 and hopping that you will join
us for the continuation of important and interesting discussions on all aspects of
design in CEE.
Shang-Hsien (Patrick) Hsieh
Chairman, DCEE 2015 Organizing Committee
Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, National Taiwan University
June 20, 2016
6. The Long Way towards a Sound Framework for Structural
Design: 10 Years of Experience in Rome
Franco Bontempi*1,2
, Konstantinos Gkoumas1
, Stefania Arangio1,2
, Francesco Petrini1,2
,
Chiara Crosti1
franco.bontempi@uniroma1.it, konstantinos.gkoumas@stronger2012.com, stefania.arangio@stronger2012.com,
francesco.petrini@stronger2012.com, chiara.crosti@stronger2012.com,
1
StroNGER srl, Italy
2
Department of Structural and Geotechnical Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
Abstract: This paper focuses on the different conceptual frameworks that govern the structural problem and
provides an insight on the results obtained from structural analysis, towards a sound framework for structural
design. The interdisciplinary of many aspects is highlighted, considering the developments on the sustainable
development and the architectonic design, and the availability of modern technologies that nowadays are integrated
in the structural forms. The paper provides significant concepts and case studies (long span bridges, offshore wind
turbines, high-rise buildings etc.), studied thoroughly in the last 10 years in the Sapienza University of Rome by
the research group on structural analysis and design www.francobontempi.org.
Keywords: Structural Engineering, Analysis, Design, Knowledge.
Introduction
Together with the realization of large-scale structural
and infrastructural projects in the last years, structural
design evolved as well in a profound manner. This is
because the complexity of this kind of structures,
related to several aspects, for example, their nonlinear
dynamic behavior, the presence of various sources of
uncertainties - both objective and cognitive - and the
strong interaction between components, necessitate
the necessary attention in the design phase. In the
above sense, the complexity of a system depends on
the number of elements from which it is composed, the
number of interactions among these elements, and the
convolution of the elements and interactions.
An elevated complexity can be identified in a
long span bridge (Arangio and Bontempi 2010
Bontempi 2006; Petrini et al. 2007; Petrini and
Bontempi 2011), in offshore wind turbines (Bontempi
et al. 2008, Petrini et al. 2010), in an industrial hanger
(Gkoumas et al. 2008), in long span parking structures
Crosti 2009), in high-rise buildings (Ciampoli and
Petrini 2012; Petrini and Ciampoli 2012, Milana et al.
2015). The complexity, is not a single outcome of the
structure itself, but an outcome of a system as a whole,
including issues related to performances, lifecycle,
loading conditions etc.
With the above in mind, it became clear in the
civil engineering community that structural design
methods and techniques from the past are no longer
adequate and new improved methods are necessary to
face the challenges of the future.
Aim of this paper is to bring forward, issues,
methods, trends and techniques that the research group
led by one of the authors (www.francobontempi.org)
encountered in the past 10 or more years, in the
structural analysis and design of complex structures.
All these are grouped in a reasoned manner following
the flowchart of figure 1. The correlation between
different aspects can be taken into account by applying
the principles and techniques of System Engineering,
which is a robust approach to the creation, design,
realization, and operation of a complex civil
engineered system (Bontempi et al. 2008).
What comes first (flowchart of figure 1, phase
one) is the general design and optimization, as an
outcome of detailed structural analyses. This is
completed by criteria for new or existing construction
(figure 1, phases two and three). The implementation
of systems developed in recent years helps improving
the reliability of the results and the confidence in the
design (figure 1, phase four). Furthermore, specific
scenarios are considered for tertiary design purposes,
e.g. to test the structural design under severe or
unforeseen events (figure 1, phase 5). Finally, an
aspect worth mentioning is the forensic investigation
of structures, a field in constant growth in the last years
(figure 1, phase six).
The sequence of the different phases is
determined by the sequence of different design needs
(e.g. phase 2: Criteria, rationally follows phase 1:
Theory and methods). However, these are reflected
also in the research activity maturated over the years
by the research group (e.g. phase 6: Forensic
engineering comes as the culmination of the
knowledge acquired in the previous phases) and in the
complexity of the system (phase 5: Scenarios is for the
107
7. Fourth International Workshop on Design in Civil and Environmental Engineering, October 30-31, 2015, NTU
most part referred to complex structural systems, and
goes beyond standard design). In the following
paragraphs, the above mentioned concepts are
presented, using when possible, real case studies.
Adequate references are provided for the reader for
further inquiry.
The discussion of phases 3 and 5 is omitted for
the sake of brevity.
Figure 1. Methods, concepts, issues and techniques for structural design
Means for structural design
The above mentioned issues, methods, trends and
techniques, applied in different case studies, are shown
below.
Theory and methods
The theoretical framework for the design of complex
structural systems should be based on a
comprehensive evaluation of all the performances. In
this sense, the aim of structural engineering is not only
to achieve an ideally good design and a nominal
construction, but also to assure, by means of
appropriate maintenance, the long-term exploitation of
the system as a whole.
Organization and system decomposition
The first step in the process of solving a structural
problem is to hierarchically organize the entire
structural system. This is an important task since the
decisions taken by the designer are based on his
knowledge on the object of study. Figure 2 (from
Sgambi et al. 2012) shows the case of a long-span
suspension bridge where the entire structure is
hierarchically divided into substructures (macro-level),
components (meso-level), and finally (not shown in
the figure), elements (micro-level).
• The MACRO-LEVEL is related to a geometric size
comparable with the entire structure or with a
significant role in the structural behavior. The
different parts considered are identified as macro-
Theory and
Methods
Organization and
system decomposition
Performance-based
design
Optimization and
structural analysis
Criteria
(new construction)
Risk analysis
Resilience
Sustainability
Robustness
Dependability
Safety
Serviceability
Redundancy
Criteria
(existing construction)
Structural assessment
Historic buildings
Systems
Earthquake engineering
Wind engineering
Fatigue
Fire-safety engineering
Structural control
Structural Health
Monitoring
Scenarios
Existing actions
Fire and impact
Explosions
Forensic engineering
Responsibility
Numerical investigations
(historic structures)
Numerical investigations
(contemporary structures)
Back analysis
4
2
6
1
5
3
LP-HC events
Black swan events
108
8. Fourth International Workshop on Design in Civil and Environmental Engineering, October 30-31, 2015, NTU
components. Essentially three systems are
identified:
(a) the main structural system, connected with the
main resistant mechanism, composed of the
following:
(i) supporting conditions: tower foundations,
towers, anchorages;
(ii) suspension system: saddles, main cables,
hangers;
(iii) bridge deck: highway box girders, railway
box girder, cross box girder;
(iv) special deck zones: inner (in proximity to
the towers), outer (at the end of the deck);
(b) the secondary system, related to the structural
parts directly loaded by highway and railway
traffic;
(c) the auxiliary system, related to specific
operations that the bridge can normally or
exceptionally face during its design life:
operation, maintenance and emergency.
• MESO-LEVEL is associated to the geometric
dimensions still relevant if compared with the
entire superstructure but connected with a specific
role in the macro-components; the parts considered
in this manner are identified as structures or
substructures.
• MICRO-LEVEL is linked to smaller geometric
dimensions with specialized structural role: these
are simply components or elements.
In accordance with this point of view, it is
possible to modify each variable and optimize the
structural behavior in order to achieve a required
performance level.
Figure 2. Bridge structural system decomposition
As figure 3 suggests, the essential role of the
structural breakdown is confirmed by the complexity
of the modelling/structural analysis of a cable
supported bridge (Petrini and Bontempi 2011).
Figure 3. Complexity of a structural system due to
nonlinearities, interactions and uncertainties: the case
of a long-span suspension bridge
Performance-based design
The general framework for the design of special
structures can be arranged with reference to the
scheme of figure 4, where the phases necessary for
finding in a positive approach the solution to the
design problem are shown:
Figure 4. Framework for the design of complex
structural systems: the case of a long-span bridge
a) definition of the structural domain, that is, the
bridge geometrical and material characteristics;
b) definition of the design environment where the
structure is located with specific attention to the
specifications of the:
i. environmental actions (principally,
wind/temperature and soil/earthquake);
ii. anthropic actions (related to pedestrian,
highway and train loads);
109
9. Fourth International Workshop on Design in Civil and Environmental Engineering, October 30-31, 2015, NTU
c) assessment of the performances that can be attained
by the current structural design configuration,
resulting from accurate and extensive structural
analysis developed on models, both analytically or
experimentally;
d) alignment of expert judgments and emergence of
decisions about the soundness of the design, first in
qualitative and successively in quantitative terms;
e) negotiation and reframing of the expected
performances, in comparison with what has been
obtained by the analysis and with the knowledge
acquired working on the problem.
This scheme is identified as a Performance-
based design approach. It is worth observing two
features:
1) the influence of the problem formulation by
heuristics and experience and the acknowledgment
of the solution - essentially, only the engineering
deontology is capable to correctly address the
interest of all the stakeholders;
2) the central role of the numerical modeling, as the
exclusive knowledge engine capable of linking
together both the theory and experiment details, in
a truly comprehensive representation of the
problem and of its solution.
In order to quantify with the maximum possible
precision, the performance, and considering the
structural decomposition of figure 2, the meaning of
this subdivision is multifaceted:
a) First of all, the organization of the structure is
naturally connected with the load paths developed
by the structure itself. In this manner, the
subdivision helps the design team identify better
the role of each part of the structure.
b) Parts related to different levels of this organization
require different reliability thresholds. With regard
to structural failure conditions, this decomposition
allows single critical mechanisms to be ranked in
order of risk and consequences of the failure
mechanism.
c) There is a strong relationship between life cycle
and maintenance of the different parts: with
reference respectively to their structural function,
the required safety levels and their repairability,
structures and sub-structures are distinguished in
primary components (critical, non-repairable or
components that their repair may lead to the bridge
being out of service for a long period), and
secondary components (repairable with minor
restrictions on the operation of the bridge).
d) Regarding operative aspects, the entire structural
analysis can be subdivided in coordinated phases
as shown in figure 5, phases that indicate the
connection among different performance levels
and different design variables. The link is
established by efficient modeling, at different
linked structural scales, with the possibility that the
model outcomes at one level become the input for
another model at another scale.
Al these considerations can be summarized in the
scheme of figure 5, referring to the case of a long span
bridge.
Figure 5. Performance and variables from the
structural decomposition of a bridge
Optimization and structural design
For structural systems that show intrinsically
nonlinear behavior, an accurate description of the
response cannot be obtained without entering into the
nonlinear field. Consequently, the reliability
assessment of a structure belonging to such a class of
systems, cannot be definitely assured without
considering its actual nonlinear behavior. In this
context, thought the reliability of the structure as
resulting from a general and comprehensive
examination of all its failure modes, one must pay
attention to the following three aspects which define
the assessment process:
1. available data;
2. nonlinear analysis;
3. synthesis of the results.
That said, let p be a parameter belonging to the
set of quantities which define the structural problem
and a load multiplier. It is clear that to each set of
parameters corresponds a set of limit load multiplier,
one of them for each assigned limit state. For sake of
simplicity, we can start by considering the relationship
between one single parameter p and one single limit
state defined by its corresponding limit load multiplier
. At first, it is worth noting that, in general, such
relationship is nonlinear even if the behavior of the
system is linear. This is typical of the design process
where the structural properties which correlate loads
and displacements are considered as design variables.
Thus, the nonlinear relationship (p) can be
drawn as in figure 6 (left), which shows that for each
value of p, there is a corresponding value of .
However, from figure 6 (right) it is also clear that the
110
10. Fourth International Workshop on Design in Civil and Environmental Engineering, October 30-31, 2015, NTU
response interval [min max] corresponding to [pmin
pmax] cannot be simply obtained from (pmin) and
(pmax).
Figure 6. Relationship between a structural
parameter p and a limit state load multiplier (left)
and interval of the limit state multiplier
corresponding to an interval of the parameter p (right)
The problem of finding the interval response
can be instead properly formulated as an optimization
problem by assuming the objective function to be
maximized as the size of the response interval itself. In
particular, for the general case of n independent
parameter p, collected in a vector
T
nppp ]...[ 21x , and m assigned limit states,
the following objective function is introduced:
m
i
iiF
1
min,max,)( x
A solution x of the optimization problem which
take the side constraints into account is developed by
genetic algorithms, which are heuristic search
techniques which belong to the class of stochastic
algorithms, since they combine elements of
deterministic and probabilistic search (Michalewicz
1992). The search strategy works on a population of
individuals subjected to an evolutionary process where
individuals compete between them to survive in
proportion to their fitness with the environment. In this
process, population undergoes continuous
reproduction by means of some genetic operators
which, because of competition, tend to preserve best
individuals. From this evolutionary mechanism, two
conflicting trends appear: exploiting of the best
individuals and exploring the environment. Thus, the
effectiveness of the genetic search depends on a
balance between them, or between two principal
properties of the system, population diversity and
selective pressure. These aspects are in fact strongly
related, since an increase in the selective pressure
decreases the diversity of the population, and vice
versa (Biondini 1999).
Criteria (new construction)
Criteria for new construction, include attributes related
to the dependability of the structural system. After a
brief introduction of the term below, a number of them
are reported. Before that, an introduction to aspects of
risk analysis and of the system redundancy are
introduced.
Risk analysis
Nowadays civil engineering structures always bigger
and more complex are designed and build, making use
of particularly innovative methods and materials. The
innovation in all the phases of construction, the
uncertainty from the use of new and often non-
thoroughly tested materials, and the increasing
concern from the society regarding the risk involved
with these civil engineering infrastructures, calls for
an extensive risk analysis act. In fact, one can think of
no greater hazards and risks to society than the threats
to the functionality and survivability of critical
infrastructures, and the associated potential
catastrophic consequences (Haimes 1999).
A major contributing aspect for risk analysis
demand descends from the evolution of the society and
the tolerance of death: nowadays, there is a demand for
mortality risk reduction (e.g., risk at a construction
yard is simple unacceptable).
One particular aspect is the consideration of
complexity. As figure 7 suggests, for less complex
systems, a qualitative risk analysis is sufficient. As
complexity grows, the need of more adequate methods
is evident. This is also the case for HPLC (High
Probability/Low Consequence) events, which are
usually associated with a probability.
Figure 7. Design, complexity, and risk analysis
However, for very complex systems, where the
inherent complexity is large and the uncertainties are
many, a more appropriate method may be the
identification of pragmatic risk scenarios, especially
for LPHC (Low Probability/High Consequence) for
which it is impossible to associate a probability to their
occurrence. What stated above, is important also in the
design phase. QRA (Quantified Risk Analysis) and
PRA (Probabilistic Risk Analysis) are important in the
primary design, while, the consideration of pragmatic
risk scenarios is important in the secondary design
(Bontempi 2005)
Redundancy
Redundancy in structural design focuses mainly on the
human behavior (i.e. to the soft side of a general
p
p
p
HPLC
High Probability –
Low Consequences
LPHC
Low Probability –
High Consequences
Complexity
Non linear issues and
interaction mechanisms
Designapproach:
StochasticDeterministic
QUALITATIVE RISK
ANALYSIS
PROBABILISTIC
RISK ANALYSIS
PRAGMATIC
ANALYSIS OF
RISK SCENARIOS
Secondary
design
Primary
design
111
11. Fourth International Workshop on Design in Civil and Environmental Engineering, October 30-31, 2015, NTU
solution process), rather than to material aspects (i.e.
to the hard aspects). In this sense, a robust numerical
solution can be achieved by working with different
solvers in parallel. The outcomes obtained by the
different solvers are then compared by a so-called
“elective” system, to converge to the final solution.
This attitude extends to consider different
persons, theories, and tools as automatic codes: for
example, figure 8 shows in a concise way the
distribution of use of the main different commercial
codes adopted for the structural analysis of a long span
bridge (Bontempi 2008a).
Figure 8. Use of commercial codes for the structural
analysis of a bridge
In this scheme, passing from left to right, there is
an increase of the specialization of the kind of analysis,
while the sizes of the circles are proportional to the
amount of use of the code. The comparison among
different codes and among different structural
configuration brings confidence to the design
structural configuration.
Dependability
Dependability is concisely defined as the grade of
confidence on the safety and on the performance of a
system. This is a qualitative definition that
comprehensively accounts for several properties,
which, even though interconnected, can be examined
separately. Adapting the conceptual organization
scheme conceived for the electronic and systems
engineering field (Avizienis et al. 2004) in the
structural engineering field, dependability can be
illustrated by dividing it in three different conceptual
groups (Arangio et al. 2011, Sgambi et al. 2012).
The first group deals with the properties that a
dependable structure should possess, commonly
referred as dependability attributes, related both to the
safety and the serviceability. The second group
concerns the external or internal threats that can harm
the dependability level of the structure. Finally, the
third group includes the dependability means, i.e. the
strategies and methods that can be followed in order to
achieve and maintain a dependable system.
As can be seen, dependability embraces several
issues, usually considered separately in the structural
design (figure 9), including safety and serviceability.
For additional details regarding the means to a
dependable design, the reader is referred to Bontempi
et al. (2007).
Figure 9. Dependability framework for structural
design
Safety
Concerning safety, the first problem arises from the
definition of the term, which is either referred to the
safety of people or to the integrity of the structure
(Bontempi et al. 2007). It is clear that the achievement
of such different goals (the first aiming to avoid people
injuries, the second focusing on the structural behavior
of the structure), requires to pursue completely
different means for the design conception. It seems
therefore more appropriate to define the term safety by
counterpoising it to that one of risk, the latter
quantitatively evaluated as the product between the
probability of occurrence of an event and the resulting
damage (Schneider 1997).
In the above sense, the safety of a structure is
intended as the quality of providing service with an
acceptable level of risk. It is important to observe
though that a probabilistic definition of the safety
requirement is not optimal when dealing with very rare
accidental circumstances potentially associated with
very severe consequences. These circumstances are
commonly associated with LP-HC events, such as
impact, explosion, fire and other malevolent attacks or
extreme natural disasters. Under these circumstances
either the assessment of risk associated to the event
and the definition of an acceptable level of risk can be
112
12. Fourth International Workshop on Design in Civil and Environmental Engineering, October 30-31, 2015, NTU
challenging (Starossek 2009) and the consideration of
a broader set of system properties seems necessary in
order to evaluate the structural response. It appears
therefore appropriate to refer to the more
comprehensive concept of structural dependability and
define, for a dependable system, a set of attributes
related to the safety requirement as:
• INTEGRITY: the attribute is referred to the
absence of structural failure. This attribute
concerns therefore the structural state, in the sense
that the maximum grade of structural integrity is
related to the nominal configuration of the structure,
i.e. the undamaged one.
• RELIABILITY: the attribute is defined as the
probability that the structure will perform as
expected against environmental or anthropic
actions.
• SECURITY: the term is commonly related to the
vigilance and surveillance system, but in this
context, is more generally referred to the grade of
confidence on the structure with respect to
malevolent (intentional) attacks.
• ROBUSTNESS: the attribute refers to the ability of
a structure to maintain localized an initial damage
and avoid the propagation of failures in the system
(or, as defined in Starossek 2009, “insensitivity to
local failure”).
• COLLAPSE RESISTANCE: the attribute indicates
the ability of the structure to undergo exceptional
actions with the whole system remaining stable (or
as defined in Starossek 2009, “insensitivity to
accidental circumstances”).
• DAMAGE TOLERANCE: the term is referred to
the ability of the structure to absorb, continuously
in time, local damage of small severity, such as due
to material degradation or corrosion.
Serviceability
Complementing the safety performance, the
serviceability performance of the structure is intended
as the ability to provide correct service. The
serviceability of special structures such as a bridge is
also important for the duration of transitory situations,
e.g. during ordinary or extraordinary maintenance.
The following attributes can be considered:
• AVAILABILITY: is intended as readiness for
correct serviceability. This is a very important
property for structures with more than one
serviceability levels (e.g. a long span bridge, object
of this study).
• MAINTAINABILITY: is the ability to undergo
repairs and modifications. It is intended as the ease
with which maintenance can be performed in
accordance with the prescribed requirements.
• SURVIVABILITY: is intended as the ability of the
structural system to provide basic service in
presence of a failure. It is particularly important for
critical infrastructures and transportation networks
and for special structures such as military
constructions, power generation plants etc.
The above-mentioned attributes are non-
exhaustive since the dependability provisions are
referred to a system in operation, i.e. are related to the
function each structural system is meant for.
Robustness
Absence of catastrophic consequences and fault
tolerance are guaranteed by structural robustness
(Starossek 2009, Bontempi 2008b). This is the
capacity of the construction to undergo only limited
reductions in its performance level in the event of
departures from the original design configuration as a
result of:
(a) local damage due to accidental loads;
(b) secondary structural elements being out of
service for maintenance purpose;
(c) degradation of their mechanical properties.
Within a robust structure the damage is a
bounded damage and has no propagation, i.e. the entity
of damage is proportional to the amplitude of its cause.
Figure 10 suggests the different robustness response of
two different structural systems. System A is more
resistant then the system B when integer, but it is less
robust, since when the structures are damaged
structure B shows a lower decrement of the ultimate
resistance with respect to the structure A.
Figure 10. Qualitative robustness slopes of robust (b)
- non robust (a) structures
In general terms, the following
recommendations apply:
appropriate contingency scenarios shall be
identified, i.e. scenarios of possible damage
together with suitable load scenarios;
analyses shall be conducted in order to explore and
to bound structural safety and performance levels
of the structure in these conditions.
Sustainability
In the recent years, the construction sector is more and
more oriented towards the promotion of sustainability
in all its activities. The goal to achieve is the
optimization of performances, over the whole life
cycle, with respect to environmental, economic and
social requirements.
113
13. Fourth International Workshop on Design in Civil and Environmental Engineering, October 30-31, 2015, NTU
Sustainability issues are wide-ranging, but the
main focus in the building industry is the reduction of
energy consumption in construction and use.
When evaluating the sustainability of structures,
the life cycle approach is required (Biondini et al.
2006), taking into account all phases of a building's
life, including material production, transportation to
the construction site, construction, operation,
demolition or deconstruction, and end of life.
One of the evocative structural design solutions
for sustainable tall buildings is embraced by the
diagrid (diagonal grid) structural scheme. Diagrid,
with a perimeter structural configuration characterized
by a narrow grid of diagonal members involved both
in gravity and in lateral load resistance, has emerged
as a new design trend for tall-shaped complex
structures, and is becoming increasingly popular due
to aesthetics and structural performance. Since it
requires less structural steel than a conventional steel
frame, it provides for a more sustainable structure. A
diagrid structure is modeled as a vertical cantilever
beam on the ground, and subdivided longitudinally
into modules according to the repetitive diagrid pattern.
Each module is defined by a single level of diagrids
that extend over multiple stories. Being the diagrid a
triangulated configuration of structural members, the
geometry of the single module plays a major role in
the internal axial force distribution, as well as in
conferring global shear and bending rigidity to the
building structure.
In a recent study (Milana et al. 2014), it has been
shown and quantified the way in which diagrid
structures lead to a considerable saving of (steel)
material compared to more traditional structural
schemes such as outrigger structures. Different diagrid
structures were considered (figure 11), namely, three
geometric configurations, with inclination of diagonal
members of 42°, 60° and 75°. These configurations, in
addition to allowing a considerable saving of weight,
guarantee a better performance in terms of strength,
stiffness and ductility.
Figure 11. Different diagrid FEM models
Resilience
The concept of resilience is present since the 70’s in
fields of study such as psychology and ecology. In the
civil and architectural engineering field, resilience is
present through the notions of “resilience of urban
areas” and “resilient community”, as introduced by the
Multidisciplinary Centre for Earthquake Engineering
Research - MCEER (MCEER 2006).
The approach has the potential to provide a
considerable contribution in lowering the impact of
disasters, and is implemented through the Resilience-
Based Design (RBD) for large urban infrastructures
(buildings, transportation facilities, utility elements
etc.), conceived as a design approach aiming at
reducing as much as possible the consequences of
natural disasters and other critical unexpected events
by developing actions that allow a prompt recovery
(Bruneau et al. 2003).
On this basis, Ortenzi et al. (2013) present and
apply a framework for the resilience assessment of
urban developments (figure 12).
114
14. Fourth International Workshop on Design in Civil and Environmental Engineering, October 30-31, 2015, NTU
Figure 12. Resilience assessment framework
Systems
It is widely recognized that the most rational way for
assessing and reducing the risks of engineered
facilities and infrastructures subject to natural and
man-made phenomena, both in the design of new
facilities and in the rehabilitation or retrofitting of
existing ones, is Performance-based design.
Performance-Based design, nowadays typical in the
seismic design of structures and infrastructures, has
been extended in other engineering fields, in
particular:
- wind engineering;
- fire safety engineering;
- hurricane engineering.
Specific applications and methods are reported
below, together with provisions for fatigue
performance, and issues related to structural control
and monitoring.
Earthquake engineering
Bontempi (2008c), assess the safety and serviceability
performance under seismic action of a long span
suspension bridge, by means of detailed FEM models,
accounting for the asynchronous seismic action and
the possibility to have crustal displacements between
the pylons. Figure 13 shows a global frame model with
local shell model for the stress analysis (related to the
crustal displacements) and details of the deck.
Figure 13. Global frame model with local shell based
refined modeling for the stress analysis
115
15. Fourth International Workshop on Design in Civil and Environmental Engineering, October 30-31, 2015, NTU
Wind engineering
Wind Engineering has appeared of great potential
interest for further developments of Performance
Based Design. In fact, PBWE - ‘‘Performance-Based
Wind Engineering’’was introduced for the first time in
2004 in an Italian research project, coordinated by Prof.
Ciampoli - must be tackled in probabilistic terms, due
to the stochastic nature of both resistance and loading
parameters. Uncertainties regard the environment, the
exchange zone and the structure (figure 14, left). The
environmental model can be extended also to account
for the wind-wave interaction in the case of offshore
structures (figure 14, right).
Ciampoli and Petrini (2012) apply the PBWE
procedure to the assessment of the comfort
requirement and the structural reliability for a 74
storey building.
The same authors carry out probabilistic
calculations of the structural response in frequency
and time domains, and calibrate the parameters of the
wind velocity field based on the time-histories of the
global floor forces derived by experimental tests on a
rigid 1:500 scale model of the building. The results of
numerical analyses suggest the use of a tuned mass
damper to enhance the building performance.
Petrini et al. (2012) propose a multi-level
approach for the design of offshore wind turbines.
They inquire on the effects on the structural response
induced by the uncertainty of the parameters used to
describe the environmental actions and the finite
element model of the structure, and adopt a shell FEM
model of the blade (figure 15) in order to obtain the
detailed load stress on the blade/hub connection.
Figure 14. Sources of uncertainty in Wind Engineering
Figure 15. Detailed FEM model of the blade
Structural Health Monitoring (SHM)
In recent years, structural integrity monitoring is a
paradigm that has become increasingly important in
structural engineering and in the construction
management field. It represents an influential and
effective tool for the structural assessment of existing
structural systems, integrating - in a unified
perspective - systems engineering and performance
based-design. Structural integrity monitoring issues
include performance, design environment and
structural breakdown, sensor systems and their
optimal placement, data transmission arrangement,
advanced signal processing techniques, state
identification methods and numerical model updating.
Bontempi et al. 2008 identify in a single chart
different phases of the SHM problem, extruded in a
third dimension, to take into account the complexity.
In this way, the various planes represent different
complexity levels (Z axis), while on the X and Y axis
are represented the phases of the lifespan of the
structure and the different implementations of the
monitoring process (figure 16, next page).
The interpretation of the data coming from the
monitoring process, i.e. the system symptoms, in order
to detect and diagnose a system fault is a complex task.
Arangio et al. (2011) provide a reference framework
for the SHM and structural identification of civil
structures. In particular, they adopt and implement a
monitoring process using soft computing algorithms,
ENVIRONMENT
Structure
Non environmental
solicitations
STRUCTURE
Structural (non-
environmental)
system
Site-specific
environment
Wind site basic
parameters
Other
environmental
agents
Wave site basic
parameters
Wind, wave
and current
actions
Aerodynamic and
Aeroelastic
phenomena
Hydrodynamic
phenomena
1. Aleatoric
2. Epistemic
3. Model
Types of uncertainties
1. Aleatoric
2. Epistemic
3. Model
1. Aleatoric
2. Epistemic
3. Model
Propagation Propagation
Interaction
parameters
Structural parametersIntensity Measure ( )IM IP SP
EXCHANGE ZONE
z
y
x,x’
z’
y’
Waves
Mean wind
Current
P
(t)vP
(t)wP
(t)uP
Turbulent
wind Vm(zP)
P
H
h
vw(z’)
Vcur(z’)
116
16. Fourth International Workshop on Design in Civil and Environmental Engineering, October 30-31, 2015, NTU
with reference to a long span suspension bridge (figure
17).
Figure 16. The individuality of the monitoring
process
Figure 17. Identification of the possible damaged
elements and location of the measurement points
Structural control
The mitigation of extensive vibration or motion has
been a concern in the civil engineering field since the
early conception of complex structural systems (high-
rise buildings, long span bridges), characterized by
nonlinear behavior. The issue is to control how input
energy (from strong wind, earthquake, etc.) is
absorbed by a structure, by means of different methods
and techniques, as an alternative to conventional
design methods based on ductile response.
Most commonly implemented methods for
structural control include installing isolators or passive
energy dissipation devices to dissipate vibration
energy and reduce dynamic responses. In addition to
these, with the advent of advanced computational
methods (hardware and software), it is now possible to
alter the structural configuration for mitigating the
induced energy.
Bontempi et al. (2003) test and compare both
active and passive control systems for a Benchmark
Problem for controlled cable-stayed bridges on a long
span cable-stayed bridge with a central span of 350.6m
and lateral spans of 142.7m. The concern was to
explore seismic excitation in relation to bridges. In
particular, three different schemes of active control
were compared with each other, and their performance
was also compared with the two most widely used
passive control systems which summarize present
energy dissipation practice.
The response variables explored were the shears
and moments at the base of the central towers and of
the lateral piers, and the horizontal displacements of
the deck.
The authors conclude that for the specific bridge,
a passive system seems to be the most convenient
among the investigated solutions. This system supplies
values of internal action similar to the active system
and its realization is easier. In particular, the
availability of electric power supplies is not necessary,
and the use of electric power is not required during the
phase of control. This latter aspect also implies that the
supply of electric power to the system is ensured, even
during an earthquake.
Fatigue
Fatigue is a major issue for steel structures. In
particular, wind and traffic induced vibrations are the
main causes of fatigue damage in the cables and
hangers of suspension bridges. Due to the high
flexibility and reduced weight (in relation of the whole
dimension of the structure), the suspension cable
system of these type of bridges can experiment a great
number of tension cycles with significant amplitude
during their lifecycle.
Figure 18. Fatigue damages due to: (a) wind actions
(Vm=15 m/s) and (b) transit of freight train
117
17. Fourth International Workshop on Design in Civil and Environmental Engineering, October 30-31, 2015, NTU
Petrini and Bontempi (2011) perform a fatigue
assessment on a long span suspension bridge,
considering the concurrent application of the
stochastic wind action and the train-bridge interaction.
One of the possible interaction mechanisms is directly
related to the interaction between fatigue due to wind
and fatigue due to train transit. Simply put, the sum of
fatigue damage due to wind and train is not equal to
the damage evaluated considering concurrently both
causes of fatigue (figure 18, previous page).
Fire safety engineering
The problem of structural fire safety in the recent years
has gained a predominant role in the engineering
design. This is because nowadays, always bigger and
more complex structures are designed and build,
making use of particularly fire sensitive materials such
as steel, and also, because there is an increasing belief
that structures not only have to resist to the design
loads, but to maintain a minimal performance in
accidental situations as well.
The use of fire safety engineering methods
significantly enhances the design process by adding
flexibility to the design parameters used in the project
such as occupant egress facilities, ventilation
requirements and material selection. Although at
present there is no internationally agreed definition of
Fire Safety Engineering (FSE), it can be defined as the
application of engineering principles, rules and expert
judgment based on a scientific understanding of the
fire phenomena, of the effects of fire and of the
reaction and behavior of people, in order to:
• save life, protect property and preserve the
environment and heritage;
• quantify the hazards and risk of fire and its effects;
• evaluate analytically the optimum protective and
preventative measures necessary to limit, within
prescribed levels, the consequences of fire.
In a FSE complying strategy, a number of
objectives are identified (safety of life, conservation of
property, continuity of business operations,
preservation of heritage, etc.). These (qualitative)
objectives must be characterized by setting specific
performance criteria. Regarding in particular safety of
life, the principal aim is to ensure the necessary time
for the safe evacuation.
The performance of the structure under fire can
be assessed with the implementation of analytical and
computational tools, tools that require a very good
understanding of the fire phenomenon.
Petrini (2013) discusses issues related to the
application of the PBFD in complex structures and
performs, by means of nonlinear FEM analysis, the
fire safety assessment of a helicopter hangar,
considering three different fire scenarios (figure 19).
Consequently, damage measures of the scenarios for
structural components of different hierarchies are
calculated.
Figure 19. Compared configurations of three
different fire scenarios
Gentili et al. (2013) investigate the
characteristics of the structural system that could
possibly reduce local damages or mitigate the
progression of failures in case of fire. They use a steel
high rise building as case study and they investigate
the response of the building up to the crisis of the
structure with respect to a standard fire in a lower and
in a higher story. Comparing the fire induced failures
at the different height allows highlighting the role
played in the resulting collapse mechanisms by the
beam-column stiffness ratio and by the loading
conditions.
Figure 20. Analyses outcomes
Figure 20 depicts deformed configurations after
90 min of fire at the 5th (top left) and 35th floor (top
right), the evolution of the axial force in the heated
column (column 15) and yield crisis (center left), the
118
18. Fourth International Workshop on Design in Civil and Environmental Engineering, October 30-31, 2015, NTU
displacements of the mid-span of the heated column
(point L) at the 5th and 35th floor (center right), the
horizontal displacement (bottom left) of the top of the
external column (point N) and vertical displacement
(bottom right) of the top node of the heated column
(point M).
Forensic engineering
Forensic engineering is the application of engineering
principles to the investigation of failures or other
performance problems (ASCE, 2015). Forensic
engineering also involves testimony on the findings of
these investigations before a court of law or other
judicial forum, when required.
A forensic engineer should be able to identify
and explain the causes of the structural failures,
intending with “failure” not only the catastrophic
collapses that may even result in loss of life, but
including all those situations where there is an
unacceptable difference between the expected and
observed performance.
Responsibility
A useful tool for the investigation of an event is the
analysis of its timeline (see for example Arangio et al.
2013). For each phase, the attention is focused on
different aspects and different people are involved:
1. during the administrative practices, the technicians
of the public administration should verify the
feasibility of the intervention from the point of
view of the existing city plan;
2. during the design phase (considering both
architectural and structural design) the attention is
focused of the conception of the work;
3. during the realization phase, the attention is
focused both on the people that materially make the
works and on the managers of the site.
Starting from a timeline of events (figure 21
refers to the collapse of a historic building) it is
possible to arrive to the root of the collapse.
Figure 21. Example of the responsibility profile
Back-analysis
Back-analysis is an approach commonly used in
structural and geotechnical engineering.
Sebastiani et al. (2015) apply a general
procedure of back analysis, considering uncertainties,
aiming at identifying the causes of earthquake damage
patterns of bridges, on a viaduct damaged during the
April 6th
2009 L’Aquila earthquake. The bridge
consists of two distinct concrete decks that are
continuous over the piers, each with 12 spans for a
total length of about 460 m. The bridge was built at the
end of 70’s/start of 80’s and was not equipped with
seismic protection devices, so the decks are simply
supported by steel cylindrical bearings.
After the earthquake, the damage consisted of
bearings failure, with roller dislocation, up to complete
expulsion, breaking of deck joints and damage to the
concrete supporting blocks with significant permanent
displacements, and the transverse breaking of devices
that were not designed to resist those horizontal forces.
Drift displacements between the top of the piers and
deck reflecting the moment repartition, were
calculated, together with the hysteresis curves of the
pier nonlinear links.
Numerical Investigations (contemporary structures)
Crosti and Bontempi (2013) perform a forensic
investigation on the collapse of a temporary metal
structure for the entrainment industry, and highlight
issues that lead to the collapse: the inadequate
structural design and the improper construction
procedure.
Numerical Investigations (historic structures)
Forlino and Arangio (2015) perform a forensic
investigation for the assessment of a masonry building,
collapsed during the demolition of an adjacent
building. During the first steps of the demolition, the
adjacent buildings experienced large damages due to
the modification of the global structural behavior of
the aggregate. Despite the damages, the works
continued and at one point one of the damaged
building collapsed. The different stages of the
demolition are simulated by means of nonlinear FEM
analysis (figure 22).
Figure 22. Non-linear FEM analysis (left) and
collapse assessment (right)
Conclusions and prospects
This paper focuses on how the development of new
approaches in structural engineering based on
performance-based design, system engineering and
structural health monitoring, combined with the use of
new technologies and new software, allows the
responsability
time
119
19. Fourth International Workshop on Design in Civil and Environmental Engineering, October 30-31, 2015, NTU
behavior of complex structural systems to be
appropriately assessed with a lower degree of
uncertainty.
The considerations made, are the outcome of the
experience obtained by the research group of Prof.
Franco Bontempi at the Sapienza University of Rome,
and therefore, provide a first-person personal
experience on the structural design. Through the
experience gained in structural design in all these years,
the group evolved and reached a maturity that lead, in
November 2012, to the creation of a research spin-off
by five of its senior members. This led to the
application of additional concepts. In particular,
nowadays the group is involved in two large-scale
research projects on the innovative topics of:
Energy harvesting (using piezoelectric materials),
together with the ESA (European Space Agency)
Vulnerability assessment of historic buildings (by
means of IT technologies) together with BIC
(Business Incubator Center) Lazio.
Furthermore, the group is extending its
competencies in recent trends in structural design, for
example:
the implementation of Building Information
Modelling (BIM) in the structural design;
crowd simulation for fire evacuation purposes;
antrifragility as an extension to robust and resilient
design.
The group is committed to innovation in civil,
structural and environmental engineering in the years
to come.
Acknowledgements
This study presents methods, considerations and
results, developed in the last years principally by the
research group www.francobontempi.org. It is
partially supported by StroNGER s.r.l.
(www.stronger2012.com) from the fund “FILAS -
POR FESR LAZIO 2007/2013 - Support for the
research spin-off”. Furthermore, former group
members and the numerous undergrad and graduate
students of the research group are acknowledged for
their contribution to the group growth.
References
Arangio S. and Bontempi F. (2010) Soft Computing
based Multilevel Strategy for Bridge Integrity
Monitoring. Computer-Aided Civil and
Infrastructure Engineering, Vol. 25, No. 5, pp.
348-362.
Arangio S., Bontempi F. and Ciampoli M. (2011)
Structural integrity monitoring for dependability,
Structure and Infrastructure Engineering, Vol. 7,
No. 1-2, pp. 75-86.
Arangio, S., Crosti, C. and Bontempi, F. (2013) Causal
models for the forensic investigation of
structural failures. Research and Applications in
Structural Engineering, Mechanics and
Computation, Edited by Alphose Zingoni, CRC
Press, pp. 844–845.
ASCE (2015) Technical Areas: Forensic Engineering.
Retrieved June 30 2015 from:
http://www.asce.org/forensic-
engineering/forensic-engineering
Avizienis, A., Laprie, J-C. and Randell, B. (2004)
Dependability and its Threats: A Taxonomy, In:
R. Jacquart, ed. 18th World Computer Congress,
Building the Information Society, August 22-27
Toulouse. Boston: Springer, pp. 91-120.
Biondini F. (1999) Optimal Limit State Design of
Concrete Structures using Genetic Algorithms.
Studi e Ricerche, Scuola di Specializzazione in
Costruzioni in Cemento Armato, Politecnico di
Milano, Vol. 20, pp. 1-30.
Biondini F., Bontempi F., Frangopol D.M. and
Malerba P.G. (2006) Probabilistic Service Life
Assessment and Maintenance Planning of
Concrete Structures. Journal of Structural
Engineering, Vol. 132, No.5, pp. 810-825.
Bontempi, F. (2005) Frameworks for structural
analysis, In: Innovation in Civil and Structural
Engineering Topping, BHV ed., pp. 1-24.
Bontempi, F. (2006), Basis of design and expected
performances for the Messina Strait Bridge, in
Proceedings of the International Conference on
Bridge Engineering – Challenges in the 21st
Century, 1–3 November 2006, Hong Kong.
Bontempi, F. (2008a) The structural analysis of the
Messina Strait Bridge. Proceedings of the Fourth
International Conference on Bridge Maintenance,
Safety and Management. Seoul, Korea, July 13-
17.
Bontempi, F. ed. (2008b) Handling exceptions in
structural engineering (HE2008). Retrieved June
2 2015 from: http://www.francobontempi.org
Bontempi, F. (2008c) Basis of Design & Seismic
Action for Long Suspension Bridges: the case of
the Messina Strait Bridge. Proceedings of the
AIP 2008 Seismic Engineering Conference, Vol.
1020, Adolfo Santini and Nicola Moraci (eds.),
July 8-11, Reggio Calabria, Italy.
Bontempi, F., Casciati, F. and Giudici, M. Seismic
response of a cable‐stayed bridge: active and
passive control systems (Benchmark Problem).
Journal of Structural Control, Vol. 10, No. 3‐4,
pp. 169-185
Bontempi, F., Giuliani, L. and Gkoumas, K. (2007)
Handling the exceptions: dependability of
systems and structural robustness. In: A. Zingoni,
ed. 3rd Int. Conference on Structural
Engineering, Mechanics and Computation
(SEMC), September 10-12, Cape Town,
Rotterdam: Millpress.
Bontempi, F., Gkoumas, K. and Arangio, S. (2008)
Systemic approach for the maintenance of
120
20. Fourth International Workshop on Design in Civil and Environmental Engineering, October 30-31, 2015, NTU
complex structural systems. Structure &
Infrastructure Engineering, Vol. 4, No. 2, pp. 77-
94.
Bruneau, M., Chang, S., Eguchi, R., Lee, G.,
O’Rourke, T., Reinhorn, A.M., Shinozuka, M.,
Tierney, K., Wallace, W. and Winterfelt, D.V.
(2003) A framework to Quantitatively Assess
and Enhance the Seismic Resilience of
Communities. Earthquake Spectra, Vol. 19, No.
4, pp. 733-752.
Ciampoli, M. and Petrini, F. (2012) Performance-
BasedAeolian Risk assessment and reduction for
tall buildings. Probabilistic Engineering
Mechanics, Vol. 28, pp. 75-84.
Crosti, C. (2009) Structural Analysis of Steel
Structures Under Fire Loading. Acta
Polytechnica, Vol. 49, No. 1, pp. 21-28.
Crosti, C. and Bontempi, F. (2013) Back-analysis of
the collapse of a metal truss structure. Research
and Applications in Structural Engineering,
Mechanics and Computation, Edited by Alphose
Zingoni, CRC Press, pp. 861–862.
Forlino, M. and Arangio, S. (2015) Structural analysis
for the forensic investigation of the demolition of
a masonry structure. In Nicola Augenti & Franco
Bontempi (ed), Proceedings of IF CRASC '15:
Ingegneria Forense, Crolli, Affidabilità
Strutturale e Consolidamento, May 14-16, Rome,
Italy. Dario Flaccovio Editore, pp. 476-478.
Gentili, F., Giuliani, L. and Bontempi, F. (2013)
Structural Response of Steel High Rise
Buildings to Fire: System Characteristics and
Failure Mechanisms. Journal of Structural Fire
Engineering, Vol. 4, No.1, pp. 9-26.
Gkoumas, K., Crosti, C. and Bontempi, F. (2008) Risk
Analysis and Modelling Techniques for
Structural Fire Safety. Proceedings of the 9th Int.
Conf. on Computational Structures Technology,
Athens, Greece, September 2-5.
Haimes, Y.Y. (1999) The Role of the Society for Risk
Analysis in the Emerging Threats to Critical
Infrastructures. Risk Analysis, Vol. 19, No. 2, pp.
pp. 153-157.
MCEER - Multidisciplinary Center for Earthquake
Engineering Research (2006) MCEER’s
Resilience Framework. Retrieved July 5, 2015
from:: http://mceer.buffalo.edu/research
Michalewicz, Z (1992) Genetic Algorithms + Data
Structures = Evolution Programs. Berlin,
Springer.
Milana, G., Gkoumas, K. and Bontempi, F. (2014)
Sustainability Concepts in the Design of High-
Rise buildings: the case of Diagrid Systems.
Proceedings of the 3rd International Workshop
on Design in Civil and Environmental
Engineering, Technical University of Denmark,
Denmark, August 21-23, Lotte Bjerregaard
Jensen & Mary Kathryn Thompson Editors, pp.
170-179.
Milana, G., Olmati, P., Gkoumas, K. and Bontempi, F.
(2015) Ultimate capacity of diagrid systems for
tall buildings in the nominal configuration and
the damaged state. Periodica Polytechnica Civil
Engineering, Vol.59, No. 3, pp. 381 - 391.
Ortenzi, M., Petrini, F., Bontempi, F. and Giuliani, L.
(2013) RISE : a method for the design of resilient
infrastructures and structures against
emergencies. Proceedings of the 11th
International Conference on Structural Safety &
Reliability. New York, USA, June 16-20.
Petrini, F. (2013) Performance-based fire design of
complex structures. International Journal of
Lifecycle Performance Engineering, Vol. 1, No.
2, pp.185–208.
Petrini F. and Bontempi F. (2011) Estimation of fatigue
life for long span suspension bridge hangers
under wind action and train transit. Structure and
Infrastructure Engineering, Vol. 7, No. 7-8, pp.
491 – 507.
Petrini F. and Ciampoli M. (2012) Performance-based
wind design of tall buildings. Structure &
Infrastructure Engineering, Vol. 8, No. 10, pp.
954-966.
Petrini F., Giuliano F. and Bontempi F. (2007)
Comparison of time domain techniques for the
evaluation of the response and the stability of
long span suspension bridges. Computer &
Structures, Vol. 85, No. 11-14, pp. 1032-1048.
Petrini, F., Gkoumas, K., Zhou, W. and Li, H. (2012)
Multi-level structural modeling of an offshore
wind turbine. Ocean Systems Engineering, An
International Journal, Vol. 2, No. 1, pp. 1-16.
Petrini F., Li H. and Bontempi F. (2010) Basis of
Design and Numerical Modeling of Offshore
Wind Turbines. Structural Engineering
Mechanics, Vol. 36, No. 5, pp. 599-624.
Schneider, J. (1997) Structural Engineering
Documents: Introduction to Safety and
Reliability of Structures (SED-5), Zürich:
IABSE-AIPC-IVBH.
Sebastiani, P.E., Petrini, F., Franchin, P. and Bontempi,
F. (2015) Back calculation and model calibration
for earthquake damaged bridges - a general
procedure and its application to a highway
viaduct. Structure & Infrastructure Engineering,
online first, DOI:
10.1080/15732479.2015.1075050
Sgambi, L., Gkoumas, K., Bontempi, F. (2012)
Genetic Algorithms for the Dependability
Assurance in the Design of a Long Span
Suspension Bridge. Computer-Aided Civil and
Infrastructure Engineering, Vol. 27, No. 9, pp.
655–675.
Starossek, U. (2009) Progressive Collapse of
Structures. London: Thomas Telford Publishing.
121