The use of pre-fabricated concrete components and their related coupling systems in seismic engineering constitutes a subject of wide and deep interest among researchers, practitioners and manufacturers all over the world, as demonstrated by a large number of studies conducted, among other Countries, especially in Japan, New Zealand and United States since the early ‘80s and, in relatively more recent times, in Italy. A key issue is given by the possibility to apply the typical benefits of the pre-fabrication not only to low rise industrial/commercial structures, but also to multi-storey frames for public and strategic buildings such as schools, hospitals and many others, as well as to high-rise residential premises built in areas characterized by a medium to high seismic intensity. On the basis of what stated above, an original structural system made by prefabricated composite steel truss-concrete beams and centrifuged high-strength concrete columns is presented in the following. Specifically designed joints are provided to couple the different structural components in order to guarantee an overall ease of construction with reduced tolerance problems and self-bearing capacity during temporary erection phases, with a consequent reduction in schedule and costs. The use of high performance concrete for columns allows for a high bearing capacity with limited overall dimensions and the consequent maximization of the commercial or saleable space. The original layout of the system proposed has led to the need to perform an intensive theoretical and experimental research activity. The finite element model of the structural system was calibrated upon both static and cyclic testing evidence carried out on full scale samples built in Italy and tested at the Tongji University-Shanghai, China. On the basis of the data collected, the tuned model was used to carry out further analyses and to deepen the specific knowledge on several further aspects, as specified in the following. Firstly, an estimation of the joint’s strength domain, suitable for everyday’s design was carried out based on a component-approach. Then, a structural optimization on the component used to guarantee hogging and sagging bending moment resistance to the joint, was carried out in order to achieve the minimization of the construction material employed. Furthermore, the estimation of the seismic performance of the joint, based on the evaluation of a purposely defined vulnerability parameter, supplied encouraging results with reference to the applicability of the investigated technology over most of the National territory. Finally an improved layout of the joint, with reference to confined concrete and the related possibility to achieve a suitable seismic response also at edge joints, is presented.

The masonry still one of the widespread construction system for low-rise residential buildings even for countries prone to seismic risk. Seismic design methods yet in use are based on idea that controlling forces is better way to control earthquake induced damages. In recent decades, however, was highlighted as the differences in strength between two levels of damage is low, and therefore as the damage is better correlated to the displacement. Also, in recent years, has arose a widespread expectation for being able to control the damage based on the probability of occurrence of an earthquake or being able to base the design on different performance levels ("performance-based design"). In this context, the design of masonry buildings needs to develop these design methods. The results of experimental tests performed at the University of Padua in the recent years on different masonry systems both reinforced and unreinforced with different horizontal and vertical joints typologies, which were aimed to characterization under combined in-plane vertical and horizontal cyclic loading, were used to make different strategies of finite element modeling that reproduce and extend the experimental results using parametric analyses. These analyses allow a comparison and a validation of an analytical model which was then developed. This model is able to reproduce the envelope curves of the cyclic shear-compression tests and it is able to interpret the performances of panels linking them with limit states resulting from integration of cross-section equilibrium equations. Finally, it was applied a model able to reproduce the hysteretic behavior of masonry and were carried out dynamic analyses using the input data derived from the envelope curves. The data thus collected can be used as database and as input for displacement-based design methods.

Motivated by the potential vulnerability of their road infrastructure, many national authorities and local Departments of Transportation are incorporating seismic risk assessment in their management systems. This Dissertation aims to develop methods and tools for seismic risk analysis that can be used in a Bridge Management System (BMS); helping bridge owners to assess the costs of repair, retrofit and replacement of the bridges under their responsibility. More specifically, these tools are designed to offer estimates of: (1) the seismic risk to single components of bridges and their expected performance after an earthquake. (2) the impact a priori (i.e. before an earthquake) of a given earthquake on the operation of a road network, in terms of connectivity between different locations. (3) the damage a posteriori (i.e. after an earthquake) to road network operation, based on prior knowledge of network vulnerability and on the observed damage to a small number of single bridges. The effectiveness of these methods is tested and validated in a specific case study, the bridge stock of the Autonomous Province of Trento (APT) in Italy. To address the first point, I will first introduce the fragility curve method for risk assessment of individual bridges. The Hazus model is chosen as the most appropriate and is applied to the bridges of the APT stock. Once the fragility curves for all the bridges have been generated, a risk analysis is performed for three earthquake scenarios (with return periods of 72, 475 and 2475 years) and four condition states (operational, damage, life safety and collapse limit state). Next, I will extend the results of the component level analysis to the network level: the APT road network is modeled in the form of a graph and the problem of connectivity between two locations is analyzed. A shortest path algorithm is introduced and implemented to identify the best path between any two given places. Correlation in capacity and demand among bridges is not considered at this stage. After reiterating the fundamentals of probability theory, the theory of Bayesian Networks is introduced. The Bayesian Network approach is used to incorporate mutual correlation in capacity and demand, in risk assessment of a bridge stock. The concept is first formulated and illustrated on a simple case (the ‘twin bridge problem’), then extended to the general case of a full stock. I will show how the same framework can be used in post-earthquake assessment problems, where the evidence of the state of one or more bridges affects the prediction of the performance of another bridge. The outcomes and the limits of this work are discussed at the end of the Thesis.

Many studies and post-earthquake investigations have recognized that masonry infill walls play a major role in the seismic response of structures. Although their effect may be beneficial in some situations, the walls are also susceptible to high levels of damage, including collapse that can be life-threatening because of the heavy debris. Despite the critical importance of infill walls for life safety, infill walls are often neglected in numerical models and analyses implemented by designers because they are traditionally considered to be non-structural elements. Moreover, the majority of experimental studies and numerical models include only the in-plane behaviour of the panels: indeed, until recently, only sophisticated micro-models incorporated the out-of-plane response of unreinforced masonry infill walls. Recently, however, researchers have started to advance proposals for simplified macro-models that are capable of modelling in-plane/out-of-plane interaction, paving the way for the consideration of the associated issues in design practice. However, very few studies have applied these models to the dynamic seismic response history analysis of realistic structures. In this context, this thesis focuses on the numerical modelling of unreinforced masonry (URM) infill walls, with particular attention to the combined in-plane/out-of-plane response of panels in reinforced concrete (RC) frame buildings during seismic events. In the first part of this research, existing studies for URM masonry infill walls are reviewed, with an emphasis on the out-of-plane response of the panels. Significant experimental tests, modeling strategies and post-earthquake surveys are presented, stressing the parameters that influence the behaviour of the infills. An in-depth description is dedicated to the infill wall macro-model that is adopted for the analyses performed in this work, emphasizing its capabilities and limitations. This model consists of a single diagonal formed by two beam elements representing the wall; lumped modal mass is concentrated at the midpoint node of the diagonal. In-plane axial force and out-of-plane bending of the equivalent element interact by means of two fibre sections located adjacent to the central node. User defined domains limit axial/bending strengths and in-plane/out-of-plane ultimate displacements of the wall. When the response of an element exceeds these domains, the model simulates the collapse of this infill wall by removing it from the analysis. Next, the numerical model is calibrated in the OpenSees software framework by comparing existing experimental results with numerical outputs. The laboratory tests comprise in-plane cyclic and out-of-plane quasi-static results on 1-bay and 1-storey frame specimens with two different types of clay URM infill walls that are frequently found in Italian and other Mediterranean countries. The calibrated model is then applied to the static pushover analysis of a set of planar frames, while the wall elements are simultaneously loaded in both orthogonal directions. The nucleus of present study is the application of the calibrated model to the dynamic response history analysis of planar RC frames. Frame dimensions, number of stories, design and infill configurations are selected to be representative of the Italian building stock. Acceleration time histories consist of a suite of a bidirectional ground motions that are scaled to be compatible with Eurocode 8 elastic spectra. Cracking and collapse of the infill walls are monitored during the analysis. The infill walls reach their ultimate displacement capacity by a combination of in-plane and out-of-plane displacements, with the out-of-plane component usually playing the dominant role. The intensity of seismic load that is required to fail the infill walls, as well as the patterns of failure, are shown to be consistent with observed damage to URM infill walls in similar buildings during recent earthquakes. This research suggests that simplified macro-elements are suitable for design-oriented models of URM infill walls in RC framed structures, capturing the critical interaction between in-plane and out-of-plane response of the infill walls but without making the models excessively complex.

This thesis work aims to successively analyze and develop "ex novo" problems concerning the use of finite elements for the analysis of issues characterized by high plasticity, geometrical and material nonlinearity, large displacements and rotations; all combined with the effect of temperature on the material mechanical properties. The ultimate objective of the work is the analysis and development of nonlinear Finite Elements devoted to the modelling of steel structures at ambient and elevated temperature. Three different experiences will be analyzed in this elaborate; each of them characterised by specific issues that may be involved in the analysis via finite element method of steel structures at ambient and elevated temperature. At the same time innovative aspects that are related, for example, to the particular typology of the analyzed case study (first case) or in the methodology used in the treatment of the problem (second and third case) are investigated. The thesis structure chronologically retraces this path and the results and the experience gained from each of them were exploited to ultimately implement a thermomechanical finite element that is expression of all the tackled problems. The thesis consists of a collection of three papers that have been published or submitted on each of the investigated topics. In detail: - In the first paper, a commercial finite-element code, of the type "multipurpose", such as ANSYS has been used for the analysis of innovative cold-formed, laterallyrestrained steel rectangular hollow flange beams subjected to monotonic bending test. The numerical analysis has been carried out by means of the direct comparison with experimental tests on real scale specimens; that has allowed the detection of some phenomenological problems that have been included in the model calibration. From a numerical point of view, this work has at first allowed to deeply investigate the plastic problem by means, for example, the appropriate identification of the constitutive laws for the material, the correct choice of hardening law and yield surface, and their impact on the model. The local buckling problem typical of these profiles has been evaluated, through the use of shell elements. Furthermore, the effect of the global and local imperfections, which have been introduced in the model with different amplitudes, has been deeply investigated by evaluating their effect on the ultimate load. The calibration of the model finally allowed to perform a series of parametric analyses in order to extend the results to an extended range of profiles, characterized by different slenderness. - In the second paper, the thermal problem has been introduced with the support of a finite element software, designed specifically for thermomechanical analysis (SAFIR). The case study is, in this case, based on a multi-storey steel-concrete composite open car park subjected to localized fire of vehicles. With this study, not only the plastic problem has been analyzed but also phenomena such as the effect of high geometrical nonlinearity and large displacements on the structure in addition to the temperature effect on materials mechanical properties. The case study has been used to evaluate the assumptions and the issues that arise when developing an innovative integrated modelling methodology between a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software applied to compartment fires and a finite element (FE) software applied to structural systems. Particular emphasis has been given to the weak coupling approach developed between the CFD code fire dynamics simulator (FDS) and the FE software SAFIR. - In the third and last paper all the experiences obtained from the previous works have been focused on the implementation, inside the MATLAB environment, of a thermomechanical beam finite element based on the co-rotational beam theory for the analysis of two-dimensional frames heated under high temperature and subjected to plastic deformation and to the effect of geometrical nonlinearity. The finite element is mainly aimed at the study of steel structures, with double-symmetrical profiles such as IPE or HE cross sections, and could then be used as a modelling tool for typical frames subjected to thermal actions. The element implements both Euler-Bernoulli and Timoshenko beam theories and can analyse slender to moderately stocky structures. A co-rotational formulation was used for describing the beam kinematic. The degradation of the steel mechanical properties at high temperature according to the Eurocode 1993-1-2 was considered by integrating the material constitutive law based on a predetermined temperature field in the cross section. An improved displacement predictor for estimating the displacement field at the beginning of each time step was successfully implemented and allowed to significantly decrease the computational time. Furthermore, advanced path-following methods that detect secondary equilibrium paths owing to instability occurrence were implemented in order to analyse the elasticplastic post-buckling behaviour of compressed steel elements at high temperature without the need of introducing geometrical imperfections. In order to show the potential of the developed finite element by highlighting the practical implications, a parametric analysis was performed to show whether the element could reproduce the EN1993-1-2 buckling curve. Validation against experimental and numerical data obtained with commercial software like ABAQUS and SAFIR is thoroughly shown in the paper.

The average age of strategic constructions in the Western world is becoming higher and higher. Many of these structures need inspection, maintenance or replacement, resulting in significant costs. The accurate estimate of structural condition can make operators optimize the allocation of resources. Nowadays, the progress of technology and machine learning has made structural health monitoring appealing to the agencies that manage important structures. This has encouraged the research community in the study of new structural health monitoring methods. In spite of this, the use of monitoring data is often disregarded by practitioners, who still prefer to gather more information and then act based on experience. Similarly, unlike the design of civil structures, the design of structural health monitoring systems is carried out based on heuristics rather than on rigorous evaluations of the expected monitoring system effectiveness. In this doctoral thesis, I apply expected utility theory for the development of decision support systems to be used in structural health monitoring and I develop a procedure for the design of structural health monitoring systems that follows the scheme of semi-probabilistic structural design. The use of monitoring data in a decision support system that implements expected utility theory financially optimizes the management of civil structures. The proposed monitoring system design method enables practitioners to design monitoring systems using their experience and guarantees that the installation of a monitoring solution is financially convenient. I present the mathematical formulation for monitoring-based decision support systems and monitoring system design. Then, I propose the numerical algorithms for the development of monitoring-based decision support systems and solutions for monitoring data analysis. Finally, the proposed methods are applied to three case studies, which enabled me to discuss the application in real life and the hypotheses. The applications show also the feasibility of the proposed approaches and test the numerical algorithms.

Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro Tecnológico, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Arquitetura e Urbanismo, Florianópolis, 2010 / Made available in DSpace on 2012-10-25T03:58:56Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 288600.pdf: 5581071 bytes, checksum: f92c8313a885b5c980479451f674c164 (MD5) / Esta pesquisa apresenta um estudo de caso sobre as técnicas de intervenção aplicadas nas esquadrias de madeira e nos revestimentos argamassados da fachada principal de três edificações históricas erigidas no final do séc. XIX e início do XX, no estado do Paraná, sob o enfoque tecnológico e dos critérios de conservação patrimoniais: Paço Municipal e Palacete Leão Júnior em Curitiba e Alfândega do Porto, em Paranaguá. O estudo desenvolvido visa identificar os principais fenômenos patológicos presentes antes da última intervenção ocorrida em cada edificação, suas principais causas e técnicas utilizadas no seu tratamento, efetivando-se análises: de conformidade com os princípios das Cartas Patrimoniais e de durabilidade obtida com o emprego de cada uma das técnicas de intervenção. Serão comparadas as análises de conformidade e de durabilidade em relação aos resultados obtidos pelas técnicas empregadas verificando-se, também, a correlação entre o uso dos critérios das Cartas Patrimoniais e de técnicas adequadas com a durabilidade e sua contribuição para a preservação da edificação histórica. Por meio do aprendizado decorrente desta pesquisa serão elaboradas algumas instruções e recomendações com o intuito de prevenir a deterioração das esquadrias de madeira e revestimentos argamassados da fachada das construções analisadas e de outras com materiais e período arquitetônico semelhantes aos estudados neste trabalho. / This research presents a case study on the architectural intervention techniques applied to the wooden frames and the mortar covering/coating of the main facade of three historic buildings erected in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, in Paraná, according to the technology standpoint and the heritage conservation policy/criteria. In the state capital are going to be analyzed the buildings of the Paço Municipal and the Palacete Leão Júnior, and in Paranaguá, the Alfândega do Porto. The aim of this study is to identify the main pathological phenomena present before the last intervention carried out in each building, its main causes, and techniques used in their treatment. Also, the aim is to analyze if these techniques are in accordance with the principles established in the International Charters for the Conservation and Restoration of Monuments and the durability achieved through the use of these intervention techniques. The analysis are going to be compared according to the results obtained by the techniques applied, verifying the correlation between the use of the criteria in the International Charters for the Conservation and Restoration of Monuments and of techniques appropriate with the durability and its contribution to the preservation of the historic building. Through the learning arising from this research some guidelines and recommendations are going to be developed, in order to prevent the deterioration of the wooden frames and the mortar covering/coating of the facades analyzed, and also, of other facades with materials and architectural period similar to those studied in this research.

[pt] A tentativa é a de pensar verdade e ética no pensamento de Heidegger. A partir daí, defendemos a existência de um traço ético estrutural em toda a obra do pensador, assim como de uma investigação ética específica que pode ser encontrada em seus textos sobre o habitar. Estes, por sua vez, devem ser lidos em conjunto com os textos sobre a questão da técnica. Assim, o que a dissertação pretende estabelecer é a existência de uma preocupação ética no centro da obra heideggeriana. / [en] The attempt is to think truth and ethics in Heidegger´s thought. Starting from there, we defend the existence of a structural ethical trace in all of Heidegger´s work, as of a specific ethical investigation that can be found in his texts on dwelling. These, on their turn, must be read together with his texts about the question of tecnology. Therefore, what this work seizes to establish is the existence of an ethical concern in the centern of Heidegger´s work.

Orientador: Carlos Augusto Araujo Valadão / Banca: Valentim Arabicano Gheller / Banca: Joaquim Mansano Garcia / Banca: Renata Gebara Sampaio Dória / Banca: Paulo Aléscio Canola / Resumo: As técnicas de fertilização in vitro e transferência de embrião são amplamente utilizadas como multiplicadores genéticos em fêmeas de alto valor zootécnico. Para sua realização é mandatório o uso de anestesia epidural, porém sabe-se que a punção repetida do espaço epidural pode causar alterações inflamatórias e fibrose do canal, aos quais reduzem a eficácia da técnica. Objetivou-se, por meio deste estudo desenvolver uma técnica cirúrgica de implantação de cateter epidural com portal de acesso subcutâneo e avaliar a patência deste dispositivo para a realização de aspiração folicular em vacas, por um período de 510 dias. Para a realização deste estudo foram utilizadas doze vacas, com idade entre 3-5 anos e peso entre 308-518 kg, que foram alocadas em dois grupos, grupo A, animais da raça Nelore e B animais da raça Holandesa. Após contenção em tronco, foi realizada sedação com 0,04 mg/kg de acepromazina 1% associada a 0,01 mg/kg de xilazina 2% pela via intramuscular e bloqueio anestésico local da região sacrococcígea e sacral direita. Procedeu-se uma incisão de pele semicircular de dez centímetros (incisão-I), abrangendo o espaço sacrococcígeo e intercoccígeo. Após divulsão da tela subcutânea, a pele foi rebatida lateralmente. Através de uma agulha de Tuohy (16G) posicionada na articulação sacrococcígea ou intercoccígea, introduziu-se dez centímetros do cateter (17G) em sentido cranial, no canal epidural. Procedeu-se uma segunda incisão (incisão-II), de quatro centímetros, no te... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: In vitro fertilization and embryo transfer are often used as genetic multipliers in cows of high zootechnical value. Epidural anesthesia is mandatory preceding these procedures, but repeated puncture of the epidural space may cause inflammation and fibrosis, which reduce the effectiveness of the technique in time. The objective of this study was to describe a surgical technique for implantation of an epidural catheter with subcutaneous access portal, and to evaluate the patency this device during eight follicular aspiration cycles in cows. Twelve cows, aged between 3-5 years, weighting 308-518 kg were used in this study. They were allocated in two groups, (A) Nellore and (B) Holstein. Following physical retrain in a hydraulic stock and sedation with 0.04 mg/kg of acepromazine 1% associated with 0.01 mg/Kg of xylazine 2%, administered intramuscularly, local anesthetic block of the sacrococcygeal and right sacral region was made. Then, a 10-cm semicircular followed by skin incision (I-incision), was performed over the sacrococcygeal space, after divulsion of the subcutaneous tissue. Through a Tuohy needle (16G) positioned within the sacrococcygeal joint, ten centimeters of the catheter (17G) were cranially inserted in the epidural space. A second incision (incision-II), four centimeters long, was made at the middle third of the right sacral region. The epidural catheter was transposed from the I-incision to the II-incision through the subcutaneous by using a metallic guide, and... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

Orientador: João Guilherme Padilha Filho / Coorientador: Bruno Watanabe Minto / Banca: Paola Castro Moraes / Banca: Antonio Carlos Shimano / Resumo: A ruptura do ligamento cruzado cranial (RLCCr) é uma desordem ortopédica comum em cães que promove instabilidade da articulação do joelho, resultando em claudicação e alterações degenerativas progressivas da mesma. Entre as técnicas de correção da afecção, descritas na literatura, a taxa de sucesso varia entre 80 a 90%, entretanto, apresentam vantagens e desvantagens. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi associar a técnica de avanço da tuberosidade da tíbia (TTA) uma sutura antirrotacional lateral com nylon 1 mm fixado com parafuso de aço cirúrgico modificado (TTAs) e avalia-la mecanicamente. Foram utilizados 10 membros pélvicos caninos oriundos de cadáveres, os quais foram submetidos a dois testes biomecânicos em quatro momentos distintos. Os testes foram realizados na máquina de ensaios EMIC® DL 10000, sendo que o primeiro teste mimetizou o deslocamento cranial da tíbia em relação ao fêmur (movimento de gaveta cranial - MT) e o segundo a rotação interna da tíbia em relação ao fêmur (MR). Os momentos foram: joelho com o ligamento cruzado íntegro (MT1 e MR1), joelho com o ligamento rompido (MT2 e MR2), joelho pós-cirurgia de TTA (MT3 e MR3) e joelho pós-cirurgia de TTAs (MT 4 e MR4). Os resultados mostraram que os momentos MT1 e MT4 apresentarão valores próximos, 33,43±5,22 e 29,75±8,48 N/mm respectivamente, e maior que os demais momentos. E no ensaio de rotação em MR4 foi encontrado valor de rigidez médio de 9,95±9,12 N/mm, o que se diferencia dos demais grupos. Por apresentar esse resultados a sutura antirrotacional a TTA foi capaz de tornar o joelho mais rígido. No entanto, houve algumas limitações no desenvolvimento do estudo que somado a literatura escassa sobre o movimento de rotação, sugere novas pesquisas no assunto / Abstract: The cranial cruciate ligament ( RLCCr ) is a common orthopedic disorder in dogs that promotes instability of the knee joint , resulting in lameness and progressive degenerative changes of the joint. Among the techniques for correction of the disease described in the literature, the success rate varies from 80-90 % and all have advantages and disadvantages. The objective of this project is to compare through biomechanical technique of tibial tuberosity advancement (TTA) and its association with anti-rotational lateral suture with nylon 1.0 mm fixed with surgical steel screw modified (TTAs). Ten hind limbs of dogs come from cadavers, which were submitted to two biomechanical tests at four different times were used. The tests were performed with the machine tests EMIC® DL 10000, and first test mimicked that of cranial displacement of the tibia relative to the femur (cranial drawer motion) and by the internal rotation of the tibia relative to the femur. The results showed that MT1 and MT4 Moments present similar values, 33.43 ± 5.25 and 29.71 ± 8.48 N/mm respectively, and higher than other times. And the test of rotation MR4 found average stiffness value of 9.95 ± 9.12 N/mm, which is different from other groups. By presenting the results that anti-rotational suture TTA was able to stiffen the knee. However, there were some limitations in the development of the study added to the sparse literature on the rotation, which suggests new research on the subject / Mestre