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Thesis (Ph.D.)--Auburn University, 2007. / Abstract. Vita. Includes bibliographic references (ℓ.128-134 )

Thesis (M.S.)--Auburn University, 2008. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 117-123).

No / Much of the environmental impact of buildings is associated with consumption of resources and generation of waste. The construction industry in Europe consumes over 70,000 million tonnes of a wide range of materials each year, and generates over 250 million tonnes of waste. Reducing waste is a priority for all the European Governments. Composite flooring formed by connecting the concrete slabs to the supporting steel beams has been widely used for many years throughout the world. The use of composite action between steel and concrete is well established as a cost-effective arrangement for floor systems in multi-storey steel frame building structures. Composite action between steel beams and concrete slabs through the use of shear connectors are responsible for a considerable increases in the load-bearing capacity and stiffness of the steel beams, which when utilised in design, can result in significant savings in steel weight and construction cost. However, shear connectors are welded through the steel decking and cast into the concrete; this made deconstruction and reuse of the steel components almost impossible. A demountable shear connector is developed and tested to assess its potential and suitability in term of replacing the welded through headed shear studs. Test results shown that these shear connectors can be easily demounted after test and have a similar capacity and behaviour of the welded shear connectors. In addition, test results showed that the new demountable shear connectors process high ductility in comparison with the welded shear connectors.

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Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2004. / Supervisors: Richard H. Crawford and Richard R. Neptune. Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

The aim of this Master's Thesis is the study of frequency of contraargumentative connectors in Spanish, based on the quantitative analysis of these cohesive devices in argumentative texts. The theoretical part follows and draws from the works of renowned Spanish linguists and introduces the reader to the issue of discourse markers. Thus, different proposals for its definition and classification are taken in consideration, then are described the fundamental characteristics of the contraargumentative connectors. These are examined later in the practical part. Divided into chapters it offers focus on the quantitative analysis of the connectors in three corpuses which are comprised of judgments, academic writings and editorials. For greater clarity, analyses are accompanied by graphs and frequency tables. A Czech summary is added at the end of this investigation.

Full-depth precast panels are used in concrete bridges to provide several benefits such as faster construction, lower cost and reduced constructional hazard. However, one construction drawback is that connectors are required to transmit horizontal shear across the interface between the girder and deck. Shear connector performance is characterized by a series of experiments performed on part of a bridge system that mimics a full-depth precast deck on concrete girder with a pocket-connector-haunch system. Following initial breakaway of the adhesive bond within the haunch region, the specimens slide with frictional resistance provided by the clamping force of the anchor bolt. This leads to bolt yield with an observed sliding friction coefficient of 0.8 (+/- 20%) with lower values occurring at higher displacements. It is concluded that for a viable connector system to be developed a key feature is to have sufficient stirrups in the neighborhood of the anchor bolt to form a non-contact splice and to ensure the high pull-out force can be sustained without leading to premature beam failure. The successful implementation of a full-depth precast deck-panel system requires the use of a viable design methodology that properly accounts for system behavior. The design of a deck-haunch-girder system uses a truss modeling approach to design for the shear forces created by service loading. The truss model approach is considered more suitable for a concrete member due to the premise that the member will be substantially cracked at an ultimate limit state and that traditional beam theory does not account for the decreased ability of shear stresses to transfer across open cracks. Experimental results from Chapter II, such as the friction coefficient mu, are used along with a previously developed crack angle model to layout the geometry of the truss within a deck-panel span. Design solutions are presented utilizing the Rock Creek Bridge in Parker County, Texas as an example structure.

For the fishing village of Sambro, Nova Scotia, Canada, this project proposes affordable elderly housing, interactive and mixed use spaces where a self-supporting ethos is cultivated among independent and service living accommodations. It reveals the connectors within the project itself and the community at large that will build a healthy, healing, adaptable environment that will not only benefit its residents by actuating the paradigm of ageing as lifestyle, but will also contribute to the unification and physical manifestation of the community.