Research and development support of the spacer system for the foundation pit constructed by the Moscow method

The article presents the results obtained during the research and development support for the construction of the foundation pit for a projected hotel near the Kursky railway station in Moscow using the truss spacer system fixed in the diaphragm wall. This construction technique, called the “Moscow method” ensures the gradual soil excavation between the pit walls along tiers reinforced by steel spacer trusses to be performed simultaneously with installation of floor slabs. The developed and approved at TsNIISK named after V.A. Kucherenko method for determining stresses (deformations) in elements of metal structures using mechanical strain gauges with a removable indicator was applied to monitor the construction of a unique structure. During the monitoring, emergency situations, requiring extra measures for eliminating the identified unacceptable stresses in the structures, were identified. The provided example demonstrates the research and development support to a prerequisite for the construction of unique buildings and structures.

The Rock-Carved Tumulus of Nikon in Tisna

Tisna, one of the lesser-known ancient cities of the Aeolis region, has been studied in detail since 2018. The first studies carried out in the region since the end of the 19th century localized the region in the Kocakale Tepe - Sarıkale Tepe - Mantar Tepe triangle as Tisna. It is understood that the center of the city is Sarıkale Tepe. The name Tisna first appears on the coins of the 4th century BC in the region. From the Roman era, the city is called Titanus. One of the most important features of the city is that it is surrounded by necropoleis. There are different types of tombs in the necropoleis, especially located on the southern and western slopes. One of these tomb types is the Tumuli. However, as a result of our investigation, it was understood that these tumuli had a different structure from the classic tumuli. We named this type of tomb, in which a rock tomb is covered with a masonry hill, the Rock-Carved Tumulus. The subject of this article is Nikon's rock-carved tumulus, which is understood to be one of such tombs in the region. Our evaluations on the tomb, which has a unique feature in terms of construction technique, indicate that it must belong to the Late Classical period, perhaps to the early 4th century.

BOOK COVER SAMPLES IN THE YUSUF AGA MANUSCRIPT LIBRARY

The need to use “covers” has arisen in order to preserve and protect written works. The protective cover made to keep the leaves of a magazine or book together without falling apart and without breaking their order is called a binding. Books, which are at the forefront of Turkish cultural heritage, have a special place among movable cultural properties. These resources, which form a bridge between the past and the future, are preserved in various museums, libraries and collections in order to carry them to future generations. Yusuf Aga Manuscript Library is one of the places where these resources are preserved. Descriptive method was used in this study. It is aimed to introduce the seven bindings in the Yusuf Ağa Manuscript Library in detail, with the material, construction technique, decoration features, colors used, and then to determine the connections of the book cover with similar examples and to reveal its position in the bookbinding art and its development process scientifically. In addition, information on the qualitative characteristics of the manuscripts in question, such as the scope, the periods they belong to, and the names of the works, has been arranged on the basis of the data in the inventory. Keeping the art of binding alive and establishing a connection between generations is very important in terms of Turkish culture, history, art and decoration. Keywords: Library, book, cover, binding, manuscript, Yusuf Aga

Fractal analysis: Annual rainfall in Chennai

The annual rainfall data of Chennai is analyzed using the Fractal Construction Technique. According to Mandelbrot the dimension of any line including nautical lines may not be Euclidean but Fractional, Mandelbrot, 1982. This fractional dimension leads to a repetitive appearance of any pattern. Climate which is usually periodic by nature can be analyzed through this technique. Efforts are on to search the fractal geometry of climate and to predict its periodicity on different temporal scales. This paper estimates the various parameters like Lyapunov exponent, Maximum Lyapunov characteristic exponent, Lyapunov time, Kaplan-Yorke dimension for the annual rainfall of Chennai.

Evaluation of Olive Oil Quality with Electrochemical Sensors and Biosensors: A Review

Electrochemical sensors, sensor arrays and biosensors, alongside chemometric instruments, have progressed remarkably of late, being used on a wide scale in the qualitative and quantitative evaluation of olive oil. Olive oil is a natural product of significant importance, since it is a rich source of bioactive compounds with nutritional and therapeutic properties, and its quality is important both for consumers and for distributors. This review aims at analysing the progress reported in the literature regarding the use of devices based on electrochemical (bio)sensors to evaluate the bioactive compounds in olive oil. The main advantages and limitations of these approaches on construction technique, analysed compounds, calculus models, as well as results obtained, are discussed in view of estimation of future progress related to achieving a portable, practical and rapid miniature device for analysing the quality of virgin olive oil (VOO) at different stages in the manufacturing process.

Change in Adaptability of Residential Architecture: Spatial Analysis on Traditional and Contemporary Houses of Bangladesh

This study focused on spatial analysis to identify the changes inadaptability over the last five decades. The features influencing adaptabilitywere selected from the reference study. An appropriate method was used toanalyse these features through spatial analysis. Six distinctive typologiesof rural houses were selected from six regions. Unlike the traditionalhouses, the contemporary houses in the same area reflected a differentcharacter. Urban houses built since the early and mid-20th century werecompared with contemporary houses. After analysing the openness,generality, flexibility, depth, typicality, construction technique, involvementof end-users, and the feedback from the inhabitants, the study identified asignificant decrease in contemporary houses' adaptability. Spatial analysiswas used to quantify the different features and comparison betweentraditional and contemporary houses. Though the adaptability had beenreduced over time, the latest houses started to achieve better flexibility insome features due to government policy and implementation of statutorybuilding regulations. Further recommendations were provided to enhancethe residential architecture's adaptability in future. The study samples wereselected from different regions of Bangladesh. Still, the result and policyrecommendations can be helpful for other countries, especially with highpopulation density and a developing economy.

Characterization of the dry stone heritage of the Barrocal region (Algarve, Portugal)

The paper aims to value the diverse and important dry stone heritage located in the Barrocal area (Algarve, Portugal). The dry stone construction technique and the set of constructions that derive from its application are present in all parts of the world where stone is present. Throughout the Iberian Peninsula and specifically in the territory of Portugal, there are different dry stone constructions that make up the rural landscape. They are an example of the work in the field and the use of local natural resources during different generations. The recognition by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity (2018) highlights the importance of maintaining a construction technique that, transmitted orally, is materialized in different constructions according to the constructive heritage and the stone typology of the nearby environment. The study focuses on a specific partially cultivated area of the Barrocal where different types of construction of dry stone elements exist. Starting from the contextualization of the studies carried out throughout Portugal, the predominant dry stone constructions of the Barrocal, the area with the greatest presence of a variety of types of the Algarve, are being identified, recorded and analysed. The work provides a classification of the present constructions in the area linked to their use and provides data on the construction characteristics and the typology of the stone. The knowledge of these constructions makes it possible to explain the economic and social context of a certain period and to plan reactivation measures for other economic sectors not linked to tourism. The Algarve, one of the most touristic areas of Portugal, has focused most of its economy on beach tourism, leaving the cultural and dry stone architectural heritage almost unnoticed.The constructions and the dry stone construction technique are a way of preserving the rural landscape and the cultural memory so that the benefits related to ecology and biodiversity are observed through this document.

Evaluation and Analysis of Unit Prices of a Rammed Earth Construction System

The tapial is part of the traditional construction worldwide, which uses environmentally friendly materials of natural origin such as raw earth, wood and water for its manufacture. The construction technique was used for the construction of habitable spaces, which are part of the ancestral construction system of our country; Despite the above, no updated studies on the costs required in the construction process have been identified in Ecuador. This is mainly due to the constant development of new technologies that introduce new construction systems to the market that use industrialized materials for their manufacture. Therefore, this document evaluated and analyzed the unit prices of the items involved in the construction of works using mud as its main component. Field and exploratory research was applied, through the application of surveys to a sample of 97 professionals of Civil Engineering and Architecture in the city of Cuenca, as well as 30 professionals with experience in construction of the indicated construction system. The Unit Price Analysis determined that the average cost of a 140 m2 typical house is $ 46,236.64 with an estimated cost of $ 330.26 per square meter; Similarly, the study determined a maximum cost of $ 53,172.14 USD with a value of $ 379.80 USD per square meter and a minimum value that represents $ 39,301.14 with a cost per square meter of $ 280.72.

Drystone walls in the Algarve, Portugal. Characterization and interconnection with the geology and lithology

Drystone walls can be frequently observed along the Algarve, south region of Portugal, performing both support and property division. This region is also known by its geological diversity and, consequently, lithology, which are intimately related to the orography. The combination of all these factors allowed the proliferation of this traditional drystone walls during the last centuries, and they represent not only an important element of the landscape, but also a perspective of the social, economic and technical bases of Algarve’s heritage. This article intends to present this diversity and the relationship between its various facets. In order to achieve the objectives, several field surveys were carried out to different geological zones, with the intention of gathering information related to the natural material used and its construction technique, as well as interaction with local inhabitants. These visits were supported by bibliographic and “Web-graphic” research, to substantiate the hypotheses. Based on the data results it is possible to identify a close interconnection between the geology and wall structure typology, since they are made with the natural rock fragments (raw material) found nearby. However, its function is more related to the orogeny and lithology, the latter defining also the type of agricultural culture. The study is enriched by the enormous diversity of rock types, although the Algarve is a relatively small region. The main limitations found during the development of the study are related to the physical access to the walls and the interviews with the locals. These constrictions were due to the lack of land maintenance, allowing vegetation to growth naturally, invading and covering the walls, and also due to the pandemic situation brought by the COVID-19 virus, which interdict the interaction between persons and also the travels. Despite the restrictions mentioned, the fieldtrips gave enough data to support the correlation between the geology, lithology and the raw material used on the drystone walls, as well as their relation to the terraces that proliferate in specific areas of Algarve. In view of the scarcity of bibliographic elements associated with this subject, in the studied territory, the elaboration of documents that allow the identification, characterization, geo-location and dissemination of the object of study, is considered as an asset for this theme. Finally, the study aims to alert and counter the tendency to abandon this type of heritage, valuing it and making it known.