Numerical Simulation of Ultra-Shallow Buried Large-Span Double-Arch Tunnel Excavated under an Expressway

The temporal and spatial effects of a complicated excavation process are vital for an ultra-shallow buried large-span double-arch tunnel excavated under an expressway in service. Numerical simulations are urgent and necessary to understand the effect of the total construction process. Taking Xiamen Haicang tunnel as a research object, the total excavation process of three pilot tunnels and the three-bench reserved core soil method of an ultra-shallow buried large-span double-arch tunnel with a fault fracture zone under an expressway was simulated using software FLAC3D. The deformation of the surface, surrounding rock, underground pipelines, tunnel support structure and partition wall of the three pilot tunnels and the main tunnel was analyzed, and the dangerous areas and time nodes were obtained. When the tunnel was excavated to the fault fracture zone, the deformation of the surface and surrounding rock increased significantly. The rock and soil within 20 m behind the excavation surface of the pilot tunnel were greatly disturbed by the excavation. During the excavation of the main tunnel, the horizontal displacement of the middle partition wall moved slightly towards the main tunnel excavated first. The research results can provide a reference for the construction design of double-arch tunnels.

LIGHTWEIGHT AND MULTI-PURPOSE PARTITION FOR VERTICAL HOUSING

Vertical housings have been developed to solve housing quality degradation due to rapid urbanization. These housings are often lack of privacy and comfort, since the lay-out mostly consists of one open plan space with limited area. This paper presents a lightweight and multi-purpose partition to improve the living quality in vertical housings. The lightweight characteristic is intended to minimize structural loads, while the multi-purpose property allows the partition to be transformed into some furniture for spatial efficiency. A literature review and material surveys were performed prior to material selection and the design process. Then, physical model experiments were carried out to simulate the installation process and the transformation process of the partition modules into some furniture. Result show that the partition’s weight is only 11-36.7% of the common partition wall, and when installed, the transformable property enables an adaptable space which can be adjusted to the occupants’ different conditions.

Theoretical and experimental evaluation of timber-framed partitions under lateral drift

This paper identifies the inherent strengths/weaknesses of rigid timber-framed partitions and quantifies the onset drifts for different damage thresholds under bi-directional seismic actions. It reports construction and quasi-static lateral cyclic testing of a multi-winged timber-framed partition wall specimen with details typical of New Zealand construction practice. Furthermore, the cyclic performance of the tested rigid timber-framed partition wall is also compared with that of similar partition walls incorporating ‘partly-sliding’ connectiondetails, and ‘seismic gaps’, previously tested under the same test setup. Based on the experimentally recorded cyclic performance measures, theoretical equations proposed/derived in the literature to predict the ultimate strength, initial stiffness, and drift capacity of different damage states are scrutinized, and some equations are updated in order to alleviate identified possible shortcomings. These theoretical estimates are then validated with the experimental results. It is found that the equations can reasonably predict the initial stiffness and ultimate shear strength of the partitions, as well as the onset-driftscorresponding to the screw damage and diagonal buckling failure mode of the plasterboard. The predicted bi-linear curve is also found to approximate the backbone curve of the tested partition wall sensibly.

Hygrothermal assessment of internally insulated historic solid masonry walls with focus on the thermal bridge due to internal partition walls

This study investigated the hygrothermal performance of five insulation systems for internal retrofitting purposes. Focus was on the hygrothermal performance near partition brick walls compared to the middle of the wall. The setup comprised two insulated reefer containers with controlled indoor climate, reconfigured with several holes containing solid masonry walls with interior embedded wooden elements, an internal brick partition wall and different internal insulation systems, with and without exterior hydrophobisation. Relative humidity and temperature were measured over five years in the masonry/insulation interface and near the interior surface, in the centre of the test field and near the partition wall. In addition, calibrated numerical simulations were performed for further investigation of the thermal bridge effect. Findings for the masonry/insulation interface showed higher temperatures and lower relative humidity near the partition wall in comparison with the central part of the wall. Near the interior surface, measurements showed only minor differences between the two locations. The relative effect of the thermal bridge was smaller in the case of a high driving rain load on the exterior surfaces. The numerical simulations showed that the hygrothermal conditions were affected further away from the partition wall than what could be measured in the experimental setup.

Liturgischer Alltag auf einer Großbaustelle des 13. Jahrhunderts: Zur Funktion einiger Konsolen in den Seitenschiffen des Bamberger Domes

This article, which is the result of a cooperation between building archaeologists and a historian of art and liturgy, sheds light on the original function of the stone consoles in the eastern aisles of Bamberg Cathedral, on which the most famous medieval sculptures now stand, including the Bamberg Rider. They date from the time of the building phase shortly after 1201–1202, when the western part of the Ottonian predecessor building was still in use, while in the east the new choir was under construction. A wall separated the two parts, in which openings were inserted. The consoles did not originally serve as sculpture bases, but as supports for weather protection for processions, as a partition wall in front of the fragile choir screen reliefs, and as a platform for ongoing work in the zones above. Only later were the consoles adopted for sculptures and provided with decorative painting, remnants of which are still preserved today.

Preliminary Proposal for an Alternative Wall Lining Panel Based on Molded Recycled Cellulose and Designed for Home Wiring Refurbishment of Building Interior Partitions

Old dwellings usually have shortfalls in insulation, acoustic and thermal, and in security of electrical services in the interior partition walls. A common building solution is to add a wall lining with a laminate base gypsum board that improves both acoustic and thermal insulation and facilitates a new invisible cable layout without demolition. Conventional solutions have had limited success because of time consumption, environmental impact and cost. This research aimed to create an integrated building system to carry out these interior building refurbishment works quickly, cleanly and with low inconvenience and environmental impact. The research specifically focused on incorporating new molded materials that have a low environmental impact and improving the handling and future modification of thewall lining system. In response to the above goals, the product development methodology was applied to the design of an internal panel to be inserted between the existing partition wall and the closure wallboard, which is usually laminated base gypsum board (LGB). The proposed internalpanel is molded with recycled cellulose pulp (Biprocel) and has adequate relief designed to improve cable layout tasks and better join the laminate base gypsum board to the existing wall face. The development resulted from collaboration between the public administration, university researchers and undergraduate students in the co-design process. This research contributes to improving the applications of recycled cellulose fibers in molded panels for the building industry, particularly in refurbishment activities.

Styrofoam bricks.

Pollution and accumulation of waste is one of the major problems that the present world faces. Of the waste materials the non-degradable plastic waste is the major issue. Among the plastic wastes, Styrofoam wastes share the lion's share. Styrofoam wastes are non-degradable also possess the threat of poisonous gas emission when burnt the main challenge is to recycle without the emission of poisonous gases. In this thought we come to the idea of Styrofoam bricks. The Styrofoam brick mainly consists of Styrofoam, acetone and sand. Styrofoam bricks can be manufactured through 4 kinds of process, dissolution of Styrofoam in acetone, mixing with sand, moulding and drying. Why we are preparing this brick is to get high strength and reduced weight also it is not brittle like the ordinary bricks. This will have good load bearing capacity. It can be used to construct partition wall, pavement, roofing etc. Key Words: Polystyrene Foam; Lightweight Bricks; Thermal Insulation; Pore-Forming.