Hazard Reduction in Deep Excavations Execution

In this article, the authors consider a completely new approach in design, which is related to the use of previously un-adapted technologies known to bridge engineering in geotechnical issues for prestressing of diaphragm wall during deep excavations execution. The bridge technology described here is the prestressing of concrete structures. Hazards related to deep excavations and methods of digging them, such as the ceiling method and top&down method, are presented. Current problems in supporting deep excavation slopes are related to the use of extensive quantities of materials (such as steel struts, ground anchors, or concrete and reinforcement steel). The authors’ method helps to achieve a higher level of sustainability, which is important in a modern approach to geotechnical engineering. The non-linear arrangements of the cables according to the occurrence of the prestressing moments for a given phase are presented. Results related to numerical analysis—showing the correctness of the method and cost optimization results, showing possible savings are presented. The article is a part of the set. In the second (already published) article titled “Modern Methods of Diaphragm Walls Design”, the authors present the concept of the calculation methodology for diaphragm wall design.

How Efficient are the Romanian Sports Federations? A Theoretical and Experimental Approach

Examining the links between performance and financial issues has been, and still is, subject of a great number of researches both in the business and in the non-profit environment. In this respect, the world of sports has not been bypassed either, using concepts and / or instruments from accounting, economics or statistic areas in order to analyse a firm or an NGO in the sport industry and his success. The present study represents one of the first attempt to value the Romanian sports federations’ activity which is not based solely on the scores attained following places and medals won by athletes participating in the national and international competition system. And it is intended to identify an appropriate methodology to highlight how efficient the sports federations have been in 2019 year, reporting the results obtained to the resources used, from a domestic perspective (meaning the participation in national sports events and the scores obtained). This paper addresses 12 Romanian sports federations (out of 75 federations on sport branches) and their efficiency, through the lens of several input, output and outcome indicators, using public data gathered from various sources - the Romanian Ministry of Finance, the National Institute of Statistics, the Romanian Ministry of Youth and Sports. Using statistical tools, such as Spearman rank correlation, as well as statistical methods, such as standardization, we developed an efficiency calculation methodology, which could be used to support managerial team to improve and / or reshape federations' activities, if necessary.

Determination of optimal oil pumping plans

This paper presents the results of determining the optimal plans for pumping oil through the main oil pipelines of Kazakhstan. The calculation methodology is based on determining the minimum unit cost of pumping depending on oil flow rate. Oil pumping energy-saving modes are determined under optimal operating conditions of pumping units and heating furnaces at stations. Determination of the optimal pumping plan is implemented as a separate module of the SmartTranPro software. Pumped oil volumes on the oil pipeline sections were determined on the basis of the automated system of control and metering of electrical energy data of KazTransOil JSC. Optimal pumping plans for monthly oil volumes in the Kalamkas – Karazhanbas and Dzhumagaliev – Atasu pipeline sections for cold and warm periods were calculated on the basis of the found dependence of the pumping unit cost. For each range of oil mass flow rate, specific costs for oil pumping and a list of operating pumps at oil pumping stations located along the pipeline section are indicated.

Highways Design Taking into Account Climatic Features in the Route Area

Постановка задачи. Для получения оптимальных проектных решений, удовлетворяющих условиям безопасности движения в сложных погодных условиях, необходимо сравнение вариантов автомобильных дорог по условиям снегонезаносимости. Такие расчеты должны стать составной частью системы автоматизированного проектирования САПР-АД. Результаты. Предложен системный поход к решению задачи, определен перечень информации, необходимой для проведения расчетов. Выполнен анализ результатов исследований по снегозаносимости дорог, проводимых в России и за рубежом. Предложены расчетные схемы и модели для оценки вариантов продольного профиля и земляного полотна автомобильной дороги по снегозаносимости. Предложены решения для оценки вариантов плана трассы с использованием карт с расчетными параметрами метелей. Выводы. Реализация предложенной методики проведения расчетов позволит на стадии проектирования оценить варианты автомобильной дороги по условиям снегозаносимости. Statement of the problem. In order to obtain optimal design solutions that meet the conditions of safety traffic in difficult weather conditions, it is necessary to compare the options of highways according to the snow tolerance conditions. Such calculations should become an integral part of the CAD-AD computer-aided design system. Results. A systematic approach to solving the problem is set forth, a list of information necessary for calculations is identified. The results analysis of studies on the snow-bearing capacity of roads conducted in Russia and abroad is carried out. Calculation schemes and models are suggested to evaluate options for the longitudinal profile and the roadbed for the snow-bearing capacity. Solutions for evaluating variants of the route plan using maps with calculated parameters of snowstorms are proposed. Conclusions. The implementation of the proposed calculation methodology will make it possible at the design stage to evaluate the options of the highway according to the conditions of the snow-bearing capacity.

Using the criterion of resistibility to assess of a structural limit state

Introduction. Subject of research: behaviour characteristics of an arbitrary structure under the loads that approach the limit load value. Goals: development of an objective and sufficiently universal methodology for the identification of the bearing capacity of a structure, which could allow to stop using any subjective assessments of their limit bearing capacity. Materials and methods. Behaviour characteristics are assessed by analyzing a curve of equilibrium states. The curve is constructed using the characteristic displacement, understood as the generalized displacement q, which energetically matches applied generalized force λ in the sense that the product of λdq is the growth of work performed by generalized force λ in respect of the growth of displacement dq. Results. The article shows that the system’s response, no matter what fixed conditions it is in, is not always sufficient for the assessment of the reliability of the system in case of the variable interaction with the environment. The co-authors use the V.V. Katyushin concept about supplementing the notion of the limit state with the characteristics of the system’s beha­viour determined by the velocity of a change in the system’s response caused by the change in the external action. According to the co-authors’ suggestion, the meter should represent the reduction in the slope of the curve of equilibrium states, which characterizes the loss of resistibility and, consequently, it can be used to assess the closeness of the structure to the state of failure, which arises if the resistibility of the system is equal to zero. The suggestion is to use the value of the slope of the curve of equilibrium states as the limit state, when the resistibility has reduced, and the velocity of deformation intensification has gone up 100 times if compared with the behaviour of an unloaded system. This suggestion is illustrated by the case of the analysis of a reinforced concrete diaphragm of a building. Conclusions. The proposed calculation methodology can be applied in the design of loadbearing structural elements, whose finite-element computational model has components that are different from the rod ones.

A calculation methodology of fault relative displacement used to study the mechanical characteristic of fault slip

Fault slip caused by mining disturbance is a crucial issue that can pose considerable threats to the mine safety. This paper proposes a point-by-point integration calculated methodology of fault relative slip and studies fault instability behavior induced by coal seam mining. A physical model with the existence of a fault and an extra-thick rock stratum is constructed to simulate the fault movement and calculate relative slip using the methodology. The results indicate that the fault relative slip can be regarded as a dynamic evolution process from local slip to global slip on the fault surface. The movement of surrounding rock masses near the fault experiences three stages, including along vertical downward, parallel to the fault and then approximately perpendicular to the fault. There will be an undamaged zone in the extra-thick rock strata when the mining face is near the fault structure. The collapse and instability of this undamaged zone could induce a violent fault relative slip. In addition, the influence of dip angles on the fault relative slip is also discussed. A formula for risk of fault relative slip is further proposed by fitting the relative displacement curves with different fault dip angles.

Positive Energy Balance Calculation in Two Case Studies

The calculation of the energy balance at the district level is complex since it includes a diverse set of loads, technologies, energy carriers, trading interactions between users and external grids (power, district heating/cooling, gas, etc.) and assumptions such as the identification of Primary Energy Factors (PEFs) in different contexts. This research validates the H2020 MAKING-CITY methodology for calculating the energy balance of Positive Energy Districts (PEDs) in two case studies: the cities of Groningen and Torrelago. For each case, the steps defined in the methodology are followed, dealing with assumptions on non-renewable Primary Energy Factors and critical elements regarding the district boundary. This research shows the applicability of the developed calculation methodology for cities in the design phase as well in the implementation phase of PEDs.

A methodology of roll pass design calculation for rails rolling using regression equations

In process of shaped profiles experimental rolling, it is often necessary to make adjustments to new roll pass design to ensure their physical filling, control between gaps in the values of real broadenings and reductions. In order to reduce number of possible adjustments in roll pass design process and mastering new profiles, the task of developing a model for calculating roll passes becomes actual. A model for calculating roll pass design for rolling railway rails presented. This model based on roll pass design for rolling R65 rails. The regression equations of deformation logarithmic degree were derived using example of two pre-finishing and finishing roll passes, which were used to calculate UIC60E1 rail roll pass design. A high degree of convergence of the geometry of the calculated and operating roll pass has been established. The maximum deviations from geometry of existing roll pass and calculated ones according to proposed method did not exceed 1-2 mm on each of them. It was shown that the developed model calculates exact roll pass geometry, which can be loaded into the program of a processing machine. The proposed calculation methodology can be used at roll pass design of shaped profiles of the same type of different profile sizes of the same mill, resulting in significant reduction of roll pass designed development time and number of adjustments.

Research of the process of thermal processing of milk in a cylindrical pasteurizer

Cylindrical coaxial heaters are increasingly used in agricultural production. However, their widespread use is restrained by the fact that it is still necessary to supplement the calculation methodology, which would make it possible to take into account its geometric dimensions, dielectric and magnetic permeability, surface effect and proximity effect, uneven distribution of electric and magnetic fields along the heater, and a number of other factors when choosing the parameters of the heater. Such a task is relevant in the design of electric heaters for the production needs of dairy farms, taking into account what the methodology presented below has been developed. This technique gave a positive effect in relation to the development of an experimental electric pasteurizer.