Shear strength of fibre reinforced polymers (FRP) used as internal reinforcement for reinforced concrete (RC) beams

The main aim of the study was to perform selection procedure in order to find the optimal predictors for the shear strength of fibre reinforced polymers (FRP) used as internal reinforcement for reinforced concrete (RC) beams. The procedure was performed by adaptive neuro fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) and all available parameters are included. The ANFIS model could be used as simplification of the shear strength analysis of the FRP-RC beams. MATLAB software was used for the ANFIS application for the shear strength prediction of the FRP-RC beams. The results from the searching procedure indicated that ?beam width? and ?effective depth? form the optimal combination of two input attributes or two predictors for the shear strength prediction of the FRP-RC beams. This selected two predictors could be used effectively to estimate the strength of the FRP-RC beams.

Sustainability of post-socialist urban design treatment of public open spaces in multi-family housing areas: Case study of Nis, Serbia

This research focuses on the treatment of public open spaces (POS) in multifamily housing areas in post-socialist Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries. The aim is to evaluate their quality and sustainability and to identify all important impact factors influencing their properties. A case study was conducted on a representative sample of four multi-family housing sites in Nis, Serbia. Determining the interconnection between urban planning parameters and the realized quality of POS is one of the primary objectives that could lead to forming recommendations for future multi-family housing development, including more usable and sustainable POS in the current social and economic context. The models for improvement of POS quality and sustainability are defined as a research result.

Advocating for green building minimum compliance system in Rwanda: Using bricks to achieve sustainability

Development countries in Africa will see 75% increase of its current building stock until 2060 due to the economic development, rapid urbanization and population growth. Rwanda?s Third National Communication under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change estimates that the carbon dioxide emissions from buildings will increase by 574% by 2050 in the business as usual scenario. The aim of this paper puts sustainable architecture and green buildings in a context of rapidly urbanizing Rwanda, showing five recently constructed brick buildings that exploit the culture while meeting the sustainability demands of the 21st century. Global sustainability agendas are advocating for the use of brick for its durability, quality, with environmental, economic, and social benefits for construction sector. This paper provides insights on the policies, such as the Green Building Minimum Compliance System, advocating for the use of brick as a sustainable construction material. Despite the rapid urbanization in Rwanda, the existing sustainable construction practices help in reducing carbon dioxide emissions, while this paper also documents results on social and economic perspectives for the community from construction sector.

Analytical study of the section of the rc beams strengthened for flexure with FRP materials

Strengthening of concrete structures is applied as a solution for various deterioration problems in civil engineering practice. This paper presents an analytical study of the behaviour of cross-section of reinforced concrete (RC) beam, strengthened for flexure with fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) materials. Using the balance of internal forces in the cross section through all phases of stress through which the section passes, a program was written in the MATLsoftware, the execution of which produced a curve of dependence between bending moment and curvature, which is one of the most important indicators of cross section behaviour. The parameters varied in this study are the amount and type of FRP reinforcement and the obtained results indicate a significant influence of additional FRP reinforcement both on the yielding and ultimate bending moment, and on the bending stiffness of the strengthened cross section.

Design of atypical facade architectural elements as noise reduction barriers - case study

The presented work is the result of affirmation of synergistic work of experts dealing with architectural and acoustic design with the aim and purpose of finding an adequate solution for optimal correction of the effect of GHG systems installed on the facade of the subject (case study) office building in Belgrade. Measurements established that the noise of the constructed GHG systems affected the residential building in the immediate vicinity. The effect of the constructed devices (refers to the installed units) of the office building in question in the case when they operate at full capacity was measuring to be about 58 dB (A). The urban zone in which the building is located (Vracar-Belgrade) belongs to the category of "office residential area" in which the outdoor noise level permitted for the period of day is 60 dB (A), and for the night period is 50 dB (A). Taking into account the stated facts, it has been unequivocally established that GHG systems to a certain extent exceed the permitted noise levels and "endanger" the neighboring observed building. The subject of this professional scientific research is the design of atypical facade architectural elements as a barrier reducing noise on the example of an office building in Belgrade. The architectural challenge was reflected in the fact that, in addition to designing the facade element which, at the request of the investor must not compromise the architecture of the building, therefore, should be "atypical in architectural design", it must also provide flexibility in applying different variants of acoustic barriers, which in addition to architectonic requirement must provide an adequate response to acoustic requirements. To the satisfaction of the authors, the designed barrier confirmed a successful synergy solution. The adopted architectural-acoustic configuration of the barrier proved to be effective regardless of the type of installed air conditioners, which in some way justifies the initial idea of strong causality of acoustic and architectural design, as a synergistic principle.

The scale and effect of public investments in flood control infrastructure in Serbia from 2009 to 2021

Flood control structures play an important role in saving lives and property during floods, especially due to climate change issues. The construction, reconstruction, and rehabilitation of hydraulic structures are compliant with their maintenance and are performed periodically and preventively in order to achieve their required functional safety. However, over the years, investments in flood protection, i.e. the reduction of possible damage caused by the harmful effects of water, mostly implied investments in embankments. Investments in high dams are insufficient in terms of their importance, structure complexity, and failure risk.

A natural approach to river engineering practice. A case study of the Ljiljanska river

In the past 30 years the efforts to protect river beds and banks have increased significantly. The selection and design of proper structural solution means finding a solution in accordance with construction principles, river geomorphology, avoiding channel aggradation, bed scour, bank erosion, resulting structure failure and significant harm to the stream and nearby property. On the other hand, the structure should be environmentally-friendly. Hydraulic structures generally have a strong impact on the environment, so providing ?the right solution? presents a real challenge to engineers.

Contribution to the study of public buildings of ottoman architecture in Southern and Eastern Serbia

The paper presents buildings from the period of Ottoman domination in southern and eastern Serbia. The paper first presents the architectural analysis of the buildings in question. The historical context of their construction, their original function and the social role they had when they were created are also considered. A special emphasis was placed on the analysis of the current state of preservation of these buildings, their new functions and the role they play in society today.

Characteristics of multifamily housing development in the post-socialist period: Case study, the city of Nis

The paper deals with characteristics of multifamily housing development (MHD) in specific conditions of post-socialist transition. Multi-layered political, institutional and socio-economic changes have influenced the change in the urban structure of cities, including housing areas. Time distance of thirty years from the beginning of transition in Serbia, gives us a good position to monitor and fully understand the effects of changes, including the last and longest-term phase of transitional process - urban changes. The development of multifamily housing is examined on the example of the city of Nis, a typical socialist industrial city that underwent dramatic changes in the post-socialist period and represent a good testing ground for transitional changes and their effects. The goal of the paper is to recognize different types of multifamily housing and the transitional changes that led to certain type of development and their spatial distribution in the city. The research suggests that multifamily housing development is especially influenced by privatization in the initial phase of transition, restitution in the later phase of transition, changing role of public and private sector in housing development, as well as changes in urban planning.

The hydrological and environmental aspect of low flow assessment in ungauged basins - a case study in the Juzna Morava river basin

Eighteen low flow indicators are considered in the research of sixteen hydrological stations in the Juzna Morava river basin. The indicators are estimated by statistical analysis and grouped as hydrological and environmental indicators. A crosscorrelation between all indicators is assessed. Environmental flows at hydrologic stations are obtained by the GEP method. The environmental low flow indicators are transferred to two small ungauged basins by regression with physiographic characteristics. The adjustment of environmental flows at ungauged basins is performed according to locations of the donor stations in the hydrogeological regions of the studied area.