Tulio Coelho, Sofia Diniz, Francisco Rodrigues and Ruben Van Coile
This paper aims to investigate the state of the art for the reliability evaluation of reinforced concrete beams in a fire situation. Special emphasis is placed on addressing which…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate the state of the art for the reliability evaluation of reinforced concrete beams in a fire situation. Special emphasis is placed on addressing which parameters were considered probabilistically or deterministically, the prescribed probabilistic models for the assumed stochastic variables, the treatment of the heat transfer mechanism, the quantification of the structural fire performance and the assumed target reliability levels.
Design/methodology/approach
Research papers were identified through a search on the Web of Science, Google Scholar and detailed searches within the journals Journal of Structural Fire Engineering, Fire Technology and Fire Safety Journal, supplemented with references known by the authors.
Findings
Considering the state-of-the-art review, gaps in the literature are identified related to (1) the probabilistic evaluation of shear capacity for standard fires and parametric fires, and bending capacity for parametric fires, (2) the absence of reference fragility curves for immediate design application/code calibration and (3) the specification of target safety levels for reliability-based design.
Originality/value
The lack of research papers gathering studies on the reliability of reinforced concrete beams in fire situation makes it difficult to further develop research in the area. The value of this work lies precisely in the collection of the basic information, making it possible to identify gaps to be addressed in future research and the suggestion of a research framework.
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Tulio Coelho, Sofia Maria Carrato Diniz and Francisco Rodrigues
To evaluate the temperature-dependency of the Young’s and shear moduli of concrete after exposure to moderately elevated temperatures using the non-destructive impulse excitation…
Abstract
Purpose
To evaluate the temperature-dependency of the Young’s and shear moduli of concrete after exposure to moderately elevated temperatures using the non-destructive impulse excitation technique (IET).
Design/methodology/approach
The study involved heating the concrete up to 225 °C and measuring the dynamic Young’s and shear moduli using the non-destructive technique of impulse excitation, which measures the natural vibration frequency from a mechanical impulse received by an acoustic sensor. The effects of temperature on the dynamic Young’s and shear moduli were analysed and the importance of the spatial variability of the measured values was also verified.
Findings
The study found that even moderately elevated temperatures (below 225 °C) resulted in a significant permanent reduction in the Young’s modulus of concrete (reduction in the range of 23%–36% for the maximum temperature considered in this research) as well as a modest and permanent reduction in the shear modulus of around 6%. It was also observed that spatial variability of the mechanical properties of concrete plays an important role in the measured values; higher dispersion of the results was found for the values of the Young’s and shear moduli of concrete measured along the height of the beam. The non-destructive test method used in this study was found to be extremely useful in the investigation of heat-related damage in concrete structures for its ease of use, low time consumption and accuracy. The results were consistent with the published literature.
Originality/value
This study provides important insights into the temperature-dependent behaviour of the dynamic Young’s and shear moduli of concrete and highlights the significance of proper consideration of the spatial variability of the measured values. The use of a non-destructive test method for continuous acoustic testing during heating and cooling proved to be effective, and the findings contribute to the fields of materials science and civil engineering in understanding the effects of elevated temperatures on concrete properties. The findings confirm that IET can be easily used to gather important information in the condition assessment and rehabilitation of concrete structures after a fire event. Further studies to foster the application of this technique to real structures are suggested.
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I will present an example of a shared decision-making process between adults and children: a case study of an intergenerational project built collaboratively between a group of…
Abstract
I will present an example of a shared decision-making process between adults and children: a case study of an intergenerational project built collaboratively between a group of artists, teachers, their current and former students, their families and the inhabitants of a pedestrian square in Lisbon's city centre.
The project began as weekly meetings that took place in the ruins of an abandoned house that only had walls and a cemented floor. The participants had to climb up the wall to enter it. Eventually, together they decided to renovate the ruins, paint them, garden in them and to research what had happened to that building. They began a newsletter with photos, drawings and texts that was compiled into a book, which was published and released in a public event.
The results were obtained by the triangulation of participatory observation data, interviews with the children and adults, written and filmed records. I will show how the project stimulated a learning process that was collective and active for all participants. As a consequence of the use of child-centred practice, the children saw their collaboration in the structuring of the meetings as a moment when the traditional school hierarchy was minimised and they felt their knowledge valued, with impact in their school performance.
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Helena Barranha, João Vieira Caldas and Rita Nobre Neto da Silva
The purpose of this paper is to discuss the role of contemporary architecture in heritage protection, reinterpretation and reuse, an issue that has become increasingly relevant…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to discuss the role of contemporary architecture in heritage protection, reinterpretation and reuse, an issue that has become increasingly relevant due to the recognition of architectural heritage as a key factor for cultural and economic development.
Design/methodology/approach
In Portugal, as elsewhere in Europe, cultural heritage management has often been associated with the creation of new museum spaces, namely, within national monuments and archaeological sites. Drawing on restoration theories and international charters, this paper analyses and compares two parallel interventions recently built inside São Jorge Castle, in Lisbon: the Museum Centre (Victor Mestre and Sofia Aleixo, 2007-2008) and the Archaeological Site (João Luís Carrilho da Graça, 2008-2010). This approach offers insight on the complexity of addressing and reconfiguring the profusion of past transformations within a single monument.
Findings
These two complementary museum spaces are representative of different attitudes towards heritage appropriation, substantiating the thesis that musealizing always entails the creation of narratives, which translate history and heritage into architectural and curatorial discourses. Besides meeting the functional requirements of specific museum programmes, such interventions frequently deal with the challenge of opening up new perspectives on the past.
Originality/value
Considering the central role of communication in contemporary museums, this paper discusses how heritage musealization can contribute to the translation of historical evidence into updated iconographies, narratives and dialogues. Furthermore, the unique characteristics of this twofold case study can provide an insightful contribution for a broader debate on the reinterpretation of iconic monuments and sites.
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Sabrina Silva Valadares, Antonio Moreira De Carvalho Neto, Carolina Mota Mota-Santos and Daniela Martins Diniz
The core of this study is women in mining. The aim of this study was to analyze the perception of women, about their work environment, their career, the human resources policies…
Abstract
Purpose
The core of this study is women in mining. The aim of this study was to analyze the perception of women, about their work environment, their career, the human resources policies and practices and the work–family balance in the context of a multinational organization in the sector.
Design/methodology/approach
The case study was carried through semi-structured interviews with 27 women who work in this organization.
Findings
Although women report that they are capable of exercising any position/function in the company, they perceive wage gap in the investigated organization; that maternity leave and the fact of having children impact their career and their rise to higher positions in the organizational hierarchy negatively; situations of prejudice and discrimination experienced at work. Sometimes subtly, sometimes not so subtly, but they still constitute barriers faced by women in mining.
Originality/value
Although the debate around the issue of gender inequality in organizations is not recent, little has been produced about the working condition of women in occupational fields where male domination is strong, such as mining.
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Sónia Maria Martins Caridade, Rosa Saavedra, Rita Ribeiro, Ana Cristina Oliveira, Manuela Santos, Iris Sofia Almeida and Cristina Soeiro
This paper aims to characterize the type of support provided to victims of violence against women and domestic violence (VAWDV) during the first lockdown, assessing the training…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to characterize the type of support provided to victims of violence against women and domestic violence (VAWDV) during the first lockdown, assessing the training of professionals to use remote support (RS).
Design/methodology/approach
This cross-sectional study involves a sample of 196 support professionals, mainly women (91.8%) and who integrate the Portuguese National Support Network for victims of domestic violence (NSNVDV) (Mean age = 36.49; SD = 10.52).
Findings
Telephone emerges as the main RS communication media used in the lockdown (43.9%) and the emergency state periods (57.1%). Participants reported to have never used any social applications (41.8% vs 41.8%) or videoconference (46.4% vs 58.2%), in both periods assessed, i.e. lockdown and emergency state, respectively, and 82.7% assumed to have no training with RS to assist VAWDV victims. However, support professionals recognized several advantages in using RS such as dealing with isolation, reducing inhibition, fear and shame and in promoting the victims’ empowerment.
Research limitations/implications
Given the exploratory nature of this study, only descriptive analyzes were conducted.
Originality/value
During the COVID-19 pandemic, little is known about effective RS given by professionals to victims of VAWDV in the Portuguese context. The paper aims to add knowledge to the studied field.
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Sandra Sofia Caeiro, Tomas Angel Del Valls and Peter Michael Chapman
The purpose of this paper is to discuss integrative environmental assessments applicable to estuarine sediments, including the advantages and limitations of different lines of…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to discuss integrative environmental assessments applicable to estuarine sediments, including the advantages and limitations of different lines of evidence that could form part of such assessments and their application to ecosystem services.
Design/methodology/approach
Weight of evident framework integrating multiple lines of evidence for sediment quality assessment.
Findings
Integrative environmental assessments are required to fully address the risks to resident fauna of anthropogenic contaminants deposited in estuarine sediments.
Originality/value
The paper presents an updated discussion of the methodologies for environmental assessments of contaminated estuarine sediments.