Scipedia: Documents published in 2018

Temporal transitions in COPD severity stages within the GOLD 2017 classification system

Cecilia Soriano — Wed, 26 Sep 2018 13:05:02 +0200

Background: The stability of the new GOLD 2017 COPD staging is unknown, as well as the frequency of individual transitions in COPD stages beyond one year. Methods: All COPD participants in the CHAIN cohort were re-analysed according to GOLD 2017 up to five years of follow-up. Their individual changes within COPD stages were aggregated into cohort-wide Markov chains; group stability was evaluated using joinpoint regression. Results: At baseline, 959 COPD patients were distributed according to GOLD 2017 stages as 37.7% in A, 38.3% B, 8.2% C, and 15.7% D. The group proportion of patients in each stage was maintained from years one to five. However, we found significant changes between stages at the individual patient level, especially in the more severe stages. The probability of a patient remaining in the same GOLD 2017 COPD stage for two consecutive years ranged during the five years of follow-up for stage C from 16% to 31% per year, while for D from 23% to 43% per year, indicating substantial variation either increasing or decreasing severity for the vast majority of patients. Conclusions: We conclude that group stability observed in COPD staging according to GOLD 2017 recommendations is paired with a large variability at the individual patient level.

Transmedia Political Journalism. Strategies for the Development of the Profession in the Current Media Ecosystem

Correspondencias & análisis — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 19:29:29 +0200

Through time, Journalism has faced changes about the emergence of new Media, but this process also involves issues of narrative and new audience management. So, adapting to the new environment becomes in a necessity, and specifically in political journalism is where it becomes more evident, because the type of information transmitted has great value to society. In this way, this research shows to transmedia storytelling as the best ally of journalism today for the distribution of news, especially political news. This communication model, because of his spreadability, multiplicity and drillability nature, will raise the level of audience participation in each media that transmit the newsworthy event.

Peruvian International Relations covered by Perú21 Newspaper. News Framing in Journalistic Information about Foreign Affairs

Correspondencias & análisis — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 19:29:27 +0200

This article aims to analyze the journalistic content of the newspaper Perú21, on the focus of interest information on international relations to know the frames or episodic and thematic frames in the news, and the approach saved with the official agenda of foreign affairs. The corpus consisted of 1295 journalistic texts produced between the months of July 2011 to July 2015. The different framings were determined on the basis of the theory of framing and typology of frames proposed by Semetko and Valkenburg. The results indicate that the news production issues Chancellery is defined primarily by the “attribution of responsibility” and “economic consequences”, particularly on issues of free trade and market economy, security and defense, human rights, fight against drug trafficking, the environment and technical cooperation.

Entrepreneurial Skills for Digital Journalist

Correspondencias & análisis — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 19:29:25 +0200

The socioeconomic impact has global effects and Media is not exempt from them as they follow global trends, leaving growing need evidence of the development of aptitudes and skills (personal and social) from Communication professionals, so that they are prepared to undertake their own projects either individually or collectively, with ability to plan and carry out with integrity and self-confidence and are able to persevere, especially in today’s digital environment, seeking to raise quality indexes, this means being able to achieve its objectives with responsibility, challenges in their performance and to control their reactions under pressure. In this sense for this research it has conducted an analysis of the entrepreneurial qualities of digital journalists for successful performance, which have their main source of vocational training to universities.

Tribes of Consumption. Towards Self-segmentation Consumer

Correspondencias & análisis — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 19:29:23 +0200

The following article seeks to understand the consumer from a viewpoint of the tribes of consumption. In turn, position itself as a new alternative methodology for market research companies as an innovative approach to segmentation. Field explorations visits are exposed to various tribes’ consumption of Lima. In total we dive in nine cultural communities: skaters, gamers, surfers, k-popers, athletics, hipsters, otaku, music lovers and graffiti artists. We focus first on society and kindred relationship. In second hand, its features and applications of marketing. The article concludes with a reflection on key elements of the criterion of consumer segmentation tribes.

Social Movements, Social Media and Symbolic Resources

Correspondencias & análisis — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 19:29:21 +0200

The paper presents an updated approach of the social media role in the contemporary social movements. Drawing from the explanation of some viewpoints about interaction in the social media, a brief review about social movements theory and their implications is presented, emphasizing in their relationship with communication processes and specific storytellings.. Finally, some symbolic resources used by social movements in diverse realities are described.

Professional Women’s Performance in Sports Journalism

Correspondencias & análisis — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 19:29:19 +0200

This paper aims to the analysis of Professional women’s performance in Sports Journalism, knowing the conditions, difficulties and challenges faced by feminine genre in this working field. This observation is also timely to define the space occupied Sports Journalism in Media. Communicative impact, produced by sports information, involves two dimensions: a personal nature (competitors and spectators) and a massive level (Media). Today, sport is the most widespread social activity in media and a specialized communication need in this “glocal” panorama.

Internal Communication in Corporate Identity of Public Health Workers in Lima Region

Correspondencias & análisis — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 19:29:17 +0200

The main aim of this research was to determine the relation that exists between the internal communication as tool of Public Relations and the corporate identity of Public Health workers at Lima Region. It’s a non-experimental study with a correlational level. The sample was integrated by 224 employees. The research demonstrates (by means of the coefficient of Spearman’s correlation) that there is not a significant relation between internal communication and corporate identity in Public Health workers at Lima. Also, there is a weak relation between research variables.

Television Journalism, Journalistic Sources and Social Network Communication in TV News

Correspondencias & análisis — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 19:29:15 +0200

This paper is aimed to understand the relation between Television Journalism, journalistic sources and social network communication. Also, it explains how television news production benefits of the contact with journalistic sources, which have changed since the use of virtual platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. This is a non experimental, applicative, descriptive, correlative and multivariable study. The sample consisted in thirty journalists from television news program “ATV Noticias” (Andina de Radiodifusion Company, Lima, Peru). The research concluded that the frequent use of Internet and Social Networks impacted television news programs. This happens during television production process: themes selection, contact with journalistic sources and reporters work, until the outline and the feedback generated by the Social Networks.

“Peruvian Olympic Athletes” Campaign. Audiovisual Narrative in Social Advertising

Correspondencias & análisis — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 19:29:13 +0200

In the last two centuries, human society went through radical changes in the way they communicates. Consequence of constantly technology innovation, adverstising became into a main character inside this invigorated context, where all the audiovisual narratives forms evolve to create messages that reach the target attention. But more than commercial objectives, the social message has been developed in order to change attitudes in the entire population on the ad campaigns. These social messages produce some positive thoughts around important issues in society such us health, ecology, education, human rights, etc. and also generated several communicational strategies that leads to their own way for creating, producing or printing/posting/airing advertising which are important and reknown because of its common interests and strategies for narrative construction.

TV News Channels in Peru. Analyzing Information and Investigation

Correspondencias & análisis — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 19:29:12 +0200

TV News Channels in Peru exists since late nineties. This kind of media appeared as a public necessity because, in that moment, news coverage was coming from TV stations that negotiated its editorial terms with Fujimori and Montesinos. The second TV News Channel in Peru was Canal N (the first -Cable Canal de Noticias- also had negotiated with https Montesinos). This TV station was founded in 1999 and was the only one that presented balanced and impartial approaches to their audience in that time on TV. Since 2010, other channels have emerged, such as Willax TV, ATV+ Noticias, RPP TV and TV Perú 7.3. Recently, Capital TV and Exitosa appeared as an alternative space to present their radio news programmes but in an audiovisual format.

Therefore this editorial diversity invites us to analyse in detail their approaches and contents. In this article, we will review the coverage of Rodolfo Orellana capture and the report about Óscar López Meneses’ irregular police safeguard, a man linked to Vladimiro Montesinos.

Peruvian International Relations covered by Perú21 Newspaper. News Framing in Journalistic Information about Foreign Affairs

Correspondencias & análisis — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 19:29:10 +0200

Appropriations, Needs and Rights of Radio Communication in the North of Argentina

Correspondencias & análisis — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 19:29:08 +0200

Practices that link people with communication devices can be thought of as responses to needs of social groups that give rise to different ways of doing, thinking and managing communication. In this articulation between public, media and communication policies, a way of recognizing the right to communication would express. However, the demand by which the need for communication as a right is expressed not necessarily wear out the range of possible forms of communication rights nor the ways to address them.

This paper proposes to test, in the case of Argentina, the arguments supporting the idea that current policies of public communication are based upon the principles of pluralism and democracy, and also it is possible to show a variety of forms of appropriation and use of means under diverse needs. It is essential for communication policies and development of diversity to recognize the multiplicity of symbolic needs and their ways of satisfying them.

Information Sources in Incident Journalism. Print Media Analysis

Correspondencias & análisis — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 19:29:06 +0200

This article is focused on the use of the news sources by Print Media in incident & crime reports. Official sources and agencies have a greater presence in analyzed newspapers. The Police is the major official and specialized source, and EFE Agency is the mostly quoted by journalists. The unofficial sources more often used by reporters are, in first place, the unidentified or confidential sources (commonly quoted generically as “according to consulted sources”) following the family and neighborhood sources. Graphic sources are becoming increasingly important in crime & incident reports and come mostly from photographers working for the newspapers and agencies. Reporters employ a large number of sources inadequately identified.

The Action in Colombia’s Fiction Cinematographic Works, before Peace Talks (1960-2011)

Correspondencias & análisis — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 19:29:04 +0200

The presence of “Conceptual Network of the Semantics of Action” components (Ricoeur, 2000) will be denoted in a large sample of cinematographic works of fiction (ie, based on the staging) previously made to dialogue to end the conflict, taking as a starting point the sixties (when insurgent groups were emerge). It was considered only films with narrative instances and ostensibly Colombian stories and with at least 70 minutes long, time required for being legally considered a long film in Colombia.

Jane Austen and C. S. Lewis: from Literature to Cinema. Analysis of Transposition

Correspondencias & análisis — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 19:29:02 +0200

The following is a proposal of an analysis of the transposition of literature to film of the novel Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and the essay A Grief Observed by C. S. Lewis. The first aim in both cases is to delve into the new contributions of the latest film version of Austin’s novel and the qualities and characteristics of the film version of the C. S. Lewis note pad, based on the theoretical contributions of such authors as Gerard Genette, Geoffrey Wagner, Brian Mcfarlane, among others.

The second purpose is geared to the recognition of the exchange between film and literary language as a representative process of today society. The fact that the adaptations, historically seen with great skepticism, are now continually made and welcomed by the public, calls for a review and deepening of the studies made on that matter in order to know the current situation of the relationship between film and literature, its creative possibilities, audience expectations, prejudices and misgivings of experts, etc.

Persuasive Television Advertising in Bakery Sector

Correspondencias & análisis — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 18:31:18 +0200

In recent years, a great diversity of new products has emerged in the sector of children’s pastries, but there are others that have long been in our daily lives. In spite of being more those that have failed than those that are maintained, it is crucial to analyze how its advertising has evolved over time, knowing how to adapt to the tastes of different generations of consumers. There has clearly been a movement of concern and awareness among the customers and consumers about the ingredients that make up the food, and because of the change in attitude and the proliferation of consumer rights associations, there has been an evolution in this type of products, both at the production level and at the communicative level. Through the content analysis of the messages from their spots and a discussion analysis, a comparative study of the same between the years of the eighties and the last years has been made to see their evolution.

Advertising in the program “En Surco la basura sirve” and its socio-educational effect in solid residues recollection in Santiago de Surco District (2012-2013)

Correspondencias & análisis — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 18:31:16 +0200

People from Lima generate 8,000 tons of garbage a day; throwing solid, inorganic and non-biodegradable waste that pollute the environment, altering negatively their habitat conditions and generating serious problems in their health, life, economy and culture. In this context; the current investigation is carried out; considering the actual ecology and environment legal norm. The effect in reference has non-formal character; it is manifested in the memory and understanding of the advertisement; classification of the source of household solid waste; identification, degree of affinity, positioning, and evaluation of the program: “En Surco la basura sirve” and public management of The Empresa Municipal de Santiago de Surco (EMUSSA).

Two faces of Corporate Responsibility. Relationships between Celsia and the community of El Caney during the building of Hidromontañitas Hydroelectric Power Station

Correspondencias & análisis — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 18:31:14 +0200

This paper gives an account of the most relevant aspects of the management of corporate responsibility and of the relations between the company Celsia and a group of inhabitants of El Caney in Santa Rosa de Osos, Colombia, during the construction of the Hidromontañitas plant. The methodology followed consisted of an in-depth interview with Celsia’s communications professional and the development of a focus group with members of the community. The information obtained has been contrasted taking into account what companies and community understand about what is corporate responsibility, as well as aspects associated with the relationship process, in terms of community participation and the fulfillment of the commitments agreed with its expectations.

Banalization of Cultural Journalism. Media Show and Cultural Content in Peruvian press

Correspondencias & análisis — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 18:31:12 +0200

Cultural Journalism is one of the most important fields of information in social life. Since its inception, it has been linked to the written press and to the world of sciences, arts and letters, and today, it has become a wide space of varied topics, which includes not only the most relevant events of the cultural world, but also those of entertainment and media show. Given this scenario, this research seeks to demonstrate, through a content analysis of three of the most important national newspapers in the peruvian written press (El Comercio, La República, Perú21) that cultural contents have been replaced by questions of “farandula”, gossip and mediatic facts, contributing to an increasingly negative meaning of entertainment journalism and the trivialization of true Cultural Journalism.

Advertising Strategies in Cultural Scenarios

Correspondencias & análisis — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 18:31:11 +0200

Our tool is marketing subject to the incipient cultural market that is booming and that does not cease to grow and that increasingly welcomes diverse sectors of the population thanks to all the disparity of offers. This market or cultural marketing we analyze from an advertising sphere, within one of the “4 P’s” of Marketing Mix, promotion, secured with examples in museums. It is a question of placing the work or artistic piece as the axis of all this network, through which the voracious market of buying and selling of the art, cultural terrain close and distant at the same time by their ignorance and unreasonable prices. This language of art in museums is approaching the society thanks to the publicity and tries to mitigate this dualism society-museums, taking advantage of the art to attract an audience more profane or on the contrary, strengthen those who demand culture.

Communication and Education. Demand Analysis for Bachelor’s Degree Graduates in Organizational Social Communication

Correspondencias & análisis — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 18:31:09 +0200

Reflection “Communication-Education” is not limited to the analysis of practices, teaching-learning methodologies, the role of subjects in the dyad or the ideological issue that crosses the educational policies, but discuss the triad “teacher-knowledge-student” every time in a historical context. The binomial referred should also be enriched by scientific inquiry, which accounts for (among many other aspects) effective job placement of professionals (conceived as the fruit of this educational process of “Communication-Education”) in the immediate organizational environment of the higher education institutions. With this objective in view, an exploratory research was carried out (as a first and necessary step) to know more about the demand of social communicators in organizations (public, private or mixed) in the city of Chilecito, province of La Rioja (Argentina), an area which National University of Chilecito is inserted in period 2013-2014.

Organizations are areas of professional intervention for Social Communicators with Institutional orientation: it is a wide and complex area of socio-cultural, administrative, economic, financial, political and ideological realities where they can deploy versatility of the competences and skills acquired during their degree training. On the other hand, investigating characteristics of the demand of these professionals constitutes a valuable resource at the moment of recognizing the feasibility and suitability of educational offer. These aspects have been the main motivations that have guided the development of the present paper.

Pseudo-understanding. An Agreement between Media and its Customers

Correspondencias & análisis — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 18:31:07 +0200

A relationship is established between the media and its clients that is not explained by appealing to the law of causes and effects. It could be said rather that it is a dialogic relationship, deeply rooted in the logic of supply and demand. In this text, from the relationship proposed by Heidegger (and that is also dialogical) between understanding and pseudo-understanding, speech and gossip (and referring to the notion of cultural industry), it is suggested that the often fallacious character of the exercise of information is determined not only by the means and interests they hold, but by those to whom we have called their clients.

Journalistic Socialization or the Principles of Objectivity Belief Production

Correspondencias & análisis — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 18:31:05 +0200

This article considers that the social function of journalism is based on the belief in the journalistic objectivity, true illusio which involves a set of explicit and implicit rules that structure and define this social game. For this reason, we propose to investigate the processes of socialization and subjectivation that imply the incorporation of the belief in the journalistic objectivity and a series of mechanisms intended for production. In this sense, and since we postulate the need to reinstate the agent of the practices, in theoretical methodological link the perspective of relational sociology with the journalistic experiences reconstructed on the basis of the experiences of the journalists interviewed in our research.

The Body in Cognitive Linguistics. Conceptual Metaphor and Embodiment

Correspondencias & análisis — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 18:31:03 +0200

The present work approaches the way in which Cognitive Linguistics addresses the issue of the body in relation to language, which is understood as a correlate of thought. One of the axes of language addressing that characterizes this theoretical approach is the notion of conceptual metaphor postulated by Lakoff and Johnson (2001). These authors conceive metaphor as a phenomenon of thought that is reflected in language, is omnipresent in everyday life and allows the structuring of experience. The experience to which they refer is essentially corporal. The influence of body experience in conceptualizing is called embodiment or embodied mind (Lakoff, 1987: 12).

Magazine Design in Spanish Generalist Newspaper. Publico’s Covers

Correspondencias & análisis — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 18:31:02 +0200

This paper details thematic, as well as style and graphic language in Público newspaper's covers (October 2007 - June 2008). We assume that poster design in Público covers, during the cited period, exploited many visual resources (familiar with publications aimed to young readers and users of portable technologies and multimedia) and helped to canalize a systematic critic to “conservative” political sectors in Spain, underlining the “progressive” nature of this newspaper.

Ethical Perception for Journalistic Profession. Academic Reality vs. Occupational Reality

Correspondencias & análisis — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 17:36:02 +0200

The report “Journalism’ students in Chile: Perception of the profession, their future work field and the performance of the media” (Mellado & cols., 2015), which includes their perspective about career field, evaluation and use of the media, threats and future of journalism, and ethics, among others, is the starting point of an exploratory investigation to account the ethical perception of journalism students, against controversial practices and their relation to join the labor market. Based on the analysis, getting deeper in the findings of this report and the contrast with the curricula of the participating journalism schools, the students’ vision is extrapolated from the reality observed in their first professional experience, based on the perception of the media editors. In this way, this report tries to determine how the student’s ethical perception is put to the test in his first professional experience.

Analysis of post-tensioned structures by means of a constitutive serial-parallel rule of mixtures

María Jesús Samper — Tue, 18 Sep 2018 16:04:55 +0200

The main objective of this thesis is to present a novel methodology for the analysis of post-tensioned concrete structures, based on the potential offered by the use of the Serial-Parallel Rule of Mixtures when modelling composite materials. The advantages of this methodology are studied in comparison to the available approaches, i.e. the formulation proposed by the standards used in the design of structures and the mechanism used in numerical simulation based on the finite element method (FEM).

The Serial-Parallel Rule of Mixtures allows the modelization of each component material in depth, working as a constitutive model manager in order to simulate the composite material being studied. The prestressed concrete is modelled as a composite material with long fibres where the fibre orientation is defined by the steel tendon direction.

Therefore, the most suitable constitutive model can be used in each case. In the present thesis this is: for the matrix - concrete an isotropic damage model and for the fibre - steel a viscoelasticity model, achieving an extraordinary accuracy in the micro-scale. The analysis is based on the FEM, which combined with the Serial-Parallel Rule of Mixtures theory allows the study of large-scale structures, taking into account the specific geometric requirements of the construction.

Three application examples are included which are used for validating the methodology and the potential of this approach. The first two cases are two isostatic beams that allow the comparison with the results obtained through the study using analytical methods. Finally, the third case shows the results obtained recently for the analysis of a Benchmark, in which the behaviour of a mock-up of a reactor containment building has been studied.

La simplificación en ingeniería, ventajas e inconvenientes.

Francisco Zarate — Mon, 10 Sep 2018 14:31:13 +0200

Siempre que se realiza una simplificación, se suele cometer un error asociado, la capacidad del ingeniero en cuantificar o poder compensar dicho error con coeficientes de seguridad u otros mecanismos permite adoptar dichas simplificaciones en la mayoría de las situaciones. Sin embargo, no en todos los casos es posible aplicar dichas simplificaciones en los cálculos. Los procedimientos y programas de cálculo son muy diferentes en ambos casos.

El presente trabajo muestra dos ejemplos de cálculo numérico asociado a una misma obra. Mientras que el primero tiene como finalidad el dimensionamiento y verificación de la capacidad estructural, el segundo pone de manifiesto la necesidad de considerar en detalle aspectos que han sido obviados o simplificados a fin de dar una respuesta adecuada. Los códigos usados son muy distintos, en el primer caso, es posible aplicar códigos comerciales, mientras que en el segundo es necesario usar programas diseñados para la investigación.

Analysis of time dependent problems using exponential basis functions

María Jesús Samper — Fri, 31 Aug 2018 14:44:19 +0200

In this research we present a method based on using Exponential Basis Functions (EBFs) to
solve a class of time dependent engineering problems. The solution is first approximated by a
summation of EBFs satisfying the differential equation and then completed by satisfying the
time dependent boundary conditions as well as the initial conditions through a collocation
method. This can be performed by considering two approaches. In the first one the solution is
split into three parts, i.e. a homogeneous solution obtained by homogeneous boundary
conditions, a homogeneous solution obtained by non-homogeneous solution and finally a
particular solution induced by source terms. In the second approach the solution is split into
two parts, i.e. a homogeneous solution and a particular solution induced by source terms. The
two approaches are then employed to construct a time marching algorithm for the solution of
problems over a long period of time.

We shall present the details of the application of the two approaches introduced to some
mathematical and engineering problems. The details of the time marching algorithm proposed
are explained. Several problems are solved to show the capabilities of the approaches used.
Some benchmark problems are also devised and solved for further studies. It is shown that
the one of the introduced approaches is capable of solving a class of problems with moving
boundaries.

Exponential basis functions in solution of incompressible fluid problems with moving free surfaces

María Jesús Samper — Fri, 31 Aug 2018 14:31:17 +0200

In this report, a new simple meshless method is presented for the solution of incompressible
inviscid fluid flow problems with moving boundaries. A Lagrangian formulation established on
pressure, as a potential equation, is employed. In this method, the approximate solution is
expressed by a linear combination of exponential basis functions (EBFs), with complex-valued
exponents, satisfying the governing equation. Constant coefficients of the solution series are
evaluated through point collocation on the domain boundaries via a complex discrete transformation
technique. The numerical solution is performed in a time marching approach using an implicit
algorithm. In each time step, the governing equation is solved at the beginning and the end of the
step, with the aid of an intermediate geometry. The use of EBFs helps to find boundary velocities
with high accuracy leading to a precise geometry updating. The developed Lagrangian meshless
algorithm is applied to variety of linear and nonlinear benchmark problems. Non-linear sloshing
fluids in rigid rectangular two-dimensional basins are particularly addressed.

Paralelización del código Stampack v7.10

María Jesús Samper — Fri, 31 Aug 2018 12:51:04 +0200

El objetivo principal del presente informe es mostrar las mejoras en la performance
del código Stampack, cuando se lo emplea en conjunto con OpenMP en máquinas del
tipo multi-núcleo (ej.: Intel Core2 Duo, Intel Core2 Quad, etc) o multi-thread (ej.: Intel
Core i3, i5, i7, etc). Esta última tecnología en los procesadores (multi-thread) permite
aumentar de manera importante la potencia de cálculo, dado que además de contar con
más de un procesador, permite aumentar los hilos (threads) de tareas simultaneas de cada
núcleo. Por ejemplo un procesador Intel Core i3, puede tener dos procesadores y realizar
dos tareas simultaneas por cada procesador, lo cual es equivalente a tener una máquina
con cuatro procesadores. En el caso del procesador Intel Core i7 empleado en este trabajo
cuenta con cuatro núcleos y la posibilidad de realizar dos tareas simultaneas por núcleo,
lo cual equivale a tener ocho procesadores.

La paralelización del software Stampack se ha realizado siguiendo la idea básica de
modificar o intervenir mínimamente los archivos fuente originales de la versión serial. Bajo
estas condiciones, se ha realizado un análisis de tiempos para detectar zonas del código
que representen un importante porcentaje del tiempo total de cálculo.

Para finalizar se debe destacar que el software paralelizado debe funcionar también de
manera correcta cuando es ejecutado en ordenadores con un solo procesador, de manera
que la versión paralela debe ser compatible en su totalidad con la versión serial original
del código Stampack.

Simplificación de mallas de triángulos

María Jesús Samper — Fri, 31 Aug 2018 12:44:02 +0200

El objetivo principal del proyecto de fin de carrera es el análisis, diseño, implementación y prueba de
un algoritmo que permita simplificar rápidamente una malla de triángulos muy densa, tratando de
minimizar tanto el error geométrico como el error de atributos definidos en la superficie, para que el
usuario pueda interaccionar con ella en plataformas modestas.

Possibilities of the particle finite element method for fluid-soil-structure interaction problems

María Jesús Samper — Fri, 31 Aug 2018 11:05:32 +0200

We present some developments in the Particle Finite Element Method (PFEM) for analysis of complex coupled problems in mechanics involving fluid-soil-structure interaction (FSSI). The PFEM uses an updated Lagrangian description to model the motion of nodes (particles) in both the fluid and the solid domains (the later including soil/rock and structures). A mesh connects the particles (nodes) defining the discretized domain where the governing equations for each of the constituent materials are solved as in the standard FEM. The stabilization for dealing with an incompressibility continuum is introduced via the finite calculus (FIC) method. An incremental iterative scheme for the solution of the non linear transient coupled FSSI problem is described. The procedure to model frictional contact conditions and material erosion at fluid-solid and solid-solid interfaces is described. We present several examples of application of the PFEM to solve FSSI problems such as the motion of rocks by water streams, the erosion of a river bed adjacent to a bridge foundation, the stability of breakwaters and constructions sea waves and the study of landslides.

El ciclo de las ideas en la I+D+I

María Jesús Samper — Fri, 31 Aug 2018 10:08:57 +0200

Cuando se habla de la investigación, el desarrollo tecnológico y la innovación (I+D+I en siglas,
que yo escribo todas en mayúsculas [1]) es frecuente confundir fines, medios y
responsabilidades. La última moda parece que es exigir que los grupos que investigan en
Universidades y Centros de I+D, sean "rentables". Es decir, se pretende que su investigación
se financie con créditos públicos, que los resultados de la misma se implementen en el
mercado rápidamente y que los beneficios de su comercialización sirvan para devolver los
créditos y para refinanciar esos grupos. También parece que se echa de menos que las
empresas investiguen más, es decir, que inviertan recursos en descubrir nuevos
conocimientos. El límite caricaturesco de esas aspiraciones sería pretender que las empresas
produjeran premios Nobel y que un grupo universitario estuviera entre los 10 primeros
puestos en el ranking de la actividad económica de un país. Ciertamente, esto no es
imposible, pero es altamente improbable. Lo contrario desgraciadamente es más frecuente.
Es decir, que los investigadores universitarios en su afán por la supervivencia económica de
sus grupos, descuiden sus tareas investigadoras y que las empresas, confundiendo lo que es
un Departamento Técnico o de Proyectos, con un Departamento de Innovación, se
consideren autosuficientes y menosprecien u obvien el contacto con el mundo de la I+D real.

On the use of exponential basis functions in the analysis of shear deformable laminated plates

María Jesús Samper — Fri, 31 Aug 2018 10:04:00 +0200

In this report, we introduce a meshfree approach for static analysis of isotropic/orthotropic crossply
laminated plates with symmetric/non-symmetric layers. Classical, first and third order shear
deformation plate theories are employed to perform the analyses. In this method, the solution is
first split into homogenous and particular parts and then the homogenous part is approximated by
the summation of an appropriately selected set of exponential basis functions (EBFs) with
unknown coefficients. In the homogenous solution the EBFs are restricted to satisfy the
governing differential equation. The particular solution is derived using a similar approach and
another series of EBFs. The imposition of the boundary conditions and determination of the
unknown coefficients are performed by a collocation method through a discrete transformation
technique. The solution method allows us to obtain semi-analytical solution of plate problems
with various shapes and boundary conditions. The solutions of several benchmark plate
problems with various geometries are presented to validate the results.

Methodologies for tracking of load extremes and error estimation using probabilistic techniques

María Jesús Samper — Wed, 29 Aug 2018 14:56:49 +0200

This work, conducted at CIMNE under ALEF project task 1.2.3, presents an investigation
about the potential capabilities of neural networks to assist simulation campaigns. The
discrete gust response of an aircraft has been chosen as a typical problem in which the
determination of the critical loads requires exploring a large parameter space.

A very simple model has been used to compute the aerodynamic loads. This allows creating
a large database while at the same time retaining some of the fundamental properties of the
problem. Using this comprehensive dataset the effects of network structure, training method
and sampling strategy on the level of approximation over the complete domain have been
investigated. The capabilities of the neural network to predict the peak load as well as the
critical values of the design parameters have also been assessed. The applicability of neural
networks to the combination of multi-fidelity results is also explored.

A four-noded quadrilateral element for composite laminated plates/shell using the refined zigzag theory

María Jesús Samper — Wed, 29 Aug 2018 14:52:05 +0200

A new bilinear 4-noded quadrilateral element (called QLRZ) for the analysis
of composite laminated and sandwich plates/shells based on the refined zigzag theory
(RZT) proposed by Tessler et al. [1] is presented. The element has seven kinematic
variables per node. Shear locking is avoided by introducing an assumed linear shear
strain field. The performance of the element is studied in several examples where the
reference solution is the 3D finite element analysis using 20-noded hexahedral elements.
Finally, the capability for capturing delamination effects is analyzed.

Puente Tensairity para pasarela peatonal en el PMT-UPC de Castelldefels (737-PRO-CA-5385)

María Jesús Samper — Wed, 29 Aug 2018 14:44:54 +0200

Actualmente el espacio formado por el “Parc Mediterrani de la Tecnologia” y el
Campus Universitario de la Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (PMT-UPC) de
Castelldefels está en expansión. Es por ello que se está pensando en la construcción
de dos pasarelas peatonales para cruzar la laguna de laminación de la “Olla del Rei”,
conectando de esta forma el PMT-UPC con el paseo del Pitort. Dado que el PMT-UPC
pretende ser un referente ambiental y tecnológico, se plantea como alternativa óptima
la construcción de una pasarela peatonal ligera diseñada mediante una novedosa
tecnología neumática conocida y patentada con el nombre de Tensairity®.

Las estructuras ligeras son un reto para el ingeniero estructural y un importante
avance hacia una arquitectura sostenible. Tensairity® es un concepto que hace
referencia a estructuras neumáticas ligeras basadas en una sutil interacción entre
cables, elementos de compresión, membranas y aire a baja presión. En Tensairity®,
compresión y tracción están físicamente separados por una membrana de tejido
hinchada a baja presión, el fin de la cual es, por un lado pretensar el elemento de
tracción, y por el otro estabilizar el elemento de compresión frente al pandeo. Esto
permite llevar al material hasta su límite plástico, tanto para tracción como para
compresión, dando como resultado vigas que pueden ser varios órdenes de magnitud
más ligeras que las vigas metálicas convencionales, manteniendo siempre su misma
capacidad de carga. Aplicaciones ideales para esta tecnología son cerchas,
estructuras con grandes luces, estructuras temporales, pasarelas peatonales o incluso
estructuras de despliegue rápido para casos de emergencia, entre otras.

La pasarela peatonal objeto de este proyecto está compuesta por dos partes bien
diferenciadas, una pasarela Tensairity® que cruza la laguna de laminación y dos
estructuras de madera a modo de embarcaderos, una a cada lado de la pasarela y
donde ésta se apoya hasta alcanzar los caminos que bordean el trazado de la laguna.
La pasarela Tensairity® está formada por dos vigas Tensairity® compuestas cada una
de ellas por un tubo hinchable de PVC en cuya parte superior se apoya una viga de
madera a modo de elemento de compresión y en su parte inferior una cinta de carga a
modo de elemento de tracción. Sobre estas dos vigas se sustenta la superestructura
de la pasarela formada por vigas transversales de madera sobre las que se apoya el
tablero y las barandillas, también de madera. Las estructuras de apoyo se construyen
igualmente en madera, con una tipología estructural similar al de la pasarela y
mediante el uso de pilotes que recuerda en cierta manera los embarcaderos presentes
en los ríos, de forma que la estructura completa esté integrada en el entorno.

Continuum modelling using the discrete element method. theory and implementation in an object-oriented software platform

María Jesús Samper — Wed, 29 Aug 2018 14:21:52 +0200

The Discrete Element Method is a relatively new technique that has nowadays and intense
research in the field of numerical methods. In its first conception, the method was designed
for simulations of dynamic system of particles where each element is considered to be an
independent and non-deformable entity that interacts with other particles by the laws of the
contact mechanics and moves following the second Newton’s law. This first approach for the
DEM has obtained excellent results for granular media simulations or another discontinuouslike
case. The existing challenge nowadays for the DEM is to be able to simulate the behaviour
on a continuous media discretized by a mesh of particles ruled by the equations of the DEM.
Although there exist more adequate methods to solve the continuous problem as they are the
different variants of the Finite Element Method, the DEM is expected to have a better
behaviour when the failure of the media occurs; in terms of tracking the evolution of the
fracture locally between the elements of the discretization and also the post-fractural
behaviour of the material.

Nowadays, there are several DEM codes that try to solve this problem although there is no one
which can assure an accurate solution applicable universally to any case. The objective of the
present work is to develop calculation software for the Discrete Element Method included in
the platform for numerical methods KRATOS, which is developed in CIMNE. One of the goals
of the so-called DEM-Application is to be able to reproduce a wide set of engineering problems;
not only the discrete ones such as the excavation or agroalimentary applications but also to
reproduce the continuous media, simulating compression test for concrete or asphalt samples
for instance. In addition it is desired that the application permits the coupling with another
methods, particularly the Finite Element Method.

In order to do this, the present work includes the study of all the advances and ideas that,
globally in the numerical method field and particularly in CIMNE, have been discussed to give
other approaches and to keep improving and developing the to the Discrete Element Method.

Proper generalized decomposition for parameterized Helmholtz problems in heterogeneous and unbounded domains: Application to harbor agitation

María Jesús Samper — Wed, 29 Aug 2018 13:55:21 +0200

Solving the Helmholtz equation for a large number of input data in an heterogeneous
media and unbounded domain still represents a challenge. This is due to
the particular nature of the Helmholtz operator and the sensibility of the solution to
small variations of the data. Here a reduced order model is used to determine the
scattered solution everywhere in the domain for any incoming wave direction and
frequency. Moreover, this is applied to a real engineering problem: water agitation
inside real harbors for low to mid-high frequencies.
The Proper Generalized Decomposition (PGD) model reduction approach is used
to obtain a separable representation of the solution at any point and for any incoming
wave direction and frequency. Here, its applicability to such a problem is discussed
and demonstrated. More precisely, the separability of the operator is addressed
taking into account both the non-constant coe

Desarrollo y aplicación de un modelo de elementos finitos para cálculo de vigas con materiales compuestos laminados basado en la teoría de Timoshenko

María Jesús Samper — Wed, 29 Aug 2018 13:49:31 +0200

Actualmente existen programas de MAT-fem para calcular vigas de material
homogéneo, según la teoría de Euler-Bernoulli o de Timoshenko. El objetivo de la presente
tesina es conseguir un nuevo programa capaz de calcular vigas de materiales compuestos con
la teoría de Timoshenko.
En el capítulo 1, se introducen los materiales compuestos describiendo las ventajas y
aplicaciones que tienen hoy en día en el ámbito de la Ingeniería Cívil. En el capítulo 2 y 3 se
expone la teoría de las vigas planas laminadas y, en particular, de las vigas compuestas de
Timoshenko. El capítulo 4 explica cómo se ha llevado a cabo la implementación numérica y da
paso al capítulo 5, en el que se exponen varios ejemplos. Por último, en el capítulo 6, se
exponen las conclusiones que se extraen del trabajo realizado y de los resultados obtenidos.
Finalmente se presentan los anejos. Primero, en el anejo 1, se muestra un ejemplo real
de refuerzo de viga mediante materiales compuestos. En el segundo anejo se presentan más
ejemplos de los expuestos en el quinto capítulo y, por último, se termina la tesina con el anejo
3, que presenta los distintos archivos de programación utilizados para el cálculo de vigas
compuestas de Timoshenko.

Numerically stable formulas for a material point based explicit exponential integrator

María Jesús Samper — Wed, 29 Aug 2018 12:57:30 +0200

We present numerically stable formulas for the analytical solution in the closed form of the
so-called X-IVAS scheme in 3D. The X-IVAS scheme is a material point based explicit exponential
integrator. An intermediate step in the X-IVAS scheme is the solution of tangent curves for
piecewise linear vector fields defined on simplicial meshes. This is what we refer to as particle
tracing of streamlines and independent formulas for the same can be easily distilled from the ones
presented for the X-IVAS scheme. The formulas involve functions of matrices which are defined using
the corresponding Newton interpolating polynomial. The evaluation of these formulas is stable, i.e.
a certain number of significant digits in the computed values are guaranteed to be exact. Using the
double-precision floating-point arithmetic specified by the IEEE 754 standard, we obtain at least
10 significant decimal digits in the worst case scenarios. These scenarios involve fourth-order
divided differences of the exponential function. Additionally, an optimal series
approximation of divided differences is presented which is an essential part of the exposition.

PARACHUTES: A computer program for calculating ram-air parachutes. Theory document

María Jesús Samper — Tue, 28 Aug 2018 15:02:11 +0200

PARACHUTES is a computer program developed at the International Center for Numerical
Methods in Engineering (CIMNE) for the simulation of ram-air (gliding) parachute systems.
The solution methodology in PARACHUTES is based on two unsteady calculation modules
which work in a coupled manner. The aerodynamics of the gliding parachute is solved by a
low-order panel method and a finite-element technique is used for the structure. The latter
allows modelling the suspension lines, textile fabric and suspended payloads of a typical
parachute system by means of cable, membrane and solid linear elements. For specified flight
conditions, the simulation program solves the fluid-structural problem governing the behavior
of arbitrary parachute-payload configurations and also allows analyzing user-defined
maneuvers. This document describes the theoretical formulation and the numerical
procedures adopted in PARACHUTES.

Analysis of Linear Systems Assisted with Scilab: An Approach from Electrical Engineering (2015 Review)

Ebert Brea — Mon, 27 Aug 2018 18:03:02 +0200

The analysis of the linear systems as well as of the signals that interact with the different elements of the system and the environment that surrounds it, requires a clear knowledge of the mathematical analysis and especially of what is known as operational calculation, as of the operational calculation it is possible, in some cases, to facilitate the search for the solutions of the problems of analysis that are raised in the investigation of the systems represented by mathematical models. Both the mathematical models that represent the systems and the signals can be defined in terms of continuous or discrete variables, for which each of these points of view requires its corresponding model, and the determination of its solution to the problem will be based on the domain over which the model is represented, whether continuous or discrete, as well as the concepts used in the spectral domain. The author assumes that the reader has a clear knowledge of Laplace, Fourier and Z transform, which are used as alternative tools for the analysis of problems in the domain where the mathematical models are described. On the other hand, brief explanations of some differential equation solving methods are presented in this book, which represent the relationships among the variables of the dynamic system defined in the continuous domain that is being studied. The purpose of introducing differential equations is to induce the method of solving difference equations, which are used as mathematical models of dynamic systems seen from a discrete domain perspective. It is important to note that the scope of this work does not include the analysis of linear systems from the stochastic perspective, because this approach requires clear knowledge of the probabilities and stochastic processes, and that this material It should form the textbook of the undergraduate course of Analysis of Linear Systems of the School of Electrical Engineering of the Central University of Venezuela, and this course studies the systems from the deterministic point of view. It should be noted that the author has used, in a very careful way, a notation that allows to discriminate clearly when the mathematical models are referred to the continuous or discrete domain. Moreover, the author makes a clear difference, in the case of the signals defined in the discrete domain, between what a function in the discrete domain means and its corresponding sequence of samples, both of which are used for the representation of the signals in the domain of discrete domain. In addition, the author has tried as far as possible to refer to the domain, without this being limited to the domain in continuous or discrete time, because in the opinion of the author, the concepts, methods and theoretical bases should not refer exclusively to the domain of time, but to any domain, thus leaving the possibility of generalizing the application of what is presented in the work, although in the area of Electrical Engineering it is very common to see the models and signals defined in the domain of time and frequency. It is appropriate to establish that throughout the work, the signals studied and their use in the analysis of the various systems, both in the continuous and discrete domain, are considered real. That is, they are signals that represent measures in the set of real numbers, or in mathematical terms are signals represented by functions whose ranges correspond to the set of real numbers. In addition, it must be taken into account that the signals are modeled by functions defined in the domain of real or integer numbers, depending on whether the signals represent measurements in the continuous or discrete domain, respectively.

Estudio de la influencia de las irregularidades en planta en la respuesta sísmica de una estructura de concreto armado

Luis Alejandro Pérez Peña — Mon, 27 Aug 2018 00:08:29 +0200

The changes in the geometry of the structures are called irregularities and are divided into two types: plant and height irregularities, the latter being widely investigated. In this sense, the objective of the present work is to study in detail the influence of the plant irregularities in the seismic resistance of a reinforced concrete structure, to quantify and locate vulnerable zones in the structure. The proposed study is developed numerically using ETABS software Nonlinear v9.7.2 and MATLAB R2009b. The results showed that plant irregularities as they are placed in the structure, this is losing its bearing capacity and therefore its ability to withstand the lateral loads.

Development and programming of sismic resistant types BFP and RBS connections according to ANSI/AISC 358-16

Scipedia content — Wed, 22 Aug 2018 09:15:01 +0200

Steel connections are a fundamental part in the design and construction process of metal structures. Making this connections design becomes an extensive mathematical procedure, which would generate delays manually due to the number of iterations necessary to obtain an adequate result. There are commercial programs that perform these procedures in an automated way, but their licenses tend to be very expensive, and emphasizing the above, this work has the purpose of creating a free and easy to use software for the design of BFP and RBS connections according to the guidelines established by the ANSI / AISC standard 358-2016. In addition, at the same time incorporate an additional tool for the teaching of matters related to connections in steel structures. The software is accompanied by a user manual that describes step by step some common examples of calculation, which can be used to teach the use of software. The results obtained by the program were compared with exercises developed by other authors, reflecting quite low percentages of difference and with them the acceptance of the results obtained with the program.

CIMNE workshop on Scipedia

Julio García-Espinosa — Mon, 20 Aug 2018 13:34:02 +0200

Scipedia (https://www.scipedia.com) is an innovative Open Science and Research Publishing Platform. Scipedia aims to connect researchers and professionals in science and technology and facilitate the sharing of knowledge, expertise and the outcome of their work. Scipedia.com was born to offer a complete solution for open science, and essentially integrates a collaborative social network for scientists with online editorial and document and data management tools.

CIMNE has chosen Scipedia as the open publishing platform for its collections of monographs, articles and preprints, and technical and research reports (see https://www.scipedia.com/institution/cimne.upc.edu). The content of these collections will be compiled from the personal repositories in Scipedia of all CIMNE researchers.

The objective of the workshop is to resolve the main doubts that may arise in the use of the platform, and specifically in the creation and management of document collections.

Inter institutional agreement Construction Camera of the Lara state school of civil engineering of UCLA

Luisa Casadei — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 20:51:02 +0200

The Construction Camera of the Lara State in Venezuela has been encouraging courses through the agreement established with the School of Civil Engineering of the Centroccidental University Lisandro Alvarado, with the purpose of updating and maintaining a system of continuous training of its members in the construction area. It has specialized chairs taught at higher levels within the civil engineering career itself, as is the subject 'Construction Management' to specific courses in the structural area. Likewise, the Internship Unit is supported by locating students who need to complete professional internships in companies affiliated with the Camera; including consultancies in degree works from the civil engineering area.

Road accidents in Mexico and its relationship with daylight saving time

Luisa Casadei — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 20:48:02 +0200

The objective proposed in this work was to find out if there is a relationship between the beginning of summer time in Mexico and the number of road accidents, since the entrance of such schedule causes fatigue, which is reported as a cause of accidents. The permutations test was used and there was no evidence of an increase in accidents associated with the entry of summer time. The limitations of the study are, on the one hand, the lack of accident records prior to the implementation of summer time and, on the other, not having controlled the time of occurrence of the accidents analyzed; in future cases it is recommended to control this last variable. Summer time in Mexico was implemented since 1996 and its effects on road traffic accidents had not yet been studied; the originality of the present study lies in studying such effects. The findings suggest that vehicular driving with natural light provides greater safety even when the driver is fatigued.

Mechanical physical study of concrete substitutes with silica powder exposed in simulated aggressive environment

Luisa Casadei — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 20:44:02 +0200

The present research resulted in a standardized laboratory test for the evaluation of properties in a simulated exposure environment by immersion in 3% NaCl solution. The physical and mechanical evaluation was performed on reinforced cylindrical specimens of 30 cm high and 15 cm in diameter, made of concrete with partial replacement of the cement by dose silica in 10% and 15% water cement ratio of 0,45 and 0,65 and design strength of 250 Kgf/cm². Settlement tests, porosity, capillary absorption and mechanical resistance were performed In a period of 5 months, the influence of the substitutions of silica dust in the concrete mixtures with respect to the standard mixtures was analyzed, obtaining an increase in the mechanical resistance with respect to the design, in the ratio a/c 0,45, for the a/c ratio 0,65 reached acceptable values for the substituted mixtures with respect to the mechanical strength compared with the design, as for the porosity and capillary absorption tests were not satisfactory for any relation to a/c probably due to lack of curing prior to exposure.

Numerical simulation of the structural behavior of tubular profiles submitted to ultra-low cycles fatigue

Luisa Casadei — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 20:21:02 +0200

In the present work of investigation the numerical behavior of structural profiles of steel of thin wall is studied, of Venezuelan national production Conduven ECO, of square cross section, constructed in the form of beam type cantilever, under the effects of Fatigue of UltraLow Cycling. Experimental tests were carried out where histories of cyclic displacements were applied, with very low speed and acting in a range that goes from the yielding effort to the last effort of the element, obtaining a degradation of the resistant capacity of the profiles, these experimental results were compared with the numerical simulations made through a commercial program of finite elements, obtaining satisfactory results.

Effect of exposure time to fire in flexural strength of reinforced concrete beams

Luisa Casadei — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 20:18:02 +0200

This paper discusses the flexural strength of reinforced concrete beams of square cross section, exposed to fire during different times. After being exposed to fire the beams were left to cool at room temperature for 24 hours, the changes produced by this phenomenon were evaluated by observation. The temperatures reached oscillated between 750 °C and 1050 °C. Through the ASTM C78 test it was determined that the flexural strength decreases drastically as the temperature and exposure time of the beams increases, showing different signs of degradation ranging from a slight calcination and change of coloration to the loss of section of the element. This research showed that the flexural strength decreased by more than 90% with respect to the beams not exposed to fire, this result was obtained when a temperature of 1050 °C was reached at 180 minutes of exposure to fire.

Data-MSCA-IF: Sensitive clays

Xue Zhang — Mon, 30 Jul 2018 16:51:02 +0200

Properties of Norwegian clays, Canadian clays and offshore clays

Data-MSCA-IF: Collapse Velocity

Xue Zhang — Mon, 30 Jul 2018 16:47:02 +0200

Variations of horizontal and vertical velocities of retrogressive landslides

Particle finite element modelling of retrogressive slope failure in sensitive clays

Xue Zhang — Wed, 25 Jul 2018 01:55:01 +0200

In this paper, the slope failure in sensitive clays is studied numerically using the particle finite element method which is a novel approach capable of tackling extreme deformation problems. The sensitive clay is described using an elastoviscoplastic model with strain softening. This model can be considered a mixture of the Tresca model with strain softening and the classical Bingham model. The former is used to capture the solid-like behaviour, for example when the clay is intact, whereas the latter is to describe the semi-fluid behaviour of the fully remolded clay. The complete process of the collapse of a sensitive clay deposit is captured successfully and the widely-observed retrogressive failure mode is reproduced. The mechanism behind the failure is also discovered.

Advances in the Simulation of Ship Navigation in Brash Ice

Julio García-Espinosa — Thu, 19 Jul 2018 22:55:52 +0200

Brash ice is the accumulation of floating ice made up of blocks no larger than two meters across. Navigation in brash ice is becoming more usual as new navigation routes are being opened in the Artic regions. This navigation brings new concerns regarding the interaction of ice blocks with the ship. This work presents recent advances towards the development of a computational model for simulation of this navigation condition including the interaction among the ship and the ice blocks.

The computational tool developed in this work is based on the coupling of a Semi-Lagrangian Particle Finite Element Method (SL-PFEM) with a multi rigid-body dynamics tool. The Particle Finite Element Method (Idelsohn et al. 2004) is a versatile framework for the analysis of fluid-structure interaction problems. The PFEM combines Lagrangian particle-based techniques with the advantage of the integral formulation of the Finite Element Method (FEM). It has been shown (Idelsohn et al. 2014 and Nadukandi et al. 2017) to successfully simulate a wide variety of complex engineering problems, e.g. free-surface/multi-fluid flows with violent interface motions, multi-fluid mixing and buoyancy-driven segregation problems etc.

The latest development within the framework of the PFEM is the X-IVAS (eXplicit Integration along the Velocity and Acceleration Streamlines) scheme. It is a semi-implicit scheme built over a Semi-Lagrangian (SL) formulation of the PFEM.

In this work, the SL-PFEM model has been coupled with a multibody dynamics solver, able to handle the interactions between thousands of bodies, representing the different ice blocks. The interaction between the fluid flow and the ice blocks is taking into account by enriching the finite element space at the boundaries of the different blocks.

This work is part of the research project NICESHIP sponsored by the U.S. Office of Naval Research under Grant N62909-16-1-2236.

Caracterización experimental y numérica de hormigones porosos modificados con polímeros

María Jesús Samper — Wed, 18 Jul 2018 13:45:01 +0200

Se pretende realizar una revisión completa de la experiencia obtenida tanto en gabinete de obra, mostrando las conclusiones de las mismas.

Analysis of fractional step finite element methods for the incompressible Navier-Stokes equation

María Jesús Samper — Wed, 18 Jul 2018 13:08:43 +0200

This monograph is devoted to the study of fractional step, finite element methods for the numerical solution of incompressible, viscous flow equations, and in particular of the Navier-Stokes equations.

Metodología de evaluación del deterioro en estructuras de hormigón armado

María Jesús Samper — Wed, 18 Jul 2018 12:59:34 +0200

Se desarrolla la formulación de un Nuevo índice de daño global riguroso, general, selectivo y objetivo. En base a ésta se propone una metodología de evaluación de la degradación estructural apoyada en la correlación entre índices globales de distintas zonas. Dicha metodología tiene aplicaciones directas en el estudio de patologías de edificios, cálculo de cargas últimas y mecanismos de fallo.

Error estimation and adaptivity in strain localisation problems with softening materials

María Jesús Samper — Tue, 17 Jul 2018 16:48:03 +0200

The study and prediction of failure is one of the most challenging issues of mechanical ans¡d structural engineering. In this context, an accurate analysis of strain localization, which typically triggers failure in many softening materials such as steel or concrete, is of great interest. The classical limit-state methods used to study localization phenomena are insufficient, and the finite element method appears as a proper analysis tool.

Unfortunately, the numerical simulation of strain localisation in continuum mechanics has to face two important difficulties: the need of a mathematically consistent constitutive model on one side, and of a cost-effective computational strategy capable of capturing the multi-scale nature of localisation problems on the other side. Several formulations have appeared to overcome the fisrt challenge, usually known as regularization techniques or localisation limiters. On the order hand, adaptivity appears as the natural solution to the computational difficulty.

In the present work, an adaptive remeshing procedure based on a residual type error estimator is presented in the context of quasi-static localisation problems with softening materials. Two well-known localisation limiters have been used: rate dependence has been used to regularize J2 softening plasticity (via Perzyna viscoplasticity) presenting shear band localisation, and the Mazars damage model with nonlocal regularization has been applied to simulate fracture localisation. These constitutive models simulate steel and concrete respectively.

Numerical examples show the good performance of the presented procedure, that captures accurately and cost-effectively the micro-scale of strain localisation problems.Furthermore, this error estimator driven adaptive procedure constitutives an objective alternative to the usual approaches that are based on error indicators.

Several topics of interest are also dealt with throughout the work, such as the analysis of the shear band width in quasi-static two-dimensional problems with Perzyna viscoplasticity, the influence of pollution errors in the adaptive process, or the use of error estimation analysis to deduce or test indicators.

Scipedia and Science Shops

Julio García-Espinosa — Tue, 17 Jul 2018 10:31:01 +0200

Scipedia (https://www.scipedia.com) is a comprehensive and unparalleled solution for the needs of open access / open data / open innovation / open science.

Scipedia.com essentially integrates an advanced online publishing and data management platform within a collaborative social network.

Scipedia offers free (and premium) publishing and data repository management services on the platform Scipedia.com and the possibility to build customized solutions for institutions (institutional open science portals).

This presentation focuses on the application of Scipedia for the implementation of Science shops in the context of the R&D project Scishops.

Reflexiones sobre el tránsito de la idea al producto en el entorno de la Escuela de Ingenieros de Caminos de Barcelona

María Jesús Samper — Mon, 16 Jul 2018 16:04:02 +0200

Se presentan unas reflexiones sobre el ciclo que las ideas recorren desde que surgen en un entorno universitario hasta que se transforman en un producto industrial. Se concretan estas reflexiones en el contexto de la Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros de Caminos, Canales y Puertos de la Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya y se presentan algunos ejemplos de éxitos en la implantación del denominado Círculo de las Ideas.

Estabilización de la solución por elementos finitos de problemas de flujo incompresible con rotación, turbulencia, superficie libre y temperatura

María Jesús Samper — Wed, 11 Jul 2018 16:22:57 +0200

El principal objetivo del presente trabajo es el de plantear un método de solución por elementos finitos de las ecuaciones que rigen el flujo incompresible, tanto en su régimen laminar como turbulento. Adicionalmente se planteará un esquema para solucionar problemas que involucren el tratamiento de superficies libres y del flujo térmico. La solución a dichos problemas es la base para atacar diversos problemas de ingeniería que se presentan diariamente en la industria, tales como el llenado de moldes, el flujo en reactores químicos, el diseño de perfiles óptimos para ventiladores, barcos, etc.

En este trabajo se presentan las ecuaciones que describen el comportamiento de un fluido incompresible en régimen laminar (ecuaciones de Navier-Stokes) y turbulento (ecuaciones de Reynolds), para luego plantear su solución por elementos finitos utilizando el método clásico o método de Galerkin.

High-order accurate time-stepping schemes for convection-diffusion problems

María Jesús Samper — Wed, 11 Jul 2018 15:30:31 +0200

In this work, a study has been made of other high order time-stepping methods with the view of identifying schemes that could possibly be used for a time accurate finite element solution of transient problems describing convective-diffusive transport. Both explicit and implicit methods are considered.

Analysis of beams and shell using a rotation - free finite element - finite volume formulation

María Jesús Samper — Wed, 11 Jul 2018 15:18:30 +0200

In this research work, the studies of the previous authors have been applied and expanded to other types of structural problems: Euler-Bernoulli beams, axisymmetric shells and arbitrary shape shells. The main novelty of the particular interest in this work is recasting the mentioned developments in the framework of the mixed Hu-Washizu type variational formulation. Different FE/EV approximations have been accommodated owing to such a variational formulation, in particular Cell Centered and Cell Vertex FV schemes combined with simple linear finite element interpolation have been studied.

Localización de deformaciones: análisis y simulación numérica de discontinuidades en mecánica de sólidos

María Jesús Samper — Wed, 11 Jul 2018 13:47:04 +0200

El objetivo principal del presente trabajo es extender la clase de aproximación de discontinuidad fuerte, originalmente propuesta por Simó, Oliver y Armero (1993), con objeto de contemplar la posibilidad del empleo de leyes de endurecimiento cualesquiera para representar el comportamiento del material. Además, se busca establecer el vínculo definitivo entre los modelos teóricos continuos, que consideran que la localización se asocia a la formación de superficies de discontinuidad débil, y la teoría discontinua, que asocia la localización con la formación de superficies de discontinuidad fuerte.

Lagrangian FE methods for coupled problems in fluid mechanics

María Jesús Samper — Wed, 11 Jul 2018 13:26:25 +0200

Lagrangian finite element methods emerged in fluid dynamics when the deficiencies of the Eulerian
methods in treating free surface flows (or generally domains undergoing large shape deformations)
were faced. Their advantage relies upon natural tracking of boundaries and interfaces, a feature
particularly important for interaction problems. Another attractive feature is the absence of the
convective term in the fluid momentum equations written in the Lagrangian framework resulting
in a symmetric discrete system matrix, an important feature in case iterative solvers are utilized.
Unfortunately, the lack of the control over the mesh distortions is a major drawback of Lagrangian
methods. In order to overcome this, a Lagrangian method must be equipped with an efficient
re-meshing tool.

This work aims at developing formulations and algorithms where maximum advantage of using
Lagrangian finite element fluid formulations can be taken. In particular we concentrate our attention
at fluid-structure interaction and thermally coupled applications, most of which originate from
practical “real-life” problems. Two fundamental options are investigated - coupling two Lagrangian
formulations (e.g. Lagrangian fluid and Lagrangian structure) and coupling the Lagrangian and
Eulerian fluid formulations.
In the first part of this work the basic concepts of the Lagrangian fluids, the so-called Particle
Finite Element Method (PFEM) [1], [2] are presented. These include nodal variable storage, mesh
re-construction using Delaunay triangulation/tetrahedralization and alpha shape-based method for
identification of the computational domain boundaries. This shall serve as a general basis for all the
further developments of this work.

Next we show how an incompressible Lagrangian fluid can be used in a partitioned fluid-structure
interaction context. We present an improved Dirichlet-Neumann strategy for coupling the incompressible
Lagrangian fluid with a rigid body. This is finally applied to an industrial problem dealing
with the sea-landing of a satellite capsule.

In the following, an extension of the method is proposed to allow dealing with fluid-structure
problems involving general flexible structures. The method developed takes advantage of the symmetry
of the discrete system matrix and by introducing a slight fluid compressibility allows to treat
the fluid-structure interaction problem efficiently in a monolithic way. Thus, maximum benefit from
using a similar description for both the fluid (updated Lagrangian) and the solid (total Lagrangian)
is taken. We show next that the developed monolithic approach is particularly useful for modeling
the interaction with light-weight structures. The validation of the method is done by means of comparison with experimental results and with a number of different methods found in literature.

The second part of this work aims at coupling Lagrangian and Eulerian fluid formulations. The
application area is the modeling of polymers under fire conditions. This kind of problem consists
of modeling the two subsystems (namely the polymer and the surrounding air) and their thermomechanical
interaction. A compressible fluid formulation based on the Eulerian description is used for
modeling the air, whereas a Lagrangian description is used for the polymer. For the surrounding air
we develop a model based upon the compressible Navier-Stokes equations. Such choice is dictated by
the presence of high temperature gradients in the problem of interest, which precludes the utilization
of the Boussinesq approximation. The formulation is restricted to the sub-sonic flow regime, meeting
the requirement of the problem of interest. The mechanical interaction of the subsystems is modeled
by means of a one-way coupling, where the polymer velocities are imposed on the interface elements
of the Eulerian mesh in a weak way. Thermal interaction is treated by means of the energy equation
solved on the Eulerian mesh, containing thermal properties of both the subsystems, namely air and
polymer. The developments of the second part of this work do not pretend to be by any means
exhaustive; for instance, radiation and chemical reaction phenomena are not considered. Rather we
make the first step in the direction of modeling the complicated thermo-mechanical problem and
provide a general framework that in the future can be enriched with a more detailed and sophisticated
models. However this would affect only the individual modules, preserving the overall architecture
of the solution procedure unchanged.

Each chapter concludes with the example section that includes both the validation tests and/or
applications to the real-life problems. The final chapter highlights the achievements of the work and
defines the future lines of research that naturally evolve from the results of this work.

Elementos estabilizados de bajo orden en mecánica de sólidos

María Jesús Samper — Wed, 11 Jul 2018 13:19:09 +0200

El objetivo de este trabajo es desarrollar e implementar una formulación específica, robusta y precisa de elementos, capaz de abordar el problema de incompresibilidad en mecánica de sólidos, con modelos constitutivos elásticos y elasto-plásticos J2, tanto en el contexto de las deformaciones infinitesimales como de las grandes deformaciones.

Pre y postprocesadores para el cálculo de estructuras. Interface GiD-Sap90

María Jesús Samper — Wed, 11 Jul 2018 13:12:29 +0200

La integración (interface) de los programas, por un lado el pre y postproceso y por el otro el análisis de estructuras por medio del MEF, GiD y Sap90 nos permiten de forma ágil y sencilla realizar el análisis de cualquier género estructural, por compleja que sea.

Scipedia's hosting plans for journals

Scipedia content — Mon, 09 Jul 2018 16:28:27 +0200

Scipedia offers a flexible and easily customizable web-publishing and hosting solution for open access journal publishers, based on the most reliable technology. Our hosting plans are designed to adapt to the needs of journal publishers of all sizes.

By teaming up with Scipedia, publishers can take advantage of simple and intuitive management procedures. Besides, they will benefit from all the technical advantages of Scipedia.com, including enriched web publishing, self-publishing and collaborative online edition tools, advanced file import/export tools, and leading-edge social network tools.

A non-linear finite element method on unstructured meshes for added resistance in waves

Julio García-Espinosa — Mon, 09 Jul 2018 12:56:02 +0200

In this work a finite element method (FEM) is proposed to solve the problem of estimating the added resistance of a ship in waves in the time domain and using unstructured meshes. Two different schemes are used to integrate the corresponding free surface kinematic and dynamic boundary conditions: the first one based on streamlines integration (SLI); and the second one based on the Streamline-Upwind Petrov-Galerking (SUPG) stabilization. The proposed numerical schemes have been validated in different test cases, including towing tank tests with monochromatic waves. The results obtained in this work show the suitability of the present method to estimate added resistance in waves in a computationally affordable manner.

Excellent science with and for all: the case of CIMNE

Scipedia content — Mon, 09 Jul 2018 11:18:01 +0200

This presentation was held on 5th July, 2018 at the VII Session of the Virtual Program on Open Science and Research Data Management (VII Sesión del Programa Virtual sobre Ciencia Abierta y Gestión de Datos de Investigación) organized by Columbus Foundation.

The presentation shows different activities of the International Center for Numerical Methods in Engineering (CIMNE) in the field of Open Science, and in particular it presents the innovative Open Science platform Scipedia.com.

1st FIBRESHIP WORKSHOP - General Overview

Ignacio García — Thu, 21 Jun 2018 12:32:02 +0200

This introductory presentation was made on the 1st Fibreship Workshop (14th May 2018, London).

1st FIBRESHIP WORKSHOP - Breakout Session 3 - Engineering

Julio García-Espinosa — Thu, 21 Jun 2018 12:05:02 +0200

This presentation was made on the 1st Fibreship Workshop to show the advances made in the project regarding the engineering aspects (mainly related to fire assessment and structural design).

1st FIBRESHIP WORKSHOP - Breakout Session 2 - Computational Analysis Tools

Julio García-Espinosa — Thu, 21 Jun 2018 11:59:02 +0200

This presentation was made on the 1st Fibreship Workshop to show the advances made in the project regarding the development of different analysis tools to support design and inspection of large length FRP based ships.

1st FIBRESHIP WORKSHOP - Breakout Session 1 - Materials

Xavier Martinez — Wed, 20 Jun 2018 13:30:02 +0200

Presentation made on the 1st Fibreship Workshop to show the advances made in the project regarding the material selection and characterization.

On application of two superconvergent recovery procedures to plate problems

María Jesús Samper — Wed, 20 Jun 2018 11:47:22 +0200

In this paper a study is performed on application of two recovery methods, i.e. Superconvergent Patch Recovery (SPR) and the Recovery by Equilibrium of Patches (REP), to plate problems. The two recovery methods have been recognized to give similar results in adaptive solutions of two dimensional stress problems. While the former applies a least square fit over a set of values at the so called superconvergent points, the latter does not need any knowledge of such points and thus has a wider application especially in non-linear problems. The formulation of REP is extended to Reissner-Mindlin plate problems. The convergence rates of the recovered fields of the gradients obtained from application of the two methods are compared using series of regular triangular and rectangular meshes for thick and thin plate solution cases. Assumed strain formulation based elements, i.e. the elements formulated by Mixed Interpolation of Tensorial Components, as well as conventional from of elements based on selective integration schemes are employed for the study. In order to investigate the possibility of any improvement in the results by adding equilibrium constraints to SPR, as some authors suggest for simple two-dimensional problems, some weighted forms of such conditions are designed and added to the formulation. Comprehensive study has been given first by varying the weight terms to obtain the best enhanced results and then using the optimal values to investigate the effects of the constraints on the rate of convergence. It is observed that despite of the cost of this approach, due to the coupling of the gradient terms, no significant improvement is achieved.

Advances in the Simulation of Ship Navigation in Ice

Julio García-Espinosa — Tue, 19 Jun 2018 00:03:03 +0200

This work is part of the research project NICESHIP sponsored by the U.S. Office of Naval Research under Grant N62909-16-1-2236.

El sector Náutico en España - 2012

Luis Fernández - Cotero — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 20:25:02 +0200

Informe del Sector Náutico en España ( 2012). La Náutica deportiva y de Recreo. Informe elaborado por del departamento de Investigación y estrategia de mercado de la Fira de Barcelona en colaboración con la Asociación Nacional de Empresas Náuticas (ANEN)

Informe sobre el sector del chárter en España Temporada 2015

Luis Fernández - Cotero — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 09:51:02 +0200

La empresa Nautal, nos facilita este informe del sector del chárter en España obtenido de su actividad como como agencia. es de los primeros informes sobre la actividad del charter

Intervenció professor Andreu Mas-Colell

Daniel Quer D — Wed, 13 Jun 2018 13:24:01 +0200

Catalunya en clau macroeconòmica en un entorn global

Daniel Quer D — Wed, 13 Jun 2018 13:23:02 +0200

L’empresa com a procés continu d’adaptació

Daniel Quer D — Wed, 13 Jun 2018 13:08:02 +0200

Quality management in the university classroom

Luisa Casadei — Mon, 11 Jun 2018 22:28:01 +0200

This study aimed to address quality management in the university classroom, specifically in the Department of Basic Sciences of the Dean of Civil Engineering of the Universidad Centroccidental Lisandro Alvarado. It was conceived under the modality of qualitative research of ethnographic type with an interpretive character. The research process involved three phases: obtaining information, in which key informants were selected from a group of four (4) teachers and three (3) students in an intentional sampling, interview techniques were applied and participant observation to record and categorize the informants' opinions. In the second phase, the analysis and interpretation of the information was done using the GLATER model, which allowed orientating it from four stages: the first stage assignment of codes and dimensions, second stage of description, third of categorization and fourth stage of interpretation. In the third and final phase the construction of a theoretical approach of the quality management based on the managerial method PDCA, proposed by the researcher, was carried out starting from the analysis of the categories and their properties. As a result of this process, the thematic categories emerged: Integral Training, Availability and Use of School Media, Dynamics of Organizational Learning and Institutional Leadership.

Alternative procedure to determine the response reduction factor for ductile RC framed buildings

Luisa Casadei — Mon, 11 Jun 2018 22:25:01 +0200

The seismic design is based on the results of the structures elastic analysis, even though now days the nonlinear analysis is increasingly accessible. To perform the seismic analysis of structures that are modeled with elastic behavior, but known to venture into the plastic behavior, the standards establish the reduction of the elastic design spectra by the use of reduction factors, formulated essentially on the basis of the engineering judgment. This paper proposes a strategy to obtain response reduction factors, based on the results of non-linear analysis of soil response and structural systems with a degree of freedom, along with the nonlinear response of multiple grade of freedom framed structural systems by armed concrete, for the specific spectra of Venezuela. The results of response reductions factors were greater than the current values of response reduction prescribed by the Venezuelan seismic code, which can favorably lead to a displacement-based design instead strength-based design.

A river bed hydrokinetic turbine - a laminated composite material rotor design

María Jesús Samper — Thu, 31 May 2018 15:01:39 +0200

This work presents the composite materials applied to Water Current Turbine (WCT) hydrokinetic turbines. Here will be briefly described the features of these turbines, the fluid-dynamic behavior of the rotor, and its structure formed into a composite material. From the structural viewpoint an advanced composite material formulation that allows an appropriate structural design is introduced. The generalized composite formulations here introduced take into account the nonlinear mechanical behavior of the component materials (matrix and fiber), as the local behavior of plasticity and damage, its anisotropy, the fiber matrix debonding, its material composition via a general mixing theory, and also the homogenized structural damage index definition. Hydrokinetic turbines bring newer advantages and greater possibilities for green hydroelectric power generation. For this reason, achieving a very high lift blade rotor to take the maximum kinetic energy advantage for rivers with a slow velocity flow is very important. A very low inertia rotor permits a self-starting effect for the axial water flow turbine to take the maximum advantage of the river kinetic energy which is very important in this kind of devices. A turbine rotor hydrofoil made in composite material can be designed for this purpose. One of the most commonly used composite material analysis formulation is herein introduced. Specifically, a particular Serial/Parallel (S/P) Mixing Theory with a better relation between model accuracy vs. computational cost is provided. In front to other formulation, the S/P Mixing Theory not increasing the degrees of freedom of the problem because is a constitutive formulation. A brief introduction to fluid-dynamic concept involving in the analysis of a rotor of this type of turbines is presented. This allows seeing the origin of the actions applied to the rotor of this type of turbines. In addition, two simple examples that show the potentiality of the model are presented in this chapter. Then, an application to the design of a rotor blade of a passing turbine, made of carbon fiber-reinforced matrix composite material, is shown.

Static and Seismic Analysis of the Janneh Arch-gravity Dam

Fernando Salazar — Thu, 31 May 2018 09:28:01 +0200

The static and seismic analysis of Janneh arch-gravity dam (157 m) is carried out by considering a combination of self-weight, hydrostatic, uplift and seismic loads. Linear and nonlinear analyses are performed for both static and seismic cases. Nonlinear behavior is studied by means of joint elements in the contact between the rock foundation and the dam following a bilinear cohesive law. The hydrodynamic effects derived to seismic loads are also considered. Hydrodynamic Westergaard’s approach is applied in the pseudo-static analysis, and the Westergaard’s generalized added mass is used for time-history case.

Alternative procedure to determine the response reduction factor for ductile RC framed buildings

Luisa Casadei — Sun, 20 May 2018 17:36:02 +0200

Characterization of the public and massive construction of social interest houses developed since 2005 in Lara State. Venezuela

Luisa Casadei — Sun, 20 May 2018 17:31:01 +0200

The main objective of this research is the public and massive construction of social interest housing, executed between 2005 and 2015 in the Iribarren and Palavecino municipalities of Lara State, Venezuela, in order to continue the investigation carried out in the years between 1994 and 2005, through the determination of evaluation parameters related to the design and construction characteristics of town planning and housing. It is a field research, not experimental descriptive, the representation shows 355 houses in 5 urbanisms. The relevant results showed a better architectural distribution of the houses than the ones developed in previous years, it showed an 80 % of urban equipment, 20,56% of the houses enclosures problems, 26,42% problems related to the soil, 16.9% reveals the entry of rain water and through windows 12.68% presents rain water entry through the door. Although the percentages of housing failures have been reduced, the percentages of faults in infrastructure services have increased, that is, better homes that lack basic services have been built. Recommending taking advantage of the identified opportunities for improvement.

Key issues in computational geomechanics

María Jesús Samper — Fri, 18 May 2018 15:58:23 +0200

As stated in the introduction, the three main topics covered in this report are actual research
fields. Different analyses and new developments related with these fields have been presented in
the previous chapters. In the following, after a brief summary of the contributions, some directions
for future research are outlined. Detailed presentations of the conclusions of each contribution are
included in the corresponding sections and subsections.
The most relevant contributions of this report are the following:
1. With respect to the treatment of large boundary displacements:
> Quasistatic and dynamic analyses of the vane test for soft materials using a fluid–based
ALE formulation and different non-newtonian constitutive laws.
> The development of a solid–based ALE formulation for finite strain hyperelastic–plastic
models, with applications to isochoric and non-isochoric cases.
2. Referent to the solution of nonlinear systems of equations in solid mechanics:
> The use of simple and robust numerical differentiation schemes for the computation of
tangent operators, including examples with several non-trivial elastoplastic constitutive
laws.
> The development of consistent tangent operators for substepping time–integration rules,
with the application to an adaptive time–integration scheme.
3. In the field of constitutive modelling of granular materials:
> The efficient numerical modelling of different problems involving elastoplastic models,
including work hardening–softening models for small–strain problems and density–
dependent hyperelastic–plastic models in a large–strain context.
> Robust and accurate simulations of several powder compaction processes, with detailed
analysis of spatial density distributions and verification of the mass conservation principle.

RESILTRACK Resiliencia de infraestructuras ferroviarias frente a Cambio Climático (Presentación CIMNE p/ Kick-off)

Oscar Fruitos Bickham — Wed, 16 May 2018 08:44:02 +0200

The RESILTRACK OBJECTIVE is to design a system which allows the knowledge of the infrastructure state and its affectation before climatic adverse real time phenomena, as well as prevent its behavior to act; where necessary, obtaining therefore railway infrastructures resilient before the effects of the climate change.

Document: Kick off CIMNE presentation

Incremental dynamic analysis and pushover analysis of buildings. A probabilistic comparison

Alex Barbat — Thu, 10 May 2018 18:31:26 +0200

Capacity-spectrum-based-methods areused for assessing the vulnerability and risk of existing buildings. Capacity curves are usually obtained by means of nonlinear static analysis. Incremental Dynamic Analysis is a powerful tool based on nonlinear dynamic analysis. This method can provide results similar to the pushover analysis as the input is increasingly enlarged. It is well known that the randomness associated to the structural response can be significant, because of the uncertainties involved in the mechanical properties of the materials, among others uncertainty sources, and because the expected seismic actions are also highly stochastic. In this chapter, selected mechanical properties are considered as random variables and the seismic hazard is considered in a probabilistic way. A number of accelerograms of actual European seismic events have been selected in such a way that their response spectra fit well the response spectra provided by the seismic codes for the area where the building is constructed.A fully probabilistic approach is tackled herein by means of Monte Carlo simulation. The method is applied to a detailed study of the seismic response of a reinforced concrete building. The main purposes of this work are 1) to analyze the differences when static and dynamic techniques are used and 2) to obtain a measure of the uncertainties involved in the assessment of the vulnerability of structures. The results show that static based procedures are somehow conservative and that uncertainties increase with the severity of the seismic actions and with the damage. Low damage state fragility curves have little uncertainty while high damage grades fragility curves show great scattering.

Indicators for hazard, exposure and urban risk

Alex Barbat — Thu, 10 May 2018 17:22:18 +0200

The difficulty of considering aspects such as the effectiveness of risk management or the ability to react in the event of a disaster in a single methodology of risk analysis requires using techniques based on indicators. Indicators, which reflect different aspects of risk components, are reference values of the hazard, exposure, vulnerability or risk that consider physical economic, social and environmental aspects. The main application of a system of risk indicators is to assess all these aspects in a geographical area, which can be a country, a subnational region or a city and to allow a detailed analysis of the urban area. The basic indicators at the city level that are necessary to perform risk assessments and are presented in this chapter are the following: physical exposure indicators, economic exposure indicators, population exposure indicators, hazard and physical risk indicators, total risk index for holistic risk estimation and the risk management index.

Social Aggravation Estimation to Seismic Hazard Using Classical Fuzzy Methods

Alex Barbat — Thu, 10 May 2018 11:38:42 +0200

In the years, from a disasters perspective, risk has been dimensioned to allow a better management. However, this conceptualization turns out to be limited or constrained by the generalized use of a fragmented risk framework, which always consider first the approach and applicability of each discipline involved. To be congruent with risk definition, it is necessary to consider an integral framework, and social factors must be included. Even those indicators that could tell something about the organizational and institutional capacity to withstand natural hazards, should be invited to the table. In this article, we analyze one of the most important elements in risk formation: the social aggravation, which can be regarded as the convolution of the resilience capacity and social fragility of an urban center. We performed a social aggravation estimation over Barcelona, Spain, and Bogota, Colombia, considering a particular hazard in the form of seismic activity. The aggravation coefficient was formulated through a Mamdami fuzzy approach, supported by well-established fuzzy theory, which is characterized by a high expressive power and an intuitive humanlike manner.

Seismic Response of RC Framed Buildings Designed According to Eurocodes

Alex Barbat — Thu, 10 May 2018 10:55:09 +0200

In order to ensure that a building structure do not collapse when subjected to the action of strong ground motions, modern codes include prescriptions in order to guarantee the ductile behavior of the elements and of the whole structure. Obviously, it is of special importance for the designer to know during the design process the extent of damage that the structure will suffer under the seismic action specified by the design spectrum and also the probability of occurrence of different states of behaviour. The incremental nonlinear static analysis procedure used in this paper allows formulating a new, simplified, seismic damage index and damage thresholds associated with five limit states. The seismic behavior of a set of regular reinforced concrete buildings designed according to the EC-2/EC-8 prescriptions for a high seismic hazard level is then studied using the proposed damage index and damage states. Fragility curves and damage probability matrices corresponding to the performance point are calculated for the studied buildings. The obtained results show that the collapse damage state is not reached in the buildings designed according the prescriptions of EC-2/EC-8 and also that the damage does not exceed the irreparable damage limit state.

VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT OF DWELLING BUILDINGS

Alex Barbat — Thu, 10 May 2018 10:42:28 +0200

Risk is defined as the potential economic, social and environmental consequences of hazardous events that may occur in a specified area unit and period. The evaluation of physical vulnerability and risk of buildings is the main purpose of this chapter. Nevertheless, it is shown the necessity of considering not only the expected physical damage but also the social fragility and the lack of resilience of the exposed community, that is, a holistic evaluation of risk aiming at guiding decision making. Both the vulnerability index and capacity spectrum methods for the evaluation of the physical risk are discussed herein. Both provide good results for the considered case study the urban area of Barcelona, Spain. Both methods show how a city, located in a low to moderate hazard region, which has paid no attention to the seismic performance of their buildings, has buildings with a high seismic vulnerability and a considerable seismic risk.

NON LINEAR STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS. APPLICATION FOR EVALUATING SEISMIC SAFETY

Alex Barbat — Wed, 09 May 2018 12:55:14 +0200

Performance-Based Design is accepted commonly as the most advanced design and evaluation approach. However, its successful application depends on the ability to accurately estimate the parameters of structural response. The determination of these parameters requires applying analysis procedures where the non-linear behavior features of structures are included. This chapter presents and discusses these features of non-linear behavior and how they are incorporated in the process of static or dynamic structural analyses. Non-linear analysis allows obtaining from the seismic response significant structural response parameters such as ductility, overstrength, response reduction factor and damage thresholds. In order to illustrate the application of the non-linear analysis procedures, a set of concrete-reinforced moment-resisting framed buildings with various numbers of levels, was designed according to ACI-318 for high and very high level of seismic hazard. Their seismic safety is studied using both the static and dynamic non-linear analyses.

Holistic Evaluation of Seismic Risk in Barcelona

Alex Barbat — Wed, 09 May 2018 12:33:04 +0200

Within the framework described in Chapter 1, this chapter shows the evaluation of the seismic risk of the city of Barcelona, Spain, by applying a probabilistic analysis. On this basis a holistic evaluation of risk is performed taking into account social fragilityand lack of resilience aspects. Finally, the evaluation of the disaster risk management performance is conducted.

Theoretical and Conceptual Framework for the Assessment of Vulnerability to Natural Hazards and Climate Change in Europe

Alex Barbat — Wed, 09 May 2018 12:12:17 +0200

This chapter outlines a framework for multidimensional, holistic vulnerability assessment that is understood as part of risk evaluation and risk management in the context of Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change Adaptation. As a heuristic, the framework is a thinking tool to guide systematic assessments of vulnerability and to provide a basis for comparative indicators and criteria development to assess key factors and various dimensions of vulnerability, particularly in regions in Europe. However, it can also be applied in other world regions. The framework has been developed within the context of the research project MOVE (Methods for the Improvement of Vulnerability Assessment in Europe; www.move-fp7.eu) sponsored by the European Commission within the framework of the FP 7 program.