Scipedia: Documents published in 2019

Application of the ubiquitous game with augmented reality in Primary Education

Scipedia content — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 15:28:11 +0200

Augmented reality (AR) immersion enables virtual objects and real environments to coexist and encourage experimentation with phenomena that are not possible in the real world. Augmented reality is generating new opportunities for the development of ubiquity within educational environments. The objective of this study was to analyze the impact that the integration of ubiquitous game approaches with augmented reality has on learning. A quasi-experimental study was carried out with 91 sixth-grade primary school students; the learning scenario was designed and the augmented reality application “WallaMe” was selected for use in five sessions of a didactic unit in Art Education. Through pretest and posttest procedures, academic performance and information search skills were evaluated, and, a Likert scale analyzed the motivation and collaboration variables among the students. The results showed that the experimental group obtained statistically significant improvements in the academic performance of the subject, motivation, in the search for, and analysis of, information, level of fun and collaboration. The conclusion is that the dynamic activities managed in the intervention, which made use of augmented reality and localization, benefit teaching-learning processes, and encourage innovation and improvement through educational technology.

Competence of future teachers in the digital security area

Scipedia content — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 15:28:00 +0200

The use of technologies and the Internet poses problems and risks related to digital security. This article presents the results of a study on the evaluation of the digital competence of future teachers in the DigCompEdu European framework. 317 undergraduate students from Spain and Portugal answered a questionnaire with 59 items, validated by experts, in order to assess the level and predominant competence profile in initial training (including knowledge, uses and interactions and attitudinal patterns). The results show that 47% of the participants belong to the profile of teachers at medium digital risk, evidencing habitual practices that involve risks such as sharing information and digital content inappropriately, not using strong passwords, and ignoring concepts such as identity, digital “footprint” and digital reputation. The average valuations of each item in the seven categories show that future teachers have an average competence in the area of digital security. They have good attitudes toward security but less knowledge and fewer skills and practices related to the safe and responsible use of the Internet. Future lines of work are proposed, aimed at responding to the demand for a better prepared and more digitally competent citizenry. The demand for education in security, privacy and digital identity is becoming increasingly important, and these elements form an essential part of initial training.

Digital resources and didactic methodology in the initial training of History teachers

Scipedia content — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 15:27:50 +0200

This paper analyzes the links that exist between the perceptions of teachers-in-training regarding the use of digital resources in the Secondary Education classroom and their own methodological and epistemological conceptions. Shulman’s theories continue to largely guide current research on teacher knowledge. However, the impact caused by the new technologies has inspired new approaches like T-PACK, which put the focus on the teachers’ digital competence. In order to address this goal, information has been collected by means of a questionnaire implemented in 22 universities, 13 Spanish (344 participants) and 9 British (162 participants). The analysis of data was conducted along three phases: a) examination of the structure of assessments regarding the usefulness of digital resources by analyzing latent classes; b) estimation of confirmatory factor models for variable evaluation processes, History as a formative subject and historical competencies; c) estimation of interclass differences by using confirmatory factor models. The results showed four types of response regarding the use of digital resources in the classroom that were polarized about two items: comics and video games. Important interclass differences have likewise been found regarding methodological issues (traditional and innovative practices), as well as less important differences concerning epistemological conceptions and views on the development of historical competencies in the classroom.

Teacher’s digital competence among final year Pedagogy students in Chile and Uruguay

Scipedia content — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 15:27:29 +0200

The development of Teacher’s Digital Competence (TDC) should start in initial teacher training, and continue throughout the following years of practice. All this with the purpose of using Digital Technologies (DT) to improve teaching and professional development. This paper presents a study focused on the diagnosis of TDC among ITT senior students from Chile and Uruguay. A quantitative methodology, with a representative sample of 568 students (N=273 from Chile and N=295 from Uruguay) was designed and implemented. TDC was also studied and discussed in relation to gender and educational level. Results showed a mostly basic level for the four dimensions of the TDC in the sample. Regarding the relationship between the variables and the TDC, the Planning, organization and management of spaces and technological resources’ dimension is the only one showing significant differences. In particular, male students achieved a higher TDC level compared with female students. Furthermore, the proportion of Primary Education students with a low TDC level was significantly higher than other students. In conclusion, it is necessary, for teacher training institutions in Chile and Uruguay, to implement policies at different moments and in different areas of the ITT process in order to improve the development of the TDC.

The development of the digital teaching competence from a sociocultural approach

Scipedia content — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 15:27:19 +0200

Many Nowadays, digital teaching competence transcends the individual training of teachers in ICT. The European framework DigCompEdu, highlights that teachers must train students in the application of digital technologies in a critical and responsible way, in terms of information, communication, content generation, wellbeing and problem solving. Despite the good intentions to systematize a common model of development of digital competence, it is detected that the proposals lack a pedagogical approach that serves as a theoretical framework for them. This paper proposes a development model of the digital teaching competence based on the sociocultural approach through four constructs: Command, Preference, Reintegration and Appropriation. For this study, an ad hoc scale is created to record the digital teaching competence through the development of this in their students and empirical evidences are provided. A survey type design is proposed. The sample consists of 1,881 students of compulsory education in Andalusia (Spain). SPSS is used to analyse data. The average general results for each of the dimensions studied reveal a medium level of development of digital competence. It is concluded that there is still too much to be done in terms of teacher training in ICT, being necessary to provide them strategies for the development of this in their students.

Understanding social and cultural aspects of teachers’ digital competencies

Scipedia content — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 15:27:09 +0200

Many European governments, including Norway, have ambitious educational policies regarding digitalisation. Many businesses and policymakers pay great attention to the use of digital technologies in education in order to meet the future demands for a competent and qualified workforce. Among researchers and policymakers, there is a general consensus that the professional teacher is a key figure for the successful implementation of digital technologies in schools. Many expectations have been placed upon professional teachers regarding the implementation and use of digital technologies. The professional teacher is, to a certain degree, supposed to independently decide how digital technologies should be used in the classroom. This paper discusses what the concept of a ‘professional digitally competent teacher’ may mean in the context of schools. It also argues the need for a greater understanding of professional digital competence, one which takes into consideration various social and cultural aspects with regard to technology, schools and the teaching profession. In unpacking the social and cultural conditions for implementing technology in a professional teaching context, I will draw on concepts from the constructivist understanding of technology, namely, the ‘domestication of technology’.

Teenagers, smartphones and digital audio consumption in the age of Spotify

Scipedia content — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 15:27:00 +0200

The consolidation of smartphones as dominant devices for access to digital information and entertainment has redefined the processes of production and commercialization of cultural communication industries. The nature of these screens, which prioritize the visual content over the sound, decisively influences distribution strategies in the audio market: radio operators, streaming music platforms and podcast creators need to adapt their value chains to the habits derived from this mediation, especially in the younger audience. This research identifies the practices of mobile use as an audio receiver among adolescents in Colombia, Spain and Mexico –the most representative countries of Spanish-speaking digital sound consumption– based on a descriptive study on a thousand subjects from 13 to 19 years of age. The results confirm the overwhelming dominance in this music menu in the face of low penetration of radio and podcast word content. The selection is based on personal criteria, with little margin for the prescription of family or friends. There is evidence of the roots of individual listening, linked to the brand and the visibility of audio providers, who are obliged to develop diffusion logics based not only on thematic or genre preferences, but also on the user experience.

Participatory audiences in the European public service media: Content production and copyright

Scipedia content — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 15:26:50 +0200

The interactivity and participation of the public in the media is not a novelty, but has increased significantly with the adaptation to the digital convergence process. The possibility for audiences to share content through social platforms or generating its own is raising new ethical and legal issues. In this context, the public service audiovisual media must be pioneer both in the introduction of new participatory experiences and in the debate on the behaviour of the media regarding the interaction with its users. The objective of this article is twofold: on the one hand, to approach the current scenario of participatory mechanisms present in the European public service audiovisual media; on the other hand, to determine how this media is solving the new problems generated by the increase in user interaction. The research on participatory mechanisms offered by public service media shows that social networks, blogs, and comment sections are the main tools for discursive participation, while the field of creative participation requires the exploitation of new innovation strategies. The main challenge arising from this situation is how to control the legality of user-generated content and how to manage the ownership of copyright according to social values represented in public service media.

Systematic review of the current state of research on Online Social Networks: Taxonomy on experience of use

Scipedia content — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 15:26:41 +0200

The widespread use of online social networks (OSN) among young people has been accompanied by an increase of publications about them and their effects on the psychosocial development of users. Previous panoramic reviews on OSN research are now outdated and do not provide a comprehensive view of the complexity of the user experience. The aims of this systematic review were three: to identify quantitative studies on OSN; to build a taxonomy about the user experience; and to classify studied variables in the topics and subtopics. The literature search and review according to PICoS strategy led to 546 identified publications that met the eligibility criteria. The taxonomy included nine major topics: overall use; activities and types of use; perceptions and attitudes OSN; the social network of online contacts; needs and motives for use; profile and privacy management; social processes; identity processes; and cognitive-emotional processes related to use of OSN. The three most studied topics were: overall use; activities and types of use; and social processes related to use of OSN. Classification and quantification of the different variables studied about the users’ experience is detailed. Several theoretical perspectives are discussed, as well as the gaps and challenges in OSN research. The proposed taxonomy could be useful for researchers to better delineate the aims of future studies.

Online news recommendations credibility: The tie is mightier than the source

Scipedia content — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 15:26:32 +0200

In this paper, we wish to examine the perceived credibility of news items shared through Social Networking Sites (SNS) –specifically, as a function of tie strength and perceived credibility of the media source from which the content originated. We utilized a between-subjects design. The Facebook account of each participant (N=217) was analyzed. Based on this analysis, our participants were shown a fictitious Facebook post that was presumably shared by one of their Facebook friends with whom they had either a strong social tie (experiment group), or a weak social tie (control group). All recipients were then asked about their perceptions regarding the news source (from which the item presumably originated), and their perception regarding thecredibility of the presented item. Our findings indicate that the strength of the social tie between the sharer of the item and its recipient mediates the effect of the credibility perception regarding the news source, and the perceived item credibility, as well as the likelihood of searching for additional information regarding the topic presented in the shared item.

Taiwanese university students’ smartphone use and the privacy paradox

Scipedia content — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 15:26:23 +0200

With the prevalence of smart devices and wireless Internet, privacy has become a pivotal matter in governmental, academic, and technological fields. Our study aims to understand Taiwanese university students’ privacy concerns and protective behaviours in relation to online targeting ads and their habitual smartphone usage. Surveying 810 valid subjects, our results first propose that ad relevance has direct bearing on attention to ads. Second, ad relevance inversely correlates with privacy concerns (i.e. descending personal control and surging corporate power) and protective behaviours (self-filtering and ad evasion). Third and finally, neither privacy concerns nor protective behaviours have a negative bearing on habitual smartphone usage. Opposite to previous research, our study concludes that Taiwanese college students exhibit zero privacy paradox, owing to no signs of privacy concern incited by mobile targeting ads, no evidence of significant protective behaviours, and no decreasing habitual smartphone usage out of privacy concern and protection. Our findings indicate Taiwanese university students’ shaky awareness of potential risks and crises from exposure to vulnerable online privacy management. To deal with this, we suggest educating youths’ understandings of digital jeopardy by experts is urgently needed more so than just technical tutorials of privacy settings.

The role of knowledge structures in adult excellence. An approach from expert functioning

Scipedia content — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 15:26:15 +0200

Adult performance of high ability individuals has seldom been researched. Current results suggest that adult excellence occurs at lower rates than high ability individuals identified in their infancy or youth, with few cases of high intellectual abilities among adults that yield excellence products. This paper focuses on the analysis of the relative frequency of biographical traits that are associated with high ability as well as to the opportunities that allow building particular knowledge structures that are non-conventional and support innovation in people who excelled. A retrospective biographical analysis was performed on a sample of 120 individuals that generated renowned excellence products, in different fields, in the XXth century. Variables associated to high abilities were: precocity; learning problems; social problems in school; and academic excellence. And the variables associated with the generation of knowledge structures that support innovation were: academic-professional continuity; strong influence of particular individuals; and high productivity. Significant differences were found, showing a low presence of the first four variables and a higher presence of the last three. It follows that the trajectory towards excellence does not seem to correlate with a high level of intellectual resources but with a certain use of sufficient resources, whether cerebral or external technological support.

An enrichment program for students with high intellectual ability: Positive effects on school adaptation

Scipedia content — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 15:25:29 +0200

This article notes the low rate of highly talented or gifted students formally identified in Spain compared to international benchmarks. These students are not properly identified, so a lack of specific educational responses for these highly talented students is also expected. Trying to counteract this trend, this article presents an enrichment program imparted to a group of students with high intellectual abilities during the academic year 2017/18 over three weekly sessions during school hours, where emerging technologies were an important key in how it was delivered. The experimental design included an experimental group of high ability students and two control groups, one consisting of students with high abilities who did not receive specific educational responses and another consisting of a group of regular schoolchildren in terms of abilities. The results showed that the implementation of specific educational responses improved children’s levels of adaptation and in some cases, their school performance. These data are discussed in an attempt to recommend enrichment programs integrated into the classroom as an appropriate educational response to gifted or high ability students. Attention to diversity of all students in the classroom is possible, for example by resorting to ICT, increasing the educational inclusion of students with high intellectual capacity.

Children with grand Imaginaries: Bringing them closer to the world of science

Scipedia content — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 13:24:28 +0200

Although at present there are academic strategies for scientific dissemination, it is still a challenge for the general population to access quality information that is reliable, easy to understand and motivational towards science. This article proposes an image-based educational scientific dissemination tool with the goal of bringing children closer to science, through the recognition of relevant characters and their contributions. The study was developed along three stages. The first and second were conducted through a qualitative analytical approach with an interpretative perspective, using a documental method, with a review and analysis technique. During the first stage, a review and selection of studies related to scientific dissemination for children was conducted. The second one focused on the identification and selection of scientific characters, through the establishment of categories and criteria. The third stage relates to the design of outstanding characters’ biographical cards. The main contribution of this proposal is the assembly of a semantic network to portray a completed character profile, time context, place of origin, contributions, impacts, acknowledgements or prizes, as well as limitations or difficulties in context. Therefore, a mean of disclosure was devised through cards with a highly graphic and animated content regarding scientific characters sized in a gaming strategy called ‘Sapiencia’, a ludic and motivational learning tool.

Educating the gifted student: Eagerness to achieve as a curricular competence

Scipedia content — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 13:22:36 +0200

During the last decades, high intellectual abilities have been revealed as a decisive curricular factor that evidences the need to adapt content to students' characteristics. In Spain, various autonomous communities have designed programs that, through extraordinary activities, seek to respond to this demand and provide talented students with the appropriate context for the development and strengthening of their skills. In the case of Madrid, this proposal includes private involvement of an entrepreneurial nature that has demonstrated the possible connection between the two environments when considering the labor asset, fundamentally oriented to the resolution of projects by adolescent subjects with above average cognitive capacities. This research has examined, by means of a 180º questionnaire completed by 342 subjects (comprised of parents and skilled children, teachers and classmates) in seven Madrid schools, the possibility of identifying the ‘eagerness to achieve’ competence, considering that its early distinction enables its development in educational contexts and the training of students in order to promote individuals who focus their professional work towards the completion of assigned activities. The results obtained have also made it possible to draw up a generic profile of the talented student by combining his or her own assessments and those of his or her environment, and to recognize their most highly valued inherent aptitudes as well as those least valued.

From high intellectual ability to genius: Profiles of perfectionism

Scipedia content — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 13:11:19 +0200

The aim of the study was to understand the components associated with the types of perfectionism described as adaptive/healthy, maladaptive/unhealthy or non-perfectionism, which could offer positive or negative aspects to improve excellence and well-being, exploring the number and content of the latent perfectionism structure as a multidimensional construct in a sample of High Intellectual Abilities (HIA) students. Links with Positive and Negative perfectionism were also compared across perfectionism latent profiles. A total of n=137 HIA students, mean age 13.77 years (SD=1.99), participated in a survey. The Almost Perfect Scale Revised (APS-R) and Positive and Negative Perfectionism Scale-12 (PNPS-12) were used. Results obtained showed three latent classes (LC): ‘Unhealthy’ (LC1), ‘Healthy’ (LC2) and ‘No perfectionism’ (LC3). LC1 showed high scores on Discrepancy subscales but low in Order and High Standards. LC2 displayed higher scores on High Standards and Order. LC3 displayed low scores across all perfectionism facets. Statistically significant differences were found across latent profiles in almost all perfectionism features. Different patterns of associations with Positive and Negative perfectionism were obtained across latent profiles. These findings address the latent structure of perfectionisms in HIA students and allow us to delimit, analyze, and understand the tentative latent profiles within the HIA arena.

7 advantages of plastic pipes

Farmesaco FZC — Tue, 24 Dec 2019 12:57:02 +0100

Today, when installing sewage, heating and water supply systems, plastic pipes are increasingly being used. What is the reason for such a priority over steel metal systems? Consider the benefits of building materials suppliers in Sharjah.

Enfrentando el cambio climático desde la docencia en la FCFM: avances de la implementación de competencias para la sustentabilidad

Felipe Célèry — Thu, 19 Dec 2019 22:12:02 +0100

Todos los años se desarrolla la Conferencia de las Partes (COP) para avanzar en los objetivos de la Convención Marco de las Naciones Unidas sobre el Cambio Climático (CMNUCC), para aminorar el impacto del ser humano sobre el sistema climático. Este año, corresponde la COP25, la cual se desarrollará en Chile y es conocida bajo el llamado de “Tiempo de Actuar”, centrándose en la necesidad de aumentar los compromisos de los distintos países. Por otra parte, la Universidad de Chile se comprometió a trabajar este tema en la Política de Sustentabilidad Universitaria. En la FCFM se fundó la Oficina de Ingeniería para la Sustentabilidad, la cual se encargó de identificar los cursos relacionados con sustentabilidad.

El objetivo general de este informe es presentar las iniciativas docentes que se desarrollarán en la FCFM, y analizar los impactos que estas tendrán para cumplir los compromisos del país ante la CMNUCC.

La metodología consiste en integrar la sustentabilidad en Plan Común por medio de los cursos de proyecto y en especialidad a través de la tributación a la Competencia Genérica (CG) de Sustentabilidad. Por otro lado, se ofrecieron Workshops enfocados en el cambio climático para profesionales jóvenes.

En Plan Común se desarrollará una línea de proyectos con foco en la innovación y la sustentabilidad, con el objetivo de que los estudiantes se especialicen en estos ámbitos. Por otro lado, la CG de Sustentabilidad consta, en promedio, de un 35% de tributación en esta competencia considerando los cursos obligatorios de las especialidades, siendo la CG una base para que los futuros ingenieros puedan enfrentar los desafíos del cambio climático. Por último, se plantea que, para alcanzar los compromisos de Chile en la CMNUCC, es necesario educar en estos temas a los profesionales que se encuentran actualmente dentro del mundo laboral, por lo mismo, se prepararon Workshops para profesionales en temas de cambio climático en ingeniería y ciencias que se desarrollaron en agosto de 2019.

Damage interpretation in historical masonry vaults and domes. Lessons on the structural response

María Jesús Samper — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 11:53:38 +0100

Architecture and structure

María Jesús Samper — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 11:49:24 +0100

Ancient building masters' Form and Force

María Jesús Samper — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 11:45:25 +0100

Creating new architecture

María Jesús Samper — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 11:09:22 +0100

Advances in the design and manufacturing of large scale inflatable hangars

María Jesús Samper — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 11:03:52 +0100

Strength through Geometry

María Jesús Samper — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 11:01:16 +0100

Antoni Gaudí: architect and structural artist

María Jesús Samper — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 10:56:44 +0100

San Mames football stadium roof extension: the challenge of a 75m cantilevered span

María Jesús Samper — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 10:54:35 +0100

Geometry and computational design of equilibrium structures

María Jesús Samper — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 10:37:41 +0100

Structure and architecture: Landscape of gravity

María Jesús Samper — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 10:34:04 +0100

Advances in neuro-mechanical coupling methods

María Jesús Samper — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 09:46:07 +0100

El impacto de la co-docencia y la evaluación invertida en niveles de retención en la asignatura de redes I

David Palma — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 06:15:04 +0100

En esta innovación la problemática detectada se vincula con la baja retención de los estudiantes primer año de la carrera de Electricidad Industrial Mención Instalaciones Eléctricas Centro de Formación Técnica (C.F.T) INACAP, sede Los Ángeles. En este proyecto de investigación-acción se procedió a estudiar de qué modo la retención académica del estudiante de primer año por motivos académicos puede estar vinculada con las habilidades del académico en la sala de clases, considerando cuatro variables importantes según el Marco de la Buena Enseñanza: (MINEDUC, 2008). En este ámbito se intervinieron las asignaturas de especialidad del primer semestre, capacitando a los docentes en didáctica de la especialidad correspondiente a la evaluación invertida modelo enseñanza de co-docencia, con el objetivo medir como la didáctica del profesor afecta directamente en nivel de retención de los estudiantes. Para el análisis de los dados se emplearon estadísticas no paramétricas correspondientes a las pruebas de Wilcoxon de rangos de signos, lo cual arroja como resultado que la intervención afecta significativamente en el porcentaje de retención de los estudiantes de primer año de la carrera intervenida

Structural optimization of forklift fork based on numerical simulation and mathematical modeling of stress and fatigue

Enlai Zhang — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 03:04:03 +0100

Fork’s related structural design and detail have a significant impact on the overall performance of a forklift. In this paper, the structural stress analysis and strength calculation of the fork were carried out firstly, and the rated load calculations considering dynamic and unbalanced conditions were performed. Also, the restraint conditions were analyzed. Then, a finite element model was established using ANSYS software. In particular, the structure of the fork was optimized by increasing the fillet radius of the fork root and the variation rules between the fillet radius and the maximum structural stress and minimum fatigue life were numerically studied, which was in accordance with the mathematical models of ExpAssoc and Logistic regression (the fitness R²= =0.99 and 0.96, respectively). Overall, the stress concentration issue of the fork root was improved and the structural strength perquisite was satisfied when using a fillet radius of 75 mm. Both the numerical calculations and theorized mechanical analysis show consistency, where the stress concentration was observed in the fork root’s fillet area, testifying the accuracy of the established finite element model. The numerous methods employed in this work lay an important theoretical basis for the structural design improvement of the target fork.

Promoviendo el pensamiento crítico en estudiantes de primer año de educación superior

Tania Tapia — Fri, 13 Dec 2019 18:54:04 +0100

El desarrollo del pensamiento crítico, adquiere particular importancia en la formación de los futuros profesionales, pues permite que los egresados se doten de competencias y capacidades que favorezcan el análisis crítico de problemas en su quehacer profesional, y puedan brindar soluciones prácticas y efectivas. De esta manera, como objetivo se planteó promover el pensamiento crítico, con actividades grupales experimentales dentro del aula, en la asignatura de Química General. La actividad fue aplicada a estudiantes de Ingeniería, en los años 2017-2018. Posteriormente se aplicó una encuesta de percepción. Por otra parte, los resultados conceptuales, como medida indirecta del pensamiento crítico, se evaluaron en una prueba de desarrollo, cuyos resultados se compararon con los años anteriores, sin intervención. La encuesta de percepción, indica que los estudiantes acogen con satisfacción la actividad, además, la evaluación escrita, arroja que ellos responden de manera exitosa en promedio entre 63-78% las preguntas asociadas a los temas intervenidos, en comparación con el 50-52% respectivamente de los años control, inmediatamente anteriores. También es posible agregar, que las actividades de grupo colaboraron en la promoción de un acercamiento entre pares de estudio.

ODDLS: An overlapping domain decomposition level set method for simulation of free surface problems

Julio García-Espinosa — Thu, 12 Dec 2019 18:39:02 +0100

This presentation introduces a new stabilized finite element method based on the finite calculus (Comput. Methods Appl. Mech. Eng. 1998; 151:233–267) and arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian techniques (Comput. Methods Appl. Mech. Eng. 1998; 155:235–249) for the solution to free surface problems. The main innovation of this method is the application of an overlapping domain decomposition concept in the statement of the problem. The aim is to increase the accuracy in the capture of the free surface as well as in the resolution of the governing equations in the interface between the two fluids. Free surface capturing is based on the solution to a level set equation. The Navier–Stokes equations are solved using an iterative monolithic predictor–corrector algorithm, where the correction step is based on imposing the divergence‐free condition in the velocity field by means of the solution to a scalar equation for the pressure. Examples of application of the ODDLS formulation (for overlapping domain decomposition level set) to the analysis of different free surface flow problems are presented.

Multidisciplinary and multiscale modeling of aerodynamic decelerator systems

María Jesús Samper — Wed, 11 Dec 2019 16:33:33 +0100

Large-scale topology optimization of structures using adaptive techniques

María Jesús Samper — Wed, 11 Dec 2019 15:57:51 +0100

Phase-field modelling and computation of fracture in partially saturated porous media

María Jesús Samper — Wed, 11 Dec 2019 15:54:35 +0100

Simulated reality: Intelligence augmentation systems that employ real-time simulation and augmented reality

María Jesús Samper — Wed, 11 Dec 2019 15:47:34 +0100

Solving coupled problems in the realm of fracturing processes of saturated and unsaturated porous media

María Jesús Samper — Wed, 11 Dec 2019 15:40:12 +0100

Structure-preserving discretization in space and time of coupled problems

María Jesús Samper — Wed, 11 Dec 2019 15:35:45 +0100

Experiencias con la asignatura proyecto de licenciatura de ingeniería civil industrial de la Universidad de Talca

Alfredo Candia — Tue, 10 Dec 2019 17:57:02 +0100

Nuestro trabajo analiza experiencias obtenidas en la ejecución de la asignatura Proyecto de Licenciatura, para la carrera de Ingeniería Civil Industrial de la U. de Talca, durante los últimos 10 años. La asignatura se encuentra en el 8vo. semestre de la carrera y es la última asignatura que los estudiantes deben aprobar para la obtención del grado de Licenciado en Ciencias de la Ingeniería. La asignatura tiene por objetivo desarrollar un proyecto que integre conocimiento de los módulos previos de la carrera con énfasis en Gestión de operaciones, y que además fortalezca competencias transversales de investigación, trabajo en equipo y resolución de problemas. Los estudiantes trabajan en grupos, normalmente de tamaño 4, y seleccionan un problema del dominio con el cual trabajan durante todo el semestre.

En este contexto, presentamos la estructura y metodología utilizada en el curso, además de experiencias obtenidas en diversos aspectos, como lo son: trabajo en grupos, asesoría del equipo de profesores a los grupos, generación de temas en los cuales se realizan los proyectos, importancia de búsquedas de información, relación con temas de innovación, actividades evaluativas y pautas de evaluación.

EXPERIENCIAS CON LA ASIGNATURA PROYECTO DE LICENCIATURA DE INGENIERÍA CIVIL INDUSTRIAL DE LA UNIVERSIDAD DE TALCA

Alfredo Candia — Mon, 09 Dec 2019 05:16:02 +0100

Desarrollando la abstracción en adultos emergentes: Primer año de ingeniería

Maite Jimenez — Thu, 05 Dec 2019 04:00:03 +0100

Contexto: El primer año de universidad representa un momento de transición para jóvenes que se encuentran en una etapa vital, caracterizada por una adultez emergente. Desde esta manera, la docencia en estos cursos suele estar marcada por una tensión entre una tradición escolarizada y la expectativa de lo que constituye la educación superior. Con el proceso de masificación, las instituciones y en especial los profesores han debido dirigir sus prácticas de aula, para alcanzar niveles de pensamiento superior. En el caso de ingeniería, el pensamiento abstracto representa un desafío pedagógico en generaciones donde la tradición escolar, ha marcado en exceso la respuesta hacia la contingencia.

Objetivo: El objetivo del presente artículo es identificar las variables que participan de este proceso a partir de un caso de aula en un curso de primer año.

Metodología: Para el diseño del presente estudio se usó una investigación de tipo descriptiva. Se escoge este tipo pues permite llegar a conocer las situaciones, costumbres y actitudes predominantes a través de la descripción exacta de las actividades, objetos, procesos y personas.

Resultados: Los estudiantes de primer año requieren estrategias de aula que favorezcan la adaptación hacia los cursos superiores, ya que son proclives a abandonar los estudios e interpretar las dificultades como problemas vocacionales.

A large strain plasticity model for anisotropic composite materials

María Jesús Samper — Wed, 04 Dec 2019 15:59:44 +0100

Evaluación de competencias en management para la formación de ingenieros civiles

Miguel A. Gómez — Tue, 03 Dec 2019 16:37:02 +0100

La industria de la arquitectura, ingeniería y construcción (AIC) se caracteriza por estar fragmentada en varias especialidades, generando un alto nivel de especialización y una interacción más compleja. Los directores de proyectos en la industria de la AIC deben tener un conjunto integral de competencias alineadas con management. En la formación de ingenieros, estas competencias son ampliamente recomendadas por acuerdos internacionales y exigidas por las entidades de acreditación especializada, sin embargo, éstas tienen un alto foco en lo técnico. El objetivo de este estudio es identificar las competencias más relevantes en management para la formación de ingenieros civiles. Para ello, se realizaron 2 fases: (1) revisión de literatura; y (2) focus group de practitioners ingenieros civiles. La clasificación de competencias se realizó en tres grupos: administrativas, técnicas y conductuales. Existió una alta convergencia entre las competencias descritas en la literatura con la mencionada por los profesionales, en donde las que destacaron fueron: liderazgo, comunicación eficaz, inteligencia emocional, proactividad, planificación y control de presupuesto y cronograma, uso de plataformas tecnológicas, gestión de compromisos y resolución de problemas y conflictos.

Higher-order simulations: Strategic investment under model-induced market structures

María Jesús Samper — Tue, 03 Dec 2019 16:30:33 +0100

The trading and investment decision processes in financial markets becomes ever more dependent on the use of valuation and risk models. In certain, cases such as risk management, modelling practice has become so homogeneous that one is led to ask about the effect this has on the price formation process. Furthermore, should stable price patterns emerge from this, can sophisticated investors who have private information about the use and characteristics of these models make superior gains? The aim of this article is to test this hypothesis in a stylised market environment, where a strategic trader who trades on information about the valuation and risk management models used by competitors. Results show that for our particular market setting, such a strategy has an advantage over those that do not use this information.

Smeared crack approach: Back to the original track

María Jesús Samper — Tue, 03 Dec 2019 16:08:23 +0100

This paper reviews briefly the formulations used over the last 40
years for the solution of problems involving tensile cracking, both with
the discrete and smeared crack approaches. The paper focuses in the
smeared approach, identifying as its main drawbacks the observed
mesh-size and mesh-bias spurious dependence when the method is
applied “straightly”. A simple isotropic local damage constitutive
model is considered, and the (exponential) softening modulus is regularized
according to the material fracture energy and the element
size. The continuum and discrete mechanical problems corresponding
to both the weak discontinuity (smeared cracks) and strong discontinuity
(discrete cracks) approaches are analyzed and the question of
propagation of the strain localization band (crack) is identified as the
main difficulty to be overcome in the numerical procedure. A tracking
technique is used to ensure uniqueness of the solution, attaining the
necessary stability and convergence properties of the corresponding
discrete finite element formulation. Numerical examples show that the
formulation derived is well posed, stable and remarkably robust. As
a consequence, the results obtained do not suffer from spurious meshsize
or mesh-bias dependence, comparing very favorably with those
obtained with other fracture and continuum mechanics approaches.

Single arm dislocation source mechanism-based flow stress and computation of crystal plasticity at submicron scale

María Jesús Samper — Tue, 03 Dec 2019 13:19:56 +0100

Exploration of predictive disaster simulations by FEM and MPM

María Jesús Samper — Tue, 03 Dec 2019 13:14:14 +0100

The Finite Cell Method: A high order immersed boundary method for large scale nonlinear problems

María Jesús Samper — Tue, 03 Dec 2019 13:12:11 +0100

Multiscale modelling and analysis of multi-phase alloys

María Jesús Samper — Tue, 03 Dec 2019 13:09:04 +0100

Model-free data-driven computational mechanics (and III): Analysis, solvers, data identification and data management

María Jesús Samper — Tue, 03 Dec 2019 13:05:22 +0100

Variational approach to topological optimization problems: closed-form solutions in a pseudo-time framework

María Jesús Samper — Tue, 03 Dec 2019 12:50:58 +0100

Computational nonlinear solid mechanics for complex loading histories

María Jesús Samper — Tue, 03 Dec 2019 12:36:08 +0100

The isogeometric approach to phase field modeling of fracture

María Jesús Samper — Tue, 03 Dec 2019 12:32:19 +0100

Semi-Lagrangian and Eulerian RKPM shock algorithms with application to explosive welding simulation

María Jesús Samper — Tue, 03 Dec 2019 12:28:40 +0100

Simulation of fracture processes using the Virtual Element Method

María Jesús Samper — Tue, 03 Dec 2019 12:18:07 +0100

Applying multi-objective robust design optimization procedure to the route planning of a commercial aircraft

María Jesús Samper — Tue, 03 Dec 2019 10:48:33 +0100

Aircraft emission targets worldwide and their climatic effects have put pressure in government agencies, aircraft manufacturers and airlines to reduce water vapour, carbon dioxide (CO2CO2) and oxides of nitrogen (NOxNOx) resulting from aircraft emissions. The difficulty of reducing emissions including water vapor, carbon dioxide (CO2CO2) and oxides of nitrogen (NOxNOx) is mainly due to the fact that a commercial aircraft is usually designed for a particular optimal cruise altitude but may be requested or required to operate and deviate at different altitudes and speeds to archive a desired or commanded flight plan, resulting in increased emissions. This is a multi- disciplinary problem with multiple trade-offs such as optimizing engine efficiency, minimizing fuel burnt and emissions while maintaining prescribed aircraft trajectories, altitude profiles and air safety. There are possible attempts to solve such problems by designing new wing/aircraft shape, new efficient engine, ATM technology, or modifying the aircraft flight plan. Based on the rough data provided by an air carrier company, who was willing to assess the methodology, this paper will present the coupling of an advanced optimization technique with mathematical models and algorithms for aircraft emission, and fuel burnt reduction through flight plan optimization. Two different approaches are presented; the first one describes a deterministic optimization of the flight plan and altitude profile in order to reduce the fuel consumption while reducing time and distance. The second approach presents the robust design optimization of the previous case considering uncertainties on several parameters. Numerical results will show that the methods are able to capture a set of useful trade-offs solutions between aircraft range and fuel consumption, as well as fuel consumption and flight time.

Advances in the DEM and coupled DEM and FEM techniques in non linear solid mechanics

María Jesús Samper — Tue, 03 Dec 2019 10:34:24 +0100

In this chapter we present recent advances on the Discrete Element Method (DEM) and on the coupling of the DEM with the Finite Element Method (FEM) for solving a variety of problems in non linear solid mechanics involving damage, plasticity and multifracture situations.

REVISIÓN DE LAS TENDENCIAS INNOVADORAS EN LA ESTRUCTURACIÓN DE PAVIMENTOS COMO PARTE DEL DESARROLLO SUSTENTABLE

R.S. Mora-Ortiz — Thu, 28 Nov 2019 17:11:02 +0100

Currently, worldwide, many nations are paying close attention to the improvement and optimization of the usage of recycled materials in the building sector. The increase in the raw materials and the increased environmental awareness have gained considerable importance on a global scale. In road engineering, the waste material is used for the design and construction of pavements. Ecology, energy efficiency, profitability and significant reduction of the construction time are the primary drivers of this proposal. However, social and legislative aspects have prevented these types of procedures are implemented successfully in most developing countries. In this article, we analyze some of the main trends in the use of waste materials for the design and construction of pavements.

Effect of the Suction on the Stability of a Silty Sand Slope

R.S. Mora-Ortiz — Thu, 28 Nov 2019 16:53:02 +0100

This paper presents a revision of some of the models that have been proposed to estimate the strength of unsaturated soils. The theoretical results obtained from these models are compared with the experimental results of controlled suction triaxial tests made on silty sand. The model that resulted in the best prediction was used to determine the stability of a slope of highly compressive clay subjected to changes in its water content. It is well known that the water content of soil is directly related with suction and that suction is an independent variable of the stress state that modifies the shear strength of unsaturated soils. Therefore, when the water content of a slope is modified, the safety factor of the slope is also modified. This exercise allows drawing some important conclusions over the stability of slopes related to the safety factor.

The Effect of Saturation on the Slope Sliding in the San Juan de Grijalva Comunity, Chiapas

R.S. Mora-Ortiz — Thu, 28 Nov 2019 16:46:02 +0100

A number of slopes that have been stable during many years may fail when an extraordinary rain period occurs. This phenomenon involves not only the lithology, the geometric and the mechanical characteristics of the slope but also the rain-evaporation-infi ltration regime of the site. In this paper, the stability of a slope in the comunity of San Juan de Grijalva, Ostuacán, Chiapas (Mexico) that failed during an intense raining period is analyzed. The volume of this slide was over 5 millions of cubics meters of soil and it produced the obstruction of the Grijalva river. The stratigraphic and geometric properties of the slope were determined and undisturbed samples were obtained in the site to determine the mechanical properties of the material. The stability analysis considered the variation of the cohesion of the soil caused by we ing and it was possible to observe the evolution of the safety factor with the water content of the material. Through the analysis of the rain infi ltration and the stability of the slope, it has been possible to reproduce the failure process.

ANÁLISIS DEL EFECTO DEL HUMEDECIMIENTO EN LA ESTABILIDAD DE UN BORDO DEL RÍO GRIJALVA, EN EL ESTADO DE TABASCO

R.S. Mora-Ortiz — Thu, 28 Nov 2019 16:35:02 +0100

Durante la época de lluvias se presentan en el estado de Tabasco (México)
deslizamientos en los bordos de los ríos que atraviesan la entidad, siendo
los de la zona conocida como La Manga de los más afectados. Este artículo
presenta el análisis de la evolución de la estabilidad de uno de estos bordos
debido a los cambios en el grado de saturación del suelo (Sr) que lo
conforma. El objetivo fue determinar el Sr del suelo para el cual el bordo
pasa de una condición de seguridad a una de falla. Para lograrlo, primero
se realizó una campaña de exploración de campo y ensayos de laboratorio,
lo que permitió obtener las características geométricas del bordo, así como
las propiedades del suelo que lo constituye. De las muestras inalteradas
obtenidas en campo se realizaron ensayos de compresión triaxial variando
solo el grado de saturación del suelo. Con los datos obtenidos y mediante
el software GeoSlope 2016 se realizaron diversos análisis de la estabilidad.
Los resultados muestran que conforme el grado de saturación crece la
estabilidad del bordo disminuye. Se comprobó que para el bordo en estudio
sobrepasar un grado de saturación de 70 % implica una condición de peligro
de deslizamiento. Por lo tanto, el monitoreo del grado de saturación del
suelo que constituye a los bordos permite anticipar su falla y, en consecuencia,
hace posible establecer acciones de prevención.

COMPARACIÓN DEL RENDIMIENTO DE DOS AGENTES QUÍMICOS EN LA ESTABILIZACIÓN DE UN SUELO ARCILLOSO

R.S. Mora-Ortiz — Thu, 28 Nov 2019 16:29:02 +0100

Durante la ejecución de obras de ingeniería es común que el suelo que
se desea utilizar no cumpla con los criterios de calidad que la normativa
correspondiente exige para garantizar la estabilidad estructural de la obra.
Para aquellos casos en los que el valor del índice de plasticidad del suelo
excede el máximo permitido, la estabilización química ha demostrado los
mejores resultados. En esta investigación se realizó un análisis comparativo
del rendimiento del óxido de calcio (CaO) o cal viva, y el cloruro de
sodio (NaCl) o sal de mesa, como agentes estabilizadores. Se agregaron
estos agentes químicos en distintas proporciones al suelo en estudio y se
monitorizaron las variaciones del límite líquido, límite plástico y el índice de
plasticidad. Los resultados demostraron, contrario a lo que tradicionalmente
se espera, que para el caso del suelo en estudio el mejor agente estabilizador
es el cloruro de sodio o sal de mesa, debido a que no solo es más efectivo en
disminuir el índice de plasticidad, sino que además es más barato que la cal.

A framework for developing finite element codes for multi- disciplinary applications

María Jesús Samper — Wed, 27 Nov 2019 14:45:43 +0100

The world of computing simulation has experienced great progresses in recent years and requires
more exigent multidisciplinary challenges to satisfy the new upcoming demands. Increasing the
importance of solving multi-disciplinary problems makes developers put more attention to these
problems and deal with difficulties involved in developing software in this area.
Conventional finite element codes have several difficulties in dealing with multi-disciplinary
problems. Many of these codes are designed and implemented for solving a certain type of problems,
generally involving a single field. Extending these codes to deal with another field of analysis
usually consists of several problems and large amounts of modifications and implementations.
Some typical difficulties are: predefined set of degrees of freedom per node, data structure with
fixed set of defined variables, global list of variables for all entities, domain based interfaces, IO
restriction in reading new data and writing new results and algorithm definition inside the code.
A common approach is to connect different solvers via a master program which implements the
interaction algorithms and also transfers data from one solver to another. This approach has been
used successfully in practice but results duplicated implementation and redundant overhead of
data storing and transferring which may be significant depending to the solvers data structure.
The objective of this work is to design and implement a framework for building multi-disciplinary
finite element programs. Generality, reusability, extendibility, good performance and memory efficiency
are considered to be the main points in design and implementation of this framework.
Preparing the structure for team development is another objective because usually a team of experts
in different fields are involved in the development of multi-disciplinary code.
Kratos, the framework created in this work, provides several tools for easy implementation
of finite element applications and also provides a common platform for natural interaction of its
applications in different ways. This is done not only by a number of innovations but also by
collecting and reusing several existing works.
In this work an innovative variable base interface is designed and implemented which is used
at different levels of abstraction and showed to be very clear and extendible. Another innovation
is a very efficient and flexible data structure which can be used to store any type of data in a
type-safe manner. An extendible IO is also created to overcome another bottleneck in dealing with
multi-disciplinary problems. Collecting different concepts of existing works and adapting them
to coupled problems is considered to be another innovation in this work. Examples are using an
interpreter, different data organizations and variable number of dofs per node. The kernel and
application approach is used to reduce the possible conflicts arising between developers of different
fields and layers are designed to reflect the working space of different developers also considering
their programming knowledge. Finally several technical details are applied in order to increase the
performance and efficiency of Kratos which makes it practically usable.
This work is completed by demonstrating the framework’s functionality in practice. First some
classical single field applications like thermal, fluid and structural applications are implemented and
used as benchmark to prove its performance. These applications are used to solve coupled problems
in order to demonstrate the natural interaction facility provided by the framework. Finally some
less classical coupled finite element algorithms are implemented to show its high flexibility and
extendibility.

Ship hydrodynamics

María Jesús Samper — Tue, 26 Nov 2019 15:14:50 +0100

This chapter presents an overview of some computational methods for the analysis of problems in ship hydrodynamics. Attention is focused on the description of stabilized finite element formulations derived via a finite increment calculus (FIC) procedure. Both arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian (ALE) and fully Lagrangian forms are presented. Details of the treatment of the free‐surface waves and the interaction between the ship structure and the sea water are given. Potential flow formulations for seakeeping analysis and calculation of the added resistance in waves are also described. Examples of application of the computational methods presented to a variety of ship hydrodynamics and related problems are given.

GiD 2008. 4th Conference on advances and applications of GiD

María Jesús Samper — Tue, 26 Nov 2019 14:37:42 +0100

The extended use of simulation programs has leaned on the advances in user-friendly interfaces and in the capability to generate meshes for any generic complex geometry. More than ten years of development have made Gid grow to become one of the more popular pre ans postprocessing systems at international level. The constant dialogue between the GiD development team and the users has guided the development of giD to cover the pre-post needs of many disciplines in science and engineering. Following gthis philosophy, the biannual GiD Conference has become an important forum for discussion and interchange of experiences among the GiD community. This monograph includes the contributions of the participants to the fourth edition of the GiD Conference held in the island of Ibiza from 8-9 May 2008.

Shear band localization via local J2 continuum damage mechanics

María Jesús Samper — Tue, 26 Nov 2019 14:02:43 +0100

This paper describes a novel formulation for the solution of problems involving shear band localization using a local isotropic J2 continuum damage model and mixed linear simplex (triangles and tetrahedra). Stabilization methods are used to ensure existence and uniquess of the solution, attaining global and local stability of the corresponding discrete finite element formulation. Consistent residual viscosity is used to enhance robustness and convergence of the formulation. Implementation and computational aspects are also discussed. A simple isotropic local J2 damage constitutive model is considered, either with linear or exponential softening. The softening modulus is regularized according to the material mode II fracture energy and the element size. Numerical examples show that the formulation derived is fully stable and remarkably robust, totally free of volumetric locking and spurious oscillations of the pressure. As a consequence, the results obtained do not suffer from spurious mesh-size or mesh-bias dependence, comparing very favorably with those obtained with the ill-posed standard approaches.

A new approach in computational contact mechanics: The contact domain method

María Jesús Samper — Tue, 26 Nov 2019 13:56:03 +0100

This first part of the work presents the theoretical aspects of a new approach to solve two-dimensional large-strain problems in computational contact mechanics. The basic elements of the proposed metod are: 1) the use of an updated Lagrangean approach to describe the motion of the contacting bodies, 2) consideration of a two-dimensional aontact domain, where the contact/friction restrictions are imposed, and construction of a one layer triangulation in this domain, 3) resorting to a Lagrange multiplier method to impose the contact/friction contraints, 4) an interior penaltyprocedure, allowing condensation of the Lagrange multipliers, ensuring the stability of the discretized problem and 5) an active set strategy, for determining the subsets of the contact domain were contact/friction conditions have to be applied, based on the concept domain were contact/friction conditions have to be aaplied, based on the concept of effective gaps as suitable entities for extrapolation and prediction purposes.

Freak Edge Waves

Antonio Lechuga — Tue, 26 Nov 2019 13:54:02 +0100

The nonlinear and unsteady dynamics of the edge waves is discussed. Two physical processes: dispersive focusing and nonlinear modulational instability, are studied. Both mechanisms can induce the appearance of the short-living large-amplitude isolated waves and intense wave packets (“freak edge waves”).

Aplicación del método PFEM a la simulación de procesos de transferencia propios de la industria pulvimetalúrgica

María Jesús Samper — Tue, 26 Nov 2019 13:49:36 +0100

El objetivo primario del trabajo es desarrollar desde el enfoque de la ingeniería la
metodología PFEM, la cual se fundamenta en una reinterpretación alternativa los métodos
clásicos masivamente aceptados. Como objetivos adicionales de la monografía se tienen
aplicar el PFEM a problemas complejos pertenecientes a la pulvimetalurgia, exhibir sus
potencialidades en otros campos de la ingeniería y vislumbrar algunas líneas de investigación
y desarrollo futuros.

Flood. An open source neural networks C++ library

María Jesús Samper — Tue, 26 Nov 2019 13:41:01 +0100

The multilayer perceptron is an important model of neural network, and
much of the literature in the eld is referred to that model. The multilayer
perceptron has found a wide range of applications, which include function re-
gression, pattern recognition, time series prediction, optimal control, optimal
shape design or inverse problems. All these problems can be formulated as
variational problems. That neural network can learn either from databases
or from mathematical models.

Flood is a comprehensive class library which implements the multilayer
perceptron in the C++ programming language. It has been developed follow-
ing the functional analysis and calculus of variations theories. In this regard,
this software tool can be used for the whole range of applications mentioned
above. Flood also provides a workaround for the solution of function opti-
mization problems.

Numerical modelling of crack formation in powder compaction processes

María Jesús Samper — Tue, 26 Nov 2019 12:30:53 +0100

The primary objective of this work is precisely to fill this gap by developing a
constitutive model that attempts to describe the mechanical behavior of the powder
during both pressing and ejection phases, with special emphasis on the representation
of the cracking phenomenon. The constitutive relationships are derived within
the general framework of rate-independent, isotropic, finite strain elastoplasticity.
The yield function is defined in stress space by three surfaces intersecting nonsmoothly,
namely, an elliptical cap and two classical Von Mises and Drucker-Prager
yield surfaces. The distinct irreversible processes occurring at the microscopic level
are macroscopically described in terms of two internal variables: an internal hardening
variable, associated with accumulated compressive (plastic) strains, and an
internal softening variable, linked with accumulated (plastic) shear strains. The
innovative part of our modeling approach is connected mainly with the characterization
of the latter phenomenological aspect: strain softening. Incorporation of a
softening law permits the representation of macroscopic cracks as high gradients
of inelastic strains (strain localization). Motivated by both numerical and physical
reasons, a parabolic plastic potential function is introduced to describe the plastic
flow on the linear Drucker-Prager failure surface. A thermodynamically consistent
calibration procedure is employed to relate material parameters involved in the
softening law to fracture energy values obtained experimentally on Distaloy AE
specimens.

Regularized maxwell equations and nodal finite elements for electromagnetic field computations in frequency domain

María Jesús Samper — Tue, 26 Nov 2019 12:05:24 +0100

In this work we present an alternative approach to the usual finite element formulation based on edge elements and double-curl Maxwell equations. This alternative approach is based on nodal elements and regularized Maxwell equations. The advantages are that, without adding extra unknowns (such as Lagrange multipliers), it provides spurious-free solutions and well-conditioned matrices. Besides, its integral representation involves a less singular kernel (order 1 instead of 3), which makes this approach best suited to hybridization with integral numerical techniques. On the other hand, a new set of difficulties arises that were not present in the classical formulation. The main drawback is that a globally wrong solution is obtained when the electromagnetic field has a singularity in the problem domain. Also, boundary conditions and field discontinuities are more laborious to implement. This work explains how to overcome these difficulties and demonstrates that accurate solutions can be obtained with nodal elements and the regularized formulation.
We also present ERMES, the C++ implementation of the finite element approach depicted above and the main deliverable of this work. We compute with ERMES the scattering parameters of microwave filters and the specific absorption rate induced in a body when exposed to electromagnetic fields. ERMES is also the computational tool used in two novel numerical models introduced in this work. The first one characterizes electromagnetic metal forming processes and the second one the transfer impedance of cable shields.
The electromagnetic metal forming model calculates the driving Lorentz force and estimates the optimum frequency at which it is attained the maximum workpiece deformation. The main advantage of the approach is that it provides an explicit relation between the capacitance of the capacitor bank and the frequency of the discharge, which is a key parameter in the design of an electromagnetic forming system. The successful application of the regularized formulation in this model reveals its excellent behavior in the low-frequency (quasi-static) regime.
The second numerical model introduced in this work computes the transfer impedance of cable shields. The model reproduces the high frequency behavior of the transfer impedance more accurately than the approaches found in the literature and, moreover, it is able to analyze a wider variety of geometries and materials.

Numerical simulation of industrial sheet forming processes

María Jesús Samper — Fri, 22 Nov 2019 13:19:11 +0100

This monograph presents different finite element based mathematical models and computational methods for numerical simulation of industrial sheet metal forming processes.

II International Workshop. Information Technologies and Computing Techniques for the Agro-Food Sector

María Jesús Samper — Fri, 22 Nov 2019 12:50:08 +0100

This monographs of proceedings includes all extended abstracts, which will be presented during the AfoT. These presentations will cover a wide range of topics:

- Modelling and simulation operations and process plants.
- Food process optimisation, scheduling and control.
- Food properties measurements and quality control.
- Simulation of complex processes, for example those requiring computational fluid dynamics, CFD.
- The use of new information technologies to develop decision support sytems.

Métodos avanzados de cálculo de estructuras de materiales compuestos

María Jesús Samper — Fri, 22 Nov 2019 12:34:23 +0100

Se presenta una panorámica del estado del arte de los métodos más actuales para análisis de estructuras con materiales compuestos, incidiendo particularmente en los métodos para análisis de vehículos industriales como materiales compuestos

Simulación numérica de la aerodinámica de vehículos

María Jesús Samper — Fri, 22 Nov 2019 12:19:10 +0100

Este trabajo analiza las posibilidades de simulación numérica del flujo aerodinámico alrededor de vehículos automotores, desde un doble punto de vista: metodología a utilizar y desarrollo de las aplicaciones que tal tipo de estudios tienen en los vehículos automotores.

A lo largo del desarrollo del mismo, quedan patentes una serie de herramientas mediante las cuales es posible realizar tal tipo de simulación numérica. Dichos estudios revisten una gran importancia si se quiere conocer el comportamiento de los vehículos automotores en condiciones de operación, afectando a aspectos tan importantes como seguridad, ruido, estabilidad, consumo de combustible, ventilación, etc.

Cool steam method for desalinating seawater

María Jesús Samper — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 15:18:37 +0100

Cool steam is an innovative distillation technology based on low-temperature thermal distillation (LTTD), which allows obtaining fresh water from non-safe water sources with substantially low energy consumption. LTTD consists of distilling at low temperatures by lowering the working pressure and making the most of low-grade heat sources (either natural or artificial) to evaporate water and then condensate it at a cooler heat sink. To perform the process, an external heat source is needed that provides the latent heat of evaporation and a temperature gradient to maintain the distillation cycle. Depending on the available temperature gradient, several stages can be implemented, leading to a multi-stage device. The cool steam device can thus be single or multi-stage, being raw water fed to every stage from the top and evaporated in contact with the warmer surface within the said stage. Acting as a heat carrier, the water vapor travels to the cooler surface and condensates in contact with it. The latent heat of condensation is then conducted through the conductive wall to the next stage. Net heat flux is then established from the heat source until the heat sink, allowing distilling water inside every parallel stage.

ECONOMIA DEL COMPORTAMIENTO APLICADA A LAS TELECOMUNICACIONES

Francisco Luis Legaspe Gabrielli — Mon, 18 Nov 2019 19:23:02 +0100

A nivel mundial, el mercado de servicios de telefonía móvil es un mercado relativamente nuevo que presenta un gran dinamismo. Generalmente su estructura es oligopólica, dando lugar a ineficiencias asignativas, esto es, el consumidor paga un precio superior al costo marginal de provisión y por lo tanto su excedente es menor que el que obtendría en situaciones de competencia perfecta. El mercado argentino no es la excepción.

El objetivo de esta investigación es sugerir, un conjunto de medidas que, sin alterar el cuadro tarifario de los prestadores, refuercen el régimen de protección de los consumidores e incrementen el nivel de satisfacción de los mismos.

En particular, la investigación se focalizará en tres problemáticas que son consideradas de especial relevancia: los problemas de información, los errores en la toma de decisiones y la baja calidad de los servicios de atención al cliente. El marco teórico utilizado para el análisis es el de economía del comportamiento que, al revalorizar aspectos sociológicos y psicológicos del consumidor, dota de un mayor realismo al análisis económico convencional.

Se proponen diversas medidas para cada una de las problemáticas. Para resolver los problemas de información se propone que se presente la información en formatos simplificados y en momentos críticos. En cuanto a los errores en la toma de decisiones se sugiere disminuir los costos de traspaso, eliminar las opciones predeterminadas y crear un sistema que indique a los usuarios su plan mensual óptimo. Se propone también generar incentivos para que las empresas aumenten la calidad de los servicios de atención al cliente, para lograr esto se recomienda unificar las plataformas de reclamos de las compañías y crear un sistema de recompensas para incentivas feedback de los usuarios.

ExaQUte Leaflet

Cecilia Soriano — Mon, 18 Nov 2019 11:06:02 +0100

ExaQUte Leaflet

ExaQUte_4_Everyone

Cecilia Soriano — Mon, 18 Nov 2019 10:58:02 +0100

ExaQUte Description for the general public

Detection of highly pathogenic avian inﬂuenza A(H5N6) viruses in waterfowl in Bangladesh

Sumon Ghosh — Wed, 13 Nov 2019 11:09:02 +0100

Bangladesh has reported repeated outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian inﬂuenza (HPAI) A(H5) viruses in poultry since 2007. Because of the large number of live poultry markets (LPM) relative to the population density of poultry throughout the country, these markets can serve as sentinel sites for HPAI A(H5) detection. Through active LPM surveillance during June 2016–June 2017, HPAI A(H5N6) viruses along with 14 other subtypes of inﬂuenza A viruses were detected. The HPAI A(H5N6) viruses belonged to clade 2.3.4.4 and were likely introduced into Bangladesh around March 2016. Human infections with inﬂuenza clade 2.3.4.4 viruses in Bangladesh have not been identiﬁed, but the viruses had several molecular markers associated with potential human infection. Vigilant surveillance at the animal-human interface is essential to identify emerging avian inﬂuenza viruses with the potential to threaten public and animal health.

Awareness of rabies and response to dog bites in a Bangladesh community

Sumon Ghosh — Wed, 13 Nov 2019 11:03:02 +0100

Community awareness regarding rabies and treatment seeking behaviours are critical both for the prevention and control of the disease in human and animals. We conducted a study to explore people’s awareness about rabies, their attitudes towards dogs and practices associated with treating dog bites in Satkhira Sadar, a southwestern sub-district of Bangladesh. Of the total 3200 households (HHs) surveyed, the majority of the respondents have heard about rabies (73%) and there was a high level of awareness that dog bite is the main cause of rabies (86%), and that rabies can be prevented by vaccination (85%). However, 59% of the dog bite victims first seek treatment from traditional healers instead of visiting the hospitals, 29% received the rabies vaccine, 2% practiced proper wound washing with soap and water, while 4.8% have not taken any measures. None of the victims have received rabies immunoglobulin (RIG). Of the respondents, 5.2% reported a history of dog bite in at least one family member, and 11.8% reported a history of dog bite in domestic animals during the previous year. The HHs having a higher number of family members (OR: 1.13, 95% CI: 1.07–1.2), having a pet dog (OR: 2.1, 95% CI: 1.4–3.2) and caring or feeding a community dog (OR: 2.1, 95% CI: 1.4–2.9) showed an increased risk of getting a dog bite. Among the bite victims, 3.6% (n= 6) humans and 15.8% (n = 60) animals died. As a measure for dog population management (DPM), 56% preferred sterilization while the rest preferred killing of dogs. The current treatment seeking behaviours of the respondents should be improved through additional education and awareness programme and better availability for the provision of post-exposure prophylaxis in Bangladesh. We recommend scaling up national mass dog vaccination and DPM to reduce the burden of rabies cases and dog bites in Bangladesh.

A Proper Generalized Decomposition (PGD) approach to crack propagation in brittle materials: with application to random field material properties

María Jesús Samper — Mon, 11 Nov 2019 18:14:49 +0100

Understanding the failure of brittle heterogeneous materials is essential in many applications. Heterogeneities in material properties are frequently modeled through random fields, which typically induces the need to solve finite element problems for a large number of realizations. In this context, we make use of reduced order modeling to solve these problems at an affordable computational cost. This paper proposes a reduced order modeling framework to predict crack propagation in brittle materials with random heterogeneities. The framework is based on a combination of the Proper Generalized Decomposition (PGD) method with Griffith’s global energy criterion. The PGD framework provides an explicit parametric solution for the physical response of the system. We illustrate that a non-intrusive sampling-based technique can be applied as a postprocessing operation on the explicit solution provided by PGD.We first validate the framework using a global energy approach on a deterministic two-dimensional linear elastic fracture mechanics benchmark. Subsequently, we apply the reduced order modeling approach to a stochastic fracture propagation problem.

A new 3D equilibrated residual method improving accuracy and efficiency of flux‐free error estimates

María Jesús Samper — Mon, 11 Nov 2019 17:54:36 +0100

The paper presents a novel strategy providing fully computable upper bounds for the energy norm of the error in the context of three‐dimensional linear finite element approximations of the reaction‐diffusion equation. The upper bounds are guaranteed regardless the size of the finite element mesh and the given data, and all the constants involved are fully computable. The upper bound property holds if the shape of the domain is polyhedral and the Dirichlet boundary conditions are piecewise‐linear. The new approach is an extension of the flux‐free methodology introduced by Parés and Díez in the paper “A new equilibrated residual method improving accuracy and efficiency of flux‐free error estimates”, which introduces a guaranteed, low‐cost, and efficient flux‐free method substantially reducing the computational cost of obtaining guaranteed bounds using flux‐free methods while retaining the good quality of the bounds. Besides extending the 2D methodology, specific new modifications are introduced to further reduce the computational cost in the three‐dimensional setting. The presented methodology also provides a new strategy to obtain equilibrated boundary tractions, which improves the quality of standard techniques while having a similar computational cost.

Sampling-based stochastic analysis of the PKN model for hydraulic fracturing

María Jesús Samper — Mon, 11 Nov 2019 17:42:14 +0100

Hydraulic fracturing processes are surrounded by uncertainty, as available data is typically scant. In this work, we present a sampling-based stochastic analysis of the hydraulic fracturing process by considering various system parameters to be random. Our analysis is based on the Perkins-Kern-Nordgren (PKN) model for hydraulic fracturing. This baseline model enables computation of high fidelity solutions, which avoids pollution of our stochastic results by inaccuracies in the deterministic solution procedure. In order to obtain the desired degree of accuracy of the computed solution, we supplement the employed time-dependent moving-mesh finite element method with two new enhancements: (i) global conservation of volume is enforced through a Lagrange multiplier; (ii) the weakly singular behavior of the solution at the fracture tip is resolved by supplementing the solution space with a tip enrichment function. This tip enrichment function enables the computation of the tip speed directly from its associated solution coefficient. A novel incremental-iterative solution procedure based on a backward-Euler time-integrator with sub-iterations is employed to solve the PKN model. Direct Monte-Carlo sampling is performed based on random variable and random field input parameters. The presented stochastic results quantify the dependence of the fracture evolution process—in particular the fracture length and fracture opening—on variations in the elastic properties and leak-off coefficient of the formation, and the height of the fracture.

Algebraic and parametric solvers for the power flow problem: towards real-time and accuracy-guaranteed simulation of electric systems

María Jesús Samper — Mon, 11 Nov 2019 17:14:17 +0100

The power flow model performs the analysis of electric distribution and transmission systems. With this statement at hand, in this work we present a summary of those solvers for the power flow equations, in both algebraic and parametric version. The application of the Alternating Search Direction method to the power flow problem is also detailed. This results in a family of iterative solvers that combined with Proper Generalized Decomposition technique allows to solve the parametric version of the equations. Once the solution is computed using this strategy, analyzing the network state or solving optimization problems, with inclusion of generation in real-time, becomes a straightforward procedure since the parametric solution is available. Complementing this approach, an error strategy is implemented at each step of the iterative solver. Thus, error indicators are used as an stopping criteria controlling the accuracy of the approximation during the construction process. The application of these methods to the model IEEE 57-bus network is taken as a numerical illustration.

Algebraic PGD for tensor separation and compression: An algorithmic approach

María Jesús Samper — Mon, 11 Nov 2019 17:03:55 +0100

Proper Generalized Decomposition (PGD) is devised as a computational method to solve high-dimensional boundary value problems (where many dimensions are associated with the space of parameters defining the problem). The PGD philosophy consists in providing a separated representation of the multidimensional solution using a greedy approach combined with an alternated directions scheme to obtain the successive rank-one terms. This paper presents an algorithmic approach to high-dimensional tensor separation based on solving the Least Squares approximation in a separable format of multidimensional tensor using PGD. This strategy is usually embedded in a standard PGD code in order to compress the solution (reduce the number of terms and optimize the available storage capacity), but it stands also as an alternative and highly competitive method for tensor separation.

Numerical estimation of the bearing capacity of resistance spot welds in martensitic boron steels using a J-integral fracture criterion

María Jesús Samper — Mon, 11 Nov 2019 16:54:06 +0100

Predicting the bearing capacity of resistance spot welds (RSW) during vehicle crash tests has become a crucial task for the automotive industry, since the recent introduction of advanced high strength steels (AHSS) such as martensitic boron steels (e.g. 22MnB5). The spot weld joints of these steels exhibit relatively low bearing strengths, compared to those of more ductile high strength steels. Currently, the bearing capacity of spot weld joints is characterized through extensive experimental campaigns. In this article, a model for quantification of the bearing capacity of RSW using a finite-element J-integral fracture criterion is presented. The model takes into account geometric and mechanical features of the spot weld, namely the weld diameter and the mechanical properties distribution resulting from the welding process. An experimental loading test campaign is carried out for calibration and validation purposes, considering multiple sheet thickness combinations, loading angles and weld sizes. Experimental observations of the failed spot welds and preliminary simulations show that failure is caused mostly by stress concentration around the sharp weld notch. Consequently, the J-integral obtained from detailed finite element simulations is used to asses the stress/strain concentration along the first crack advance direction predicted by the acoustic tensor. The computed J-integral values are compared to the material toughness to obtain the joint’s maximum force. The resulting simulated and experimental bearing capacities show a good agreement for all tested configurations.

Método Numérico Basado en Cálculo Exterior Discreto Para la Discretización de la Ecuación de Convección - Difusión

Rafael Herrera — Sun, 10 Nov 2019 03:18:02 +0100

Mientras que la discretización con Cálculo Exterior Discreto (DEC) del término elíptico de la ecuación de Transporte, también conocida como la Ecuación de Convección - Difusión, está bien documentada y establecida, la discretización del término convectivo, así como su estabilización siguen siendo un tema de investigación. En este trabajo se propone una discretización local de la Ecuación de Transporte homogénea, isótropa y con flujo incompresible, basada en DEC y fundamentada en argumentos geométricos. Debido a que el método numérico obtenido para el termino convectivo es similar al de Elemento Finito con funciones de interpolación lineales (FEML), se pueden aprovechar algunas técnicas conocidas para la estabilización de la ecuación. Empleando esta característica, las pruebas numéricas se llevan a cabo en mallas que varían de gruesas a finas para comparar los resultados obtenidos con DEC y FEML, y para mostrar convergencia numérica en problemas estacionarios. La estabilización de la ecuación es llevada a cabo mediante Difusión Artificial.

A non-intrusive proper generalized decomposition scheme with application in biomechanics

María Jesús Samper — Wed, 06 Nov 2019 16:48:53 +0100

Proper generalized decomposition (PGD) is often used for multi-query and fast-response simulations. It is a powerful tool alleviating the curse of dimensionality affecting multi-parametric partial differential equations. Most implementations of PGD are intrusive extensions based on in-house developed finite element (FE) solvers. In this work, we propose a non-intrusive PGD scheme using off-the-shelf FE codes (such as certified commercial software) as an external solver. The scheme is implemented and monitored by in-house flow-control codes. A typical implementation is provided with downloadable codes. Moreover, a novel parametric separation strategy for the PGD resolution is presented. The parametric space is split into two- or three-dimensional subspaces, to allow PGD technique solving problems with constrained parametric spaces, achieving higher convergence ratio. Numerical examples are provided. In particular, a practical example in biomechanics is included, with potential application to patient-specific simulation.

Explicit parametric solutions of lattice structures with proper generalized decomposition (PGD)

María Jesús Samper — Wed, 06 Nov 2019 16:42:09 +0100

Architectured materials (or metamaterials) are constituted by a unit-cell with a complex structural design repeated periodically forming a bulk material with emergent mechanical properties. One may obtain specific macro-scale (or bulk) properties in the resulting architectured material by properly designing the unit-cell. Typically, this is stated as an optimal design problem in which the parameters describing the shape and mechanical properties of the unit-cell are selected in order to produce the desired bulk characteristics. This is especially pertinent due to the ease manufacturing of these complex structures with 3D printers. The proper generalized decomposition provides explicit parametic solutions of parametric PDEs. Here, the same ideas are used to obtain parametric solutions of the algebraic equations arising from lattice structural models. Once the explicit parametric solution is available, the optimal design problem is a simple post-process. The same strategy is applied in the numerical illustrations, first to a unit-cell (and then homogenized with periodicity conditions), and in a second phase to the complete structure of a lattice material specimen.

Numerical Modelling of Multi-Phase Multi-Component. Reactive Transport in the Earth’s interior

María Jesús Samper — Wed, 06 Nov 2019 16:33:09 +0100

We present a conceptual and numerical approach to model processes in the Earth’s interior that involve multiple phases that simultaneously interact thermally, mechanically and chemically. The approach is truly multiphase in the sense that each dynamic phase is explicitly modelled with an individual set of mass, momentum, energy and chemical mass balance equations coupled via interfacial interaction terms. It is also truly multicomponent in the sense that the compositions of the system and its constituent phases are expressed by a full set of fundamental chemical components (e.g. SiO₂, Al₂O₃, MgO, etc.) rather than proxies. These chemical components evolve, react with and partition into different phases according to an internally consistent thermodynamic model. We combine concepts from Ensemble Averaging and Classical Irreversible Thermodynamics to obtain sets of macroscopic balance equations that describe the evolution of systems governed by multiphase multicomponent reactive transport (MPMCRT). Equilibrium mineral assemblages, their compositions and physical properties, and closure relations for the balance equations are obtained via a ‘dynamic’ Gibbs free-energy minimization procedure (i.e. minimizations are performed on-the-fly as needed by the simulation). Surface tension and surface energy contributions to the dynamics and energetics of the system are taken into account. We show how complex rheologies, that is, visco-elasto-plastic, and/or different interfacial models can be incorporated into our MPMCRT ensemble-averaged formulation. The resulting model provides a reliable platform to study the dynamics and nonlinear feedbacks of MPMCRT systems of different nature and scales, as well as to make realistic comparisons with both geophysical and geochemical data sets. Several numerical examples are presented to illustrate the benefits and limitations of the model.

A time-domain second-order FEM model for the wave diffraction-radiation problem. Validation with a semisubmersible platform

Julio García-Espinosa — Mon, 04 Nov 2019 20:13:06 +0100

A finite element method for the solution of the up-to-second-order wave diffraction-radiation problem in the time-domain is proposed. The solver has been verified against available analytical solutions, and validated against experimental data available for the HiPRWind semisubmersible platform (designed for floating wind turbines). To perform the validation, the wave diffraction-radiation solver is coupled to a body dynamics and mooring solvers in the time-domain. The HiPRWind movements and mooring forces have been compared for a large number of test cases, including decay tests, monochromatic waves, and bichromatic waves obtaining good agreement for both, body movements and mooring forces.

Efficient aeroelastic analysis of inflatable structures using enhanced potential flow aerodynamics

Eugenio Oñate — Fri, 25 Oct 2019 10:28:46 +0200

An efficient method for the aeroelastic analysis of wind effects on inflatable structures is presented. The solution scheme is staggered and uses an explicit finite-element structural solver and potential flow aerodynamics. In order to take into account the essential features of the flow around blunt-shaped structures, a physics-based correction of the inviscid solution is proposed. The procedure involves automatic prediction of the detached flow areas (using Stratford’s criterion) and an empirical modification of the calculated pressure field intended to match the real viscous behavior. Several validation benchmarks and a realistic application example are presented. The results show the capability of the model to predict the wind loads on the structure with sufficient accuracy and low computational cost, making it possible to use aeroelastic analysis for routine calculation of inflatable structures.

Susana Raffalli a real activist of the nutrition in Venezuela

Scipedia content — Wed, 23 Oct 2019 11:13:06 +0200

Sr Director. Hemos realizado, con interés, un seguimiento de las acciones de la Dra. Susana Raffalli, nutricionista y activista venezolana que ha realizado cuantiosas investigaciones tanto a nivel nacional como internacional, evaluando los riesgos de desnutrición en infantes, adolescentes y adultos en zonas de alto riesgo y pobreza extrema de países como Filipinas, Camboya, Pakistán y Angola, entre otros 1 . La Dra. Raffalli realizó sus estudios en la Universidad Central de Venezuela (UCV), donde se graduó como nutricionista, aunque su carrera estudiantil no termina ahí, ya que una amiga le recomendó el considerar una maestría en Nutrición Internacional Pública en la Escuela de Salud Pública de John Hopkin.

Writing in parasitology and plagiarism

Scipedia content — Wed, 23 Oct 2019 11:12:57 +0200

Sr. Director, leyendo con detenimiento un interesante artículopresentado en la Revista Evidencias en Odontología Clínica 1que trataba sobre “Manifestaciones clínicas bucales enpacientes con amebiasis y giardiasis en Espinar, Cusco” 1 ; seapreció el manejo errado de la terminología parasitológica y deotros elementos de forma y fondo que son importantes aclarar,especialmente para la mejor comprensión de estudiantes yrecién egresados que se pueden confundir al leer dicho artículo.Es así que se refieren los siguientes elementos:

Dr. Plácido Rodríguez Rivero, eponymous Central Hospital of San Felipe, Yaracuy State

Scipedia content — Wed, 23 Oct 2019 11:11:54 +0200

Con la incorporación del Dr. Placido Daniel Rodríguez Riveroa la Academia Nacional de la Historia con su obra “Origen yDesarrollo de San Felipe El Fuerte”, se conocieron reveladorasverdades sobre la historia de la vieja ciudad colonial, gracias alintenso trabajo investigativo realizado por este eminentesanfelipeño que llego incluso a ser presidente de la AcademiaNacional de Medicina y rector de la Universidad Central deVenezuela.

First Hospital of San Felipe, Yaracuy State. Venezuela

Scipedia content — Wed, 23 Oct 2019 11:11:06 +0200

La ciudad de siempre ha visto con ojos de agradecimiento las cosas que la han hecho sentir honrada y profundamente humana. Y ve como ha sido altamente positiva la llegada a San Felipe (estado Yaracuy, Venezuela) de la Congregación de las Hermanas Recoletas del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús y el funcionamiento del Hospital “San Agustín”, el primero de la ciudad.

The convergence of the traditional sociomedical and the contemporary biomedical paradigms: is it possible?

Scipedia content — Wed, 23 Oct 2019 11:09:04 +0200

This essay lays out some thoughts regarding the social healing practices that coexist with scientific Medicine in Venezuela, pursuant towhat has been expressed by expert doctors, young specialist doctors and users of the healthcare services in the Socialist Venezuela of the21 st century. The interest of such research focused on interpreting with a critical spirit the meanings of the medical discourse regarding thecharacteristics of scientific and pre-scientific medicine, as well as the users’ experiences who combined scientific medicine withtraditional medicine practices in the search for a solution to their health problems. I took the critical analysis of discourse described byTeun Van Dijk as core of the investigation. I found differences between medical voices: While expert doctors centered their attention onthe importance of scientific Medicine, its achievements, challenges and contradictions, thinking about the need to apply scientificmedicine in order to reveal truths hidden by traditional practices, young doctors focused their attention on the supremacy of scientifictraining during medical education, the discrimination suffered by traditional healing practices under medical training and medicalpractice, as opposed to the frequent use of traditional healing practices in the rural and urban populations they have assisted. Theconcerns expressed by users of the healthcare services revealed a complementary coexistence of Medicine and traditional practices. Toconclude, the horizons of change that might a complementary coexistence be useful for the reconstruction of the Healthcare System inVenezuela were presented: Critical & Theoretical Integration of the Contemporary Biomedical and Traditional Sociomedical Paradigmsfrom an interdisciplinary point of view.