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Evaporative losses from reservoirs exacerbate water shortage during dry spells. Notwithstanding the extensive application of self-assembling floating covers for suppressing evaporation, the cover material is often overlooked and limited to available choices such as plastics. The present study is aimed at the production of floating covers using ultra-lightweight alkali-activated slag concrete that offers a range of mechanical and chemical features. Concrete specimens were made with different percentages of ground granulated blast-furnace slag as the binder, sodium metasilicate as the alkaline activator and lightweight perlite aggregates with a density of 100-150 kg/m3. To solve the problem of fracture in the preliminary specimens, slag was partially replaced with 15, 20 and 30% lime. In addition, microsilica (10, 12 and 15%) was introduced to improve the mechanical properties of the samples. In designs without microsilica, 30% replacement of slag with lime resulted in the desirable density, strength and permeability of samples. Results showed that microsilica generally increased the density, resistance and thermal conductivity of samples by 7, 74 and 14%, respectively, while water absorption and permeability decreased by 15% and 14%, respectively. The dry density of samples was obtained between 340 and 516 kg/m3 with a compressive strength of 0.2-0.9 MPa and a conductive heat transfer coefficient of 0.067-0.093 W/mK.

The use of energy harvesting materials for large infrastructure is a promising and growing field. In this regard, the use of such harvesters for the purpose of structural health monitoring of bridges has been proposed in recent times as one of the feasible options since the deployment of them can remove the necessity of an external power source. This paper addresses the performance issue of such monitors over the life-cycle of a bridge as it deteriorates and the live load on the structure increases. In this regard, a Lead Zirconate Titanate (PZT) material is considered as the energy harvesting material and a comparison is carried out over the operational life of a reinforced concrete bridge. The evolution of annual average daily traffic (AADT) is taken into consideration, as is the degradation of the structure over time, due to the effects of corrosion. Evolution of such harvested energy is estimated over the life-cycle of the bridge and the sensitivity of harvested energy is investigated for varying rates of degradation and changes in AADT. The study allows for designing and understanding the potential of energy harvesters as a health monitor for bridges. This paper also illustrates how the natural growth of traffic on a bridge over time can accentuate the identification of damage, which is desirable for an ageing structure. The paper also assesses the impact and effects of deployment of harvesters in a bridge as a part of its design process, considering performance over the entire life-cycle versus a deployment at a certain age of the structure.

The tasks a façade has to fulfill in contemporary high-end architecture have become more and more complex and challenging. An innovative skin has to block a considerable amount of sun radiation in summer, while it has to prevent heating energy from getting lost in winter. At the same time the skin has to allow for a high amount of (controlled) natural lighting and (controlled) natural ventilation. On the other side the iconic character of “signature” architecture pushes for glass façades to become almost dematerialized, a development further reinforced by recent advances in modern glass technology. Contemporary façades have to reach high transparency rates and have to follow extremely complex geometries - while still fulfilling requirements with regard to energy consumption and user comfort. The arising challenges for the façade engineer are therefore immense. The present paper presents various examples of how these challenges can be tackled in an appropriate way that units functionality, sustainability, and aesthetics Challenging Glass Conference Proceedings, Vol. 5 (2016): Challenging Glass 5

{"references": ["Kim H., Tadesse Y., Priya S., 2009, Energy Harvesting Technologies,\np3-4", "Curz Joao, 2008, Ocean Wave Energy, p1-4", "Zhu D., Beeby S., 2011, Energy Harvesting Systems, p1-3", "OECD, 2006, Energy Technology perspectives 2006: scenarios &\nstrategies to 2050, Organisation of Economic Cooperation &\nDevelopment, page 229-230.", "Khaligh A. and Onar Omer C., 2008, Energy Harvesting Solar, Wind, and\nOcean Energy Conversion System, pp223-230, pp250.", "Briney A., 2012, Waves - Ocean Waves, viewed at 10th April 2012,\n.", "Berteaux H. O., 1976, Buoy Engineering, The University of Michigan,\nUSA.", "Falnes, J 2007, \u00d4\u00c7\u00ffA review of wave-energy extraction-, ScienceDirect, vol.\n20, pp. 185-201", "Alaska Sea Grant, viewed at 16th April 2012,\n.\n[10] Robinson M. C., 2006, Renewable Energy Technologies for Use on the\nOuter Continental Shelf, National Renewable Energy Laboratory USA,\nviewed at 10th April 2012,\n.\n[11] Behrens, S, Heyward, J, Hemer, M, Osman, P 2011, \u00d4\u00c7\u00ffAssessing the wave\nenergy converter potential for Australian coastal regions-, Renewable\nEnergy, vol. 43, pp. 210-217.\n[12] Herbich, J 2000, Handbook of coastal engineering, Mcgraw-Hill\nprofessional.\n[13] Jefferys ER, 1980, Device characterization. In: Count BM (ed) Power\nfrom sea waves. Academic Press, pp 413-438."]} This paper presents an overview of the Ocean wave kinetic energy harvesting system. Energy harvesting is a concept by which energy is captured, stored, and utilized using various sources by employing interfaces, storage devices, and other units. Ocean wave energy harvesting in which the kinetic and potential energy contained in the natural oscillations of Ocean waves are converted into electric power. The kinetic energy harvesting system could be used for a number of areas. The main applications that we have discussed in this paper are to how generate the energy from Ocean wave energy (kinetic energy) to electric energy that is to eliminate the requirement for continual battery replacement.

To determine the average annual rainfall at a specific site in a basin, it is necessary to count with rainfall information in the study area and topographic information. Counting with base information, is comes to the filling of them data missing with the help of any of them methods statistical existing for the effect. Thiessen polygons are built. Based on this procedure, may be elaborated isohyet or curves of equal rainfall, that are an input that can help also to estimate of precipitation in a specific geographical site. Here is a methodology that allows creating with the help of geographic information systems (GIS), a mathematical model to estimate very accurately the values of rainfall based only on the geographical coordinates. To achieve this objective, the basins of the Hydrographic Demarcation of Manabí have been chosen to develop the indicated mathematical model, which can be applied to other basins in the world.Keywords: multiple regression; mathematical model; GIS; Hydrology; rainfall.