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<p>In the last years, extreme rainfalls have caused many collapses of bridges. In Italy several of those were short span’s ones that failed during or after extreme events of this nature. This work presents a method for inspection survey and its results regarding a campaign on 71 bridges, located in Tuscany (Massa Carrara, Italy). This area was affected by a big flood that took place in 2014 and also two earlier ones in 2012 with only 15 days apart one from the other, leading to a huge disrupting situation for the population’s daily life and consequent economical loss. Concerning this issue, the local stakeholders showed an increasing interest for sustainable methods for monitoring the built environment, thus the results of this research have been made available for integration on the Civil Protection Emergency Plan (CLE) and can be used in a decision-making prioritization list of actions. The framework uses a Gis- based approach combined with a quick survey technique. This method balances costs of surveying with the accuracy needed in inspections, bypassing the classical procedure which requires several onsite surveys. This procedure uses only three transversal river sections for each bridge. The method also comprises a tailored survey inspection form and a user-friendly worksheet was designed to build the database, applicable for further studies. Results showed the absence of maintenance on existing structures and riverbeds, often resulting in a partially or fully bridge section obstruction, and material’s decay. The framework created in this work allowed to assess the conditions of several bridges in the studied region, to further analyse the resilience of the infrastructure system and proceed with adequate interventions.</p>

<p>In the last years, extreme rainfalls have caused many collapses of bridges. In Italy several of those were short span’s ones that failed during or after extreme events of this nature. This work presents a method for inspection survey and its results regarding a campaign on 71 bridges, located in Tuscany (Massa Carrara, Italy). This area was affected by a big flood that took place in 2014 and also two earlier ones in 2012 with only 15 days apart one from the other, leading to a huge disrupting situation for the population’s daily life and consequent economical loss. Concerning this issue, the local stakeholders showed an increasing interest for sustainable methods for monitoring the built environment, thus the results of this research have been made available for integration on the Civil Protection Emergency Plan (CLE) and can be used in a decision-making prioritization list of actions. The framework uses a Gis- based approach combined with a quick survey technique. This method balances costs of surveying with the accuracy needed in inspections, bypassing the classical procedure which requires several onsite surveys. This procedure uses only three transversal river sections for each bridge. The method also comprises a tailored survey inspection form and a user-friendly worksheet was designed to build the database, applicable for further studies. Results showed the absence of maintenance on existing structures and riverbeds, often resulting in a partially or fully bridge section obstruction, and material’s decay. The framework created in this work allowed to assess the conditions of several bridges in the studied region, to further analyse the resilience of the infrastructure system and proceed with adequate interventions.</p>

Abstract Nowadays, there is an increasing need for alternative construction technologies that allow, among others, reducing construction wastes and energy consumption during the buildings’ life-cycle. In this context, this paper presents results of a research project which goal is to develop an innovative solution for partition walls. This solution is based on a masonry block made of an eco-efficient new composite material. The composite material used in the production of the blocks results from the combination of three industrial by-products, namely: flue-gas desulfurization gypsum; granulated cork; and textile fibers resulting from the tyre recycling process. Besides the raw materials, the innovation of the solution results also from the new design of the block, whose shape enables the positioning of the infra-structures during the assembling of the indoor wall. In this paper, details of the design process of the block and both the optimization of the composition of the material and construction technology are provided. The validation of the partition wall solution in the point of view of mechanical, thermal and acoustic performance was also carried out. From the results obtained, it is possible to conclude that the solution fulfils all the requirements of structural stability adequate for this type of wall. In terms of thermal performance, the proposed solution presents very good behaviour, being the acoustic performance slightly lower than the traditional solution.

Abstract Nowadays, there is an increasing need for alternative construction technologies that allow, among others, reducing construction wastes and energy consumption during the buildings’ life-cycle. In this context, this paper presents results of a research project which goal is to develop an innovative solution for partition walls. This solution is based on a masonry block made of an eco-efficient new composite material. The composite material used in the production of the blocks results from the combination of three industrial by-products, namely: flue-gas desulfurization gypsum; granulated cork; and textile fibers resulting from the tyre recycling process. Besides the raw materials, the innovation of the solution results also from the new design of the block, whose shape enables the positioning of the infra-structures during the assembling of the indoor wall. In this paper, details of the design process of the block and both the optimization of the composition of the material and construction technology are provided. The validation of the partition wall solution in the point of view of mechanical, thermal and acoustic performance was also carried out. From the results obtained, it is possible to conclude that the solution fulfils all the requirements of structural stability adequate for this type of wall. In terms of thermal performance, the proposed solution presents very good behaviour, being the acoustic performance slightly lower than the traditional solution.

Abstract Despite being a material used over time, soil has lost its space as a building material with the appearance of the most diverse materials and techniques that today are considered traditional. However, with the latest environmental and energetic concerns, earth construction techniques appear revitalized. Recently, the Interlocking Compressed Earth Block (ICEBs) masonry system has experienced considerable development. Some studies prove the potential of new stabilization techniques, such as alkaline activation, to improve the mechanical performance and the durability of the blocks, allowing the incorporation of industrial by-products. The high-energy consumption for buildings acclimatization has been another aspect of high discussion. Many times, buildings constructed with earth are referred as an example with respect to the thermal performance. In this sense, an assessment of the heat transfer coefficient of the ICEBs was carried out. The results show that the ICEBs system performs poorly when compared to other current construction materials regarding the heat transfer coefficient, but presents an improvement when stabilization is done with alkali activated fly ash compared to other earth based materials.

Abstract Despite being a material used over time, soil has lost its space as a building material with the appearance of the most diverse materials and techniques that today are considered traditional. However, with the latest environmental and energetic concerns, earth construction techniques appear revitalized. Recently, the Interlocking Compressed Earth Block (ICEBs) masonry system has experienced considerable development. Some studies prove the potential of new stabilization techniques, such as alkaline activation, to improve the mechanical performance and the durability of the blocks, allowing the incorporation of industrial by-products. The high-energy consumption for buildings acclimatization has been another aspect of high discussion. Many times, buildings constructed with earth are referred as an example with respect to the thermal performance. In this sense, an assessment of the heat transfer coefficient of the ICEBs was carried out. The results show that the ICEBs system performs poorly when compared to other current construction materials regarding the heat transfer coefficient, but presents an improvement when stabilization is done with alkali activated fly ash compared to other earth based materials.

Abstract The novelty of research is the valorization of two different types of sludge, from the treatment of effluent of the dairy industry, as partial clay replacement in the bricks manufacturing. The organic matter of the sludge decreased the plasticity of the mixture and increased the porosity during firing. Physicochemical and mechanical properties, were evaluated. The bricks with 10% and 20% sludge presented good appearance and acceptable properties, with compressive strengths of 17 and 10 MPa within limits optimal of Argentine and international standards. Therefore, the application of dairy sludge in the manufacture of building bricks could be a viable alternative.

Abstract The novelty of research is the valorization of two different types of sludge, from the treatment of effluent of the dairy industry, as partial clay replacement in the bricks manufacturing. The organic matter of the sludge decreased the plasticity of the mixture and increased the porosity during firing. Physicochemical and mechanical properties, were evaluated. The bricks with 10% and 20% sludge presented good appearance and acceptable properties, with compressive strengths of 17 and 10 MPa within limits optimal of Argentine and international standards. Therefore, the application of dairy sludge in the manufacture of building bricks could be a viable alternative.