ASSESSMENT OF CONCRETE QUALITY OF REINFORCED CONCRETE STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS OF UNIVERSITY BUILDINGS USING SCHMIDT HAMMER

The quality of concrete in reinforced concrete structures can be tested either by destructive or non-destructive technique. For structures under use, non-destructive technique is preferred simply because the method affords little or no destruction of the structural elements under investigation. Schmidt Rebound Hammer test was used to assess the reinforced concrete structural elements of two University Hostels labelled A and B. From the investigation of the concrete quality according to IS 13311-2:1992, it was discovered that for the selected elements considered in Hostel A, 89% of the ground floor columns are of fair hard concrete and 11% are of good concrete layer;67% are of very good layer while 33% are of good layer for slab and 3% of the beams are of fair quality concrete while the rest are of good qualities. However, for Hostel B, 8% of the ground columns are of good hard concrete, 78% are of fair hard layer and 14% are of poor concrete layer, while 56% are of good hard layer and 44% are of very good layer for slab and 51% are of good hard layer and 49% are of very good layer for beams. Rapt attention is therefore needed on the columns of Hostel B and to those elements that gave low rebound values so that the structural integrity of the buildings can be sustained to a high degree. Also, because of the variability of the quality of concrete of the assessed structural elements, more non-destructive tests like ultrasonic pulse velocity test should be conducted.

Diseño de prótesis para amputación transmetatarsal y de Chopart

La Diabetes Mellitus es una enfermedad crónica no transmisible de origen multifactorial, cuya prevalencia en Chile es de 12,3% en la población mayor a 15 años. Dentro de las consecuencias de esta enfermedad se encuentra el pie diabético, cuyo tratamiento principal es la amputación parcial del pie. En este contexto, el objetivo de la investigación es diseñar una prótesis parcial de pie para los niveles de amputación transmetatarsal y de Chopart. La metodología empleada incluyó el establecimiento del perfil del paciente, la definición de las especificaciones de diseño y la posterior propuesta del diseño conceptual. Luego se abordó el diseño de detalle, realizando los cálculos de las fuerzas a las que está sometida la prótesis, la selección del material y el análisis de esfuerzos empleando el método de elementos finitos, para establecer el material y dimensiones definitivas. La prótesis diseñada está compuesta por una plantilla de material poliuretano-termoplástico o de polipropileno, y una cubierta estética de silicona;incluye en la misma plantilla los dos niveles de amputación parcial de pie, no restringe los grados de libertad del tobillo y es personalizada para el paciente, lo cual es relevante cuando se trabaja con pacientes con diabetes.Alternate :Diabetes Mellitus is a non-communicable chronic disease of multifactorial origin, whose prevalence in Chile is 12.3% in the population over 15 years of age. Among the consequences of this disease there is the diabetic foot, whose main treatment is the partial amputation of the foot. In this context, the objective of the research is to design a partial foot prosthesis for the transmetatarsal and Chopart levels of amputation. The used methodology included the establishment of the patient's profile, the definition of the design specifications and the subsequent proposal of the conceptual design. Then the detailed design was approached, carrying out the calculations of the forces to which the prosthesis is subjected, the material selection and the stress analysis using the finite element method to establish the final material and dimensions of the prosthesis. The designed prosthesis is composed of a polyurethane-thermoplastic or polypropylene material insole, and an aesthetic silicone cover;It includes both levels of partial foot amputation in the same template, does not restrict the degrees of freedom of the ankle, and is personalized for the patient, which is relevant when working with patients with diabetes.

Smart Material Choice: The Importance of Circular Design Strategy Applications for Bio-Based Food Packaging Preproduction and End-of-Life Life Cycle Stages

This article provides a systematic literature review on the integrated approach of bio-based plastic food packaging in a circular economy. It focuses on the following key areas: (1) the role of bio-based plastic food packaging in a circular product design strategy and material choice in the preproduction life cycle stage;(2) the role of bio-based plastic food packaging in circular resource management systems and the product disposal life cycle stage;and (3) an optimal bio-based plastic food packaging application in regard to prioritising end-of-life treatment. While there are dedicated publications on the role of packaging in a circular economy, circular packaging design, packaging waste management, and bio-origin plastic applications in food packaging, this article aims to provide an integrated review and recommendations on the best bio-based plastic food packaging material selection, applications based on a circular economy, and scenarios on waste/resource management that prioritise end-of-life treatment. Three of the current most popular bio-based plastic materials in the flexible and rigid food packaging categories were selected: starch blends, bio-PE, and PLA for flexible food packaging and PLA, bio-PET, and bio-PE for rigid packaging. This article highlights the fact that a smart material choice in the circular design strategy is a key factor that has a direct impact on the last packaging life cycle stage (disposal), and concludes that bio-based plastic materials are a way to close the food packaging loop, either by re-use or recycling. This article also provides recommendations on the best bio-based plastic food packaging material selection, and applications based on the circular economy and waste management that prioritise end-of-life treatment. The research results indicate a research niche for the application of re-usable biodegradable materials in food packaging. The findings of this research allow product designers and packaging companies to advance the understanding of the most efficient bio-based plastic food packaging integration into the circular economy via decision making of product material choice and end-of-life treatment. Based on the results of this article, scholars can develop new themes for further research.

A network of circular economy villages: design guidelines for 21st century Garden Cities

Purpose>The purpose is to open the possibility for a research institute, perhaps in partnership with a local council and a major developer, to bring together skills necessary to prototype the CEV development model.Design/methodology/approach>This paper advances the development of a hypothetical, systems-based approach to the design and development of smart rural villages – a network of circular economy villages (CEVs). The method is to assimilate visionary ideas from 20th century town planning literature related to decentralisation and the development of new towns in rural areas, identifying key design principles. The present trajectory of infrastructure design and emerging development models are then analysed to modernise the design principles for implementation in the 21st century.Findings>The availability of localised, renewable energy micro-grids potentially makes CEVs feasible and affordable. The shift to remote work and movement of people to regional areas suggests that this may be a desirable development form. This can only be confirmed through the development of a pilot project as proof of concept.Originality/value>The proposed CEV development model applies circular economy strategies to every aspect of the smart rural village development including financing, ownership, spatial planning, design and material selection.

Novel Drone Design Using an Optimization Software with 3D Model, Simulation, and Fabrication in Drone Systems Research

This paper presents the design of a small size Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) using the 3DEXPERIENCE software. The process of designing the frame parts involves many methods to ensure the parts can meet the requirements while conforming to safety and industry standards. The design steps start with the selection of materials that can be used for the drone, which are polylactic acid (PLA), acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA), and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). The drone frame consists of four main parts, which are the center top cover (50 g), the side top cover (10 g), the middle cover (30 g), and the drone’s arm (80 g). A simulation was carried out to determine the stress, displacement, and weight of the drone’s parts. Additionally, a trade-off study was conducted to finalize the shapes of the parts and the various inputs based on their priorities. The outcome of this new design can be represented in design concepts, which involve the use of the snap hook function to assemble two body parts together, namely the middle cover and the center top cover, without the need of an additional fastener.

Sustainable Building Policies in Central Europe: Insights and Future Perspectives

Achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 is one of the European Union’s key priorities. Yet, the attitude of numerous politicians, of the professional community, and of society in general towards the threat posed by climate change is ambivalent. Arguments are frequently heard about the transition to a low-carbon economy that will be very costly, with increased unemployment, and that in reality climate change may not even be that severe. Added to this, there are human rights and freedoms, and in the case of architects and designers, the right to freedom of creation, to choice of materials, etc. The present article seeks to show that the issue of sustainable architecture and construction is not a whim, but an absolute necessity, and that true freedom lies in recognizing this fact and adapting our actions accordingly. However, even if we have the good intentions to adapt the needed actions, there is still the question of how to react in the right way, without causing myriad unwanted side-effects or being completely counterproductive. As there is not yet any comprehensive account of the history of energy-efficient and sustainable building and architecture, this paper has attempted to give a brief overview of developments in this field from a Central European perspective. Furthermore, the aim was to point out some conceptual mistakes that have been made in the past and that should be avoided.