Papers

Digital preservation aims at maintaining digital objects anddata accessible over long periods of time. The emerging context of e-Science imposes new scenarios and new requirements for digital preser-vation. This paper presents the main issues, current solutions and promi-nent projects for digital preservation and e-Science data management. Fi-nally, it presents the problem to be addressed, the solutions to explore,the proposed methodology and expected contributions of the associatedPhD work.

Digital preservation aims at maintaining digital objects anddata accessible over long periods of time. We propose the use of dedicatedor surplus storage resources of data grids to build frameworks of digitalpreservation. In this paper we focus on the problem of digital preservationin two scenarios: a national digital library and a repository of scientificinformation for dam safety. We detail the scenario of dam safety dataand provide an analysis of an existing data grid solution that can be usedfor this purpose.

Apresenta-se uma panorâmica geral sobre os principais problemas relacionados com a fisiografia costeira e as principaistécnicas de protecção da orla costeira. Referem-se os processos físicos responsáveis pela dinâmica sedimentar, e os principaisproblemas a ela associados que afectam praias e embocaduras de estuários e lagunas. As soluções mais comuns para estetipo de problemas são depois revistas de forma crítica. Finalmente, três casos de estudo são utilizados para exemplificarproblemas e soluções, e, simultaneamente, ilustrar abordagens seguidas em estudos de engenharia: uma praia encaixadaem erosão (praia de Hac-Sá, República Popular da China), um sistema no Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, composto por uma praiaarqueada (praias de Leblon, Ipanema e Arpoador), um canal e uma laguna com problemas simultâneos de erosão eassoreamento e uma embocadura lagunar com problemas de assoreamento e de estabilidade (Lagoa de Óbidos, Portugal).

Performance assessment (PA) of urban infrastructure services, mainly in the case of water systems, is becoming a major issue worldwide. Therefore, in the last decade, the need for a clear definition of management objectives of water services and the subsequent need to monitor goals achievement have led to the development of some initiatives to tackle the evaluation of the efficiency of those services, their main aim being the definitin of systems of performance indicators. However, these PA systems are strongly oriented by a management/economic perspective and technical aspects have often been ignored. In addition, none of them has specifically addressed the drinking water treatment. This paper presents a proposal for a PI system that applies to drinking water treatment facilities as a part of a standardised methodology for performance assessment. In total, ca.80 PI have been define and classified according to seven evaluation domains, namely: treated water quality; plant reliability; use of natural resources and raw materials; by-products management; safety; human resources; and, economical and financial resources.

Em muitas utilizações, especialmente em ambientes húmidos ou expostosà chuva, o risco de degradação da madeira depende em grandemedida das disposições construtivas adoptadas, no que se refere àpormenorização e ao cuidado na realização das ligações.A absorção e retenção de água pela madeira podem ocasionar o seuinchamento e ataque por insectos como as térmitas subterrâneas, ou ainstalação e o desenvolvimento de fungos causadores de manchas ou depodridão. A variação das condições ambientais provoca ainda empenose fendas. Compreende-se assim a importância da pormenorização parao desempenho e a durabilidade das estruturas de madeira, no sentidode limitar o acesso da água à madeira, promover a sua eliminação rápidae/ou minimizar as suas consequências. Também a escolha de materiaise a execução podem comprometer de forma drástica a qualidade e adurabilidade das estruturas, referindo-se adiante alguns aspectosrelacionados com as ligações.

In this study, we simulate and compare ground motion shaking in the city of Lisbon and surrounding counties (metropolitan area of Lisbon (MAL)), using two possible earthquake models: the onshore source area of Lower Tagus Valley, M5.7 and M4.7 and the offshore source area, Marques de Pombal Fault, M7.6, one of the possible source of the 1755 Lisbon earthquake. The stochastic and a new hybrid stochastic-deterministic approach (DSM) are used in order to evaluate the ground shaking and to characterize its spatial variability. Results are presented in terms of response acceleration spectra (PSA) and peak ground acceleration (PGA) with respect to bedrock and surface. Site effects are evaluated by means of equivalent stochastic non-linear one-dimensional ground responses analysis, performed for a set of stratified soil profile units properly designed to cope with the soil site conditions of MAL region. A sensitive study is carried out using different input parameters and different approaches in order to give the basic information to evaluate the range of uncertainty in seismic scenarios.

In this study, we simulate and compare ground motion shaking in the city of Lisbon and surrounding counties (metropolitan area of Lisbon (MAL)), using two possible earthquake models: the onshore source area of Lower Tagus Valley, M5.7 and M4.7 and the offshore source area, Marques de Pombal Fault, M7.6, one of the possible source of the 1755 Lisbon earthquake. The stochastic and a new hybrid stochastic-deterministic approach (DSM) are used in order to evaluate the ground shaking and to characterize its spatial variability.Results are presented in terms of response acceleration spectra (PSA) and peak ground acceleration (PGA) with respect to bedrock and surface. Site effects are evaluated by means of equivalent stochastic non-linear one-dimensional ground responses analysis, performed for a set of stratified soil profile units properly designed to cope with the soil site conditions of MAL region. A sensitive study is carried out using different input parameters and different approaches in order to give the basic information to evaluate the range of uncertainty in seismic scenarios.

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This article describes the dynamical behavior of free-standing block structures under seismic loading. A comprehensive experimental investigation has been carried out to study the rocking response of four single blocks of different geometry and associations of two and three blocks. The blocks, which are large stones of high strength blue granite, were subjected to free vibration, and harmonic and random motions of the base. In total, 379 tests on a shaking table were carried out in order to address the issues of repeatability of the results and stability of the rocking motion response. Significant understanding of the rocking motion mechanism is possible from the high quality experimental data. Extensive experimental measurements allowed to discuss the impulsive forces acting in the blocks and the three-dimensional effects presented in the response.

The main objective of the use of very finered clay ceramic waste in rendering mortars is thereduction in the primary binder (cement) contentmade possible by the potential pozzolanic effect ofthis recycled material, with very clear environmentalbenefits in the reduction of overly-high energyconsuming cement and economic benefits in thepotential reduction of the cost of mortars. This paperpresents an experimental program where ceramicwaste crushed to very fine particles was used topartially replace cement in mortars manufacturing,acting as a secondary binder. A large number of testsof the most relevant characteristics of various mortarsin which this principle was applied were performedand compared with the results of the same tests in areference rendering mortar with no ceramic fines (andno reduction of the cement content). The results aremost promising both from a performance-based andan environmental point of view.