Publicações

Prototype boards of high-density expanded cork agglomerates (230 and 290 kgm

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Kosovo is relatively small place with 10870 km2 where 44.7% of its territory is covered with trees. To date, Kosovo has passed through three important phases of economic development; the first phase was the emergency one after war, the second phase was privatization of social enterprises and the third phase was sustainable development. The after war period was very important for this sector because it has passed through a reconstruction process, privatization and development and become part of the internal and foreign markets. Positive developments in the field of wood industry led to the number of work places offered in this field are increasing; also requirements for specialized workforce and qualification workers are increasing. This is the reason why today

This review focuses on cork as a natural, renewable and sustainable construction raw-material. Cork has an unusual combination of properties making it suitable for application in buildings and infrastructures, for example insulation, wear-resistance and durability. The material properties combined with a favourable ecological footprint allow designers, architects and engineers to meet some of the Green Building demands. A summary on cork production, structure, chemistry and properties was made. The processing into ork-based products, for example cork agglomerates and composites, is detailed as well as their properties and applications in construction. The aptitude of cork-based products for compliance with sustainability and energy efficiency criteria is also addressed.

Purpose

Wood plastic composites (WPCs) are being increasingly used as alternatives to wooden decks. In the presentstudy, it was verified the potential loss of stiffness of WPC deck boards as a result of moisture intake. It wasalso assessed the importance ofmoisture intake in the fulfilment of serviceability limit states. For these purposes, three different types of commercial WPC decks were studied, with high (WPCH), medium (WPCM) and low (WPCL) expected mechanical performance. Different experimental designs were followed to simulate full exposure to outdoor conditions and the effect of possible internal stress due to differential shrinkage and the swelling behaviour of fibres and the matrix. The results indicate a high loss of bendingmodulus of elasticity due to water absorption (between 40 and 50%) and shrinkage/swelling movements (between 22 and 29%). This level of stiffness loss has a direct impact on ensuring the compliance to the serviceability limit states. A strong negative linear relationship between water absorption and the loss of bending stiffness was established, which can be a helpful tool to assist manufacturers in defining the application rules and ensuring the expected service life of their products.

The present work aims to develop the Life Cycle Assessment study of thermo-modifiedAtlanticwood® pine boards based on real data provided by Santos & Santos Madeirascompany. Atlanticwood® pine boards are used mainly for exterior decking and claddingfacades of buildings. The LCA study is elaborated based on ISO 14040/44 standard and Product Category Rules for preparing an environmental product declaration for Construction Products and Construction Services. The inventory analysis and, subsequently, the impact analysis have been performed using the LCA software SimaPro8.0.4. The method chosen for impact assessment was EPD (2013) V1.01. The results show that more than ¾ of

Subterranean termites are serious pests of wood in service in much of the world. One of the most popular techniques for monitoring and controlling termites is the use of in-ground monitoring stations. Different cellulosic matrices were evaluated in terms of mass loss, moisture content variation and termite presence, accounting for spatial coordinates and monitoring station conditional variables, including: type of cellulosic matrix, matrix treatment and meteorological conditions, during one year in field conditions, both in Portugal and in the USA. A multivariate redundancy analysis wasperformed resulting in 60.4% of data variability being explained by the variables considered in this analysis. Spatial variables were responsible for the highest amount of variance observed in the response variables monitored for the termite monitoring stations, followed by the type of cellulosic matrix, from which cellulose and Hevea brasiliensis were the most influential variables. The optimization of termite in-ground monitoring stations should be performed through correct evaluation of termite feeding preferences and decay resistance, in order to choose an adequate bait matrix and a proper bait design. The termite species biology and the geographical location where control programs will be applied should also be taken into account.

This work describes the treatment of Pinus pinaster wood with four different industrialwood preservatives (two anti-bluing or fungicide and two fungicide/pesticide)and the detection and quantification of the dioxin contamination profile in the woodshavings. The samples were collected from poultry liters during three contaminationincidents of poultry meat. Two methods used were, both nonpressure: one by immersingthe wood samples in the preservative solution and the other by impregnationof the preservative solution into the wood, with vacuum. It was concluded thatthere is no difference in terms of contamination profile, caused by the different industrial wood treatment preservative products in study. A clear correlation betweenthe commercial products used in wood treatment and the contamination profile ofwood shavings that have been used as bedding material in poultry production wasdetected.

A presente nota biográfica refere o percurso de Júlio Ferry do Espírito Santo Borges nas diversas temáticas da engenharia de estruturas que mereceram o seu maior interesse e resume a sua contribuição em diversos tipos de atividades para entidades nacionais e internacionais, baseando se num texto do Investigador do LNEC Vítor Monteiro.

COST Action FP 1303

The aim of the present work was to conduct a Life Cycle Assessment study ofthermally-modified Atlanticwood® pine boards based on real data provided by theSantos & Santos Madeiras company. Atlanticwood® pine boards have severalapplications, but are mainly used for exterior decking and the cladding facades ofbuildings. The LCA study was conducted based on the ISO 14040/44 standard and PCR

Bridge falsework systems are one of the most common temporary structures used in theconstruction industry, namely to support the formwork during the construction of concrete bridges. Inthis paper the results of numerical studies of a selected structural system are presented using a noveljoint finite element and information gathered from experimental tests. In the present paper, differenthazard scenarios associated with bridge falsework systems will be analysed, such as: (i) bracingconfigurations; (ii) joint characteristics; (iii) falsework using steel beam girders. For each consideredhazard scenario, the resistance is calculated and analysed. From the results, relevant practicalinformation could be obtained which can be used to reduce the risk associated with the design andoperation of bridge falsework systems.

Bridge falsework systems are one of the most common temporary structures used during the construction of concrete bridges. In this paper the results obtained from numerical studies of a selected structural system made of steel are presented. In particular, risks associated with bridge falsework systems will be analysed for the most relevant external hazards: (i) concrete casting loads; (ii) wind loads; (iii) ground settlements. For each considered hazard scenario, the resistance of the system is calculated and analysed based on deterministic analyses. From the results, relevant practical information is obtained which can reduce the risk associated with the design and operation of bridge falsework systems.

Na assessment procedure for bending performance of timber beams on-site by combining informationfrom diferente non or semi-destructive methods is presented and discussed. Different methods were applied (core drilling, pilodyn, ultrasounds and stress waves) to old timber beams removed from a building given the fact after visual inspection it was decided that they will no longer able to comply to the limit state requirements. The study comprised the visual grading of the beams and afterwards a proof-load test was applied to them for obtaining the modulus of elasticity. The information obtained from the different tests are combined using meta-analysis and probabilistic methods and the results obtained solely from visual grading or by the application of a proposed coherent procedure (combining all data) compared. The results showed that SDT/NDT methods can be useful for the confirmation of visual strength grading results. Thus a more reliable structural analysis can be performed and a more informed decision yaken about the serviceability state of the structure.

Pine (Pinus pinaster) wood samples were subjected to a combined densification andheat treatment process. Samples were densified before and after heat treatment. The heattreatment was carried out inside an oven at 190ºC for 2 to 6 h and wood densificationwas performed in a hot press at around 48 bar pressure and at temperatures of between160ºC and 200ºC for 30 min. Compression rate and density were determined after thetreatment. Set recovery was determined by thee cycles of water soaking followed byoven drying. The best results were attained when densification was done before heattreatment. The set recovery was less than 30% for the first two cycles and a little higherin the third cycle. For wood treated for 6 hours, the set recovery was less than 15%.Heat treatment before densification seems to be less effective than after densification to enable set-recovery.

Timber is highly interesting from the point of view of sustainable construction and, besides most traditional uses it has received increasing attention in modern building industry. However, both the timber material and timber structures require particular attention, care and adequate strategies concern in materials specification, design, detailing, maintenance and repair for extended life.Specific to timber as a raw material are its great variability, anisotropy, hygroscopic nature and the risk of biological degradation in adverse exposure conditions. Highly important or the performance and safety of timber structures are also the detailing of timber joints, dimensional variations and tensile stresses perpendicular to the wood grain, that often converge to cause malfunctions.

Embora a maioria das aplicações estruturais dos compósitos de madeira-plástico (CMP) serestrinja aos pavimentos residenciais, mobiliário urbano e a vedações, têm sidodesenvolvidos produtos de CMP para aplicações estruturais mais exigentes, tais como subestruturas residenciais, pavimentos industriais, elementos de fundação, pontes pedonais e estruturas para docas.Os produtos de CMP exibem uma ampla gama de propriedades e características dedesempenho de acordo com a sua formulação, forma geométrica, tipo, teor e tratamentodas fibras e, características da interface matriz-fibras.Podendo o desempenho dos produtos de CMP variar em função de um grande número defatores, as suas propriedades, características de desempenho e a sua durabilidade devem ser avaliados para cada produto comercial.Neste artigo, são apresentados os métodos de avaliação de aptidão ao uso de kits de CMPusados para revestimento de piso em terraços na zona envolvente de edifícios, bem comoas características obtidas com dois destes produtos, concluindo-se da adequabilidade dosmesmos para as aplicações em vista.

Alterações de uso, a ocorrência de deterioração ou o colapso parcial são situações que requerem a necessidade de avaliar a segurança ou funcionalidade de uma estrutura de madeira. No entanto, esta avaliação encontra as dificuldades associadas às características dos elementos estruturais de madeira (comportamento anisotrópico, elevada variabilidadedas propriedades físico-mecânicas e higroscopicidade com efeito pronunciado naspropriedades físico-mecânicas) e do efeito do nível de conservação (deterioração) naredução das propriedades mecânicas. Estas dificuldades são reconhecidas internacionalmente e têm vindo a ser debatidas no âmbito de diversas comissões científicas e técnicas nos últimos 5 anos. A presente comunicação pretende dar a conhecer a atividade desenvolvida por estas comissões e enumerar algumas das novas metodologias deavaliação de estruturas de madeira.

Fires on the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) have caused significant loss of life and colossal property andnatural environment damages in numerous countries around the world. The solutions to mitigate this fireproblem are complex, as it results from the fuel source changes from vegetation to structural materials in a fireprone environment and it involves the interaction of several factors that act synergistically to increase thefrequency of fires with severe potential destruction. In order to understand how and why buildings are damaged and destroyed under wildland fire attack, several surveys following historical large scale fire events, which resulted in significant building damages and/or losses, have been conducted worldwide. This paper aims to review and analyse the main characteristics of buildings and other structures that contributed to their vulnerability during fires at the WUI, based on the analysis of several post fire studies developed in Australia, United States of America and Mediterranean Europe (particularly Portugal, Spain, Greece). The different building traditions between the selected countries are discussed, as long as they affect building vulnerability to fires.

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O Museu da Academia das Ciências de Lisboa possui uma preciosa xiloteca assinada pelo Mestre dos marceneiros portugueses, José Aniceto Rapozo contendo 1213 amostras de madeiras do Brasil e 12 de outras origens. A sua importância no progresso do conhecimento dos recursos florestais do Brasil naviragem dos séculos dezoito e dezanove conduziu ao estudo em curso. Dada a devastação verificada em vastas áreas florestais brasileiras, surgem dificuldades por certas espécies poderem ter distribuiçãogeográfica diferente (com eventual extinção, geral ou localizada), por insuficiência do material de comparação, e por ambiguidade das designações comerciais.Foi possível identificar esta xiloteca como uma de quatro encomendadas a Aniceto Rapozo pelo Príncipe Regente. A análise das amostras de madeira e a informação documental mostram que a colecçãotem por base uma remessa de 5008 amostras de madeiras do Brasil enviada em 1784 para o Arsenal Real do Exército, em Lisboa, pelo Vice-Rei do Brasil, Luís de Vasconcellos e Souza.O valor científico do conjunto é evidenciado pela identificação botânica das espéciesrepresentadas. Na situação actual, a identificação das espécies florestais representadas na amostragem foiinteiramente conseguida em 14% dos casos, conseguida mas ainda por confirmar em 27%. Dado o carácter preliminar deste estudo, os seus resultados serão ulteriormente publicados com mais pormenor. Among the Lisbon Academy of Sciences Museum collection there is a valuable xylarium by theleading Portuguese master cabinet-maker José Aniceto Rapozo (1756-1824), comprising 1213 wood samples from Brazil plus 12 from elsewhere. This collection is most important since it allows us to improve the knowledge on Brazilian forest resources by the end of the eighteenth century and thebeginning of the next. This study aims to establish its historical framework and scientific value. Owing tooverexploitation and even devastation of very large forest areas in Brazil, difficulties for our study aroseeither as some species may have now a different geographical distribution (and eventually may have underwent local or general extinction), by lack of adequate comparison material, or because of ambiguityof the commercial names.Results so far obtained allowed us to recognize the xylarium as one of the four commanded Rapozo by the Regent Prince, later King João VI (1767-1826). Taking into account the wood samples analyses as well as bibliographic data it is possible to conclude that the collection was prepared from a set 3 of 5008 Brazilian wood samples sent to the Royal Arsenal in Lisbon in 1784 by the Brazil

This work collects information about laboratory tests to evaluate the properties of agro-industrial wastes used for thermal insulation building materials considering them individually and in composits. It focuses on bio-susceptibility, as one of the main aspects to consider for bio-based building products.

Innovation in structures and construction materials demands a more accurate performance analysis during the life cycle. In addition, climatic changes pose new challenges to civil infrastructures that were not so relevant in the past. In most cases, the traditional test methods cannot accurately assess the complex phenomena involved in durability. The modern and complex factors require a different approach to durability analysis. The purpose of this chapter is to present innovative durability tests on construction materials: wood; rammed earth, cob and unfired blocks; natural stone; bituminous binders and mixtures; and Fibre Reinforced Polymers (FRP) to concrete bonded connections. Most of these tests concern the accelerated simulation of the main phenomena involved in durability performance

Laboratory tests were carried out to define production parameters of innovative eco-efficient composites made up of hazelnut shells as aggregate and a sodium silicate solution as adhesive. The aim was to maximize the content of bio-aggregates and minimize the amount of adhesive, guaranteeing the feasibility of producing samples. Therefore, after preliminary testing, the percentages of hazelnut shells and the sodium silicate solution were kept constant: 70% and 30% of the total volume, respectively. However, the characteristics of the considered composites did not allow the production of uniform samples. The sodium silicate solution was not rapidly absorbed by the bio-aggregates; during the drying process, it was deposited on the bottom side of the samples. The uniformity of the samples is required to guarantee a correct evaluation of their performance and future homogeneous panels. Hence, different production parameters were investigated, such as drying at T

The durability of construction materials is a key concern and can be related to different actions such as weathering conditions outdoors enhanced by climatic change, chemical and biological attack, abrasion, and other conditions of service over time. Frequently, several actions develop simultaneously, making it difficult to reproduce in situ conditions in laboratory. Furthermore, testing to assess durability depends largely on the nature of the material itself or on the way it has been assembled with other materials. The ageing techniques to assess long-term durability performance of construction materials are based on accelerated durability tests, which include, for example, thermal stress, freeze

This paper presents an overview of research carried out to assess the bonding suitability of Portuguese timbers.Most work developed in the last decades has focused Maritime pine timber, due to its traditional use in building construction, good mechanical properties and availability. Untreated, as well as preservative treated Maritime pine have been studied, as its impregnability allows deep treatment suitable for applications in Use Classes 3 and 4.Recent results on bonding preservative treated Maritime pine wood are discussed.Preliminary results regarding other species that are becoming available in the Portuguese market are also presented, as an attempt to reduce pressure on Maritime pine timber as well as to seek more valuable alternatives for their traditional uses.

No presente trabalho apresentam-se os resultados mais relevantes obtidos num programa experimental desenvolvido no LNEC com o objetivo de caracterizar a aderência dos varões nervurados do tipo A500NR SD existentes no mercado, fundamentalmente para melhorar a modelação do comportamento dos elementos de betão armado de zonas críticas de estruturas inseridas em zonas sísmicas.O programa experimental desenvolvido pretende simular as condições de aderência existentes num varão horizontal de uma ligação viga-pilar e tem como principais variáveis varões de dois diâmetros frequentemente utilizados (16 e 25 mm), dois níveis diferentes de área relativa das nervuras (A e B) e duas classes de betão (C1 e C2), ambos representativos do betão utilizado nas construções mais relevantes.Os resultados obtidos quer nos ensaios monotónicos quer nos ensaios cíclicos apontam para um decréscimo da tensão de aderência com o aumento do diâmetro da ordem dos 10%. O aumento da área relativa das nervuras transversais traduz-se num incremento da tensão máxima de aderência da ordem dos 15%, com uma redução do deslizamento que ronda os 15%. Nesse sentido, este estudo propôs que, no caso dos varões com maior área relativa das nervuras, a tensão de aderência máxima possa variar entre 2,35 e 2,65 vezes a raiz quadrada da resistência do betão à compressão e que o patamar onde a tensão de aderência é máxima se situe entre 0,5 e 1,5 mm de deslizamento.Explorou-se também o fenómeno da entrada em cedência da armadura tendo-se concluído que, em provetes que pretendem simular as condições de aderência existentes num varão horizontal de uma ligação viga-pilar, a entrada em cedência da armadura conduz a uma redução da tensão de aderência máxima inferior a 10%, quer regime monotónico quer em regime cíclico.

O presente trabalho de investigação refere-se à conservação de elementos estruturais de madeira medianamente degradados por fungos em edifícios antigos. Propõe-se estudar a compatibilidade entre produtos de tratamento e de consolidação por impregnação, aplicados sequencialmente. A avaliação do processo foi realizada maioritariamente em laboratório e na óptica do desempenho mecânico conjunto da madeira e produtos aplicados, por intermédio de ensaios físico-mecânicos destrutivos e não destrutivos e também por ensaios mecânicos não destrutivos realizados in situ. Foram utilizados produtos comerciais, aplicando-os às espécies de madeira correntemente encontradas nos edifícios antigos da zona de Lisboa: Pinho bravo e Casquinha. Procedeu-se à avaliação mecânica de madeira nova e antiga, em estado são e degradado; ao desenvolvimento de um método de medição da profundidade de penetração de produtos de tratamento; à avaliação da capacidade consolidante de madeira degradada por produtos poliméricos fluidos e à avaliação da sua actuação conjunta, estudada com e sem envelhecimento artificial. Os resultados obtidos indicaram significativos aumentos de capacidade mecânica da madeira degradada, quando submetida a tratamento e consolidação Este trabalho desenvolve, assim, uma proposta de solução para a madeira que não se encontra sã, mas que ainda possui capacidade resistente, não necessitando, por isso, de ser removida. O processo de tratamento e consolidação promove resistência aos agentes biológicos e, simultaneamente, recuperação de alguma resistência mecânica da madeira, conferindo-lhe capacidade para continuar em serviço.

Subterranean termites from the genus Reticulitermes are an important pest ofwood in service throughout southern Europe and elsewhere. For effective termitecontrol with long term protection but minimal environmental damage, newintegrated approaches to termite management are needed. Baiting-based systemsseem to be promising non-traditional methods for termite control, targeting thecolony as a whole. However, control through baiting is only feasible when it isknown that the toxicant can be transferred to all the colonies foraging on theinfested area and also throughout each individual colony. Accordingly, the workdescribed is specifically designed to achieve a better understanding of thedistribution and delimitation of colonies within a population of Reticulitermes,with parallel insights into foraging behaviour and colony organization.Initially, the species/subspecies spectrum present within the notionalReticulitermes group in Portugal was reassessed. It was shown that Reticulitermesgrassei is the only species encountered. Foraging activity was then assessed in anexperimental woodland site over two successive annual cycles, both by thesampling of natural lying dead wood and by a standard baiting grid. R. grasseiseem to select wood with larger diameter, with an apparent preference for materialalready decayed by fungi. Both termite and fungal attack on wood seems to bepromoted by higher moisture levels, such as prevail in larger litter items andduring seasonal rains. Termites were unable to detect and direct their foragingtowards sound wood in laboratory conditions, suggesting that the network ofinfochemical signals is more complex than just volatiles emanating from soundwood. Mark-release-recapture (MRR) was used to delineate foraging groups,which were then allocated to their parent colonies by the use of microsatellitemarkers. The results suggest that resource sharing is a facultative behaviour,specifically when food is not a limiting factor for colony development. Theimplications of all these findings for bait technology and protocols are discussed,with reference to the local population ecology of Reticulitermes.

The project CircularBuild -

Relatório final do projeto PTDC/ECM/099121/2008

O presente trabalho apresenta um projecto de versão portuguesa da Norma Europeia EN 10002-2, e insere-se numa série de estudos programados pelo autor, enquanto coordenador da normalização nacional no domínio dos ensaios mecânicos, físicos e não-destrutivos de materiais metálicos.O texto do projecto de norma apresentado consiste na versão final de uma proposta redigida pelo autor, na sequência dos estudos efectuados ao nível da Comissão Técnica de Normalização competente.

O presente trabalho apresenta um projecto de versão portuguesa da Norma Europeia EN 10002-5, e insere-se numa série de estudos programados pelo autor, enquanto coordenador da normalização nacional no domínio dos ensaios mecânicos, físicos e não-destrutivos de materiais metálicos.O texto do projecto de revisão apresentado consiste na versão final de uma proposta redigida pelo autor, na sequência dos estudos efectuados ao nível da Comissão Técnica de Normalização competente.

O presente relatório descreve a participação do LNEC no programa europeu de intercomparação de calibrações de forças

O presente trabalho apresenta um projecto de revisão da Norma Portuguesa NP 850 (1985)

O presente trabalho apresenta um projecto de revisão da Norma Portuguesa NP 386 (1965)

O presente trabalho apresenta um projecto de revisão das Normas Portuguesas NP 449 (1966)

O presente trabalho apresenta um projecto de revisão da Norma Portuguesa NP 450 (1966)

O presente trabalho apresenta um projecto de Norma Portuguesa relativo ao ensaio de dilatação de anéis de tubos metálicos, e insere-se numa série de estudos programados pelo autor, enquanto coordenador da normalização nacional no domínio dos ensaios mecânicos, físicos e não-destrutivos de materiais metálicos, com a finalidade de preencher lacunas da Normalização Portuguesa neste domínio que a indústria e as instituições ligadas ao controlo da qualidade considerem ser mais urgente colmatar.O texto apresentado consiste na versão final de uma proposta redigida pelo autor, na sequência dos estudos efectuados ao nível da Comissão Técnica de Normalização competente.

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