Artigos de Revista

The external envelope of buildings with reinforced concrete structures (RCS buildings) is subjected to environmental actions, particularly related to wind-driven rain (WDR), external humidity variations, and rising dampness, which can cause significant variations in moisture content to their unreinforced masonry (URM) infill walls, mainly associated to water penetration across that envelope. The consequent moisture transfer across the envelope can change the mechanical response of the URM infill walls and lead to their cracking, which could aggravate the referred water penetration, with a subsequent increase in the risk of building envelope degradation. In reverse, the effects of mechanical loads on moisture transfer across that envelope can be also relevant, in terms of change in the moisture content of these URM infill walls. The aim here is to analyze this type of mutual effect between moisture transfer and mechanical response in URM infill walls of RCS buildings. Essential elements about the characteristics of moisture transfer across URM infill walls and of the interface resistance with moisture flows are summarily described, and the essential evaluation of the mechanical behavior of URM infill walls when subjected to moisture variations is carried out. Moisture transport characteristics are discussed, focusing on analyses of the behavior of masonry elements when subjected to moisture variations. An initial assessment of the mechanical behavior of URM infill walls when subjected to different moisture variations is made through a compression test of a brick masonry specimen with variable moisture content. Following that analysis, an evaluation is made of the moisture transfer in URM infills, as well as the influence of the interface between layers in that moisture transfer and, subsequently, an assessment is made of hygromechanical couplings. Finally, elements for prevention about the causes of degradation of URM infill related to humidity and mechanical actions in the RCS building envelope are discussed.

Early Warning Systems are crucial disaster-risk-reduction strategies as they allow local authorities to prepare and implement in advance the necessary measures to avoid major destruction and risk for individuals and properties caused by storm events. HIDRALERTA is a forecast, early warning and risk assessment system for port and coastal areas that uses forecasts of sea waves and water levels to evaluate overtopping/flooding events and risks associated with the mooring of ships. The distinguishing feature of this system is that the risk assessment is based on specific parameters related to the actual risk being predicted, such as overtopping discharges, or the ship

In this study, performance of an oscillating water column wave energy converter inserted into a hypothetical composite breakwater with rubble mound foundation located at the southern Brazilian coast is analyzed. The FLUENT® numerical model, which is based on the Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes equations, is used in 2D numerical simulations by adopting the Volume of Fluid method to consider the two-phase flow (water and air). The influence of the rubble mound foundation on the pneumatic power, the run-up/down, the free surface elevation inside the chamber, and the energy balance for different incident waves are investigated. The rubble mound foundation of the composite breakwater slightly affected hydrodynamics; however, it reduced significantly the pneumatic power of the device from 7 to 15% comparing with that obtained to a vertical breakwater founded on an impermeable foundation.

The structural rehabilitation of historic/traditional rubble masonry wall constructionsrequires consolidation and retrofitting solutions to be employed in order to withstand dynamic loads,high vertical loads, and differential settlements. One of these strengthening techniques is basedon the use of steel bar connectors perpendicular to the wall, considered individually or integratedinto more complex strengthening techniques. The aim of this study is to evaluate numerically thestrengthening effect of transverse steel connectors on rubble masonry walls. With this purpose, a 2Dparticle-reinforced model (2D-PMR) was devised and applied to model uniaxial compression tests.The results presented show that predictions calculated using the proposed 2D-PMR model are veryclose to known experimental results, particularly in the corresponding failure modes, the increase ofthe maximum uniaxial compression value, and ductility. Parametric studies are also conducted byvarying the diameter of the steel bars and the level of strengthening to assess the influence of thebar-bond effect and lateral plates. The presented parametric numerical studies show that (i) a two-level strengthening solution guarantees a similar response to the three-level strengthening solutionadopted in the experiments; (ii) it is not relevant to apply a grout injection during the applicationprocess of the steel connectors if lateral plates are adopted; and (iii) the 2D-PMR model can be usedin the definition of the steel bar diameter and properties; as shown, a smaller (8 mm) bar diameterpredicts a similar strengthening effect to the (12 mm) bar size adopted in the experiments. Given theperformance of the proposed 2D-PMR model, further work is underway that will allow the 2D-PMRmodel to numerically assess other reinforcement techniques, namely, reinforced micro-concrete layersand textile reinforced mortar.

Scientific publications depict science as an orderly endeavour and the epitome of rationality. In contrast, scientific practice is messy and not strictly rational. Here, I analyze this inconsistency, which is recurrent, and try to clarify its meaning for the functioning of science. The discussion is based on a review of relevant literature and detailed analysis of the role of each of the three intervening elements, the scientist, his/her practice and the scientific publication, with an emphasis on the circular mode of the latter

Sustainability aims to integrate environmental and social considerations into decision making, alongside purely economic factors, in a balanced manner. Here, a concise critical review of policy instruments concerning the definition and implementation of this concept is presented. The sources were selected as the most relevant to capturing the origins and evolution of the idea of sustainability from the 1960s to the present day. The analysis narrows down to the construction sector within the European Union (EU), of which the perspective guides the work. As it emerges, the historical path led to the materialization of the sustainability concept into the UN

O presente texto integra um conjunto que se deseja coeso de notas de leitura, de reflexão e de comentário globalmente referidas ao perspetivar de uma futura habitação mais amiga dos idosos e bem integrada e participada, desenvolvendo-se num conjunto de

Grounded on public sensorization initiatives to monitor the Lisbon's mobility system as a whole, the Integrative Learning from Urban Data and Situational Context for City Mobility Optimization (ILU) research project was initially designed as a means of providing decision support tools for the city of Lisbon to advance towards sustainable mobility. This paper reviews a significant number of research outcomes developed in the scope of the ILU project that are aligned with the envisaged goal. These are comprehensively analyzed through an integrated framework to identify how different theories and methods anchored in data science and transport planning were applied to the different datasets of the public transport services.

Post-insulating existing buildings is a promising solution for reducing operational CO2 emissions from the European built environment. Nonetheless, its efficacy is unclear when traditional and historic massive walls are considered, especially in Southern Europe.This study employs a validated and calibrated dynamic hygrothermal simulation model to assess indoor comfort and energy demands in a public library with thick stone masonry walls and intermittent occupation, considering three Southern European climates: Porto, Lisbon, and Bologna. Five insulation materials, including three thermal mortars and two conventional materials (Hydrophobic Mineral Wool and Expanded Polystyrene), are compared using internal and external insulation solutions. Thin insulation systems (4 cm) with moderate thermal resistance (Rt = 0.3