Projects / Programmes
Development, modelling and optimization of structures and processes in civil engineering and traffic
January 1, 2009
- December 31, 2012
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 2.01.00 |
Engineering sciences and technologies |
Civil engineering |
|
| 2.19.00 |
Engineering sciences and technologies |
Traffic systems |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| T2 |
Technological sciences |
T2 |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 2.01 |
Engineering and Technology |
Civil engineering |
Development, modelling, optimization, civil engineering, traffic, information sciences, construction, building, traffic infrastructure, non-linear programming, NLP, mixed-integer non-linear programming, MINLP
Researchers (20)
Organisations (1)
Abstract
The research program is dealing with development, modelling and optimization of structures and processes in civil engineering and traffic. The optimization is performed with Non-linear Programming (NLP) and Mixed-Integer Non-linear Programming (MINLP). While NLP performes a continuous optimization of structural parameters, MINLP executes a combined continuous-discrete optimization, which in addition gives essentially better results. The research is applied in two different areas: civil engineering (T 002) and traffic (T 003).
Different methods, strategies and computer codes for the modelling and optimization of structures and processes in civil engineering and traffic are under development. Optimization methods, particularly different strategies, are under development for the optimization of large-scaled real systems. The optimization models for structures, buildings, traffic infrastructures and of traffic are modelled.
In the civil engineering area, the optimization models for some typically and most frequently used truss structures, frames and bridges from steel, concrete, timber and composite material are under development. The optimization is performed in the direction of the minimization of structure mass and production costs. The construction process is also taken in the consideration. The buildings are this in way fully optimized from roof to the foundation. In the calculation process are simultaneously calculated: a structural topology (an optimal number and a configuration of structural elements), optimal materials, shape as well as standard and rounded dimensions.
The optimization of the process and the maintenance of the traffic infrastructure as well as the optimization of the traffic system request use of multicriterial synthesis, which enables the containment of criteria that are not possible to be evaluated numerically. A special attention is given to the initiation and the valuation of measures of the national and European traffic policies on the optimization of the system with the simultaneous consideration of the criteria and principles of the sustainable development as well as the economics of the traffic system.
The information sciences in civil engineering demonstrate a high integration of all the above mentioned activities. Usage of computers in civil engineering has long tradition, but due to the use of computers in a nonchangeable or olf-fashioned organization schemes, the information technology in civil engineering can not bring the progress as expected. The researchers in the area of the information sciences thus develop new organization schemes from which it is possible to optimize structures, buildings, the construction process and the traffic infractructure such that the potentials of new informatic technologies are fully exploited.
Significance for science
This research program, which was performed in the years from 2009 to 2012, significantly contributed to the development of science in the fields of effective modeling and optimization of structures (steel and wooden truss beams, different composite ceiling systems and multistory steel frames), reinforcements and panel walls, as well as in the fields of construction informatics and traffic engineering. The results of the research are evident from scientific achievements of the program team.
Significance for the country
Owing to substantial increases in the emissions of greenhouse gases, environmental issues have lately strongly gained in importance. Our program team therefore concentrated on the development of a model for optimal energy-efficient prefabricated wooden-glass structures with an increased proportion of glazing at a south facade. The most important results of extensive parametric studies were successfully implemented in practice, i.e. in the design of projects commissioned by manufacturers of prefabricated single-family houses (projects for the company Lumar IG and Marles houses) and by municipal administrations for the design of multi-purpose and public facilities (projects for the municipalities of Destrnik and Podlehnik). Bearing in mind the importance of raising professional and general public awareness, we presented our findings at three international conferences entitled "Energy efficiency in architecture and construction" to which eminent experts from abroad were invited with the aim of helping us implement their experience in Slovenia. During the beginning phase of the research program, similarly to other countries, the first ideas about implementing alternative types of roundabouts began to emerge in Slovenia, too. The idea of a roundabout with the spiral course of the circulatory carriageway (short a “turbo” roundabout) has been transferred extremely fast also into Slovenia (some three years after the emergence of the first such roundabout in the world). In developing and adapting this type of a roundabout to Slovenian circumstances the members of the program team played a decisive role. Up to the present, eleven roundabouts of this type have been constructed in Slovenia, and two years ago our country was the only one (besides the Netherlands) to have such a roundabout. Throughout the research, alternative types of roundabouts were developed. One of them (a “flower”' roundabout) was patented in the course of the project, and the application for the patent for the second one (a “target roundabout”) is in the final phase.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2009,
2010,
2011,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2009,
2010,
2011,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
