Projects / Programmes
Structural engineering and building physics
January 1, 2014
- December 31, 2017
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 2.01.03 |
Engineering sciences and technologies |
Civil engineering |
Constructions in civil engineering |
| 2.01.05 |
Engineering sciences and technologies |
Civil engineering |
Building physics |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| T230 |
Technological sciences |
Building construction |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 2.01 |
Engineering and Technology |
Civil engineering |
Researchers (21)
Organisations (1)
Abstract
Appropriate design of structures should ensure adequate safety level and enable proper use of structures at reasonable cost of construction. To support these objectives, the following relevant tasks will be studied:
-Analysis of longitudinally and transversally stiffened curved steel panels that are increasingly used in the bridge construction, although adequately verified design rules are not available.
-Derivation of criteria for the use of low-ductile steel structures in seismic areas which are at the moment not recommended in Eurocode 8.
-Structural robustness is very important for the safety of structures. Although the new generation of technical standards (e.g. Eurocodes) explicitly requires consideration of robustness principles in the design of structures, this approach has not been adopted sufficiently in the Slovenian structural design practice. The influence of accidental loadings on steel and concrete structures will be studied, as well as the response of structures at the serviceability limit state. Workshops for designers will be organized.
-Experimental and theoretical investigations of mechanical and rheological properties of normal and high strength concretes, including also fibre reinforced concretes with different contents of steel and polypropylene fibres.
-Experimental investigations of timber elements and subassemblies reinforced with other materials.
The classical commercial codes for the analysis of materials and structures based on finite element and related methods do not allow implementation of modern, numerically efficient algorithms to solve strongly coupled multi-field problems, problems that require multi-scale analysis and problems where stochastic nature of the physical phenomenon cannot be neglected. In general it turns out that the whole procedure of derivation of numerically efficient equations, their numerical implementation and the final verification of the program code is a costly and time consuming. The basic idea is to improve numerical efficiency with the development of a new generation of highly efficient numerical algorithms based on higher order analytical sensitivity analysis and to apply higher order sensitivity analysis on multi-field, multi-scale and stochastic problems.
In the field of building physics the prevalent attention will be given to exergy analysis: user-building/system-environment. The existing buildings and their renovation are faced with two problems, which are inseparably linked, i.e. high building energy use and unhealthy and uncomfortable conditions as a consequence of one-sided energy efficiency interventions. These two problems are emphasized today also in a series of strategic and legal EU documents (Regulation CPR 305/2001 and Directive EPBDr 108/09). To solve this complex problem, the integral concept of exergy balance model will be designed on the basis of the previous research program. It will treat the processes inside human body in connection with processes in a building.
Significance for science
Structural engineering: The key topics of the research program in the field of structural engineering are coming from the activity of research programme members in relevant international organizations and technical committees (CEN / TC 250/SC2, CEN / TC 250/SC3, ECCS TC8, ECCS T10, ECCS TC13, IABSE, CEB -FIB). These are priority topics that are globally relevant and it is expected that they will find proper international response. This cooperation is especially important in the next future, as the European standards for the design of building structures, Eurocodes, are expected to be revised for the first time.
Numerical modelling: Prof. Jože Korelc is a principal developer of the commercial software systems AceGen and AceFEM for on-demand numerical code generation and finite element analysis. The systems have become principal tools for the development of new numerical methods worldwide. It is expected that within the proposed programme extension of the systems to perform higher order sensitivity analysis and its application the field of multi-field, multi-scale and stochastic analysis will become a basic research tool for the solution of the mentioned problems within the programme group, in Slovenia as well as for the worldwide computational community. Multi-field, multi-scale and stochastic modelling is currently one of the priority themes in the field of computational engineering in EU as well as in national research programs. In particular, improvement of material properties can be achieved by the optimization of material microstructure based on multi-field, multi-scale analysis.
Building physics: On the level of design of the built environment we are facing the existing problems (i.e. high building energy use) and the problems related with indoor quality (i.e. non-stimulating, uncomfortable and unhealthy conditions). The systems for solving the energetic problem are more or less defined, but they operate very discreetly. The field of integral consideration of indoor quality is not included in current systems. The goal of any effective system is to harmonise the functioning of all the elements, and the same applies to the building system. Harmonized system considers building as a whole: the external environment / building fabric / user / internal conditions / energy use / control system. All elements must work in an integrated and complementary way, which can be achieved with the dynamic response of the building and integral control system.
Significance for the country
Structural engineering: Direct impact of the research programme is in the first place visible through the transfer of new knowledge from the academic world to the engineering practice:
-seminars and workshops for engineers on the proper and cost effective use of more demanding design procedures in Eurocode standards or presentation of new design methods and new software tools that support these new methods.
-student diploma works in cooperation with interested companies
-R&D projects for interested companies
-publication of design manuals and other technical publications
The impact on the Slovenian society in general and especially on the field of civil engineering is indirectly reflected through the research results that already have been incorporated in Eurocode standards or are ready to be considered in the next revision and through the care for the extensive set of Eurocode standards in Slovenija (introduction to Slovenia, education of engineers, maintenance …), which enables safe structural design. The programme leader Prof. Darko Beg is chairmen of the SIST Technical Committee for Structures, responsible for Eurocodes. It is important to note that members of the programme group include new knowledge from the research work in their lectures at the University of Ljubljana.
Numerical modelling: Numerical simulations are nowadays basic tool used within high-tech companies for the development of new technologies and products. In general, it turns out that the whole procedure of derivation of numerically efficient equations, their numerical implementation and the final verification of the program code is costly and time consuming. The use of an advanced symbolic-numeric approach for the development of new numerical algorithms reduces the development time and allows researchers to focus more on mechanical phenomena involved and technological requirements. It also has impact on the education process at the post-graduate university level.
Building physics: In Slovenian and the EU strategic objectives a drastic reduction of energy use in the building sector is requested. In addition to interventions at the level of the building envelope, an important complementary area is the area of control systems. Potentials for reduction are in lighting (14% of energy in the tertiary sector is used for lighting, the estimated savings are 30-50%), cooling (by 2020 the use of air-conditioning in buildings will be doubled, the potential for energy consumption reduction is up to 25%), production of green energy, bioclimatic design (up to 60% lower energy consumption). Prerequisite for achieving these goals is a comprehensive consideration of interventions and harmonization, which opens up considerable potential for technological development of integrated management in buildings. Directly measurable impact is energy efficiency, while indirect effects, which have a significantly higher impact on GDP, are higher productivity and healthier population.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2014,
2015,
2016,
final report
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2014,
2015,
2016,
final report
