SEMINAR - 1. The behaviour of steel structures when subjected to hazard loads, namely impact and blast loads. 2. Sustainability assessment of buildings and infrastructures (bridges)


Part 1 - New dynamics loads regarding the adaptation to the effects of Climate changes – The behaviour of steel structures when subjected to hazard loads, namely impact and blast loads. Part 2 – Sustainability - sustainability assessment of buildings and infrastructures (bridges).

January 27, 2023 - 3:00pm-4:00pm

Part 1 - New dynamics loads regarding the adaptation to the effects of Climate changes – The behaviour of steel structures when subjected to hazard loads, namely impact and blast loads
Global climate change has led to extreme events (high tides, storm surges and floods) resulting in severe consequences for coastal areas and communities. In addition, the increasing terrorist attacks on unprotected targets has resulted in efforts to develop infrastructure that acts as protective barriers. Resistant wall protection to blast requires a precise blast information.
Sandwich panel solutions have been used for a wide range of applications, namely façade and roofing systems, temporary protection of public spaces or multi-purpose interior walls. These portable systems provide adaptability to the spaces; they have been designed for safety and resistance to permanent, transient and accidental actions such as fire.
Here is presented a framework of the research already done related to these metallic structural systems and their applicability. Since they have enormous potential to be multifunctional, able to protect critical infrastructures (as already been used by oil and gas sector) and mitigate the extreme climatic effects. The research under development pretends to propose a design of new kind of lightweight multi-layer sandwich structure with improved mechanical properties and high blast resistance.

Part 2 – Sustainability - sustainability assessment of buildings and infrastructures (bridges).
The objective of this presentation is to provide an overview on the concepts inherent to perform a sustainability assessment of buildings and bridges. A detailed description of the concepts inherent to Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) and their application to case studies are presented. Traditionally, buildings and bridges are constructed so as to minimise their initial costs and the operation and end-of-life phases are assumed to be of little significance in comparison to their construction. However, according to sustainability concepts, all phases of the structure's life cycle must be taken into account.
This assessment allows, in a quick and intuitive way, the determination of the environmental, economic and social impacts, making it easier to make rational decisions about the possibilities and variations that the dimensioning may have in these three dimensions of sustainability.

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