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10th Anniversary of Applied Sciences Invited Papers in Civil Engineering Section

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A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Civil Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2020) | Viewed by 40921

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Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Eugene J. OBrien

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Guest Editor

School of Civil Engineering, University College Dublin, D04 V1W8 Dublin, Ireland
Interests: bridge health monitoring and assessments; weigh-in-motion; sensor-based monitoring; structural dynamics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Applied Sciences has achieved a major milestone this year: It is the 10th anniversary of the journal. To celebrate this special occasion, we are launching a Special Issue featuring leading authors in Civil Engineering. It will be known as “The 10th Anniversary of Applied Sciences Invited Papers in the Civil Engineering Section”.

This Special Issue will consist of original research articles and comprehensive reviews. It will feature major advances in all areas of Civil Engineering. Authors who are well-known experts in their fields of study are invited to submit their contributions for this Special Issue up to the end of December 2020. The submitted papers can cover either experimental or theoretical aspects, or both, of all branches of Civil Engineering and its subdisciplines. Subject areas include (but are not limited to): Structural Engineering, Geotechnics, Hydrology, Environmental Engineering, and Transportation.

We invite you to contribute a comprehensive review article or an original research paper for peer-review and possible publication in this Special Issue to commemorate the publication this year of the 10th volume of Applied Sciences.

Prof. Dr. Eugene J. OBrien
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Published Papers (11 papers)

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Editorial

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3 pages, 164 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

10th Anniversary of Applied Sciences Invited Papers in Civil Engineering Section

by Eugene J. OBrien

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(13), 5918; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app11135918 - 25 Jun 2021

Viewed by 1590

Abstract

Applied Sciences has achieved a major milestone this year: it is the 10th anniversary of the journal [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10th Anniversary of Applied Sciences Invited Papers in Civil Engineering Section)

Research

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30 pages, 2666 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Minimal GBT Model for Distortional-Twist Elastic Analysis of Box-Girder Bridges

by Francesca Pancella and Angelo Luongo

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(6), 2501; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app11062501 - 11 Mar 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1668

Abstract

A simple and efficient method is proposed for the analysis of twist of rectangular box-girder bridges, which undergo distortion of the cross section. The model is developed in the framework of the Generalized Beam Theory and oriented towards semi-analytical solutions. Accordingly, only two modes are accounted for: (i) the torsional mode, in which the box-girder behaves as a Vlasov beam under nonuniform torsion, and, (ii) a distortional mode, in which the cross section behaves as a planar frame experiencing skew-symmetric displacements. By following a variational approach, two coupled, fourth-order differential equations in the modulating amplitudes are obtained. The order of magnitude of the different terms is analyzed, and further reduced models are proposed. A sample system, taken from the literature, is considered, for which generalized displacement and stress fields are evaluated. Both a Fourier solution for the coupled problem and a closed-form solution for the uncoupled problem are carried out, and the results are compared. Finally, the model is validated against finite element analyses. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10th Anniversary of Applied Sciences Invited Papers in Civil Engineering Section)

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20 pages, 3296 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

A Multiobjective Decision-Making Model for Risk-Based Maintenance Scheduling of Railway Earthworks

by Irina Stipanovic, Zaharah Allah Bukhsh, Cormac Reale and Kenneth Gavin

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(3), 965; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app11030965 - 21 Jan 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3986

Abstract

Aged earthworks constitute a major proportion of European rail infrastructures, the replacement and remediation of which poses a serious problem. Considering the scale of the networks involved, it is infeasible both in terms of track downtime and money to replace all of these assets. It is, therefore, imperative to develop a rational means of managing slope infrastructure to determine the best use of available resources and plan maintenance in order of criticality. To do so, it is necessary to not just consider the structural performance of the asset but also to consider the safety and security of its users, the socioeconomic impact of remediation/failure and the relative importance of the asset to the network. This paper addresses this by looking at maintenance planning on a network level using multi-attribute utility theory (MAUT). MAUT is a methodology that allows one to balance the priorities of different objectives in a harmonious fashion allowing for a holistic means of ranking assets and, subsequently, a rational means of investing in maintenance. In this situation, three different attributes are considered when examining the utility of different maintenance options, namely availability (the user cost), economy (the financial implications) and structural reliability (the structural performance and subsequent safety of the structure). The main impact of this paper is to showcase that network maintenance planning can be carried out proactively in a manner that is balanced against the needs of the organization. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10th Anniversary of Applied Sciences Invited Papers in Civil Engineering Section)

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20 pages, 5961 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparative Accuracy Analysis of Truck Weight Measurement Techniques

by Sylwia Stawska, Jacek Chmielewski, Magdalena Bacharz, Kamil Bacharz and Andrzej Nowak

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(2), 745; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app11020745 - 14 Jan 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3872

Abstract

Roads and bridges are designed to meet the transportation demands for traffic volume and loading. Knowledge of the actual traffic is needed for a rational management of highway infrastructure. There are various procedures and equipment for measuring truck weight, including static and in weigh-in-motion techniques. This paper aims to compare four systems: portable scale, stationary truck weigh station, pavement weigh-in-motion system (WIM), and bridge weigh-in-motion system (B-WIM). The first two are reliable, but they have limitations as they can measure only a small fraction of the highway traffic. Weigh-in-motion (WIM) measurements allow for a continuous recording of vehicles. The presented study database was obtained at a location that allowed for recording the same traffic using all four measurement systems. For individual vehicles captured on a portable scale, the results were directly compared with the three other systems’ measurements. The conclusion is that all four systems produce the results that are within the required and expected accuracy. The recommendation for an application depends on other constraints such as continuous measurement, installation and operation costs, and traffic obstruction. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10th Anniversary of Applied Sciences Invited Papers in Civil Engineering Section)

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19 pages, 4994 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Wavelet-Based Optimum Identification of Vehicle Axles Using Bridge Measurements

by Hua Zhao, Chengjun Tan, Eugene J. OBrien, Nasim Uddin and Bin Zhang

Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(21), 7485; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app10217485 - 24 Oct 2020

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2226

Abstract

Accurate vehicle configurations (vehicle speed, number of axles, and axle spacing) are commonly required in bridge health monitoring systems and are prerequisites in bridge weigh-in-motion (BWIM) systems. Using the ‘nothing on the road’ principle, this data is found using axle detecting sensors, usually strain gauges, placed at particular locations on the underside of the bridge. To improve axle detection in the measured signals, this paper proposes a wavelet transform and Shannon entropy with a correlation factor. The proposed approach is first verified by numerical simulation and is then tested in two field trials. The fidelity of the proposed approach is investigated including noise in the measurement, multiple presence, different vehicle velocities, different types of vehicle and in real traffic flow. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10th Anniversary of Applied Sciences Invited Papers in Civil Engineering Section)

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19 pages, 12390 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Numerical Evaluation of Structural Hot-Spot Stress Methods in Rib-To-Deck Joint of Orthotropic Steel Deck

by Nouman Iqbal, Heng Fang, Ahsan Naseem, Muhammad Kashif and Hans De Backer

Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(19), 6924; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app10196924 - 02 Oct 2020

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3323

Abstract

This study numerically investigates the limitations of structural hot-spot stress (SHSS) methods and proposes a guideline for the calculation of hot-spot stresses, which can be used for the better evaluation of fatigue-related problems. Four different SHSS evaluation methods have been applied to the rib-to-deck (RD) welded joint in orthotropic steel deck (OSD). These methods are used to calculate SHSS at this critical joint utilizing finite element analyses (FEA) based software Siemens NX.12. The limitations and the accuracy of these methods have been observed under different element types and meshing techniques. Moreover, the effect of the nodal-averaging feature is being studied. Two types of governing stresses are produced by the application of Eurocode fatigue load model-4. Essentially, the bending in deck-plate produces highly non-linear stress at the deck-toe, and the membrane effect in rib-plate generates linear stress at the rib-toe. Guidelines are proposed considering different parameters on these two stress states by applying SHSS evaluation methods. In comparison to other SHSS approaches, the International Institute of Welding (IIW) quadratic stress extrapolation (QSE) method shows better results for solid single-element, and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) through thickness stress linearization (TTSL) method stands out in solid cubic-mesh technique. In general, shell elements have more consistent SHSS results as compared to solid elements for both stress states. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10th Anniversary of Applied Sciences Invited Papers in Civil Engineering Section)

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14 pages, 1141 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Global Warming Potentials Due to Railway Tunnel Construction and Maintenance

by Sakdirat Kaewunruen, Jessada Sresakoolchai and Shuonan Yu

Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(18), 6459; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app10186459 - 16 Sep 2020

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 4078

Abstract

Global warming is a critical issue nowadays. Although the railway system is considered as green transportation, it cannot be denied that railway tunnels have a significant environmental impact during construction and maintenance. At the same time, asset management of a project becomes more popular in project analysis. Therefore, this study aims to analyse life-cycle cost (LCC) and life-cycle assessment (LCA) for the Xikema No. 1 high-speed railway tunnel in China to consider the environmental impact of rail tunnel construction. The initial capital costs of tunnel and rail construction, operation, and maintenance costs have been separately considered in terms of the life-cycle cost analysis and net present value (NPV) with various discount rates. The LCA analysis has presented the CO₂ emissions and energy consumption over the construction and operation processes into consideration. The CO₂ emissions and energy consumption caused by material production, maintenance, and material transportation have been accounted for. The results show that the materials used during the construction process contribute to about 97.1% of CO₂ emissions of the life-cycle while CO₂ emissions caused by the operation and maintenance process are relatively small compared with the construction process. Moreover, the maintenance process consumes over 55% of the life-cycle energy. The energy consumption of the tunnel construction process is approximately 44.3%. At the same time, the construction contributes to the main proportion of LCC due to relatively low cost in the operation and maintenance stages. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10th Anniversary of Applied Sciences Invited Papers in Civil Engineering Section)

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17 pages, 6317 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Development and Testing of a Railway Bridge Weigh-in-Motion System

by Donya Hajializadeh, Aleš Žnidarič, Jan Kalin and Eugene John OBrien

Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(14), 4708; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app10144708 - 08 Jul 2020

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3413

Abstract

This study describes the development and testing of a railway bridge weigh-in-motion (RB-WIM) system. The traditional bridge WIM (B-WIM) system developed for road bridges was extended here to calculate the weights of railway carriages. The system was tested using the measured response from a test bridge in Poland, and the accuracy of the system was assessed using statically-weighed trains. To accommodate variable velocity of the trains, the standard B-WIM algorithm, which assumes a constant velocity during the passage of a vehicle, was adjusted and the algorithm revised accordingly. The results showed that the vast majority of the calculated carriage weights fell within ±5% of their true, statically-weighed values. The sensitivity of the method to the calibration methods was then assessed using regression models, trained by different combinations of calibration trains. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10th Anniversary of Applied Sciences Invited Papers in Civil Engineering Section)

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23 pages, 5526 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Application of Modal-Displacement Based Design Method to Multi-Story Timber Blockhaus Structures

by Martina Sciomenta, Vincenzo Rinaldi, Chiara Bedon and Massimo Fragiacomo

Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(11), 3889; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app10113889 - 03 Jun 2020

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2620

Abstract

Structures under seismic excitation undergo different inter-story drift levels that can be associated to damage of both structural and non-structural elements, and thus to the expected losses. The Modal-Displacement Based Design (DBD) procedure, in this regard, has been developed to fix major issues of Force Based Design (FBD) approaches, thus to design multi-story buildings in which the inter-story drift can allow one to control damage mechanisms. In this paper, the conventional Modal-DBD methodology is applied to multi-story timber buildings constructed using the Blockhaus technology. Given their intrinsic geometrical and mechanical features (i.e., stacking of logs, door/window openings, gaps and friction mechanisms, etc.), dedicated methods of analysis are required for them, compared to other wooden structures. A three-story case-study Blockhaus system of technical interest is thus presented for the assessment of Modal-DBD calculation steps. As shown, special care must be spent for the selection of convenient inter-story drift limits that in general should reflect the characteristics of the examined structural typology. The backbone parameters are thus collected for each shear-wall composing the 3D Blockhaus building, based on refined Finite Element (FE) analyses of separate log-walls. The overall results of the Modal-DBD process are thus finally assessed by means of a Push-Over (PO) analysis, carried out on a simplified 3D FE model of the examined multi-story structure. The comparison of FE predictions, as shown, demonstrates that reliable estimates can be obtained when the Modal-DBD procedure is applied to timber Blockhaus systems. In particular, base shear loads can be estimated with good accuracy, while the corresponding top displacements are slightly overestimated (with up to +10%–14% the expected values, for the collapse prevention performance level). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10th Anniversary of Applied Sciences Invited Papers in Civil Engineering Section)

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Review

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31 pages, 1400 KiB

Open AccessReview

Uptake and Dissemination of Multi-Criteria Decision Support Methods in Civil Engineering—Lessons from the Literature

by Michael Bruen

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(7), 2940; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app11072940 - 25 Mar 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4094

Abstract

The SCOPUS and Wed of Science bibliometric databases were searched for papers related to the use of multi-criteria methods in civil engineering related disciplines. The results were analyzed for information on the reported geographical distribution of usage, the methods used, the application areas with most usage and the software tools used. There was a wide geographical distribution of usage with all northern hemisphere continents well represented. However, of the very many methods available, a small number seemed to dominate usage, with the Analytic Hierarchy Process being the most frequently used. The application areas represented in the documents found was not widely spread and mainly seemed to be focused on issues such as sustainability, environment, risk, safety and to some extent project management, with less usage on other areas. This may be due to individual engineer’s choices in relation to if and how to disseminate the results of their work and to their choice of keywords and titles that determine if their publications are selected in bibliographic searches and thus more visible to a wider readership. A comparison with more topic focused searches, relating to Bridge Design, Earthquake Engineering, Cladding, Sewage Treatment, Foundation design, Truss design, Water Supply, Building Energy, Route selection and Transport mode showed very different results. Analysis of the papers in this area indicated that the full range of supporting software available for multi-criteria decision analysis (many listed in this paper) may not be fully appreciated by potential users. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10th Anniversary of Applied Sciences Invited Papers in Civil Engineering Section)

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31 pages, 6124 KiB

Open AccessReview

New Trends Towards Enhanced Structural Efficiency and Aesthetic Potential in Tall Buildings: The Case of Diagrids

by Domenico Scaramozzino, Giuseppe Lacidogna and Alberto Carpinteri

Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(11), 3917; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app10113917 - 05 Jun 2020

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 8990

Abstract

Due to the increasing number of people and activities within the cities, tall buildings are exploited worldwide to address the need for new living and commercial spaces, while limiting the amount of used land. In recent decades, the design of tall buildings has undergone a remarkable improvement, thanks to the development of new computational tools and technological solutions. This has led to the realization of innovative structural systems, like diagrids, which allow the achievement of high structural performances and remarkable architectural effects. In this paper, a thorough and updated review of diagrid structural systems is provided. Simplified methodologies for the preliminary design and structural analysis are reported. Special attention is also paid to the optimization of the structural response based on the geometrical pattern. A discussion of the effect of local deformability, stability and shear-lag phenomenon is carried out. Results from nonlinear and dynamic analyses for the seismic assessment of diagrid systems are reported, and attention is also paid to the recent research on diagrid nodes. Eventually, an overview of twisted, tapered, tilted and freeform diagrid towers is carried out, with a final mention of hexagrids, another recent evolution of tubular systems for tall buildings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10th Anniversary of Applied Sciences Invited Papers in Civil Engineering Section)

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