Sveučilište u Splitu - Fakultet građevinarstva, arhitekture i geodezije University of Split - Faculty of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Geodesy

According to recent scientific findings, a significant contributor to the development of weathering is the process of differential suction and induced differential swelling, which occurs in unsaturated conditions. Differential suction comes as a result of capillary effects in voids of the material and it is closely related to slaking of the material. The consequences of differential swelling are development of tensile and shear stresses that cause weathering. Therefore, the aim of this project is to investigate and simulate the mechanisms of weathering from the aspect of suction, and to link the acquired new findings with the significant previous research carried out at the Faculty.

The shear strength and deformability in unsaturated conditions for the given degree of suction, and the characteristic SDSWCC curves (Stress Dependent Soil Water Characteristic Curve) will be determined by sophisticated testing equipment on still unexamined soft rock material from the Croatian coastal area. At the same time all “accompanying” tests, including physical, mechanical, mineralogical and petrological, will be carried out and new and existing databases will be linked. Full experimental programme will be carried out on approximately 30 specimens.

The obtained results will be incorporated into the existing numerical model (Plaxis) and into additionally developed new numerical model based on a discrete approach, which will include the fracture mechanism in geomaterials in unsaturated flow conditions. This will significantly improve the knowledge of weathering mechanisms in geomaterials and enable sustainable project solutions.

A newly formed research group with the necessary resources provides additional value of the project.

The primary objective of the project is creation and experimental verification of an innovative concept for reducing seismic forces acting on low and middle high buildings by using aseismic layer made of natural materials below foundation. Two solutions of such layer are planned. The intention is to make an efficient, rational and easy-to-implement concept, with its wide practical application. First, the effectiveness of the planned aseismic layers would be experimentally tested on the model of a rigid building, by varying several their technical - technological parameters, in order to transfer seismic acceleration (force) on the building as less as possible. The first aseismic layer is predicted as consisted only of natural stone pebbles, and the other of the natural stone pebbles in combination with a thin layer of a "sliding" material.

Afterwards, the behaviour of real buildings with the above mentioned non-seismic layers would be experimentally tested under different earthquakes. Simplified reduced models of buildings that simulate their dynamic characteristics well would be used. Four one-degree models with different stiffness would be tested to simulate the behaviour of buildings with different stiffness. The same building models would be tested for the case without the aseismic layer, in order to verify the effectiveness of the predicted seismic isolation.

If the results of the study would confirm expectations, the proposed concept of seismic isolation would have the following advantages compared to conventional seismic isolation using discrete, technically complex and expensive systems: rationality, simplicity, sustainability, market expansion, eligibility for poorer countries, etc. One of the objectives of the project is the development of numerical models for reliable seismic analysis of planar structures with the planned seismic isolation, as well as the proposal of simple engineering expressions for the calculation of the shear strength capacity and deformability of the aseismic layer.

It is believed that the successful implementation of the proposed project would provide a valuable contribution to the development of science and practice in the concerned area.

The purpose of the project is to develop new creep models applicable to new types of steel and aluminium alloys and to conduct the analysis of the influence of creep strain on the behaviour of steel and aluminium columns. The modern European structural codes (Eurocode) treat existence of creep strain implicitly, using a modified material behaviour model, which has proven inadequate according to very recent research for all of possible heating scenarios. The first part of the project is the development of a reliable creep model for steel and aluminium that will exist both in an analytical form and in the form of a rheological model. A creep model validated on the basis of coupon tests conducted on the modern steel and aluminium alloys currently used in construction would be used as a tool for analyzing the load-bearing capacity of the columns selected for testing within the proposed project.

Furthermore, the behaviour of steel and aluminium columns under the influence of high temperature creep is currently an open research area in the scientific community, since very few fire tests have been conducted on steel columns which could induce substantial creep development and the corresponding failure modes. Consequently, the second part of the project is to conduct successful testing of steel and aluminium columns. This part would also give a reliable answer to the question of the significance of the influence of creep strain on the load-bearing capacity, as well as elucidating the issue of particular combinations of loading and heating scenarios in which creep strain leads to significant consequences. The final results and conclusions covering the project’s deliverables would also be utilized to define a new set of rules for the design and analysis of steel and aluminium structures which have a high risk of being exposed to the effects of creep strain when exposed to fire.

All parts of the Water Supply system will be studied: water intake on the Jadro spring, route and elements of the aqueduct (channel, bridges and tunnels), water distribution tanks, lead pipe network and water appliances, together with water quantity and quality issues. The study of sewage will consider wastewater and storm water drainage, as well as protection from external surface water and groundwater. Besides those, methods, materials and techniques used by Roman engineers to establish an efficient urban Water System, indispensable for the life and health of the citizens, will be analyzed and compared with modern system. The study will be based on collecting all data regarding explored elements of the Water System and on new archaeological excavations financed by this project. The existing topographic and architectonic surveys will be summarized and supplemented by new ones which will enable reconstruction of the whole system and elements. The project team is multidisciplinary and gathers civil engineers, architects and archaeologist. Apart from new knowledge about planning, building and maintaining Roman Water Systems, this project will give the necessary data to protect elements of the system from devastation, to make a proper presentation and even to put some elements in use.