Effect of vertical load difference on cracking behaviors in multistory masonry buildings and numerical simulation

To investigate the causes qf cracks in multistory masonry buildings, the effect of vertical load difference on cracking behaviors was investigated experimentally by testing and measuring the displacements at the testing points of a large sized real masonry U-shaped model. Additionally, the cracking behaviors in U-shaped model were analyzed with shear stress and numerical simulated with ANSYS software. The experimental results show that the deformation increases with the increase of the vertical load. The vertical load results in different deformation between the bearing wall and non-bearing wall, which leads to cracking on the non-beating wall. The rapid deformation happens at 160 kN and cracks occur firstly at the top section of non-bearing wall near to the bearing wall. New cracks are observed and the previous cracks are enlarged and developed with the increase of vertical load. The maximum crack opening reaches 12 mm, and the non-bearing wall is about to collapse when the vertical load arrives at 380 kN. Theoretical analysis indicates that the shear stress reaches the maximum value at the top section of the non-bearing wall, and thus cracks tend to happen at the top section of the non-bearing wall. Numerical simulation results about the cracking behaviors are in good agreement with experiments results.

Simulations of Heat and Moisture Conditions in a Retrofit Wall Construction with Vacuum Insulation Panels

Vacuum insulation panels provide unprecedented possibilities for renovating the existing building stock in a manner that reduces the thermal losses through the building envelope. This study is focused on the implementation of VIPs （vacuum insulation panels） in energy retrofit projects with rendered outer walls. Particular emphasis is put on reducing the thermal bridges due to mechanical fasteners and at the joints of the panels. These are evaluated through a parametric study of the impact of the thermal conductivity of the joints of the panels and the adjacent insulation layer as well as the material of the fasteners. The study is carried out with 3D FEM （finite element method） simulations software. Furthermore, the moisture conditions in the construction are studied. The dynamic moisture behavior of a wall construction is modeled with a two dimensional FEM model. The long term effects of vapor diffusion are investigated in terms of accumulated moisture and the risk of condensation. The results illustrate that vacuum insulation on the outside of the wall construction does not pose a moisture problem to the construction. The simulations are based on a draft of a new technical solution for the refurbishment of a building that is typical for the great Swedish building program of the 1970s.

Structural Analysis Programme Based on the Equivalent Column＇s Method

The focus of this article is to accomplish a program using MatLab software, which will determine the global behavior of the structure, the stress, stability and frequency of the tall building with ＂n＂ levels. The program starts with the global analyses based on the equivalent column theory. The central core consists of reinforced concrete shear walls of the elevator＇s tubes and of the staircase, design to resist the lateral loads. Applying the equivalent column＇ s theory, the bracing system will be replaced by an equivalent column, considered to be a vertical cantilever fixed at the base and the loads will be applied in the shear center axis. The program using mathematical and physical relations, has as input dates the geometrical and stiffness characteristics of the plan of the building and as output dates the critical load, the fundamental frequency, the maximum stresses and deformations of the structure.