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Practical limitations of single-span ultra-high performance concrete beams
(Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2013)
Since its development in the early 1970's, researchers have continued to push the limits of concrete mixtures through the creation of ultra-high performance concretes. The use of this class of materials has allowed designers ...
Structural assessment of the Guastavino Masonry Dome of the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine
(Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2013)
Historic masonry structures have survived many centuries so far, yet there is a need to better understand their history and structural safety. This thesis applies structural analysis techniques to assess the Guastavino ...
Damping optimization using transfer function criteria
(Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2013)
Seismic performance has become a key point in the design of every type of structures. Even the simplest buildings need protection in areas of high seismic activity.However,there is no method defined!by codes or general ...
Evaluating the use of particle-spring systems in the conceptual design of grid shell structures
(Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2013)
This thesis evaluates particle-spring systems as conceptual design tools in an effort to create efficient grid shell structures. Currently many simulation tools are available to create representations of intricate geometries ...
On-site construction versus prefabrication
(Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2013)
The question this thesis tries to answer is "How does one decide whether or not to use prefabrication in a project?" Since this is a broad question, we focus on a more specific topic: "How does one decide whether or not ...
High-performance braces for seismic design
(Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2013)
The fundamental challenge for the structural engineer in designing earthquake-resistant structures is to design buildings with both adequate ductility and sufficient stiffness. Traditional lateral force resisting systems ...
Investigating the durability of structures
(Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2013)
The durability of structures is one of primary concerns in the engineering industry. Poor durability in design may result in a structure losing its performance to the extent where structural integrity is no longer satisfied ...
Seismic retrofit of precast panel buildings in Eastern Europe
(Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2013)
Many countries in Eastern Europe, particularly ones from the former Soviet Bloc, are facing a potential crisis regarding their deteriorating precast panel apartment buildings. These complexes were built using industrial ...
Detection of defects in FRP-reinforced concrete with the acoustic-laser vibrometry method
(Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2013)
Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) strengthening and retrofitting of concrete structural elements has become increasingly popular for civil infrastructure systems. When defects occur in FRP-reinforced concrete elements at the ...
Topology optimization of building bracing schemes
(Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2013)
The thesis presents a technique for producing economical solutions for conventional structural steel frames using topology optimization on the lateral bracing scheme. The study focuses mainly on minimizing the amount of ...