Rebuilding After Disasters: From Emergency to Sustainability

Disasters are not natural. Natural events such as earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, etc. become disasters because of the fragile relations that exist between the natural, human and built environments. Sadly, major disasters will always occur in towns and cities in the developing world where resources are limited, people are vulnerable and needs are particularly great. The prevailing state of emergency challenges thoughtful and sustainable planning and construction. Yet it is possible, in theory and in practice, to construct them in a way that provides a sustainable environment and improved conditions for current and future generations.
Rebuilding After Disasters emphasizes the role of the built environment in the re-establishment of lives and sustainable livelihoods after disasters. Expert contributors explain the principal challenges facing professionals and practitioners in the building industry.

This book will be of great value to decision makers, students and researchers in the fields of architecture, social sciences, engineering, planning, geography, and disaster recovery.

SEISMIC INVERSE Q FILTERING

Theoretical and Numerical Unsaturated Soil Mechanics

The event is a continuation of the series of International Conferences on Unsaturated Soils in Germany. The first International Conference was held during September 2003 in Bauhaus-University Weimar, Weimar, Germany. The current event is the second one in the series entitled “Mechanics of Unsaturated Soils.” The primary objective of the Conference has been to discuss and understand unsaturated soil behaviour such that engineered activities are made better with times in terms of judgement and quality. We all realise by now that in addition to the knowledge on the classical concepts, it becomes an enormous challenging task to adapt convincing new concepts and present them in such a way that it could be used in engineering practices. During the last six years or so (2001–2007), scientific research works were extensively taken up by five scientific research teams from five German universities, whose scientific leaders are Wolfgang Ehlers (Universität Stuttgart), Jens Engel (HTW Dresden), Rainer Helmig and Holger Claas (Universität Stuttgart), Tom Schanz (Bauhaus Universität Weimar), Christos Vrettos, Helmut Meissner and Andreas Becker (Universität Kaiserslautern). The research studies involved theoretical and numerical approaches along with experimental studies on unsaturated soils. These two volumes present recent research findings obtained within this collaboration by the above research groups along with excellent contributions from several research groups throughout the World.

Guide to the Design and Application of BBR FRP Strengthening Systems

This document offers a guide to the design and application of BBR FRP materials used in the strengthening of concrete and timber structures. It addresses strengthening by the application of carbon fibre reinforced polymers (CFRP), aramid fibre reinforced polymers (AFRP) and glass fibre reinforced polymers (GFRP) to the external parts of structural elements, both by bonding to the external surface and/or bonding within slots cut in the surface layers of the substrate.
BBR Systems Ltd has produced this manual for use by its BBR subsidiaries and licensees worldwide. The information contained herein has been researched from a number of references and is considered current as at the date given at the bottom of this page. As the use of FRPs is the subject of a large number of on-going research programmes around the world, conditions pertaining to their usage may vary from time to time.
BBR Systems Ltd does not warrant the correctness of the material provided in this manual and shall not be liable for any special, incidental, consequential, indirect or any damages whatsoever, which arise out of any breach of warranty, breach of contract, tort, strict liability or any other cause of action. The successful application and use of this manual is the sole responsibility of the user and is dependent on the application of sound judgement by a qualified Engineer who has a thorough understanding of structural mechanics and material behaviour, especially as it relates to reinforced concrete. The user of the manual must ensure that the design procedure adopted is relevant for use on the intended application and must select appropriate values suitable for the specific application. Reference to an appropriate set of Design Recommendations is essential (either the German General Guidelines, The UK Concrete Society Design Guidance TR55, the fib bulletin 14 or the draft ACI 440 Recommendations would be appropriate documents for this purpose). Any design carried out must comply with the relevant Codes of Practice for the country concerned.
The manual is not to be relied on as the sole basis for design. Procedures contained in the manual, if adopted, imply that the user acknowledges and agrees to the terms of usage outlined above and further implies that the user understands the manual has been prepared to supplement the user’s knowledge on this specialised subject. Any implied or expressed warranties covering this manual, including any warranties of fitness for particular purpose and warranties with respect to effect or result of the application of the manual to specific strengthening work and any warranties with respect to the completeness or effectiveness of the repair or strengthening for which the manual was used is expressly excluded.
It is envisaged that Chapters 6, 7 & 8 will be upgraded regularly as the divergence of opinion which exists between current guidelines comes closer together. The material contained therein should be taken as introductory at this stage.

DETAIL - FACADEs

A BREVIARY OF SEISMIC TOMOGRAPHY

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DETAIL - BAMBOO GERMAN CHINA PAVILLION article

Physics of Tsunamis

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