The importance of critical infrastructures and strategic planning in the context of extreme events, climate change and urbanization has been underscored recently in international policy frameworks, such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Sendai -HABITAT 2016). This paper outlines key research challenges in addressing the nexus between extreme weather events, critical infrastructure resilience, human vulnerability and strategic planning. Using a structured expert dialogue approach (particularly based on a roundtable discussion funded by the German National Science Foundation (DFG)), the paper outlines emerging research issues in the context of extreme events, critical infrastructures, human vulnerability and strategic planning, providing perspectives for inter-and transdisciplinary research on this important nexus. The main contribution of the paper is a compilation of identified research gaps and needs from an interdisciplinary perspective including the lack of integration across subjects and mismatches between different concepts and schools of thought.
Surface application of distributed fiber optic sensors for bridge monitoring Concerning the ageing infrastructure and the lack of capacities for repairs and new constructions, it is necessary at present and in the future to develop methods to extend the service life of infrastructure structures with design and structural deficits. One approach is to use monitoring systems for condition monitoring of the structure and early damage detection. Further develop ments in distributed fiber optics show the possibility of monitoring bridge structures up to the entire span. For this purpose, surface applications for the use of distributed fiber optics as permanent monitoring for crack detection and monitoring on existing bridges in solid construction were investigated at the University of Stuttgart in cooperation with the engineering office Schömig-Plan, Kleinostheim/Stuttgart. The application was installed and examined in field tests under practical boundary conditions.
SUMMARYSeismic performance of exterior beam-column subassemblages of reinforced concrete structure designed and detailed on the basis of the provisions of Eurocode and Indian Standards at different stages of their evolution is evaluated. Performance of the subassemblages designed and detailed according to the three different stages of codal evolution (gravity load design, 'Nonductile', and 'Ductile') is evaluated through analytical formulations and experimental investigations. In the 'NonDuctile' specimens, it has been observed that the shear distortion and degradation in stiffness and strength are significantly high. Performance of the 'Ductile' specimens based on Eurocode and Indian Standards is almost similar in terms of strength and stiffness degradation. Nevertheless, the specimen designed on the basis of Indian Standard shows higher energy dissipation at a given drift ratio. In the analytical study, shear and flexural failure of members of subassemblage and shear failure of the joint are considered as possible modes of failure of the beam-column subassemblage. For evaluating the shear strength of the joint region, a soften strut-and-tie model is used. Analytically obtained strengths based on the failure criteria of different components of the specimens have been first validated with experimental results and then used to determine the strength of the specimens. The investigation could indicate even the mode of failure at local level. It is utmost important to mention here that even the ductile specimens dissipate most of the energy through the development of damage in the joint region, which is neither desirable nor safe for the stability of whole structure.
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