Deployable structures have the capacity to transform and predictably adopt multiple predetermined configurations, moving through known paths, while deploying in a controlled and safe way. These characteristics introduce benefits when considering issues such as ease of transportation, erection and the overall sustainability of the structure by means of high material efficiency, modularisation and maximum use of natural energy resources. The aim of this article is to provide a critical review of existing attempts at classifying deployable structures identifying connections between different families through their mechanical and structural behaviours. The classifications selected consider theoretical and applied deployable structures, not focusing on a single application of deployable structures but including those ranging from spatial applications, to temporary and disaster relief structure, through to medical applications, providing coherence where terminology varies between applications. In order to gain a consistent understanding, tree diagrams were created for the review/classification to allow drawing commonalities and establishing differences between authors. A chronological approach was adopted, using key review work as focal points for the timeline, complemented by smaller more specific pieces of work. This enabled the identification of common features and divergences between the different authors, bringing to the conclusion that a clear, comprehensive, consistent and unified classification of deployable structures is currently missing within the field.
Water monitoring results of the Danjiangkou Reservoir indicated that total nitrogen and total phosphorus concentrations are high and therefore worse than required for central drinking water supplies. Nutrients including nitrogen and phosphorus accumulated in the bank cultivated land were greater than those contained within the river estuary sediment as well as in the reservoir bay sediment. This implies that high concentrations of loosely exchangeable phosphorus (166.53 mg/kg) in cultivated land could, after the completion of the dam heightening project, easily lead to the development of algal blooms. Serious water and soil loss occurring in the reservoir area will promote the transportation of non-point source pollution mainly caused by untreated agricultural domestic wastewater, chemical fertilizer and livestock farming, which accounted for more than 50% of the total basin's nutrient input loads. Ecological control techniques were therefore the first choice for nutrient reduction and water quality guarantee in the Danjiangkou Reservoir. In order to guide the ecological restoration process, leading international ecological methodologies were summarized and compared, taking into consideration aspects of engineering, as well as ecological, biological, environmental and economic advantages and disadvantages. Finally, novel ecological filtration and a purification dam were designed for eutrophication control.
Background: Cognitive Muscular TherapyTM (CMT) is an integrated behavioural intervention developed for knee osteoarthritis. CMT teaches patients to reconceptualise the condition, integrates muscle biofeedback and aims to reduce muscle overactivity, both in response to pain and during daily activities. This nested qualitative study explored patient and physiotherapist perspectives and experiences of CMT.Methods: Five physiotherapists were trained to follow a well-defined protocol and then delivered CMT to at least two patients with knee osteoarthritis. Each patient received seven individual clinical sessions and was provided with access to online learning materials incorporating animated videos. Semi-structured interviews took place after delivery/completion of the intervention and data were analysed at the patient and physiotherapist level.Results: Five physiotherapists and five patients were interviewed. All described a process of changing beliefs throughout their engagement with CMT. A framework with three phases was developed to organise the data according to how osteoarthritis was conceptualised and how this changed throughout their interactions with CMT. Firstly, was an identification of pain beliefs to be challenged and recognition of how current beliefs can misalign with daily experiences. Secondly was a process of challenging and changing beliefs, validated through new experiences. Finally, there was an embedding of changed beliefs into self-management to continue with activities. Conclusion:This study identified a range of psychological changes which occur during exposure to CMT. These changes enabled patients to reconceptualise their condition, develop a new understanding of their body, understand psychological processes, and make sense of their knee pain.
This paper investigates the structural behaviour of a twelve-storey Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) building subjected to sudden removal of internal and external ground floor loadbearing walls, and computes the probability of disproportionate collapse. Analyses are carried out at three different structural idealisations, accounting for feasibility and complexity of finite elements models to understand their performance at: i) the global, ii) the component, and iii) the connection level. Focus is devoted on force and deformation-demands obtained from nonlinear dynamic analyses of the building. The demands are compared against the supply from common CLT panel sizes and the rotational stiffness (k) of the joints, detailed with off-the-shelf angle brackets and self-tapping screws. The study demonstrates that the applied forces and deformations required to develop resistance mechanisms are too large to be supplied by the proposed element and connection designs, if an internal ground floor wall is removed. The considered building has a probability of failure as high as 32% if designed without considerations of the complexities associated with disproportionate collapse. Consequently, to resist the effects of internal wall removal, the floors need to be redesigned and improved structural detailing with sufficient strength, stiffness, and ductility is necessary to trigger collapse resistance mechanisms.
Parametric and computational design play a major role in contemporary architecture and engineering. Designers need no longer conform to predetermined shapes and sections, but are given freedom to explore new geometries and structural forms. An example of how an organic process can be employed to finding the solution to a design problem is presented. Topology optimization is studied to suggest different alternatives for the creation of an open and functional internal tower structure in an educational building.
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