Today, the need for structural strengthening is more important than ever. Flexural strengthening with textile reinforced concrete (TRC) is a recommendable addition to already proven methods. In order to use this strengthening method in construction practice, a design model is required. This article gives a brief overview of the basic behavior of reinforced concrete slabs strengthened with TRC in bending tests as already observed by various researchers. Based on this, a design model was developed, which is presented in the main part of the paper. In addition to the model, its assumptions and limits are discussed. The paper is supplemented by selected application examples to show the possibilities of the described strengthening method. Finally, the article will give an outlook on open questions and current research.

No abstract

Summary:Approximately one quarter of all accidents outside city limits occur while driving around curves, where assistance systems could prevent the driver from negotiating curves with excessive speed. This study argues that the parameterizing of a Driving Assistant System could be realized with data from realistic, noncritical driving behavior offered by Naturalistic Driving Studies. The Driver Performance Database presented in this study provides a tool for observing normal, noncritical driving behavior. The Database contains results from road tests with an instrumented vehicle that were carried out on public road traffic on a predetermined route, which was precisely measured in advance. In addition to vehicle state parameters, we also collected data concerning the driving environment and physiological information. With the Driver Performance Database it is possible to generate different facets of human driving behavior in a descriptive and normative way, which is illustrated by driver behavior in curve negotiation.

No abstract

The measurement of 3D coordinates using optical techniques is well known for more than 50 years. Today, modern photogrammetric systems are based on handheld digital cameras and are used to identify the location of any circular marker or feature on the object's surface. The ease of use and the accurate and automated derivation of 3D coordinates from 2D digital images helped to establish a powerful tool for position control, assembly checks and reverse engineering. A new application is the analysis of real vehicle crashes. The location of hundreds of markers on the damaged vehicle can easily be determined in vehicle body position. These coordinates are being compared to the undeformed geometry and provide herby 3D information on any displacement. Using reverse engineering techniques, surfaces are created from the 3D points and thus a 3D model of the crashed vehicle is available for an easy visualization of the deformation.