Whispers from the depths is more than just the story of the building of the Kariba Dam in the mid-1950s. Built in just five years against overwhelming odds, the dam is a monument to engineering excellence. Shrouded in political undertones, the construction of the dam was vital for the hydro-electric power it would provide for Zambia’s burgeoning copper industry. Little thought, however, appears to have been given to the future of the human and animal populations who lived in the valley that would be inundated when the dam was completed. The question has to be asked: Was this awe-inspiring man-made creation achieved at too high a cost in terms of the human suffering and environmental devastation it caused? Central to the story of Kariba was the fate of the Tonga people who had for centuries lived in the Gwembe valley, due to be flooded when the sluice gates were finally closed to halt the flow of the mighty Zambezi River. Approximately 57 000 people were forced to move from their ancestral homes, abandoning family graves and spiritual sites to the depths of Kariba's water. They became a dispersed people who have never been able to reunite as a cohesive society, never again been able to live peacefully on the banks of the river which gave them life. Animals, too, perished in their thousands despite the gallant efforts of wildlife personnel who mounted a hastily planned rescue mission known as Operation Noah. Whispers from the depths gives a voice to the all but forgotten BaTonga. It celebrates their unique culture but deplores the price they paid for progress – a price from which they themselves derived no benefit whatsoever.

The preservation of heritage architecture is a cultural objective rigorously pursued by communities and nations wishing to promote their history, civilisation and aesthetic achievements. Structures built in the remote past by traditional methods have suffered the consequences of extreme loading events, such as earthquakes, over long time periods. Retrofitting is an approach based on recent technological developments and scientific knowledge, whereby modern construction methods and materials are applied to the repair and strengthening of historical structures. This book aims to inform on current retrofitting techniques, their application to various types of historical architecture and their effectiveness to fulfil their purpose. Retrofitted structural forms covered in the book vary widely from age old places of worship, such as churches, mosques and temples, as well as castles and palaces to more modern, distinguished private residences or public buildings, some of them designed by well known architects. Their methods of construction range from traditional, such as stone or brick masonry to more recent textile block systems and even reinforced concrete frameworks.Reference is made to detailed visual inspections of damaged structure providing valuable insight into possible causes of failure; such inspections are usually combined with material characterisation which is an essential input to numerical modelling for assessing the behaviour of the structure before and after retrofitting. The book describes strengthening techniques for masonry walls including re-pointing, injection grouting and the use of steel ties. The use of reinforced concrete is proposed in the form of cast-in-place walls, jackets or tie-beams; that of carbon fibre reinforced laminates for strengthening walls and slabs. Innovative use of materials, such as shape memory alloys, self-compacting concrete or thin lead layers is also suggested. Particular attention is given to methods for moderating the consequences of destructive earthquakes. Seismic energy absorbing devices and base isolation systems are two effective means of providing protection against future seismic events although their application is often met with many technical challenges in practice.Retrofitting of Heritage Structures: Design and evaluation of strengthening techniques will be of interest to members of academic institutions, government or private cultural preservation establishments and specialist consultant engineers. The book contains very practical, technical advice on many issues; this would be of considerable interest to construction companies specialising in repairs and maintenance of historical structures.

This book addresses the challenge of reforming defense and military policy-making in newly democratized nations. By tracing the development of civil-military relations in various new democracies from a comparative perspective, it links two bodies of scholarship that thus far have remained largely separate: the study of emerging (or failed) civilian control over armed forces on the one hand; and work on the roots and causes of military effectiveness to guarantee the protection and security of citizens on the other. The empirical and theoretical findings presented here will appeal to scholars of civil-military relations, democratization and security issues, as well as to defense policy-makers.

Composite materials are a major growth area within advanced materials and the range of applications for such products continues to grow and increase in diversity with every new development. Composite products are highly in demand and reached sales of $21.2 billion globally in 2014. The top three market segments in 2014 were transportation, construction, pipes, and tanks. Other segments include energy, automotive, and aerospace. This state-of-the-art book has been written by high-profile authors who have extensive experience and knowledge in the field of composite materials. The chapters in this collection would be useful for a wide range of audience: undergraduate and post-graduate students students, industrial professionals, materials scientists and researchers, and composite manufacturers. This book provides the reader with a wide range of information in the interdisciplinary subject area of composite materials. The book consists of thirteen chapters. It deals with two types of nanocomposites: graphene and carbon nanotube reinforced nanocomposites, their manufacturing, properties and applications. It also presents fibre reinforced composites and a comprehensive review of bio-composites. Furthurmore, it has a focus on thermal, mechanical and electrical properties of advanced composite materials.

The book presents eight well-known and often used algorithms besides nine newly developed algorithms by the first author and his students in a practical implementation framework. Matlab codes and some benchmark structural optimization problems are provided. The aim is to provide an efficient context for experienced researchers or readers not familiar with theory, applications and computational developments of the considered metaheuristics. The information will also be of interest to readers interested in application of metaheuristics for hard optimization, comparing conceptually different metaheuristics and designing new metaheuristics.

This book is intended to serve as a compendium on the state-of-the-art research in the field of locomotives and rail road transport. The book includes chapters on different aspects of the subject from renowned international experts in the field. The book looks closely at diesel engine locomotives and examines performance, emissions, and environmental impact. The core topics have been categorised into four groups: general topics, efficiency improvement and noise reduction, alternate fuels for locomotive traction, and locomotive emission reduction and measurement. The book offers an excellent, cutting-edge resource for researchers working in this area. The book will also be of use to professionals and policymakers interested in locomotive engine technologies and emission standards.

Reinforced Concrete Structures.- Restrained Imposed Deformations versus Loads.- Reinforced Concrete Building Design - The State of the Current Limits.- Review of Coarse Softening Analysis of Framed Concrete Structures.- Moment Redistribution in Reinforced Concrete Structures.- Elastic Rational Analysis and Tests of Unbraced Concrete Frames.- On Shear Failure of R/C Thin-Webbed Beams Limit and Evolutive Analyses: A Close Contest.- Loading on Concrete Structures During Construction.- Comparison of Fixed and Rotating Crack Models in Shear Design of Slender Concrete Beams.- 'Clean' Physical Model of Cracked Reinforced Concrete Plane Element.- Abstract from the Supporting Document of Eurocode 2 on Non Linear Analysis.- Experimental Research of Reinforced Concrete Columns Behaviour under the long-term Eccentric Normal Force.- Modelling Impact Loading of Reinforced Concrete Structures.- Prestressed Concrete Structures.- Tendon Stress in Unbonded Partially Prestressed Concrete Beams.- On the Choice of Prestressing Percentage in PPC Elements.- Stress at Ultimate in Unbonded Prestressing Tendons by Strain Compatibility.- Stresses and End Cracks in Anchorage Zones of Post-Tensioned Prestressed Concrete Beams.- Fatigue Resistance of Post-Tensioned Cables in Partial Prestressing.- Aseismic Prestressed Concrete Structures with Confined Concrete.- Structural Optimization.- Procedural and Declarative Aspects of Optimum Structural Design.- Two Notes on Structural Optimization.- Reliability-Based Structural Optimization Research at the University of Colorado: A Brief Retrospective 1983-1991.- Design Optimization of Civil Engineering Structures: A Retrospective.- Approximations for Structural Optimization.- Optimal Plastic Design of Imperfect Frame Structures.- Nonlinear Material Behaviour.- Consistent Finite Element Models for Elastic Plastic Kirchhoff Plates.- Variational Formulations of the Linear Viscoelastic Problem with General Viscous Kernels.- Application of Strain Energy in the Characterization of Non-Linear Polymeric Materials.- Incremental Elastic-Ziegler Kinematic Hardening Plasticity Formulations and an Algorithm for the Numerical Integration with an 'A Priori' Error Control.- Large Plastic Deformation of Short Tubes and Rings.- Mathematical Expressions of Non-Linear Behaviors in Structural Mechanics.- Structural Engineering.- The Degree of Restraint - A Useful Concept for Practical Stability Analysis (columns, frames, bars on elastic foundations, shells).- Expert Systems in Design of Structures: An Application to Bridges.- Reliability of Flexibly-Connected Steel Frames in Sway.- Safety Level Selection using Social Indicators.- Static Behavior of a Bearing Brick Wall Leaning on Localized Supports: A Case Study Concerning the Consolidation Project of the S. Faustino Convent in Brescia.- The Mesh Description for Structural Analysis by Mathematical Programming.- Partial Reliability Factors for Material Properties.- The Influence of the Basic Parameters on the Load Bearing Behaviour of Cable Stayed Bridges.

This book is a plea for a sympathetic approach to the conservation and repair of traditional stone buildings. These beautiful buildings are in danger of disappearing from the landscape because they are not yet properly understood. Here is a book about saving them by applying traditional techniques in a sympathetic manner, using materials and methods that are in harmony with their nature. Patrick McAfee, a stone-mason, conservation consultant and author of the bestselling Irish Stone Walls, shows how traditional stone buildings were originally constructed; he outlines the traditional techniques, tells how the stone was worked and details the proper methods of repair and maintenance. As well as dealing with stone, the book also covers lime mortars and other traditional finishes. Includes a survey of stone buildings world-wide. Much of the information is practical, hands-on, and intended for the enthusiastic householder as well as the more experienced builder, with step-by-step instructions from an acknowledged expert.

A key problem facing the construction industry is that all work is done by transient project teams, and in the past there has been no structured approach to learning from projects once they are completed. Now, though, the industry is adapting concepts of knowledge management to improve the situation.

This book brings together 13 contributors from research and industry to show how managing construction knowledge can bring real benefits to organisations and projects. It covers a wide range of issues, from basic definitions and fundamental concepts, to the role of information technology, and engendering a knowledge sharing culture. Practical examples from construction and other industry sectors are used throughout to illustrate the various dimensions of knowledge management. The challenges of implementing knowledge management are outlined and the ensuing benefits highlighted.

This book presents a selection of the best papers from the HEaRT 2015 conference, held in Lisbon, Portugal, which provided a valuable forum for engineers and architects, researchers and educators to exchange views and findings concerning the technological history, construction features and seismic behavior of historical timber-framed walls in the Mediterranean countries. The topics covered are wide ranging and include historical aspects and examples of the use of timber-framed construction systems in response to earthquakes, such as the gaiola system in Portugal and the Bourbon system in southern Italy; interpretation of the response of timber-framed walls to seismic actions based on calculations and experimental tests; assessment of the effectiveness of repair and strengthening techniques, e.g., using aramid fiber wires or sheets; and modelling analyses. In addition, on the basis of case studies, a methodology is presented that is applicable to diagnosis, strengthening and improvement of seismic performance and is compatible with modern theoretical principles and conservation criteria. It is hoped that, by contributing to the knowledge of this construction technique, the book will help to promote conservation of this important component of Europe's architectural heritage.

This book summarizes the technical advances in recent decades and the various theories on rock excavation raised by scholars from different countries, including China and Russia. It not only focuses on rock blasting but also illustrates a number of non-blasting methods, such as mechanical excavation in detail. The book consists of 3 parts: Basic Knowledge, Surface Excavation and Underground Excavation. It presents a variety of technical methods and data from diverse sources in the book, making it a valuable theoretical and practical reference resource for engineers, researchers and postgraduates alike.

This thesis explores the use of travel plans for new residential developments as a tool for managing car use and encouraging the use of more sustainable forms of transport. It provides coverage of the scale of travel planning practice for new developments, industry perspectives on their development and implementation, and an assessment of their quality and effectiveness. It combines implementation theory and planning enforcement theory to identify opportunities to enhance the effectiveness of travel plans for new residential developments and to guide future travel planning practice. This thesis is useful and will appeal to both researchers and practitioners involved in transport planning for new residential developments.

This book gathers the latest advances, innovations, and applications in the field of building design and construction, as presented by researchers and engineers at the International Conference BUILDINTECH BIT 2020, Innovations and Technologies in Construction, held in Belgorod, Russia, on October 8-9, 2020. It covers highly diverse topics, including building materials, industrial and civil construction, structural mechanics and theory of structures, computational methods and IT in construction, organization and technologies of construction production. The contributions, which were selected by means of a rigorous international peer-review process, highlight numerous exciting ideas that will spur novel research directions and foster multidisciplinary collaborations.

Ensuring current and future architecture is both successfully and sustainably produced is critical for cities and communities to not only survive but thrive. Additionally, improving built environment practices is necessary to protect the world as well as its various populations. Further study on the current challenges and future directions of sustainable architecture is required in order to create a stronger, healthier society. Contemporary Issues, Challenges, and Opportunities in Sustainable Architecture discusses the role of architecture and the built environment on communities, ecology, and society; relevant issues related to the production of sustainable built environments; and the socio-cultural integration aspects of innovative architectural designs in urban settings. The book also addresses heritage practices, responses to climate action, and technology applications. Covering key topics such as energy efficiency, urban green spaces, and sustainable solutions, this reference work is ideal for policymakers, architects, industry professionals, researchers, scholars, academicians, practitioners, instructors, and students.

This volume shines a new light on short fibre reinfoced cementitious composites and particle reinforced ceramics. It offers insight from various disciplines like civil engineering, material sciences and micro-mechanics, and collects 9 experimental, numerical and theoretical studies written by top researchers in composite concrete science. The book presents the outcome of the EUROMECH 582 colloquium "Short Fibre Reinfoced Cementitious Composites and Ceramics" held 20 - 22 March 2017, Tallinn, Estonia.

This book presents state-of-the-art, essential methods and tools for flood risk assessment and management. The costs of damage caused by extreme weather events, among which floods are a major category, are rapidly rising, both globally and across Europe. The scope and scale of flood episodes point to the need for comprehensive proposals, including the implementation of flood protection measures in areas exposed to flood risk. This book is dedicated to flood damage assessment, and addresses the management of social, economic and environmental damage. It develops a general methodology for flood risk assessment and presents a range of effective flood protection methods in keeping with the objectives of flood risk management. As such, it offers a valuable resource for young researchers, academics, lecturers and water management practitioners alike.

This book presents new approaches to security risk analysis and scenario building on the basis of water works such as flood barriers and storm surge barriers. Defending flood barriers is not only important because of climate change and rising sea levels, but also due to the vulnerability of fresh water supplies and the increasing number of people living in vulnerable low-lying river and sea deltas.

Marine Concrete Structures: Design, Durability and Performance comprehensively examines structures located in, under, or in close proximity to the sea. A major emphasis of the book is on the long-term performance of marine concrete structures that not only represent major infrastructure investment and provision, but are also required to operate with minimal maintenance. Chapters review the design, specification, construction, and operation of marine concrete structures, and examine their performance and durability in the marine environment. A number of case studies of significant marine concrete structures from around the world are included which help to reinforce the principles outlined in earlier chapters and provide useful background to these types of structures. The result is a thorough and up-to-date reference source that engineers, researchers, and postgraduate students in this field will find invaluable.

3rd edition. Describes the Bureau of Reclamation's experience in the design and construction of dams and control works. Illustrated throughout.

This book combines comprehensive multi-angle discussions on fully connected and automated vehicle highway implementation. It covers the current progress of the works towards autonomous vehicle highway development, which encompasses the discussion on the technical, social, and policy as well as security aspects of Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CAV) topics. This, in return, will be beneficial to a vast amount of readers who are interested in the topics of CAV, Automated Highway and Smart City, among many others. Topics include, but are not limited to, Autonomous Vehicle in the Smart City, Automated Highway, Smart-Cities Transportation, Mobility as a Service, Intelligent Transportation Systems, Data Management of Connected and Autonomous Vehicle, Autonomous Trucks, and Autonomous Freight Transportation. Brings together contributions discussing the latest research in full automated highway implementation; Discusses topics such as autonomous vehicles, intelligent transportation systems, and smart highways; Features contributions from researchers, academics, and professionals from a broad perspective.

This book expands the body of scientific knowledge on research and solutions for alternative water systems. It addresses a wide variety of water management issues in buildings, ranging from the technical possibilities, hydraulic and financial efficiency, and public acceptance of decentralized water systems, to their impact on sewage systems. Climate changes, population growth, and progressive urbanization are the main causes of the growing interest in alternative sources of water around the world. Decentralized systems are seen not only as solutions that can effectively save water, but also as systems that can operate partially or completely independently of centralized suppliers. With these aspects in mind, the main focus of this book is on showcasing a new approach to water management at the building scale. The findings and insights presented here will support the development of future technical guidelines for using alternative water systems in urban areas - an aspect that is particularly important since, in many European countries, these systems are only very rarely used.