This is the proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Strain-Hardening Cement-Based Composites (SHCC4), that was held at the Technische Universitat Dresden, Germany from 18 to 20 September 2017. The conference focused on advanced fiber-reinforced concrete materials such as strain-hardening cement-based composites (SHCC), textile-reinforced concrete (TRC) and high-performance fiber-reinforced cement-based composites (HPFRCC). All these new materials exhibit pseudo-ductile behavior resulting from the formation of multiple, fine cracks when subject to tensile loading. The use of such types of fiber-reinforced concrete could revolutionize the planning, development, dimensioning, structural and architectural design, construction of new and strengthening and repair of existing buildings and structures in many areas of application. The SHCC4 Conference was the follow-up of three previous successful international events in Stellenbosch, South Africa in 2009, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2011, and Dordrecht, The Netherlands in 2014.

This book gathers 23 papers by top experts from 11 countries, presented at the 3rd Houston International Forum: Concrete Structures in Earthquake. Designing infrastructures to resist earthquakes has always been the focus and mission of scientists and engineers located in tectonically active regions, especially around the "Pacific Rim of Fire" including China, Japan, and the USA. The pace of research and innovation has accelerated in the past three decades, reflecting the need to mitigate the risk of severe damage to interconnected infrastructures, and to facilitate the incorporation of high-speed computers and the internet. The respective papers focus on the design and analysis of concrete structures subjected to earthquakes, advance the state of knowledge in disaster mitigation, and address the safety of infrastructures in general.

This volume consists of 52 peer-reviewed papers, presented at the International Conference on Sustainable Design and Manufacturing (SDM-19) held in Budapest, Hungary in July 2019. Leading-edge research into sustainable design and manufacturing aims to enable the manufacturing industry to grow by adopting more advanced technologies, and at the same time improve its sustainability by reducing its environmental impact. The topic includes the sustainable design of products and services; the sustainable manufacturing of all products; energy efficiency in manufacturing; innovation for eco-design; circular economy; industry 4.0; industrial metabolism; automotive and transportation systems. Application areas are wide and varied. The book will provide an excellent overview of the latest developments in the Sustainable Design and Manufacturing Area.

This book is mainly based on the results of the EU-funded UE-FP7 Project EnCoRe, which aimed to characterize the key physical and mechanical properties of a novel class of advanced cement-based materials incorporating recycled powders and aggregates and/or natural ingredients in order to allow partial or even total replacement of conventional constituents. More specifically, the project objectives were to predict the physical and mechanical performance of concrete with recycled aggregates; to understand the potential contribution of recycled fibers as a dispersed reinforcement in concrete matrices; and to demonstrate the feasibility and possible applications of natural fibers as a reinforcement in cementitious composites. All of these aspects are fully covered in the book. The opening chapters explain the material concept and design and discuss the experimental characterization of the physical, chemical, and mechanical properties of the recycled raw constituents, as well as of the cementitious composite incorporating them. The numerical models with potentialities for describing the behavior at material and structural level of constructions systems made by these composites are presented. Finally, engineering applications and guidelines for production and design are proposed.

Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials in Construction (COST Action NORM4Building) discusses the depletion of energy resources and raw materials and its huge impact not only on the building market, but also in the development of new synthetic building materials, whereby the reuse of various (waste) residue streams becomes a necessity. It is based on the outcome of COST Action TU 1301, where scientists, regulators, and representatives from industry have come together to present new findings, sharing knowledge, experiences, and technologies to stimulate research on the reuse of residues containing enhanced concentrates of natural radionuclides (NORM) in tailor-made building materials. Chapters address legislative issues, measurement, and assessment of building materials, physical and chemical aspects, from raw materials, to residues with enhanced concentrations of natural radionuclides (NORM), processes, building products containing NORM, and end-of-life and reuse requirements.

Structural Resilience in Sewer Reconstruction: From Theory to Practice provides engineers with a balanced mixture of theory and practice. Divided into three parts, structural resilience is introduced, along with different methods and theories that are needed to assess sewerage networks. The authors begin with a general overview of resilience and lessons learned, then present a comprehensive review of resilience theories in key fields of study. The book also introduces major analysis techniques and computational methods for resilience assessment, also highlighting sewer reconstruction projects carried out in Tokyo, including the reconstruction and development process for construction methods, renovation materials and technical inventions. The structural resilience considerations incorporated in various stages of development are discussed in detail. Computational examples for assessing structural resilience in the renovated sewer system in Tokyo are also shown, with final chapters summarizing structural resilience theories and areas for future study.

This book presents a new approach to building renovation, combining aspects of various professional disciplines, integrating green building design, structural stability, and energy efficiency. It draws attention to several often-overlooked qualities of buildings that should be comprehensively integrated into the context of building renovation. The book presents an overview of the most important renovation approaches according to their scope, intensity, and priorities. Combining basic theoretical knowledge and the authors' scientific research it emphasizes the importance of simultaneous consideration of energy efficiency and structural stability in building renovation processes. It simultaneously analyses the effects of various renovation steps related to the required level of energy efficiency, while it also proposes the options of building extension with timber-glass upgrade modules as the solution to a shortage of usable floor areas occurring in large cities. This book offers building designers and decision makers a tool for predicting energy savings in building renovation processes and provides useful guidelines for architects, city developers and students studying architecture and civil engineering. Additionally, it demonstrates how specific innovations, e.g., building extensions with timber-glass modules, can assist building industry companies in the planning and development of their future production. The main aim of the current book is to expose various approaches to the renovation of existing buildings and to combine practical experience with existing research, in order to disseminate knowledge and raise awareness on the importance of integrative and interdisciplinary solutions.

This book presents an approach to energy-efficient building design, which takes into account the most important challenges in climate change mitigation and adaptation in Southern Europe. It outlines a specific approach related to residential buildings and their intergenerational and vulnerable occupants, such as ageing population and users in fuel poverty. It also focuses on the use of passive energy measures throughout the year, and on pursuing a realistic and affordable approach to the efficient rehabilitation of resilient residential buildings. In addition, the book presents case studies that include surveys, monitoring, and simulation of residential buildings in Spain and other Southern European representative locations, in order to go further on the study of this challenging topic.

This volume contains the Proceedings of the RILEM TC 252-CMB International Symposium on the Chemo-Mechanical Characterization of Bituminous Materials. The Symposium was attended by researchers and practitioners from different fields presenting the latest findings in the chemical, mechanical, and microstructural characterization of bituminous materials. The book offers new and cutting edge papers on innovative techniques for the characterization of bituminous materials, gaining new insights into current issues such as effects of aging, moisture, and temperature.

This book presents essential methods of deformation compatibility control, and explicitly addresses the implied conditions on the methods' deformation compatibility. Consequently, these conditions can be considered in engineering structure design, while the conditions on stable equilibrium can be taken into account in the design method. Thus, the designed deformation and the actual deformation of the respective structure are approximately identical, guaranteeing both the flexibility of the construction material in force transmission and the equilibrium of force in the structure. Though equilibrium theory in engineering structures has been extensively studied, there has been comparatively little research on compatibility. In the limited researches available, the topics are primarily the theories and assumptions on the deformation compatibility, while few systematic works focus on the mechanical theoretical principles and methods of deformation compatibility control. As such, the flexibility of the construction material in force transmission and the stable equilibrium of the structure as a whole cannot be guaranteed based on these research results. Successfully addressing this important gap in the literature, the book is intended for researchers and postgraduates in engineering mechanics, civil engineering and related areas.

This book details the rigorous requirements for refractories designed for aluminium metallurgical processes: reduction, cast house, and anode production. The author describes requirements specific to the properties and structure of refractory materials that differentiate it from materials used for ferrous metallurgy, among others. A comparison is drawn between the properties and structure of refractories and carbon cathode materials from different points of view: from the perspective of physical chemistry and chemical interactions during the metallurgical process and from the aspect of designing reduction pots and furnaces to accommodate the lifetime of metallurgical aggregates that are a part of aluminum refractory processes.

Wood material has acquired great importance due to its short supply and increasing environmental awareness amongst users and manufacturers. However, its use as an engineering material requires consistent research developments in order to provide accurate responses to industrial processing problems. Research Developments in Wood Engineering and Technology examines the latest research advances and technological developments for wood material as an engineering product and the innovation it provides for environmentally-friendly materials. This reference source is essential for academics, engineers, students, and professionals involved in the multidisciplinary fields of wood science, mechanical, industrial, and manufacturing engineering.

These proceedings of the EPS 2018: 5th International Conference on Geofoam Blocks in Construction Applications, held in Kyrenia, Northern Cyprus on May 9 to 11, 2018, present a collection of contributions on the state-of-the-art of research and applications relating to geofoam. Geofoam researchers, consultants, molders, contractors and practitioners from all around the globe discuss the recent developments and future trends of expanded polystyrene (EPS)-block geofoam technology and its construction applications. EPS'18 contributes to the development of geofoam applications, following on from successful conferences in Oslo (1985), Tokyo (1996), Salt Lake City (2001) and Oslo (2011). The book discusses topics including, but not limited to, current use of geofoam, design specifications, applications, new concepts, material properties, modeling and specific topics in geofoam blocks in construction applications.

Discusses the Bureau of Reclamation's methodology for concrete repair. Addresses the more common causes of damage to concrete. Identifies the methods and materials most successful in repairing concrete damage.

This book gathers the peer-reviewed contributions presented at two parallel, closely interconnected events on advanced construction materials and processes, namely the 2nd International RILEM Conference on Rheology and Processing of Construction Materials (RheoCon2) and the 9th International RILEM Symposium on Self-Compacting Concrete (SCC9), held in Dresden, Germany on 8-11 September 2019. The papers discuss various aspects of research on the development, testing, and applications of cement-based and other building materials together with their specific rheological properties. Furthermore, the papers cover the latest findings in the fast-growing field of self-compacting concrete, addressing topics including components' properties and characterization; chemical admixtures, effect of binders (incl. geopolymers, calcined clay, etc.) and mixture design; laboratory and in-situ rheological testing; constitutive models and flow modelling; numerical simulations; mixing, processing and casting processes; and additive manufacturing / 3D-printing. Also presenting case studies, the book is of interest to researchers, graduate students, and industry specialists, such as material suppliers, consultants and construction experts.

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.

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 describes efficient and safe repair operations for pipelines, and develops new methods for the detection and repair of volumetric surface defects in transmission pipelines. It also addresses the physics, mechanics, and applications of advanced materials used for composite repair of corroded pipelines. Presenting results obtained in the European Commission's INNOPIPES FRAMEWORK 7 programme, it develops long-range ultrasonic and phased array technologies for pipeline diagnostics, and explores their interactions with discontinuities and directional properties of ultrasonic antenna array. The book subsequently shares the results of non-destructive testing for different types of materials applications and advanced composite repair systems, and characterizes the mechanical properties by means of fracture methods and non-destructive techniques. In turn, the book assesses the currently available technologies for reinforcement of pipelines, drawing on the experience gai ned by project partners, and evaluates the recovery of the carrying capacity of pipeline sections with local corrosion damage by means of analytical and numerical procedures. It develops an optimization method based on the planning of experiments and surface techniques for advanced composite repair systems, before validating the numerical models developed and experimentally gauging the effectiveness of composite repair with the help of full-scale hydraulic tests.

Characteristics and Uses of Steel Slag in Building Construction focuses predominantly on the utilization of ferrous slag (blast furnace and steel slag) in building construction. This extensive literature review discusses the worldwide utilization of ferrous slag and applications in all sectors of civil engineering, including structural engineering, road construction, and hydro-technical structures. It presents cutting-edge research on the characteristics and properties of ferrous slag, and its overall impact on the environment.