Key Terms: cross laminated timber, displacement-based seismic design, time history analysis, multi-storey timber structures, hysteretic behaviour

This work is an extensive and systematic study on the potentials of Gmelina arborea from southwestern Nigeria as a construction material. The fundamental motivation of the study is to investigate whether timber from the large available Gmelina plantations in Nigeria can be used to mediate the need for more housing units currently facing the country due its current growing population, and to introduce the local populance to an alternative construction material that ist both sustainable, and environmentally.

Although the disciplines of architecture and structural engineering have both experienced their own historical development, their interaction has resulted in many fascinating and delightful structures. To take this interaction to a higher level, there is a need to stimulate the inventive and creative design of architectural structures and to persua

Exercises and Solutions in Statistical Theory helps students and scientists obtain an in-depth understanding of statistical theory by working on and reviewing solutions to interesting and challenging exercises of practical importance. Unlike similar books, this text incorporates many exercises that apply to real-world settings and provides much more thorough solutions. The exercises and selected detailed solutions cover from basic probability theory through to the theory of statistical inference. Many of the exercises deal with important, real-life scenarios in areas such as medicine, epidemiology, actuarial science, social science, engineering, physics, chemistry, biology, environmental health, and sports. Several exercises illustrate the utility of study design strategies, sampling from finite populations, maximum likelihood, asymptotic theory, latent class analysis, conditional inference, regression analysis, generalized linear models, Bayesian analysis, and other statistical topics. The book also contains references to published books and articles that offer more information about the statistical concepts. Designed as a supplement for advanced undergraduate and graduate courses, this text is a valuable source of classroom examples, homework problems, and examination questions. It is also useful for scientists interested in enhancing or refreshing their theoretical statistical skills. The book improves readers’ comprehension of the principles of statistical theory and helps them see how the principles can be used in practice. By mastering the theoretical statistical strategies necessary to solve the exercises, readers will be prepared to successfully study even higher-level statistical theory.

This book focuses on the seismic design of building structures and their foundations to Eurocode 8. It covers the principles of seismic design in a clear but brief manner and then links these concepts to the provisions of Eurocode 8. It addresses the fundamental concepts related to seismic hazard, ground motion models, basic dynamics, seismic analysis, siting considerations, structural layout, and design philosophies, then leads to the specifics of Eurocode 8. Code procedures are applied with the aid of walk-through design examples which, where possible, deal with a common case study in most chapters. As well as an update throughout, this second edition incorporates three new and topical chapters dedicated to specific seismic design aspects of timber buildings and masonry structures, as well as base-isolation and supplemental damping. There is renewed interest in the use of sustainable timber buildings, and masonry structures still represent a popular choice in many areas. Moreover, seismic isolation and supplemental damping can offer low-damage solutions which are being increasingly considered in practice. The book stems primarily from practical short courses on seismic design which have been run over a number of years and through the development Eurocode 8. The contributors to this book are either specialist academics with significant consulting experience in seismic design, or leading practitioners who are actively engaged in large projects in seismic areas. This experience has provided significant insight into important areas in which guidance is required.

Although the disciplines of architecture and structural engineering have both experienced their own historical development, their interaction has resulted in many fascinating and delightful structures. To take this interaction to a higher level, there is a need to stimulate the inventive and creative design of architectural structures and to persuade architects and structural engineers to further collaborate in this process, exploiting together new concepts, applications and challenges. This set of book of abstracts and full paper searchable CD-ROM presents selected papers presented at the 3rd International Conference on Structures and Architecture Conference (ICSA2016), organized by the School of Architecture of the University of Minho, Guimarães, Portugal (July 2016), to promote the synergy in the collaboration between the disciplines of architecture and structural engineering. The set addresses all major aspects of structures and architecture, including building envelopes, comprehension of complex forms, computer and experimental methods, concrete and masonry structures, educating architects and structural engineers, emerging technologies, glass structures, innovative architectural and structural design, lightweight and membrane structures, special structures, steel and composite structures, the borderline between architecture and structural engineering, the history of the relationship between architects and structural engineers, the tectonics of architectural solutions, the use of new materials, timber structures and more. The contributions on creative and scientific aspects of the conception and construction of structures, on advanced technologies and on complex architectural and structural applications represent a fine blend of scientific, technical and practical novelties in both fields. This set is intended for both researchers and practitioners, including architects, structural and construction engineers, builders and building consultants, constructors, material suppliers and product manufacturers, and other experts and professionals involved in the design and realization of architectural, structural and infrastructural projects.

Seismic Retrofit of Existing Buildings is a concise and easy-to-use guideline for practising engineers to assess and design successful seismic retrofit interventions for existing vulnerable buildings. It offers readers guidance on both conceptual design strategies and relevant detailed design considerations.

This Research Topic is Volume II of a series. The previous volume can be found here: Coal and Rock Dynamic Disasters: Advances of Physical and Numerical Simulation in Monitoring, Early Warning, and Prevention With the soaring growth of global population and socioeconomy, energy consumption and demand has been rapidly rising, and coal would still remain a fundamental energy source for a long time into the future. Seeking deep coal resources becomes an inevitable trend due to the depletion of shallow coal resources. Deep mining of coal resources promotes socioeconomic development, whereas bringing a variety of security challenges. In deep underground, there is a significant risk increase in coal and rock dynamic disasters (CRDDs), owing to the changes in physical and mechanical properties of coal and rock. In this regard, it is of great importance and necessity to prevent and control CRDDs effectively and efficiently.

This eBook is a collection of articles from a Frontiers Research Topic. Frontiers Research Topics are very popular trademarks of the Frontiers Journals Series: they are collections of at least ten articles, all centered on a particular subject. With their unique mix of varied contributions from Original Research to Review Articles, Frontiers Research Topics unify the most influential researchers, the latest key findings and historical advances in a hot research area! Find out more on how to host your own Frontiers Research Topic or contribute to one as an author by contacting the Frontiers Editorial Office: frontiersin.org/about/contact.

At the heart of the optimization domain are mathematical modeling of the problem and the solution methodologies. The problems are becoming larger and with growing complexity. Such problems are becoming cumbersome when handled by traditional optimization methods. This has motivated researchers to resort to artificial intelligence (AI)-based, nature-inspired solution methodologies or algorithms. The Handbook of AI-based Metaheuristics provides a wide-ranging reference to the theoretical and mathematical formulations of metaheuristics, including bio-inspired, swarm-based, socio-cultural, and physics-based methods or algorithms; their testing and validation, along with detailed illustrative solutions and applications; and newly devised metaheuristic algorithms. This will be a valuable reference for researchers in industry and academia, as well as for all Master’s and PhD students working in the metaheuristics and applications domains.