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Modularization involves breaking up a system into discrete chunks, which communicate with each other through standardized interfaces, rules, and specifications. It is a broad concept with various interpretations and meanings across research disciplines. The complexity and scope of a module is not captured sufficiently and clearly in the construction management and engineering literature, and the impact of modularization across project phases has not been fully explored and articulated. Therefore, the main question addressed in this paper relates to the inherent meaning of what is a module in the context of different phases of a building project. In addressing this question, this paper empirically investigates the use of modularity in 15 construction projects situated in Italy, Germany, Brazil, and the United Kingdom. The findings of this research suggest that a design-based and an operations-based perspective of modularity coexist, and that there is the need for an integrated view of modularity across the project lifecycle phases and for collaborative working between designers and site operators. To this aim, a unifying definition of a module in building projects is proposed along with a practical guide to help managers organize project activities for effective modularization. The actual cost analysis of the various modularization strategies provides an interesting avenue for future research. The template proposed also requires wider testing with a wider range of modules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The paper explores the possibilities offered by evolutionary multi-objective algorithms in structural design. The developed procedure includes the parameterization of a 3D structure, the automatic generation of a finite element (FE) model, and the optimum design. The search of the optimum solution is dealt with using two commercial software packages: Straus7, for FE analysis, and modeFrontier, for optimal search, interlinked by a program purposely developed (SCU, system control unit). The optimum design of a structure needs a different approach with respect to the traditional design. The paper presents a possible approach and describes more in detail the data pre and post processing including the choice of the solutions on the Pareto's front. A case study, a steel-glass vault roof built in Badenweiler (Germany), is used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach. A significant economical saving can be achieved when the optimum design solution is used. The proposed algorithm can then be employed as a useful tool to help the designer in the complex design process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract. This paper, written in memory of Professor Wolfgang Beitz,(n1) discusses some of the influences of the work undertaken in Germany on systematic engineering design, highlights differences between the language regions, and gives examples of design research and design education linked to Konstruktionslehre--the standard text on systematic engineering design for which Professor Beitz was most widely recognised outside Germany. The paper finishes with a plea for a greater exchange of ideas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China and Germany are countries with a lot of experience in the construction of high-speed railway (HSR) bridges. Standardized design and construction of railway bridges has promoted the initial success of rapidly establishing HSRs in these two countries. Nevertheless, the continued development of HSR bridges brings new challenges to design concepts and engineering technologies. This paper briefly reviews the recent practices of HSR bridges in China and Germany, and summarizes the development of track structures and bridges. The integral design concept of the track-bridge system is presented. Thereinto, continuous ballastless track and integral bridges are introduced. The development trends of HSR bridges—including longer spans, lighter structures and faster train operating speeds—are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Geotechnik is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract: Engineering design of magnet coil support structures for plasma fusion devices of the stellarator type are at present an important task in stellarator hardware R&D activities. In particular this is one of the basic core components in developing the stellarator''s line in view of a robust and reliable fusion reactor. Based on long time experience in design and structural analyses of stellarator magnet systems and their support structure, the authors are proposing in this paper an alternative conceptual design for the magnet support structure. This paper describes the basic assumptions that a conceptual design of a magnet support structure has to fulfil. In this context, essential experiences gathered during manufacturing and assembly of the magnet support structure for a current stellarator fusion device engineered at Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics are taken into account. The concept provides flexibility in matters of readjustment and positional optimization of the magnet coils during the assembly phase and potentially during the operation. The flexibility during the assembly phase allows a simplification of technical requirements and performance criteria which may result in a reduction of costs and improved reliability of a stellarator based power device. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Bridges are vital components of high-speed rail (HSR) lines for crossing obstacles such as valleys, rivers, and existing highways or railway lines. The main goal of this paper is to provide a review of the development of HSR bridges in Germany. A short summary of the history of high-speed rail lines is given first. Subsequently, the development of HSR bridges, along with emerging design issues and the two relevant German design guidelines, is reviewed. Further, bridge structure types on German HSR lines, such as simply supported bridges, continuous bridges, arch bridges, integral and semi-integral bridges, composite truss bridges and rigid-frame bridges are discussed. The article concludes with a short discussion about the current situation and future trend of HSR bridges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: At the Max-Planck-Institut für Plasmaphysik (IPP) the new stellarator fusion experiment WENDELSTEIN 7-X (W7-X) is under construction. Its ultimate goal is to verify that stellarator magnetic confinement concept is a viable option for a demonstration fusion power-plant. Its toroidal plasma (major diameter of 11m) is enclosed by a cryostat. The Outer Vessel (OV), ports and the vacuum vessel (VV) accumulate the cryostat together. The main functions of the VV supports (VVS) are to withstand and transfer all vertical forces from the VV to the machine base and to allow horizontal movements simultaneously. Therefore, pendulum support system was introduced. The paper will describe their design and the destinations and results of a test campaigns (scale 1:1) at the University of Rostock. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Counting only the month of May 2015 about 20 tornadoes developed in Germany. At least three of them reached tornado category F3 destroying villages, e.g. []. About 50 people were injured and the insurance companies recorded about 100 Mio. Euros insured loss. Press media headlined: Tornadoes in Germany - the underestimated threat? The forecasting of extreme weather conditions in Germany due to climate change is still very uncertain. The design codes in Germany do not consider tornado actions. Thus, they are still considered catastrophic events. But owners ask experts whether their home can actually be protected. In the USA tornado actions are defined in codes for critical infrastructure. Because of the frequency and intensity of tornadoes, people in the USA have experiences with such events. This article introduces the phenomena of extreme winds, defines actions generated by extreme winds, explains building vulnerabilities, and gives some guidelines on how to protect buildings. Because of lack of research in Germany concerning protection of structures against tornado actions, we benefit from the expertise in the USA. This article is aimed at sensitize for the tornado threat from an engineering point of view, showing related problems, and hopefully initiate research in the future. Naturgefahr Tornados Allein im Mai 2015 ereigneten sich fast 20 Tornados in Deutschland, von denen zumindest drei die Tornado-Kategorie F3 erreichten und ganze Ortschaften verwüsteten, z.B. []. Etwa 50 Menschen wurden verletzt, der Sachschaden ging in die 100 Mio. Euro. Die Medien titelten: Tornados in Deutschland - eine unterschätzte Gefahr? Tatsächlich sind die Vorhersagen der Experten vor dem Hintergrund der Klimaänderung derzeit noch sehr unklar. Hauseigentümer fragen Architekten und Bauingenieure, ob man sich vor Tornados schützen kann. Die die Einwirkungen regelnden Normen (DIN 1055, EC 1 (DIN EN 1991-1-1)) in Deutschland behandeln den Lastfall Tornado bisher nicht. Insofern sind die Einwirkungen aus Tornado als Katastrophenlastfall einzustufen. In den USA sind Tornado-Einwirkungen für kritische Infrastrukturen geregelt. Sie behandeln die Winddrücke und die Einwirkungen aus herum fliegenden Objekten. Als Folge von Tornados fällt häufig der Strom aus mit all den spezifischen weiteren Folgen. Der Beitrag führt in die Problematik des Naturphänomens 'Tornado' ein, beschreibt anhand der amerikanischen Vorschriften die zu erwartenden Einwirkungen und behandelt Schwachstellen-Analysen sowie bauliche Lösungen für unterschiedliche Tornado-Kategorien. Eine Risiko-Betrachtung dient als Grundlage zur Erweiterung der Normen um den Lastfall 'Tornado'. Gerade technische Anlagen und bauliche Anlagen der kritischen Infrastruktur bedürfen einer Risiko-Bewertung zu Sicherung der Resilienz. Da es in Deutschland bisher keine Forschungen zum baulichen Schutz vor Tornado-Einwirkungen gibt, ist es zweckmäßig, sich in Ländern Rat zu holen, in denen Tornados ständig auftreten. Dieser Beitrag soll vom Ingenieurstandpunkt aus sensibilisieren, Probleme aufzeigen und zu Forschungen anregen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modular product architectures can offer many benefits, but require carefully chosen interfaces as early as possible in the development process to exploit their full potential. Late or erroneous definition of modules and interfaces results in excessive design iterations and consequently causes unanticipated delays and cost overruns in product development. In this article, an improved method for product architecting (i.e. the identification and definition of modules and their interfaces) using clustering of component-based Design Structure Matrices (DSMs) is presented and demonstrated. Various researchers contributed to the improvement of clustering techniques in the past. However, the approaches used are mostly unsatisfactory with respect to the definition of modules for products resulting in suboptimal or even wrong definitions. In lieu of investigating single steps of DSM clustering, a comprehensive approach is presented in this article, covering all relevant aspects, from data acquisition, and handling of multiple perspectives in DSM clustering, to a post-processing phase, where results are corrected with respect to technical feasibility. By discussing various topics neglected in previous literature, many deficiencies are also revealed and solutions to these problems are proposed, resulting in a systematic and practical procedure for product architecting based on DSM clustering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]