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Within a research project of the Laboratory of Solid Structures of the University of Luxemburg, a design concept to predict cracks in various concrete structures will be developed. The current paper presents the numerical investigation of crack initiation and crack development of an unreinforced cementitious fairfaced concrete floor. Thereby cracking of concrete is divided into cracking of an early stage and into cracking of a later stage. The present study deals with cracking of an early stage. Taking into account shrinkage and the chronological strength development of the used C20/25 concrete and with the use of the Element Failure Method (EFM) it will be possible to predict, within a Finite Element Analysis, a possible crack path spatial as well as temporal. For this purpose a finite element model, based on a commercial FE-Software is developed. The program is tested on H-shaped concrete specimen with an unfavorable size ratio between surface and volume. Besides, shrinkage on this specimen is hindered so that unplanned restrain forces has to occur. Using an algorithm the finite element program is able to calculate the model gradually for several load steps within a loop. Furthermore the net dependency of the EFM can be excluded by the use of suitable load steps.

tThe energy efficient operation of mechanical ventilation systems depends on various parameters. InLuxembourg, field tests with 20 centralized and 60 decentralized mechanical ventilation systems insingle- and multi-family homes were conducted in order to measure the actual performance of thosesystems in occupied buildings. The considered parameters were: Main air flows, internal and externalrecirculation, sensitivity to differential pressure, specific fan power and heat recovery efficiency. In manycases, the performance of the ventilation units was lower than expected. The systems showed deviationsbetween supply and exhaust flows of up to 60%. In particular, the air flow in decentralized units wasstrongly influenced by pressure differences between the inside and outside due to wind or stack effectswhich leads to a decreased heat recovery efficiency. The total mean recirculation ratio was 6.5%, with astandard deviation of 12.5% for centralized and 13 ± 6.2% for decentralized devices. As a consequence,the delivered flow of fresh air is smaller by the amount of recirculation. The specific fan power, theratio between air flow and power consumption, was measured with 0.475 ± 0.37 Wh/m3for centralizedand 0.22 ± 0.023 Wh/m3for decentralized systems. The lower value for the decentralized systems canbe explained by lower pressure losses due to the lack of ductwork. The heat recovery efficiency was0.65 ± 0.24 for centralized systems and 0.7 ± 0.17 for decentralized systems which is significantly lowerthan nominal values provided by the manufacturers. The results of this study show that the overall energyefficiency of ventilation devices installed in residential buildings under real working conditions are oftenlower than expected. These findings could possibly serve as indicators for future research & developmentat manufacturer and commissioning level.

Condition assessment of existing road bridges gains ever increasing importance today as bridges are getting older and the inflow of heavy traffic is constantly increasing. The further development of recognized techniques and the development of new methods for early and accurate detection of damage to the structure are made possible by means of innovative technological progress. In this contribution, the principles of Defor-mation Area Difference Method (DAD-Method) for condition assessment of bridges are presented. This method is based on the further processing of measured and computed deformation values. The application of the DAD-Method requires a precise recording of the deflection of a load-deflection test. On the basis of theoretical cal-culations, this method has allowed to identify as well as to localise damage to a structure. The DAD-Method is independent of a reference measurement and insensitive to global influences such as temperature fluctuations. For precise detection of deformations, the most modern measuring instruments and methods like photogram-metry, total stations, displacement sensors, strain gauges and levelling are compared to each other. In collabo-ration with the appropriate measurement technology, the localisation of damage in bridges becomes possible.

Already today, a huge number of bridges are in an ailing condition due to their increasing age and due to an increased traffic volume, especially of heavy transport vehicles. To assess their load bearing capacity and subsequently predict their remaining life span, every bridge needs to be analysed by con-dition assessment. The consequences of unreliable condition assessment should not be underestimated, as most bridge constructions constitute cost intensive and indispensable infrastructures. Thus, modern condition assessment methods, easy and obvious in their application, are needed in order to reduce future investigations. To offer an easy handling alternative to evaluate the condition of bridges, the Deformation Area Dif-ference Method has been developed. Hereby, the accruing deformation of bridges under a static load will be analysed with the help of modern measurement equipment. Therefore, the resulting defor-mation curves like the deflection, the inclination angle and the curvature curves, will be analysed in one diagram together with the results out of initial measurements or theoretically calculated defor-mation curves. The DAD-Method is then applied on the surface difference area between those two curves for the deflection, the inclination and the curvature. It will be demonstrated that a localisation of damage is possible, independent from the degree of damage. In this study, the applicability of the DAD-Method including the comparison of innovative measure-ment techniques using a laboratory specimen is investigated. For further explanation of the back-ground of the DAD-Method, the results from a FE-calculation are presented.

La nouvelle génération de blocs de maçonnerie montés à sec (sans joint) et muni d’éléments d’engrenages ou d’emboîtement présente des avantages substantiels tant en précision et vitesse de pose, qu’en résistance aux déplacements transversaux, en économie de matériaux et en facilité de démontage. La performance d’un mur en maçonnerie est étroitement liée à sa stabilité générale et à la résistance mécanique des blocs de maçonnerie qui le composent. L’un des objectifs de cette étude était de rechercher un optimum entre cinq paramètres importants dans la conception d’une maçonnerie à savoir le poids, le coût, la facilité de production, mais surtout la résistance mécanique et la résistance thermique. La conception du nouveau bloc a ainsi été entreprise par calculs numériques.

The present paper deals with the design, the repeatability, and the comparison to literature data of a new measuring device called “Rotameter” to characterize the rotational knee laxity or the tibia-femoral rotation (TFR). The initial prototype P1 of the Rotameter is shortly introduced and then modified according to trials carried out on a prosthetic leg and on five healthy volunteers, leading therefore to an improved prototype P2. A comparison of results obtained from P1 and P2 with the same male subject shows the enhancements of P2. Intertester and intratester repeatability of this new device were shown and it was observed that rotational laxities of left and right knees are the same for a healthy subject. Moreover, a literature review showed that measurements with P2 presented lower TFR values than other noninvasive devices.The measured TFR versus torque characteristic was quite similar to other invasive devices, which are more difficult to use and harmful to the patient. Hence, our prototype P2 proved to be an easy-to-use and suitable device for quantifying rotational knee laxity. A forthcoming study will validate the Rotameter thanks to an approach based on computed tomography in order to evaluate its precision.

The idea of adapting the air supply rate to the actual demand in a building is not a new one. In commercial buildings it is already state-of-the-art to establish a demand controlled ventilation, where the level of air ow is based on sensors or time control. In residential buildings however, mechanical ventilation systems, whether centralized or decentralized, are in most cases operated in a constant modus, providing fresh air regardless if the fresh air is needed or not, even though the technology and the components needed for demand controlled ventilation exist and can be purchased at reasonable prices. In this article, results of eld tests with a semi-centralized demand feedback-controlled ventilation system are shown and compared to outcomes with other demand controlled systems. The semi-centralized prototype includes decentralized fans per ventilation zone, making a room-wise ventilation possible and valves to balance the system hydraulically unnecessary. It is shown that each presented concept of demand controlled ventilation can save energy by decreasing the operational time or the mean airflow rate without compromising air quality. Concepts which make a zone- or even a room-wise control of air ow possible, showed the highest energy saving potential of up to two-thirds compared to a system operating at constant flow rates. In addition to the energy savings due to decreased operational time, the maintenance and lter costs are decreased while the user comfort is increased, as natural ventilation in spring, summer and autumn may easily be added when delta T between inside and outside is small.

Die Wirtschaftlichkeit von Renovierungsvorhaben an Altbauten hängt im Wesentlichen von der erwarteten Wertsteigerung, der Miethöhe und den zu erreichenden Energieeinsparungen ab. Um diese Einsparungen zu berechnen, wird ein rechnerischer Vergleich zwischen dem aktuellen Verbrauch und dem Verbrauch nach der Sanierung angestrebt. Zahlreiche Studien zeigen auf, dass der rechnerische Energiebedarf von Gebäuden häufig von dem tatsächlichen Verbrauch abweicht. Dies gilt vor allem für vor 1970 errichtete Altbauten. Ein wichtiger Eingangsparameter der Berechnungsmethodik sind die U-Werte der Aussenwände, welche typischerweise vom Energieexperten vor Ort aus Typologien des Gesetzgebers für die jeweilige Wandkonstruktion ausgewählt werden. In dieser Veröffentlichung werden Mess- und Simulationsergebnisse von verschiedenen Wandtypen präsentiert. Die ermittelten Werte lagen zwischen 0.9 und 1,2 W/(m2K) und somit deutlich unter den in Luxemburg angenommenen Typologiewerten von 1,4 bis 2,1 W/(m2K). Die beschriebenen Abweichungen zwischen Energiebedarfsberechnung und tatsächlichem Energieverbrauch können somit zum Teil auf fehlerhafte Annahmen des ausstellenden Experten vor Ort zurückgeführt werden, welche sich an Typologiewerten orientieren.

The purpose of this study is to validate a noninvasive rotational knee laxity measuring device called “Rotameter P2” with an approach based on Computed Tomography (CT). This CT-approach using X-rays is hence invasive and can be regarded as a precise reference method that may also be applied to similar devices. An error due to imperfect femur fixation was observed but can be neglected for small torques. The most significant estimation error is due to the unavoidable soft tissues rotation and hence flexibility in the measurement chain. The error increases with the applied torque.The assessment showed that the rotational knee angle measured with the Rotameter is still overestimated because of thigh and femur displacement, soft tissues deformation, and measurement artefacts adding up to a maximum of 285% error at +15Nm for the Internal Rotation of female volunteers. This may be questioned if such noninvasive devices for measuring the Tibia-Femoral Rotation (TFR) can help diagnosing knee pathologies and investigate ligament reconstructive surgery.

The present work shows the crack behaviour of fairfaced concrete floors and the accurate prediction of cracking. The causes for cracking are various and can be divided into cracking of an early stage concrete and cracking of concrete of a later stage. Here the cracking of the concrete at an early stage due to shrinkage taking into account the strength evolution during hardening, will be analysed. Shrinkage causes a reduction of the structures’ volume, it tries to constringe. If the boundary conditions are inconvenient, it may cause cracks. Besides, there are thermal causes based on hydration. As a consequence thereof, the strength of concrete develops in the first days after pouring, too. When the concrete starts to cool down, strains may occur which leads to cracking. For that reason, an experimental investigative program is achieved. With the use of a large climate chamber, in which temperature and humidity can be varied, special specimen with a large surface to volume ratio is stored. An available prognosis software program will give the resulting strengths and internal temperatures at different locations and different instants of time of the investigated elements. These results will be implemented into the finite element models

Ventilation systems can save heat energy by using heat recovery, but consume electrical energy to power the fans. In practice, the energy efficiency of those systems can be lower than expected, when compared to the nominal values provided by the manufacturer. In this paper, results of a comprehensive field tests with 20 centralized and 60 decentralized ventilation systems for residential buildings and the calculation of the primary energy savings of those devices are presented. Factors like volume flow unbalances, shortcuts, temperature change rates and specific fan power have been addressed by tracer gas technology and other means and been used as input factors to calculate the primary energy balance of those devices. Every system showed positive primary energy savings. The mean value for centralized systems was 2.92 Wh/m3 with a high standard deviation of 2.23 Wh/m3, while the decentralized systems showed higher savings of around 4.75 Wh/m3 with a standard deviation of 0.01 to 0.15 Wh/m3. In general, the calculated savings in field tests were significantly lower compared to the case of using nominal values as input parameters.

Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) intends to identify damage by changes of characteristics as for instance the modal parameters. The eigenfrequencies, mode-shapes and damping-values are either directly used as damage indicators or the changes of derived parameters are analysed, such as e.g. flexibilities or updated finite element models. One common way is a ontinuous monitoring under environmental excitation forces, such as wind or traffic, i.e. the so-called output-only modal analysis. Alternatively, a forced measured external excitation in distinct time-intervals may be used for input-output modal analysis. Both methods are limited by the precision or the repeatability under real-life conditions at site. The paper will summarize everal field tests of artificially step by step damaged bridges prior to their final demolishment and it will show the changes of eigenfrequencies due to induced artificial damage. Additionally, some results of a monitoring campaign of a healthy bridge in Luxembourg are presented. Reinforced concrete shows non-linear behaviour in the sense that modal parameters depend on the excitation force amplitude, i.e. higher forces lead often to lower eigenfrequencies than smaller forces. Furthermore, the temperature of real bridges is neither constant in space nor in time, while for instance the stiffness of asphalt is strongly dependant on it. Finally, ageing as uch can also change a bridge’s stiffness and its modal parameters, e.g. because creep and hrinkage of concrete or ageing of elastomeric bearing pads influence their modulus of elasticity. These effects cannot be considered as damage, though they influence the measurement of modal parameters and hinder damage detection.

Centralized and decentralized mechanical ventilation have become state-of-the-art in modern energy-efficient residential buildings. Calculations for the energy demand of buildings are done with nominal values of the ventilation units, assuming a proper function of the devices. The used ventilation concepts may be divided into two main categories- centralized and decentralized units and both come with advantages and disadvantages in terms of energy efficiency. In Luxembourg, a comprehensive field test has been performed in order to evaluate and compare their performance in practice. It could be shown that ventilation systems often do not meet the expectations. High unbalances in volume flows, high sensitivity to pressure differences and recirculation were measured in several cases. Only a proper installation and balancing of the systems can ensure an energy efficient function.

Buildings account for 40 % of total energy consumption and 35 % of the total CO2 emitted in the EU. In consequence, there is an enormous energy saving potential and the European Union requires from all EU member states to save energy in this sector. Hence, reducing the energy consumption of buildings represents an essential component of environmental protection efforts. Furthermore, the new European directive 2010/31/EU requires that the member states tighten national standards and draw up national plans to increase the number of “nearly zero-energy buildings”. Well-planned energy-saving strategies presume knowledge of specific characteristics of the current national building stock. Therefore, the implementation of a process to support systematic data collection, classification and analysis of the energy consumption of buildings will become increasingly important during the coming years. In the field study described below we analyzed the energy consumption of 68 school buildings in Luxembourg. A separate collation of electricity and heat energy consumptions allowed to make a detailed analysis of specific energy parameters. Clustered according to energy sources, the new buildings were analyzed from a statistical point of view. We defined the energy relevant parameters such as energy standards, the purpose of use of the buildings or whether they had canteens.

The ambient air temperature and solar radiation are affecting the soil and asphalts’ stiffness and hence the eigenfrequencies of a bridge. Very often eigenfrequencies are automatically determined by special algorithms from structural response data generated by ambient excitation and measured by permanently installed sensors that is sometimes called “output only analysis” or “operating modal analysis”. Additionally the ambient air temperature is registered and finally the eigenfrequencies are analyzed versus the air temperature. The graph is normally a scatter diagram and each point is one measurement. In general the eigenfrequencies decrease with increasing temperature, whereas often linear regression is used to determine the line of best fit. But the slope of this straight line and the width of the scatter around the regression line differ from bridge to bridge. Especially this scatter field around the mean value at a determined temperature complicates the detection of damage, which is also often based on eigenfrequencies’ reduction. Hence the difficulty among others consists in separating damage from environmental effects.

In comparison to their weight, honeycomb composite structures have a high bending stiffness, which makes them very suited for every application where little weight is important, like airplanes, railway-cars and vehicles. The sandwich panels consist of two thin and stiff aluminium face sheets , which are bonded to a thick and lightweight aluminium honeycomb core. These structures are subjected to dynamic loading. However, in literature, there are hardly any fatigue properties of the honeycomb core described. The fatigue properties of the core are investigated using the finite element method and experiments. Depending on the load application, the honeycomb core fails either through core indentation or shear failure. For a fatigue prediction, both failure modes have to be investigated. Additionally the physical behavior of the honeycomb core is depending on the orientation of the core. Hence, fatigue tests were conducted in three directions of the core: the stiffest direction, the most compliant direction and the direction with the highest stresses. A three-point bending test setup was built to study the fatigue properties of the honeycomb core. Several fatigue tests were carried out with a load ratio of R=0.1 (maximum load 10 times bigger than minimum load) and the fatigue diagrams being illustrated. Additionally, Food-Cart Roller Tests (wheels of a cart rolling in a circle on a floor panel) were done to dynamically test the panels in every angle. The sandwich structures were modeled with the ANSYS finite element software. The simulations, which were used to determine the stress amplitudes in the specimens, are described in the following pages. In addition, buckling analyses were used to examine core indentation failure. Based on these simulations, failure predictions can be made. The fatigue life of the examined specimens is successfully approximated in this manuscript, with the lifetime analysis being based on the FKM-guideline (error less than 14% in load amplitude