The Study on the Offshore Use of Vertical-Axis Wind Turbines

The wind energy researchers at Sandia National Laboratories have been re-evaluating vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs) in order to help solving some of the energy-generating problems concerning the offshore breezes.

Although the idea of VAWTs has been known since the first days of wind energy research,  now the VAWT architecture can transform the offshore wind technology.  It offers three major advantages that are able to cut down on  the wind energy costs. 

1. A lower turbine center of gravity ( allowing the improvement in stability afloat and lower gravitational fatigue loads).
2. Reduction in machine complexity.
3. Improved scalability to large sizes.

Furthermore, the drivetrain on a VAWT is at or, at least, near the surface, which provides the ease of maintenance and is less time-devouring. All the above-mentioned factors lead to the substantial reduction of the maintenance costs.

Sandia is carrying the research as a result of Department of Energy (DOE) solicitation for providing the advanced rotor technologies for the U.S. offshore windpower generation. The project is going to take 5 years and is going to cost $ 4.1 million. Eventually, it is also going to revolutionize the construction industry as VAWTs are elegant, mechanically simplistic and consist of fewer parts, because they don’t need a control system, pointing them towards the blowing wind to generate power.

Image source:

http://www.wholesale-electrical-electronics.com

A New, Improved Method for Detecting and Measuring Bridge Damage

The rating systems worked out and developed by a group of Kansas State University scientists could prevent bridges from the risk of collapsing and make them so much safer, as a result of the introduced technology.
The group of civil engineers have been collaborating in the attempt to better detect and measure damage risk in concrete bridges. The researchers were successful at creating a rating system that is more accurate in describing the level of damage in a bridge. Such “bridge health index” can be also applied to other structures including dams, gas pipelines, buildings and airplanes. What an amazing discovery invented to the benefit of  construction  industry!
The collaboration between the researchers and engineers resulted in developing methods of taking bridge measurements and then using finite element analysis and neural network modeling to calculate things back and detect bridge damage. The problem may arise when the cracks in the bridge have indeed been measured, but there are no objective ways to calculate to what extent it is damaged.
At present, the researchers, supported by some graduate students have been building and training the health index system using synthetic bridges, which are able to simulate the way a bridge acts under specific conditions. As a result, a network based on thousands of simulations has been built. Hopefully, some final solution will be arrived at soon, the more so Kansas Department of Transportation provides some financial support for the research to continue.

The Future Is Now: Self – Healing Concrete a New Solution for the Construction Industry

What sounded like a fiction, even not so long ago, now has a chance to become perfectly real, together with the development of “self – healing” concrete by the researchers at Northumbria University. Is it the end of cracks in concrete buildings?
Dr Alan Richardson, a Senior Lecturer in Construction at the School of the Built and Natural Environment, has used a ground-borne bacteria (bacilli megaterium ) to create calcite, which is a crystalline form of natural calcium carbonate. Later on it can be used as a blocker to the concrete’s pores, which prevents water from entering the formula and prolongs the life of the concrete.
The bacteria, owing to which a breakthrough  discovery was possible is grown on nutrient yeast, minerals and urea, then added to the concrete itself. Supplied with its nutritive substances within the concrete, the bacteria has a perfect environment to breed and spread. As a result it acts as a filler, sealing the cracks and preventing any subsequent deterioration.
It has been widely hoped that the discovery of concrete-healing bacteria could lead to a cost-efficient solution for the construction industry and has the outstanding commercial potential.

Construction Industry Gets a Breakthrough Solution for Building Quake – Resistant Houses

Researchers from the Univesidad Politécnica de Madrid have succeeded in testing a new system that would contribute to building the earthquake resistant houses which are of high interest to third world countries, often suffering from such natural disasters.
The scientists have conducted some research resulting in the development of a brand new construction system: the Integral Masonry System (IMS). The tests proved that if a house is built with that stable permanent system that prevents cracking, the building can resist even the most severe earthquakes.
Nowadays, many buildings that have been erected within the seismic areas lacking the natural resources tend to be built with the use of the adobe, hollow bricks or concrete blocks. Those materials simply are not going to last when the earthquake occurs. The IMS is the alternative construction solution as it uses prefabricated trusses made with light and easy to install steel rods, that intersect in three directions thus forming walls and floors, then filled with mud, debris or blocks for walls.
The safety of the house prototype has been verified at the Antiseismic Structures Laboratory and at the Pontificia Católica Universidad del Perú in Lima. The results have proved that the developed system has high potential as it provides easy system of house building with typologies adapted to local residential construction that could be applied at a minimum cost.

Image source: markify.com

New Compound Likely to Become “Cool Blue” for Energy Efficiency in Construction Industry

The new type of durable, environmentally – friendly blue pigment that has been discovered at Oregon State University proved to possess the unusual feature of reflecting heat: a true “cool blue” compound, able to become essential in new approaches towards saving energy in buildings.
The discovery of the above - mentioned compound (which has recently received patent approval)  was a coincidence as it occurred while OSU scientists were studying some materials for their electrical properties. Its potential use to help reduce heat absorption on the roof and the walls of the potential building enhances the idea of creating the new material, considered for a number of commercial applications in construction industry.
The newly discovered pigment has infrared heat reflectivity of about 40 per cent, which is reasonably higher than most blue pigments characterize of. What is more important, the new pigment is durable, safe and quite easy to produce. It has also become an important trend in so-called “green construction” and raises the issue of energy efficiency. Last, but not least, such reflective coatings are more aesthetic than the ones used so far, have less thermal degradation and cut down on the “heat island” effect in cities and air contamination, owing to the lower energy use and power plant emissions.

The Bigger Wind Turbines The Greener Electricity

The study on the gigantic windmills, conducted by the scientists proved that the larger the wind turbine, the greener electricity it provides. The relevant report has been published in ACS’ journal Environmetal Science & Technology. In the article, scientists emphasize the fact, that wind power is becoming more and more popular source of electricity as it provides almost 2% of global energy. What is more, by 2020 the figure is expected to reach 10 %.
The size if turbines is also increasing : they have grown 10 fold in the last three decades , from 50 to 500 feet in diameter. And that is not all, as the engineers are planning to build super-giant turbines, 1,000 feet in diameter!
The study shows clearly that larger turbines produce greener electricity and it happens for two reasons. First, the manufacturers are able to use the know-how and experience to create extremely efficient, big wind turbines. Second, the advanced materials and design allow the turbine’s blades to harness more wind. It means cleaner power without the significant increase in the amount of material that is required for construction or fuel needed for transportation.

Mass Production of Building Components: Now It’s Possible

It’s a commonly known fact, that architects, just like any other group of specialists have used computer-aided design software for many years. On average, the resulting digital files are then changed into hard-copy plans, supporting traditional construction practices in the end.
Lately, the researchers in the College of Architecture at the Georgia Institute of Technology have been automating some processes that turn computer-based designs into real world entities. They work on developing techniques that fabricate building elements directly from digital designs. That allows to custom the selected components and manufacture them quicker and at low expenses. Apart from the tremendous increase in efficiency, the high-end customized architectural products are also going to be environmentally – friendly.

There are two separate projects in which the College of Architecture has taken part. The first involves creation of the award-winning building-element concept referred to as the “Liquid Wall”. The Georgia tech team used digital techniques to help produce a prototype wall, with ultra high-performance concrete. The second project, sponsored by Lafarge North America,  included the development of a complete free-standing structure with the use of ultra  high –performance concrete elements produced strictly from digital designs.
The Liquid Wall, originated by Peter Arbour from RFR Consulting  Engineers , based in Paris, won the 2010 Open Call for Innovative Curtain- Wall Design competition. The award-winning concept presented a new, advanced approach towards curtain walls that keep out weather and are non-structural and lightweight at the same time.

Construction employment fell

According to the numbers , the construction employment fell in May by 28.000, which is the largest decline in two years. Moreover, it is now at the lowest level since August as estimated on the basis of the federal data by the Associated General Contractors of America. That phenomenon occurs along with the  1.4 per cent drop in the public construction spending which has slowed down the overall construction activity growth to 0.3 per cent.
Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist, admits that industry is having a difficult start to the year, as a result of the construction employment shrinkage. Particularly, it is the cuts to public sector investments in construction that are taking their toll, with the heavy and civil engineering construction experiencing the largest employment decline within the sector. The association officials claim that the new construction employment and spending figures underscore the urge for quick congressional action concerning long-term infrastructure measures, including reauthorizing clean water and surface transportation programs. Undoubtedly, some reparatory steps must be taken, given the pessimistic construction employment figures.

Some Upgrades of M313D and M315D Excavators Announced by Caterpillar

The two models of excavators produced by the Caterpillar, M313D and M315D from Cat®M300D Series Wheeled Excavator have recently received the engineering updates that are supposed to strengthen their original qualities. The operator’s station, alongside with the undercarriage and fleet-management have been refined and upgraded. The two new models provide a more sophisticated design, add up to the operator’s comfort and more effective asset management.
As for the brand new features, the M313D and M315D models were equipped with the welded undercarriage, allowing to use the blade either front or rear, with or without outriggers and the non-blade end. The excavators could be also fitted with the outriggers front and rear, which greatly enhances their versatility.
Cab refinement includes e.g. fitting a new in-cab monitor, with a 40 per cent larger display and the simplified navigation of menus. It enables the operator to manage the standard rearview camera via quick-access buttons, just like managing two extra cameras. A new, right-hand switch-panel module has also been added and it is the same one as used on six-cylinder wheeled excavator machines. It houses the rotary-throttle dial, making it easy for the operator to get the intuitive access to engine-speed control.
The ease of maintenance has been strengthened mainly by rerouted coolant lines for the unlimited access to service pints and the shut tank, with the redesigned filler neck and cap. Additionally, new electrical connectors are used for the proportional pilot valves and the hydraulic tank incorporates both the new pressure and temperature sensors, plus the new drain valve.