Bushfire-Resistant Lightweight Masonry Blocks with Expanded Perlite Aggregate

Confining caesium in expanded natural Perlite

Acute expanded perlite exposure with persistent reactive airway dysfunction syndrome.

Expanded perlite has been assumed as simple nuisance, however during an accidental spill out in Taiwan, among 24 exposed workers followed for more than 6 months, three developed persisted respiratory symptoms and positive provocation tests were compatible with reactive airway dysfunction syndrome. During simulation experiment expanded perlite is shown to be very dusty and greatly exceed current...

Bushfire BLOCKS: a modular agent-based simulation

Bushfire BLOCKS is a modular, distributed, agent-based simulation for exploring and informing bushfire response strategies. Separate independent modules capture the fire spread, evacuation of traffic and human behaviour such as the decision whether to remain at property. These modules have been developed largely independently, using paradigms and data models appropriate to their individual purp...

Prediction of Lightweight Aggregate Concrete Compressive Strength

Nowadays, the better performance of lightweight structures during earthquake has resulted in using lightweight concrete more than ever. However, determining the compressive strength of concrete used in these structures during their service through a none-destructive test is a popular and useful method.  One of the main methods of non-destructive testing in the assessment of compressive strength...

Topology optimization of masonry blocks with enhanced thermomechanical performances

1. Abstract Topology optimization is employed to define the geometry of the cross-section of any masonry block that minimizes its thermal transmittance, with the aim of maximizing the thermal insulation of masonry buildings. Constraints on the mechanical properties of the block are also prescribed. The effect of the design constraints on the optimal layout of the blocks is investigated. The the...