http://hdl.handle.net/11728/7 Άρθρα Sun, 05 Apr 2026 21:36:18 GMT 2026-04-05T21:36:18Z http://hdl.handle.net/11728/13233 Experimental investigation of the embedment strength of laminated veneer lumber (lvl) Vidanalage, Nuwan Padukka; Paraskeva, Themelina S; Kamperidis, Vasileios C Connections in timber structures play a vital role in the stiffness, strength and overall performance of the structure. Embedment properties are of paramount to the overall performance of bolted connections. This study experimentally investigates the performance of embedment strength of LVL manufactured from Nordic Spruce (Picea Abies), utilising 10mm steel dowels. A total of 50 embedment tests were conducted following the half-hole method, as specified in ASTM:D5764−97a. The tests had been performed considering 0°, 45°, and 90° load-to-grain angles, on edgewise orientation of the embedment properties and failure modes were analysed. The experimental embedment strengths were then compared to the respective characteristic embedment strengths proposed in Eurocode 5. While the characteristic embedment strength was 11% lower than the mean embedment strength for load parallel to grain, it overestimated the embedment strength by 9.2% and 7.2% for load-to-grain angles of 45°, and 90°, respectively. Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/11728/13233 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/11728/13232 INVESTIGATION OF A COST-EFFICIENT RETROFITTING STRATEGY OF AN EXISTING REINFORCED CONCRETE BUILDING Ioannou, Anthos; Papamichael, Salomi; Bellos, John In the decades of 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s most of the buildings in Cyprus, an island in the Mediterranean Sea which is located to a high seismicity region, were designed without seismic design criteria and detailing rules for structural systems ductility, including a lack of supervision and an inadequate quality control of construction works. Most of those buildings are now dealing with a variety of technical issues due to the irregularity in concrete strength, carbonation of the concrete and steel reinforcement and minimal use of transverse and longitudinal reinforcement of the structural elements. Consequently, it is crucial to identify and retrofit the structures that require seismic upgrading. This work presents a case study of an existing reinforced concrete building in Cyprus that was built in the 1980s and had one of its roof floor cantilevers fail. Firstly, this study focuses on identifying critical failures using nonlinear pushover static analysis, and secondly, it investigates different retrofitting strategies and identifies the most practical and cost-effective approach for seismic retrofitting. These approaches include retrofitting with combined infilled walls and concrete jacketing and combined brace-frame systems and steel jacketing for seismic integrity. Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/11728/13232 2024-07-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/11728/13231 SEISMIC ASSESSMENT AND INNOVATIVE STRENGTHENING OF CORRODED CANTILEVER STRUCTURES IN MULTI-STOREY BUILDINGS Ioannou, Anthos; Papamichael, Salomi; Genikomsou, Aikaterini S; Stylianidis, Panagiotis; Bellos, John The research aims to investigate the existing design standards KANEPE (2017) [1] and EN 1998-3 (2005) [2] regarding the seismic assessment of existing reinforced concrete structures through a real case study. Also, the current and applicable design standards together with the available strategies and methodologies for seismic retrofit of existing structures are presented in detail. In addition, the techniques and methods proposed to date for retrofitting reinforced concrete cantilever members such as balconies are analyzed. Through the real example, are presented: the operation of the reference building over the years, its existing conditions and the available architectural and structural engineering studies on the basis of which the build ing was constructed. In addition, the assessment methodology is described using the seismic assessment results of the existing building by identifying the critical structural elements with an advanced degree of damage aiming to explore innovative retrofitting methods, focusing on cantilever structural elements. The novel aspect of the proposed research project distin guishes it from similar studies by using an actual case study of an existing reinforced con crete structure that was constructed in Rush in the 1980s. As a result of aging, the structure's cantilever failed in a brittle manner. With regard to reinforced concrete cantilevers aging is sues make them vulnerable to potential failure and thus the study of their behavior and sug gestion of strengthening techniques are one of the most current engineering issues that structural engineers are requesting solutions for. Through this study, a comprehensive meth odology of structural assessment and recommendation of retrofitting options is carried out Sun, 01 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/11728/13231 2025-06-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/11728/13230 THEORETICAL EVALUATION AND EXPERIMENTAL VALIDATION OF AN INNOVATIVE DYNAMIC ANALYSIS METHOD FOR COMBINED STRUCTURES WITH TUNED MASS DAMPERS Bellos, John; C. Kamperidis, Vasileios; Papamichael, Salomi; Ioannou, Anthos Tuned Mass Dampers (TMDs) is an effective way for mitigating vibrations and sways in engi neering structures under lateral actions, such as strong winds. Thus, TMDs can enhance safe ty and reduce design structural demands. The design approach for systems with TMDs is crucial for both the accuracy and efficiency of their design. However, the current design ap proaches have either some practicality disadvantages, or cannot provide accurate and effec tive solutions in all cases. To this end, Bellos et al. [2] recently proposed a robust and versatile hybrid analytical-numerical design method that can address these shortcomings. The method accounts for distributed parameters and non-proportional damping, and can ap ply to non-conservative systems under all types of external actions. Yet, this method has not experimentally been validated. The main objectives of this work are to experimentally validate the aforementioned method, demonstrate its extended applicability, and provide a handy and accurate means for engineers to design systems with TMDs accurately and efficiently. The latter is realized by providing design charts, in lieu of using heavy numerical simulations, or other impractical and oversimplified methods. To achieve its objectives, the work utilizes a scaled down, two-storey building experimental setup with and without a TMD at its top. Par ametric analyses are then performed for varying values of characteristic design parameters of the investigated system. The experiments show a good agreement with the theoretical results, thus validating the accuracy of the method. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the method in reducing critical performance indices of the structure under winds by up to about 90% for realistic values of the TMB design properties. The work lays the foundation for im plementing the method in complex structures with multiples TMDs in random positions. Sun, 01 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/11728/13230 2025-06-01T00:00:00Z