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Munster Technological University

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Optimizing Electric Vehicle Fleet Integration In Industrial Demand Response: Maximizing Vehicle-To-Grid Benefits While Compensating Vehicle Owners For Battery Degradation, Andre Leippi, Markus Fleschutz, Kevin Davis, Anna-Lena Klingler, Michael D. Murphy Nov 2024

Optimizing Electric Vehicle Fleet Integration In Industrial Demand Response: Maximizing Vehicle-To-Grid Benefits While Compensating Vehicle Owners For Battery Degradation, Andre Leippi, Markus Fleschutz, Kevin Davis, Anna-Lena Klingler, Michael D. Murphy

Publications

This paper addresses the integration of electric vehicle (EV) fleets into industrial smart grids to increase operational flexibility. It focuses on an extended multi-objective optimization problem that minimizes two primary objectives: (i) the electricity expenditure of a company using its employees’ EV batteries as temporary distributed energy storage, and (ii) the costs associated with the degradation of EV batteries, given the additional usage from the company’s perspective. In this paper, the utilization of an EV fleet is simulated at the individual car level over a one-year period. These optimization problems were balanced by using real-time electricity prices and the effective …


Farm Electricity System Simulator (Fess): A Platform For Simulating Electricity Utilisation On Dairy Farms, F. Buckley, J. Upton, R. Prendergast, L. Shalloo, Michael D. Murphy Apr 2024

Farm Electricity System Simulator (Fess): A Platform For Simulating Electricity Utilisation On Dairy Farms, F. Buckley, J. Upton, R. Prendergast, L. Shalloo, Michael D. Murphy

Publications

The objective of this paper was to define, validate and demonstrate a model capable of accurately simulating dairy farm electricity consumption across varying herd and parlour sizes, to facilitate research investigating renewable energy systems (RES) and demand side management (DSM). The Farm Electricity System Simulator (FESS) was developed using grey-box modelling techniques utilizing empirical data for parameter tuning. Empirical data were gathered from nine spring calving, pasture based dairy farms located in the Republic of Ireland. A k-means clustering analysis was conducted, separating the farms into three, near homogenous groups, from which representative farms were selected. FESS was trained using …


Optimal Environmental And Economic Performance Trade-Offs For Fifth Generation District Heating And Cooling Network Topologies With Waste Heat Recovery, Michael D. Murphy Apr 2024

Optimal Environmental And Economic Performance Trade-Offs For Fifth Generation District Heating And Cooling Network Topologies With Waste Heat Recovery, Michael D. Murphy

Publications

Network topology greatly influences both the economic and environmental performance of fifth generation district heating and cooling (5GDHC) systems. In this study the optimal trade-offs between the environmental and economic performance of 5GDHC network topologies for a five-building district with waste heat recovery were explored. A life cycle assessment method was used to calculate the total life cycle CO2 emissions (LCCO2) associated with the installation and operation of various network topologies. Twelve months of empirical data from a data center cooling system were analyzed to assess its suitability for integration into a 5GDHC system. The most suitable method for utilizing …


Review Of Methodological Decisions In Life Cycle Assessment (Lca) Of Biorefinery Systems Across Feedstock Categories, James Gaffey, Maurice N. Collins, David Styles Apr 2024

Review Of Methodological Decisions In Life Cycle Assessment (Lca) Of Biorefinery Systems Across Feedstock Categories, James Gaffey, Maurice N. Collins, David Styles

Publications

The application of life cycle assessment (LCA) to biorefineries is a necessary step to estimate their environmental sustainability. This review explores contemporary LCA biorefinery studies, across different feedstock categories, to understand approaches in dealing with key methodological decisions which arise, including system boundaries, consequential or attributional approach, allocation, inventory data, land use changes, product end-of-life (EOL), biogenic carbon storage, impact assessment and use of uncertainty analysis. From an initial collection of 81 studies, 59 were included within the final analysis, comprising 22 studies which involved dedicated feedstocks, 34 which involved residue feedstocks (including by-products and wastes), and a further 3 …


Maximizing Ev Profit And Grid Stability Through Virtual Power Plant Considering V2g, A. Selim Türkoğlu, H. Cihan Güldorum, Ibrahim Sengor Mar 2024

Maximizing Ev Profit And Grid Stability Through Virtual Power Plant Considering V2g, A. Selim Türkoğlu, H. Cihan Güldorum, Ibrahim Sengor

Dept. of Electrical & Electronic Engineering Publications

The electrification of transportation through the widespread adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) has raised substantial concerns within the realm of power grid operations. This concern predominantly stems from the elevated electricity demand brought about by the surging population of EVs, consequently exerting strain on the power grid infrastructure which can be reduced with vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology integration. To address this issue, this paper delves further into the realm of grid integration by introducing a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) concept to enhance the synergy between EVs and power grid. This study aims to compare different realistic objectives, ranging from total active …


An Evaluation Of Parameters Which Affect Dairy Herd Movement On Irish Pasture-Based Farms, Paul James Maher, Michael D. Murphy, Michael Egan, Patrick Tuohy Oct 2023

An Evaluation Of Parameters Which Affect Dairy Herd Movement On Irish Pasture-Based Farms, Paul James Maher, Michael D. Murphy, Michael Egan, Patrick Tuohy

Publications

In pasture-based grazing systems, farm roadways are a pivotal link to connect paddocks on the grazing platform to the milking parlour. However, their effectiveness in the efficient movement of the dairy herd between the grazing paddocks and the milking parlour has yet to be fully quantified. A validation experiment was conducted on a research farm to analyse characteristics on farm roadways that may affect cow throughput, which was observed as the number of cows per minute (CPM) passing a specified location. Roadway width (R2 = 0.96) and surface condition score (SC) (R2 = 0.78, respectively) were both positively associated with …


From Prosumer To Flexumer: Case Study On The Value Of Flexibility In Decarbonizing The Multi-Energy System Of A Manufacturing Company, Markus Fleschutz, Markus Bohlayer, Marco Braun, Michael B. Murphy Jun 2023

From Prosumer To Flexumer: Case Study On The Value Of Flexibility In Decarbonizing The Multi-Energy System Of A Manufacturing Company, Markus Fleschutz, Markus Bohlayer, Marco Braun, Michael B. Murphy

Publications

Digitalization and sector coupling enable companies to turn into flexumers. By using the flexibility of their multi-energy system (MES), they reduce costs and carbon emissions while balancing the electricity grid. However, to identify the necessary investments in energy conversion and storage technologies to leverage demand response (DR) potentials, companies need to assess the value of flexibility. Therefore, this study quantifies the flexibility value of a production company’s MES by optimizing the synthesis, design, and operation of a decarbonizing MES considering self-consumption optimization, peak shaving, and integrated DR based on hourly prices and carbon emission factors (CEFs). The detailed case study …


The Role Of Near-Façade Flow In Wind-Dominant Single-Sided Natural Ventilation For An Isolated Three-Storey Building: An Les Study, Nima Najafi Ziarani, Malcolm J. Cook, Farnood Freidooni, Paul D. O'Sullivan May 2023

The Role Of Near-Façade Flow In Wind-Dominant Single-Sided Natural Ventilation For An Isolated Three-Storey Building: An Les Study, Nima Najafi Ziarani, Malcolm J. Cook, Farnood Freidooni, Paul D. O'Sullivan

Publications

Wind-driven single-sided ventilation is present in many existing buildings globally, and its performance can be unreliable and challenging to improve. To address these performance challenges, a better understanding of the interconnected relationship between the external and internal flows is required. Therefore, a detailed assessment of this type of natural ventilation is vital. A detailed CFD analysis of wind-dominant single-sided natural ventilation is presented by adopting the Large Eddy Simulation method, validated using previous wind tunnel studies. An isolated cube, representing a three-storey building, was used to investigate four case studies with different opening positions on the building façade. The …


The Effect Of Airflow Guiding Components On Effective Ventilation Rates In Single-Sided Ventilation Applications, Nima Najafi Ziarani, Malcolm Cook, Paul D. O’Sullivan Apr 2023

The Effect Of Airflow Guiding Components On Effective Ventilation Rates In Single-Sided Ventilation Applications, Nima Najafi Ziarani, Malcolm Cook, Paul D. O’Sullivan

Publications

Wind-driven single-sided ventilation (SSV) is present in many existing buildings across Europe, and with new near-zero energy building (NZEB) regulations for the refurbishment of the existing building stock, its attractiveness as a noninvasive, low-energy solution is set to continue. As a strategy, however, in addition to its air change rate capacity, the distribution of fresh air is an important evaluation criterion for its performance. Airflow guiding components located in the external opening that enhance the effectiveness of the wind-driven flow in ventilating the occupied zone could improve the quality of indoor environments. To our knowledge, the literature is sparse on …


Effect Of Protective Cladding On The Fire Performance Of Vertically Loaded Cross-Laminated Timber (Clt) Wall Panels, Muhammad Yasir, Andrew Macilwraith, Conan O'Ceallaigh, Kieran Ruane Apr 2023

Effect Of Protective Cladding On The Fire Performance Of Vertically Loaded Cross-Laminated Timber (Clt) Wall Panels, Muhammad Yasir, Andrew Macilwraith, Conan O'Ceallaigh, Kieran Ruane

Publications

Cross-laminated timber (CLT) is a sustainable engineered wood product which is utilised in modern multi-storey timber buildings. The fire behaviour of timber structures is often a concern due to their combustible nature. In this paper, experimental fire testing of CLT panels made of Irish spruce was performed. This series of tests consisted of four vertically loaded CLT wall panels which were tested under Standard fire curves in the Structural Laboratory of Munster Technological University, Cork (MTU). To improve the fire performance of CLT panels, different types of protective claddings were used. The effectiveness of each system of protection has been …


Advancing Industrial Participation In Demand Response Within National Electricity Grids Through Systematic Asset Selection, Risk Assessment And Modelling Approaches, Alexander Brem Sep 2022

Advancing Industrial Participation In Demand Response Within National Electricity Grids Through Systematic Asset Selection, Risk Assessment And Modelling Approaches, Alexander Brem

Theses

Increasing the flexible capacity on national electricity grids will be key to maintain reliable control as the levels of renewables continue to increase annually. The industrial sector has been identified as being capable of contributing and potentially offering flexible capacities, following appropriate investigation. The aim of this thesis is to develop the knowledge, advance the engagement and encourage additional participation in national demand response programmes from the industrial sector to provide this flexibility. The potential within this sector, facilitated by the smart grid and demand response concepts is outlined, specifically detailing their benefits, driving factors and potential barriers as part …


Student Understanding Of Kinematics: A Qualitative Assessment, Andrew Cashman, Tom O'Mahony May 2022

Student Understanding Of Kinematics: A Qualitative Assessment, Andrew Cashman, Tom O'Mahony

Publications

In engineering, kinematics is widely regarded as a fundamental topic with the literature agreeing that students possess a wide range in understanding of the topic. This study aims to take a second-order approach by understanding and exploring the qualitatively different ways in which students approach solving kinematics problems. Phenomenography was used to collect data through ten semi-structured interviews with early-stage mechanical engineering students. Following data analysis, four distinct categories of students’ approaches were identified; unstructured, framing the problem, strategic, and conceptual. It was found that these categories could be arranged in a hierarchy and were also supported by secondary epistemic …


What Are The Desired Properties Of Recycling-Derived Fertilisers From An End-User Perspective?, Aoife Egan, Amrita Saju, Ivona Sigurnjak, Erik Meers, Niamh Power Jan 2022

What Are The Desired Properties Of Recycling-Derived Fertilisers From An End-User Perspective?, Aoife Egan, Amrita Saju, Ivona Sigurnjak, Erik Meers, Niamh Power

Publications

The circular economy aims to promote the use of recycled products and to close the nutrient cycle loop by avoiding nutrient leakage and detrimental environmental effects, while also reducing the dependency on fossil fuels. The production of nitrogen is energy-intensive, requiring natural gas, whereas, finite resources like phosphorus and potassium are mined. Recent developments in nutrient recovery technologies have resulted in different types of recycling-derived fertilisers (RDFs) with the potential to substitute commonly used synthetic mineral fertilisers. This study aims to understand perceptions and preferences regarding the properties and parameters that end-users find important in RDFs. A better understanding of …


Pepblock Builder Vr – An Open-Source Tool For Gaming-Based Bio-Edutainment In Interactive Protein Design, Venkata V. B. Yallapragada, Tianshu Xu, Sidney P. Walker, Sabin Tabirca, Mark Tangney May 2021

Pepblock Builder Vr – An Open-Source Tool For Gaming-Based Bio-Edutainment In Interactive Protein Design, Venkata V. B. Yallapragada, Tianshu Xu, Sidney P. Walker, Sabin Tabirca, Mark Tangney

Cappa Publications

Proteins mediate and perform various fundamental functions of life. This versatility of protein function is an attribute of its 3D structure. In recent years, our understanding of protein 3D structure has been complemented with advances in computational and mathematical tools for protein modelling and protein design. 3D molecular visualisation is an essential part in every protein design and protein modelling workflow. Over the years, stand-alone and web-based molecular visualisation tools have been used to emulate three-dimensional view on computers. The advent of virtual reality provided the scope for immersive control of molecular visualisation. While these technologies have significantly improved our …


An Overview On Deficit And Requirements Of The Irish National Soil Phosphorus Balance, Ciarán O'Donnell, Aoife Egan, Joseph R. Harrington, Denise Barnett, Patrick Forrestal, Niamh Power Apr 2021

An Overview On Deficit And Requirements Of The Irish National Soil Phosphorus Balance, Ciarán O'Donnell, Aoife Egan, Joseph R. Harrington, Denise Barnett, Patrick Forrestal, Niamh Power

Publications

Phosphorus (P) is an essential life-supporting nutrient for which there is no substitute. Modern farming practice and food production are supported by the application of mineral P fertiliser derived from finite mined phosphate rock. The European Union does not have indigenous mineral phosphate reserves, which poses a significant issue to food security. This research paper assesses the potential of indigenous recycled P sources to replace imported P fertiliser within the Republic of Ireland. The research is undertaken at NUTS 3 (Nomenclature of Territorial Units) regional level, the nutrient soil P requirement is established, and the extent to which the …


Parking Recommender System Privacy Preservation Through Anonymization And Differential Privacy, Yasir Saleem Shaikh, Mubashir Husain Rehmani, Noel Crespi, Roberto Minerva Feb 2021

Parking Recommender System Privacy Preservation Through Anonymization And Differential Privacy, Yasir Saleem Shaikh, Mubashir Husain Rehmani, Noel Crespi, Roberto Minerva

Publications

Recent advancements in the Internet of Things (IoT) have enabled the development of smart parking systems that use services of third-party parking recommender system to provide recommendations of personalized parking spot to users based on their past experience. However, the indiscriminate sharing of users’ data with an untrusted (or semitrusted) parking recommender system may breach the privacy because users’ behavior and mobility patterns could be inferred by analyzing their past history. Therefore, in this article, we present two solutions that preserve privacy of users in parking recommender systems while analyzing the past parking history using k-anonymity (anonymization) and differential privacy …


Adaptive Uplink Data Rate Prediction And Networkselection In A Vehicular Mobile Channel, Georgi Nikolov Jan 2021

Adaptive Uplink Data Rate Prediction And Networkselection In A Vehicular Mobile Channel, Georgi Nikolov

Theses

The rapid acceleration into the digital age brings a worldwide interconnectedness of an unprecedented level. This interconnectedness transforms the modern transportation network by linking its infrastructure components (e.g., signaling systems, traffic control systems, maintenance systems) together. Intelligent transportation systems (ITS) can utilize this newly emerged network infrastructure, improving traffic safety, traffic control, and reducing transportation-related environmental impacts, changing the way drivers, businesses and governments deal with road transport. It is expected that in the near future self-aware vehicles (e.g., trains, cars or trucks) will constitute the majority of the transportation infrastructure. Vehicles need to be able to reliably communicate critical …


Optimisation Of Grass Measurement Technologies Through Field Experimentation And Numerical Simulation Methods, Darren Joseph Murphy Jan 2021

Optimisation Of Grass Measurement Technologies Through Field Experimentation And Numerical Simulation Methods, Darren Joseph Murphy

Theses

Maximising pasture utilisation through optimal grassland management is vital in terms of ensuring the economic sustainability and mitigating the environmental impact of both Irish and global pasture-based livestock production. Frequent and accurate measurement of grass quantity and quality is one of the main methods of maximising grass production and utilisation on pasture-based farms. The most prominent grass measurement tool used on Irish pasture is the rising plate meter (RPM), however, there are a range of issues with this method including operator bias, precision and difficulties in accounting for spatial variation. Currently, there is no definitive protocol for grass measurement which …


An Investigation Of The Potential Adoption Of Anaerobic Digestion For Energy Production In Irish Farms, Niamh Power, Sean O'Connor, Ehiaze Ehimen, Suresh C. Pillai, Gary A. Lyons, John Bartlett Jan 2021

An Investigation Of The Potential Adoption Of Anaerobic Digestion For Energy Production In Irish Farms, Niamh Power, Sean O'Connor, Ehiaze Ehimen, Suresh C. Pillai, Gary A. Lyons, John Bartlett

Publications

Anaerobic digestion (AD) has been recognised as an effective means of simultaneously producing energy while reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Despite having a large agriculture sector, Ireland has experienced little uptake of the technology, ranking 20th within the EU-28. It is, therefore, necessary to understand the general opinions, willingness to adopt, and perceived obstacles of potential adopters of the technology. As likely primary users of this technology, a survey of Irish cattle farmers was conducted to assess the potential of on-farm AD for energy production in Ireland. The study seeks to understand farmers’ motivations, perceived barriers, and preferred business model. …


Material Handling System For An Advanced Flexible Manufacturing Environment, Con Cronin Jan 2021

Material Handling System For An Advanced Flexible Manufacturing Environment, Con Cronin

Theses

A Flexible Manufacturing System (FMS) is a method of production that is designed to easily adapt to changes in the type and quantity of the product being manufactured. Machines and computerised systems can be configured to manufacture a variety of parts and to handle the changing levels of production that is required. The aim of this project was to investigate the current manufacturing processes of Kostal Ireland GmbH with the aim of developing a bespoke prototype material handling system to achieve flexible manufacturing. Kostal Ireland GmbH currently do not have the ability to change their manufacturing operations easily when a …


Development Of A Grass Measurement Optimisation Tool To Efficiently Measure Herbage Mass On Grazed Pastures, D. J. Murphy, B. O'Brien, Michael D. Murphy Oct 2020

Development Of A Grass Measurement Optimisation Tool To Efficiently Measure Herbage Mass On Grazed Pastures, D. J. Murphy, B. O'Brien, Michael D. Murphy

Publications

Accurate and efficient estimation of herbage mass is essential for optimising grass utilisation and increasing profit for pasture farming. There is no definitive sampling protocol for grass measurement on Irish pastures. This paper presents the Grass Measurement Optimisation Tool (GMOT), designed to generate measurement protocols that optimise for time and accuracy. The GMOT was designed in the form of a decision support tool that generates interactive paddock maps that guide the farmer on how to optimally measure their pastures in a random stratified manner based on GPS co-ordinates, resulting in accurate non-biased estimations of mean herbage mass. Rising plate meter …


St. Mary And St. Anne Cathedral, Cork: An Optimum Heating Solution For Heritage Buildings?, Christopher Shiell, Roger P. West Aug 2020

St. Mary And St. Anne Cathedral, Cork: An Optimum Heating Solution For Heritage Buildings?, Christopher Shiell, Roger P. West

Civil Engineering Research in Ireland 2020

Cathedrals and most churches are characterised by having large internal, undivided spaces and permeable building envelopes. They are often used little, intermittently, but predictably and, in spite of the fact that they are unique in still being largely used for the purpose for which they were built many centuries ago, they are now often used for additional purposes, for which they were never designed. These uses include concerts, graduation ceremonies, filming and a host of other uses all of which require a level of thermal comfort not envisaged by the original builders. Research was undertaken by the authors into the …


Art In Engineering: Evoking A Creative Response From Engineering Students And More, Jamie Goggins, Marta Fuente, Eamonn Madden Aug 2020

Art In Engineering: Evoking A Creative Response From Engineering Students And More, Jamie Goggins, Marta Fuente, Eamonn Madden

Civil Engineering Research in Ireland 2020

The concept of creativity being only associated with writers, painters, and artistic professions is outdated. The future engineer must embrace maths, art and creativity to unlock innovative solutions. Traditional engineering courses with an emphasis predominately on maths and science can produce graduates who are constrained in developing design solutions without creativity to unlock innovative solutions. This paper describes a short course introduced in the School of Engineering at NUIGalway in 2018 to expose students to creative thinking research and principles and engage in various forms of creative expression (photography, painting and essay writing) to articulate their response to a set …


Teaching Of Structural Analysis Into The Future, Dermot O'Dwyer Aug 2020

Teaching Of Structural Analysis Into The Future, Dermot O'Dwyer

Civil Engineering Research in Ireland 2020

The engineering curriculum has always been full. In the past civil and structural engineers studied a wide variety of technical subjects within the broad field of engineering science and spent many hours working on design projects. Modern engineering curricula try to cover these areas while also dedicating more time to structured group-work, report writing and communication skills. Although students spend longer in college the number and range of technical fields that students must master is considerably larger than in the past. As a result the time available to any one topic area has reduced. At the same time the work …


The Broader Development Of The Student Engineer Through Industry Based Experiential Learning, Donogh Coleman, Ted Mckenna, Mary Moloney Aug 2020

The Broader Development Of The Student Engineer Through Industry Based Experiential Learning, Donogh Coleman, Ted Mckenna, Mary Moloney

Civil Engineering Research in Ireland 2020

The global drive for industry-aware and industry-ready engineering graduates, has led to the development and integration of experiential learning through work placements. Industry is looking to recruit graduates with not just the requisite technical engineering skills, but also graduates with inter alia high levels of teamwork and communications skills. This has been recognised by CIT with the integration of work placement in most of its undergraduate programmes. This paper provides an overview of the student placement process in the Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering at CIT, includes the work placement alternative which was implemented due to the COVID-19 …


Can Deap Help Us To Predict The Energy Demand And Indoor Temperature Of Homes Before And After Renovation? A Case Study From Dublin, Paul Moran, Jamie Goggins Aug 2020

Can Deap Help Us To Predict The Energy Demand And Indoor Temperature Of Homes Before And After Renovation? A Case Study From Dublin, Paul Moran, Jamie Goggins

Civil Engineering Research in Ireland 2020

Improving the energy efficiency of buildings via retrofitting is seen as one of the key mitigation measures to reducing the energy demand and carbon emissions of the built environment in Ireland. However, while energy efficiency retrofits for buildings are effective in theory, the energy savings estimated by statistical or engineering models can often be inaccurate. The Domestic Energy Assessment Procedure (DEAP) is the standard assessment procedure used for assessing the energy performance standard of residential buildings in Ireland. This paper examines the gas energy demand for space and water heating and the internal temperature profiles in contrast to DEAP estimates …


Operational And Embodied Energy Analysis Of 8 Single-Occupant Dwellings Retrofit To Nzeb Standard, Richard O'Hegarty, Shane Colclough, Oliver Kinnane, Donal Lennon, Etienne Rieux Aug 2020

Operational And Embodied Energy Analysis Of 8 Single-Occupant Dwellings Retrofit To Nzeb Standard, Richard O'Hegarty, Shane Colclough, Oliver Kinnane, Donal Lennon, Etienne Rieux

Civil Engineering Research in Ireland 2020

In line with the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, Irish dwellings are being retrofit to near Zero Energy Building (nZEB) standards - with a number of the deep energy retrofits classified as A-rated. As a result of the low operational energy, the embodied energy share of an nZEB's life cycle energy is significantly increased. Therefore, to obtain a holistic picture of the change in energy profile of buildings, the embodied energy of the material added to achieve that low performance should also be taken into account. This paper presents results from a case study of 8 single-occupant terrace bungalows retrofit …


Reinforcement Of Timber Elements In Compression Perpendicular To The Grain Using Compressed Wood Dowels, Michael Conway, Conan O'Ceallaigh, Sameer Mehra, Annette M. Harte Aug 2020

Reinforcement Of Timber Elements In Compression Perpendicular To The Grain Using Compressed Wood Dowels, Michael Conway, Conan O'Ceallaigh, Sameer Mehra, Annette M. Harte

Civil Engineering Research in Ireland 2020

In the past decade, there has been an increased focus on the environmental impacts of construction and a movement towards more sustainable construction products. Timber is one such sustainable product that can achieve these environmental targets but, while timber has a high strength-to-weight ratio parallel to the grain, it demonstrates poor strength perpendicular to the grain. As a result, stress perpendicular to the grain is an important factor in the design of timber structures, especially in areas of concentrated loading, such as supports. This paper describes a study, which examines the use of compressed wood dowels as a sustainable alternative …


Loading On Long Span Bridges In Heavily Trafficked Areas, Michael Quilligan, Eugene O'Brien Aug 2020

Loading On Long Span Bridges In Heavily Trafficked Areas, Michael Quilligan, Eugene O'Brien

Civil Engineering Research in Ireland 2020

The critical traffic loading condition for long-span bridges is congestion when vehicles may be closely spaced together. Data on very high traffic flows is limited however, as induction loops which are typically used to collect traffic data, are ineffective when traffic flow breaks down. A number of long span bridges are located in areas of high traffic with periods of recurring congestion occurring daily. While the inter-vehicle gap distances are greater than those occurring during non-recurring full stop accident type events, the high frequency of the recurring congestion events can increase the probability of a critical load case occurring.


Potential Of A Low-Calcium Fly Ash (Fa) For The Production Of Alkali-Activated Materials., Omar Alelweet, Sara Pavia Aug 2020

Potential Of A Low-Calcium Fly Ash (Fa) For The Production Of Alkali-Activated Materials., Omar Alelweet, Sara Pavia

Civil Engineering Research in Ireland 2020

Coal-FA from power stations is an industrial waste abundantly produced in the world. FA can be used as a silicate precursor, and activated with an alkali-metal source to produce alkali-activated materials (AAMs). AAMs are more sustainable than other traditional products, as the use of waste for their production, reduces carbon emissions, and raw materials and energy consumption. This paper studies the properties, composition and reactivity of an Irish FA to establish its potential for the production of AAMs. The results clearly evidenced that the FA is reactive. It is ultrafine, it has a high specific surface area and is partially …