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Abstract
This doctoral thesis defines the relationship between the urban and rural in the 21st century, and focuses on food as a key component. The fact that food is, for the most part, produced in the countryside and then transported to the city has a significant influence on this very unbalanced relationship today. The main goal was to show that it is necessary to bring agriculture, urban gardening, the breeding of domestic farm animals, and beekeeping back to the city, which would have a positive affect on both the city and the countryside. All of this is already taking place at the local level, within the neighbourhoods of our cities and through the work of self-organised activities and initiatives, which have been taken up by city residents themselves. One example of this is the community garden, a new model of gardening which offers fertile ground for growing vegetables and to test various forms of co-existence, different ways of designing spaces, the creation of alternative values, and a positive vision for the future of city residents.
In 2010, I co-created the community urban garden Beyond a Construction Site, which is the central part of this artistic research. Throughout the entire four-year process of creating this community garden, theory and artistic practice were intertwined, and informed one another. This community garden is an example of a self-organised and self-managed community space located in a residential neighbourhood in the centre of the city of Ljubljana, and as such is a typical example of urbanism from the bottom up. I placed the creation and development of our community garden in a dialogue with the formal way of arranging urban gardening in Ljubljana, a top-down approach, which the city has been carrying out intensively since 2007. I compared the solutions being proposed by the city of Ljubljana for organising urban gardening with the way it is organised in other European cities, the UK, and the USA. I also researched the recent rapid growth of self-organised initiatives which are focused on the local production of food and seek to find more economic and ecologically friendly models to visibly influence the future of cities and the countryside. Here, community gardens play an important role, as in addition to the production of food they are also spaces for the criticism of existing urban policies, a self-organised revitalisation of neglected spaces, and places of resilience, because they differ from that which real estate agencies, large financial companies, and city authorities desire them to be.
The community garden Beyond a Construction Site has become living proof that, through a group action, the residents of a neighbourhood can influence existing city policies and the future of both their own neighbourhood and that of the entire city. The initiators of this garden are artists and architects, and we began this community garden in the context of an art festival, which also shows that art can influence the processes of everyday life and help to create much needed spaces within cities to serve various purposes. Our community garden has also shown itself to be an important platform for the exchange of knowledge on organic gardening, ecology in everyday life, and critical architecture, as well as serving to connect related initiatives. Together with these other initiatives we are stronger, and are influencing structural changes within city politics, thereby also co-creating the future of Ljubljana. This community garden is helping us to redefine our relationship with the city and re-awaken the desires and actions of residents connected with realising their fundamental right, the right to the city.
My other artworks, which I am presenting in the context of this doctoral thesis, show an optimistic vision for the future of cities. The video animations Back to the City (2011) and The Right Balance (2013), as well as the accompanying collages, visualise a city of the future where urban and rural practices live together side-by-side. This vision is being realised by city residents themselves, with their active participation in the creation of community gardens, growing their own vegetables, urban beekeeping, and by having egg-laying hens in their gardens. My desire was also to present the theoretical concept and scientific research to a non-academic public, and to people without specialised training. Using the method of storytelling I included knowledge from the research into the video animations and collages. In this way my artistic work, with an intentional playfulness, challenges today’s faith in science and theoretical concepts, as well as directing attention to working with common sense, with one’s own hands, and with the earth. This can contribute to a change in the still dominant anthropocentric view of nature, which is an urgently needed change for our future.
Keywords: rural, urban agriculture, community gardens, urban beekeeping, the bottom-up approach to urban planning, alternative spaces
Steel profiles with slender cross-sections are characterized by their high susceptibility to instability phenomena, especially local buckling, which are intensified under fire conditions. This work presents a study on numerical modelling of the behaviour of steel structural elements in case of fire with slender cross-sections. To accurately carry out these analyses it is necessary to take into account those local instability modes, which normally is only possible with shell finite elements. However, aiming at the development of more expeditious methods, particularly important for analysing complete structures in case of fire, recent studies have proposed the use of beam finite elements considering the presence of local buckling through the implementation of a new effective steel constitutive law. The objective of this work is to develop a study to validate this methodology using the program SAFIR. Comparisons are made between the results obtained applying the referred new methodology and finite element analyses using shell elements. The studies were made to laterally restrained beams, unrestrained beams, axially compressed columns and columns subjected to bending plus compression.
The refurbishment of old buildings often goes hand in hand with an increase in both the dead and live loads. The latter, combined with the higher safety factors, often make the reinforcement of the old structures necessary. Most reinforcement methods involve transforming a structural timber member into a composite beam. Composite sections have a long tradition in timber construction. In the early days, multiple timber beams were connected with interlocking tooth and wooden shear connecters, which resulted in an elastic connection. Although historical timber structures are frequently upgraded, no method has yet been established and fully accepted by all stakeholders such as owners, builders, architects, engineers and cultural heritage organisations. Carbon fibre-reinforced polymers (CFRP) have already shown their efficiency in structural reinforcement especially in concrete structures. Moreover, previous studies have shown that CFRP has the potential to meet the expectations of all parties involved.
In order to reach the service-limit state, a high amount of carbon fibres has to be used, or considering the cost of reinforcement, prestress has to be applied. However, prestressing often goes hand-in-hand with delaminating issues. The camber method presented here offers an efficient solution for prestressing timber bending members and overcoming the known obstacles.
In the method proposed, the timber beam is cambered using an adjustable prop at midspan during the bonding of the CRFP-lamella to the lower side of the bending member. After curing the adhesive, the prop is removed and the prestressed composite beam is ready to be used. The prestress introduced in the system is not constant, but has a triangular shape and peaks at midspan, where it is used the most. The prestress force, which declines towards the end of the beam, leads to a constant shear stress over the whole length of the reinforcement,avoiding a concentrated anchorage zone.
An analytical calculation model has been developed to calculate and design prestressed timber-
bending members using the camber method. Numerical modelling, using a multi-surface plasticity model for timber, confirmed the results from the analytical model, and clearly reduced delaminating issues, comparing very favourably to traditional prestressing methods. The experimental parametric study, including the determination of the short-term loadbearing capacity of structural-sized beams, showed agreement with the analytical and numerical calculation. The prestressed reinforcement showed a benefit of nearly 50% towards the ultimate-limit state and up to 70% towards the service-limit state. Calculations revealed that the use of high modulus CFRP allows even higher benefits, depending on the configurations and requirements. The long-term design of the prestressed composite beam was investigated by extending the analytical model. The creep of the timber leads to a load transfer from the timber towards the CFRP, and therefore increases the benefit towards the ultimatelimit design. Applying high modulus CFRP-lamellas allows for a complete utilisation of the
design capacity of timber and carbon fibre-reinforced polymer.
The thorough investigation conducted demonstrated that the camber method is an efficient technique for prestressing and reinforcing timber-bending members. Furthermore, the calculation model presented allows for a safe design and estimation of long-term behaviour.
The main objective of this thesis is to investigate the characteristics of rice husk ash RHA) and then its behaviour in self-compacting high performance concrete (SCHPC) with respects to rheological properties, hydration and microstructure development and alkali silica reaction, in comparison with silica fume (SF). The main results show that the RHA is a macro-mesoporous amorphous siliceous material with a very high silica content comparable with SF. The pore size distribution is the most important parameter of RHA besides amorphous silica content. This parameter affects pore volume, specific surface area, and thus the water demand and the pozzolanic reactivity of RHA and its behaviour in SCHPC. The incorporation of RHA decreases filling and passing abilities, but significantly increases plastic viscosity and segregation resistance of SCHPC. Therefore, RHA can be used as a viscosity modifying admixture for SCHPC. The incorporation of RHA increases the superplasticizer adsorption, the superplasticizer saturation dosage, yield stress and plastic viscosity of mortar. Fresh mortar formulated from SCHPC is a shear-thickening material. The incorporation of RHA/SF ecreases the shearthickening degree. The incorporation of RHA/SF increases the degree of cement hydration. SF appears more effective at 3 days possibly due to the better nucleation site effect, whereas RHA dominates at the later ages possibly due to the internal water curing effect. The incorporation of RHA/SF increases the degree of C3S hydration, particularly the C3S hydration rate from 3 to 14 days. The pozzolanic reaction takes place outside and inside RHA particles.
The internal pozzolanic eaction products consolidate the pores inside RHA particles rather than contribute to the pore refinement in the cement matrix. In the presence of the high alkali concentration, RHA particles act as microreactive aggregates and react with alkali hydroxide to generate the expansive alkali silica reaction products. Increasing the particle size and temperature increases the alkali silica reactivity of RHA. The mechanism for the successive pozzolanic and alkali silica reactions of RHA is theorized. Additionally, a new simple
mix design method is proposed for SCHPC containing various supplementary cementitious materials, i.e. RHA, SF, fly ash and limestone powder.
Some caad packages offer additional support for the optimization of spatial configurations, but the possibilities for applying optimization are usually limited either by the complexity of the data model or by the constraints of the underlying caad system. Since we missed a system that allows to experiment with optimization techniques for the synthesis of spatial configurations, we developed a collection of methods over the past years. This collection is now combined in the presented open source library for computational planning synthesis, called CPlan. The aim of the library is to provide an easy to use programming framework with a flat learning curve for people with basic programming knowledge. It offers an extensible structure that allows to add new customized parts for various purposes. In this paper the existing functionality of the CPlan library is described.
When working on urban planning projects there are usually multiple aspects to consider. Often these aspects are contradictory and it is not possible to choose one over the other; instead, they each need to be fulfilled as well as possible. In this situation ideal solutions are not always found because they are either not sought or the problems are regarded as being too complex for human capabilities.To improve this situation we propose complementing traditional design approaches with a design synthesis process based on evolutionary many-criteria optimization methods that can fulfill formalizable design requirements. In addition we show how self-organizing maps can be used to visualize many-dimensional solution spaces in an easily analyzable and comprehensible form.The system is presented using an urban planning scenario for the placement of building volumes.
In this paper we present some rudiments of a generalized Wiman-Valiron theory in the context of polymonogenic functions. In particular, we analyze the relations between different notions of growth orders and the Taylor coefficients. Our main intention is to look for generalizations of the Lindel¨of-Pringsheim theorem. In contrast to the classical holomorphic and the monogenic setting we only obtain inequality relations in the polymonogenic setting. This is due to the fact that the Almansi-Fischer decomposition of a polymonogenic function consists of different monogenic component functions where each of them can have a totally different kind of asymptotic growth behavior.
We present StarWatch, our application for real-time analysis of radio astronomical data in Virtual Environment. Serving as an interface to radio astronomical databases or being applied to live data from the radio telescopes, the application supports various data filters measuring signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), Doppler's drift, degree of signal localization on celestial sphere and other useful tools for signal extraction and classification. Originally designed for the database of narrow band signals from SETI Institute (setilive.org), the application has been recently extended for the detection of wide band periodic signals, necessary for the search of pulsars. We will also address the detection of week signals possessing arbitrary waveforms and present several data filters suitable for this purpose.
In der vorliegenden Arbeit werden Manifestäußerungen des Design- und Architekturdiskurses im situativen, medialen, institutionellen und historischen Kontext untersucht. Auf Grundlage einer Analyse der Etymologie und der Ideengeschichte des Manifestes wird anhand ausgewählter Beispiele die These belegt, dass das Medium vor allem der gezielten Rezeptionssteuerung im Diskurs dient. Darüber hinaus wird die Fähigkeit und Bedeutung des Manifestes als Spiegel vergangener und gegenwärtiger, aber auch als Wegbereiter zukünftiger Diskurse analysiert und Entwicklungen des Manifestes hinsichtlich Stilistik, Inhalt, Funktion und Bedeutung im Design- und Architekturdiskurs dargestellt.
In der vorliegenden Arbeit werden Manifestäußerungen des Design- und Architekturdiskurses im situativen, medialen, institutionellen und historischen Kontext untersucht. Auf Grundlage einer Analyse der Etymologie und der Ideengeschichte des Manifestes wird anhand ausgewählter Beispiele die These belegt, dass das Medium vor allem der gezielten Rezeptionssteuerung im Diskurs dient. Darüber hinaus wird die Fähigkeit und Bedeutung des Manifestes als Spiegel vergangener und gegenwärtiger, aber auch als Wegbereiter zukünftiger Diskurse analysiert und Entwicklungen des Manifestes hinsichtlich Stilistik, Inhalt, Funktion und Bedeutung im Design- und Architekturdiskurs dargestellt.
VARIATIONAL POSITING AND SOLUTION OF COUPLED THERMOMECHANICAL PROBLEMS IN A REFERENCE CONFIGURATION
(2015)
Variational formulation of a coupled thermomechanical problem of anisotropic solids for the case of non-isothermal finite deformations in a reference configuration is shown. The formulation of the problem includes: a condition of equilibrium flow of a deformation process in the reference configuration; an equation of a coupled heat conductivity in a variational form, in which an influence of deformation characteristics of a process on the temperature field is taken into account; tensor-linear constitutive relations for a hypoelastic material; kinematic and evolutional relations; initial and boundary conditions. Based on this formulation several axisymmetric isothermal and coupled problems of finite deformations of isotropic and anisotropic bodies are solved. The solution of coupled thermomechanical problems for a hollow cylinder in case of finite deformation showed an essential influence of coupling on distribution of temperature, stresses and strains. The obtained solutions show the development of stressstrain state and temperature changing in axisymmetric bodies in the case of finite deformations.
Known as a sophisticated phenomenon in civil engineering problems, soil structure interaction has been under deep investigations in the field of Geotechnics. On the other hand, advent of powerful computers has led to development of numerous numerical methods to deal with this phenomenon, resulting in a wide variety of methods trying to simulate the behavior of the soil stratum. This survey studies two common approaches to model the soil’s behavior in a system consisting of a structure with two degrees of freedom, representing a two-storey frame structure made of steel, with the column resting on a pile embedded into sand in laboratory scale. The effect of soil simulation technique on the dynamic behavior of the structure is of major interest in the study. Utilized modeling approaches are the so-called Holistic method, and substitution of soil with respective impedance functions.
A central issue for the autonomous navigation of mobile robots is to map unknown environments while simultaneously estimating its position within this map. This chicken-eggproblem is known as simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM). Asctec’s quadrotor Pelican is a powerful and flexible research UAS (unmanned aircraft system) which enables the development of new real-time on-board algorithms for SLAM as well as autonomous navigation. The relative UAS pose estimation for SLAM, usually based on low-cost sensors like inertial measurement units (IMU) and barometers, is known to be affected by high drift rates. In order to significantly reduce these effects, we incorporate additional independent pose estimation techniques using exteroceptive sensors. In this article we present first pose estimation results using a stereo camera setup as well as a laser range finder, individually. Even though these methods fail in few certain configurations we demonstrate their effectiveness and value for the reduction of IMU drift rates and give an outlook for further works towards SLAM.
With the advances of the computer technology, structural optimization has become a prominent field in structural engineering. In this study an unconventional approach of structural optimization is presented which utilize the Energy method with Integral Material behaviour (EIM), based on the Lagrange’s principle of minimum potential energy. The equilibrium condition with the EIM, as an alternative method for nonlinear analysis, is secured through minimization of the potential energy as an optimization problem. Imposing this problem as an additional constraint on a higher cost function of a structural property, a bilevel programming problem is formulated. The nested strategy of solution of the bilevel problem is used, treating the energy and the upper objective function as separate optimization problems. Utilizing the convexity of the potential energy, gradient based algorithms are employed for its minimization and the upper cost function is minimized using the gradient free algorithms, due to its unknown properties. Two practical examples are considered in order to prove the efficiency of the method. The first one presents a sizing problem of I steel section within encased composite cross section, utilizing the material nonlinearity. The second one is a discrete shape optimization of a steel truss bridge, which is compared to a previous study based on the Finite Element Method.
SELECTION AND SCALING OF GROUND MOTION RECORDS FOR SEISMIC ANALYSIS USING AN OPTIMIZATION ALGORITHM
(2015)
The nonlinear time history analysis and seismic performance based methods require a set of scaled ground motions. The conventional procedure of ground motion selection is based on matching the motion properties, e.g. magnitude, amplitude, fault distance, and fault mechanism. The seismic target spectrum is only used in the scaling process following the random selection process. Therefore, the aim of the paper is to present a procedure to select a sets of ground motions from a built database of ground motions. The selection procedure is based on running an optimization problem using Dijkstra’s algorithm to match the selected set of ground motions to a target response spectrum. The selection and scaling procedure of optimized sets of ground motions is presented by examining the analyses of nonlinear single degree of freedom systems.
The distinguishing structural feature of single-layered black phosphorus is its puckered structure, which leads to many novel physical properties. In this work, we first present a new parameterization of the Stillinger–Weber potential for single-layered black phosphorus. In doing so, we reveal the importance of a cross-pucker interaction term in capturing its unique mechanical properties, such as a negative Poisson's ratio. In particular, we show that the cross-pucker interaction enables the pucker to act as a re-entrant hinge, which expands in the lateral direction when it is stretched in the longitudinal direction. As a consequence, single-layered black phosphorus has a negative Poisson's ratio in the direction perpendicular to the atomic plane. As an additional demonstration of the impact of the cross-pucker interaction, we show that it is also the key factor that enables capturing the edge stress-induced bending of single-layered black phosphorus that has been reported in ab initio calculations.
Methods based on B-splines for model representation, numerical analysis and image registration
(2015)
The thesis consists of inter-connected parts for modeling and analysis using newly developed isogeometric methods. The main parts are reproducing kernel triangular B-splines, extended isogeometric analysis for solving weakly discontinuous problems, collocation methods using superconvergent points, and B-spline basis in image registration applications.
Each topic is oriented towards application of isogeometric analysis basis functions to ease the process of integrating the modeling and analysis phases of simulation.
First, we develop reproducing a kernel triangular B-spline-based FEM for solving PDEs. We review the triangular B-splines and their properties. By definition, the triangular basis function is very flexible in modeling complicated domains. However, instability results when it is applied for analysis. We modify the triangular B-spline by a reproducing kernel technique, calculating a correction term for the triangular kernel function from the chosen surrounding basis. The improved triangular basis is capable to obtain the results with higher accuracy and almost optimal convergence rates.
Second, we propose an extended isogeometric analysis for dealing with weakly discontinuous problems such as material interfaces. The original IGA is combined with XFEM-like enrichments which are continuous functions themselves but with discontinuous derivatives. Consequently, the resulting solution space can approximate solutions with weak discontinuities. The method is also applied to curved material interfaces, where the inverse mapping and the curved triangular elements are considered.
Third, we develop an IGA collocation method using superconvergent points. The collocation methods are efficient because no numerical integration is needed. In particular when higher polynomial basis applied, the method has a lower computational cost than Galerkin methods. However, the positions of the collocation points are crucial for the accuracy of the method, as they affect the convergent rate significantly. The proposed IGA collocation method uses superconvergent points instead of the traditional Greville abscissae points. The numerical results show the proposed method can have better accuracy and optimal convergence rates, while the traditional IGA collocation has optimal convergence only for even polynomial degrees.
Lastly, we propose a novel dynamic multilevel technique for handling image registration. It is application of the B-spline functions in image processing. The procedure considered aims to align a target image from a reference image by a spatial transformation. The method starts with an energy function which is the same as a FEM-based image registration. However, we simplify the solving procedure, working on the energy function directly. We dynamically solve for control points which are coefficients of B-spline basis functions. The new approach is more simple and fast. Moreover, it is also enhanced by a multilevel technique in order to prevent instabilities. The numerical testing consists of two artificial images, four real bio-medical MRI brain and CT heart images, and they show our registration method is accurate, fast and efficient, especially for large deformation problems.
Entwicklung eines Sommerreferenzjahres zur Bestimmung der sommerlichen Überhitzung von Gebäuden
(2015)
Die Ableitung von sommer-fokussierten warmen Referenzjahren aus langjährigen Klimadaten erfolgt in Europa bisher nach unterschiedlichen, länderspezifischen Methoden, die sich in der Regel allein auf die Trockentemperatur beziehen und in der Auswahl eines zusammenhängenden realen Sommerhalbjahres resultieren. Simulationsergebnisse zur sommerlichen Überhitzung von natürlich belüfteten Gebäuden in Deutschland und Großbritannien zeigen jedoch für einige Wetterstationen weniger Überhitzung für Simulationen mit dem sommer-fokussierten Referenzjahr als für solche mit dem entsprechenden Testreferenzjahr (TRY) für den gleichen Ort. Dies gilt insbesondere dann, wenn einzelne Monate miteinander verglichen werden. Neben der Wahl eines kompletten Halbjahres, das sowohl extrem warme als auch vergleichsweise kühle Monate beinhalten kann, liegt dies vor allem begründet in der fehlenden Berücksichtigung der Solarstrahlung bei der Auswahl eines warmen Referenzjahres, die jedoch eine wichtige Rolle für sommerliche Überhitzungserscheinungen in Gebäuden spielt. Eine verlässliche, allgemein anerkannte Methode zur Erstellung von sommer-fokussierten Referenzjahren erscheint daher auch im Hinblick auf die rechtlichen Rahmenbedingungen in der Europäischen Union, die Strategien zur natürlichen Belüftung von Neubauten und Sanierungen begünstigen, erforderlich. Diese Arbeit präsentiert einen Ansatz zur Erstellung eines Sommerreferenzjahres (Summer Reference Year – SRY) aus dem TRY eines gegebenen Ortes und langjährigen Klimadaten. Die existierenden TRY-Daten werden hierbei skaliert, um den Bedingungen für Trockentemperatur und Solarstrahlung von nah-extremen Kandidatenjahren zu entsprechen, die separat über einen statistischen Ansatz ausgewählt werden. Anschließend werden Feuchttemperatur, Windgeschwindigkeit und Luftdruck des TRY durch lineare Korrelationen mit der Trockentemperatur angepasst, um die entsprechenden SRY-Daten zu erhalten. Der Vorteil dieser Methode liegt darin, dass das grundlegende Wettermuster des TRY erhalten bleibt und somit eine klare Relation zwischen SRY und TRY besteht, die eine Vergleichbarkeit von Simulationsergebnissen gewährleistet. Über vergleichende Gebäudesimulationen mit dem zugrundeliegenden TRY und langjährigen Klimadatensätzen kann nachgewiesen werden, dass sich das SRY zur Ermittlung sommerlicher Überhitzungserscheinungen in natürlich belüfteten Gebäuden eignet. Weiterhin kann gezeigt werden, dass das SRY im Gegensatz zur direkten Nutzung eines Kandidatenjahres für einen nah-extremen Sommer die Möglichkeit eines monatsscharfen Vergleichs mit dem TRY erlaubt und frei von wenig repräsentativen Besonderheiten ist, die in den entsprechenden Kandidatenjahren vorhanden sein können.
A topology optimization method has been developed for structures subjected to multiple load cases (Example of a bridge pier subjected to wind loads, traffic, superstructure...). We formulate the problem as a multi-criterial optimization problem, where the compliance is computed for each load case. Then, the Epsilon constraint method (method proposed by Chankong and Haimes, 1971) is adapted. The strategy of this method is based on the concept of minimizing the maximum compliance resulting from the critical load case while the other remaining compliances are considered in the constraints. In each iteration, the compliances of all load cases are computed and only the maximum one is minimized. The topology optimization process is switching from one load to another according to the variation of the resulting compliance. In this work we will motivate and explain the proposed methodology and provide some numerical examples.
Sensor faults can affect the dependability and the accuracy of structural health monitoring (SHM) systems. Recent studies demonstrate that artificial neural networks can be used to detect sensor faults. In this paper, decentralized artificial neural networks (ANNs) are applied for autonomous sensor fault detection. On each sensor node of a wireless SHM system, an ANN is implemented to measure and to process structural response data. Structural response data is predicted by each sensor node based on correlations between adjacent sensor nodes and on redundancies inherent in the SHM system. Evaluating the deviations (or residuals) between measured and predicted data, sensor faults are autonomously detected by the wireless sensor nodes in a fully decentralized manner. A prototype SHM system implemented in this study, which is capable of decentralized autonomous sensor fault detection, is validated in laboratory experiments through simulated sensor faults. Several topologies and modes of operation of the embedded ANNs are investigated with respect to the dependability and the accuracy of the fault detection approach. In conclusion, the prototype SHM system is able to accurately detect sensor faults, demonstrating that neural networks, processing decentralized structural response data, facilitate autonomous fault detection, thus increasing the dependability and the accuracy of structural health monitoring systems.
In this study, an application of evolutionary multi-objective optimization algorithms on the optimization of sandwich structures is presented. The solution strategy is known as Elitist Non-Dominated Sorting Evolution Strategy (ENSES) wherein Evolution Strategies (ES) as Evolutionary Algorithm (EA) in the elitist Non-dominated Sorting Genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) procedure. Evolutionary algorithm seems a compatible approach to resolve multi-objective optimization problems because it is inspired by natural evolution, which closely linked to Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques and elitism has shown an important factor for improving evolutionary multi-objective search. In order to evaluate the notion of performance by ENSES, the well-known study case of sandwich structures are reconsidered. For Case 1, the goals of the multi-objective optimization are minimization of the deflection and the weight of the sandwich structures. The length, the core and skin thicknesses are the design variables of Case 1. For Case 2, the objective functions are the fabrication cost, the beam weight and the end deflection of the sandwich structures. There are four design variables i.e., the weld height, the weld length, the beam depth and the beam width in Case 2. Numerical results are presented in terms of Paretooptimal solutions for both evaluated cases.
One of the most promising and recent advances in computer-based planning is the transition from classical geometric modeling to building information modeling (BIM). Building information models support the representation, storage, and exchange of various information relevant to construction planning. This information can be used for describing, e.g., geometric/physical properties or costs of a building, for creating construction schedules, or for representing other characteristics of construction projects. Based on this information, plans and specifications as well as reports and presentations of a planned building can be created automatically. A fundamental principle of BIM is object parameterization, which allows specifying geometrical, numerical, algebraic and associative dependencies between objects contained in a building information model. In this paper, existing challenges of parametric modeling using the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) as a federated model for integrated planning are shown, and open research questions are discussed.
Performing parameter identification prior to numerical simulation is an essential task in geotechnical engineering. However, it has to be kept in mind that the accuracy of the obtained parameter is closely related to the chosen experimental setup, such as the number of sensors as well as their location. A well considered position of sensors can increase the quality of the measurement and to reduce the number of monitoring points. This Paper illustrates this concept by means of a loading device that is used to identify the stiffness and permeability of soft clays. With an initial setup of the measurement devices the pore water pressure and the vertical displacements are recorded and used to identify the afore mentioned parameters. Starting from these identified parameters, the optimal measurement setup is investigated with a method based on global sensitivity analysis. This method shows an optimal sensor location assuming three sensors for each measured quantity, and the results are discussed.
It is well-known that the solution of the fundamental equations of linear elasticity for a homogeneous isotropic material in plane stress and strain state cases can be equivalently reduced to the solution of a biharmonic equation. The discrete version of the Theorem of Goursat is used to describe the solution of the discrete biharmonic equation by the help of two discrete holomorphic functions. In order to obtain a Taylor expansion of discrete holomorphic functions we introduce a basis of discrete polynomials which fulfill the so-called Appell property with respect to the discrete adjoint Cauchy-Riemann operator. All these steps are very important in the field of fracture mechanics, where stress and displacement fields in the neighborhood of singularities caused by cracks and notches have to be calculated with high accuracy. Using the sum representation of holomorphic functions it seems possible to reproduce the order of singularity and to determine important mechanical characteristics.
In construction engineering, a schedule’s input data, which is usually not exactly known in the planning phase, is considered deterministic when generating the schedule. As a result, construction schedules become unreliable and deadlines are often not met. While the optimization of construction schedules with respect to costs and makespan has been a matter of research in the past decades, the optimization of the robustness of construction schedules has received little attention. In this paper, the effects of uncertainties inherent to the input data of construction schedules are discussed. Possibilities are investigated to improve the reliability of construction schedules by considering alternative processes for certain tasks and by identifying the combination of processes generating the most robust schedule with respect to the makespan of a construction project.
Polymer modification of mortar and concrete is a widely used technique in order to improve their durability properties. Hitherto, the main application fields of such materials are repair and restoration of buildings. However, due to the constant increment of service life requirements and the cost efficiency, polymer modified concrete (PCC) is also used for construction purposes. Therefore, there is a demand for studying the mechanical properties of PCC and entitative differences compared to conventional concrete (CC). It is significant to investigate whether all the assumed hypotheses and existing analytical formulations about CC are also valid for PCC. In the present study, analytical models available in the literature are evaluated. These models are used for estimating mechanical properties of concrete. The investigated property in this study is the modulus of elasticity, which is estimated with respect to the value of compressive strength. One existing database was extended and adapted for polymer-modified concrete mixtures along with their experimentally measured mechanical properties. Based on the indexed data a comparison between model predictions and experiments was conducted by calculation of forecast errors.
In der vorliegenden Studie wurde der Einfluss der Klinkerzusammensetzung sowie der Sulfatträgerart auf die Leistungsfähigkeit eines Spritzzementes untersucht. Um eine Untersulfatisierung im System mit einen Aluminiumsulfat / -hydroxid Beschleuniger zu vermeiden, sollte ein anhydritbasierter Sulfatträger eingesetzt werden. Dies führt zu einer besseren Festigkeitsentwicklung im jungen Alter.
The theory of regular quaternionic functions of a reduced quaternionic variable is a 3-dimensional generalization of complex analysis. The Moisil-Theodorescu system (MTS) is a regularity condition for such functions depending on the radius vector r = ix+jy+kz seen as a reduced quaternionic variable. The analogues of the main theorems of complex analysis for the MTS in quaternion forms are established: Cauchy, Cauchy integral formula, Taylor and Laurent series, approximation theorems and Cauchy type integral properties. The analogues of positive powers (inner spherical monogenics) are investigated: the set of recurrence formulas between the inner spherical monogenics and the explicit formulas are established. Some applications of the regular function in the elasticity theory and hydrodynamics are given.
In der modernen Arbeitswelt ist es üblich betriebliche Aufgaben extern zu vergeben. Dieser Vorgang wird in der Wirtschaft Outsourcing genannt und beschränkt sich in der Regel auf Arbeiten, welche nicht zu den Kernkompetenzen eines Unternehmens gehören. Wenn diese Arbeiten durch spezialisierte Unternehmen übernommen werden ergeben sich Potenziale, die weit über eine bloße Kostensenkung hinausgehen. Der Kern dieser Arbeit bezieht sich auf die Auslagerung von sogenannten Nebentätigkeiten im Zusammenhang einer Bauwerksausführung. Dabei werden die arbeitsrechtliche Situation, Machbarkeit und Sinnhaftigkeit analysiert.
Das Arbeitsrecht im Baugewerbe ist überaus komplex und von starren Regelungen geprägt. Die für allgemeinverbindlich erklärten Tarifverträge gelten gemeinhin für alle Betriebe, die überwiegend bauliche Tätigkeiten ausüben. Problematisch wird die tarifliche Zuordnung für Betriebe, welche die Nebentätigkeiten übernehmen und für gewöhnlich nicht in den Geltungsbereich der Tarifverträge fallen. Bei der Vergabe von Nebentätigkeiten mit Hilfe von Werk- oder Dienstverträgen bedarf es einer genauen Klärung, ab wann eine unerlaubte Arbeitnehmerüberlassung beginnt.
Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit soll untersucht werden, inwieweit eine Auslagerung der baulichen Nebentätigkeiten durch eine Werk- oder Dienstvertragsvergabe an die Grenzen der arbeitsrechtlichen Gegebenheiten stößt. Zusätzlich wird eine tarifliche Einordnung der Tätigkeiten vorgenommen.
This thesis deals with the basic design and rigorous analysis of cryptographic schemes and primitives, especially of authenticated encryption schemes, hash functions, and password-hashing schemes.
In the last decade, security issues such as the PS3 jailbreak demonstrate that common security notions are rather restrictive, and it seems that they do not model the real world adequately. As a result, in the first part of this work, we introduce a less restrictive security model that is closer to reality. In this model it turned out that existing (on-line) authenticated encryption schemes cannot longer beconsidered secure, i.e. they can guarantee neither data privacy nor data integrity. Therefore, we present two novel authenticated encryption scheme, namely COFFE and McOE, which are not only secure in the standard model but also reasonably secure in our generalized security model, i.e. both preserve full data inegrity. In addition, McOE preserves a resonable level of data privacy.
The second part of this thesis starts with proposing the hash function Twister-Pi, a revised version of the accepted SHA-3 candidate Twister. We not only fixed all known security issues
of Twister, but also increased the overall soundness of our hash-function design.
Furthermore, we present some fundamental groundwork in the area of password-hashing schemes. This research was mainly inspired by the medial omnipresence of password-leakage incidences. We show that the password-hashing scheme scrypt is vulnerable against cache-timing attacks due to the existence of a password-dependent memory-access pattern. Finally, we introduce Catena the first password-hashing scheme that is both memory-consuming and resistant against cache-timing attacks.
Recently there has been a surge of interest in PDEs involving fractional derivatives in different fields of engineering. In this extended abstract we present some of the results developedin [3]. We compute the fundamental solution for the three-parameter fractional Laplace operator Δ by transforming the eigenfunction equation into an integral equation and applying the method of separation of variables. The obtained solutions are expressed in terms of Mittag-Leffer functions. For more details we refer the interested reader to [3] where it is also presented an operational approach based on the two Laplace transform.
Promotion an der Bauhaus-Universität Weimar (Dr. phil.) und zugleich PhD an der University of British Columbia Vancouver.
2015 auf dem Server der University of British Columbia mit Embargo veröffentlicht. Das Embargo wird immer wieder verlängert. Aktuell:
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Restelo Neighbourhood: Expanding the Capital of the Empire with the First Portuguese Urban Planner
(2015)
For decades in Germany, historical research on dictatorial urban design in the first half of the 20th century focused on the National Socialist period. Studies on the urban design practices of other dictatorships remained an exception. This has changed. Meanwhile, the urban production practices of the Mussolini, Stalin, Salazar, Hitler and Franco dictatorships have become the subject of comprehensive research projects. Recently, a research group that studies dictatorial urban design in 20th century Europe has emerged at the Bauhaus-Institut für Geschichte und Theorie der Architektur und der Planung. The group is already able to refer to various research results.
Part of the research group’s self-conception is the assumption that the urban design practices of the named dictatorships can only be properly understood from a European perspective. The dictatorships influenced one another substantially. Furthermore, the specificities of the practices of each dictatorship can only be discerned if one can compare them to those of the other dictatorships. This approach requires strict adherence to the research methods of planning history and urban design theory. Meanwhile, these methods must be opened
to include those of general historical studies.
With this symposium, the research group aims to further qualify this European perspective. The aim is to pursue an inventory of the various national historiographies on the topic of “urban design and dictatorship”. This inventory should offer an overview on the general national level of historical research on urban design as well as on the level of particular urban design projects, persons or topics.
The symposium took place in Weimar, November 21-22, 2013. It was organized by Harald Bodenschatz, Piero Sassi and Max Welch Guerra and funded by the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service).
For decades in Germany, historical research on dictatorial urban design in the first half of the 20th century focused on the National Socialist period. Studies on the urban design practices of other dictatorships remained an exception. This has changed. Meanwhile, the urban production practices of the Mussolini, Stalin, Salazar, Hitler and Franco dictatorships have become the subject of comprehensive research projects. Recently, a research group that studies dictatorial urban design in 20th century Europe has emerged at the Bauhaus-Institut für Geschichte und Theorie der Architektur und der Planung. The group is already able to refer to various research results.
Part of the research group’s self-conception is the assumption that the urban design practices of the named dictatorships can only be properly understood from a European perspective. The dictatorships influenced one another substantially. Furthermore, the specificities of the practices of each dictatorship can only be discerned if one can compare them to those of the other dictatorships. This approach requires strict adherence to the research methods of planning history and urban design theory. Meanwhile, these methods must be opened
to include those of general historical studies.
With this symposium, the research group aims to further qualify this European perspective. The aim is to pursue an inventory of the various national historiographies on the topic of “urban design and dictatorship”. This inventory should offer an overview on the general national level of historical research on urban design as well as on the level of particular urban design projects, persons or topics.
The symposium took place in Weimar, November 21-22, 2013. It was organized by Harald Bodenschatz, Piero Sassi and Max Welch Guerra and funded by the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service).
Aerodynamic Analysis of Slender Vertical Structure and Response Control with Tuned Mass Damper
(2015)
Analysis of vortex induced vibration has gained more interest in practical held of civil engineering. The phenomenon often occurs in long and slender vertical structure like high rise building, tower, chimney or bridge pylon, which resulting in unfavorable responses and might lead to the collapse of the structures. The phenomenon appears when frequency of vortex shedding produced in the wake area of body meet the natural frequency of the structure. Even though this phenomenon does not necessarily generate a divergent amplitude response, the structure still may fail due to fatigue damage.
To reduce the effect of vortex induced vibration, engineers widely use passive vibration response control system. In this case, the thesis studies the effect of tuned mass damper. The objective of this thesis is to simulate the effect of tuned mass damper in reducing unfavorable responses due to vortex induced vibration and initiated by numerical model validation with respect to wind tunnel test report. The reference structure that being used inside the thesis is Stonecutter Bridge, Hongkong.
A numerical solver for computational uid dynamics named VX ow which developed by Morgenthal [6] is utilized for wind and structure simulation. The comparison between numerical model and wind tunnel result shows 10% maximum tip displacement diference in the model of full erection freestanding tower. The tuned mass damper (TMD) model itself built separately in finite element software SOFiSTiK, and the efective damping obtained from this model then applied inside input modal data of VX ow simulation. A single TMD with mass ratio of TMD 0.5% to the mass of first bending frequency, the maximum tip displacement is measured to be average 67% reduced.
Considering construction limitation and robustness of TMD, the effects of multiple TMD inside a structure are also studied. An uncoupled procedure of applying aeroelastic loads obtained from VX
ow inside finite element software SOFiSTiK is also done to observe the optimum distribution and optimum mass ratio of multiple tuned mass damper. The rest of the properties of TMD are calculated with Den Hartog's formula. The results are as follows: peak displacement in the case of multiple TMD that distributed with polynomial spacing achieve 7.8% more reduction performance than
the one that distributed with equal spacing. Optimum mass of tuned mass damper achieved with ratio 1.25% mass of first bending frequency corresponds to across wind direction.
For decades in Germany, historical research on dictatorial urban design in the first half of the 20th century focused on the National Socialist period. Studies on the urban design practices of other dictatorships remained an exception. This has changed. Meanwhile, the urban production practices of the Mussolini, Stalin, Salazar, Hitler and Franco dictatorships have become the subject of comprehensive research projects. Recently, a research group that studies dictatorial urban design in 20th century Europe has emerged at the Bauhaus-Institut für Geschichte und Theorie der Architektur und der Planung. The group is already able to refer to various research results.
Part of the research group’s self-conception is the assumption that the urban design practices of the named dictatorships can only be properly understood from a European perspective. The dictatorships influenced one another substantially. Furthermore, the specificities of the practices of each dictatorship can only be discerned if one can compare them to those of the other dictatorships. This approach requires strict adherence to the research methods of planning history and urban design theory. Meanwhile, these methods must be opened
to include those of general historical studies.
With this symposium, the research group aims to further qualify this European perspective. The aim is to pursue an inventory of the various national historiographies on the topic of “urban design and dictatorship”. This inventory should offer an overview on the general national level of historical research on urban design as well as on the level of particular urban design projects, persons or topics.
The symposium took place in Weimar, November 21-22, 2013. It was organized by Harald Bodenschatz, Piero Sassi and Max Welch Guerra and funded by the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service).
Die Reise der Zeichen - Eine Studie zur symbolischen Bildwelt der Xiyü-Kultur an der Seidenstraße
(2015)
Kurzfassung
Die vorliegende Studie untersucht die traditionellen Xiyü-Zeichen im Visuellen verschiedener Volksgruppen am Beispiel Xinjiangs im Nordwesten Chinas, wo einst die alte Seidenstraße entlangführte. Die Untersuchung versteht sich als ein Versuch der systematischen Darstellung der symbolischen Bildwelt in Xinjiang und damit im weiteren Sinne auch als ein Versuch, das Xiyü-Kulturerbe zu bewahren, das angesichts des tiefgreifenden Wandels in China und der Go-West-Strategie des chinesischen Wirtschaftsprogramms, welches sich auf die weiten Westgebiete Chinas bezieht, in Gefahr geraten ist. Es muss ein Weg gefunden werden, Modernisierung und Tradition in Einklang zu bringen.
Diese Studie beschreibt, analysiert und bewertet exemplarisch, wie sich Zeichen und Symbole des Wissens und der Kultur entlang der Seidenstraße in Xinjiang zwischen den östlichen und westlichen Kulturen vermischt haben, wie sie übertragen wurden und inwieweit die Xiyü-Kultur reflektiert, dass Xinjiang ein Treffpunkt zwischen östlichen und westlichen Einflüssen war. In der Annährung an dieses Forschungsziel werden drei Hauptfragen zusammengefasst:
Erstens, was kann das Erfahrungsmodell der alten Seidenstraße zum Verständnis der kulturellen Entwicklung im heutigen Informationszeitalter beitragen?
Zweitens, was bedeutet Vielfalt für die kulturelle Kommunikation in Xinjiang? Steigen die Medienereignisse der visuellen Kommunikation und die internationalen Einflüsse an?
Drittens, wie kann Xinjiang die Chancen der Go-West-Strategie des chinesischen Wirtschaftsprogramms in einer zunehmend globalisierten Welt nutzen und in der zukünftigen weltwirtschaftlichen Entwicklung wieder Vitalität zeigen?
Um sich auf diese Weise den Antworten zu nähern, verwendet diese Studie einen Ansatz, der eine kulturanthropologische Perspektive integriert. Auf Grundlage einer Feldstudie werden Eigenschaften der traditionellen visuellen Xiyü-Zeichen, ihre Bedeutung für die ethnischen Volksgruppen Xinjiangs und den kulturellen Austausch zwischen Europa und Asien diskutiert und der besondere Einfluss von Handel und Verkehrswegen aufgezeigt.
Die visuellen Zeichenformen der Xiyü-Kultur wurden von der Zeit vor der Islamisierung bis hin zur heutigen islamischen Zeit dargestellt. Die Forschung zeigt, dass die Zeichen kein ortsgebundenes Kulturphänomen oder eine lokale Tradition sind, vielmehr werden sie von regionalen, nationalen und internationalen Kulturkreisen bewusst oder unbewusst beeinflusst. Sie sind ein Ergebnis kultureller Kommunikation. Schließlich setzt sich die Studie mit den Zeichen der Xiyü-Kultur Xinjiangs in Relation mit der Go-West-Strategie der chinesischen Regierung auseinander. Die wirtschaftliche Entwicklung bringt für Xinjiang nicht nur Modernisierung und Wohlstand, sondern auch ein kulturelles und ökologisches Ungleichgewicht.
Der Mensch strukturiert alles, was er in seiner Umgebung wahrnimmt, mit Zeichen. Die Xiyü-Zeichen schaffen eine visuelle Strukturierung. Die Xiyü-Kultur hat nach wie vor Einfluss auf die Lebensweise der ethnischen Gruppen in Xinjiang. Heute hat die Konfrontation zwischen der traditionellen Xiyü-Kultur und der wirtschaftlichen Entwicklung zu einem ernsthaften Konflikt in Xinjiang geführt.
Diese Studie versteht sich als eine kritische Interpretation der aktuellen Situation der Xiyü-Kultur bzw. des chinesischen Wirtschaftsprogramms in Xinjiang. Sie will darüber hinaus einen Beitrag leisten zur Analyse der bislang nur unzureichend erfassten Wechselwirkungen zwischen Geschichte, Kultur, Politik und Wirtschaft in der kulturellen Globalisierung in Xinjiang.
Theoretischer Teil:
Durch den Vergleich der Daten, die sowohl von den Instituten bzw. Statistikunternehmen z. B. Google, Bundesnetzagentur und Statista in Deutschland, 中国互联网络信息中心 in China, FIND in Taiwan usw. zur Verfügung gestellt wurden, als auch durch die von mir durchgeführten Umfragen in den jeweiligen Ländern, sowie durch die Interviews in Weimar, zeigen sich die kulturellen Unterschiede sowie die Gemeinsamkeiten bei der Nutzung des Smartphones. Darüber hinaus ergaben sich noch einige Konsequenzen bei den Interpretationen dieser Ergebnisse, die eng mit der Entstehung der kulturellen Unterschiede zusammenhängen.
Praktischer Teil:
Der erste Entwurf ist eine visuelle Tastatur. Um die Bildschirmtastatur zu verbessern, versucht type right ! (der Name meines Entwurfs) das Problem von Vertippen beim Eingeben zu lösen. type right ! hat zwei Schwerpunkte: 1. geänderte Positionen der Buchstaben und Zeichen und 2. geänderte Form der Taste.
Der zweite Entwurf handelt von einem Konzept einer App für die Integrationsmöglichkeit der Kommunikation.
Abstract
In this research, based on socio-spatiality as the starting point, it has conducted extensive city space analysis to advance a new urban social space theory. Resting upon the basis of traditional continent philosophy, this social space theory has adopted the structuration methods, at the same time trying to build certain combination between theoretical frame work establishment and empirical observations. Therefore, the socio-spatial transition study is neither a macro theory of traditional structuralism nor a typology of urban planning theory, or a positivism social geography, but an operative theory on practical purpose. Firstly, what’s distinct from the traditional structuralism is that this study examines the endless transiting structural relations, not macroscopic narrations of absolute definition and structure. In fact, any city and space are always co-existed in their structurational transiting relationship, thus research in transition has become the main body of this study. And case study is a must for research in transition, as part of efforts to apply the structuration concept into practice reason. Secondly, this study first establishes the fundamental structuration concept of socio-spatial transition, which, as an operative tool, is applied to conduct transition analysis on specific case about the City of Beijing. Therefore, as a social space theory, referring to as science, remains criticism of traditional continent philosophy. However, this criticism did not working on the level of ideology or conceptions, but on transiting under structural relations, keeping it from incompetent ideology criticism of continental critical theory. Unfortunately contemporary urban and space development have now gone extremely unbalanced under a background of globalization; yet traditional macro theories are incapable of either producing significant impact on practice or helping people identify practical problems. While facing general issues, particularly the Chinese urban issue category established on a meta-structured city mode, the micro-case study has plunged into dilemma for unknowing either to ask questions or to answer questions. Therefore, this study is set to identify dilemma and find direction for future relevant research. In this dissertation, Beijing is used as a model, and structuration methods as tools. It has extensively analyzed the social-spatial transition of the city space of Beijing, acquiring brand-new knowledge of its urban space development. It is helpful to an in-depth understanding of the city space development not only in Beijing, but also in many other cities that were influenced by the capital model of Beijing. Since the start of reform and opening-up, China has created a unique development mode of the new-styled metropolitan and urbanization in history. This research is expected to analyze or decode what China’s urban development in between communal space and associative space.
This is a work concerned with the increasing processes of social exclusion in cities nowadays. In approaching this phenomenon, the research highlights how people interact with their institutional environments. This is also, perhaps centrally, an investigation into the possibility to engage an individual perspective to understand the transformation in urban experience, which is orienting society to new uses and forms of exclusion. Following the perspective deployed by the so-called “sociology of individuals” in French sociology or “reengagement of agency” in the Anglo-Saxon world; I claim that individuals as well as collectives are gaining increasing power to question and re-organize institutions. This re-organization, in the case of socio-urban institutions, is no guarantee for major levels in integration, cohesion, and equality. Unfortunately, social institutions are becoming hard in its exclusionary capabilities under people intervention during the last four decades.
I believe that urban sociology is a field of struggle between different perspectives competing to “make sense” of social phenomena in cities. The orientation supported in this research is just one on many and it follows the roots of people and their life experiences within cities and how they influence the processes that shape the city. The last formulation is possibly not the clearest, because as we all know, references to “inhabitants” are presented in every variant of urban sociology. Nevertheless, there are not many variants focusing on peoples’ capability to influence institutional environments and by this way affecting the urban condition in which they find themselves. The particular institution selected for this study is the “School”.
This thesis is organized around two parts: part one includes the conceptual framework, methodological approach, and historical contextualization; part two describes three case studies produced to analyse the forms of and the relations between individuals and school institution. Part one starts from a premise: within the context of declining welfare State in the case of industrialized countries, an important part of urban studies focuses on economic and spatial restructuration. Confronted with the same situation, a part of social sciences shifts to the individuals’ agency and social uncertainty. This research is embedded in the last theoretical description presented above, thus, because it tries to observe urban processes from the perspective of the individual and outside of developed economies. In this sense, Latin America represents a fundamental reference because urban conditions are historically marked by weak institutional arrangements to integrating people and large levels of marginality and exclusion among population. In this scenario individuals’ practices around inclusion-exclusion have an essential meaning in everyday life.
Part two offers three study cases in which the relation between individuals and school institutions has been analyzed for the Metropolitan area of Santiago de Chile (MAS). Using different methodological resources an exhaustive account on three levels is presented: i) geo-referencing State intervention in public policies connected with neighborhood and schools to understand the form and extent of socio-urban exclusion in MAS, ii) narrative biographies applied to parents with children attending primary school, in order to reconstruct the familiar process of school selection and describing its impacts on the stabilization of school as an exclusionary device, and iii) autoethnography to describe in detail the temporal dimension involved in stabilizing actions which reinforces social mechanisms of urban integration-exclusion during the last three decades in Chile.
A key argument advanced by this research proposes that: the way in which the idea of integration is enacted by people in their biographical careers imprints changes on the institutional orientation and by this way, contributes to the reorganization urban life. The high level of social exclusion in Santiago de Chile is not accountable without considering transformation in all socio-urban institutions, especially the school. No family considers social integration with people from a low social, economical or cultural background as relevant orientation for school selection. This particularity of the Chilean social reality is not derivable from any big capitalistic or modernization processes impacting our cities.
Within the light of the thesis findings, I conclude that socio-urban institutions logics must be reassessment under the influences of people actions and representations. I also propose a consideration to major complementarities between urban studies and urban-institutions analysis. The school institutions is not just a sectorial field reserved to the researcher in education, on the contrary, it represent a key entrance to address people’s experience in their institutional urban environments. The re-emergence of social and urban movements in 2010, under the “Arab Spring” or the “Chilean Student Movements”, is not only a demonstration in the public space as result of major global trends. These situations are in essence, for this research, individuals gathering together and calling for recognition and autonomy inside institutional environment that tends to reject them. Similar situation was the focus of the Latin American urban sociology research, within the focus on grassroots and urban social movements at the end of the 1960s and beginning of the 1970s.
In both cases, socio-urban institutions, unaware of recognition requirements claimed by inhabitants, are not beyond individual or collective reach. My main concern is to show that socio-urban institutions are constantly re-shaped as a result of individual action, what makes the difference, is the spirit that we all, socially, imprint on the logics of our socio-urban institutions, moving them to inclusion or exclusion.