624 Ingenieurbau
Refine
Document Type
- Doctoral Thesis (10)
- Article (6)
- Preprint (5)
- Conference Proceeding (3)
- Master's Thesis (2)
- Book (1)
- Habilitation (1)
Institute
- Institut für Strukturmechanik (ISM) (5)
- Professur Baustatik und Bauteilfestigkeit (4)
- Professur Denkmalpflege und Baugeschichte (4)
- Professur Stahl- und Hybridbau (4)
- Graduiertenkolleg 1462 (2)
- Professur Bauphysik (2)
- Professur Intelligentes Technisches Design (2)
- Professur Computer Vision in Engineering (1)
- Professur Grundbau (1)
- Professur Holz- und Mauerwerksbau (1)
Keywords
- Beton (4)
- Finite-Elemente-Methode (3)
- Ingenieurholzbau (3)
- Bridge (2)
- Brücke (2)
- Building Information Modeling (2)
- DIN 1052 (2)
- Ermüdung (2)
- Experimentelle Untersuchungen (2)
- Gashochdruckleitungen (2)
Experimental Validation of Dynamic Response of Small-Scale Metaconcrete Beams at Resonance Vibration
(2023)
Structures and their components experience substantially large vibration amplitudes at resonance, which can cause their failure. The scope of this study is the utilization of silicone-coated steel balls in concrete as damping aggregates to suppress the resonance vibration. The heavy steel cores oscillate with a frequency close to the resonance frequency of the structure. Due to the phase difference between the vibrations of the cores and the structure, the cores counteract the vibration of the structure. The core-coating inclusions are randomly distributed in concrete similar to standard aggregates. This mixture is referred to as metaconcrete. The main goal of this work is to validate the ability of the inclusions to suppress mechanical vibration through laboratory experiments. For this purpose, two small-scale metaconcrete beams were cast and tested. In a free vibration test, the metaconcrete beams exhibited a larger damping ratio compared to a similar beam cast from conventional concrete. The vibration amplitudes of the metaconcrete beams at resonance were measured with a frequency sweep test. In comparison with the conventional concrete beam, both metaconcrete beams demonstrated smaller vibration amplitudes. Both experiments verified an improvement in the dynamic response of the metaconcrete beams at resonance vibration.
Experimental testing of nailed connections taken from old roof trusses is presented in this paper. To enable the further use and preservation of nailed roof trusses, it is important to understand how the nail corrosion and aging processes of steel and wood affect the load-bearing capacity and deformation behaviour of such structures. The hypothesis was investigated whether corroded nails allow an increase in load-bearing capacity. Several old and new joints were tested in a first test series, and the results were very promising regarding the initial assumption. However, more tests must be carried out to verify the results.
Resonance vibration of structures is an unpleasant incident that can be conventionally avoided by using a Tuned Mass Damper (TMD). The scope of this paper contains the utilization of engineered inclusions in concrete as damping aggregates to suppress resonance vibration similar to a TMD. The inclusions are composed of a stainless-steel core with a spherical shape coated with silicone. This configuration has been the subject of several studies and it is best known as Metaconcrete. This paper presents the procedure of a free vibration test conducted with two small-scaled concrete beams. The beams exhibited a higher damping ratio after the core-coating element was secured to them. Subsequently, two meso-models of small-scaled beams were created: one representing conventional concrete and the other representing concrete with the core-coating inclusions. The frequency response curves of the models were obtained. The change in the response peak verified the ability of the inclusions to suppress the resonance vibration. This study concludes that the core-coating inclusions can be utilized in concrete as damping aggregates.
Die Tragfähigkeit von Nägeln und Nagelverbindungen im Holzbau war lange Zeit ausschließlich über Tabellen, die auf experimentellen Untersuchungen basierten, geregelt. In den letzten 100 Jahren untersuchten unterschiedliche Forscher das Last-Verformungsverhalten dieser Verbindungen und entwickelten Modelle, mit denen auf Grundlage von analytischen Gleichungen die Tragfähigkeit und das Verformungsverhalten von Nägeln berechnet werden kann. Die zunächst in Not- und Sparkonstruktion eingesetzten Nägel werden heutzutage vor allem bei Tafelelementen verwendet. Im Bestand finden sich aber auch zahlreiche, teils weit gespannte Fachwerkkonstruktionen. In dem folgenden Beitrag werden die Erforschung und Entwicklung der Tragfähigkeit sowie des Verformungsverhaltens von genagelten Verbindungen detailliert und strukturiert erläutert. Die zugehörigen Meilensteine werden genauer betrachtet. Über unterschiedliche Methoden für die Bestimmung der Tragfähigkeit sowie mechanische Phänomene, die erst nach und nach entdeckt wurden, können in der aktuellen Normung sehr individuelle Verbindungen nachgewiesen und deren Verhalten beschrieben werden. Tabellen und Grafiken verdeutlichen die einzelnen Meilensteine der geschichtlichen Entwicklung und vergleichen konkret die normativen Regelungen seit Beginn der Einführung des Nagels in den Ingenieurholzbau in Deutschland. Hierbei kann gezeigt werden, dass einige Definitionen seit 1933 bis heute noch ihre Gültigkeit behalten.
Der Nagel als tragendes Holzverbindungsmittel ist heute gut bekannt. Doch noch vor 100 Jahren war das anders: sein statisch konstruktiver Gebrauch war verboten. Das änderte sich mit Beginn dessen Erforschung Ende der 1920er Jahre. Seit 1933 ist der Nagel Bestandteil der deutschen Regelwerke und findet seitdem breite Verwendung. Über weite Teile des 20. Jahrhunderts diente er in Not- und Sparkonstruktionen wie Brett- und Bohlenbindern als hocheffizientes Verbindungsmittel der Wahl. Diese materialsparenden Tragwerke waren bei der periodisch im-mer wiederkehrenden Ressourcenknappheit sehr gefragt und sind ein wichtiger Bestandteil der Konstruktionsgeschichte des Holzbaus. In dem folgenden Beitrag wird die Erforschung des Na-geltragverhaltens und die einhergehende fortlaufende Normierung behandelt. Die Errungen-schaften einzelner Forschungsvorhaben werden vorgestellt. Anhand eines Zeitstrahls werden Zusammenhänge zwischen Forschung und Normung gezeigt. Tabellen und Grafiken verdeutli-chen die Änderungen innerhalb der Normen von der ersten DIN 1052 im Jahr 1933 über die erste eigenständige Holzbaunorm in der DDR, der TGL 112-0730, aus 1963 bis zur DIN 1052- 1988. Dabei wird immer Bezug zum derzeitigen Entwurf des Eurocode 5 genommen. Allgemein zeigt sich, dass ein Großteil der heutigen Kenntnisse immer noch auf die Grundlagenforschung der 1930er Jahre zurückgeht.
Materialsparende Holzkonstruktionen, die insbesondere während der Kriegs- und Nachkriegszeit im 20. Jahrhundert entwickelt und optimiert wurden, erlangen aktuell aus konstruktionshistorischer Sicht, aber auch aus ökonomischer Sicht erneut Interesse. Der vorliegende Beitrag gibt einen Überblick angefangen von den ersten Konstruktionen Ende der 1920er Jahre bis hin zu Typenbindern der DDR, die noch bis 1990 über Landwirtschaftsbauten errichtet wurden und heute oft als Tragkonstruktionen für Photovoltaikanlagen weiterverwendet werden. Der Fokus liegt auf der chronologischen Vorstellung ausgewählter Konstruktionsweisen für Hallen- und Hausdächer unterschieden nach Fachwerk- und Vollwandbindern. Sowohl die verantwortlichen Ingenieure und deren Herkunft, sowie wesentliche Anwendungsfelder und Beispielbauten kommen in der Überblicksdarstellung zur Sprache. Eine wesentliche Erkenntnis ist die im Betrachtungszeitraum 1930 bis 1990 zu verzeichnende Reduzierung einer Vielzahl genagelter Spar- hin zu Typenkonstruktionen, die im wesentlichen äußerst materialeffiziente Fachwerkbinder für Satteldächer hervorbrachte.
Object-Oriented Damage Information Modeling Concepts and Implementation for Bridge Inspection
(2022)
Bridges are designed to last for more than 50 years and consume up to 50% of their life-cycle costs during their operation phase. Several inspections and assessment actions are executed during this period. Bridge and damage information must be gathered, digitized, and exchanged between different stakeholders. Currently, the inspection and assessment practices rely on paper-based data collection and exchange, which is time-consuming and error-prone, and leads to loss of information. Storing and exchanging damage and building information in a digital format may lower costs and errors during inspection and assessment and support future needs, for example, immediate simulations regarding performance assessment, automated maintenance planning, and mixed reality inspections. This study focused on the concept for modeling damage information to support bridge reviews and structural analysis. Starting from the definition of multiple use cases and related requirements, the data model for damage information is defined independently from the subsequent implementation. In the next step, the implementation via an established standard is explained. Functional tests aim to identify problems in the concept and implementation. To show the capability of the final model, two example use cases are illustrated: the inspection review of the entire bridge and a finite-element analysis of a single component. Main results are the definition of necessary damage data, an object-oriented damage model, which supports multiple use cases, and the implementation of the model in a standard. Furthermore, the tests have shown that the standard is suitable to deliver damage information; however, several software programs lack proper implementation of the standard.
Revisiting vernacular technique: Engineering a low environmental impact earth stabilisation method
(2022)
The major drawbacks of earth as a construction material — such as its low water stability and moderate strength — have led mankind to stabilize earth. Different civilizations developed vernacular techniques mainly focussing on lime, pozzolan or gypsum stabilization. Recently, cement has become the most commonly used additive in earth stabilization as it improves the strength and durability of plain earth. Also, it is a familiar and globally available construction material. However, using cement as an additive reduces the environmental advantages of earth and run counter to global targets regarding the reduction of CO2 emissions. Alternatives to cement stabilization are currently neither efficient enough to reduce its environmental impact nor allow the possibility of obtaining better results than those of cement. As such, this thesis deals with the rediscovery of a reverse engineering approach for a low environmental impact earth stabilization technique, aiming to replace cement in earth stabilization.
The first step in the method consists in a comprehensive review of earth stabilization with regards to earthen building standards and soil classification, which allows us to identify the research gap. The review showed that there is great potential in using other additives which result in similar improvements as those achieved by cement. However, the studies that have been conducted so far either use expansive soils, which are not suitable for earth constructions or artificial pozzolans that indirectly contribute to CO2 emissions. This is the main research gap.
The key concept for the development in the second step of the method is to combine vernacular additives to both improve the strength and durability of plain earth and to reduce the CO2 emissions. Various earth-mixtures were prepared and both development and performance tests were done to investigate the performance of this technique. The laboratory analyses on mix-design have proven a high durability and the results show a remarkable increase in strength performance. Furthermore, a significant reduction in CO2 emissions in comparison to cement stabilization could be shown.
The third step of the method discusses the results drawn from the experimental programme. In addition, the potential of the new earth mixture with regards to its usability in the field of building construction and architectural design is further elaborated on.
The method used in this study is the first of its kind that allows investors to avoid the very time-consuming processes such as finding a suitable source for soil excavation and soil classification. The developed mixture has significant workability and suitability for production of stabilized earthen panels — the very first of its kind. Such a panel is practically feasible, reasonable, and could be integrated into earthen building standards in general and in particular to DIN 18948, which is related to earthen boards and published in 2018.
Paper-based data acquisition and manual transfer between incompatible software or data formats during inspections of bridges, as done currently, are time-consuming, error-prone, cumbersome, and lead to information loss. A fully digitized workflow using open data formats would reduce data loss, efforts, and the costs of future inspections. On the one hand, existing studies proposed methods to automatize data acquisition and visualization for inspections. These studies lack an open standard to make the gathered data available for other processes. On the other hand, several studies discuss data structures for exchanging damage information among different stakeholders. However, those studies do not cover the process of automatic data acquisition and transfer. This study focuses on a framework that incorporates automatic damage data acquisition, transfer, and a damage information model for data exchange. This enables inspectors to use damage data for subsequent analyses and simulations. The proposed framework shows the potentials for a comprehensive damage information model and related (semi-)automatic data acquisition and processing.
According to Eurocode, the computation of bending strength for steel cantilever beams is a straightforward process. The approach is based on an Ayrton-Perry formula adaptation of buckling curves for steel members in compression, which involves the computation of an elastic critical buckling load for considering the instability. NCCI documents offer a simplified formula to determine the critical bending moment for cantilevers beams with symmetric cross-section. Besides the NCCI recommendations, other approaches, e.g. research literature or Finite-Element-Analysis, may be employed to determine critical buckling loads. However, in certain cases they render different results. Present paper summarizes and compares the abovementioned analytical and numerical approaches for determining critical loads and it exemplarily analyses corresponding cantilever beam capacities using numerical approaches based on plastic zones theory (GMNIA).
Global structural analyses in civil engineering are usually performed considering linear-elastic material behavior. However, for steel structures, a certain degree of plasticization depending on the member classification may be considered. Corresponding plastic analyses taking material nonlinearities into account are effectively realized using numerical methods. Frequently applied finite elements of two and three-dimensional models evaluate the plasticity at defined nodes using a yield surface, i.e. by a yield condition, hardening rule, and flow rule. Corresponding calculations are connected to a large numerical as well as time-consuming effort and they do not rely on the theoretical background of beam theory, to which the regulations of standards mainly correspond. For that reason, methods using beam elements (one-dimensional) combined with cross-sectional analyses are commonly applied for steel members in terms of plastic zones theories. In these approaches, plasticization is in general assessed by means of axial stress only. In this paper, more precise numerical representation of the combined stress states, i.e. axial and shear stresses, is presented and results of the proposed approach are validated and discussed.
Aufgrund des visko-elastoplastischen Materialverhaltens von Beton wird Probekörpern und Bauteilen infolge zyklischer Beanspruchungen Energie zugeführt. Die entsprechenden Energiegrößen werden durch Hystereseflächen der Spannungs-Dehnungslinien beschrieben. In der Literatur finden sich dabei unterschiedliche Ansätze, wofür diese Energie verwendet wird. Erste Untersuchungen zeigen, dass zumindest ein Teil dieser dissipierten Energie in thermische Energie umgewandelt wird. Mithilfe der in diesem Beitrag beschriebenen Methodik lassen sich diese Energiegrößen für jeden Lastwechsel eines Ermüdungsversuches schnell und zuverlässig bestimmen. Anschließend wurden mit dem implementierten Algorithmus die dissipierten Energien von insgesamt 27 zyklischen Versuchen ausgewertet. Analog zu der Dehnungsentwicklung und der Steifigkeitsdegradation weisen auch die Verläufe der dissipierten Energie über die Lastwechselzahl einen dreiphasigen Verlauf auf. Die Auswertung zeigt außerdem eine Korrelation zwischen der Bruchlastwechselzahl und der dissipierten Energie. Auch der Zusammenhang zwischen Probekörpererwärmung und dissipierter Energie konnte bestätigt werden.
Although it is impractical to avert subsequent natural disasters, advances in simulation science and seismological studies make it possible to lessen the catastrophic damage. There currently exists in many urban areas a large number of structures, which are prone to damage by earthquakes. These were constructed without the guidance of a national seismic code, either before it existed or before it was enforced. For instance, in Istanbul, Turkey, as a high seismic area, around 90% of buildings are substandard, which can be generalized into other earthquakeprone regions in Turkey. The reliability of this building stock resulting from earthquake-induced collapse is currently uncertain. Nonetheless, it is also not feasible to perform a detailed seismic vulnerability analysis on each building as a solution to the scenario, as it will be too complicated and expensive. This indicates the necessity of a reliable, rapid, and computationally easy method for seismic vulnerability assessment, commonly known as Rapid Visual Screening (RVS). In RVS methodology, an observational survey of buildings is performed, and according to the data collected during the visual inspection, a structural score is calculated without performing any structural calculations to determine the expected damage of a building and whether the building needs detailed assessment. Although this method might save time and resources due to the subjective/qualitative judgments of experts who performed the inspection, the evaluation process is dominated by vagueness and uncertainties, where the vagueness can be handled adequately through the fuzzy set theory but do not cover all sort of uncertainties due to its crisp membership functions. In this study, a novel method of rapid visual hazard safety assessment of buildings against earthquake is introduced in which an interval type-2 fuzzy logic system (IT2FLS) is used to cover uncertainties. In addition, the proposed method provides the possibility to evaluate the earthquake risk of the building by considering factors related to the building importance and exposure. A smartphone app prototype of the method has been introduced. For validation of the proposed method, two case studies have been selected, and the result of the analysis presents the robust efficiency of the proposed method.
In vielen Leichtbauanwendungen ist der begrenzende Faktor die Schwingungsanfälligkeit der Bauteile. Eine Möglichkeit der Begrenzung von Schwingungsamplituden ist der gezielte Einsatz von Reibungsdämpfung in Leichtbaustrukturen. In dieser Arbeit wird der Einfluss dieser Art von Energiedissipation auf Leichtmetallstrukturen sowie topologieoptimierte Bauteil untersucht. Betrachtet werden dabei die Positionierung, Dimensionierung sowie die Reibeigenschaften dissipativer Elemente.
In this thesis, a generic model for the post-failure behavior of concrete in tension is proposed. A mesoscale model of concrete representing the heterogeneous nature of concrete is formulated. The mesoscale model is composed of three phases: aggregate, mortar matrix, and the Interfacial Transition Zone between them. Both local and non-local formulations of the damage are implemented and the results are compared. Three homogenization schemes from the literature are employed to obtain the homogenized constitutive relationship for the macroscale model. Three groups of numerical examples are provided.
Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) show large potential for the construction industry. Their use in condition assessment has increased significantly, due to technological and computational progress. UAS play a crucial role in developing a digital maintenance strategy for infrastructure, saving cost and effort, while increasing safety and reliability. Part of that strategy are automated visual UAS inspections of the building’s condition. The resulting images can automatically be analyzed to identify and localize damages to the structure that have to be monitored. Further interest in parts of a structure can arise from events like accidents or collisions. Areas of low interest exist, where low resolution monitoring is sufficient.
From different requirements for resolution, different levels of detail can be derived. They require special image acquisition parameters that differ mainly in the distance between camera and structure. Areas with a higher level of detail require a smaller distance to the object, producing more images. This work proposes a multi-scale flight path planning procedure, enabling higher resolution requirements for areas of special interest, while reducing the number of required images to a minimum. Careful selection of the camera positions maintains the complete coverage of the structure, while achieving the required resolution in all areas. The result is an efficient UAS inspection, reducing effort for the maintenance of infrastructure.
This study permits a reliability analysis to solve the mechanical behaviour issues existing in the current structural design of fabric structures. Purely predictive material models are highly desirable to facilitate an optimized design scheme and to significantly reduce time and cost at the design stage, such as experimental characterization.
The present study examined the role of three major tasks; a) single-objective optimization, b) sensitivity analyses and c) multi-objective optimization on proposed weave structures for woven fabric composites. For single-objective optimization task, the first goal is to optimize the elastic properties of proposed complex weave structure under unit cells basis based on periodic boundary conditions.
We predict the geometric characteristics towards skewness of woven fabric composites via Evolutionary Algorithm (EA) and a parametric study. We also demonstrate the effect of complex weave structures on the fray tendency in woven fabric composites via tightness evaluation. We utilize a procedure which does not require a numerical averaging process for evaluating the elastic properties of woven fabric composites. The fray tendency and skewness of woven fabrics depends upon the behaviour of the floats which is related to the factor of weave. Results of this study may suggest a broader view for further research into the effects of complex weave structures or may provide an alternative to the fray and skewness problems of current weave structure in woven fabric composites.
A comprehensive study is developed on the complex weave structure model which adopts the dry woven fabric of the most potential pattern in singleobjective optimization incorporating the uncertainties parameters of woven fabric composites. The comprehensive study covers the regression-based and variance-based sensitivity analyses. The second task goal is to introduce the fabric uncertainties parameters and elaborate how they can be incorporated into finite element models on macroscopic material parameters such as elastic modulus and shear modulus of dry woven fabric subjected to uni-axial and biaxial deformations. Significant correlations in the study, would indicate the need for a thorough investigation of woven fabric composites under uncertainties parameters. The study describes here could serve as an alternative to identify effective material properties without prolonged time consumption and expensive experimental tests.
The last part focuses on a hierarchical stochastic multi-scale optimization approach (fine-scale and coarse-scale optimizations) under geometrical uncertainties parameters for hybrid composites considering complex weave structure. The fine-scale optimization is to determine the best lamina pattern that maximizes its macroscopic elastic properties, conducted by EA under the following uncertain mesoscopic parameters: yarn spacing, yarn height, yarn width and misalignment of yarn angle. The coarse-scale optimization has been carried out to optimize the stacking sequences of symmetric hybrid laminated composite plate with uncertain mesoscopic parameters by employing the Ant Colony Algorithm (ACO). The objective functions of the coarse-scale optimization are to minimize the cost (C) and weight (W) of the hybrid laminated composite plate considering the fundamental frequency and the buckling load factor as the design constraints.
Based on the uncertainty criteria of the design parameters, the appropriate variation required for the structural design standards can be evaluated using the reliability tool, and then an optimized design decision in consideration of cost can be subsequently determined.
Im vorliegenden Beitrag werden Messungen und Berechnungen vorgestellt, die die Temperaturentwicklung in Betonzylindern aufgrund zyklischer Beanspruchung genau beschreiben. Die Messungen wurden in einem Versuchsstand, die Berechnungen im FEM-Programm ANSYS durchgeführt. Mit Hilfe der Temperaturmessungen konnten die Simulationen für die Temperaturentwicklung der Betonzylinder mit der verwendeten Betonrezeptur validiert werden. Die Untersuchungen lassen den Schluss zu, dass bei zyklischer Probekörperbelastung und der einhergehenden Probekörperdehnung Energie dissipiert wird und diese maßgeblich für die Erwärmung der Probe verantwortlich ist.
Gashochdruckleitungen aus Stahl werden mit Hilfe eines deterministischen Sicherheitskonzeptes bemessen. Im unveränderten Bemessungszustand und im bestimmungsgemäßem Betrieb ist die statische Tragfähigkeit der Gashochdruckleitungen gegeben.
Mit den Jahren unterliegen Gashochdruckleitungen aus Stahl geometrischen Veränderungen, die häufig durch Korrosion hervorgerufen werden. Die Beurteilung der statischen Tragfähigkeit erfolgt dann unter Berücksichtigung dieser geometrischen Änderung.
Deterministische Sicherheitsbeiwerte der Bemessung neuer Gashochdruckleitungen können für die Bemessung bestehender korrosionsgeschädigter Gashochdruckleitungen nicht herangezogen werden, da diese einen definierten Beanspruchungs- und Geometriezustand unterstellen, welcher durch den geometrischen Einfluss der Korrosion so nicht mehr besteht.
Die Arbeit befasst sich mit der Ermittlung deterministischer Sicherheitsbeiwerte für die Bemessung korrosionsgeschädigter Gashochdruckleitungen auf Basis von Versagenswahrscheinlichkeiten und stellt ein Anwendungskonzept zu deren Nutzung vor.
Railway systems are highly competitive compared with other means of transportation because of their distinct advantages in speed, convenience and safety. Therefore, the demand for railway transportation is increasing around the world. Constructing railway tracks and related engineering structures in areas with loose or soft cohesive subgrade usually leads to problems, such as excessive settlement, deformation and instability. Several remedies have been proposed to avoid or reduce such problems, including the replacement of soft soil and the construction of piles or stone columns.
This thesis aims to expand the geotechnical knowledge of how to improve subgrade ballasted railway tracks, using stone columns and numerical modeling for the railway infrastructure. Three aspects are considered: i) railway track dynamics modeling and validation by field measurements, ii) modeling and parametric studies on stone columns, and iii) studies on the linear and non-linear behavior of stone columns under the dynamic load of trains.
The first step of this research was to develop a reliable numerical model of a railway track. The finite element method in a time domain was used for either a 2D plane strain or 3D analysis. Individual methods for modeling a train load in 2D and 3D were implemented and are discussed in this thesis. The developed loading method was validated with three different railway tracks using obtained vibration measurements. Later, these numerical models were used to analyze the influence of stone column length and train speed in the stress field.
The performance of the treated ground depends on various parameters, such as the strength of stone columns, spacing, length and diameter of the columns. Therefore, the second step was devoted to a parameter study of stone columns as a unit cell with an axisymmetric condition. The results showed that even short stone columns were effective for settlement reduction, and area of replacement was the main influential parameter in their performance.
The third part of this thesis focuses on a hypothetical railway-track response to the passage of various train speeds and the influence of stone-column length. The stress-strain response of subgrade is analyzed under either an elastic–perfectly plastic or advanced constitutive model. The non-linear soil response in the finite element method and the impact of train speed and stone column length on railway tracks are also evaluated. Moreover, the reductions of induced vibration – in both a horizontal and a vertical direction – after improvement are investigated.