In the Netherlands research has been performed on the Observational Method, aiming at a wider use of the method in the design of underground and infrastructural construction works. This paper summarizes the guideline that was output of the research, providing a clear definition, an overview of obstacles and pre-conditions, practical recommendations on how to make a safe design while using the p...

Truss structures are widely used in construction of large-scale buildings. Design of steel structures is standardised in detail through set of European standards called EUROCODE. One of these standards, ENV 1993-1-8 deals with design of joints, but it does not cover the design of conical element for reduction of circular hollow section to the joint. Finite element method was used in this paper ...

Concrete-timber composite floor is a construction technique combining two materials, concrete and timber, connected together using some form of interlayer shear connectors either positioned discretely or continuously along the span of the floor. The interlayer connections provide the desired composite action, where the degree of this composite action is governed by the types of connection syste...

The current Eurocode 8 belongs to one of the most advanced international seismic design codes. This leading edge should be maintained in future revisions of the code while the code should become as user friendly as possible. This article makes several proposals in which way the reinforced concrete wall sections in future versions of the Eurocode can be extended in its scope but simplified in it...

The period of vibration is a fundamental parameter in the force-based design of structures as this parameter defines the spectral acceleration and thus the base shear force to which the building should be designed. This paper takes a critical look at the way in which seismic design codes around the world have allowed the designer to estimate the period of vibration for use in both linear static...