Editorial

We are very glad to release the second issue of 2011 (Volume 4 Number 2) of the IBRACON Structures and Materials Journal (RIEM). Eight articles are being published addressing relevant and upto- date themes in the area of concrete structures and materials. The first article is related with the design optimization of concrete structures using a fully probabilistic approach. In their contribution the authors compare the fully probabilistic approach applied in agreement with Eurocode 2 and the partial reliability factor method of the same standard, showing that the former can satisfy the design requirements even when the latter does not. The second article presents a multi-phase model to account for concrete cracking based on a smeared crack approach, emphasizing its advantages in terms of reduced computational cost. In the third article, digital image processing was used to determine the aspect ratio, sphericity, flakiness ratio and shape factor of fine aggregates and how such geometrical aggregate characteristics affect mortar and concrete performance. In the fourth article the authors use MATLAB® programming for stress analysis in concrete gravity dams considering earthquake and silts. The fifth article presents a comparison of the use of pozolanic and non-pozolanic fine materials such as fly ash and fine sand in self-compacting concrete (SCC). The results presented indicated that the final cost of the fly ash-SCC was lower than that of the fine sand-SCC for similar strength levels. The objective of the sixth article is to perform thermal and structural analyzes of reinforced concrete beams and propose alternatives to the Eurocode recommendations in order to standardize them in view of the revision of the Brazilian standard ABNT NBR 15200. In the seventh article the authors compare experimental and theoretical results of a new strut-and-tie formulation for the design of precast column bases embedded in socket foundations with smooth interfaces. The last paper of this issue presents a probabilistic analysis of the strength data of the fiber reinforced concrete used in the construction of the Estaleiro Rio Grande Dry Dock. A correlation model between the concrete tensile and compressive strengths is also proposed by the authors. This issue is a result of the efforts of authors and reviewers from many national and international institutions. We would like to congratulate and thank all of you for your participation in the publication of this issue of RIEM.

Américo Campos Filho, José Luiz Antunes de Oliveira e Sousa, Luiz Carlos Pinto da Silva Filho e Romildo Dias Toledo Filho

Editores

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  20 Aug 2014
• Date of issue
  June 2011