@article{EckertAbbasiMangetal.2020, author = {Eckert, Alexander and Abbasi, Mozhdeh and Mang, Thomas and Saalw{\"a}chter, Kay and Walther, Andreas}, title = {Structure, Mechanical Properties, and Dynamics of Polyethylenoxide/Nanoclay Nacre-Mimetic Nanocomposites}, series = {Macromolecules}, volume = {53}, journal = {Macromolecules}, number = {5}, publisher = {ACS Publications}, address = {Washington, DC}, issn = {1520-5835}, doi = {10.1021/acs.macromol.9b01931}, pages = {1716 -- 1725}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Nacre-mimetic nanocomposites based on high fractions of synthetic high-aspect-ratio nanoclays in combination with polymers are continuously pushing boundaries for advanced material properties, such as high barrier against oxygen, extraordinary mechanical behavior, fire shielding, and glass-like transparency. Additionally, they provide interesting model systems to study polymers under nanoconfinement due to the well-defined layered nanocomposite arrangement. Although the general behavior in terms of forming such layered nanocomposite materials using evaporative self-assembly and controlling the nanoclay gallery spacing by the nanoclay/polymer ratio is understood, some combinations of polymer matrices and nanoclay reinforcement do not comply with the established models. Here, we demonstrate a thorough characterization and analysis of such an unusual polymer/nanoclay pair that falls outside of the general behavior. Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and sodium fluorohectorite form nacre-mimetic, lamellar nanocomposites that are completely transparent and show high mechanical stiffness and high gas barrier, but there is only limited expansion of the nanoclay gallery spacing when adding increasing amounts of polymer. This behavior is maintained for molecular weights of PEO varied over four orders of magnitude and can be traced back to depletion forces. By careful investigation via X-ray diffraction and proton low-resolution solid-state NMR, we are able to quantify the amount of mobile and immobilized polymer species in between the nanoclay galleries and around proposed tactoid stacks embedded in a PEO matrix. We further elucidate the unusual confined polymer dynamics, indicating a relevant role of specific surface interactions.}, language = {en} } @incollection{SavitskayaKistaubayevaAkimbekovetal.2020, author = {Savitskaya, Irina S. and Kistaubayeva, Aida S. and Akimbekov, Nuraly and Digel, Ilya and Shokatayeva, Dina and Zhubanova, Azhar Achmet}, title = {Prospective Use of Probiotics Immobilized on Sorbents with Nanostructured Surfaces}, series = {Carbon Nanomaterials in Biomedicine and the Environment}, booktitle = {Carbon Nanomaterials in Biomedicine and the Environment}, publisher = {Jenny Stanford Publishing}, address = {Singapore}, isbn = {978-981-4800-27-3}, doi = {10.1201/9780429428647-12}, pages = {229 -- 267}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Activated carbons are known as excellent adsorbents. Their applications include the adsorptive removal of color, odor, taste, undesirable organic and inorganic pollutants from drinking and waste water; air purification in inhabited spaces; purification of many chemicals, pharmaceutical products and many others. This chapter elucidates the role of normal microflora in the maintenance of human health and presents materials on possible clinical displays of microecological infringements and ways of their correction. It presents new developments concerning new probiotics with immobilized Lactobacillus and Bacillus. The chapter considers the mechanisms of the intestine disbacteriosis correction by sorbed probiotics. It demonstrates the advantages and creation prospects of immobilized probiotics developed on the basis of carbonized rice husk. There are great prospects for the development of medical biotechnology due to use of carbon sorbents with a nanostructured surface. Microbial communities form a biocenosis of the biotope and together with the host organism create permanent or temporary ecosystems.}, language = {en} } @incollection{ZhubanovaMansurovDigel2020, author = {Zhubanova, Azhar A. and Mansurov, Zulkhair A. and Digel, Ilya}, title = {Use of Advanced Nanomaterials for Bioremediation of Contaminated Ecosystems}, series = {Carbon Nanomaterials in Biomedicine and the Environment}, booktitle = {Carbon Nanomaterials in Biomedicine and the Environment}, publisher = {Jenny Stanford Publishing}, address = {Singapore}, isbn = {978-981-4800-27-3}, doi = {10.1201/9780429428647-18}, pages = {353 -- 378}, year = {2020}, abstract = {This chapter shows that nanomaterials obtained by high-temperature carbonization of inexpensive plant raw material such as rice husk, grape seeds, and walnut shells can serve as a basis for the production of highly efficient microbial drugs, biodestructors, biosorbents, and biocatalysts, which are promising for the remediation of the ecosystem contaminated with heavy and radioactive metals, oil and oil products. A strong interest in engineering zymology is dictated by the necessity to address the issues of monitoring enzymatic processes, treatment, and diagnosis of a number of common human diseases, environmental pollution, quality control of pharmaceuticals and food. Nanomaterials obtained by high-temperature carbonization of cheap plant raw material such as-rice husks, grape seeds and walnut shells, can serve as a basis for creating of highly effective microbial preparations-biodestructors, biosorbents and biocatalysts, which are promising for the use of contaminated ecosystems, and for restoration of human intestine microecology.}, language = {en} } @article{PogorelovaRogachevDigeletal.2020, author = {Pogorelova, Natalia and Rogachev, Evgeniy and Digel, Ilya and Chernigova, Svetlana and Nardin, Dmitry}, title = {Bacterial Cellulose Nanocomposites: Morphology and Mechanical Properties}, series = {Materials}, volume = {13}, journal = {Materials}, number = {12}, publisher = {MDPI}, address = {Basel}, isbn = {1996-1944}, doi = {10.3390/ma13122849}, pages = {1 -- 16}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a promising material for biomedical applications due to its unique properties such as high mechanical strength and biocompatibility. This article describes the microbiological synthesis, modification, and characterization of the obtained BC-nanocomposites originating from symbiotic consortium Medusomyces gisevii. Two BC-modifications have been obtained: BC-Ag and BC-calcium phosphate (BC-Ca3(PO4)2). Structure and physicochemical properties of the BC and its modifications were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and infrared Fourier spectroscopy as well as by measurements of mechanical and water holding/absorbing capacities. Topographic analysis of the surface revealed multicomponent thick fibrils (150-160 nm in diameter and about 15 µm in length) constituted by 50-60 nm nanofibrils weaved into a left-hand helix. Distinctive features of Ca-phosphate-modified BC samples were (a) the presence of 500-700 nm entanglements and (b) inclusions of Ca3(PO4)2 crystals. The samples impregnated with Ag nanoparticles exhibited numerous roundish inclusions, about 110 nm in diameter. The boundaries between the organic and inorganic phases were very distinct in both cases. The Ag-modified samples also showed a prominent waving pattern in the packing of nanofibrils. The obtained BC gel films possessed water-holding capacity of about 62.35 g/g. However, the dried (to a constant mass) BC-films later exhibited a low water absorption capacity (3.82 g/g). It was found that decellularized BC samples had 2.4 times larger Young's modulus and 2.2 times greater tensile strength as compared to dehydrated native BC films. We presume that this was caused by molecular compaction of the BC structure.}, language = {en} } @article{MoratFaudeHanssenetal.2020, author = {Morat, Mareike and Faude, Oliver and Hanssen, Henner and Ludyga, Sebastian and Zacher, Jonas and Eibl, Angi and Albracht, Kirsten and Donath, Lars}, title = {Agility Training to Integratively Promote Neuromuscular, Cognitive, Cardiovascular and Psychosocial Function in Healthy Older Adults: A Study Protocol of a One-Year Randomized-Controlled Trial}, series = {International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health}, volume = {17}, journal = {International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health}, number = {6}, publisher = {MDPI}, address = {Basel}, issn = {1660-4601}, doi = {10.3390/ijerph17061853}, pages = {1 -- 14}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Exercise training effectively mitigates aging-induced health and fitness impairments. Traditional training recommendations for the elderly focus separately on relevant physiological fitness domains, such as balance, flexibility, strength and endurance. Thus, a more holistic and functional training framework is needed. The proposed agility training concept integratively tackles spatial orientation, stop and go, balance and strength. The presented protocol aims at introducing a two-armed, one-year randomized controlled trial, evaluating the effects of this concept on neuromuscular, cardiovascular, cognitive and psychosocial health outcomes in healthy older adults. Eighty-five participants were enrolled in this ongoing trial. Seventy-nine participants completed baseline testing and were block-randomized to the agility training group or the inactive control group. All participants undergo pre- and post-testing with interim assessment after six months. The intervention group currently receives supervised, group-based agility training twice a week over one year, with progressively demanding perceptual, cognitive and physical exercises. Knee extension strength, reactive balance, dual task gait speed and the Agility Challenge for the Elderly (ACE) serve as primary endpoints and neuromuscular, cognitive, cardiovascular, and psychosocial meassures serve as surrogate secondary outcomes. Our protocol promotes a comprehensive exercise training concept for older adults, that might facilitate stakeholders in health and exercise to stimulate relevant health outcomes without relying on excessively time-consuming physical activity recommendations.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Bronder2020, author = {Bronder, Thomas}, title = {Label-free detection of tuberculosis DNA with capacitive field-effect biosensors}, publisher = {Philipps-Universit{\"a}t Marburg}, address = {Marburg}, doi = {10.17192/z2021.0056}, pages = {X, 162 S}, year = {2020}, language = {en} } @incollection{EngemannDuKallweitetal.2020, author = {Engemann, Heiko and Du, Shengzhi and Kallweit, Stephan and Ning, Chuanfang and Anwar, Saqib}, title = {AutoSynPose: Automatic Generation of Synthetic Datasets for 6D Object Pose Estimation}, series = {Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence. Proceedings of MLIS 2020}, booktitle = {Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence. Proceedings of MLIS 2020}, publisher = {IOS Press}, address = {Amsterdam}, isbn = {978-1-64368-137-5}, doi = {10.3233/FAIA200770}, pages = {89 -- 97}, year = {2020}, abstract = {We present an automated pipeline for the generation of synthetic datasets for six-dimension (6D) object pose estimation. Therefore, a completely automated generation process based on predefined settings is developed, which enables the user to create large datasets with a minimum of interaction and which is feasible for applications with a high object variance. The pipeline is based on the Unreal 4 (UE4) game engine and provides a high variation for domain randomization, such as object appearance, ambient lighting, camera-object transformation and distractor density. In addition to the object pose and bounding box, the metadata includes all randomization parameters, which enables further studies on randomization parameter tuning. The developed workflow is adaptable to other 3D objects and UE4 environments. An exemplary dataset is provided including five objects of the Yale-CMU-Berkeley (YCB) object set. The datasets consist of 6 million subsegments using 97 rendering locations in 12 different UE4 environments. Each dataset subsegment includes one RGB image, one depth image and one class segmentation image at pixel-level.}, language = {en} } @article{EngemannDuKallweitetal.2020, author = {Engemann, Heiko and Du, Shengzhi and Kallweit, Stephan and C{\"o}nen, Patrick and Dawar, Harshal}, title = {OMNIVIL - an autonomous mobile manipulator for flexible production}, series = {Sensors}, volume = {20}, journal = {Sensors}, number = {24, art. no. 7249}, publisher = {MDPI}, address = {Basel}, isbn = {1424-8220}, doi = {10.3390/s20247249}, pages = {1 -- 30}, year = {2020}, language = {en} } @article{BungCrookstonValero2020, author = {Bung, Daniel B. and Crookston, Brian M. and Valero, Daniel}, title = {Turbulent free-surface monitoring with an RGB-D sensor: the hydraulic jump case}, series = {Journal of Hydraulic Research}, journal = {Journal of Hydraulic Research}, publisher = {Taylor \& Francis}, address = {London}, issn = {1814-2079}, doi = {10.1080/00221686.2020.1844810}, year = {2020}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{SattlerCaminosUerlingsetal.2020, author = {Sattler, Johannes, Christoph and Caminos, Ricardo Alexander Chico and {\"U}rlings, Nicolas and Dutta, Siddharth and Ruiz, Victor and Kalogirou, Soteris and Ktistis, Panayiotis and Agathokleous, Rafaela and Jung, Christian and Alexopoulos, Spiros and Atti, Vikrama Nagababu and Teixeira Boura, Cristiano Jos{\´e} and Herrmann, Ulf}, title = {Operational experience and behaviour of a parabolic trough collector system with concrete thermal energy storage for process steam generation in Cyprus}, series = {AIP Conference Proceedings}, booktitle = {AIP Conference Proceedings}, number = {2303}, doi = {10.1063/5.0029278}, pages = {140004-1 -- 140004-10}, year = {2020}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{RendonSchwagerGhiasietal.2020, author = {Rendon, Carlos and Schwager, Christian and Ghiasi, Mona and Schmitz, Pascal and Bohang, Fakhri and Caminos, Ricardo Alexander Chico and Teixeira Boura, Cristiano Jos{\´e} and Herrmann, Ulf}, title = {Modeling and upscaling of a pilot bayonettube reactor for indirect solar mixed methane reforming}, series = {AIP Conference Proceedings}, booktitle = {AIP Conference Proceedings}, number = {2303}, doi = {10.1063/5.0029974}, pages = {170012-1 -- 170012-9}, year = {2020}, language = {en} } @article{RoepkeKoehlerDruryetal.2020, author = {Roepke, Rene and K{\"o}hler, Klemens and Drury, Vincent and Schroeder, Ulrik and Wolf, Martin and Meyer, Ulrike}, title = {A pond full of phishing games - analysis of learning games for anti-phishing education}, series = {Model-driven Simulation and Training Environments for Cybersecurity. MSTEC 2020}, journal = {Model-driven Simulation and Training Environments for Cybersecurity. MSTEC 2020}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Cham}, isbn = {978-3-030-62433-0}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-030-62433-0_32020}, pages = {41 -- 60}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Game-based learning is a promising approach to anti-phishing education, as it fosters motivation and can help reduce the perceived difficulty of the educational material. Over the years, several prototypes for game-based applications have been proposed, that follow different approaches in content selection, presentation, and game mechanics. In this paper, a literature and product review of existing learning games is presented. Based on research papers and accessible applications, an in-depth analysis was conducted, encompassing target groups, educational contexts, learning goals based on Bloom's Revised Taxonomy, and learning content. As a result of this review, we created the publications on games (POG) data set for the domain of anti-phishing education. While there are games that can convey factual and conceptual knowledge, we find that most games are either unavailable, fail to convey procedural knowledge or lack technical depth. Thus, we identify potential areas of improvement for games suitable for end-users in informal learning contexts.}, language = {en} } @incollection{MansurovJandosovChenchiketal.2020, author = {Mansurov, Zulkhair A. and Jandosov, Jakpar and Chenchik, D. and Azat, Seitkhan and Savitskaya, Irina S. and Kistaubaeva, Aida and Akimbekov, Nuraly and Digel, Ilya and Zhubanova, Azhar Achmet}, title = {Biocomposite Materials Based on Carbonized Rice Husk in Biomedicine and Environmental Applications}, series = {Carbon Nanomaterials in Biomedicine and the Environment}, booktitle = {Carbon Nanomaterials in Biomedicine and the Environment}, publisher = {Jenny Stanford Publishing Pte. Ltd.}, address = {Singapore}, isbn = {978-981-4800-27-3}, doi = {10.1201/9780429428647-2}, pages = {3 -- 32}, year = {2020}, abstract = {This chapter describes the prospects for biomedical and environmental engineering applications of heterogeneous materials based on nanostructured carbonized rice husk. Efforts in engineering enzymology are focused on the following directions: development and optimization of immobilization methods leading to novel biotechnological and biomedical applications; construction of biocomposite materials based on individual enzymes, multi-enzyme complexes and whole cells, targeted on realization of specific industrial processes. Molecular biological and biochemical studies on cell adhesion focus predominantly on identification, isolation and structural analysis of attachment-responsible biological molecules and their genetic determinants. The chapter provides a short overview of applications of the biocomposite materials based of nanostructured carbonized adsorbents. It emphasizes that further studies and better understanding of the interactions between CNS and microbial cells are necessary. The future use of living cells as biocatalysts, especially in the environmental field, needs more systematic investigations of the microbial adsorption phenomenon.}, language = {en} } @incollection{AkimbekovZhanadilovnaUalievaetal.2020, author = {Akimbekov, Nuraly and Zhanadilovna, Abdieva G. and Ualieva, Perizat S. and Abaihanovna, Zhusipova D. and Digel, Ilya and Savitskaya, Irina S. and Zhubanova, Azhar Achmet}, title = {Functionalization of Carbon Based Wound Dressings with Antimicrobial Phytoextracts for Bioactive Treatment of Septic Wounds}, series = {Carbon Nanomaterials in Biomedicine and the Environment}, booktitle = {Carbon Nanomaterials in Biomedicine and the Environment}, publisher = {Jenny Stanford Publishing}, address = {Singapore}, isbn = {978-981-4800-27-3}, doi = {10.1201/9780429428647-11}, pages = {211 -- 228}, year = {2020}, abstract = {The treatment of septic wounds with curative dressings based on biocomposites containing sage and marigold phytoextracts was effective in in vitro and in vivo experiments. These dressings caused the purification of the wound surface from purulent-necrotic masses three days earlier than in the other experimental groups. The consequence of an increase in incidents of severe course of the wound and the observed tendency to increase the number of adverse effects is the development of long-term recurrent wound processes. To treat purulent wounds, the following tactics were used: The purulent wounds of animals were covered with the examined wound dressing, and then the next day samples were taken, the procedure was performed once in 2 days. To obtain the active nanostructured sorbents such as carbonized rice husks, they are functionalized with biologically active components possessing antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antitoxic, immunomodulating, antiallergic and other types of properties.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{AdamsLosekammCzupalla2020, author = {Adams, Moritz and Losekamm, Martin J. and Czupalla, Markus}, title = {Development of the Thermal Control System for the RadMap Telescope Experiment on the International Space Station}, series = {International Conference on Environmental Systems}, booktitle = {International Conference on Environmental Systems}, pages = {1 -- 10}, year = {2020}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{ThomaFisherBertrandetal.2020, author = {Thoma, Andreas and Fisher, Alex and Bertrand, Olivier and Braun, Carsten}, title = {Evaluation of possible flight strategies for close object evasion from bumblebee experiments}, series = {Living Machines 2020: Biomimetic and Biohybrid Systems}, booktitle = {Living Machines 2020: Biomimetic and Biohybrid Systems}, editor = {Vouloutsi, Vasiliki and Mura, Anna and Tauber, Falk and Speck, Thomas and Prescott, Tony J. and Verschure, Paul F. M. J.}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Cham}, isbn = {978-3-030-64312-6}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-030-64313-3_34}, pages = {354 -- 365}, year = {2020}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{MarinkovićButenweg2020, author = {Marinković, Marko and Butenweg, Christoph}, title = {Out-of-plane behavior of decoupled masonry infills under seismic loading}, series = {17th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering, Sendai, Japan, September 27 to October 2, 2021.}, booktitle = {17th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering, Sendai, Japan, September 27 to October 2, 2021.}, pages = {13 Seiten}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Masonry is used in many buildings not only for load-bearing walls, but also for non-load-bearing enclosure elements in the form of infill walls. Many studies confirmed that infill walls interact with the surrounding reinforced concrete frame, thus changing dynamic characteristics of the structure. Consequently, masonry infills cannot be neglected in the design process. However, although the relevant standards contain requirements for infill walls, they do not describe how these requirements are to be met concretely. This leads in practice to the fact that the infill walls are neither dimensioned nor constructed correctly. The evidence of this fact is confirmed by the recent earthquakes, which have led to enormous damages, sometimes followed by the total collapse of buildings and loss of human lives. Recently, the increasing effort has been dedicated to the approach of decoupling of masonry infills from the frame elements by introducing the gap in between. This helps in removing the interaction between infills and frame, but raises the question of out-of-plane stability of the panel. This paper presents the results of the experimental campaign showing the out-of-plane behavior of masonry infills decoupled with the system called INODIS (Innovative decoupled infill system), developed within the European project INSYSME (Innovative Systems for Earthquake Resistant Masonry Enclosures in Reinforced Concrete Buildings). Full scale specimens were subjected to the different loading conditions and combinations of in-plane and out-of-plane loading. Out-of-plane capacity of the masonry infills with the INODIS system is compared with traditionally constructed infills, showing that INODIS system provides reliable out-of-plane connection under various loading conditions. In contrast, traditional infills performed very poor in the case of combined and simultaneously applied in-plane and out-of-plane loading, experiencing brittle behavior under small in-plane drifts followed by high out-of-plane displacements. Decoupled infills with the INODIS system have remained stable under out-of-plane loads, even after reaching high in-plane drifts and being damaged.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{MilkovaButenwegDumovaJovanoska2020, author = {Milkova, Kristina and Butenweg, Christoph and Dumova-Jovanoska, Elena}, title = {Methodology for development of seismic vulnerability curve for existing unreinforced Masonry buildings}, series = {17th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering, Sendai, Japan, September 27 to October 2, 2021.}, booktitle = {17th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering, Sendai, Japan, September 27 to October 2, 2021.}, pages = {13 Seiten}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Seismic behavior of an existing unreinforced masonry building built pre-modern code, located in the City of Ohrid, Republic of North Macedonia has been investigated in this paper. The analyzed school building is selected as an archetype in an ongoing project named "Seismic vulnerability assessment of existing masonry structures in Republic of North Macedonia (SeismoWall)". Two independent segments were included in this research: Seismic hazard assessment by creating a cite specific response spectra and Seismic vulnerability definition by creating a region - specific series of vulnerability curves for the chosen building topology. A reliable Seismic Hazard Assessment for a selected region is a crucial point for performing a seismic risk analysis of a characteristic building class. In that manner, a scenario - based method that incorporates together the knowledge of tectonic style of the considered region, the active fault characterization, the earth crust model and the historical seismicity named Neo Deterministic approach is used for calculation of the response spectra for the location of the building. Variations of the rupturing process are taken into account in the nucleation point of the rupture, in the rupture velocity pattern and in the istribution of the slip on the fault. The results obtained from the multiple scenarios are obtained as an envelope of the response spectra computed for the cite using the procedure Maximum Credible Seismic Input (MCSI). Capacity of the selected building has been determined by using nonlinear static analysis. MINEA software (SDA Engineering) was used for verification of the structural safety of the chosen unreinforced masonry structure. In the process of optimization of the number of samples, computational cost required in a Monte Carlo simulation is significantly reduced since the simulation is performed on a polynomial response surface function for prediction of the structural response. Performance point, found as the intersection of the capacity of the building and the spectra used, is chosen as a response parameter. Five levels of damage limit states based on the capacity curve of the building are defined in dependency on the yield displacement and the maximum displacement. Maximum likelihood estimation procedure is utilized in the process of vulnerability curves determination. As a result, region specific series of vulnerability curves for the chosen type of masonry structures are defined. The obtained probabilities of exceedance a specific damage states as a result from vulnerability curves are compared with the observed damages happened after the earthquake in July 2017 in the City of Ohrid, North Macedonia.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{TomicPennaDeJongetal.2020, author = {Tomic, Igor and Penna, Andrea and DeJong, Matthew and Butenweg, Christoph and Senaldi, Ilaria and Guerrini, Gabriele and Malomo, Daniele and Beyer, Katrin}, title = {Blind predictions of shake table testing of aggregate masonry buildings}, series = {17th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering, Sendai, Japan, September 27 to October 2, 2021.}, booktitle = {17th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering, Sendai, Japan, September 27 to October 2, 2021.}, year = {2020}, abstract = {In many historical centers in Europe, stone masonry is part of building aggregates, which developed when the layout of the city or village was densified. The analysis of such building aggregates is very challenging and modelling guidelines missing. Advances in the development of analysis methods have been impeded by the lack of experimental data on the seismic response of such aggregates. The SERA project AIMS (Seismic Testing of Adjacent Interacting Masonry Structures) provides such experimental data by testing an aggregate of two buildings under two horizontal components of dynamic excitation. With the aim to advance the modelling of unreinforced masonry aggregates, a blind prediction competition is organized before the experimental campaign. Each group has been provided a complete set of construction drawings, material properties, testing sequence and the list of measurements to be reported. The applied modelling approaches span from equivalent frame models to Finite Element models using shell elements and discrete element models with solid elements. This paper compares the first entries, regarding the modelling approaches, results in terms of base shear, roof displacements, interface openings, and the failure modes.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{TomićPennaDeJongetal.2020, author = {Tomić, Igor and Penna, Andrea and DeJong, Matthew and Butenweg, Christoph and Correia, Ant{\´o}nio A. and Candeias, Paulo X. and Senaldi, Ilaria and Guerrini, Gabriele and Malomo, Daniele and Beyer, Katrin}, title = {Seismic testing of adjacent interacting masonry structures}, series = {12th International Conference on Structural Analysis of Historical Constructions (SAHC 2020)}, booktitle = {12th International Conference on Structural Analysis of Historical Constructions (SAHC 2020)}, doi = {10.23967/sahc.2021.234}, pages = {1 -- 12}, year = {2020}, abstract = {In many historical centres in Europe, stone masonry buildings are part of building aggregates, which developed when the layout of the city or village was densified. In these aggregates, adjacent buildings share structural walls to support floors and roofs. Meanwhile, the masonry walls of the fa{\c{c}}ades of adjacent buildings are often connected by dry joints since adjacent buildings were constructed at different times. Observations after for example the recent Central Italy earthquakes showed that the dry joints between the building units were often the first elements to be damaged. As a result, the joints opened up leading to pounding between the building units and a complicated interaction at floor and roof beam supports. The analysis of such building aggregates is very challenging and modelling guidelines do not exist. Advances in the development of analysis methods have been impeded by the lack of experimental data on the seismic response of such aggregates. The objective of the project AIMS (Seismic Testing of Adjacent Interacting Masonry Structures), included in the H2020 project SERA, is to provide such experimental data by testing an aggregate of two buildings under two horizontal components of dynamic excitation. The test unit is built at half-scale, with a two-storey building and a one-storey building. The buildings share one common wall while the fa{\c{c}}ade walls are connected by dry joints. The floors are at different heights leading to a complex dynamic response of this smallest possible building aggregate. The shake table test is conducted at the LNEC seismic testing facility. The testing sequence comprises four levels of shaking: 25\%, 50\%, 75\% and 100\% of nominal shaking table capacity. Extensive instrumentation, including accelerometers, displacement transducers and optical measurement systems, provides detailed information on the building aggregate response. Special attention is paid to the interface opening, the globa}, language = {en} }