English

Not applicable.

Department of Engineering (US)

The home faculty only

- Students will learn basic methodology of how to approach buildings that require some structural intervention
- Student will be able to distinguish the influences acting on buildings and diagnose typical building failures (all specifically for certain material and structure)
- Student will learn the procedure used in building-technical surveys and will apply this procedure in the seminar work
- Student will learn the main principles we use during the process of removing failures from buildings
- Student will understand the specifics of strengthening the various types of building structures
- Student will be able to formulate the advantages and disadvantages of various building materials and structures in terms of their long-term durability and the possibility of changes and repairs

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Teaching consists of lectures that provide the main theoretical information about building defects and how to detect their causes. Further lectures follow methodology of failure removal and methods for reinforcing various structures / materials. The seminar work is assigned at the beginning of the semester and consulted continuously. Theoretical knowledge will be verified in written and oral form. The focus of the teaching is the teacher-led discussion of students on theoretical and practical problems in the seminar work, ensuring an understanding of the issue.

Credit test and elaboration of seminar work is evaluated. Seminar work consist 60% of whole evaluation, credit test 40%. The deadlines for submission and elaboration of the test are determined by the teacher in the form of a written assignment at the beginning of the semester and are binding.

Course syllabus:

1. Influences on buildings during their lifetime, durability of buildings
2. Failures of masonry buildings made of fired and unfired (adobe) bricks, causes
3. Failures of buildings made of reinforced concrete, causes
4. Failures of buildings made of steel and timber, causes
5. Surveys of buildings, detection of crack activity (active, passive)
6. Building diagnostics – destructive, non-destructive methods
7. Excursion (field trip) – practical demonstration of buildings / technologies, including expert commentary
8. Troubleshooting – options, main principles
9. Repairs, reconstruction and strengthening of foundations
10. Repairs, reconstruction and strengthening of masonry and reinforced concrete structures
11. Repairs, reconstruction and strengthening of steel and timber structures
12. Practical procedure for determining the condition of the building and for the design of repairs. Review and discussion of seminar works
13. Excursion (field trip) – practical demonstration of buildings / technologies, including expert commentary

Not applicable.

The aim of the course is to understand the specifics of existing structures in terms of diagnostics, repair design, reconstruction and reinforcement. This includes knowledge about the defects of buildings, building-technical survey, causes and monitoring of defects, including temporary and permanent measures to ensure safe load-bearing capacity and stability of load-bearing structures. The aim is to learn how to conceptually approach a building that requires construction intervention. The aim is also to stimulate creative and critical thinking in the context of discussions about solutions of seminar papers.

Student must attend 50% of lectures, 50% of excursion (field trip). During the semester, student continuously completes at least 3 consultations of the seminar work. Missed participation in excursion (field trip) cannot be replaced, but it can be excused for serious reasons. Replacement of compulsory attendance at lectures is solved individually by prior agreement with the lecturer.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

LEVY, Matthys; SALVADORI, Mario. Why Buildings Fall Down: How Structures Fail. New York:W·W·Norton & Company, 2002. ISBN 978-0393311525. (EN)
SALVADORI, Mario. Why buildings stand up: The Strength of Architecture.London. New York: W·W·Norton & Company, 1980. ISBN 0-393-01401-0. (EN)

Not applicable.