The current trends in modern architecture are focused on minimising the boundaries between the external environment and interior of the building. This requires a continuous increase of the amount of translucent surfaces allowing natural sunlight to enter the building, not only in facades but also through interior structural elements. The research project on timber-glass composite beams is based on an assumption that timber and glass work together to carry external loads. Glass no longer acts as a filling, as in traditional solutions, but actively participates in load transfer. The paper presents result of numerical study on modelling of brittle failure (cracking) of glass. The influence of element geometry, element size and value of fracture energy on the structural performance were analysed. From these studies the optimum model parameters were chosen for final models of timber-glass composite beams. Subsequently, the models were validated by comparing their results with experimental studies

Making a decision to perform an overhaul of a damaged reinforced concrete structure should be preceded by an analysis of the real durability of that structure after the repair in connection with the anticipated service life. One of the basic problems is the avoidance of further corrosion of concrete and steel after the repair, which depends on the degree of concrete contamination with harmful chemical factors. It is particularly important to determine the content of chloride and sulfate ions which cause corrosion. Concrete pH is equally significant because it conditions effective passivation of the reinforcement. The paper presents the basic issues related to the main chemical threats, including the main sources of their origin as well as their limit values. It emphasizes the importance of conducting the chemical tests of concrete, which should be treated as one of the methods of determining structure suitability for an overhaul, especially in the context of subsequent durability. This seems obvious to an experienced specialist, but in practice, such studies are often ignored. Those considerations are backed up with selected examples of reinforced concrete industrial structures exposed to aggressive chemicals during their operation. The text shows the correlation between their technical condition and chemical test results as well as the influence of those results on making decisions concerning effective overhauls.

In typical technical applications, steel components are usually connected by welding or with mechanical connectors. An alternative solution, typical in the aviation and automotive industry, but not widespread in engineering structures, is to join thin sheet metal using adhesives. The article presents an experimental study of adhesive joints used in overlap connections subjected to static tension. A methacrylate adhesive, selected experimentally from a range of adhesives, which combines the optimum strength and strain properties, was tested. The laboratory tests were carried out on double-lap specimens made of high-strength Domex 700 steel. On the basis of the experimental results, the behavior of the specimens and their failure mechanism, depending on the anchorage lengths used (200, 300 and 400 mm), are described. The tests confirmed the effectiveness of the selected methacrylate adhesive in a practical application. It was shown that with the appropriate anchorage length (adequate to the type of steel components and the joint geometry) between 300 and 400 mm, the capacity of the adhesive joint is higher than the capacity of a single steel component. Two types of specimen behavior were recognized: Quasi-brittle, which occurs at the anchorage length of 200 mm, and ductile, observed for 300 mm and 400 mm anchoring. In addition, thanks to the optical measurement method used, a detailed strain distribution on the specimen surface was determined. The data will be used for subsequent validation of an analytical and numerical model.

Experimental testing of epoxy adhesives, which are commonly used in civil engineering for the strengthening of existing structures with composite products have been a topic of limited studies. It was due to the damage which usually occurred not in the adhesive layer but in the strengthened material. Recent studies have shown that the choice of an adhesive significantly affects the load-bearing capacity of the entire joint. The paper presents the results of strength tests of a selected methyl methacrylate adhesive, carried out according to the standards EN ISO 527-1 and EN ISO 527-2. Comparing the results to the data provided by the manufacturer (tested in accordance with ASTM D638) discrepancies have been found in the normative assumptions and consequently differences in the results. Experiments on the adhesive showed clear dependency on the speed of testing which revealed through variable characteristics after the elastic limit. Numerical simulations were also carried out assuming the elastic-plastic material model. The analyses allowed to obtain the distribution of stresses and deformations along the length of the sample and allowed to verify the length of the extensometer used. Comparison of results obtained for different measuring lengths of chosen adhesive confirmed the need to use extensometers in the testing of mechanical properties.