This study investigates the structural behavior of bahareque earth walls, a traditional construction system commonly used in rural areas of northern South America. Bahareque (wattle and daub) walls, consisting of guadua (a bamboo-like material) or wooden frames filled with soil mixes, have demonstrated considerable resilience in seismic zones due to their lightweight and flexible nature. Despite their widespread use in these communities, limited scientific data exist on their seismic performance under in-plane pseudo-static horizontal loading. This research addresses this gap by experimentally evaluating the seismic behavior of five wall models with different combinations of guadua, wood, and earth filling materials. The methodology included four main phases, namely field visits to document traditional construction techniques, material characterization, prototype testing under pseudo-static loads, and an analysis of mechanical behavior. Key material properties, including compressive strength and Young’s modulus, were determined, alongside the mechanical and physical properties of the infill material, which incorporated natural fibers. Pseudo-static tests were conducted on five wall prototypes, featuring various configurations of guadua and wood frameworks, both with and without soil infill. The walls were subjected to horizontal in-plane loads to assess their deformation capacity, energy dissipation, and failure mechanisms. The results indicated that walls with soil mixture infill—specifically the GSHS (guadua frame with horizontal guadua strips and soil mixture infill) and TSHS (wood frame with horizontal guadua strips and soil mixture infill) configurations—demonstrated the best seismic performance, with maximum displacements reaching up to 166 mm and strengths ranging from 6.4 to 8.4 kN. The study concludes that bahareque walls, particularly those incorporating soil mixes and horizontal guadua strips, exhibit high resilience under seismic conditions and provide a sustainable construction alternative for rural regions. The scope of this study is limited by the exclusion of dynamic seismic simulations, which could offer additional insights into the behavior of bahareque walls under real earthquake conditions. The novelty of this research lies in the direct evaluation of the seismic performance of traditional bahareque configurations, specifically comparing walls constructed with guadua and wooden frameworks, while emphasizing the critical role of soil infill and guadua strips in structural performance.

In Colombia, low-cost unbonded fiber-reinforced elastomeric isolators made from natural rubber (UN-FREI) and recycled rubber (UR-FREI) have emerged as a solution to mitigate damage in low-rise structures during earthquakes. However, their performance under environmental degradation caused by factors such as carbon dioxide, saltwater, relative humidity, and UV radiation has not been sufficiently studied. These agents can compromise the mechanical properties of rubber, affecting its ability to dissipate energy. This study evaluates the performance of these isolators under different environmental conditions through the initial characterization of rubber, mechanical testing of small-scale prototypes exposed to controlled environments, and seismic analysis of an isolated structure. Modification factors (λ_(ae,max) and λ_(ae,min)) were determined to quantify the impact of degradation on structural behavior. The results indicate that UN-FREI specimens are more sensitive to environmental conditions than UR-FREI specimens, whereas the mechanical properties of UN-FREI small-scale prototypes remain more stable compared to those of UR-FREI. This leads to increased drift, base shear, and demand-to-capacity ratios (DCRs) in the structural analysis. The findings emphasize the need for experimental testing of isolators to establish modification factors that accurately reflect the effects of environmental conditions on structures throughout their service life.

Recent developments in higher education have transformed teaching–learning processes across disciplines, including structural mechanics in civil engineering programs. However, reports on innovative teaching practices in structural engineering are scattered, hindering their application in other contexts. This study consolidates and analyzes global research trends in structural mechanics education (from 2014 to 2023), complemented by insights obtained from surveys applied to students, instructors, and senior structural engineers in Colombia. The sample literature comprises 150 Scopus-indexed English articles analyzed with Bibliometrix. Eight guiding questions serve to characterize the literature, identify predominant pedagogical strategies, and outline future research directions. Results reveal limited collaboration networks, inconsistent keyword usage, and a strong concentration of U.S.-based authors and institutions. Most papers appear in engineering education journals, and the recurrent topics (active learning strategies, digital and virtual resources, and assessment methods) confirm the prevalence of experiential, student-centered approaches. Based on the findings, eight emerging areas should guide future research: sustainability, educational research, non-disciplinary competencies, digital resources, artificial intelligence, innovation, disciplinary competencies, and digital competencies. Also, it is recommended that engineering faculties focus efforts on clarifying competency frameworks, strengthening pedagogical and faculty development, investing in educational technologies and laboratory infrastructure, fostering collaborative networks, and enhancing the visibility of structural mechanics education research.

Las metodologías convencionales de diseño de estructuras sismo-resistentes se basan en el diseño de resistencia, rigidez y ductilidad de la estructura en el rango inelástico. Recientes avances en el área, buscan generar nuevas metodologías basadas en la disipación de energía del sismo mediante dispositivos externos. Lo anterior con el fin de disminuir los daños que se puedan presentar en los elementos estructurales después de la ocurrencia de un sismo. En este artículo, se propone una metodología para la optimización del diseño de pórticos de acero resistentes a momentos, equipados con amortiguadores de masa sintonizada. El objetivo es disminuir las deformaciones, los daños estructurales, los no estructurales y el costo de la estructura. En el proceso de optimización se utilizó una heurística basada en la teoría de la evolución de una población y denominada algoritmo de evolución diferencial. Se modificó adicionando dos características para mejorar su funcionamiento. En primera instancia, se le generó una autoadaptación de los parámetros de mutación y cruzamiento. Por otra parte, se le dio características multimodales para ayudar al algoritmo a encontrar el óptimo global. Finalmente, utilizando la metodología de optimización en los diversos casos de estudio, se pudo observar que la calidad de la solución y la convergencia del algoritmo eran buenas. Además, se vio una mejoría en la calidad de optimización debido a las características adicionadas de funciones multimodales y parámetros autoadaptativos. Haciendo que el algoritmo tuviera mayor espacio de exploración y explotación.

El diseño curricular por competencias se basa en el desarrollo de conocimientos y habilidades relevantes para la sociedad. En Colombia, este enfoque ha ganado importancia debido a la nueva legislación en educación superior y la influencia de agencias internacionales de acreditación. Los principales desafíos incluyen establecer un modelo de evaluación, preparar a los profesores y coordinar con diferentes grupos de interés. En la Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Cali, se ha llevado a cabo una reforma curricular simultánea de cinco programas de ingeniería como parte de una metarreforma más amplia. El objetivo es formar profesionales con alta calidad humana, ética y responsabilidad social, capaces de resolver problemas en diversos contextos y promover proyectos innovadores. Este nuevo diseño curricular se basa en un perfil de egreso de facultad, con macrocompetencias, mesocompetencias y microcompetencias adaptadas a cada programa. Además, se incluye un núcleo común con componentes transversales y se promueve la interdisciplinariedad, el desarrollo de habilidades blandas y la adaptabilidad al entorno cambiante. Este proceso y sus resultados pueden ser relevantes para otras instituciones y facultades, ya que es reproducible y escalable.

Seismic isolation systems are an effective passive protection strategy that decouples structures from ground motion. Their performance depends heavily on the elastomeric materials used, which must retain mechanical integrity under environmental stressors. In recent years, low-cost isolators made from natural and recycled rubber have gained attention as an affordable solution for protecting low-rise buildings in seismic-prone developing regions, particularly due to their environmental benefits and ease of installation. However, their long-term performance under real environmental conditions remains insufficiently explored. This study evaluates the durability of two types of low-cost seismic isolators: those made with natural rubber matrices (UN-FREIs) and those that use recycled rubber matrices (UR-FREIs). Mechanical tests were carried out before and after exposing the specimens to accelerated aging and low-temperature conditions, simulating environmental degradation. Changes in stiffness, damping, and energy dissipation were analyzed for both the rubber matrix and the scaled isolator prototypes. The findings indicate that both materials degrade over time, with recycled rubber exhibiting greater susceptibility to stiffness loss at low temperatures. Nevertheless, both isolator types maintained functional performance after aging, supporting their applicability in regions with moderate thermal variations. These results provide evidence for the feasibility of adopting low-cost isolators in low-rise buildings exposed to variable climates, while also emphasizing the need for standardized durability protocols during the design stage.