Residential buildings near transport corridors are exposed to traffic-induced vibrations that can affect their safety. This paper presents a dynamic diagnosis of a masonry building located near a grade-separated junction. The study aimed to determine whether traffic-induced vibrations were responsible for the diagonal cracking of plaster observed in a dormer wall. The methodology included simultaneous acceleration measurements on the ground and building, traffic recording, 3D laser scanning for geometric reconstruction, and finite element modelling with soil–structure interaction. Time history and modal analyses were performed for various soil stiffness values. The results show that vibrations are predominantly attenuated at the soil–building interface, whereas soil flexibility markedly lowers the fundamental (lowest) natural frequencies of the building. The effect of soil stiffness on wall shear stress was more significant than that of dynamic action in load combinations. A comparison of the principal stress trajectories with the observed cracking patterns suggests that the damage was primarily due to the support condition of the wall. Traffic-induced vibrations are not the main cause of the observed damage. The integrated diagnostic procedure was effective in distinguishing vibration effects from other structural factors and was useful in assessing building safety.

Wood–plastic composites (WPC) combine the properties of polymers and wood, providing an attractive alternative to traditional materials, particularly for terrace flooring. When exposed to various environmental conditions, WPCs are affected by factors, such as water and ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Although most test methods for assessing the durability of these products have focused on changes in mechanical properties and linear dimensions, out-of-plane deformations (concavity and convexity) are often overlooked. This study focusses on evaluating the usefulness of the test method that allows for precise determination of these deformations after ageing. The test procedure involves exposure to classic weathering for decking boards, including moisture, UV radiation, and water spray, followed by three-dimensional (3D) scanning to track deformation after different exposure times. Analysis of variance was used to assess whether the sensitivity of this method is sufficient to detect minor deformations. Additionally, scanning electron microstructural images of the aged samples were examined to determine whether there was a relationship between the deformation and the microstructural changes. This study demonstrated the potential to use scanning methods for assessing the aspects of ageing resistance of this type of composite product in the context of deformation.

Obserwowane ocieplenie klimatu, wywołane wzrastającą emisją CO2 do atmosfery, generuje powstawanie zjawisk klimatycznych o intensywnościach wykraczających niekiedy ponad wartości graniczne przyjmowane w kombinacjach oddziaływań przy projektowaniu obiektów budowlanych. W ostatnich latach w różnych obszarach Polski rejestruje się występowanie silnych wiatrów i gwałtownych trąb powietrznych. Wywołane przez nie szkody prowadzą do wielomilionowych strat ponoszonych przez budżet państwa, firmy ubezpieczeniowe oraz prywatnych właścicieli budynków. Straty obejmują zakresem infrastrukturę budownictwa mieszkaniowego, drogowego i energetycznego, zniszczenia dotykają również terenów zielonych i majątku ruchomego. Z tego względu konieczne stają się działania zmierzające do ograniczenia szkód wywołanych przez wiatr, np. poprzez właściwie opracowane plany zagospodarowania przestrzennego, odpowiednie kształtowanie bryły budynku i jego elementów oraz projektowanie i wdrażanie w wykonawstwie rozwiązań konstrukcyjnych przeciwstawiających się obciążeniom wywołanym również przez silne wiatry.

Low tensile strength (brittleness) is a significant drawback of lightweight aggregate concrete, as it significantly limits its application. The parameters can be improved by using dispersed reinforcement. For the purpose of the study, two fractions of high-strength lightweight aggregate were used. It was produced by sintering waste material from power plants and cogeneration plants (e.g., fly ash). Hook-shaped steel fibres were used as the reinforcement. The presented tension test results apply to lightweight fibre-reinforced concrete, i.e., flexural tensile strength, splitting tensile strength and residual flexural tensile strength compared to lightweight non-reinforced concrete. It also refers to the analysis of fibre distribution using computer tomography and the microstructure of the fibre–cement slurry contact zone. The test results revealed that steel fibres are distributed correctly in lightweight concrete, creating effective reinforcement for the brittle cement matrix. The experimental work was supported by numerical simulations based on the Finite Element Method (FEM). A lightweight concrete structure with volumetric content and steel fibre distribution identical to those used in the experiment was modelled. This way, the numerical simulations were verified. The confirmation of the numerical model’s reliability shall help engineers develop the material’s strength at the product design stage. The optimisation shall be possible owing to the easy application of the fibres’ variable configuration, given their share and orientation. As a result of combining experimental tests with numerical simulations, the paper evaluates the influence of steel fibres on the strength of lightweight concrete. Ansys Workbench software was used to model a three-point bending test on lightweight concrete beams. A Menetrey–Willam constitutive model was selected to represent the mechanical behaviour of fibre-reinforced concrete; the model assumed material hardening/softening. Simulations yielded numerical responses similar to the experimental results, confirming the model’s ability to capture the fibre reinforcement’s influence on the forms of destruction.

The article presents experimental research and numerical analysis of a building partition in frame construction. The subject of the analysis were sections of the building partition consisting of cold-bent steel profiles and plasterboard cladding. The experiment was carried out using a four-point bending test and recording a continuous load-displacement curve until failure. Next, a computational model based on the finite element method was developed to simulate the experiment. The results from the experimental tests were then compared with that obtained from the numerical analysis. The validation of the numerical model demonstrated a high level of agreement in terms of load-displacement characteristics. The use of numerical analyses provides an alternative to time-consuming experimental tests for estimating displacements of building partitions in frame construction