Introduction.

The gradual progressive evolvement of civil engineering as a science was nurtured by numerous discoveries, errors and regularities contributed by philosophers, mathematicians, engineers, architects, and researchers focused on versatile areas of knowledge. The author analyzes the transformation of civil engineering as a science since ancient times, as well as its dependence on historical events, territoriality, and discoveries. The objective of the research, covered by the article, consists in the detailed analysis of the history of civil engineering and the prognostication of its future development pattern.

Materials and methods.

The author employed systematization, benchmarking, and theoretical generalization of the information collected from literary sources.

Results.

The author has analyzed a number of Russian and foreign literary sources covering the formation and evolution of the civil engineering science, beginning with the works of ancient thinkers and philosophers and ending with the works of contemporary researchers. The author breaks down the history of analysis/design of buildings/structures into four development phases that have evolved into the present-day design procedure. The author also provides detailed information on ancient scholars, starting from those who lived in the second millennium B.C., and their contribution into the theory of building design. She highlights the most important works written by ancient philosophers and mathematicians all over the world, particularly those who influenced the development of the design theory. The author provides examples and photos of still-standing unique buildings and structures that date back to each development phase. Every step of civil engineering development is illustrated by buildings and descriptions of their constructions. The author also analyzes the most prominent attainments made in the field of structural mechanics and design of buildings at each development stage. She has tracked the evolvement of civil engineering since the inception of written languagest.

Conclusions.

The author analyzes the prospects for the development of the civil engineering science with account for the most recent reports issued by the Russian Academy of Architecture and Construction Sciences.

Introduction.

The behavior of end-bearing piles in the foundation soil and the methodology for their reliability analysis, treated as operational safety measures applicable to a separate bearing element of a pile foundation, need clarification and further development. The weakness of the established reliability analysis methodology, focused on the bearing capacity of the foundation soil, is its failure to take account of each case of the soil behavior above rock or low compressibility soils pursuant to Construction rules and regulations 24.13330.2011. Taking account of the bearing capacity of this soil layer in respect of the load accommodation by an end-bearing pile (taking account of the pile weight) may improve its reliability by the criterion of the bearing capacity in combination with the soil behavior below the bottom tip of a pile. Nizhne-Suyanskiy Waterworks Facility had the mission to solve water household, energy and socio-economic problems.

Materials and methods.

The author analyzed piles made of any applicable materials; their reliability analysis methods are based on the possibility theory due to the limited amount of statistical information on controllable parameters to be entered into the limit state design model to verify the bearing capacity of the foundation soil.

Results.

The author presents the design formula to identify the parameters ensuring reliable failure-free behavior of an end-bearing pile in the foundation soil and in respect of the soil bearing capacity. The pile reliability analysis performed in respect of its bearing capacity (and focused on the strength of the pile material) is provided in the references section. The author uses two performance criteria to analyze the reliability of an end-bearing pile, given that an end-bearing pile is analyzed as a consistent mechanical system in terms of the reliability theory.

Conclusions.

The author has developed a methodology used to analyze the reliability of end-bearing piles. It is focused on the bearing capacity of the foundation soil below the bottom tip of a pile and along its length with a view to the quantitative assessment of its safe performance at the stage of design of a facility that has a piled footing; the groundwork has been laid for further research into the behavior of end-bearing piles and for the development of design regulations applicable to various types of piles that may differ in material, behavior, sinking techniques, etc.

Introduction.

A rockfill dam with a concrete screen is considered as an alternative to a traditional earth-faced rockfill dam in the process of designing a high-pressure Pskemsky hydraulic facility in Uzbekistan. A rockfill dam with a concrete screen has several strengths. However the geological structure of the dam site complexifies the application of a rockfill dam with a concrete screen, because dam boards have a deep layer of gritstone. There arose a need to study the stress-strain state of a 190 m dam in 2D and 3D settings.

Materials and methods.

The finite element method (FEM) and numerical modeling were employed to study the stress-strain state of the dam. The modulus of linear deformation of the rockfill top reaches 480 MPa, the one of the rockfill bottom - 240 MPa. The concrete deformation module was taken as equal to 29 and 12 hPa. The analysis took account of the isolation joint that separated the central part of the screen from its bank parts, while the contact surface of the screen and the dam body had a layer of friction-reduction emulsion.

Results.

The research performed by the co-authors enabled them not only to analyze the screen’s displacements and strains, but also to consider longitudinal forces and bending moments.

Conclusions.

A rockfill dam with a reinforced concrete screen has proven a reliable structure capable of accommodating static forces. However rock needs to be thoroughly compacted, and the water basin must be filled gradually. In this case, concrete compressive/tensile strength values will be sufficient in the 3D environment. The heterogeneity of the geological composition of the dam base cannot disintegrate the screen, because vertical joints compensate for the tensile stress arising inside

Introduction.

The problem of efficiency of process technologies, invested into innovative building engineering systems, needs more attention. The co-authors of this research article have analyzed different options for the installation of green roof systems. The mission of the study is to analyze the engineering processes that encompass the installation of different green roof systems and to minimize their labour intensity by improving their efficiency. In pursuance of this mission, the co-authors set and achieved such objectives as the review of the researches completed by the Russian and foreign scholars specializing in green construction and roofing technologies, and the analysis of the technological efficiency of green roofing systems. New engineering solutions, such as modular rooftop gardens, can be applied to reduce the overall labour intensity of green roofing.

Materials and methods.

The co-authors have used comparative analysis, network planning, and scheduling theory methods.

Results.

The co-authors have performed this research to identify the efficiency criteria for the process of installation of green roof systems, such as continuous green roof systems (Option A) and modular green roof systems (Option B).

Conclusions.

With regard to the findings of the study one can make a conclusion that there is a need for new engineering criteria to be developed and enacted. The description of their organizational, technological and structural characteristics must be provided in respect of the installation of innovative building engineering systems, including different types of green roof systems.

Introduction.

Construction of large-scale offshore structures in the coastal area of Vietnam requires new compositions of binders for hydraulic concretes, advanced concrete mixing technologies, and concrete transportation to depositing sites.

Materials and methods.

The binder, containing sulfate resistant Portland cement and finely dispersed mineral additives, including low calcium fly ash of TPP “Vung Ang” and silica fume SF-90 (SF-90), was added to the mortar mix, and the same about SR 5000F superplasticizer and quartz river sand. Powder particle shape and size were measured using laser granulometry; X-ray diffraction was employed to identify the mineral composition of sulfate-resistant cement; the effect of multi-component organo-mineral additives on the phase composition of the cement stone was studied using methods of thermogravimetric analysis; the absolute volume method was employed to analyze the composition of the mortar.

Results.

The co-authors have analyzed the application of new compositions of multi-component organic-mineral additives whose content, if taken as a percentage of the cement weight, reaches 1.1-1.45 % of SF 5000F superplasticizer, 10-15 % of SF-90, and 30 % of fly ash. New additives accelerate compressive and tensile strength development by 1.4-1.9 times, and that’s been confirmed by bending early-age and 28-day cement-sand mortar specimens, that have sulfate-resistant cement, and their benchmarking against control specimens. It’s been identified that SF-90 and fly ash, if added to the mix, reduce the Portlandite content in the cement stone by 1.27-3.29 % at the age of 28 days in comparison with the benchmark composition due to their high pozzolanic activity.

Conclusions.

Testing results enable co-authors to recommend the application of multi-component organo-mineral additives to increase the resistance of cement-sand compositions to sulfate corrosion due to the denser structure and lower porosity of the cement stone, caused by the lower value of the water/binder ratio and the packing of pore spaces with active mineral fillers. Therefore, new additives are recommended for use in the production of corrosion resistant concretes suitable for construction of offshore hydraulic structures in Vietnam.

Introduction.

The study focuses on the operation of a standalone membrane bioreactor applicable as an alternative to submerged membrane modules widely used as part of small capacity wastewater treatment facilities.

Materials and methods.

An ultra-filtration membrane was used to perform the research in a laboratory environment. The liquid, exposed to research, represented synthetic wastewater, whose composition was similar to the one of urban wastewaters, and it had varied concentrations of suspended solids (MLSS). The membrane element, produced by Raifil (Republic of Korea), that has capillary ultra-filtration membranes, was used in the experiments. The membrane pore size is 1 micron. The total membrane filter area is one square meter. This membrane module has standard characteristics (pore size, material), typical for ultra-filtration membranes; therefore, we can assume that any further results will not demonstrate any substantial discrepancies, if ultra-filtration membranes made by other manufacturers are used to conduct experiments.

Results.

The author describes a methodology for the optimization of pressure and MLSS values used in the process of membrane treatment. The author obtained the pressure values at which the amount of suspended solids in the filtered material shows a sharp rise, which means a slip of suspended solids into the filtrate, or a slip of contaminants. The author also identified the operating parameters that ensure maximal capacity.

Conclusions.

These findings help to outline a roadmap for further research into the optimization of membrane bioreactors (both standalone and submerged units) used in wastewater treatment.

Introduction.

The main issue of the study is the problem of improving the quality of education. As part of the comprehensive and effective development of educational institutions of the Russian Federation, it is necessary to meet the requirements for providing new and innovative tools for quality control of education. One of these tools is the use of a score-rating system for assessing students of higher educational institutions. Purpose of research is to analyze and improve the existing methods of evaluation of students of higher educational institutions.

Materials and methods.

The comparative analysis of existing methods of assessment of students is applied. The main shortcomings of the traditional system of evaluation of students of higher educational institutions are determined by empirical method.

Results.

The new score-rating system for assessing students has been developed that meets modern standards of higher education in the Russian Federation and includes a multi-level system of criteria that take into account all stages of student-teacher interaction.

Conclusions.

The developed system of criteria can be applied to absolutely any discipline with any amount of load. But preferably with full-time or part-time education.