civil engineering

Air conditioning in buildings is necessary to combat the high temperatures of summers, which are becoming increasingly long and hot; however, it is not without controversy due to its energy consumption and environmental impact. Today, the WHO is presenting its new guidance on health and heat action plans, in which it acknowledges that air conditioning is problematic, while also emphasizing the need for vulnerable populations to have access to these systems. In a recent briefing organized by SMC Spain, we analyzed its role in the fight against global warming.

The twisting and bending of a steel girder bridge after a serious accident can, under certain conditions, prevent the structure from collapsing. This has been demonstrated by a team from the Polytechnic University of Valencia and the University of Vigo. Using a scale model of a steel girder railway bridge and simulations, the engineers explored the structures' response to typical damage scenarios, in which a key component is cut to simulate its failure. "These findings can be used to improve current bridge design," the authors note in the study, which is published in Nature. 

The concrete used by the Roman Empire was used to build aqueducts, bridges and buildings that have lasted for over two thousand years. A study analyses whether returning to this ancient material would help to decarbonise modern cement. According to the authors, reproducing the recipe would require a similar amount of energy and water, with similar CO2 emissions; however, its durability could make it a more sustainable option. It is published in the Cell Press journal iScience.