Modern structural code provisions are based on a probabilistic framework of structural reliability. They are iterated upon through the interaction of numerous professionals, researchers and professors. It is common for doubts and discussions to arise on what the correct application of the provisions is, in many cases with significant consequences in the cost and safety of the projects. VIT Ingeniería provides a number of services in this area.
Reliability analysis: One of VIT Ingeniería‘s expertise is performing reliability analysis of special structures. Codes cannot cover every situation in engineering practice, especially for non conventional structures and during construction stages. Our research and experience allows us to offer consultancy services to architects, engineers and construction firm in this field, which is required more than ever in large projects.
ACI 318 Code and Perfomance-based design: Raúl Bertero has served in ACI 318 subcommittees for more than 10 years, participating in the discussions and proposing code changes. With that background, we aid in the justification, interpretation and application of the Code wherever there are conflicts or arguments. As the author of Chapter 8 in “EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING – From Engineering Seismology to Performance-Based Engineering” (Bozorgnia and Bertero), Raúl has developed vast know-how in the application of performance-based design procedures in large infrastructure projects.
Our research activity in this area can be found in the Publications page.
Client: MJW Structures.
The train terminal of Florence, Italy, was built in 1934 to replace the original station, and takes the name of the nearby church. As part of a renovation project, Raúl Bertero performed a sensitivity analysis that determined the reliability of the proposed construction method considering the variability in the construction tolerances and potential thermal expansion.
Client: MJW Structures.
Braga Stadium, with a capacity for 30,000 people, was built in 2003 and is the home of Sporting Braga. Raúl Bertero participated in the project by studying the collapse probability of the roof against random changes in the cables’ deformation and the spatial and time-dependent randomness of the wind loads.
Client: MJW Structures.
Montreal’s Olympic Stadium was built as the main venue of the 1976 Olympic games in Canada, with a capacity of 60,000 people. One of its distinctive features is the retractable roof, whose design and construction was delayed for over a decade. Raúl Bertero participated in the project by studying the collapse probability of the roof due to random changes in the deformation of the cables.