DECA - Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture

The goal of this paper is to widen the current view of early modern Portuguese architecture, and of how it dealt with its structural aspects. The Matosinhos Market building shows clear signs that permit to formulate that, for its authors, modern architecture was more than a decorative style, embodying a paradigm shift dictated by the use of reinforced concrete.
In order to test this hypothesis, the paper deals with the project written documents, where the designers recorded all relevant bibliography, showing how well informed they were, not only in terms of the technical solutions involved, but also of their symbolic meanings. The paper demonstrates that architects and engineers have made a common effort to achieve a sincere expression for the structure, thus offering a case-study of the slow introduction of modern architecture in Portugal and stressing the importance of structural engineers in that process.
In CRUZ, Paulo J. S. (ed.), “Structures and Architecture : Concepts, Applications and Challenges : Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Structures and Architecture, Guimarães, Portugal, 24-26 July 2013”. London : Taylor & Francis Group, 2013, ISBN 978-0-415-66195-9 (Hbk + CD-ROM). Pág. 1917-1922.

The main purpose of the paper is to represent the revitalization plan for a major part of Monção. The aim of the plan was to transform the area into a new coherent system, having in mind that Monção owes much of its income to tourism-related activities. Monção, founded in the 13th century, is located in the Northwest border of Portugal, close to Spain, across the Minho. The “terroir” of the region made it possible to produce the Alvarinho, a wine exported overseas. The proximity with the border gave Monção opportunities for trade, but exposed it, in military terms.
One of the main urban features is a 17th century fortification that enclosed the town until 1915, when the construction of a railway line dictated the demolition of its southern section. The railway made easier the exportation of wine, and brought new tourists. However, the closing of the line in 1990 left behind a site that is now deprived of urban purpose. The plan had to deal with the area of the abandoned line, the railway station, the broken fortress (a National Heritage), and the interweaving of these with the historical town core and the 1980s quarters. Also, the plan had to improve the area where, every year, the local population stages a fight between St. George and the Dragon, representing the dangers of dwelling here.
The paper presents the results of the process, just before the plan is implemented on the site, demonstrating how the constraints of time, money and bureaucracy play a crucial role. It emphasizes the participation of the municipality, the national heritage authority and of the national institute of architects. The paper presents a series of conclusions that may help social scientists, policy makers and other practitioners in the process of planning similar situations. Keywords: Monção, Portugal, 17th century fortification, revitalization plan, urban design.
Keywords
Monção, Portugal, 17th century fortification, revitalization plan, urban design.

Chapter in DELGADO, João Paulo, MALHEIRO, Miguel e SANTIAGO, Luís (org.): Invólucros domésticos: um levantamento de casos para a construção de edifícios de habitação: Europa e EUA, 1990-2010. Lisboa: Universidade Lusíada Editora, 2013. ISBN 978-989-640-136-8. Pages 2-7.

Between 1935 and 1945, the 3rd series of “A Arquitectura Portuguesa e Cerâmica e Edificação (Reunidas)”, or The Portuguese Architecture and Ceramics and Edification (Reunited), mirrored the social and intellectual context of the era. It sought to cover Portuguese architectural and industrial production at the threshold of the dictatorship of the Estado Novo.
This monthly magazine was eclectic and resulted from the merger of two publications. Its contents in one hand, displayed confidence in new materials, in industry, in modern functionalism, on the other hand it revealed the fear of losing a romantic “Portuguese feeling” expressed in the construction of the mythical Portuguese House.

At least since Antiquity, men have been using all the technological and material resources required to raise heavy weights and to keep them in balance as a sign of their might, both personal and collective. Architecture and correlated engineering technologies were thus not regarded as politically neutral. Bold architectural structures were seen as projections of power, regardless of the symbolic origins of that authority: Prince or Church, State or Capital, Government or People. This judgments seem evident when one considers the structural wonders mankind built throughout History, e.g. the Great Pyramids, the gothic cathedrals, or even contemporary skyscrapers. However, it is surprising to find structures as marks of power and correlated struggles in more modest contexts, such as the rivalries between neighboring municipalities. Even more so, when that happened in political contexts usually considered monolithically centralized, such as the authoritarian Portuguese 'Estado Novo' régime of the 1930's and 1940's. This paper deals the Matosinhos Market project (1936-1953), designed by 'Ars Arquitectos', a team of architects lead by António Fortunato Cabral (1903-1978), Mário Morais Soares (1908-1975) and Fernando Cunha Leão (1909-1990), with structural analysis by engineers Francisco Correia de Araújo (1909-1981) and Joaquim Sarmento (1916-). Indented as strikingly modern, the most visible feature of the building is a thin parabolic vault, having a span of 33 meters, a rise of 11 meters and a thickness of just about 5 centimeters. The paper uses the Matosinhos Market project as an exemplary case of the use of building technology and structure as a statement of power. For this purpose, the paper presents yet unpublished evidences for the fact that this project audaciousness was used by Matosinhos municipality leaders as a piece of a wider defense strategy, lead against what they perceived to be a will for annexation. This was supposedly purported by the larger and more important neighboring city of Oporto, having the valuable Leixões harbor control as main political target. This evidences give new light to the Market building multiple relevant meanings, situating it in the crossroads of architectural figure, structural achievement and territorial mark. The evidences also show that the architectural and engineering team was fully aware of its role in the aforementioned political struggle. The paper is part of an ongoing research regarding the importance of the Matosinhos Market building in the context of Portuguese modern architecture, engineering and regional planning. The conclusions of the paper may interest all those concerned with the reciprocal implications of technology, culture and ideology in the built environment.

The object of the paper is the 1935 Portuguese Reinforced Concrete Code (RBA), ap-proved two years after the establishment of the Estado Novo regime. The research takes this background as relevant, as the code was a foundation for a programme of public works. The starting point is the report that prefaces the regulations. It clarifies the method-ology adopted for defining design standards, which was to compare 14 of the most ad-vanced regulations. The technical report also identifies all of the authors of the RBA, who were six leading structural engineers. The paper aims at a threefold relevance. Firstly, to understand the method used for drafting the code, and, consequently, to comprehend the dissemination of reinforced concrete. Secondly, to throw light on how the issues of devel-opment were addressed in the 1930s. Thirdly, to understand how European countries dealt with building modernization during that years.

HPC is increasingly used in new architectural projects (skyscrapers, work of art, bridge and other...) for economic; aesthetic and technical reasons. This work carried out under this memorandum concern the manufacture of a high performance concrete (HPC) using local materials. Three types of mineral additives (slag, limestone filler and pozzolana) were used separately in different percentages in the presence of a superplasticizer ensuring good implementation. This work allows to continue studies previously conducted on the formulation of HPC. The results obtained show that the substitution of a percentage of cement with fine additions with the use of a superplasticizer, improves the mechanical strength over time. Keywords: BHP, local materials, resistance, additions, superplasticizer.

On peut fabriquer des bétons en utilisant seulement du ciment Portland. Cependant la sub stitution partielle d'une certaine quantité de ciment par un ou plusieurs ajouts minéraux lorsqu'ils sont disponibles à des prix compétitifs peut être avantageuse, non seulement du point de vue économique, mais aussi du point de vue rhéologique et parfois du point de vue résistance et durabilité. La plupart des ajouts minéraux ont en commun de contenir une forme de silice vitreuse réactive qui, en présence d'eau, peut se combiner à la température libérée par l'hydratation du C2S et du C 3 S avec la chaux pour former un silicate de calcium hydraté du même type que celui qui est formé durant l'hydratation du ciment Portland (N F P 18-508). On peut écrire donc une réaction pouzzolanique de la façon simple suivante : Pouzzolane + chaux + eau  Silicate de calcium hydraté Il faut noter qu'à la température de la pièce, cette réaction est généralement lente et peut se développer sur plusieurs semaines. Cependant plus la pouzzolane est fine et vitreuse, plus sa réaction avec la chaux est rapide [4]. L'hydratation du ciment Portland libère une grande quantité de chaux par suite de la réaction d'hydratation du C 2 S et du C 3 S (30 % de la masse anhydre du ciment). Cette chaux contribue à la chute de résistance de la pâte de ciment hydratée. Elle peut même être responsable des problèmes de durabilité puisqu'elle peut être assez facilement lessivée par de l'eau, ce lessivage augmente alors la porosité de la pâte de ciment. Le seul aspect positif de la présence de chaux dans un béton est qu'elle maintient un pH élevé qui favorise la stabilité de la couche de l'oxyde de fer que l'on retrouve sur les armatures d'acier. Quand on fabrique des bétons, si on utilise 20 à 30% de pouzzolane, théoriquement, on pourrait faire réagir toute la chaux produite par l'hydratation du ciment portland pour la transformer en C-S-H. Cependant, les conditions dans lesquelles on utilise le béton sont très différentes de cette situation idéale et la réaction pouzzolanique n'est jamais complète. Ces matériaux étant des sous-produits industriels, leurs compositions chimiques sont en général moins bien définies que celle du ciment Portland [4].

Dans le présent chapitre, on présente les différents résultats expérimentaux relatifs aux essais effectués sur le BHP conformément aux modes opératoires mentionnés au chapitre précédent, une analyse et une discussion des résultats sera faite à la base des résultats obtenus. Le tableau ci-dessous représente l'ensemble de résultats des mélanges étudiés dans ce présent programme expérimental. V.2 feuille de calcul d'un BHP On présente ci-après une feuille de calcul pour un BHP composé à 100% du ciment.

Mines and quarries waste accounts for about 29% of the total generated waste from industrial processes and households in Europe. The reuse of mud tailings as precursor materials for alkali-activated binders and applications are very promising from a technical and environmental point of view. The aim of the present study was to develop added-value solutions to reutilize tungsten mine mud tailings in alkali activated materials. Some potential uses of these new materials obtained from alkali-activation of tungsten mud waste and other precursor materials, as well incorporating expanded granulated cork, such us a high energy efficient panel for a vegetated surface, and a foamed lightweight brick wall, are presented.

Several mixes of alkali-activated foams from tungsten mud waste (MW), grounded glass (GG)and metakaolin (MK) were developed incorporating expanded granulated cork (EGC). This study presents preliminary results of the expansion process obtained with the addition of aluminium (Al) powder as a foaming agent. 0.3 wt.%, 0.4 wt.% to 0.5wt.%of Al powder were added to the alkali-activated matrix. The physical and mechanical properties of the obtained foams, the effects of the type and amount of the foaming agent added are presented and discussed. Highly porous structures were obtained, with overall expansion up to 68.2% when the Al powder was added. The size and distribution of pores are shown. The compressive strength of foams in the case of highly porous structures achieved of 1.2 MPa forthe samples containing 0.5wt.% of Al powder. Mechanical and thermal properties of the cured structure are good and can, therefore, be used for applications in acoustic panels and lightweight prefabricated components for thermal insulation purposes.