About Venus

So, in my previous posts, I mentioned Mars a lot. The reason behind this is that it is the best option for becoming our second home, and also we have the technology to travel through Mars and examine the needed properties. While doing research for my blog, I came across an article about how Venus went through global warming. And it sure does sound familiar. So today, I will briefly mention Venus and why it should be a warning sign for us. 

Venus has the same mass and same mass as Earth. It has a thick atmosphere. Its atmosphere contains greenhouse gas carbon dioxide and its clouds are made up of sulfuric acid. It rotates so slow that 1 year on Earth is equal to 2 days in Venus. It is the hottest planet we know, but it is not the closest planet to the Sun, its surface temperature is 460 degrees in Celcius. The best survival rate for a robot in Venus is 2 hours. 

Heres a brief video about Venus;

Data collected at NASA's Pioneer Mission to Venus has given some insight into Venus's past climate and geology. It is suggested that Venus had a very familiar climate and geology to ours, but its seas has evaporated because of its nearness to Sun. "As a result, the planet’s early ocean evaporated, water-vapor molecules were broken apart by ultraviolet radiation, and hydrogen escaped to space. With no water left on the surface, carbon dioxide built up in the atmosphere, leading to a so-called runaway greenhouse effect that created present conditions." 

Venus 700 million years ago and now. Credit: NASA.

Sources:

4https://climate.nasa.gov/news/2475/nasa-climate-modeling-suggests-venus-may-have-been-habitable/

https://www.space.com/venus-runaway-greenhouse-effect-earth-next.html

https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/venus/overview/

Mars Might Have Water Encapsulated Inside It's Crater

In my previous posts, I mentioned Jezero Crater in Mars and its similarities with Lake Salda in Turkey. In this post, I will be writing about how Mars is extremely similar to our world, Earth. In those posts, it was briefly mentioned that Mars once had water on its surface. Today Mars is extremely dry at first glance, this creates many questions such as what happened to the water on Mars's surface? Is it possible that one day Earth may have a similar change? I think with further investigations to Mars it would be possible to answer these questions.  

There are some theories about where the water went such as a study that proposes that a combination of two mechanisms – the trapping of water in minerals in the planet’s crust and the loss of water to the atmosphere – can explain the observed deuterium-to-hydrogen signal within the Martian atmosphere. So water went nowhere, again a reference to the previous post about Jezero Crater, there was a moisturized section below the hard crust of Mars. Water is trapped in the crust, now another question might arise, why is the water encapsulated? This question will be answered when we have more data about the climate of Mars. 

Scientist have examined yet another crater that has extreme similarities with an Earth lake. "They also noted the presence of a distinct set of ridges that face upward toward the crater wall, which bear a striking resemblance to ridges on Earth that formed at the edges of glaciers. " 

A topographic map shows the raised ridges (dark yellow) and low-lying areas where water ponded (white). Credit: NASA/Boatwright et al./Brown University

For this reason, I think this is a very interesting topic when considering the world's climate is getting hotter by the day. Earth is very similar to Mars geologically, maybe they had similar climates. Maybe the data and information collected by the rovers would be somewhat beneficial for Earth's climate issues and how to prevent the Earth from becoming a dry crust with little to no life on it. 

Sources:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210316132106.htm

https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/new-study-challenges-long-held-theory-of-fate-of-mars-water

https://www.universetoday.com/150726/a-lake-in-a-martian-crater-was-once-filled-by-glacial-runoff/

Understanding BIM and It's Implementation in Our Jobs

This weekend, I attended a BIM Education seminar by Saniye Öktem and a Revit seminar by Tolga Arçok. For the people who are interested in this kind of stuff, I wanted to mention some highlights from the seminar. In the beginning, the image below was presented and some important differences were asked.

 

The most important thing that caught my attention was the VR headsets, this technology is being used in some firms to examine the building by simply putting on the headset and wander inside the structure. There are some pretty interesting gadgets as well and the environment looks very diverse and safe. I think this model is a great example, and with the technology we use I think this image is not so far away from reality. 

BIM is a methodology that can enable safe, efficient, and sustainable construction site the image represents. Efficiency is obtained because every discipline can work with coordination in the same model. When exporting a model or data, there is no loss or misunderstanding because while using Revit, everything is assigned prior to it being included in the schedules. I think the construction process would be much more organized and revisions would decrease is BIM methodology is used. 

There are many software's and add-ins that can be used with Revit, most outstanding ones in my opinion is firstly Advanced Steel and Robot Structural Analysis. Aside from them a program I found very impressive and advanced was TestFit. In this program, the user assigns the map location and the program generates example models. The models can be imported to Revit or another modeling program and can be later on adjusted and improved but it was pretty impressive seeing software generating a whole model. Here is a youtube video explaining;

                                                        

Here is an article about BIM Methodology:

https://www.archdaily.com/957097/bim-methodology-for-the-creation-of-smart-buildings?ad_source=search&ad_medium=search_result_all                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

Using Numerical Methods to Examine Geotechnical Problems of Masonry Structures

Geotechnical analytical models are made for presenting the stress, deformation analysis, and settlement of the soil. The soil must be modeled in an advanced manner in order for the structural failure mechanisms to be observed. In this post, I am going to write about a research paper I found on the research gate that acknowledges and explains a model created using numerical analysis for geotechnical problem determination for the Abu Serga Church in Cairo, Egypt. Numerical and experimental analysis is used to characterize stress-strain analysis and subsoil deformation of the soft clay underneath the church. 

 

Abu Serga Church

The subsoil is composed of plastic silty clay layers mixed with fine to medium sand layers and the groundwater table is at 1.8 m depth. The geotechnical properties are summarized in the table given below;

Geotechnical Characterization of the soil layers underneath the Abu Serga Church

Church has a flood problem before a dam was constructed on the Nile River in 1971. But the floods caused loading and unloading of the subsoil for hundreds of years. the vertical effective stresses in the clay soil and its bearing capacity also changed with the rising and falling water table. Along with this problem, many cracks were observed on the superstructure of the church, because of the soil settlement and foundations movements undergoing a shear failure. A 3-dimensional model is implemented to analyze long-term creep deformations. To analyze the consolidation, a numerical model is produced based on assumptions, conditions, and simplifications. The main goal here is to find a suitable method for strengthening. 

Differential vertical displacement patterns in the bearing silty clay soil.

3D Finite Element discretization of the PLAXIS model and deformed generated mesh. 

References;

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/346041012_Numerical_Analysis_of_Geotechnical_Problems_of_Historic_Masonry_Structures

Building on a Site That Is "Pretty Much a Pool", What to Consider?

In this post, I will be writing about an off-the-grid getaway house that would ideally be located near Medellin, Colombia. But the soil study shows that the site is almost like a pool, having a high water table and thick layers of loose soil. These properties would provide little to no capacity for supporting heavy objects. The ground is made of silty sand, any design would be at risk for seismically-induced settlement dues to liquefication which would cause vertical settlement and lateral spreading. Also, there were some clays present on the site, and if this clay type is expansive then during rainy seasons, clayey soil would cause swelling which would cause an unwanted movement.

Project Site

The solution suggested was a floating slab- a flat layer of concrete resting on top of the soil, supported by vertical concrete piles beneath the outer edges. This solution has two problems;

1)It would damage the environment

2)Budget would be extremely high. 

When local geotechnical engineers were consulted, two alternatives popped up. The first one was deep foundation. This foundation type involves driving long piles into the ground to reach the more stable layers of earth below. Another solution was ground improvement, which would reduce the damage caused by liquefication.  This solution has many types; the first one would be the vibro-replacement stone column technique. Achieved by using a heavy vibrating weight to drill deep into the ground and create columns of compacted rock that support the earth around them. The second one would be deep soil mixing, achieved by using heavy equipment to mechanically combine weak soil and cementitious slurry.  At this point, the design process is continuing since these solutions are not perfectly sustainable or safe for the site. Further exploration is being done to develop the design.

Eco Shelter Rendering

Black and White Elevation Image

Source:

https://www.archdaily.com/585854/ask-arup-how-to-build-on-a-site-that-is-pretty-much-a-pool?ad_source=search&ad_medium=search_result_all

Impact Crater on Mars: Analyzing Its Morphology Using Slide2 and RS2

In my previous post, I mentioned the impact crater located on Mars. In this post, I will be talking about analyzing its morphology with software widely used by foundation engineers. This impact craters morphology is categorized as PPR (Peripheral Peak Ring). PPRs occur on craters having a diameter between 4 and 200 km when instabilities occur on the rim causing a crater deformation and a part of the rim to detach and slide into the crater. In the Department of Geoscience at the University of Calgary, there was a study to create a model for PPRS targeted to describe, characterize it. Jason Nycz, who was doing the research for this project, inversely modeled and analyzed the formation as a transversal block slide in Slide2 using the topographic inputs from DEM (Digital Elevation Models) and reasonable rock parameters. This research supplied much information about the strength parameters for the uppermost layers of the Martian crust. The model is created conditions and constraints (position, height, and shape of the crater) Three Phases of Modelling:

1. Modelling the crater before the PPR was formed. 

2. Detachment of the PPR from the crater rim, sliding laterally and downward toward the crater center. The result is an intermediate step in the formation of the PPR.

3. Transform the intermediate profile into the observed one.

Initial input model in Slide2

Slide2 model imported to RS2

Finite element analysis results in RS2

References:

https://www.rocscience.com/about/news-events/ocscience-goes-to-mars-using-slide2-and-rs2-to-advance-research-on-impact-crater-morphology

https://www.rocscience.com/documents/pdfs/rocnews/fall2011/Slope-Failure-Impact-Crater-on-Mars.pdf

Retaning Wall Collapsed During Foundation Excavations, the Building Next to the Construction Site Evacuated.

 On 25 February 2021, a construction site in Artvin Borçka had an incident concerning retaining walls. The excavator that was digging the site was under the wreckage, but the operator managed to get out of the machine unharmed. Fortunately, no other person was injured. The building which had its retaining walls collapsed was evacuated for security reasons. Rigid walls used for supporting soil laterally so that it can be retained at different levels on the two sides are called retaining walls.

The most common reasons for failure are,

• lack of proper reinforcement
• improper drainage behind the wall
• foundation footing problems
• settlement expansion of the soil
• overloading the wall
• construction errors or other design errors. 

For this case, the problem was caused by the excavator because they should have calculated the foundation that the retaining wall was settled in. At this point, they should either demolish the building or they should reinforce the wall with a curtain of piles of curtain grouting.

Source: 

https://www.trthaber.com/haber/turkiye/artvinde-istinat-duvari-coktu-14-katli-bina-bosaltildi-559646.html

https://sites.google.com/site/metroforensics3/causes-of-retaining-wall-failure-or-collapse

NASA’s Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover Chronicles: Jezero Crater and It's Importance

The Mars 2020 Perseverance rover is dropped on the Jezero Crater on Mars on 18 February 2021. This mission will be the first mission that is aiming to collect Martian rocks, this will help the scientists on Earth to characterize Mars' past climate, geology, and similarities with Earth. Jezero Crater is a 45-kilometer wide ancient impact crater located in the northwest corner of a larger impact basin on Mars.  An impact crater is formed when an object like an asteroid or meteorite crashes into the surface of a larger solid object like a planet or a moon. Older investigations are suggesting that Mars was once a planet that contained rivers. This suggests that there was once life on this planet, at least some microbial life have lived in this crater is assumed because the rivers were connecting to this crater and might be carrying these life forms. An older rover that was sent to Mars has revealed that the crater contains clay and carbonate minerals. These minerals are similar to the ones at Lake Salda in Turkey. They share similar geology and mineralogy. Scientists are working on analyzing Lake Salda to have an idea of what will be important to consider when analyzing the crater and overall conditions at Mars. It is not certain that they will be faced with the same results but it's a high possibility. 

Figure.1 Eroded Layers in Shalbatana Valles
Source: Mars Exploration Image Gallery, 2011

A comparison between Lake Salda and Jezero Crater: 
 

You can watch the route of the rover, and overall a detailed explanation of the mission in the video below: 

 

Question 1: Explain how one aims simlicity meanwhile other aims complexity. Discuss how they achieve them. Discuss; patterns, geometrical shapes...

A Wall In DB

Wall of the G block lounges

 In the first form, i come across a single pattern that is repeated several times in the same rhythm. In the second form, there is also a rhythm and a pattern but its harder to read, its illegible. They are both symmetric and continuous, composition in both of them are in order, its not restricted. There is a grid in both of them, in the second picture these grids are regulating the pattern inside. Both are originally rectangles that have been subtracted and achieved its final form. First one does not aim to be complex, it has a simple pattern and its repeated many times in a specific and also simple form. In the second one we have a more complex pattern which is not a simple geometrical shape. It is a rather complex structure which makes the general form illegible. It is altered to a different pattern rather than a simble rectangle. The pattern in the second one contains circular and flexible. It does not contain sharp, geometric forms. Both of them create a space inside the patterns. The grids help the volumetric expression. The patterns in both of them are formed in groups, they are all similar. In the first one unity is more legible. The raw material that formed these two subjects are probably the same but first one seems more natural since its color seems like how its  in the natue and we can see the materials linear lines that are natural. But in the second one its colored and processed in a way that we cant guess the materials without touching it, this makes it more complex to the eye.

Question 2: Explain how they are an example of a pattern, are they based on repetiton? Compare them in the design qualities based on repetition.

 A wood piece below a light in the ceiling of DB

A sieving machine for aggregates 

In both of the subjects, i can see the similar pattern which is a square and both of the compositions start with this pattern. Both are complex since they do not contain repetition and unity. They have a simple pattern but the usage of this pattern makes these forms complex. In the first picture, patterns are inside a larger rectangle, in this form, patterns are obtained by subtraction. There is no rhythm or contuniuty, patterns are placed randomly. But they are all in the same size and they are all actually voids, they are the most characteristic parts of this form. In the second form, i see a grid, but its not a regulating grid, This grid that created the pattern is getting tighter as i look through this form. All these grids that are jammed on top of each other, and are in different sizes are creating a volume. So the first one looks more like a 2D form but second one is 3D. Second one contains repetition because, the main pattern is used in a continous form. It is repeated several times in order to create dimension. The frame of the second one is a circle unlike the first one, its a cylindrical volume, this circle organizes the form. There is a variation of the original pattern by downsizing the pattern and the grid. in the first one there is no variation so the its more legible.

Question 3: Discuss the images, how structural and and tectonic qualities become expressive character of the design.

A chair in G block

Tree locaed in the backyard of G block

This chair is containing allignment in the back side of it, it contains many linear and vertical lines creating a space. The second one is a tree which does not contain vertical lines but has a main skeleton that branches and creates many non-linear lines that contain the leafs. There is a hierarchy in the second one. In the frist one there is no hierarchy since the lines are mostly in the same plane and dont come over each other. The tecture of this chair is really smooth, unlike the tree, because its processed into being like this. They are the same material but since we use the chair on a daily basis and we need to sit on it properly, it should be smooth, all parts should be in the same hardness level, it should be stable. So it needs to satify our needs. Unlike the tree since we dont have expectations for a tree to be smooth, or comfortable enough to be sit on.
   

Experiencing Architecture

Architecture is a combination of both fine arts and elements like plans, section and elevations.It harmonizes functionality, forms&masses and color. An architects job is to create settings for living creatures, this setting should be compatible with the environment and within itself to fit the creature living in it. So, he must keep in mind how these creatures act on their natural habibats, examine it to form a setting for it to be happy living in it. One mistake that could be made has to be forming these settings using the old habits of this creature. Since us humans, change as the centuries pass and develop new habits and change nearly everything about our way of living. We can see how our houses have changed over the years based on the materials we have access to, technology we have or our sense of beautiful. A set of rules should be followed to create this form, which should be organized in order to maintain what it has to, but shouldnt be personal. The main goal is to create something functional but not just using emotions or personal contributions while doing it. 

As human beings grow up, they experience many things  through architecture. Like learning the texture of something and later on seeing or touching a similar texture to it and correlate they have similar physical properties. It is also the same thing with learning shapes, how they would act, how much force should be applied to it to make it move, will it deform when force is applied, all these thing will define our way of labeling things around us. When we see a sharp edged shape we automatically guess its hard and not soft. Just like when we see something slouchy you immediately think its soft. In the text there is examples of a pear shaped cup and a bridge of the great cunal-building period and they both seem soft to us but are not. We determine whats soft or hard, light or heavy, taut and slack by experiencing them, and as we are learning about experiencing, interpreting architecture or forms or shapes, we use these elements to make a commentary.

By collecting all these elements, we create a create a concept that includes every element and its properties combined in a large form that is created by all these elements. And when a building moves us we usually see that these elements are nicely conveyed and are creating a mood. This movement creates a rhythm when it is related to both its extarior concept and interior concept, or if the building is purposefully designed realizing the needs of the era it was made. We must examine every single element in order to fully understand and experience architecture. 

Because it is a need, as we feel instinctively to create a habitat to make us feel safe and completed, to help our needs to sustain our life. As its mentioned in the text, we feel this need to find a pavement which will make us feel safe and sound, when we are little and have no knowledge of architecture.

Towards A New Arhitecture

A collection of essays by Le Corbusier, translated by Frederick Etchells. Original name is 'Vers une Architecture'. Published in 1923, in L'esprit Nouveau magazine. Original language is french and the content is mainly about modern architecture, how to achieve it and understand it. 

About Le Corbusier; He is a influental swiss architect and city planner whose designs combine the functionalism of the modern movement with a bold, sculptural expression. He lived between 1887-1965.His most famous works are Villa Savoye and the city he designed in India, Chandigarh

His most remarkle work is 'Les 5 point d'une architecure'.  The 5 points are; 1) The pilotis, elevating the mass off the groung.

2)The free plan, achieved through the separation of the load-bearings columns from the walls subdividing the space.

3)The free facade, the corollary of the free plan in the vertical plane.

4)The long horizontal sliding window

5)The roof garden, restoring supposedly the are of ground covered by the house

In brief; Le Corbusiers points for modern architecture emphasizes the importance of functionality in form. 

In introduction, the idea of modern architecture is processed to be extremely related to engineering,To understand the concept of modern architecture we must get into the culture of engineering. Two professions are compared; engineers and artist. And what is formed by these two professions is architecture. The purpose of engineering is functionality, corresponding demands adn creating forms that are concerning todays needs and still create something plastically pleasing. But when it comes to artists, they dont have a restriction about epoch's needs or concerns. They could go overboard and create a form ahead of their time not worrying about it being plastically good. 

"The house is a machine for living in." says Le Corbusier. Architectures properties are associated with a mechanical system. Basis of designing architecture is through the establishment of standards , that are stated by engineers, when designing a living space. The establishment of  standard is necessary in defining the performancec of architecture that will benefit the well being of users.

Arrangement of forms is established by Economy and by mathematical calculation. And these give the architect an order, an accordance to world. A plan is needed, neccesity for order helps understand the architectural process. "Standards are a matter of logic,analysis and minute study." to reach this standard, one should experience.  Engineering and architecture withstand early ages of man, people created architecture and used engineering unawares. People live in plastically failed houses, which affects their mental health, that is why architecture is important. Its not only came across in building form but everywhere in our daily lives. With engineering, they create a harmony. 

Three Reminders to Architects are mass, surface and plan. These are all tied together with a standard, The idea of standard in architecture was developed by Le Corbusier through his project Maison Citrohan. The name Citrohan is extremely similar to automobile Citroen. Le Corbusier sees the process of making a house should be like the process of making a plane or a automobile. Everything should follow a certain dimension. This standardization will make the cost cheaper and as Le Corbusier mentions, standards will create a list of requirements for a living space.

I was interested in the text since my major is civil engineering. I understand more about the connection between engineers and architects. An engineers job is to create the standardization that is shaped by physics and mathematical values, to create a form that is stable and usable and functional. This form will eventually be plastically good according to Le Corbusiers standards. While creating this form, an engineer is not fixed at the result being beautiful or satisfying to the eye. They are only interested in the necessity, the system being in equilibrium state so that it wont collapse. An architect will work with this standard and the end result will be plastically good and is good for human health. 

architecture to function or perform appropriately to achieve human comfort and health and hygiene.

Thus the idea of human needs which Le Corbusier mentioned by establishing the standards about human needs were related to basic physiological needs. These human needs are requirements for well being.Le Corbusier stated standards that are more important than others like physiological needs. He recommends a certain living with no clutter and a particular taste in art. "Put only a few pictures and none but the good ones. Keep your odds and ends in drawers or cabinets." 

The foundation of standards that are important to architecture as a machine could be understood as his attempts to procreate architecture as a system to fulfill the needs of human being.