Vault Construction Research Articles

シックビル症候群患者の臨床所見並びに環境測定結果について

Although many survey reports on sick house syndrome have been published, few clinical studies have reported sick building syndrome (SBS) in Japan. We examined patients with SBS-like complaints by clinical observation and made environment measurements. The subjects of our study were 11 office workers (2 men and 9 women) who visited our hospital because of poor physical condition after the construction and painting of a fireproof vault in their office. We performed a medical interview, biochemical examinations of blood, immunological tests, pulmonary function tests, and psychological tests. The environment in the office was evaluated 3 times at 27, 55, and 132 days after the cessation of vault construction. A questionnaire survey was distributed to the workers who did not visit our hospital. The workers resumed work 9 days after the end of construction: Shortly after the resumption of work, most of the workers smelled a bad odor, and complained of headache, malaise, disturbed concentration, and eye irritation. Acrylic resin paint was used for painting the vault, and the concentrations of toluene, xylene, and total volatile organic compounds (T-VOC) on day 27 after painting were 2,972, 2,610, and 7,100 μg/m³, respectively. One hundred and thirty-two days after painting, the concentrations of toluene, xylene, and T-VOC decreased to unscented levels of 78, 113, and 261 μg/m³, respectively. Seven females among the eleven patients were diagnosed as having SBS on the basis of the time of the onset of the symptoms, negative results of allergy and other organic diseases, and the results of the environment measurements. From the responses of the other workers (22 men and 1 woman) to the survey questionnaire, the development and the disappearance of complaints, such as bad odor and unpleasantness, agreed with change of the level of toluene in the vault, which confirmed the validity of the SBS diagnosis.

A hybrid biometric cryptosystem for securing fingerprint minutiae templates

Security concerns regarding the stored biometric data is impeding the widespread public acceptance of biometric technology. Though a number of bio-crypto algorithms have been proposed, they have limited practical applicability due to the trade-off between recognition performance and security of the template. In this paper, we improve the recognition performance as well as the security of a fingerprint based biometric cryptosystem, called fingerprint fuzzy vault. We incorporate minutiae descriptors, which capture ridge orientation and frequency information in a minutia’s neighborhood, in the vault construction using the fuzzy commitment approach. Experimental results show that with the use of minutiae descriptors, the fingerprint matching performance improves from an FAR of 0.7% to 0.01% at a GAR of 95% with some improvement in security as well. An analysis of security while considering two different attack scenarios is also presented. A preliminary version of this paper appeared in the International Conference on Pattern Recognition, 2008 and was selected as the Best Scientific Paper in the biometrics track.

Fingerprint-Based Fuzzy Vault: Implementation and Performance

Reliable information security mechanisms are required to combat the rising magnitude of identity theft in our society. While cryptography is a powerful tool to achieve information security, one of the main challenges in cryptosystems is to maintain the secrecy of the cryptographic keys. Though biometric authentication can be used to ensure that only the legitimate user has access to the secret keys, a biometric system itself is vulnerable to a number of threats. A critical issue in biometric systems is to protect the template of a user which is typically stored in a database or a smart card. The fuzzy vault construct is a biometric cryptosystem that secures both the secret key and the biometric template by binding them within a cryptographic framework. We present a fully automatic implementation of the fuzzy vault scheme based on fingerprint minutiae. Since the fuzzy vault stores only a transformed version of the template, aligning the query fingerprint with the template is a challenging task. We extract high curvature points derived from the fingerprint orientation field and use them as helper data to align the template and query minutiae. The helper data itself do not leak any information about the minutiae template, yet contain sufficient information to align the template and query fingerprints accurately. Further, we apply a minutiae matcher during decoding to account for nonlinear distortion and this leads to significant improvement in the genuine accept rate. We demonstrate the performance of the vault implementation on two different fingerprint databases. We also show that performance improvement can be achieved by using multiple fingerprint impressions during enrollment and verification.

Traditional Vault Construction Without Formwork: Masonry Pattern and Vault Shape in the Historical Technical Literature and in Experimental Studies

A study on the construction of vaults without formwork is presented, concerning the traditional techniques of constructing the most common half-stone vaults. This discussion is based on a comparative study including a critical revision of the historical technical literature on the topic, information from artisans, and analyses of historical structures, as well as studies on models and a prototype building. In addition to the description of characteristic masonry patterns, a main focus of this article is the shape of the vault surfaces in relation to the particular construction process. The aim of these considerations is in first place a better understanding of the traditional technique and to provide the base of the design process. Beyond that, an accurate surface model for vaults is proposed to be helpful for the numerical modeling of their structural behavior.

SU‐FF‐T‐16: A Linear Programming Model and Solution for Radiation Shielding Design of Radiotherapy Treatment Vaults

Purpose: To optimize shielding material combinations and thicknesses for megavoltage radiotherapy accelerator vaults for any photon energy using linear programming by minimizing the costs of shielding materials while satisfying the constraints pertaining to regulatory doses and available space. Methods: Radiotherapy accelerator vault construction usually requires an experienced physicist to design the appropriate thicknesses of concrete, steel or lead to satisfy the regulatory limiting doses, available thicknesses for shielding and the budget allocated for the project. We have developed a model and solution using linear programming that minimizes the costs of the shielding materials while satisfying regulatory dose limits and space available for the project. The model considers primary, leakage and scatter x‐ray radiation and neutron contamination using calculation techniques as in NCRP 151. The optimization routine will insert the required tenth value layers (TVLs) of steel or lead depending on the demands and the cost of these materials. The optimization considers neutron contamination as well. We discuss a parameterized version of the model that is never infeasible and which allows the user to weight the space versus cost according user preference. Results: The results of the linear program can be easily checked for correctness using standard calculation techniques. If there is abundant space for the wall thickness, concrete only is the result of the optimization since it has the lowest cost. If the allowed wall thickness is too small for concrete only, the optimization will return combinations of concrete, steel or lead such that all constraints are satisfied and costs are minimized. Existing thicknesses of concrete, for example, are easily incorporated into the model as are special requirements for IMRT. Conclusion: The linear program returns reliable, viable and optimized shielding thicknesses of concrete, steel and lead for primary barriers as well as for leakage and scatter radiation barriers.

ANALYSIS OF TENTH-VALUE-LAYERS FOR COMMON SHIELDING MATERIALS FOR A ROBOTICALLY MOUNTED STEREOTACTIC RADIOSURGERY MACHINE

Tenth-value-layers (TVLs) for a 6 MV stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) x-ray beam have been computed using Monte Carlo methods for radiation transport simulation. The first and equilibrium TVLs were determined in the three most common building materials used in radiation therapy vault construction: ordinary concrete, lead, and steel (iron). In contrast to broad-beam 6 MV TVL data found in the literature, the SRS TVLs can change rapidly with the size of the radiation field incident on the barrier. This research has investigated characteristics of TVLs as a function of field size (diameter) at the barrier for all materials, with special attention given to the TVL properties in iron. The x-ray spectrum used to perform these simulations was generated for the CyberKnife accelerator with the BEAMnrc Monte Carlo code. Using this spectrum as input to the MCNP5 Monte Carlo code, predicted tissue-maximum-ratio (TMR) values for a 6-cm-diameter field (at 80 cm from the target) were benchmarked against measured TMR data. The MCNP5 code was used to simulate all barrier transmissions, keeping the standard error of each data point below 1% of the mean. Results compare very well with previous measured concrete TVLs and also with published broad-beam 6 MV TVL data for all three barrier materials.

Broadband Seismic Noise Analysis of the Himalayan Nepal Tibet Seismic Experiment

We analyze background noise to assess the effects of experimental temporary seismic vault construction and to determine the time needed for noise at sites to stabilize after deployment noise as part of the Himalayan Nepal Tibet Seismic Experiment (himnt). We calculated power spectral densities of background noise for each component of each broadband seismometer deployed in Nepal and Tibet and then compared them with the high-noise model and low-noise Model of Peterson (1993). All segments from day and night local time windows were included in the calculation without parsing out earthquakes. Noise levels were considerably higher for the Nepal stations than the Tibet stations, in particular, in the high frequencies. The most northern of the stations in Tibet show unexpected day/night differences of ∼10–20 dB for the vertical components, which is significantly greater than the day/ night differences of the horizontal components. However, all the stations show noise levels concordant with microseism peak levels. Power spectral density estimates show moderate noise levels with all stations falling within the high and low bounds of Peterson (1993), except for the southern Nepal stations, which were built above ground and exceed the high-noise model at frequencies >1.0 Hz. The time needed for noise at a site to stabilize was ∼1–5 days after deployment.

Seismic Considerations for Guastavino Ceiling, Vault, and Dome Construction

The seismic and program improvements to the Hearst Memorial Mining Building on the University of California, Berkeley campus, will be the first project in which Guastavino construction is deliberately strengthened for improved seismic performance.

Study of the foundations of the pillars of Seville's Cathedral

This study is done in order to answer a double request. On one hand to know the typology of foundation and the typology of the bearing soil of pillars of the cathedral in Seville, and on the other hand to determine if the existing cracks have a geotechnical origin. The accomplished research let us know that foundation is 1m overwide relative to the column section, and 5.70 - 5.90 m deep. As regards bearing soil, its geotechnical characteristics have been proved, so it may be deduced that the long period (90 years) for the construction of pillars, vaults and decks, allowed a slow consolidation and drainage of soil that have avoided a possible collapse or fall. According to this conclusion, the research will continue focusing now on the study of the characteristics of pillars and on the possible reasons that have provoked the appearance of fissures. From a geoarchaeological point of view, significant data of the occupational level of this area have been obtained. There are important conclusions to be drawn from the accomplished research about the sequence of occupation of this area since 1,000 years B.C.

Geochemical influences on the design, construction and operation of a nuclear waste vault

The design, construction and operation of a vault for used nuclear fuel in crystalline rock may be influenced by a number of geochemical factors. During the period when a site is being selected, information is needed regarding the rock type, heterogeneities in its composition and the mineralogy of permeable zones, because these will cause variations in thermal conductivity, strength and radionuclide sorptive properties of the rock. These factors may affect decisions regarding depth of vault construction, tunnel dimensions and spacing of panels and waste containers. During site characterization, borehole drilling from the surface and subsequent hydraulic testing will introduce both chemical and microbiological contaminants that may further influence this decision. During vault construction, the geochemistry of the rock may cause changes to the design and construction methods used. High salinity fluids in the rock matrix could limit the ability of radar surveys to detect fractures in the surrounding rock and may also cause unacceptably high total dissolved solids loadings in water discharged from the facility. The presence of toxic, corrosive or radioactive constituents in inflowing groundwater may require grouting or development of treatment facilities both above and below ground. The use of explosives will cause high organic and nitrate loadings in service water as well as the possible impregnation of these chemicals in the disturbed wall-rock surrounding an excavation. These chemicals may remain despite cleaning efforts and act as nutrients to promote microbial activity in the post-closure phase. In the operational phase, inflow of increasingly saline groundwater may affect predicted container corrosion-rates and buffer and grout stabilities following vault resaturation and increase in temperature. This, in turn, may affect designs for container materials and spacing. Salt accumulations and microbial growths on vault walls may extend into the rock mass and require skimming of wall-rock before closure. This paper describes geochemical influences that might be anticipated in the disposal of nuclear waste with examples from the construction and operation of Canada's Underground Research Laboratory, Manitoba, in a granitic batholith on the Canadian Shield.

Observations on Romanesque and Gothic Vault Construction

In these examples, taken from a comprehensive study of English vaults of the late eleventh to the early fourteenth century, the vaults retain traces of the planks, laths, and wattle used in the formwork to create their curvature. Evidence of the widespread use of wattle formwork suggests that this malleable material was more commonly used than has been previously acknowledged.

Numerical study of some effects of nuclear fuel waste vault construction and closure on evolution of groundwater flow paths in the geosphere : Chan, T; Stanchell, F Proc 1st Annual Topical Meeting on High Level Radioactive Waste Management, Las Vegas, 8–12 April 1990V1, P525–536. Publ. ANS/ASCE: La Grange Park, 1990

We have performed a series of three dimensional finite-element simulations on the sensitivity of the groundwater flow paths and travel times in a conceptual hydrogeological model with a hypothetical vault located at 500-m depth in plutonic rock. The results indicate that (a) an exclusion zone separating the waste from a major fracture zone significantly increases the groundwater travel time from the vault to the biosphere; (b) properly sealed shafts and tunnels do not necessarily provide fast flow paths; (c) excavation-induced damage of the rock surrounding the underground openings does not appear to have any harmful effect on the long-term performance; and (d) a 150-m-deep perturbed fissure zone near ground surface has little effect on the travel times.

Variations in broadband seismic noise at IRIS/IDA stations in the USSR with implications for event detection

AbstractAmbient noise conditions at four IRIS/IDA sites in the USSR are characterized from 0.01 to 100 Hz as part of a study to ascertain the utility of broadband three-component seismic stations in monitoring regional Eurasian seismicity. Estimates of the power spectral density of noise levels were computed for a 5-day period in two seasons (winter and summer), at two times of the day. Of these periods, lower noise conditions were found at night in the summer. In general, at 1 Hz and above, noise levels and their variations correlate predictably with the soundness of vault construction and the proximity of the station to civilization. Absolute noise levels at the IRIS/IDA/USSR sites range from a high of about −120 dB to a low of −155 dB relative to (1 m/s2)2/Hz, between 1 and 5 Hz. A time-of-day variation in noise was observed at all sites, with noise levels during the work day ranging from 7 to 14 dB higher than night levels, depending on the site. This effect was observed only for frequencies above about 1 Hz. Observed seasonal variations (winter versus summer) are highly station dependent, although the seasonal effect is restricted to frequencies below 1 Hz and is in general centered on the microseism peak (0.1 to 0.2 Hz). Below 0.1 Hz, noise levels are influenced by the thermal and barometric isolation of the site. Low-frequency levels were not studied below 0.01 Hz. Minimum detectable magnitudes are estimated for the IRIS/IDA stations using the observed noise levels over 1 Hz. In general, a magnitude 3 event should be detectable at 1,000 km by all stations under night noise conditions if the dominant signal frequency is 1 Hz; the magnitude estimates increase with increasing frequency. These detectability estimates assume a conservative signal-to-noise ratio of 6.High-frequency data recorded by independent equipment co-located with the IRIS/IDA system during a 2-week experiment allow estimation of noise levels at the sites up to 100 Hz. Borehole versus surface noise levels recorded during the high-frequency experiment showed significant noise reduction (20 dB) can be achieved by borehole deployment at sites with exposed surface vaults. With well-isolated surface vaults, borehole noise reduction is about a factor of 2. Absolute noise levels between 1 to 10 Hz observed at IRIS/IDA/USSR sites are systematically higher than average NORESS noise by about 7 dB to 25 dB, depending on the station.

The Use of Earthenware Tubes in Roman Vault Construction: An Example from Chester

In 1964 Chester suffered one of its worst archaeological catastrophes when extensive and well-preserved elements of the intramural fortress thermae were exposed and then destroyed within the brief space of a few months in order to facilitate the construction of an underground service bay for a new shopping precinct. Although some archaeological examination of the site was conducted before redevelopment works commenced, this was restricted by circumstances to those areas free of standing buildings. This effectively limited investigations to the area beyond and to the east of the thermae, where barrack accommodation sufficient to house a cohort occupied the corner insula in the sinistrai half of the praetentura (FIG. 1). Over the remainder of this enormous site, no facility for formal excavation was given as construction work by the contractor was timed to begin immediately following demolition of existing buildings. Although, in the event, the contractor did re-arrange his programme of works on several occasions to allow some time for archaeological investigation, and intercession by the Ancient Monuments Inspectorate won several weeks stay of execution for one part of the baths complex, most of the affected sections of the thermae were recorded merely in the form of observations made during mass mechanical excavation by the contractor.

Rebuilding the Temple: Constantine Monomachus and the Holy Sepulchre

The reconstruction of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem c. 1042-1048 by the Byzantine Emperor Constantine IX Monomachus marks an important turning point in the history of the building. An analysis of the surviving remains of this phase of construction suggests that the plan was determined by an architect from the Byzantine capital, and the construction was carried out by two teams of masons. One workshop was apparently from Constantinople, and the other was trained locally in or around Jerusalem. An analysis of wall and vault construction bears out this conclusion.

Analysis, design and construction of braced barrel vaults

Analysis, design and construction of braced barrel vaults

The Technology of Transition: Sexpartite to Quadripartite Vaulting in High Gothic Architecture

With few exceptions, prior to the year 1200, square-planned vaults of sexpartite figuration were used in the high bays of larger Gothic churches. After 1200, in the original construction of all High Gothic churches, only rectangular-planned, quadripartite vaults were used. Previous explanations for this phenomenon have focused primarily on the stylistic implications of the change in vault configuration, while others have pointed to certain constructional differences. Yet none of these adequately explain the sudden shift. This paper, based on an analysis of the structural forces developed during high vault construction, offers a new theory that clearly points to the reason for the obsolescence of the sexpartite systems for the later buildings.

"In Delorme's Manner..." An X-Ray Probe of Jefferson's Dome at Monticello Reveals an Ingenious 16th-Century Timber Vault Construction Concealed within the Dome's Sheathing

"In Delorme's Manner..." An X-Ray Probe of Jefferson's Dome at Monticello Reveals an Ingenious 16th-Century Timber Vault Construction Concealed within the Dome's Sheathing

Master Jehancon Garnache (1485-1501) and the Construction of the High Vaults and Flying Buttresses of the Nave of Troyes Cathedral

Evidence from the fabric accounts of Troyes Cathedral, coupled with an analysis of the forms of the building itself, will allow the reader to gain an acquaintance with the personality of a late Gothic mason, and to follow the sequence of operations undertaken during his tenure as master mason of the Troyes Cathedral workshop. The work of Jehancon Garnache is of particular interest since it involved critical decisions concerning the priority of flyers or vaults in the sequence of construction of the upper nave, and the techniques associated with the construction of a Gothic rib vault. It will be demonstrated that the severies of the Troyes vaults were centered upon mounds of earth, heaped onto high-level wooden platforms.

The Problem of Erecting the Main Dome and Roof Vaults of the Church of San Xavier Del Bac

Little evidence has been uncovered regarding the facts of construction of the church of San Xavier del Bac, aside from the letters of Father Francisco Inturralde which reported in 1797 that construction and decoration were complete (Fontana 1963). Judgments concerning the methods of the church builders and artisans must be based on our knowledge of the technology used in New Spain and by the medieval cathedral builders of Europe. Occasionally the church itself yields visual clues to methods of its construction. Such was the case with respect to several holes found in the walls of the nave and main dome, shedding light on the problem of determining how domes over the crossing and sacristy and the low roof vaults were erected. This paper considers several visual clues in the church structure pointing to alternative methods of dome and vault construction and explaining the builders' solution to the problem of constructing a round dome over San Xavier's square transept crossing.