The absence of the methods of urban analysis in the process of urban development of Yerevan is the reason of urban planning activities that tend to decrease the urban value of Yerevan territories. Meanwhile the studies in the sphere of urban planning and urban analysis prove the dependence of the life in the city on its structure and distribution of the functions. The mentioned issue highlights the importance of urban analysis. The paper discusses space syntax, which is one of the initial methods of urban analysis. The basic concept of Space syntax is based on the assumption that urban fabric can be presented and studied as a power graph. The method provides the measures that evaluate the land use, traffic and pedestrian movement, land value and even carbon emissions. The paper discusses also recent attempts of integration of space syntax method into GIS environment. GIS databases provide researchers with vast amount of urban data. Analyses presented in the current paper were performed on the basis of the open street map, which was imported from the GIS environment. With the application of space syntax methods analysis of connectivity, integration choice (betweenness) and depth from the city center were performed to evaluate the structural value of Yerevan streets. Municipal regions of Yerevan were classified by the level of their accessibility and by their distances from the city center on the base of the results of depth measures from the city center. Evaluation of the street network aims to define the most integrated and centrally positioned parts of the city. These areas can be locations for the organization of sub centers of Yerevan in the municipal regions.

The article analyzes the architectural details and column orders construction of an outstanding architect of Pavlovsk’s classicism Vincenzo Brenna. Architectural forms creation is an important but not well investigated area in the history of architecture. Knowledge of architectural elements enables us to better understand and explore the creativity of the architect, which is necessary for époque identifying and determining the authenticity of a monument and its elements. The name of Vincenzo Brenna stands apart among the architects of the late 18th century. Works of Brenna are significantly different from the works of the other architects of the period of strict classicism. His works were severely criticized and were almost forgotten, the authorship was disputable and the projects were fathered to other architects. Though the art works of Brenna are very significant for the image of Saint Petersburg. The article identifies individual elements of architectural decisions in the orders and decorations of Brenna’s facades manifested in the Baroque freedom of drawing elements order in combination with the classical solution rigor.

The current need for additional domestic accommodation has necessitated the formation of new housing types for different categories of families in terms of affordability and market requirements. In particular, the demand for apartments can be met by the renovation of Soviet pre-cast concrete residential blocks. Firstly, there is a need to quantify the growth of the elderly population and the ever-increasing desire to preserve friendly relations between the generations based on Tajik tradition. Secondly, there is a need to design special residential units intended for the resettlement of extended families, family groups and families consisting of several generations. The renovation of the old Soviet buildings will reduce not only the physical deterioration of a building by complete or partial replacement of individual structures, but will also eliminate obsolescence as a result of internal redesign and enhancement of a building. An analysis of the space-planning and structure of a residential building will establish the degree of obsolescence, as well as address the question of reconstruction as a dwelling for extended families through the partial redevelopment of apartments. Such redevelopment would increase the area of common rooms to include insulated terraces and loggias, the removal of some partitions and the conservation of existing sanitary cells. This article deals with the reconstruction of large apartment buildings based on Soviet mass-produced residential block series TTZH 1-464-AC-3, which is dwelling for extended families consisting of several generations. The article proposes 4 different options for redevelopment. These options will increase the living space of the reconstructed residential building from 25 to 35 %, and will increase the population density in all dwellings by 50 %. The intention is to improve space-planning of mass-produced residential blocks, series TTZH 1-464-AC-3, in order to match the demographic characteristics of Tajikistan for extended families and family groups.

The uniqueness of Lamb waves is in features of their distribution. They are distributed all through a slab or a layer. The Lamb waves may cover great distances. With the help of Lamb waves it is easy to monitor the defects in multilayered slabs and shells. In order to monitor the defects it is necessary to possess the knowledge about the disperse behavior of these waves depending on mechanical characteristics of the analyzed body. Dispersion curves are analyzed for Lamb waves of different modes. The dispersion relations are constructed by the exponential mappings coupled with a 6-dimentional complex Cauchy formalism. For an isotropic medium with negative Poisson’s ratio the dispersion curves are obtained and analyzed, special attention is paid to the zero fundamental symmetric modes. The authors conducted a comparative analysis of the results obtained in disserent literature. The results obtained in the article are confirmed by the asymptotic solutions worked out before.

The given paper is devoted to strength and stability analysis of load-bearing structures of a high-rise (54-storey) building with allowance for actual positions of reinforced concrete structural members (columns and walls). Finite element method (FEM) is used for structural analysis. The authors present formulations of problems, governing equations, information about basic three-dimensional finite element models (so-called “design” (ideal) model, the first “actual” model (taking into account the deviations of positions of columns from the project) and the second “actual” model (taking into account the deviations of positions of walls from the project)) of the coupled system “high-rise building - foundation” within ANSYS Mechanical software and their verification, numerical approach to structural analysis and corresponding solvers. Finite element models include mainly 4-node structural shell elements (suitable for analyzing foundation slabs, floor slabs and load-bearing walls) and three-dimensional 2-node beam elements (suitable for analyzing beams and columns), special spring-damper elements and multipoint constraint elements. Detailed finite element mesh on the bottom foundation slab is agreed with the location of piles. The advanced model of Prof. Yu.K. Zaretsky is used for approximation of soil behavior. Construction sequence and various types of nonlinearities are taken into account. The results of modal analysis, static and dynamic analysis with various load combinations (gravity load, facade load, dead (constant) loads, temporary loads, wind load, snow load, crown load etc.) are considered, the results of the regulatory assessment of the strength of structures (obtained with the use of corresponding software in accordance with design codes of the Russian Federation) are under consideration as well. The corresponding displacements, stresses, natural vibration frequencies can be used for research and development of the correct monitoring method of the foundation and load-bearing structures of a high-rise building.

The process of construction of two-layer metal domes is analyzed to illustrate the causes of initial stresses in the bars of their frames. It has been noticed that it is impossible to build such structures with ideal geometric parameters because of imperfections caused by objective reasons. These imperfections cause difficulties in the process of connection of the elements in the joints. The paper demonstrates the necessity of fitting operations during assemblage that involve force fitting and yield initial stresses due to imperfections. The authors propose a special method of computer modeling of enforced elimination of possible imperfections caused by assemblage process and further confirm the method by an analysis of a concrete metal dome.

The investigations were conducted of the nodes of reinforced concrete frame after increasing loads. The floor slabs in areas of bearing on the columns were reinforced by upper flat capitals. After the completion of construction works the nodes were tested in construction conditions by test loads exceeding the designed ones. The deflections were measured, disclosure of cracks was recorded in the process of loading. The tests have shown high efficiency of the applied design solutions. The calculations were conducted on the example of reinforced concrete frame of a residential building, the designed loads on which were increased from 9.8 up to 14.0 kPa after completion of construction. Basing on the calculations it was needed to reinforce the nods of slabs’ bearing on the columns, in which there already appeared cracks on the upper surfaces of slabs. It was decided to strengthen the bearing nodes by metal capitals and reinforced concrete footings. The foundations and columns of the building possessed sufficient reserves of bearing capacity.

The most typical types of crane substructures destruction are wear of crane rails, details of its fixation, deformation of crane beams, settlement or tilting of the columns. At technical examination of buildings and structures with crane rails their planned-high-altitude position is determined. There exist a list of methods for determining the crane rails’ planned-high-altitude position, each of them has its disadvantage, expressed in the final result - the real position of crane rails. While estimating their position from the ground, i.e. mounting transit on the ground, and indicating devices above, there is an inaccuracy on the rails, which is caused by different moments of indications fixation, both on the plan and hightwise. The authors carried out observations of the position of craneways both on the plan and heightwise for determining the reason of craneways bearing structures’ deformations and the period of their influence of railtrack state. The results of these observations are analyzed and presented. The authors present their suggestions on advancing the crane operation, which will increase its operation life.

The properties of the mineral wool mat are determined by the mode of heat treatment and properties of the products. The main parameter to assess the properties of highly porous fibrous material is its resistance to the air flow, which can be estimated by the value of the hydraulic resistance. This parameter includes both the characteristics of the mineral fiber (diameter, length, density) characteristics of the system as a whole (total porosity, average density, the content of fibrous inclusions) and gas environment parameters (temperature and speed of its motion through the porous layer). Characteristics of the gaseous medium are technological factors, which influence the material during the heat treatment, and hence optimization of the process parameters. The flow of gas through the perforated wall of the hole determined by characteristics, pressurized inside a rolling pin, and the structural characteristics of the mineral geometrical cylinder and his hydraulic resistance. So, a universal criterion, which measures the mass transfer efficiency and hence the effectiveness of the heat treatment, is a hydraulic resistance cylinder. The study of the processes occurring in the mineral wool carpet, showed that its hydraulic resistance is directly proportional to the surface of fibers per unit bed volume and inversely proportional to the third degree of porosity of the layer. Researches have shown that increasing the degree of perforation increases the uneven distribution. However, if total power increases 1.87 times, because the perforation through the inlet portion perforation of rolling pin was disclosure, substantially uniform distribution was achieved. The investigations led to the following conclusions: the specific surface layer has a linear dependence on its average density; hydraulic resistance of the layer will be greater, when the amount of beads and fibers diameter is smaller. The obtained exact dependence allows calculating the hydraulic resistance to the flow of gas in the cylinder mineral wool. This allows taking into account the parameters of a rolling pin and the intensity of its expiration coolant, optimize its heat treatment parameters, as well as to assess patterns to filter of vapor during operation in the heating cylinder.

Dry construction mixes are today a product of high technologies. Depending on the purpose and requirements to the properties it is easy to produce dry construction mixes with different compositions and operating indicators in plant conditions using the necessary modifying additives. Cement, gypsum and other mineral binders are used in the construction mixes. Different types of cement are more heavily used in dry construction mixes. Such dry mixes are believed to be more effective materials comparing to traditional cement-sandy solutions of centralized preparation. The authors present the results of the investigations on obtaining biocidal cement-sand compositions. It was established, that introduction of sodium sulfate into the composition provides obtaining the materials with funginert and fungicide properties. The strength properties of the mixes modified by carbon nanotubes and biocide additive were investigated by mathematical planning methods. The results of the investigations showed that the modification of cement stone structure by carbon nanotubes positively influences their strength and technological properties. Nanomodifying of construction composites by introducing carbon nanotubes may be effectively used at different stages of structure formation of a construction material.

Wetlands, considered as the territories unfit for agriculture and building, in the recent past served as the places for the industrial and municipal waste accommodation. That’s why the problems, connected with the studies of pollution and recovery duration of bogs, are rather current nowadays. The aim of this research is studying carrying out of pollutants from the polluted marsh massif. The object of the research is the Konnick bog, where the discharge of waste water from the hydrolysis plant and dumping of ash and sawmilling waste started in the fifties. The emission of waste water from the city’s treatment facilities also took place there. The Konnick bog is situated in the Arkhangelsk region. The network of stations for the ground and surface water monitoring was organized on the territory of the bog in 2004. The monitoring showed that the ground water composition has the excess of ammonium salt, phosphates, petroleum products, lignin substances, phenols, etc. Since 2004 there is a gradual decrease in concentration of the majority of pollutant, which is connected with the end of dumping of waste and discharge of waste water from the hydrolysis. In our opinion the decrease in the polluting substances concentration in marsh waters (self-cleaning) happens due to dilution of ground waters. The process of the pollutants removal from the peat was investigated with the help of a specially constructed device. The researches offered an equation, which describes the relation between the relative concentration of pollutants and the ground water flow. The analysis of the results of the peat ablution showed that in order to reduce the concentration of most pollutants the water should be filtered through the peat (at least 1 liter per 1 gram of dry peat). Using the received equation the settlement curves of pollutant concentration reduction in a bog were obtained. The curves obtained according to laboratory researches correlate rather well with the data obtained during the monitoring.

In the article the authors considered the technique of evaluating the performance of a grouting curtain basing on the analysis of mathematical forecasting and regular measurements of water temperature in the reservoir and in the rock mass behind the dam. The initial data for the solution of heat transfer problem are the rate of filtration, obtained from the solution of the stationary problem of filtration, and the experimental factor, generalizing thermophysical properties of rocks. For calculating the period of time from to the change of the water temperature in the reservoir till the change of water temperature at the reference point of the rock mass a computer program was designed, which allows defining the path and time of filtration from the reservoir to the reference point in the rock mass with the help of the reverse conversion on flow lines. The calculation was carried out from the point in question in the rock mass till the crossing paths of filtration with the bottom boundary of the reservoir. As an example, we present the results of computational studies of filtration and temperature regimes in the rock foundation of a concrete dam at the design work of the grouting curtain and in case of the presence of pervious area. The calculations were performed with a time step
dt = 2 days. At each time step, with account of water motion along the lines of the current through the rock mass, the previous position of the reference points in space has been determined, for which the value of the velocity vector of filtration field was corrected. In the first case, the motion of water from the reservoir was carried out in the circumvention of the grouting curtain. In the second case, the motion of water took place from the reservoir through the permeable portion of the grouting curtain. The change of the water temperature during its seepage from the water reservoir through permeable area of grouting curtain because of conductive heat transmission in all the checkpoints in permeable area of grouting curtain is 0.5-1.0 °C at measurement accuracy of water temperature 0.1 °C. Thereby, by measuring the changes of water temperature in the reservoir and in the rock mass behind the grouting curtain as a result of alternative calculations using the developed method we can calculate the position and size of a possible permeable area.

Medium-Earth orbit satellite systems make it possible to provide services on time coordination and navigation support for a wide range of consumers. At present, there are global navigation satellite systems GLONASS (Russia) and GPS (USA). Users of these systems have an opportunity to determine their location accurately with the given characteristics of their navigation devices. In all developed countries the progress of geodesy and cartography is closely related to the implementation of advanced new technologies in both scientific and industrial areas. The introduction of new technologies and equipment in production is essential for the development of geodesy and cartography, bringing the existing geodetic networks and cartographic materials to modern condition. In the Republic of Armenia there are also plans on introduction of the systems for monitoring and management of vehicles for various purposes, as well as it is proposed to establish and implement an effective satellite navigation system to monitor and control traffic on the basis of advanced satellite technology. The article describes the basic steps to create the network of reference stations, GPS, aerial photography of much of the territory of Armenia, the creation of digital terrain model and the new maps by orthophotoplans. The analysis of the materials were carried out, on the basis of which in the Republic in 2015 a high-precision navigation system will be created. Due to the hard work of surveyors, cartographers and topographers the Republic was brought to European states level.

In the present time the necessity of quantitative evaluation of construction project efficiency is becoming increasingly current. It is connected with estimation of investment appeal of a project and with the necessity to estimate its organizational and technological level, and, as a consequence, providing the safety of a construction object. In the article the authors justify the necessity to form an instrument allowing to choose the optimal decision in the field of technologies and organization of construction works at arranging enveloping structures. The authors introduce and offer using organizational-technological potential of enveloping structures as a discrete indicator of the chosen organizational and technological solution. The future investigations will be aimed at database formation of organizational and technological potentials of completed projects. As a result the best values of the investigated potentials can be detached, that will lead to optimization of the terms and costs of the works during construction of multi-storeyed residential buildings.

The real estate sphere is capital intensive and more or less slowly renewable. It needs an efficient management, which requires constructive use of objective development laws, and this was repeatedly proved in practice. The development laws should be taken into account both while constructing the system of management and while providing its functioning. The article is focused on levels of real estate research which give the opportunity to theoretically summarize and identify methodological requirements, define target determinants, create models and technological integration, and also to approbate in practice the results of the research and verify or rebut the hypothesis. The different levels of abstraction in scientific researches, especially in such a large-scale sphere as real estate, allow implementing the deductive enlargement required for this sphere without loss of identity of regularities and notions. The systemic result of the authorial approach will be in the formation of methodological base containing the complete spectrum of instruments of real estate management.

The exploitation of buildings is a complex cyclic process with the aim of prevention of wear and elimination of sudden refusals. Often it is needed to choose a technology of repair, construction materials or strategy of repair for expeditious elimination of suddenly arisen malfunctions. The quality of the solution depends on personal preferences, qualification of an expert and his or her skills. Therefore now operative decision making process in the exploitation of buildings is intuitive. Hence in the process of making decisions it is necessary to use modern software interactive systems of optimal decision making support. In the article the results of expert assessment of the importance of criteria of plans exploitation comparison were presented when the solving different tasks. The experts were asked to choose a technology of thermal insulation of facades, a technology of basement insulation, to choose a material for sealing of panel seams and a material for waterproofing of the roof. In order to compare alternative exploitation of plans three quantitative criteria were chosen: durability, cost of the works and the labor input. The influence of experts’ opinions on the final result was analyzed. The experts’ opinions were not coordinated and were subjective. There was established that the hierarchy analysis method takes into account the significant divergence of opinions of experts. The final result is close to average value. It allows choosing acceptable solution for the majority, which will be optimal by all the criteria. Such a methodology can be implemented in a production activity and to reduce the influence of subjective opinion the experts on the obtained result.