To determine the science development level, we should depart from a specific stage of the society development. The construction material science has achieved a certain success in creation of composites which ensure safety of buildings and structures including a protection thereof against certain natural and technogenic impacts. A new stage in the construction material science provides for a technology of creation of composites that would be comfortable for a particular individual. For implementation of the above, it is necessary to generate a new paradigm for design and synthesis of construction materials using a new raw materials base. Optimization of the “man-material-habitat” system is a complex task requiring transdisciplinary approaches for its solution. In terms of this line, the concept of technogenic metasomatosis in the construction material science was formed, as well as the law of affinity of structures, a possibility of creation of composites that respond to operational loads by "self-healing" of defects were formed. Examples of implementation of the stated concept are given. It is concluded that the monodisciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches in the construction material science contributed to the development of a wide range of building composites used in construction of strong and durable structures. Selection of materials for construction must primarily be determined by a wide array of personality characteristics, geography of construction, ecology, etc.

Energy efficiency in construction is the main direction of energy saving in which the basic measure is to reduce heat losses through walling. In this regard, a particularly promising measure is an application of high-hollow multislot ceramic for external walls due to its predictable properties and reliability in operation. Range of high-hollow ceramic products currently manufactured in the Republic of Bashkortostan is considered in the article. Simulation and calculation of strength characteristics of high-hollow ceramic stones in the SCAD program system were performed, fracture model geometric parameters were obtained. Results of mechanical tests of high-hollow ceramic products are shown. The simulation and calculations performed in the SCAD program system with obtaining of geometric parameters of the fracture model made it possible to compare the convergence of calculation results with actual test results. Based on the results of the performed research it is concluded that the fracture model in the SCAD program system has practically coincided with the fracture pattern obtained in the process of experimental study of strength of high-hollow ceramic stones.

Environmentally safe construction products are materials and products of construction purpose made of renewable natural resources and natural environment components with minimum spend of natural resources and energy, and the process of handling thereof (extraction of raw materials for production of the aforesaid materials and products, manufacture, transportation, use in engineering structures, processing, recycling, burial in natural environment) does not adversely affect neither humans nor environment. The article considers the basic historical stages of use of environmentally friendly construction materials in industrial and civil construction, starting from antiquity and ending with modern age. Review materials on the use of safe natural products such as wood, stone, thatch, peat, clay and other types of environmentally friendly materials in construction are presented. Properties of natural materials that ensure environmental safety of buildings, structures and premises, sanitary and hygienic requirements, coziness and comfort thereof for humans are analyzed. It is concluded that at present time the construction of high quality, comfortable, ecologically safe housing at affordable prices which is based on environmentally friendly technologies, resource and energy saving, construction materials safe for human health, should become one of the main priorities of economic and environmental policy of Russia.

Existing regulatory documents relating to control of quality indicators of dry construction mixtures do not reflect the authenticity of the control, and this increases manufacturer’s and consumer’s risks. Given that the authenticity of control depends on the accuracy of measurements and the volume of control, errors of the first and second type for the quality control of dry construction mixtures for each of the measurement parameters were calculated as exemplified by a light mortar for plastering. In calculating the authenticity of control it was adopted that the quality indicators distribution law is normal, the systematic manufacturing error equals to zero, the product tolerance range is limited by the upper and lower tolerances, the tolerance range middle coincides with the quality indicator average value, the measurement error obeys the normal law of distribution. Information about the authenticity of dry construction mixtures quality control depending on the quantity of controlled parameters is provided. It is shown that, when the number of control parameters is more than eight, manufacturer’s and consumer’s risks are increased, the authenticity of control becomes smaller than the standard value equaling to 95 %. For the purpose of improving the authenticity of control of quality indicators of dry construction mixtures it is proposed to reduce the error of measuring instruments.

This test method is intended to qualitatively simulate a behavior of swirling water containing suspended and transported solid objects (silt, sand, gravel, and other solids) that produce abrasion of concrete and cause potholes and related effects. Concrete constructions in metro tunnels and other underground constructions normally are in direct contact with groundwater containing solid particles which reduce strength and durability of concrete due to the erosion process. The scale of destruction of concrete structures is directly dependent on the characteristics of the original raw materials forming the concrete. Therefore, erosion resistance of concrete can be improved by reducing the ratio between water and cement, as well as by using modifiers of its structure: organo-mineral additives and fine fibers dispersed. The main factors affecting the erosion resistance of concrete structures of underground facilities, are as follows: - corrosion resistance of concrete and its resistance to abrasion; - ratio between raw material components of concrete mix; - properties of binders and fillers; - presence of modifiers of concrete structures; - nature of a surface finishing; - availability of sites undergoing repair; - state of the surface. Results of research performed using this method illustrated that the erosion of the concrete samples based on modified fine concrete is in average by 66% less than that of the control samples of unplasticized sand concrete. Therefore, such concrete can be used for construction of underground tunnels and other underground structures which are subjected during operation to aggressive action of groundwater containing suspended solid particles that have high abrasiveness.

The system of regulatory and procedural documents on price formation in the design of construction projects in the city of Moscow is the base of Moscow regional recommendations (MRR). It includes collections of base prices for urban planning works and design works on construction projects in the territory of Moscow. The MRR collections are actively used by government customers, project organizations, and other interested organizations of Moscow for determining the initial maximum prices of contracts and the cost of work for urban planning, design works and other types of work (services) in the sphere of design carried out with employment of budgetary funds of the city. For projects the design of which is funded from extrabudgetary sources the use of MRR collections for determination of cost of design works and other types of work in the sphere of design is of advisory nature. The article considers the basic principles of use of regulatory and procedural documents on price formation in the sphere of design included in the MRR system. Necessity of the MRR base development, classification of collections included, and a range of the main design projects are described. Basic methodological approaches illustrated in the MRR collections and used for calculation of the design works cost are considered. Certain peculiarities of application of the MRR collections are presented, and the main directions of MRR base development are defined.

This paper presents a review of simplified procedures for design of earthquake-resistant cylindrical tanks included in codes and standards of several countries. A brief excursus on the history of research is given. A paper of G. Housner is the basis for the latter studies. A mechanical model of two inertia masses is offered in this paper. This mechanical model with some adjustments (such as adding a one more mass to consider the flexibility of tank ringwall and foundation) is used in the latter works. Aside from papers using paradigm of Housner’s work, some alternative methods are reviewed. These methods are mentioned in 1) G. Mano’s paper, recommended by ASCE as alternative method; 2) Russian Recommendations of TsNIISK (Central Scientific Research Institute for Building Structures) by Goldenblat and Nikolaenko, also mentioned in a monograph of A.N. Birbrayer, concerning seismic analysis of nuclear plant facilities. Codes reviewed in this paper belong to the following regions: Russia, USA, New Zealand, Europe. These codes are: Appendix E of API 650; AWWA D-100; Eurocode 8, part 4; Red Book of New Zealand National Society for Earthquake Engineering and Russian code STO SA-03-002-2009. In order to make a comparison of the assessment procedures mentioned in the codes reviewed a few tables containing major expressions are submitted. The expressions are modified so that it is possible to compare them. The parameters of seismic analysis given in these tables are: impulsive and convective time periods of tank, equivalent base shear and overturning moment, impulsive and convective hydrodynamic pressure distribution on tank wall and maximum sloshing wave height.

The construction sector of Russia lacks high-performance equipment. Process of disintegration and downsizing of construction organizations initiated in 1991 has become one of the most serious problems that features the situation existing in the industry. Under these conditions, it is necessary to find effective mechanisms for regulation and control of technical equipment (technical potential) at the level of a regional construction sector which includes large, medium and small construction organizations. This will significantly increase the functioning efficiency of the regional construction sector and, respectively, will create conditions for growth of economic security and independence of the region. Analysis of the technical potential at the level of a regional construction sector is performed. Expanding the boundaries of the concept of management of technical potential of the regional construction sector, identification and description of its three important constituents (resource, organizational and innovative) are proposed.

Works on cell-like modeling of screening using Markov chains are based on hypothesis of linearity of the process according to which the fine fractions segregation rate to the sieve surface is considered to be constant and not dependent on the fractional composition of material surrounding it. This leads to a physical contradiction when there is more material in the cells adjacent to the sieve than they can accommodate. This is especially true for granular materials with a high content of fine fractions in feedstock. A nonlinear model of segregation of fine particles in fluidized bed of granular material free from the abovementioned contradiction is studied in this paper. Experimental and calculation data of evolution of the fine fraction content distribution as per the bed depth, as well as the degree of extraction thereof into the undersieve space are illustrated. Based on the experimental and calculated results it is concluded that a model with constant segregation rate can not adequately describe the process of screening a mixture of particles with high content of fines. The nonlinear model provides a more accurate description of this process. The latter makes it possible to use this model as a basis for engineering calculation method of industrial screening process and takes into account the high content of fine particles in the feedstock.

The Nenets Autonomous area located inside the Arctic circle is the subject of the Russian Federation. The environmental situation in the Nenets Autonomous area is poor despite the remoteness from other densely populated regions of Russia. A large number of ecosystems are exposed to powerful anthropogenic impact. For example, petroleum products and waste water exert negative impact on rivers and basins thereof. Water bodies in the region have some natural features which also adversely affect on water intake for industrial and domestic needs. The article considers and analyzes different types of pollution for natural resources of the Nenets Autonomous area which cause a great environmental damage to the region. Method of ranking for parts of the water body is proposed which makes it possible to reveal among them the most problematic from the environmental point of view. Options for improving the preliminary treatment of water at the water intakes are proposed that significantly simplify the operation of water treatment facilities. Сonstruction of new sewage treatment facilities using the latest developments in terms of tertiary treatment of wastewater, upgrade of standards for wastewater treatment, as well as the organization of sanitary protection zones will be a significant step in improving the environmental situation.

Resource saving, ecological safety, rational use of natural resources and environmental protection are currently the priority tasks in terms of implementation of the course towards a sustainable development of the Russian state. Transformation of waste into secondary raw materials for the manufacture of environmentally friendly construction products and other products makes it possible to resolve two problems at once: preserve valuable resources and reduce the environmental load. The article presents theoretical provisions and background for methodology of forming a model of complex system of construction waste treatment in terms of modern tasks for creation of new economically efficient, resource-saving, ecologically safe and waste-free technologies and processes in the industry, as well as the requirements of regulatory acts in the sphere of environmental safety, hazardous waste management, environmental protection and rational use of natural resources. The final target indicator of scientific research in this sphere is the minimization of waste amounts dispatched to burial facilities due to creation of optimal, reasonable from the technical-and-economic point of view, chain of complexes for treatment thereof, preliminary preparation for further recycling, including sorting, dismantling, cleaning, and disposal. Comprehensive assessment and subsequent reasonable selection of optimal scientific methods of research of factors, indicators and restrictions that form the constituent elements of methodology of creation of the economic and managerial model of the complex system of waste treatment, will be continued.

One of the main tasks of an engineer in design of hydraulic structures is to perform an accurate calculation of losses in a moving flow of liquid, whether that be a head conduit or open channel. Modern technologies make it possible to obtain construction materials enabling to reduce resistance in motion of liquid. Thus, the shifting of motion mode from hydraulically rough into the sphere of hydraulically smooth resistance takes place. In this regard, there is a need for improvement of methods for hydraulic resistance coefficient calculation. The analysis of existing methods for calculating the hydraulic resistance coefficient was performed. Reasons for necessity of the search of modern methods for calculation of this parameter were grounded. The data array that meets the requirements of the task was received using the modern equipment. The analysis of experimental results illustrating the influence of Reynolds number and Froude number, and of ratio of the channel width to the flow depth on the hydraulic resistance coefficient was performed. The revised method of calculating the coefficient of hydraulic resistance of smooth open channels is proposed.

Transition to market relations in the sphere of housing policy has fundamentally changed the role of the state in the construction industry. Management capabilities on the part of state and municipal authorities are limited. In these conditions, the use of cluster forms of organization and cooperation of labour is required for the regional economy development. Model of a regional construction cluster exemplified by the Astrakhan’ region is considered. Also, it is shown that such a complex socio-economic system refers to heterarchical systems. A three-tier model for description of business processes in a regional construction cluster is proposed. It is illustrated that an important feature of elements of such system is the possibility of random (unpredictable for decision-makers) change of their properties depending on influences of other elements of the system and the external environment. Objectives of the system are functions of aggregate properties and goals of its elements, and the level of aggregation depends on the goals and challenges facing the decision-makers as well as on the system management efficiency evaluation criteria adopted by them.

The need for permanent access to scientific articles in English, or instructions on the use of construction equipment and devices, as well as the need for processing an information about new technologies mean that the development of a computer translation system for the construction industry is necessary. Development of object-oriented programming languages allows to present objects containing a great deal of information in the most convenient way in terms of tasks facing a developer. The article deals with problems of presentation of sentence lexical units as objects in C# language. Issues of specific features of translation of corresponding lexemes in view of English and Russian grammar in the sphere of construction are also regarded in the article. Authors tried to avoid presenting a lexical-semantic structure of sentence by means of metalanguage which is a mediator making the translation system considerably heavier, by creating a more easy and understandable structure. For this purpose, certain rules of lexical and grammatical correlation of a declarative sentence in the English and Russian languages are established. Specific features of processing of html-pages of online dictionaries used as thesauri of lexical units in translation are taken into account. Development of automation means for translation in the sphere of construction is beneficial even for small amounts of a text being translated because in this case the human factor is excluded.