Man Xu – författare

Since the notorious terrorist attack of the World Trade Center in 2001, researchers and engineers have been forced to review the existing research works and standards in resisting the progressive collapse of structures. From then on, the design of structure against progressive collapse has tended toward quantitative design, rather than qualitative design. The collapse of the COVID-19 epidemic isolation hotel in Quanzhou, China, in 2020 and the vertical collapse of a 12-story apartment in Florida, United States, in 2021 have aroused an upsurge of the research on progressive collapse. More experimental and theoretical works have been focused on this area. This book addresses this issue and provides a valuable reference for the progressive collapse analysis and design of building structures.

Reviews latest references systematically in terms of experiments, simulation, and theoryIntroduces different test equipment used in the tests of progressive collapse and also modeling techniques used in the numerical studies of progressive collapseIncludes performance prediction theories used in the analysis of progressive collapseComprises considerable information on the tests and simulation and theoretical studies collected from the authors’ research in the last 10 years

Glulam Materials and Structures: Durability and Sustainability in Construction offers a specialized exploration of the latest innovations relating to this environmentally-friendly technology, emphasizing its durability, performance, and expanding use in construction. The book analyzes the materials' response to extreme environments, focusing on critical factors like high-temperature exposure, freeze-thaw cycles, and corrosive atmospheres, providing new perspectives into how glulam performs under these challenging conditions. Sections also cover cutting-edge advances in glulam beam designs, prestressed joints, and glulam-steel composite members, diving into their mechanical properties and environmental impact.The integration of sophisticated testing methods and equipment, simulation techniques, and performance prediction theories adds significant value to discussions, making this volume an indispensable resource for readers looking to optimize engineered wood products’ potential in both new and existing structures. Drawing from the authors’ extensive research, this work also delivers detailed case studies that demonstrate how glulam has been applied in real-world projects.Consolidates the latest theoretical and practical findings, providing readers with up-to-date coverage of current trends and knowledge in glulam technologyAddresses critical information gaps by offering meticulous analysis of the durability of glulam under extreme conditions, enhancing understanding of its performance in different environmentsExplores innovative designs by introducing new types of glulam beams, connections, and glulam-steel composite structures, highlighting how they contribute to improvements in structural integrity and resilienceIncludes a number of case studies that illustrate the practical applications of glulam, showcasing successful implementations that address contemporary construction challenges

Challenges the accepted wisdom about women and gender roles in medieval China.In Crossing the Gate, Man Xu examines the lives of women in the Chinese province of Fujian during the Song dynasty. Tracking women's life experience across class lines, outside as well as inside the domestic realm, Xu challenges the accepted wisdom about women and gender roles in medieval China. She contextualizes women in a much broader physical space and social network, investigating the gaps between ideals and reality and examining women's own agency in gender construction. She argues that women's autonomy and mobility, conventionally attributed to Ming-Qing women of late imperial China, can be traced to the Song era. This thorough study of Song women's life experience connects women to the great political, economic, and social transitions of the time, and sheds light on the so-called "Song-Yuan-Ming transition" from the perspective of gender studies. By putting women at the center of analysis and by focusing on the local and the quotidian, Crossing the Gate offers a new and nuanced picture of the Song Confucian revival.