This paper presents an agent-based model that simulates the dynamics of child maltreatment and child maltreatment prevention. The developed model follows the principles of complex systems science and explicitly models a community and its families with multi-level factors across the social ecology. Each agent includes behavioral/cognitive modeling to account for the behavioral/cognitive process of child maltreatment. Simulation of child maltreatment prevention is also supported to evaluate the impacts of different prevention/intervention strategies. We describe the model and show experiment results to evaluate and demonstrate the agent-based model.

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Simulation models are widely used to study complex systems. Current simulation models are generally handcrafted using expert knowledge (knowledge-driven); however, this process is slow and introduces modeler bias. This article presents an approach towards data-driven simulation modeling by developing a framework that discovers simulation models in an automated way for mobile agent-based applications. The framework is comprised of three components: (1) a model space specification, (2) a search method (genetic algorithm), and (3) framework measurement metrics. The model space specification provides a formal specification for the general model structure from which various models can be generated. The search method is used to efficiently search the model space for candidate models that exhibit desired behavior patterns. The five framework measurement metrics: flexibility, comprehensibility, controllability, composability, and robustness, are developed to evaluate the overall framework. The results demonstrate that it is possible to discover a variety of interesting models using the framework.

“Disasters” such as seismic events, impact or fire loading to structural elements of crucial importance highlight the significance of structural design for robustness. Consequently, exceptional load scenarios are to be considered. The question whether the joints of structures designed according to the current version of Eurocodes have adequate load bearing and defor­mation capacity for such load cases arises. The “alternate load path method” plays a key role in structural design for robustness. By using this design approach, redistribution and distribution of the existing and additional loads, respectively, to the intact structural elements should be enabled after a local failure such as “loss of a column”, preventing so the progressive collapse of the structure. In order to pursue the aforementioned goal, sufficient bearing as well as rotational capacity of the joints are required. In particular, for exceptional events, change of the moment’s sign in the area of the joints is often to be observed. However, until today, attention has been paid mainly to the response of composite joints under negative moments. Herein, besides this load case, the corresponding one of positive moments is investigated as well as the development of a membrane action that supports the load redistribution but requires a tension force capacity of the joints. Experimental research for the load case “loss of a column” was undertaken on both single composite joint specimens and composite frames. Also, an integrated design method, the beamline method, is analysed and constructional recommendations for design of ductile compo­site joints were developed and are herein presented.

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