Biomasses are environmentally friendly additives that lower pollution in pavement engineering because of their biodegradability. On the other hand, to build a safe, long-lasting pavement, rutting prevention is crucial. This study provides a comprehensive review of the efficacy of biomass as recyclable materials in reducing rutting and enhancing characteristics of asphalt mixtures. According to findings, the hydrocarbon polymer properties of lignin and biomass ash improve asphalt binder consistency, hardness, and function at high temperatures. The results showed that biochar, due to its solid shape, enhances the stiffness and viscosity of the mixtures. The high-temperature performance of asphalt binder is improved by bioshell waste, which increases rutting parameters. Thus, biomass like ash, lignin, and biochar can increase asphalt binder rheology and rutting resistance due to chemical forces such as Van der Waals and hydrogen ions. The macroscopic and microscopic investigation also shows higher interaction and better adhesion in bioasphalt. However, asphalt binders containing bio-oil exhibited no unique behaviors due to their lubricant impact. Based on the estimation of the life cycle assessment (LCA), it was determined that biomass utilization has the potential to decrease the cost and CO2 emissions of pavement engineering by as much as 10% and more than three times, respectively. An examination of recyclability revealed that biomass utilization can decrease the requirement for additional stabilizers by as much as 20%.

This study establishes a numerical model for beam-type steel–concrete composite specimens considering the corrosion of anchor bolts, with which studies the long-term deformation performance of the components under sustained load. The experimental results were compared with the calculated values obtained by combining the effective modulus method according to the CEB-FIP 1990 code and the ACI 209R code. Then a comparison with the calculation method of shrinkage and creep in standards (Standard Creep Method (SCM)) is made, and it shows that by supplementing the degradation of interface stiffness due to corrosion (using the defined modulus method (DMM)), the simulation results match better with the experimental results, confirming that this approach is suitable for analyzing the long-term load conditions of anchor bolt corrosion. Furthermore, based on the defined modulus method, the long-term behavior of composite beams under different loads and varying corrosion rates is studied.

As the weakest link in the shield segment, the reinforcement and repair technology of shield segment joint has received widespread attention. In this study, an finite element model utilizing a cohesive zone model (CZM) was constructed to simulate the mechanical behavior of the shield segment joint during the whole fracture process. The proposed modeling method of joint allows multiple layers of steel bars to be stacked without interference by applying cohesive elements. Cohesive elements were employed to represent the mechanical response of potential fracture surfaces in concrete, as well as the interfaces between steel–concrete and fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP)–concrete, by utilizing various constitutive models tailored for mixed-mode loading conditions. A group of experiments was chosen to assess the precision of the proposed model by comparing the mechanical response and the fracture patterns. Finally, parameter analyses were conducted to study the reinforcement effect of the FRP bonding length and width on the shield segment joint. The results indicate that external bonding of FRP can effectively enhance the bearing capacity and stiffness of shield segment joints. However, insufficient bonding length or width may significantly reduce the strengthening effect and potentially decrease the ductility of the joint.

This paper introduced a new nonexplosive roadway excavation method, combining the reserved free space technology and the static expansion mechanical fracturing technology, where the former is implemented by the gasbag, while the piston splitter is for the latter. The numerical model of roadway excavation was set up via PFC3D to investigate the mechanical fracturing performance, including the single-hole fracturing and the hole network fracturing. The results show that the reasonable hole margin is about 1.0–1.5 m, and the optimal column spacing of the hole network pattern is 1.0 m, after comprehensively analyzing the fracturing performance and the splitting force evolution. Moreover, the mechanical fracturing excavation method was applied to construct a parking chamber in the Kalatongke Mine, to preliminarily verify the feasibility of the static expansion mechanical fracturing technology. The in situ investigation results indicate that the excavation footage is about 0.8 m with the piston splitter when adopting a hole margin of 1.0–1.5 m. To sum up, the preliminary field application and the numerical simulation result both support the feasibility of mechanical fracturing, and the reasonable fracturing hole margin is about 1.0 m.

In order to accurately and efficiently assess the impact of tunnel excavation on overlying existing pipeline, an analytical method is proposed to solve this problem. First, the vertical free displacement of the surrounding soil due to tunnel excavation can be derived by the Loganathan formula. Next, the overlying existing pipeline can be treated as a Timoshenko beam resting on the Vlasov foundation model, and the influence of the surrounding soil on the both sides of the existing pipeline is taken into consideration. Finally, an analytical solution for the longitudinal deformation of the existing pipeline can be obtained by using the integral method. Case analysis results demonstrate that the calculated results of this method closely in line with measured data. Compared to the degenerate analytical solution given by this method, the result from this method is more consistent with the measured data. Further parameter studies show that the volume loss rate, diameter of new tunnel, skew angle, and vertical distance between tunnel and pipeline are significant factors affecting the existing pipeline response due to tunneling underlying.

Seismic site response is inevitably influenced by natural variability of soil properties and anticipated earthquake intensity. This study presents the influence of variability in shear wave velocity (Vs) and amplitude of input rock motion on seismic site response analysis. Monte Carlo simulations were employed to randomize the Vs profile for different scenarios. A series of 1-D equivalent linear (EQL) seismic site response analyses were conducted by combining the randomized Vs profile with different levels of rock motion intensities. The results of the analyses are presented in terms of surface spectral acceleration, amplification factors (AFs), and peak ground acceleration (PGA). The mean and standard deviation of these parameters are thoroughly discussed for a wide range of randomized Vs profile, number of Vs randomizations, and intensities of input rock motions. The results demonstrate that both the median PGA and its standard deviations across different number of Vs profile realization exhibit a slight variation. As few as twenty Vs profile realizations are sufficient to compute reliable response parameters. Both rock motion intensity and standard deviation of Vs variability cause significant variation in computed surface parameters. However, the variability in the number of records used to conduct site response has no significant impact on ground response if the records closely match the target spectrum. Incorporating the multiple sources of variabilities can reduce uncertainty when conducting ground response simulations.

Predicting the status of train delays, a complex and dynamic problem, is crucial for railway enterprises and passengers. This paper proposes a novel hybrid deep learning model composed of convolutional neural networks (CNN) and temporal convolutional networks (TCN), named the CNN + TCN model, for predicting train delays in railway systems. First, we construct 3D data containing the spatiotemporal characteristics of real-world train data. Then, the CNN + TCN model employs a 3D CNN component, which is fed into the constructed 3D data to mine the spatiotemporal characteristics, and a TCN component that captures the temporal characteristics in railway operation data. Furthermore, the characteristic variables corresponding to the two components are selected. Finally, the model is evaluated by leveraging data from two railway lines in the United Kingdom. Numerical results show that the CNN + TCN model has greater accuracy and convergence performance in train delay prediction.

The new insulated single-sided composite shear wall (NISCSW) composition involves setting a precast wall panel on one side and an insulation panel on the other side, with a middle cavity for casting concrete. To investigate the seismic performance of NISCSW under different shear spans and axial compression ratios, eight specimens are made, including six composite and two cast-in-place walls. The shear span ratio is controlled at 1.2 and 1.9, and the axial compression ratio is controlled at 0.1, 0.3, and 0.4. The specimens are subjected to quasistatic tests to analyze failure modes, hysteresis characteristics, stiffness degradation, displacement ductility, and energy dissipation capacity and to compare the seismic performance of the composite and cast-in-place walls. Results show that for each composite specimen, under the same axial compression ratio, the large shear span ratio specimen has a lower ultimate bearing capacity and faster stiffness degradation but better ductility and postyield energy dissipation capacity. Under the same shear span ratio, the high axial compression ratio specimen had a higher ultimate bearing capacity, slightly worse ductility, and similar stiffness degradation and energy dissipation capacity compared to other specimens. Compared with the cast-in-place specimen with the same axial compression ratio, the composite specimen failure mode and hysteresis characteristics are similar, and the ductility and energy dissipation capacity are comparable to the cast-in-place shear wall specimen, indicating that NISCSW has similar seismic performance to the cast-in-place shear wall under conditions of a large shear span ratio and high axial compression ratio. Based on the test results, the program ABAQUS is used to simulate the specimens. Compared with the test results, the simulated specimen failure mode is consistent with the test results, and the hysteresis and skeleton curves are consistent with the test curve, indicating that the model is correct, reliable, and can be verified with test results.

This study examines the difference between Japan and Taiwan in building governance for the conservation and reuse of industrial heritage. Japan started paying attention to industrial facilities as heritage due to the neglect of heritage, regional decline, and awareness of asset conservation in both cases. In contrast, conservation projects in Taiwan started because under policy of disposing of public properties, the abandoned heritage was at the risk of redevelopment. Japan’s policy goal was to conserve assets in both cases, while Taiwan aimed at regenerating modern industrial heritage and revitalizing the region. In all three cases, we found that there was a promotion organization which consisted primarily of residents and citizens. In Japan’s case, local governments played a more prominent role than the central government; in Taiwan, both the central and local governments did their part appropriately. These differences between the two countries are also observed in the process of decommissioning industrial facilities and citizens’ awareness of industrial heritage.

Approximately 20,000 people are killed annually on average by building and infrastructure collapses and failures caused by seismic activities. In earlier times, seismic design codes and specifications set minimal requirements for life safety performance levels. Earthquakes can be thought of as recurring events in seismically active areas, with severity states ranging from serviceability to ultimate levels. Buildings designed in accordance with site-specific response spectra, which take into account soil properties based on ground motion amplification data, are better at withstanding such forces and serving their design purposes. This study aims to investigate the site response of reinforced and masonry buildings, considering the effect of soil properties based on the amplification of ground motion data, and to compare the life cycle assessment of the buildings under consideration based on the design and the site-specific response spectrum. In terms of soil properties and site-specific response spectra, STRATA is used to determine the site-specific response for the considered locations for a return period of 475 years for 100 realizations based on the randomization of site properties. For structural analysis, AxisVM software, which is a compatible finite element analysis, is used for building design and analysis, generating comparative results based on the design- and site-specific spectra. To determine and identify potential failures in the model, response spectra were applied to understand the difference in horizontal deflection in two different instances (for elastic design- and site-specific spectra). After building design and analysis is performed, a life cycle analysis in terms of environmental impact assesments using OpenLCA and IdematLightLCA is done. This is done to ascertain the additional expenses in terms of ecocosts and carbon footprints on some failed elements in the structure which are required to make the buildings more resilient when the site-specific response spectrum is applied and to compare the potential economic losses that may occur based on ecological costs. The study presents a comprehensive investigation into the seismic response of masonry and reinforced concrete buildings in Győr, Hungary, incorporating advanced geophysical techniques like multichannel surface wave (MASW) and structural analysis software, AxisVM. Additionally, tailored retrofitting strategies are explored to enhance structural resilience in seismic-prone regions. Significant ground amplifications in soil properties across different profiles are revealed, emphasizing the effectiveness of these strategies in reducing structural deflection and improving resilience. Highlights of the results are observed where the site-specific response spectra are higher than the EC8 design response spectrum. Furthermore, the research underscores the substantial environmental impact, considering both ecocosts and CO2 emissions associated with retrofitting measures, highlighting the importance of sustainable structural interventions in mitigating seismic risks.