Construction Engineering Applications Research Articles

Anomalous reflection and vortex beam generation by multi-bit coding acoustic metasurfaces

Coding metasurfaces can combine simple logical bits to acquire sophisticated functions in wave control. Recently, coding metasurfaces have been demonstrated to take flexible control of the acoustic wave and realize intriguing functionalities such as wave branching, Fresnel lens, and asymmetric transmission. However, the previous design contains only two coding units, and thus, the resultant functions are relatively limited. Here, we propose the multi-bit coding acoustic metasurfaces to manipulate the reflection of acoustic waves. Theoretical predictions and experimental results are given to demonstrate the functions of wave branching and acoustic directionally propagating. We further perform digital convolution operations on the 3-bit coding metasurfaces and realize the generation and manipulation of an acoustic vortex beam. The presented design provides a flexible way for manipulating reflected acoustic waves and may find applications in construction engineering and particle trapping.

Effect of sawdust as porosity agent on final properties of geopolymers

Abstract The geopolymers synthesis are based on geopolymerization, a sequence of reactions processed in an alkaline medium through oligomers providing a three-dimensional molecular structure. In this work, the polycondensation of metakaolin was performed with alkaline activators (NaOH and sodium silicate), wood sawdust and other additives. Two different compositions were evaluated after and before sintering at a high temperature (850 °C). The effect of sawdust addition and the thermal treatment of geopolymers were evaluated by scanning electronic microscopy, X-ray diffraction, mechanical properties, apparent density and porosity by different characterization techniques to guide of development of high porous and low-density materials for thermal and noise control application on building/home construction engineering applications.

CAD of human resource configuration in project scheduling for construction engineering applications

AbstractThe critical path method is the primary technique for project scheduling in construction engineering. However, the development of enterprises outside Taiwan has recently encountered difficulties in personnel dispatch and human resource acquisition. The management of time schedules without the consideration of human resource configuration may cause enterprises to make unrealistic decisions. Hence, the problems of project scheduling with limited human resources have been increasingly attracting attention from construction enterprises. Based on limited human resource configuration, this study uses computer aided design tool with a linear programming method to conduct a project scheduling for the optimal model with minimized costs for construction engineering applications. We find that the programming trial balance can effectively solve the problem of limited human resource configuration and compute the lowest construction costs. Specifically, the lowest cost obtained from the programming solution is RMB 25,315,752, which is RMB 1,920,632 lower than that in the former solution without resource constraints. Further, the scheduling procedure obtained by using the shortest path method connects with the programming trial balance to resolve the problem by changing the decision variables and relevant data, whose connection is easier and more convenient than under the pure critical path method. Moreover, according to the idea of CDIO engineering education, allowing the students to participate in scientific research project and scientific and technological innovation activities of different levels and types, it improves students’ learning capacity, innovation capability, cooperation capability, and engineering practical ability.

The Application of BIM Technology in Building Construction Quality Management and Talent Training

In this paper, the main problems in the construction of the construction technology, such as the construction layout, the construction quality management, the construction safety management and the combination between talent training and modern information demand are discussed. The main reasons for the existence of these problems are briefly analyzed. Then, it introduces how to bring the BIM application in construction engineering and talent training.

Modified Stepwise Regression Approach to Streamlining Predictive Analytics for Construction Engineering Applications

AbstractA literature review has identified the absence of a robust framework that guides the development of streamlined and valid multiple linear regression (MLR) predictive models for construction...

Social Network Analysis Approach for Improved Transportation Planning

Social network analysis (SNA) is a well-established methodology for investigating networks through the use of mathematical formulations abstracted from graph theory. It has been successfully used in social sciences to evaluate how individuals and institutions are affected by societal or professional networks, and it has been applied to some civil and construction engineering applications where a network’s main actors are people or organizations controlled by people. Current transportation analysis tools are expensive and time consuming, and require rigorous data for reliable results. Accordingly, a quick and inexpensive methodology to preliminarily analyze traffic networks is beneficial to better direct more detailed transportation analyses. Because of its ability to grasp the full complexity and connectivity of networks in a timely and cost effective manner, SNA can fulfill this requirement. Mathematically speaking, social networks are very close to transportation networks because they share fundamental characteristics. This paper uses SNA to analyze transportation networks and consequently corroborate its effectiveness as a complementary tool for improved transportation planning. To this end, the authors adopted a four-step interrelated research methodology: (1) investigating the connection between the language and concepts of SNA and those of transportation systems; (2) using different SNA centrality measures in the transportation context; (3) using SNA in two case studies in Mississippi; and (4) analyzing the results of the case studies and drawing conclusions. The SNA approach was able to easily and quickly determine the most critical intersections in the investigated transportation networks. These results were in alignment with Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT 2014) traffic studies. Using SNA, the research also demonstrated that the performance of central intersections drives the overall performance of the area roadway network. Accordingly, SNA is believed to be an effective and innovative tool in transportation analysis. Using it as an initial analysis step to identify critical areas will assist decision makers in better focusing their more detailed analyses using validated traditional methods in such areas only compared with the entire network. This will significantly decrease the invested resources in transportation planning and will create a more integrated and holistic perspective for evaluating transportation networks.

Application of Clonal Selection Algorithm in Construction Site Utilization Planning Optimization

Various algorithms inspired by evolutionary and physical processes have been extensively applied in solving complex construction engineering optimization problems. In this paper, Artificial Immune Systems (AIS), a computational approach inspired by the processes of human immune system, is introduced in terms of its basic mechanisms and its applications in construction engineering. Specifically, Clonal Selection Algorithm (CSA), one of main algorithms that form AIS, is based on clonal selection process of the immune system which includes the selection, hypermutation, and receptor editing processes. We discuss the CSA in detail and present its application in the classic construction optimization problem, construction site utilization planning (CSUP), which is the decision making process for identifying the most optimal layout of temporary facilities designed to support the construction process. When applied to a test case published in research literature, we found that CSA shows a robust capacity to search the solution space effectively and efficiently.

Processing method and property study for cement-based piezoelectric composites and sensors

The cement-based piezoelectric composite is developed to fabricate smart sensors in real-time structural health monitoring. The cement-based piezoelectric sensor is suitable for applications in civil engineering because of its good compatibility in acoustic impedance. The 0–3 cement-based piezoelectric composites were fabricated by mixing the cement particles and lead zirconate titanate powders under high pressure in this paper. The parameters including the piezoelectric factors, relative dielectric constant ɛr, thickness and planar electromechanical coupling coefficients of cement-based composites with different lead zirconate titanate ceramic contents were measured to characterise the electromechanical coupling properties. Further, the acoustic impedance was detected to test acoustic compatibility with concrete materials. Laboratory tests show that the voltage output of the sensor is linearly proportional to the applied pressure. The cement-based piezoelectric sensors have better mechanical–electrical conversion property than pure ceramic sensors. The findings indicate that the 0–3 cement-based piezoelectric sensor meets all requirements of application in construction engineering, and is feasible to be utilised in concrete structures.

Research on Application of the Television Image Logging Technique in the Englineering Test Borehole

A whole image of a reconnaissance well with acoustic time, acoustic amplitude and video can be obtained by an image logging apparatus. The results (feature dip/strike and azimuth, joint density analysis, synthetic cores, feature stereograms, rose diagrams, deviation plots of borehole) of image logging are displayed in the form of well explained figures, intuitionistic, vivid and easy to be analyzed. Image well logging technique has played an important role in oil and gas exploration, but its application in construction engineering is still in its initial testing phase. The hardware constitution and the basic principle of RG image logging apparatus system are simply introduced, and its application effects in transmission cable tunnel project are also displayed in this paper

Photogrammetric error sources and impacts on modeling and surveying in construction engineering applications

AbstractThis paper reviews photogrammetric error sources and their impacts on modeling and surveying for construction quantity takeoff, quality control, and site safety monitoring applications. These error sources include camera internal parameters (i.e., type, principal point, principal distance, and camera lens distortion coefficients), imaging settings (i.e., shooting distances, baselines, percentage of photo overlaps, number of overlapping photos, camera intersection angles, and angles of incidence), and processing software programs. To augment the body of knowledge on photogrammetric modeling errors, this paper further conducts experiment, which concerns characterization of the behavior of different strategies in selecting reference lines for fixing absolute scale of photogrammetric models. In construction photogrammetric surveying, it is imperative to convert the relative scale of a 3D model into absolute measurements so geometric measurements can be taken. Previous work suggests this can be done through the determination of a reference line in absolute units; however, the position and quantity of reference lines has not been investigated. This experiment attempts to tackle this issue. The result shows that one horizontal reference line in the middle of the object performed with consistent accuracy, but if a specific area on the object needs more accurate measurements, it is best to select a reference line in that area. The review and the experimental findings may help construction professionals better understand the performance of the photogrammetric surveying and apply it in their real-world projects.

Editorial (Hot Topic:Nanomaterials with Applications in Construction Engineering and Sensor Devices)

Editorial (Hot Topic:Nanomaterials with Applications in Construction Engineering and Sensor Devices)

Ad-hoc performance of wireless sensor network for large scale civil and construction engineering applications

Currently available wireless sensor networks (WSNs) provide the potential for collecting and monitoring construction job-site information in an efficient way. However, the unique characteristic of large scale and complicated job-site layout makes it difficult to reliably adopt WSNs. As the wireless network becomes denser, increased network traffic may degrade the overall reliability of the data acquisition system. In this paper, a numerical simulation with the IEEE802.15.4 standard was conducted to analyze the packet reception rate and the number of received bits using channel clear probability. In addition, a case study was implemented to evaluate the network traffic congestion, by configuring an ad-hoc network topology with the commercial product of the ZigBee module. It is confirmed that the reliability of the ad-hoc network is degraded due to the increased signal traffic caused by the increased number of active nodes, hop counts, transmission intervals, etc.

Analytical Approach to Augmenting Site Photos with 3D Graphics of Underground Infrastructure in Construction Engineering Applications

This paper proposes an analytical approach to incorporating computer-generated three-dimensional 3D graphics of invisible underground infrastructure into site photos so as to present a richer and more integral view of the site situation in construction engineering applications. The proposed approach simulates the image-forming process of a camera and produces a virtual photo of the underground scene, whose virtual coordinate axes coincide with the real coordinate axes of the aboveground site scene. As a result, the virtual photo and the site photo can be seamlessly merged in terms of perspective, position, and scale. This research simplifies the calculation of the camera's spatial orientation by use of only two reference points' positions, i.e., the camera station position and the object focus position. The whole procedure of the proposed approach is analytical and can be automated into a computer program. In practice, nondestructive subsurface imaging technologies are generally used to obtain the spatial data of the underground infrastructure, which can be readily processed into a 3D as-built model as one component in composing the virtual underground scene. The proposed approach is demon- strated with a case study in which the underground as-built data are superimposed onto the aboveground site photo for the purpose of quality investigation of a bored pile construction. DOI: 10.1061/ASCECP.1943-5487.0000072 CE Database subject headings: Infrastructure; Photography; Computer applications; Graphic methods; Photogrammetry; Under- ground structures. Author keywords: Infrastructure; Photography; Computer applications; Graphic methods; Photogrammetry.

Electimize: New Evolutionary Algorithm for Optimization with Application in Construction Engineering

In nonlinear construction optimization problems, the capability of current optimization algorithms to find an optimal solution is usually limited by their inability to evaluate the effects of changing the value of each decision variable on reaching the optimal solution. This paper presents fundamental research aimed at developing a novel evolutionary optimization algorithm, named Electimize, that mimics the behavior of electrons flowing, through electric circuit branches with the least electric resistance. In the proposed algorithm, solutions are represented by electric wires and are evaluated on two levels: a global level, using the objective function, and a local level, evaluating the potential of each generated value for every decision variable. The paper presents (1) the research philosophy and scope, (2) the research methodology, and (3) the development of the algorithm. The proposed algorithm has been validated and applied successfully to an NP-hard cash flow optimization problem. The algorithm was able to find a better optimal solution and identified ten alternative optimal solutions for the same problem. This should prove useful in enhancing the optimization of complex large-scale problems.

GAME THEORY APPLICATIONS IN CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT / LOŠIMŲ TEORIJOS TAIKYMAS STATYBOS INŽINERIJOS IR VALDYMO SRITYSE

Game theory usually analyses decision‐making processes in various fields. There are different methods of solving decision related problems. Game theory focuses on problem solution from one player s point of view, while game theory emphasizes its analysis in the interaction among many players. Much of game theory is concerned with finite, discrete games, which have a finite number of players, moves, events, outcomes, etc. Many researchers in different research fields’ work applied the game theory in: construction engineering, management area. The article presents review of 42 years of scientific work of Professor Friedel Peldschus in the fields of game theory application in construction engineering and management. A review of scientific achievements and activity of Professor Friedel Peldschus, focusing on his research. Santrauka Taikant lošimų teoriją analizuojami sprendimu priemimo procesai įvairiose srityse. Yra įvairiu būdų spręsti problemas. Lošimu teorija gali būti orientuota į problemą vieno lošejo požiūriu ir gali analizuoti daugelio lošeju tarpusavio sąveiką. Daugiausiai lošimu teorija susijusi su galutiniais atskirais lošimais, kurių ribotas dalyvių skaičius, judėjimas, įvykiai, rezultatai ir t. t. Daugelis įvairių mokslinių sričių tyreju taiko lošimo teoriją statybos inžinerijos, valdymo srityse. Straipsnyje pateikiama prof. Friedel Peldschus 42 metų mokslinių tyrimų apžvalga apie lošimų teorijos taikymą statybos inžinerijos ir vadybos srityse, nagrinejami moksliniai pasiekimai ir veikla, atkreipiamas dėmesys į pasiektus mokslinių tyrimų rezultatus.

Methodology for integrating fuzzy expert systems and discrete event simulation in construction engineering

This paper demonstrates how fuzzy expert systems can be integrated within discrete event simulation models to enhance their modeling and predictive capabilities for construction engineering applications. A proposed methodology is presented for extracting the information from experts to develop the fuzzy expert system rules. The developed fuzzy expert system is integrated within a discrete event simulation model to enhance its modeling capability by explicitly accounting for the different factors affecting some of the simulation activities. A tunneling case study is used to illustrate the features of the integrated system. The outputs generated from the integrated system are very comparable to those from the original probabilistic simulation model. The integrated system represents a more realistic modeling scenario, since it thoroughly accounts for the different factors affecting the tunnel boring machine (TBM) advance rate. This paper is relevant to researchers because it provides an advance in combining artificial intelligence techniques with simulation models to yield better tools for construction modeling. It is of relevance to practitioners because it provides a useful tool for modeling construction engineering problems.

Automated retrieval of 3D CAD model objects in construction range images

Automated and robust retrieval of three-dimensional (3D) Computer-Aided Design (CAD) objects from laser scanned data would have many potentially valuable applications in construction engineering and management. For example, it would enable automated progress assessment for effortless productivity tracking, automated 3D image database searching for forensic and legal analysis, and real-time local modeling for automated equipment control and safety. After reviewing and analyzing previous research in the field of automated object recognition, this paper presents a new approach for robust automated recognition/retrieval of 3D CAD objects in range point clouds in the Architectural/Engineering/Construction & Facility Management (AEC-FM) context. This approach is validated in laboratory experiments. A first experiment demonstrates that this new approach can efficiently and robustly automatically retrieve 3D CAD model objects in construction laser scanned data. A second experiment demonstrates how this approach can be used for efficiently assessing construction progress. The results presented here are preliminary but conclusive for proof of concept. More extensive field experiments in this and other application areas will follow to characterize performance trade-offs in practice.

Development of software for structural analysis adapted to construction engineering applications

The paper presents the development and application of software for structural analysis adapted to construction engineering applications. The software consists of data structures, application subroutine libraries and the built-in Matlab subroutine library. For each application, the user writes an application-specific main program using the data structures and routines in the subroutine libraries. This gives the user flexibility to build a main program that is adapted to the specific needs of the current application. The software has been tested in a number of real-world projects, e.g. tunnels and bridges. The examples show that the software is a useful design tool for design work.

Use of scanning electron microscopy in concrete studies

This paper offers a brief review of the present use of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in concrete studies, from the perspective of how research in materials science is translated into applications in construction engineering. It describes the scope of present use of the method, and attempts a prospective for the near future in areas where more work could make productive use of the technology. Selected case studies have also been discussed. The electron microscope has been used as a research tool in understanding the root cause of the differing performance of various types of concrete under various conditions, a development tool in making better concrete, and a diagnosis tool on problems like cracking of concrete. The paper also explains how sample preparation affects the type and quality of information which the SEM can produce.

Neural Networks as Tools in Construction

The competitive and risk-averse nature of the construction industry and its heuristic problem-solving needs, among other reasons, have contributed to the development of nontraditional decision-making tools. Research in artificial intelligence (AI), a branch of computer science, has provided more suitable tools to the construction industry. Expert systems have steadily been introduced for different applications in the industry. However, the performance of these systems, during the last decade, is far from ideal. Neural networks research in AI has recently provided powerful systems that work as a supplement or a complement to such conventional expert systems. In this paper, neural networks are introduced as a promising management tool that can enhance current automation efforts in the construction industry, including expert systems applications. Basic neural network architectures are described, and their potential applications in construction engineering and management discussed. A neural network application is developed for optimum markup estimation. Future possibilities of integrating neural networks and expert systems as a basis for developing efficient intelligent systems are described.