Building Components Research Articles

Identification of the Wood Species and Relationship Between the Wood Species Selection and the Occurrence of Biological Diseases in Wooden Components within Ancient Wooden-Structure Building of Songyun Temple

ABSTRACT A comprehensive identification of wooden components in ancient wooden-structure building of Songyun Temple was conducted using optical microscopy based on the basis of wood anatomy. Furthermore, the relationship between wood species selection and biological diseases was discussed. The findings reveal that: (1) Chinese lace-bark pine (Pinus bungeana), hard pines (Pinus subg. Diploxylon), chestnut (Castanea sp.), oak (Quercus sect. Cerris), wing-nut (Pterocarya sp.), Chinese Toon (Toona sinensis), and poplar (Populus spp.) were identified as the predominant wood species utilized for these wooden components. Statistical analysis indicates that hard pines are the primary wood species found in Songyun Temple. (2) Additionally, fungal decay and insect infestation are the predominant types of biological diseases observed in the study. Fungal decay can be detected in all wooden components, with Chinese lace-bark pine, hard pines, Chinese toon, and oak exhibiting particular susceptibility. Carpenter bees inflict more severe damage on chestnut, wing-nut, and Chinese toon species. Oak and poplar species are highly susceptible to powderpost beetle attacks. (3) These biological diseases are intricately linked to the inherent natural durability of various wood species as well as external environmental factors. The findings of this study provide scientific guidance for analyzing the underlying causes of biological diseases in wooden components, implementing protective measures for rescue purposes, and adopting preventive strategies.

Development of ANP-based greenness evaluation model of construction technologies in China

Purpose Green construction is increasingly vital in promoting sustainability within the construction industry. The development and promotion of green construction technologies are central to this endeavor. However, existing evaluations mainly target building components, construction projects or certain construction processes. There is a notable absence of research into the greenness of construction technologies. Assessing the greenness of construction technologies is crucial for streamlining resource utilization and reducing waste. To address this gap, this study aims to establish a Greenness of Construction Technologies (GCT) evaluation model using the method of analytic network process (ANP). Design/methodology/approach Green construction is increasingly vital in promoting sustainability within the construction industry. The development and promotion of green construction technologies are central to this endeavor. However, existing evaluations mainly target building components, construction projects or certain construction processes. There is a notable absence of research into the greenness of construction technologies. Assessing the greenness of construction technologies is crucial for streamlining resource utilization and reducing waste. To address this gap, this study establishes a GCT evaluation model using the method of ANP. Findings Among the four formwork technologies of plastic, steel, plywood and wooden formwork, the plastic formwork exhibits the best performance in terms of environmental friendliness, economic and social effects, while facing issues like material wastage and low static strength. The results align with practical observations which validates the model’s applicability. Originality/value This research contributes to the field by introducing the concept of greenness into construction technology evaluation for the first time. The establishment of the GCT evaluation model promotes the adoption of green construction technologies and advances sustainable practices in the construction industry.

Outdoor testbeds for studies on performance of building envelopes: review and recommendations

High-performance building envelope materials, components and systems have been developed to achieve reduction in energy demand and meanwhile maintaining a satisfactory indoor environmental quality. The performance of building envelopes is generally assessed through numerical and experimental methods. Experimental work conducted with outdoor testbeds provides live data under real weather conditions, and therefore become an effective approach to evaluating the performance façade technologies. This paper reviewed 82 outdoor testbeds employed in studies on performance of building envelopes. They are categorized according to scale and form. Representatives in each category are discussed in details, and the main features are compared and summarized systematically. The functions of testbeds are analyzed according to the dedicated experimental purposes. Different construction materials and structures are also compared. On this basis, recommendations are made for future design, construction and application of outdoor testbeds.

Impacts of Dampness on Structural Stability of Public Secondary School Buildings in Adamawa State, Nigeria

This research assessed the impact of dampness on the structural stability of public secondary school buildings in Adamawa state. Dampness as it were is the infiltration of water through the structural elements (interior and exterior) of an edifice, wetness of structural elements through moisture rise by capillary, or extreme quantity of moisture contained in building materials or the building components (Agyekum, Ayakwa, Koranteng & Adinyira, 2013a; Wilkowska, 2017). A percentage of building structures that deteriorate during wetness, dampness, or excessive moisture movements are perceived, visible, or measurable (Soldatova, Sansone, Stephens & Shah, 2011). A building is described as being affected by dampness when there is moisture that is not wanted to a certain degree in the building than its water- retaining capability such that finishes and structural members are stained or discoloured and certain secondary elements are either upturned or lifted (Ishak, Che Ani, Akashah &Kayan, 2013). The primary sources of moisture in buildings according to Sulaiman and Beithou (2011) are liquid water from precipitation or plumbing leaks; water vapour from the building exterior or activities/processes within the building; liquid and vapour from the soil adjoining a building; and moisture built-in with the materials of construction or brought in with goods and people. Young (2007) and Agyekum et al. (2013), categorise the primary sources of moisture into three types: penetration dampness, condensation, and rising dampness. Specifically, it; determined the common types of dampness and common causes of dampness, it also determined the extent of the impacts of dampness and suggested suitable procedures for treating the impact of dampness. A descriptive research design was adopted for the study. Four purposes and four research questions were raised to guide the study, the population for this study is Grade A public secondary schools in Adamawa State. Three sampling techniques were employed in this study, these are stratified sampling, purposive sampling, and simple random sampling. A checklist and a structured questionnaire were developed.

Self-powered electrochromic smart window helps net-zero energy buildings

Net-zero energy buildings are becoming an important energy-saving and low-carbon technology for global environmental protection and resource conservation. As the least energy-efficient building components, windows have promoted the development of electrochemically light/thermal management, where smart windows without external electrical supplies are highly desired for net-zero energy buildings. Here, we develop a self-powered electrochromic smart window system to regulate solar radiation transmittance, constructed by a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) and a high-performance electrochromic device. The visible–near-infrared (VIS-NIR) dual-band electrochromic device is well-designed based on an eco-friendly low-energy demand phenothiazine redox ionic liquid, demonstrating a fast switching response of ﹤1.9 s, a large transmittance modulation of >51.8 %, and outstanding electrochemical durability (5.5 % attenuation after 4000 cycles). Upon continuous pressing/releasing motions, the integrated TENG-powered electrochromic smart window (TECSW) displays a prompt light/thermal management behavior with desirable privacy preservation performance (transmittance modulation of 51 % in the visible region) and excellent thermal management property (12.3 °C reducti°n). The whole-building energy simulations show that TECSW can save 347.79 MJ/m2yr (amounting to 96.60 kWh/m2yr) of operational Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning (HVAC) warming/cooling energy consumption among 34 cities in China, accounting for 17.25 % of the total energy consumption. This research provides new insight into designing green and energy-efficient smart windows for net-zero energy buildings.

Empirical hurricane fragility assessment of elevated and slab-on-grade residential houses

The widespread hurricane-induced damage to residential houses in the United States leads to severe social and economic impacts. Recent community-wide efforts by researchers within the natural hazards community to collect and curate post-hazard damage data have advanced the potential to assess structural vulnerability during extreme wind events. These efforts have led to data re-use and further analysis for detailed evaluation, allowing for the comparison of the performance of elevated versus slab-on-grade single-family residential houses during hurricanes. The empirically derived fragility functions from these damage assessment data offer a unique opportunity to evaluate the vulnerability of constructed buildings. This paper presents the development of empirical fragility functions for elevated and slab-on-grade residential houses, along with their building envelope components, when subjected to hurricane winds. It assesses the post-hurricane occupiability and the annual probability of failure for both elevated and slab-on-grade houses. Utilizing post-hurricane building performance data collected from 618 elevated and 1188 slab-on-grade single-family residential houses impacted by Hurricanes Irma and Harvey in 2017, we analyzed the relationship of damage to the estimated peak 3-sec gust wind speed at each house. The analysis yields the assignment of each house to one of five damage state categories, from which we developed the fragility functions of buildings and building components in accordance with FEMA's HAZUS Hurricane model. Results showed that the developed empirical fragility functions for building envelope components of elevated houses have a higher probability of failure compared to those installed on slab-on-grade houses. Additionally, the likelihood of elevated houses being unoccupiable after a hurricane is significantly higher than that of slab-on-grade houses in both Florida and Texas. For residential buildings constructed in the state of Florida, this study finds that elevated houses have a 39 %–74 % higher annual probability of failure due to hurricane wind compared to slab-on-grade houses for the different considered damage states.

Reverse Engineering Workflows for the Structural Assessment of Historical Buildings

ABSTRACT Supported by advancements in 3D scanning and parametric modeling tools within the architecture, engineering, and construction sectors, reverse engineering processes for cultural heritage (CH) have recently gained popularity. While many studies have focused on simple 3D reconstructions to create virtual environments, a specialized subarea of this research field has targeted more specific digitization objectives, including, among many, structural analysis of building components. This emerging field has not yet been systematically developed due to the intrinsic challenges associated with CH. Within this context, this paper proposes and describes a reverse engineering-based method that utilizes terrestrial laser scanning and visual programming (VP) to analyze displacements and deformations that occurred over time in historical masonry buildings and applied it to the timber trusses, masonry facades, and columns of two selected Italian case study buildings. This method allows for comparing the surveyed condition of these components, considered the “deformed state”, with their ideal configuration, reconstructed using VP algorithms, considered the “original state”. The outcomes of this comparison facilitate the investigation of the components’ structural behavior and support joint considerations to assess the overall condition of the investigated building, providing helpful knowledge for guiding structural improvement interventions.

Suspended nanomembrane silicon photonic integrated circuits

Leveraging the low linear and nonlinear absorption loss of silicon at mid-infrared (mid-IR) wavelengths, silicon photonic integrated circuits (PICs) have attracted significant attention for mid-IR applications including optical sensing, spectroscopy, and nonlinear optics. However, mid-IR silicon PICs typically show moderate performance compared to state-of-the-art silicon photonic devices operating in the telecommunication band. Here, we proposed and demonstrated suspended nanomembrane silicon (SNS) PICs with light guiding within deep-subwavelength waveguide thickness for operation in the short wavelength mid-IR region. We demonstrated key building components, namely, grating couplers, waveguide arrays, micro-resonators, etc., exhibiting excellent performances in bandwidths, back reflections, quality factors, and fabrication tolerance. Moreover, we show that the proposed SNS PICs have high compatibility with the multi-project wafer foundry services. Our study provides an unprecedented platform for mid-IR integrated photonics and applications.

Wind-induced interference effect of complex building clusters on long-span roof structures

The presence of complex buildings introduces interference effects and complicates the wind field around the long-span roof structure. The complexity of the problem makes it challenging to predict wind load of long-span roof structures, resulting in a scarcity of design data available to engineers and designers. Thus, the influence of interference effect on mean and peak pressure coefficients of a long-span tri-centered cylindrical roof structure was investigated through wind tunnel tests conducted in an atmospheric boundary layer wind tunnel. The study focused on the interference effects caused by two cooling towers, chimney, and some low-rise buildings, considering all wind directions. The results show that the interference effects are the result of a combination of amplification effects from the adjacent cooling towers and chimney and shielding effects from the surrounding low-rise buildings. Due to the shielding effect of low-rise buildings, the wind suction on the roof is mitigated compared to that of a single building, while at the end of the roof, wind suction is amplified by cooling tower effects. The interference effect of the building clusters, however, amplifies the fluctuating wind pressure coefficient and the peak pressure coefficient on the roof. To accurately estimate the wind load of building components and envelopes, furthermore, this study investigates the influence mechanism of interference effect on non-Gaussian characteristics of wind pressure combining with fluctuating wind pressure spectrum, spatial correlation of fluctuating wind pressure, and probability distribution characteristics of standardized wind pressure coefficient. The spatial correlation of wind pressure in the roof interference area exhibits a strong association, and the probability density distribution characteristics of the standardized wind pressure coefficient significantly deviate from the Gaussian curve, with a peak factor exceeding 3.5. Thus, it can be concluded that the wind pressure within this region demonstrates significant non-Gaussian characteristics. Hence, the zone values of peak pressure coefficients are determined using the peak factor approach to inform the wind resistance design of the envelope structure.

Floor Vibrations of Steel-Framed Floor Systems Due to Rhythmic Activities—Case Study

Human induced vibrations on steel-framed floor systems can result in a wide variety of serviceability problems, ranging from discomfort of building occupants to damage of building components. Rhythmic activities, like aerobics, have the potential to cause significant floor vibrations owing to synchronized crowd movement. This article presents the results of a case study in which the susceptibility of a steel-framed floor system to structural vibrations was evaluated after an aerobic dance event caused damage to non-structural building components. The study assessed a floor supported by a system of long span trusses, which at one end were themselves supported by a two-story deep long span truss. This study consisted of collecting onsite vibration measurements and evaluating the floor system using a numerical model. The finite element analysis model was calibrated using results from field measured data. The numerical analysis results showed that estimated floor accelerations exceeded standard limits for different types of rhythmic activities, indicating that the floor system was susceptible to uncomfortable vibrations. Possible methods to improve the structural response of the floor and to address human discomfort are discussed.

Systematic literature review of software tools for modeling heat transfer in phase change materials for building applications

Abstract New buildings in the European Union must attain nearly zero-energy status, emphasizing minimal energy consumption, partly met by on-site or nearby renewable sources. However, the fluctuating nature of on-site renewables poses a challenge, necessitating effective energy storage solutions. Addressing this, the use of phase change materials (PCMs) in building envelopes emerges as a promising trend. PCMs efficiently store excess thermal energy during abundance and release it when renewable generation falls short, ensuring a consistent energy supply. Introducing novel building components is time-intensive, with on-site testing demanding substantial resources. Numerical studies offer an efficient alternative, making modeling tools crucial. These tools facilitate exploration of design concepts under diverse conditions, allowing iterative refinement and optimization. This paper conducts a systematic literature review evaluating five prominent software programs—COMSOL, ANSYS, MATLAB, EnergyPlus, and TRNSYS—designed for modeling heat transfer within PCMs for building applications. In closer detail paper explores the use of ANSYS for heat transfer analysis for phase change materials.

Optimized data representation and understanding method for the intelligent design of shear wall structures

The generative intelligent design of building structures has been a rapidly evolving field in recent years, with shear wall structures efficiently designed using generative adversarial networks (GANs). Nevertheless, using RGB images to represent structural design drawings may not accurately capture the correlations and distinctions between building components, leading to shear-wall structure design inaccuracies. To address these challenges, this study proposes an optimized data representation and understanding method for the intelligent design of shear wall structures. Specifically, a component-based feature space data representation method was introduced to achieve a more accurate description of drawing features. A feature mask was also employed to precisely locate the key target areas for generating shear walls, enhancing the model's understanding of the data features. Additionally, a GAN with global and local discriminators was established to enhance the neural network's ability to generate shear wall designs at both the global image and local component levels. Finally, a training method for a GAN with dual discriminators based on feature masks is proposed. Experimental analyses and case studies showed that, compared with existing widely used GAN-based designs, the structural designs generated by the GAN trained with the proposed data representation and understanding methods demonstrated superior consistency with engineer-designed structures and outperformed structural seismic resistance.

Design and Simulation Implementation of Indoor Lighting Integrated Control System Based on Fuzzy Control

Abstract With the improvement of people’s living standards, higher requirements have been put forward for the quality of the living environment. The progress of science and technology has provided the possibility for the further development of intelligent buildings. As an important component of intelligent buildings, the intelligence level of intelligent lighting is relatively fall behind, especially energy-saving and comprehensive linkage are not considered in the scope of intelligent lighting. According to the characteristics of indoor environment control variables and controlled variables, this paper uses fuzzy control method to realize the comprehensive control of indoor lighting, summarizes the corresponding measures taken by experience into control rules, and constructs a controller to control the complex lighting process instead of people. Through the construction of control rules, the natural lighting is constrained under the full consideration of the influence of temperature and ventilation. The purpose of giving priority to the use of natural lighting and taking into account the overall energy optimization of the system is achieved. The energy-saving idea of combining lighting control with other systems of intelligent building is proposed, and the system performance is simulated and analyzed. It has the advantages of high integration, high degree of intelligence, energy saving and convenient use.

Development of operational standards procedures for maintenance and maintenance of public railway infrastructure infrastructure and electrical mechanical and architectural components in Wbs-based station buildings to improve maintenance and maintenance performance

A railway station is a place of departure and stoppage for trains. Poor, inappropriate maintenance and upkeep of infrastructure without strict supervision can result in physical damage to the infrastructure itself, thus losing its initial value and reducing the service life of the infrastructure. If the maintenance and upkeep of infrastructure in the transportation sector is not done properly, it can cause delays or, in the worst case, accidents. To ensure a high level of reliability and availability, the implementation of an effective maintenance program is very important. This is then clarified if poor maintenance and upkeep practices, such as in the transportation sector, can also affect the reliability of the transportation system and even cause life-threatening accidents. Damage or accidents that occur can also lower the company's image and customer or consumer trust. This research aims to develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for maintenance and upkeep work on station buildings, architectural components, and mechanical electrical. The method used is based on a Literature Study, survey, and case study. The result of this research is the development of SOP maintenance and upkeep work on architectural components and mechanical electrical to improve maintenance performance.

Transforming Construction Waste into Opportunity: The Role of Recycled Formwork in Eco-Friendly Building Practices

The construction industry is a significant contributor to global waste and environmental degradation, necessitating innovative solutions for sustainable development. In order to better understand how recycled formwork fits into green building methods, this study looks at how it can be used to turn construction waste into useful resources. Because it uses fewer virgin materials and produces less waste than standard formwork, recycled formwork, which is created from repurposed building components, offers a sustainable substitute. This strategy encourages ongoing material use, waste minimization, and resource efficiency by adhering to the circular economy’s tenets. The benefits of recycled formwork are examined from an environmental, economic, and social standpoint in this study. These benefits include reduced landfill waste, resource conservation, and cost savings through improved material reuse. Several case studies demonstrate successful implementations of recycled formwork in residential, commercial, and infrastructure projects, showcasing its feasibility and advantages. Despite the benefits, challenges such as quality consistency, lack of standardization, and industry acceptance remain. To address these issues, the study recommends continued research and development, education and training for construction professionals, supportive policies and regulations, and enhanced collaboration among stakeholders. By advancing the use of recycled formwork, the construction industry can significantly reduce its environmental footprint and contribute to a more sustainable future. This research underscores the importance of innovative waste management practices in sustainable construction, offering insights that could drive policy and innovation in the sector.

LOD2-Level+ Low-Rise Building Model Extraction Method for Oblique Photography Data Using U-NET and a Multi-Decision RANSAC Segmentation Algorithm

Oblique photography is a regional digital surface model generation technique that can be widely used for building 3D model construction. However, due to the lack of geometric and semantic information about the building, these models make it difficult to differentiate more detailed components in the building, such as roofs and balconies. This paper proposes a deep learning-based method (U-NET) for constructing 3D models of low-rise buildings that address the issues. The method ensures complete geometric and semantic information and conforms to the LOD2 level. First, digital orthophotos are used to perform building extraction based on U-NET, and then a contour optimization method based on the main direction of the building and the center of gravity of the contour is used to obtain the regular building contour. Second, the pure building point cloud model representing a single building is extracted from the whole point cloud scene based on the acquired building contour. Finally, the multi-decision RANSAC algorithm is used to segment the building detail point cloud and construct a triangular mesh of building components, followed by a triangular mesh fusion and splicing method to achieve monolithic building components. The paper presents experimental evidence that the building contour extraction algorithm can achieve a 90.3% success rate and that the resulting single building 3D model contains LOD2 building components, which contain detailed geometric and semantic information.

Automatic Design Line Detection in Urban Building Images through DCT

The conversion of urban building images into design lines is a valuable technique used in architecture. It aids in theanalysis of design styles and building components. Recent studies have shown a significant interest in usingcomputational methods to examine the design lines in architectural images, such as plans, facades, and streetscapes.This research presents an automated approach that utilizes kernel filters to extract edges and reduce noise fromvarious architectural images. Additionally, it introduces a new filter that separates lines based on their directionsutilizing the Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT). The proposed technique generates distinct images that display thevertical, horizontal, and curved lines extracted from the original images. The results demonstrate that the proposedtechnique is efficient not only with architectural drawings but also with photographs of existing buildings. Thistechnique opens the door for further experimentation in artificial intelligence, computational aesthetics, imagerectification and calibration, and 3D building reconstruction.

AI-enabled damage estimation of hurricane-impacted residential communities through CFD simulations and stratified sampling

This study introduces a novel framework for estimating hurricane-induced damage to individual buildings by integrating AI-based 3D building modeling, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), and stratified sampling. By leveraging the precise geometric characteristics of individual buildings extracted from digital data, the framework enables the accurate computation of pressure distributions for individual buildings through high-fidelity CFD simulations. The subsequent integration of an AI-based building component detection technique with vulnerability modeling and enhanced stratified sampling enables the rapid computation of the component and building-level failure probabilities. Applied to a case study in Atlantic City, NJ, the research underscores the effectiveness of realistic geometric characterizations and the inclusion of neighboring buildings in estimating individual-building level damage. Unlike conventional archetype-based approaches, the proposed methodology offers individual-building level risk assessment, reflecting the crucial role played by geometric and aerodynamic variables. The framework offers a promising step towards automated high-fidelity assessments of hurricane risks, leveraging detailed modeling and simulation to contribute to more resilient communities.

3D Generalisation of Building Components – An Initial Proof of Concept

3D Generalisation of Building Components – An Initial Proof of Concept

Life Cycle Assessment of an Office Building in Finland Using a Custom Assessment Tool

Life cycle analysis (LCA) is a crucial instrument in the construction industry, offering a comprehensive evaluation of the environmental impacts at every stage of a building’s lifecycle. Recently introduced into Finnish construction legislation, this approach has not yet been thoroughly researched in relation to the Finnish Ministry of the Environment (FMoE) assessment method, nor have new calculation techniques been proposed to address its shortcomings. Furthermore, Finnish research on environmental impact assessment has predominantly focused on residential buildings, leaving a scarcity of studies on office buildings. This paper aims to fill these gaps in the literature, considering LCA, carbon footprint, and carbon handprint assessment tools of concrete-, timber-, and steel-framed cases. Our results are as follows: (1) the majority of the carbon footprint of a concrete-framed case originated from emissions associated with energy use and second largest share of total emissions occurred during the product phase of the building and within this phase, the building services contribute the most to product-related emissions; (2) a significant portion of these emissions came from facades and floor structures; (3) the carbon footprint of the timber-framed option was significantly lower than that of its concrete- and steel-framed counterparts; (4) steel-framed option’s carbon footprint was nearly equivalent to that of the concrete-framed option; (5) estimated carbon handprint of the timber-framed option was considerably higher than that of the concrete- and steel-framed options, primarily due to the carbon storage capacity of the timber components; (6) steel-framed option’s carbon handprint surpassed that of the concrete-framed option because of the high recycling and reuse potential of steel components; (7) the LCA method used by FMoE has some unclear areas. These ambiguities include how to assess the impacts of carbonation in cement-based products and the replacement of building components.