Edifice Research Articles

Results of novel theoretical approaches show a possible underestimation of building materials contribution to indoor radon levels

The mathematical modelling represents one of the main possibilities to assess the radon gas coming out from building structures in a dwelling, especially in preventive strategies. The formulations available depends on environmental conditions and building characteristics and they might require a wide set input parameters as well as significant computational capabilities: consequently, only a simplified formulation has been used throughout the years. This work quantified the differences resulting from the application of the simplified formulation instead of the exact ones to assess the radon exhalation rate and the corresponding radon activity concentration established indoors, relative to a reference room. The numerical impact of the simplified approach has been analysed by varying the main building structure parameters. The simplified approach has been shown to provide accurate results—the error on radon activity concentration is below 10%—when the pressure gradient across the building structure is negligible and the building material radon diffusion length is low, so for partition walls. For perimetral walls, especially when the pressure-gradient across the building envelope is not negligible and for high permeable building materials, the simplified approach may return even severe (about 50%) underestimation of the resulting radon activity concentration indoors.

Internal Observation Method of Temporary Structures Covered with a Construction Safety Net Using Image Processing and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)

This study proposes a method for observing the inside of a temporary structure covered with a construction safety net using an image processing technique and 3D modeling. Images of the temporary structures were obtained using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Observing the inside of temporary structures is limited to using UAVs due to construction safety nets that act as obstacles. To solve this problem, the histogram equalization and grayscale stretching techniques were used to visualize the inside of a temporary structure covered by safety nets. After verifying the proposed method with small scale specimens, the proposed method was applied to climbing formwork installed at a construction site. Three-dimensional modeling technique was combined with improved images that were processed using the proposed method. The results indicated that the proposed method could identify internal objects that were not visible owing to safety nets. By comparing the original and improved images obtained through applying the proposed method, four target objects located inside the climbing formwork that were not visible owing to safety nets were sufficiently identified in the improved images. Thus, the proposed method can be effectively applied to identify the internal objects of temporary structures covered with safety nets.

Effectiveness of fire protection of wood with an organic-mineral coating with the addition of aluminum hydroxide

Abstract. Today, there are two methods of fire protection for wood. The first is impregnation with flame retardants, most often based on inorganic salts. When wood is moistened, fire retardants dissolve in a humid environment and gradually wash out to the surface, and then the fire retardant effect decreases over time. Acid-based products do not have a significant leaching problem due to changes in wood moisture, but penetrating deep into the wood structure and interacting with the cellulose, they reduce strength parameters. Therefore, it is not safe to use this product for critical load-bearing structures. The second method is to apply an organic or inorganic binder coating to the wood surface. Organic binder-based products have increased smoke generation and toxic substances, so their use is dangerous. Therefore, coatings capable of forming a heat-insulating layer on the surface of a building structure, which significantly reduces the processes of heat transfer to the material, have recently become widespread. As a result of the studies, it was found that the introduction of aluminium hydroxide into the composition of the organo-mineral coating in the amount of 2...8% reduces the swelling coefficient from 30 to 18 to a certain extent. However, for a coating containing 4%, an increase in the efficiency of fire protection of wood was found, namely a decrease in the loss of sample mass and flue gas temperature due to the formation of heat-resistant compounds on the surface of the fire protection layer when aluminium hydroxide interacts with ammonium polyphosphate. The use of aluminium hydroxide in the fireproofing composition provides the required level of protection of wood from thermal effects at the required amount of 4%, which leads to a reduction in cost and an increase in the efficiency of the coating. In further studies, it is planned to investigate other types of fillers, their properties and impact on the fire protection efficiency of wood in fireproof organic-mineral coatings.

Seismic Risk Classification of Building Clusters Using MST Clustering and UAV Remote Sensing

The fundamental attribute that is essential for the seismic capacity assessment of houses is the building structure type. Conventionally, remote sensing assessment of the seismic capacity for houses has been based on the image features of individual houses, instead of the spatial similarity between them. To enhance the classification accuracy of house structure types, this work proposes a minimum spanning tree (MST) house clustering structure type classification method based on the spatial similarity of houses. First, the method employs the geometric characteristics of residential buildings to calculate the Gestalt factor that characterizes the visual distance. Subsequently, a Delaunay triangular mesh is constructed to create a proximity map between the houses, with the MST generated using visual distance as the weighting factor. Then, the spatial proximity similarity of house clusters is obtained through pruning. Finally, a support vector machine is employed to categorize the architectural structure of the housing complex, viz., simple houses, brick–concrete houses, and frame houses. This classification is based on the geometric, textural, height, and spatial distribution characteristics of the houses. We have conducted a remote sensing classification experiment of house structure types with Zhushan County, Hubei Province as the study area. The results show that the MST clustering method improves the classification accuracy of brick–concrete houses to 95.4% and the classification accuracy of simple houses to 93.4%. Compared to the single-family-based classification method of building structure types, the classification accuracy of frame-structure buildings is improved to 87%. The Kappa coefficient increased to 0.89. This study significantly improves the classification accuracy of building structure types by introducing spatial similarity. Furthermore, it shows the potential for spatial similarity in classifying building structure types.

A Previously Unknown Building Structure in Ancient Olympia (Western Peloponnese, Greece) Revealed by Geoarchaeological Investigations and Its Interpretation as a Possible Harbor

The ancient site of Olympia is located on the northern fringe of the Basin of Makrisia at the confluence of the Kladeos and Alpheios rivers (western Peloponnese, Greece) and was used as a venue for the Panhellenic Games from Archaic times until the 4th century AD. Geophysical prospection (frequency domain electromagnetic induction and electrical resistivity tomography) was carried out as a basis for detailed geoarchaeological investigations. In doing so, we identified a previously unknown building structure adjacent to the Altis, the inner part of the sanctuary at Olympia. Situated south of the Southwest Thermae, this structure measures at least 100 m (WSW-ENE) by 80 m (NNW-SSE). Its external orientation is in line with the orientation of the Southwest Thermae and the Leonidaion. We retrieved sediment cores from 17 different locations in combination with high-resolution direct push sensing from inside the newly found structure. All cores revealed distinct units of organic-rich limnic sediments dominated by clay and fine silt. Geochemical and micropaleontological analyses of selected sediment samples indicate highly eutrophic conditions, as evidenced by elevated phosphorous concentrations and the dominance of the ostracod species Cyprideis torosa, which is able to live under low-oxygen conditions. Moreover, molecular biomarker analyses show a significant input of lipid fecal markers, implying strong anthropogenic pollution. Further, the limnic sediments include numerous charcoal remains and abundant diagnostic artifacts such as ceramic fragments and building material. Radiocarbon dating documents that these limnic conditions persisted within the building structure from at least the 5th century BC to the 6th century AD. The identified building structure lies in the immediate proximity to the Lake of Olympia, which was recently found to have existed from the mid-Holocene to the Medieval period. Its characteristic filling with fine-grained sediments and multiple indications for a strongly polluted and heavily used standing water environment let us hypothesize that it was possibly used as a harbor installation. A harbor at ancient Olympia could have been used to reach the sanctuary by boat and to transport goods of all kinds.

Modeling and simulation of risk-information processing in decision-making during pedestrian seismic evacuation

The behavior of pedestrians with incomplete information (PII) during earthquakes is complex, exhibiting multi-stage characteristics. Evacuees typically lack sufficient useful information and need interpret ambiguous information within the crowd. This paper proposes a three-stage model to simulate the information-processing behaviors of PII during post-earthquake evacuations. Based on the social force model, the multi-stage decision-making (MSDM) process includes three phases: delayed response, decision-making, and information seeking. Regression analyses are used to identify key environmental, procedural, and behavioral factors influencing MSDM. A data-driven agent-based model is then developed to evaluate the effects of building structure and crowd dynamics on PII’s information processing. The model’s validity is confirmed through comparisons with real earthquake evacuation footage. Results demonstrate that the proposed method accurately reflects real-world scenarios, offering a foundation for PII risk assessment and strategic planning in post-earthquake evacuation management.

Design and Performance Analysis of Cold Rolled Steel Structures in A Two-Story House Based on SNI 7971:2013

This research aims to design cold-rolled steel (CFS) structures in two-story residential buildings by referring to the SNI 7971:2013 standard. The methodology used includes structural modeling using SAP 2000 software to analyze the strength and stability of the building. The data used includes technical parameters of cold rolled steel as well as relevant dead load, live load, wind load and earthquake load criteria. The results of this research show that the application of cold rolled steel to a two-story building structure produces strength and stability that meets standards. Analysis indicates that cold-rolled steel has significant advantages such as high strength, light weight, and design flexibility, so it can be applied to various structural components, including roof frames, walls, and floors. In addition, cold rolled steel has proven to be efficient in the construction process and is resistant to corrosion and fire, making it an economical and durable material. This research provides detailed guidance in modeling and analyzing building structures using SAP 2000, which is very useful for engineers and construction practitioners. It is hoped that the findings of this research will support better decision making regarding the optimal use of materials and construction methods for two-story buildings, as well as encourage further innovation in the application of cold-rolled steel in multi-storey building construction.

Seismic and Tsunamis Vulnerability Assessment of the Shelter School Building Structure with and without Retrofitting

Seismic and Tsunamis Vulnerability Assessment of the Shelter School Building Structure with and without Retrofitting

A Methodological Approach for Assessing the Interaction Between Rural Landscapes and Built Structures: A Case Study of Winery Architecture in Tuscany, Italy

This research aims to investigate the dynamics of interaction and interdependence between winery architecture and the rural landscape, with a particular focus on the Tuscany region in Italy. The primary objective is to analyze a selection of wineries deemed iconic and exemplary for the topic, assessing their relationship with the surrounding territory and landscape. To this end, specifically designed analytical frameworks are employed, grounded in experimental methodologies and criteria well-established in the relevant scientific literature. This methodology integrates a wide range of qualitative and quantitative indicators from scientific literature, organizing them within various taxonomic frameworks. Through tailored analytical forms, the research examines how design choices impact the agrarian context, highlighting the pivotal role of winery architecture in strengthening territorial identity and fostering a model of sustainable tourism. This paper introduces an adaptable interpretive method applicable across contexts, suitable for professionals and decision-makers. The findings present a framework for evaluating landscape systems, demonstrating how passive and advanced strategies enhance eco-efficiency and landscape perception, and adding ethical, aesthetic, and functional value. Moreover, the research contributes to rural landscape discourse, highlighting winery architecture’s role in balancing sustainability, driving economic development, and preserving rural environments.

Investigation of the displacement of an odonto-prepared tooth based on a comparison of digital models of the jaws. Analysis of a clinical case.

Aim The substantiation of the duration of orthopedic treatment, taking into account the error in the displacement of the odonto-prepared tooth based on a comparison of digital models of the jaws. Methods To analyze the data on the distance at which the odonto-prepared tooth moved towards the antagonists over a certain period of time, the distance to the antagonists' teeth was measured from digital models. Digital images of jaw models obtained immediately after odontopreparation marked them as initial data. After 24 days after the first impressions were taken, the digital models obtained from the repeated impressions were designated as current data.3D combination of dentition models in the position of central occlusion, and measurement of the distance of the initial and current data was carried out 10 times. To assess the displacement of the odonto-prepared tooth, their values ​​were compared. Results Based on the data obtained, it can be concluded that there are statistically significant differences between the measurements carried out in a known period of time; the average value of the data ​​of the initial situation is 1.345 ± 0.005 mm. The average value of the data of the current situation is 1.229 ± 0.003 mm. The difference between the measurements allows concluding that there was a displacement of the odonto-prepared tooth by 0.116 ± 0.002 mm (116 ± 2 μm). Conclusion The clinical result of the study suggests the implementation of orthopedic treatment with fixed structures, without the use of a temporary structure, in the shortest possible time. The displacement of the odonto-prepared tooth towards the antagonist teeth, measured on digital jaw models, shows that the time of laboratory manufacture of the prosthesis without the use of a temporary structure for more than 24 days is critical, leading to defects in the dental prosthesis.

Structural instability motion and optimization of the demolition and blasting scheme for complex continuous multi-span frame-shear structure

Due to challenges faced during demolition and blasting processes such as conducting prototype monitoring tests on large continuous multi-span structures or carrying out full-area dynamic monitoring of overall structural stress; This paper takes the demolition of the Ruzhou Unicom building as the background, optimizes the design of the demolition and blasting program through theoretical analysis and simulation monitoring, and also studies the form of structural instability movement and the deformation of the key parts of the damage and internal force characteristics, and obtains the following conclusions: the axial force reaches the maximum value when the building is not deflected; when the first-order derivative of the shear force is 0, the maximum shear stress occurs at the position of 2/3 of the height of the building; When the first-order derivative of bending moment is 0, the maximum bending moment occurs at 1/3 of the building height. In Mushroom Pavilion incision formation, the support part of the main structure produces a downward force, exacerbating the disintegration of the main part of the damage; the main structure of the collapse process, the back row of columns are mainly presented as bending shear damage, the upper side beams are mainly presented as tensile damage, the central and lower side beams are mainly presented as compression shear damage. Notably, the bidirectional notch configuration results in a forward displacement of 9.5 meters and a subsequent recoil of 4.6 meters, providing effective shielding for the military fiber-optic cables positioned at the forefront and the adjacent deep excavation pits. Additionally, this configuration facilitates the rapid establishment of a stable collapse pattern between the Mushroom Pavilion structure and its main body, ultimately accelerating the disintegration of the overall building structure during the collapse event.

CARES Framework: A Circularity Assessment Method for Residential Building Structures

The construction industry contributes to global waste through its “take-make-dispose” model. In response, the European Commission has developed Action Plans to promote a Circular Economy (CE). However, there is currently no standardised Circularity Indicator (CI). The main barrier thereof is the lack of consensus on assessment criteria, stemming from the dispersity of advancements among the methodologies available. The CARES Framework (CARES-F) has been designed to address this issue by integrating ISO standards, Level(s), and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) criteria into the traditional MCI framework. This innovative framework also introduces further variables from the CE perspective, such as transport impact, biomaterials, and quantitative Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for Design for Disassembly (DfD) and Design for Adaptability (DfA). The validation is carried out on a typical Spanish residential building structure by applying the CARES-F and two micro-CIs based on the MCI. The results exhibit the low circularity of resource-intensive systems and highlight the need for secondary raw material in flow, as well as DfA criteria. These findings underscore the significance of the introduced quantitative KPIs in the CIs accuracy and demonstrate the feasibility of the CARES-F in the identification of circularity gaps and selection of optimal circular design strategies from early project stages.

Whole-Building Life-Cycle Assessment in the Built Environment: A Ten- and Six-Story Shake-Table Test Building Case Study

Abstract The utilization of mass timber engineered wood products has increased for new buildings aiming to reduce environmental impacts. Whole-building life-cycle assessment (WBLCA) has been used to quantify the environmental impacts for a building’s lifespan. While mechanisms for calculating the cradle-to-grave impacts of a single building are well established, there are few examples of WBLCA applied for buildings in their first and second life that can be used to inform perspectives and pathways related to the circular economy and lead to informed decision making. This work presents a case study WBLCA to examine the effect of overlapping system boundaries and alternative end-of-life pathways for a building structure in its first and second life. This case study analyzed a ten-story mass timber shake-table specimen that was partially deconstructed and reused as a six-story shake-table building structure. Environmental impacts were analyzed in terms of global warming potential (GWP) calculated as the sum of fossil carbon, biogenic carbon, and avoided impacts. When examining reuse and landfill pathway alternatives using current standards and practices, results show that reusing material causes a positive GWP trend in the first system boundary and negative GWP trend in the second boundary. These results could indicate that it is not advantageous to reuse the ten-story building structure, running against principles of waste hierarchy, although the interpretation should be considered with caution. Future analyses could be improved by considering additional criteria such as demand on forest stocks, economic incentives, and even social impacts for a more complete representation of sustainability.

Seismic vulnerability assessment of a hospital building with and without retrofitting using RC shear walls

Revisions to building regulations in Indonesia necessitate assessing building structures, especially hospital buildings. A structural assessment using the current building codes and vulnerability analysis is necessary to ensure the building’s strength against the working loads. In this study, an assessment of the Third-Class Inpatient Building at the Sijunjung Regional General Hospital was carried out using the finite element method (ETABS V21). The structural assessment of the existing hospital building revealed that the inter-story drift values exceed the drift limit, and column and beam structural elements cannot withstand the working loads. The recommendation for retrofitting the building structure is to add RC shear walls to the existing building. The retrofitted building shows an increase in its structural capacity, and the inter-story drift and the strength of the structural elements have met the requirements based on the current Indonesian building codes. Furthermore, structural fragility curves of the hospital building were developed with and without retrofitting against earthquake loads. The vulnerability analysis results indicated that retrofitting the hospital building with shear walls reduces the probability of building damage due to earthquake loads by 52.69% at the level of extensive damage at a PGA of 0.60 g.

Optimization design and application of high-rise building structure based on hybrid genetic algorithm

Optimization design and application of high-rise building structure based on hybrid genetic algorithm

METODE PELAKSANAAN PENGUJIAN PONDASI TIANG PANCANG MENGGUNAKAN (PDA TEST) PADA PROYEK PEMBANGUNAN GEDUNG PORTIR DAN AULA LAPAS KELAS I MEDAN

In proving the strength of the finished pile foundation, further testing must be carried out. The Medan Class I Porter Building and Penitentiary Hall Construction Project was carried out by the PDA test (Pile Driving Analyzer) which is a dynamic test used to measure the bearing capacity of piles, ultimate axial compressive resistance of piles, and so on. The aim of this research is to ascertain and ascertain whether the method for carrying out PDA testing carried out in the Medan Class I Prison Building and Prison Hall Construction Project is appropriate or not by referring to SNI 8459:2017 and the guidebook issued by the Regulations regarding base tests in building structure SNI 03-2847-2013[4]. The method used in this research is a qualitative method, where the data in this research is obtained from direct observation and interviews in the field as primary data and from data testing and data specifications of various secondary data. These two regulations will compare in the field according to the standard which refers to foundation tests on building structures, namely SNI 03-2847-2013 and also refers to SNI 8459:2017 concerning the method of testing deep foundations with High-Strain Dynamic Pile (HSDP) which is where the PDA test is included in the HSDP test. This discussion will focus on testing after the foundation has been worked on in the field.

Comparative Analysis of Building Structure Work Cost Estimation with BIM Construction Approach Case Study: Construction Project of Main Lecture Building of P4T Flagship Program of Empat Lawang Regency

Volume estimation and Bill of Quantities (BOQ) are crucial processes in construction planning. Currently, volume and BOQ calculations are still done manually by calculating the volume of each component in the working drawings. This process is time-consuming and prone to human error. One way to improve efficiency is to implement Building Information Modeling (BIM) in volume estimation and BOQ calculation to enhance work effectiveness. Autodesk Revit is one software that can assist in 3D modeling and accurate volume calculation. This research discusses how BIM can aid in the design volume calculation process and BOQ planning for the Main Lecture Hall building within the Integrated Agricultural Research and Development Center (P4T). Compared to conventional methods, the results show that implementing BIM on this project has provided significant benefits in terms of efficiency, increased calculation accuracy, material usage, and cost savings. With an optimization of concrete material usage by approximately 1,35% and reinforcement volume by approximately 2.11%, and a cost reduction of 0,985%, BIM has proven to provide significant added value to the project.

МЕМБРАННЫЙ ДАВИД И РАМНЫЙ ГОЛИАФ

The article is devoted to explaining the advantages of membrane structures in comparison with frame structures, which are traditionally produced in large quantities by Russian metal structures factories. With the mass application of membrane structures, it is possible to reduce the cost of building structures, as well as significantly reduce the cost of manufacturing and installation, which will significantly reduce the total cost of the building structure of a building or structure. To promote the mass application of membrane structures in construction production, the authors invite interested organizations to cooperate and to combat nfair competition.

Cost Estimation Comparison between Natural and Synthetic Fibers Textile for Temporary Geobag-dyke Structure in Coastal Protection Systems

Cost Estimation Comparison between Natural and Synthetic Fibers Textile for Temporary Geobag-dyke Structure in Coastal Protection Systems

Study of functional components of the construction technology modules

The purpose of the proposed article is to study the functional components of mechanized construction technological equipment. The methodology is based on research and creative approaches. The methods of development analysis, synthesis of technical solutions, and simulation modeling were used. Scientific novelty. The study of the functional components of mechanized technological equipment, the analysis of technical solutions allowed us to substantiate the composition of the construction technological module for the construction of reinforced concrete monolithic structures. The authors proposed the results of the synthesis of constructive solutions that are implemented in the design of vertically mobile formwork, which allows improving the technological performance of the construction process by reducing the use of heavy crane equipment for the construction of vertical building structures. Research results. The article considers important issues of forming the components of construction technological equipment, in particular the formwork module. The proposed solutions ensure the implementation of smooth movement of the formwork module, optimization of the process of peeling the budding forming contour from the concrete layer of the vertical building structure.