Civil Engineering Construction Research Articles

Insights into potential of banana leaf powder as a mud soil stabilizer

This study proposes a novel method for managing surplus soil in urban construction projects by investigating the use of banana leaf powder (BLP) as an eco-friendly and efficient mud-soil stabilizer. This study is pioneering in its focus on the use of an agricultural waste product, BLP, as an alternative to conventional methods that frequently rely on cement or lime, which pose environmental concerns owing to their high alkalinity and carbon emissions. BLP, derived from dried and pulverized banana leaves, traditionally used in various industries, was evaluated for its suitability as a stabilizer against orange peel biopolymer (OBP) and fly ash (FA). The findings of this study are groundbreaking. BLP's water absorption capacity, Wab, although lower than that of OBP, was significantly higher than that of FA, demonstrating its potential as a mud soil stabilizer. BLP increased the compaction and strength of the treated clay, whereas OBP made it more challenging to compact the clay owing to gelatinization. The ease of compaction with BLP is attributed to the absorption of free water into the pores of the particles. These results suggest that differences in the stabilizer's water absorption mechanism affect the effectiveness of the post-treatment compaction process on the treated soil. An analysis of the impact of water absorption capacity on the cone index, qc, revealed a material-independent relationship between the parameter β (=Wab × A, where A denotes stabilizer addition content) and qc for BLP and FA. This is because, in contrast to OBP, BLP and FA did not gelatinize the free water that was not absorbed by the stabilizer and remained in the same form within the treated clay. This indicates that understanding the water absorption capacity and mechanism of organic- or inorganic-based stabilizers is important for predicting the strength of treated soil. The same relationship between β and qc holds true for the hybrid-treated clay using both BLP and FA, with β considered to be the sum of β for both BLP and FA. Furthermore, this study innovatively addresses the concern of BLP decay in treated soil by creating a hybrid stabilizer with FA and conducting experiments to accelerate BLP decay using fungal mycelia. These experiments revealed that the hybrid-treated clay exhibited a more gradual decrease in carbon content and stabilized pH levels, implying that FA could inhibit decay by fungal mycelia, improving the BLP-treated soil's long-term durability. These findings suggest that agricultural wastes with high organic content can be effectively used for soil stabilization and ground improvement in civil engineering construction and maintenance projects by combining inorganic materials and taking advantage of their properties, such as high water absorbency. This can address the issues (such as high alkalinity and high carbon dioxide emissions) associated with cement- and lime-based stabilizers, which were previously widely used.

Modelling inter-relationships of barriers to smart construction implementation

Smart construction technology offers fresh avenues for advancing the field of civil engineering. It seamlessly integrates across the entire life cycle of civil engineering projects, encompassing planning, design, construction, and maintenance, thereby fundamentally reshaping the landscape of civil engineering development. Nonetheless, it is essential to recognize that, presently, smart construction’s developmental stage remains relatively nascent. Its progression is subject to a myriad of adoption barriers, and the complex dynamics of their interactions remain insufficiently understood. Therefore, this study aims to (1) explore the barriers to the adoption of smart construction; (2) analyze the impact level of each barrier; and the interaction mechanism between the barriers (3) propose effective strategies to promote the development of smart construction. This study commences by identifying 16 major impediments to the adoption of smart construction through a comprehensive synthesis of existing literature and expert interviews. Subsequently, Euclidean similarity analysis is employed to harmonize varying expert assessments. Following this, the Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory model is utilized to ascertain the degree of influence associated with each barrier. Further, the Interpretive Structural Model is employed to establish a hierarchical framework that illuminates the interdependencies among these barriers. Additionally, the Matrice d’Impacts Croisés Multiplication Appliqués à un Classement method is invoked to elucidate the roles and statuses of each barrier. Finally, strategies are proposed based on the results of the analysis. This study offers practical strategies for overcoming barriers and driving the adoption of smart construction, filling a critical gap in understanding by identifying key barriers and providing actionable insights, thus significantly advancing the field and empowering stakeholders for successful implementation and dissemination.

Concepts of Reusing Wind Turbine Blades in Civil Engineering Constructions

Wind turbines have become an important source of renewable energy in recent years, but recycling them is difficult due to their material properties. The paper indicates the possibility of using turbine blades to produce elements that can be filled with concrete and used as members of small geotechnical structures: retaining walls, point and well foundations, foundations for railings, fences, road signs, etc., as well as excavation linings and shoring walls. In these solutions, concrete-filled elements of turbine blades constitute a form (formwork) for concrete, protecting it against environmental influences, and can also cooperate with concrete in transferring loads.

Exploration of Carbon Fiber Concrete with Silica Fume Admixture for Potential Application in Rigid Pavement Systems

Concrete is a crucial material in civil engineering construction, but its traditional components, coarse and fine aggregate, are becoming increasingly expensive and scarce. This study aimed to investigate the potential of replacing cement with silica fumes and fine aggregate with carbon fibers to improve concrete's hardened properties. Different concrete mixes were created with varying percentages of these replacements. The resulting concrete specimens were tested for compression, split, and flexural strength after curing periods of 7 and 28 days.

Eccentric compression performance of coral concrete-filled aluminum alloy tube (CCFAT) circular short columns

Coral concrete, utilizing coral reef bodies in place of traditional aggregates, shows promising prospects use in island projects. The use of aluminum alloy-reinforced coral concrete columns effectively enhances the load-bearing capacity of these structures. This study aims to investigate the performance of aluminum alloy circular tube-reinforced coral concrete short columns under eccentric compression. The study involved designing fifteen short columns for eccentric compression experiments, focusing on key parameters such as aluminum content (α), eccentricity (e0), and coral concrete strength (fc). The study obtained failure modes, bearing capacities, and load-deformation relationships, and analyzed the impacts of aluminum content, eccentricity, coral concrete strength, and hoop coefficient (ξa) on the columns’ strength, stiffness, and ductility. Subsequently, a finite element parameter expansion analysis using Abaqus was performed. Ultimately, a correction coefficient model was developed, compared with existing international specifications, and used to establish a suitable calculation model for the bearing capacity of CCFAT eccentric short columns. The results indicated that CCFAT eccentric short columns predominantly experienced bending failure. The stresses in the aluminum alloy round tube can reach the conditional yield strength, effectively collaborating with the concrete. The load-deformation relationship did not exhibit an intensification stage, and the lateral deflection curves tended to follow sinusoidal half-wave patterns. During the initial loading stage, adherence to the plane-section assumption was observed, with the hoop effect primarily manifesting in the compression zone. The strength index showed an approximately quadratic relationship with ξa, the stiffness index showed a positive correlation with ξa, and the ductility index demonstrated a strong positive association with ξa. The correction coefficient model, along with AIJ (2001), can be employed for calculating the bearing capacity of CCFAT eccentric short columns. This study introduces the novel concept of aluminum alloy tube-reinforced coral concrete columns as a composite structure for island civil engineering construction. Beyond the benefits of traditional steel tube concrete, these composite columns are expected to reduce engineering costs, shorten construction timelines, and address durability concerns through the incorporation of marine coral stones and fragments as concrete aggregates.

Performance evaluation of bamboo species for structural applications using TOPSIS and VIKOR: A comparative study

This study focuses on and investigates bamboo as a workable building material for civil engineering projects. The various bamboo species suitable for the building are identified and their intrinsic mechanical and physical properties are investigated to get a thorough understanding. A detailed methodology is proposed that presents all the steps performed from sample size collection to investigating the characteristics of the bamboo species and demonstrating bamboo's structural capabilities. The study provides insightful and technical knowledge that will be extremely helpful in advancing the sustainable incorporation of bamboo into civil engineering construction methods. The findings have proven that varieties of bamboo with higher density and lower shrinkage rates, such as Thyrsostachys Oliveri (Oliveri), perform superior in structural applications. Multi-criteria decision-making techniques (TOPSIS and VIKOR) revealed Dendrocalamus strictus (Manvel) and Thyrsostachys Oliveri (Oliveri) as top-performing species, making them suitable for structural applications.

Brief analysis of the innovation work in civil engineering technology

Under the new situation, the development process of urbanization is accelerating, the construction industry is developing well, the number and scale of civil engineering projects are gradually expanding, and the construction technology, as the core of the project construction, has always been the focus of people's attention. Because the construction quality will directly affect the safety of personnel, it is necessary to clarify the characteristics of construction technology and improve the existing civil engineering construction technology. Realize the technical innovation of foundation pit construction, prestressed construction, reinforced concrete construction and other links, improve the technical content of engineering construction under the premise of ensuring the construction quality, and extend the service life of the building as far as possible.

The Impact of Renewable Energy on Low Energy Consumption in Civil Engineering Construction

As the main representative of new energy, photovoltaic energy is widely used in civil engineering construction, its purpose is to reduce the energy consumption in the project, there is a deviation in the integration of new energy and civil engineering, and it cannot effectively play its own advantages. Continuously analyze the changes in the energy consumption values of civil engineering. Then, the influencing factors of building energy consumption were introduced, and the covariance matrix was constructed, and the engineering construction benefit was taken as the ultimate goal. When calculating energy consumption, the dual benefits of building benefits are fully considered, and environmental protection and engineering energy consumption are estimated to reduce the error of energy consumption calculation. The results show that new energy can reduce the high energy consumption value in the project, improve the light transmittance, enhance the conversion rate of sunlight, and provide support for the transportation, lighting and thermal insulation of the building, with an increase rate of 10~25%, and the new energy can reduce the cost of civil engineering, with a reduction rate of 19~26%, and improve the economic and social benefits, with an increase of more than 10%. Therefore, new energy can reduce the energy and energy consumption of civil engineering, and expand the scope and application depth of new energy development.

Artificial Neural Network Model for Predicting Mechanical Strengths of Economical Ultra-High-Performance Concrete Containing Coarse Aggregates: Development and Parametric Analysis.

Ultra-high-performance concrete with coarse aggregates (UHPC-CA) has the advantages of high strength, strong shrinkage resistance and a lower production cost, presenting a broad application prospect in civil engineering construction. In view of the difficulty in establishing a mathematical model to accurately predict the mechanical properties of UHPC-CA, the back-propagation artificial neural network (BP-ANN) method is used to fully consider the various influential factors of the compressive strength (CS) and flexural strength (FS) of UHPC-CA in this paper. By taking the content of cement (C), silica fume (SF), slag, fly ash (FA), coarse aggregate (CA), steel fiber, the water-binder ratio (w/b), the sand rate (SR), the cement type (CT), and the curing method (CM) as input variables, and the CS and FS of UHPC-CA as output objectives, the BP-ANN model with three layers has been well-trained, validated and tested with 220 experimental data in the studies published in the literature. Four evaluating indicators including the determination coefficient (R2), the root mean square error (RMSE), the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), and the integral absolute error (IAE) were used to evaluate the prediction accuracy of the BP-ANN model. A parametric study for the various influential factors on the CS and FS of UHPC-CA was conducted using the BP-ANN model and the corresponding influential mechanisms were analyzed. Finally, the inclusion levels for the CA, steel fiber, and the dimensionless parameters of the W/B and sand rate were recommended to obtain the optimal strength of UHPC-CA.

Pelatihan Pembuatan Beton bagi Siswa SMK N 3 Semarang

<div align="justify"><p><em>Concrete is a solid mixture that hardens, consisting of components such as cement, sand, gravel, and water that are mixed. Civil engineering construction is related to concrete, including the construction of roads, buildings, dams, houses, and irrigation channels. Considering the importance of knowledge related to concrete, students of SMK N 3 Semarang who are majoring in construction engineering and housing need to be well informed. Many vocational high school students are still unaware of the proper process of making concrete that meets the desired quality standards. Students of SMKN 3 Semarang, who are expected to be able to work immediately after completing their studies, need to be equipped with knowledge about the concrete-making process. The purpose of this activity is to improve the knowledge of SMKN 3 Semarang students regarding the quality of concrete materials, the making of K-225 quality concrete, and the value of the concrete slump test. The PkM team from Universitas Semarang conducted training on making concrete for SMK N 3 Semarang students using discussion methods and laboratory practice. As a result of this training, the majority of students understand the process of making concrete in terms of material quality, K-225 concrete mix design, and slump test testing.</em></p></div>

A study on civil engineering construction simulation technology based on artificial intelligence for civil buildings

Abstract This research delves into utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) in civil engineering, specifically construction simulations. The primary objective is to reconcile the discrepancies between conventional structural analysis techniques and the actual performance of structures. By integrating AI technologies—neural networks, cellular automata, and support vector machines— with data mining, this research proposes a novel approach for simulating civil building constructions. Traditional methods, often constrained by underlying assumptions, fail to capture the complex behaviors of engineering structures accurately. The developed AI simulation framework utilizes experimental and on-site data to construct digital models, enabling precise prediction of structural behaviors without the limitations of traditional assumptions. Results indicate that AI-enhanced simulations can significantly improve the accuracy of structural analysis, demonstrating potential for wider application in civil engineering. This advancement promises to enhance the predictability, efficiency, and safety of civil constructions, marking a significant step forward in the field.

A Review of Gene-Property Mapping of Cementitious Materials from the Perspective of Material Genome Approach.

As an important gelling material, cementitious materials are widely used in civil engineering construction. Currently, research on these materials is conducted using experimental and numerical image processing methods, which enable the observation and analysis of structural changes and mechanical properties. These methods are instrumental in designing cementitious materials with specific performance criteria, despite their resource-intensive nature. The material genome approach represents a novel trend in material research and development. The establishment of a material gene database facilitates the rapid and precise determination of relationships between characteristic genes and performance, enabling the bidirectional design of cementitious materials' composition and properties. This paper reviews the characteristic genes of cementitious materials from nano-, micro-, and macro-scale perspectives. It summarizes the characteristic genes, analyzes expression parameters at various scales, and concludes regarding their relationship to mechanical properties. On the nanoscale, calcium hydrated silicate (C-S-H) is identified as the most important characteristic gene, with the calcium-silicon ratio being the key parameter describing its structure. On the microscale, the pore structure and bubble system are key characteristics, with parameters such as porosity, pore size distribution, pore shape, air content, and the bubble spacing coefficient directly affecting properties like frost resistance, permeability, and compressive strength. On the macroscale, the aggregate emerges as the most important component of cementitious materials. Its shape, angularity, surface texture (grain), crushing index, and water absorption are the main characteristics influencing properties such as chloride ion penetration resistance, viscosity, fluidity, and strength. By analyzing and mapping the relationship between these genes and properties across different scales, this paper offers new insights and establishes a reference framework for the targeted design of cementitious material properties.

Performance of Iron Ore Tailings/Cement Composite at High Temperatures: Inconbustibility

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the performance of an iron ore tailings/cement composite at high temperatures, used in brick manufacturing. Specifically, it investigates the non-combustibility of the material and its structural integrity after exposure to intense heat, with an emphasis on compressive strength and the economic and sustainable viability of this composite. Theoretical Framework: The research is based on concepts of sustainability in civil construction and the reuse of industrial waste. The literature highlights the synergy between iron ore tailings and Portland cement, resulting in materials with good durability and non-combustibility. Previous studies indicate a reduction in environmental impact and the economic feasibility of using these composites as substitutes for traditional materials, in addition to the importance of maintaining structural strength under extreme conditions. Method: The adopted methodology involves the manufacture of test specimens using CP V-ARI cement and iron ore tailings, molded and cured according to Brazilian standards. Non-combustibility tests are conducted in a muffle furnace at 750°C, measuring temperature variation, smoke emission, and mass loss. Additionally, compressive strength tests are conducted before and after heat exposure to assess material degradation. Results and Discussion: The results indicate that the composite exhibits satisfactory non-combustibility properties, with an average mass loss of 3.1%, well below the permissible limit of 50%. However, a significant loss of 67.5% in compressive strength was observed after exposure to high temperatures. The discussion contextualizes these results, highlighting the need to optimize the composition to minimize strength loss, although non-combustibility remains a positive aspect. Research Implications: Practical implications include the potential use of the composite in environments subject to high temperatures, as a passive fire protection measure. Theoretically, the research contributes to the understanding of the behavior of cementitious composites with industrial waste under extreme conditions, suggesting directions for future studies and applications in civil engineering and sustainable construction. Originality/Value: This study makes an original contribution by exploring the specific combination of iron ore tailings with cement at high temperatures, providing new insights into its applicability and limitations. The relevance of the research lies in the potential reduction of environmental impact and the promotion of sustainable practices in civil construction, as well as enhancing fire safety in buildings.

RECYCLING OF MATERIALS FROM THE EXCAVATION OF THE "POČITELJ" TUNNEL AND INCORPORATION OF THE OBTAINED PRODUCTS IN THE TUNNEL THROUGH CONCRETE AND BLINDING LAYER

In civil engineering or road construction, especially when constructing tunnels, large quantities of excavated material are created. In many cases, this material, if properly treated and processed, can be recycled and reused on site. If this material is not treated as planned from the beginning of the project, but is taken to the landfill and mixed with bad material or construction waste, then when the need for it arises, it is difficult to separate it and return it to the construction process. In the simplest case, the material can be used as an embankment to the extent that it meets the requirements regarding the quality of the embankment material. Better quality material can often be recycled to make fractions for various types of concrete, buffer aggregates or decorative stone walls (architectural stone). In the current example of the "Počitelj" tunnel, through tests of fractions, definition of recipes, recycled material from tunnel excavation was successfully used as aggregate for shotcrete, concrete for inner lining and construction, buffer, bedding for laying pipes and making front slopes from crushed stone. This reduced the purchase and transport of aggregates from local quarries to the minimum possible, thus saving resources, with financial benefit. In summary, through this example, it can be noted that the reuse of tunnel excavation will play an important role for future tunnel projects due to environmental and economic reasons. Keywords: tunnel, excavation, limestone, concrete, blinding layer, recycling

Spatial variability of geotechnical parameters of lateritic gravels in an Olama–Ngomedzap road section in a humid tropical area (Cameroon)

Searching for borrow pits often used during civil engineering constructions is an important step that requires a lot of time and money. The nature of the parent rock, climate, topography, vegetation and time influence the formation of lateritic gravels with different geotechnical properties within the same region. The present study aims at finding the spatial variability of geotechnical parameters of lateritic gravels from two different deposits using a variogram and statistical analysis. Out of 122 lateritic gravel samples collected, 69 were from underdeveloped lithic ferrallitic soils (LFS) and 53 from under developed non-lithic ferrallitic soils (NLFS). The mean values of the coefficient of variation (CV) shows that the geotechnical parameters of LFS-derived lateritic gravels are more dispersed than those developed on NLFS. The fines content, plasticity index (PI) and Californian bearing ratio (CBR) variograms observed mainly in the North and NNE parts of the study area, suggest that, the lateritic gravels in this area have average to good geotechnical characteristics. The principal component analysis (PCA) indicates that the CBR and the maximum dry density (MDD) are inversely related to the optimum moisture content (OMC). The discriminant factor analysis (DFA) coupled to the ascending hierarchical classification (AHC) shows three families of lateritic gravels: (1) class 1/3, lateritic gravels characterized by MDD, CBR, consistency index (CI), gravels content, and plastic limit (PL); (2) class 2/3, lateritic gravels characterized by fines content, and maximum grain diameter (Dmax) and, (3) class 3/3, lateritic gravels characterized by OMC, liquid limit (LL), PI, PL, and fines content, that fit for road construction.

Lap Length of Steel Bars Between Novel Prefabricated Wall and Foundation Floor Structures: Full-Scale Experiment

In the context of promoting environmentally friendly practices, prefabricated components are increasingly utilized in civil engineering design and construction. Prefabricated shear walls, in particular, have become prevalent in contemporary residential and office buildings. Following an economic analysis of the construction steps for prefabricated walls, Shanghai Hengxu Energy Conservation Company developed a novel type of prefabricated wall for use in building basements. This innovative wall consists of two thin plates joined by distributed tie pieces, with an internal steel bar cage positioned between them. The core concrete is cast in place between the plates. The wall is designed to withstand water and soil pressures from underground and connects to the basement floor through overlapping steel bars. The effectiveness of the wall's integration with the foundation floor depends on the lap length of the steel bars, a critical factor in structural design and construction. To optimize the lap length, three full-scale specimens were tested, differentiated by varying steel bar lap lengths: 0.8 lae, 1.0 lae, and 1.2 lae, where lae represents the basic anchorage length. The specimens were subjected to horizontal loading to assess failure modes, crack propagation, load-displacement behaviors, and stress-strain responses of the reinforcements. The experimental results revealed that increasing the lap length of the steel bars beyond 0.8 lae does not significantly enhance the bearing capacity or deformation potential of the specimens.

Automated geometric reconstruction and cable force inference for cable-net structures using 3D point clouds

Laser scanning provides an efficient solution to digital twin construction in civil engineering. The complexity and redundancy of large-scale point clouds substantially prolong the labor-intensive model reconstruction process. This paper presents an automated and high-precision geometric reconstruction approach for cable-net structures with a complete workflow from raw points to the extraction of cable shapes and forces. The strategy involves the extraction of coordinates of key cable regions through the characterization of cable geometry and local registration methods, followed by the computation of cable forces and shapes using segmented catenary theory and nonlinear optimization. The approach is validated with a single-curvature cable-net structure, with the accuracy of cable shapes within ±5 mm and errors in cable forces <5%. The method contributes to health monitoring and rapid reconstruction of cable-net structures. The precise geometry and forces will facilitate the creation of the mechanical models reflecting the physical authenticity of structures.

Gender Discourses in Civil Engineering TVET College programs: Marginalized Female Voices in the Learning of Engineering Concepts

Collectively, the Engineering sector is still the most male-dominated field and most TVET College graduates are males. Why is this even a case when the fourth industrial revolution pushes all livelihood boundaries and ensures that males and females are exposed to similar opportunities in the sector? Of course, there can never be a comprehensive response to this patriarchal question. Hence, this study delved into this societal issue through classroom discourse in a Civil Engineering and Building Construction course at a TVET college in Limpopo Province. This study was premised on the fact that lecturers in the college use “male” examples more than those of women which affects how women perceived the Civil Engineering field. Moreover, this study laid bare the preferences of female students and how they want to be involved in discourses without making reference to gender roles. This study used a qualitative research approach for a case of eleven (11) female students. Data was collected through focused group interviews. The study employed the Social Identity Theory as its framework. The study found that indeed unconscious biases are happening during classroom discourses and that the lecturers seem to be unaware of this. As a recommendation, reskilling, and upskilling of TVET college lecturers is needed as a matter of urgency with a focus on their scholarship of teaching and learning. Universities as close partners to TVET colleges can facilitate these professional development programs. This study contributes to the global discourse on female inclusion in the engineering sector and the pedagogical practices of an engineering educator in a TVET college. Keywords: Classroom discourse, Civil Engineering, Female students, TVET colleges

Development of Z number-based fuzzy inference system to predict bearing capacity of circular foundations

Precise bearing capacity prediction of circular foundations is essential in civil engineering design and construction. The bearing capacity is affected by factors such as depth, density of soil, internal angle of friction, cohesion of soil, and foundation radius. In this paper, an innovative perspective on a fuzzy inference system (FIS) was proposed to predict bearing capacity. The uncertainty of fuzzy rules is eliminated by using Z-number theory. The effective parameters, i.e., depth, density of soil, internal angle of friction, cohesion of soil, and foundation radius were considered as inputs to the proposed model. To compare regression and FIS model with Z-based FIS, statistical indices such as the coefficient of determination (R2), root mean square error (RMSE), and variance account for (VAF) were employed. For training and testing Z-FIS, the R2 was (0.977 and 0.971), the RMSE was (1.645 and 1.745), and the VAF was (98.549% and 98.138), whereas for the FIS method, the values were (0.912 and 0.904), (5.962 and 6.76), and (90.12% and 88.49%). It should be mentioned that Z theory decreased the computational time by 89.28% (174.04 s to 18.65 s). The comparison of the statistical indicators of the presented models revealed the superiority of the Z-FIS model over the FIS. Notably, sensitivity analysis revealed that the most effective parameters on bearing capacity are internal angle of friction, depth, and soil density.

Green Concrete - Study of a Sustainable Construction Material

Abstract: Green concrete represents a ground breaking advancement within the concrete industry. This article focuses on the research and development of an environmentally friendly and sustainable material known as "Green Concrete," which utilizes locally sourced industrial and agricultural waste such as fly ash, slag, and sawdust. It's widely acknowledged that cement and steel, among civil engineering materials, are highly energy-intensive and contribute significantly to CO2 emissions during manufacturing. By incorporating various readily available industrial and agricultural waste materials, Green Concrete is created through partial cement replacement, offering numerous applications in civil engineering constructions