Conventional Construction Methods Research Articles

Global Container Urbanism and Sustainable Urban Development

The crisis of urbanization, marked by rising property values, a lack of affordable housing, and chronic homelessness in cities, has fueled experiments with sustainable alternatives such as shipping container architecture. Shipping container homes are more cost-effective, energy-efficient, ecologically sustainable, versatile, have a lower carbon footprint, and are more durable than conventional construction methods. This study uses semi-structured interviews with container modular firms in selected cities to demonstrate the potential and challenges of construction innovation and the diffusion of container architecture in urban space. The findings call into question the fetishization of environmental friendliness and the allure of rational, mass-produced container homes as a solution to the urban housing crisis. Instead, the study draws attention to the paradox of sustainability, competition, and opposition from the traditional real estate market, regulations, and planning permitting systems, and the standardization-customization divergence of container urbanism.

Enhancing sustainability integration in Sustainable Enterprise Resource Planning (S-ERP) system: Application of Transaction Cost Theory and case study analysis

Environmental stewardship and sustainability have become critical priorities in the contemporary business environment. Corporations are integrating sustainable practices at the business process level via Sustainable Enterprise Resource Planning (S-ERP). However, a recognised shortfall of S-ERP systems lies in their potential inability to integrate sustainability metrics across all business functions holistically. To navigate this limitation, our study introduces the application of Transaction Cost Theory (TCT). By treating business processes as input-output systems, we apply this theory to quantify sustainability likelihood and overall losses. This novel approach bridges the gap, allowing for the comprehensive integration of sustainability metrics across all processes. The essence of our methodology is to leverage static input data collected by S-ERP regarding environmental impact and to extrapolate this data to provide a broader understanding of potential losses and gains. We've tested and validated this approach through two comprehensive case studies; one is about sustainable product design and development, and the other is about the sustainability evaluation of modular versus conventional construction methods. The results inform the formulation of robust sustainability policies at the business process level for systems akin to S-ERP, paving the way for more sustainable business practices.

OHCA-GCN: A novel graph convolutional network-based fault diagnosis method for complex systems via supervised graph construction and optimization

Fault diagnosis is crucial for ensuring the safe and stable operation of complex systems. Recently, graph convolutional network (GCN)-based fault diagnosis method has emerged as a hot research topic due to its ability to effectively handle the association information inherent in the collected dataset. Regarding the method, a fundamental challenge is the construction of the association graph, conventional construction methods struggle to capture the intricate relationships between nodes with complex coupling. Besides, they operate in an unsupervised learning mode, lacking the ability to evaluate and adjust the constructed graph. To handle this challenge, a novel graph convolutional network-based fault diagnosis method via supervised graph construction and optimization (OHCA-GCN) is proposed. Specifically, the supervised orthogonalized-autoencoder is proposed to construct the association graph. Then, a high-order correlation analysis-based graph optimization strategy is proposed to ensure graph sparsity and alleviate the over-smoothing issue. To validate the effectiveness of the proposed method, experiments are carried out on a pulse rectifier dataset from a hardware-in-the-loop platform. The results show that the proposed method exhibits the excellent diagnostic performance compared with the existing methods.

Structure Design and Strength Analysis of the Glass Reinforcement Plastic (GRP) Malay Traditional “Perahu Bedar”

The Perahu Bedar, a traditional fishing boat in the Terengganu region of Malaysia, has been historically crafted from Cengal wood. In response to challenges posed by wood scarcity and limitations in skilled craftsmen, this study pioneers the exploration of Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) as a novel alternative material for constructing the traditional Perahu Bedar, measuring 4.32 meters in length. Through a rigorous analysis, the research delves into the structural design intricacies and strength attributes of the GRP Perahu Bedar, marking a significant departure from conventional wood-based construction methods. The study conducts a comprehensive analysis of the structure design and strength characteristics of the GRP Perahu Bedar. The weight, buoyancy force, and load distribution along the boat are analyzed. The data shows varying weight and buoyancy forces along the stations, with positive load values indicating upward forces contributing to buoyancy and negative load values representing downward forces. This analysis provides insights into the boat’s stability and distribution of forces. The sheer force and bending moment along the Perahu Bedar are evaluated. The sheer force values gradually increase or decrease along the boat, while the bending moment is highest at the midsection and decreases towards the ends. These results indicate the distribution of forces and stress on the boat’s structure, aiding in understanding its integrity and stability. The Factor of Safety (FoS) analysis demonstrates a FoS value of 2.2368, indicating a safety margin greater than 1. This suggests that the GRP Perahu Bedar design meets safety requirements and can withstand applied 
 
 stresses without exceeding yield strength. The FoS value provides assurance of structural integrity and safety during normal operating conditions. In summary, this study underscores the groundbreaking potential of Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) as a viable alternative to traditional wooden Perahu Bedar due to very high cost of Cengal Wood (wood that been used to build Peahu Bedar). By meticulously analyzing critical factors such as weight, buoyancy, load, shear force, bending moment, and Factor of Safety (FoS), the research offers invaluable insights into the structural integrity and safety aspects of GRP Perahu Bedar. These revelations not only herald a new era of sustainable and cost-effective boatbuilding practices but also serve as a crucial step towards safeguarding and perpetuating the rich maritime heritage of the region.

Strategic Integration of a Vegetative Component on a Metal Roof Base: An Evaluation of Its Impacts on Thermal and Acoustic Performance in the Tropics

This paper attempts to ascertain the thermal and acoustic impacts of introducing a vegetative roof layer on insulated and uninsulated metal roofs for tropical climates, through field measurements in Skudai, Johor, Malaysia, that were conducted for both dry and wet days. Four small-scale roof modules were tested, namely an uninsulated metal roof (uiMDR), an insulated metal roof (iMDR), and two identical corresponding modules with an additional vegetative component (uiGR and iGR, respectively). Outdoor ambient temperature (Tamb) was the most influential correlated variable affecting the roof outer surface temperature (RTOS) in 50% of the assessed scenarios. On the selected dry day, the inter-quartile ranges (IQR) of iGR, iMDR, uiGR, and uiMDR were 6.21 °C, 8.32 °C, 6.69 °C, and 1.66 °C, respectively; the IQRs were 1.6 °C, 4.11 °C, 2.59 °C, and 1.78 °C, respectively, on the selected wet day. Based on design U-value calculations, iGR was better than iMDR and uiMDR for both dry and wet days. The U-value of uiGR was also better than iMDR under dry-day conditions. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test also indicated a statistically significant difference in the roof inner surface temperature (RTIS) measurements (p-value = 0.00) during Malaysian daylight hours, between 8.00 a.m. and 6.00 p.m., regardless of the weather. In terms of sound level reduction under dry-day conditions, the Kruskal–Wallis and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests showed statistically significant differences in sound level reductions, with iGR and uiGR performing better than iMDR and uiMDR (p-values = 0.00). The sound level reductions for iGR, iMDR, and uiGR were 51%, 32%, and 31%, respectively, while uiMDR experienced sound level amplifications by 6%, possibly due to the acoustic resonance effect. This proof of concept may encourage a broader application of extensive GRs in Malaysia using metal roofs, beyond the conventional RC base construction method.

The use of containers as a constructive method in buildings: a viable and sustainable alternative

With the increase in environmental concern, alternatives for the use of resources that are less harmful to the environment have been explored, including materials and construction methods. In this context, there is a growing search for new construction processes, especially container buildings, which have gained popularity and acceptance in society, being applied in both commercial and residential contexts. The main attractions for those interested in acquiring a container construction are the reduction of costs and the shortening of the execution time of the work. This is due to the minimization of waste generated during construction and the recycling of metal boxes, which would otherwise remain useless in ports. This advantage goes beyond the economic benefits, contributing to adding sustainable value to the project. This paper aims to discuss the feasibility analysis of the use of containers as a sustainable and financially advantageous proposal compared to conventional methods of structural construction for housing. Through a literature review, evidence of the feasibility and reuse of shipping containers for housing purposes is presented, exploring viable alternatives for the use of waste. The comparative study is based on the parameters established by the National System of Research on Costs and Indices of Civil Construction – SINAPI. The steps include the initial survey of all the improvements and adaptations necessary to provide housing conditions, considering standards of acoustic comfort, lighting, and ventilation. The results indicate that the reuse of the container results in savings of approximately 10% compared to masonry construction. Therefore, this approach has numerous advantages, being a financially viable, fast, and flexible solution for new architectural arrangements, in addition to incorporating architectural innovations aligned with environmental awareness.

Element relationship and extension path of clinical evidence knowledge map with Chinese patent medicine

This study aims to construct the element relationship and extension path of clinical evidence knowledge map with Chinese patent medicine, providing basic technical support for the formation and transformation of the evidence chain of Chinese patent medicine and providing collection, induction, and summary schemes for massive and disorganized clinical data. Based on the elements of evidence-based PICOS, the conventional construction methods of knowledge graph were collected and summarized. Firstly, the data entities related to Chinese patent medicine were classified, and entity linking was performed(disambiguation). Secondly, the study associated and classified the attribute information of the data entity. Finally, the logical relationship between entities was constructed, and then the element relationship and extension path of the knowledge map conforming to the characteristics of clinical evidence of Chinese patent medicine were summarized. The construction of the clinical evidence knowledge map of Chinese patent medicine was mainly based on process design and logical structure, and the element relationship of the knowledge map was expressed according to the PICOS principle and evidence level. The extension path crossed three levels(model layer, data layer application, and new evidence application), and the study gradually explored the path from disease, core evaluation indicators, Chinese patent medicine, core prescriptions, syndrome and treatment rules, and medical case comparison(evolution law) to new drug research and development. In this study, the top-level design of the construction of the clinical evidence knowledge map of Chinese patent medicine has been clarified, but it still needs the joint efforts of interdisciplinary disciplines. With the continuous improvement of the map construction technology in line with the characteristics of TCM, the study can provide necessary basic technical support and reference for the development of the TCM discipline.

INVESTIGATING THE CHALLENGES BETWEEN DESIGNS TO THE REALITY OF DIGITALLY FABRICATED STRUCTURES

Digital fabrication is not only the relation between design and construction but also the relation between thinking and making, which would be established by the use of modern technologies. The study aims to investigate the challenges formed between the two aspects of parametric architecture ‘Design’ and ‘Fabrication’ in India. There are various factors on which this gap depends. These factors would be the cost of construction, building material required for fabrication, and time required for construction compared with the conventional methods of construction. The objective of this study is to understand how digital fabrication will change the way of construction in India, which won’t be restricted to the classroom or only the computer-based design but will work in onsite construction with many different materials with no waste of time and money. The earlier literature focuses on a single aspect which may be either design or fabrication. There are fewer papers available that address both of the aspects comprehensively. The research would get an overview of different perspectives of people towards parametric architecture. This is done by conducting surveys of different practicing architects, students who have done their masters in digital architecture and now practicing, and contractors who are working on parametric construction. The survey was conducted by sending a questionnaire to different practicing architectural firms all over India, the students who have pursued Master’s degrees in digital architecture and professors teaching Master’s degrees in digital architecture who had an interest in parametricism. The data received was analyzed using descriptive statistics. The qualitative data received through the questionnaire was analyzed by identifying patterns and then categorized according to the different answers.

Optimizing the gravitational tree algorithm for many-core processors

ABSTRACT Gravitational N-body simulations calculate numerous interactions between particles. The tree algorithm reduces these calculations by constructing a hierarchical oct-tree structure and approximating gravitational forces on particles. Over the last three decades, the tree algorithm has been extensively used in large-scale simulations, and its parallelization in distributed memory environments has been well studied. However, recent supercomputers are equipped with many CPU cores per node, and optimizations of the tree construction in shared memory environments are becoming crucial. We propose a novel tree construction method in contrast to the conventional top-down approach. It first creates all leaf cells without traversing the tree and then constructs the remaining cells by a bottom-up approach. We evaluated the performance of our novel method on the supercomputer Fugaku and an Intel machine. On a single thread, our method accelerates one of the most time-consuming processes of the conventional tree construction method by a factor of above 3.0 on Fugaku and 2.2 on the Intel machine. Furthermore, as the number of threads increases, our parallel tree construction time reduces considerably. Compared to the conventional sequential tree construction method, we achieve a speed up of over 45 on 48 threads of Fugaku and more than 56 on 112 threads of the Intel machine. In stark contrast to the conventional method, the tree construction with our method no longer constitutes a bottleneck in the tree algorithm, even when using many threads.

Learning multi-satellite scheduling policy with heterogeneous graph neural network

In this paper, we investigate the multi-satellite scheduling (MSS) problem, a combinatorial optimization problem (COP) that aims to enhance satellite utilization. Numerous scholars have conducted in-depth studies on this matter. Handcrafted policies are commonly employed in various algorithms. Despite the use of graphical representations, designing policies manually becomes increasingly difficult, particularly as the number of satellites and tasks grows. Consequently, we propose a novel approach for automatically summarizing graph structures and learning policies for MSS problem. The proposed approach is developed based on graph neural network, Transformer, and sequence to sequence framework. First, MSS problem is modeled as a heterogeneous graph following various constraints. Next, the encoder, which is based on GNN and Transformer, is designed to summarize crucial information from the aforementioned graph. Finally, a two-stage decoder is proposed taking into account dynamic information in stepwise solution generation. Since obtaining optimal solutions in practical applications is challenging, we train the model using reinforcement learning. The results of the experiment demonstrate that our proposed method performs effectively in various scenarios. The quality of the solutions generated through this method transcends that of conventional construction methods. Additionally, the method generates solutions quickly, which are comparable in quality to those produced by meta-heuristic algorithms.

Experimental Study of Reinforced Concrete T-Beam Retrofitted with Ultra-High-Performance Concrete under Cyclic and Ultimate Flexural Loading.

Structurally deficient bridges are commonly retrofitted using conventional methodologies, including reinforced concrete, steel jackets, and fiber-reinforced polymers. Although these retrofit methods aim to improve structural performance, exposure to aggressive environments may undermine the durability performance of the retrofit material. More recently, ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) has provided an alternative to conventional construction methods, with its superior material characteristics favoring its use in retrofit applications. In this study, a large-scale reinforced concrete (RC) T-beam is constructed and artificially damaged. The T-beam is then retrofitted with an external envelope of UHPC on all faces. Sandblasting is introduced to the surface, providing partially exposed reinforcement in the T-beam to simulate material deterioration. Additional reinforcement is placed in the web and flange, followed by casting the enveloping layer of UHPC around the specimen. The feasibility of this method is discussed, and the structural performance of the beam is assessed by subjecting the beam to cyclic and ultimate flexural loading. This paper presents the results of cyclic and ultimate testing on the RC-UHPC composite T-beam regarding load-displacement, failure mode, and strain responses. The retrofitted T-beam specimen is subjected to a cyclic loading range of 131 kN for 1.576 million cycles. Despite no visible cracks in the cyclic testing, the specimen experiences a 12.22% degradation in stiffness. During the ultimate flexural testing, the specimen shows no relative slip between the two concretes, and the typical flexural failure mode is observed. By increasing the longitudinal reinforcement ratio in the web, the failure mode can shift from localized cracking, predominantly observed in the UHPC shell, toward a more distributed cracking pattern along the length of the beam, which is similar to conventional reinforced concrete beams.

A comparative analysis of energy and lifecycle greenshouse gas emissions prefabricated building modules

Prefabrication is considered to provide improved environmental performance over traditional building construction. This paper provides evidence of the performance improvements of prefab construction by quantifying the embodied energy of modular prefabricated steel and timber multi-residential buildings. To this end, a benchmarking study is performed to ascertain the improved environmental performance of this method over conventional concrete construction methods. Furthermore, this paper assesses the potential benefits of material reusability in terms of reducing the space required for landfill, as well as the need for additional resources. It was found that a steel-structured prefabricated system resulted in reduced material consumption of up to 78% by mass compared to conventional concrete construction. However, the prefabricated steel building resulted in a significant increase (∼50%) in embodied energy compared to the concrete building. It was shown that there was significant potential for the reuse of materials in the prefabricated steel building, representing up to an 81% saving in embodied energy and 51% materials saving by mass.

A comparative analysis of energy and lifecycle greenshouse gas emissions prefabricated building modules

Prefabrication is considered to provide improved environmental performance over traditional building construction. This paper provides evidence of the performance improvements of prefab construction by quantifying the embodied energy of modular prefabricated steel and timber multi-residential buildings. To this end, a benchmarking study is performed to ascertain the improved environmental performance of this method over conventional concrete construction methods. Furthermore, this paper assesses the potential benefits of material reusability in terms of reducing the space required for landfill, as well as the need for additional resources. It was found that a steel-structured prefabricated system resulted in reduced material consumption of up to 78% by mass compared to conventional concrete construction. However, the prefabricated steel building resulted in a significant increase (∼50%) in embodied energy compared to the concrete building. It was shown that there was significant potential for the reuse of materials in the prefabricated steel building, representing up to an 81% saving in embodied energy and 51% materials saving by mass.

Application of modular construction technologies in the design of hotel and hostel buildings

The construction of modular hotels is part of a new construction trend that has been gaining momentum over the past few decades. Due to the relative novelty of this trend, there is an insufficient number of scientific studies in the scientific space that consider the use of modular technologies. This article discusses the features of modular construction technology in general and in particular for hotel construction; traces the history and development of modular construction, presents a brief analysis of research by scientists, considers the experience of using modular technology in hotel design, identifies the main advantages of modular technology, and explores the role of modular construction in the development of the hotel industry. Modular construction technology is gaining popularity in the modern world and is becoming an increasingly common alternative to other conventional construction methods due to the ability to create a simple alternative to brick buildings without the need for heavy machinery. This construction method is successfully used for the construction of buildings of various types and purposes. The essence of this technology lies in the process of erecting buildings from prefabricated blocks - modules. Since these blocks are manufactured in factories and transported to the construction site for assembly, the construction process using this construction method is much faster than others, and this is despite the fact that the technology ensures all design and construction standards, and the cost can be significantly lower. Modular construction is a construction technology that involves the assembly of elements manufactured off-site by producing bulk modular units. This technology involves the use of various structural systems and building materials. The main advantages of modular hotel construction include increased productivity and safety at work, reduced overall construction schedule, environmental friendliness, cost optimization, and quick commissioning. These advantages ensure high profits for investors and construction companies. However, if the implementation of a modular project is subject to significant delays due to unforeseen circumstances, on-site construction may be a more efficient solution. Today, the use of modular technologies in hotel construction can be called a necessary evolutionary step for the development and efficiency of the hotel industry.

In-plane shear behaviour of concrete sandwich panels reinforced with various geogrids

Seismic occurrences have caused severe damage and even the collapse of fragile unreinforced masonry structures. New technologies are replacing these conventional methods of construction; concrete sandwich panels (CSP) are one such technique gaining popularity. In-plane diagonal shear strength of concrete sandwich panels is studied experimentally, and the effect of incorporating geogrids on the deformation capability and load-bearing capacity is reported. Two forms of geogrid material, plastic uniaxial geogrid (PUG) and polyester biaxial geogrids (PBG2 and PBG3) are used to improve the strength and ductility of concrete sandwich panels. Diagonal compression tests have been carried out better to understand the behavior of CSP under in-plane strength. This paper also discusses the effect of the different mixes, the effect of geogrids, load-deformation behaviour, shear capacity, deflection ductility factor, mode of failure, shear strength, and energy dissipation. In contrast to the control specimen, specimens cast with plastic geogrid had a 13.7% and 26% improvement in shear capacity and load-bearing capability for the two types of micro-concrete mixes used in this study. The conclusion reached is that plastic uniaxial geogrid is effective in improving the concrete sandwich panels’ load-bearing capacity, shear capacity, and deformation ability. Polyester biaxial geogrids enhanced the ductility of the concrete sandwich panels.

Cost Analysis and Economical Suitability of Prefabricated Concrete Structures in Building Construction

Construction industry of Pakistan has a great contribution in uprising the GDP of the country. When compared with the construction industries of some developed countries of the world it still lacks in utilizing the modern methods of construction. Most of the organizations are relying on traditional ways of construction and are not ready to equip themselves with the advanced techniques of construction that may help them do their projects more effectively and efficiently. Prefabrication is the future of modern and sustainable construction which can maximize the capability of constructing the structures without compromising not only the time, cost and quality of project but also the environment. Prefabrication is rapidly increasing in construction, and previous researchers have identified various positive impacts of prefabrication on projects. However, prefabricated construction is less preferred over traditional methods of construction in Pakistan. Therefore, a comparison is required between conventional RCC building and a prefabricated (precast RCC) building to unearth the potential benefits of adopting prefabrication on overall cost of project. To achieve this, a BIM based multi-dimensional model of conventional and prefabricated building is developed using Autodesk Revit. A detailed comparison between both the methods of construction with respect to material, labor, transportation and time made the benefits of prefabricated construction clear over conventional construction. Prefabrication method is 84% faster and costs about 13.46% less than conventional method of construction. This comprehensive contrast will help to better understand and encourage the construction industry to move towards the prefabricated construction.

Cost Effective Methods in Construction Engineering

The economic impact of construction cost overrun is a possible loss of the economic justification for the project. The financial impact of a cost overrun results in demand for construction investment credits. Therefore reliable estimates of construction cost are an important aspect to the contemporary construction companies especially during the conceptual phase of lifecycle management. In this paper a cost-effective analysis is done using one of the cost effective construction technique called Rat Trap Bond versus Flemish bond and when estimated with CPWD 2012 schedule of rates it is proved that Low cost techniques such as rat trap bond provides better cost effectiveness as compared to conventional Flemish bond construction method.

Axial deformation of early-age concrete-filled steel tubular columns under multi-stage loading

The continuous construction scheme for concrete-filled steel tubular structures in practice is time-saving and cost-effective in comparison to the conventional moulding construction methods, whilst this also results in complex stress conditions and working mechanisms in the early-age concrete-filled steel tubes (CFSTs) during construction. This investigation aims to explore the influence of continuous construction process on the axial compressive behaviour of early-age CFSTs as subject to multi-stage loading schemes. Eight short square early-age CFST columns are designed and tested. The axial deformation evolutions of CFSTs are analyzed for different load parameters including the initial stress of steel tube, loading time interval and load magnitude. The test results show that the deformation of early-age CFSTs varies significantly with various load parameters. Excessive deformation can be observed during the multi-stage loadings due to the local buckling of the steel tube. Based on the shrinkage and creep model of concrete, a theoretical algorithm for calculating the relationship between the deformation of early-age CFST and the age of concrete is developed. Furthermore, a simplified calculation method for the deformation of early-age CFST under multi-stage loading is proposed that can realistically describe the deformation of early-age CFSTs under continuous construction process. The research findings lay a foundation for the deformation control and safety assessment of CFST under continuous construction scheme.

Non-destructive tests to evaluate the self-healing capacity for a 3D printing ECC material

The conventional construction sector is the one that generates CO2 emissions, as well as waste generation. Faced with this problem, 3D printing has positioned itself as an alternative. Therefore, in recent years, interest in cement-based material for 3D printing has increased in the construction sector as a partial or total replacement for conventional construction methods. However, 3D printing, despite being a novel technique, has some drawbacks, one of the biggest threats being the generation of cracks or microcraks that appears by the transport or the design of the 3D printed figures. These cracks can cause major structural and durability problems in the final application. Numerous materials have been developed to meet the requirements of 3D printing. Nevertheless, there are few publications on materials that are able to be printed in 3D and have an autogenous self-healing capacity. Therefore, in this study, we are working on the development of an Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC) material, also known as Strain Hardening Cementitious Composites (SHCC) that has the characteristics to achieve structural integrity, durability, reliability, and robustness of 3D printing (ECC-A3D).This paper describes the experimental procedure of an ECC material in two different environments (at room temperature, 34 ± 2% RH and 20 ± 2 °C, and curing chamber 98 ± 2% RH and 20 ± 2 °C). The characterization of the ECC-A3D material is studied by fresh properties, consistency, open time, extrudability and buildability and hardened properties, compressive and flexural strength up to 90 days. A 3D printing material has been achieved that reaches a value of 16.54 MPa and 50.82 MPa in flexural and compression at the hydration age of 28 days at room temperature, and 17.13 MPa and 58.26 MPa in curing chamber. The self-healing behavior of ECC is evaluated by three non-destructive methods: absorption and sorptivity tests, optical microscopy, and micro-computed tomography, confirming a reduction in absorption and crack healing during hydration time.

Comparative Study to Assess the Thermal Behaviour of Sandwich Roof Panels with Coconut Fibre as an Alternative Core Material to Polyurethane

Sandwich panels (modular panels) promote optimal solutions to some major issues prevailing in the construction industry such as increased energy consumption by building elements, excessive disposal of constructional waste and unproductive time spent during construction. Hence, the inclination towards sandwich elements has been increased vastly deviating from conventional building construction materials and methods. However, the potentiality of using locally available natural materials for the development of sandwich panels is a salient sustainable approach that needs to be addressed. This study evaluates the current and potential materials used in modular panels and key properties of sandwich panels including mechanical, thermal insulation, and sound insulation properties. Moreover, various test methods followed, and standards specified to investigate the mechanical, thermal and acoustic insulation properties are also discussed. The possibility of using coconut fibre as a locally available natural alternative core material to polyurethane core of sandwich panels has been evaluated using simulations based on the material properties obtained from literature. The study identifies coconut fibre as a potential alternative core material for sandwich roof panels as it reflects nearly similar thermal behaviour to polyurethane.