Building Elements Research Articles

Comportamento higrotérmico de tijolo cerâmico de olaria do sul do Brasil

Abstract The presence of moisture in buildings can lead to pathological manifestations, and the behavior of materials when exposed to various conditions can be predicted through computational simulations. For this purpose, the hygrothermal characteristics of building elements are paramount. In Brazil, there is a gap in studies on the hygrothermal properties of materials, compromising simulations. This article discusses the possibilities of using European data in simulating moisture transport in ceramic brick walls in the southern region of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The results were generated by comparing hygrothermal simulations with WUFI Pro 6.5 using the simulation program database with data collected from laboratory tests on ceramic bricks from a southern Brazilian brickyard. Tests for water vapor diffusion resistance, water absorption, and hygroscopic curves were conducted. Although both situations led to the growth of filamentous fungi, experimental data led to3% lower values compared to database results. Regarding surface condensation, a likely higher occurrence was observed when using laboratory test data.

The Role of Earthquake-Resistant Building Elements in Parametric Architecture Design; Balancing Aesthetics and Performance

The Role of Earthquake-Resistant Building Elements in Parametric Architecture Design; Balancing Aesthetics and Performance

Adhesive paperboard connections in architectural applications: modelling, characterization, and performance assessment

ABSTRACT Paper-based elements have been researched as cheap and pro-ecological building materials for several decades and bonding is the most widely used method of joining them. However, adhesives may increase the cost, weight, and environmental impact of the component. The suitability of different adhesive types for paper-based building component bonding has not yet been researched. This work evaluates the properties of six types of commercially available adhesives – polyvinyl acetate, dextrin, and synthetic rubber. The results of single-lap tensile tests served as the input for a Goland–Reissner model of adhesive stresses. The elastic properties of the adhesives were estimated based on tensile test results – Shear modulus ranging from 0.626 to 1.097 MPa and Young’s modulus from 0.703 to 2.940 MPa. The modelled shear strength ranged from 1.1922 to 1.6115 MPa and the peel strength from 0.3265 to 0.5894 MPa. Recommendations for adhesive use in paper-based building elements are formulated. Polyvinyl acetate adhesives may be recommended for general use; however, the use of starch/dextrin adhesives should not be neglected. The presented work successfully demonstrates a methodology to obtain properties of adhesives for the mechanical assessment of the bonds from simple tensile tests of single-lap joints.

Enhancing Knowledge Sharing on Social Media: The Role of Functionalities in User Engagement and Information Quality

This study investigates functionalities on social media platforms that promote effective knowledge sharing, focusing on information quality and user engagement. A systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted to analyze relevant research. The findings reveal that functionalities like content creation and curation tools, user interaction and feedback mechanisms, community building and gamification elements, and knowledge filtering and recommendation systems all contribute to a positive knowledge-sharing environment. These functionalities empower users to create high-quality content, engage in discussions that refine information, and discover trustworthy sources. The study highlights the potential of social media platforms for knowledge sharing but acknowledges that the effectiveness of functionalities can vary depending on the platform and audience. Future research is recommended to explore the most impactful functionalities in specific contexts and the interplay between functionalities, user behavior, and information quality.

Finite Tube Method for buckling analysis of tubular members using Fourier-approximation for the displacements

In this paper an efficient numerical method for the static analysis of cylindrical tubes is introduced. The method is designed for the linear buckling analysis of wind turbine support towers which are, most typically, built up from conical and/or cylindrical cans. Accordingly, the developed method uses cylindrical tube segments as elementary building blocks, along with specialized shape functions, and is named the Finite Tube Method. Within a tube segment the displacements are approximated by two-dimensional Fourier series. The curved nature of the surface is directly considered in the kinematic equations. The segments are joined and/or supported to the ground by constraint equations or by elastic links. In the current implementation internal stresses are determined in a simplified way: the circumferential stress distributions are calculated from the internal forces/moment by classic strength of material formulae, while the longitudinal distribution within each segment is quadratic. The considered internal forces/moments are: normal force, shear force, bending moment, and torsional moment. The internal forces can be arbitrarily combined. In the paper the underlying derivations are briefly summarized, then the method is demonstrated and validated by numerical examples, comparing the results to analytical and alternative numerical solutions. The authors are actively developing the method and will provide future work on utilization of the method for buckling mode identification and decomposition, as well as practical advancements to make the method a useful tool in the engineering design and analysis of wind turbine support towers.

New data about the stability of skills for creating clay vessel shapes

The article analyzes the relative stability of skills for creating the shapes of clay vessels, both wheel-made and hand-made ones. Sources of the study included a series of “identical” vessels that were made as part of experiments conducted by employees of the Joint Team for Pottery Study in the 1970s and the Samara Expedition for the experimental study of ancient pottery in 2019–2022. Shape parameters have been identified that exhibit the greatest stability, regardless of the method of making the vessel, the type of building elements and the skill level of a craftsman. These parameters are the inclination angles of the lateral line of the shoulder-brachium frame and the body. The results of the study lead to the conclusion that these parameters can be considered as the most reliable for making conclusions based on the pottery shapes about the degree of cultural and ethnocultural homogeneity of the population groups that left archaeological sites.

3D printable earth-based alkali activated “ink”: Effect of alkali concentration and binder-to-aggregate ratio

This research attempts to investigate the effect of activator concentration (4 mol/L (M) and 8M) and binder-to-aggregate (B:A) ratio (ranging from 1:1 to 1:3 by weight) on extrudability and buildability of 3D printable natural earth-based alkali-activated materials (EAAM). It is found that natural clay in soil, used to replace 25 % of M-sand, imparts higher thixotropy, evident from 90 to 100 % recovery in viscosity compared to 65–80 % for corresponding control (containing only M-sand and no soil). Presence of clay increases the dynamic yield stress than control but reduces the plastic viscosity by 80 – 90 % in EAAM compared to corresponding control where interlocking between sand particles resists smooth extrusion of the material. EAAMs made with 8M NaOH have higher flow retention and maintain 95–100 % recovery in viscosity for longer duration than 4M EAAM. This contributes to superior extrusion quality of 8M EAAM than 4M EAAM. The findings suggest that binder content can be reduced as concentration of NaOH is increased from 4M to 8M. This is evident from lower layer deformation (0.09 % of original height) under self-weight and higher 3D printed buildable height of at least 457 mm in 8M EAAM with B:A of 1:2 compared to a maximum of 375 mm for 4M EAAM at higher B:A of 1:1. Ratios of wet compressive strength to dry compressive strength vary between 0.92 and 1.09 in 8M EAAM compared to 0.79 – 0.85 for 4M EAAM at 28-day age, suggesting lower sensitivity to moisture due to improved clay stabilization. Based on the strength and moisture sensitivity, the developed material can serve as a low-carbon and durable alternative to Portland cement in the construction of masonry elements in buildings, including cavity walls, panels, flooring tiles and façade members.

Risk of rainfall caused leaching from bio-composite material based building façades into the aquatic environment

The increasing focus on sustainability and circularity is driving the global production of environmentally friendly products. The Netherlands started producing new bio-composite materials which are created by reclaiming resources from various sectors of the water industry. These materials can be used for a variety of applications including façade elements in buildings. However, their potential environmental impact, particularly with regard to leaching of potentially harmful substances into surface water, necessitates further evaluation. To address this issue, a systematic environmental risk assessment methodology combined with novel experimental data is presented here. To collect this data, façade panels made of two different bio-composite materials were first subjected to a series of laboratory tests, including analysis in both new and weathered forms, the latter subject to a cyclic UV radiation and high humidity, in order to simulate the effects of aging. Leaching tests were then conducted to determine the potential release of specific chemical substances such as heavy metals and resin compounds, under two different rainfall conditions (every day and more extreme). The data generated this way was used to perform the risk assessment using the existing European ERA framework. The results obtained reveal different leaching behaviour of the new and weathered samples, as well as between the two analysed bio-composite materials, depending on the rain intensity. To overcome the uncertainties caused by the limited input data, a sensitivity analysis was carried out whereby leaching concentrations and rainfall intensities were varied and their influence on the environmental risk was assessed. The results obtained demonstrated that, despite some variability, both materials appear safe to use, i.e., with estimated risks below the established safety threshold. While these findings provide a preliminary indication, they are based on laboratory conditions and assumptions hence further field studies are recommended to obtain more definitive conclusions.

Android-based framework for condition assessment of existing RC hospital buildings

Rapid visual screening (RVS) is a practically viable tool implemented all over the world to rank structures based on their seismic vulnerability. Seismic assessment of hospital buildings is essential in seismic-prone regions to ensure their structural integrity and readiness to provide emergency care and medical treatment after significant seismic events. Therefore, in the current study, an approach is developed that is similar to the proven methodologies reported in the literature, for the seismic evaluation of structural and non-structural elements of hospital buildings in a metropolitan city like Karachi. Karachi is located in the southwest of Pakistan and is vulnerable to earthquake and tsunami hazards. To this end, an android-based RVS system has been developed for large-scale seismic risk mapping of hospital buildings. The proposed system acquires the physical status of the building features in real time and identifies the building performance obtained from the calculated seismic risk index. Moreover, three case study hospital buildings were employed and analysed through the proposed RVS system. Results illustrate the performance of case study hospital buildings at organisational, structural and non-structural levels based on seismic risk indices.

Research and scholarly methods: Research collaboration

AbstractThe pursuit of research and scholarly productivity is critical for clinician scientists, yet achieving impactful outcomes often necessitates collaboration within a well‐structured team. This review explores the foundational elements of team building that support sustained research productivity among health care professionals and academicians. Drawing on principles from team science, the importance of establishing a shared vision and mission, fostering authentic relationships, and creating an efficient infrastructure to enhance and sustain collaborative efforts is discussed. The four stages of team development—forming, storming, norming, and performing—are examined to provide insights into the dynamic nature of teamwork. Emphasizing the need for intentional practices, we highlight methods for identifying and integrating team members, managing conflicts, and leveraging diverse skill sets to achieve collective goals. Best practices for sustaining research teams, including the implementation of SMART (Specific, Measurable, Assignable, Realistic, Time‐related) goals, regular retreats, and strategic alignment of activities to maximize output are also discussed. Two collaborative teams are used as exemplars to illustrate the successful application of these principles, resulting in significant scholarly output. By understanding and applying the concepts of team building, clinician scientists can enhance their research output, contribute to the advancement of health care, and achieve a fulfilling and sustainable career.

Assessing the Environmental Impact of Demountable Space-Dividing Walls: A Scenario Analysis Approach in a Semi-Detached Case Study Dwelling

The transition towards sustainable construction is crucial, and demountable building elements are frequently advocated for achieving this goal. While these elements offer relocatability during refurbishments, their adoption may increase initial environmental impact due to higher material use and steel connections. To address this, a quantitative assessment of demountable building elements in refurbishment scenarios at the building level is needed, filling a gap in the existing literature. This study bridges the gap by comparing the total environmental impact of demountable and traditional space-dividing walls in refurbishment scenarios for a semi-detached dwelling. Using a life cycle assessment, seven space-dividing wall types, including metal studs, wood structures, and masonry walls, are evaluated under four refurbishment scenarios spanning a 60-year building lifespan. The results reveal that traditional metal stud walls have a lower environmental impact in scenarios with limited refurbishments. In contrast, demountable walls become more environmentally beneficial only when refurbishing at least 60% of the wall area with three or more refurbishments. This conclusion was further validated through sensitivity analysis on the refurbishment rate, refurbished area, and impact assessment method. In this study, the assumed environmental benefits of demountable walls are challenged, providing a robust evaluation in a specific building typology and offering insights for policymakers and industry professionals on the environmental implications of incorporating demountable building elements.

Analysis of Cement properties using Hyperspectral Remote Sensing methods

Abstract. Understanding building material properties can play a key role in analyzing the health of structural elements in buildings. However, the field and laboratory tests can be laborious, time-consuming, and cost-intensive. Generally, the standard tests employed for characterizing the material properties are destructive in nature, but in the recent past, non-destructive testing (NDT) has given us the ease of understanding the material properties. Hyperspectral remote sensing technology has been exploited as one of the NDT methods for assessing the properties of building components. This study aims to investigate the quality information about cement using the hyperspectral remote sensing method and correlate it with the results of traditional quality testing methods. The materials used in the experiments included Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), Portland Pozzolana Cement (PPC), and White Portland Cement (WPC). The cement samples were studied and experimented with for the identification of their types, and their temporal variability and changes in their spectral properties on which the strength of the samples depended were further checked. The study concluded that for OPC, PPC, and WPC, the absorption range is 1970 nm to 2020 nm, which is mainly due to the presence of different chemical compounds in cement. Also, the spectral reflectance decreases with time, and it can be concluded that in the present work, the strength of cement decreases with the decrease in spectral reflectance. Hence, Cement properties can be found using hyperspectral remote sensing data.

Predicting refractive index of inorganic compounds using machine learning

Refractive index (RI) is one of the most important optical properties of materials. Due to the high importance of this physical parameter, there has always been a demand to find a method that provides the most optimal estimation. In this research, we utilize experimentally measured RI values of 272 inorganic compounds to build a machine learning model capable of predicting the RI of materials with low computational cost. Considering the significant relationship between the band gap and RI, we select this parameter as a predictor. In addition to the band gap, the atomic properties related to the building elements of the compounds form our data set in this work. To find the most optimal model and set of suitable predictors, we examine our data in four categories with 1, 5, 10, and 21 features. In addition, we compare the predicted RIs of 6 different independent regression methods, namely, ordinary least squares (OLSR), Gaussian process (GPR), support vector (SVR), random forest (RFR), gradient boosted trees (GBTR), and extremely randomized trees regression(ERTR). We notice that ERTR predicts RI with the highest accuracy compared to other regression methods. The prediction strength of our model excels in empirical relations and provides accurate results for a wide range of RIs. Thus, we demonstrate the high potential of machine learning methods for evaluating the RI, especially when it comes to providing an estimation of a desired physical quantity.

Historical Architecture and BIM Modelling: Between Representation of Reality and Conceptual Abstraction

The essay aims to explore the applications of BIM to design regarding historic buildings, which will become mandatory in Italy from 2025 for public works above €1 million. Despite the advantages in coordinated data management and information sharing among the actors involved in contracts, problems related to the geometric representation and semantic definition of the virtual entities that populate the models have been recognized by the scientific community. Critical issues that have emerged from the study of significant experiences can be traced back to the difficulty of adapting tools designed for the projects of new buildings to the characteristics of the cultural heritage. In particular, the complexity of proposing congruent categorisations and parameterisations seems related to only partial correspondence between historical building components, IFC classes and BIM software categories. These limitations often lead to the identification of contingent solutions and expedients, which solve only the problems of geometric representation. In contrast, the ability to adequately share information stored in databases, interoperable through the IFC format, is conveyed by an appropriate semantic description. Formal representation in the BIM environment effectively refers to standardized industrial production, reproducibility of building elements and, more generally, to the goals of globalisation. Thus, the proposed reflections aim to encourage a conscious use of these tools and to outline implementation perspectives useful to bring the digital environment closer to the concrete reality of historical architecture, unique and irreproducible in origin and transformation, often realized through artisanal processes and anchored to specific contexts in multiple aspects.

Building usage prediction in complex urban scenes by fusing text and facade features from street view images using deep learning

Building usage maps are inputs to many urban planning applications, however, the existing methods and the available data have limitations in generating instance-level high-resolution usage maps. In this study we tackle this problem by utilizing Street View Images (SVIs) and proposing a novel ensemble learning architecture that leverages building facade features and text extracted from hoardings, posters, etc. on buildings to predict the usage class. A pre-trained object detection model i.e., Grounding DINO, is implemented to efficiently identify buildings. A novel manually labeled training data of detected buildings corresponding to their usage is used to extract features from building facades across diverse Indian cities (Hyderabad, Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi) using Vision Transformer (ViT) model. Following this, CLIPSeg a pre-trained segmentation model is used to recognizes text specifically on building elements like signs, posters, and banners. We then leverage GPT-3.5 Turbo, a Large Language Model (LLM), fine-tuned with a specifically designed few-shot prompting method, to infer building usage from the recognized text. To achieve optimal performance, the proposed ensemble linear metaclassifier combines predictions from ViT and LLM model. The predicted building usages are attributed to their corresponding locations to develop spatial maps. An analysis of our framework compared against ground truth data collected from various Indian cities reveals significantly accurate outcomes. Our findings highlight the utility of textual information in classifying utilities and commercial buildings, while features extracted from vision models prove more informative for residential buildings. Our approach can automate the generation of roadside building attributes and usage details on a larger scale.

Application of Experimental Studies of Humidity and Temperature in the Time Domain to Determine the Physical Characteristics of a Perlite Concrete Partition

These days, the use of natural materials is required for sustainable and consequently plus-, zero- and low-energy construction. One of the main objectives of this research was to demonstrate that pelite concrete block masonry can be a structural and thermal insulation material. In order to determine the actual thermal insulation parameters of the building partition, in situ experimental research was carried out in real conditions, taking into account the temperature distribution at different heights of the partition. Empirical measurements were made at five designated heights of the partition with temperature and humidity parameters varying over time. The described experiment was intended to verify the technical parameters of perlite concrete in terms of its thermal insulation properties as a construction material used for vertical partitions. It was shown on the basis of the results obtained that the masonry made of perlite concrete blocks with dimensions of 24 × 24.5 × 37.5 cm laid on the mounting foam can be treated as a building element that meets both the structural and thermal insulation requirements of vertical single-layer partitions. However, it is important for the material to work in a dry environment, since, as shown, a wet perlite block has twice the thermal conductivity coefficient. The results of the measurements were confirmed, for they were known from the physics of buildings, the general principles of the formation of heat and the moisture flow in the analysed masonry of a perlite block. Illustrating this regularity is shown from the course of temperature and moisture in the walls. The proposed new building material is an alternative to walls with a layer of thermal insulation made of materials such as polystyrene or wool and fits into the concept of sustainable construction, acting against climate change, reducing building operating costs, improving living and working conditions as well as fulfilling international obligations regarding environmental goals.

Проєктування цементобетонного покриття на залізобетонній плиті мостового полотна автодорожніх мостів

ntroduction. Road bridges are an important part of the road network of the transport infrastructure of Ukraine. Nowadays a large number of road bridges do not meet the modern requirements for ensuring road traffic safety and structural reliability of building elements. Problems. It was established that there is a need to develop a method of designing a cement-concrete coating on a reinforced concrete slab of the carriageway of road bridges Goal. To propose an approach for designing a cement-concrete coating on a reinforced concrete slab of the carriageway of road bridges. Results. The strength calculation was performed when assessing the limit state of the cement-concrete coating in terms of crack resistance from the joint action of vehicles and temperature changes. The measures of damage to the cement-concrete coating on the reinforced concrete slab of the carriageway of road bridges due to tensile stresses arising from the action of pneumatic wheels of vehicles were determined. Conclusions. The paper proposes approaches to the design of a cement-concrete coating on a reinforced concrete slab of the carriageway of road bridges

Sound insulation characterisation of innovative natural ventilated façade in the context of living lab installations

Building acoustic standards like EN 14351 and ISO 10140 regulate the measurement of sound insulation of transparent elements, with indications of the test sample dimensions, test conditions, and criterions of adaptations of the results to different on-site conditions. However, given the research on innovative transparent building envelope including internal ventilation as double skin facades, these methodologies present limitations related to the characterization of the high variability of operating conditions in real in-field conditions. To this aim the acoustic performance could be explored with more flexible methods inside the multi-domain context of Living Labs, which present an opportunity for multiple characterizations and testing costs reduction. This work investigates the possibility of using the sound-intensity probe method to evaluate the airborne sound insulation of a transparent building element with internal ventilation. For this purpose, a comparative measurement campaign has been performed on the same building element installed in two Living Labs. The results show good compatibility between the different measurements and scales supporting the application of this methodology for comparative studies in the perspective of innovative building components measurements, and the application in Living Labs.

Applying acoustical criteria to architectural projects

The requirements for building acoustics should be integrated into the architectural project as early as the preliminary design phase.The materials, densities and thicknesses used in the manufacture of building elements vary from country to country. Therefore, in each country there are building products with different sound insulation properties resulting from the different characteristics of the building elements. We are developing a local building element database addin for a BIM programme that the architect can easily insert into the project by classifying the sound insulation properties of the building elements used in Turkey according to their thickness, density and layer properties, which are determined by calculation or measurement. In the future, we plan to integrate additional properties of the building elements, such as fire resistance, sustainability and cost information, which will facilitate the design of the building.

Measured and predicted sound transmission through a laboratory concrete floor

The direct sound transmission through a simple, massive, homogeneous building element with and without lining is investigated experimentally and compared with analytical and empirical models from the literature. A 150 mm thick concrete floor and a 100 mm thick floating floor were measured in the floor transmission facility of the National Research Council Canada, i.e. without flanking sound transmission. In addition to the sound reduction index and the normalized impact sound pressure level, loss factors, radiation efficiencies, and mean squared velocities were recorded in the laboratory. The measured data is compared to established models of sound transmission. A focus is placed on the calculation model of ISO 12354-1 (Appendix B), which uses calculated radiation efficiencies and loss factors to predict the sound reduction index of heavy, homogeneous building elements. Some difficulties with the calculation model and the examples in the standard are discussed. In principle, the results in this study show that the calculation model of ISO 12354-1 gives good estimates when the correct input parameters are used. However, deviations between the calculated and the measured loss factors and radiation efficiencies have large effects on the accuracy of the estimates, particularly in the region around the coincidence frequency.