Engineering Infrastructure Research Articles

The digital twin framework: A roadmap to the development of user- centred digital twin in the built environment

With the prompt digital revolution in architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC), it is crucial to set the early practical steps for advanced digital technology namely digital twin technology. Although theoretical evidence on the potential of digital twins exists in AEC scope, the practical framework to the construction and operation of user-centred digital twin is yet to be investigated. Hence, this applied research investigates systematic methods and techniques for the construction and enablement of a user-centred digital twin paving the way to advanced digital applications in AEC centred on the user of the built environment. As a result, the framework unleashes a systematic roadmap to the creation and development of a city-scale digital twin centred on the human and capable of describing, analyzing, and assessing a built context per its users and usability manner. Further, the framework pours the foundations for a spectrum of digital twin applications in the scope of architectural design, building construction, infrastructure engineering, and facility management. The production of this research is foreseen to outline a systematic and transferable framework for the construction and enablement of a user-centred digital twin.

A system readiness approach to support the packaging and scaling of innovation bundles for farming systems transformation

CONTEXTA newly established ‘systemic approach to technology packaging’ for improved scaling has emerged in the literature. This approach suggests that core transformative innovations can be scaled more effectively through scaling readiness, which helps identify complementary innovations that support and facilitate the scalability of the core innovation. Since these packaging approaches start with single core innovations, we propose that they can benefit from the broader literature on sustainable agricultural systems transformation and readiness. OBJECTIVEThe objective of this paper is to advocate for a more comprehensive packaging of innovations for sustainable agricultural system transformations by better understanding gaps in the agricultural system – and its capacity for change. This approach provides a stronger rationale for the selection of relevant innovations to be packaged together. We introduce the concept of agricultural ‘system readiness’ as a possible framework for guiding such bundles. METHODSThe paper begins with a comprehensive literature review that identifies the current gaps in tools and methods to guide system transformation. It also focuses on the specific literature on innovation packaging for scaling, and builds on the gaps of existing approaches as a rationale for introducing the concept of system readiness (mostly used in infrastructure engineering), and adapting it to agricultural science. We also use illustrative hypothetical examples from mixed crop-livestock systems in the drylands to show how two approaches – ‘packaging for scaling’ and ‘packaging for transformation’ – can lead to different innovation packages. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSThe concept of system readiness is introduced, defined and advocated. We show that it can help identify performance gaps in agricultural systems and guide better planning for system strengthening and integration. We conclude with possible complementarities between the two approaches of scaling and system readiness. SIGNIFICANCEThe agricultural system readiness approach, as outlined in this paper, would be particularly beneficial for agricultural research-for-development, as well as other agricultural investment programs that seek to identify strategies for fostering sustainable transition in farming systems. Such programs would typically entail complexity-aware theories of change that focus on stimulating sustainable transformation pathways related to key target areas, such as agroecology, sustainable intensification, and system integration (e.g., crop-livestock integration and integrated pest management). The system readiness approach can support such programs through the identification, prioritization, targeting, and empowerment of the most significant (and transformative) system components by identifying respective innovations to be packaged.

Paradigm on Levenberg–Marquardt neural algorithm analysis of heat conduction optimization for ternary hybrid nanofluid with entropy generation

AbstractThe significance of the present article is to enhance the thermal management and energy efficiency of complex engineering infrastructures such as energy storage systems, modern electric vehicles, thermal insulations, heavy‐duty machinery, and production units. This research aims to understand the intricate relationship between the thermal conductivity performance of ternary () hybrid nanomaterial and entropy generation to optimize material design and efficacy. A synergetic combination of three distinct nanomaterials silicon dioxide, ferric oxide, and titanium oxide with ethylene glycol and water in the ratio 3:2 as a base solvent is comprised of contributing unique thermophysical properties. To elucidate the impact of this hybrid composition on thermal conductivity, various factors are analyzed. The advanced computational technique of Artificial intelligent feed‐forward neural network (AIFFNN) is utilized. The problem governed the system of PDEs, which is transformed into ODEs by dimensionless similarity. Adams method provided the dataset which is filtered and embedded into Marquardt–Levenberg Algorithm (LMA). The study examines the role of nanomaterial constituents, morphology, and boundary conditions on thermal performance and entropy generation. Graphical analysis of velocity, temperature, and entropy is provided with respect to varying parameters, including surface absorption (λ), magnetic strength (Tesla M), radiation parameter (Rd), Brownian motion (Br), and Eckert number (Ec). The findings have practical significance for optimizing material design in engineering and industrial applications.

Effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction on cancer-related fatigue in patients with breast cancer: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) has been widely used for improving psychological symptoms and sleep quality in breast cancer patients and has a positive impact on posttraumatic growth and immunology. Moreover, MBSR is increasingly being used in cancer-related fatigue (CRF) intervention studies for breast cancer patients, but conflicting results also exist. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of MBSR on CRF in patients with breast cancer. A comprehensive computer search of the Pubmed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, China Biomedical Document Service System, China Knowledge Infrastructure Engineering, Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform, and VIP databases was performed. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published before April 10, 2023, were identified. The primary outcome was cancer-related fatigue associated with breast cancer. Two researchers independently screened the studies, extracted the data, and evaluated the methodological quality of the studies according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The Meta-analysis of the outcome indicators was performed using STATA 16.0 software. A total of 13 studies were included, including 1992 patients (997 patients in the MBSR group and 1015 patients in the control group). Compared with conventional care, MBSR significantly alleviated the symptoms of CRF in breast cancer patients (SMD=-0.32, 95% CI [-0.42, -0.22], z=6.54, p<.01). Under the supervision of experts, the 8-week MBSR had a great influence on CRF, especially in the Asian population. MBSR is effective in the treatment of CRF induced by breast cancer, and no obvious adverse effects occur; thus, MBSR can be recommended as a beneficial adjuvant therapy for treating CRF in breast cancer patients. https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42021245365.

Investigating soil properties and their effects on freeze-thaw processes in a thermokarst lake region of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China

Soil parameters form the foundation of hydrogeological research and are crucial for studying engineering construction and maintenance, climate change, and ecological environment effects in cold regions. However, the soil properties in the permafrost region of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP) remain unclear. Hence, in this study, soil temperature (Ts), volumetric specific heat capacity (C), thermal conductivity (K), thermal diffusivity (D), soil water content (SWC), electric conductivity (EC), vertical (Kv) and horizontal (Kh) saturated hydraulic conductivity, bulk density (ρb), and soil texture near the Qinghai-Tibet Railway were measured, and their effects on the freeze-thaw process were evaluated. The results revealed a predominantly sandy loam soil texture, with Kh and Kv showing strong spatial variability, while the other parameters presented moderate spatial variability. Thermokarst lake had a limited influence on D, C, K, and ρb but significantly reduced Kh and Kv. Groundwater affected SWC, Ts, and EC. The model results showed that all parameters indicated small sensitivities to the maximum thawing depth (MTD), with MTD positively responding to all parameters except for Kv and porosity (ρp). Except for Kh and Kv, all parameters showed high sensitivities to the time from starting to complete freezing (TSCF). TSCF responded positively to C, ρp, and density (ρd) and negatively to K and Kh. This study expanded the quantification of soil properties in the QTP, which can help improve the accuracy of cryohydrogeologic models, thus guiding the construction and maintenance of infrastructure engineering.

Intelligent Infrastructure and Construction: A New Transdisciplinary Journal Focusing on the Use of Information Technologies in Civil Engineering

The field of infrastructure and construction engineering is evolving to address economic, social, and environmental resilience, facing numerous challenges along the way [...]

A flexible resistive strain gauge with reduced temperature effect via thermal expansion anisotropic composite substrate

Strain gauge plays vital roles in various fields as structural health monitoring, aerospace engineering, and civil infrastructure. However, traditional flexible strain gauge inevitably brings the pseudo-signal caused by the substrate temperature effect and determines its accuracy. Here, we present an anisotropic composite substrate designed to modify the thermal expansion performance via Micro-electro-mechanical System (MEMS) technology, which facilitates the development of strain gauges that are minimally affected by substrate temperature-induced effect. Compared to the isotropic flexible substrate, the simulated expansion displacement in the thermal insensitive direction is reduced by 53.6% via introducing an anisotropic thermal expansion structure. The developed strain gauge exhibits significantly reduced sensitivity to temperature-induced effect, with a temperature coefficient of resistance decreasing from 87.3% to 10%, along with a notable 47.1% improvement in TCR stability. In addition, the strain gauge displays a sensitivity of 1.99 and boasts a wide strain operational range of 0–6000 µε, while maintaining excellent linearity. Furthermore, stress response conducted on a model of an aircraft wing illustrates the rapid monitoring of the strain gauge, which can detect strain as low as 100 µε. This study strongly highlights the potential applicability of the developed strain gauge in the aircraft, ships, and bridges for monitoring stress.

Simulating cross-scale flow dynamics around offshore monopile foundations with a GFD-CFD coupled model

Flow dynamics are complex and undergo significant impact from offshore engineering infrastructures, such as wind turbines, involving interactions across different temporal and spatial scales. Individual numerical models of geophysical fluid dynamics (GFD) or computational fluid dynamics (CFD) face challenges in accurately representing these dynamics. To effectively capture the three-dimensional cross-scale flow around offshore infrastructures, we propose a generalized coupling framework that integrates the unstructured-grid Finite-Volume Community Ocean Model (FVCOM) for GFD and the Open Field Operation and Manipulation (OpenFOAM) for CFD. With the validation against the flume experiment, the common-boundary nesting method was developed to allow an accurate representation of flow dynamics around offshore hydraulic infrastructures. Idealized monopile foundation experiments demonstrate the model's capability to capture the formation of Karman vortex street, rotating horseshoe vortex under realistic astronomical tidal conditions. Application of this coupling framework to the offshore wind farm in Yangjiang, China, reveals flow direction lagging of 15° in the wake of a monopile under diurnal tide. This coupling approach, leveraging the strengths of both CFD and GFD models, provides a universal downscaling methodology in geophysical conditions, for a better understanding of the impact of offshore hydraulic infrastructures on the surrounding environment and further planning offshore engineering projects.

Overview of the IV International Conference on Agricultural Engineering and Green Infrastructure Solutions (AEGIS-IV 2024)

Abstract The overview describes the main directions and results of the IV International Conference on Agricultural Engineering and Green Infrastructure Solutions (AEGIS-IV 2024) held in Tashkent on 28-30 March 2024. It gives the details about the participants and the proceedings. A description of the main trends in agricultural mechanization and food technologies, green infrastructure solutions, environmental engineering for sustainable development of the modern society are given in the overview. List of Programme Committee and Organizing Committee are available in this Pdf.

Hydrodynamic Impact of Dusty Fluid-Suspended Solid Particles in a Single-Walled Corrugated Channel for Water-Curing Infrastructure Networks

Infrastructure engineering is impacted by solid particles in fluids, and engineering components are influenced by fluid flow methods. This work explores the effects of dusty fluids with suspended solid particles in a single-walled corrugated channel using electromagnetic hydrodynamics. Potential, continuity, and momentum equations were employed to study the periodic sinusoidal waves in the corrugations of two wavy walls using the perturbation method. We assessed the impact of corrugation on velocity for EMHD fluid flow using mathematical computation, concentrating on the analytical velocity solutions. The analysis of velocity profiles through graphs reveals that corrugation affects fluid and particle velocity behavior, with small amplitude reducing wave effects and dusty particles boosting velocity. The proposed model uses mathematical induction to solve engineering problems using corrugated wall conditions for fluid control during curing stages. It may be valuable for sanitation networks, rainwater drainage networks, and irrigation systems. In the end, a thorough examination of the obtained results and information from past papers demonstrated a high level of agreement. Additionally, its use in the curing of water will offer alternative methods of managing the flowing fluid than mechanical pressure.

Low-carbon metakaolin precursor for one-part and two-part geopolymer activation of demolition wastes

A critical part of civil engineering infrastructure works is to develop innovative construction materials for a low-carbon future development. This study delved into the feasibility of using metakaolin (MK) as a low-carbon precursor for one-part and two-part geopolymer stabilization of recycled demolition wastes. In this research, the effects of MK precursor were evaluated in combination with construction and demolition (C&D) waste aggregates such as crushed brick (CB), reclaimed asphalt (RAP) and recycled concrete (RCA) using one-part and two-part geopolymer activation. Various geotechnical tests were performed including compaction tests, repeated triaxial loading tests (RLT), unconfined compressive strength tests (UCS) and microstructural analysis. Results from this study indicated significant strength development of MK mixtures for both one-part and two-part geopolymer options. Furthermore, one-part geopolymer also showed better activation than two-part geopolymer under 7 days and 20℃ curing condition. Additionally, 30 % MK mixtures were optimal for road construction applications based on the obtained results. At 28 days or 40 ℃, MK mixtures performed best with RCA and CB as main aggregates, showing strength improvement of up to 250 % compared to 7 days and 20 ℃ curing condition. Resilient modulus (Mr) results indicated that the optimal mixtures experienced good resilient behavior with average Mr values ranging from 150 MPa to 200 MPa. Overall, MK precursor was found to be a suitable material for stabilizing demolition aggregates using geopolymer under various curing conditions.

Theater as a means of communicating research on climate change: The case of “Cambiare il clima”

Between 2018 and 2023, the Department of Environmental, Land and Infrastructure Engineering (DIATI) at the Polytechnic University of Turin (PoliTo) implemented a project to advance research and education on climate change monitoring, adaptation and mitigation solutions. As part of their communication efforts,DIATI partnered with Faber Teater to create the play "Cambiare il clima" (in Italian, this means "Change the Climate"). This involved a collaboration between DIATI researchers, communication officers, and Faber Teater. The documentary theater that resulted was premiered at Biennale Tecnologia in 2020 and performed at various venues in Northern Italy, targeting both the general public and students.

Assessment of different optimal sensor placement methods for dynamic monitoring of civil structures and infrastructures

The optimal sensor placement is a critical aspect in the structural health monitoring of structures, as the number and layout of sensors directly impact the quality and usefulness of collected data. When developing a monitoring system, it is of paramount importance to use the minimum number of sensors to gain the maximum amount and quality of information. However, in the case of a limited number of sensors, their location on the structure becomes crucial. This study aims to assess the potential of several optimal sensor placement methods for the development of cost-efficient and well-dimensioned dynamic structural health monitoring systems to be implemented in a wide range of civil engineering structures and infrastructures. Indeed, the construction stock consists of a great variety of civil engineering structures and infrastructures that significantly differ from each other in terms of typology, historical period, construction techniques, materials, etc. Some of the most widely used optimal sensor placement methods are selected and applied in real case studies, and the obtained sensor configurations are discussed and compared. The results illustrated in this paper will contribute to defining good practice in the optimal sensor placement procedure for typical civil engineering structures and infrastructures.

The Role of Engineering Ethics in Mitigating Corruption in Infrastructure Systems Delivery

Indications that corruption mitigation in infrastructure systems delivery can be effective are found in the literature. However, there is an untapped opportunity to further enhance the efficacy of existing corruption mitigation strategies by placing them explicitly within the larger context of engineering ethics, and relevant policy statements, guidelines, codes and manuals published by international organizations. An effective matching of these formal statements on ethics to infrastructure systems delivery facilitates the identification of potential corruption hotspots and thus help establish or strengthen institutional mechanisms that address corruption. This paper reviews professional codes of ethics, and relevant literature on corruption mitigation in the context of civil engineering infrastructure development, as a platform for building a structure that connects ethical tenets and the mitigation strategies. The paper assesses corruption mitigation strategies against the background of the fundamental canons of practice in civil engineering ethical codes. As such, the paper’s assessment is grounded in the civil engineer’s ethical responsibilities (to society, the profession, and peers) and principles (such as safety, health, welfare, respect, and honesty) that are common to professional codes of ethics in engineering practice. Addressing corruption in infrastructure development continues to be imperative for national economic and social development, and such exigency is underscored by the sheer scale of investments in infrastructure development in any country and the billions of dollars lost annually through corruption and fraud.

TECHNOLOGY OF STRUCTURAL REPAIR OF CONCRETE AND REINFORCED CONCRETE STRUCTURES OF WATERWORKS

The assessment of the current state of the water and land reclamation engineering infrastructure facilities, which was carried out on the basis of the analysis of technical documentation, visual, and instrumental examination of the structures' technical condition, confirms that as a result of long-term operation of the waterworks without proper reparation and restoration measures, their technical condition has significantly deteriorated. The most promising for the repair of concrete and reinforced concrete structures are cement-based materials modified with polymers (polymer concrete), which are dry mixtures of cement, sand, re-dispersible polymer powder (RPP) and other modifying additives. The research results of the redispersing polymer powders influence on the adhesive properties of repair composites are presented. It is shown that the modification of cement-sand solutions of RPP leads to a significant increase in the adhesive properties of repair composites. The optimally effective concentration of RPP in repair compositions has been found. The article highlights the technology of structural repair of concrete and reinforced concrete structures of the waterworks with the use of modern composite materials, which makes it possible to restore the design geometric indicators and the load-bearing capacity of the structures. The proposed technology and effective repair compositions help to carry out repair and restoration work on hydrotechnical structures of the water management and reclamation complex, in particular those destroyed or damaged as a result of the military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. The main principles of choosing the optimal technology for the structural repair of concrete and reinforced concrete structures of the waterworks, depending on the nature and degree of damage, the influence of technological and operational conditions on the structures' geometric indicators restoration during the modernization and reconstruction of reclamation systems in the post-war period, are revealed.

Enabling Digital Engineering with Federated PLM – Experiences from the Heliple‐2 Project

AbstractImplementing a digital engineering infrastructure is a strategic endeavour for any organisation. In this paper an investigation in the feasibility of federated Product Lifecycle Management is presented, starting from a presentation of the guiding architecture pattern and an evaluation of implementation alternatives. Interoperability standards from Open Services for Lifecycle Collaboration (OSLC) are introduced along with presentation of tool infrastructure for automatic generation of OSLC interfaces. Implementation experience validates that this is a viable and attractive alternative for implementing digital engineering.

METHODOLOGICAL APPROACHES TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR THE SPATIAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE TERRITORY OF THE TERRITORIAL COMMUNITY

The presented article presents the results of the conducted theoretical and experimental research, considers current issues, and analyzes the legal aspects of the complex planning of the spatial development of the territories of territorial communities.Comprehensive spatial planning of the territories of territorial communities must be considered as a set of actions regarding the determination of areas for resettlement, places of employment, recreation and rehabilitation of the population, engineering and transport infrastructure through the development and further approval of documentation on spatial planning and compliance with its decisions in the long term. The comprehensive plan for the spatial development of the territory of the territorial community, which is both documentation with land management and urban planning documentation at the local level, is basically aimed at solving urban planning needs, but it only partially solves the issue of spatial development of land use.Spatial planning of community territories lays a solid foundation for the integration of urban planning and land management design solutions and at the same time creates challenges related to the need to create conditions for the relationship between management objects in both branches, information system structures, scope of works, integration of documentation.One of the most important strategic directions of integrated spatial planning of the territories of territorial communities is the development of ecologically safe, rational land use, as well as the introduction of functional territories of land use development, the formation of land use resistance to excessive anthropogenic influence during the implementation of agricultural activities aimed at greening and capitalization of land use, regulation of boundaries between urban and rural areas. According to the results of the research, a method of creating a model of the actual use of the land of the conditional territorial community of the comprehensive spatial development plan of the territory of the territorial community is proposed.

Fatigue and monotonically-loaded reinforced concrete specimens subjected to partial area loading

The degradation of concrete structures is often due to the continuous application of compressive fatigue loads. Understanding of concrete behaviour in different environmental conditions and under especial fatigue loading arrangements, particularly in cases where the loaded area is smaller than loaded element, herein referred to as partially loaded area, is of utmost importance to make a realistic prediction of the concrete fatigue life for a reliable design of civil engineering infrastructure. This paper focuses on investigating the fatigue performance of reinforced concrete specimens subjected to partially loaded areas, considering the influences of steel fibres, reinforcement arrangement, and the environmental factor of water submergence. A typical example of a partially loaded concrete component subjected to fatigue loading is circular spread footings used as concrete foundations for typical wind turbines. In these types of elements, the compressive strength of the concrete can be enhanced due to the confinement provided by way of lateral restraint stemming from surrounding concrete and reinforcement. However, design codes primarily address static loading and lack specific criteria for fatigue loading in these partially loaded regions. To address this research gap, results from a comprehensive experimental study, which in total included 111 concrete specimens subjected to monotonic loading and 25 specimens tested under cyclic loading, were used to study this problem. The investigation aimed to evaluate the effects of steel fibres and reinforcement arrangement on both static and fatigue capacity. Additionally, the impact of submerging concrete structures in water on their fatigue performance was examined, revealing a decrease in their fatigue life. The experimental results demonstrated that the presence of steel fibres and splitting reinforcement significantly increased both static and fatigue capacity. Most current design codes neglect the environmental factor of water submergence, leading to reduced fatigue capacity in concrete structures. Consequently, the validity of the design codes DNV-OS-C502 and fib Model Code 2010 was evaluated, and a new environmental factor for partially loaded areas subjected to cyclic loading is proposed. To evaluate the experimental results and understand the mechanical response, nonlinear finite element analyses were conducted using a smeared-crack continuum modelling procedure coupled with high cycle fatigue material models to assess its applicability for estimating fatigue performance of partially loaded reinforced concrete elements. It was found that a plane stress modelling procedure was capable of estimating fatigue capacity for dry concrete components, however, overestimated the fatigue capacity of wet concrete components.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF WIRED AND WIRELESS SENSORS IN STRUCTURAL HEALTH MONITORING

Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) systems play a critical role in ensuring the safety and longevity of civil engineering infrastructure. This paper presents a comparative analysis of wired and wireless sensor technologies within SHM applications, drawing insights from scholarly literature, expert interviews, and case studies. The significance of SHM in safeguarding infrastructure durability is emphasised, considering the substantial investment and long service lifespans associated with civil engineering structures. Thematic analysis was utilized and revealed key performance criteria such as reliability, flexibility, environmental adaptability, cost-effectiveness, and maintenance requirements. Wired sensors are lauded for their reliability and accuracy, particularly in critical infrastructure projects, while wireless sensors offer greater flexibility and ease of deployment, especially in remote monitoring scenarios. Environmental adaptability remains crucial for both sensor types, with fiber optic sensors demonstrating effectiveness in harsh conditions. Expert interviews further enrich the understanding of sensor performance, highlighting opportunities for advancements in wireless sensor technology and data analytics. The paper concludes with recommendations for future research and development efforts to address existing constraints and meet the evolving needs of SHM in civil infrastructure monitoring. Overall, this comparative analysis provides valuable insights for guiding advancements in sensor technology and SHM procedures to ensure the continued safety and integrity of essential infrastructure.

Experimental study on grouting inspection of PC tendons by means of Ultrasonic Pulse Echo Tomography method

Evaluation of grouting condition of post-tensioned tendons in Prestressed Concrete (PC) structures is an important problem in a field of maintenance of civil engineering infrastructure. Existing methods of non-destructive testing (NDT) used for grouting inspection have some limitations. For example, Impact-Echo method has comparatively low accuracy and X-Ray method is expensive and time- and labor-consuming. At the same time, there are promising alternative methods of NDT, which can be used for grouting inspection. The authors carried out an experiment using several large-scale specimens simulating PC girders. Commercially available Ultrasonic Pulse Echo Tomography device with an array of dry-contact sensors was used. Several cases of grouting condition, PC sheath diameter and geometry and rebar placement were studied. It was confirmed that amplitude of reflected ultrasonic pulse in the case of not grouted PC sheath is larger, as compared with a case of a grouted PC sheath. However, depending on diameter of PC sheath, distance from PC sheath to concrete surface and presence of nearby reinforcement, evaluating grouting condition based only on amplitude of reflected ultrasonic pulse can be problematic. To solve this problem authors developed a more accurate method of evaluating grouting condition, which uses multiple parameters, such as amplitude of ultrasonic pulse reflected from PC sheath, backwall and phase of reflected ultrasonic pulse.