Residential Buildings Research Articles

Numerical simulation to investigate the performance of existing masonry walls strengthened by ultra high-performance concrete layer

Abstract Masonry walls are vulnerable but are the principal load-bearing members in many residential and heritage buildings worldwide. These walls required practical and affordable solutions to improve their longevity and safety. This work uses numerical simulation to explores the application of the Ultra High-Performance Concrete layer to improve the in-plane loading performance of existing masonry walls. The numerical simulation uses the finite element modelling technique, incorporating the Concrete Damage Plasticity constitutive model within a detailed micro-modelling approach enhanced by a surface-based cohesive approach to simulate a comprehensive 3D representation of the masonry wall. Different parameters, including the thickness of the ultra-high performance concrete layer and the aspect ratio of the wall, have been investigated. The study revealed a significant improvement in in-plane shear strength, stiffness, and dissipated energy of the wall. Additionally, the results indicated that increasing the thickness of the ultra-high performance concrete layer improves the overall wall performance, with diminishing returns observed beyond 40 mm. Furthermore, optimal structural integrity was noticed within a particular range of aspect ratios, highlighting the effectiveness of the strengthening approach. The results highlight important parameters that contribute to improving structural integrity and efficiency, enabling valuable insights for future design and engineering applications.

Analysis of the Impact of Residential Building Shape and Orientation on Energy Efficiency

The construction of residential buildings and structures is a complex process in which the economic component plays a key role. It is essential to maintain a balance between saving construction materials and the costs of additional engineering solutions while ensuring the functionality and comfort of the building’s operation. To achieve this goal, researchers initially analyze the impact of the climatic environment and spatial planning solutions—i.e., building shapes—that directly affect the building compactness ratio when evaluating the efficiency of the designed building. In this regard, the objective of this study was to analyze the shapes and orientations of buildings in the Republic of Kazakhstan across eight territorial units located in the I, III, and IV climatic zones between latitudes 42°18′ and 52°16′ N. The study identified the most favorable building orientations for each climatic zone: the meridional orientation is preferable for the I and III zones, while the latitudinal orientation is optimal for the IV zone. Four residential building shapes—square, rectangular, cylindrical, and triangular—were analyzed based on a floor area of 1000 m2 and a building volume of 3000 m3 during the coldest five-day period and the hottest month. According to the specific thermal characteristic values, it was found that a cylindrical residential building is 1.1, 1.37, and 1.27 times more efficient than square, rectangular, and triangular residential buildings, respectively. Additionally, the compactness ratio was determined for different residential building shapes and heights, ranging from 8 to 16 floors in increments of four floors. The results showed that under these conditions, the compactness ratio increases by an average of 1.3 times due to the increase in the area of external walls. However, if the initial condition is changed to account solely for the floor area, the compactness ratio decreases by up to 2.3 times. The conducted research shows that when solving the problem of the energy efficiency of a building, taking into account shapes and orientations, it is necessary to carry out a full assessment of the specified energy efficiency parameter depending on the expected results, which requires a comprehensive analysis to achieve energy-efficient buildings. At the same time, the results of this study will be used and will positively complement the results of a comprehensive study by the authors on the development of energy-efficient exterior enclosing structures, which, together with general solutions, will significantly affect the thermal balance of the building and complement the research conducted earlier.

Assessment of Winter Indoor Humiture and Spatial Optimization of Rural Residential Buildings in Mengda National Nature Reserve, China

The development of global nature reserves is currently in a rapid growth phase. One of the key challenges in establishing nature reserves is balancing environmental protection with rural residential development within these areas, where housing plays a crucial role in the built environment. Successful residential architecture in nature reserves typically meets residents’ diverse needs and environmental protection requirements by considering regional ecology, culture, economic conditions, natural environment, indoor thermal comfort, and energy consumption. This study examines rural residential buildings in the Mengda National Nature Reserve (MNNR) under cold climate conditions in Western China. Through surveys, architectural mapping, and thermal–humidity environment assessment of typical residential buildings across multiple rural communities within the nature reserve, this research explores possibilities for improving indoor thermal comfort in nature reserve residential buildings. Combined with local climate adaptability and architectural design characteristics, this study proposes rational spatial improvement strategies. This study explores climate-adaptive design in the MNNR, integrating passive solar energy and sustainable heating. It proposes spatial strategies to reduce energy use and enhance thermal comfort. The research findings provide a valuable reference for the spatial optimisation of rural residential construction in nature reserves under similar climatic conditions.

Study of parameters to enhance the effectiveness of windcatchers as a passive cooling technique

ABSTRACT The windcatcher is one of the passive cooling techniques that can enhance thermal comfort by increasing air velocity around the building occupants in hot and humid climates. Interest in this technique has recently been raised due to global warming and the shortage of energy resources. Despite much research on windcatchers, there is still a shortage of information on the performance of windcatcher design in South Arabia, which has designs different from those in Egypt and Iran. This paper uses numerical computational fluid dynamics techniques to examine different aspects of windcatcher design. The numerical model was validated first by comparing its prediction values with measured values from an actual house. The researchers also suggested an equation to calculate windcatchers’ performance in increasing air velocity. The research examines different windcatcher designs under different wind speeds and directions to find how this will affect the air velocity in open and closed spaces attached to the windcatcher. The results found that the design of different parts of the windcatcher plays an essential role, where the head design can increase the performance by 70% and the gross section geometry can increase it by 53%.

Impact of the Urban Environment on the Thermal Performance and Environmental Quality of Residential Buildings: A Case Study in Athens

This paper examines the impact of the urban context on the energy performance of a residential building in Athens. Current and future weather files were modified to consider the urban heat island, the overshadowing of adjacent buildings, and the modification of wind speed due to the effects of urban canyons. Dynamic thermal simulations were carried out using the modified weather files. The results indicate that there was a change in heating and cooling demand in comparison to using typical weather files; heating was reduced, but cooling was increased with a total increase in energy demand. There was variation due to height, while overshadowing impacts energy demand significantly. The modified weather analysis also indicates that there are periods in the year that cooling and heating are negligible. During these periods, passive strategies can be used to maintain good internal air quality if occupants are informed how to use their windows and shading devices according to prevailing weather conditions. A method of achieving this occupant-centric operation of the building is described, and the results of an intervention study are discussed. It shows that internal environmental quality can be improved by occupant actions based on forecast weather conditions to direct them.

Integrating IoT Technology for Fire Risk Monitoring and Assessment in Residential Building Design

Integrating IoT Technology for Fire Risk Monitoring and Assessment in Residential Building Design

Introducing a severe impacts approach to guide adaptation to pluvial floods in residential and public buildings

ABSTRACT Damages to buildings from pluvial flooding pose key risks to cities, impacting both economy and health, and drawing increased policy attention. While Swedish buildings are known to be at risk, most research focuses on homeowners and flood exposure. Despite municipal property companies owning a quarter of all apartments in Sweden, less is known about their buildings’ risk and adaptation actions. This study addresses this gap by investigating: What do property company staff view as severe pluvial flood impacts? Which building characteristics contribute to pluvial flood risk, particularly severe impacts? What adaptation actions can property companies implement to reduce severe flood impact risk? The study involves collaboration with four Swedish municipal property companies, mapping 2,358 buildings, inspecting 604 buildings, and conducting nine expert workshops. The study suggests a severe impacts approach to guide adaptation to pluvial floods, reducing impacts on: Human lives or health, Critical operations, Evacuation, Critical technical installations, and High-value loss and damage. The study identifies a set of scalable property-level adaptation actions to reduce severe impacts and a typology of adaptation actions, emphasizing property owner responsibility and ability to act. Implementing the severe impacts approach, the typology and scalable actions will increase property companies’ capacity to adapt.

Assessment of the Technical Condition of Roofs of Large-Panel Residential Buildings Erected in Belarus before 1993

The paper provides an assessment of the technical condition of combined insulated rolled roofs with a sequential arrangement of layers and ventilated roofs of large-panel residential buildings of standard series built in Belarus before 1993. The results of field studies have shown that after more than 30 years of operation, the technical condition of the materials of the main structural layers (bearing structure of the coating, vapor barrier, materials of the thermal insulation layer) is operable. Defects that have a negative impact on the functional suitability of roofs as a whole are recorded only in the main waterproofing carpet and cement-sand screed. It has been established that the causes of the appearance and development of operational defects (loss of coarse-grained sprinkling with roofing material, stagnation of water on the roof, cracks in the bitumen coating layer of the rolled roof, swelling between the layers of the rolled roofing carpet) are “harsh” operating conditions of roofs: constant, throughout the entire period of operation, influence on the materials of atmospheric influences, as well as violations of the technology of roofing work. To maintain the working condition of combined insulated rolled roofs of large-panel residential buildings operated for more than 30 years, the main material and financial costs fall on partial repair of the waterproofing carpet, including local repair of cement-sand screed. The reason for the local destruction of the roof screed of large-panel residential buildings built before 1993 is its insufficient frost resistance, due to the requirement laid down in the design of such buildings to ensure the strength of the screed material in terms of frost resistance for the rated service life of large-panel residential buildings, i.e. for at least 30 years. Considering that the standard service life of all large-panel residential buildings built before 1993 is more than 30 years, the problem of ensuring the operability of the screed will become increasingly relevant. It is proposed to extend the service life of the screed without repairs and reduce heat loss through the combined coating to install an inversion roof on the existing roof.

Seismic Analysis and Design of Multistorey Residential Building by Using ETABS

Seismic Analysis and Design of Multistorey Residential Building by Using ETABS

Comparative Analysis of Retrofit Strategies for Residential Building Envelopes to Achieve Energy Efficiency in Abu Dhabi

Comparative Analysis of Retrofit Strategies for Residential Building Envelopes to Achieve Energy Efficiency in Abu Dhabi

Semi-Automated Dataset Generation for Residential Buildings Using Graph-Based Topological Modelling

Most of Italy’s residential building stock predates contemporary structural safety and energy efficiency regulatory frameworks. Today, policymakers face the challenge of choosing whether to prioritise renovation or opt for demolition and reconstruction; both options carry significant socio-economic and environmental consequences and require extensive knowledge of the built heritage. However, detailed architecture-specific data remain scarce, as existing databases lack granular information. Moreover, traditional urban-level knowledge mapping approaches may be resource-intensive. To address this data gap, this study proposes a semi-automated methodology for generating graph-based digital models representing residential building floor plans. Using graph theory, floor spatial layouts are mapped into connectivity graphs and transformed into topological models. These models are enriched with functional data about spaces by assigning conditional topological rules based on node centrality metrics. The method was tested on 98 buildings in Bologna, Italy, yielding an 89.8% success rate and demonstrating its effectiveness in data-limited contexts. The resulting dataset facilitates the analysis of floor spatial configurations and the extraction of geometric attributes, laying the foundation for future analyses that will integrate machine learning techniques for functional detection and typological clustering.

Research on the Improvement of Energy Economic Efficiency of Green Buildings Based on the SD-CWM Model

Under the dual pressures of global climate change and environmental pollution, improving the energy - economic efficiency of green buildings is a key path to achieving the "dual carbon" goals. Aiming at the optimization of the energy - economic efficiency of green buildings, this study innovatively proposes a collaborative analysis framework based on the System Dynamics (SD) model and the Combined Weight Method (CWM). By constructing an SD model, the dynamic feedback mechanism of multiple elements in the green building energy system is revealed, and the complex trade - off relationships among energy consumption, carbon emissions, and economic returns are quantified in combination with CWM. Taking urban residential green buildings in Shandong Province as the research object, the evolution paths under high - carbon, low - carbon, and benchmark policy scenarios from 2016 to 2035 are simulated. The study finds that the intensity of policy intervention and residents' low - carbon awareness are the core factors driving the improvement of green building energy efficiency. Under the low - carbon policy scenario, the building carbon emission intensity can be reduced by 38.7%, and the economic returns can increase by 23.4% simultaneously. This study provides methodological innovation for the multi - objective collaborative optimization of green buildings and offers empirical evidence for policymakers to design carbon - emission reduction paths.

A Machine Learning-Based Intelligent Framework for Predicting Energy Efficiency in Next-Generation Residential Buildings

Improving energy efficiency is a major concern in residential buildings for economic prosperity and environmental stability. Despite growing interest in this area, limited research has been conducted to systematically identify the primary factors that influence residential energy efficiency at scale, leaving a significant research gap. This paper addresses the gap by exploring the key determinant factors of energy efficiency in residential properties using a large-scale energy performance certificate dataset. Dimensionality reduction and feature selection techniques were used to pinpoint the key predictors of energy efficiency. The consistent results emphasise the importance of CO2 emissions per floor area, current energy consumption, heating cost current, and CO2 emissions current as primary determinants, alongside factors such as total floor area, lighting cost, and heated rooms. Further, machine learning models revealed that Random Forest, Gradient Boosting, XGBoost, and LightGBM deliver the lowest mean square error scores of 6.305, 6.023, 7.733, 5.477, and 5.575, respectively, and demonstrated the effectiveness of advanced algorithms in forecasting energy performance. These findings provide valuable data-driven insights for stakeholders seeking to enhance energy efficiency in residential buildings. Additionally, a customised machine learning interface was developed to visualise the multifaceted data analyses and model evaluations, promoting informed decision-making.

Improving energy efficiency in Moroccan homes: Thermal performance of gypsum plaster and expanded clay

Thermophysical properties of construction materials, such as thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity, play a crucial role in evaluating the thermal performance of buildings. This study investigates these properties in gypsum plaster mixed with expanded clay granules and assesses its impact on residential building energy demand. Gypsum plaster samples were prepared with varying mass proportions of expanded clay while maintaining a constant water-to-plaster ratio. Thermal conductivity and diffusivity were measured using the heated plate and flash methods, respectively. Additionally, a Trnsys-based simulation was conducted to evaluate the effect of these mixtures on energy consumption. The results indicate that adding expanded clay granules reduces the thermal properties of gypsum plaster, likely due to water absorption during mixing. However, using gypsum plaster with 6% expanded clay led to an 18.16% energy gain. Moreover, insulation of exterior walls and roofs improved energy performance by 21.83% and 33.21%, respectively, while floor insulation negatively affected efficiency. These findings emphasize the importance of material selection in optimizing energy consumption. The study highlights the potential of integrating expanded clay in gypsum plaster to enhance building energy efficiency, offering valuable insights into sustainable construction practices.

An investigation study on residential buildings for cost overrun

Construction projects are now widely recognized as being among the most important factors contributing to the overall economic development of a nation. When delays occur in these construction projects, however, both the overall progress of the projects and their profitability are affected. In this investigation, a literature review and a questionnaire survey were used to find the most important factors that cause delays in the Indian construction industry. The survey participants included clients, contractors, and structural designers. The research disclosed a total of twelve different reasons for the cost overrun. After that, the causes of these delays were ranked using three different methods: a frequency index, a severity index, and an importance index that took into account the degree of severity and the frequency with which they occurred. The responses are utilized in the procedure, which is carried out through Questionnaire. Reliability of questionnaires is carried out with the help of the Cronbach`s Alpha value, which is found to be greater than 0.70, which measures the internal consistency of values. The case study is carried out in Chennai, a metropolitan city, with the purpose of doing more research into the primary factors contributing to cost overruns. It is envisaged that the findings of this study would help in the identification of factors and causes in the building projects of India and allow the stakeholders in these projects to take efforts to prevent the incidence of these delays.

Sustainable Living: Green Screen Strategies for Enhanced Indoor Thermal Performance in Dhaka's Mid-Rise Residential Buildings

This study investigates sustainable living strategies, focusing on the application of green screens to enhance indoor thermal performance in mid-rise residential buildings in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Dhaka's subtropical monsoon climate poses challenges such as high temperatures and humidity, necessitating innovative solutions for improved indoor comfort and sustainability. The research employs a case study based methodology, using mid-rise residential buildings in Dhaka as the primary subjects. Green screens, which integrate vegetation into the building design as passive shading devices, are the central intervention. Data collection involves comparing results with real-world measurements of indoor thermal performance and resident feedback. Preliminary findings indicate significant improvements in indoor thermal conditions due to green screens, which act as effective shading elements, reducing heat gain and promoting a more sustainable indoor environment also reveal potential reductions in reliance on mechanical cooling systems, supporting the principles of sustainable living. Resident feedback further provides insights into the social acceptance and perceived benefits of green screen interventions, highlighting the importance of user satisfaction in sustainable design. In conclusion, this research underscores the importance of integrating green screen strategies into sustainable living practices for mid-rise residential buildings in Dhaka. The findings offer valuable insights for architects, urban planners, and policymakers aiming to implement effective sustainable solutions in densely populated urban settings.

A predictive model for damp risk in english housing with explainable AI

Damp in residential buildings poses risks to indoor air quality, occupant health, and structural integrity, and affects up to 27% of homes in the England. This study develops a predictive model for damp risk, using 2,073 inspection records from a housing association across 125 local authorities. Homes were labelled as damp (1,630) or non-damp (443), with data supplemented by national Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) records, incorporating building characteristics and energy efficiency indicators. To evaluate model performance, both a balanced dataset (869 homes, 426 damp, 443 non-damp) and a larger imbalanced dataset (2,073 homes) were used. Seven machine learning algorithms were deployed, with the best-performing model achieving 0.636 accuracy on balanced data and 0.793 on imbalanced data. SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations) analysis identified heating cost, energy consumption, and wall energy efficiency as the strongest predictors of damp. Statistical tests and causal analysis were applied to interpret SHAP results, offering insights into potential damp risk and mitigations. The findings suggest that machine learning can support early identification of homes likely to develop damp, helping housing managers prioritise interventions before damp issues escalate.

Strategies to Redress the Resilience of Residential Buildings Following Climatic Impacts: Perspectives from the UK Construction Industry

Housing environments are designed to provide comfort and protection but climate change has compromised the resilience of residential buildings. This study examines the impacts of climate change on UK residential buildings, identifying key vulnerabilities and adaptation strategies. A qualitative approach was used, involving ten semi-structured interviews with experts. A thematic analysis of the interview transcripts using NVivo (V.14) software revealed connections between climate change drivers and building factors such as location, age, orientation, typology, and material integrity. Adverse effects on buildings and occupants include structural degradation, increased energy demands, and indoor discomfort. This study underscores the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration among housing owners, community members, construction professionals, and policymakers to enhance the resilience of buildings. Construction professionals are seen as key players in the implementation of mitigation and adaptation measures. This study emphasises the need for proactive adaptation measures, informed policy interventions, and improved construction practices to safeguard housing against climate change. It contributes to understanding the effects of climate change on UK residential buildings and offers strategic insights for improving their resilience.

Pengaruh Budaya Organisasi, Lingkungan Kerja Fisik dan Kompensasi Finansial Terhadap Kinerja Karyawan (Studi Kasus pada Karyawan UD. Dua Bidadari Kab. Kediri)

This thesis research is motivated by a phenomenon. In the era of globalization, business competition within companies is becoming increasingly intense and complex, making the quality of human resources a crucial factor in achieving an organization's objectives. UD. Dua Bidadari is a private company engaged in the sale of building materials for the construction of residential buildings, malls, and educational institutions in Kediri and its surroundings. In addition, UD. Dua Bidadari also accepts orders and provides delivery of materials to customers. The aim of this research is to analyze whether there is an effect of organizational culture, physical work environment, and financial compensation on employee performance at UD. Dua Bidadari in Kediri Regency both partially and whether there is a simultaneous effect of organizational culture, physical work environment, and financial compensation on employee performance at UD. Dua Bidadari in Kediri Regency. This study uses a quantitative approach. The sample used in this study was 40 respondents using the sampling method. This study shows that: 1) The Organizational Culture Variable (X1) partially has a significant effect on employee performance (Y). This can be seen in significant statistical results. t 0.021 > 0.05 means that the alternative hypothesis (Ha) can be proven and accepted, 2) The variable of the physical work environment (X2) partially has a significant influence on employee performance (Y). This can be seen in significant statistical results. t 0.04 < 0.05 means that the alternative hypothesis (Ha) can be proven and accepted, 3) The financial compensation variable (X3) has no effect on employee performance (Y). This can be seen in the significant statistical results. t 0.127 > 0.05 means that the alternative hypothesis (Ha) can be proven and rejected, 4) The variables of organizational culture (X1), physical work environment (X2) and financial compensation (X3) have a significant effect on employee performance (Y) simultaneously. This can be seen in the statistical results with a significant value of F of 0.005 < 0.05, meaning that simultaneously there is a significant influence between organizational culture (X1), physical work environment (X2) and financial compensation (X3) on employee performance (Y) in UD. Two Angels of Kediri Regency.

Seasonal measurement of indoor radon concentration in Kırklareli, Turkey

Abstract In this study, Radon (222Rn) levels were evaluated in different selected residential buildings in the city center of Kırklareli (Turkey). Short-term indoor radon measurements were carried out in the summer and winter seasons using two portable digital active radon detectors, the Radex MR107 Radon Monitor and the AlphaGUARD PQ 2000. The annual effective equivalent dose of indoor radon was estimated to indicate associated human health risks. The mean annual effective doses from indoor air in dwellings were 0.58 and 0.68 mSv y−1 for the AlphaGUARD PQ 2000 radon detector and the Radex MR107 Radon Monitor, respectively.