Isuri Fonseka, Damith Mohotti, Kasun Wijesooriya
et al.
Concrete is the most widely used material in the construction industry. However, the cement used in its production raises concerns due to high energy consumption and carbon emissions. This study investigates the potential of using Graphene Oxide (GO) to enhance concrete's performance while replacing a considerable percentage of cement with industrial byproduct, Fly ash (FA). The primary objective is to reduce cement demand while achieving similar or enhanced concrete properties. The study examines the effect of FA replacements (10 %, 20 %, and 30 %) at a constant GO dosage on concrete's workability, compressive strength, indirect tensile strength, flexural strength, and elastic modulus. Additionally, different superplasticiser dosages were examined to maximise the benefits of GO through optimal dispersion. Mechanical properties were evaluated over 90 days curing period, and microstructural analysis was conducted using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results indicated that increasing FA content improves the workability of GO-added concrete, counteracting the workability reduction typically caused by GO. At 28 days, the GO-FA mix with 30 % FA replacement achieved mechanical properties comparable to conventional concrete, with slight enhancements of 6 %, 2 %, 3 %, and 4 % in compressive strength, indirect tensile strength, flexural strength, and elastic modulus, respectively. In contrast, FA-only mixes exhibited a 13 % reduction in compressive strength. SEM analysis confirmed that GO improved the microstructure, contributing to this enhanced mechanical performance in GO-FA concrete. This innovative approach demonstrates the feasibility of reducing cement consumption in concrete production without compromising its mechanical performance.
Emilija Zdraveva, Zenun Skenderi, Ivana Salopek Čubrić
et al.
Thermal insulating materials are of paramount importance in many application areas, including building construction, electronics, aerospace engineering, the automobile industry and the clothing industry. Electrospun materials are light weight with a well-controlled fibre diameter/morphology and a highly interconnected porous structure that facilitates the trapping of air and breathability. When combined with other conventional materials, they enhance the thermal insulating property of a composite structure. This study focused on electrospun single polyurethane (PU), polystyrene (PS) and layered composites thereof, in terms of heat resistance and its dependence on fibre diameter, pore area, number, thickness (solution volume) and the position of electrospun layers. It thus contributes to the field by addressing the effects of multiple parameters effect on a composite material’s heat resistance. The fibre diameter for both electrospun polymers increased significantly by increasing the concentration, while there was a generally opposite effect from increasing electrical voltage. The 10 wt% PU and 30 wt% PS used to produce the layered composites demonstrated the highest reduction of the fibre mean diameter, from (443 ± 224) nm to (328 ± 148) nm, and from (2711 ± 307) nm to (2098 ± 290) nm, respectively. Thicker PS fibres resulted in the greatest mean pore areas of (13 ± 9) µm2, while the PU mean pore areas were in the range of (2 ± 1) µm2 to (4 ± 2) µm2. Although all single and PS/PU composites demonstrated a porosity greater than 97%, their configuration in terms of number of layers, total thickness and PS and PU positioning (includes fibre diameter and pore area) affected the measured heat resistance. Single electrospun PS demonstrated a reduction in heat resistance of 0.0219 m2K/W (compared to electrospun PU) due to its thicker fibres and larger pore areas, and thus looser structure. Combining the two electrospun layers improved heat resistance up to 0.0341 m2K/W. The total heat resistance of the layered PU/PS composite was increased (up to 0.1063 m2K/W for the electrospun PS/PS/PU/PU) by increasing the number and volume of each electrospun layer solution, and by spinning the PU layer on top of the system, which resisted the heat flow due to its smaller pore areas and compact structure. These results prove that by optimizing process/structure parameters, a multi-layered material with good thermal performance can be designed to meet the requirements of a thermal insulating product.
Abstract The construction sector faces increasing pressure to integrate sustainable supply chain practices, yet traditional collaboration methods often fall short in addressing stakeholder complexity, resource inefficiencies, and environmental impacts. This study explores how human-centric digital twins can enhance collaboration and promote sustainability throughout construction supply chains. Through a systematic review of Scopus-indexed publications, industry reports, and conference proceedings, the research identifies key factors for collaboration, evaluates the capabilities of digital twins, and measures their impact on sustainability. Results show that human-centric digital twins enable real-time communication, shared information, and collaborative decision-making. The comprehensive view of the supply chain is provided, allowing for bottleneck detection, scenario simulation, and behavioral analysis by incorporating human factors. Challenges such as data interoperability, cybersecurity, and workforce readiness remain. The study suggests a phased implementation approach focused on stakeholder engagement, data standardization, and user-centered design. Ongoing monitoring and evaluation are vital for achieving long-term sustainability goals. By addressing implementation barriers, construction firms can unlock the full benefits of human-centric digital twins, turning supply chain collaboration into a driver of resilience, efficiency, and environmental stewardship.
Victor Kislyakov, Pavel A. Zubov, Aleksandr Kokorev
The use of geosynthetic containers (geotubes) is a promising technology for the elimination of environmental pollution from industrial and subsurface use waste, based on the storage and dewatering of liquefied waste inside geosynthetic shells. The problem of environmental pollution from the mining industry is relevant since this industry is one of the leading areas of the world economy. Geotubes have found their application to solve some of the challenges facing the industry. However, in most cases, geotubes are not integrated into technological processes and do not use all the possibilities of their application. The data, effective methods, and technologies, examples of applications in various areas of the mining industry. he main advantages and disadvantages of technologies are presented. Examples of the use of geotubes in mining, including the development of placer deposits, the construction of structures, the operation of sludge storages, dumps, are considered.
Ali Bakhshi Movahed, Hamed Nozari, Aminmasoud Bakhshi Movahed
Technology plays an undeniable role in today's industrial world, especially in manufacturing and smart factories. Unlike previous industrial revolutions, humans are at the core of the fifth generation of the Industrial Revolution. One of the critical aspects of Industry 5.0 (I 5.0) is its emphasis on human-centricity. The integration of modern technologies can be clearly observed in smart factories, which offer enhanced comfort and professionalism. This study highlights the significance of I 5.0 and smart factory production (SFP). A total of 36 articles are reviewed and systematically categorized using the meta-synthesis methodology. The research emphasizes the influence of I 5.0 on SFP through the use of modern technologies and comprehensive policy frameworks. This new paradigm has the potential to streamline people's lives and bring a transformative shift to smart factory production lines. Enhancing the structure of factories appears feasible under this optimistic perspective.
Toni Seibold, Fabian Neumann, Falko Ueckerdt
et al.
Greenhouse gas emissions from the steel, fertiliser and plastic industries can be mitigated by producing their precursors with green hydrogen. In Germany, green production may be economically unviable due to high energy costs. This study quantifies the 'renewables pull' of cheaper production abroad and high-lights trade-offs between cost savings and import dependence. Using a detailed European energy system model coupled to global supply curves for hydrogen and industry precursors (hot briquetted iron, ammonia and methanol), we assess five scenarios with increasing degrees of freedom with respect to imports. We find that precursor import is preferred over hydrogen import because there are significant savings in hydrogen infrastructure. Cost savings in the German industry sector from shifting precursor production to European partners compared to domestic production are at 4.1 bnEUR/a or 11.2 %. This strategy captures 47.7 % of the cost savings achievable by precursor import from non-European countries, which lowers industry costs by 8.6 bnEUR/a (23.3 %). Moving energy-intensive precursor production abroad allows Germany to save costs while still retaining a substantial share of subsequent value-creating industry. However, cost savings must be weighed against the risks of import dependence, which can be mitigated by sourcing exclusively from regional partners.
Alessandro Pracucci, Laura Vandi, Luca Morganti
et al.
Driven by environmental sustainability concerns, the integration of bio-based components in curtain wall systems is gaining traction in both research and the construction market. This paper explores the development and validation of a bio-based façade system within the Basajaun H2020 project (2019–2024). The project aimed to demonstrate the feasibility of introducing environmentally friendly bio-based components into the mature curtain wall façade industry. The paper focuses on identifying technological solutions for replacing key components such as frame profiles, insulation, and the tightness system with bio-based and less environmentally impactful alternatives, presenting the results achieved in the façade system design of the Basajaun project. These solutions aimed at creating a bio-composite-based curtain wall façade that adheres to the current building envelope standards and normative, implementing diverse façade typologies for vision panels, opaque sections, and integrated windows and, moreover, engineering the prefabrication process for industrialization and enabling wider market replication and simplified transport and installation. The results demonstrate that the Basajaun façade successfully integrates selected components and meets the performance requirements set by regulations: the façade is designed to withstand a maximum and typical wind load of 3.5 kN/m<sup>2</sup> and a typical load of 1.5 kN/m<sup>2</sup>, the weighted sound reduction index obtained is R<sub>w</sub> = 44 dB, and the thermal transmittance of the vision façade is 0.74 W/m<sup>2</sup>K while that of the entire opaque façade is 0.27 W/m<sup>2</sup>K (an additional internal wall is required to achieve the requested thermal transmittance)—the values are in accordance with reference standards and design requirements. However, questions remain regarding the workability of bio-based profiles as a commercially viable, ready-to-market solution that can replace traditional aluminum profiles in the curtain wall façade industry.
Yuchen Yang, Yung-Tsang Chen, Craig Hancock
et al.
Building Information Modeling (BIM) has recently been widely applied in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction Industry (AEC). BIM graphical information can provide a more intuitive display of the building and its contents. However, during the Operation and Maintenance (O&M) stage of the building lifecycle, changes may occur in the building’s contents and cause inaccuracies in the BIM model, which could lead to inappropriate decisions. This study aims to address this issue by proposing a novel approach to creating 3D point clouds for updating as-built BIM models. The proposed approach is based on Pedestrian Dead Reckoning (PDR) for an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) integrated with a Mobile Laser Scanner (MLS) to create room-based 3D point clouds. Unlike conventional methods previously undertaken where a Terrestrial Laser Scanner (TLS) is used, the proposed approach utilizes low-cost MLS in combination with IMU to replace the TLS for indoor scanning. The approach eliminates the process of selecting scanning points and leveling of the TLS, enabling a more efficient and cost-effective creation of the point clouds. Scanning of three buildings with varying sizes and shapes was conducted. The results indicated that the proposed approach created room-based 3D point clouds with centimeter-level accuracy; it also proved to be more efficient than the TLS in updating the BIM models.
For Industry 4.0 applications, communication protocols and data formats even for legacy devices are fundamental. In this paper, we focus on the Modbus/TCP protocol, which is, e.g., used in energy metering. Allowing Industry 4.0 applications to include data from such protocols without need for programming would increase flexibility and, in turn, improve development efficiency. As one particular approach, we discuss the automated generation of Modbus/TCP connectors for our Open Source oktoflow platform and compare the performance of handcrafted as well as generated connectors in different settings, including industrial energy metering devices.
Raphael Hiesgen, Marcin Nawrocki, Marinho Barcellos
et al.
Motivated by the impressive but diffuse scope of DDoS research and reporting, we undertake a multistakeholder (joint industry-academic) analysis to seek convergence across the best available macroscopic views of the relative trends in two dominant classes of attacks - direct-path attacks and reflection-amplification attacks. We first analyze 24 industry reports to extract trends and (in)consistencies across observations by commercial stakeholders in 2022. We then analyze ten data sets spanning industry and academic sources, across four years (2019-2023), to find and explain discrepancies based on data sources, vantage points, methods, and parameters. Our method includes a new approach: we share an aggregated list of DDoS targets with industry players who return the results of joining this list with their proprietary data sources to reveal gaps in visibility of the academic data sources. We use academic data sources to explore an industry-reported relative drop in spoofed reflection-amplification attacks in 2021-2022. Our study illustrates the value, but also the challenge, in independent validation of security-related properties of Internet infrastructure. Finally, we reflect on opportunities to facilitate greater common understanding of the DDoS landscape. We hope our results inform not only future academic and industry pursuits but also emerging policy efforts to reduce systemic Internet security vulnerabilities.
Faham Tahmasebinia, Amir Abbas Jabbari, Krzysztof Skrzypkowski
Three-dimensional (3D) printing, or additive manufacturing (AM), is a production can be utilised to fabricate 3D shapes from a simulated file. This technology has gained global popularity in the construction industry since 2014 due to its wide range of applications. AM promotes a more automated, innovative, flexible, and sustainable construction method, making it an integral part of the Construction Industry 4.0. However, there need to be more detailed studies regarding the effectiveness of AM as the future direction in the construction industry. This paper investigates the application of the finite element method (FEM) in assessing 3D-printed structures to get insight into the performance of these structures. Three leading 3D-printed structures were selected, including Dubai Future Foundation in the United Arab Emirates, Apis Cor house in Russia and PERI house in Germany. Structural and thermal analyses, including linear static, natural frequency, spectral response, and steady state heat, were performed using Strand7 to assess the effectiveness of AM in construction and the reliability of FEM in analysing 3D-printed structures. Although there are limited standards and regulations for 3D-printed structures in most countries, it was concluded that 3D-printed structures presented a similar strength to traditional ones. Moreover, FEM can be used to provide a reasonable analysis of the performance of these structures, while complying with the relevant standards. This paper presents a novel numerical procedure to assess the performance of small-scale 3D-printed structures under various mechanical and thermal loadings by checking against the relevant standards.
Mehrdad Razzaghian Ghadikolaee, Elena Cerro-Prada, Zhu Pan
et al.
Three-dimensional (3D) printed concrete (3DPC), as one of the subset of digital fabrication, has provided a revolution in the construction industry. Accordingly, scientists, experts, and researchers in both academic and industry communities are trying to improve the performance of 3DPC. The mix design of all kinds of concrete has always been the most crucial property to reach the best efficiency. Recently, many studies have been performed to incorporate nano- and micro-scale additives to ameliorate the properties of 3DPC. The current study aims to present the main design properties of 3DPC and completely cover both fresh and hardened state characteristics of 3DPC containing different nano- and micro-additives. Our observations illustrate that nanomaterials can be mainly utilized as a thickener to ameliorate the thixotropic behavior and the structural build-up of 3DPC, resulting in higher yield stress and better viscosity recovery. Furthermore, each nanomaterial, through its unique impact, can provide lower porosity and permeability as well as better mechanical strengths for 3DPC. Although much research investigate the fresh properties of 3DPC containing nano and micro additives, future studies are needed to provide better insight into the impact of these kinds of additives on the hardened characteristics of 3DPC. In addition, researchers may devote more research to address the effects of the additives discussed herein on the performance of other kinds of 3DPC such as lightweight, self-compacting, etc. It should be noted that the effect mechanism of nanomaterials on the inter-layer bond strength of 3DPC is another crucial issue that should be investigated in future studies. Furthermore, nano-scale fillers from source of waste and biomass can be attractive additives for future research to achieve high performance of sustainable 3D-printed concrete.
The serious mismatch between industrialization and urbanization has led to the emergence of ghost cities. Industry-and-city integration aims to agglomerate industries and the population simultaneously by coordinating the planning and construction, and by mixing different functional areas including industry, office, living, and commercial functions. Based on the population spatial vector database of Jimei District in Xiamen in 2020, this paper empirically analyzes the effects of spatial patterns between industry and city, in terms of residential location and job accessibility, on the housing occupancy rate in new towns and cities. The findings demonstrate that: (1) The attraction of residential location to population varies among three different urban expansion models. The housing occupancy rate of residential areas that meet the concentric circle model is the highest, followed by the sector model, and the multiple nuclei model is the lowest; (2) The jobs–housing relationship has a stable and positive impact on the occupancy rate of commercial housing in the new town, which verifies that job accessibility is the basic demand for families’ residential location choice; (3) There is a significant pattern difference in the influence of job accessibility on the occupancy rate. The occupancy rate of the sector model residential area is highly dependent on job accessibility: the higher the job accessibility, the lower the occupancy rate of the concentric residential area, while job accessibility has a weak impact on the occupancy rate of the multiple nuclei residential area. The conclusions suggest that the spatial planning of new towns should include a clear population absorbing strategy, and the residential location should follow the expansion law of the urban residential functional area, balance the relationship between industrial agglomeration and the job–housing relationship, and allocate life factors in a targeted manner according to the actual impact of job accessibility.
The industrial development and growth in population activity caused an annual increase in solid wastes over the past decades. The emissions of CO2 from the cement industry are the main source of air pollution. Recycling wastes as cementitious materials conserve the ecosystem in different aspects, e.g., reduction of CO2 footprint. Consequently, the pozzolanic activity of two solid wastes abundantly available in Iraq, steel slag (SS) and waste glass (WG), were evaluated. This study aimed to replace them with ordinary Portland cement. This will achieve a sustainable, eco-efficient, and environmentally friendly construction industry. The Chemical analysis of the wastes by XRF and XRD suggests a possible cementitious capability owing to the amorphous nature of WG and the presence of C3S and C2S in SS. Accordingly, due to international standards, cubic mortars were produced by replacing cement with SS at 50% and WG at 50% and 20%. The effects of such replacements on the compressive strength of mortars were evaluated by comparison with that of the control mortars. WG increases workability and results in a higher strength index (72.8%) than that of SS (48.7%) at similar replacement levels (50%). Subsequently, SS and WG replaced coarse aggregates (CA) and cement, respectively, in concrete. The results revealed positive effects of SS on compressive strength in contrast to WG influence. The compressive strength of concrete cured for 91d increased by about 20% compared to the control sample upon incorporation of 50% SS without any WG.
With the advent of new technologies and endeavors for automation in almost all day-to-day activities, the recent discussions on the metaverse life have a greater expectation. Furthermore, we are in the era of the fifth industrial revolution, where machines and humans collaborate to maximize productivity with the effective utilization of human intelligence and other resources. Hence, Industry 5.0 in the metaverse may have tremendous technological integration for a more immersive experience and enhanced communication.These technological amalgamations are suitable for the present environment and entirely different from the previous perception of virtual technologies. This work presents a comprehensive review of the applications of the metaverse in Industry 5.0 (so-called industrial metaverse). In particular, we first provide a preliminary to the metaverse and industry 5.0 and discuss key enabling technologies of the industrial metaverse, including virtual and augmented reality, 3D modeling, artificial intelligence, edge computing, digital twin, blockchain, and 6G communication networks. This work then explores diverse metaverse applications in Industry 5.0 vertical domains like Society 5.0, agriculture, supply chain management, healthcare, education, and transportation. A number of research projects are presented to showcase the conceptualization and implementation of the industrial metaverse. Furthermore, various challenges in realizing the industrial metaverse, feasible solutions, and future directions for further research have been presented.
The article presents the analysis of the current state of the construction industry in the region, and also shows the evolution of the main indicators of its operation. The aim of this study is the diagnosis of the problems of the real estate market of Stavropol Region and determining ofprospects of achievement of balance of characteristics of the demand and supply. As a result, the analysis identified priority areas for increased funding of the construction business by improving the tools of mortgage lending and other resource sources.