Abidemi Bashiru Folorunsho, Topendra Oli, Changheon Lee
et al.
Abstract Large horizontal concrete elements are susceptible to premature cracking due to environmental effects. The ASTM C1579 bottom-restraining technique cannot reliably induce controlled cracking. In this study, glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars were incorporated to enhance restraint and induce plastic-shrinkage cracking. Given the increasing use of GFRP bars in structures, this study investigates their influence on cracking. ASTM C1579 molds were reinforced with 13 mm and 16 mm GFRP bars, while short cellulose and polypropylene fibers were incorporated. Results indicated that samples reinforced with 16 mm GFRP bars induced more extensive cracking than those with GFRP 13 mm bars. Fibers at 0.2%, 0.25%, and 0.3% reduced cracking and enhanced mechanical strength. At 0.4%, crack mitigation was superior, though slight reductions in compressive and flexural strength were observed. Regression analysis indicated a nonlinear relationship between fiber dosage and crack reduction. Analysis of variance results revealed statistical significance (p < 0.05) for both fiber percentage and fiber type. Polypropylene outperformed cellulose fibers, although both effectively mitigated plastic-shrinkage cracking.
Systems of building construction. Including fireproof construction, concrete construction
The increasing use of wood and wood‐based composites in construction reflects a global shift toward renewable materials that support sustainable development objectives, including carbon reduction and responsible resource use. While wood offers substantial environmental benefits compared to conventional materials such as concrete and steel, its inherent flammability remains a critical challenge limiting its broader application in both structural and non‐structural contexts. This review synthesizes recent advancements in fire protection strategies, focusing on nanotechnology‐enabled and bio‐based fire retardants (FRs) that improve fire resistance while maintaining mechanical integrity. A systematic framework is proposed for developing FR solutions that align with circular economy principles and contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), particularly SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). The review critically assesses the environmental trade‐offs, life cycle implications, cost factors, and scalability of various treatment methods including surface coating, impregnation, and delignification, providing practical insights for implementation in building systems. The findings underscore the urgent need for integrated, scalable, and eco‐friendly fire safety technologies that enable the wider adoption of wood in climate‐resilient and low‐impact built environments.
Yu. D. Kolmakova, А. V. Vorobiev, N. I. Fomin
et al.
Precast-Monolithic housing construction technology is currently one of priorities for the domestic construction industry development. However, despite the undeniable advantages of this technology, buildings constructed with the precast-monolithic frame have a number of disadvantages limiting their mass use. Long-term practice of civil buildings structures technical inspection allowed the article authors to reveal a problem of detecting and evaluating defects in the precast-monolithic structures installation in addition to the known factors limiting the precast-monolithic systems development and widespread use. The revealed problem is caused by insufficient manufacturability of applied operational and acceptance control processes. Defects detection in the structures installation of a building load-bearing frame is carried out during the structures technical inspection with the methods regulated in SP 13-102–2003 “Rules for the load-bearing building structures inspection in buildings and structures”: design, working and as-built documentation analysis; structures visual inspection; structural reinforcement parameters determination; concrete strength control of prefabricated and monolithic structural elements; welds quality control; verification calculations of the load-bearing frame and its individual structural elements for existing or design loads. The article presents a structured list of the most common defects in the load-bearing precast-monolithic structures of the civil buildings frame installation (with the “KUB-2,5” system example). The defects were determined on the base of the technical surveys results carried out by the authors. A clear algorithm for the identified installation defects assessing is proposed. The installation defects presented in the article allow us to conclude that there is a need for thorough regulation of construction and installation work and subsequent operational construction control, including an algorithm for assessing the defects impact on the load-bearing frame reliability.
Hussain M. Hamada, Farid Abed, Zaid A. Al-Sadoon
et al.
Abstract Concrete is widely used in construction due to its remarkable compressive strength and durability. However, its performance can deteriorate when exposed to harsh environmental conditions, such as acidic or alkaline surroundings. There has been considerable interest in incorporating both basalt and steel fibers (B&SFs) to enhance the resilience of concrete in such challenging settings. This study presents a comprehensive examination of the influence of B&SFs on the strength and microstructure of concrete, utilizing desert sand as a fine aggregate and subjecting it to exposure to acidic and alkaline environments. Employing a systematic experimental approach, this research assesses concrete samples with varying B&SFs proportions. The study encompasses density and compressive strength tests, complemented by microstructural analyses using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), to analyze the performance of the concrete under diverse environmental conditions. Initial findings indicate that including B&SFs results in a substantial improvement in concrete strength. The role of basalt fibers (BFs) in enhancing the concrete's resistance to acidic environments by mitigating deleterious effects on microstructural integrity is particularly noteworthy. Notably, when exposed to acidic conditions, concrete mixtures containing 0.5% BFs demonstrated the least strength loss. When B&SFs are synergized, their positive effects are amplified, yielding concrete with exceptional resistance to alkaline environments. Microstructural analysis reveals that incorporating fibers refines and strengthens the interconnected matrix of cementitious products, thereby enhancing cohesion and overall strength. Furthermore, this study underscores that desert sand can be a viable alternative to traditional fine aggregates without compromising concrete resistance if it is appropriately reinforced with fibers. In conclusion, this research sheds light on the promising role of B&SFs in augmenting the strength and microstructure of concrete containing desert sand.
Systems of building construction. Including fireproof construction, concrete construction
Abstract This study evaluates the structural performance of newly designed and fabricated grid frame-type railroad DCPs (derailment containment provisions) classified as DCP type I, compatible with rapid assembly construction and maintenance on gravel tracks in railway service lines. Previous research only reviewed the durability of the structure under static loading conditions. However, this study proposed an evaluation method considering the importance of assessing the impact performance of the DCPs assembly structure subjected to dynamic impact loads from continuously colliding train wheels; this involved a drop weight test to analyze the behavior of the DCP assembly structure under accumulated impact energy applied to different collision positions. To this end, drop-impact weight tests were conducted to verify the structural performance of the derailment protection system connected to concrete sleepers using post-installed anchors. A test specimen and jig were fabricated to evaluate the structural performance and impact resistance of the anchoring connections. 15 drop weight impact tests were performed, and the resulting behavior under impact energy was analyzed. The results indicated that when a derailed train wheel collides with the DCP frame section, dominant loads act on the base plate anchor, resisting through shear and bearing strength of the anchor bolts. The DCP assembly structure demonstrated sufficient derailment containment performance, even under significant accumulated energy (21.0 kJ; six repeated impacts), with collision loads and displacement levels within acceptable limits. For repeated impact loads (3.5∼7.0 kJ; 1∼2 occurrences), the impact load absorbed by the DCP connection anchor averaged 241.22 kN, and the vertical displacement at the collision point averaged 14.23 mm. This value is 2.62 times (162%) greater compared to the case of a collision on the DCP frame and approximately 13% lower than the impact load that the DCP frame can absorb. Additionally, when a derailed wheel collided directly with the side of the base plate, the embedded anchors in the sleeper were identified as a relatively weak point. Therefore, reducing the base plate width (from 500 mm to 480 mm) to guide collisions toward the DCP frame section, which could absorb greater impact loads, was a more effective design. The test results demonstrated that the newly developed steel grid frame-type DCP combination structure sufficiently resists the impact loads from derailed wheels of high-speed trains traveling at 300 km/h. It effectively restricts excessive lateral movement of derailed trains and provides guiding capability. Furthermore, the drop weight test for the newly proposed DCP combination structure, which also considers impact energy, is deemed more suitable for analysis than conventional testing methods.
Systems of building construction. Including fireproof construction, concrete construction
Ahmed A. Mahmoud, Manar S. Sedeek, Mohamed A. Salama
et al.
Abstract Glass-fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars are widely applied due to their advantages over reinforcement steel bars. GFRP bars are the main adhesive reinforcement since they have a high strength capacity and corrosion resistance. From the literature review and due to the insufficiency of these studies concerning the repair and strengthening of box-section RC beams reinforced by GFRP bars using external GFRP strips, this study was done. This paper presents an experimental, numerical, and analytical study for strengthening box-section reinforced concrete RC beams reinforced by GFRP bars and stirrups using external GFRP strips. The studied parameters in this investigation are (1) the width of GFRP strips (Sf), (2) the centerline-to-centerline spacing of the strips (Sf) and (Wf/Sf) ratio, (3) the GFRP layers, and (4) the inclination of GFRP strips. The experimental study consists of nine specimens. The specimens are tested as simply supported RC box-section beams. All beams have dimensions of 400 * 600 * 2200 * 2000 mm (width * depth * total length * span). The nonlinear finite element program ANSYS was used to verify and validate the numerical models. Verification models have been developed. Using the measured results as crack patterns, load–deflection curves, failure modes, and failure loads, it can be concluded that, when doubling the number of GFRP layers, the failure load increased by 82%. Due to increasing the spacing between strips, the ultimate load decreased by about 9%. The ultimate load increased by about 3% when reducing the spacing between strips. The capacity of all tested beams after repair and strengthening was calculated using the Egyptian and American codes. Both codes are unconservative in some cases and conservative in others. The numerical output is unconservative compared to the experimental results. Graphical Abstract
Systems of building construction. Including fireproof construction, concrete construction
The article provides an overview of the work of the plenary, strategic, main and working sessions of the section «Technosphere Security in the Arctic» held by the St. Petersburg University of the State Fire Service of the EMERCOM of Russia in the framework of the 8th International Scientific and Practical Conference «Polar Bear Universe: Effective Cooperation in the Arctic».
The section considered such issues as scientific, technological and environmental cooperation in the Arctic, expanding competencies in the field of ensuring the safety of life in the Arctic and Antarctic, the possibility of using new developments of all-terrain equipment to eliminate the consequences of emergencies.
In addition, there were proposed methods for monitoring and forecasting the technical condition of vehicles in the Arctic. The features of the Arctic clothing were considered. The results of the project to evacuate and provide highly qualified medical assistance to victims of accidents at remote industrial facilities in the Far North and Arctic zone of the Russian Federation were summarised.
In a separate report, the conference participants got acquainted with the organization of communications during the Safe Arctic 2025 expedition across the Chukotka Autonomous Area.
Systems of building construction. Including fireproof construction, concrete construction
The relevant problem of capital technical facilities construction (capital groups I and II) in the Russian Federation regions with harsh climate, complex logistics and the lack of developed construction industry is considered. To solve this problem a comprehensive technology for arched buildings, combining a thin-walled open cylindrical monolithic shell, pneumatic PVC formwork and carbon fiber reinforcement is proposed. The process methodology is described in detail, including step-by-step installation, bringing the system to its design position by pumping air and concreting with self-sealing concrete. Special attention is paid to the carbon fiber reinforcement advantages: high strength, low weight, corrosion resistance and self-straightening, which is crucial for transportation and fixation in the design position without additional mechanisms. It is proved that the proposed solution minimizes material consumption, transportation costs, construction time and provides high thermal and operational characteristics of the facility.
This study presents the design, development, and operational evaluation of the HD25 Hot Box, a guarded hot plate apparatus designed to measure the thermal conductivity of concrete specimens under steady-state conditions. The HD25 Hot Box was developed to assess the heat transfer properties of construction materials, particularly those incorporating environmental waste aggregates such as high- and low-density polyethylene and perlite. The device adheres to the Argentine standards IRAM 11559, IRAM 11549, and IRAM 11601, ensuring accurate and reliable measurements. The apparatus consists of two main units: a heating unit and a cooling unit, which work in tandem to establish a uniform, one-dimensional heat flow through prism-shaped concrete specimens. The HD25 Hot Box measures key thermal properties, including thermal conductivity, resistivity, resistance, and transmittance. The study highlights the impact of incorporating plastic waste into concrete, demonstrating that replacing traditional aggregates with plastic waste reduces the material's density and thermal conductivity while increasing its thermal resistance and resistivity. For instance, replacing 37% of coarse aggregate with plastic resulted in a 40% reduction in thermal conductivity and a 68% increase in thermal resistance compared to conventional concrete. The device's design includes a central heating plate surrounded by a guard section to ensure uniform heat distribution, and a cooling unit that uses a closed-loop water circulation system to maintain temperature stability. The HD25 Hot Box is compact, lightweight, and energy-efficient, making it suitable for laboratory use. The study concludes that the HD25 Hot Box is a reliable tool for evaluating the thermal properties of concrete, particularly those incorporating recycled materials, and provides valuable data for energy-efficient building design. The findings suggest that replacing up to 19% of traditional aggregates with plastic waste and perlite fines is optimal for maintaining both thermal and mechanical properties in construction materials.
This research explores the constructional waste management practices in Pangasinan, aiming to develop a policy brief that addresses key issues in construction-related waste management. The study focuses on profiling the municipalities of Pangasinan’s current construction waste management system, including the adequacy of human resources involved in constructional waste management system, and existing policies, activities, and programs influencing waste management as perceived by selected Civil Engineers in the province of Pangasinan. It also examines how constructional waste management practices are monitored and identifies the types of waste typically generated in construction projects by the local and provincial government, such as concrete debris, scraped asphalt, excavated materials, packaging waste, and fuel waste like oils. Moreover, the research assesses the level of awareness among local government personnel regarding waste management protocols and evaluates the seriousness of challenges faced in implementing effective constructional waste management strategies. The study is limited to constructional wastes and specific materials commonly encountered in road and building projects. Based on the findings, a thorough recommendation will be proposed to improve waste management practices, promote sustainable construction, and enhance policy formulation for the different local government units, including the Department of Public Works and Highways, of Pangasinan
Ensuring the stability of monolithic concrete slabs during construction represents a crucial safety challenge in monolithic reinforced concrete buildings. Theoretical models and structural analyses often assume ideal conditions of supporting props. However, significant deviations occur in practice due to variations in technical condition and installation methods. This study investigates the magnitude of prestressing forces generated in adjustable telescopic steel props depending on manual tightening and hammer blows. Experimental measurements were conducted on different types of props compliant with EN 1065, including both new and worn specimens, to simulate real on-site conditions. The influence of worker body weight was also analyzed. The results confirmed that the technical condition of the prop is the decisive factor affecting the level of prestress. Props in poor condition achieved substantially lower and inconsistent prestressing forces, while new props subjected to five hammer blows reached maximum values up to 13.16 kN. This difference can significantly influence static calculations for slab construction. Contrary to expectations, the influence of worker body weight was not statistically significant; instead, the dominant role was played by installation technique and the accuracy of hammer blows. The findings contribute to the optimization of safety guidelines and the improvement of calculation models for temporary support systems in monolithic construction.
This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of damage to buildings and infrastructure resulting from military actions, with a particular emphasis on modern conflicts and their devastating consequences. The primary focus is on a profound examination of various factors causing deformation and destruction: from the destructive effects of explosive shock waves and dynamic loads to mechanical impacts (shrapnel, direct hits) and intense thermal factors (fires, high-temperature exposures).The study encompasses a representative sample of over 150 structures of various types, located in active combat zones. This enabled a detailed examination of typical failure and degradation mechanisms in key structural systems, such as panel buildings, traditional brick masonry, monolithic and precast reinforced concrete structures, as well as lightweight frame and rapidly assembled constructions. Key findings confirm the empirically established pattern that the intensity of damage decreases exponentially with increased distance from the explosion's epicenter, which is crucial for hazard zoning. A significant correlation was also established between the nature of the consequences, the type of explosion (airburst, ground-level, subsurface), its power, and the structural features that determine a building's inherent resilience to external influences. To accurately assess the parameters of explosive waves, including their pressure, impulse, and duration, advanced methods were employed. These methods combine empirical formulas derived from field tests with high-precision numerical modeling using the finite element method (FEM). Based on the comprehensive analysis, a set of practical recommendations is proposed. They include the use of more durable, ductile, and energy-absorbing materials, the retrofitting and strengthening of existing buildings, and the optimization of urban planning solutions, considering principles of protective design and infrastructure dispersion. The objective of this work is not only to document and analyze damages but also to significantly improve existing methodologies for calculating structural responses to blast loads. Furthermore, the study investigated the impact of secondary factors such as collapses, ground deformations, and subsequent settlements, which often accompany primary destructions and exacerbate the overall condition of affected objects.
Igor Catão Martins Vaz, T. P. Scolaro, Aline Schaefer
et al.
The construction sector significantly contributes to global greenhouse gas emissions, which is particularly relevant in emerging economies as Brazil. The Brazilian initiative of SIDAC (Construction Environmental Performance Information System) and the development of new tools aim to provide national data for assessing environmental impacts. A method that uses such data is the Whole Building Life Cycle Assessment (WBLCA), which is a systematic tool for evaluating a building’s environmental impacts throughout its life cycle, including resource consumption, emissions, and waste generation. Due to the complexity of obtaining local data for WBLCA, the Ecoinvent database has been widely used due to its comprehensive dataset. However, its applicability to the Brazilian context can be limited due to regional variations in production processes. In this context, this study compares the performance of national (SIDAC) and international (Ecoinvent) databases using simplified WBLCA models for embodied carbon and single-point scores. The assessment focuses on phases A1 to A3, covering the embodied impacts from the extraction of materials to the construction. Three single-family residential buildings were assessed. The results highlight the differences between the databases. For instance, concrete has a much higher relevance using the SIDAC data and carbon emissions, while all other materials present less relevance in the overall impact. Also, one highlights the difference between carbon accounting, which uses carbon emissions in SIDAC and equivalent carbon emissions in Ecoinvent. However, one can conclude that SIDAC is a promising tool for Brazilian WBLCA, providing an easy way to calculate the building’s impacts.
The relevance of this study is determined by the growing risks of confidential information leakage in office networks caused by electromagnetic emissions from technical devices. Modern office environments are heavily saturated with wireless services, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, LoRa, mobile terminals, and IoT devices, and even low-power signals extending beyond building boundaries can create technical channels for unauthorized interception. This situation highlights the need for scientifically justified models capable of predicting spatial vulnerability zones and supporting the design of protective measures. The core problem lies in the absence of universal methods for quantitative evaluation of spatial risks that would simultaneously account for diverse building materials, architectural layouts, and internal environmental conditions. Existing empirical approaches either lack accuracy or are excessively resource-intensive for practical integration into information security management systems. The purpose of the article is to develop a spatial-mathematical model for the identification and optimization of a “controlled zone” within office premises, in which the signal level is reliably reduced below the detection threshold of unauthorized receivers. The methodology builds on a modified Hata model adapted for indoor environments by incorporating absorption coefficients of typical building materials such as concrete, brick, glass, and gypsum board, as well as the exponential attenuation law. The approach includes the construction of a binary coverage matrix to generate vulnerability maps and applies an optimization algorithm for sensor placement based on the maximum coverage criterion subject to budgetary constraints. The proposed method was validated through an experimental case study of a typical office. The results show that at a frequency of 96.1 MHz and transmission power of 2.3 mW, the attenuation boundary occurs at distances beyond 10 m, while the recommended controlled zone encompasses approximately 24 × 8.5 m. The model ensures precise forecasting of radio leakage zones and supports optimization of the required number of sensors. The key findings demonstrate that combining the adapted Hata model with matrix-based coverage representation provides an effective means of identifying spatial information leakage risks. Furthermore, the results can be integrated into information security management systems in line with ISO/IEC 27005 standards and national regulations in the field of technical information protection.The practical significance of the study lies in its applicability to governmental bodies, business centers, and critical infrastructure facilities where reliable planning of controlled zones is essential to minimize the probability of technical leakage channels and optimize monitoring costs.
Olga S. Matorina, Elena Yu. Udavtsova, Tatyana A. Shavyrina
The article presents the justification of the performance indicators of facility fire departments.
The relevance of the study is due to the increase in the number of emergencies and the increasing public interest in fire safety issues The article proposes a more comprehensive approach to assessing the effectiveness of fire departments, taking into account, in addition to indicators of response time and fire localization speed, the efficiency and quality of personnel training, technical equipment, the effectiveness of preventive measures, organizational and economic factors. There is carried out the analysis of existing assessment methods, focusing on the application of system analysis and mathematical modelling for accurate forecasting and improvement of fire departments performance. The proposed performance indicators are divided into several categories: operational, organizational, economic, social as well as indicator of readiness. They can be successfully integrated into the management systems of fire depertments in organizations in order to improve safety, minimize losses and make more rational use of resources, which will ensure a high level of public safety and trust in fire service.
Systems of building construction. Including fireproof construction, concrete construction