Sergey M. Dymov, Maxim V. Vishchekin, Aleksandr M. Aleksandrov
et al.
The article considers the possibility of using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) for direct rescue (transportation) of people from a height in case of fire. Practical examples of the use of UAVs in various emergency situations are outlined. Regulatory documents on the relevant topic have been reviewed. Problematic issues of the development and application of UAVs are raised.
Systems of building construction. Including fireproof construction, concrete construction
Introduction. The construction industry depends largely in compliance with the laws of the market with no in-depth analysis of its development trends as a system. Government regulation of the industry fails to make a full use of an evidence-based predictive analysis, but rather is more frequently guided by international experience in the form of small data. The aim of the study is to bridge this gap by means of a general overview of the research related to the general patterns of the development of construction technologies. Materials and Methods . The research included the search for information from open sources, its analysis and synthesis in order to identify the general trends in the development of construction technologies. Materials from the authors’ research were employed. The analysis was conducted using the laws of the development of technical systems. Research Results. The stages of the evolution of building technologies including prefabricated, monolithic, and precastmonolithic methods are discussed. Ways of improving building materials by means of increasing their physical and mechanical properties, reducing weight, and lowering harmful emissions and costs are also identified. It is noteworthy that the improvement of these materials by their direct relationship with structures results in their dynamic development. It is found that the improvement of materials due to the direct relationship in the system with structures also leads to their dynamic development, they become more durable, lightweight, multifunctional and influence architectural and planning solutions increasing useful selling space. Issues hindering the development of digital technologies for the manufacture of structures are noted: control of early hydration of 3D-printed concrete and a relationship with rheology, ensuring interlayer adhesion, strength, introduction of automated reinforcement and generally the relationship between technology, material and performance characteristics in terms of both structural strength and durability. The basic requirements for the design of buildings and structures and their parts are designed: saving space, materials and energy through integrated design, which includes the integration of all the building systems (structural, mechanical, hydraulic, air and electrical) into a single system. The development of the technology of large-block (modular) construction is considered including the research of SUSU employees on the technology of sinking concrete. Attention is paid to the global experience of modular construction and the direction of development of modular integrated systems. Discussion and Conclusion . It is concluded that the general trends in the development of construction technologies include: acceleration of large-block (modular) and monolithic construction by improving materials (high-functional concretes, enlarged reinforced frames, fibers), use of automated efficient mechanisms, prefab elements, equipping modules with engineering networks; reducing the complexity and increasing the manageability of construction production by reducing labor costs in the proposed construction technologies, automation and digitalization of the major processes; use of information modeling technologies, neural networks, and rational layout of the interior of a building in complex design; improving the functionality and aesthetics of facade technologies.
Traditional construction methods in the lowland regions of Cyprus are predominantly de ined by the use of load-bearing walls constructed from stone and mud bricks, complemented by lat roofs supported by wooden beams. In the current context, where the reduction of the energy footprint of buildings, the optimization of bioclimatic function and the incorporation of sustainable materials are of paramount importance, there is a concerted effort to revive the construction principles inherent in these historical building systems, now enhanced by contemporary technological advancements. One notable initiative is the construction of the “Archontikon” on the periphery of Akaki village in Nicosia. The “Archontikon” (meaning “Mansion”) is an auxiliary building adjacent to the Church of Ayios Iakovos Tsalikis, which is presently under construction. This single-story structure is characterized by load-bearing walls that are composed of stone at the base and mud bricks at the upper section. Slightly processed natural materials were extensively used in the structure, including local stones, handmade mud bricks, wood, traditional coatings and mineral wool. Το a much lesser extent, contemporary materials such as steel sections, concrete and damp-proof breathable membranes, were also incorporated. The inner surface of the shell’s walls was designed to include a narrow, naturally ventilated space, which accommodates thermal mineral-wool insulation panels and all necessary electro-mechanical installations. This lightweight structure was coated with traditional plaster applied to a metal mesh that is af ixed to a wooden frame. Furthermore, four windows located at the uppermost section of the hall primarily facilitate the natural extraction of hot air, thereby contributing to the cooling of the hall during the summer period. The energy footprint of the structure is signi icantly lower than that of a comparable conventional structure. Its exceptional energy ef iciency is attributed to the incorporation of both thermal insulation layers and the thermal capacity of the walls. Furthermore, 60% of the total volume of construction materials, including the foundation slab, is fully recyclable, while this igure increases to 90% when the foundation slab is excluded.
Mohamed Darwish, Mohamed Elnakeb, M. Moawad
et al.
The construction field is one of the largest sectors and industries worldwide. This industry is the main industry accused of contributing to greenhouse gases and increasing the effects of climate change. However, the construction industry is indispensable, accordingly in an attempt to decrease the greenhouse gas effects of construction this research presents the manuscript for building a one-story building with all components including waste products. The building model used a strip foundation with a concrete mix design incorporating recycled concrete as a partial replacement for aggregates, cement hollow blocks containing granite waste instead of conventional cement blocks, and sandwiched insulated panels made of wood-plastic composites for the roof. The structural soundness of the system was tested by loading it with a load surpassing its design load in addition to measuring the deflection and checking its abidance to the code limitations. The thermal efficiency was tested by measuring the temperatures in comparison with the outside of the building for a span of 7 days with data recorded every 1 h. Analysis of both the short-term and long-term costs and carbon emissions was performed by acquiring the carbon emissions per unit of material from literature and multiplying it by the quantities of the materials used within the different building alternatives. That study showed that the roofs made of Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) using Wood-Plastic Composite (WPC) facings when used with hollow-block cement block walls have shown enduring cost efficiency and improved thermal insulation, leading to diminished energy usage, life-cycle expenses, and carbon emissions. Furthermore, the proposed system is more environmentally friendly than conventional reinforced concrete technologies due to their lower costs and emissions in addition to improving sustainability through utilizing recycled materials.
Demountable steel–concrete composite structures, utilised in sustainable building construction, incorporate demountable structural elements and shear connectors designed for reuse, aligning with the principles of the circular economy. This research and development project focuses on designing a demountable steel–concrete composite slab system for building applications, aiming to establish a design method based on Eurocode standards. The proposed structural solution comprises steel beams and precast reinforced concrete panels, featuring steel assemblies, mortar filling and embedded bolts as demountable shear connectors. A push-out experimental programme was conducted and extended by numerical studies. The results indicate that the shear connection demonstrates a suitable performance with adequate stiffness, resistance and ductility. The material properties of the concrete and mortar filling, particularly in the region surrounding the shear connector, significantly influence structural behaviour. The numerical model that is developed accurately represents real behaviour, facilitating a numerical parametric analysis of key parameters, including bolt grade, concrete grade, bolt position within the holes and panel thickness. Based on these results, a proposed structural solution has been developed and optimised, with mortar filling playing a crucial role in improving bolt hole clearance and force distribution. This updated solution has been used to design full-scale composite beam specimens for testing in the next research phase.
Muhammad Alamgeer Shams, Naraindas Bheel, Malik Muneeb Abid
et al.
Abstract Engineered cementitious composites (ECC) boast superior tensile strain capacity and crack resistance compared to traditional concrete. A key contributor to this enhanced behavior is their high fracture energy, reflecting the material's ability to absorb energy before failure. This review paper comprehensively examines the factors influencing ECC fracture energy. It explores the impact of fiber properties (volume, type, aspect ratio), the binding matrix's characteristics, and the crucial fiber–matrix bond quality. The review dives deeper into established methods for measuring ECC fracture energy. It analyzes various test configurations and data analysis techniques used to quantify this vital property. Understanding how critical factors such as fiber volume, aspect ratio, and fiber type can improve or reduce the fracture process is discussed in this review. To optimize the ECC design, different experimental procedures along with their advantages and shortcomings and future testing methods to clearly evaluate the fracture behavior of ECC are discussed as well. This allows for achieving targeted fracture energy levels tailored to specific applications. Additionally, the review identifies promising directions for future research in ECC fracture energy. These include multi-scale modeling for enhanced design, exploration of advanced fiber engineering for improved performance, and the possibility of incorporating self-healing mechanisms for increased durability. Ultimately, this review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the factors governing fracture energy in ECC and the methods for its evaluation, paving the way for the development of next-generation ECC with superior functioning and broader applicability.
Systems of building construction. Including fireproof construction, concrete construction
D. Domínguez-Santos, P. Muñoz, J. O. Morales-Ferreiro
et al.
Abstract Concrete, a key material in modern infrastructure, significantly contributes to global CO2 emissions, urging innovative approaches for its environmental impact mitigation. This study evaluates the techno-economic feasibility of incorporating graphene oxide (GO) into concrete formulations to enhance mechanical properties and reduce cement usage, thereby mitigating CO2 emissions. The methodology involved synthesising GO using a modified Hummers’ method, ensuring uniform dispersion in concrete matrices. Concrete samples with varying GO contents underwent mechanical strength testing, as well as microstructural analysis including SEM, XPS, and Raman spectroscopy. Results led to simulations of the mechanical response of low- and medium-rise buildings subjected to seismic forces. Besides, economic assessments were performed by considering the overall cost of materials (GO and concrete) and the savings from CO2 emissions, based on different scenarios for both GO and CO2 prices. The optimal formulation uses 0.1% GO by weight of cement, improving compressive strength by up to 17.92% and flexural strength by up to 74.78%. Structural models indicate that GO can reduce the weight of structural elements by 8–24%, leading to lower seismic forces and easier compliance with seismic-resistant standards. Economic analysis reveals that low-rise buildings can benefit from GO-enhanced concrete if the GO price is between €50 and €80 per kg, depending on CO2 credit prices ranging from €60 to €200 per tonne. For taller buildings, the economic feasibility is more restrictive; GO prices must be between €50 and €70 per kg with CO2 credit prices starting at €100 per tonne to justify the use of 0.1% GO. Graphical Abstract
Systems of building construction. Including fireproof construction, concrete construction
Mining exploitation of cement/concrete components experience sometimes problems caused by tectonic process and water hazards during mining of polyhalite-bearing sulphate rocks. Polyhalite is a hydrated K-Mg-Ca sulphate mineral of high economic significance, including construction materials industry. On the other hand, traditional tectonic analyses for seismic/water events prediction, often emphasize external forces and mining-induced stress relaxation. They rarely arise questions on primary origin such forces. Potential cumulation of stress, resulted from internal geochemical-mineralogical origin of such forces, of large-scale compression/tension and mass-movement are often neglected. A universal, approach here concerns the role of geochemical control of volume-temperature variations combined with post-sedimentary transformation of anhydrite to polyhalite what apparently implicates substantial problems during any mining carried out in anhydrite bodies. Such 100% transformation: a) increase volume of elemental cells by c.a. +137,76 %, b) is exothermic, c) elevates pressure d) results stress, e) implicates deformations: compressive inside and tensile outside, f) forms elevations, g) results chaotic K/Ar ages with millions of years discrepancies, h) may result sesimtectonic-water-H2S combined hazards and apparent subsidence. Such transformations have critical implications for general view in tectonic forces and formation of deposits, geological documentation and mining of them, particularly in addressing water, stability hazards during resource extraction and environmental issues [subsidence/deformations, earthquakes, water regime/pollution/salinisation, H2S etc]. The geochemical reactions, accelerated by deep-mine drainage activity, may result in fast [even days/years] geochemically negligible anhydrite-to-polyhalite volume-grow transitions, which however results in seismotectonic- water- and H2S-hazars, especially in anhydrite-dolomite-halite mining systems. They are pivotal in shaping mechanical properties of rocks and their deformations and movement. The study underscores the need for integrated geochemical and structural analyses to better understand these phenomena and mitigate associated risks from exploration to resource extraction [economy, safety, water-brine-subsidence environmental hazards] and geoengineering.
With the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service documenting the hottest temperatures ever recorded in Europe during the summer of 2023, the demand for heat-resistant construction materials becomes critical. This study, undertaken in Madrid, addresses this escalating issue by investigating the response of conventional construction materials (brick, wood, granite, and concrete) to ultraviolet (UV) solar radiation and ambient temperature. Moreover, the study examines innovative laminated plasterboard systems like Pladur®, emphasizing their potential in mitigating the urban heat island effect. We hypothesized that the materials’ surface temperature would increase proportionally with higher UV indexes. Additionally, we hypothesized that materials with greater thermal mass values would display a less significant temperature increase upon exposure to a constant high ambient temperature condition. We also proposed a third hypothesis: high UV radiation exerts greater influence in surface temperature responses of materials than ambient temperature alone. The results obtained affirm the hypotheses, revealing a positive proportional relationship between the UV index and surface temperature. Notably, Pladur® emerged as a heat-resistant alternative during the study. The thermal mass experiment highlights the importance of opting for high thermal mass construction materials, like concrete or granite, in hot climates. Despite inherent limitations, including uncertainties in temperature readings, this study yields valuable insights into the interplay between UV exposure and thermal mass on construction materials. The findings suggest the potential of laminated plasterboard systems in sustainable urban construction, signaling a shift toward energetically efficient, insulating building solutions.
Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC), as a typical representative of new building materials, demonstrates unique advantages in the field of civil engineering with its ultra-high strength, high toughness, and excellent durability. This paper systematically combs the material properties and preparation processes of UHPC, deeply analyzes its application status in prefabricated buildings, bridge engineering, tunnel reinforcement, and other fields. Combined with practical cases such as the south extension project of Ningbo Airport Road and the reinforcement of expressway bridges, this paper discusses the technical paths for UHPC performance optimization, including the regulation of steel fiber content, the improvement of thermal curing systems, and composite interface treatment. The study shows that UHPC can significantly improve the bearing capacity and durability of components through material composition optimization and structural design innovation, but it still faces challenges such as cost control, specification adaptation, and construction process standardization. Future research should focus on green preparation technologies, intelligent applications, and multi-functional integration to promote the wide application of UHPC in complex engineering environments.
Husnu Gerengi, Ertuğrul Kaya, Moses M Solomon
et al.
Concrete, a versatile construction material, faces pervasive deterioration due to microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) in various applications, including sewer systems, marine engineering, and buildings. MIC is initiated by microbial activities such as involving sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB), sulfur-oxidizing bacteria (SOB), etc., producing corrosive substances like sulfuric acid. This process significantly impacts structures, causing economic losses and environmental concerns. Despite over a century of research, MIC remains a debated issue, lacking standardized assessment methods. Microorganisms contribute to concrete degradation through physical and chemical means. In the oil and gas industry, SRB and SOB activities may adversely affect concrete in offshore platforms. MIC challenges also arise in cooling water systems and civil infrastructures, impacting concrete surfaces. Sewer systems experience biogenic corrosion, primarily driven by SRB activities, leading to concrete deterioration. Mitigation traditionally involves the use of biocides and surface coatings, but their long-term effectiveness and environmental impact are questionable. Nowadays, it is important to design more eco-friendly mitigation products. The microbial-influenced carbonate precipitation is one of the green techniques and involves incorporating beneficial bacteria with antibacterial activity into cementitious materials to prevent the growth and the formation of a community that contains species that are pathogenic or may be responsible for MIC. These innovative strategies present promising avenues for addressing MIC challenges and preserving the integrity of concrete structures. This review provides a snapshot of the MIC in various areas and mitigation measures, excluding underlying mechanisms and broader influencing factors.
In this review article, system materials for concrete 2D printing have been discussed, along with the various other aspects that are connected to sustainable construction. The article consists of an introduction giving the background of manufacturing that started almost two decades ago, including the non-conventional methods of building structures. It has been seen that there are various stainable materials in the field of 3D printing in construction, as the conversion of construction to 3D printing reduces waste generation. Further in this article, the cost comparison between conventional and non-conventional construction methods has been discussed, including the effectiveness of 3D printing; 3D printing is very effective in the sense that it requires the precise use of machinery and construction material. Full-scale 3D printing has also been seen in the building sector, but only to some extent. Some of the components of bridges, and even some of small bridges, have been constructed using 3D printing and ultra-high-performance concrete. Since there are various advantages to 3D building, there are also various disadvantages to 3D printing, such as how much it costs and finding the materials that are suitable for 3D printing, which might increase the cost. Polymers have also been used in 3D printing construction since polymers have a very long lifespan, and polymers may increase the strength of the final product by reinforcing the aggregate. Additionally, this technology gives us the opportunity to use various materials together for construction, such as recycled aggregates and geopolymers, along with concrete and cement, which might pose some challenges but are being used nowadays. A major concern with this technology is its impact on the labor market. Since in traditional construction huge amounts of man hours are required, concerns have been raised about the inclusion of this technology, as this might affect employment. Since most of the work will be done by machines, the need for labor will reduce. These are some of the issues that need attention. Finally, this article discusses the novelty and future scope of 3D printing in the construction sector, and concludes by outlining the scope of potential developments for 3D printing concrete by taking into account sustainability.
Lucas Goncalves de Moura Jorge, A. Hammad, A. Haddad
et al.
Off-site manufacturing (OSM) in construction projects is associated with significant advantages including increased construction quality, productivity and efficiency. Even though off-site construction has been gaining increased attention from researchers and stakeholders in the construction industry, its adoption rate is still low. Unfortunately such approach has not been effectively examined to optimize the level of prefabrication adopted on projects. This research study aims to develop a framework for a Multi-Objective Binary Particle Swarm Optimization (MOBPSO) tool to optimize the level of OSM adopted in a project. The construction systems and elements involved in a project are optimised for OSM in order to meet three objectives, namely time, cost and embodied carbon. The proposed MOBPSO model is then applied to a case study in Brazil. The case study building is a social housing project that has the potential to utilize prefabricated concrete elements. Results indicate that a 20% improvement in time, 30% improvement in cost and 25% improvement in embodied carbon assessments can be realised when an optimisation approach is implemented.
Pei Lim Chuah, Mustafasanie M. Yussof, Siti Fauziah Sopian
et al.
Understanding Building Information Modelling (BIM) is not only a tool that visualization the concept of one’s design, but also a system that comprises the significant attributes throughout the entire building lifecycle including pre- and post-construction stages. Building undergoes the process of aging due to occupancy or environmental factors that affect the structural integrity. In Malaysia, non-destructive testing (NDT) for building condition assessment (BCA) often relies on visual inspections, overlooking the internal defects that could lead to structural failures if left untreated. To enhance the framework of the BIM integrated building’s health check, case studies on several industry examples that have employed different BCA approaches that can be linked to the digital twin to augment the visualization, improve efficiency in localizing the deterioration, and determine the geometrical extent of the concrete crack to assist in the maintenance decision-making process. This study aims to address these limitations by reviewing various NDTs and proposing a comprehensive, integrated approach combining conventional NDT with emerging trends like AI-driven methods and computing waveform analysis. This paper systematically evaluated the current methods using the benchmarks, including AI-assisted techniques, sensors, and stress wave analysis, to establish their efficiency, accuracy, and practical integration with digital twin technology. The findings emphasize that using a three-dimensional crack mapping model incorporating computing technology and machine learning to refine the result can more accurately identify areas of concrete deterioration, leading to better maintenance decisions. The key result from this paper paved the foundation for the development of an integrated three-dimensional (3D) crack mapping model to detect deterioration not only from the surface of the building’s element but also thoroughly and accurately identify the damage to the building to prevent catastrophic structural failure.
Carbon reinforced concrete is perceived by industry as a promising alternative to the currently established construction products. Previous building authority approvals and approvals for this construction method largely exclude questions of preventive fire protection with regard to load-bearing behavior under fire because there are hardly any reliable research results available in this field. This article shows the results of experimental investigations including thermogravimetric analyses of carbon reinforcement and tensile tests on the composite material carbon reinforced concrete. The thermogravimetric analyses show the loss of mass of the carbon reinforcement under a temperature load. A decomposition of the coating system of the carbon fibers and, with increasing temperature load, also of the carbon was observed. By varying various boundary conditions, such as the heating rate and the oxygen content present, their influences can be assessed. Stationary and non-stationary tensile tests on strip-shaped carbon reinforced concrete specimens were used to determine the load-bearing and deformation behavior in the high-temperature range up to 700 °C. The investigations were carried out under constant heating rates of 2 K/min and 10 K/min. This made it possible to obtain stress-strain curves and information on the various temperature-dependent deformation components from mechanical strains and load-independent strains. The time- and temperature-dependent decomposition of the carbon resulted in a reduction in the tensile load-bearing capacity of the reinforcement in the high-temperature range. This effect can be taken into account by considering the cross-sectional loss of the carbon reinforcement in a hot design.
R. Porselvan, T. S. Lakshmi, Muniyandi Tholkapiyan
The objective of this study is to optimize the concentrations of bacillus megaterium (BM), alccofine (AF), and silica fume (SF) in self-healing concrete while controlling the content of manufactured sand (M-sand). This research addresses the pressing need for sustainable alternatives to traditional cement as excessive energy consumption and environmental impacts continue challenging the construction industry. A novel “binary and ternary blended cementitious system” was developed, featuring twelve distinct mix proportions. M-sand was fully utilized as an acceptable aggregate substitute, with bacterial concentrations of (10–50)·105 cells/ml incorporated to mitigate crack formation. Cement was partially replaced with AF, and the M-sand content was adjusted from 0 to 20 % in 5 % increments. This study also uniquely evaluates the durability properties of the various cementitious systems, including water absorption, concrete density, porosity, long-term strength retention, and rapid chloride permeability – at intervals of 7, 14, and 28 days post-curing. Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was employed to analyze calcite precipitation, providing insights into the biochemical mechanisms. The results indicate that while SF demonstrates superior effectiveness compared to AF, combining both enhances durability compared to alternative mixes. The findings reveal that bacterial concrete incorporating zeolites can significantly improve structural strength and be a sustainable building material. Notably, incorporating additional cementitious materials with mineral admixtures increased strength by up to 10 % through optimized bacterial concentrations. The successful precipitation of calcium carbonate confirmed the beneficial properties of the bacterial agents, which are safe and non-toxic to the environment. Overall, this study contributes valuable knowledge on reducing cement usage and carbon dioxide emissions, positioning BM, alongside AF and SF, as a promising approach for environmentally friendly concrete solutions.