Architecture Commons^™

Wood Diaphragm Deflections. Part Ii: Implementing A Unified Approach For Current Clt And Wsp Practice, John Lawson

Architectural Engineering

Horizontal wood diaphragm systems, whether decked with conventional or mass timber panels, transfer wind and seismic loads to vertical elements of the lateral force-resisting system (LFRS), in flexible, rigid, or semi-rigid fashion. Characterizing and calculating the resulting diaphragm deflections determines the distribution of forces to critically loaded components and a significant portion of lateral building translations and rotations. Deflection equations for sheathed wood structural panel (WSP) diaphragms are well established in U.S. design standards in a 4-term expression that models flexural, shear, and fastener-slip deformations, but similar equations for cross-laminated timber (CLT) diaphragms have yet to unfold, despite growing industry …

Skills Matter – Up-Skilling Across Construction Stakeholders For Emerging Roles, Avril Behan, Paul Mccormack, Barry Mcauley

Conference Papers

The EU’s Climate Target Plan To 2030 (European Union 2020b) of achieving at least 55% reduction in Green House Gas emissions from 1990 levels, delivering towards a climate-neutral economy by 2050, requires systems-level change in the way we design, construct, and operate our built assets. Funding initiatives, such as co-ordinated by BUILD UP Skills, aim to deliver upskilling to the market but targets set by the European Skills Agenda may not be reached at current achievement levels. This paper presents the results of one completed and the progress of one ongoing Horizon 2020 funded project, BIMcert and ARISE, respectively. Learning …

Ten Questions Concerning Smart And Healthy Built Environments For Older Adults, Sanjay Kumar, Samuel H. Underwood, Julie L. Masters, Natalie A. Manley, Iason Konstantzos, Josephine Lau, Ryan Haller, Lily M. Wang

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

In the past decade, the term ‘global aging’ has gained much attention among researchers, policymakers, civil societies, and governments worldwide. The continuous decline in fertility rates and increased life expectancy have resulted in an ongoing demographic transition where the share of adults aged 65 or older is increasing and outnumbering children younger than five years. In the United States and other developed countries, this rapid demographic transition is expected to continue to strain the existing health infrastructure as it becomes increasingly challenging to ensure healthy living environments for older adults. The ten questions and answers in this paper have been …

Behavior Of Ultrahigh-Performance Concrete Plates Encasing Steel H-Piles, Mohamed Elgawady, Binod Shrestha

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Steel H-piles are exposed during their service life to wet-dry cycles in combination with salts, such as deicing, that may result in corrosion, leading to cross-sectional loss and reduction in axial load-carrying capacity. This paper proposes an innovative repair method for corroded steel H-piles using ultrahigh-performance concrete (UHPC) plates. The UHPC plates are reinforced with carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) grids. The UHPC plates bridge the corroded segment so that the axial force bypasses the corroded segment. The UHPC are bolted to the steel H-pile using high-strength bolt connectors (HSBCs). Eleven steel H-piles bolted with UHPC plates were investigated experimentally under …

Utilizing Waste Latex Paint Toward Improving The Performance Of Concrete, Mohamed Leithy, Eslam Gomaa, Ahmed A. Gheni, Mohamed Elgawady

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In this paper, incorporating the waste latex paint (WLP) into the conventional concrete as a partial replacement of sand to improve its durability was investigated. The fresh and hardened characterizations, in addition to the durability of concrete, were examined. The slump test was used to evaluate the fresh properties, while the hardened properties were evaluated through the volume of voids and absorption rate, in addition to the compressive, splitting tensile, and flexural strengths tests. The durability performance was evaluated by the surface resistivity, bulk electrical resistivity, as well as freeze and thaw resistance tests. The results showed a reduction in …

Data-Driven Framework For Predicting And Scheduling Household Charging Of Evs, Ahmad Almaghrebi

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Dissertations, Thesis, and Student Research

The increasing prevalence of EV charging poses challenges for power grid stability and quality due to high charging load demands. Without effective energy management strategies for EV charging, the simultaneous power demand from numerous EVs can strain the electric grid, impacting power quality and the wholesale electricity market. To address these challenges, this dissertation presents a comprehensive framework comprising five critical tasks: analyzing EV charging behavior, optimizing charging schedules, developing predictive models, analyzing aggregated impacts, and evaluating implications of predicted user behavior on scheduling. By examining EV charging behavior at household and public charging stations, this study aims to understand …

Effect Of Competitive Adsorption Between Specialty Admixtures And Superplasticizer On Structural Build-Up And Hardened Property Of Mortar Phase Of Ultra-High-Performance Concrete, Le Teng, Jingjie Wei, Kamal Khayat, Joseph J. Assaad

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This study aims to enhance structural build-up of ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) without influencing the initial flowability, which is critical in repair applications (e.g., use of UHPC in thin bonded overlays for bridge deck rehabilitation). Specialty admixtures, such as a viscosity-modifying admixture (VMA), have been used to enhance the structural build-up at rest. However, the use of specialty admixtures can increase superplasticizer (SP) demand to maintain proper flowability; the synergistic effect of these admixtures on structural build-up is not well understood as the coupled admixture content can reverse the net effect on yield stress, viscosity, and thixotropy. In this study, VMAs …

Framework Development For Evaluating The Impacts Of Nursing Home Acoustics On Older Adults, Brian J. Puckett

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Dissertations, Thesis, and Student Research

Nursing homes are complex, multi-faceted environments which provide necessary medical supervision and housing for older adults in need of long-term care. With cognitive and sensory impairments being common adversities faced throughout the aging process, research is needed to better understand characteristics of the built environment which may contribute to difficulties for nursing home residents. Noise, in particular, has been shown to be problematic for nursing home residents in a variety of ways including disrupting sleep, associating with behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, and leading to increased readmission to hospitals due to verbal communication misunderstandings. As the older adult population …

Machine Learning-Based Seismic Damage Assessment Of Residential Buildings Considering Multiple Earthquake And Structure Uncertainties, Xinzhe Yuan, Liujun Li, Haibin Zhang, Yanping Zhu, Genda Chen, Cihan H. Dagli

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Wood-frame structures are used in almost 90% of residential buildings in the United States. It is thus imperative to rapidly and accurately assess the damage of wood-frame structures in the wake of an earthquake event. This study aims to develop a machine-learning-based seismic classifier for a portfolio of 6,113 wood-frame structures near the New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ) in which synthesized ground motions are adopted to characterize potential earthquakes. This seismic classifier, based on a multilayer perceptron (MLP), is compared with existing fragility curves developed for the same wood-frame buildings near the NMSZ. This comparative study indicates that the MLP …

Development And Characterization Of Coal-Based Thermoplastic Composite Material For Sustainable Construction, Haibin Zhang, Wenyu Liao, Genda Chen, Hongyan Ma

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The exploitation of coal and the disposal of waste plastic present significant environmental and economic challenges that require sustainable and profitable solutions. In response, we propose a renewable construction composite material of coal-based thermoplastic composite (CTC) that can be made from low-grade coal and plastic waste. We developed and tested the hot-press fabrication method for this CTC, using coal with a maximum particle size of 4.75 mm and recycled high-density polyethylene (HDPE). The effects of the coal fraction (50–80 wt.%) on compressive properties, thermal properties, microstructure, and ecological and economic efficiencies of the CTC were investigated. Test results revealed that …

A Spike-Shaped Anchorage For Steel Reinforced Polymer (Srp)-Strengthened Concrete Structures, Xingxing Zou, Keenan L. Mcburney, Lesley H. Sneed

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Steel reinforced polymer (SRP) composite has recently emerged as an effective and economical solution for strengthening of reinforced concrete (RC) structures. Premature debonding failure of unanchored SRP at low load levels generally governs the performance of RC structures strengthened with externally bonded SRP. Therefore, a novel yet simple spike-shaped anchorage system was proposed in this study to prevent the debonding failure of SRP and to improve the interfacial shear capacity. Experimental investigation through single-lap shear tests of SRP-concrete joints showed that the anchorage system changed the failure mode from composite debonding to fiber rupture. In addition, the anchorage system substantially …

Signal Classification Based On Analog Computing Using Mems Network, Mohammad Okour

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Dissertations, Thesis, and Student Research

The rising complexity of machine learning algorithms and Artificial Intelligence in many applications, such as smart building, has prompted the development of alternate computing options. Because of their compact size, low power consumption, and diverse functionality, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) have emerged as a possible candidate. This thesis focuses on using MEMS networks as computing units to classify a simple signal classification task using neural network methodology. The study intends to show the potential of using MEMS as an analog computing unit by discussing the advantage of the bi-stability pull-in behavior and hysteresis to create an accurate classifier of these waveforms. …

Effect Of Internal Curing And Shrinkage-Mitigating Materials On Microstructural Characteristics Of Fiber-Reinforced Mortar, Kamran Aghaee, Kamal Khayat

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Internal curing (IC) and other shrinkage mitigating materials are employed to reduce shrinkage and risk of cracking. This study investigates the efficiency of individual versus combined use of IC and shrinkage mitigating materials on key characteristics of fiber-reinforced mortar (FRM). The investigated mixtures include a 25% pre-saturated lightweight sand (LWS) that is added individually and combined with 10% CaO-based expansive agent (EA) and 2% shrinkage reducing admixture (SRA). This elucidates the synergistic effect of high content IC and EA/SRA on macro- and micro-mechanical characteristics of FRM, especially at the interface of the matrix with fibers. Mechanical properties, microstructural characteristics, and …

Viscoelastic Properties Of Fresh Cement Paste: Measuring Procedures And Influencing Parameters, Ammar Yahia, Arnaud Perrot, Dimitri Feys, Kamal Khayat, Mohammed Sonebi, Shiho Kawashima, Wolfram Schmidt

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Fresh cement pastes behave as viscoelastic materials below the flow onset. The measurements of viscoelastic properties of fresh cement paste provide valuable insight into the dispersion of solid particles as well as the hydration kinetics at early age and its influence on the structural evolution and solidification behavior at quasi-static conditions. Monitoring the development of viscoelastic properties of fresh cement paste using dynamic oscillatory shear measurements can also elucidate the working mechanisms of chemical admixtures. These properties are efficient indicators to guide mixture proportion design and are necessary to understand the rheology and stability of concrete. In this paper, the …

Prediction Of Compressive Strength And Evaluation Of Different Theoretical Standards And Proposed Models Of Brick Columns Confined With Frp, Frcm, Or Srg System, Zuhair Al-Jaberi, John J. Myers

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The Strength Capacity of Confined Masonry Column is One of the Topics that Need to Be Studied. in This Study, the Efficiency of using Different Types of Advanced Composite (Non-Corrosive Materials) Such as Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP), Fiber Reinforced Cementitious Matrix (FRCM), or Steel Reinforced Grout (SRG) in Confining Masonry Columns is Investigated. a Wide Range of Experimental Database of Masonry Column Specimens Has Been Collected from the Results that Available in Scientific Literatures. Different Theoretical Standards and Proposed Models that Used to Predict the Capacity of Masonry Columns Confined with FRP and FRCM Are Evaluated based on Collected Experimental …

Rejuvenation Effect Of Aged Sbs-Modified Asphalt Utilizing Molecule Analysis, Ke Shi, Feng Ma, Jenny Liu, Zhen Fu, Ruimeng Song, Dongdong Yuan, Chen Li

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The Performance of Styrene-Butadiene-Styrene Modified Asphalt (SBSMA) is Significantly Impacted by its Aging and Regeneration. in This Research, the Molecular Dynamics Simulation Was Utilized to Investigate the Rejuvenation Effect of Active Reagents on Aged SBS Modified Asphalt through the Following Tasks: 1) Verifying the Accuracy of the Asphalt Model by Density and Solubility Parameters; 2) Assessing the Changes in the Rejuvenated Asphalt Model's Energetic Parameters and Volume Parameters, 3) Studying the Interaction Energy between SBS Molecules and Asphalt Molecule Models, and 4) Evaluating the Relative Concentration, Interfacial Interaction Energy, and Diffusion Effect of the Asphalt-Asphalt Models. the Results Indicated that …

Toward Low Carbon Footprint And Lightweight Masonry Alkali-Activated Material, Zina Ebrahim, Mohammad Mastali, Marc Maguire

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

The portland cement concrete industry and the masonry industry are undergoing changes in response to skilled labor shortages and concerns over climate and pollution. There may be interest from parts of the industry in lower carbon footprint and lightweight masonry products. Toward this aim, the use of hemp shiv--the woody core of the hemp plant--in alkali-activated concrete was investigated herein and shown to have a wide range of impacts on the hardened state characteristics of a material suitable for structural concrete masonry units (CMUs) in accordance with ASTM C90 requirements. Hemp shiv is well known for its use in hempcrete, …

The Impact Of Biophilic Attributes On University Students Level Of Satisfaction: Using Virtual Reality Simulation, Amira Mohamed Mahrous, Khaled Dewidar, Mostafa Refaat, Ashraf Nessim

Architectural Engineering

Biophilic design is a new approach that can enhance human psychological well-being. Most recent studies focus on applying biophilic design to hospitals or office buildings, not academic buildings. While usually ignored, students' level of satisfaction is one of the most important key indicators for a successful learning environment. This paper aims to identify the biophilic design attributes that can potentially contribute to enhancing the students' level of satisfaction. This will be done through an experimental research design using virtual reality in a design studio at The British University in Egypt. Each participant (N = 52) was exposed to the existing …

Addressing Low Heat Pump Heating System Sales In The Uk, Ben Costelloe

Articles

The replacement of existing fossil fuel boilers with heat pumps is seen as a key measure in the decarbonisation of heating systems and addressing climate change. This policy however, is currently failing in many Western European states, particularly in the UK. The many reasons for this situation are examined. However, the age of UK housing stock and particularly the high number of dwellings built prior to the introduction of building insulation regulations in 1980, are key. To maintain the running cost of air source heat pumps competitive with those of the gas boilers they generally replace the heat pump lift …

Automated Detection And Characterization Of Cracks On Concrete Using Laser Scanning, Yunfeng Ge, Jenny Liu, Xiong Zhang, Huiming Tang, Xiaolong Xia

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Accurate crack detection and characterization on concrete are essential for the maintenance, safety, and serviceability of various infrastructures. In this paper, an innovative approach was developed to automatically measure the cracks from 3D point clouds collected by a phase-shift terrestrial laser scanner (TLS) (FARO Focus3D S120). The approach integrates several techniques to characterize the cracks, which include the deviation on point normal determined using k-nearest neighbor (kNN) and principal components analysis (PCA) algorithms to identify the cracks, and principal axes and curve skeletons of cracks to determine the projected and real dimensions of cracks, respectively. The coordinate transformation was then …

Field Implementation And Performance Of Fiber-Reinforced Low-Shrinkage Concrete For Bridge Deck Construction, Ahmed Abdelrazik, Kamal Khayat

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This Paper Reports on the Field Implementation of Fiber-Reinforced Concrete (FRC) Used for Redecking the Two-Span overpass Bridge in Missouri. the Spans Measured 38.4 and 35.05 M in Length. Modeling of the Structural Behavior of the Bridge Replacement Deck Indicated Significantly High Tensile Stresses at Midspan (Up to 45 MPa) Due to the Continuity of the Deck over the Four Precast Main Girders. Redecking of the Bridge and Casting of the Central Diaphragm Were Carried Out Continuously and Necessitated 40 Concrete Truck Deliveries of 252 M3 of FRC. Six Sensor Towers Were Installed in the Bridge Deck to Monitor Variations …

Incentivizing Electric Vehicle Adoption Through State And Federal Policies: Reviewing Influential Policies, Joshua Sabata, Subhaditya Shom, Ahmad Almaghrebi, Anne Mccollister, Mahmoud Alahmad

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

All-electric vehicles (EVs), battery-powered EVs (BEVs), and plug-in hybrid EVs (PHEVS) are gaining market share and increasing in popularity with the buying public because the battery range (longer) and cost (lower) have reached sweet spots, the charging infrastructure is more robust, and concern with global cli­mate change is high. In 2013, only 100,000 EVs were sold in the United States, but by 2022, approximately 800,000 have been purchased. A similar growth is seen in EV sup­ply equipment (EVSE), i.e., EV charging stations, with 19,742 documented EV charging station locations in the United States in 2013 to 50,054 documented EV charging …

Physical And Digital Models For Timber Design And Analysis Courses, Paulina Robles, Gabrielle Rose Favro, Anahid Behrouzi, Abby Lentz

Architectural Engineering

Among structural engineering education research, there is a limited number of studies on interactive learning tools and activities specifically for the timber design classroom to assist students in visualizing material behavior, vertical and lateral load paths, and construction sequence. Timber design courses within the undergraduate program in the Architectural Engineering department at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly), place an emphasis on seismic and wind design. Therefore, the proposed learning tools and activities are intended to pair with an introduction to concepts in the American Wood Council’s National Design Specifications (NDS) and Special Design Provisions for …

Preliminary Bond Capacity Exploration Between Monolayer Graphene And Cementitious Composites, Yanping Zhu, Chuanrui Guo, Genda Chen

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This Study Aims to Explore Bond Capacity between Monolayer Graphene and Cementitious Composites for the First Time through a Pullout Test. the Low-Pressure Chemical Vapor Deposition Method Was Used to Synthesize Monolayer Graphene on the Copper Substrate to Be Embedded in the Mortar Made by the Briquette Mold. the Bond Capacity between Them Was Higher Than the Tensile Strength of the Copper Sheet with As-Grown Monolayer Graphene on the Surface Since All Specimens Failed in Fracture with Embedment Length of More Than 30 Mm. the Monolayer Graphene Enhanced the Copper Tensile Fracture Stress and Normalized Energy during the Test as …

Rilem Tc 266-Mrp: Round-Robin Rheological Tests On High Performance Mortar And Concrete With Adapted Rheology—A Comprehensive Flow Curve Analysis, Dimitri Feys, Helena Keller, Khadija El Cheikh, Egor Secrieru, Yannick Vanhove

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A comprehensive testing program was carried out to compare the rheological properties of flowable concrete that can be obtained from different rheometers. The results obtained from seven rheometers using vane or similar geometries are discussed. A comprehensive flow curve analysis is undertaken for further comparison of the various rheometers. Partially, large differences could be observed between the results obtained from the different rheometers. However, the device-specific trendlines are shown to have significant correlations with the overall baseline. Two potential causes of differences between results are highlighted: imposition/registration of torque/rotational velocity and discrepancies between the measured material flow behavior in the …

Optimization Of Plastic Waste Integration In Cement Bricks, Yara Salah El-Din El-Metwally

Architectural Engineering

Implementing plastic waste in construction materials is a sustainable disposal method to overcome plastic pollution. The current study aims to optimize the integration of plastic waste in cement bricks regarding their thermomechanical properties in order to develop an eco‑friendly building material. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and high‑density polyethylene (HDPE) partially substituted cement with different ratios (0, 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10, 20%). The type that achieved better thermomechanical performance further replaced the other brick components; sand and coarse aggregates to determine the optimum replacement scenario and best design mix. Laboratory experiments have been carried out to measure the compressive strength, indirect tensile …

Out-Of-Plane Flexural Behavior Of Insulatedwall Panels Constructed With Large Insulation Thicknesses, Jacob Luebke, Fray F. Pozo-Lora, Salam Al-Rubaye, Marc Maguire

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

Insulated concrete sandwich wall panels (ICSWPs) are gaining popularity as energy regulations become stricter worldwide. ICSWPs are now being constructed with thinner wythes and thicker insulation to keep up with the changing market, which is reducing material costs and increasing thermal and structural efficiency. However, there is a need for adequate experimental testing to validate the current design methods for these new panels. This research aims to provide that validation by comparing the predictions of four different methods with experimental data obtained from six large-scale panels. The study found that while current design methods adequately predict the behavior of thin …

Using Bim To Increase The Efficiency Of Energy-Driven Retrofitting Projects, Anne Grego, Shannon Chance, Barry Mcauley

Conference Papers

The building sector is responsible for nearly 40% of global energy consumption. Many existing buildings have poor thermal insulation and low energy performance, hindering sustainability goals. Energy-driven building retrofitting could address this issue and implementing Building Information Modelling (BIM) in retrofitting can reduce process time, costs, and waste associated with such undertakings. Yet, there is a lack of research and insufficient guidance for implementing BIM in energy-driven retrofitting. A BIM framework is presented to enhance decision-making processes during retrofitting. The aims of this study were to (1) identify BIM technologies and methodologies that could address existing barriers and improve efficiency …

Simplified Engineering For Architects And Builders, 13th Edition, Sharon Kuska, Patrick Tripeny, James Ambrose

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

The twelfth edition of the Work was published by the Publisher under the agreement between the Publisher and Patrick Tripeny dated February 24, 2014 (the “Twelfth Edition”).

The Publisher and the Author wish to work together to achieve the professional standards and success that they each desire from the Work, and agree as follows:

The Way Of Water: A Cultural Revival, Mariana Munoz

Architecture Senior Theses

THE WAY OF WATER: A CULTURAL REVIVAL MARIANA MUNOZ:

This thesis aims to address the challenges facing the coastal community of Condado, Puerto Rico, by proposing interventions that protect against floods and restore access to water, while also enhancing daily life and cultural practices. Through an examination of the community’s existing conditions, and answer three research questions: (1) how to mitigate flooding without displacing the community, (2) how to meet the needs of the community during times of emergency, and (3) how to integrate interventions into daily life and existing practices. The proposed interventions include a canal system to redirect …