Architecture Commons^™

Prediction Of Self-Consolidating Concrete Properties Using Xgboost Machine Learning Algorithm: Part 1–Workability, Amine El Mahdi Safhi, Hamed Dabiri, Ahmed Soliman, Kamal Khayat

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The Interest in Implementing Self-Consolidating Concrete (SCC) in Major Construction Projects Has Increased Significantly in Recent Years. This Paper Reports the Results of an Extensive Survey of Experimental Data of More Than 1700 SCC Mixtures from over 100 Studies Published in the Last Decade. the Survey Included the SCC Mixture Proportioning, Key Fresh Properties Including Flowability, Passing Ability, and Segregation Resistance, as Well as Some of the Derived Properties (E.g., Paste Volume). the Statistical Analysis of the Reported Parameters Showed Wide Variations in Values. the Outcome of the Survey Indicates that SCC Mixture Design and Workability Properties Do Not Systematically …

Design And Performance Of Fiber-Reinforced Shrinkage Compensating Eco-Friendly Concrete, Kamran Aghaee, Kamal Khayat

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Eco-Crete is an ecological and economical concrete that benefits from high packing density of solid materials and reduced paste. Eco-Crete can enhance the service life of structures by reducing the risk of shrinkage cracking. In this study, shrinkage mitigating materials included an expansive agent (EA), a shrinkage reducing admixture (SRA), and a lightweight sand (LWS), as well as steel and synthetic fibers were used to minimize the risk of cracking. A total of 35 fiber-reinforced Eco-Crete mixtures were prepared with 350 kg/m3 of cementitious materials and 55 % substitution of fly ash and slag. Key fresh and mechanical properties in …

Effect Of A Geothermal Heat Pump System On Cooling Residential Buildings In A Hot, Dry Climate, Rania Rushdy Moussa, Ayman H. Mahmoud

Architectural Engineering

ABSTRACT In the last century, electricity demand has doubled due to urban expansion, which has contributed to the formation of more urban heat islands (UHI) and the appearance of environmental hazards such as the global climate change phenomenon. Since residential buildings are considered the main electricity consumer sector in Egypt, they consume up to 42% of total energy consumption, which contributes to increasing temperatures and constitutes UHI in cities. In this context, the research aims to examine the effectiveness of using the closed vertical loop geothermal system (GSHPCV) for cooling residential buildings in a hot, dry climate, such as Cairo, …

Truck Platooning Reshapes Greenhouse Gas Emissions Of The Integrated Vehicle-Road Infrastructure System, Huailei Cheng, Yuhong Wang, Dan Chong, Chao Xia, Lijun Sun, Jenny Liu, Kun Gao, Ruikang Yang, Tian Jin

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions has turned into a pillar of climate change mitigation. Truck platooning is proposed as a strategy to lower emissions from vehicles on roads. However, the potential interactive impacts of this technology on road infrastructure emissions remain unclear. Here, we evaluate the decarbonization effects of truck platooning on the integrated vehicle-road system at a large-scale road network level, spanning 1457 road sections across North America. We show that truck platooning decreases emissions induced by truck operations, but it degrades faster the durability of road infrastructure and leads to a 27.9% rise in road emissions due to more …

Effectiveness Of The Different Eutectic Phase-Change Materials In Cooling Asphalt Pavement, Jiasheng Dai, Feng Ma, Zhen Fu, Jenny Liu, Chen Li, Yingjie Hou, Hanli Wu

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Choosing a Phase-Change Material (PCM) Adapted to the Specific Phase-Change Temperature (Tm) Required for Each Temperature Condition is of Utmost Importance in Cooling Pavements. Eutectic Phase-Change Materials (EPCMs) Realize the Customization of the Desired Tm and Reduce the Difficulty of Matching PCMs. This Work Aims to Investigate the Effectiveness of a Group of Binary/ternary EPCMs with Tm Ranging from 30 to 60 ℃ and Melting Enthalpies of Around 200 J/g as Thermal Regulation Components for Different Asphalt. to Achieve This Goal, the Thermal and Rheological Properties of Phase-Change Asphalt Binders (PCAB) Were Evaluated by Differential Scanning Calorimeter, Thermogravimetric, Fourier Transform …

Spatial Release From Masking In Anechoic And Reverberant Environments, Drake Andrew Hintz

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

Listening with both ears provides children with access to binaural and monaural cues that are helpful for understanding speech in competing babbles. Specifically, when the target and masker are spatially separated, children can gain an intelligibility benefit which is known as spatial release from masking (SRM). Recent work [Peng et al., 2021 JASA] suggested that school-age children demonstrated immature SRM using binaural cues that are distorted by reverberation. In this follow-up study, we further investigate the effect of reverberant distortion on individual auditory spatial cues, namely binaural and monaural head shadow cues. We compare SRM between adults and school-age children …

Classifying Diseases Affecting Gait With Body Acceleration-Based Machine Learning Models, Mohammad Ali Takallou

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents from University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

This Ph.D. dissertation introduces a comprehensive framework designed to harness acceleration data as a uniquely valuable tool for early disease classification, specifically focusing on gait-related diseases. In the modern healthcare landscape, timely and accurate classification of such diseases is paramount, as it can significantly impact treatment outcomes and patient quality of life. As a compelling case study, we conducted a meticulous experiment to identify individuals afflicted with peripheral artery disease (PAD) and classify them from those without PAD. Our framework leverages acceleration data extracted from strategically placed anatomical reflective markers, including locations such as the sacrum, to train sophisticated classification …

International Information Management And Bim Best Practice Report, Ted Mckenna, Davitt Lamon

Reports

In order to inform the Digital Leadership and Cultural Change pillar of the Build Digital, a study of international best practice in digital adoption within the built environment sector globally was undertaken and is presented here-in. In order to identify key learnings for Ireland in the context of digital transformation, eight countries were included in this study, namely, Denmark, Finland, Netherlands, Germany, United Kingdom (UK), New Zealand, Australia and Singapore. These countries were selected for various reasons, including the level of digital maturity, the scale of the built environment sector and geographic spread. Key data for each country is included …

Sustainability And Circular Economy Horizon Scan And Needs Analysis, Sadaf Dalirazar, Mark Kelly, Derek Sinnott, James O'Donnell

Reports

The construction industry plays a crucial role in addressing the climate crisis as it is the largest global consumer of raw materials and contributes significantly to global energy consumption and emissions. Considering the world’s continuous population growth and the imperative to address infrastructure and housing demands the construction sector needs to adopt further sustainable strategies in its activities to reduce the pressure on natural resources. In addition, the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) sector is responsible for generating substantial amount of waste known as Construction and Demolition Waste (CDW), which is projected to increase due to the future construction developments. …

Information Management And Bim Standards And Supports Inventory, Ryan Dempsey, Barry Mcauley, David Burke

Tools

The Digital Standards pillar consists of industry experts who champion the benefits of common rules, guidelines, and workflows that facilitate the improvement of information flow and information management across asset life cycles. Digital standards provide a common language that can be translated to technical specifications enabling clients, designers, contractors, and facilities managers, irrespective of their preferred tools, to communicate efficiently and reduce cost, rework, and disputes. Working closely with the Digital Procurement and Digital Education and Training pillars, this pillar is developing and delivering Irish Information Management/BIM (Digital Construction) guidelines for the sector.

This report summarises existing digital construction standards, …

Digital Construction Annual Survey 2022 Report, Davitt Lamon, Ted Mckenna

Reports

The Annual Survey 2022 was conducted to assess the state of digital transformation in the Irish construction and built environment sector. This report presents the analysis of survey data, with a focus on implications for the Build Digital project and Build Digital’s five pillars: Digital Leadership & Cultural Change, Digital Standards, Digital Education & Training, Digital Procurement, and Sustainability & Circular Economy. Key findings from the survey indicated that a significant number of organisations have started their digital transformation journey, with many identifying themselves as proactive and possessing a clear business-focused strategy. However, a considerable cohort of respondents are keen …

Organic Electronics In Biosensing: A Promising Frontier For Medical And Environmental Applications, Jyoti Bala Kaushal, Pratima Raut, Sanjay Kumar

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

The promising field of organic electronics has ushered in a new era of biosensing technology, thus offering a promising frontier for applications in both medical diagnostics and environmental monitoring. This review paper provides a comprehensive overview of organic electronics’ remarkable progress and potential in biosensing applications. It explores the multifaceted aspects of organic materials and devices, thereby highlighting their unique advantages, such as flexibility, biocompatibility, and low-cost fabrication. The paper delves into the diverse range of biosensors enabled by organic electronics, including electrochemical, optical, piezoelectric, and thermal sensors, thus showcasing their versatility in detecting biomolecules, pathogens, and environmental pollutants. Furthermore, …

Cement-Based Materials With Solid-Gel Phase Change Materials For Improving Energy Efficiency Of Building Envelope, Zhuo Liu, Jiang Du, Ryan Steere, Joshua P. Schlegel, Kamal Khayat, Weina Meng

Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

This paper evaluated the cement-based materials incorporated with novel solid-gel phase change materials (PCMs) for improving the energy efficiency of building envelopes. This novel PCM is form-stable, which will not leak as solid-liquid PCMs do and not need encapsulation, and it features high energy-storage capacity. Experimental results showed that the thermal properties of cement-based materials were improved as the increase of PCM content. A 30% replacement of sand by volume with PCM can increase the latent heat of the mixture from around 0 to 7 J/g and decrease the thermal conductivity of PCM mortar based on the generalized self-consistent (GSC) …

Effect Of Type And Quantity Of Inherent Alkali Cations On Alkali-Silica Reaction, Pengfei Ma, Jiaoli Li, Jincheng Bai, Ying Zhuo, Lingyu Chi, Yanping Zhu, Zhenhua Shi, Hongyan Ma, Genda Chen

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In this study, the macroscopical expansion induced by alkali-silica reaction (ASR) and its corresponding ASR products are investigated using ordinary Portland cement (OPC) mortar specimens with a gradient of boosted alkalis. Experimental results show that the expansion increases with the concentration of inherent alkalis. Sodium-boosted samples expand approximately three times as much as potassium-boosted samples. ASR gels that are present in aggregate veins are calcium-free and amorphous; the atomic ratios of ASR gels are nearly independent of the type and quantity of alkali cations. Aggregate ASR gel exudation occurs in high (≥2.5 %) sodium cases and produces potential Na-shlykovite. Crystalline …

Evaluation Of Residual Flexural Behavior Of Corroded Fiber-Reinforced Super Workable Concrete Beams, Jingjie Wei, Nima Farzadnia, Alfred Addai-Nimoh, Kamal Khayat

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This Study Investigates the Effect of Macro Synthetic Fiber (MSF) Volume and Crack Widths on Corrosion of the Reinforcing Bars and Residual Flexural Behavior of Fiber-Reinforced Super-Workable Concrete (FR-SWC) Beams Exposed to Accelerated Corrosion. FR-SWC Beams Prepared with 0, 0.33%, and 0.66% MSF Were Pre-Cracked at 0.2-, 0.4-, and 0.75-Mm Widths Before Corrosion Testing. the Controlled Crack Width Was Initiated in One Set of Beams that Were Then Unloaded. the Crack Width Was Maintained for Another Set of Beams during Corrosion Testing by Inserting a Shim. Test Results Showed that the Use of 0.33% and 0.66% MSF Reduced Crack Development …

North Hall And Library Architecture Collection, 2008-16, Allen Thomas, Cynthia Tobar

Finding Aids

Finding aid for the North Hall and Library Architecture collection prepared by Bronx Community College Archives.

From Concrete Jungles To Hemp Sanctuaries: The Rise Of Sustainable Building Practices, Kim Paige Sullivan

Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

The evolution of urban landscapes from dense, concrete-dominated environments to greener, more sustainable habitats marks a pivotal shift in architectural and urban planning paradigms. This paper explores the transition from "Concrete Jungles" to "Hemp Sanctuaries," highlighting the significant role of sustainable building practices and the adoption of carbon sequestering materials, with a particular focus on hempcrete. The historical context of rapid urbanization and industrialization in the early 20th century set the stage for the dominance of concrete structures, driven by economics often at the expense of environmental sustainability. This approach contributed to increased demand for resources, energy consumption, and greenhouse …

Continuous Time Recurrent Network For Human Activity Detection, Abdallah Al Zubi

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

Human activity detection is crucial to personalize the control of the building environment. For example, understanding certain human activities (e.g., walking, sitting, etc.) for an occupant in a building helps provide the proper thermal comfort control. However, these applications require large-scale neural networks that are challenging to implement and train.

In this thesis, we implemented a continuous-time recurrent neural network implementation (CTRNN) network that can solve real-time human activity detection with a smaller-size network. The CTRNN uses differential equations with a time constant to describe the neuron equations. It was implemented and trained for the first time using TensorFlow. Specifically, …

Evaluation Of Feasibility And Performance Of Foamed Fire-Resistant Coating Materials, Anyou Zhu, Hanli Wu, Yizhuang David Wang, Jenny Liu

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A preliminary study found high-performance cement mortar, geopolymer mortar, and magnesium phosphate cement mortar (MPCM) have the potential as new fire-resistant materials. In this study, foam was added to these three fire-resistant materials to further improve their rheological, mechanical, and fire-resistant performance and reduce costs. Systematic design and experimental programs were conducted. The results showed the addition of foam enhanced workability, adhesiveness, and fire resistance, allowing the materials to withstand higher temperatures and further delay heat transfer. A mixture of 70% MPCM and 30% foam was identified as the optimum design, which could withstand 1000 °C with low heat transfer …

Improving Rheological And Thermal Performance Of Gilsonite-Modified Binder With Phase Change Materials, Farshad Saberi K., Yizhuang David Wang, Jenny Liu

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Gilsonite, as a type of natural asphalt binder, has been used to improve the high-temperature performance of regular asphalt binders. However, the addition of Gilsonite may compromise binders' low-temperature thermal cracking resistance. In this research, polyethylene glycol (PEG), as one type of the phase change materials (PCMs), was used as an innovative material to balance the impacts of Gilsonite on high and low performance of asphalt binders. The dosages of Gilsonite and PEG were first determined based on the materials' rheological behaviors at low temperatures. The performance of the PEG-Gilsonite-modified binder was then fully evaluated in terms of the resistance …

Mechanism Underlying Effect Of Expansive Agent And Shrinkage Reducing Admixture On Mechanical Properties And Fiber-Matrix Bonding Of Fiber-Reinforced Mortar, Kamran Aghaee, Taihao Han, Aditya Kumar, Kamal Khayat

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Expansive agent (EA) and shrinkage reducing admixture (SRA) are utilized to reduce shrinkage and risk of cracking in concrete. EA compensates shrinkage by initial expansion, and SRA reduces surface tension in the pore fluid. Although EA and SRA effectively reduce shrinkage, they can impair micro-structure of concrete at high contents. The shrinkage reduction effect of EA and SRA is well known; however, there is limited knowledge about their negative effect on microstructure and fiber matrix interfacial transition zone (ITZ). The current study explores the effect of using 10 % CaO-based EA, 2 % SRA, and their combination on mechanical, shrinkage, …

Rilem Tc 266-Mrp: Round-Robin Rheological Tests On High Performance Mortar And Concrete With Adapted Rheology—Evaluating Structural Build-Up At Rest Of Mortar And Concrete, Sofiane Amziane, Kamal Khayat, Mohammed Sonebi, Arnaud Perrot

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This Paper Presents the Results of a Round-Robin Testing Program Undertaken by RILEM TC-266-Measuring Rheological Properties of Cement-Based Materials in May 2018 at the Université D'Artois in Bethune, France. Seven Types of Rheometers Were Compared; They Consisted of Four ICAR Rheometers, Viskomat XL Rheometer, EBT-V Rheometer, Sliding Pipe Rheometer (SLIPER), RheoCAD Rheometer, and 4SCC Rheometer, as Well as the Plate Test. This Paper Discusses the Results of the Evolution of the Static Yield Stress at Rest of Three Mortar and Five Concrete Mixtures that Were Determined using Two ICAR Rheometers, Viskomat XL, and EBT-V Rheometers, as Well as the Plate …

An Investigation Into Ireland’S Bim Skills Gap, Guadalupe Centanni, Barry Mcauley

Conference Papers

The adoption of digital skills within the Irish AEC Sector has the potential to enhance efficiency and competitiveness among its stakeholders. Despite this opportunity, there is still a high demand for skilled BIM professionals, which cannot be currently met. To meet this skills demand and directly target future skills gaps within Ireland, several challenges must be addressed to facilitate broader BIM adoption. This paper focuses on addressing this gap by identifying steps to be followed to develop skilled professionals within BIM. This has been achieved by investigating the extent to which construction stakeholders in Ireland comprehend BIM and, examiningthe training …

Accelerating Bim Adoption In Ireland: A Ten-Year Review Of Cita Bim Gathering Proceedings, Alan Hore, Roger West, Barry Mcauley

Conference Papers

Digital construction interfaces have been studied extensively over the last few decades, with an ever-grow- ing catalogue of publications. The CitA BIM Gathering conferences have played a key role in bringing together the research and industry communities ina collaborative setting over the past decade in Ireland. In this paper the authors systematically review 10 years of papers published in the BIM Gathering pro- ceedings since the inaugural conference in 2013. A total of 175 papers involving over 200 authors have been reviewed and classified under the 2018 World Economic Forum (WEF) recommendations in respect to ac- celerating BIM adoption. The …

Industry Colloquium Report, Robert Moore

Reports

In the ever-evolving landscape of the construction industry, digital transformation has emerged as a pivotal force reshaping the way projects are conceived, executed, and delivered. This transformation, fuelled by cutting-edge technology and innovative practices, holds the promise of greater efficiency, sustainability, and collaboration within the construction sector.

This report offers a comprehensive summary of the Build Digital Project colloquium. It provides actionable insights and recommendations for clients, supply chain partners, and for prioritisation within the Build Digital Project pillars. As the industry partners seek to build a more efficient, sustainable, and collaborative construction sector, understanding and harnessing the invaluable insights …

Introduction To 'Artificial Intelligence In Failure Analysis Of Transportation Infrastructure And Materials', Yue Hou, Qiao Dong, Dawei Wang, Jenny Liu

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Transportation infrastructures, including roads, bridges, tunnels, stations, airports and subways, play fundamental roles in modern society. Engineering failures of transportation infrastructures may result in significant damage to the public. The traditional methods are to monitor, store and analyze the information during the infrastructure and material design, testing, construction, numerical simulations, evaluation, operation, maintenance and preservation, using mechanistic-based, material based and statistics-based approaches. In recent decades, artificial intelligence (AI) has drawn the attention of many researchers and has been used as a powerful tool to understand and analyze the engineering failures in transportation infrastructure and materials. AI has the advantages of …

Wood Diaphragm Deflections. Part I: Generalizing Standard Equations Using Mechanicsbased Derivations For Panel Construction, John W. Lawson, Scott Breneman, Marco Lo Ricco

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 and its full derivation using principles of mechanics is provided herein. Derivations of similar equations …

In Situ Monitoring Of The Hydration Of Calcium Silicate Minerals In Cement With A Remote Fiber-Optic Raman Probe, Bohong Zhang, Wenyu Liao, Hongyan Ma, Jie Huang

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This study utilized a novel in situ fiber-optic Raman probe to continuously monitor the hydration progress of tricalcium silicate (C₃S) and dicalcium silicate (C₂S) without the need for sampling, from early hydration stage to later stages, and from fresh to hardened states of paste samples. By virtue of the remarkable ability of this technique in characterizing either dry or wet and crystalline or amorphous samples, the hydration processes of C₃S and C₂S pastes with different water-to-solid (w/s) ratios could be monitored from the start of the hydration reaction. The main hydration products, …

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 …