Architectural Engineering Commons^™

Meta-Analysis Of Insulated Concrete Wall Panel Design Methods For Shear And Flexure Behavior, Maryam Al-Bayati

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

Insulated Concrete wall panels have been designed and constructed since the early 1950s with various shear ties, dimensions, and methods; nonetheless, thermal bridging and rational design are still a concern. Many companies have recently developed plastic connectors that have gradually replaced solid concrete sections and steel connectors due to their superior thermal efficiency and strength. However, there is no generally accepted method for predicting the behavior of sandwich wall panels in structural engineering practice or codes, but many methods have been used since the early 1920. This study aims to evaluate the accuracy of current methods for predicting the flexural …

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

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Dissertations, Theses, 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 …

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 …

Effect Of Rotation On Mixing Efficiency In Homogeneous Stratified Turbulence Using Unforced Direct Numerical Simulations, Matthew Klema, S. Karan Venayagamoorthy, Annick Pouquet, Duane Rosenberg, Raffaele Marino

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Diapycnal (irreversible) mixing is analyzed using thirty direct numerical simulations (at 1024 ³ resolution) of homogeneous rotating stratified turbulence (RST) in the absence of imposed shear or forcing. The influence of varied rotation and stratification rates on the energetics (in particular the dissipation rates of kinetic and potential energies) is presented. Data is also analyzed within a new parametric framework, using the turbulent Froude and Rossby numbers Frt= ϵ/ Nk, Rot= ϵ/ fk, where k is the turbulent kinetic energy, ϵ its rate of dissipation, N the buoyancy frequency and f the Coriolis parameter. This framework is used to illustrate …

Preface: Special Issue On Turbulence And Mixing In Stratified Flows, S. Karan Venayagamoorthy

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Mixing Rates In Stably Stratified Flows With Respect To The Turbulent Froude Number And Turbulent Scales, Matthew R. Klema, Subhas Karan Venayagamoorthy

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In this analysis the quantification of diapycnal diffusivity Kρ in stratified flows such as those found in the ocean and atmosphere is explored. There are two simplifications that are routinely made when estimating mixing rates in stably stratified flows. First, a constant value is commonly assumed for the (irreversible) mixing coefficient Γ . Second, dissipation rates of turbulent kinetic energy ϵ are inferred using either the Thorpe (or Ellison) length scales or from microstructure measurements using the isotropy assumption. Data from three independent direct numerical simulations of homogeneous stratified turbulence are used as a testbed to highlight impacts of these …

Atomic Insights Into The Structural Properties And Displacement Cascades In Ytterbium Titanate Pyrochlore (Yb2ti2o7) And High-Entropy Pyrochlores, M. Mustafa Azeem, Qingyu Wang

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Pyrochlore oxides ((Formula presented.) are potential nuclear waste substrate materials due to their superior radiation resistance properties. We performed molecular dynamics simulations to study the structural properties and displacement cascades in ytterbium titanate pyrochlore ((Formula presented.)) and high-entropy alloys (HEPy), e.g., (Formula presented.), (Formula presented.), and (Formula presented.). We computed lattice constants (LC) ((Formula presented.)) and threshold displacement energy (Ed). Furthermore, the calculation for (Formula presented.) and ionic radius ((Formula presented.)) were performed by substituting a combination of cations at the A and B sites of the original pyrochlore structure. Our simulation results have demonstrated that the lattice constant is …

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, …

Lean Thinking As An Approach For Improving Client Communication During The Design Process, Ayman Ahmed Ezzat Othman, Ghada N. Mossad, Nishani Harinarain

Architectural Engineering

Lean thinking is perceived as a successful strategy for saving time and cost, while improving at the same time the position in the market. Lean thinking is about eliminating waste and increasing the quality. When applied correctly, lean thinking is a well understood and well examined platform upon which to build firm practices. In the architectural profession miscommunication has a lot of consequences including time and cost overruns, conflict and ultimately project failure. The aim of this research was to investigate the role of lean thinking in improving the communication between the client and the architect during the design process. …

Common Ground Newsletter Fall 2023, Missouri University Of Science And Technology

Common Ground

- Free-Format Education

- S&T student selected as national ASCE ambassador

- Heart of a servant

- Exploring history, architecture of Chicago

Integrated Project Delivery (Ipd): An Innovative Approach For Achieving Sustainability In Construction Projects, Ayman Ahmed Ezzat Othman, Ghada Adel, Nishani Harinarain

Architectural Engineering

In spite of the positive impact construction can have on the economy and society in general, the industry is being blamed for the negative impact it has on the environment. This problem can be attributed to traditional procurement approaches adopted in construction industry and the inability to handle the different challenges regarding waste generation and pollution of the environment. This paper focused on the role of construction procurement as a method to achieving sustainability. This paper aims to investigate the role of integrated project delivery (IPD) in achieving sustainability in construction projects. In order to achieve this, aim the research …

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 …

Optimizing Phase Change Material On Opaque Building Envelope To Reach Nzeb, Mennatallah Hassan, Khaled Ragheb Dewidar, Mostafa Ismail Rifat, Ashraf Nessim, Aly Assem Abdelalim

Architectural Engineering

Designing a net Zero Energy Building nZEB envelope with high thermal comfort and low energy consumption is vital nowadays. There is some established specialized software for building optimization design, but these programs are time-consuming, expensive, and demand many data input of building parameters. Therefore, it is difficult to follow the optimization procedure. The aim of this research is to present a novel study to optimize the use of Phase Change Material PCM on opaque building envelope using a multi-objective optimization tool. Python (3) is employed to implement EnergyPlus to minimize the initial cost of PCM in commercial buildings, running cost …

Analysis Of Factors Affecting Construction And Demolition Waste Reduction In Egypt, Ayman Ahmed Ezzat Othman, Ahmed Osama Daoud, Obas John Ebohon, Ali Bayyati

Architectural Engineering

Construction projects are associated with construction and demolition waste (CDW) generated at different stages. In Egypt’s case, the CDW problem has become a significant challenge, and the need to find sustainable solutions is overwhelming. Based on recent investigations in the literature, it was found that six main factors are affecting CDW reduction (CDWR) as follows: (1) waste-efficient materials procurement measures; (2) waste-efficient materials procurement models; (3) green materials procurement approach; (4) legislation; (5) culture & behaviour; and (6) awareness. In this study, a representative sample of Egyptian construction firms was screened to (1) investigate the applicability and effectiveness of CDWR …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

The Influence Of Facades On Outdoor Comfort And Behavior In Urban Spaces, Mingliang Li

Graduate School of Architecture & Urban Design Theses & Dissertations

Global warming and rapid urbanization have intensified the urban heat island (UHI) effect, and its effect on human comfort in urban spaces has attracted widespread attention. The UHI effect increases the risk of heat-related mortality and building energy consumption and reduces outdoor human thermal comfort. A comfortable outdoor space supports sustainable urbanism by making the outdoor environment more comfortable and usable, thereby helping reduce the time spent indoors and the energy consumption of buildings.

There are thermal, visual, and acoustic features that influence outdoor comfort in terms of human physical, psychological, and social behaviors. Building façades, a common component of …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Exploring The Necessity Of Technology In Architectural Design: Moving Beyond Showcasing, Ertunc Hunkar

All Theses

Advancements in technology, particularly computational design tools, have transformed the field of architectural design. However, it is crucial to evaluate the impact of technology on the core principles of problem-solving and the design process within architecture. This study aims to examine the consequences and opportunities associated with the integration of technology in architectural design, focusing on the necessity of maintaining a strong problem-solving foundation. Architectural problem-solving involves spatial organization, functional requirements, contextual integration, and user experience. These principles guide architects in addressing design challenges and achieving successful outcomes. The design process comprises stages such as research, analysis, concept development, and …

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 …