Developments in the Built Environment最新文献

{"title":"Generation of cement paste microstructure using machine learning models","authors":"Minfei Liang ,&nbsp;Kun Feng ,&nbsp;Shan He ,&nbsp;Yidong Gan ,&nbsp;Yu Zhang ,&nbsp;Erik Schlangen ,&nbsp;Branko Šavija","doi":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100624","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100624","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The microstructure of cement paste determines the overall performance of concrete and therefore obtaining the microstructure is an essential step in concrete studies. Traditional methods to obtain the microstructure, such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray computed tomography (XCT), are time-consuming and expensive. Herein we propose using Denoising Diffusion Probabilistic Models (DDPM) to synthesize realistic microstructures of cement paste. A DDPM with a U-Net architecture is employed to generate high-fidelity microstructure images that closely resemble those derived from SEM. The synthesized images are subjected to comprehensive image analysis, phase segmentation, and micromechanical analysis to validate their accuracy. Findings demonstrate that DDPM-generated microstructures not only visually match the original microstructures but also exhibit similar greyscale statistics, phase assemblage, phase connectivity, and micromechanical properties. This approach offers a cost-effective and efficient alternative for generating microstructure data, facilitating advanced multiscale computational studies of cement paste properties.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34137,"journal":{"name":"Developments in the Built Environment","volume":"21 ","pages":"Article 100624"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143427847","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of the flowability and non-linear rheological properties in alkali-activated concretes","authors":"Jian Zhang ,&nbsp;Zhenming Li ,&nbsp;Wentao Wang ,&nbsp;Yaxin Tao ,&nbsp;Yubo Sun ,&nbsp;Xiangsheng Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100623","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100623","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Alkali-activated materials (AAMs) emerge as a sustainable alternative to Portland cement binders. Despite their potential, the rheological properties of alkali-activated concrete, particularly their non-linear behaviors, remain underexplored. To bridge this gap, a comparative study was conducted to examine the flow characteristics and shear thinning/thickening tendencies of alkali-activated slag (AAS) concrete. The research began with a detailed evaluation of the setting times of AAS mixtures, optimizing activator compositions to identify formulations suitable for concrete productions. Employing the Bingham and Herschel-Bulkley models, it was observed that AAS concrete with a lower silicate modulus (Ms) predominantly exhibited shear-thinning behavior. As the Ms increased, a shift toward shear-thickening behavior occurred, becoming more pronounced with higher concentrations of alkaline compounds in the activators. Furthermore, the fresh properties of AAS concrete significantly improved with increased alkali dosages in the activators, resulting in reduced dynamic yield stress and plastic viscosity, along with enhanced workability retention over time.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34137,"journal":{"name":"Developments in the Built Environment","volume":"21 ","pages":"Article 100623"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143422580","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bias-aware degradation models for reinforced concrete bridges based on XAI","authors":"Francesca Marsili ,&nbsp;Filippo Landi ,&nbsp;Rade Hajdin ,&nbsp;Sylvia Kessler","doi":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100617","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100617","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Bridge management systems store condition data collected during visual inspections of bridges. However, rapidly evolving damage on older bridges still in operation was repaired before it could be documented in these databases, which were developed only 30 to 40 years ago. As a result, condition data is affected by survivorship bias. This work addresses this issue by developing a composite analysis based on explainable artificial intelligence techniques to analyze condition data and derive degradation models for existing bridge components. The analysis comprises four steps: (1) cluster analysis of damage transition times using the k-means algorithm to identify damage patterns with similar damage evolution rates (fast, normal, slow, corresponding to bridge components with a fragile, normal, and robust deterioration behavior); (2) Random Forest classification to predict the cluster based on bridge inventory data; (3) SHAP analysis to explain the predictions of the Random Forest classifier; (4) application of the gamma process to the grouped damage transition times to assess damage evolution. SHAP analysis reveals survivorship bias, indicating that fast-evolving damages primarily affect newly built bridges, while slow-evolving damages are associated with older bridges. By clarifying the composition of the clusters and the population of bridges to which the damage belongs, SHAP analysis also enables the development of bias-aware degradation models. The approach is demonstrated through the analysis of crack evolution in reinforced concrete bridges in Germany.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34137,"journal":{"name":"Developments in the Built Environment","volume":"21 ","pages":"Article 100617"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143394421","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mapping the digital transformation of AEC industry: Content analysis of digital public policy in China","authors":"Yumiao Yang ,&nbsp;Sujuan Zhang ,&nbsp;Yuanyuan Hua ,&nbsp;Hua Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100621","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100621","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Governments arounds the world are relying on digital policies as a strategic tool to promote digital transformation objectives within the society. This study aims to investigate the evolutionary patterns and trends of China's digital public policies in the architectural, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. Based on the policy instrument theory, the study develops a three-dimensional analysis framework of “policy topic - policy instrument - stakeholder” to analyze digital public policies. A total number of 56 policies, issued by the central government from 2001 to 2023 in China, were selected as data for content analysis. Using the Dynamic Topic Modeling, six main topics were identified from the texts: informatization development, smart construction, construction industrialization, BIM technology application, prefabricated building, and digital workforce. The results indicate that environment instruments have become central tools for the government to promote digital transformation. Stakeholders involved in digital public policies have remained relatively stable, with the government as the primary actor. The study sheds lights on the evolutionary path of digital public policies within the AEC industry in China. The findings provide a reference for digital policy improvement in the AEC industry and policy formulation in other developing countries for digital transformation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34137,"journal":{"name":"Developments in the Built Environment","volume":"21 ","pages":"Article 100621"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143394420","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Behavioral analysis of steel I-beams under repeated dynamic loads: Impact of various impactor head types","authors":"Zeynep Yaman ,&nbsp;Yusuf Sümer ,&nbsp;Elif Ağcakoca ,&nbsp;Mahyar Maali ,&nbsp;Abdulkadir Cüneyt Aydın","doi":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100620","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100620","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The dynamic loadings to which the structural element is repeatedly exposed cause more damage due to the fatigue effect. In this article, the damage cases formed under the effect of the impact load acting on the weak axis of I-section steel beams under repeated impact loads are investigated and the effect of the geometric shape of the falling weight on the element behavior is evaluated by experimental and numerical methods. A 2000 mm long IPE160 section simply supported beam is subjected to impact load in the weak axis direction. The 100 kg impact load is applied from a height of 2200 mm with a hammer head having three different geometric shapes (rectangular, circular and triangular). Three-dimensional finite element models of the 6 experimental studies were analyzed using Abaqus Explicit software. In order to determine the effect of the geometric shape of the falling weight on the beam behavior under the effect of repeated load; five parameters such as displacement, acceleration, support reaction, stress distribution and plastic strain were investigated. The displacement, acceleration and support reaction formed in the beams were numerically investigated by means of finite element models and compared with the experimental results. The results obtained showed that the maximum deflection and acceleration occurred in the beams hit by the triangle-headed impact crusher. In addition, the largest plastic deformation and stress distribution were observed in the tests performed using triangle-headed impact crushers. In the series I (rectangular), II (circular), III (triangular) test series, the displacement value increased by 44%, 79% and 100%, respectively, compared to the first impact. It is seen that the 2nd degree effects play an important role in the increase of the damage level in the second impacts. It was determined that the maximum reaction force tended to increase from Series I to Series III. This shows that reducing the contact area of the falling weight significantly increases the reaction forces.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34137,"journal":{"name":"Developments in the Built Environment","volume":"21 ","pages":"Article 100620"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143096936","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Robotic assembly of modular concrete shells using falsework","authors":"Egor Ivaniuk ,&nbsp;Dmytro Pukhkaiev ,&nbsp;Mathias Reichle ,&nbsp;Wanqi Zhao ,&nbsp;Johannes Mey ,&nbsp;Manuel Krombholz ,&nbsp;Zlata Tošić ,&nbsp;Uwe Aßmann ,&nbsp;Sven Klinkel ,&nbsp;Viktor Mechtcherine","doi":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100616","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100616","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The rapid development of robotics has the potential to transform the construction industry of the future. One possible application of robots is the assembly of modular concrete shells. This type of structure saves materials, while the modular approach makes them more cost-effective by eliminating the need for formwork. So far, however, robots have struggled to accurately position modules when assembling large modular shells on the construction site. The authors propose an alternative approach to the robotic assembly of modular shells based on the use of modular falsework. The presence of a falsework enables the creation of large-scale shells of complex shapes out of an unlimited number of modules while ensuring the accuracy of their positioning. This paper describes a possible methodology for implementing this approach and validates it by assembling a demonstrator, as well as presents the results of static and dynamic analysis of the modules moved by the robot.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34137,"journal":{"name":"Developments in the Built Environment","volume":"21 ","pages":"Article 100616"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143300054","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Development and evaluation of a maturity assessment tool for integrating building information modelling into operations and maintenance phase of buildings","authors":"Dania K. Abideen ,&nbsp;Akilu Yunusa-Kaltungo ,&nbsp;Clara Cheung ,&nbsp;Patrick Manu","doi":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100619","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100619","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The emergence of advanced digital tools such as building information modelling (BIM) has transformed the concept of building management in the construction sector. Despite the promising benefits of BIM in terms of successful project deliveries and enhanced building performance, construction firms struggle to view assets from the perspective of a whole asset life cycle context, and consequently struggle to derive their full potentials via BIM, especially in the operations and maintenance (O&amp;M) phase. One of the fundamental reasons behind this challenge is the lack of empirical understanding of what information should be collected to support efficient and effective operation and maintenance management. Various BIM capability maturity models have been proposed to support BIM integrations into O&amp;M management, but most of these models fail to capture detailed information requirements (IRs). Furthermore, there is limited insights regarding the prioritisations of these IRs to guide construction firms and asset owners towards operational competitiveness and excellence. To address these gaps, this study aims to develop a BIM and O&amp;M maturity assessment model (BIM and O&amp;M MM) by drawing on the capability maturity model integration (CMMI) concept, and utilising Delphi technique and maturity grids. The developed tool enables asset owners and managers to assess BIM and O&amp;M integration maturity of built assets, based on a five-level maturity scheme across 21 IRs. To ensure effectiveness and practicality of the tool, 22 experts assessed the tool, and the results indicate its ability to succinctly measure the maturity level of BIM and O&amp;M integration, thereby enabling construction managers and asset owners to identify areas of strengths and deficiencies for prioritising capital investments. The BIM and O&amp;M MM ensures stakeholder alignment and addresses real-world O&amp;M challenges. It enhances data consistency, optimised long-term asset management, data-driven decision-making, and provides a foundation for future research and technology integration.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34137,"journal":{"name":"Developments in the Built Environment","volume":"21 ","pages":"Article 100619"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143300055","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Experimental investigation into the influence of calcium aluminate cement on the micro- and macro-mechanical properties of the interfacial transition zone in geopolymer concrete","authors":"Yamin Wang ,&nbsp;Hongbiao Liu ,&nbsp;Zhichao Nie ,&nbsp;Runze Xue ,&nbsp;Wei Zhu ,&nbsp;Xiping Sun","doi":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100618","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100618","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study aimed to analyze the properties of the interfacial transition zone (ITZ) in fly ash geopolymer concrete (FAGC) containing various concentrations of calcium aluminate cement (CAC) (5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%). The micro-mechanisms of the ITZ were investigated using nanoindentation, scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive spectroscopy, and backscattered electron imaging. The macro-properties, such as the interfacial bonding strength and the interfacial fracture energy, were also evaluated. The results indicated a trend of decreasing ITZ width with increasing CAC content from the nanoindentation test. The minimum ITZ width was observed in the FAGCC20 sample at 10 μm, representing a 71.43% reduction compared with the 35 μm width of the FAGCC0 sample. The formation of greater amounts of polymerization products, i.e., N-A-S-H and C-A-S-H gels, filled the pores and weakened the cracks, which notably improved the porous state of the ITZ. The changes in the microstructure of the ITZ directly affected the macroscopic performance of the FAGC. The FAGC samples with CAC showed higher interfacial bonding strengths and fracture energies than the FAGCC0 sample. Consequently, the FAGCC20 sample exhibited the highest interfacial bonding strength and fracture energy of 2.37 MPa and 31.1 N/m, respectively.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34137,"journal":{"name":"Developments in the Built Environment","volume":"21 ","pages":"Article 100618"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143422579","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Automated image-based identification and consistent classification of fire patterns with quantitative shape analysis and spatial location identification","authors":"Pengkun Liu ,&nbsp;Shuna Ni ,&nbsp;Stoliarov Stanislav I ,&nbsp;Pingbo Tang","doi":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100612","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100612","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Fire patterns, consisting of fire effects that offer insights into fire behavior and origin, are currently classified based on investigators' visual observations, leading to subjective interpretations. This study proposes a quantitative fire pattern classification framework to support fire investigators, aiming for consistency and accuracy. The framework integrates four components. First, it leverages human-computer interaction to extract fire patterns from surfaces, combining investigator expertise with computational analysis. Second, it employs an aspect ratio-based random forest model to classify fire pattern shapes. Third, fire scene point cloud segmentation enables identification of fire-affected areas and mapping 2D fire patterns to 3D scenes for spatial relationships analysis. Lastly, spatial relationships between fire patterns and elements support an interpretation of fire scenes. These components provide pattern analysis that synthesizes qualitative and quantitative data. The framework's fire pattern shape classification results achieve 93% precision on synthetic data and 83% on real fire patterns.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34137,"journal":{"name":"Developments in the Built Environment","volume":"21 ","pages":"Article 100612"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143096941","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring the value of digital twins for information management in highway asset maintenance","authors":"Mengtian Yin ,&nbsp;Varun Kumar Reja ,&nbsp;Ran Wei ,&nbsp;Ioannis Brilakis ,&nbsp;Brian Sheil ,&nbsp;Federico Perrotta ,&nbsp;Alix Marie d'Avigneau ,&nbsp;Linjun Lu","doi":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100614","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100614","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Highway agencies face challenges managing dispersed asset data across maintenance processes and information systems, hindering efficient retrieval of dynamic road information for timely interventions. A Digital Twin (DT)-based Information Management Framework (IMF) offers a promising solution based on a Foundation Data Model, Reference Data Libraries, and Integration Architecture. However, it is currently unclear how DT models of highway infrastructure systems based on a connected data ecosystem can be used in maintenance and how they benefit stakeholders. This paper describes results from a survey exploring DTs' potential in highway maintenance, starting with interviews with 20 experts to understand current processes, followed by a questionnaire survey to identify phases, features, applications, and use cases perceived as important by practitioners for road DTs. 183 responses reveal that DTs are widely deemed useful for asset deterioration prediction, strategy-making for routine maintenance planning, and scenario design for road investigation and repair in project-level maintenance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34137,"journal":{"name":"Developments in the Built Environment","volume":"21 ","pages":"Article 100614"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143096942","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}