Buildings最新文献

{"title":"Research Review and Future Directions of Key Technologies for Welding Robots in the Construction Industry","authors":"Han Bu, Xiaolu Cui, Bo Huang, Shuangqian Peng, Jiuyu Wan","doi":"10.3390/buildings14082261","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14082261","url":null,"abstract":"The rapid development of the construction industry has highlighted the urgent need for enhanced construction efficiency and safety, propelling the development of construction robots to ensure sustainable and intelligent industry advancement. Welding robots, in particular, hold significant promise for application in steel structure construction. However, harsh construction environments, variable construction structures, and complex construction conditions present critical technical challenges for weld position, path, and quality for welding robots. This paper aims to provide a focused review of the key technical difficulties faced by welding robots in the construction industry, starting from the progress in research and applications. The review identifies the current state of welding robot technology, the technical bottlenecks encountered, and the potential solutions to these challenges, offering valuable insights for the research and development of construction robots.","PeriodicalId":48546,"journal":{"name":"Buildings","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2024-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141811988","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Experimental Study on Heat Transfer Characteristics of Hollowing Defect Areas on Building Facade","authors":"Xue Gong, Darong Zhu, Jianguo Li, Yanli Liu, Ping Wang","doi":"10.3390/buildings14082262","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14082262","url":null,"abstract":"Infrared detection is more and more widely used in the field of non-destructive testing of buildings to detect whether there is a defect on the surface of the building facade. In many cases, it is necessary to obtain more information about the defect, such as the depth of the defect, so as to evaluate the severity of the defect and repair. The theoretical formula of hollowing defect depths was derived in this paper based on the heat transfer characteristics of the intact and defective areas on the building facade, and the influence of defects with different shapes, sizes and cavity thicknesses on the temperature distribution of the building facade was summarized quantitatively. Firstly, the theoretical formula of the hollowing defect depth and the factors affecting the distribution of the temperature gradient on the building facade excited by external thermal source was derived and restricted by the boundary condition. Secondly, three sets of physical building facade models that contained hollowing defects with different shapes, sizes and cavity thicknesses were fabricated and designed, and the experimental platform was built. The infrared thermograms and the temperature characteristic curves of the hollowing defect in a natural light environment were obtained and fitted according to the temperature differences of the defective area, while analyzing the influence of the size, shape and cavity thicknesses on surface temperature distribution. Finally, the theoretical formula of the defect depth that is applicable to the building façade was validated through the experimental simulation of 14 forms of hollowing. The experimental results demonstrated that the revised formula of defect depth is consistent with the actual defect depth, and the three-dimensional positioning of the hollow drum defect of the building facade can be effectively carried out and combined with the defect size taken from the obtained infrared thermal image.","PeriodicalId":48546,"journal":{"name":"Buildings","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2024-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141810816","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Influence of Heat Treatment on the Mechanical Properties of Fine-Grained Granite under Dynamic Impact Loading","authors":"Nuocheng Tian, Xiaoyong Hu, Kai Huang, Guolong Chen, Hongliang Kong","doi":"10.3390/buildings14082272","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14082272","url":null,"abstract":"In order to study the influence of heat treatment on the dynamic properties of fine-grained granite, an improved split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) system was used to conduct impact compression tests on the granite specimens treated at 20~1000 °C under three loading rates. The experimental results show that the shape of the impact stress–strain curve is affected by the loading rate and heat treatment temperature. Under the same loading rate, the average strain rate, peak strain, and maximum strain of granite specimen exhibit a trend of “slow increasing (20~200 °C)—slow decreasing (200~400 °C)—slow increasing (400~500 °C)”. The peak stress and elastic modulus show the opposite trend. The average strain rate, peak strain, and maximum strain of the granite specimen treated at 600 °C increase significantly. The peak stress and elastic modulus decrease significantly. Within the heat treatment temperature range of 600~800 °C, the dynamic properties of granite deteriorate slowly. The average strain rate, peak strain, and maximum strain of the granite specimens treated at 900 °C and 1000 °C increase sharply, while the peak stress decreases sharply. Within the heat treatment temperature range of 600–1000 °C, the elastic modulus of the granite specimen shows an approximately linear decreasing trend. There are no changes in the mineral composition of granite within the heat treatment temperature range of 20–1000 °C. After heat treatment at 600 °C, the width of internal cracks in granite increases significantly. The width of internal cracks in the heat-treated granites at 900 °C and 1000 °C increases sharply. The change in the dynamic properties of granite is determined by the internal microstructure of the heat-treated granite at different temperatures.","PeriodicalId":48546,"journal":{"name":"Buildings","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2024-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141810913","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Building-Integrated Photovoltaics in Existing Buildings: A Novel PV Roofing System","authors":"C. Del Pero, F. Leonforte, N. Aste","doi":"10.3390/buildings14082270","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14082270","url":null,"abstract":"Among renewable energy generation technologies, photovoltaics has a pivotal role in reaching the EU’s decarbonization goals. In particular, building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems are attracting increasing interest since they are a fundamental element that allows buildings to abate their CO2 emissions while also performing functions typical of traditional building components, such as sealing against water. In such a context, since one of the main challenges to decarbonizing the building sector lies in the retrofitting of existing buildings, the current paper is focused on the design, development, and testing of a novel roofing BIPV system. The entire research was carried out as part of the Horizon 2020 HEART project. In more detail, the research analyzed the requirements of typical pitched tile roofs, which are currently the most common type in Europe, and developed a universal photovoltaic tile that can be easily and quickly integrated into such a type of roof. The research was also aimed at minimizing the embodied energy of the component and promoting disassembly and recycling at the end of life, fully in line with a circular economy perspective. The adopted design and development processes are described in detail in the present paper, along with the results of several tests performed in the field. In addition, further development prospects of the component, aimed at meeting the integration requirements in historic buildings, are finally presented.","PeriodicalId":48546,"journal":{"name":"Buildings","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2024-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141814006","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Critical Evaluation of the Contract Selection Process Used in the Construction Industry of Kuwait","authors":"Abdulaziz T. Almutairi, Andrew Fox, N. Braimah","doi":"10.3390/buildings14082259","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14082259","url":null,"abstract":"The paper investigates and assesses the contract selection procedure used in Kuwait’s construction sector. The ideas and insights of engineers involved in significant Kuwaiti construction projects will be extensively considered. In the Kuwaiti building sector, various ways of choosing the contract form will be discussed. In order to gather pertinent data about the country’s primary construction projects, questionnaires will be used. This methodology ensures a first-hand account of the challenges and preferences within the industry. This data will be analyzed to determine the best ways to enhance the current system utilized for Kuwaiti building contracts for the choice of contract forms and payment terms that could benefit from the inclusion of measures to guarantee those types of task delivery systems and payment terms in the country’s future construction projects. This paper explores the typical contract types and payment mechanisms used in Kuwait, drawing on a thorough analysis of current literature, governmental regulations, and business practices. The Standard Forms of Contract, which offer fixed-priced payments, have become the most popular option. However, when used for extensive and technically challenging projects, this contract form’s simplicity presents difficulties. Additionally, the existing system encourages contract awards based on the lowest tender, which raises questions regarding appropriateness and proportionality. The study suggests an arsenal of criteria for improving the deal selection process, with an emphasis on diverse terms of payment inside the task delivery system, in order to allay these worries. It highlights the need for a more comprehensive approach for deal selection that takes project complexity, financial constraints, and long-term project interest into account. The proposed criteria additionally include adaptability to project complexity, ensuring flexibility for challenges in large projects. Financial considerations, aligning with budgetary requirements, are crucial. The emphasis is on long-term project success, and finding a balance between simplicity and adaptability in contracts is key. These comprehensive criteria aim to improve decision-making in selecting standard contract forms for construction projects, addressing challenges in large, technically demanding endeavors in Kuwait. This research contributes to the field by introducing a novel set of criteria for contract selection, tailored to the Kuwaiti construction context. The study’s originality lies in its approach to addressing the challenges posed by current practices and its focus on refining the system for future projects. Additionally, the study employs a rigorous questionnaire survey to extract firsthand insights from industry professionals, ensuring a robust and contextually relevant exploration of the contract selection landscape in Kuwait’s construction sector.","PeriodicalId":48546,"journal":{"name":"Buildings","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2024-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141811047","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of Remolding Water Content and Compaction Degree on the Dynamic Behavior of Compacted Clay Soils","authors":"Shuai Qi, Wei Ma, Xintian Zhang, Jing Wang, Xingbo Hu, Zengzhi Wei, Jinhui Liu","doi":"10.3390/buildings14082258","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14082258","url":null,"abstract":"The stable and safe operation of highway/railway lines is largely dependent on the dynamic behavior of subgrade fillings. Clay soils are widely used in subgrade construction and are compacted at different remolding water contents and compaction degrees, depending on the field conditions. As a result, their dynamic behaviors may vary, which have not been fully investigated until now. To clarify this aspect, a series of cyclic triaxial tests were carried out in this study with three typical remolding water contents (w = 19%, 24%, and 29%), corresponding to the optimum water content as well as its dry and wet sides, and two compaction degrees (Dc = 0.8 and 0.9), which were selected according to the field-testing data. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) tests were also conducted on typical samples to investigate the corresponding soil fabric variations. The findings indicate the following: (a) The soil fabric at the optimum remolding water content and its dry side was characterized by a clay aggregate assembly with a bimodal pore size distribution. In contrast, the soil fabric on the wet side of the optimum water content consisted of dispersed clay particles with a unimodal pore size distribution. (b) As the compaction degree increased, to ensure the optimum water content and its dry side, large pores were compressed to make them smaller, while small pores remained unchanged. Comparatively, all the pores on the wet side were compressed to make them smaller. (c) For each compaction degree, as the remolding water content increased, a non-monotonic changing pattern was identified for both the permanent strain and resilient modulus; the permanent strain first decreased and then increased, while, for the resilient modulus, an initial increasing trend and then a decreasing trend were identified. In addition, a larger changing rate of the permanent strain (resilient modulus) was observed on the dry side, indicating a larger effect of the remolding water content. (d) For each remolding water content, as the compaction degree increased, the permanent strain exhibited a decreasing trend, but an increasing trend was identified for the resilient modulus. Moreover, the rate of change in the permanent strain (resilient modulus) on the dry side of the optimum water content was larger than that on the wet side. In contrast, the minimum rate of change was identified at the optimum water content. The obtained results allowed for the effects of the remolding water content and compaction degree on the dynamic behavior to be analyzed, and they helped guide the construction and maintenance of the subgrade.","PeriodicalId":48546,"journal":{"name":"Buildings","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2024-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141811467","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ontology for BIM-Based Robotic Navigation and Inspection Tasks","authors":"Fardin Bahreini, M. Nasrollahi, A. Taher, Amin Hammad","doi":"10.3390/buildings14082274","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14082274","url":null,"abstract":"The availability of inspection robots in the construction and operation phases of buildings has led to expanding the scope of applications and increasing technological challenges. Furthermore, the building information modeling (BIM)-based approach for robotic inspection is expected to improve the inspection process as the BIM models contain accurate geometry and relevant information at different phases of the lifecycle of a building. Several studies have used BIM for navigation purposes. Also, some studies focused on developing a knowledge-based ontology to perform activities in a robotic environment (e.g., CRAM). However, the research in this area is still limited and fragmented, and there is a need to develop an integrated ontology to be used as a first step towards logic-based inspection. This paper aims to develop an ontology for BIM-based robotic navigation and inspection tasks (OBRNIT). This ontology can help system engineers involved in developing robotic inspection systems by identifying the different concepts and relationships between robotic inspection and navigation tasks based on BIM information. The developed ontology covers four main types of concepts: (1) robot concepts, (2) building concepts, (3) navigation task concepts, and (4) inspection task concepts. The ontology is developed using Protégé. The following steps are taken to reach the objectives: (1) the available literature is reviewed to identify the concepts, (2) the steps for developing OBRNIT are identified, (3) the basic components of the ontology are developed, and (4) the evaluation process is performed for the developed ontology. The semantic representation of OBRNIT was evaluated through a case study and a survey. The evaluation confirms that OBRNIT covers the domain’s concepts and relationships, and can be applied to develop robotic inspection systems. In a case study conducted in a building at Concordia University, OBRNIT was used to support an inspection robot in navigating to identify a ceiling leakage. Survey results from 33 experts indicate that 28.13% strongly agreed and 65.63% agreed on the usage of OBRNIT for the development of robotic navigation and inspection systems. This highlights its potential in enhancing inspection reliability and repeatability, addressing the complexity of interactions within the inspection environment, and supporting the development of more autonomous and efficient robotic inspection systems.","PeriodicalId":48546,"journal":{"name":"Buildings","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2024-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141812376","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Streamlining Construction Operations: A Holistic Approach with A3 Methodology and Lean Principles","authors":"J. Mandić, N. Sremcev, Julien Piaux, Vijoleta Vrhovac, Denis Kučević, S. Stankovski","doi":"10.3390/buildings14082260","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14082260","url":null,"abstract":"With the growing trend of urbanisation and the growing number of people migrating to cities, the demand for the development and construction of new buildings and infrastructure has risen, meaning that the construction industry must adapt to these trends. Growing demands with shorter deadlines for an industry already known for its high costs and late delivery means that productivity must be increased without increasing costs. The solution for this might lie in the application of the Lean philosophy to the construction industry. This paper analyses the application of the Lean philosophy in order to increase the productivity of construction work for an airport project. This paper highlights the potential for enhancing productivity in construction workplaces by concurrently fostering continuous improvement and sustainability through the implementation of the A3 methodology and Lean principles, resulting in waste reduction and increased value.","PeriodicalId":48546,"journal":{"name":"Buildings","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2024-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141812854","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Thermo-Acoustic Properties of Four Natural Fibers, Musa textilis, Furcraea andina, Cocos nucifera, and Schoenoplectus californicus, for Building Applications","authors":"Luis Bravo-Moncayo, Marcelo Argotti-Gómez, Oscar Jara, Virginia Puyana-Romero, Giuseppe Ciaburro, Víctor H. Guerrero","doi":"10.3390/buildings14082265","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14082265","url":null,"abstract":"Natural and bio-based construction materials such as bamboo, cork, or natural fiber composites offer a promising solution for enhancing the environmental sustainability of buildings. In this sense, the paper presents an experimental thermo-acoustic characterization of four common Ecuadorian natural fibers, abaca (Musa textilis), cabuya (Furcraea andina), coir (Cocos nucifera), and totora (Schoenoplectus californicus). Different densities were considered, from 85 kg/m3 (Cabuya) to 244 kg/m3 (totora), to thermo-acoustically characterize the samples built with these fibers, by means of the guarded-hot-plate (GHP) and impedance tube methods in-lab experimental benches. The exhaustive original characterization of the evaluated natural fiber composites showed a promising overall thermo-acoustic behavior. The thermal conductivity of the fibers was around 0.04–0.06 W/m·K and, therefore, comparable to other materials such as polystyrene, polyurethane, or aerogel that are already utilized for similar applications. On the other hand, the sound-absorption properties of the evaluated fibers are also very competitive, but strongly affected by the thickness of the sample, with noise reduction coefficient NRC ranging from 0.12 to 0.53. Consequently, the production and distribution of these materials in the Ecuadorian market for thermal insulation and acoustic conditioning constitute an alternative characterized by good technical performance, which, compared to synthetic composites used in the construction industry for similar duties, is ecological, sustainable, and has low built-in energy consumption.","PeriodicalId":48546,"journal":{"name":"Buildings","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2024-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141811460","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Advanced Fatigue Assessment of Riveted Railway Bridges on Existing Masonry Abutments: An Italian Case Study","authors":"Aldo Milone, M. D’Aniello, R. Landolfo","doi":"10.3390/buildings14082271","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14082271","url":null,"abstract":"Riveted railway bridges with already long structural lives can still be commonly found in service in Europe. In light of their peculiarities, they are often prone to fatigue damage; nevertheless, very few prescriptions regarding fatigue assessment of these structures can be found in current European provisions. Within this framework, the present paper illustrates the advanced fatigue assessment of an Italian riveted railway bridge selected as a case study. For this purpose, multi-scale finite element modelling of the bridge was developed, and the most critical details were assessed through application of the advanced strain energy density (SED) method. The obtained outcomes were compared both with other studies in the literature and prescriptions from the current and upcoming versions of EN1993-1-9.","PeriodicalId":48546,"journal":{"name":"Buildings","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2024-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141811734","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}