Architecture, Structures and Construction最新文献

Unitized curtain walls with integrated sun-shading systems have become a prevalent choice for high-rise building façades. The present paper presents a novel sun-shading façade system comprising bending-active plates made of glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) arranged in three series vertically. Each elastic plate is supported at the corners by diagonal steel members, which are paired and equipped with rotating actuators to modify the opening angles. This modification induces elastic deformations on the bending-active plates, altering their shapes to provide varying levels of sun protection. The steel members act as scissor-like elements, supported on the curtain wall mullion using extruded aluminum pressure plates and U-channel rails. The bending-active plates serve as external horizontal louvres, offering adaptive sun-protection. A numerical investigation of a bending-active plate’s structural behavior is conducted through Finite-Element Analysis (FEA). Various symmetric curvatures of the plate are achieved through actuation of the scissor-like elements at specific opening angle values. The analysis considers the self-weight of the plate and a uniform distributed wind load of 1 kN/m². The study explores three different plate thicknesses (4, 5 and 6 mm) in selecting the most favorable thickness. The plate with a selected thickness is then perforated by 15, 21, 28 and 36% of the total area. Two alternative perforation patterns are examined for each perforation percentage. The analysis delves into the form-finding and load-deformation behavior of the bending-active plate, shedding light on the structural integrity and functionality of the sun-shading system.

The development of sustainable construction materials has led to increased interest in geopolymer concrete as an alternative to Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC). This study evaluates the mechanical, durability, and predictive modeling aspects of coconut fiber-reinforced GGBS-based geopolymer concrete (CFR-GPC). Experimental analysis was conducted for varying Na₂SiO₃/NaOH ratios (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0) and fiber contents (0.25%, 0.5%) to assess compressive and flexural strength, workability, and durability. The highest compressive strength of 33.66 MPa and flexural strength of 7.00 MPa were obtained for a Na₂SiO₃/NaOH ratio of 2.0 with 0.25% fiber content. Durability tests confirmed excellent resistance to acidic and sulfate-rich environments, with minimal weight loss and superior strength retention. A Random Forest Regressor machine learning model was developed to predict compressive strength, achieving high accuracy (R2 = 0.956, MSE = 0.1547). The findings highlight CFR-GPC as a viable, eco-friendly alternative to OPC-based concrete, suitable for pavements, precast elements, and marine structures. The integration of machine learning enables rapid mix optimization, reducing reliance on extensive laboratory testing. Future research should focus on long-term durability and real-world applications to establish CFR-GPC as a mainstream sustainable material.

Heavily relying on extraction-based materials in Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC), the industry is one of the strongest consumers of raw materials. This research explores the temporalities of material layers in architecture, where high durability can be connected to materials with shorter lifespan, allowing for repair, restoration, reconfiguration and reclamation of material at the end of life in one built environment. By exchanging short lived materials with regenerative and fast-growing biogenic alternatives, we can maximise the lifespan of long-lasting materials and therefore reduce unnecessary extraction of raw-materials. This paper presents the qualitative development and testing of a method exploring a biogenic mortar solution for reclaimed clay-based brick assemblies. It offers insight into the method of co-cultivation of the used bacteria Sporosarcina pasteurii and fungus Ganoderma lucidum, forming a mycelium-bacteria based composite (MBBC). It explores the qualitative potential of this material in a fabrication strategy in three settings; (1) the joint between two bricks, (2) an assembly of four bricks and (3) a demonstrator of a wall fragment prototype at full scale. Additionally, the paper includes initial tensile bond strength tests. While only having a small specimen set which have been tested on a self-built test-setup, the exploration results in similar tensile properties (MBBC: 0,05 MPa) as described by hydraulic lime-based mortar (0,045 − 0,068 MPa).

California, like many other places, is increasingly interested in building with mass timber as a global trend for low-carbon construction. Despite California's plentiful forest resources and a demonstrated need for Engineered Wood Products, no mass timber production using local trees has happened in recent years. Design teams need to source mass timber products internationally or from a different U.S. State. The high investment costs, product certification processes, and skilled labor required to start production of newer Engineered Wood Products, such as Cross-Laminated Timber, have led to many years of failed or stalled attempts. However, California forests are overstocked and need a high-added value avenue for fiber coming out of forest restoration projects to reduce the risk of wildfires. The paper presents the recent successes in developing a mass timber industry in the State of California. The paper presents a new small-scale low-cost DIY strategy for developing mass timber manufacturing capacity in places with no prior established industries and limited skilled workforce. The research focuses on low-hanging fruit wood products, requiring limited initial investment such as Nail-Laminated Timber and Dowel-Laminated Timber. A series of illustrated instructions were developed and shared with interested local stakeholders. After a year and a half, three groups started manufacturing engineered wood products panels from local forests. The illustrated How-to guides expand on the use of different tree species, panel types and the role of craft in small-scale manufacturing. The instructions can be disseminated in new contexts, new to mass timber manufacturing, to support local forest utilization and low-carbon construction.

Urban planning significantly influences the ecological and social structures of cities, but traditional methodologies often prioritize economic development at the expense of environmental sustainability and social equity. This paper explores the integration of circular economy principles into urban planning, advocating for a paradigm shift towards more sustainable and inclusive urban environments. Employing a hydrofeminist lens, this study examines the entanglements around two non-human actors in capitalist linear city planning: the River Schijn in Antwerp, which has been heavily modified for industrial use, and Stumpy, a cherry tree in Washington DC’s Tidal Basin which will be uprooted because of the seawall dismantlement. Engagement practices, such as forest bathing or preserving their stories, are short-term circular site stories that can form a counter dialogue to the bigger linear city planning. By re-evaluating and re-enchanting our urban strategies, we can better address the complex web of relationships that define our cities, making them more adaptable to both human and environmental needs.

Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital (CHBAH) is known as ‘Bara’ and is the largest public hospital in Africa and the third largest in the world, with approximately 3,200 beds. It has 407 buildings and operates on a 24-h basis. Hospitals have experienced hazardous fires, which can result in loss of life, pollution, and property damage. The purpose of this study was to investigate the current fire protection systems at CHBAH to determine whether they can protect the hospital community during fire outbreaks. The research questions for the study are as follows: 1. What is the current state of the hospital regarding fire protection systems? 2. What is the current international practice of safety at hospitals? 3. What is the best practice regarding the maintenance of the fire protection system at hospitals? 4. What are the perceptions of hospital staff about hospital fire protection systems? This study used a mixed-methods research approach with cross-sectional analysis. The population consisted of the hospital community, which included top management, specialists, doctors, nurses, administration staff, and general workers. The sample comprised 280 respondents, 130 observed buildings, and six interviews from top management at CHBAH. Methods used to collect data: questionnaires, in-depth interviews, and observations. The results from questionnaires, observations, and interviews indicated that the maintenance and functionality of fire protection systems at CHBAH were compromised, related to hospital fire safety and compliance with South African National Standard Codes, the City of Johannesburg Bylaws, and other relevant codes to the hospital.

This paper examines the evolving role of engineers in mid-twentieth century Belgian church construction, highlighting how their responsibilities were shaped by shifting institutional structures, economic constraints, and evolving professional hierarchies. Through three case studies—Saint Pius-X (Forest, 1962–1970), Notre-Dame de Stockel (Woluwe-Saint-Pierre, 1962–1967), and Saint-Rita (Harelbeke, 1963–1967)— this paper reconstructs how engineers were appointed, how their roles evolved, and how their contributions intersected with procurement and oversight mechanisms. The findings reveal that engineering authorship was neither linear nor monolithic. Engineers operated within a fragmented decision-making network, where their influence depended on financial, procedural, and regulatory factors. At Saint Pius-X, prefabrication embedded structural expertise within manufacturing, minimizing the role of independent engineers. At Notre-Dame de Stockel, the lack of early oversight led to instability, eventually necessitating SECO’s intervention. Meanwhile, at Saint-Rita, the engineer played a key role in execution but had limited influence on the design, with SECO again ensuring technical precision. More broadly, the study situates these cases within mid-century construction trends, where prefabrication, standardization, and external quality control reinforced a shift from individual expertise to distributed decision-making. By reassessing the role of engineers not only as technical experts but as negotiators within complex construction landscapes, this paper offers a more nuanced understanding of authorship and collaboration in post-war architecture.

Form-finding, the process of determining an equilibrated geometric configuration based on boundary and design conditions, is a key technique in design, yet no comprehensive tool has fully met the demands of practice. This paper introduces a robust and adaptable form-finding method, using a decomposition framework based on the Alternating Direction Method of Multipliers. It breaks large optimization problems into smaller, manageable subproblems, coordinating their solutions to achieve global results. The method balances Dual Decomposition and Augmented Lagrangian techniques while enforcing geometric constraints and equilibrium conditions, ensuring structural stability. Integrated into the parametric CAD environment Grasshopper, this approach enhances accessibility for designers. The paper outlines the algorithm’s mechanics and demonstrates its application through design examples. It provides performance evaluations, highlighting its capabilities and limitations. The method’s ability to combine geometric constraints with equilibrium in a flexible and yet simple to implement optimization framework represents a significant advancement in form-finding.

The urgency of the climate crisis has led to a critical re-evaluation of architectural construction practices. We propose integrating social and environmental aspects into sustainable architectural design, emphasizing resource efficiency by lightweight structures. Elastic grid structures that use flexible, linear elements to span spaces are typically lightweight and optimized for material efficiency, often resulting in repetitive patterns. Similar to elastic grid structures, in nature Weaverbirds bend and twist long, flexible strips to arrange the pattern of their nest structure based on their comfort in their surrounding environment. We explore possibilities aimed at balancing material resources with architectural, structural, and environmental considerations in the design of elastic grid structures. Inspired by Weaverbirds, this paper presents the design, simulation, generation and evaluation of a spatial grid structure with a bespoke combination of strip patterns to control glare, addressing a social aspect of sustainability. The realized structure presents the Asymptotic-Twist-Geodesic (A-T-G) Louvers as an alternative to conventional blinds for office and computer workspaces. The A-T-G Louvers combine two common strip pattern types: geodesic, where the profile is tangential to the surface, and asymptotic, where the profile is orthogonal to the surface, to achieve a more none-repetitive design. To ensure a smooth transition between these two patterns types, the continuous strip profile twists by 90° along its longitudinal direction. Results show an environmentally friendly, low waste lightweight structure that significantly improves indoor comfort, specifically glare. The realized A-T-G Louvers signal a reemergence of flexible grid structures with increased design freedom for sustainable lightweight architecture.

Construction workshops, in which architecture students create physical artefacts, have long been an important part of the architectural curriculum. One well-known type is the design-build workshop, where students participate from conceptual design to real building construction. Still, other types exist, such as model-building workshops to create and test structural systems. While construction workshops are essential in the architectural education of structures and construction, knowledge gaps remain regarding (1) the learning goals they provide, (2) the main characteristics of their learning environment, (3) the evaluation of the student learning, and (4) the interrelation of these factors.

This study conducts a pedagogical analysis of construction workshops using a mixed qualitative research method and triangulating data collected from a substantial literature review and interviews with 11 experienced workshop tutors across Europe. The top-down coding of the data was guided by the extensive workshop experience of the authors and theories of constructive alignment, project-based learning, experiential learning, game-based learning, and collaborative learning, with learning goals divided into skills, knowledge, attitudes, and values.

The findings map a wide range of learning goals that construction workshops can provide and identify the main characteristics of the learning environment. Additionally, this paper presents various factors that motivate student engagement and learning, as well as an analysis of the learning evaluation.

This research aims to enhance the understanding of the educational qualities and design of construction workshops, and calls for further studies on the impact of learning environments on learning outcomes.