Architecture, Structures and Construction最新文献

This research is conducted within the framework of the Interconnected Nord-Est Innovation Ecosystem (iNEST) project, funded by the Next Generation EU and the Italian National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP). The global project focuses on developing sustainable solutions for the built environment in Northeastern Italy, aligning with both UN Agenda 2030 and European directives on energy transition, environmental protection, and climate change adaptation. This research refers to the methodology Renovation through Design for Adaptability/Flexibility/Change to analyze and enhance existing buildings, with particular emphasis on façade systems and spatial concepts. The research applies to the case study of the Panzano residential District (1907–1927), a historic workers’ village associated with the Monfalcone shipyards, comprising of over 600 dwellings. This district exemplifies the challenge of balancing the general requirements for adapting dwelling units to contemporary needs, providing additional spaces, and mitigating energy impacts while preserving the historical value of the built heritage of a 20th -century company town. In the research approach, technology should become an integral component of the architectural design process, focusing on façade systems as a key point. These interventions aim to enhance environmental comfort, to ensure the transformability of interior spaces, and to foster inclusive interactions between individuals and their environment, while maintaining compatibility with the principles of heritage preservation. The developed methodology contributes to defining effective approaches for renovating existing buildings, while addressing both the technological and social aspects of sustainability.

Fire safety in a building depends on several factors, including its use and occupancy, which fire protection systems are present in the building and the state of maintenance of these systems. Considering the fact that Brazil has 27 federal states and each of them has its own fire safety legislation, it is common for there to be divergences that result in different protection requirements depending on the state where the building is located. This study analyzes Brazilian state fire safety legislation with regard to the sizing of fire protection systems for buildings, considering the parameters used for such sizing. It then identifies the differences in classification in terms of the use and occupation of buildings in the 27 federal states; and presents a proposal for a standardized classification for the whole country, taking into account the convergences that already exist in state legislation. The main objective is to suggest a discussion starter for the process of standardizing fire safety parameters in Brazil.

Reducing the number of harmed workers in the construction sector has proven to be a challenging task. While promoting a Safety Culture (SC) is crucial for achieving that goal, defining it and pinpointing the key factors that influence it is difficult. SC has been defined in many different ways, and there is no consensus on what it exactly entails. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the factors that define and influence SC in the New Zealand construction sector. This goal was achieved through a modified Delphi study conducted in two rounds to gather experts’ views and reach a consensus. Data collection included in-depth interviews and survey questionnaires. A total of 32 experienced construction safety professionals participated in the first round, and 26 of them continued in the second round. Data were analyzed using Thematic Analysis and Relative Importance Index (RII). The main findings are twofold. First, they indicate the need for a holistic definition of SC incorporating its various defining factors. Second, they indicate that the top-ranked influencing factors are ‘Level of Leadership Commitment,’ followed by ‘Level of Experience and Mindset,’ and ‘Level of Communication.’ Furthermore, the results show the dual nature of these influencing factors, as they can either facilitate or hinder SC depending on whether their level is low or high. The results of this study offer valuable insights that enable practitioners to assess and promote SC in their organizations.

To transition to a Circular Economy, architecture schools are incorporating Design for Circularity (DfC) into their curricula. Integrating circularity into full-scale Design/Build prototypes helps students connect sustainable design theory with practice and application of concepts. This paper examines the gap between circular design intentions and real-world barriers, focusing on DfC with wood in two educational projects. The first, in Belgium, follows a “design from reuse” approach using short-length reclaimed sawn-timber to create a small-scale canopy structure. The second, in the USA, adopts a “design for reuse” approach, using plywood to develop a reusable kit-of-parts. In the analyzed cases, the non-standard nature of DfC requires a holistic life-cycle perspective, presenting challenges in material sourcing and quality assessment, significant variability in sizes and condition, and uncertainty regarding mechanical properties. Furthermore, utilizing frequently smaller reclaimed timber elements increases the number of connections, requiring original solutions. These issues complicate architectural design, structural calculation, and permitting and influenced the design and construction in both cases. An analysis of successful DfC cases shows parallels with lessons learned, identifying common barriers and suggesting solutions. Using reclaimed wood for structural purposes requires thorough planning for transportation, storage, regrading, and reprocessing. Design flexibility is critical to accommodate dimensional variability and mechanical downgrading. When designing for reuse, adequate fabrication tolerances and well-designed connections are key to ensuring structural integrity and easy disassembly. Increased educational projects can build a robust knowledge base, leading to currently lacking standardized procedures and streamlining DfC practices in architecture, engineering, and construction industries. This paper enhances understanding of DfC with wood and Design/Build education by identifying barriers, opportunities, and methods to improve education and training, aiming for a more sustainable built environment.

It is essential to ensure that any building has conditions for a safe evacuation of its occupants. This aspect is essential in subway stations, where evacuation has to be carried out in an upward way, and usually correspond to large structures constituting a single fire compartment. Baixa-Chiado subway station, in Lisbon, Portugal, was selected for studying the evacuation in case of fire, due to its depth, high number of passengers that frequent the station and the existing of two intersecting train lines. A calculation of evacuation time was calculated and the way of evacuation studied, in different fire scenarios, number and location of occupants. The numerical simulations used Fire Dynamics Simulator and Pathfinder softwares, the first for fire spreading and the second for evacuation analysis. The importance of smoke control system, and its rapid activation in case of fire, was highlighted by the results obtained. In situations where this did not occur, there was a significant worsening in the evacuation of the occupants. It was estimated the incapacitation of a significant number of occupants, considering the levels registered for the fractional effective dose. The station’s architectural constraints proved to be a crucial factor in the results of the study. This article highlights important results applicable to subway stations around the world.

Automation, including the use of robots, is increasingly presented as a potential solution to the lagging efficiency of the construction industry. Buildings designed for robotic construction may be different than traditional buildings, and computation can help reveal these differences. In response, the goal of this research is to assess the challenges, opportunities, and potential of robotic construction to be incorporated into early-stage design exploration and multi-objective optimization. It evaluates robotic capabilities for performing construction tasks, determines how designs with varying structural systems can leverage robotic constructability assessment, and shows which tasks and design types offer good venues for evaluating construction metrics during design optimization. The first part reviews literature in design, fabrication, and construction, covering design-based robotic research in which robots are replacing traditionally human tasks in standard construction, as well as research in which a custom design can only be built with a novel construction approach. The role of robots in construction is then examined through a task-based review, which maps existing robots and their capabilities to potential subtasks during sequential construction phases, from initial offsite preparation to completion. Finally, a case study built on insights from the literature review introduces an initial construction metric tied to cumulative discrete material delivery time. This metric helps distinguish between high and low-quality designs in terms of constructability, showcasing how considering robotics can enhance early-stage design assessment. A trade-off between embodied carbon and a robotic construction score emerged in the design options, with the number of elements affecting both factors. The case study suggests that adjustments to the building massing can lower embodied carbon without negatively impacting the construction score. Similar relationships could be uncovered by incorporating the objectives and constraints identified in this paper in future optimization workflows.

This research investigates the nonlinear mechanical properties and post-yield deformation mechanisms of hyperbolic paraboloid (hypar) shells inspired by the architecture of Félix Candela for the first time. 3D-printed tubular structures derived from non-Euclidean hypar umbrellas with 3, 4, and 6 edges (capable of forming regular tessellations) across three rise-to-area ratios were benchmarked against Euclidean thin-walled prismatic and pyramidal geometries under uniaxial quasi-static compression. For the same relative density, hypar structures exhibited markedly improved stiffness, strength, and energy absorption over their Euclidean counterparts. 6-edged hexagonal umbrellas were also observed to be more efficient than 3- and 4-edged hypars for a constant shell thickness, with their mechanical performance being positively correlated with the extent of hypar warping. Moreover, the relative stiffness and strength exhibited by tubular structures based on hexagonal hypar umbrellas compared favorably with alternative lattice and honeycomb metamaterials across the relative densities considered within this study. These findings highlight the attractiveness of hypars as novel (micro)architectures and provides further impetus towards the utilization of non-Euclidean geometries for ultra-light and ultra-stiff applications.

A significant portion of the environmental impact of a building’s superstructure lies in its structural flooring. By leveraging funicular forms such as thin concrete shells, a materially and carbon-efficient alternative to bending-active flooring systems can be attained. In addition, through segmentation and the use of dry jointed interfaces, a segmented concrete shell allows for ease of disassembly compatible with circular economy principles for the built environment. This paper presents a novel segmented concrete shell flooring system that leverages the symmetry of revolution of the classical fan vault form to facilitate future design flexibility through increased reconfigurability. The design and form-finding of the segmented fan concrete shell are detailed through the use of an evolutionary algorithm and finite element analysis. Quarter-scale prototypes were digitally fabricated using a robotic concrete spraying process which were then assembled and tested to assess its structural potential, evaluate the limitations, and identify areas of future work. An embodied carbon analysis demonstrates that the system provides a mass and embodied carbon saving compared to conventional flooring systems while adding approximately a 20% embodied carbon premium over a comparable non-reconfigurable segmented shell flooring system. Rephrased, the proposed system provides a positive embodied carbon saving if enabling design flexibility through reconfiguration increases the life-span of the system by at least 20%. Through this work, it is shown that a segmented fan concrete shell presents a viable lightweight and carbon-efficient flooring system which has the potential to become a sustainable alternative that enables disassembly, reuse, and even reconfigurability for circular construction provided further research and development to address its current limitations for adoption in industry practices.

This paper discusses the application of Building Information Modeling (BIM) methodology in the planning and executing of construction projects, aiming to optimize construction processes, add value, and maximize project returns. The research was based on a practical case that involved three-dimensional modeling and the integration of various technologies, such as AutoCAD, Revit, Excel, and Microsoft Project. It highlights how BIM can improve cost management accuracy, increase efficiency, and facilitate team communication, minimizing errors during execution. Despite limitations related to software interoperability and the lack of material libraries, the results demonstrate that BIM is an effective tool for construction projects, promoting schedule optimization and adding value to ventures. The study reinforces the relevance of BIM as a fundamental strategy to enhance productivity and quality in the construction industry, making it essential for professionals seeking to elevate efficiency and quality through innovative solutions.

The rising demand of food grains and its wastage due to prolonged storage during any unforeseen conditions such as Covid 19 pandemic shows the necessity of sustainable and efficient food grain godowns in India. Sustainable design approach towards the foodgrain godown reduces the wastage of food grains as well as lowers the environmental footprints and energy consumptions. Such approaches include appropriate architectural planning, rainwater harvesting, building orientation/envelope, day lighting and improved indoor environmental quality (IEQ), can increase the productivity of the godown and minimize the rotting/wastage. Considering these factors, a ‘L-shaped’ steel intensive food grain godown is proposed to store wheat which includes sustainable strategies like - site selection & sustainable site planning, sustainable landscape design, water conservation through rainwater harvesting with the site, organic waste management, sustainable building envelope design for the optimization of indoor environment quality – to enhance passive lighting, ventilation; and to regulate temperature and humidity. The structure is analyzed using Tekla Software and designed following the Indian Standard codes Parallel flange sections which show high strength and flexibility are used for the design. Implementing sustainable design approaches in foodgrain godowns significantly enhances the indoor environmental quality, thereby reducing foodgrain wastage during storage.