Architecture, Structures and Construction最新文献

Modernization, which encompasses population growth, urbanization, and economic expansion, has caused extensive environmental degradation and resource depletion. Riverbeds provide natural sand, which is a typical supply of fine aggregate used in concrete making. The removal of river sands has had negative effects on the ecosystem. Steel dust is a fine substance that may be used in place of fine aggregate principally because of its comparable particle sizes. This research investigates the impact of adding wasted steel dust on concrete’s mechanical behaviour by partially replacing sand in different percentages (0%, 3%, 6%, 9%, 12%, and 15%). The water-to-cement ratio of 0.45 was used in this study. Overall, 54 concrete samples were prepared, 18 cubes (150 mm × 150 mm × 150 mm) for the compressive strength test, 18 cylinders (100 mm diameter × 200 mm height) for tensile strength, and 18 prisms (100 mm depth × 100 mm width × 500 mm length). Then tests were made for all samples to observe the strength and crack behaviour of concrete. It was found that the workability of fresh concrete decreased while the density of hardened concrete increased with steel dust replacements. Also, adding steel dust to concrete generally increases strength. The optimum value was observed in concrete containing 9% steel dust in compressive and flexural strength. An optimum value is found in concrete containing 15% steel dust for tensile strength.

This study examines the transformation of disused industrial heritage in the eastern area of Lisbon, specifically within the districts of Marvila and Beato, focusing on the dynamics of urban regeneration following deindustrialisation. The research highlights how, in a context characterised—similarly to other Southern European countries—by late-stage deindustrialisation, the industrial legacy of these areas has predominantly been repurposed to accommodate activities associated with the creative and cultural sectors. Using a tripartite methodology comprising a literature review, Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping, and industrial heritage characterisation through direct observation, alongside engagement with the ROCK (Regeneration and Optimisation of Cultural Heritage in Creative and Knowledge Cities) project, the study identified and characterised twelve former factories. Of these, nine have primarily been converted for artistic and cultural use, while two remain abandoned, emphasising the lack of significant public intervention. The article addresses the risks of gentrification and the increasing privatisation of industrial sites, raising concerns about preserving the identity and collective memory of these spaces. It underscores the need for integrated policies to ensure the protection and sustainable management of these sites. The article concludes with reflections on future prospects for safeguarding industrial heritage in urban contexts.

Design for Manufacturing and Assembly is recognized for its potential to improve productivity in the construction industry, particularly in off-site construction. However, a misconception persists that design for manufacturing and assembly is only applicable to off-site construction, while not all projects are suitable for full off-site construction adoption; they can still benefit from this methodology. In this context, "on-site construction" refers to work completed on-site in off-site construction projects or on-site projects using specific construction methods. As the adoption of design for manufacturing and assembly increases, it is crucial to identify challenges associated with its implementation in various construction phases. This article aims to identify, verify, and analyze the challenges to the adoption of design for manufacturing and assembly with a focus on the on-site parts of the construction. A mixed-method approach, including a comprehensive literature review and expert interviews, was used. Data was analyzed using NVivo 14 Pro and prioritized using the mean score analysis and weighting function. The study validated 42 challenges, categorized into 9 key areas, with the top three being economic and financial, technological, and legal-contractual challenges. They formed the basis for developing a conceptual framework representing design for manufacturing and assembly-related challenges. By exploring the barriers to the adoption of this methodology in both off-site and on-site construction, this article aims to contribute to construction management knowledge and provide insights for industry professionals, researchers, and policymakers on how to overcome these challenges and enhance productivity, sustainability, and competitiveness in construction projects.

Heritage Impact Assessments (HIA) are essential tools for heritage management, balancing potential development plans with heritage safeguarding. This is especially important in what concerns the evaluation of impact on Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of World Heritage (WH) properties. This paper aims to present how an HIA was adapted to access the possible impacts of the construction of the “New Metro Bridge over the Douro River” in the immediate vicinity of the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Porto (FAUP). This demonstrates an integrated methodology supported on ICOMOS and UNESCO Guidelines, as well as on a cross-cutting analysis of different techniques and tools: documents, interviews, fieldwork and landscape simulations. Hence, this case study provides a valuable pilot reference to be implemented in other case studies, demonstrating HIA as a tool that can be applied in different stages (upstream advice, preliminary assessment, nomination preparation and management planning) of a nomination process, strongly contributing to the credibility and consistency of the WH List.

Mycelium-based composites (MBCs) are a promising new class of environmentally friendly materials that can be produced using local materials and grown into a wide range of shapes and designs. Upscaling them to architectural scale, however, remains challenging particularly due to insufficient structural stability and the required manufacturing processes. The necessity of a formwork in the growing process often restricts designs to simple shapes, or requires costly formwork, which limits design flexibility. In preliminary research, the authors introduced 3D wood veneer lattices into MBCs as reinforcement, similar to steel reinforcement in concrete, to provide increased strength and scaffolding. This research combines robotic additive manufacturing of 3D wood lattices with a natural fibre textile, to act as a stay-in-place formwork for planar and curved architectural components. The combined lattice and textile serve as a support structure, eliminating the need for formwork and providing the required structural performance. As MBCs are often subject to large manufacturing tolerances, the fabrication steps that influence accuracy are analysed. Therefore, two prototypes of the same design are compared: one using a temporary formwork, and the other, a stay-in-place formwork. Results show that the temporary formwork provides precise shaping during growth, while the stay-in-place approach, incorporating natural fibre textiles, allows a more organic shape development. The methods are assessed via 3D scanning to compare the physical outcomes against the digital designs, highlighting trade-offs and limitations. This study contributes to sustainable biomaterials research by offering insights into the accuracy and feasibility of these approaches for future construction elements with MBCs.

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.