Pub Date : 2026-02-15DOI: 10.1016/j.jobe.2026.115441
Tong Lu , Rong Deng , Yuxin Zhang , Saizhe Ding , Xinyan Huang
Vertical evacuation safety in high-rise buildings presents a key challenge for urban resilience. This study proposes an automated evacuation modelling method for high-rise buildings that combines deep learning and an extended cellular automaton model, which can achieve rapid and reasonable evacuation modelling in customized multi-layer building scenarios. A ControlNet is integrated to convert building floor plans into semantic feature maps, and a multi-level cellular automaton framework is constructed that includes floor layouts and bilateral stairwells, allowing to customize the number of floors and visualize dynamic evacuation process between staircases. Through comparative analysis with validated models and actual evacuation drill data, the proposed method demonstrates a higher semantic segmentation accuracy (IoU = 0.906) and more accurate evacuation time prediction (Error<9 %). Moreover, the proposed method automates the semantic interpretation of floor plans, enabling "image-to-simulation" automation and the generation of high-rise simulation scenarios directly from images within minutes, while effectively capturing the merging effect. The analysis also indicates that the number of stairwells and their internal width have a decisive influence on overall evacuation efficiency. This study aims to provide an efficient tool for the intelligent transformation of performance-based evacuation design and emergency management in high-rise buildings.
{"title":"An extended cellular automaton model for crowd evacuation under multi-storey building with ControlNet","authors":"Tong Lu , Rong Deng , Yuxin Zhang , Saizhe Ding , Xinyan Huang","doi":"10.1016/j.jobe.2026.115441","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jobe.2026.115441","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Vertical evacuation safety in high-rise buildings presents a key challenge for urban resilience. This study proposes an automated evacuation modelling method for high-rise buildings that combines deep learning and an extended cellular automaton model, which can achieve rapid and reasonable evacuation modelling in customized multi-layer building scenarios. A ControlNet is integrated to convert building floor plans into semantic feature maps, and a multi-level cellular automaton framework is constructed that includes floor layouts and bilateral stairwells, allowing to customize the number of floors and visualize dynamic evacuation process between staircases. Through comparative analysis with validated models and actual evacuation drill data, the proposed method demonstrates a higher semantic segmentation accuracy (IoU = 0.906) and more accurate evacuation time prediction (Error<9 %). Moreover, the proposed method automates the semantic interpretation of floor plans, enabling \"image-to-simulation\" automation and the generation of high-rise simulation scenarios directly from images within minutes, while effectively capturing the merging effect. The analysis also indicates that the number of stairwells and their internal width have a decisive influence on overall evacuation efficiency. This study aims to provide an efficient tool for the intelligent transformation of performance-based evacuation design and emergency management in high-rise buildings.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15064,"journal":{"name":"Journal of building engineering","volume":"120 ","pages":"Article 115441"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146071933","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-15DOI: 10.1016/j.jobe.2026.115422
Hongqiang Chu , Yanjin Guan , Jiqiang Zhai , Guoqun Zhao , Jun Lin , Tao Liang
Evaluating the mechanical properties of steel is essential for ensuring the safe operation of steel structures, with surface corrosion often being a critical factor influencing performance degradation. This paper uses alternating wet and dry corrosion tests in a simulated marine atmospheric environment to assess the mechanical performance degradation of Q420B bare steel and galvanized steel after corrosion, which are used in ultra-high voltage transmission towers. By defining the damage parameter Dp, the paper evaluates the mechanical property degradation and establishes a post-corrosion constitutive model based on corrosion characteristics. Initially, a custom-developed program was used to extract and analyze the evolution of pit morphology features on the surfaces of bare steel and galvanized steel across different corrosion cycles, such as pit depth (h), density of pitting (DOP), and depth-to-diameter ratio (h/R). Subsequently, a linear relationship between pit morphology parameters, post-corrosion mechanical properties, and Dp was established. Finally, based on the regression analysis of the test results, a three-stage degradation constitutive prediction model for bare steel and galvanized steel based on corrosion damage was established, and the accuracy of this model was verified through the test results. This model can relate the damage parameter Dp to other corrosion damage characteristics (such as h, h/R, DOP, and ηm), demonstrating a wide range of applications. This is of significant importance for the design, manufacturing, operation, maintenance, and lifespan prediction of transmission tower components after corrosion damage in ultra-high voltage transmission systems.
{"title":"Assessment of mechanical degradation and development of a damage constitutive model for low alloy steel and galvanized steel based on corrosion damage","authors":"Hongqiang Chu , Yanjin Guan , Jiqiang Zhai , Guoqun Zhao , Jun Lin , Tao Liang","doi":"10.1016/j.jobe.2026.115422","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jobe.2026.115422","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Evaluating the mechanical properties of steel is essential for ensuring the safe operation of steel structures, with surface corrosion often being a critical factor influencing performance degradation. This paper uses alternating wet and dry corrosion tests in a simulated marine atmospheric environment to assess the mechanical performance degradation of Q420B bare steel and galvanized steel after corrosion, which are used in ultra-high voltage transmission towers. By defining the damage parameter <em>D</em><sub><em>p</em></sub>, the paper evaluates the mechanical property degradation and establishes a post-corrosion constitutive model based on corrosion characteristics. Initially, a custom-developed program was used to extract and analyze the evolution of pit morphology features on the surfaces of bare steel and galvanized steel across different corrosion cycles, such as pit depth (<em>h</em>), density of pitting (<em>DOP</em>), and depth-to-diameter ratio (<em>h/R</em>). Subsequently, a linear relationship between pit morphology parameters, post-corrosion mechanical properties, and <em>D</em><sub><em>p</em></sub> was established. Finally, based on the regression analysis of the test results, a three-stage degradation constitutive prediction model for bare steel and galvanized steel based on corrosion damage was established, and the accuracy of this model was verified through the test results. This model can relate the damage parameter <em>D</em><sub><em>p</em></sub> to other corrosion damage characteristics (such as <em>h</em>, <em>h/R</em>, <em>DOP</em>, and <em>η</em><sub><em>m</em></sub>), demonstrating a wide range of applications. This is of significant importance for the design, manufacturing, operation, maintenance, and lifespan prediction of transmission tower components after corrosion damage in ultra-high voltage transmission systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15064,"journal":{"name":"Journal of building engineering","volume":"120 ","pages":"Article 115422"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146071940","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-15DOI: 10.1016/j.jobe.2026.115479
Wenjun Zhu , Fan Tang , Raoul François , Hailong Ye
This study investigates the corrosion and cracking performance at reinforcement connection zones in reinforced concrete (RC) structures of the rail infrastructure, which suffers a typical attack of combined stray current and chloride ions. Concrete beams with steel cages containing both binding and welded connections were cast and subjected to a 200-day accelerated corrosion environment. The corrosion distribution and crack propagation patterns associated with different connections were analyzed. Open-circuit potential and linear polarization resistance measurements were conducted during early-stage corrosion. Scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive spectroscopy were used to examine the corrosion products. The results reveal that the welded connection tends to initiate corrosion earlier, while the binding connection exhibits more severe corrosion in later stages. More rapid corrosion progression was observed at binding connection with the elapse of the corrosion process. Corrosion-induced cracks appeared predominantly near binding connection. These findings provide insights for modeling corrosion-induced cracking in RC structures and improving their durability performance in coastal railway applications.
{"title":"Effect of binding and welded connections on the corrosion propagation of reinforcement in rail infrastructure","authors":"Wenjun Zhu , Fan Tang , Raoul François , Hailong Ye","doi":"10.1016/j.jobe.2026.115479","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jobe.2026.115479","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigates the corrosion and cracking performance at reinforcement connection zones in reinforced concrete (RC) structures of the rail infrastructure, which suffers a typical attack of combined stray current and chloride ions. Concrete beams with steel cages containing both binding and welded connections were cast and subjected to a 200-day accelerated corrosion environment. The corrosion distribution and crack propagation patterns associated with different connections were analyzed. Open-circuit potential and linear polarization resistance measurements were conducted during early-stage corrosion. Scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive spectroscopy were used to examine the corrosion products. The results reveal that the welded connection tends to initiate corrosion earlier, while the binding connection exhibits more severe corrosion in later stages. More rapid corrosion progression was observed at binding connection with the elapse of the corrosion process. Corrosion-induced cracks appeared predominantly near binding connection. These findings provide insights for modeling corrosion-induced cracking in RC structures and improving their durability performance in coastal railway applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15064,"journal":{"name":"Journal of building engineering","volume":"120 ","pages":"Article 115479"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146110254","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-15DOI: 10.1016/j.jobe.2026.115338
Huixuan Sun , Tianyi Chen , Thomas Reindl , Chye Kiang Heng
This paper addresses the challenge of scaling urban solar by retrofitting building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) onto existing façades without degrading streetscape quality or economic viability. The aim is to develop and validate a comprehensive feasibility assessment framework that jointly evaluates visual impact, energy yield, and financial performance for dense urban contexts. Methodologically, street-level viewpoints are simulated to conduct façade line-of-sight visibility analysis; aesthetic quality is quantified using saliency-based image metrics and validated through a public web survey; and techno-economic outcomes are estimated from façade-resolved solar irradiation and production modelling combined with contractor price data, prevailing tariffs, and applicable incentives. These varied criteria are integrated using a fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process to rank design alternatives and reveal trade-offs. Applied to a typical public housing block in Singapore, results indicate that façade visibility varies markedly with orientation and height; low-contrast coloured BIPV relative to the host façade attains higher public acceptance with negligible energy losses; and pairing understated, seamlessly integrated façade BIPV with rooftop systems raises total energy yield while delivering competitive paybacks under prevailing tariffs, incentives, and carbon-pricing regimes. The findings support the conclusion that modest reductions in colour saturation, coupled with targeted deployment on high-yield façade zones, can deliver solutions that are visually acceptable and technically and economically sound. The primary contribution is an end-to-end, pedestrian-centric, multi-criteria pipeline that integrates objective visual analytics with survey validation and techno-economic modelling, offering a novel, decision-ready tool to lower risk for coloured BIPV façade retrofits and enhance social acceptance in high-density urban environments.
{"title":"Quantitative feasibility assessment approach for building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) retrofits on building façades","authors":"Huixuan Sun , Tianyi Chen , Thomas Reindl , Chye Kiang Heng","doi":"10.1016/j.jobe.2026.115338","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jobe.2026.115338","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This paper addresses the challenge of scaling urban solar by retrofitting building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) onto existing façades without degrading streetscape quality or economic viability. The aim is to develop and validate a comprehensive feasibility assessment framework that jointly evaluates visual impact, energy yield, and financial performance for dense urban contexts. Methodologically, street-level viewpoints are simulated to conduct façade line-of-sight visibility analysis; aesthetic quality is quantified using saliency-based image metrics and validated through a public web survey; and techno-economic outcomes are estimated from façade-resolved solar irradiation and production modelling combined with contractor price data, prevailing tariffs, and applicable incentives. These varied criteria are integrated using a fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process to rank design alternatives and reveal trade-offs. Applied to a typical public housing block in Singapore, results indicate that façade visibility varies markedly with orientation and height; low-contrast coloured BIPV relative to the host façade attains higher public acceptance with negligible energy losses; and pairing understated, seamlessly integrated façade BIPV with rooftop systems raises total energy yield while delivering competitive paybacks under prevailing tariffs, incentives, and carbon-pricing regimes. The findings support the conclusion that modest reductions in colour saturation, coupled with targeted deployment on high-yield façade zones, can deliver solutions that are visually acceptable and technically and economically sound. The primary contribution is an end-to-end, pedestrian-centric, multi-criteria pipeline that integrates objective visual analytics with survey validation and techno-economic modelling, offering a novel, decision-ready tool to lower risk for coloured BIPV façade retrofits and enhance social acceptance in high-density urban environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15064,"journal":{"name":"Journal of building engineering","volume":"120 ","pages":"Article 115338"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146014909","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-15DOI: 10.1016/j.jobe.2026.115404
Jaswant Singh , Rajeev Roychand , Al-Muataz Hamood Said Mohammed Al-Aghbari , Jie Li , Mohammad Saberian , Shannon Kilmartin-Lynch
This review examines biochar production technologies and their strategic integration into cementitious materials, establishing fundamental relationships between production parameters, biochar characteristics, and construction performance outcomes. Thermochemical conversion processes, including slow pyrolysis, fast pyrolysis, microwave pyrolysis, hydrothermal carbonization, and gasification, exert primary control over biochar functionality through temperature-dependent transformations. Process temperature governs carbon content, specific surface area, pore structure evolution, and alkalinity, thereby determining material suitability for cement applications. Among conversion methods, slow pyrolysis emerges as optimal for construction applications, maximizing biochar yield while developing favourable pore architectures. Feedstock composition introduces secondary modulation of performance characteristics; lignin-rich materials demonstrate superior yield potential, with kraft lignin achieving 50.36 % conversion at 450 °C compared to lower-lignin agricultural residues. When incorporated into cementitious systems, biochar modifies both fresh-state rheology and hardened-state mechanical properties through multiple concurrent mechanisms. At optimal dosages, appropriately selected biochars enhance compressive strength by 10–40 %, flexural strength by 15–107 %, and tensile strength by 5–25 %, while simultaneously reducing density by 5–20 %. These characteristics prove particularly valuable for lightweight structural applications. Performance enhancements arise from five interconnected mechanisms: micropore filling densification, internal curing hydration support, interfacial transition zone refinement, pozzolanic reactivity contributions, and microstructural reinforcement effects. Performance variations between biochar types prove substantial, with rice husk and bamboo-derived biochars consistently demonstrating superior properties, particularly when pyrolyzed above 500 °C. However, biochar exhibits threshold-dependent rheological behaviour, necessitating systematic optimization of superplasticizer dosage, particle gradation, and surface treatment protocols to balance workability maintenance with targeted mechanical and durability performance objectives.
{"title":"Engineering biochar-enhanced cementitious materials: A comprehensive review of production-performance relationships and optimization strategies for sustainable construction","authors":"Jaswant Singh , Rajeev Roychand , Al-Muataz Hamood Said Mohammed Al-Aghbari , Jie Li , Mohammad Saberian , Shannon Kilmartin-Lynch","doi":"10.1016/j.jobe.2026.115404","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jobe.2026.115404","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This review examines biochar production technologies and their strategic integration into cementitious materials, establishing fundamental relationships between production parameters, biochar characteristics, and construction performance outcomes. Thermochemical conversion processes, including slow pyrolysis, fast pyrolysis, microwave pyrolysis, hydrothermal carbonization, and gasification, exert primary control over biochar functionality through temperature-dependent transformations. Process temperature governs carbon content, specific surface area, pore structure evolution, and alkalinity, thereby determining material suitability for cement applications. Among conversion methods, slow pyrolysis emerges as optimal for construction applications, maximizing biochar yield while developing favourable pore architectures. Feedstock composition introduces secondary modulation of performance characteristics; lignin-rich materials demonstrate superior yield potential, with kraft lignin achieving 50.36 % conversion at 450 °C compared to lower-lignin agricultural residues. When incorporated into cementitious systems, biochar modifies both fresh-state rheology and hardened-state mechanical properties through multiple concurrent mechanisms. At optimal dosages, appropriately selected biochars enhance compressive strength by 10–40 %, flexural strength by 15–107 %, and tensile strength by 5–25 %, while simultaneously reducing density by 5–20 %. These characteristics prove particularly valuable for lightweight structural applications. Performance enhancements arise from five interconnected mechanisms: micropore filling densification, internal curing hydration support, interfacial transition zone refinement, pozzolanic reactivity contributions, and microstructural reinforcement effects. Performance variations between biochar types prove substantial, with rice husk and bamboo-derived biochars consistently demonstrating superior properties, particularly when pyrolyzed above 500 °C. However, biochar exhibits threshold-dependent rheological behaviour, necessitating systematic optimization of superplasticizer dosage, particle gradation, and surface treatment protocols to balance workability maintenance with targeted mechanical and durability performance objectives.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15064,"journal":{"name":"Journal of building engineering","volume":"120 ","pages":"Article 115404"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146048564","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-15DOI: 10.1016/j.jobe.2026.115463
Jifei Cui , Lei Bao , Feng Xie , Liang Chen , Mei Yan Bai , Gui Li , Bixuan Yang , Yu Zheng
Alkali-activated materials (AAMs) provide a promising green alternative for recycled concrete aggregates (RCA) surface pretreatment, which are essential for sustainable construction. However, the high shrinkage of AAMs poses a critical challenge to the modified interfacial transition zone of RCA. This study investigates the effects of shrinkage-reducing additives (MgO, CaO and PPG) on the properties of recycled concrete powder-based alkali-activated (AASFR) pastes, and their efficacy in enhancing the interfacial performance of RCA. Shrinkage-reducing additives on the mechanical properties, drying shrinkage, and microstructural of AASFR pastes are investigated. The interfacial bonding performance is analyzed using BSE imaging and nanoindentation. Results demonstrate that 4% MgO yields the best mechanical and interfacial behavior, forming the narrowest new interfacial transition zone (NITZ) and the highest elastic modulus. In comparison, 3% CaO provides a cost-effective solution with significant shrinkage reduction but offers limited long-term strength and interfacial improvement. Although the addition of PPG significantly mitigates drying shrinkage by reducing the pore solution surface tension, it leads to increased porosity and a reduction in compressive strength, presenting a moderate compromise in enhancing the mechanical properties of NITZ. The performance-cost-emissions trade-off analysis identifies MgO-modified paste as optimal for high-performance situation, while CaO-modified paste serves as the most cost-effective sustainable solution. This study provides the first comparative study of these three additive types on the modified interfacial micromechanics of RCA in an alkali-activated system, and focuses on the interfacial micromechanics of alkali-activated modified materials and proposing a comprehensive evaluation method that combines nanoindentation characterization with environmental impact and economic cost. This study provides practical insights for optimizing alkali-activated RCA modification technologies, highlighting the critical role of additive selection in modified interfacial microstructure and practical applications.
{"title":"Effect of shrinkage reducing additives on the interfacial properties of alkali-activated modified recycled aggregate","authors":"Jifei Cui , Lei Bao , Feng Xie , Liang Chen , Mei Yan Bai , Gui Li , Bixuan Yang , Yu Zheng","doi":"10.1016/j.jobe.2026.115463","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jobe.2026.115463","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Alkali-activated materials (AAMs) provide a promising green alternative for recycled concrete aggregates (RCA) surface pretreatment, which are essential for sustainable construction. However, the high shrinkage of AAMs poses a critical challenge to the modified interfacial transition zone of RCA. This study investigates the effects of shrinkage-reducing additives (MgO, CaO and PPG) on the properties of recycled concrete powder-based alkali-activated (AASFR) pastes, and their efficacy in enhancing the interfacial performance of RCA. Shrinkage-reducing additives on the mechanical properties, drying shrinkage, and microstructural of AASFR pastes are investigated. The interfacial bonding performance is analyzed using BSE imaging and nanoindentation. Results demonstrate that 4% MgO yields the best mechanical and interfacial behavior, forming the narrowest new interfacial transition zone (NITZ) and the highest elastic modulus. In comparison, 3% CaO provides a cost-effective solution with significant shrinkage reduction but offers limited long-term strength and interfacial improvement. Although the addition of PPG significantly mitigates drying shrinkage by reducing the pore solution surface tension, it leads to increased porosity and a reduction in compressive strength, presenting a moderate compromise in enhancing the mechanical properties of NITZ. The performance-cost-emissions trade-off analysis identifies MgO-modified paste as optimal for high-performance situation, while CaO-modified paste serves as the most cost-effective sustainable solution. This study provides the first comparative study of these three additive types on the modified interfacial micromechanics of RCA in an alkali-activated system, and focuses on the interfacial micromechanics of alkali-activated modified materials and proposing a comprehensive evaluation method that combines nanoindentation characterization with environmental impact and economic cost. This study provides practical insights for optimizing alkali-activated RCA modification technologies, highlighting the critical role of additive selection in modified interfacial microstructure and practical applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15064,"journal":{"name":"Journal of building engineering","volume":"120 ","pages":"Article 115463"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146095867","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-15DOI: 10.1016/j.jobe.2026.115419
Jingyu Zhao , Hanqi Ming , Jiajia Song , Xingyu Shuai , Yanni Zhang , Jun Deng , Yihe Liu
Ancient buildings contain a large number of inclined timber components and are exposed to the natural environment for long periods. Consequently, the wood materials undergo ageing, which alters their fire spread behaviour. In this study, fir, which is commonly used in ancient buildings, was selected as the research object. Fir specimens with different dry and wet ageing degrees were prepared using an artificially accelerated ageing method. The variation trends of their thermophysical properties were investigated, and an experimental system for measuring fire spread parameters was self-developed to analyse the fire spread process of dry and wet aged fir under different inclination angles. The results show that dry and wet ageing enhances the overall heat transfer capacity of fir, and the specific heat capacity is strongly correlated with the ageing degree. Increasing the inclination angle promotes flame attachment to the surface and increases the fire spread rate, while the correlation between the gas-solid phase temperature and the ageing degree becomes weaker. Under horizontal conditions, fir with a higher ageing degree exhibits smaller fluctuations in the flame angle, and the fire spread rate gradually tends to stabilize. The calculations indicate that dry and wet aged fir behaves as a thermally thin material. Based on the thermally thin assumption and a convection-dominated heat feedback mechanism, a theoretical concurrent wind fire spread model of dry and wet aged fir under horizontal and inclined conditions was established and further corrected, providing a theoretical basis for the monitoring and assessment of fire risk of timber components in ancient buildings.
{"title":"Study on the concurrent wind fire spread model of dry and wet aged fir","authors":"Jingyu Zhao , Hanqi Ming , Jiajia Song , Xingyu Shuai , Yanni Zhang , Jun Deng , Yihe Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.jobe.2026.115419","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jobe.2026.115419","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ancient buildings contain a large number of inclined timber components and are exposed to the natural environment for long periods. Consequently, the wood materials undergo ageing, which alters their fire spread behaviour. In this study, fir, which is commonly used in ancient buildings, was selected as the research object. Fir specimens with different dry and wet ageing degrees were prepared using an artificially accelerated ageing method. The variation trends of their thermophysical properties were investigated, and an experimental system for measuring fire spread parameters was self-developed to analyse the fire spread process of dry and wet aged fir under different inclination angles. The results show that dry and wet ageing enhances the overall heat transfer capacity of fir, and the specific heat capacity is strongly correlated with the ageing degree. Increasing the inclination angle promotes flame attachment to the surface and increases the fire spread rate, while the correlation between the gas-solid phase temperature and the ageing degree becomes weaker. Under horizontal conditions, fir with a higher ageing degree exhibits smaller fluctuations in the flame angle, and the fire spread rate gradually tends to stabilize. The calculations indicate that dry and wet aged fir behaves as a thermally thin material. Based on the thermally thin assumption and a convection-dominated heat feedback mechanism, a theoretical concurrent wind fire spread model of dry and wet aged fir under horizontal and inclined conditions was established and further corrected, providing a theoretical basis for the monitoring and assessment of fire risk of timber components in ancient buildings.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15064,"journal":{"name":"Journal of building engineering","volume":"120 ","pages":"Article 115419"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146089300","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-15DOI: 10.1016/j.jobe.2026.115395
Munan Zhai, Jiayuan Ye, Xuehong Ren, Wensheng Zhang
Decarbonizing cement production is essential for sustainable construction materials, and clinker manufacturing accounts for the majority of CO2 emissions in the cement sector. Therefore, designing next-generation low-carbon clinker systems is a promising strategy to reduce CO2 emissions. Machine-learning-assisted clinker design could accelerate the development of low-carbon clinker systems, but progress is limited by the lack of high-quality, accessible data. To address this gap, (i) a critical review of existing clinker phases, (ii) kilogram-scale synthesis of representative phase-pure clinker phases and their degree of hydration (DoH) and compressive strength development as hydration-reactivity benchmarks, and (iii) quantification of the CO2 emissions attributable to each phase-pure clinker phase were conducted. Eleven phase-pure clinker phases were synthesized at the kilogram scale and were systematically characterized for their DoH and compressive strength development. These phases were selected for their high hydration reactivity or intrinsically lower CO2 emissions. Theoretical CO2 emissions were estimated as the sum of raw-material-derived emissions and fuel-derived emissions. The CO2 emissions of clinker phases enable explicit environmental constraints in clinker design. Overall, this work demonstrates reproducible routes to produce multiple phase-pure clinker phases at the kilogram scale, providing ample feedstock for high-throughput experiments. It also establishes benchmarks for hydration reactivity and constraints on CO2 emissions, enabling machine-learning-assisted inverse design of novel low-carbon clinkers. These advances lay a foundation for accelerating the data-driven discovery of next-generation clinker and contribute to developing more sustainable cementitious materials.
{"title":"Kilogram-scale synthesis of phase-pure clinker phases with hydration reactivity benchmarks and CO2 emissions constraints for machine-learning-assisted low-carbon clinker design","authors":"Munan Zhai, Jiayuan Ye, Xuehong Ren, Wensheng Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.jobe.2026.115395","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jobe.2026.115395","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Decarbonizing cement production is essential for sustainable construction materials, and clinker manufacturing accounts for the majority of CO<sub>2</sub> emissions in the cement sector. Therefore, designing next-generation low-carbon clinker systems is a promising strategy to reduce CO<sub>2</sub> emissions. Machine-learning-assisted clinker design could accelerate the development of low-carbon clinker systems, but progress is limited by the lack of high-quality, accessible data. To address this gap, (i) a critical review of existing clinker phases, (ii) kilogram-scale synthesis of representative phase-pure clinker phases and their degree of hydration (<em>DoH</em>) and compressive strength development as hydration-reactivity benchmarks, and (iii) quantification of the CO<sub>2</sub> emissions attributable to each phase-pure clinker phase were conducted. Eleven phase-pure clinker phases were synthesized at the kilogram scale and were systematically characterized for their <em>DoH</em> and compressive strength development. These phases were selected for their high hydration reactivity or intrinsically lower CO<sub>2</sub> emissions. Theoretical CO<sub>2</sub> emissions were estimated as the sum of raw-material-derived emissions and fuel-derived emissions. The CO<sub>2</sub> emissions of clinker phases enable explicit environmental constraints in clinker design. Overall, this work demonstrates reproducible routes to produce multiple phase-pure clinker phases at the kilogram scale, providing ample feedstock for high-throughput experiments. It also establishes benchmarks for hydration reactivity and constraints on CO<sub>2</sub> emissions, enabling machine-learning-assisted inverse design of novel low-carbon clinkers. These advances lay a foundation for accelerating the data-driven discovery of next-generation clinker and contribute to developing more sustainable cementitious materials.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15064,"journal":{"name":"Journal of building engineering","volume":"120 ","pages":"Article 115395"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146089308","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Construction and demolition waste (CDW), an unavoidable byproduct of global urbanization, leads to environmental degradation and resource depletion. To address this challenge, a cold-pressing method was utilized to transform multi-source construction waste recycled powder (MCWRP) into artificial aggregates for sustainable buildings. Ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) was incorporated as a reactive micro-filler to enhance aggregate properties. The effects of varying cement and GGBS contents on cold-pressed MCWRP-based artificial aggregates (MCWAAs) were assessed through single-particle crushing strength, apparent density, and water absorption tests. Microstructural characterization was performed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), and low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR). Results indicate that MCWAAs achieved a 28-day crushing strength of up to 3.3 MPa, an apparent density of 1882.3 kg/m3, and a water absorption rate of 10.8%, demonstrating their practical applicability. SEM analysis revealed that compaction pressure and hydration products densified the initially loose MCWRP structure. However, MCWAAs prepared with cement alone exhibited porous microstructures due to the coarse particle size of MCWRP. The incorporation of GGBS significantly refined the microstructure, reducing porosity to 11.48%. TGA and LF-NMR confirmed that higher GGBS content enhanced C-S-H gel formation, refined pore structure, and increased aggregate compactness. Consequently, MCWAAs exhibited improved strength and density with reduced water absorption, which offers a scalable, automated solution for the efficient reuse of CDW and other solid residues.
{"title":"Cold-pressed artificial aggregate for sustainable buildings fabricated from multi-source construction waste","authors":"Yanshuai Wang, Zhenyu Zhu, Biqin Dong, Rongxin Peng","doi":"10.1016/j.jobe.2026.115496","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jobe.2026.115496","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Construction and demolition waste (CDW), an unavoidable byproduct of global urbanization, leads to environmental degradation and resource depletion. To address this challenge, a cold-pressing method was utilized to transform multi-source construction waste recycled powder (MCWRP) into artificial aggregates for sustainable buildings. Ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) was incorporated as a reactive micro-filler to enhance aggregate properties. The effects of varying cement and GGBS contents on cold-pressed MCWRP-based artificial aggregates (MCWAAs) were assessed through single-particle crushing strength, apparent density, and water absorption tests. Microstructural characterization was performed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), and low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR). Results indicate that MCWAAs achieved a 28-day crushing strength of up to 3.3 MPa, an apparent density of 1882.3 kg/m<sup>3</sup>, and a water absorption rate of 10.8%, demonstrating their practical applicability. SEM analysis revealed that compaction pressure and hydration products densified the initially loose MCWRP structure. However, MCWAAs prepared with cement alone exhibited porous microstructures due to the coarse particle size of MCWRP. The incorporation of GGBS significantly refined the microstructure, reducing porosity to 11.48%. TGA and LF-NMR confirmed that higher GGBS content enhanced C-S-H gel formation, refined pore structure, and increased aggregate compactness. Consequently, MCWAAs exhibited improved strength and density with reduced water absorption, which offers a scalable, automated solution for the efficient reuse of CDW and other solid residues.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15064,"journal":{"name":"Journal of building engineering","volume":"120 ","pages":"Article 115496"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146095860","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-15DOI: 10.1016/j.jobe.2026.115469
Xiancheng Mei , Junjie Zeng , Zhen Cui , Hao Sheng , Qian Sheng , Jian Chen , Yanshuang Yang , Hao Yan
To address the pollution caused by waste tires and break through the bottleneck of difficult coordinated regulation of mechanical and impermeability properties of high-rubber-content rubberized sand concrete (HRC-RSC) in underground and water conservancy projects, this study designed five groups of specimens with different rubber substitution ratios (R) and cement contents (C). Through a progressive testing sequence of macroscopic mechanical testing, permeability and impermeability characterization, and microscopic mechanism analysis, the regulation laws of R and C on material properties were revealed. The macroscopic mechanical testing results show that the increase in R leads to a decrease in compressive strength, the volume deformation shifts from “compression-expansion” to “continuous compression”. The increase in C increases the compressive strength, and when the C is 50%, the specimen shows typical brittle failure. The permeability characterization results show the permeability changes non-monotonically with the R. The specimen with R = 50% has the highest permeability coefficient. And the confining pressure exerts a reducing effect on the permeability coefficient of HRC-RSC. Meanwhile, the microscopic mechanism analysis results show that microscopic interface defects are the core medium for performance regulation. The increase in R disrupts the continuity of the cement matrix, leading to a significant increase in porosity. The increase in specimen C can improve the compactness of the cement matrix, reduce porosity, and mitigate crack development. Based on the mechanical-permeability synergistic coefficient (K) and coupling criteria (K ≥ 0.4 for good synergy), the R50-C40 mix proportion is recommended for the buffer layer in underground projects, and the R70-C40 and R50-C30 mix proportions are recommended for high-confining-pressure impermeability.
{"title":"Influence of rubber substitution rate and cement content on the mechanical and permeability performance of high-content rubberized sand concrete","authors":"Xiancheng Mei , Junjie Zeng , Zhen Cui , Hao Sheng , Qian Sheng , Jian Chen , Yanshuang Yang , Hao Yan","doi":"10.1016/j.jobe.2026.115469","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jobe.2026.115469","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To address the pollution caused by waste tires and break through the bottleneck of difficult coordinated regulation of mechanical and impermeability properties of high-rubber-content rubberized sand concrete (HRC-RSC) in underground and water conservancy projects, this study designed five groups of specimens with different rubber substitution ratios (R) and cement contents (C). Through a progressive testing sequence of macroscopic mechanical testing, permeability and impermeability characterization, and microscopic mechanism analysis, the regulation laws of R and C on material properties were revealed. The macroscopic mechanical testing results show that the increase in R leads to a decrease in compressive strength, the volume deformation shifts from “compression-expansion” to “continuous compression”. The increase in C increases the compressive strength, and when the C is 50%, the specimen shows typical brittle failure. The permeability characterization results show the permeability changes non-monotonically with the R. The specimen with R = 50% has the highest permeability coefficient. And the confining pressure exerts a reducing effect on the permeability coefficient of HRC-RSC. Meanwhile, the microscopic mechanism analysis results show that microscopic interface defects are the core medium for performance regulation. The increase in R disrupts the continuity of the cement matrix, leading to a significant increase in porosity. The increase in specimen C can improve the compactness of the cement matrix, reduce porosity, and mitigate crack development. Based on the mechanical-permeability synergistic coefficient (<em>K</em>) and coupling criteria (<em>K</em> ≥ 0.4 for good synergy), the R50-C40 mix proportion is recommended for the buffer layer in underground projects, and the R70-C40 and R50-C30 mix proportions are recommended for high-confining-pressure impermeability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15064,"journal":{"name":"Journal of building engineering","volume":"120 ","pages":"Article 115469"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146095862","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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