Journal Description
Buildings
Buildings
is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal on building science, building engineering and architecture published monthly online by MDPI. The International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction (CIB) is affiliated with Buildings and their members receive a discount on the article processing charges.
- Open Access— free for readers, with article processing charges (APC) paid by authors or their institutions.
- High Visibility: indexed within Scopus, SCIE (Web of Science), Inspec, and other databases.
- Journal Rank: JCR - Q2 (Engineering, Civil) / CiteScore - Q1 (Architecture)
- Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision is provided to authors approximately 14.6 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 2.6 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the second half of 2023).
- Recognition of Reviewers: reviewers who provide timely, thorough peer-review reports receive vouchers entitling them to a discount on the APC of their next publication in any MDPI journal, in appreciation of the work done.
- Companion Journal: Architecture.
Impact Factor:
3.8 (2022);
5-Year Impact Factor:
3.8 (2022)
Latest Articles
Shaking Tables Test on Seismic Responses of a Long-Span Rigid-Framed Bridge Considering Traveling Wave Effect and Soil–Structure Interaction
Buildings 2024, 14(5), 1432; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14051432 - 15 May 2024
Abstract
The traveling wave effect and soil–structure interaction have significant influence on the seismic response of large-span bridges with complex site conditions. In this paper, a 1/10 scaled-down large-span rigid-framed bridge model was designed and fabricated, and a shaking tables test considering the traveling
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The traveling wave effect and soil–structure interaction have significant influence on the seismic response of large-span bridges with complex site conditions. In this paper, a 1/10 scaled-down large-span rigid-framed bridge model was designed and fabricated, and a shaking tables test considering the traveling wave effect and soil–structure interaction was carried out on a large-scale continuous rigid bridge model by a real-time substructure hybrid test technique. Influences of the traveling wave effect and soil–structure interaction on the seismic responses of the rigid-framed bridge specimen were systematically analyzed with experimental data. The test results showed that when the apparent wave speed was small, the traveling wave effect increased the seismic responses of the rigid-framed bridge. With the increase in apparent wave speed, the structural response under traveling wave excitation and uniform excitation was basically the same. The SSI effect lead to a great change in the seismic input peaks and spectral characters at the bottom of the pier, and increased the seismic responses of the rigid-framed bridge. When both traveling wave and the SSI effect were considered, there was a phase difference in the seismic excitation. The dynamic responses of a continuous rigid-framed bridge could not be simply obtained by superposition of the separate traveling wave effect or SSI effect. Meanwhile, the real-time substructure test method in this paper solved the problems that the traditional soil box experiment cannot be applied to the test of a large-scale model, the soil and bridge structure find it difficult to meet the unified similarity ratio, and the boundary conditions are difficult to simulate accurately.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Structural Vibration Control Research)
Open AccessArticle
A Historical Building Information Modeling-Based Framework to Improve Collaboration and Data Security in Architectural Heritage Restoration Projects
by
Cong Zhou, Xingyao Dong, Yiquan Zou, Hao Yang, Jingtao Zhi and Zhixiang Ren
Buildings 2024, 14(5), 1431; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14051431 - 15 May 2024
Abstract
With the increasing awareness of architectural heritage conservation and the development of digital technology, there is an urgent need in the field of architectural heritage restoration for a novel solution that can enhance data security, collaboration efficiency, and file management capabilities. This study
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With the increasing awareness of architectural heritage conservation and the development of digital technology, there is an urgent need in the field of architectural heritage restoration for a novel solution that can enhance data security, collaboration efficiency, and file management capabilities. This study proposes an Architectural Heritage Restoration Distributed Common Data Environment (AHR-DCDE) framework based on blockchain and IPFS technologies to address the above challenges. The AHR-DCDE framework significantly improves data security and collaborative efficiency in architectural heritage restoration projects by creating a decentralized collaborative design process that achieves data immutability, traceability, and efficient large-scale file processing capabilities. The AHR-DCDE framework significantly improves data security and collaborative efficiency in architectural heritage restoration projects by creating a decentralized collaborative design process that achieves data immutability, traceability, and efficient large-scale file processing capabilities. In this study, the practicality and effectiveness of the AHR-DCDE framework is verified by taking the heritage restoration design project of Pinghe Packing Factory in Wuhan, Hubei Province, as an example. Evaluation of the framework’s network latency, throughput, and storage costs indicates that AHR-DCDE can meet the requirements of architectural heritage restoration projects, possessing efficient capabilities for handling and sharing project data. Furthermore, the implementation of the AHR-DCDE framework also facilitates efficient collaboration among interdisciplinary teams, providing robust technical support for the protection and restoration of architectural heritage.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Digital Technology in the Preservation and Restoration of Historic Buildings)
Open AccessArticle
Bearing Performance of Prestressed High-Strength Concrete Pipe Pile Cap Connections under Truncated Pile Conditions
by
Yasheng Liu, Zhaosheng Guo, Wubin He, Xinsheng Ge, Jingyue Wang and Jing Zhao
Buildings 2024, 14(5), 1430; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14051430 - 15 May 2024
Abstract
To investigate the load-carrying performance of the nodes between tubular piles and bearing platforms, low circumferential reciprocating load foot-scale tests were performed on two truncated PHC B 600 130 tubular piles. The development law of node destruction was explored. The test results revealed
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To investigate the load-carrying performance of the nodes between tubular piles and bearing platforms, low circumferential reciprocating load foot-scale tests were performed on two truncated PHC B 600 130 tubular piles. The development law of node destruction was explored. The test results revealed that under the action of tensile–bending–shear loading, the bearing concrete in the node area buckled and was damaged, and an articulation point was formed. When the embedment depth increased from 200 mm to 300 mm, the ultimate bearing capacities of the positive and negative nodes increased by 57.60% and 54.60%, respectively. Numerical simulation was used to analyze the bearing capacities of nodes with different types and embedment depths. Formulas for the bearing capacity of the nodes were proposed. Furthermore, two preferred node types were proposed as follows: pipe pile core-filled longitudinal reinforcement anchored to the bearing node and pipe pile body longitudinal reinforcement anchored to the bearing node + pipe pile core-filled longitudinal reinforcement anchored to the bearing node, with preferred embedment depths of 350 mm and 200 mm, respectively.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Building Energy, Physics, Environment, and Systems)
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Open AccessArticle
Field Investigation on Adaptive Thermal Comfort in Rural Dwellings: A Case Study in Linyi (China) during Summer
by
Hao Tang, Yali Gao, Shiteng Tan, Yuang Guo and Weijun Gao
Buildings 2024, 14(5), 1429; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14051429 - 15 May 2024
Abstract
A large number of people in China still live in rural villages. The indoor environment of these rural dwellings directly affects the quality of life of the occupants. Nevertheless, constrained by the quality of dwelling construction, rural buildings have poorer indoor environments and,
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A large number of people in China still live in rural villages. The indoor environment of these rural dwellings directly affects the quality of life of the occupants. Nevertheless, constrained by the quality of dwelling construction, rural buildings have poorer indoor environments and, at the same time, have a higher operating energy consumption. However, inadequate attention has been given to the summer thermal environment in cold regions. This work has been carried out around the thermal environment of rural residences in cold regions during summer. Field measurements, questionnaires, and data analysis were used in this study. We recorded the indoor and outdoor thermal environment parameters on a typical summer day in the Linyi rural area. Moreover, the subjective sensations and thermal adaptive behaviors of the participants were recorded in detail with a questionnaire. Linear regression showed that the neutral temperature for residents in summer was 27.52 °C, with acceptable temperatures ranging from 25.14 °C to 29.9 °C. Age and gender differences were found to affect the occupants’ sensation of thermal comfort and humidity, as well as their thermal adaptive behavior. In addition, a thermal adaptive model has been constructed in the study, which will further enrich the thermal adaptive investigation and provide a scientifically sound reference for the renovation and development of the local rural areas.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Building Energy, Physics, Environment, and Systems)
Open AccessArticle
Theoretical and Experimental Investigations of Identifying Bridge Damage Using Instantaneous Amplitude Squared Extracted from Vibration Responses of a Two-Axle Passing Vehicle
by
Siying Liu, Zunian Zhou, Yujie Zhang, Zhuo Sun, Jiangdong Deng and Junyong Zhou
Buildings 2024, 14(5), 1428; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14051428 - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Identifying bridge damage using a movable test vehicle is highly regarded for its mobility, cost-effectiveness, and broad monitoring coverage. Previous studies have shown that the residual contact-point (CP) response between connected vehicles is free of the impact of vehicle self-vibrations and road roughness,
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Identifying bridge damage using a movable test vehicle is highly regarded for its mobility, cost-effectiveness, and broad monitoring coverage. Previous studies have shown that the residual contact-point (CP) response between connected vehicles is free of the impact of vehicle self-vibrations and road roughness, making it particularly suitable for the indirect extraction of bridge modal properties. However, most experimental campaigns regarding contact-point (CP) responses focus on a single-axle testing vehicle within a non-moving state. This study aims to theoretically and experimentally identify bridge damage using the instantaneous amplitude squared (IAS) extracted from the residual CP response of a two-axle passing vehicle. First, the closed-form solution of the residual CP acceleration was derived for a two-axle vehicle interacting with a simply supported beam. The IAS index was constructed from the driving frequency of the residual CP acceleration. Then, numerical investigations using finite element simulation were conducted to validate using the IAS index for indirect bridge damage identification. The application scope of the approach under various vehicle speeds and road roughness grades was examined. Finally, a laboratory vehicle–bridge interaction system was tested to validate the approach. Numerical studies demonstrated that bridge damage could be directly determined by observing the IAS abnormalities, which were baseline-free. The IAS from the residual CP response outperformed the IAS from CP responses in identifying bridge damage. However, it was better to use the IAS when the vehicle speed was no greater than 2 m/s and the grade of the road surface roughness was not high. Laboratory tests showed that it was possible to identify bridge damage using the IAS extracted from the residual CP acceleration under perfect road surfaces. However, it fell short under rough road surfaces. Hence, further experiments are required to fully examine the capacity of the IAS for bridge damage identification in practical applications.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Research on Structural Dynamics and Health Monitoring)
Open AccessArticle
Enhancing Dementia Nursing Homes in South Korea: Lessons from German Building Standards
by
Soo In Jee
Buildings 2024, 14(5), 1427; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14051427 - 15 May 2024
Abstract
South Korea is an aging society with a rapidly increasing number of people with dementia. In that context, this study aimed to compare dementia nursing home building standards in South Korea and Germany, based on the minimum physical and architectural requirements specified by
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South Korea is an aging society with a rapidly increasing number of people with dementia. In that context, this study aimed to compare dementia nursing home building standards in South Korea and Germany, based on the minimum physical and architectural requirements specified by both countries’ relevant laws, to gain insights into improving South Korean building standards. I examined South Korea’s Welfare of Senior Citizens Act and its Enforcement Regulations, and Germany’s Federal Nursing Home Act (HeimG), Regulation on Minimum Standards for Nursing Homes (HeimMindBauV), and the corresponding state regulations. The analysis revealed differences regarding the basic requirements, facility sizes, composition of necessary rooms, and detailed regulations pertaining to these rooms. South Korea emphasized autonomy, including barrier-free and compensatory environments, as well as safety and security. Meanwhile, Germany enhanced similar aspects of autonomy to those in South Korea, including the barrier-free standard DIN 18040-2. Additionally, Germany incorporated features such as familiarity, sensory stimulation, legibility, and social interaction, reflecting aspects that offer orientational cues for autonomy. Improving South Korean building standards requires stronger regulations on the autonomy of individuals with dementia. Further, additional regulations on familiarity, sensory stimulation, legibility, and social interactions should be considered. The results provide foundational data for cross-national comparisons to establish building standards for dementia-friendly built spaces in dementia nursing homes in South Korea. Further surveys on spatial utilization, discussions, and the application of proposed improvements in Korea would contribute to enhancing the dementia-friendly nursing home design in the country.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances of Healthy Environment Design in Urban Development)
Open AccessArticle
Seeing and Thinking about Urban Blue‒Green Space: Monitoring Public Landscape Preferences Using Bimodal Data
by
Chenglong Dao and Jun Qi
Buildings 2024, 14(5), 1426; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14051426 - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Urban blue‒green spaces (UBGSs) are a significant avenue for addressing the worldwide mental health crisis. To effectively optimise landscape design and management for the promotion of health benefits from UBGS, it is crucial to objectively understand public preferences. This paper proposes a method
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Urban blue‒green spaces (UBGSs) are a significant avenue for addressing the worldwide mental health crisis. To effectively optimise landscape design and management for the promotion of health benefits from UBGS, it is crucial to objectively understand public preferences. This paper proposes a method to evaluate public landscape preference from the perspective of seeing and thinking, takes the examples of seven parks around the Dianchi Lake in Kunming, China, and analyses the social media data by using natural language processing technology and image semantic segmentation technology. The conclusions are as follows: (1) The public exhibits significantly high positive sentiments towards various UBGSs, with over 93% of comments expressed positive sentiments. (2) Differences exist in the frequency and perception of landscape features between image and text modalities. Landscape elements related to stability are perceived more in images than in text, while dynamic and experiential elements are perceived more in text than in images. (3) In both modalities, the distinctive landscape features of parks are more frequently perceived and preferred by the public. In the end, the intrinsic links between landscape elements and public sentiment and preferences are discussed, and suggestions for design and management improvements are made to consolidate their health benefits to the public.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Text Mining and Natural Language Processing in the Built Environment)
Open AccessArticle
Analysis of Multi-Stakeholder Behavioral Strategies in the Construction and Demolition Waste Recycling Industry through an Evolutionary Game Theory
by
Yanyan Wang, Lijun Qi and Wenjing Cui
Buildings 2024, 14(5), 1425; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14051425 - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Construction and demolition waste (C&DW) recycling products have drawn worldwide attention over the past few decades. There is a general agreement among researchers that C&DW recycling is an important means for curbing the deterioration of the environment. Previous papers mainly focused on the
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Construction and demolition waste (C&DW) recycling products have drawn worldwide attention over the past few decades. There is a general agreement among researchers that C&DW recycling is an important means for curbing the deterioration of the environment. Previous papers mainly focused on the decision-making behavior of dual stakeholders or tripartite stakeholders, as well as the lack of cooperation among multiple stakeholders. This study explored a dynamic evolutionary game model with three different parameter conditions to research the decision-making behaviors and stable strategies of the multi-stakeholders involved in the C&DW recycling product industry, including government departments and some enterprises. This research also investigated how the government’s supervision costs, penalties applied to enterprises, and resource taxes affect the dynamic evolution process of C&DW recycling. This research conducted numerical simulations using Python to analyze stakeholders’ behavioral evolutionarily stable strategy (ESS) and the sensitivity to main factors in each stage of the C&DW recycling process to accelerate the development of construction waste resource utilization. Based on the results of the evolutionary game, this paper proposed that the roles of multi-stakeholders are different at different stages of industry development, and that supervision costs, penalties, and resource tax have their own impacts on the C&DW recycling product industry. The paper suggests a range of discussions and simulation studies to highlight the significance of the government’s refined and moderate adjustments to the regulatory incentive system and the level of government regulation and involvement at different stages of the process. These adjustments are aimed at promoting the sustainable recycling and utilization of construction and demolition waste (C&DW) products within some countries’ construction industry.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainability in Buildings: New Trends in the Management of Construction and Demolition Waste, 2nd Volume)
Open AccessArticle
Readiness for Implemented Sustainable Procurement in Indonesian Government Construction Project
by
Ade Achmad Al Fath, Dyah Erny Herwindiaty, Mochamad Agung Wibowo and Endah Murtiana Sari
Buildings 2024, 14(5), 1424; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14051424 - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Procurement is the process of obtaining goods and services in a construction project and is a crucial point for the success of a design and build (DB) project. The success of a DB project has an effect on work performance metrics such as
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Procurement is the process of obtaining goods and services in a construction project and is a crucial point for the success of a design and build (DB) project. The success of a DB project has an effect on work performance metrics such as cost, quality, and time. Therefore, this research aims to develop a readiness model for implementing sustainable procurement in a DB project with a financing system in the state/regional budget (APBN/APBD). By using previous literature reviews, this research adopted a mixture of qualitative and quantitative methods. Specifically, the qualitative method was conducted using in-depth interviews, and conclusions were drawn using the Delphi method and focus group discussion (FGD). Meanwhile, the quantitative method was used to analyze secondary data from the current DB project in order to examine sustainable procurement. The projects examined were spread across the country and had a value of at least 100 billion. Consequently, the results showed that various factors influenced sustainable procurement in the DB management project. In addition, this research impacted better procurement management in the DB project based on APBN/APBD funding, thereby increasing project productivity and innovation, as well as other beneficial values to stakeholders. Typically, the result could be used as a readiness model for implementing sustainable procurement in a DB project with APBN/APBD funding schemes, serving as a guide for construction management in the future and being useful for decision making on government projects.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Life Cycle Management of Civil Engineering)
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Facing Climate Change in a Temperate European City: Urban-Scale Diagnosis of Indoor Overheating and Adaptation Strategies for Residential Buildings
by
Ainhoa Arriazu-Ramos, Juan José Pons Izquierdo, Germán Ramos Ruiz, Ana Sánchez-Ostiz and Aurora Monge-Barrio
Buildings 2024, 14(5), 1423; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14051423 - 15 May 2024
Abstract
The rise in outdoor temperatures and heatwaves highlights the limitations of buildings in adapting to warming conditions, even in temperate climates. This paper analyses the indoor overheating of residential dwellings in Pamplona (a city in northern Spain, with a Cfb climate) using an
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The rise in outdoor temperatures and heatwaves highlights the limitations of buildings in adapting to warming conditions, even in temperate climates. This paper analyses the indoor overheating of residential dwellings in Pamplona (a city in northern Spain, with a Cfb climate) using an urban-scale diagnostic methodology and presents different envelopes’ retrofitting scenarios as a strategy to reduce it. The results come from energy simulations conducted during an extremely warm summer in 2022, considering the microclimate effects. The residential typologies most vulnerable to overheating are those with only one orientation, built before the EPBD 2002, and located on top floors. These dwellings show a 23.7% mean of indoor overheating hours (IOH), representing approximately 870 h above the EN 16798-1:2019 adaptive threshold from May to September. Renovating building envelopes to meet current energy standards reduces the IOH by an average of 8.6% and up to 15.35% in the most vulnerable typologies. In the retrofitting scenario with green roof systems, indoor temperatures are up to 0.5 °C lower than when roofs are renovated with traditional systems. This study assists policy-makers in preventing the risk of overheating within cities and encourages them to promote nature-based solutions in order to adapt urban residential buildings and cities to warming conditions.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Building Energy, Physics, Environment, and Systems)
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Open AccessArticle
Triaxial Test and Discrete Element Numerical Simulation of Geogrid-Reinforced Clay Soil
by
Xi Wang, Qizhi Hu, Yiming Liu and Gaoliang Tao
Buildings 2024, 14(5), 1422; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14051422 - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Indoor triaxial tests on geogrid-reinforced clay elucidate the macroscopic changes in soil strength indices post-reinforcement, yet the underlying mechanisms of strength enhancement require further investigation. By conducting indoor triaxial tests and establishing a corresponding discrete element numerical model, we can delve into the
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Indoor triaxial tests on geogrid-reinforced clay elucidate the macroscopic changes in soil strength indices post-reinforcement, yet the underlying mechanisms of strength enhancement require further investigation. By conducting indoor triaxial tests and establishing a corresponding discrete element numerical model, we can delve into the fine-scale mechanisms of geogrid-reinforced soil. This includes analyzing changes in fine-scale parameters such as porosity, the coordination number, and contact stress between soil particles. The findings suggest that an increase in the number of geogrid reinforcement layers leads to a more pronounced improvement in peak strength and cohesion, albeit with minimal impact on the internal friction angle of the specimens. Furthermore, analysis of the triaxial test curves of reinforced soils indicates that the stress–strain relationship adheres to the Duncan–Chang model. Parameters derived from this model have been validated against experimental data, confirming their accuracy. The discrete element model was used to analyze the variations in fine-scale parameters such as porosity and coordination number. It revealed that reinforcement reduces the fluctuation amplitude of porosity and significantly increases the number of particle contacts, resulting in a denser soil structure. Further analysis of the change in contact stress between particles in the discrete element model revealed that the contact force between particles increased significantly after reinforcement and that the reinforcement played a role in restraining the soil particles and dispersing the reinforcement stress, which explains the increase in the strength of the mesh-reinforced clays from another perspective. This further elucidates the strength enhancement mechanism in geogrid-reinforced clay, offering a new perspective on the mechanical behavior and strength development of such materials.
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(This article belongs to the Section Building Energy, Physics, Environment, and Systems)
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Open AccessArticle
Optimization of Blasting Parameters Considering Both Vibration Reduction and Profile Control: A Case Study in a Mountain Hard Rock Tunnel
by
Junjie Zhou, Shan Gao, Pingkuang Luo, Jiale Fan and Congcong Zhao
Buildings 2024, 14(5), 1421; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14051421 - 15 May 2024
Abstract
The number of excavated tunnels is increasing day by day, and the corresponding engineering scale is also getting increasing. Safe, efficient, and economically beneficial tunnel construction methods are indispensable in the process of crossing mountains and steep ridges in the southwest region. However,
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The number of excavated tunnels is increasing day by day, and the corresponding engineering scale is also getting increasing. Safe, efficient, and economically beneficial tunnel construction methods are indispensable in the process of crossing mountains and steep ridges in the southwest region. However, behind the improvement of transportation infrastructure in Southwest China is the support provided by the rapid development of blasting industry engineering technology in China. In the process of tunnel construction using the drilling and blasting method, in addition to blasting vibration disasters the phenomenon of overbreak and underbreak caused by blasting construction is a prominent problem. This phenomenon not only affects the safety and stability of the tunnel excavation but also seriously increases the construction cost. Based on a short mountain hard rock tunnel project in southwest China, this paper studies the effect of blasting construction on the blasting vibration of adjacent structures and the influence of tunnel contour forming quality. Through the monitoring and analysis of in situ blasting vibration, the Sadowski formula is used to study the attenuation law of blasting vibration velocity in different tunnel sites, which provides a theoretical basis for tunnel blasting vibration control. This article compares the use of overbreak and underbreak value with the traditional method to determine the degree of overbreak and underbreak. It introduces the analysis of contour section fractal dimension value and uses fractal theory in the Python image processing module to accurately and quantitatively describe the problems of tunnel overbreak and underbreak. The feasibility and accuracy of this method have been verified, by combining the total station and 3D laser scanner results of overbreak and underbreak measurements of the Brenner Base Tunnel and a short hard rock tunnel in a mountainous area of southwestern China. The blasting scheme was optimized from the aspects of cut hole form, detonator interval time, and peripheral hole charge structure, and the rationality of the optimized scheme was verified according to the on-site blasting experiments. It has a profound influence on strengthening the protection of adjacent tunnel structures and improving the economic benefit of mountain highway projects.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances and Applications in Geotechnical and Structural Engineering)
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Open AccessArticle
Enhancing Tower Crane Safety: A UAV-Based Intelligent Inspection Approach
by
Xin Jiao, Na Wu, Xin Zhang, Jian Fan, Zhenwei Cai, Ying Wang and Zhenglong Zhou
Buildings 2024, 14(5), 1420; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14051420 - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Tower cranes play a crucial role in the construction industry, facilitating the vertical and horizontal movement of materials and aiding in building construction, especially for high-rise structures. However, tower crane accidents can lead to severe consequences, highlighting the importance of effective safety management
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Tower cranes play a crucial role in the construction industry, facilitating the vertical and horizontal movement of materials and aiding in building construction, especially for high-rise structures. However, tower crane accidents can lead to severe consequences, highlighting the importance of effective safety management and inspection. This paper presents a novel approach to tower crane safety inspections using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) equipped with high-definition cameras and an intelligent inspection APP system. The system utilizes real-time kinematic (RTK) positioning and digital image processing to perform efficient and comprehensive inspections, reducing the reliance on manual labor and associated risks. A case study demonstrated the method’s practicality and effectiveness, with the UAV inspections capable of identifying 76.3% of major hazards, 64.8% of significant hazards, and 76.2% of general hazards within a 30-minute timeframe. Preliminary identification rates were also promising. Despite the initial requirement for manual drone piloting and the current manual review of images, the approach shows significant potential for enhancing safety in the construction industry. Future work will focus on integrating AI for hazard recognition and automating the inspection process further. The proposed method marks a step forward in tower crane safety management, offering a more efficient and accurate alternative to traditional inspection methods.
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(This article belongs to the Topic Smart Material and Smart Construction Technologies for Urban Development)
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Open AccessArticle
Interaction Effects between Mood State and Background Sound Level on Students’ Sound Perceptions and Concentration Levels in Study Spaces
by
Dadi Zhang, Kwok-Wai Mui and Ling-Tim Wong
Buildings 2024, 14(5), 1419; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14051419 - 15 May 2024
Abstract
This study investigated the impacts of students’ mood states and background sound levels on students’ sound perceptions and academic performance in four library rooms. The background sound level was measured for five days. Meanwhile, around 300 students were invited to participate in a
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This study investigated the impacts of students’ mood states and background sound levels on students’ sound perceptions and academic performance in four library rooms. The background sound level was measured for five days. Meanwhile, around 300 students were invited to participate in a survey of questions about their acoustic perceptions and mood states and a concentration test. Pearson correlation, one-way ANOVA, and two-way ANOVA were applied to establish the relationships between the LAeq, students’ mood states, acoustic perceptions, and concentration levels on both the individual level and the room level and to identify the interaction effect between the background sound levels and mood states on students’ acoustic perception and concentration. The results indicated that LAeq in learning spaces significantly impacted students’ acoustic satisfaction, but only at the room level. In contrast, mood states mainly influenced students’ sound perception and concentration at the individual level. Furthermore, this study reports significant interaction effects between mood state and LAeq on students’ sound perceptions and reveals different impacts of mood states due to different sound levels. These results could help improve occupants’ acoustic perceptions and performance in learning spaces in the future.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ))
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Open AccessArticle
Using Bibliometrics and Grounded Theory in Investigating Factors Influencing Profit Distribution in Integrated Project Delivery Projects
by
Shuwen Guo, Huaping Xiong, Jinhua Chen and Kai Hu
Buildings 2024, 14(5), 1418; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14051418 - 14 May 2024
Abstract
Integrated project delivery (IPD) has gained significant attention as an effective alternative to traditional project delivery models. Profit distribution is a crucial aspect of IPD projects, influencing their overall success. This study aims to investigate the key factors impacting profit distribution to offer
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Integrated project delivery (IPD) has gained significant attention as an effective alternative to traditional project delivery models. Profit distribution is a crucial aspect of IPD projects, influencing their overall success. This study aims to investigate the key factors impacting profit distribution to offer strategic guidance for project management practices. The study employs a comprehensive bibliometric analysis to establish an updated research framework in this domain. Through this analysis, 24 articles with highly relevant and extensively cited sources are identified for further examination. Grounded theory is subsequently applied to distill the findings. This process yields a foundational theoretical framework that delineates the factors influencing profit distribution in IPD projects, namely, contribution, resource-based input, effort level, and risk sharing. Additionally, a textual analysis of ten burst words is conducted to discern research trends and identify future areas of study. This research contributes to the existing literature by addressing gaps and providing a roadmap for future IPD investigations. A theoretical framework of influencing factors in profit distribution in IPD projects is developed based on the literature. The findings not only enhance understanding of profit distribution dynamics in IPD projects but also guide the implementation and optimization of IPD practices.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Life Cycle Management of Civil Engineering)
Open AccessArticle
Surface Deformation Calculation Method Based on Displacement Monitoring Data
by
Lin He and Yibin Yao
Buildings 2024, 14(5), 1417; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14051417 - 14 May 2024
Abstract
Considering the importance of calculating surface deformation based on monitoring data, this paper proposes a method for calculating horizontal deformation based on horizontal displacement monitoring data. This study first analyzes the characteristics of horizontal displacement monitoring data, then proposes a scheme for obtaining
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Considering the importance of calculating surface deformation based on monitoring data, this paper proposes a method for calculating horizontal deformation based on horizontal displacement monitoring data. This study first analyzes the characteristics of horizontal displacement monitoring data, then proposes a scheme for obtaining the surface horizontal displacement field through corresponding discrete point interpolation. Subsequently, the calculation method for surface horizontal strain is introduced, along with relevant examples. The study also systematically summarizes the calculation methods for surface curvature and surface tilt deformation values, forming a set of surface deformation calculation methods based on monitoring data. The research results indicate that when there is a large number of on-site monitoring points, effective monitoring points can be selected based on the direction of horizontal displacement. When interpolating the surface horizontal displacement field, the interpolation accuracy of the radial basis function method is slightly higher than that of ordinary Kriging. The form of coordinate expression has a significant impact on interpolation accuracy. The accuracy of interpolation using horizontal displacement vectors expressed in polar coordinates is higher than that using vectors expressed in Cartesian coordinates. The calculated surface horizontal strain has effective upper and lower limits, with lower-limit strain on the contour line conforming to the typical surface deformation patterns around mined-out areas.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Intelligent Monitoring and Detecting Methodologies for Building Structures)
Open AccessArticle
Improving Thermal Performance in Data Centers Based on Numerical Simulations
by
Yinjie Guo, Chunyu Zhao, Hao Gao, Cheng Shen and Xu Fu
Buildings 2024, 14(5), 1416; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14051416 - 14 May 2024
Abstract
(1) Background: With the rapid development of cloud computing, large AI models, and other emerging technologies, the issue of heat dissipation in data centers has become increasingly prominent. This issue is often caused by inappropriate temperature distribution when using cold air to cool
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(1) Background: With the rapid development of cloud computing, large AI models, and other emerging technologies, the issue of heat dissipation in data centers has become increasingly prominent. This issue is often caused by inappropriate temperature distribution when using cold air to cool servers. Improving temperature distribution is key to optimizing the thermal performance of data centers. Previous solutions do not include installing adjustable underfloor deflectors under a raised floor while adjusting the aperture ratio of the floor grille and replacing the side of the floor grille located near the air-conditioning unit with a fan floor. (2) Methods: A 3D model of a data center was established, and its meshing and boundary conditions were set. The airflow inside the data center was analyzed using a CFD simulation to assess the temperature distribution resulting from two proposed solutions. (3) Results: Simulations and analyses showed that both options balanced the airflow close to and away from the conditioned side cabinets. This maximized the cooling capacity and improved temperature uniformity. The maximum temperature drop registered for the average cabinet’s out temperature was 2.81 °C. And by installing an adjustable underfloor deflector under the floor grille in rows O and N and adjusting the grille opening, the airflow to the cabinet near the air-conditioned side increased by 18.1%, and the airflow away from the air-conditioned side decreased by 5.1%. Similarly, replacing the Q-row floor grille with a fan floor resulted in a 4.9% increase in airflow to the cabinet near the air-conditioning side and a 3.8% decrease in airflow to the cabinet away from the air-conditioning side. (4) Conclusions: Airflow is a crucial factor that affects cabinet temperature. And balancing airflow between the front-end and rear-end cabinets is essential to make the best use of the cooling capacity and improve temperature distribution within data-center cabinets. This can be achieved by installing a fan floor and an underfloor deflector device in front of high-temperature cabinets located near air-conditioning units.
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(This article belongs to the Section Building Energy, Physics, Environment, and Systems)
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Open AccessArticle
Integrated Decision-Making of Urban Agriculture within the Greyfield Regeneration Environments (UAGR)
by
Wenli Dong and Gangjian Lin
Buildings 2024, 14(5), 1415; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14051415 - 14 May 2024
Abstract
Various urban environmental and social challenges have emerged during the rapid urban development. Urban agriculture has emerged as one of the practical solutions to address these urban issues and climate change. This study aims to establish a decision model for urban agriculture regeneration
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Various urban environmental and social challenges have emerged during the rapid urban development. Urban agriculture has emerged as one of the practical solutions to address these urban issues and climate change. This study aims to establish a decision model for urban agriculture regeneration that can be applied to improve the implementation of related projects. The study first reviews existing research on Urban Agriculture within the Greyfield Regeneration Environments (UAGR) and outlines the processes involved, including project initiation, construction, and operation management. It identifies 25 factors influencing UAGR and employs the Fuzzy Delphi method (FDM) to prioritize them based on expert judgments. Subsequently, the interpretative structural model (ISM) analysis method is applied to analyze the interrelationships among the 11 most important factors. Matrix operations and MATLAB programming are utilized to establish the influence relationship model based on expert questionnaires to determine the influence between each pair of factors. This results in a hierarchically structured decision model for UAGR. Finally, the decision-making model is applied to analyze the case study in Shanghai and Hangzhou. As urban agricultural activities are proliferating in rapid urbanization, the establishment of a decision-making model for UAGR can offer practical guidance to practitioners, facilitating the development of urban agriculture and mitigating climate change.
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(This article belongs to the Section Architectural Design, Urban Science, and Real Estate)
Open AccessArticle
Expressing the Spatial Concepts of Interior Spaces in Residential Buildings of Huizhou, China: Narrative Methods of Wood-Carving Imagery
by
Xuebing Fang, Lili Li, Yi Gao, Niu Liu and Liangsong Cheng
Buildings 2024, 14(5), 1414; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14051414 - 14 May 2024
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In the interiors of ancient Huizhou buildings in China, a profusion of wood carvings are employed for decoration, with traditional research interpreting their function from decorative and aesthetic perspectives. However, this research suggests that the role of Huizhou wood carvings in interior spaces
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In the interiors of ancient Huizhou buildings in China, a profusion of wood carvings are employed for decoration, with traditional research interpreting their function from decorative and aesthetic perspectives. However, this research suggests that the role of Huizhou wood carvings in interior spaces surpasses mere decoration; they enhance the expression and experience of spatial concepts through narrative imagery. By analyzing the mechanism and intrinsic logic behind the spatial concepts formed in Huizhou residential buildings, this study investigates how wood-carving imagery contributes to shaping spatial concepts through narrative techniques, as well as their creativity and expressiveness in architectural design. Utilizing literature reviews, field surveys for case selection, and case analysis methods combined with observation, interviews, and measurements, this research ultimately employs image analysis to interpret the narrative structures and styles of wood-carving imagery in detail. This study reveals that (1) the spatial concepts of Huizhou residential buildings are influenced by traditional thought, social culture, and other factors, leading to an interweaving of material, cultural, and social spaces that results in a spatial concept characterized by harmony between heaven and humanity, clear hierarchy, and orderliness; (2) Huizhou wood-carvings, through their narrative images, actively engage in the production of spatial concepts, employing thematic juxtaposition narrative modes and utilizing singular-scene narration, composite-scene narration, and cyclical narration to articulate these concepts. These findings significantly deepen our comprehension of the relationship between the spatial concepts of Huizhou’s traditional residential architecture and social culture. By integrating cultural elements with spatial production theory, this research addresses the limitations of existing studies and augments their theoretical interpretative power. Additionally, clarifying the connection between the cultural elements of wood-carving imagery and the formation of spatial concepts offers a novel perspective on the study of Huizhou wood carvings, moving beyond their longstanding categorization as purely decorative elements.
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Open AccessArticle
Experimental Investigation and Design of Novel Hollow Flange Beams under Bending
by
Jingya Xue, Shiliang Ma, Xiaomiao Chen, Qing Wu, Yifan Wang, Yunqing Wang, Muhammad Akbar and Ning Yang
Buildings 2024, 14(5), 1413; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14051413 - 14 May 2024
Abstract
In this paper, a new type of assembling rivet-fastened rectangular hollow flange beams (ARHFBs) is proposed. The cross-section of the ARHFB consists of two U-shaped and C-shaped components connected by self-locking rivets to form two rectangular hollow flanges. To study the performance and
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In this paper, a new type of assembling rivet-fastened rectangular hollow flange beams (ARHFBs) is proposed. The cross-section of the ARHFB consists of two U-shaped and C-shaped components connected by self-locking rivets to form two rectangular hollow flanges. To study the performance and strength of the ARHFB as a flexural member, eight four-point bending tests and more than 40 simulation studies were carried out. The details, results, and comparison of the four-point bending tests, especially the characteristics of the test bench and the lateral support, are presented in this paper. ARHFB sections with varied rivet spacing, web depth, and flange width were experimentally studied. Additionally, a parametric study of ARHFB was conducted using finite element models verified by test results. The influence of span on the loading capacity of ARHFB was discussed. ARHFB can be used in large-span buildings. A more economical ARHFB component selection method was given. The depth of the flange, the strength of the web, and the thickness of the web are important parameters of ARHFB. The loading capacity obtained from the test was compared with the predicted values of the design formulas in the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) and the Chinese design standard for cold-rolled steel (GB50018). The calculation and verification of ARHFB flange buckling and lateral torsional buckling were also considered. It is recommended that GB50018 be used to predict the flexural capacity of ARHFBs.
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(This article belongs to the Section Building Structures)
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