Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
4.4
3.1
Journals
Buildings
Special Issues
Transformable and Modular Building Systems: Mechanics, Design, and Applications Innovations
share announcement

Transformable and Modular Building Systems: Mechanics, Design, and Applications Innovations

A special issue of Buildings (ISSN 2075-5309). This special issue belongs to the section "Building Structures".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 July 2026 | Viewed by 3252

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Qian Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Key Laboratory of C & PC Structures of Ministry of Education, National Prestress Engineering Research Center, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China
Interests: origami; deployable structures; transformable building; membrane structures; metamaterials
Dr. Marco Meloni

E-Mail
Guest Editor
Key Laboratory of C & PC Structures of Ministry of Education, National Prestress Engineering Research Center, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China
Interests: origami; façade; kirigami; deployable structures; metamaterials

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Transformable and modular building systems have emerged as innovative solutions to address evolving architectural, engineering, and environmental challenges. These adaptable structures leverage advancements in mechanics, materials science, and design to meet the demands of rapidly changing urban environments and extreme conditions, and to achieve the sustainability goals. Their modularity and transformative capabilities offer versatility, efficiency, and resilience, paving the way for novel architectural and engineering applications.

This Special Issue welcomes original research articles and reviews that explore the cutting-edge development of transformable and modular building systems. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Mechanics and material innovations in transformable building systems;
  • Design principles and applications of modular construction systems;
  • Inflatable structures and their engineering potential;
  • Deployable shelter structures for emergency or temporary use;
  • Adaptive façade systems for climate-responsive design;
  • Structural analysis and optimization of transformable and modular buildings;
  • Digital and computational approaches to transformable and modular building design.

Dr. Qian Zhang
Dr. Marco Meloni
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Buildings is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • transformable building
  • modular building
  • inflatable structures
  • adaptive facades
  • digital design and optimization

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (7 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

23 pages, 5224 KB  
Article
Study on the Mechanical Response of Inflatable Ribbed Arch Structures Under Wind and Snow Loads
by Kaizhe Du, Qian Zhang, Ya Zhou, Runmin Qian, Changlong Shi, Seungdeog Kim and Jianguo Cai
Buildings 2026, 16(4), 748; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings16040748 - 12 Feb 2026
Viewed by 196
Abstract
Inflatable structures have attracted increasing attention in recent years due to their light weight, translucency, rapid assembly or disassembly, mobility, and self-cleaning performance. Meanwhile, their flexible characteristics and low-damping behavior render the structures prone to significant deformation and vibration under wind and snow [...] Read more.
Inflatable structures have attracted increasing attention in recent years due to their light weight, translucency, rapid assembly or disassembly, mobility, and self-cleaning performance. Meanwhile, their flexible characteristics and low-damping behavior render the structures prone to significant deformation and vibration under wind and snow loads and may even lead to structural failure. Therefore, numerous researchers have conducted in-depth investigations into the mechanical response of such structures under wind and snow loads. However, existing studies on inflatable structures subjected to wind and snow loads have mainly focused on an air-supported form, and the mechanical behavior of inflatable ribbed arch structures has not yet been sufficiently investigated. To investigate the mechanical behavior and deformation patterns of inflatable ribbed arch structures subjected to wind and snow loads, static tests were conducted on three specimens with varying spans, heights, and cable arrangements. Following inflation to an internal pressure of 250 kPa and preloading with the tarpaulin weight, the wind load and snow load were converted to the equivalent concentrated loads and applied in five incremental stages. Displacement monitoring points (DMPs) were tracked using a total station. Under the wind load, a consistent wind-induced deformation pattern was observed across specimens characterized by inward displacement in Region I, upward displacement in Region II, and negligible change in Region III. The maximum horizontal displacements of Specimens A, B, and C were 76 mm, 140 mm, and 249 mm, respectively. Under snow load, the upper sections of all three specimens experienced significant downward displacement, while both sides demonstrated a slight tendency for outward expansion and upward lift. The maximum vertical displacements of Specimens A, B, and C were −27 mm, −233 mm, and −255 mm, respectively. The findings of this study provide deeper insights into the mechanical behavior of inflatable arch structures under wind and snow loads and can serve as a valuable reference for their design and optimization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Transformable and Modular Building Systems: Mechanics, Design, and Applications Innovations)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 3739 KB  
Article
Analysis of Rotational Erection System (RES) Configuration Forming and Recovery Characteristics
by Shuangbo Liu, Ning Pan, Jian Feng and Jianguo Cai
Buildings 2026, 16(3), 531; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings16030531 - 28 Jan 2026
Viewed by 223
Abstract
Origami is frequently used in the design of deployable structures due to its large storage ratio and simple structure. A bistable characteristic is a common feature of origami-inspired structures. In this paper, a new configuration is designed with a bistable characteristic; the forming [...] Read more.
Origami is frequently used in the design of deployable structures due to its large storage ratio and simple structure. A bistable characteristic is a common feature of origami-inspired structures. In this paper, a new configuration is designed with a bistable characteristic; the forming behavior and restoration process were investigated by experimental and finite element methods. The rod system was used to prove the bistable characteristic of the configuration; meanwhile, the geometric parameter analysis was used to analyze the bistable characteristic under different geometry parameters, including external border, initial angle, and displacement, respectively. An experimental test and finite element simulation for morphological changes and force–displacement curve characteristics were investigated during the forming and recovery process. The results show that the designed configuration has a bistable characteristic: it can be formed and recovered actively, and the finite element simulation and experimental results are consistent. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Transformable and Modular Building Systems: Mechanics, Design, and Applications Innovations)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 4796 KB  
Article
Design and Wind-Induced Fatigue Analysis of a Dynamic Movable Sculpture in Coastal Environments: A Case Study of the Welcome Tower
by Leming Gu, Haixia Liu, Mingzhuo Rui, Laizhu Jiang, Jie Chen, Dagen Dong, Hai Wang and Jianguo Cai
Buildings 2026, 16(2), 350; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings16020350 - 14 Jan 2026
Viewed by 296
Abstract
This study focuses on the design, material selection, and wind-induced fatigue analysis of a dynamic movable sculpture atop the Welcome Tower at Yazhou Bay Bougainvillea Park in Sanya. The sculpture, consisting of eight movable leaves, is driven by a hydraulic system enabling it [...] Read more.
This study focuses on the design, material selection, and wind-induced fatigue analysis of a dynamic movable sculpture atop the Welcome Tower at Yazhou Bay Bougainvillea Park in Sanya. The sculpture, consisting of eight movable leaves, is driven by a hydraulic system enabling it to assume five distinct shapes. Nickel-saving stainless steel (S22152/S32001) was chosen as the primary material due to its excellent corrosion resistance and strength, ensuring durability in the harsh coastal environment. The mechanical system is designed with a two-level lifting device, rotation system, and push-rod mechanism, allowing the leaves to perform functions such as rising, opening, closing, and rotating while minimizing mechanical load. Wind tunnel tests and numerical simulations were conducted to analyze the sculpture’s performance under wind loads. Using the rain-flow counting method and Miner’s linear fatigue accumulation theory, the study calculated stress amplitude and fatigue damage, finding that the most unfavorable fatigue life of the sculpture’s components is 380 years. This analysis demonstrates that the sculpture will not experience fatigue damage over its expected lifespan, providing valuable insights for the design of dynamic sculptures in coastal environments. The research integrates mechanical design, material selection, and fatigue analysis, ensuring the sculpture’s long-term stability and resistance to wind-induced fatigue. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Transformable and Modular Building Systems: Mechanics, Design, and Applications Innovations)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 6673 KB  
Article
Study on Shear Capacity of Horizontal Joints in Prefabricated Shear Walls
by Xuhong Shen, Jinhao Wang, Peng Liu, Jian Feng and Jianguo Cai
Buildings 2025, 15(22), 4160; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15224160 - 18 Nov 2025
Viewed by 575
Abstract
This study investigates the shear behavior of horizontal joints in prefabricated monolithic short-limb shear walls under static and low-cycle reversed cyclic loading, supported by finite-element simulations. Four specimens were tested to evaluate the influence of the bundled shear reinforcement ratio, initial reinforcement stress [...] Read more.
This study investigates the shear behavior of horizontal joints in prefabricated monolithic short-limb shear walls under static and low-cycle reversed cyclic loading, supported by finite-element simulations. Four specimens were tested to evaluate the influence of the bundled shear reinforcement ratio, initial reinforcement stress level, and loading protocol on shear capacity. The results show that increasing the bundled shear reinforcement ratio significantly enhanced both the yield and peak loads, with increases observed in the yield, peak, and failure loads. Conversely, a higher initial stress level in the reinforcement weakened the shear-friction mechanism, leading to a reduction in the load-carrying capacity. Compared to monotonic loading, low-cycle reversed cyclic loading accelerated crack propagation and cumulative damage, leading to a significant reduction in load-carrying and deformation capacities. Finite-element simulations, using the Concrete Damaged Plasticity (CDP) model, were in good agreement with experimental results, although the simulations slightly overestimated the ultimate capacity, confirming the model’s validity. Parametric analysis indicated that increasing axial tension progressively reduced the yield and peak loads, with the reduction in peak load being more pronounced, while the cracking load remained unchanged. These findings provide a theoretical foundation for the shear design and seismic performance evaluation of horizontal joints in prefabricated shear walls, offering valuable insights for future design improvements and modeling strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Transformable and Modular Building Systems: Mechanics, Design, and Applications Innovations)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 6040 KB  
Article
Dynamic Response and Performance Degradation of a Deployable Antenna Under Sea-Based Excitation
by Yeqing Gu, Qiuyue Zhong, Zeyu Lin, Jian Feng and Jianguo Cai
Buildings 2025, 15(22), 4108; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15224108 - 14 Nov 2025
Viewed by 401
Abstract
To address the performance degradation of large deployable antennas mounted on floating offshore platforms, this paper presents a systematic investigation into their dynamic response and surface precision evolution under typical sea-based excitations. A high-fidelity finite element model of a truss-type deployable antenna is [...] Read more.
To address the performance degradation of large deployable antennas mounted on floating offshore platforms, this paper presents a systematic investigation into their dynamic response and surface precision evolution under typical sea-based excitations. A high-fidelity finite element model of a truss-type deployable antenna is established, with the root mean square (RMS) error serving as the primary metric for the quantitative assessment of surface precision. Through a comparative analysis of structural behaviors under static loads (e.g., gravity and wind) and dynamic excitations (e.g., heave and roll motions), the antenna’s response characteristics under complex loading conditions are revealed. The results indicate that the peak surface precision error induced by dynamic excitation occurs during the initial transient phase, rather than the steady-state phase. Furthermore, the structure exhibits high sensitivity to roll motion parameters, with a 90° roll azimuth identified as the worst-case scenario. The RMS value of the surface error is also found to increase linearly with motion amplitude. This study successfully quantifies the influence of the marine environment on antenna performance, providing a theoretical basis for the optimization design and performance evaluation of offshore antenna structures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Transformable and Modular Building Systems: Mechanics, Design, and Applications Innovations)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 4557 KB  
Article
Experimental and Numerical Bearing Capacity Analysis of Locally Corroded K-Shaped Circular Joints
by Ying-Qiang Su, Shu-Jing Tong, Hai-Lou Jiang, Xiao-Dong Feng, Jian-Hua Li and Jian-Kun Xu
Buildings 2025, 15(17), 3111; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15173111 - 29 Aug 2025
Viewed by 668
Abstract
This study systematically investigates the influence of varying corrosion severity on the bearing capacity of K-shaped circular-section joints, with explicit consideration of weld line positioning. Four full-scale circular-section joint specimens with clearance gaps were designed to simulate localized corrosion through artificially introduced perforations, [...] Read more.
This study systematically investigates the influence of varying corrosion severity on the bearing capacity of K-shaped circular-section joints, with explicit consideration of weld line positioning. Four full-scale circular-section joint specimens with clearance gaps were designed to simulate localized corrosion through artificially introduced perforations, and axial static loading tests were performed to assess the degradation of structural performance. Experimental results indicate that the predominant failure mode of corroded K-joints manifests as brittle fracture in the weld-affected zone, attributable to the combined effects of material weakening and stress concentration. The enlargement of corrosion pit dimensions induces progressive deterioration in joint stiffness and ultimate bearing capacity, accompanied by increased displacement at failure. A refined finite element model was established using ABAQUS. The obtained load–displacement curve from the simulation was compared with the experimental data to verify the validity of the model. Subsequently, a parametric analysis was conducted to investigate the influence of multiple variables on the residual bearing capacity of the nodes. Numerical investigations indicate that the severity of corrosion exhibits a positive correlation with the reduction in bearing capacity, whereas web-chord members with smaller inclination angles demonstrate enhanced corrosion resistance, when θ is equal to 30 degrees, Ks decreases from approximately 0.983 to around 0.894. Thin-walled joints exhibit accelerated performance deterioration compared to thick-walled configurations under equivalent corrosion conditions. Furthermore, increased pipe diameter ratios exacerbate corrosion-induced reductions in structural efficiency, when the corrosion rate is 0.10, β = 0.4 corresponds to Ks = 0.98, and when β = 0.7, it is approximately 0.965. and distributed micro-pitting results in less severe capacity degradation than concentrated macro-pitting over the same corrosion areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Transformable and Modular Building Systems: Mechanics, Design, and Applications Innovations)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

35 pages, 9569 KB  
Review
Knowledge Mapping of Transformable Architecture Using Bibliometrics: Programmable Mechanical Metamaterials
by Xianjie Wang, Zheng Zhang, Xuelian Gao, Yong Sun, Yongdang Chen, Xingzhu Zhong and Donghai Jiang
Buildings 2026, 16(2), 423; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings16020423 - 20 Jan 2026
Viewed by 302
Abstract
Programmable mechanical metamaterials enable precise regulation of mechanical responses through geometric design, ushering in transformative paradigms for transformable structures. To systematically map the knowledge landscape and development trends in this field, this study employs knowledge mapping methods to analyze the current research status, [...] Read more.
Programmable mechanical metamaterials enable precise regulation of mechanical responses through geometric design, ushering in transformative paradigms for transformable structures. To systematically map the knowledge landscape and development trends in this field, this study employs knowledge mapping methods to analyze the current research status, core hotspots, and future directions of programmable mechanical metamaterials. During the research process, we expanded keywords using the litsearchr tool to optimize the retrieval strategy. Bibliometric tools, including CiteSpace 6.3.R3 and bibliometrix, were utilized to conduct multidimensional analyses on 2017 original papers related to mechanical metamaterials in transformable architecture from 2015 to 2025. These analyses encompass co-word analysis, co-citation clustering, and structural variation analysis. Key aspects include (1) identifying core journals and their attributes to clarify interdisciplinary dynamics, (2) mapping research themes and evolutionary trends through keyword analysis and clustering, and (3) pinpointing research hotspots and future directions based on citation networks and clustering results. The results reveal significant interdisciplinary characteristics, with core knowledge emerging from the intersection of materials science, mechanics, and civil engineering. Mathematical system theory provides a cross-scale modeling foundation for metamaterial microstructure design. The field is evolving from static structural design toward environment-adaptive intelligent systems. Future efforts should prioritize multi-physics collaborative regulation, engineering integration, and technical chain refinement. These findings offer a theoretical reference for the innovative development of transformable architecture. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Transformable and Modular Building Systems: Mechanics, Design, and Applications Innovations)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-7
Back to TopTop