Towards an Eco-Compatible Origin of Construction Materials. Case Study: Gypsum

2020 ◽  
pp. 1259-1267 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco J. Pérez-García ◽  
Esteban Salmerón-Sánchez ◽  
Fabián Martínez-Hernández ◽  
Antonio Mendoza-Fernandez ◽  
Encarnación Merlo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Construction Materials

An ecodesign method application at the experimental stage of construction materials development: A case study in the production of mortar made with ornamental rock wastes

2021 ◽  
Vol 293 ◽  
pp. 123505
Author(s):  
Florence Rezende Leite ◽  
Maria Lúcia Pereira Antunes ◽  
Diogo Aparecido Lopes Silva ◽  
Elidiane Cipriano Rangel ◽  
Nilson Cristino da Cruz
Keyword(s):  
Construction Materials ◽  
Materials Development ◽  
Experimental Stage

scholarly journals Effects of Infills in the Seismic Performance of an RC Factory Building in Pakistan

Buildings ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 276
Author(s):  
Nisar Ali Khan ◽  
Giorgio Monti ◽  
Camillo Nuti ◽  
Marco Vailati
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Model ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Building Codes ◽  
Construction Technique ◽  
Infill Walls ◽  
Mortar Strength ◽  
Materials Used ◽  
Seismic Response Of Buildings

Infilled reinforced concrete (IRC) frames are a very common construction typology, not only in developing countries such as Pakistan but also in southern Europe and Western countries, due to their ease of construction and less technical skills required for the construction. Their performance during past earthquakes has been in some cases satisfactory and in other cases inadequate. Significant effort has been made among researchers to improve such performance, but few have highlighted the influence of construction materials used in the infill walls. In some building codes, infills are still considered as non-structural elements, both in the design of new buildings and, sometimes, in the assessment of existing buildings. This is mainly due to some difficulties in modeling their mechanical behavior and also the large variety of typologies, which are difficult to categorize. Some building codes, for example, Eurocode, already address the influence of infill walls in design, but there is still a lack of homogeneity among different codes. For example, the Pakistan building code (PBC) does not address infills, despite being a common construction technique in the country. Past earthquake survey records show that construction materials and infill types significantly affect the seismic response of buildings, thus highlighting the importance of investigating such parameters. This is the object of this work, where a numerical model for infill walls is introduced, which aims at predicting their failure mode, as a function of some essential parameters, such as the friction coefficient between mortar and brick surface and mortar strength, usually disregarded in previous models. A comprehensive case study is presented of a three-story IRC frame located in the city of Mirpur, Pakistan, hit by an earthquake of magnitude 5.9 on 24 September 2019. The results obtained from the numerical model show good agreement with the damage patterns observed in situ, thus highlighting the importance of correctly modeling the infill walls when seismically designing or assessing Pakistani buildings that make use of this technology.

scholarly journals Resource harvesting through a systematic deconstruction of the residential house: a case study of the ‘Whole House Reuse’ project in Christchurch, New Zealand

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Atiq U. Zaman ◽  
Juliet Arnott ◽  
Kate Mclntyre ◽  
Jonathon Hannon
Keyword(s):  
Emission Reduction ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Emission ◽  
New Products ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Resource Conservation ◽  
Local Communities ◽  
Embodied Energy ◽  
Market Condition ◽  
Residential House

This study analyses the case study of a deconstruction project called the ‘Whole House Reuse’ (WHR) which aimed, firstly, to harvest materials from a residential house, secondly, to produce new products using the recovered materials, and thirdly, to organize exhibition for the local public to promote awareness on resource conservation and sustainable deconstruction practices. The study applies characterization of recovered materials through deconstruction. In addition to the material recovery, the study assesses the embodied energy saving and greenhouse gas emission abatement of the deconstruction project. Around twelve tonnes of various construction materials were harvested through a systematic deconstruction approach, most which would otherwise be disposed to landfill in the traditional demolition approach. The study estimates that the recovered materials could potentially save around 502,158MJ of embodied energy and prevent carbon emission of around 27,029kg (CO2e). Deconstruction could eventually contribute to New Zealand’s national emission reduction targets. In addition, the project successfully engages local communities and designers to produce 400 new products using the recovered materials and exhibited to the local people. The study concludes that there is a huge prospect in regard to resource recovery, emission reduction, employment and small business opportunities using deconstruction of the old house. The socio-cultural importance of the WHR project is definitely immense; however, the greater benefits of such projects are often ignored and remain unreported to wider audiences as most of the external and environmental costs have not been considered in the traditional linear economy. It is acknowledged that under a favourable market condition and with appropriate support from local communities and authorities, deconstruction could contribute significantly to resource conservation and environmental protection despite its requirement of labour intensive efforts.

scholarly journals Technological and organizational problems in the construction of the radiation shielding concrete and suggestions to solve: A case study

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 1122-1129
Author(s):  
Aleksandra Radziejowska ◽  
Joanna Sagan ◽  
Anna Sobotka
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Safety ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Radiation Shielding ◽  
Health Administration ◽  
Supply Logistics ◽  
Problems And Solutions ◽  
Analysis Of Alternatives ◽  
Heavyweight Concrete ◽  
The University

Abstract Protection of buildings against the pernicious radiation types can be achieved by simultaneous structural and shielding parameters. Those shields are mainly made of heavyweight concrete, which causes many serious problems in the areas of technology, supply logistics, financial supply, Occupational Safety & Health Administration, and substitutions of structural and material solutions. This work presents a case study of the construction of the university building with rooms requiring protection against malicious radiations. Apart from that, it presents the problems and solutions that occurred during the construction from the perspective of the works contractor. This study was also expanded to include the analysis of alternatives for construction-materials. The obtained results were used to develop a generalized scheme, which will be helpful in the preparation and implementation of any facilities requiring fixed radiation shields.

Revaluation of Ksar El-Haouita in Laghouat, Algeria

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatiha Imane Mahcar ◽  
Belkacem Takhi
Keyword(s):  
Morphological Analysis ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Architectural Heritage ◽  
Theoretical Underpinning ◽  
Great Resistance ◽  
Basic Principles ◽  
Construction Techniques ◽  
Materials Used ◽  
Local Materials

Algeria has a rich urban and architectural heritage, which presents regional specificities. Once the ksour was a symbol of balance and perfect harmony with its environment, unfortunately today they no longer reflect their former function. The Ksourian architecture, including that of Laghouat is a prestigious heritage of high value; it is the testimony of genius knowledge and the capacity of their occupants to adapt to the difficult environment. The housing is considered the essential core of this architecture it represents the entire composition of the ksar, its design is inspired by the immediate environment and respects ancestral social values. It is characterized by a simple architecture and simple construction techniques which are based on the construction in load-bearing walls, the construction materials used are local materials of great resistance and less expensive. This study addresses the theme revaluation of heritage, particularly our case study ksar El-Haouita which has experienced a neglecting and depopulation due to several factors. The ksar El-Haouita is among the most famous ksour located in the south of Algeria and exactly in the region of Laghouat. It is built with simple materials and techniques of construction. The construction materials used are local materials like stones and lime found in the environmental surroundings of the ksar. The aim of this study is to identify the major causes of the degradation of ksar, also to preserve ksar El-Haouita through specific operations and to improve the tourist attractiveness of ksar El-Haouita in order to promote heritage, to convert it back into sustainable Saharan tourism. Our study based in the first place; on a theoretical underpinning which contains the notions that have a relation with our theme, the problematic and the envisaged objective, then a presentation of ksar followed by a morphological analysis accompanied by identification of the problems to identify the phenomena of damage and its disfigurement. The last step is to treat an aspect for the development of ksar, this aspect is devoted to the restitution of the defensive system (doors, ramparts, ramparts of houses and towers) of the ksar, through a diagnostic and several operations like (rehabilitation and reconstruction). The aim result of this study is to show that the revaluation of the ksar is a very vast operation and proposes interventions that allow the preservation of the ksar and also to understand the elements that help the success of interventions and to put some of the parameters considered as reference elements and basic principles for the operations on the ksar and among these operations it is (the case study, which is the restitution of the defensive system of ksar El-Haouita).

Cries in the Dark: Reconstruction after Hurricane Mitch in Honduras

2006 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-38
Author(s):  
Kurt Rhyner
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Natural Phenomenon ◽  
Police Chief ◽  
Hurricane Mitch ◽  
The Public ◽  
Risk Areas ◽  
Mountainous River

Disasters are always caused by a combination of factors, and the natural phenomenon that brings them on is usually just a catalyst. The underlying cause of most disasters is poverty as mostly the poor segments of the population usually live in high risk areas where their shelter all too often cannot withstand even light winds, small inundations or medium earthquakes. When Hurricane Mitch hit Central America in October 1998, all countries were ill prepared. A few weeks earlier, the authorities of the Honduran capital, Tegucigalpa, had attempted to simulate an evacuation, but it had met with a great degree of resistance from the public. When Mitch hit, unprecedented masses of water raced down the mountainous river beds. People were taken by surprise, as no efficient organisation existed. Everybody ran for their lives. Houses slid down hillsides, rivers swept bridges, houses and people with them. Six years later, Tegucigalpa looks very similar to the days before Mitch. The steep hillsides are covered with a potpourri of dwellings, from miserable huts to solid upmarket houses. Regulations were passed in the year 2002 to prohibit construction in high risk areas; however, enforcement is difficult, especially when existing buildings are renovated and even enlarged. Theoretically it is possible to evacuate high risk areas. Nonetheless, such drastic measures are virtually impossible to implement, as no mayor or police chief would survive such an action in office. The paper presents a case study which shows that the underlying problems of poverty and the non-availability of suitable land for people to relocate from high risk areas can usually not be overcome by post-disaster reconstruction programmes. A mitigation strategy is thus to empower inhabitants of high risk areas to improve their own situation by affordable access to information, advice and suitable low cost construction materials through “Building Advisory Services” and Ecomaterials producers within the neighbourhoods.

scholarly journals Calibrating Partial Factors – Methodology, Input Data and Case Study of Steel Structures

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vitali Nadolski ◽  
Árpád Rózsás ◽  
Miroslav Sýkora
Keyword(s):  
Input Data ◽  
Structural Reliability ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Steel Structures ◽  
Structural Performance ◽  
Limit States ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Load Effects ◽  
Previous Design

Partial factors are commonly based on expert judgements and on calibration to previous design formats. This inevitably results in unbalanced structural reliability for different types of construction materials, loads and limit states. Probabilistic calibration makes it possible to account for plentiful requirements on structural performance, environmental conditions, production and execution quality etc. In the light of ongoing revisions of Eurocodes and the development of National Annexes, the study overviews the methodology of probabilistic calibration, provides input data for models of basic variables and illustrates the application by a case study. It appears that the partial factors recommended in the current standards provide for a lower reliability level than that indicated in EN 1990. Different values should be considered for the partial factors for imposed, wind and snow loads, appreciating the distinct nature of uncertainties in their load effects.

The Sharaf Al-Din Mosque in Cairo: A Case Study

2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-36
Author(s):  
Tarek Nazel
Keyword(s):  
Construction Materials ◽  
Soluble Salts ◽  
Physicochemical Composition ◽  
Historic Center ◽  
Street Level ◽  
Different Origins

Abstract The polychrome mosque of Sharaf Al-Din in the historic center of Cairo dates back to (717–738ah) (1317–1337ad). It consists of different layers of red brick and yellow limestone, characteristic of Mamluk architecture; the building is currently below the street level. The study concentrated on the mineralogical and physicochemical composition of these two construction materials, as well as identifying the Mokattam quarry as the source for the limestone. Furthermore, the presence of efflorescence in specific locations of the building was noted, and their composition was analyzed to identify the main soluble salts; these were found to be halite, gypsum and ettringite, the former two on limestone ashlars, and the latter on brick boundaries. Their formation and their possible different origins are discussed.

APPLICATION OF FUZZY TOPSIS FOR SELECTING MOST SUSTAINABLE BUILDING WALL MATERIAL

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmad Nofal ◽  
Ahmed Hammad
Keyword(s):  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Fuzzy Topsis ◽  
Wall Material ◽  
Generic Model ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Sustainable Building ◽  
Term Operation ◽  
Building Wall

Appropriate selection of construction materials is crucial for the success of any project. Poor choice of materials can lead to higher costs during construction, higher long-term operation and maintenance expenses, and endanger humans and their surrounding environment. Since the three pillars of sustainability cover the economic, social, and environmental aspects, adoption of sustainability principles in decision making will ensure selecting the optimum construction materials. This paper presents a generic model to utilize Fuzzy Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) principles to compare the sustainability criteria of four wall material alternatives using normalized fuzzy matrices. A case study took place in United Arab Emirates (UAE) to validate the model. Several semi-structured interviews and meetings with industry experts representing material suppliers, engineering consultants, and construction contractors took place during this research. These meetings provided six selection criteria under the three main sustainability categories, agreed-upon weight for each criteria, and evaluation of the four wall material alternatives. Results obtained from consulted experts presented Sandwich Panels as the most sustainable alternative for the case study. The developed model is generic and can be implemented on any construction project, and the alternative selection can change according to the decision-makers’ opinions and preferences.

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