scholarly journals Testing Photovoltaic Pavers for Roadway Applications

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 86 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald A. Coutu, Jr. ◽  
David Newman ◽  
James Crovetti ◽  
Ashish Kumar Mishra ◽  
Mohiuddin Munna ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Extreme Temperature ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Motor Vehicles ◽  
Safety Standards ◽  
Pavement Materials ◽  
Roadway Construction ◽  
Materials Used ◽  
Dynamic Loading Conditions

<p><em>Concrete and asphalt are the primary materials used to construct roadways for motor vehicles, bike paths for pedestrians and bicyclists, and runways for aircraft. Solar Roadways®, Inc. (SR) in Sandpoint, ID, proposed using robust, Solar Road Panels (SRPs) as an alternative roadway material due to the potential for creating a modular, multi-functional infrastructure product with cost-savings, user-safety, power-generation, and a better alternative in terms of environmental sustainability when compared to contemporary pavement materials. Typical roadway construction materials, on average, need to be replaced every 10-15 years while also requiring regular annual maintenance to maintain proper safety standards. SR’s novel roadway material is intended to extend roadway replacement timelines, lower annual maintenance costs, and provide energy to the power grid. In this study, we tested the mechanical properties of the “SR3” model prototype SRP and evaluated its suitability as a replacement roadway material with the added benefit of generating electric power. Specifically, we tested this unique pavement material in submerged water environments, under extreme temperature conditions, and under dynamic loading conditions.</em></p>

scholarly journals Environmental Performance Enters Construction Materials

MRS Bulletin ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 454-456 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Bonfield
Keyword(s):  
United Kingdom ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
The European Union ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Legal Term ◽  
Chain Of Custody ◽  
Materials Used ◽  
Impact Cost

The environmental sustainability of materials used in construction applications is driving a requirement for the quanti-fcation of performance attributes of such materials. For example, the European Union (EU) Energy Performance in Buildings Directive will give commercial buildings an energy rating when rented or sold. The Code for Sustainable Homes launched by the U.K. Government's Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) in January 2007 sets out the requirement for all new homes to be carbonneutral by 2016. In addition, homes in the United Kingdom will need to signifcantly reduce water consumption from today's average 160 liters (1) per person per day to less than 801 per person per day. Similarly stringent targets are required for waste, materials, and other factors. Such environmental and energy standards are complementing characteristics such as strength, stiffness, durability, impact, cost, and expected life with factors such as “environmental profle,” “ecopoints” (a single unit measurement of environmental impact arising from a product throughout its lifecycle that is used in the United Kingdom), “carbon footprint” (amount of CO2 produced for the lifecycle of the item), “recycled content,” and “chain of custody” (a legal term that refers to the ability to guarantee the identity and integrity of a specimen from collection through to reporting of test results).

AMS Dating of Potentially the Oldest Wooden Sculptures in Japan from a Shinto Shrine in Akita

Radiocarbon ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 61 (5) ◽  
pp. 1221-1228
Author(s):  
Naoto Fukuyo ◽  
Yusuke Yokoyama ◽  
Yosuke Miyairi ◽  
Yusuke Igarashi
Keyword(s):  
Tree Rings ◽  
Age Determination ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Historical Documents ◽  
Matching Method ◽  
Historical Objects ◽  
Ams Dating ◽  
Akita Prefecture ◽  
Materials Used ◽  
Matching Techniques

ABSTRACTWe analyzed rare wooden Komainu found at Akagami Shrine in Akita prefecture, Japan. The formation of historical objects is often thoroughly recorded in documents, although the formation age of this particular Komainu sculpture is still unknown due to its antiquity. Thus, age determination exercises have been conducted using radiocarbon (14C)-wiggle-matching techniques. Although only a limited quantity was available for sampling, we have successfully measured 14C samples in the sculptures along with several sets of tree rings. We interpret the Komainu sculptures age considering the age of the trees and the result obtained from the wooden construction materials used for the Akagami shrine. The results obtained from Komainu show a range from 550 CE to 1020 CE, which is consistent with the dates of the shrine’s formation. Thus, the multiple 14C-wiggle-matching method can determine precise calendar ages of wood, as well as provide some supportive information for the periods when there are no reliable historical documents.

scholarly journals Optimum Thickness of Thermal Insulation with Both Economic and Ecological Costs of Heating and Cooling

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (13) ◽  
pp. 3835
Author(s):  
Robert Dylewski ◽  
Janusz Adamczyk
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Insulation ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Optimum Thickness ◽  
Degree Days ◽  
Transfer Coefficients ◽  
Cooling Period ◽  
Heating And Cooling ◽  
Optimum Heat ◽  
Materials Used ◽  
Building Walls

The energy efficiency of the construction sector should be determined by the cleanliness of the environment and, thus, the health of society. The scientific aim of this article was to develop a methodology for determining the optimum thickness of thermal insulation, taking into account both economic and ecological aspects and considering both heating and cooling costs. The method takes into account the number of degree days of the heating period, as well as the number of degree days of the cooling period. Variants in terms of different types of thermal insulation, various types of construction materials for building walls, climatic zones and heat sources, were taken into consideration. In order to find the optimum thicknesses of thermal insulation, both in economic and ecological terms, a metacriterion was used. The optimum thicknesses of thermal insulation with the use of the metacriterion were obtained in the range of 0.11–0.55 m. It was observed that the values of the optimum heat transfer coefficients for economic and ecological reasons do not depend on the type of construction materials used for vertical walls. The type of applied heat source is of the greatest importance for the size of the economic and ecological benefits. The proposed mathematical model for determining the optimum thickness of thermal insulation with the use of a metacriterion is a kind of generalization of earlier models from the literature.

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 Assessment of logistical support for road maintenance to manage road accidents in Vhembe district municipalities

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Bikam
Keyword(s):  
Service Providers ◽  
Road Accident ◽  
Motor Vehicles ◽  
Road Maintenance ◽  
Road Accidents ◽  
Deficit Model ◽  
Technology Innovations ◽  
Operations And Maintenance ◽  
Materials Used ◽  
Vhembe District

This article discusses the problems of logistical support for road maintenance to manage road accidents in Vhembe district municipalities. A budget deficit model was used to explain the level of inadequate logistics support to manage operations and maintenance of municipal roads as a preventative measure against road accident and disaster risks. A hypothetical road maintenance deficit model informed by current literature on road maintenance was used to explain how cost of road maintenance increases exponentially if initial maintenance was not undertaken when the facility was newly constructed to draw the link between road maintenance and the risk of road accidents. Inadequate logistical support to address road maintenance backlogs in Vhembe district municipalities has been on the increase over the last 10 years. Current studies show that inadequate road maintenance can lead to the development of potholes – a major cause of road accidents and damages to motor vehicles. Literature on logistics support emphasises a comprehensive approach to road maintenance to provide a balance between funding, routine maintenance, quality of materials used for maintenance, use of stipulated specifications, the required maintenance technology, innovations and employment of qualified service providers to ensure quality roads and reduction of accidents on municipal roads.

Evaluation of a permissible roadbed thawing depth in permafrost

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 18-22
Author(s):  
Alexandr Galkin
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Resistance ◽  
Biot Number ◽  
Seasonal Changes ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Thermal Conditions ◽  
Road Base ◽  
Thawing Depth ◽  
Roadway Construction ◽  
Selection Of ◽  
Purpose Of Evaluation

Roadbed thermal conditions in permafrost are subject to seasonal changes affecting roadway resilience. A roadbed thawing depth is important for road base processing, especially in permafrost. This research had the purpose of evaluation of a permissible roadbed thawing depth based on the Biot number reflecting general thermal resistance of roadbed layers. These results will contribute to understanding road bed thermal resistance and selection of roadway construction materials.

Use of permeable, reservoir pavement constructions for stormwater treatment and storage for re-use

1999 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 145-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. J. Pratt
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Water Environment ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Stormwater Treatment ◽  
Residential Areas ◽  
Materials Used ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

Permeable surfaces for roads and footpaths have been used as a means of disposal of stormwater in developed urban areas. Such surfaces provide an alternative to impermeable concrete or tarmacadam surfaces which would otherwise produce rapid stormwater runoff, leading to possible flooding and degeneration of receiving water quality through the uncontrolled discharge of polluted urban waters. A further advantage may be obtained from such constructions by undersealing them so as to retain stormwater for re-use for non-potable uses. The potential for general introduction of this type of storage and re-use system in residential areas is discussed and possible alternative designs for the drainage infrastructure proposed. To have widespread impact such a strategy must deliver cost savings as well as reduce the impact on the water environment of anticipated water usage demands. The source of such cost savings and the general environmental benefits of such systems will be presented. The materials used in such a sealed construction and the beneficial changes to the stored water quality are outlined. Recent work has also shown that where the pavement is used for car parking any oils dropped on the surface and washed into the structure by the stormwater may also be degraded. Details will be given of a site in the UK where the above construction is to be used to provide stormwater storage for re-use in flushing toilets at a Youth Hostel.

scholarly journals Reliability as a Key Driver for a Sustainable Design of Adaptive Load-Bearing Structures

2022 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 895
Author(s):  
Dshamil Efinger ◽  
Andreas Ostertag ◽  
Martin Dazer ◽  
David Borschewski ◽  
Stefan Albrecht ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Internal Stresses ◽  
Elastic Model ◽  
Load Spectrum ◽  
Operating Life ◽  
Load Bearing ◽  
Linear Elastic ◽  
High Rise ◽  
Bearing Structure

The consumption of construction materials and the pollution caused by their production can be reduced by the use of reliable adaptive load-bearing structures. Adaptive load-bearing structures are able to adapt to different load cases by specifically manipulating internal stresses using actuators installed in the structure. One main aspect of quality is reliability. A verification of reliability, and thus the safety of conventional structures, was a design issue. When it comes to adaptive load-bearing structures, the material savings reduce the stiffness of the structure, whereby integrated actuators with sensors and a control take over the stiffening. This article explains why the conventional design process is not sufficient for adaptive load-bearing structures and proposes a method for demonstrating improved reliability and environmental sustainability. For this purpose, an exemplary adaptive load-bearing structure is introduced. A linear elastic model, simulating tension in the elements of the adaptive load-bearing structure, supports the analysis. By means of a representative local load-spectrum, the operating life is estimated based on Woehler curves given by the Eurocode for the critical notches. Environmental sustainability is increased by including reliability and sustainability in design. For an exemplary high-rise adaptive load-bearing structure, this increase is more than 50%.

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