scholarly journals A physical approach on flood risk vulnerability of buildings

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 1411-1460 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Mazzorana ◽  
S. Simoni ◽  
C. Scherer ◽  
B. Gems ◽  
S. Fuchs ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Dynamic Assessment ◽  
Building Envelope ◽  
Economic Damage ◽  
Assessment Procedure ◽  
Element At Risk ◽  
Vulnerability Of Buildings ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Vulnerability Functions

Abstract. The design of efficient hydrological risk mitigation strategies and their subsequent implementation relies on a careful vulnerability analysis of the elements exposed. Recently, extensive research efforts were undertaken to develop and refine empirical relationships linking the structural vulnerability of buildings to the impact forces of the hazard processes. These empirical vulnerability functions allow estimating the expected direct losses as a result of the hazard scenario based on spatially explicit representation of the process patterns and the elements at risk classified into defined typological categories. However, due to the underlying empiricism of such vulnerability functions, the physics of the damage generating mechanisms for a well-defined element at risk with its peculiar geometry and structural characteristics remain unveiled, and, as such, the applicability of the empirical approach for planning hazard-proof residential buildings is limited. Therefore, we propose a conceptual assessment scheme to close this gap. This assessment scheme encompasses distinct analytical steps: modelling (a) the process intensity, (b) the impact on the element at risk exposed and (c) the physical response of the building envelope. Furthermore, these results provide the input data for the subsequent damage evaluation and economic damage valuation. This dynamic assessment supports all relevant planning activities with respect to a minimisation of losses, and can be implemented in the operational risk assessment procedure.

scholarly journals A physical approach on flood risk vulnerability of buildings

2014 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 3817-3836 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Mazzorana ◽  
S. Simoni ◽  
C. Scherer ◽  
B. Gems ◽  
S. Fuchs ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Dynamic Assessment ◽  
Building Envelope ◽  
Economic Damage ◽  
Assessment Procedure ◽  
Element At Risk ◽  
Vulnerability Of Buildings ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Vulnerability Functions

Abstract. The design of efficient hydrological risk mitigation strategies and their subsequent implementation relies on a careful vulnerability analysis of the elements exposed. Recently, extensive research efforts were undertaken to develop and refine empirical relationships linking the structural vulnerability of buildings to the impact forces of the hazard processes. These empirical vulnerability functions allow estimating the expected direct losses as a result of the hazard scenario based on spatially explicit representation of the process patterns and the elements at risk classified into defined typological categories. However, due to the underlying empiricism of such vulnerability functions, the physics of the damage-generating mechanisms for a well-defined element at risk with its peculiar geometry and structural characteristics remain unveiled, and, as such, the applicability of the empirical approach for planning hazard-proof residential buildings is limited. Therefore, we propose a conceptual assessment scheme to close this gap. This assessment scheme encompasses distinct analytical steps: modelling (a) the process intensity, (b) the impact on the element at risk exposed and (c) the physical response of the building envelope. Furthermore, these results provide the input data for the subsequent damage evaluation and economic damage valuation. This dynamic assessment supports all relevant planning activities with respect to a minimisation of losses, and can be implemented in the operational risk assessment procedure.

Parametric study of the impact of building envelope systems on embodied and operational carbon of residential buildings

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amneh Hamida ◽  
Abdulsalam Alsudairi ◽  
Khalid Alshaibani ◽  
Othman Alshamrani
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Building Envelope ◽  
Base Case ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Embodied Carbon ◽  
Block Wall ◽  
Shading Device ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Total Life

PurposeBuildings are responsible for the consumption of around 40% of energy in the world and account for one-third of greenhouses gas emissions. In Saudi Arabia, residential buildings consume half of total energy among other building sectors. This study aims to explore the impact of sixteen envelope variables on the operational and embodied carbon of a typical Saudi house with over 20 years of operation.Design/methodology/approachA simulation approach has been adopted to examine the effects of envelope variables including external wall type, roof type, glazing type, window to wall ratio (WWR) and shading device. To model the building and define the envelope materials and quantify the annual energy consumption, DesignBuilder software was used. Following modelling, operational carbon was calculated. A “cradle-to-gate” approach was adopted to assess embodied carbon during the production of materials for the envelope variables based on the Inventory of Carbon Energy database.FindingsThe results showed that operational carbon represented 90% of total life cycle carbon, whilst embodied carbon accounted for 10%. The sensitivity analysis revealed that 25% WWR contributes to a significant increase in operational carbon by 47.4%. Additionally, the efficient block wall with marble has a major embodiment of carbon greater than the base case by 10.7%.Research limitations/implicationsThis study is a contribution to the field of calculating the embodied and operational carbon emissions of a residential unit. Besides, it provides an examination of the impact of each envelope variable on both embodied and operational carbon. This study is limited by the impact of sixteen envelope variables on the embodied as well as operational carbon.Originality/valueThis study is the first attempt on investigating the effects of envelop variables on carbon footprint for residential buildings in Saudi Arabia.

scholarly journals Evaluation of the Environmental Performance of Residential Building Envelope Components

Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Serik Tokbolat ◽  
Farnush Nazipov ◽  
Jong R. Kim ◽  
Ferhat Karaca
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Environmental Performance ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Building Envelope ◽  
Comfort Level ◽  
Environmental Cost ◽  
Energy Deficit ◽  
Comfort Levels ◽  
The Impact

The role of buildings in the context of addressing the consequences of climate change and the energy deficit is becoming increasingly important due to their share in the overall amount of green house gas (GHG) emissions and rapidly growing domestic energy consumption worldwide. Adherence to a sustainability agenda requires ever-increasing attention to all stages of a building′s life, as such approach allows for the consideration of environmental impacts of a building, from design, through construction stages, until the final phase of a building′s life—demolition. A life cycle assessment (LCA) is one of the most recognized and adopted models for the evaluation of the environmental performance of materials and processes. This paper aims to perform an LCA of four different types of residential buildings in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan. The assessment primarily considered embodied energy and GHG emissions as key assessment indicators. Findings suggest that the operational stage contributed to more than half of the GHG emissions in all the cases. The results of the study indicate that there is a dependence between the comfort levels and the impact of the buildings on the environment. The higher the comfort levels, the higher the impacts in terms of the CO2 equivalent. This conclusion is most likely to be related to the fact that the higher the comfort level, the higher the environmental cost of the materials. A similar correlation can be observed in the case of comparing building comfort levels and life-cycle impacts per user. There are fewer occupants per square meter as the comfort level increases. Furthermore, the obtained results suggest potential ways of reducing the overall environmental impact of the building envelope components.

scholarly journals Upgrading the Smartness of Retrofitting Packages towards Energy-Efficient Residential Buildings in Cold Climate Countries: Two Case Studies

Buildings ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurina C. Felius ◽  
Mohamed Hamdy ◽  
Fredrik Dessen ◽  
Bozena Dorota Hrynyszyn
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Life Cycle Cost ◽  
Energy Savings ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Building Envelope ◽  
Heat Losses ◽  
Cold Climate ◽  
The Impact

Improving the energy efficiency of existing buildings by implementing building automation control strategies (BACS) besides building envelope and energy system retrofitting has been recommended by the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) 2018. This paper investigated this recommendation by conducting a simulation-based optimization to explore cost-effective retrofitting combinations of building envelope, energy systems and BACS measures in-line with automation standard EN 15232. Two cases (i.e., a typical single-family house and apartment block) were modeled and simulated using IDA Indoor Climate and Energy (IDA-ICE). The built-in optimization tool, GenOpt, was used to minimize energy consumption as the single objective function. The associated difference in life cycle cost, compared to the reference design, was calculated for each optimization iteration. Thermal comfort of the optimized solutions was assessed to verify the thermal comfort acceptability. Installing an air source heat pump had a greater energy-saving potential than reducing heat losses through the building envelope. Implementing BACS achieved cost-effective energy savings up to 24%. Energy savings up to 57% were estimated when BACS was combined with the other retrofitting measures. Particularly for compact buildings, where the potential of reducing heat losses through the envelope is limited, the impact of BACS increased. BACS also improved the thermal comfort.

scholarly journals Improving the Indoor Air Quality of Residential Buildings during Bushfire Smoke Events

Climate ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 32
Author(s):  
Priyadarsini Rajagopalan ◽  
Nigel Goodman
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Building Envelope ◽  
Air Cleaners ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Design Selection ◽  
The Impact

Exposure to bushfire smoke is associated with acute and chronic health effects such as respiratory and cardiovascular disease. Residential buildings are important places of refuge from bushfire smoke, however the air quality within these locations can become heavily polluted by smoke infiltration. Consequently, some residential buildings may offer limited protection from exposure to poor air quality, especially during extended smoke events. This paper evaluates the impact of bushfire smoke on indoor air quality within residential buildings and proposes strategies and guidance to reduce indoor levels of particulates and other pollutants. The paper explores the different monitoring techniques used to measure air pollutants and assesses the influence of the building envelope, filtration technologies, and portable air cleaners used to improve indoor air quality. The evaluation found that bushfire smoke can substantially increase the levels of pollutants within residential buildings. Notably, some studies reported indoor levels of PM2.5 of approximately 500µg/m3 during bushfire smoke events. Many Australian homes are very leaky (i.e., >15 ACH) compared to those in countries such as the USA. Strategies such as improving the building envelope will help reduce smoke infiltration, however even in airtight homes pollutant levels will eventually increase over time. Therefore, the appropriate design, selection, and operation of household ventilation systems that include particle filtration will be critical to reduce indoor exposures during prolonged smoke events. Future studies of bushfire smoke intrusion in residences could also focus on filtration technologies that can remove gaseous pollutants.

Back-analysis of rockfalls for the definition of an empirical vulnerability function for buildings

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Melzner ◽  
Paolo Frattini ◽  
Federico Agliardi ◽  
Giovanni Battista Crosta
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Back Analysis ◽  
Quantitative Risk Assessment ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Damage Data ◽  
Element At Risk ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Observed Damage ◽  
Probability Density Distributions ◽  
The Impact

<p>The vulnerability of buildings to the impact of rockfalls is a key component of Quantitative Risk Assessment for rockfall phenomena. Only a few attempts to quantitatively assess vulnerability have been presented in the literature due to the lack of high-quality rockfall and damage data. For processes such as debris flows, snow avalanches or earthquakes, well-established methods for the estimation of physical vulnerability are already available.</p><p>The present work aims to develop an empirical rockfall vulnerability function by coupling rockfall back-analysis modelling of several damaging events occurred in different lithological and geomorphological settings. A sound database of damage to specific categories of structures impacted by rockfalls is build up by archive research of historical events and high-quality field observations of recent events. Damages are classified according to four damage types: superficial (degree of loss: 0.1-0.2) to structural (degree of loss: 1.0). The back-analysis of rockfalls and the interaction with element at risk is performed with the 3D numerical model Hy- STONE. The code uses a hybrid modelling approach and random sampling of input parameters from different probability density distributions (uniform, normal, exponential) to account for the complexity of the rockfall process and influencing factors. The elements at risk are integrated as lines to the model, impact points being able to be displayed and extracted as point vector data. This enables a precise analysis of simulated energies and observed damage for each building impacted in the past to define an empirical vulnerability function. The empirical vulnerability function is established by fitting damage-energy data through a sigmoidal function. This empirical vulnerability function for buildings is fundamental to compute the expected degree of loss for each element of risk, especially in areas where no detailed rockfall or damage data is available.</p>

scholarly journals Quandary of Cognition vs. Affection: Exploring the Role of Dynamic Assessment in EFL Learners’ Writing Skill and Motivation

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 35-43
Author(s):  
Kaveh Jalilzadeh ◽  
Shahryar Qorbani ◽  
Parisa Yeganehpour
Keyword(s):  
Secondary School ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Dynamic Assessment ◽  
Language Assessment ◽  
Assessment Procedure ◽  
School Students ◽  
Writing Skill ◽  
Post Test ◽  
The Impact

Any policy that aims to solve the challenges of language teaching and learning must include language assessment research. Language assessment has shown a lot of development in terms of the scientific implications of assessing language capacity for the purposes of advising judgments about people and reviewing language programs (Bachman, 2000). The aim of this research was to look into the relationship between using Dynamic Assessment methods and the writing skill of Iranian EFL students, as well as the impact of DA on student motivation. Secondary school male students from Teheran’s “Mofid” private high school were chosen to participate in this study to accomplish this goal. A general proficiency test (PET) was provided to all participants, which classified them into five levels. The listed exam leveled pre-intermediate students, who were then split into two classes. They were almost equal in terms of scores, materials, and ages. After reviewing and scrutinizing students’ pretests for the required pre-existing information and techniques, resources were provided to the experimental community in the form of mediation pages, instructor explanations, and constructive input. Correspondingly, to determine the impact of the Dynamic Assessment procedure used in this study on students’ motivation and attitude, a Persianlanguage version of the Attitude/Motivation Test Battery (AMTB) was provided to secondary school students studying English as a foreign language, which included each scale mentioned in the’ AMTB item key document (R. C. Gardner, 2004). After ten sessions of treatment, patients were given a post-test that was similar to the pre-test but with new content to see whether DA had any impact on them. The findings revealed that there was no statistically important difference between the Pre and Post-test results. As a result, it was determined that the null hypothesis had not been denied. The findings of the motivation test, on the other hand, revealed that the correlation between pre and post-test was important and that DA had a positive impact on participant motivation.

scholarly journals The Impact of Air Pressure Conditions on the Performance of Single Room Ventilation Units in Multi-Story Buildings

Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (13) ◽  
pp. 2633 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alo Mikola ◽  
Raimo Simson ◽  
Jarek Kurnitski
Keyword(s):  
Heat Recovery ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Winter Season ◽  
Building Envelope ◽  
Cold Climate ◽  
Air Pressure ◽  
Indoor Climate ◽  
Room Ventilation ◽  
Single Room ◽  
The Impact

Single room ventilation units with heat recovery is one of the ventilation solutions that have been used in renovated residential buildings in Estonia. In multi-story buildings, especially in a cold climate, the performance of units is affected by the stack effect and wind-induced pressure differences between the indoor and the outdoor air. Renovation of the building envelope improves air tightness and the impact of the pressure conditions is amplified. The aim of this study was to predict the air pressure conditions in typical renovated multi-story apartment buildings and to analyze the performance of room-based ventilation units. The field measurements of air pressure differences in a renovated 5-story apartment building during the winter season were conducted and the results were used to simulate whole-year pressure conditions with IDA-ICE software. Performance of two types of single room ventilation units were measured in the laboratory and their suitability as ventilation renovation solutions was assessed with simulations. The results show that one unit stopped its operation as a heat recovery ventilator. In order to ensure satisfactory indoor climate and heat recovery using wall mounted units the pressure difference values were determined and proposed for correct design.

scholarly journals A Sensitivity Analysis for Thermal Performance of Building Envelope Design Parameters

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (24) ◽  
pp. 14018
Author(s):  
Sara Elhadad ◽  
Zoltan Orban
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Sensitivity Analysis ◽  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Thermal Performance ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Concentration ◽  
Building Envelope ◽  
Observational Research ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
The Impact

Sensitivity analysis is crucial in building energy assessments. It is used to determine the major variables influencing building thermal performance, using both observational research and energy simulation models. This study investigates the most influential envelope design parameters on the thermal performance of a typical residential building in Budapest, Hungary. Sensitivity analysis is used in conjunction with the IDA-Indoor and Climate Energy (IDA-ICE 4.8) simulation tool to assess the effects of 33 envelope design parameters for energy consumption and carbon dioxide concentrations. The input parameters include thickness, materials, density, specific heat and thermal conductivity of the basement, exterior floor, interior floor, exterior wall, interior wall, roof, ground slab, glazing type, and infiltration rate. The results show that exterior floor materials have the biggest impact on annual delivered energy for heating and cooling, whereas the density of all structural elements and thickness of the basement, exterior floors, interior floors, and walls have minimal effects on energy consumption. It is also shown that the impact of all investigated parameters is not sensitive to the carbon dioxide concentration in the building. The authors consider that the findings of the paper assist designers to assess the performance of existing buildings and more efficiently generating alternative solutions in the energetic retrofitting of existing and energy design of new residential buildings.

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