Mechanical Properties of Tibetan Rubble Stone Masonry Under Uniaxial Compression

Basic mechanical properties of Tibetan rubble stone masonry, a unique architectural structure in western China, may affect the bearing capacity of architectural structures. In this study, a compression test was carried out on a Tibetan rubble prism to investigate its failure mechanism and stress-strain characteristics under uniaxial compression. Based on the experimental results, we obtained two simple compression constitutive models for Tibetan rubble stone masonry, established equations applicable to predicting the compressive strength of Tibetan rubble stone masonry, and obtained a relationship between compressive strength and the elasticity modulus through a regression analysis.

Robotic Feedback Loops: Implementing two-way communication in architecturally focused robotic pick and place operations

<p>The use of robots in the fabrication of complex architectural structures is increasing in popularity. However, architectural robotic workflows still require convoluted and time-consuming programming in order to execute complex fabrication tasks. Additionally, an inability for robots to adapt to different environments further highlights concerns around the robotic manipulator as a primary construction tool. There are four key issues currently present in robotic fabrication for architectural applications. Firstly, an inability to adapt to unknown environments; Secondly, a lack of autonomous decision making; Thirdly, an inability to locate, recognise, and then manipulate objects in the operating environment; Fourthly a lack of error detection if a motion instruction conflicts with environmental constraints. This research begins to resolve these critical issues by seeking to integrate a feedback loop in a robotic system to improve perception, interaction and manipulation of objects in a robotic working environment. Attempts to achieve intelligence and autonomy in static robotic systems have seen limited success. Primarily, research into these issues has originated from the need to adapt existing robotic processes to architectural applications. The work of Gramazio and Kohler Research, specifically ‘on-site mobile fabrication’ and ‘autonomous robotic stone stacking’, present the current state of the art in intelligent architectural robotic systems and begin to develop solutions to the issues previously outlined. However, the limitations of Gramazio and Kohler’s research, specifically around a lack of perception-controlled grasping, offers an opportunity for this research to begin developing relevant solutions to the outlined issues. This research proposes a system where blocks, of consistent dimensions, are randomly distributed within the robotic working environment. The robot establishes the location and pose (position and orientation) of the blocks through an adaptive inclusion test. The test involves subsampling a point-cloud into a consistent grid; filtering points based on their height above the ground plane in order to establish block surfaces, and matching these surfaces to a CAD model for improved accuracy. The resulting matched surfaces are used to determine four points which define the object rotation plane and centre point. The robot uses the centre point, and the quaternion rotation angle to execute motion and grasping instructions. The robot is instructed to repeat the perception process until the collection of all the blocks within the camera frame is complete, and a preprogrammed wall is built. The implementation of a robotic feedback loop in this way demonstrates both the future potential and success of this research. The research begins to develop pathways through which to integrate new types of technologies such as machine learning and deep learning in order to improve the accuracy, speed and reliability of perception-controlled robotic systems through learned behaviours.</p>

Robotic Feedback Loops: Implementing two-way communication in architecturally focused robotic pick and place operations

<p>The use of robots in the fabrication of complex architectural structures is increasing in popularity. However, architectural robotic workflows still require convoluted and time-consuming programming in order to execute complex fabrication tasks. Additionally, an inability for robots to adapt to different environments further highlights concerns around the robotic manipulator as a primary construction tool. There are four key issues currently present in robotic fabrication for architectural applications. Firstly, an inability to adapt to unknown environments; Secondly, a lack of autonomous decision making; Thirdly, an inability to locate, recognise, and then manipulate objects in the operating environment; Fourthly a lack of error detection if a motion instruction conflicts with environmental constraints. This research begins to resolve these critical issues by seeking to integrate a feedback loop in a robotic system to improve perception, interaction and manipulation of objects in a robotic working environment. Attempts to achieve intelligence and autonomy in static robotic systems have seen limited success. Primarily, research into these issues has originated from the need to adapt existing robotic processes to architectural applications. The work of Gramazio and Kohler Research, specifically ‘on-site mobile fabrication’ and ‘autonomous robotic stone stacking’, present the current state of the art in intelligent architectural robotic systems and begin to develop solutions to the issues previously outlined. However, the limitations of Gramazio and Kohler’s research, specifically around a lack of perception-controlled grasping, offers an opportunity for this research to begin developing relevant solutions to the outlined issues. This research proposes a system where blocks, of consistent dimensions, are randomly distributed within the robotic working environment. The robot establishes the location and pose (position and orientation) of the blocks through an adaptive inclusion test. The test involves subsampling a point-cloud into a consistent grid; filtering points based on their height above the ground plane in order to establish block surfaces, and matching these surfaces to a CAD model for improved accuracy. The resulting matched surfaces are used to determine four points which define the object rotation plane and centre point. The robot uses the centre point, and the quaternion rotation angle to execute motion and grasping instructions. The robot is instructed to repeat the perception process until the collection of all the blocks within the camera frame is complete, and a preprogrammed wall is built. The implementation of a robotic feedback loop in this way demonstrates both the future potential and success of this research. The research begins to develop pathways through which to integrate new types of technologies such as machine learning and deep learning in order to improve the accuracy, speed and reliability of perception-controlled robotic systems through learned behaviours.</p>

Architectural Image of Bukhara in the XVI-Early XX Centuries

In the 16th century, the types of architectural structures were improved, many public buildings and structures (caravanserais, bridges, cisterns, baths in cities, time and other stalls) were built, the history and appearance of monumental buildings were changed. The city of Bukhara is surrounded by a thick and high wall (up to 10 meters) with city gates. Large buildings used the traditions of folk architecture, and monumental buildings began to be built outside the city.

Astronomical observatories included in the UNESCO World Heritage List

The article analyses the World Heritage Center activities in the implementation of the pilot project "Astronomy and World Heritage. Thematic Initiative", which was launched in 2003. As part of this project, in 2010, 2019 and in 2021 five objects, related to the astronomical heritage were added to the World Heritage List. However, a detailed study of the UNESCO World Heritage List shows, that it already contains astronomical heritage objects (usually historical observatories), which fit there as part of complex nominations, for example, centers of historical cities or groups of architectural structures, concentrated on historical and cultural territory. Examples of astronomical heritage sites included in the UNESCO World Heritage List are described.

The Role of Coloristic Decoration of the Architectural Order in Shaping the Façade Tectonics in the Baroque Period

The article is dedicated to the role of polychrome solutions of the architectonic order in the concept of the Baroque fa&ccedil;ade. The ancient principles of designing architectural structures, inherited from the Renaissance were subjected to reinterpretations in order to impart different expressive values. The arrangements of fa&ccedil;ades, initially balanced or even horizontal, were replaced by ambiguous bivalent compositions. Vertical layouts began to dominate in the Baroque. Appropriately selected polychrome of the elements of the order could emphasize the compositional expression. The relationship between the layout of the polychrome in a given architectural order and the expression of a work of art has been established for quite a long time. However, the generally available data on color schemes of architectural structures in baroque buildings are still not fully organized. The paper analyses examples of Baroque fa&ccedil;ades preserved in their original state and revalorized in recent years after thorough conservator&rsquo;s research in the field of architecture and color. The examples are mainly designed in the so-called great order, i.e. pertaining largely to church fa&ccedil;ades. In the Baroque, the vertical direction of the composition was strongly emphasized by multiplying or applying perspective arrangements of supports, and finally by embattled entablatures. The decisive field of change became the shaping of the coloristic decoration of the entablature &ndash; decisions regarding the material and color separation of elements of the frieze above the supports. The uniform color of all vertical elements of the fa&ccedil;ade structure guaranteed an unambiguous verticality of the composition.

Innovative Trends in Architecture – Creating Full-Scape Buildings with the 3D Print Technology

Contemporary innovative 3D technologies and machinery to apply them in the 21st century have been dynamically developing and cover increasingly more aspects in the area of architecture when making buildings and structures for various purposes. In the recent years, in various parts of the world much focus has been made on the kind of 3D technologies such as printing real-life architectural structures on printers using the method of phased production by the digital three-dimensional model designed in advance for the architectural project. The paper considers various technologies and technical means, their advantages and flaws, and analyzes key areas of applying 3D printers in the process of implementing various architectural structures. The prospects are identified for the development of the highly efficient technology to construct buildings and structures. The functioning principles of 3D printers are described. We covered the developments of construction and architectural organizations in making structures with the help of 3D print. Key challenges have been identified in the practical application of 3D print when building the architectural structures; the ways to improve the technology in the future are presented. The authors analyzed the available technological solutions for 3D print in the process of constructing real architectural structures; presented the relevant data on technical parameters of the contemporary three-dimensional printers; the problems for the development of the technology have been conceptualized, as well as the choice of optimal materials and engineering structures with regard for peculiarities of selected methods of layer-wise extrusion or making buildings parts with their further assembling into the final structure. The paper presents a summary of basic notions in the 3D print area, it mentions key software programs that could help implement all stages of the architectural structures making process when constructing them. The authors suggested a list of traditional construction materials to create architectural projects such as mineral heavy weight concrete with the polymer disperse fiber and chemical additives to regulate the terms for hardening astringency, and the promising other materials to produce buildings such as structural glass, various kinds of plastics, ceramic alloys (produced through selective laser sintering), and salt as a basic material to make complex restoration works in the reconstruction process. The outcome of the undertaken theoretical and applied research is presented by the authors in the findings concluding about key benefits from using 3D printers in creating real architectural facilities for various functions, and the choice of an optimal 3D print method on the specific brand of manufacturing machinery with the most efficient software. The authors identified the application areas of the most optimal, economically and structurally justified construction materials fitting the selected technology to build an architectural structure on a 3D printer. The approach can help create relatively inexpensive, aesthetically and functionally interesting architectural facilities for various purposes. In the process of their construction, they entail minimum costs in terms of labor and material resources. It offers broad perspectives to apply 3D printers in the world’s architectural practices.

Flâneuring and observing the city. The self-ethnographic experience in urban planning

In this article, our intension is to shed light on this thought: the city in all its dimensions, becomes a reception space not only in the base of individual perceptions but also through a “nostalgic” lived dimension for something that may have been irrevocably lost or for something that is desirable. This point of view enables us to approach the city in an emotionally way of seeing, against the irrational, technical and unquestionable manner used by urban specialists. So far, the social and anthropological factor in urban planning has not been the main goal on the projects. Nevertheless, the postmodernity perspective demands new steps forward on urban field thought which are more dialectical and with a strong personal value imprint of the inhabitant’s demand. The study aims to evaluate the (possible) attitudes, representations, conflicts and desires of inhabitants and specialists for specific urban environments (cases) integrating the sense of the imaginary (subjective) perception and the dimensions arising from the reception of architectural structures and forms in the space but also to gain insight of a dipper understanding of the idealistic image of the city entities.

Exploring Efficient Architectures on Remote In-Memory NVM over RDMA

Efficiently accessing remote file data remains a challenging problem for data processing systems. Development of technologies in non-volatile dual in-line memory modules (NVDIMMs), in-memory file systems, and RDMA networks provide new opportunities towards solving the problem of remote data access. A general understanding about NVDIMMs, such as Intel Optane DC Persistent Memory (DCPM), is that they expand main memory capacity with a cost of multiple times lower performance than DRAM. With an in-depth exploration presented in this paper, however, we show an interesting finding that the potential of NVDIMMs for high-performance, remote in-memory accesses can be revealed through careful design. We explore multiple architectural structures for accessing remote NVDIMMs in a real system using Optane DCPM, and compare the performance of various structures. Experiments are conducted to show significant performance gaps among different ways of using NVDIMMs as memory address space accessible through RDMA interface. Furthermore, we design and implement a prototype of user-level, in-memory file system, RIMFS, in the device DAX mode on Optane DCPM. By comparing against the DAX-supported Linux file system, Ext4-DAX, we show that the performance of remote reads on RIMFS over RDMA is 11.44 higher than that on a remote Ext4-DAX on average. The experimental results also show that the performance of remote accesses on RIMFS is maintained on a heavily loaded data server with CPU utilization as high as 90%, while the performance of remote reads on Ext4-DAX is significantly reduced by 49.3%, and the performance of local reads on Ext4-DAX is even more significantly reduced by 90.1%. The performance comparisons of writes exhibit the same trends.