This study presents a novel precast beam-column connection system featured with high constructability, stability during construction, and also fast-built construction by utilizing dry connection details. To examine its emulative seismic performance, a precast concrete (PC) beam-column connection specimen with strong connection details and a corresponding reinforced concrete (RC) control specimen with

Early-age cracking of face slab concrete (FSC) is a complex problem related to the mechanical properties and hydration process (HP), representing a critical durability concern for concrete face rockfill dam. The excellent physical and chemical properties of Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) enable their potential to mitigate early-age cracking in FSC. This study investigated the potential application of the

The timber frame is the primary lateral load-resisting component in traditional Chinese timber structures. However, its limited lateral performance may lead to significant structural damage or even collapse under seismic action. Three scaled specimens of penetrated mortise-tenon frame (PMTF) were fabricated and tested under low-cyclic reversed loading to evaluate the lateral performance. This study

The use of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) in concrete production is critical for reducing the carbon footprint of the construction industry. However, the potential of lower-grade clays as SCMs has not been fully explored, and a deeper understanding of their thermal activation is needed to enhance their reactivity and performance in cementitious systems. This paper investigates the thermal

The integration of geopolymer with locally sourced seawater and sea sand offers a sustainable approach to reducing carbon emissions and alleviating material shortages in marine construction. The corrosive ions present in seawater sea-sand geopolymer concrete (SSGC) can be effectively mitigated by using stainless steel reinforcement (SSR), thereby significantly improving mechanical performance and durability

This study investigates the seismic behavior of L-shaped precast concrete double-faced superposed shear walls (PCDSSWs) through both experimental and numerical analyses. A full-scale quasi-static cyclic test was conducted on an L-shaped PCDSSW specimen and a comparative cast-in-place specimen. A detailed finite element model was developed and validated using ABAQUS. Key variables, including axial load

The constructional backfill body (CBB) serves as an underground mining structure intended to form a stable void space within the goaf. However, CBB typically exhibits high brittleness and poor flexural performance. In this study, scrap tire steel fiber (SSF) was utilized to enhance the properties of CBB, and the effects of varying SSF dosages (0 %, 0.5 %, 1 %, and 1.5 %) on the three-point flexural

Optimizing the building parameters of low/high-rise building clusters using wind-induced vulnerability (WIV) is valuable for minimizing building envelope damage losses due to strong winds and windborne debris. In general, the building parameters with the minimum WIV from typical scenarios are selected as the optimal ones. However, due to the multitude of parameter variables influencing the WIV of building

The potential risk of airborne cross-infection in multi-compartment dental clinics (MCDCs) requires significant attention. Ventilation systems are crucial for preventing airborne pathogens, but the data available for MCDCs are still inadequate. Therefore, this study evaluated the ventilation performance under different ventilation strategies in an MCDC, including different ventilation modes, the relative

The knee braced steel frame (KBSF) has seen widespread application in practical engineering due to its minimal spatial requirements and ease of assembly. However, the absence of key research findings regarding the synergistic between knee braces and joints has hindered the accurate calculation of the stress state in structural components. This limitation makes a challenge for the better seismic performance

Timber frames with wood infill walls are common lateral load resisting systems in traditional timber structures. There has been much research on timber frames with different infill types, which confirmed the crucial role of infill walls on the seismic response of frames. However, the influencing factors of the lateral performance of wood infill walls are less understood. Monotonic tests were conducted

This study investigates a method to regulate the in-situ foaming behaviour of hematite in red mud by controlling the firing atmosphere. The effects of the atmosphere on iron valence states, phase evolution, pore structure, and mechanical properties were systematically investigated. Results demonstrate that compared to air, a N2 atmosphere significantly accelerated the Fe2O3-FeO transformation, increasing

The natural shell structure shows organic matter regulating nano-grain ordered orientation boosts inorganic material toughness. The potential strategy to enhance the toughness of cement involves tailoring the ordered packing of calcium silicate hydrate (C–S–H). However, the mechanism to achieve ordered packing of C–S–H is still limited. Here, we report a method to modify the self-assembly pathway by

Degradation of permeable concretes due to chemical effects under outdoor conditions is one of the most important problems affecting permeability. In this study, resin-based binders were used as an alternative solution to this problem and permeable concretes with sustainable performance were obtained. Resin-based binders offer an alternative to traditional cementitious materials in acidic and coastal

The development of sustainable and eco-friendly building materials is imperative to reduce environmental impacts and improve structural efficiency. This study presents an innovative cement-based composite incorporating olive pomace, a bio-admixture derived from agricultural waste, and nano-TiO2, a nanomaterial known for its photocatalytic properties. The synergistic effects of these two admixtures

Due to factors such as low water-to-cement ratio, high cement content, absence of formwork, and high surface area-to-volume ratio, 3D-printed concrete (3DPC) is prone to early plastic shrinkage and cracking, posing risks to mechanical properties and long-term durability. This paper investigated the influence of substituting natural river sand with recycled brick fine aggregates (RBFA) on the performance

Addressing the specific challenges faced by low-income communities, such as poor housing conditions, is crucial while simultaneously working toward global sustainability goals, including net-zero emissions and climate change mitigation. This study explores the Critical Success Factors (CSFs) influencing the Water, Energy, Food, and Environment (WEFE) nexus within the Sustainable, Innovative, Affordable

The improvement of seismic toughness is one of research focuses on coupled shear walls. In this paper, a prestressed precast coupled wall with friction coupling beams (PPCW-FCB) was assembled, in which the prestressed tendons mainly provided lateral resistance and self-centering capability, and the friction coupling beams (FCB) provided energy dissipation capacity. Based on the quasi-static tests of

This study aims to investigate the load-transfer mechanism of Perfobond Leiste (PBL) shear connectors between ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) slabs and steel beams. Twelve standard push-out specimens were designed and tested to examine the effects of the number of holes, hole spacing, steel fiber content, and perforating rebar diameter on the shear performance of PBLs. The failure modes, load-slip

The application of basalt fiber reinforced polymer (BFRP) and carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) reinforcements offers benefits such as high strength, excellent corrosion resistance, and eco-friendliness, making it a focal point in architectural advancements. The integration of polypropylene fiber (PPF) enhances the crack resistance of reinforced concrete (RC) beams and fiber-reinforced polymer

This study evaluated the microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) resistance of alkali-activated materials (AAMs) incorporating alum-based water treatment sludge (AWTS) and ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS). AAMs are developed as sustainable alternatives to conventional cement for sewage infrastructure, with the aim of addressing durability issues and reducing environmental impact. AAM

Alkali activated materials (AAMs) are increasingly recognised as a sustainable alternative to Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) due to their use of industrial by-products and favourable mechanical and chemical properties. However, the adoption of high-volume slag-based AAMs is impeded by challenges such as rapid setting and limited workability, primarily driven by the interaction of high-concentration

The setting and hardening of cement paste were crucial for casting fresh concrete in the field, as they directly impact the timing and cost of framework removal and other operations. The conventional Vicat needle test for setting time had several drawbacks, including being manually operated, time-consuming, irreproducible, and non-continuous. To address these issues, two ultrasonic methods (ultrasonic

This paper focuses on the bond-slip mechanism between crescent ribbed rebar and recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) at rib scale. Firstly, the auxiliary software for parametric modeling has been developed, which can instantly create 3D rib-scale simulation models. Secondly, the development law of internal damage along longitudinal and transverse directions was revealed, and the opening displacement,

In the future, building energy consumption is expected to account for approximately 50 % of global energy use, with central air conditioning systems contributing to over 40 % of this consumption. Therefore, enhancing the efficiency of air-conditioning systems is critical. Central air conditioning systems are complex, involving multiple units with varying operating parameters, influenced by factors

The train-induced vibration needs to be predicted to assess the serviceability of the over-track buildings above metro depot. To enable rapid prediction of train-induced vibration responses in over-track buildings and facilitate corresponding vibration control measures, this paper established a vertical vibration prediction model for the metro depot-over-track building based on the energy functional

The connection point of a precast concrete column connected at the mid-height section is located near the inflection point, where the bending moment approaches zero, resulting in relatively simple stress conditions. Building on previous research on axial compressive and shear properties of such precast columns, expanding the knowledge on their fire resistance and seismic performance will contribute

Compared with natural aggregate (NA), recycled coarse aggregate (RCA) typically exhibits lower density, higher water absorption, weaker aggregate strength, reduced bonding ability, and increased porosity. These characteristics can result in poor mechanical properties and durability for recycled aggregate concrete (RAC). Among various methods to enhance RCA, carbonation technology stands out as a promising

This study presents a finite element modelling (FEM) and genetic algorithm (GA)-based optimization framework for integrating phase change materials (PCM) into studio apartments to improve passive thermal regulation. A “T0 flat” in Coimbra, Portugal, was analysed to assess the influence of PCM placement, thickness, and melting temperature on indoor temperature stability and energy efficiency. The aim

Accurate quantification and analysis of steel corrosion is crucial for reliability assessment studies of in-service reinforced concrete structures. However, the pixel-level cross-sectional data provided by X-ray computed tomography (XCT) proves difficult to quantify, especially for the amorphous corrosion products filled in mortar, due to the absence of robust feature extraction methods. In this study

As a clean and sustainable source, geothermal energy is a key component in the global energy transition. One of the main approaches to geothermal energy utilization involves mid-to-deep layer buried pipe heating technology, emphasizing the efficient and accurate assessment of heat transfer performance. This study presents a three-dimensional, full-scale numerical modeling of heat transfer in deeply

Fault detection and diagnosis in HVAC systems are essential for maintaining energy efficiency and indoor comfort. However, the scarcity of fault samples, particularly for rare faults, leads to severe data imbalance, degrading model performance and increasing false alarms. While deep learning methods have improved diagnostic accuracy, they often struggle to capture the complex spatiotemporal interactions

In this paper, an end-to-end framework for Intelligent Seismic Response Prediction, ISRPnet, is introduced. ISRPnet comprises a structural parameter module for discretizing reinforced concrete frame structures into a series of static features and an encoder-decoder architecture for encoding seismic loads and autoregressively predicting seismic responses. The model is trained on a data set of 16,544

Limestone calcined clay cement (LC3) presents a suitable low-carbon cementitious material for large-scale 3D printing due to its long open time. This study investigates the impact of substituting up to 100 % natural aggregate with recycled brick aggregates (BA) on the engineering properties, durability and printing properties of LC3. BA's rough surface and irregular shape reduced the workability of

Controlling the structural build-up and rheology of geopolymers for extrusion-based 3D printing is quite challenging due to their incompatibility with currently available set accelerators and high sensitivity to changes in mix proportions and environmental conditions. In this study, a novel two-pipe mixing strategy was developed to enhance the structural build-up of geopolymer concrete and simultaneously

Durability problems occur in concretes used in underground structures due to the effect of sulphate in groundwater. However, these structures need to be manufactured quickly to avoid economic, environmental and structural adversities. In this study, by using ternary systems, both the permeability properties of the concretes were improved and high early age strength was achieved compared to conventional

Timber composite floors are vulnerable to human-induced vibrations due to their low weight and long spans used in office buildings. Introducing concrete into timber panels is a common approach to enhance the vibration performance of long-span timber floors. While the effects of certain parameters on the vibration performance of timber composite floors have been extensively studied in laboratory settings

Buildings present an opportunity for energy conservation and the modulation of peak energy demand through controlled Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) energy use. The administrative and office building stock in the United States holds potential to achieve energy and demand savings through retrofits such as insulation, weatherization, and thermal energy storage. Specifically, there is

A dual performance high-capacity hybrid frame-wall compatible with cold-formed steel (CFS) construction is presented and its pushover response is characterized. The system features eccentric seven-wire strand and concentric CFS strap bracing elements that work in parallel and in concert with gravity load bearing CFS columns to enhance lateral load capacity and performance during natural hazards. Vertical

To improve the performance of a counter-rotating fan (CRF) installed in an outdoor unit of centralized air conditioner with the complicated inflow condition, a parameter study on the blade stagger angle (BSA) of the forward and rear rotors is performed. 9 BSA schemes are designed with an angle variation from −4° to 12°. Both experimental test and Delayed Detached Eddy Simulation (DDES) are conducted

The seismic fragility analysis of base-isolated (BI) structures reduces uncertainty, thus enabling more reliable assessments. However, this method is time-consuming and complex because it requires the amplitude modulation of ground motions and extensive finite-element analysis. This paper proposes a rapid method for the seismic fragility analysis of BI structures. This method employs machine learning

The connection between prestressed high-strength concrete (PHC) pipe piles and bearing platforms is a critical technical issue. To address the issues of the required high precision in traditional bolted connections and the required high craftsmanship in welded connections, this work presents a grouting connection technology that uses large openings in precast bearing platforms. The primary aim of this

The low-calcium fly ash-based concrete (LFC) suffers the dry-wet (DW) and freeze-thaw (FT) environment during service period frequently in the cold regions. This study investigates the impact of dry-wet (DW) and freeze-thaw (FT) cycles on the mechanical properties, impermeability, and pore structure of LFC. Concrete specimens were subjected to alternating DW and FT conditions (DW-FT: DW pre-treated

This study investigates the effects of window position, width, height, and distance from the floor on CO2 concentration and draft risk (DR) in a typical classroom environment using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and the Taguchi method. The analysis assumes a classroom occupancy of 31 individuals, including the teacher. While the primary objective was to minimize CO2 concentration, the influence

The dynamic compressive behavior of steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC) under high strain rates was investigated using a 75-mm split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) device. Investigated that the damage morphology, strain rate enhancement effects, and energy absorption characteristics of SFRC with varying fiber content and strain rates. A three-dimensional (3D) mesoscale model of SFRC incorporating

The durability of reinforced concrete can be significantly threatened by carbonation, which can damage the passive film on steel, contributing to corrosion. This study investigates the effects of carbon dioxide (CO2) molecules on the stability of passivation films were investigated by using electrochemistry and reactive molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Various defects on the passivation film surface

Different from traditional building types, steel modular buildings are product-oriented. It is essential to conduct an integrated design process for this building type. Proposing a systematic framework to organize information and developing a unified model for representing steel modular buildings and multiple tasks are highly desired. In the current paper, a graph-based building information model (GBIM)

To enhance energy dissipation and mitigate local buckling in boundary columns of conventional steel plate shear walls (SPSWs), this study introduces a modular assembled SPSW with partially encased composite (PEC) columns (PEC-MSPSW). The structure features grid modules along the main diagonal, with PEC columns as boundary elements. Quasi-static cyclic loading tests on two 1/3-scale PEC-MSPSW specimens

Existing occupant behavior (OB) models predominantly focus on single-device operations, neglecting the interdependent use patterns of multiple appliances in Chinese residential buildings. These limitations originate from multiple factors including economic considerations, thermal tolerance thresholds, behavioral habits, and anticipated duration of occupancy when coordinating appliances like AC, windows

In an increasingly digital world, many methods such as AI algorithms, simulation tools, and software are used for performance-based optimization of adaptive facades, and rapid developments are taking place in these areas. Currently, although there are many studies on these topics, they are not yet fully understood and addressed holistically. To fill this gap, this paper conducted a comprehensive review

Currently, destructive tests are mandated in the factory production control of thermally toughened safety glass in accordance with EN 12150–1 to guarantee compliance with the specifications concerning the fracture pattern and bending tensile strength. Such tests are time-consuming and result in material losses. This study, therefore, investigates the potential of photoelastic measurements as a non-destructive

The employment of construction and demolition (C&D) waste as a raw material to produce recycled coarse aggregate (RCA) presents a promising solution to mitigate the volume of C&D waste directed to landfills and decrease the consumption of natural coarse aggregate (NCA) in concrete applications. However, the presence of old adhered mortar with high porosity and poor performance on the surface of RCA

Efficient humidity control is essential for maintaining indoor air quality and optimizing energy consumption in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, industrial processes, and medical environments. Conventional dehumidification methods are often energy-intensive, necessitating the development of more efficient alternatives. This study evaluates the performance of a heat and mass

Flash graphene (FG), a cost-effective and low-carbon material that can be produced on a large scale by flash Joule heating of inexpensive carbon sources, has excellent potential for modifying ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC). Due to its unique turbostratic stacking structure, FG is particularly suitable for dispersion through ball milling, which is also a standard step in cement production. This

This study explores the longstanding trade-off between sound absorption and compressive strength in cementitious materials by incorporating hollow glass microspheres, cenospheres, and rubber powders through innovative foaming techniques. While traditional approaches to improving acoustic performance often reduce structural integrity, this research achieves both goals simultaneously. Detailed material

Lightweight aggregate (LWA) demonstrates significant potential for internal curing in cement-based materials due to its superior water absorption and desorption properties. This paper presents a comprehensive review on water absorption and desorption behavior of LWA in internal curing of concrete. The water absorption process of LWA involves three stages: rapid absorption, slow absorption, and equilibrium

Thermoplastic fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) bars provide multiple benefits over thermoset counterparts, including repeatable molding, higher toughness, recyclability, and a reduced environmental footprint. However, thermoset profiles generally exhibit superior mechanical properties compared with thermoplastic profiles, due to their higher fiber volume fraction. This study aims to manufacture thermoplastic

This paper proposes a new type of self-centering reinforced concrete (SCRC) beam-column connection. Fiber-reinforced shrinkage-compensated cementitious (FSC) grout is used in the connection, the longitudinal rebars at the beam ends are properly anchored, and steel angles are utilized as both connectors and replaceable energy dissipation devices. Cyclic loading tests were conducted on twelve full-scale

Post-earthquake fires and aftershocks have the potential to simultaneously impact structures and the magnitude of aftershocks may surpass that of the mainshock, posing the risk of severe structural damage or collapse under multi-hazard scenarios. This study proposes an energy flow-driven framework to assess structural damage evolution and collapse performances under earthquake-fire scenarios by defining