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Current Technological, Methodological, and Organizational Research Trends in the Construction...
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Current Technological, Methodological, and Organizational Research Trends in the Construction Industry

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Civil Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2023) | Viewed by 24953

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Bożena Hoła

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Materials Engineering and Construction Processes, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland
Interests: safety and health protection in construction processes; modeling of accidents; phenomenon analysis of the causes of accidents; accident assessment; risks and hazards; construction management; modeling deterministic and probabilistic construction processes; the use of artificial intelligence methods in solving decision problems in construction
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Rapid economic development, which is also noticeable in the construction industry, generates many new scientific problems that must be addressed, e.g., in order to meet the requirements of the modern economy. The avenues of scientific research are not only aimed at the continuous improvement of the technology used to erect new facilities, increasing the level of occupational safety, and reducing construction time and costs, but also at increasing the durability of existing structures from different stylistic periods.

These goals can be achieved by various mean, including the use of modern technologies in construction projects, the automation and robotization of construction processes, the use of modern information technologies, and the development of modern methods of planning, organizing, and managing construction processes. This Special Issue aims to present the latest developments in this area.

We welcome original manuscripts concerning, but not limited to, the following:

  • Modern solutions concerning devices that are used in the construction industry, including the automation and robotization of construction processes, with particular emphasis on the risks and hazards associated with them;
  • Modern technological and organizational solutions in the construction industry, including research methods and ways of securing structures and building objects from different stylistic periods;
  • The latest information technologies addressing the various problems that occur in the investment process;
  • Interdisciplinary research related to occupational safety, including accident modeling, occupational risk assessment, risk management, and occupational safety, as well as the impact of automation and robotization on occupational safety;
  • Applications of virtual reality (VR) technology for research and training purposes;
  • Methods used in forecasting processes, events, and phenomena that may occur in the future in the construction industry.
Prof. Dr. Bożena Hoła
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • construction industry
  • automation and robotization of construction processes
  • technological and organizational solutions
  • controlling executive processes
  • investment process
  • occupational safety
  • risks and hazards
  • safety management
  • virtual reality
  • sustainable development
  • management in construction
  • diagnostic of building structures
  • construction waste management

Published Papers (15 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 5655 KiB  
Article
Uniaxial Testing of Soil–Cement Composites to Obtain Correlations to Be Used in Numerical Modeling
by Małgorzata Jończyk-Szostek, Piotr Kanty, Jarosław Rybak, Jakub Saloni and Karolina Trybocka
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(18), 10268; https://doi.org/10.3390/app131810268 - 13 Sep 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 699
Abstract
This paper presents the results of laboratory testing of samples obtained from soil–cement composite columns produced on a real-world test site as part of a research and development project. The introduction presents the motivation of the research and the goals that guided the [...] Read more.
This paper presents the results of laboratory testing of samples obtained from soil–cement composite columns produced on a real-world test site as part of a research and development project. The introduction presents the motivation of the research and the goals that guided the layout of a research program. The general geotechnical conditions, initially assumed methodology of soil–cement composite sampling, and finally, the methodology of strength tests were presented. In tests conducted with the measurement of the strain-stress path, the strength and stiffness of the material were determined in various modes of the stress–strain path, including unloading/reloading cycles. The test results were presented in the form of graphs presenting soil–cement composite stiffness in the function of material strength and subjected to a short critical discussion against the background of reference samples from composites prepared in laboratory conditions. This allowed for their qualitative and quantitative assessment and the formulation of conclusions and guidelines, concerning the execution of works and especially the potential practical outcomes (benefits for numerical modeling), juxtaposed in the summary. Some prospects and needs for future developments were also formulated on the basis of actual experience. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Technological, Methodological, and Organizational Research Trends in the Construction Industry)
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19 pages, 4400 KiB  
Article
Life Cycle Assessment for Substitutive Building Materials Using the Example of the Vietnamese Road Sector
by Petra Schneider, Naveedh Ahmed, Florin-Constantin Mihai, Anna Belousova, Radek Kucera, Klaus-Dieter Oswald, Thomas Lange and Anh Le Hung
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(10), 6264; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13106264 - 20 May 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1747
Abstract
Road construction usually relies on the utilization of natural aggregates as building materials. However, increasing pressure for sustainable roads highlights the importance of replacing natural materials with industrial byproducts. The scope of the present study was to identify feasible secondary raw materials for [...] Read more.
Road construction usually relies on the utilization of natural aggregates as building materials. However, increasing pressure for sustainable roads highlights the importance of replacing natural materials with industrial byproducts. The scope of the present study was to identify feasible secondary raw materials for road subbase construction, and to investigate their environmental footprint in the context of Vietnam. This work examines road subbase alternatives such as manufactured sand (m-sand), granulated blast furnace slag (GBF), electric arc furnace slag (EAF), construction and demolition waste (CDW), and fly ash (FA). Based on the life-cycle assessment (LCA) approach, the environmental footprints of the alternative waste-based layers were compared with one another and with the corresponding conventional layers. The study comprises following working steps: (i) a comprehensive literature review of the respective materials, (ii) general chemical and soil mechanical analysis of road subbase substitutes, and (iii) LCA of the material alternatives in the context of the Vietnamese road construction sector. The results for the road subbase layer indicated that CDW and FA had lower impacts—particularly in the impact categories global warming potential and mineral resource scarcity. The overall LCA analysis for the road subbase layer highlighted that the greatest footprint contribution was involved in the construction material transportation processes. Thus, sourcing of materials closer to the site or the use of low-emission transport alternatives is needed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Technological, Methodological, and Organizational Research Trends in the Construction Industry)
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19 pages, 1524 KiB  
Article
Construction Work Efficiency Analysis—Application of Probabilistic Approach and Machine Learning for Formworks Assembly
by Michał Juszczyk
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(9), 5780; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13095780 - 8 May 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1131
Abstract
Analyses of efficiency are vital for planning and monitoring the duration and costs of construction works, as well as the entire construction project. This paper introduces a combined quantitative (probabilistic) and qualitative (machine learning-based) approach to the problem. The proposed approach covers probabilistic [...] Read more.
Analyses of efficiency are vital for planning and monitoring the duration and costs of construction works, as well as the entire construction project. This paper introduces a combined quantitative (probabilistic) and qualitative (machine learning-based) approach to the problem. The proposed approach covers probabilistic analysis based on fitting a triangular distribution to empirical data, followed by the application of support vector machines (SVM). Following the theoretical assumptions, the paper also presents an application of the proposed approach for formwork assembly as an exemplary construction work. This is based on real-life data, including conditions, characteristics, and features of formwork assembly work recorded on a construction site. As a result of the study, triangular distributions were fitted to data representing efficiencies of formwork assembly for three different types of structural members made of reinforced concrete. The parameters (a—minimum, m—peak and b—maximum values of efficiency measured as square meters of an assembled formwork per hour) of the fitted distributions for the particular real-life data were as follows: for columns a = 0.100, m = 1.450, b = 1.900, for walls a = 0.700, m = 1.995, b = 3.300 and for slabs a = 0.200, m = 2.125, b = 3.200. The obtained distributions allow us to assess the probability of achieving efficiency not less than a certain assumed critical value. The study also developed two SVM models—the first based on so-called C-classification and the second based on ν-classification—capable of recognising with satisfactory accuracy whether the efficiency of formworks assembly works for certain conditions, characteristics, and features of works are above or below median values computed based on previously fitted distributions. The performance of both developed models in terms of proper classification, either for training or testing, was above 80%. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Technological, Methodological, and Organizational Research Trends in the Construction Industry)
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16 pages, 2143 KiB  
Article
A Method for Detecting Pathologies in Concrete Structures Using Deep Neural Networks
by Joel de Conceição Nogueira Diniz, Anselmo Cardoso de Paiva, Geraldo Braz Junior, João Dallyson Sousa de Almeida, Aristofanes Correa Silva, António Manuel Trigueiros da Silva Cunha and Sandra Cristina Alves Pereira da Silva Cunha
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(9), 5763; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13095763 - 7 May 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2335
Abstract
Pathologies in concrete structures, such as cracks, splintering, efflorescence, corrosion spots, and exposed steel bars, can be visually evidenced on the concrete surface. This paper proposes a method for automatically detecting these pathologies from images of the concrete structure. The proposed method uses [...] Read more.
Pathologies in concrete structures, such as cracks, splintering, efflorescence, corrosion spots, and exposed steel bars, can be visually evidenced on the concrete surface. This paper proposes a method for automatically detecting these pathologies from images of the concrete structure. The proposed method uses deep neural networks to detect pathologies in these images. This method results in time savings and error reduction. The paper presents results in detecting the pathologies from wide-angle images containing the overall structure and also for the specific pathology identification task for cropped images of the region of the pathology. Identifying pathologies in cropped images, the classification task could be performed with 99.4% accuracy using cross-validation and classifying cracks. Wide images containing no, one, or several pathologies in the same image, the case of pathology detection, could be analyzed with the YOLO network to identify five pathology classes. The results for detection with YOLO were measured with mAP, mean Average Precision, for five classes of concrete pathology, reaching 11.80% for fissure, 19.22% for fragmentation, 5.62% for efflorescence, 27.24% for exposed bar, and 24.44% for corrosion. Pathology identification in concrete photos can be optimized using deep learning. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Technological, Methodological, and Organizational Research Trends in the Construction Industry)
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17 pages, 8996 KiB  
Article
Efficiency Analysis of Roadway Lighting Replacement in a Selected Polish Municipality
by Krzysztof Zima and Wojciech Ciepłucha
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(5), 3257; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13053257 - 3 Mar 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1516
Abstract
The paper addresses the problem of the efficiency of road lighting replacement in a selected municipality. The following question arose: can the replacement of lighting bring measurable financial benefits in the short or long term, and does increasing the comfort of road use [...] Read more.
The paper addresses the problem of the efficiency of road lighting replacement in a selected municipality. The following question arose: can the replacement of lighting bring measurable financial benefits in the short or long term, and does increasing the comfort of road use in terms of lighting involve higher costs? During the global energy crisis, reducing the operating costs of road lighting has become the goal of many analyses and studies. Professionally selected lighting of streets and sidewalks is a factor that significantly affects the safety of road users. The problem of many studies is the omission of safety considerations, lighting comfort and budgetary possibilities of municipalities. The authors conducted comparative analyses of solution variants, examining both road lighting comfort and costs as an innovative element of research. The DIALux application was used to analyse the changes in road lighting depending on the luminaires used and the changes in pole spacing influenced by the height of the light point. Variant and scenario analyses were incorporated into the efficiency analyses, while the calculations themselves were based on detailed cost analyses with reference to Polish catalogues of material inputs and market prices. The authors conducted cost analyses of lighting dismantling and installation, including the subsequent operating costs over 20 years for seven variants of poles with their systems and four variants of luminaires. The results were compared with the existing lighting system in use. An original element of the study is the use of BIM analyses with design variants, combined with analyses of the technical condition of the existing lighting network and an illuminance analysis with estimates of the height and spacing of poles. Numerous studies indicate that it is very cost-effective to replace old lighting systems, especially those based on high-intensity discharge (HID) sodium lamps, with more modern LED lamps additionally equipped with twilight dimmers. The analyses also demonstrated that cost-efficient lighting replacement could go hand in hand with improved road lighting comfort without the need to incur additional costs, which is often overlooked in various studies. The analysis performed for a model lighting network indicates that savings of nearly 60% are possible over 20 years. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Technological, Methodological, and Organizational Research Trends in the Construction Industry)
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19 pages, 4447 KiB  
Article
Composites Containing Felt Wastes from the Automotive Industry
by Bartosz Zegardło, Chrysanthos Maraveas, Sylwester Kaleszko and Antoni Bombik
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(4), 2375; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13042375 - 13 Feb 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1434
Abstract
(One) Background: Using textile waste materials in composites is a well-known problem and is frequently addressed by various scientific teams. Most of this work concerns textile waste introduced into composites as yarn strands. The present work focuses on adding textile wastes prepared in [...] Read more.
(One) Background: Using textile waste materials in composites is a well-known problem and is frequently addressed by various scientific teams. Most of this work concerns textile waste introduced into composites as yarn strands. The present work focuses on adding textile wastes prepared in the form of single filaments of yarn spun to fluff, which was produced from waste felt materials from the automotive industry. (Two) Methods: The material was extracted from the bulkheads of worn-out vehicles, serving as thermal and acoustic insulation. The waste was shredded to form single yarn fibres with a fibre diameter of 0.08–0.3 mm and a 2–8 cm length. The shredded waste was used as a filler and modifier for composites. Four test batches were produced with different recyclate contents. A traditional cementitious composite without additives was used as a comparison material. (Three) Results: Composites filled with 3% felt waste have 23.31% lower density (1.71 g/cm3), 71.03% higher absorbability (21.58%), 49.58% lower tensile strength (19.86 MPa), and 53.55% lower compressive strength (3.64 MPa) than traditional composites. Partitions made of these composites had much higher thermal insulation than traditional composites. Composite made of 1% waste was resistant to the phenomena of thermal spalling. Moreover, the spot flame loading did not damage the composite, and there were no scratches or defects. (Four) Conclusions: The tests proved that the waste felt materials could potentially be used as fillers and modifiers in lightweight composites with higher thermal insulation. The addition of felt fibres improves the resistance of the composite to local spalling. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Technological, Methodological, and Organizational Research Trends in the Construction Industry)
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10 pages, 2603 KiB  
Communication
Effect of Admixtures on Selected Properties of Fly Ash-Based Geopolymer Composites
by Natalia Stankiewicz
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(3), 1803; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13031803 - 31 Jan 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1195
Abstract
This research was carried out to expand our knowledge of the effects of different admixtures on the properties of fly ash-based geopolymer composites. Three admixtures were used: a liquifying admixture based on stabilized polycarboxylates, a plasticizing admixture, and a liquifying admixture based on [...] Read more.
This research was carried out to expand our knowledge of the effects of different admixtures on the properties of fly ash-based geopolymer composites. Three admixtures were used: a liquifying admixture based on stabilized polycarboxylates, a plasticizing admixture, and a liquifying admixture based on modified polynaphthalenes. The effect of variable activator content relative to the binder was also tested. The most favorable flexural and compressive strengths as well as water absorption were obtained in the series with a liquifying admixture based on stabilized polycarboxylates and an activator to fly ash ratio of 0.5 or 0.6. An increase in flexural and compressive strengths of 11% and 32%, respectively, was obtained compared to the series without admixtures. No positive effect was found for plasticizing admixtures or those based on modified polynaphthalenes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Technological, Methodological, and Organizational Research Trends in the Construction Industry)
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19 pages, 1768 KiB  
Article
The Impact of the Learning and Forgetting Effect on the Cost of a Multi-Unit Construction Project with the Use of the Simulated Annealing Algorithm
by Michał Podolski, Jerzy Rosłon and Bartłomiej Sroka
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(24), 12667; https://doi.org/10.3390/app122412667 - 10 Dec 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1009
Abstract
Construction projects are often delayed. Their budgets are being exceeded. This is partly because construction project models rarely take human factors into account. The article focuses on the repetitive multi-unit projects that are often found in construction practices. They are an excellent example [...] Read more.
Construction projects are often delayed. Their budgets are being exceeded. This is partly because construction project models rarely take human factors into account. The article focuses on the repetitive multi-unit projects that are often found in construction practices. They are an excellent example of construction works for which the optimization of certain processes can bring measurable financial benefits. In particular, the focus was on improving the key investment success indicator, the total cost of a project. This article presents the use of learning and forgetting phenomenon to improve construction schedules. The authors proposed an innovative model of the construction phase and optimized the schedule using a proprietary calculation algorithm using the simulated annealing phenomenon. The method was verified by a series of experiments and showcased by a case study. The results show that the presented methods can improve the construction planning process and better reflect the current construction conditions. The findings may impact residential, infrastructure, industrial, and commercial construction branches. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Technological, Methodological, and Organizational Research Trends in the Construction Industry)
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23 pages, 4844 KiB  
Article
Asphalt Mixtures and Flexible Pavement Construction Degradation Considering Different Environmental Factors
by Eryk Mączka and Piotr Mackiewicz
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(23), 12068; https://doi.org/10.3390/app122312068 - 25 Nov 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1638
Abstract
Water, frost, and road salt are counted as environmental factors. They affect the pavement structure, particularly during the winter or in regions located above sea level. In the article, a literature review related to water, frost, and road salt impacts was performed. The [...] Read more.
Water, frost, and road salt are counted as environmental factors. They affect the pavement structure, particularly during the winter or in regions located above sea level. In the article, a literature review related to water, frost, and road salt impacts was performed. The main problem of evaluating asphalt mixture degradation and its influence on pavement fatigue life via environmental factors was stated. Four types of asphalt concrete (AC22) road mixes were prepared for laboratory tests. They differed in production technology and the type of binder applied. One binder content level was tested. To investigate the impact of water, frost, and road salt on mineral-asphalt mixtures utilized in flexible constructions, two proprietary experimental methods were applied. Methods allowed for determining the mixtures’ degradation level using the measured stiffness modulus in the 4-PB-PR test. Based on the obtained results, it was found that both interactions cause a significant decrease in the value of the stiffness modulus. In the article, a degradation ratio was proposed. The ratio expressed the impact of water, frost, and road salt on the stiffness mix variability. Its value was considered for pavement fatigue life based on the AASHTO 2004 fatigue criterion. The article demonstrates that the type of binder used influences the mix’s resistance to water, frost, or road salt impact. The highest resistance was reached by a mixture with highly modified asphalt (hot technology), and the worst was with asphalt WMA (warm technology). It has also been proven that the impact of water, frost, or road salt on pavement fatigue life is significant. The drop was significant, amounting to a few dozen percent. It was stated that environmental impacts (such as water, frost, or road salt) should be considered in asphalt mixture and pavement construction design. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Technological, Methodological, and Organizational Research Trends in the Construction Industry)
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15 pages, 2146 KiB  
Article
Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of the Causes of Occupational Accidents Related to the Use of Construction Scaffoldings
by Bożena Hoła, Tomasz Nowobilski, Zuzanna Woźniak and Marta Białko
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(11), 5514; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12115514 - 29 May 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1786
Abstract
This article proposes a methodology for classifying occupational accidents involving scaffolding based on the knowledge of the causes that led to their occurrence. Each occupational accident is caused by several causes belonging to three generic groups (technical, organizational, human) occurring in a different [...] Read more.
This article proposes a methodology for classifying occupational accidents involving scaffolding based on the knowledge of the causes that led to their occurrence. Each occupational accident is caused by several causes belonging to three generic groups (technical, organizational, human) occurring in a different configuration. The aim of this research was to determine the qualitative and quantitative structure of the causes of accidents caused by falling from scaffolding. Significant causes were selected from the set of all the causes identified in the analyzed set of accidents. For this purpose, Pareto–Lorenz analysis and the ABC classification were used. Then, a set of significant causes containing technical, organizational and human causes was created, which was the basis for determining the subsets of accidents caused by similar causes. The hierarchical cluster analysis method, the agglomeration clustering technique and the binding of objects using the Ward method were proposed to determine the number of characteristic clusters. Three subsets of accidents with a similar set of causes were obtained. Information on the quality and number of causes in individual subsets was used to estimate the probability of an accident caused by a given set of causes and to assess occupational risk in construction. Calculations were performed using Statistica software. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Technological, Methodological, and Organizational Research Trends in the Construction Industry)
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15 pages, 3342 KiB  
Article
Waste Reduction Methods Used in Construction Companies with Regards to Selected Building Products
by Marta Białko, Bożena Hoła, Mariusz Topolski and Zuzanna Woźniak
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(11), 5387; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12115387 - 26 May 2022
Viewed by 2236
Abstract
This article presents research that aims to identify waste reduction methods used in the construction industry in relation to the following materials: steel, concrete, masonry products, finishing products (i.e., ceramic, and stone tiles), and wood and the dependence between the use of these [...] Read more.
This article presents research that aims to identify waste reduction methods used in the construction industry in relation to the following materials: steel, concrete, masonry products, finishing products (i.e., ceramic, and stone tiles), and wood and the dependence between the use of these methods and the size of the construction company. The research is based on surveys conducted amongst construction site managers in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. In the research, 13 methods of reducing construction waste were analyzed using Pearson’s independence test and the SPSS-26 software. Methods of reducing construction waste were identified. The study determined the frequency with which waste reduction methods in each material group were used, depending on the size of the company. Amongst the 13 methods analyzed, the ones which demonstrate a relationship between frequency of methods and size of the company were identified (for all groups of materials): the use of monitoring systems, reuse of materials within the construction, use of prefabricated elements, adequate storage, and engagement of subcontractors. In the case of the other tested methods, no such relationship was found. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Technological, Methodological, and Organizational Research Trends in the Construction Industry)
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13 pages, 1719 KiB  
Article
Method of Planning Repairs of the Installation including Building Waste
by Beata Nowogońska and Ireneusz Nowogoński
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(9), 4520; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12094520 - 29 Apr 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1282
Abstract
Repairs of water supply, sewage and central heating installations in residential buildings should be carried out systematically. However, very often, renovation dates are postponed, which results in installation failures. The failures of water supply, sewage and central heating installations, due to the currently [...] Read more.
Repairs of water supply, sewage and central heating installations in residential buildings should be carried out systematically. However, very often, renovation dates are postponed, which results in installation failures. The failures of water supply, sewage and central heating installations, due to the currently used methods of masking them and running them as under-plaster and under-floor installations, are always connected with the damage and necessity of reconstruction of the building elements. As a result, renovation work has to be carried out to a greater extent and the amount of construction waste is much greater. The analysis of different renovation strategies of water supply, sewage and central heating systems in residential buildings made in traditional technology has been carried out. The article presents the results of the research on the effects of the postponement of the renovation works on the changes in the technical condition of the building and on the scope of renovation works. The aim of the research is to develop a method for planning repairs of the installation taking into account optimization of the amount of construction waste. The aim of the research is also to answer the question: To what extent does the postponed repair of water and sewage installations influence the amount of construction waste? In the proposed method, the Prediction of Reliability according to Rayleigh Distribution (PRRD) model is used. The results of the research indicate the necessity of conducting the renovation works of the installation in a timely manner due to the increasing amount of construction waste and the introduced reduction of its amount with the increase of the recycling rate. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Technological, Methodological, and Organizational Research Trends in the Construction Industry)
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16 pages, 2985 KiB  
Article
Economic Impact Analysis of the Application of Different Pavement Performance Models on First-Class Roads with Selected Repair Technology
by Matúš Kozel, Ľuboš Remek, Michaela Ďurínová, Štefan Šedivý, Juraj Šrámek, Peter Danišovič and Vladimíra Hostačná
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(21), 10409; https://doi.org/10.3390/app112110409 - 5 Nov 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1619
Abstract
Mathematical expression of the deterioration of individual pavement parameters is, from the point of optimal repair and maintenance strategy decision-making process, an important part of the application of any pavement management system (PMS). The reliability of individual PMS depends on the quality of [...] Read more.
Mathematical expression of the deterioration of individual pavement parameters is, from the point of optimal repair and maintenance strategy decision-making process, an important part of the application of any pavement management system (PMS). The reliability of individual PMS depends on the quality of the inputs and the reliability of its internal sub-systems; thus, deterioration equations derived from high-quality input data play pivotal roles in a system for the prediction of the pavement life cycle. This paper describes the application of pavement performance models within pavement life cycle analysis (LCA) with the use of the integrated system of economic evaluation (ISEH), which is a calculation tool used for first-class roads with a standardized pavement composition of asphalt binders, where changes in operational capability parameters are modeled using individual model simulations. The simulations presented in this paper demonstrate changes in main economic indicators (net present value and internal rate of return) on two different pavement performance models. Both simulations share the same input parameters (traffic intensity, construction intervention, maintenance costs, discount rate) but differ in deterioration evaluation, all of which were applied to each model (a total of five models). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Technological, Methodological, and Organizational Research Trends in the Construction Industry)
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18 pages, 5594 KiB  
Article
Effects of Recycled Fine Glass Aggregates on Alkali Silica Reaction and Thermo-Mechanical Behavior of Modified Concrete
by Ibtissam Abalouch, Siham Sakami, Fatima-Ezzahra Elabbassi and Lahcen Boukhattem
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(19), 9045; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11199045 - 28 Sep 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1456
Abstract
The objective of this work is to develop a new composite material by substituting sand with recycled waste glass (RWG). Different volume percentages of RWG varying from 0 to 50% were incorporated into concrete, with maximum size that did not exceed 1.25 mm. [...] Read more.
The objective of this work is to develop a new composite material by substituting sand with recycled waste glass (RWG). Different volume percentages of RWG varying from 0 to 50% were incorporated into concrete, with maximum size that did not exceed 1.25 mm. The microscopic characterization by scanning electron microscopy SEM-EDS and optical microscopic test, as well as the durability against alkali silica reaction (ASR) test, were performed respectively to visualize the morphology and assess the damage caused by ASR. Furthermore, the mechanical and thermophysical properties measurements were carried out. The results of microscopic characterization showed the presence of cracks inside a minority of glass particles due to ASR, and ASR test indicated that expansion activity remained well below the limit expansion value of 0.15%. The obtained results also showed that, at 28 and 90 days of curing, compressive strength increased respectively by up to 1.63% and 29% for 20% of the incorporated RWG volume rate in concrete; however, beyond this rate it diminished receptively by 30% and 3.2%. This improvement with curing age was attributed to pozzolanic reaction. Regarding density, it reduced by around 5%. Furthermore, thermal conductivity and thermal effusivity decreased respectively by 36% and 8.06% at dry state and they dropped respectively by 44% and 21.28% at saturated state, related to reference concrete RC. It is therefore feasible to substitute high amount of natural sand with RWG to obtain new composite that may be successfully used as structural material in construction building. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Technological, Methodological, and Organizational Research Trends in the Construction Industry)
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16 pages, 3852 KiB  
Article
Calculation of the Population of Construction Scaffoldings Using Neural Networks
by Tomasz Nowobilski
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(17), 8211; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11178211 - 3 Sep 2021
Viewed by 1877
Abstract
Building scaffoldings are temporary structures that are commonly used in the construction industry. A precise determination of the number of building scaffoldings in use is a very complex task. The literature survey showed that there is a lack of scientific studies concerning the [...] Read more.
Building scaffoldings are temporary structures that are commonly used in the construction industry. A precise determination of the number of building scaffoldings in use is a very complex task. The literature survey showed that there is a lack of scientific studies concerning the estimation of the scaffolding population in the construction industry. This observation gave rise to the need to undertake such research, the aim of which was to develop a model of a neural network set which would in turn enable the number of used building scaffoldings to be estimated. In order to carry out such a research task, an original research methodology was developed, which used the results of empirical research that involved the counting of construction scaffoldings used in selected representative areas of the studied regions of Poland (the research was carried out in the period from 2016 to 2018), and also data taken from a publication of the Central Statistical Office on socio-economic indicators that characterize the analyzed regions (data from 2010 to 2018). The main element of the developed methodology is a set of five MLP neural networks, which was used to predict the number of used construction scaffoldings. The analysis of the sensitivity of the quantitative and qualitative variables of the model showed that they have a significant impact on the final result generated by the networks. The obtained results of the research and analyses showed the size of the population of building scaffoldings used in individual regions of Poland, and also the seasonality of their occurrence. The knowledge obtained on this basis can be used, among others, in economic analyses related to the use of construction scaffolding, as well as in the process of managing occupational safety on scaffoldings. The most important scientific aspect of the article concerns the development of an original methodology for estimating the population of building scaffoldings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Technological, Methodological, and Organizational Research Trends in the Construction Industry)
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