Search Results (442)

China’s prefabricated construction industry, despite its recent emergence, faces challenges such as limited standardization, poor integration, and low industrialization. In the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) model for prefabricated buildings, numerous risks arise due to the long project lifecycle, complex technical requirements, and force majeure factors. These risks may cause substantial project losses if not effectively controlled. This study, from the perspective of general contractors, explores risk assessment for prefabricated building projects under the EPC model to promote construction practices and enhance project resilience. The objective is to help contractors mitigate risks and ensure the smooth and environmentally responsible implementation of prefabricated projects. Risks were identified through literature review and case analysis, and a statistical process refined them into a structured index. The Analytic Network Process (ANP) was applied to assign indicator weights, establishing a comprehensive risk evaluation model. The Gray System Theory was then employed to assess the risks in a case study from Southwest China, validating the effectiveness and applicability of the proposed model. This research provides a systematic approach and theoretical support for EPC-based risk assessment, offering guidance for risk management and contributing to development in the construction industry. Full article

Buildings consume energy and are responsible for a significant portion of greenhouse gas emissions in Australia. Increased standards are being set for building thermal performance. Given the rising demand for energy-efficient housing solutions, this work explores the potential application of innovative technologies to enhance the thermal performance. Since modular construction is attracting popularity owing to numerous advantages, including its efficiency and cost-effectiveness, optimising the thermal performance is a way to further improve its popularity, particularly in diverse Australian climates. Smart materials are unique and have desirable properties when subjected to a change in the external environment. Integration of smart insulation materials in prefabricated buildings forecasts a potential to expand the horizon of thermal performance of prefabricated buildings and subsequently lead towards an enhanced energy performance. This work investigates the effects of aerogel, phase change materials (PCMs), and electrochromic glazing. To assess their potential to improve the thermal performance of a modular house, building energy performance simulations were conducted for three different climatic conditions in Australia. Individual implementation of innovative technologies and their combined effects were also quantified. The combination of the three innovative technologies has yielded total annual energy savings of 15.6%, 11.2%, and 6.1% for Melbourne, Perth, and Brisbane, respectively. Full article

Construction and demolition (C&D) waste remains a critical challenge in India due to accelerated urbanisation and material-intensive construction practices. This study integrates survey-based assessment with machine learning to identify key causes of C&D waste and recommend targeted minimization strategies. Data were collected from 116 professionals representing junior, middle, and senior management, spanning age groups from 20 to 60+ years, and working across building construction, consultancy, project management, roadworks, bridges, and industrial structures. The majority of respondents (57%) had 6–20 years of experience, ensuring representation from both operational and decision-making roles. The Relative Importance Index (RII) method was applied to rank waste causes and minimization techniques based on industry perceptions. To enhance robustness, Random Forest, Gradient Boosting, and Linear Regression models were tested, with Random Forest performing best (R² = 0.62), providing insights into the relative importance of different strategies. Findings show that human skill and quality control are most critical in reducing waste across concrete, mortar, bricks, steel, and tiles, while proper planning is key for excavated soil and quality sourcing for wood. Recommended strategies include workforce training, strict quality checks, improved planning, and prefabrication. The integration of perception-based analysis with machine learning offers a comprehensive framework for minimising C&D waste, supporting cost reduction and sustainability in construction projects. The major limitation of this study is its reliance on self-reported survey data, which may be influenced by subjectivity and regional bias. Additionally, results may not fully generalize beyond the Indian construction context due to the sample size and sectoral skew. The absence of real-time site data and limited access to integrated waste management systems also restrict predictive accuracy of the machine learning models. Nevertheless, combining industry perception with robust data-driven techniques provides a valuable framework for supporting sustainable construction management. Full article

Timber, as a renewable material, could reduce reliance on conventional construction materials such as reinforced concrete, thereby lowering carbon emissions. Its light weight, structural reliability, and efficiency in on-site assembly make it well suited to modular systems, which benefit from standardized components in both smaller- and larger-scale projects. However, existing research related to timber construction often emphasizes specific technical or performance issues, while systematic investigation of the timber module as a core building unit remains limited. This study adopts a multi-layered framework for circular modular timber construction, integrating design, structural, prefabrication and reuse perspectives to investigate timber modules, where each layer builds upon and interacts with the others. Through selected cases, the analysis characterizes how modules of different scales and forms are generated to meet spatial and functional needs, and highlights how prefabricated units support more optimized manufacturing. Furthermore, circular design principles are reinforced through reversible joints and design-for-disassembly techniques. The main findings highlight the proposed framework that positions modular units as central to design and construction, contributing to adaptable configurations and the reuse of timber components. Potential future research directions are highlighted, including the incorporation of quantitative evaluation indicators to support the assessment and implementation of circular design strategies. Full article

Construction is one of the largest industries, exerting a significant influence on the environment, economy, and society. With the growing emphasis on sustainability, efficiency, and minimizing negative impacts, it is essential to apply innovative tools and approaches across all phases of a building’s life cycle. This article focuses on the life cycle of buildings as a comprehensive process, covering stages from planning and construction to use and eventual disposal. Special attention is given to the integration of Life Cycle Costing (LCC) as a key methodology for evaluating both the environmental and economic aspects of sustainability. The presented case study compares two construction variants a prefabricated timber structure and a traditional masonry system highlighting the differences in cost distribution and economic demands. The findings confirm that the construction and operation phases account for the dominant share of life cycle costs, with their significance particularly increasing in larger projects. These results underline the necessity of comprehensive life cycle evaluation and emphasize the importance of modeling economic aspects as an integral part of sustainable construction. Full article

The objective of this article is to evaluate the viability of implementing the Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA) methodology in the design and construction of complex wooden structures with non-standard geometry. The present study incorporates an analysis of scientific literature from 2011 to 2024, in addition to selected case studies of buildings constructed using glued laminated timber and engineered wood prefabrication technology. The selection of examples was based on a range of criteria, including geometric complexity, the level of integration of digital tools (BIM, CAM, parametric design), and the efficiency of assembly processes. The implementation of DfMA principles has been shown to result in a reduction in material waste by 15–25% and a reduction in assembly time by approximately 30% when compared to traditional construction methods. The findings of the present study demonstrate that the concurrent integration of design, production, and assembly in the timber construction process enhances energy efficiency, curtails embodied carbon emissions, and fosters the adoption of circular economy principles. The analysis also reveals key implementation barriers, such as insufficient digital skills, lack of standardization, and limited availability of prefabrication facilities. The article under scrutiny places significant emphasis on the pivotal role of DfMA in facilitating the digital transformation of timber architecture and propelling sustainable construction development in the context of the circular economy. The conclusions of the study indicate a necessity for further research to be conducted on quantitative life cycle assessment (LCA, LCC) and on the implementation of DfMA on both a national and international scale. Full article

This article investigates how the application of modular dimensions and disassembly methods can lower energy and material consumption in residential buildings. This study utilizes a non-reactive desk research and applied case study methods. The examination of precedent publications and studies encompassed the following subjects: The first stage defines modularity in housing and the concept of Design for Disassembly (DfD). The second stage of the research involves analyzing the prefabricated and modular Grow Home project that was designed and built by the author and his team, containing DfD principles, to reduce energy consumption and material waste. In the discussion section, the author highlights key barriers to modular homes in the construction industry. The findings demonstrate that by including several design strategies, such as the enhancement of modularity and DfD affordability, reduction in material waste, and increase in the overall sustainability of a given development. Full article

As a critical element within the prefabricated structural system, the prefabricated shear wall connected by sleeve grouting is renowned for its superior mechanical performance and high construction efficiency. It is widely applied in mid- and high-rise buildings. However, under fire conditions, not only do the material properties degrade, but the structural connections may also fail, significantly compromising the structural stability and safety. Therefore, this study delves into the fire resistance performance of such prefabricated shear walls. The research primarily focuses on analyzing fire resistance characteristics, including deformation patterns, lateral and axial deformations, fire resistance limits, and other performance metrics, for both prefabricated and cast-in-place shear walls subjected to three hours of single-sided fire exposure. Additionally, a parametric analysis is performed. The results reveal that, after three hours of single-sided fire exposure, the temperature distribution patterns at the mid-width and mid-height sections of the prefabricated shear wall generally resemble those of the cast-in-place wall, displaying arch-shaped and strip-shaped distributions, respectively. However, due to the presence of sleeves, higher temperatures are observed near the sleeve areas in the prefabricated wall, along with a more extensive high-temperature zone. Throughout the three-hour fire exposure, both types of shear walls demonstrated satisfactory structural stability and thermal insulation performance, meeting the requirements for a first-level fire resistance rating (3 h). Nevertheless, greater axial and lateral deformations were noted in the prefabricated shear wall. Key factors influencing the fire resistance performance of the sleeve-connected prefabricated shear wall include the axial compression ratio, longitudinal reinforcement diameter, protective layer thickness, and height-to-thickness ratio. Specifically, axial deformation is found to be directly proportional to the axial compression ratio and height-to-thickness ratio, while inversely proportional to the longitudinal reinforcement diameter and protective layer thickness. Lateral deformation is directly proportional to the axial compression ratio and longitudinal reinforcement diameter, and exhibits a trend of initially increasing and then decreasing with an increase in protective layer thickness, and initially decreasing and then increasing with an increase in the height-to-thickness ratio. Full article

Modular steel buildings that employed off-site prefabricated volumetric units offered advantages in construction speed and sustainability. The highly integrated buildings assembled by only column-to-column connections were prone to a global collapse, and beam-to-beam connections could greatly promote the overall mechanical performance. However, cooperative bending performance has not been fully understood from a theoretical perspective, and therefore, a performance-based structural design cannot be conducted in practical engineering. In the present study, the laminated double beams in modular steel buildings were theoretically and experimentally investigated. Theoretical models for interfacial slip strain and slippage were established based on differential equations, accounting for both frictional and bolted connection types. In addition, mathematical expressions for bending curvature incorporating interfacial slip were derived, leading to a theoretical procedure for calculating the equivalent initial bending stiffness. In this way, the mechanical performance of laminated beams was analyzed, and the superimposed bending effect was further evaluated. The results demonstrated that bolted connections improved bending capacity by approximately 8% and increased initial bending stiffness by 17–28% compared to friction-only connections. The proposed stiffness prediction models showed significant agreement with experimental data, providing a theoretical basis for the structural design of laminated beams in modular steel buildings. Full article

Cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels, composed of orthogonally bonded layers, are often used in civil engineering and tall constructions owing to their sustainability, prefabrication advantages and favourable mechanical performance. However, their multilayered, anisotropic and shear-compliant nature presents significant challenges for accurate structural modelling and performance prediction. This study presents an advanced numerical approach to analysing the bending behaviour of CLT panels using the finite element method (FEM) in combination with the classical laminate theory. The proposed plate model was implemented in FlexPDE and validated through a series of three-point bending experiments on three-layer spruce panels. Further verification was conducted using commercial FEM software—Dlubal, incorporating both linear elastic and non-linear damage models, and Abaqus, where a three-dimensional solid model with a cohesive zone formulation captured progressive delamination and local failure in the glued layers. Comparison of the experimental data and numerical simulations revealed strong agreement in load–deflection behaviour, stiffness evolution and damage localisation. The framework we developed accurately reproduces both the global and the local mechanical responses of CLT panels while maintaining computational efficiency. Our results confirm the reliability of laminate theory-based FEM formulations in the design, optimisation and safety assessment of cross-laminated timber structures in building applications. Full article

In order to surmount the characteristics of high steel consumption and cost in prefabricated buildings, as a novel structural component, reinforced concrete vierendeel sandwich plates (RC-VSP) could be effectively employed. However, RC-VSP is restricted by complex construction procedures and rigorous quality control demands. Reliable reinforcement connections are the keys to their prefabrication. This study employed the methods of 1:1 full-scale comparative tests and numerical analysis through finite- element modeling. It compared the mechanical behaviors of the continuous reinforcement control group and the upset sleeve assembly group under four-point cyclic bending conditions. It analyzed how sleeves’ distribution influences structural stress states and crack propagation processes. The results show a superior ductility and damage resistance, on the basis of the components’ attenuation amplitude of the secant stiffness remains around 50% after the loading test with a deflection of 1/100, and the equivalent damping ratio is greater than 13%. Furthermore, the high similarity of the strain responses demonstrated the connection achieves prefabricated structures’ “equivalent performance to cast-in-place ones”. Additionally, the sleeve joints have slightly better stiffness, minor stress concentration at sleeve ends. This study offers robust experimental and theoretical support for the integrated prefabricated application of RC-VSP and further facilitates the development of building structures toward higher efficiency and lower carbon emissions. Full article

The incorporation of agricultural waste into construction materials represents a promising pathway toward achieving carbon neutrality in the building sector. This study investigates the flexural performance of a novel prefabricated external wall panel composed of corn straw concrete (CSC), an eco-friendly composite material that utilizes waste corn straws. While prior studies have explored rice straw and hemp fiber concrete, they primarily focused on the mechanical properties of these materials rather than the design of prefabricated panels. This study fills the gap by optimizing reinforcement ratio and window opening layout for CSC panels, and validating their structural viability for prefabricated enclosures. An optimal mix proportion was identified, which meets the mechanical requirements for non-load-bearing applications. Four prototype panel specimens were subjected to out-of-plane monotonic loading, considering variables including reinforcement ratio (0.18% vs. 0.24%) and the presence of a window opening (25% area ratio). Results indicated that increasing the reinforcement ratio significantly enhanced the ultimate load capacity by up to 33.3% (from 45 kN to 60 kN)—an enhancement effect that was 12–15% higher than that of reported rice straw concrete. In contrast, the introduction of an opening reduced the ultimate load capacity by 11.1–16.7%. A detailed nonlinear finite element model (FEM) was developed and validated against experimental results. The validation results indicated deflection error of 7.7–12.8% (mean: 9.33%; SD: 2.05), ultimate load error of 7.7–11.1% (mean: 9.48%; SD: 1.32), and a correlation coefficient (R²) of 0.96 between simulated and experimental values. Furthermore, analytical methods for predicting the cracking moment (with an average error of 5.97%) and ultimate flexural capacity, based on yield line theory (with an average error of 8.43%), were proposed and verified. This study demonstrates the structural viability of CSC panels and provides a sustainable solution for waste reduction in prefabricated building enclosures, contributing to greener construction practices. Full article

Precast concrete sandwich panels (PCSPs) have been widely adopted for constructing exterior walls in prefabricated residential buildings, but they face threats from impact loads such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, and runaway vehicles. Their impact performance directly affects the overall safety and durability of the structure. However, research on the impact performance of such exterior walls remains limited. In this study, LS-DYNA R11 software is employed to establish a numerical model of PCSPs. The proposed numerical simulation method is validated by comparing the results with existing experimental data. On the basis of this numerical method and adopting an actual prefabricated residential building project as the background, the damage behavior of three distinct types of PCSPs in a bedroom is numerically investigated under varying impact location and energy conditions. The results demonstrate that the interior wythe of the PCSPs studied in this work exhibit excellent stability under external impact loading, with the most of damage absorbed by the exterior wythe, which provides effective protection to the interior wythe. Compared with windowed PCSPs subjected to impact, loads at the same energy level exhibit concrete spalling and a more pronounced dynamic response. Additionally, the windowed surface of L-shaped PCSPs is more susceptible to generating significant dynamic responses, with the non-windowed side exhibiting at least 13.2% lower maximum displacement under impact compared to the windowed side. Full article

Achieving a decarbonized built environment in Canada requires proven, resilient, and scalable building envelope assemblies. In 2022, building operations accounted for 18% of Canada’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with space heating responsible for nearly two-thirds of this total. Alongside operational carbon reductions, embodied carbon emissions—stemming from the production and transport of building materials—must be prioritized during the design phase. Without intervention, construction materials could consume up to half of the remaining global 1.5 °C carbon budget by 2050. This paper highlights NRCan’s prototype, low-carbon, prefabricated panels filled with chopped straw and cellulose insulation under the Prefabricated Exterior Energy Retrofit (PEER) research project. The research advances confidence in performance and durability of biogenic materials by conducting controlled experiments, guarded hot box testing, and hygrothermal modelling. These panels present a promising pathway to drastically lower embodied carbon in the built environment. The validated hygrothermal model, accurate to between 3% and 7, enables assessment of hygrothermal performance across Canadian climates, retrofit scenarios and future climate conditions. This work supports the evidence for low-carbon or bio-based materials as a solution for Canada’s built environment. Full article

The construction of prefabricated timber buildings is a topic of growing interest, although research has primarily focused on technological aspects, while the users’ perspective remains underexplored. Accordingly, this paper aims to map the existing literature on prefabricated wooden buildings from a user-centered perspective, considering the whole-building scale. A systematic literature search of publications between 2010 and 2025 was conducted following PRISMA guidelines, identifying relevant studies. A bibliometric analysis was then performed to map key research themes, which were further examined through a scoping review. Four main themes emerged, i.e., indoor comfort, indoor air quality, sustainability and energy efficiency, and building architectural design. The findings highlight numerous aspects that should be considered in prefabricated timber buildings design, including thermal, vibrational and acoustic comfort, air pollutant and ventilation control, user behavior in relation to energy use, and spatial design based on users’ needs. However, the limited number of existing studies makes comprehensive evaluation difficult. Furthermore, the results emphasize the need for multidisciplinary approaches to adequately integrate user experience into the design of these buildings. Full article