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Advancements in Prefabricated Construction: Materials, Structures, Construction, and Management

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Special Issue Information
Keywords
Published Papers

A special issue of Buildings (ISSN 2075-5309). This special issue belongs to the section "Building Structures".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2023) | Viewed by 20600

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Guojun Cai

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Guest Editor

School of Civil Engineering, Anhui Jianzhu University, Hefei, China
Interests: geotechnical and geoenvironmental engineering

Prof. Dr. Dong Chen

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Guest Editor

School of Civil Engineering, Anhui Jianzhu University, Hefei, China
Interests: prefabrication structure; BIM; deep learning

Dr. Kai Li

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Guest Editor

School of Civil Engineering, Anhui Jianzhu University, Hefei, China
Interests: prefabrication; BIM; sustainable construction

Dr. Bo Hu

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Guest Editor

School of Mechanics and Civil Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, China
Interests: prefabrication structures; seismic behavior of engineering structures; structural health monitoring

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Prefabrication is a construction technology that includes fabricating building components in off-site factories before assembling them on-site. The widely propagated benefits of promoting prefabrication include reducing cost, time, defects, health and safety risks, and consequently improving quality, predictability, whole-life performance and profitability. It offers high-quality standard building components produced under controlled working conditions, efficient productivity to achieve a shorter construction period, and decreased waste and other adverse environmental impacts. As an advanced construction technology, prefabrication has been identified as an efficient solution to achieve sustainble and intelligent construction around the world.

This Special Issue aims to provide a platform for the discussion of the major research challenges and achievements on the development of novel technologies for prefabricated construction in terms of materials, structures, construction and mangement. Authors are invited to present original research and review articles that will stimulate the continuing efforts in this field. We hope that this Special Issue proposes the techniques, directions, strategies, and solutions to promote prefabricated buildings towards sustainable and intelligent construction.

Prof. Dr. Guojun Cai
Prof. Dr. Dong Chen
Dr. Kai Li
Dr. Bo Hu
Guest Editors

Baoquan Cheng, PhD Researcher
Guest Editor Assistant
Affiliation: 1. School of Civil Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, China;
2. Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
E-mail: [email protected]

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. Buildings is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 2600 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

materials for prefabrication
BIM for prefabrication
prefabricated structural systems
cost and benefit analysis for prefabrication
life cycle assessment for prefabrication
construction technologies for prefabrication
government policies for promoting prefabrication

Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

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27 pages, 9805 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Analysis and Application of Installation Tolerances in Prefabricated Construction Based on the Dimensional Chain Theory

by Hao Long, Xiaoyong Luo, Jinhong Liu and Shuang Dong

Buildings 2023, 13(7), 1799; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/buildings13071799 - 14 Jul 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1129

Abstract

During the installation process of prefabricated components, deviations in dimensions and installation positions can occur due to construction quality issues, and the accumulation of these deviations can impact the reliability of component installation. However, the current approach to addressing accumulated deviations in the component installation process primarily relies on the trial-and-error method, lacking a solid theoretical foundation. This paper introduces the dimensional chain theory derived from mechanical engineering and presents a method to evaluate the installation reliability of prefabricated components in concrete structures. First, based on extensive measurements of installation deviations, it was found that the installation deviations of components followed a log-normal distribution. By analyzing the relationship between installation deviations and the acceptance rate, it was determined that for a 90% acceptance rate, the installation position deviation should be 8.6 mm for prefabricated wall panel components and 7.3 mm for prefabricated column components. Subsequently, the concept of dimensional chain theory from mechanical engineering was introduced to establish a limit state equation for quantifying the installation reliability of prefabricated components in concrete structures. By applying this theory, appropriate component fabrication dimensions could be determined to achieve a 95% level of installation reliability. Finally, by using the Monte Carlo method to solve the installation limit state equation for an actual engineering project, recommended fabrication dimensions for the components were obtained. The results indicate that within the horizontal axis, the length deviation of prefabricated beams, and the width fabrication dimension of columns needed to be reduced by 2.3 mm to 2.9 mm. Within the vertical axis, the length dimension of columns and the height dimension of beams had to be reduced by 0.9 mm to 2.2 mm to achieve a 95% level of installation reliability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancements in Prefabricated Construction: Materials, Structures, Construction, and Management)

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21 pages, 6772 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Distribution Features of Deviation and Determination of a Tolerance Method for Prefabricated Concrete Components

by Hao Long, Xiaoyong Luo, Jinhong Liu and Hongzhan Xiang

Buildings 2023, 13(5), 1142; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/buildings13051142 - 25 Apr 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1365

Abstract

According to the current standards for prefabricated buildings, the dimensional tolerances of components are usually determined by experience, lacking a theoretical basis. This work demonstrates the mathematical distribution of the dimensional deviations of precast concrete components by measuring their three-dimensional dimensions. Utilizing the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test, the cumulative distribution function of dimension deviations was evaluated. In response to the fact that the tolerance division principle of equal upper and lower tolerance thresholds for prefabricated components in existing standards does not match the distribution of actual measured deviations of the components, this paper proposed a method for determining the tolerance values of prefabricated components based on the process capability index. The association between the process capability index and the qualification rate was utilized to determine the process capability index at a specified guarantee rate, which, in turn, determines the tolerance threshold values for various components. The results indicate that the range of unqualified random variables for the dimensional geometric parameters of the prefabricated components did not show a significant difference, with all values between 0.99 and 1.02. The coefficients of geometric parameter variation were all less than 0.0061, and the component dimensional deviation adhered to the normal distribution. By linking the process capability index with the pass rate, a process capability index of 0.55 at a guarantee rate of 90% was determined, along with the tolerance for various components. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancements in Prefabricated Construction: Materials, Structures, Construction, and Management)

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24 pages, 15402 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Study on the Mechanical Properties of Corroded Steel Strands at Deflection Angles

by Nianchun Deng, Jie Xu, Guochao Zhu and Zhongqing Han

Buildings 2023, 13(3), 795; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/buildings13030795 - 17 Mar 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1167

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the performance changes in steel-stranded hangers under complicated loads in moist or corrosive environments. First of all, corrosion tests were carried over three time periods (360 h, 720 h, 1080 h) on glossy and galvanized steel strands and different levels of corrosion were obtained. Subsequently, tensile tests were carried out on strands with different degrees of corrosion (including no corrosion) at different deflection angles. The test results showed that the ultimate bearing capacity of the uncorroded steel strand at the deflection angle decreased by 21.8%, while the ultimate bearing capacity of the glossy strand with the longest corrosion time decreased by 27.1%. For the same corrosion time, the ultimate bearing capacity of the glossy steel strand decreased at a higher rate than that of the galvanized steel strand. In addition, numerical simulations show that the angle of deflection reduces the ultimate bearing capacity of the steel strand. It is also found that both deflection angle and corrosion pit depth have a positive correlation on the maximum stress of the pit, and that the stress of the pit is highest near the fixed end. This study provides meaningful guidance for the design and maintenance of bridge hangers, which can extend the service life of the hangers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancements in Prefabricated Construction: Materials, Structures, Construction, and Management)

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22 pages, 6850 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of the Residual Seismic Capacity of Post-Earthquake Damaged RC Columns Based on the Damage Distribution Model

by Lei Li, Jing Chen and Wentao Wang

Buildings 2023, 13(3), 595; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/buildings13030595 - 23 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1405

Abstract

Evaluation of the residual seismic capacity (RSC) of post-earthquake damaged buildings is instrumental to the formation of reasonable recovery strategies. At present, incremental dynamic analysis (IDA) that considers the mainshock and aftershock is the method most frequently used to evaluate the RSC of damaged structures. However, the mainshock-induced structural damage determined using the IDA method may be inconsistent with the damage observed in actual engineering. This inconsistency could potentially lead to an unreasonable evaluation result. To overcome this drawback, it is necessary to evaluate the RSC of damaged structures according to their observed damage instead of that obtained by the IDA. In this paper, a method of evaluating the RSC of damaged reinforced concrete (RC) columns is proposed. First, the damage degree and distribution of the damaged columns were evaluated via visual inspection after mainshocks. Then, a numerical model was developed to predict the residual behavior of damaged columns subjected to aftershocks. After that, the RSC of damaged columns was estimated based on fragility analysis. The degradation of the collapse capacity of damaged columns was quantified by the collapse fragility index (CFI), and a parameter analysis was conducted to study the effect of structural parameters on the CFI of damaged columns. Lastly, an empirical model for predicting the CFI was proposed, facilitating the application of this study in actual post-earthquake assessments. The parameter analysis indicates that the axial load ratio of the columns and the degree of damage degree accumulated during mainshocks have a significant effect on the CFI. Additionally, the proposed empirical model can effectively predict the degradation of the collapse capacity of RC columns in existing test data, with an accuracy of 0.82. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancements in Prefabricated Construction: Materials, Structures, Construction, and Management)

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21 pages, 4831 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sandwich Composite Panel from Spent Mushroom Substrate Fiber and Empty Fruit Bunch Fiber for Potential Green Thermal Insulation

by Mohammad Aliff Shakir, Mardiana Idayu Ahmad, Yusri Yusup, Saikh Mohammad Wabaidur, Masoom Raza Siddiqui, Mahboob Alam and Mohd Rafatullah

Buildings 2023, 13(1), 224; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/buildings13010224 - 13 Jan 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1912

Abstract

Massive generation of natural waste fiber from agricultural industries followed by improper disposal management might result in a detrimental effect on our ecosystem contributing to various types of environmental pollution. With the growing significance of climate change, an effort is being undertaken by utilizing natural waste fiber into eco-friendly insulation panels to reduce the environmental impact of buildings. In this research, a composite panel was developed from spent mushroom substrate (SMS) and empty fruit bunch (EFB) fibers via a sandwich technique. Five samples were made, each with a different fiber ratio (100 SMS: 0 EFB, 80 SMS: 20 EFB, 60 SMS: 40 EFB, 40 SMS: 60 EFB, and 0 SMS: 100 EFB) at density 0.8 g/cm³. Fourier transformation infrared (FTIR) Soxhlet extraction followed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) indicated that the SMS and EFB fibers were relevant for fabrication into a composite panel for thermal insulation. Thermal conductivity, thermal resistance, and thermal diffusivity values for these five composite samples were 0.231 to 0.31 W/(mK), 0.0194 to 0.0260 m²K/W, and 0.2665 to 0.3855 mm²/s, respectively. The flexural strength of the composite was at the range 15.61 to 23.62 MPa. These research findings suggest that the fabrication of a sandwich composite panel from SMS and EFB fiber is a promising alternative way to utilize natural waste fiber. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancements in Prefabricated Construction: Materials, Structures, Construction, and Management)

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21 pages, 7394 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Experimental and Parametric Study on Seismic Behavior of Steel Frame with ALC Panels

by Kewei Ding, Xiaoying Kong, Shulin He and Da Zong

Buildings 2022, 12(12), 2070; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/buildings12122070 - 25 Nov 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1253

Abstract

This paper presents a new type of connector which is used in prefabricated structures for attaching the autoclaved lightweight concrete panels to the steel frame. The new type of connector is composed of an L-node plate and a Z-node plate and is termed as the “pendulous Z-plate connector”. For examining the seismic behavior of the new connector, two full-scale steel frames with cladding panel walls, in which the ALC panels are connected to the steel frame by both classical and new connectors, were tested under quasi-static loading. The failure mode, hysteresis performance, energy dissipation, and stiffness degradation of the structures were measured and compared. The experimental results indicate that the new connector facilitates a better structural performance of cladding panel walls than the classical connector in terms of the coordinating deformation, the energy dissipation, and the load-carrying capacity at the yielding and the ultimate stages. In addition, for in-depth analysis of the failure mechanism, the finite element modeling was conducted and validated based on the comparison with the experimental results. Further parametric studies are carried out to find out the effect of bolt grades on the structure. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancements in Prefabricated Construction: Materials, Structures, Construction, and Management)

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22 pages, 18293 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Bearing Capacity of UHPC-Filled High-Strength Elliptical Steel Tube Composite Columns with Encased High-Strength H-Shape Steel Subjected to Eccentrical Load

by Jing Ji, Weichen Wang, Liangqin Jiang, Hongguo Ren, Qingqin Wang, Wenyu Xuan and Yingchun Liu

Buildings 2022, 12(8), 1272; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/buildings12081272 - 19 Aug 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1659

Abstract

In order to investigate the bearing capacity of composite columns composed of ultra-high performance concrete, (UHPC)-filled high-strength elliptical steel tube with encased high-strength H-shape steel (HUCFESTCs) were subjected to eccentric load. Forty-four HUCFESTCs were designed with varying parameters: yield strength of the steel tube (f_y), yield strength of the H-shape steel (f_y1), concrete-cube compressive strength (f_cu), steel tube thickness (t), eccentricity (e), slenderness ratio (λ), the section area of the H-shape steel (A_HS), and long–short axis ratio (ψ). Based on a bilinear elastic–plastic constitutive model of steel that considered stress hardening and a nonlinear constitutive model of UHPC, 44 HUCFESTCs models were established by ABAQUS software. The influence of different parameters on the ultimate bearing capacity of the HUCFESTCs was analyzed. The whole process of HUCFESTCs under eccentric load was studied, and the typical failure modes of HUCFESTCs are described. The results show that the main failure mode of the HUCFESTCs subjected to eccentrical load is bulging outward of the steel tube, the buckling of the H-shape steel, and crushing of the concrete in the middle part of the column and the inner part of the H-shape steel. The stiffness of HUCFESTCs increases gradually with the increase in f_y, t, and e. The ultimate eccentrical compression bearing capacity of HUCFESTCs improves gradually with increases in f_y, t, f_y1, A_HS, ψ, and f_cu, but it decreases gradually with increases in λ and e. By using statistical regression and introducing the reduction coefficient of eccentricity, the calculation formula for the eccentric bearing capacity of HUCFEST columns is developed, which can provide a basis for the application of HUCFESTCs in practical engineering. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancements in Prefabricated Construction: Materials, Structures, Construction, and Management)

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19 pages, 7741 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Shear Behavior of FRP Connectors in Precast Sandwich Insulation Wall Panels

by Dong Chen, Kuaikuai Li, Zhiyang Yuan, Baoquan Cheng and Xing Kang

Buildings 2022, 12(8), 1095; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/buildings12081095 - 26 Jul 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1637

Abstract

Glass fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composite connectors used in precast sandwich insulation wall panels directly affect the safety of the wall. In practical applications, a precast concrete sandwich insulation wall panel is transported to the construction site for hoisting 3–5 days after steam curing, and its concrete strength typically reaches approximately 70% of the design strength (i.e., the concrete strength after natural curing for 14 days). This study investigated the natural curing of concrete for 14 days and analyzed the mechanical properties of FRP connectors with two different sections in terms of their failure mode, failure process, and load–displacement curves. Numerical analysis and finite element parametric analysis of the connectors were conducted based on experimental data. The average ultimate shear capacity of a single rectangular-section connector was 8.37 kN and that of the cross-section connector was 8.37 kN. The connectors exhibited a good shear resistance, and the rectangular-section connectors had better ductility than the cross-section connectors. The wall panel exhibited three types of failure modes: splicing failure of the fiber layer of the connector, fiber fracture in the anchorage of the connector, failure of the concrete of the anchorage, and mainly material damage of the connector itself. The error between the load simulation value and test value of a single connector was less than 10% of the numerical simulation error requirement, and the finite element simulation results were reliable. The results of the parametric simulation of the shear capacity showed that the distance between connectors, anchorage depth, and insulation layer thickness had a significant influence on the shear performance of concrete connectors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancements in Prefabricated Construction: Materials, Structures, Construction, and Management)

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Review

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14 pages, 3175 KiB

Open AccessReview

Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Composite Precast Concrete Sandwich Panels: A Review

by Herman Tawil, Chee Ghuan Tan, Nor Hafizah Ramli Sulong, Fadzli Mohamed Nazri, Muhammad M. Sherif and Ahmed El-Shafie

Buildings 2022, 12(9), 1429; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/buildings12091429 - 11 Sep 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 6674

Abstract

Precast concrete sandwich panels (PCSPs) are utilized for the external cladding of structures (i.e., residential, and commercial) due to their high thermal efficiency and adequate composite action that resist applied loads. PCSPs are composed of an insulating layer with high thermal resistance that is mechanically connected to the concrete. In the recent decades, PCSPs have been a viable alternative for the fast deployment of structures due to the low fabrication and maintenance cost. Furthermore, the construction of light and thin concrete wythes that can transfer and resist shear loads has been achieved with the utilization of high-performance cementitious composites. As a result, engineers prefer PCSPs for building construction. PCSP design and use have been examined to guarantee that a building is energy efficient, has structural integrity, is sustainable, is comfortable, and is safe. Hence, this paper reviews the expanding knowledge regarding the current development of the mechanical and thermal properties of the PCSPs components; subsequently, future potential research directions are suggested. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancements in Prefabricated Construction: Materials, Structures, Construction, and Management)

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