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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2023) | Viewed by 19570

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Zhihua Chen

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Guest Editor

Tianjin University
Interests: steel; space structure; modular steel structure; composite structure; timber structure; bamboo structure; aluminum structure
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Qingshan Yang

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Guest Editor

School of Civil Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400045, China
Interests: structural wind engineering; monitoring and evaluation of ancient heritage structures; basic mechanical properties and wind-induced dynamic effects of flexible tensioning structures
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Yue Wu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

School of Civil Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
Interests: large-span steel structure; structural wind engineering; green and intelligent construction

Dr. Yansheng Du

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

School of Civil Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
Interests: steel structures; composite structures; fiber-reinforced polymers; bamboo structures

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

With the development of society and the economy, sustainable structures and construction are becoming increasingly necessary in civil engineering. Sustainability in construction refers to eco-friendly and economical practices throughout the whole life cycle of structures, including their design, construction, service and demolition. Sustainable structures include fabricated and modular structures, structures constructed using bio-based materials, etc. Specifically, timber, bamboo and light steel are increasingly popular materials for building residences. Additionally, wall panels made from eco-friendly materials can be used to reduce buildings’ energy consumption and carbon emissions. Sustainable construction necessitates prefabricated construction and the recycling and reuse of materials, structures, etc. Key problems have been proposed and solved for sustainable structures and construction in practice.

This Special Issue aims to provide an international forum for the presentation and discussion of the latest developments in sustainable structures and construction in civil engineering.

Topics of interest include the modeling, testing and construction of sustainable structures. Original papers focused on all aspects of sustainable structures and construction, including but not limited to modelling, testing and construction of material properties, components, connections, structures and sustainable behaviors, will be considered for publication.

Prof. Dr. Zhihua Chen
Prof. Dr. Qingshan Yang
Prof. Dr. Yue Wu
Dr. Yansheng Du
Guest Editors

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. Sustainability 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

sustainable structures
sustainable construction
fabricated and modular structures
bio-based materials and structures
recycling and reuse of materials and structures

Published Papers (14 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 11158 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Mechanical Properties and Failure Mechanisms of Steel-Fiber- and Nano-Silica-Modified Crumb Rubber Concrete Subjected to Elevated Temperatures

by Yihong Wang and Jiawei Chen

Sustainability 2023, 15(23), 16340; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su152316340 - 27 Nov 2023

Viewed by 707

Abstract

Steel-fiber- and nano-silica-modified crumb rubber concrete (SFNS-CRC), a new kind of environmentally friendly concrete, is characterized by its high performance. It achieves the recycling and reuse of waste rubber and promotes sustainable development in the rubber industry. This study used 12 groups of 288 specimens to study its mechanical properties and failure mechanisms when subjected to elevated temperatures. In the experiments, a heating and loading apparatus invented in our laboratory was used. The chosen crumb rubber concrete contained 5% rubber by volume. Through specimen analysis, the failure modes, mass loss, and compressive and splitting strengths of the specimens, as well as their failure mechanisms, were tested and are discussed while taking into account three variables, namely steel fiber volume ratio (0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5%), nano-silica content (0%, 1%, and 2%), and temperature (20 °C, 200 °C, 400 °C, and 600 °C). The test results indicate that the typical damage shapes of CRC subjected to elevated temperatures can be significantly ameliorated through the addition of steel fibers and nano-silica. This can lead to evident improvements in brittle failure and render CRC ductile. Essentially, it improves the integrity of SFNS-CRC specimens. The compressive and splitting tensile strengths of concrete mixtures subjected to elevated temperatures increase with an increase in the steel fiber content. There is an obvious improvement in the compressive strength when subjected to elevated temperatures and after adding nano-silica. The CRC with a content of 1.0% steel fiber is optimal, and the optimal content of nano-silica is 1.0%. In addition, SFNS-CRC performs better in terms of mechanical properties when subjected to elevated temperatures. The splitting tensile strength of SFNS-CRC is improved using steel fibers, and nano-silica plays a crucial role in improving compressive performance. SEM and XRD analyses helped verify the test results. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Structures and Construction in Civil Engineering)

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32 pages, 4581 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Improved Dual-Population Genetic Algorithm: A Straightforward Optimizer Applied to Engineering Optimization

by Zhihua Chen, Xuchen Xu and Hongbo Liu

Sustainability 2023, 15(20), 14821; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su152014821 - 12 Oct 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 771

Abstract

Aiming at the current limitations of the dual-population genetic algorithm, an improved dual-population genetic algorithm (IDPGA) for solving multi-constrained optimization problems is proposed by introducing a series of strategies, such as remaining elite individuals, a dynamic immigration operator, separating the objective and constraints, normalized constraints, etc. We selected 14 standard mathematical benchmarks to check the performance of IDPGA, and the results were compared with the theoretical value of CEC 2006. The results show that IDPGA with the current parameters obtains good solutions for most problems. Then 6 well-known engineering optimization problems were solved and compared with other algorithms. The results show that all of the solutions are feasible, the solution precision of IDPGA is better than other algorithms, and IDPGA performs with good efficiency and robustness. Meanwhile, no parameters need to be ignored when IDPGA is applied to solving engineering problems, which is enough to prove that IDPGA is suitable for solving engineering optimization. A Friedman test showed no significant difference between IDPGA and six algorithms, but significant differences between IDPGA and seven other algorithms; thus, a larger number of evaluators will be needed in the future. In addition, further research is still needed about the performance of IDPGA for solving practical large-scale engineering problems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Structures and Construction in Civil Engineering)

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25 pages, 19749 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Thermal Bridges Monitoring and Energy Optimization of Rural Residences in China’s Cold Regions

by Mingqian Guo, Yue Wu and Xinran Miao

Sustainability 2023, 15(14), 11015; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su151411015 - 13 Jul 2023

Viewed by 1389

Abstract

With the worldwide dissemination of the “green development” concept and the advancement of China’s new rural construction, the sustainable development of rural residences has gained significant attention within the construction industry. This article focuses on large-scale prefabricated insulation block houses used in China’s cold regions, specifically examining the case of Defa Village in Nenjiang City, Heilongjiang Province. By utilizing thermal imaging cameras, the thermal bridge parts of these houses are detected, and a finite element model is established to optimize the comprehensive heat transfer coefficient of these areas. This optimization is achieved by expanding the insulation layer and implementing low thermal bridge structures, ultimately enhancing the insulation and energy-saving efficiency of the houses. Simultaneously, an energy-saving analysis is conducted based on an optimized enclosure structure scheme, considering seven key design factors that influence building energy consumption: span, depth, clear height, and window-to-wall ratio in all four directions. Through a comprehensive experimental method, the building energy consumption is evaluated, and a scheme with optimal values is proposed. The results demonstrate that the insulation block walls and the main structures with expanded insulation layers and low thermal bridge structures are easier to construct. When compared to the original scheme, the comprehensive heat transfer coefficient of the walls is reduced by 54.82%, while that of the beams and columns is reduced by 97%. Implementing the optimal value scheme leads to a reduction of 66.83% in the building’s overall energy consumption. This research provides valuable guidance for the design and construction of large-scale insulated block rural residences, revealing the substantial potential of rural residences in terms of energy-saving and emission reduction. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Structures and Construction in Civil Engineering)

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15 pages, 3218 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Experimental Investigation on Thermal Conductivity of Straw Boards Based on the Temperature Control Box—Heat Flux Meter Method

by Kuo Sun, Chaorong Zheng, Yue Wu and Wenyuan Zhang

Sustainability 2023, 15(14), 10960; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su151410960 - 13 Jul 2023

Viewed by 970

Abstract

Straw boards are the environmentally-friendly and sustainable materials used for building envelopes. To validate a novel alternative test method of thermal conductivity (λ), temperature control box–heat flux meter method (TCB-HFM), and better understand the thermal properties of straw boards, experimental investigation on two types of straw boards using such a method was carried out. Moreover, the control test via the conventional guarded hot plate method (GHP) was conducted to provide a benchmark. Results show that the fluctuation amplitudes of the temperature difference and heat flux density for the TCB-HFM during the steady state are much smaller than a generally acceptable limitation of 5%, and a 5.9% deviation of λ between the two test methods is in a reasonable range. It is indicated that the TCB-HFM can be regarded as an alternative test method to conduct investigations on the thermal properties of materials. Furthermore, the correlation between density and λ is explored and expressed by a linear fitting formula with the determination coefficient (R²) of 0.9193, and the formula is verified to have the feasibility to predict the λ of different types of straw bio-based materials. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Structures and Construction in Civil Engineering)

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18 pages, 9235 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Intelligent Assessment Method of Structural Reliability Driven by Carrying Capacity Sustainable Target: Taking Bearing Capacity as Criterion

by Guoliang Shi, Zhansheng Liu, Dengzhou Xian and Rongtian Zhang

Sustainability 2023, 15(13), 10655; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su151310655 - 6 Jul 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 893

Abstract

Large-scale building structures are subject to numerous uncertain loads during their service life, leading to a decrease in structural reliability. Real-time analysis and accurate prediction of structural reliability is a key step to improve the bearing capacity of buildings. This study proposes an intelligent assessment method for structural reliability driven by a sustainability target, which incorporated digital twin technology to establish an intelligent evaluation framework for structural reliability. Under the guidance of the evaluation framework, the establishment method of a structural high-fidelity twin model is formed. The mechanical properties and reliability analysis mechanism are established based on the high-fidelity twin model. The theoretical method was validated by experimental analysis of a rigid cable truss construction. The results showed the simulation accuracy of the high-fidelity twin model formed by the modeling method is up to 95%. With the guidance of the proposed evaluation method, the mechanical response of the structure under different load cases was accurately analyzed, and the coupling relationship between component failure and reliability indicators was obtained. The twinning model can be used to analyze the reliability of the structure in real time and help to set maintenance measures of structural safety. By analyzing the bearing capacity and reliability index of the structure, the safety of the structure under load is guaranteed. The sustainability of structural performance is achieved during the normal service period of the structure. The proposed reliability assessment method provides a new approach to improving the sustainability of building bearing capacity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Structures and Construction in Civil Engineering)

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19 pages, 7674 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Multi-Scale Model Method for U-Ribs Temperature-Induced Stress Analysis in Long-Span Cable-Stayed Bridges through Monitoring Data

by Fengqi Zhu, Yinquan Yu, Panjie Li and Jian Zhang

Sustainability 2023, 15(12), 9149; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su15129149 - 6 Jun 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1046

Abstract

Temperature is one of the important factors that affect the fatigue failure of the welds in orthotropic steel desks (OSD) between U-ribs and bridge decks. In this study, a new analysis method for temperature-induced stress in U-ribs is proposed based on multi-scale finite element (FE) models and monitoring data First, the long-term temperature data of a long-span cable-stayed bridge is processed. This research reveals that a vertical temperature gradient is observed rather than a transverse temperature gradient on the long-span steel box girder bridge with tuyere components. There is a linear relationship between temperature and temperature-induced displacement, taking into account the time delay effect (approximately one hour). Then, a multi-scale FE model is established using the substructure method to condense each segment of the steel girder into a super-element, and the overall bridge temperature-induced displacement and temperature-induced stress of the local U-rib on the OSD are analyzed. The agreement between the calculated temperature-induced stresses and measured values demonstrates the effectiveness of the multi-scale modeling strategy. This approach provides a valuable reference for the evaluation and management of bridge safety. Finally, based on the multi-scale FE model, the temperature-induced strain distribution of components on the OSD is studied. This research reveals that the deflection of the girder continually changes with the temperature variation, and the temperature-induced strain of the girder exhibits a variation range of approximately 100 με. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Structures and Construction in Civil Engineering)

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23 pages, 5137 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Automated Optimum Design of Light Steel Frame Structures in Chinese Rural Areas Using Building Information Modeling and Simulated Annealing Algorithm

by Ting Zhou, Kezhao Sun, Zhihua Chen, Zhexi Yang and Hongbo Liu

Sustainability 2023, 15(11), 9000; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su15119000 - 2 Jun 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1523

Abstract

Many manual calculations and repeated modeling are required during the traditional structural design process. However, due to the high cost, rural buildings in China cannot be professionally designed and verified by designers as urban buildings, and their safety and economy cannot easily meet the requirements. Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology and intelligent optimization algorithms can effectively improve the structural design process and reduce design costs, but their applications in the field of rural residential buildings in China are limited. Therefore, this paper presents an innovative framework that realizes the structural design of rural light steel frame structures on the BIMBase platform (widely used BIM software in China, BIMBase 2023R1.3). Based on the parametric library of structural components built on standardized component coding, the framework completes the rapid modeling of rural light steel frame structures and the interaction between the BIMBase platform and structural analysis software, SATWE. The improved two-stage simulated annealing (SA) algorithm is applied to the structural design of rural buildings to obtain a design scheme that meets the design requirements and reduces the material consumption as much as possible. Two prefabricated rural light steel frame structures were analyzed to evaluate the efficiency of the proposed framework. The results show the feasibility of the proposed framework. Compared with traditional manual design methods, the design period can be reduced by six times while maintaining comparable levels of material consumption and structural design indicators. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Structures and Construction in Civil Engineering)

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22 pages, 9228 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Research on a New Plant Fiber Concrete-Light Steel Keel Wall Panel

by Yuqi Wu, Yunqiang Wu and Yue Wu

Sustainability 2023, 15(10), 8109; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su15108109 - 16 May 2023

Viewed by 1455

Abstract

With the growing worldwide attention towards environmental protection, the rational utilization of rice straw (RS) has gradually attracted the attention of scholars. This paper innovatively puts forward a solution for rational utilization of RS. A rice straw fiber concrete (RSFC) with good physical and mechanical properties and a rice straw concrete-light steel keel wall panel (RS-LSWP) with low comprehensive heat transfer coefficient and inconspicuous cold bridge phenomenon was designed. Firstly, the preparation method and process of RSFC is described in detail. Then, the physical and mechanical properties of RSFC, such as strength, apparent density, and thermal conductivity were tested. Finally, the thermal properties of the four new types of cold-formed thin-wall steel panels were analyzed using finite element simulation. The results show that the RSFC with a straw length of 5 mm, mass content of 12%, and modifier content of 1% is the most suitable for RS-LSWP. The standard compressive strength, tensile strength, and thermal conductivity of the RSFC are 2.2 MPa, 0.64 MPa, and 0.0862 W/(m·K), respectively. The wall panels with antitype C keel have a low comprehensive heat transfer coefficient and the best insulation effect. This study innovatively provides a technical method for the rational utilization of RS, promotes the application of RS and other agricultural wastes in building materials and the development of light steel housing. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Structures and Construction in Civil Engineering)

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26 pages, 10621 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Machine Learning-Based Prediction of Elastic Buckling Coefficients on Diagonally Stiffened Plate Subjected to Shear, Bending, and Compression

by Yuqing Yang, Zaigen Mu and Xiao Ge

Sustainability 2023, 15(10), 7815; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su15107815 - 10 May 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1455

Abstract

The buckling mechanism of diagonally stiffened plates under the combined action of shear, bending, and compression is a complex phenomenon that is difficult to describe with simple and clear explicit expressions. Predicting the elastic buckling coefficient accurately is crucial for calculating the buckling load of these plates. Several factors influence the buckling load of diagonally stiffened plates, including the plate’s aspect ratio, the stiffener’s flexural and torsional rigidity, and the in-plane load. Traditional analysis methods rely on fitting a large number of finite element numerical simulations to obtain an empirical formula for the buckling coefficient of stiffened plates under a single load. However, this cannot be applied to diagonally stiffened plates under combined loads. To address these limitations, several machine learning (ML) models were developed using the ML method and the SHAP to predict the buckling coefficient of diagonally stiffened plates. Eight ML models were trained, including decision tree (DT), k-nearest neighbor (K-NN), artificial neural network (ANN), random forest (RF), AdaBoost, LightGBM, XGBoost, and CatBoost. The performance of these models was evaluated and found to be highly accurate in predicting the buckling coefficient of diagonally stiffened plates under combined loading. Among the eight models, XGBoost was found to be the best. Further analysis using the SHAP method revealed that the aspect ratio of the plate is the most important feature influencing the elastic buckling coefficient. This was followed by the combined action ratio, as well as the flexure and torsional rigidity of the stiffener. Based on these findings, it is recommended that the stiffener-to-plate flexural stiffness ratio be greater than 20 and that the stiffener’s torsional-to-flexural stiffness ratio be greater than 0.4. This will improve the elastic buckling coefficient of diagonally stiffened plates and enable them to achieve higher load capacity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Structures and Construction in Civil Engineering)

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15 pages, 4587 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Research on the Bearing Capacity and Sustainable Construction of a Vacuum Drainage Pipe Pile

by Wei-Kang Lin, Xiao-Wu Tang, Yuan Zou, Jia-Xin Liang and Ke-Yi Li

Sustainability 2023, 15(9), 7555; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su15097555 - 4 May 2023

Viewed by 1242

Abstract

The vacuum drainage pipe (VDP) pile is a new type of pipe pile on which the current research is mainly focused on laboratory tests. There is little research on bearing characteristics and carbon emissions in practical engineering. To further explore the bearing capacity and sustainable construction of vacuum drainage pipe piles, static load tests were conducted to investigate the single-pile bearing capacity of ordinary pipe piles and vacuum drainage pipe piles, as well as soil settlement monitoring around the piles. Then, the Q-S curves of the two piles, the pile-side friction resistance under different pile top loads, and the development law of pile end resistance were compared and analyzed. Finally, based on the guidelines of the IPCC, the energy-saving and emission-reduction effects of VDP piles in practical engineering were estimated. The results indicate that, after vacuum consolidation, the VDP pile basically eliminates the phenomenon of soil compaction and does not cause excessive relative displacement of the pile and soil. VDP piles have increased lateral friction resistance, and compared to traditional piles, their ultimate bearing capacity is increased by 17.6%. Compared with traditional methods, the VDP pile method can reduce carbon emissions by 31.4%. This study provides guidance for the production and design of future VDP piles and demonstrates the potential of VDP piles for energy conservation and emission reduction in comparison to traditional methods. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Structures and Construction in Civil Engineering)

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24 pages, 17846 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Novel Rectangular-Section Combined Beam of Welded Thin-Walled H-Shape Steel/Camphor Pine Wood: The Bending Performance Study

by Chang Wu, Junwei Duan, Ziheng Yang, Zhijiang Zhao and Yegong Xu

Sustainability 2023, 15(9), 7450; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su15097450 - 30 Apr 2023

Viewed by 1180

Abstract

At present, the development of green building materials is imminent. Traditional wood structures show low strength and are easy to crack. Steel structures are also prone to instability. A novel rectangular-section composite beam from the welded thin-walled H-shape steel/camphor pine was proposed in this work. The force deformation, section strain distribution law, and damage mechanism of the combined beam were studied to optimize the composite beam design, clarify the stress characteristics, present a more reasonable and more efficient cross-section design, and promote green and environmental protection techniques. Furthermore, the effect of different factors such as steel yield strength, H-type steel web thickness, H-type steel web height, H-type steel flange thickness, H-type steel upper flange covered-board thickness, and combined beam width was investigated. The ABAQUS simulation with the finite element software was also performed and was verified through empirical experiments. According to the results: (1) the damage process of the composite beam was divided into three steps, namely elastic stage, elastic–plastic step, and destruction stage, and the cross-middle section strain met the flat section assumption; (2) additionally, the bond connection was reliable, the two deformations were consistent, and the effect of the combination was significant. The study of the main factors showed that an increase in the yield strength, the H-type steel web height, the steel H-beam upper flange thickness, and the combined beam width caused a significant enhancement in the bending bearing capacity. The combined beam led to high bending stiffness, high bending bearing capacity, and good ductility under bending. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Structures and Construction in Civil Engineering)

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23 pages, 7469 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Seismic Performance Comparison of Three-Type 800 m Spherical Mega-Latticed Structure City Domes

by Zibin Zhao and Yu Zhang

Sustainability 2023, 15(9), 7240; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su15097240 - 26 Apr 2023

Viewed by 1562

Abstract

With changes in the city environment and advances in engineering technologies, there is an increasing demand for the construction of super-large span city domes that can cover a large area to create a small internal environment within a specific region. However, the structural design must overcome various challenges in order to break the current structural span limitations. Moreover, there is little research on structures achieving such large spans. The seismic performance of the selected Kiewitt-type, Geodesic-type, and Three-dimensional grid-type mega-latticed structures is further investigated upon previous studies of the model selection, static and stability analysis results of the 800 m span mega-latticed structures. Finite element models were established with ANSYS to analyze the modal properties and earthquake response of the structures. The study evaluated the impact of earthquake directionality on the structural response as well as the response pattern of the structure under frequent and rare earthquake actions. It was found that the overall integrity of the structures is good, with strong coupling effects in three directions. The multi-dimensional seismic input method should be applied to solve the structural response. Combining the plastic development of the structure under rare earthquakes, the top and the circumferential trusses of the third and fourth rings are relatively weak parts of the structures. According to this study, given the known static analysis results, the maximum displacement and maximum stress of the structures under frequent and rare earthquake actions can be estimated. Furthermore, the study highlights that Three-dimensional grid-type mega-latticed structures should be prioritized designing structures with spans of 800 m, providing helpful guidance for the practical application of this type of structure. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Structures and Construction in Civil Engineering)

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14 pages, 5585 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Influence Depth of Pile Base Resistance in Sand-Layered Clay

by Dianfu Fu, Shuzhao Li, Hui Zhang, Yu Jiang, Run Liu and Chengfeng Li

Sustainability 2023, 15(9), 7221; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su15097221 - 26 Apr 2023

Viewed by 1477

Abstract

Pile base resistance is an important part of the ultimate bearing capacity, and the soil within a certain range above and below the pile end contributes to the pile base resistance. In general, pile base resistance is calculated according to the average value of soil strength within a certain range of the pile end in the current calculating method, so it is very important to determine the influence range of pile base resistance. Based on the soil parameters and the results of the cone penetration test of the LiuHua 11-1 site in the South China Sea, the difference of pile base resistance calculated by different methods, the regularity of pile base resistance affected by calculation depth range is revealed. Additionally, the numerical simulation method is used to analyze the distribution of a plastic zone around the pile end in homogeneous soil and stratified soil, the results show the influence depth range of pile base resistance is 0.12 D above the pile end to 0.83 D below the pile end in clay, and the influence depth range is 0.9 D above the pile end to 1.3 D below the pile end in stratified soil. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Structures and Construction in Civil Engineering)

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23 pages, 7044 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Improved Multi-Objective Optimization and Decision-Making Method on Construction Sites Layout of Prefabricated Buildings

by Gang Yao, Rui Li and Yang Yang

Sustainability 2023, 15(7), 6279; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su15076279 - 6 Apr 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2119

Abstract

Construction site layout planning (CSLP) that considers multi-objective optimization problems is essential to achieving sustainable construction. Previous CSLP optimization methods have applied to traditional cast-in-place buildings, and they lack the application for sustainable prefabricated buildings. Furthermore, commonly used heuristic algorithms still have room for improvement regarding the search range and computational efficiency of optimal solution acquisition. Therefore, this study proposes an improved multi-objective optimization and decision-making method for layout planning on the construction sites of prefabricated buildings (CSPB). Firstly, the construction site and temporary facilities are expressed mathematically. Then, relevant constraints are determined according to the principles of CSLP. Ten factors affecting the layout planning on the CSPB are identified and incorporated into the method of layout planning on the CSPB in different ways. Based on the elitist non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II), an improved multiple population constraint NSGA-II (MPC-NSGA-II) is proposed. This introduces the multi-population strategy and immigration operator to expand the search range of the algorithm and improve its computational efficiency. Combined with the entropy weight and technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution (TOPSIS), improved multi-objective optimization and decision for the CSLP model is developed on the CSPB. Practical cases verify the effectiveness and superiority of the algorithm and model. It is found that the proposed MPC-NSGA-II can solve the drawbacks of the premature and low computational efficiency of NSGA-II for multi-constrained and multi-objective optimization problems. In the layout planning on the CSPB, the MPC-NSGA-II algorithm can improve the quality of the optimal solution and reduce the solution time by 75%. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Structures and Construction in Civil Engineering)

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