Elasto-plastic analysis and optimal design of composite integral abutment bridge extended with limited residual plastic deformation

Due to the growing significance of structural theories concerning the composite structure analysed and designed plastically, this paper introduces a new optimisation method for controlling the plastic behaviour of a full-scale composite integral abutment bridge by employing complementary strain energy of residual forces that existed within the reinforcing rebars. Composite bridges are structures made of components such as steel and concrete, which are frequent and cost-effective building methods. Thus, various objective functions were used in this work when applying optimum elasto-plastic analysing and designing the composite integrated bridge structure that was tested experimentally in the laboratory. In contrast, the plastic deformations were constrained by restricting the complementary strain energy of the residual internal forces aiming to find the maximum applied load and the minimum number of steel bars used to reinforce the concrete column part of the structure. The numerical model employed in this paper was validated and calibrated using experimental results, which were considered inside ABAQUS to produce the validated numerical model, using concrete damage plasticity (CDP) constitutive model and concrete data from laboratory testing to solve the nonlinear programming code provided by the authors. This paper presents a novel optimization method using complementary strain energy to control the plastic behaviour of a full-scale composite integral abutment bridge, with the original contribution being the incorporation of residual forces within reinforcing rebars to limit plastic deformations. Following that, a parametric investigation of the various optimisation problems revealed how models performed variously under different complementary strain energy values, which influenced the general behaviour of the structure as it transitioned from elastic to elasto-plastic to plastic; also results showed how the complementary strain energy value is connected with the amount of damaged accrued in both concrete and steel.

Evaluation of Digital’s Role in Sustainable Built Environment

The construction industry has been evolving, embracing the delicate balance between the Fourth Industry Revolution and sustainable construction to create a sustainable and resilient built environment. Integrating digital tools and technologies in a renowned conventional construction industry is challenging, mainly due to the complex interaction between heterogeneous but heuristic construction processes, building systems, and workflows in achieving a common goal. This study took the initiative to review digital tool adoption and its role in the sustainable built environment by examining the impact of digital adoption in a sustainable built environment in terms of societal and industry impacts. A quantitative analysis is conducted, collecting 63 industry practitioners analysed through regression analysis. The result reveals that energy conservation is the most significant element in the sustainable built environment, which brought the greatest impact on both society and industry in Malaysia. Based on the results, it is found that the digital adoption level in the Malaysian construction industry is still at a minimal level. Through the introduction of Indutry4wrd, National 4IR and Construction 4.0 Strategic Plan (2021–2025), the importance of digital tools and technologies is slowly being acknowledged. The result of the study is significant to benchmark the current digital tools adoption in the Malaysian sustainable built environment. Moreover, the contribution could be made in terms of better understanding and facilitating, where relevant, greater usage of digital tools in the construction industry to promote efficiency.

Big Data Analytics in Supply Chain Management: A Qualitative Study

This work explores the leading supply chain processes impacted by big data analytic techniques. Although these concepts are being extensively applied to supply chain management, the number of works that examine and classify the main processes in the current literature is still scarce. This article, therefore, provides a classification of the current literature on the use of big data analytics and provides insight from professionals in the field in relation to this topic. A well-established set of practical guidelines was used to design and carry out a systematic literature mapping. A total of 50 primary studies were analysed and classified, chosen from a sample of 5, 437 studies after careful filtering to answer six research questions. In addition, a survey was prepared and applied by professionals working in the area. In total, 25 professionals answered a questionnaire with eleven questions, ten of which seek to explore the importance of big data analytics for the areas of the supply chain addressed in this work, and one intends to list the three areas where BDA can be more shocking. More than 60% of the studies are directly linked to the area of chain management; most studies performed empirical studies but rarely classified or detailed methodological procedures; almost 50% bring models to optimize some process or forecasts for better decision-making; more than 50% of professionals working in the area believe that the processes where big data analytics can effectively contribute are related to inventory and stockout management. This study serves as a basis for further research and future work, as it reviews the literature, pointing out the main areas that are being addressed and making a relationship with understanding these areas in practice.

Properties of Rigid Polyurethane Foam Filled with Sawdust from Primary Wood Processing

In this study, the possibility of using sawdust, a by-product of primary wood processing, as a filler (WF) for rigid polyurethane (PUR) foams was investigated. The effects of the addition of 5, 10, 15 and 20% of WF particles to the polyurethane matrix on the foaming process, cell structure and selected physical-mechanical properties such as density, thermal conductivity, dimensional stability, water absorption, brittleness, compressive and bending strengths were evaluated. Based on the results, it was found that the addition of WF in the amount of up to 10% does not significantly affect the kinetics of the foam foaming process, allowing the reduction of their thermal conductivity, significantly reducing brittleness and maintaining high dimensional stability. On the other hand, such an amount of WF causes a slight decrease in the compressive strength of the foam, a decrease in its bending strength and an increase in water absorption. However, it is important that in spite of the observed decrease in the values of these parameters, the obtained results are satisfactory and consistent with the parameters of insulation materials based on rigid PUR foam, currently available on the market.

FRP Poles: A State-of-the-Art-Review of Manufacturing, Testing, and Modeling

Fiber-reinforced polymers poles were on the increase because they were lightweight, have high strength-to-weight ratios, provide corrosion resistance, can be customized to meet strength and deflection requirements, and have a low life-cycle cost of construction and maintenance. This research presents a comprehensive review of all significant research and existing case studies to review the present knowledge concerning fiber-reinforced polymers poles. The main summary covers 70 works focusing on fiber poles to summarize recent activities on selected relevant topics and highlight possible future implementations. In this context, this study discusses fiber-reinforced polymers poles in six aspects: (i) introduction; (ii) methodology; (iii) Materials properties of FRP poles; (iv) manufacturing techniques of FRP poles; (v) testing of FRP poles (static and dynamic flexure test as cantilever beam); (vi) modeling of FRP poles. Therefore, this critical review will demonstrate an overview of FRP Poles manufacturing techniques (Pultrusion, filament winding, centrifugal process, and hand lay-up) and which Pultrusion technique is the best suited for FRP Poles. Static modeling was the most used of other techniques.

Mechanical Performance of Amorphous Metallic Fiber-Reinforced and Rubberized Thin Bonded Cement-Based Overlays

To improve the flexural behavior of thin bonded cement-based overlays, this study was carried out on the use of repair material incorporating amorphous metallic fibers (AMFs) in combination with the rubber aggregates obtained from grinding of worn-out tires. For this study, sixteen mortar mix compositions were prepared to contain AMFs and/or rubber aggregates to be used as overlay material while the substrate used was plain cement mortar. Rubber aggregates were incorporated at three different replacement ratios (i.e., 10%, 20% and 30%) by an equivalent volume of sand, and AMFs were added in three different dosages (i.e., 10 kg/m3, 20 kg/m3 and 30 kg/m3). In this study, composite beams (500 × 100 × 140 mm) comprising substrate (500 × 100 × 100 mm) and repair layer (500 × 100 × 40 mm) were prepared and investigated under flexural loading. Experimental results showed that the increase in rubber content resulted in a decrease compressive strength, flexural strength and modulus of elasticity. Rubberized fiber-reinforced cementitious composites (30R30F) exhibited higher flexural toughness and the flexural toughness improved up to 400%. Toughness and maximum deflection of composite beams enhanced significantly due to synergetic effect of AMF and rubber aggregates. It was observed that before peak load, rubber plays its role by delaying the micro-crack propagation. Results also revealed that the steel fibers reinforcement plays an important role in restraining the crack openings under flexure loading. In the post-peak region, steel fibers control the cracks from propagating further by bridging action and provide higher post-peak residual strength.

A Comprehensive Review on Sustainable Natural Fiber in Cementitious Composites: The Date Palm Fiber Case

The use of natural fibers in cementitious composites continue gaining acceptability and applicability due to the shortcomings and disadvantages of synthetic fiber; this is because natural fibers have advantages of sustainability, eco-friendliness, and economy. Biodegradable natural fibers, being low density and lightweight, with typical values of strength-to-weight ratio, aspect ratio, elastic modulus, and strength, may be competitive for substituting synthetic fibers such as glass and carbon. Indeed, natural fibers are mostly non-irritating for the skin and typically pose no troubles or issues for breathing, which is not the case with many synthetic fibers. Date palm fiber (DPF) is a natural fiber obtained as waste material from a date palm tree. In many countries, with large date production, DPF is easily available as a process by-product, with a low processing cost. Being sustainable and environmentally friendly, DPF is continuously gaining acceptability as fiber material in different composites such as concrete, mortar, gypsum composites, clay composites, and bricks. Based on the most available literature reviewed, DPF reinforced composites have been found to be a good insulation material, with higher thermal properties, thereby reducing energy consumption which consequently saves the running and maintenance cost of the building. DPF reinforced composites were reported to have higher energy absorption capacity, ductility, and bending resistance, leading to delaying crack propagation and preventing catastrophic failures of structures such as beams and slabs. Additionally, due to its lower density, DPF reinforced composites have the advantage for usage in areas prone to seismic effects, and when used for buildings, the overall weight of the building is expected to reduce hence reduction in foundation cost. The major setback of using DPF in composites is the reduction in the compressive strength of the composites and the durability performance of the composites. Therefore, for effective usage of DPF in composites to derive the maximum benefits, there is a need to devise a method of mitigating its negative effects on the compressive strength and durability performance of the Composites; this is a future study that needs to be explored for better performance of DPF in cementitious and other materials composites.

A Review of the Performance and Benefits of Mass Timber as an Alternative to Concrete and Steel for Improving the Sustainability of Structures

The construction industry represents one of the greatest contributors to atmospheric emissions of CO2 and anthropogenic climate change, largely resulting from the production of commonly used building materials such as steel and concrete. It is well understood that the extraction and manufacture of these products generates significant volumes of greenhouse gases and, therefore, this industry represents an important target for reducing emissions. One possibility is to replace emissions-intensive, non-renewable materials with more environmentally friendly alternatives that minimise resource depletion and lower emissions. Although timber has not been widely used in mid- to high-rise buildings since the industrial revolution, recent advances in manufacturing have reintroduced wood as a viable product for larger and more complex structures. One of the main advantages of the resurgence of wood is its environmental performance; however, there is still uncertainty about how mass timber works and its suitability relative to key performance criteria for construction material selection. Consequently, the aim of this study is to help guide decision making in the construction sector by providing a comprehensive review of the research on mass timber. Key performance criteria for mass timber are reviewed, using existing literature, and compared with those for typical concrete construction. The review concludes that mass timber is superior to concrete and steel when taking into consideration all performance factors, and posits that the construction industry should, where appropriate, transition to mass timber as the low-carbon, high performance building material of the future.

The Church of S. Maria Delle Palate in Tusa (Messina, Italy): Digitization and Diagnostics for a New Model of Enjoyment

Cultural places represent the tangible part of the identity and historical heritage of a civilization as well as an extraordinary driving force for the economic development of a country. Within its huge asset, Italy counts a wide number of archaeological sites and monuments which, despite their cultural value, are totally cut off from the most important cultural routes. This paper aims to demonstrate how specific actions of digitization can contribute to valorize (restoring a cultural value) ‘marginal’ landmarks, promoting their knowledge and inclusion. The case study described is represented by the Church of “Santa Maria delle Palate”, located inside the well-known Archaeological Park of Halaesa Arconidea (Tusa, ME). The church, built in 1551 and subject to several renovations throughout the centuries, has been investigated as part of an interdisciplinary training and skill transfer project carried out by a CNR-IPCF research team. During the activities, the group of trainees approached a multi-analytic method for the study of many Sicilian places using different techniques such as laser scanning, photogrammetry, thermography and spectroscopy and collecting a large amount of information and data. In 2019, the building in question was the object of a complete architectural survey in order to obtain an accurate digital replica; moreover, the wall painting representing St. Francis, preserved in the southern nave, was investigated through non-invasive investigations (IR-imaging, XRF and Raman spectrometry) with the intention of collecting information about its state of preservation and nature of pigments used and help the restoration work, which would have been carried out in the following months. The result of the work is a combined “digital archive” useful not only for the purposes of conservation, monitoring and dissemination, but as a container of information enjoyable at different levels of depth. In addition to the scientific outcomes achieved for the study of the painting, relevant from the historical and artistic point of view, we must underline the importance of the work for the implementation of a web-based platform where expert and inexpert users can virtually access the church virtual tour and search for specialized contents (e.g., measures, analyzes results). Media such as this are finally demonstrated to be able to promote the inclusion (e.g., for people unable to reach the place or with reducing mobility) and accessibility to cultural places during ordinary (maintenance, closure) or extraordinary events (pandemic).

Distance education tool selection using novel spherical fuzzy AHP EDAS

COVID 19 pandemic, which entered our lives suddenly, caused the change of our classical education system and forced higher education institutions to switch to distance education quickly. During this time, the need for a method that can comprehensively and scientifically evaluate the alternatives of videoconferencing tools to be used in distance education has emerged. This paper proposes a novel hybrid multi-criteria group decision-making (MCGDM) model by integrating the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and the evaluation based on distance from average solution (EDAS) methodologies. The proposed model is developed with spherical fuzzy (SF) sets, which enable decision-makers (DMs) express their membership, non-membership and hesitancy degrees independently, and in a large three-dimensional spherical space. The applicability of the developed spherical fuzzy AHP EDAS is illustrated through a problem of selecting a videoconferencing tool for distance education. For this purpose, three DMs evaluate five popular videoconferencing tools, namely Zoom, Google Meet, Cisco WebEx, Skype and Microsoft with respect to six criteria, which are expanded with 32 related sub-criteria from the literature to more comprehensively handle the problem. The implications, sensitivity and comparative analyses, limitations and future research avenue are also given within the study.

Roles of Waste Glass and the Effect of Process Parameters on the Properties of Sustainable Cement and Geopolymer Concrete-A State-of-the-Art Review

Recent research has revealed the promising potential of using waste glass (WG) as a binder or inert filler in cement and geopolymer concrete to deliver economic and environmental benefits to the construction sector. However, the outcomes obtained by different research groups are scattered and difficult to compare directly because of isolated process parameters. In this study, the roles and impacts of WG and process parameters on the performance of WG-added cement and geopolymer concrete are critically reviewed. This study reveals that the chemical and mineralogical composition, and particle size of WG, mix proportion, activation, and curing condition of concrete are the most important parameters that affect the dissolution behavior of WG and chemical reactivity between WG and other elements in concrete; consequently, these show impacts on properties of concrete and optimum WG level for various applications. These parameters are required to be optimized based on the guidelines for high pozzolanicity and less alkali–silica reactivity of WG in concrete. This review provides a critical discussion and guidelines on these parameters and the chemistry of WG in cement and geopolymer concrete for best practice and highlights the current challenges with future research directions.

Stochastic approach for the material properties of reinforcing textiles for the design of concrete members

Textile-reinforced concrete has emerged in recent years as a new and valuable construction material. The design of textile-reinforced concrete requires knowledge on the mechanical properties of different textile types as well as their reinforcing behaviour under different loading conditions. Conventional load-bearing tests tend to be complex, time-consuming, costly and can even lack consistent specifications. To mitigate such drawbacks, a standardised tensile test for fibre strands was used to characterise the material properties needed for the design of a textile-reinforced concrete member. The standardised tensile test uses a fibre strand with 160 mm length, which is cut out of a textile grid. For the sake of this study, an epoxy resin-soaked AR-glass reinforcement was considered. The results show that the textile reinforcement has a linear-elastic behaviour, and the ultimate tensile strength can be statistically modelled by a Gumbel distribution. Furthermore, the results indicate that the modulus of elasticity is not influenced by the length or the number of fibre strands. Therefore, the mean value attained from the standardised test can be used for design purposes. These findings are essential to derive an appropriate partial safety factor for the calculation of the design values of the tensile strength and can be used to determine the failure probability of textile-reinforced concrete members.

Increasing the Performance of a Fiber-Reinforced Concrete for Protective Facilities

The use of fiber in cement materials is a promising and effective replacement for bar reinforcement. A wide range of fiber-reinforced concretes based on composite binders with increased impact strength characteristics have been developed. The synthesized composites included the composite binder made of Portland cement, silica, and carbonate additives. Basalt and steel were used as fibers. The nature of the influence of the composition and manufacturing technology of cement composites on the dynamic hardening coefficient has been established, while the growth of these indicators is achieved by creating a denser interfacial transition zone between the cement paste, aggregate, and fiber as a result of improving the homogeneity of the concrete mixture and controlling the consistency. Workability indicators (slump flow up to 730 mm; spreading time up to a diameter of 50 cm is up to 3 s) allow them to be classified as self-compacting concrete mixtures. An increase in the values of the impact strength coefficient by a factor of 5.5, the dynamic hardening coefficient by almost 70% as a result of interfacial interaction between fibers and binder matrix in the concrete composite, as well as absorption of impact energy by fiber, was revealed. The formula describing the effect of the loading rate on the coefficient of dynamic hardening of fiber-reinforced concrete has been refined. The fracture processes of the obtained materials have been established: after the initiation of primary cracks, the structure of the composite absorbs impact energy for a long time, while in the inelastic range (the onset of cracking and peak loads), a large number of secondary cracks appear.

Characterization of the Static, Creep, and Fatigue Tensile Behavior of Basalt Fiber/Polypropylene Composite Rods for Passive Concrete Reinforcement

Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites are becoming more frequently adopted as so-called “corrosion-resistant” concrete reinforcement materials due to their excellent mechanical properties and formability. However, their long-term reliability must be thoroughly investigated in order to understand failure mechanisms and to develop service life models. This study is on the mechanical properties of a prototype basalt fiber-reinforced polypropylene (BFPP) rod under quasi-static and sustained loading. Static strength and modulus at elevated temperatures do not decrease significantly, but the variability in strength increases with temperature, as shown by a Weibull analysis. Creep behavior is typical of unidirectional FRP, where the creep rupture strength follows a power law. Fatigue at various stress ratios R reveals the sensitivity of composite strength to the matrix damage, which increases at lower values of R (i.e., higher stress amplitudes). These results are discussed in the context of service life and concrete structure design guidelines.

A Comparative Analysis of Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Methods for Resource Selection in Mobile Crowd Computing

In mobile crowd computing (MCC), smart mobile devices (SMDs) are utilized as computing resources. To achieve satisfactory performance and quality of service, selecting the most suitable resources (SMDs) is crucial. The selection is generally made based on the computing capability of an SMD, which is defined by its various fixed and variable resource parameters. As the selection is made on different criteria of varying significance, the resource selection problem can be duly represented as an MCDM problem. However, for the real-time implementation of MCC and considering its dynamicity, the resource selection algorithm should be time-efficient. In this paper, we aim to find out a suitable MCDM method for resource selection in such a dynamic and time-constraint environment. For this, we present a comparative analysis of various MCDM methods under asymmetric conditions with varying selection criteria and alternative sets. Various datasets of different sizes are used for evaluation. We execute each program on a Windows-based laptop and also on an Android-based smartphone to assess average runtimes. Besides time complexity analysis, we perform sensitivity analysis and ranking order comparison to check the correctness, stability, and reliability of the rankings generated by each method.

Influence of Artificial Intelligence in Civil Engineering toward Sustainable Development—A Systematic Literature Review

The widespread use of artificial intelligence (AI) in civil engineering has provided civil engineers with various benefits and opportunities, including a rich data collection, sustainable assessment, and productivity. The trend of construction is diverted toward sustainability with the aid of digital technologies. In this regard, this paper presents a systematic literature review (SLR) in order to explore the influence of AI in civil engineering toward sustainable development. In addition, SLR was carried out by using academic publications from Scopus (i.e., 3478 publications). Furthermore, screening is carried out, and eventually, 105 research publications in the field of AI were selected. Keywords were searched through Boolean operation “Artificial Intelligence” OR “Machine intelligence” OR “Machine Learning” OR “Computational intelligence” OR “Computer vision” OR “Expert systems” OR “Neural networks” AND “Civil Engineering” OR “Construction Engineering” OR “Sustainable Development” OR “Sustainability”. According to the findings, it was revealed that the trend of publications received its high intention of researchers in 2020, the most important contribution of publications on AI toward sustainability by the Automation in Construction, the United States has the major influence among all the other countries, the main features of civil engineering toward sustainability are interconnectivity, functionality, unpredictability, and individuality. This research adds to the body of knowledge in civil engineering by visualizing and comprehending trends and patterns, as well as defining major research goals, journals, and countries. In addition, a theoretical framework has been proposed in light of the results for prospective researchers and scholars.

Sustainability Assessment of Modern High-Rise Timber Buildings

As woodworking and construction technologies improve, the construction of multi-storey timber buildings is gaining popularity worldwide. There is a need to look at the design of existing buildings and assess their sustainability. The aim of the present study is to assess the sustainability of modern high-rise timber buildings using multi-criteria assessment methods. The paper presents a hierarchical system of sustainability indicators and an assessment framework, developed by the authors. Based on this framework, the tallest timber buildings in different countries, i.e., Mjøstårnet in Norway, Brock Commons in Canada, Treet in Norway, Forte in Australia, Strandparken in Sweden and Stadthaus in UK, were compared across the three dimensions of sustainability (environmental, economic/technological, and social). Research has revealed that none of the buildings is leading in all dimensions of sustainability. However, each building is unique and has its own strengths. Overall multi-criteria assessment of the buildings revealed that the Brock Commons building in Canada has received the highest rank in all dimensions of sustainability. The paper contributes to the theory and practice of sustainability assessment and extends the knowledge about high-rise timber buildings. The proposed sustainability assessment framework can be used by both academics and practitioners for assessment of high-rise timber buildings.

Zeolite Lightweight Repair Renders: Effect of Binder Type on Properties and Salt Crystallization Resistance

Rendering mortars with lightweight zeolite aggregates were designed and tested. The effect of the type of binder used was also researched. For the hardened mortars, macrostructural parameters, mechanical characteristics, hygric and thermal properties were assessed. Specific attention was paid to the analysis of the salt crystallization resistance of the developed rendering mortars. Quartz sand was fully replaced in the composition of mortars with zeolite gave materials with low density, high porosity, sufficient mechanical strength, high water vapor permeability and high water absorption coefficient, which are technical parameters required for repair rendering mortars as prescribed in the WTA directive 2-9-04/D and EN 998-1. Moreover, the zeolite enhanced mortars exhibit good thermal insulation performance and high sorption capacity. The examined rendering mortars were found to be well durable against salt crystallization, which supports their applicability in salt-laden masonry. Based on the compatibility of the repair materials with those originally used, the lime and natural hydraulic lime zeolite mortars can be used as rendering mortars for the repair of historical and heritage buildings. The cement-lime zeolite render is applicable for repair purposes only in the case of the renewal of masonry in which Portland cement-based materials were originally used.

A New Grey Approach for Using SWARA and PIPRECIA Methods in a Group Decision-Making Environment

The environment in which the decision-making process takes place is often characterized by uncertainty and vagueness and, because of that, sometimes it is very hard to express the criteria weights with crisp numbers. Therefore, the application of the Grey System Theory, i.e., grey numbers, in this case, is very convenient when it comes to determination of the criteria weights with partially known information. Besides, the criteria weights have a significant role in the multiple criteria decision-making process. Many ordinary multiple criteria decision-making methods are adapted for using grey numbers, and this is the case in this article as well. A new grey extension of the certain multiple criteria decision-making methods for the determination of the criteria weights is proposed. Therefore, the article aims to propose a new extension of the Step-wise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis (SWARA) and PIvot Pairwise Relative Criteria Importance Assessment (PIPRECIA) methods adapted for group decision-making. In the proposed approach, attitudes of decision-makers are transformed into grey group attitudes, which allows taking advantage of the benefit that grey numbers provide over crisp numbers. The main advantage of the proposed approach in relation to the use of crisp numbers is the ability to conduct different analyses, i.e., considering different scenarios, such as pessimistic, optimistic, and so on. By varying the value of the whitening coefficient, different weights of the criteria can be obtained, and it should be emphasized that this approach gives the same weights as in the case of crisp numbers when the whitening coefficient has a value of 0.5. In addition, in this approach, the grey number was formed based on the median value of collected responses because it better maintains the deviation from the normal distribution of the collected responses. The application of the proposed approach was considered through two numerical illustrations, based on which appropriate conclusions were drawn.

Investigation of ANN architecture for predicting shear strength of fiber reinforcement bars concrete beams

In this paper, an extensive simulation program is conducted to find out the optimal ANN model to predict the shear strength of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) concrete beams containing both flexural and shear reinforcements. For acquiring this purpose, an experimental database containing 125 samples is collected from the literature and used to find the best architecture of ANN. In this database, the input variables consist of 9 inputs, such as the ratio of the beam width, the effective depth, the shear span to the effective depth, the compressive strength of concrete, the longitudinal FRP reinforcement ratio, the modulus of elasticity of longitudinal FRP reinforcement, the FRP shear reinforcement ratio, the tensile strength of FRP shear reinforcement, the modulus of elasticity of FRP shear reinforcement. Thereafter, the selection of the appropriate architecture of ANN model is performed and evaluated by common statistical measurements. The results show that the optimal ANN model is a highly efficient predictor of the shear strength of FRP concrete beams with a maximum R2 value of 0.9634 on the training part and an R2 of 0.9577 on the testing part, using the best architecture. In addition, a sensitivity analysis using the optimal ANN model over 500 Monte Carlo simulations is performed to interpret the influence of reinforcement type on the stability and accuracy of ANN model in predicting shear strength. The results of this investigation could facilitate and enhance the use of ANN model in different real-world problems in the field of civil engineering.

Theory-Based Failure Modes and Effect Analysis for Medication Errors

Medication Errors (MEs) are still significant challenges, especially in nonautomated health systems. Qualitative studies are mostly used to identify the parameters involved in MEs. Failing to provide accurate information in expert-based decisions can provoke unrealistic results and inappropriate corrective actions eventually. However, mostly, some levels of uncertainty accompany the decisions in real practice. This study tries to present a hybrid decision-making approach to assigning different weights to risk factors and considering the uncertainty in the ranking process in the Failure Modes and Effect Analysis (FMEA) technique. Initially, significant MEs are identified by three groups of qualified experts (doctors, nurses, and pharmacists). Afterward, for assigning weights to the risk factors, Z-number couples with the Stepwise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis (SWARA) method, named Z-SWARA, to add reliability concept in the decision-making process. Finally, the identified MEs are ranked through the developed Weighted Aggregated Sum Product Assessment (WASPAS) method, namely, Z-WASPAS. To demonstrate the applicability of the proposed approach, the ranking results compare with typical methods, such as fuzzy-WASPAS and FMEA. The findings of the present study highlight improper medication administration as the main failure mode, which can result in a fatality or patient injury. Moreover, the utilization of multiple-criteria decision-making methods in combination with Z-number can be a useful tool in the healthcare management field since it can address the problems by considering reliability and uncertainty simultaneously.

Uptake and Dissemination of Multi-Criteria Decision Support Methods in Civil Engineering—Lessons from the Literature

The SCOPUS and Wed of Science bibliometric databases were searched for papers related to the use of multi-criteria methods in civil engineering related disciplines. The results were analyzed for information on the reported geographical distribution of usage, the methods used, the application areas with most usage and the software tools used. There was a wide geographical distribution of usage with all northern hemisphere continents well represented. However, of the very many methods available, a small number seemed to dominate usage, with the Analytic Hierarchy Process being the most frequently used. The application areas represented in the documents found was not widely spread and mainly seemed to be focused on issues such as sustainability, environment, risk, safety and to some extent project management, with less usage on other areas. This may be due to individual engineer’s choices in relation to if and how to disseminate the results of their work and to their choice of keywords and titles that determine if their publications are selected in bibliographic searches and thus more visible to a wider readership. A comparison with more topic focused searches, relating to Bridge Design, Earthquake Engineering, Cladding, Sewage Treatment, Foundation design, Truss design, Water Supply, Building Energy, Route selection and Transport mode showed very different results. Analysis of the papers in this area indicated that the full range of supporting software available for multi-criteria decision analysis (many listed in this paper) may not be fully appreciated by potential users.

Fuzzy and Interval AHP Approaches in Sustainable Management for the Architectural Heritage in Smart Cities

For the past four decades, the methodology of fuzzy analytic hierarchy process based on fuzzy trapezoidal or triangular numbers with the linear type of membership functions has witnessed an expanding development with applicability to a wide variety of areas, such as industry, environment, education, government, economics, engineering, health, and smart city leadership. On the other hand, the interval gray analytic hierarchy process is a more practical method when a significant number of professionals have large variations in preferences and interests in complex decisions. The paper examines the management of architectural heritage in smart cities, using methods of multi-criteria decision making. Two appropriate methods generally recommended by the scientific literature have been applied: fuzzy and interval grey analytic hierarchy process. By using both techniques, there is an opportunity to analyze the consensual results from the aspect of two different stakeholder groups: architectural heritage experts and smart city development experts. Trapezoidal fuzzy analytical hierarchical process shows better stability than a triangular one. Both approaches assign priority to the strategy, but the interval approach gives a more significant rank to architectural heritage factors. The similarity of the proposed methods has been tested, and the similarity factor in the ranking indicates a high degree of similarity in comparing the reference rankings.

A Practical Finite Element Modeling Strategy to Capture Cracking and Crushing Behavior of Reinforced Concrete Structures

Nonlinear finite element (FE) analysis of reinforced concrete (RC) structures is characterized by numerous modeling options and input parameters. To accurately model the nonlinear RC behavior involving concrete cracking in tension and crushing in compression, practitioners make different choices regarding the critical modeling issues, e.g., defining the concrete constitutive relations, assigning the bond between the concrete and the steel reinforcement, and solving problems related to convergence difficulties and mesh sensitivities. Thus, it is imperative to review the common modeling choices critically and develop a robust modeling strategy with consistency, reliability, and comparability. This paper proposes a modeling strategy and practical recommendations for the nonlinear FE analysis of RC structures based on parametric studies of critical modeling choices. The proposed modeling strategy aims at providing reliable predictions of flexural responses of RC members with a focus on concrete cracking behavior and crushing failure, which serve as the foundation for more complex modeling cases, e.g., RC beams bonded with fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) laminates. Additionally, herein, the implementation procedure for the proposed modeling strategy is comprehensively described with a focus on the critical modeling issues for RC structures. The proposed strategy is demonstrated through FE analyses of RC beams tested in four-point bending—one RC beam as reference and one beam externally bonded with a carbon-FRP (CFRP) laminate in its soffit. The simulated results agree well with experimental measurements regarding load-deformation relationship, cracking, flexural failure due to concrete crushing, and CFRP debonding initiated by intermediate cracks. The modeling strategy and recommendations presented herein are applicable to the nonlinear FE analysis of RC structures in general.

Pareto Optimal Decisions in Multi-Criteria Decision Making Explained with Construction Cost Cases

In multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) problems the decision-maker is often forced to accept a not ideal solution. If the ideal choice exists, it would be certainly chosen. The acceptance of a non- ideal solution leads to some inadequate properties in the chosen solution. MCDM methods help the decision-maker to structure his needs considering different units, in which the properties of the solutions are expressed. Secondly, with MCDM tools the assessment of the available solutions can be calculated with consideration of the decision-maker’s needs. The incorporation of the cost criterion into the decision maker’s preferences calculation, and the solution assessment calculation, deprives the decision-maker of the ability to calculate the financial result of the decision he must make. A new multi-criteria decision making with cost criterion analysed at the final stage (MCDM-CCAF) method is developed based on principle of Pareto optimal decisions. It is proposed to exclude the cost criterion from the MCDM analysis and consider it at the final phase of the decision-making process. It is illustrated by example solutions with consideration of cost criterion and without it. It is proposed to apply the invented post-processing method to all MCDM analyses where the cost criterion of analysed variants is considered.

Fuzzy Complex Proportional Assessment Applied in Location Selection for Installation of Photovoltaic Plants

This article proposes the application of a multi-criteria decision-making method based on fuzzy complex proportional assessment (COPRAS-F), applying business sustainability criteria, to rank alternative sites for the installation of photovoltaic plants, as selected from a geographic suitability index map of vast and heterogeneous regions in Southern Brazil, obtained from a geographic information system. As a key feature, the methodology serves the interests of stakeholders during decision-making meetings in a personalized manner, eliminating the need for consensus to overcome conflicts and antagonistic positions, allowing them to maintain a strictly professional view and to communicate in business language. The results indicate that the best location from a geographical viewpoint may not be the best location from a business viewpoint.

Preparation and Performance of Cement Mortar Reinforced by Modified Bamboo Fibers

This study aims to prepare bamboo-fiber-reinforced cement composites and provide a solution to the issue of poor interfacial adhesion between bamboo fibers and cement matrix. The original bamboo fibers were modified by three moderately low-cost and easy-to-handle treatments including glycerol, aluminate ester, and silane treatments. The performance of the modified bamboo-fiber-reinforced cement composites was evaluated by a series of mechanical and durability tests, including flexural and compressive strength, water absorption, chloride ion penetration, drying shrinkage, freeze-thaw resistance, and carbonization. In addition, the microstructures of composites were characterized using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results showed that the composites reinforced with glycerol-modified bamboo fibers had 14% increased flexural strength and comparable compressive strength. From durability perspectives, all treatments showed similar performance in drying shrinkage, whereas aluminate ester treatment was the most effective in terms of impermeability, chloride resistance, freeze-thaw resistance, and carbonization. The results could provide insights to efficient and effective natural fiber treatment to enable better performance of natural-fiber-reinforced cement-based materials.

Teaching Multi-Criteria Decision Making Based on Sustainability Factors Applied to Road Projects

Currently, there is a need for civil engineering programs to train their students in subjects associated with sustainability. Additionally, civil engineers in their work must constantly make decisions, so their training is necessary. Therefore, the goal of this research is to present a methodology for teaching multi-criteria decision-making methods in the context of civil engineering and road infrastructure projects using sustainable factors. To achieve the objective of this study, a decision-making simulation activity has been designed based on a five-step research process: (1) definition and contextualization of the case study; (2) design and planning of the simulation activity; (3) implementation of this activity; (4) evaluation of indicators; and (5) statistical analysis of metrics. The teaching methodology used is of a practical-theoretical type and allows for the step-by-step teaching of three multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) methods that, according to the literature review, are widely used in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. This teaching activity is intended for undergraduate students and professionals in the AEC industry who require a decision-making tool that promotes transparency in problem-solving and who have no knowledge of MCDM. The results obtained in this research show that the method perceived by the group of students with the least difficulty was the weighting rating and calculating (WRC), because of its previous familiarity and use in academic environments. It is recommended that MCDM methods be taught in semester courses to students in training so that they can develop a deep understanding of these tools and can demonstrate their usefulness for decision making where there are many variables to consider, where there are many decision-makers, and for the incorporation of sustainable factors for project evaluation.

Skills Needs of the Civil Engineering Sector in the European Union Countries: Current Situation and Future Trends

The construction sector has always occupied a strategic place in the European economy. The European construction industry suffered during the 2007–2008 global financial crisis, and today the sector is undergoing a recovery process. Among all the construction subsectors, civil engineering has the highest growth rate. Currently, the sector has to face profound industrial changes emerging with digital transformations (Industry 4.0), sustainability, climate change and energy efficiency. To promote the growth of the civil engineering sector and accelerate the recovery, we need to create a highly qualified and competent workforce that can handle the challenges coming up with the technological progress and global competitiveness. The main condition to achieve this capable workforce is to define the expected evolution of skills requirements. For that purpose, our work focuses on identifying current and near-future key skills required by the civil engineering occupations. To achieve this, we developed an automated sectoral database for the current and near-future skills requirements of the selected professional profiles. It is our belief that this sectoral database is a fundamental framework that will guide the sector through the future changes. We also believe that our research can be used as a key tool for construction companies, policy-makers, academics and training centers to develop well-designed and efficient training programs for upskilling and reskilling the workforce.

Implementation of Adjusted Fuzzy AHP Method in the Assessment for Reuse of Industrial Buildings

With rapid economic development and restructuring, the number of old or obsolete buildings is growing in large cities. Construction practice has actively focused in recent decades on the regeneration of brownfield areas and creating opportunities for their cost-effective and sustainable reuse. Some of the buildings could be identified as-built industrial heritage whose purpose could be modified and used differently. Adaptive reuse can make a major contribution to sustainable development by reducing construction waste and saving natural resources. In the reuse management process, the problem is how to deal with multiple criteria that are imposed as factors in assessing the reuse of a building. Using the adjusted fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (FAHP), we explore the potential for the adaptation and new use of industrial buildings in the former area of Electronic Industry Nis (EI Nis) in Serbia. The standard FAHP, in which we determine the weights of each sub-criterion based on the expert’s evaluation, we adjusted for use when no pairwise comparison of existing alternatives was available. Multiple criteria evaluation was performed by applying many criteria and sub-criteria, taking into account the different spatial and physical performance of buildings, as well as their locational indicators. A case study is used to demonstrate the application of the method and show its effectiveness.

Finite Element Study on the Shear Capacity of Traditional Joints between Walls Made of AAC Masonry Units

This paper presents the development of a numerical model aimed at the simulation of nonlinear behaviour of traditional joints between walls made of autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) masonry units. Nonlinear behaviour and cracking of AAC and mortar were simulated using the concrete damaged plasticity (CDP) model available in the ABAQUS finite element software. The paper also presents and discusses the results of an experimental campaign involving testing six T-shaped, monosymmetric samples with traditional joints between walls loaded in shear. The results were used to validate the numerical model. The validation confirmed that the model is capable of producing accurate results and predicting the structural behaviour with a reasonably good accuracy in elastic and post-elastic stages. Furthermore, a sensitivity study was conducted, in which the variation of elastic modulus, Poisson’s ratio, tensile strength, compression strength and fracture energy of AAC was investigated. Results showed that the variation of elastic modulus, tensile strength and fracture energy is most critical to the structural behaviour of the model, while variation of the remaining parameters has a negligible effect on the results.

Structural Analysis of Factors Influencing the Costs of Facade System Implementation

External facades of buildings and other structures shape the image of every building, creating the architecture of cities. Traditional concrete forms, as a symbol of durability and stability, have been replaced by lightweight enclosures—for example, in the form of aluminium–glass facades and ventilated facades. In this paper, the authors attempt to verify the strength of influence and relations between the identified factors shaping the costs of facade system implementation using structural analysis. On the basis of the collected quantitative and qualitative data obtained as a result of research on design documentation and cost estimates of implemented public buildings, as well as on the basis of interviews conducted among experts, factors which have a real impact on the costs of facade systems in the form of aluminium and glass facades and ventilated facades were identified. The indicated factors were analysed and classified using the method of structural analysis, namely the MICMAC method (refers to the French acronym for Cross-Impact Matrix Multiplication Applied to Classification). Particular influences and relations between factors were examined. Finally, six groups of factors influencing the costs of facade systems were identified, including regulatory factors that do not have a very strong impact on the level of costs, but which show a strong correlation with other factors; determinants that have a very strong impact on the costs; and a group of external factors that show the smallest influence on the estimation of façade cost.

Sustainable Perspective of Low-Lime Stabilized Fly Ashes for Geotechnical Applications: PROMETHEE-Based Optimization Approach

In the present scenario of global green environmental and sustainable management, the disposal of large volumes of coal-based ashes (fly ashes) generate significant environmental stress. The aim is to exploit these fly ashes for bulk civil engineering applications to solve societal-environmental issues employing sustainable measures. In this study, the addition of lime and/or gypsum in improving the geotechnical properties (hydraulic conductivity, compressibility, unconfined compression strength, lime leachability, and California bearing ratio) of fly ashes was investigated. To assist the practicing engineers in selecting the right mix of lime and/or gypsum for a given amount of fly ash for a specific application, a multi-criteria approach was adopted. The possible alternatives investigated included untreated fly ash, fly ash treated with lime (1%, 2.5%, 5%, or 10%), and a variation in gypsum dosage (1% or 2.5%) in the presence of lime. Sensitivity analysis was performed to recognize and resolve the conflicting advantages and disadvantages when mixing lime and gypsum. The study revealed that to derive the potential benefits of fly ash, it is essential to combine the lime dosage with gypsum for pavement and liner applications where bulk quantities of fly ash are employed.

Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Mechanical Properties of Lightweight Concretes (LWCs) with Various Aggregates

High requirements for the properties of construction materials and activities directed at environment protection are reasons to look for new solutions in concrete technology. This research was directed at solutions affecting the reduction of energy consumption and CO₂ emissions. The use of lightweight concretes (LWCs) allows one to meet both conditions at the same time. The purpose of the research presented in this paper was to investigate the abilities of using lightweight aggregates (LWAs) of the following types: 2 and 4 mm granulated expanded glass aggregate (GEGA) as ingredients with excellent insulating properties and 8 mm granulated fly ash aggregate (GAA) as an ingredient with a relatively high resistance to crushing. The influence of the percentage participation of each aggregate in all LWCs was variable and amounted to 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%. A series of 15 LWC mixes were prepared for various LWA participations and for a constant water–cement ratio (w/c = 0.5). Concrete tests were carried out for the following criteria: density, porosity, compressive strength, and the modulus of elasticity. In order to fully analyze fracture processes in LWCs with the participation of GEGA and GAA and to assess the correctness of the results obtained during the experiments, numerical models that corresponded to both geometrical and load diagrams of elements under research were created. The numerical analyses of the LWCs were conducted by means of the conventional finite element method (FEM).

Study on the Interface Constitutive Relation between Carbon Fiber Fabric and Steel

Peeling failure at the interface is one of the main failure modes for CFRP (Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymer)-reinforced steel structures. However, there are very few reported studies on the bond-slip relationship at the CFRP-steel interface. A series of simple shear tests were carried out in the present paper. The influence of the fiber fabric’s width and thickness, the surface roughness of the steel sheet, and the thickness of the adhesive layer on the bonding performance of the CFRP fabric to steel interface was considered. The interface constitutive model and bonding strength model were further established under multiple factors. The results show that with the decrease of the surface roughness, the interface’ ultimate peeling load increases gradually, and the failure has a tendency to develop from a glue-steel interface to a glue-CFRP interface. The test pieces that were subjected to sand blasting obtained the peak value of the ultimate peeling load. This indicates that sand blasting can effectively enhance the interface bonding strength. The theoretical values obtained via the interface prediction model are consistent with the experimental values. This proves that the newly developed interface prediction model can effectively predict the local bonding slip and bonding strength of the interface.

Hesitant Fuzzy SWARA-Complex Proportional Assessment Approach for Sustainable Supplier Selection (HF-SWARA-COPRAS)

The selection of sustainable supplier is an extremely important for sustainable supply chain management (SSCM). The assessment process of sustainable supplier selection is a complicated task for decision experts due to involvement of several qualitative and quantitative criteria. As the uncertainty is commonly occurred in sustainable supplier selection problem and hesitant fuzzy set (HFS), an improvement of Fuzzy Set (FS), has been proved as one of the efficient and superior ways to express the uncertain information arisen in practical problems. The present study proposes a novel framework based on COPRAS (Complex Proportional Assessment) method and SWARA (Step-wise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis) approach to evaluate and select the desirable sustainable supplier within the HFSs context. In the proposed method, an extended SWARA method is employed for determining the criteria weights based on experts’ preferences. Next, to illustrate the efficiency and practicability of the proposed methodology, an empirical case study of sustainable supplier selection problem is taken under Hesitant Fuzzy (HF) environment. Further, sensitivity analysis is performed to check the stability of the presented methodology. At last, a comparison with existing methods is conducted to verify the strength of the obtained result. The final outcomes confirm that the developed framework is more consistent and powerful than other existing approaches.

Strengthening the Structural Behavior of Web Openings in RC Deep Beam Using CFRP

Deep beams are more susceptible to shear failure, and therefore reparation is a crucial for structural reinforcements. Shear failure is structural concrete failure in nature. It generally occurs without warning; however, it is acceptable for the beam to fail in bending but not in shear. The experimental study presented the structural behavior of the deep beams of reinforced concrete (RC) that reinforces the web openings with externally connected carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite in the shear zone. The structural behavior includes a failure mode, and cracking pattern, load deflection responses, stress concentration and the reinforcement factor were investigated. A total of nine reinforced concrete deep beams with openings strengthened with CFRP and one control beam without an opening have been cast and tested under static four-point bending load till failure. The experimental results showed that the increase the size of the opening causes an increase in the shear strength reduction by up to 30%. Therefore, the larger the openings, the lower the capability of load carriage, in addition to an increase in the number of CFRP layers that could enhance the load carrying capacity. Consequently, utilization of the CFRP layer wrapping technique strengthened the shear behavior of the reinforced concrete deep beams from about 10% to 40%. It was concluded that the most effective number of CFRP layers for the deep beam with opening sizes of 150 mm and 200 mm were two layers and three layers, respectively.

A Methodology for Determining the Rehabilitation Needs of Buildings

The appropriate rehabilitations planning of buildings should be based on the analysis of rehabilitation needs. This article proposes a methodology for Determining the Rehabilitation Needs of Buildings (DRNB). The DRNB method can be used for buildings made with traditional technology. The methodology provides the possibility to prioritize the analyzed objects and their elements as well as to determine the sequence of rehabilitation needs of any buildings and their elements. The method can be used for a single building or several buildings. The obtained results can be compared and order relations between them can be determined, which will allow the planning of repair works. In setting the priorities in the DRNB method, the implementation of the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used. The article presents also the application the DRNB method and results of determination of rehabilitation needs for residential buildings that are located in Poland in Zielona Góra. Determining the rehabilitation needs of building components should be the first stage of planning repair works. The DRNB method helps to determine which elements in which buildings need necessary rehabilitation now, which elements of rehabilitation are important now, and which elements can be rehabilitated later—i.e., if the repair works are only useful and are not currently necessary.

Application of the Subspace-Based Methods in Health Monitoring of Civil Structures: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

A large number of research studies in structural health monitoring (SHM) have presented, extended, and used subspace system identification. However, there is a lack of research on systematic literature reviews and surveys of studies in this field. Therefore, the current study is undertaken to systematically review the literature published on the development and application of subspace system identification methods. In this regard, major databases in SHM, including Scopus, Google Scholar, and Web of Science, have been selected and preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) has been applied to ensure complete and transparent reporting of systematic reviews. Along this line, the presented review addresses the available studies that employed subspace-based techniques in the vibration-based damage detection (VDD) of civil structures. The selected papers in this review were categorized into authors, publication year, name of journal, applied techniques, research objectives, research gap, proposed solutions and models, and findings. This study can assist practitioners and academicians for better condition assessment of structures and to gain insight into the literature.

Tire Recycled Rubber for More Eco-Sustainable Advanced Cementitious Aggregate

This research focused on using ground tire rubber (GTR) with different grain sizes as a replacement for the mineral aggregates used in a cement-based mixture suitable for extrusion-based Additive Manufacturing. The use of two types of GTR particles and the possibility to apply rubberized mixtures in advanced manufacturing technologies are the innovative aspects of this work. At the base of this strategy is the possibility of achieving cementitious aggregates, which would potentially be improved regarding some technological-engineering requirements (lightness, thermal-acoustic insulation, energy dissipation capacity, durability) and environmentally sustainable. The integration of waste tires into cement-based materials is a promising solution for the reuse and recycling of such industrial waste. In addition, this approach may involve a considerable reduction in the use of natural resources (sand, water, coarse mineral aggregates) needed for the building materials production. The purpose of the research was to investigate the effect of sand-GTR replacement on certain chemical-physical properties of mixtures (permeable porosity, surface wetness, and water sorptivity), closely related to material durability. Besides, the role of rubber on the printability properties of the fresh material was evaluated. GTR fillers do not alter the rheological properties of the cement material, which was properly extruded with better print quality than the reference mixture. Concerning chemical-physical characterization, the GTR powder-granules synergy promotes good compaction of the mixture, hinders the cracks propagation in the cement matrix, decreases the permeable porosity, improves the surface hydrophobicity and preserves optimal water permeability.

A Model for Determining Weight Coefficients by Forming a Non-Decreasing Series at Criteria Significance Levels (NDSL)

In this paper, a new method for determining weight coefficients by forming a non-decreasing series at criteria significance levels (the NDSL method) is presented. The NDLS method includes the identification of the best criterion (i.e., the most significant and most influential criterion) and the ranking of criteria in a decreasing series from the most significant to the least significant criterion. Criteria are then grouped as per the levels of significance within the framework of which experts express their preferences in compliance with the significance of such criteria. By employing this procedure, fully consistent results are obtained. In this paper, the advantages of the NDSL model are singled out through a comparison with the Best Worst Method (BWM) and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) models. The advantages include the following: (1) the NDSL model requires a significantly smaller number of pairwise comparisons of criteria, only involving an n − 1 comparison, whereas the AHP requires an n(n − 1)/2 comparison and the BWM a 2n − 3 comparison; (2) it enables us to obtain reliable (consistent) results, even in the case of a larger number of criteria (more than nine criteria); (3) the NDSL model applies an original algorithm for grouping criteria according to the levels of significance, through which the deficiencies of the 9-degree scale applied in the BWM and AHP models are eliminated. By doing so, the small range and inconsistency of the 9-degree scale are eliminated; (4) while the BWM includes the defining of one unique best/worst criterion, the NDSL model eliminates this limitation and gives decision-makers the freedom to express the relationships between criteria in accordance with their preferences. In order to demonstrate the performance of the developed model, it was tested on a real-world problem and the results were validated through a comparison with the BWM and AHP models.

Performance of Reinforced Concrete Slab with Opening Strengthened Using CFRP

Openings in reinforced concrete (RC) slabs are not commonly prescribed in design codes. Even when they are, they raise concerns regards to the size of the openings and the location of the applied loads. Lack of sufficient information about the load-carrying capacity of the slabs with openings and performance is another concern. Hence, this research addresses the structural behavior of slabs with openings coated with Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) sheet. In the experimental part, ten slabs were cast with a dimension of 1000 mm × 530 mm × 25 mm, among which nine slabs had openings and one slab was without opening (control slab). The configuration of the CFRP sheet includes coating in the form of single, double, and triple layers. Experimental results show that the slab with a triple coating of the CFRP layer offers the maximum resistance towards the loading rate. Moreover, with the increase in CFRP layers, the value of deflection is minimized.

Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Cement Mortar Composite Containing Recycled Expanded Glass Aggregate and Nano Titanium Dioxide

One of the growing concerns in the construction industry is energy consumption and energy efficiency in residential buildings. Moreover, management of non-degradable solid glass wastes is becoming a critical issue worldwide. Accordingly, incorporation of recycled expanded glass aggregates (EGA) as a substitution for natural fine aggregate in cement composites would be a sustainable solution in terms of energy consumption in the buildings and waste management. This experimental research aims to investigate the effects of EGA on fresh and hardened properties and thermal insulating performance of cement mortar. To enhance the mechanical properties and water resistance of the EGA-mortar, nano titanium dioxide (nTiO2) was used as nanofillers. The results showed an increase in workability and water absorption of the EGA-mortar. In addition, a significant decrease in bulk density and compressive strength observed by incorporating EGA into the cement mortar. The EGA-mortar exhibited a low heat transfer rate and excellent thermal insulation property. Furthermore, inclusion of nTiO2 increased compressive strength and water resistance of EGA-mortar, however, their heat transfer rate was increased. The results demonstrated that EGA-mortar can be integrated into the building envelop or non-load bearing elements such as wall partition as a thermal resistance to reduce the energy consumption in residential buildings.

Multi-Criteria Optimisation of an Experimental Complex of Single-Family Nearly Zero-Energy Buildings

The Directive 2010/31/EU on the energy performance of buildings has introduced the standard of “nearly zero-energy buildings” (NZEBs). European requirements place the obligation to reduce energy consumption on all European Union Member States, particularly in sectors with significant energy consumption indicators. Construction is one such sector, as it is responsible for around 40% of overall energy consumption. Apart from a building’s mass and its material and installation solutions, its energy consumption is also affected by its placement relative to other buildings. A proper urban layout can also lead to a reduction in project development and occupancy costs. The goal of this article is to present a method of optimising single-family house complexes that takes elements such as direct construction costs, construction site organisation, urban layout and occupancy costs into consideration in the context of sustainability. Its authors have analysed different proposals of the placement of 40 NZEBs relative to each other and have carried out a multi-criteria analysis of the complex, determining optimal solutions that are compliant with the precepts of sustainability. The results indicated that the layout composed of semi-detached houses scored the highest among the proposed layouts under the parameter weights set by the developer. This layout also scored the highest when parameter weights were uniformly distributed during a test simulation.

Methodology of Planning the Course of the Cumulative Cost Curve in Construction Projects

Appropriate planning and effective monitoring of the execution of construction projects is important with regard to their successful sustainment of implementation. Time and cost are key elements that determine the success or failure of construction projects. The obtaining of a rational S-curve course before the start of a construction project that reflects reality is important for all the participants involved in implementing an investment task. The article proposes an original methodology for planning the course of the cumulative cost curve in construction projects. It uses a method of shaping the S-curve, which is well-known in both literature and practical approaches. On the basis of the authors’ own research carried out in a homogeneous research group of hotel facilities, the areas of the curve for the correct planning of costs in construction projects were designated, which determine the boundaries of the predicted costs accumulated over time. The data for the development of the authors’ research methodology is the result of the authors’ own experience and professional work. The authors carried out Bank Investment Supervision in the years 2006–2019 on behalf of the banks that grant investment loans for non-public contracts. Knowing the total cost and duration of the planned construction project, which were determined on the basis of project documentation, cost estimates, and also their own database regarding planned and completed deadlines and budgets of similar investments, 6th degree polynomials of the real costs of the construction works were determined. This approach enabled the correct planning of costs over time and the determination of planned monthly amounts of construction works to be executed.

Triplet Test on Rubble Stone Masonry: Numerical Assessment of the Shear Mechanical Parameters

Rubble stone masonry walls are widely diffused in most of the cultural and architectural heritage of historical cities. The mechanical response of such material is rather complicated to predict due to its composite nature. Vertical compression tests, diagonal compression tests, and shear-compression tests are usually adopted to investigate experimentally the mechanical properties of stone masonries. However, further tests are needed for the safety assessment of these ancient structures. Since the relation between normal and shear stresses plays a major role in the shear behavior of masonry joints, governing the failure mode, a triplet test configuration is herein investigated. First, the experimental tests carried out at the laboratory of the University of L’Aquila on stone masonry specimens are presented. Then, the triplet test is simulated by using the total strain crack model, which reflects all the ultimate states of quasi-brittle material such as cracking, crushing, and shear failure. The goal of the numerical investigation is to evaluate the shear mechanical parameters of the masonry sample, including strength, dilatancy, normal, and shear deformations. Furthermore, the effect of (i) confinement pressure and (ii) bond behavior at the sample-plate interfaces are investigated, showing that they can strongly influence the mechanical response of the walls.

Prioritization of Information Security Controls through Fuzzy AHP for Cloud Computing Networks and Wireless Sensor Networks

With the advent of cloud computing and wireless sensor networks, the number of cyberattacks has rapidly increased. Therefore, the proportionate security of networks has become a challenge for organizations. Information security advisors of organizations face difficult and complex decisions in the evaluation and selection of information security controls that permit the defense of their resources and assets. Information security controls must be selected based on an appropriate level of security. However, their selection needs intensive investigation regarding vulnerabilities, risks, and threats prevailing in the organization as well as consideration of the implementation, mitigation, and budgetary constraints of the organization. The goal of this paper was to improve the information security control analysis method by proposing a formalized approach, i.e., fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). This approach was used to prioritize and select the most relevant set of information security controls to satisfy the information security requirements of an organization. We argue that the prioritization of the information security controls using fuzzy AHP leads to an efficient and cost-effective assessment and evaluation of information security controls for an organization in order to select the most appropriate ones. The proposed formalized approach and prioritization processes are based on International Organization for Standardization and the International Electrotechnical Commission (ISO/IEC) 27001:2013. But in practice, organizations may apply this approach to any information security baseline manual.