Materials and Durability - DTU Sustain’s Post

My first academic paper has been published! Showing a promising example of how we can design building structures in a smarter way.   "Optimized design of precast concrete shear walls with consideration of future modification scenarios" published in the journal Structural Concrete. https://lnkd.in/dsru_cbv The paper introduces a novel concept for design of modifiable precast concrete walls with flexible zones, enhancing adaptability in construction. The study presents a strength-based material optimization framework, which is developed with the purpose of finding the combination of concrete strength and reinforcement layout, that minimizes the embodied CO2 footprint of the modifiable walls. With a new and optimized wall design, including a low-strength flexible zone, the study finds potential embodied CO2 reductions in the order of 40-60 %, when compared to a conventional precast wall design.   The research is made in collaboration with my supervisors and co-authors Linh Cao Hoang, Peter Noe Poulsen, Tim Gudmand-Høyer and Bent Feddersen.   The paper is part of my PhD project, and I am grateful for the financial support provided by Innovation Fund Denmark, Realdania, Rambøll Fonden / Ramboll Foundation, Ramboll, and Heidelberg Materials Precast Denmark A/S.   Merry Christmas 🙂

🏛️🔄 𝐂𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬: 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 Ever wondered how we can preserve the charm of historic buildings while giving them a new lease on life? Jurjen Koopmans, a Civil Engineering & Management student at the University of Twente, is tackling this very challenge in his graduation project. Jurjen is developing a system to identify and solve common problems in repurposing monumental buildings, ensuring a sustainable future for Dutch heritage sites. His research delves into the circular economy, focusing on innovative methods such as bio-based insulation and new functions for hard-to-insulate spaces. Real-life transformations like the Hazemeijer complex in Hengelo and the Emmaüs monastery in Velp serve as inspiring examples of how old can meet new in the most elegant ways. 𝗝𝘂𝗿𝗷𝗲𝗻'𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 —they offer practical solutions for designers and contractors aiming to preserve these cultural icons for future generations. Ready to be inspired and learn more about his work? Click the link below to read the full article! 👇 🇬🇧 https://lnkd.in/esbF3vRD 🇳🇱 https://lnkd.in/eVNzbHri   #SustainableDesign #CircularEconomy #utwente #InnovativeSolutions #utstories

A new paper with findings from 30 push-off tests conducted on dry-dry timber-concrete composite (TCC) notched connections designed for disassembly! ♻ I am happy to announce that our latest research paper, “Experimental investigations of dry-dry timber-concrete composite notched connections designed for disassembly” is now available in Elsevier’s Journal Engineering Structures. The full-text paper is open access and can be found here: 👉 https://lnkd.in/dGzKtxFp 👈 The paper presents a deconstructable dry-dry notched connection made from fully prefabricated concrete and timber elements, allowing for material reuse 🔧. The concept was experimentally investigated through pure-shear push-off tests, where various design parameters, such as fastener placement, notch length, and prestressing degree, were varied 📐. The experimental results indicate that the new connection exhibits the same structural properties as a traditional wet-dry notched connection despite being more environmentally friendly. Throughout the campaign, a comprehensive set of data 📊 was collected for each specimen and used for an in-depth analysis of the structural behavior. All this data is now available from the DTU data repository: 👉 https://lnkd.in/dgcf65vr 👈 Special thanks to my esteemed co-authors Jesper Harrild Sørensen (DTU Construct), Linh Cao Hoang (DTU Construct), Bent Feddersen (Ramboll), and Finn Larsen (WSP). Furthermore, I want to thank Heidelberg Materials Precast Denmark A/S, who produced and sponsored the prefabricated concrete elements, as well as Erlend André Hall, Emil Mork, Daniel Ertresvåg, who helped conduct the experimental work as a part of their Master Thesis. The experimental work was performed at DTU Structural Lab. The paper is the second paper of my industrial PhD project, which would not have been possible without the financial support from Ramboll, Innovationsfonden, and Rambøll Fonden / Ramboll Foundation 👏 #TimberConcreteComposite #NotchedConnection #ExperimentalStudy #PureShear #Prefabrication #CircularConstruction #DesignforDisassembly #DTUConstruct #DTUStructuralLab #Ramboll 

Another step towards a more sustainable approach to historic building structures!

🌟 Exciting new materials science research alert. 🌟 Delve into the world of tough cortical bone-inspired tubular architected cement-based materials with disorder. This innovative study by Shashank Gupta and Reza Moini explores the fascinating engineering of materials inspired by nature's toughening mechanisms. 💡🦴 🔗 Study Link: https://lnkd.in/gN3QN5ed 🔬 "The osteons in the cortical bone are embedded in the organic matrix encapsulating Haversian canals for metabolic function and are surrounded by a particular weak interface known as cement lines." Explore how this crack-tube interaction leads to a 5.6-fold enhancement in fracture toughness! 🛠️💪 🌆 Imagine the possibilities in our built environment: 1️⃣ **Infrastructure Resilience**: Enhancing the fracture toughness of concrete can lead to more resilient structures that can withstand extreme conditions and natural disasters. 2️⃣ **Sustainable Construction**: By improving the durability of construction materials, we can reduce the need for frequent repairs and replacements, contributing to sustainability goals. 3️⃣ **Architectural Innovation**: Incorporating bio-inspired toughening mechanisms can open up new design possibilities for architects, creating structures that are both strong and aesthetically appealing. #MaterialsScience #BioInspiration #Engineering #Innovation #FractureToughness #Research How do you think we can further amplify the impact of this type of research?

🚀 Research Alert! 🚀 I'm thrilled to share our latest publication on "Real-scale Tests on Bundle-Bar-Filled Circular Hollow Sections (BBFC) under Eccentric Compression" in Engineering Structures. This work brings forward an innovative approach to composite columns, utilizing high-strength bundle bars within steel tubes, aimed at maximizing load-bearing capacities in a more sustainable and cost-effective way. Key Highlights: 🔹 Developed high-strength steel BBFC columns with a unique grouted-bar configuration. 🔹 Conducted 10 full-scale tests to analyze load capacity, buckling, and strain behavior. 🔹 Numerical models confirmed the empirical findings, paving the way for further parametric studies. This research showcases a promising, multifunctional column design that could redefine structural efficiency for mid- to high-rise construction. Special thanks to my co-authors and collaborators Rudi Röss and Tohid Ghanbari-Ghazijahani, PhD at Technische Universität München and Macquarie University. For engineers and researchers interested in sustainable and advanced composite construction, please check out the full paper! #Research #Innovation #SustainableConstruction #StructuralEngineering #CompositeConstruction #HighRise #Columns

«If it is possible – that is, within the range of affordability – and the damage can be repaired within reasonable limits, then any repair is worthwhile» Rony Schneider, electrician With the new CAS ETH in Repair and Maintenance, we develop scalable strategies for maintaining the value of buildings and their components. 🏢🔧 Whether architecture, civil engineering or industrial design - here you will acquire transdisciplinary skills to play a key role in negotiating and shaping sustainable change in the construction industry. We look forward to inputs from the industry and the construction sector by: Markus Bambach, Roger Dietschweiler, Yves Ebnöther Anne Fabritius, René Jähne, Fabian Kastner, Arend Kölsch, Prof. Dr. Silke Langenberg, Mirko Meboldt, Dimitrios Piskas, Robin Rehm, Oliver Streiff. Click here for more information: https://lnkd.in/epJmUtDn CAS ETH ReMain is a collaboration between Departement Architektur (D-ARCH) ETH Zürich, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering (D-MAVT), ETH Zurich, supported by Basler & Hofmann The program starts in spring semester 2025. Applications can be submitted here from 1.September onwards (Rolling Application) https://lnkd.in/gfuCFisn ! #Reparatur #Repair #Werterhaltung #Weiterbildung #Continuingeducation #CAS #Schlüsselfunktion #Reduce #Nachhaltigkeit #Sustainability #Wirtschaftlichkeit #Baurecht #Industrie #Bausektor #Construction #LCA #Circularity #Matertialflows #ETHZurich

PhD Scholarship: Innovative Steel-Timber (CLT) Composite Floor System A composite steel and CLT floor system can potentially reduce embodied carbon by 60 per cent compared to traditional composite steel and concrete floors, with only 40 per cent of the mass. To demonstrate the performance of this technology at full scale, a 12 m span beam has recently been load-tested to destruction at the University of Warwick. The results from the tests demonstrated that the floor system performed much better than expected, with the measured resistance and stiffness exceeding initial predictions. The potential impact of this new floor system on multi-storey buildings has recently been recognized by the CTBUH (Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat) and was the recipient of the 2024 Award of Excellence in Innovation. Through generous support from WSP UK Ltd, the objective of this project is to develop design rules for composite steel and CLT beams so that this technology can be exploited in practice. The sensitivity of the key variables that affect the bending resistance and stiffness of composite steel and CLT beams will be studied within the project. In addition, the effect of long-term creep and shrinkage of the floor will be investigated. The research will include tests on full-scale specimens, supplemented by numerical analyses. It is planned that the results from this research will form the basis for industry-standard design guides, which may be incorporated within the next generation of structural Eurocodes. Find out more & apply: https://lnkd.in/eiH2_Dbj #PublicEngagment #Funding

📢 Excited to Share Our Latest Publication! We are thrilled to announce that our latest research paper, "Effect of GFRP Stirrup Confinement on the Bond Strength of GFRP-RC Beams," has been published in the International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials! 💡 What’s Inside? This study addresses key gaps in the ACI 440.11 code by investigating the role of stirrup confinement in improving the bond strength of GFRP-reinforced concrete beams. Through an extensive experimental program, we propose a new factor to include stirrup confinement in bond-strength provisions, paving the way for more efficient design practices. 📈 Key Highlights: Examined 16 GFRP-RC beams with varying lap-splice lengths and stirrup spacings. Demonstrated a 57% higher capacity in beams with closely spaced stirrups. Compared experimental results with predictions from ACI 440.11, CSA S6:25, CSA S6:19, and CSA S806:12. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Zahid Hussain, and Jesús D. Ortiz, for their exceptional work on this study. A special thanks to our supervisors, Dr. Brahim Benmokrane and Dr. Antonio Nanni, for their invaluable guidance and support throughout this project. Your mentorship has been instrumental in bringing this research to fruition. 🔗 Open Access: The paper is now available for download! Click the link below to explore our findings: https://lnkd.in/epYegcVR

"Impluvium Redux" lends itself to operating as a prototypical flexible module that can be deployed onto any pre-existing urban rooftop or public area. The modular system is comprised of hollow ceramic pieces acting as structural columns and water collectors, a modular floor elevated on pedestals, and a lightweight kinetic membrane that captures and cleans rainwater through its folded surface. The water management system, as proposed, would work to shade and alleviate the effects of flooding and drought through storage as well as release and reduce runoff by harvesting water. The materiality of the modular ceramic columns provides energy-saving cooling benefits. The resulting prototype integrates structural and material strategies to optimize construction aspects related to transportation, assembly, and disassembly of building components, and thermodynamic questions related to heat transfer and water cycles while helping to foster a sense of community and social interaction. Check the video!: https://lnkd.in/gNmrgY7t Principal Investigator: Juan José Castellón Research Team: Olga Sobkiv, Tianle Chen, Tammy Feng Collaborators: Rice University School of Engineering, BEC industries, CODA Computational Design Affairs, Toni Cumella, Huguet, xmade, material and envelope design Sponsored by: Carbon Hub at Rice University, Rice University, Rice Architecture, Suimco Materiales, S.L. #research #prototype #installation #architecture #structuraldesign #foldedstructures #ceramicstructures #ecology #innovation #urbaninfrastructures