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Within this paper, the authors propose a reflection on the teaching of Architectural Technology (first year) within the ambit of both the master’s degree course in Architecture and the degree course in Building Science and Techniques. The aim of the paper is to outline a critical comparison of the experiences gained by the authors, as well as professors, in recent years. This comparison will be conducted by relating, in terms of differences and similarities, the content, programs and teaching strategies with the respective educational profiles of the two different degree programs. In addition, the authors will argue their considerations also considering the specific type of teaching, which is both a mono-disciplinary course and a laboratory with a number of course credits that range from eight to twelve.

The metallurgical phenomena taking place during machining processes affect the thermo-mechanical properties of the severely deformed materials, influencing, consequently, the process behavior. The microstructural modifications are difficult to be evaluated when the material is subjected to high speed deformations that are typical of material removal processes. Therefore, the microstructure-based numerical simulations can represent a useful tool able to properly predict their mechanics. Hard turning experiments were conducted on Ti6Al4V alloy, involving different process parameters and lubri-cooling conditions. The worked samples surfaces were assessed in terms of resulting microstructural changes and microhardness. The obtained results (cutting forces, temperature, and surface metallurgical modifications) were considered to develop and validate a physics-based model able to describe the microstructural phenomena occurring under large deformation processes, taking into account the influence of the physical phenomena that accommodate the material plastic strengthening and their resulting effects on the process variables. The dislocations reciprocal influence and their interaction with the material lattice were considered to understand the material viscoplastic flow. Moreover, also the recrystallization phenomena influencing the grain size related strengthening were considered to formulate the model. Then, the developed material model was implemented via user sub-routine in a commercial finite element (FE) software. The FE model was used to in-depth analyze the inner evolution of the processed material and to predict the variables of industrial interest. A good agreement was shown between the experimentally measured variables and the numerically predicted results. Moreover, the model was employed to investigate additional machining conditions via finite element analysis (FEA), demonstrating a huge capability to improve the manufacturing process performances, leading to a deeper knowledge of microstructural evolution and the material machinability under various process conditions.

The high speed machining process is considered as one of the manufacturing technologies more prone to increase the productivity. The increasing interest in this manufacturing process is also due to the good surface quality (e.g. low roughness) as well as the significant alteration of the subsurface (improved hardness and microstructure refinement) of the machined parts. This paper describes the metallurgical phenomena occurring during high speed turning performed under dry and cryogenic conditions on aluminium alloy AA7075 T6 and investigates their effects on the surface integrity. Two cutting parameters, namely cutting speed and feed rate, were varied to induce surface and subsurface changes, such as microstructure and surface topography variation as well as mechanical properties modifications. The surface integrity was analysed through optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), surface roughness and micro-hardness measurements.

In turning processes, surface improvements are strictly related to the physical phenomena induced by the involved thermo-mechanical loads. These phenomena are difficult to be analyzed while they occur, therefore the process simulation is a very important tool to deeply understand their evolution. Turning experiments were carried out on Ti6Al4V workpiece under different machining conditions. The microstructural modifications were analyzed in terms of metallurgical changes and micro-hardness. The physical mechanisms that occurred on the machined surface were investigated to construct a constitutive material flow model. The developed material model was implemented via sub-routine in a commercial FE software and validated through comparisons with experimental data (cutting forces, temperatures and microstructural modifications). The model was employed to predict the process variables of scientific interest (microstructural changes and surface improvement). The numerical results in main cutting forces, feed forces and temperatures prediction proved the accuracy and reliability of the proposed numerical model showing a good agreement with the experimental data.

Densely populated cities characterize urbanized territories, and most public buildings fail to meet many of the new demands imposed by the pandemic and the modern lifestyle. The need to expand spaces has become imperative, although, at the same time, it is necessary to reduce land consumption and preserve green spaces. If we consider the existing heritage a resource, these problems could represent an opportunity to improve existing structures both from a technologically and structurally point of view. It is possible to effort a holistic approach by improving the energy impact of new buildings and the heritage seismic behaviour facing the problem in a multidisciplinary way. Starting from the "building on the built" philosophy, this paper presents a possible use of engineered wood, such as cross-laminated timber (CLT), to pursue this strategy. The proposal is the realization of volumetric additions to existing buildings without further land consumption. This type of intervention, mentioned as "parasitic architecture", positively impacts urban regeneration strategies. The use of prefabricated timber components (CLT) endorses the speed of realization, reducing the interferences with the surroundings and improving the healthiness and safety of the environment.

The paper presents a deep experimental study on surface modifications induced by roller burnishing process of Ti6Al4V titanium alloy. The experimental campaign has been performed based on a design of experiments at varying lubrication/cooling strategies, roller geometry, coating, and burnishing speed. The overall surface integrity has been analyzed in terms of surface roughness, micro hardness, topography, microstructural changes, and tribological performance. The results allowed to better define the relationships within burnishing process parameters and the surface quality of the final component. In particular, the obtained evidences show that cryogenic cooling conditions and coating tools significantly improve the hardness of the final component while the MQL lubrication leads to superior surface roughness. Overall, the process always improves the wear resistance of the components with optimal results when cryogenic cooling and coated tools are employed. Thus, the outcomes of the extensive experimental campaign allow to define a combination of process parameters leading to improved Ti6Al4V surface quality.