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This review paper explores the use of red mud as a sustainable alternative for construction materials and soil stabilisation due to its unique chemical and mineral composition, a waste produced during the extraction of aluminium from bauxite ore. The disposal of red mud is a major environmental issue worldwide due to its high alkalinity and large production volume. Although this material has already been utilised as construction material (e.g., bricks, cement, concrete), it can also be incorporated for waste water treatment and lead to waste reduction. In soil stabilisation, red mud's alkaline nature, pozzolanic properties, and fine particle size improve soil structure and strength, offering a cost-effective solution. Utilising red mud as a filling material for low-lying areas addresses the disposal problem while contributing to infrastructure development projects. This study highlights construction materials' mechanical properties and durability by incorporating bauxite tailings and also incorporating valorisation of red mud as a precursor for alkali-activated binder. This paper comprises recent research findings and practical applications associated with the use of this waste. Also, it discusses the benefits and challenges associated with the large-scale use of red mud. It gives an idea about how the strength and durability of construction materials can be improved considering overall environmental impact. Future perspectives on policy, technology, and environmental impact are also discussed to provide a comprehensive understanding of red mud's potential for sustainable development. Article Highlights: Red mud enhances the properties of materials like strength, durability, and thermal resistance of construction materials like bricks, ceramic, and cement. Red mud increases soil load-bearing capacity, reduces plasticity, and enhances erosion resistance, making it ideal for foundations and road construction. Using red mud reduces dependency on traditional raw materials, conserving natural resources and lowering environmental impacts. Red mud in construction and soil stabilisation contributes to durable, eco-friendly structures and supports sustainable land use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural waste is one of the wastes with a significant value in producing environmentally friendly materials that can be used in the construction sector. This review paper focuses on the potential uses of walnut shell in some building materials. Walnut shell is a type of agricultural waste that can be converted from waste into usable materials by incorporating it into the manufacture of some building materials to achieve sustainability in the construction industry. Recently, walnut waste has drawn the attention of researchers to generate building-friendly materials to boost sustainability in the construction field. In this sense, the walnut shell's low specific gravity makes it a viable material, as a cheap agricultural waste product, for the development of building materials. According to a survey of the literature, walnut shells can be utilized in the production of structural elements and thermal insulating concrete, up to 30% and 50% as particles respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following the seismic events that shook Albania in November 2019, more than 14,000 buildings were impacted, resulting in 51 fatalities, over 3000 injuries, and displacing around fourteen thousand residents from their homes. The majority of these affected individuals were concentrated in highly populated Tirana and Durres. This result was expected because of the predominant building type in the region, which is characterized by unreinforced masonry structures that have not been subjected to recent assessments or rehabilitation initiatives. The study outlines observed issues and challenges, leading to an analytical investigation into the seismic capacity of various masonry building types observed during post-earthquake reconnaissance. Nineteen masonry structures, ranging from 2 to 6 stories, were selected to correspond to frequently used typified projects in construction. Based on the laboratory test results assessing the characteristics of structural wall parts, analytical models for each building were created. Nonlinear static analysis was employed to estimate the seismic displacement capacities of each building. To further explore the importance of the findings, the nonlinear behavior of a group of representative buildings was analyzed in relation to the seismic sequences that occurred during the 2019 Albania earthquakes. The outcomes of this study are believed to be generalizable to various similar buildings and applicable to a wide range of masonry structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractBrick (BR) and roof tile (RT) fine aggregate fractions derived from construction and demolition wastes have a low recycling rate in new construction and building materials. This article assesses their suitability for replacing the limestone aggregate in foam concrete, which helps valorise such fractions and conserve natural limestone resources. Two concrete categories containing or not silica fume (SF) were investigated, while the BR and RT aggregate replacement rates were 10%, 20% and 40%. Tested properties include flow, density, water absorption, porosity, thermal conductivity, mechanical strengths, microscopy, drying shrinkage, resistance to freeze/thaw cycles and elevated temperature. Results showed that the concrete mechanical properties improved when the limestone aggregate was replaced by 10% BR or RT but gradually curtailed at higher addition rates. Such results concorded with the density, water absorption and porosity measurements. Foamed concrete containing BR is more resistant (compared to RT) to drying shrinkage, freeze/thaw cycle, and heat exposure, which was ascribed to the relatively lower BR porosity that improves the concrete mechanical properties and durability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Constantinople and Ravenna found new life in Late Antiquity through calculated decisions to transform them into capitals. For these cities to succeed, simultaneous large-scale imperial building projects had to be undertaken, such as fortifications, roads, aqueducts, palaces, and harbors. This created great competition for resources, especially considering the local lack of any established procurement and production industries of the scale required. Unfortunately, there exists no direct archaeological evidence for these industries. Though law codes provide useful insight into how the construction industry functioned, they do not mention brick, a critical building material that was used in great quantities. As such, this article addresses this gap in the evidence. It uses Actor-Network and Material Engagement Theories to investigate and reimage the complex human-object relationships involved in material sourcing and production industries in Ravenna and Constantinople in the decades following their accession as capital cities. Quantitative analysis of extant structures under the framework of backward induction—starting from an end result and reasoning backward in time to identify the most advantageous sequence(s) of events—helps us identify the comparable and contrasting nature of supplying enough building materials for these two new capitals in Late Antiquity. The qualitative and quantitative results from representative case studies show not only that new, large-scale industries focusing on the procurement of bricks were necessary to ensure the success of these new capital cities but that their successful operation was facilitated only by linking rural, peri-urban, and urban landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This contribution explores the application of the BIM methodology in the context of built heritage (HBIM). Specifically, it investigates how this methodology has evolved in terms of modeling techniques, viewed through the lens of Drawing as a critical aspect of its implementation. By considering these perspectives together, the paper aims to identify the primary advantages and limitations of HBIM, highlighting the need for defined workflows to effectively manage and deconstruct the intricate architectural elements found in the Palazzo del Collegio dei Nobili, which represents Turin's brick buildings from the Savoy Baroque period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This review paper explores the use of red mud as a sustainable alternative for construction materials and soil stabilisation due to its unique chemical and mineral composition, a waste produced during the extraction of aluminium from bauxite ore. The disposal of red mud is a major environmental issue worldwide due to its high alkalinity and large production volume. Although this material has already been utilised as construction material (e.g., bricks, cement, concrete), it can also be incorporated for waste water treatment and lead to waste reduction. In soil stabilisation, red mud’s alkaline nature, pozzolanic properties, and fine particle size improve soil structure and strength, offering a cost-effective solution. Utilising red mud as a filling material for low-lying areas addresses the disposal problem while contributing to infrastructure development projects. This study highlights construction materials’ mechanical properties and durability by incorporating bauxite tailings and also incorporating valorisation of red mud as a precursor for alkali-activated binder. This paper comprises recent research findings and practical applications associated with the use of this waste. Also, it discusses the benefits and challenges associated with the large-scale use of red mud. It gives an idea about how the strength and durability of construction materials can be improved considering overall environmental impact. Future perspectives on policy, technology, and environmental impact are also discussed to provide a comprehensive understanding of red mud’s potential for sustainable development.

An edge e of a matching covered graph G is removable if G−e is also matching covered. The notion of removable edge arises in connection with ear decompositions of matching covered graphs introduced by Lovász and Plummer. A nonbipartite matching covered graph G is a brick if it is free of nontrivial tight cuts. Carvalho, Lucchesi and Murty proved that every brick other than K4 and C6¯ has at least Δ−2 removable edges. A brick G is near‐bipartite if it has a pair of edges {e1,e2} such that G−{e1,e2} is a bipartite matching covered graph. In this paper, we show that in a near‐bipartite brick G with at least six vertices, every vertex of G, except at most six vertices of degree three contained in two disjoint triangles, is incident with at most two nonremovable edges; consequently, G has at least |V(G)|−62 removable edges. Moreover, all graphs attaining this lower bound are characterized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Self-sufficiency and reliance on natural materials are fundamental principles of Iranian architecture, with brick being a locally abundant material in Iran. Over time, brick buildings require retrofitting, restoration, and enhancement. To gain a deeper understanding of brick and its retrofitting, it is essential to analyze historical bricks and incorporate past experiences in brick making. This research aims to examine the technical characteristics of bricks used in the historical buildings of Kashan city across different time periods. Five brick samples from these historical structures have been selected for analysis. Method: The research employs a quantitative approach based on field studies and laboratory experiments. The experiments are categorized into three groups. The first group comprises basic tests, including density, specific gravity, moisture content, and water absorption. The second group encompasses mechanical tests, focusing on compressive and bending strength. The third category involves chemical tests conducted through X-ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis. Results: The tests revealed that the specific weight of the samples ranged from 1.6 to 2.14 grams per cubic centimeter, while water absorption varied between 9.3 and 18.5 percent. The compressive strength was found to be between 53.12 and 195.27 kg/cm², and the bending strength ranged from 11.62 to 125.83 kg/cm². The findings indicate that basic characteristics significantly influence mechanical properties. As specific weight and volume density of the samples increase, their internal pore structure diminishes, leading to reduced moisture content and lower water absorption. Furthermore, higher sample density correlates with increased compressive and bending strength. The predominant chemical composition in the samples was quartz, while the presence of gypsum contributed to decreased mechanical resistance. In contrast, higher levels of quartz, anorthite, and albite enhanced the resistance of the samples Conclusions: The physical and mechanical characteristics of brick samples remain relatively stable over time. Consequently, it appears that the resistance parameters are more influenced by the quality of the raw materials, sample density, and production methods rather than the age of the samples.

Airborne respirable crystalline silica (RCS) has been a widely recognized hazard in the United States for nearly 100 years, yet it continues to pose a risk to construction tradespersons, among others. RCS exposures vary widely depending on site conditions and tools and materials used. The proper use of engineering, administrative, and personal protective equipment (PPE) controls can effectively reduce exposure to RCS. Historically, others have reviewed available RCS exposure data among construction trades and reported that there were considerable data gaps and variability that needed to be addressed. This current assessment aimed to synthesize available peer-reviewed exposure studies to determine potential RCS exposures during the use of common construction materials and evaluate to what extent data gaps and variability persist. Twenty-eight studies were identified that reported RCS exposure during construction tasks. After conversion to the unit of µg/m3, reported measurements from samples collected for varying durations ranged from 6.0 to 75,500 µg/m3 for work with concrete, 80 to 4,240 µg/m3 for work with brick, <59 to 10,900 µg/m3 for work with mortar, 90 to 44,370 µg/m3 for work with engineered stone, and 70 to 380 µg/m3 for work with roof tile. To better facilitate pooling data across studies, future researchers should report their sample duration, clarify how time-weighted average (TWA) exposure data are calculated, report the silica content of the material being manipulated, and specify whether samples were collected while the task was performed in isolation or on a worksite where other silica-containing materials were also actively handled. When reporting results as respirable quartz, it is important to note whether any other polymorphic forms of silica were detected. It is ultimately the employer's responsibility to train employees and monitor and control RCS exposures on construction worksites. To do this effectively, it is important to have a clear understanding of the tasks, materials, and site conditions where intervention is most urgently needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extensive research efforts have been undertaken in the past to utilize several kinds of recycled fine aggregates to produce environmentally friendly and more sustainable concrete. In Thailand, various types of bricks, including fired clay hollow, fired clay solid, and hydraulically pressed cement-clay bricks, are manufactured for constructing low-rise buildings. There is an urgent requirement to employ recycled fine aggregates made from these bricks to mitigate the disposal and demolition waste generated by the brick industry. At present, the utilization of waste bricks of Thailand's origin as fine aggregates in concrete is yet to be investigated. Three types of fine recycled brick aggregates were utilized to create sustainable concrete. The recycled fine brick aggregates were substituted for natural fine aggregates at proportions of 0%, 10%, and 20% to formulate the concrete mixes. Furthermore, three distinct types of tests—compression, splitting, and flexural tests—were conducted to evaluate the mechanical properties of the concrete. The compressive and splitting tensile strengths increased with the replacement ratio of recycled aggregates. Notably, up to 51% and 80% improvements in the compressive and splitting tensile strength were observed, corresponding to 20% replacement proportions, respectively. However, the flexural strengths exhibited were attributed to the type of waste brick, with a maximum improvement of up to 22%. Moreover, the water absorption tendency was reduced by incorporating recycled fine aggregates in concrete. The current work aimed only at examining the strengths of recycled brick aggregate concrete. Therefore, future works are recommended to investigate the complete stress vs. strain constitutive relationships of this concrete as well as its flowability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sludge from water treatment plants (WTP) is a waste from the water process. This study evaluated the effect of incorporating water treatment plant (WTP) sludge, replacing the water used in compacted soil–cement mixtures. The materials were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) associated with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) and Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS). The soil, with the addition of liquid WTP sludge, presented an apparent dry specific weight (ƴd) of 1.77 gf·cm−3, the optimum moisture value in the compaction test of 15%, and the cement contents tested were 7, 11, and 14%. The specimens were molded using a WTP sludge–cement–soil mixture under the conditions mentioned above, and the simple compression results showed values within the range of 2.5 to 9.3 MPa, as specified by the Brazilian Technical Standard (NBR) 8491/2012. The hydraulic conductivity performed on the test specimen after 28 days of curing resulted in a coefficient (k) of 7.49 × 10−9 cm·s−1, classified as little permeable. The result obtained from aluminum leaching was 0.12 mg·L−1, within the maximum limit allowed by NBR 10004/2004. Therefore, liquid WTP sludge has a significant capacity for incorporation into the compacted soil–cement mixture and the potential to manufacture ecological bricks, an alternative environmentally sustainable brick. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study is to investigate the characteristics of slates and metamorphosed shales in Hamadan province for their potential use in brick production. Firstly, the slatey and shaley units of geological Formations in Kabudar Ahang, Razen, Hamedan, and Tuserkan with a scale of 1:100,000 were identified, and their geological and petrological data of metamorphic units were collected. Following field visits, five sampling locations were selected. The results of the chemical analysis of the main oxides and X-Ray Diffraction analyses confirmed that the lithological composition of the sampling sites is slate and metamorphosed shales. According to the results of the data obtained from the chemical analysis, the composition of the studied rocks meets the required standards for brick preparation (Standard No. 7 of the National Standards Organization of Iran). After preparing the samples, physical, chemical, and mechanical tests were conducted on the bricks. The density values of the manufactured bricks indicate they are lighter than regular bricks. Water absorption of the produced bricks is within the acceptable range for facing bricks and pressed bricks according to Iran's national standard. All the slate and metamorphosed shale bricks are in good condition in terms of strength and can be used for engineering, facing, and pressed bricks. Results of the freezing test on the bricks subjected to 50 cycles of freezing and thawing show that the weight loss percentage of the samples falls within the permissible limit of Iran's national standard (No.7). Also, the amount of soluble salts in the bricks is at the optimal level. Overall, all the properties examined in the slate bricks comply with relevant standards, indicating their suitability for use in the brick-making industry, which is economically and environmentally significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eco-friendly brick is one of the innovations that can be developed to reduce plastic waste. Plastic waste is mixed using clay and epoxy resin to be united into Eco-friendly brick. This research was conducted to understand the interactions between the parameters of the eco-friendly brick mixing process through the Full Factorial Design (FFD) approach. Two variables were observed: epoxy resin-clay ratio (30-50%) and PET particle (1-5mm). FFD with 22 replications resulted in a total of 8 experimental sets. Design Expert was used to optimize the compressive strength response produced as a variable of the prepared eco-friendly brick. From the results of Design Expert, it is found that the optimum processing parameters are in the condition of 37.78% ratio, and 3.58 mm for PET particle size which will produce the maximum compressive strength of 78.65 MPa with a coefficient of determination R2 of 0.9720. Overall, this study has significance in facilitating processing in the manufacture of eco-friendly bricks. Research and implementations involving mixes of PET particles and epoxy resin in producing environmentally friendly bricks have demonstrated the significant potential for these materials to enhance the compressive strength of sustainable brick. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The historic centre of the city of Cuenca is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is located in a zone of high seismic hazard. For these reasons, the Urban Development Plan of Cuenca sets out the need to implement measures for the conservation of buildings. The analysis of the seismic vulnerability of buildings makes it possible to develop effective strategies for the prevention and mitigation of damage and reduction of losses due to earthquakes. Since seismic vulnerability analysis considers the characteristics of a building to quantify damage, it is necessary to determine a model that appropriately reflects the structure of the building under study. The aim of this work is to define a characteristic brick masonry house in the Historic Centre of Cuenca (HCC) and to generalise its architectural features, geometry, structural system and materials. The results of the analysis of field data collected in the HCC comprising 2885 dwellings are presented. Each dwelling was characterised by 5 geometrical and 3 structural parameters. Statistical frequency diagrams were elaborated to define the most representative variable for each parameter. By spatial superimposition in the ArcMap program, the characteristic dwelling was defined as a two-storey masonry house with two transverse and three longitudinal spans and a cantilever on the front façade. The structural system consists of 17 cm thick brick walls, confined by reinforced concrete columns and beams, timber floor structures and a gable roof with ceramic tiles. Abstract El Centro Histórico de la ciudad de Cuenca es catalogado por la UNESCO como Patrimonio de la Humanidad y se encuentra ubicado en una zona de alto peligro sísmico, por estas razones el Plan de Desarrollo Urbano de Cuenca plantea la necesidad de implementar medidas de conservación de las edificaciones. El análisis de la vulnerabilidad sísmica de las edificaciones permite desarrollar estrategias efectivas para la previsión y mitigación de daños y reducción de las pérdidas debidas a los sismos. Dado que el análisis de la vulnerabilidad sísmica considera las características de una edificación para cuantificar el daño, es necesario determinar un modelo que refleje de manera apropiada la estructura en estudio. El objetivo de este trabajo es definir una vivienda característica de mampostería de ladrillo en el Centro Histórico de Cuenca (CHC) y generalizar sus características arquitectónicas, geometría, sistema estructural y materiales. Se presentan los resultados del análisis de información de campo recolectada en el CHC que incluye 2885 viviendas. Cada vivienda fue caracterizada mediante 5 parámetros geométricos y 3 estructurales. Se elaboraron diagramas de frecuencia estadística para definir la variable más representativa de cada parámetro. Mediante superposición espacial en el programa ArcMap se definió que la vivienda característica es una casa de mampostería de dos plantas, dos vanos transversales, tres longitudinales y un voladizo en la fachada frontal. El sistema estructural comprende paredes de ladrillo de 17 cm de espesor, confinadas por columnas y vigas de hormigón armado, entrepisos de madera y techo a dos aguas con tejas cerámicas.

Many commercial buildings have a vast network of sensors as part of their building automation systems (BAS) that allows opportunities for energy consumption and cost savings by deploying advanced control sequences. However, this resource is often underutilized since BAS are typically programmed with simple control sequences with limited potential to deliver on these opportunities. The recent availability of ASHRAE Guideline 36 (G36) with advanced HVAC control sequences supports control retrofits in existing buildings to unlock much of the savings potential. However, barriers such as the lack of standard naming convention of building assets and data points, proprietary equipment and BAS, and the inherent uniqueness of buildings and their systems prevent building stakeholders from adopting any “plug-and-play” implementation of G36. Instead, control vendors must often undertake the manual and labor-intensive point mapping process to identify a data stream’s functional and spatial relationship within the HVAC system along with other relevant contexts and map it to the new control sequences. The vendor must carry out the point mapping process in each individual building since the mapping is unlikely to port over to another building. Even for the same building, the point mapping process can occur multiple times if various control vendors implement different control retrofits and/or multiple control retrofits happen over the lifecycle of the building. Then, there is the likelihood that G36 control sequences are programmed uniquely to the building, preventing the same implementation from being reused in another. Therefore, this paper presents a field demonstration of how we leveraged the Brick ontology with BACnet, OpenBuildingControl’s Control Description Language (CDL), and open-source support tools to implement scalable and portable advanced building controls. These tools provide standardized semantic descriptions and relationships of the building’s assets and data points (Brick), standardized communication protocol to read from and write to the building’s BAS (BACnet), and standardized code implementations (CDL) of standardized advanced control strategies (G36). We implemented G36’s hot water supply temperature setpoint reset in a Berkeley, CA building for this field demonstration. This field demonstration aims to show how integrating these tools may streamline the deployment of advanced control sequences such as G36 in a consistent manner regardless of differences found across buildings.

The purpose of the research carried out by the authors is represented by the use of waste, such as that from agriculture, from wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) and from the fiber glass industry in order to obtain construction materials (bricks). The authors, as part of a research project, designed and tested new recipes for making bricks, starting from a series of existing waste materials in significant quantities. By using different types of waste and re-introducing them into the economic circuit, a better protection of the environment is ensured in the current context of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study explores the partial replacement of clay by the addition of tannery sludge (TS) and glass in brick preparation. Bricks were prepared with varying weight percentages of TS (9%, 18%, and 27%) along with glass powder (10%) and fired at different temperatures (900, 950, and 1000 °C). Water absorption, compressive strength, weight loss on ignition, volumetric shrinkage, and bulk density of the bricks were found to be in the range of 12.3%–16.8%, 2.3–4.5 MPa, 4%–13.8%, 6%–11%, and 1600–1850 kg/m3, respectively. Heavy metal leaching was observed to be within the limits of United States Environmental Protection Agency 1311 for the prepared bricks. The addition of TS resulted in a decrease of physical and mechanical properties of the bricks due to the decomposition of organic and inorganic compounds. However, the presence of glass powder compensates for the effect of TS by fusion and densification process. The results indicate that hybrid addition of TS and glass can partially replace clay in brick production and effectively immobilize heavy metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: As a result of the combination of the complex behavior of masonry buildings with insufficient material quality and lack in engineering calculations, a large number of damages has been observed in the earthquakes that occurred in recent years. Therefore, a realistic understanding of the behavior of masonry walls and buildings is necessary to construct seismic‐resistant structures. Since masonry walls have many variables, performing experiments in which each variable is present at the same time will make it difficult to understand the behavior. For these reasons, considering the out‐of‐plane failures that are frequently mentioned in recent earthquakes, in this study, variables in dry‐stack brick masonry buildings such as the aspect ratio of the wall (2, 1.33, and 1), the presence of the transverse walls (2, 1, and 0), and the openings in the walls (door and/or window) were taken into account separately. Eighteen different wall configurations were designed, and a total of 48 dry‐stack walls having U‐shape, L‐shape, and I‐shape in plan were tested by a specially constructed tilting table setup to determine their out‐of‐plane behavior. From the test results, it was found that lateral load capacity of the U‐shaped walls without openings increased as the aspect ratio (L/H) decreased. No change in capacity was observed in L‐ and I‐shaped walls when the aspect ratio was reduced from 2 to 1. Door and/or window openings were found to affect only the L‐shaped walls. In addition, it was determined that failure patterns were affected from the aspect ratio and the presence of the openings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the focus is directed towards terracotta building materials with "traces," which were disregarded as defective and unworthy of consideration until recently. Samples have been examined through the lens of ichnoarchaeology, revealing that every material unearthed has the potential to provide information about the past, support existing theories, or facilitate novel interpretations. A total of fifty-three samples from two ancient cities were analyzed in this study. The findings of this research support the scholars' thesis that the climatic conditions in Anatolia in the 2nd century AD were similar to those of today. Moreover, it was concluded that the environment surrounding the brick workshop in Aizanoi was markedly more severe compared to that of Perge. The examined traces also enabled certain evaluations concerning social life during the Ancient Period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This investigation is primarily focused on addressing the prevailing uncertainty surrounding the compressive strength of three distinct types of bricks: nanomodified; simple; and commercial. Nanomodified bricks are specifically fabricated using a minute concentration of 0.01% w/w multiwalled carbon nanotubes combined with 1% sodium hexametaphosphate. However, the utilization of both materials in a single brick is currently limited. In view of this constraint, a diligent effort was made in this study to comprehend the effects of multiwalled carbon nanotubes and sodium hexametaphosphate as additive materials for brick construction. It is important to note that the compressive strength of the bricks remains the pivotal and critical characteristic under investigation, and an exhaustive analysis was undertaken employing a probabilistic approach. The findings of the study suggest that the variability observed in the compressive strength parameters of nanomodified, simple, and commercial bricks can be explained by a normal distribution at a significance level of 5%. The calculated values for the characteristic compressive strength were determined to be 24.47, 16.47, and 14.24 N/mm2 , respectively, for the three types of bricks. Further, the regression analysis conducted to assess the relationship between brick compressive strength and the independent variables yielded a cubic fit with R2 (coefficient of determination) values of 0.984, 0.995, and 0.995 for nanomodified, simple, and commercial bricks, respectively. Consequently, the application of multiwalled carbon nanotubes in conjunction with sodium hexametaphosphate in fired clay bricks can be recommended to achieve enhanced compressive strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An edge e of a matching covered graph G is removable if G − e is also matching covered. Carvalho, Lucchesi, and Murty showed that every brick G different from K4 and C6 has at least ∆ − 2 removable edges, where ∆ is the maximum degree of G. In this paper, we generalize the result to irreducible near-bricks, where a graph is irreducible if it contains no single ear of length three or more. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The building and construction sector is responsible for a large share of carbon emissions resulting in the need to reduce them to mitigate climate change. Timber construction methods promise to lower emissions combined with biogenic carbon storage in the built environment. While there are several studies comparing the emissions of mineral-based and timber-based buildings, a consistent comparison of different timber-based building assemblies is still missing. This study compares carbon emissions from material production and carbon storage capabilities of four timber-based and two brick and reinforced concrete building assemblies. These assemblies were designed for a residential multi-storey building in Berlin, Germany. To compare and rank the carbon impacts of these assemblies we introduce a carbon storage- to-emission ratio. The calculations were performed using a Carbon Cycle Assessment Model implementation in Python. The results indicate an average reduction in carbon emissions of timber-based building assemblies by 32.6% to "Brick" and 40.4% to "Reinforced Concrete", respectively. Across the timber-based building assemblies, the carbon emissions range between 851 and 1151, leading to an average of 1051 per building. Pronounced differences were observed in carbon storage, with the "Dowel Laminated Timber" building assembly storing more than three times the amount of carbon compared to "Light Weight Timber" assembly. To further reduce emissions from buildings and the construction sector and potentially enhance urban carbon storage, "Glue Laminated Timber" and "Dowel Laminated Timber" building assemblies were identified as the most promising. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Duzce University Journal of Science & Technology is the property of Duzce University Journal of Science & Technology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Turkic Studies Journal is the property of L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: Self-sufficiency and reliance on natural materials are fundamental principles of Iranian architecture, with brick being a locally abundant material in Iran. Over time, brick buildings require retrofitting, restoration, and enhancement. To gain a deeper understanding of brick and its retrofitting, it is essential to analyze historical bricks and incorporate past experiences in brick making. This research aims to examine the technical characteristics of bricks used in the historical buildings of Kashan city across different time periods. Five brick samples from these historical structures have been selected for analysis. Method: The research employs a quantitative approach based on field studies and laboratory experiments. The experiments are categorized into three groups. The first group comprises basic tests, including density, specific gravity, moisture content, and water absorption. The second group encompasses mechanical tests, focusing on compressive and bending strength. The third category involves chemical tests conducted through X-ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis. Results: The tests revealed that the specific weight of the samples ranged from 1.6 to 2.14 grams per cubic centimeter, while water absorption varied between 9.3 and 18.5 percent. The compressive strength was found to be between 53.12 and 195.27 kg/cm², and the bending strength ranged from 11.62 to 125.83 kg/cm². The findings indicate that basic characteristics significantly influence mechanical properties. As specific weight and volume density of the samples increase, their internal pore structure diminishes, leading to reduced moisture content and lower water absorption. Furthermore, higher sample density correlates with increased compressive and bending strength. The predominant chemical composition in the samples was quartz, while the presence of gypsum contributed to decreased mechanical resistance. In contrast, higher levels of quartz, anorthite, and albite enhanced the resistance of the samples Conclusions: The physical and mechanical characteristics of brick samples remain relatively stable over time. Consequently, it appears that the resistance parameters are more influenced by the quality of the raw materials, sample density, and production methods rather than the age of the samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Scientific Journal of Finance & Financial Law Studies is the property of Scientific Journal of Finance & Financial Law Studies and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The aim of the work presented is to study the possibility of using traditional gypsum, which is found in considerable quantities in southern Algeria, to prepare bricks with sufficient mechanical characteristics to qualify them for the various applications and uses in construction. The improvement of the mechanical properties of traditional gypsum was carried out in two phases: The first phase by adding ordinary Portland cement with different mass ratios of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5%. The results showed that the addition of 2% of (OPC) gave the best value to make the bricks more resistant. The second phase is to study the durability and knowledge of the effect of water on traditional plaster bricks and (OPC). After determining the best C2 sample of 98% traditional plaster and 2% (OPC), these samples were placed in drinking water baths and the others in aggressive water baths in 7 days, 14 days, 21 days, 28 days, 60 days and 90 days. After applying the mechanical tests of all the samples on the specified dates, it was found that the mechanical results increased with time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Faced with increasing water scarcity, the potential of greywater reuse stands out, but requires effective treatment of to remove organic matter, pathogens, surfactants, and suspended solids. Constructed Wetlands (CW) are sustainable and decentralized technologies gaining increasing prominence for this propose. They are recognized for their low-cost, simplicity, and effectiveness in wastewater treatment, producing effluents that meet quality standards for reuse. Despite their advantages, there is a need for a deeper understanding of the factors that influence their performance and efficiency. This review aims to fill this gap by systematically analyzing the current research on CW technology, identifying key variables that affect its application and potential for improvement. A systematic review considering the period 2019–2023 was carried out using Methodi Ordinatio, a multicriteria decision-making methodology. The search databases were Science direct, Web of science and Scopus. This approach involves structures process for selecting scientific articles, resulting in a bibliographic portfolio of recent studies,. The initial search yielded 291 retrieved titles, and through multicriteria selection, 48 studies were chosen for in-depth analysis. Existing studies allowed to evaluate the ways in which CW systems are applied. The review highlights how CW systems are applied, the influence of substrates type, plants, and operational criteria which emerged as the primary factors influencing the technology's performance. This review also highlights the growing use of construction waste and biochar as substrates, which have shown promise in enhancing CW efficiency. Despite the focus on greywater ''reuse'', for articles selection, it was observed that the topic was scarcely addressed, thus suggesting that studies on CW application for greywater water reuse remains underexplored. This review provides a state-of-the-art synthesis of CW technology, offering valuable insights into how specific design and operational choices impact system effectiveness. It serves as a worthwhile resource for enhancing the efficiency and application of CW in sustainable wastewater management.

This article investigated mechanical behavior of the masonry of historic buildings. It was assumed that reliable cracking processes can be obtained by modeling masonry as a continuous medium and using the Jointed Masonry Model (JMM). The paper gives an analytical review of JMM, identifying the input parameters required for its use. Laboratory tests of brick blocks and mortar for uniaxial compression were carried out and the results of these tests are presented. It is proposed to use the triaxial compression test methodology for rocks for cylindrical samples drilled from bricks. Based on the obtained laboratory data, a method for obtaining input parameters for JMM was proposed. To verify the obtained input parameters of JMM, the construction of a numerical model to predict the stress-strain state of historic masonry buildings was proposed. As an example, old workshop buildings located in the area near St. Petersburg were considered. The results of numerical calculations were compared with the results of building facades surveys for the presence of cracks and opening widths in them. It was found that the zones of the greatest shear deformations were formed mainly in the corners of window and door openings, mainly in the right and left parts of the model. Their position had a qualitative convergence with the results of surveys. The process of formation and qualitative change of zones of limiting compressive and tensile stresses that were formed in the walls of buildings was analyzed using different sets of input parameters of JMM. The influence of dilatancy effects on the stress-strain state was also considered. The study found that a reliable description of the mechanical condition of historic masonry can be obtained using JMM, whose input parameters should be based on the results of laboratory tests. The conducted work showed that along with classical methods of surveys it was possible to use methods of numerical modeling to predict areas where crack propagation occur for historic masonry buildings.

Although Mies van der Rohe’s architecture is often associated with steel and glass, he had a fondness for brick and used it in both Europe and the Americas. For this reason, and because it has received little attention in the academic literature, this article investigates its use in Mies’s work from the perspective of Karl Friedrich Schinkel, an architect known for his innovative use of the material.110 years elapsed between the Bauakademie and Perlstein Hall, a period in which the study variables are clearly visible: Mies’s most important projects are reviewed and compared with Schinkel’s buildings, all of which were designed in brick. This research provides clues how Schinkel influenced Mies’s architecture, demonstrates that both architects used a classic material in a modern, honest way, and which Mies was able to push to its furthest limits by individualising the load-bearing and enclosing functions of the wall in his projects.

Tarihi yapılarda kullanılan başlıca yapı malzemelerinden olan taş ve tuğla, çeşitli çevresel etkenler sonucu bozulmalara uğramaktadır. Bozulmaya neden olan etkenlerin belirlenmesi ve bozulmaların sınıflandırılması, doğru koruma – onarım tekniklerinin belirlenmesi ve uygulanması açısından önem arz etmektedir. Bu bağlamda gerçekleştirilen çalışmada yapı malzemelerinde hasara neden olan etkenler, bozulma türleri ve koruma – onarım teknikleri ile ilgili güvenilir veri tabanları üzerinden gerekli literatür araştırmaları yapılmıştır. Araştırmalar sonucu elde edilen veriler doğrultusunda bir saha çalışması gerçekleştirilmiştir. Konya Vakıflar Bölge Müdürlüğü tarafından son dönemlerde restorasyon çalışmaları gerçekleştirilmiş tarihi yapılar araştırılmış ve Konya il merkezinde yer alan Hoca Hasan Mescidi örneklem alan olarak belirlenmiştir. Taş ve tuğla malzeme ile inşa edilen mescitte gerçekleştirilen onarım faaliyetleriyle ilgili bilgi edinmek amacıyla Konya Vakıflar Bölge Müdürlüğü arşivinden faydalanılmıştır. Yapıda uygulanan onarım yöntemleri yerinde inceleme, gözlem ve fotoğraflama teknikleriyle belgelenmiştir. Yapılan incelemeler sonucunda yapıda devam eden bozulmalar olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Literatürden elde edilen bilgilere dayanarak sahada edinilen bulgular değerlendirilmiş ve çalışmanın sonuçlar bölümünde ele alınmıştır.

The rapid growth of global industrialization and urbanization has led to the excessive use of non-renewable energy sources and the alarming release of greenhouse gases within the construction industry. In response, adopting sustainable and environmentally friendly building materials has emerged as a vital solution for achieving the international sustainable development goals set by the United Nations. This review discusses the potential benefits of incorporating biochar-based bricks and insulation materials, focusing on their preparation methods, material properties, emission reduction capabilities, effectiveness in reducing carbon emissions, enhancing thermal insulation, and promising economic prospects. The major points are: (1) Biochar-based materials offer significant potential for reducing the carbon footprint of buildings and enhancing their thermal insulation properties. (2) With a thermal conductivity ranging from 0.08 to 0.2 W/(m·K), biochar insulation materials contribute to reduced energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. (3) Replacing one ton of cement with biochar in brick production can substantially reduce 1351–1505 kg CO2-eq over the entire life cycle. (4) Using biochar as part of concrete insulation saves about 59–65 kg of carbon dioxide per ton while offering clear economic benefits. Although biochar insulation is comparatively more expensive than traditional insulation materials like fiberglass and foam, its energy-saving advantages can balance the extra cost. (5) Biochar insulation is derived from organic waste, contributing to improved recyclability, environmental sustainability, and cost-effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building materials' moisture content defines the overall durability and serviceability of buildings and infrastructures. Conventionally, moisture content is estimated by weighing the materials before and after drying. In this work, the results of capacitance wired sensors for measuring moisture content were investigated. These sensors facilitate in situ measurement of capacitance values, with the aid of specialized installation equipment, and the results are accessible via a cloud-based software application. In practice, the main drawback associated with the application of these sensors is related to their calibration. Thus, it is important to investigate different algorithms which convert capacitance readings into moisture content values. To address this, various specimens covering a diverse set of building materials were prepared in the laboratory. This study focused on examining two bricks, two sedimentary stones with low and high porosity values. and four different kinds of mortars (with different binders, namely hydrated lime putty, cement, natural hydraulic lime, and hydrated lime powder and pozzolan). The results indicated that a linear model can be recommended for calibrating sensor capacitance to moisture content measurements. This model can be used for the prediction of building material moisture content with high accuracy, from saturated to the dry state, covering the full range of drying kinetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of laboratory tests for obtaining high-quality waterproofing ceramic bricks based on low-grade loess loam are presented. Due to the recommendation of a new method of mass preparation, an improvement in the parameters of the brick-forming process has been achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of ESTOA: Revista de la Facultad de Arquitectura y Urbanismo de la Universidad de Cuenca is the property of ESTOA Revista de la Facultad de Arquitectura y Urbanismo de la Universidad de Cuenca and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Iraqi National Journal of Earth Sciences is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of ABE: Advances in Building Education is the property of Departamento de Tecnologia de la Edificacion, Universidad Politecnica de Madrid and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

How might the future of a city be foretold in a single ubiquitous, yet often invisible, building material? Across the Chinese capital today, municipal planners, developers, artists, and residents alike are mobilising the brick not only as a window to the past and an indictment of the present, but a key portent of the future. Amid a capricious climate of creative destruction, this article tracks how bricks emerge as historicised artifacts, aesthetic interventions, and weapons used by and against the forces of China's spectacular development. Against clichés of intractable permanence, the Chinese brick today is revealing new and unpredictable vicissitudes as it is co-opted in projects of governance and resistance, demarcating both the material and symbolic parameters of urban belonging in contemporary Beijing. Approaching the lived form of the Chinese metropolis through this traditional architectural material, the article describes Beijing brick in three instantiations: as a lightning rod for debate about the past, present, and future of Beijing's historic old city; as a materialisation of the atmospherics of pollution and "progress"; and as the armament of both development and its opposition. Through these instances, the brick oscillates between being understood as a relic of aestheticised tradition, a symbol of modernisation, and a trenchant instrument of both building and destruction. As extended fieldwork in Beijing evidences, it is precisely this social and material mutability of the brick that today reorients life in the city toward novel human and nonhuman alliances and oppositions, while also conditioning wider political sensibilities about who counts and what matters in official and unofficial imaginings of China's future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alternative materials need to be mapped, characterized, and valued in order to reduce clay usage. A study was conducted on the utilization of waste dolomite material from a mirror manufacturing factory in the production of bricks where the factory disposes 2500 tons of dolomite waste annually. Dolomite residue was mixed with clay raw material in various mass ratios of 90/10, 87.5/12.5, 85/15, and 82.5/17.5 wt%, extruded with proper moisture content, dried at 110 °C, and fired at 1000 °C and 1100 °C. The addition of dolomite resulted in an efflorescence on the surface of the bricks while also providing thermal insulation advantages and higher fire resistance. The addition of dolomite allowed for an increase in firing temperature to 1100 °C, which was initially not possible due to the melting characteristics of the clay. Dolomite also decreased the density of the bricks, which is crucial in order to decrease the dead load in structures. The produced bricks are intended for internal wall applications because of the efflorescence on the surface of the bricks. Overall, the addition of dolomite improved thermal conductivity and density, and other characteristics also showed suitable results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The building and construction sector is responsible for a large share of carbon emissions resulting in the need to reduce them to mitigate climate change. Timber construction methods promise to lower emissions combined with biogenic carbon storage in the built environment. While there are several studies comparing the emissions of mineral-based and timber-based buildings, a consistent comparison of different timber-based building assemblies is still missing. This study compares carbon emissions from material production and carbon storage capabilities of four timber-based and two brick and reinforced concrete building assemblies. These assemblies were designed for a residential multi-storey building in Berlin, Germany. To compare and rank the carbon impacts of these assemblies we introduce a carbon storage-to-emission ratio. The calculations were performed using a Carbon Cycle Assessment Model implementation in Python. The results indicate an average reduction in carbon emissions of timber-based building assemblies by 32.6% to “Brick” and 40.4% to “Reinforced Concrete”, respectively. Across the timber-based building assemblies, the carbon emissions range between 85 t and 115 t, leading to an average of 105 t per building. Pronounced differences were observed in carbon storage, with the “Dowel Laminated Timber” building assembly storing more than three times the amount of carbon compared to “Light Weight Timber” assembly. To further reduce emissions from buildings and the construction sector and potentially enhance urban carbon storage, “Glue Laminated Timber” and “Dowel Laminated Timber” building assemblies were identified as the most promising.

Abstract: In 1983, during a rescue excavation, a semi-circular apse has been discovered under the church Notre-Dame de la Place close to the medieval cathedral of Bordeaux. The context of the discovery and numerous historical and archaeological indicia led archaeologists to identify these remains as the Saint-Mary church. On the bases of the poem written by the Latin poet and hymnographer Venantius Fortunatus, the historian Aliette de Maillé suggested in 1959 a hypothesis that the church had been constructed during the episcopate of Léonce II between 549 and 567. Even if it is clear that the city centre of Bordeaux was strongly affected by paleochristianism, certain uncertainties, concerning in particular a chronology of these remains, persisted. The goal of our study was first to carry out a critical analyses of existing historical and archaeological data and second to perform physical dating of construction materials through thermoluminescence, optically stimulated luminescence and archaeomagnetism. The synthesis of the sixteen newly-acquired dates was obtained by using Bayesian chronological modelling. The results indicate that the most probable date for the construction of the apse is situated between the second half of the 4th and the first half of the 5th century AD. This new chronology which is more ancient than initially believed, atypical architectural features of the construction and numerous uncertainties pinpointed in the historical interpretation lead us to reconsider these archaeological remains, that are—since 40 years—believed to represent the most ancient attested and preserved church of Bordeaux.

Abstract Destruction caused by excessive moisture is a common problem in heritage buildings made of brick. Historic buildings usually have walls that of different constructions, i.e. walls with all joints filled, walls without filled vertical joints, and walls with a layered arrangement. Excessive moisture causes brick cavities, reduces the load-bearing capacity of walls, is unsightly, and can lead to the destruction of walls or the failure of a building. Secondary anti-damp insulation is used to protect the brick walls of historic buildings. However, there has not been enough research to confirm the effectiveness of secondary anti-damp insulation. This type of insulation is performed with the use of the injection method, with various factors (such as soils, the type of injection material, etc.) that affect the effectiveness of the insulation being taken into account. There is also insufficient research on how injection material penetrates brick. This article presents the current state of knowledge, research gaps, and research regarding anti-damp insulation in historic buildings made of brick, and also the perspectives of future research. The authors propose the use of non-destructive and destructive methods to assess the effectiveness of anti-damp insulation in brick walls.