Unveiling the photocatalytic marvels: Recent advances in solar heterojunctions for environmental remediation and energy harvesting.

In the quest for effective solutions to address Environ. Pollut. and meet the escalating energy demands, heterojunction photocatalysts have emerged as a captivating and versatile technology.

Taking benefits of using PCMs in buildings to meet energy efficiency criteria in net zero by 2050.

Considering the share of 40% and 35% of buildings in energy consumption as well as CO emissions, adding phase change materials (PCMs) is an effective technique to tackle high energy demand and considerable CO emissions. When PCMs are injected into the building envelopes, they improved the sensible/latent storage features of the envelopes. In this study, using numerical methods, defining first (no PCM), second (PCM without phase transition), and third building (with phase transition), the importance of sensible storage feature was compared to latent one.

Back-Propagation Neural Network Optimized by K-Fold Cross-Validation for Prediction of Torsional Strength of Reinforced Concrete Beam.

Due to the limitation of sample size in predicting the torsional strength of Reinforced Concrete (RC) beams, this paper aims to discuss the feasibility of employing a novel machine learning approach with K-fold cross-validation in a small sample range, which combines the advantages of a Genetic Algorithm (GA) and a Neural Network (NN) to predict the torsional strength of RC beams. This research study not only utilizes the application of a Back Propagation (BP) neural network and the Gene Algorithm-Back Propagation (GA-BP) neural network in the prediction of the torsional strength of the RC beam, but it also investigates neural network parameter optimization, including connection weights and thresholds, using K-fold cross-validation. The root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE), mean square error (MSE), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) and correlation coefficient (R) are among the evaluation metrics used to assess the performance of the trained model.

Properties of Lime-Cement Concrete Containing Various Amounts of Waste Tire Powder under Different Ground Moisture Conditions.

Lime-cement concrete (LCC) is a non-structural concrete in which lime and cement are used as the main binders. However, although LCC has many applications in reducing the settlement of foundations and providing a support layer for shallow foundations, little research has been conducted to evaluate its behaviour in various moisture conditions. Previous researchers have studied the feasibility of using waste tires in conventional concrete to alleviate their negative environmental impacts.

Fresh, Mechanical, and Durability Properties of Self-Compacting Mortar Incorporating Alumina Nanoparticles and Rice Husk Ash.

This paper presents a comprehensive evaluation on self-compacting (SC) mortars incorporating 0, 1, 3, and 5% alumina nanoparticles (NA) as well as 0% and 30% rice husk ash (RHA) used as Portland cement replacement. To evaluate the workability, mechanical, and durability performance of SC mortars incorporating NA and RHA, the fresh properties (slump flow diameter and V-funnel flow time), hardened properties (compressive strength, flexural strength, and ultrasonic pulse velocity), and durability properties (water absorption, rapid chloride permeability, and electrical resistivity) were determined. The results indicated that the addition of NA and RHA has negligible effect on the workability and water absorption rate of the SC mortars.

Physicochemical, Mineralogical, and Mechanical Properties of Calcium Aluminate Cement Concrete Exposed to Elevated Temperatures.

One commonly used cement type for thermal applications is CAC containing 38-40% alumina, although the postheated behavior of this cement subjected to elevated temperature has not been studied yet. Here, through extensive experimentation, the postheated mineralogical and physicochemical features of calcium aluminate cement concrete (CACC) were examined via DTA/TGA, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging and the variation in the concrete physical features and the compressive strength deterioration with temperature rise were examined through ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) values. In addition, other mechanical features that were addressed were the residual tensile strength and elastic modulus.

Numerical Analysis of Axial Cyclic Behavior of FRP Retrofitted CHS Joints.

This paper aims to numerically investigate the cyclic behavior of retrofitted and non-retrofitted circular hollow section (CHS) T-joints under axial loading. Different joints with varying ratios of brace to chord radius are studied. The effects of welding process on buckling instability of the joints in compression and the plastic failure in tension are considered.

Operational Modal Analysis, Testing and Modelling of Prefabricated Steel Modules with Different LSF Composite Walls.

The modal properties of modular structures, such as their natural frequencies, damping ratios and mode shapes, are different than those of conventional structures, mainly due to different structural systems being used for assembling prefabricated modular units onsite. To study the dynamic characteristics of modular systems and define a dynamic model, both the modal properties of the individual units and their connections need to be considered. This study is focused on the former aspect.

Parametric Analysis on the Circular CFST Column and RBS Steel Beam Joints.

This research analyzes the results of parametric studies of concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) columns to the reduced beam section (RBS) beam joint with through diaphragm, using ANSYS. Several indices that are able to characterize the cyclic behavior of the composite joints are investigated, including the stiffness degradation, strength deterioration, stress distribution, and energy dissipation capacity. Four main model parameters, including the distance from the diaphragm edge to the cut start, the cut length, the cut depth, and inner diameter of through diaphragm, are analyzed via comparative studies to investigate their impacts on seismic properties of the joint.

Detection of Gaps in Concrete⁻Metal Composite Structures Based on the Feature Extraction Method Using Piezoelectric Transducers.

A feature extraction methodology based on lamb waves is developed for the non-invasive detection and prediction of the gap in concrete-metal composite structures, such as concrete-filled steel tubes. A popular feature extraction method, partial least squares regression, is utilised to predict the gaps. The data is collected using the piezoelectric transducers attached to the external surface of the metal of the composite structure.

One-pot facile simultaneous synthesis of conductive Ag-polyaniline composites using Keggin and Preyssler-type phosphotungstates.

Two heteropolytungstate structures, Keggin (HPWO) and Preyssler (H[NaPWO]), were used to synthesize conductive silver nanoparticle-polyaniline-heteropolytungstate (AgNPs-PAni-HPW) nanocomposites. During the oxidative polymerization of aniline, heteropolyblue was generated and served as the reducing agent to stabilize and distribute AgNPs within "PAni-Keggin" and "PAni-Preyssler" matrixes as well as on their surfaces. The prepared nanocomposites and AgNPs were characterized using UV-visible (UV-Vis) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), pore size distribution BET, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

Development of a bioclimatic wind rose tool for assessment of comfort wind resources in Sydney, Australia for 2013 and 2030.

This study assessed the effect of wind on human thermal comfort by preforming outdoor urban climatic comfort simulations using state-of-the-art heat-balance models of human thermo-physiology (Universal Thermal Climate Index-UTCI). A series of simulations for computing "wind cooling potential" have been performed using the UTCI index temperatures. The comfort cooling effect of wind has been estimated by modelling with wind taken into account, and under calm wind (0.

The Use of Glass to Optimize Bitumen Absorption of Hot Mix Asphalt Containing Recycled Construction Aggregates.

Asphalt mixtures containing recycled construction aggregates (RCA) have the problem of high bitumen absorption. This paper characterizes the effects of glass on the bitumen absorption and volumetric properties of asphalt mixtures containing 25% and 50% RCA through laboratory investigation. The materials used in the test program include C320 bitumen, RCA and recycled glass.