Lightweight transformable structures: materialising the synergy between architectural and structural engineering

Kinematic of symmetric deployable scissor-hinge structures with integral mechanism mode

This inquiry began with the questions, what is an architectural engineer and what is architectural engineering? The term, architectural engineer, has been in use for over one hundred fifty years. Today, the term is as vague as it was in the 1840s. It is an anglophile word without precise meaning. Does it describe architects that are engineers and more technical in nature or does it mean that engineers that are more similar to architects and sympathetic to design? Does one profession have more claims to the term than the other? Or, is it something different altogether? In 1995, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) created a special technical group, the Architectural Engineering Institute (AEI), to address their version of the field that refers to engineering specific to buildings. This includes the subjects of structural, electrical, and mechanical engineering. However, the term has sometimes been used to bestow an honor to an engineer who has 'surpassed' being an 'ordinary' structural engineer. Matthew Wells, a British practitioner and author, writes of an architectural engineer as "not just an engineer with design flair, but rather one closely aligned with the architect and seeking to coordinate an engineering input with an integrated whole,"(Wells, 2010). With these two modern uses, one starts to see the confusion in the use of the term. Does it refer to someone's training? Or, does it describe an engineer's inclinations? If it is about engineering, what does architecture have to do with it? This paper, ambitious in its scope, seeks to bring more meaning to the term by examining its use over the past century. The term itself is a symbol for the larger story of the relationship of architecture to engineering and of architects to engineers. Perhaps by understanding its early uses and applications, the significance of the word can be better understood in the Anglo-American world. This paper is the beginning of the exploration of the term.

In architectural engineering, deployable scissor structures are generally used for mobile and temporary applications. They are characterised by their dual functionality as either kinematic mechanisms (during deployment) or loadbearing skeletal structures (after deployment). It is crucial to realise that there is a direct and mutual relationship between the geometry, the kinematics and the structural response of the scissor system. Due to a relatively complex design process it can be highly beneficial to evaluate these structures at a pre-design stage in terms of their structural performance. In order to do so, new computational methods are introduced. Karamba is a finite element plug-in for Grasshopper, fully embedded in the 3D modelling software Rhinoceros, which calculates interactively the response of three dimensional beam structures. The advantage of this new tool is the compatibility with the parametric environment of Grasshopper. These software tools are still in development, but already show their potential in terms of geometric modelling and structural optimisation. In this research it is shown in which way these evolving computational methods can contribute to the design of deployable scissor structures. By using the proposed methodology of preliminary evaluation, the scissor structures are geometrically and structurally optimised at an early stage, thereby enhancing the overall design process and facilitating further detailed analysis.

Scissor-like element has a number of applications in deployable structures such as planar deployable structure (PDS) and ring deployable structure(RDS). However, the mobility analysis of the multi-loop deployable structures is made more difficulty by the traditional mobility formula, because the deployable structure is a very complex structure with multi-loop. Therefore, On the basis of screw theory, the calculation method of mobility of deployable structures of SLE is thoroughly discussed. In order to investigate the mobility, decomposing and composing structures(DCS) are developed, and the basic units are able to be obtained. On the basis of the deployable structures’ geometrical characteristics, there exists a closed-loop quadrilateral structure and some non-closed-loop quadrilateral structures in PDS. Also, a six legs parallel structure is present in RDS. The basic units’ mobility can be solved by both the methods of screw theory and topology constraint graphs. Then, composing the related basic units, the formula of planar deployable structures’ mobility can be built and solves the mobility of ring deployable structure. The analysis method solves the mobility analysis of the multi-loop deployable structures which is difficulty by the traditional method, and plays an important role in further research about the mobility of other complex deployable structures.

In our study, we embark on a profound exploration of shape memory alloy (SMA) columns, with a specific focus on unraveling their deformation recovery and anti-buckling performance. Our approach is multifaceted, blending analytical and semi-analytical methods to meticulously dissect the column straightening process, a pivotal aspect of effective anti-buckling mechanisms. By methodically formulating the anti-buckling problem mathematically, our aim is to provide a comprehensive understanding of this phenomenon, thereby enriching the broader comprehension of SMA structural behavior and advancing the state-of-the-art in structural engineering. To facilitate the design of SMA structures, we delve into a meticulous journey of analytical calculations, aiming to ascertain the relevant forces and moments at each stage of the anti-buckling process. Central to our investigation is the recognition of the inherent complexity in the stress-strain behavior exhibited by SMA materials. This complexity is exemplified by the nine distinct phases observable in stress-height diagrams during the column straightening process, a phenomenon that we meticulously analyze and interpret to derive meaningful insights. Our findings present compelling evidence that achieving a uniform strain distribution across all cross-sectional fibers is paramount for effective beam-column straightening. Our analysis highlights that uniform stress distribution, often presumed to be the primary determinant, may not hold as much significance as previously assumed. This critical insight underscores the paramount importance of strain uniformity in the design and optimization of SMA structures, challenging conventional wisdom and paving the way for novel approaches in structural engineering. Moreover, our study elucidates the nuanced interplay between various factors influencing the anti-buckling performance of SMA columns. Material properties, geometric configurations, and external loading conditions are meticulously examined to discern their respective contributions to the overall structural behavior. Through a rigorous analysis, we unravel the delicate balance required to achieve optimal anti-buckling performance, navigating through the intricate web of factors that influence structural stability and resilience. It represents a significant milestone in the field of SMA structural engineering, offering a deeper understanding of the anti-buckling behavior exhibited by SMA columns. By integrating analytical and semi-analytical methods and meticulously considering the complexities inherent in SMA materials, we provide valuable insights that can inform the design and optimization of SMA structures. This comprehensive approach not only enhances our understanding of SMA behavior but also lays the groundwork for future advancements in smart materials and structural engineering, driving innovation and fostering resilience in the built environment. The implications of our research extend beyond the confines of academia, offering tangible benefits to industries reliant on structural integrity, such as aerospace, civil engineering, and beyond. By shedding light on the intricate mechanics of SMA columns and their anti-buckling performance, we contribute to the development of innovative and resilient structural solutions that can withstand the demands of a dynamic and evolving world. Through continued research and collaboration, we envision a future where SMA structures play a pivotal role in shaping a safer, more sustainable built environment.

In all times of history, engineers and architects have searched for opportunities to develop adaptive structures, buildings and building parts, which are equipped for adjusting to ever-changing requirements and conditions. The reasons behind this interest relate to the growing need for functional/ spatial flexibility, sustainability and extended capabilities of structural performance. Recent advancements in construction technology, robotics, architectural computing and material science have increased the interest for these structures/ systems; and allowed us to develop examples that are more advanced. This paper aims to introduce the state of art contemporary adaptive systems in architecture and structural engineering; and presents a future perspective for these systems and their potential applications in the construction industry.

The rapid rise in the number of mobile devices has resulted in an alarming increase in mobile software and applications. The mobile application markets/stores too have created a fundamental shift in the way mobile applications are delivered to users, with apps being added and updated in thousands every day. Even though research progresses have been achieved towards detection and mitigation of mobile security, open challenges still remain and also keep evolving in this area. Several studies reveal that mobile application markets/stores do harbor applications that are either vulnerable or malicious in nature, leading to compromises of millions of devices. This chapter (1) captures the attack surface of mobile devices, (2) lists the various mobile malware analysis techniques, and (3) lays the ground for research on mobile malware by providing mobile malware dataset resources, tools for malware analysis, patent landscaping for mobile malware detection, and a few open challenges in malware analysis.

Mobility of symmetric deployable structures subjected to external loads

The deployable structure is critical to the overall success of the space mission. This paper introduces a large-scale spatial deployable structure (SDS), which is developed to deploy and support the payload panels in a precise configuration once on the track. And segmental researching in the design, kinematics and dynamics analysis of SDS's prototyping system are presented. Geometric construction method and Bar-groups method are adopted to analysis the dimensions and coordinates of the SDS, which finally construct an well-determined mathematical model to raise the productivity and efficiency during optimization and analysis work. Be reasoned with the large-scale of the truss structures, flexible multibody dynamic simulations are developed, which present much more authentic stress transfer and kinematics behaviors. According to the deployment experiments of SDS's prototyping system, the correctness and validity of the flexible multibody simulation work are well proved.

“How To” Videos Improve Residents Performance of Essential Perioperative Electronic Medical Records and Clinical Tasks

Becoming more aware of environmental impact associated with producing common construction materials (e.g. wood, concrete, steel) is drawing on ancient tradition of using natural organic materials in architecture and structural engineering. Bamboo, as one of the oldest natural building materials, currently has been proved to be a green substitute to wood, concrete and steel due to its exceptional natural properties such as flexibility and higher specific strength and stiffness. However, due to the lack of knowledge and understanding of bamboo's potentials as building material, this versatile material continues to be undervalued by designers and communities. With conducting desk research including case studies, this study investigates the use of bamboo culms in traditional and modern architecture and highlights the design opportunities and challenges. The current research is expected to put forward a deeper understanding of using bamboo culm as a building material and the results to be of interest and benefit architects, structural engineers, and decision makers involved in the construction projects.

Various types of emergency situations may occur in a city, region or country. In these –safety and security- emergency situations it is important for citizens to know how to handle. Preparation of citizens in the use of appropriate self-rescue measures can save many lives. Examples of self-rescue measures are: (automatic) alert with either limited or extensive evacuation instructions, dynamic signposting or instructions for the best direction of flight. The questions to be answered are: (1) What is the effect of these measures on the self-rescue in various emergencies? And (2) what is the effect of structural measures on buildings such as heat resistant glass or a more solid construction and (3) how do specific safety measures relate to other measures? This paper describes the first developments of a model for determining and comparing the effect of safety measures for self-rescue in various types of emergency situations.Keywordsself-rescuesafety measuresbuilt environment

Measurements on students' understanding in the fundamental courses of Civil & Structural Engineering Program is an important step in determining the level of student achievement before they can proceed to advanced courses. Hence, this paper presents the level of students' understanding in the examination of the fundamental courses at the Department of Civil & Structural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering & Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). The Statics and Dynamics course (KH 1044) was choose and offered as a main course for the first year students in the department. The students' understanding was only analyzed based on their achievement in the final examination, as through examination students' comprehension can be measured directly. The measurement and assessment on students' understanding were developed through Rasch Measurement Model based on students mark entries in the final examination of session 2012/2013. The results show that the Rasch Model can accurately segregate the students based on their understandings and abilities even with a small group of sample. The questions used were also proven to be acceptable and reliable in measuring the students' understanding towards the course.

This article is a comprehensive review of state-of-the-art sensors of the built environment, applicable in construction, structural engineering, management, and planning industries. This review is framed within the technical definition of sensing systems and their components. Existing sensors are listed and described in two broad categories of structural health monitoring (SHM) and building environment monitoring (BEM). The SHM systems are used for monitoring the long-term performance of structures, such as bridges and buildings. BEM systems are employed to ensure the safety and comfort of the built environment's occupants, as well as the general monitoring of the environment for any required maintenance. The applications and implementation challenges of both systems are discussed, with emphasis on common sensing system limitations such as energy supply, packaging, network layout, and performance validation. Finally, the prospect of sensing systems as part of a digital twin that incorporates multifunctional sophisticated monitoring systems and intelligent analysis methods is discussed.

Learning Outcome Measurement for Environmental and Sustainable Development Component in the Field of Civil Engineering