No description available.

In this study, parameters related to material properties, geometry, and external stimuli were examined individually to determine their influence on multi-story, partially grouted, perforated (openings), masonry shear walls using a finite element software FormWorks. The parameters studied were: the strength of grouted masonry prisms f'm,grouted; the strength of un-grouted (hollow) masonry prisms f'm,ungrouted; the ratio of mortar shear strength to masonry compressive strength; vertical and horizontal reinforcement ratios in terms of size and spacing of reinforcement; axial load; aspect ratio; and openings that were vertically and horizontally altered. To perform this study, finite element models were validated against the response of three experimental walls of two unique types that were built ½ scale and tested in a lab. The validated finite element models were designated as "base models" which accurately predicted the maximum strength of each wall within a tolerance of 5.9%, 3.3%, and 1.8%. Following validation, each parameter in question was varied individually to identify and quantify the sensitivity of the parameter and to observe the changes in shear capacity and deflection for this unique configuration of masonry shear walls. To capture the impact of these parameters, 38 different shear wall models were built and tested. The results were compared against the Masonry Standards Joint Committee (MSJC) (2013) code predictions using the applicable shear strength equations. Results of this study are specific to cantilever type masonry shear walls with large aspect ratios and openings in every story. Shear wall capacity was considered sensitive to the following parameters: compressive strength of grouted masonry; compressive strength of un-grouted masonry; joint strength ratio; vertical reinforcement ratio; axial stress; aspect ratio; and opening width. Shear wall capacity was considered not sensitive to the following parameters: horizontal reinforcement ratio; vertical reinforcement spacing; and horizontal reinforcement spacing. The sensitivity of shear wall capacity to opening height was determined inconclusive. The sensitivities were determined by fitting trend lines to the results of shear capacity vs. each parameter individually. Each MSJC (2013) code prediction un-conservatively over-predicted the shear wall capacity except one wall configuration that had a joint strength ratio of 0.045.

In this study, parameters related to material properties, geometry, and external stimuli were examined individually to determine their influence on multi-story, partially grouted, perforated (openings), masonry shear walls using a finite element software FormWorks. The parameters studied were: the strength of grouted masonry prisms f<&trade>m,grouted; the strength of un-grouted (hollow) masonry prisms f<&trade>m,ungrouted; the ratio of mortar shear strength to masonry compressive strength; vertical and horizontal reinforcement ratios in terms of size and spacing of reinforcement; axial load; aspect ratio; and openings that were vertically and horizontally altered. To perform this study, finite element models were validated against the response of three experimental walls of two unique types that were built ½ scale and tested in a lab. The validated finite element models were designated as œbase models which accurately predicted the maximum strength of each wall within a tolerance of 5.9%, 3.3%, and 1.8%. Following validation, each parameter in question was varied individually to identify and quantify the sensitivity of the parameter and to observe the changes in shear capacity and deflection for this unique configuration of masonry shear walls. To capture the impact of these parameters, 38 different shear wall models were built and tested. The results were compared against the Masonry Standards Joint Committee (MSJC) (2013) code predictions using the applicable shear strength equations. Results of this study are specific to cantilever type masonry shear walls with large aspect ratios and openings in every story. Shear wall capacity was considered sensitive to the following parameters: compressive strength of grouted masonry; compressive strength of un-grouted masonry; joint strength ratio; vertical reinforcement ratio; axial stress; aspect ratio; and opening width. Shear wall capacity was considered not sensitive to the following parameters: horizontal reinforcement ratio; vertical reinforcement spacing; and horizontal reinforcement spacing. The sensitivity of shear wall capacity to opening height was determined inconclusive. The sensitivities were determined by fitting trend lines to the results of shear capacity vs. each parameter individually. Each MSJC (2013) code prediction un-conservatively over-predicted the shear wall capacity except one wall configuration that had a joint strength ratio of 0.045.

With the acceleration of global urbanization trends, more and more intentions are put on multi-storey buildings. As the world leading area of wood construction, European countries started the construction of multi-storey timber building for a decade ago. However, unlike the traditional buildings made of reinforced concrete, the design of wooden high-rise timber buildings would face a substantial amount of new challenges because such high-rise timber buildings are touching the limitations of the timber engineering field. In this thesis, a parameterized three-dimensional FE-model (in ABAQUS) of a multi-storey timber frame building is created. Variable geometrical parameters, connection stiffness as well as boundary connections and applied wind and gravity loads are defined in a Python script to make it possible to analyze the influence of these parameters on the global structural behavior of the studied multi-storey timber frame building. The results and analysis implied that the script successfully worked and was capable to create different complex building geometries in an wasy way for the finite element analysis.

Application of PV Panels in Large Multi-Story Buildings Feasibility Study Sara Kayal The awareness of global warming along with an ever increasing demand for a new source of energy has brought a strong interest in harnessing natural resources such as solar energy. This thesis evaluates the viability of applying photovoltaic (PV) panels in high-rise commercial buildings of around 20 stories. Specifically, the thesis is intended to provide a pre-planning tool during the early design stage for architects and designers who are considering the deployment of PV panels in new multi-story construction. The first three chapters cover a comprehensive literature review and describe several case studies of the application of PV panels in multi-story buildings. The first chapter serves as an introduction to the objectives and rationale of PV panel research. Chapter 2 explains the physics and characteristics of PV panel technology that is applicable to multi-story buildings. Various PV panel types are explored in this chapter and it is suggested that window-based PV panels are the most suitable type for multi-story buildings in which the available roof area is small in area and limited in flexibility due to competition with other uses. Chapter 3 investigates factors that influence the efficiency of PV panels. These factors reduce the efficiency of PV panels to about 10-15%. In Chapter 4 a study model is presented to validate the results of the previous chapters and to determine the feasibility of PV panel systems with the aid of computer model analysis and simulation. The study model includes a base case of a 20-story building that is surrounded by four adjacent buildings, one adjacent to each orientation. Five configurations of the base model with different arrangements of PV panels were analyzed. First, electrical energy of the base case was calculated without applying any PV panels. The second and third configurations include PV panels on all of the available façade areas on a typical summer and winter day, respectively. The fourth and fifth configurations feature PV panels on only the top 10 floors. The simulation results show that although some savings accrue over a 25-year life-cycle period, these savings pale in comparison with the initial capital cost associated with the purchase and installation of the PV panels. It was also found that although crystalline silicon panels have a higher initial cost, their superior efficiency and performance present them as better candidates for PV panel applications. In addition, as expected, the south orientation provides potentially the largest amount of electricity production. In Chapter 5 the simulation results are summarized. The simulation studies address the application of PV panels from three different perspectives, namely: economics; technical feasibility; and, subjective factors. The first four chapters confirm that PV panels, at the current level of technology, are not an efficient and cost effective solution for multi-story buildings. They can satisfy only a very small portion of the electrical energy demand of the building at a very high initial capital cost. However, some strategies are suggested for mitigating the dual problems of inadequate PV production volume and high initial costs. Subjective factors account for other benefits that are not related to economic considerations. These factors include educational, promotional, and business line promotion benefits that could accrue to the building owner.

The pressure from high population density leads to the creation of high-rise structures within urban areas. Consequently, the design of facilities which confront the challenges of emergency evacuation from high-rise buildings become a complex concern. This paper proposes an embedded program which combines a deterministic (GMAFLAD) and stochastic model (M/G/C/C State Dependent Queueing model) into one program, GMAF_MGCC, to solve an evacuation problem. An evacuation problem belongs to Quadratic Assignment Problem (QAP) class which will be formulated as a Quadratic Set Packing model (QSP) including the random flow out of the building and the random pairwise traffic flow among activities. The procedure starts with solving the QSP model to find all potential optimal layouts for the problem. Then, the stochastic model calculates an evacuation time of each solution which is the primary decision variable to figure the best design for the building. Here we also discuss relevant topics to the new program including the computational accuracy and the correlation between a successful rate of solving and problems’ scale. This thesis examines the relationship of independent variables including arrival rate, population and a number of stories with the dependent variable, evacuation time. Finally, the study also analyzes the probability distribution of an evacuation time for a wide range of problem scale.

Projektet syftar till att undersöka flervånings parkeringshus potential i omformning till offentliga utrymmen. Projektet grundar sig i ett alternativt framtidsscenario, där antalet bilar minskar i våra innerstadsområden i relation till ett mobilitetskifte kopplat till ny teknik och förändrade vanor i relaterat till mobilitet. Detta scenario kommer att generera en spatial konsekvens i en stadsmässig skala där ett flertal flervånings parkeringshus kommer bli tillgängliga för omformning i nya typer av användning samt funktioner. Detta projekt undersöker både potentialer och utmaningar i relation till omformningen av flervånings parkeringshus utifrån samtida praktik, tidigare forskning, innovativa projekt och en fältstudie av P-hus Godsmagasinet i Malmö, Sverige. Projektet resulterar i en undersökande designprocess i hur P-hus Godsmagasinet kan omformas till en offentlig plats utifrån en strategisk design utgångspunkt. Där design-metodiken är uppdelad i olika faser, för att samla och använda information samtidigt inom den pågående processen. Genom detta projekt, vill jag bidra till nya reflektioner och kunskap till de professioner som arbetar med urban utveckling, och framför allt lyfta fram flervånings parkeringshus potential, där jag anser att urban design besitter en viktig roll. Omformandet av flervånings parkeringshus är relaterat till hållbar stadsutveckling och är relevant till professioner som arbetar med samtidens och framtidens stadsmiljös problematik, där jag anser att detta projekt inte enbart illustrerar mitt eget intresse utan är relevant för ett flertal som arbetar med stadsmässiga miljöer. / The purpose of the project is to investigate the multi-story parking structures potential in relation to retrofit into public spaces. The project built on an alternative future scenario, there the amount of automobiles decreasing in our inner-city areas out from a mobility shift, linked to new technology and change of habits. This scenario will generate a spatial consequence on a city scale there several multi-story parking structures will become available for retrofitting into new types of uses and functions. This project investigates the potential and challenges of the retrofitting of multi-story parking structures out from contemporary practice, previous research, innovative projects and an actual case study of P-house Godsmagasinet in Malmö, Sweden. The work results in an exploratory design process in how P-house Godsmagasinet can be retrofitted into a public space out from a strategic design approach. There the design methodology is divided into different phases, to collect and use information simultaneously within the ongoing process. Through this project, I want to contribute with extended reflections and knowledge to the professions working with urban developments, and above all highlight the potential of the multi-story parking structure. The retrofitting of multi-story parking structures is related to sustainable urban development and is relevant in the professions dealing with contemporary and future urban environment issues, where I believe that this not only illustrates my own interest but is relevant to everyone who working with the urban environment.

No description available.

The aim of the thesis is to design a steel structure of the parking building in the center of Brno. The plan dimensions of the building are 29 x 77.5 m including a missing corner of the dimensions 5 x 12.5 m in the southeast part of the construction. The construction of the parking building has 4 above-ground floors with the same layout and the fifth floor situated only in the middle section of the construction. Each floor is 3.5 m high. The total height of the construction in the place of the roofed part of the fifth floor is 17.5 m, otherwise 14 m. A spatial frame is the main load-bearing part consisting of 7 fields in the longitudinal direction and 5 fields in the transversal direction. The spatial frame is formed of columns and longitudinal and transversal girders. Steel-concrete composite joists are pin-supported among longitudinal girders. The construction of the parking building is solved in three versions considering different placing of columns to the base structure and different placing of longitudinal and transversal girders to the columns. The resulting draft is worked out in details. Roof cladding will be made using sandwich panels and walls will be made out of glass panels. The calculation has been done in Scia Engineer 2014 program and by manual calculation.

Multi-story wood frame construction is a highly relevant topic today because of the need to continue to develop the relatively new building technique to create a sustainable way to keep constructing new buildings. Because the use of wood as a frame material in multi-story buildings is still new, there are still issues that come with the choice to use it. One of these issues is in the detailed technical solutions that are constructed, they often have faults that may lead to problems with moisture. The purpose of this degree project is to investigate these problems and more importantly the process behind constructing them. This work is also examining what can be done to counteract or minimize the issues in the planning phases of the construction as well as look at why it is important to continue developing wood construction. There are two parts of the method used in this degree project. The first part is a literature study which brings up the attributes of wood, factors for using and not using wood, the techniques used to build multi-story buildings in wood, as well as a look into the detailed technical solutions that are used and the planning process behind them. The second part is the interview study where experts in the field are interviewed to get answers about the issues that this work brings up. The interviews provided a lot of information that is relevant for this work and the result consists of the most important answers from them. The biggest factor for continuing to develop the use of wood as a frame material, from the interviews, was about the eco-friendliness of the material. The attitude to use wood in multi-story buildings varies quite a bit depending on which part of the construction sector is asked. The developers are curious but still a bit worried, because of this they have not yet taken the next step in using it more. The entrepreneurs are still sceptical about the use in multi-story constructions and there is not enough knowledge about it for them to earn the same amounts of money as if they were to use concrete or steel. Because of that they are also worried about taking the next step towards using wood more. The consultants, like the architects and construction engineers, are more positive to the use of wood and are inclined to use it more and more. The issues that come up the most are different types of attachments of balconies and exterior corridors, parts that are installed too close to the ground and solutions where the end grain of the wood is in water. There were three main problems that came up repeatedly. The biggest one was the lack of knowledge in the planning and the production phases. The second one was about how there is often no one who looks at the bigger picture in the projects which entails mistakes that could be caught. The last issue was in the installation where the construction workers might not do it according to the construction drawings or a lack of drawings which leads to improvisation at the construction site. Recommended improvements could be a standardisation of the solutions that are proven to work for everyone to use. There is also a need for better communication which provides feedback to the designers of the solutions, that way they will know what to do better in the future. More relevant education within the topic and better coordination will also prove vital in the continued development of multistory wooden constructions.