Building timber gridshells with air: Numerical simulations and technique challenges (2016)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Liuti, A., D'Amico, B., & Pugnale, A. (2016, July). Building timber gridshells with air: Numerical simulations and technique challenges. Presented at International Conference Structures and Architecture 2016

Construction has always been a fascinating and challenging aspect of timber gridshells. So far, only three techniques have successfully been used for the erection of such structures: the so-called ‘lift-up’, ‘push-up’ and ‘ease-down’ (Quinn et al. 20... Read More about Building timber gridshells with air: Numerical simulations and technique challenges.

Photogrammetric and Stereo Vision Techniques for Evaluating Material Properties in Timber and Timber-Based Composite Structures (2016)
Thesis
Mohamed, A. S. Photogrammetric and Stereo Vision Techniques for Evaluating Material Properties in Timber and Timber-Based Composite Structures. (Thesis). Edinburgh Napier University. http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/462281

A fundamental requirement for efficient use of a glulam beam is an accurate knowledge of its mechanical behaviour and the material properties characterising that behaviour. It becomes extremely important to obtain accurate measurements of material pr... Read More about Photogrammetric and Stereo Vision Techniques for Evaluating Material Properties in Timber and Timber-Based Composite Structures.

Double Skin Façades: Life Cycle Study of a Versatile Technology for the Sustainable Refurbishment of Non-Domestic Buildings (2016)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Pomponi, F., & Moncaster, A. (2016, June). Double Skin Façades: Life Cycle Study of a Versatile Technology for the Sustainable Refurbishment of Non-Domestic Buildings. Presented at CESB16 - Central Europe towards Sustainable Buildings 2016

Nearly half of the non-domestic building stock in central Europe was constructed between 1961-1 990. Partly due to the technical lifespan of façades and building components, most of these buildings are characterised by high energy consumption and the... Read More about Double Skin Façades: Life Cycle Study of a Versatile Technology for the Sustainable Refurbishment of Non-Domestic Buildings.

Using topology optimization technique to determine the optimized layout of steel reinforcing bars in concrete structures (2016)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Li, M., Zhang, H., & Wong, S. H. F. (2016, June). Using topology optimization technique to determine the optimized layout of steel reinforcing bars in concrete structures. Presented at 5th International Conference on Engineering Optimization

This study presents an optimization procedure based on the modified Bi-directional evolutionary structural optimization (BESO) approach to optimize both location and orientation of discrete reinforcing steel bars within concrete structures, while sat... Read More about Using topology optimization technique to determine the optimized layout of steel reinforcing bars in concrete structures.

Industrial challenges in patent management and crowdsourcing patent landscapes for engineering design innovation (2016)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Vasantha, G., Wodehouse, A., Corney, J., Maclachlan, R., & Jagadeesan, A. (2016, June). Industrial challenges in patent management and crowdsourcing patent landscapes for engineering design innovation. Paper presented at 23rd Innovation and Product Development Management Conference, Glasgow

Innovation is critical to sustain in prevailing competitive business environments. Industries need effective innovation strategies in-practice to develop and deliver novel products and services swiftly. In order to implement innovation strategies eff... Read More about Industrial challenges in patent management and crowdsourcing patent landscapes for engineering design innovation.

Revisiting the particle size effects in centrifuge modelling (2016)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Nadimi, S., Fonseca, J., Taylor, R. N., & Barreto, D. (2016, June). Revisiting the particle size effects in centrifuge modelling. Presented at The 3rd European Conference on Physical Modelling in Geotechnics, Nantes, France

Geotechnical centrifuge modelling provides an opportunity to examine novel and complex events in a well-controlled and repeatable environment. While grain interaction and contact dynamics are considered in centrifuge modelling, the soil is treated as... Read More about Revisiting the particle size effects in centrifuge modelling.

Buildings for the biosphere (and their indoors for the technosphere) - A circular economy view for the construction industry (2016)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Pomponi, F., & Moncaster, A. (2016, May). Buildings for the biosphere (and their indoors for the technosphere) - A circular economy view for the construction industry. Presented at ISIE Americas 2016 - Industrial Ecology and Green Transformation, Bogotá, Colombia

One of the founding principles of the Circular Economy is to foster the focus on longer-lasting products. Arguably, extremely few products in the present days last as long as buildings do, yet even so only rarely does the actual end of a building’s l... Read More about Buildings for the biosphere (and their indoors for the technosphere) - A circular economy view for the construction industry.

Implementing Whole Life Carbon in Buildings (2016)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
De Wolf, C., Pomponi, F., & Moncaster, A. (2016, May). Implementing Whole Life Carbon in Buildings. Presented at ISIE Americas 2016 - Industrial Ecology and Green Transformation

The current sustainability crisis reveals the need for expertise in life cycle design of the built environment. With recent innovations reducing the operational energy of buildings, the percentage of embodied energy has become a critical part of thei... Read More about Implementing Whole Life Carbon in Buildings.

Double-Skin Façades for the Sustainable Refurbishment of Non-domestic Buildings: A Life Cycle Environmental Impact Perspective (2016)
Book Chapter
Pomponi, F., Piroozfar, P. A. E., & Farr, E. R. P. (2016). Double-Skin Façades for the Sustainable Refurbishment of Non-domestic Buildings: A Life Cycle Environmental Impact Perspective. In M. Dastbaz, & C. Gorse (Eds.), Sustainable Ecological Engineering Design (59-72). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-32646-7_6

In developed countries, existing buildings have the biggest share in the building stock. Given the age of construction, the property versus land values, and their slow replacement rate, low-carbon refurbishments are arguably one of the most sensible... Read More about Double-Skin Façades for the Sustainable Refurbishment of Non-domestic Buildings: A Life Cycle Environmental Impact Perspective.

Does home-grown make the grade? (2016)
Journal Article
Ridley-Ellis, D. (2016). Does home-grown make the grade?. Forestry & Timber News,

Summary of research into the properties of UK-grown timber (relevant to grading for construction use).

Developing whole-life cost models for retrofit options in office buildings (2016)
Thesis
Tokede, O. O. Developing whole-life cost models for retrofit options in office buildings. (Thesis). Edinburgh Napier University. http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/463388

Office retrofit building projects have become a subject of increased attention among building researchers in the United Kingdom, and in many economically advanced nations. Existing whole-life costing models have however, not proven to be robust enoug... Read More about Developing whole-life cost models for retrofit options in office buildings.

The timber resource in G. B.-more species for new challenges. (2016)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Gil-Moreno, D., Ridley-Ellis, D., & McLean, P. (2016, April). The timber resource in G. B.-more species for new challenges. Paper presented at Young Researchers’ Forum III: Innovation in Construction Materials

Timber in Great Britain is mostly produced from Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis). Biotic threats have led tree growers to consider the planting of a wider range of species to offer a more resilient forest. There is little information on how this will... Read More about The timber resource in G. B.-more species for new challenges..

Life cycle assessment of domestic hot water systems: a comparative analysis (2016)
Journal Article
Piroozfar, P., Pomponi, F., & Farr, E. R. P. (2016). Life cycle assessment of domestic hot water systems: a comparative analysis. International journal of construction management, 16(2), 109-125. https://doi.org/10.1080/15623599.2016.1146111

On average, hot water is responsible for 18% of residential energy consumption and corresponding greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Several domestic hot water systems (DHWSs) are commonly used but their life cycle impacts are yet to be established compr... Read More about Life cycle assessment of domestic hot water systems: a comparative analysis.

Sustainability in the Hotel Industry (2016)
Book Chapter
Upadhyay, A., Pomponi, F., & Vadam, C. (2016). Sustainability in the Hotel Industry. In Logistics, Supply Chain and Operations Management Case Study Collection

No abstract available.

Laboratory analysis of encased stone columns (2016)
Journal Article
Miranda, M., & Da Costa, A. (2016). Laboratory analysis of encased stone columns. Geotextiles and Geomembranes, 44(3), 269-277. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geotexmem.2015.12.001

Stone columns installed in extremely soft soils may significantly reduce the effectiveness of this treatment due to the insufficient lateral confinement provided by the soft soil. The encasement of columns with geotextiles is commonly used in these c... Read More about Laboratory analysis of encased stone columns.

Passing the baton? Handing over digital data from the project to operations (2016)
Journal Article
Whyte, J., Lindkvist, C., & Jaradat, S. (2016). Passing the baton? Handing over digital data from the project to operations. Engineering Project Organization Journal, 6(1), 2-14. https://doi.org/10.1080/21573727.2015.1115396

From fieldwork conducted ahead of the London Olympic Games, we develop new understanding of how organizations hand over digital data from the project to operations. Prior research explains how practitioners negotiate meaning across boundaries in ongo... Read More about Passing the baton? Handing over digital data from the project to operations.

Micromechanical insight into the undrained instability of granular materials: deformation characteristics of geomaterials. (2015)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Barreto, D., Prada-Sarmiento, L. F., & Ramos-Cañón, A. M. (2015, November). Micromechanical insight into the undrained instability of granular materials: deformation characteristics of geomaterials. Presented at 6th International Symposium on Deformation Characteristics of Geomaterials

There is no agreement between experimental researchers whether the point where a granular material responds with a large change of stresses, strains or excess pore water pressure given a prescribed small input of some of the same variables defines a... Read More about Micromechanical insight into the undrained instability of granular materials: deformation characteristics of geomaterials..

Increasing need for Offsite Construction and Manufactured Infrastructure in the UK Economy (2015)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Smith, R. S., Wood, J. B., & Hairstans, R. (2015, December). Increasing need for Offsite Construction and Manufactured Infrastructure in the UK Economy. Presented at CIAT Symposium 2016

Due to increasing demand for housing and other building infrastructure the methodology of offsite construction is becoming more attractive to developers, local authorities and government organisations. This paper outlines some of the key drivers such... Read More about Increasing need for Offsite Construction and Manufactured Infrastructure in the UK Economy.

The effect of polymer materials on the fracture characteristics of high performance concrete (HPC) (2015)
Thesis
Yahya, M. A. The effect of polymer materials on the fracture characteristics of high performance concrete (HPC). (Thesis). Edinburgh Napier University. http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/464157

Compared with most construction materials, concrete is considered as a brittle material, and its brittleness increases with the compressive strength. For super-high-strength concrete, failure can be sudden, explosive and disastrous. Also the tensile... Read More about The effect of polymer materials on the fracture characteristics of high performance concrete (HPC).

Developing performance-based standards for external timber cladding (2015)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Davies, I. (2015, June). Developing performance-based standards for external timber cladding. Presented at 6th International Building Physics Conference, IBPC 2015, Torino, Italy

This paper reviews the background to, and development of, new British Standards for external timber cladding. The standards are being produced because timber has become a widely used external cladding material in the UK and this has highlighted that... Read More about Developing performance-based standards for external timber cladding.