Professor Ali Bahadori-Jahromi | University of West London (original) (raw)
Papers by Professor Ali Bahadori-Jahromi
Advanced Cement-Based Materials [Working Title]
In the design of reinforced concrete structures, the bond property is crucial. This is important ... more In the design of reinforced concrete structures, the bond property is crucial. This is important for achieving the composite action between the two materials constituents, allowing loads to be efficiently transmitted. The higher strain hardening and ductility capacity of stainless steel over mild steel are one of its major benefits. International design codes, such as Eurocode 2, do not provide a separate design model for concrete structures with stainless reinforcing bars. The background paper to Eurocode 2 highlighted that there is no technical reason of why the Eurocode 2 design model cannot be used in conjunction with other types of reinforcement, provided allowance is made for their properties and behaviour. While this notion is valid when using a mild steel reinforcing bar, it produces erroneous results when a stainless reinforcing bar with a lap splice is used in a reinforced concrete section. Even though there has been a large number of studies on the behaviour of structure ...
Executive summary This document presents a method for applying the nearly-zero energy building (n... more Executive summary This document presents a method for applying the nearly-zero energy building (nZEB) standard to existing UK commercial and residential buildings. The findings presented are based on analysis supported by dynamic simulation modelling of UK buildings, aiming to demonstrate the potential benefits but also highlight the risks associated with achieving such high energy-efficiency standards within the built environment. This work builds on that presented in TM55: Design for future climate — case studies (CIBSE, 2014). Four case studies are utilised to explore what it means to achieve the nZEB standard and apply it to existing UK buildings. These have been presented individually within this publication to focus on the various outcomes of each building type. The highlighted outcomes demonstrate that with well thought-out design decisions and careful consideration of a building’s resilience to a changing climate, the standard can be achieved — and this can introduce long-term cost and energy benefits. There is a large amount of work that needs to be done, and many questions to be answered, before fully transitioning to nZEBs.
Sustainability, 2022
The growing awareness of the need to minimise greenhouse gas (GHG) and mitigate climate change ha... more The growing awareness of the need to minimise greenhouse gas (GHG) and mitigate climate change has resulted in a greater focus on the embodied carbon (EC) of construction material. One way to ensure the environmental impact of building activities is minimised to a reasonable level is the calculation of their EC. Whilst there are a few studies investigating the role of embodied carbon factor (ECF) databases on the accuracy of EC calculation from cradle to gate, very little is known about the impact of different databases on the end-of-life (EoL) EC calculation. Using ECFs derived from the UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) default values and the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) suggested percentages for different elements of a building’s lifecycle stages, this study presents the impact of different data sources on the calculation of EoL EC. The study revealed that a lack of EoL ECFs databa...
Sustainability, 2021
Studies conducted by major national and international scientific bodies have indisputably conclud... more Studies conducted by major national and international scientific bodies have indisputably concluded that the increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) since the mid-20th century has led to irreversible changes in the climate. Data has shown that the contribution of the building sector accounts for 39% of these emissions. Reducing GHG emissions associated with the construction phase of buildings, or embodied carbon (EC), will prevent GHG emissions from entering the atmosphere earlier, reducing the negative impacts. However, to achieve any meaningful reduction, there is a need for consistency and accuracy in the calculations. The accuracy of these calculations is primarily tied to the accuracy of embodied carbon factors (ECF) used in the calculations, values determining the environmental impact of a product or procedure per unit weight. The emissions of any product can be calculated by performing a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). While the requirements for carrying out an ...
Plastic as an environmental burden is a well-rehearsed topic in the research area. This is due to... more Plastic as an environmental burden is a well-rehearsed topic in the research area. This is due to its global demand and destructive impacts on the environment, which has been a significant concern to the governments. Typically, the use of plastic in the construction industry is seen across low-density, non-structural applications due to its diverse range of benefits including high strength-to-weight ratios, manipulability and durability. It can be said that with the level of plastic consumption experienced in the construction industry, an ongoing responsibility is shown for this sector to continually innovate alternatives for application of recycled plastic waste such as using plastic made replacement from polyethylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl and polypropylene in the concrete mix design. In this study, the impact of partially replaced fine aggregate with polypropylene in the concrete mix design was investigated to evaluate the concrete's compressive strength by conducting an exp...
Sustainability, 2022
Studies have shown that the assumptions used to create dynamic thermal models of buildings do not... more Studies have shown that the assumptions used to create dynamic thermal models of buildings do not reflect their actual energy use. Bridging the energy performance gap is vital in ensuring that a designed or retrofitted building meets the energy performance targets. Using thermal analysis simulation software TAS, this paper presents a simulation model of seven different UK single family houses. The results from the various models are validated by comparing the actual energy demand against the simulated consumption. The simulation results show that the heating set point has the greatest impact on the simulated energy demand. The results also demonstrate that the energy demand of the dwellings can be reduced by applying window opening schemes and by controlling the heating setpoint temperature and schedule. Plug load consumption is also considered by using plug load data of real UK households, as obtained from a longitudinal study, and calibrating the model based on average plug load c...
This paper presents the experimental and analytical studies to investigate the impact of concentr... more This paper presents the experimental and analytical studies to investigate the impact of concentrated laminated bamboo butt-joints on the flexural properties of vertically laminated bamboo-timber hybrid beams (VLHBs, or flitch beam). The experimental results reveal that the concentrated butt-joints significantly reduce the flexural strength of the VLHB. They also suggest that the failure mechanism of the VLHBs with or without concentrated butt-joints are completely different. In addition, laminated bamboo lumber with concentrated butt-joints was found to be unsuitable for structural applications. The analytical estimations show close agreement with the experimental results. However, due to the layout of the sample VLHB, the experimental study cannot confirm the impact of the butt-joints on the modulus of elasticity in bending.
This research details structural performance of engineered multi-webbed composite timber joists o... more This research details structural performance of engineered multi-webbed composite timber joists of Double I, Box and Box I cross-sections in comparison with the commonly used I and solid timber joists. As part of a PhD research programme and the Proof of Concept (PoC) funded R&D work, the static and dynamic response of a series of composite timber beams were studied. This paper details results and findings of a parametric study, based on Eurocode 5 (EC5), carried out on a range of engineered composite timber beams. The beams varied form 150 to 500 mm in depth at 400 and 600 mm centres. Results of the study have shown that the serviceability, in general, is the controlling design criterion for typical UK timber flooring systems. Out of four different sub-criteria which are defined under serviceability conditions, deflection under unit point load is the governing criterion in most cases. Adopting the Option B of the UK National Annex results in a longer permissible span compared to th...
Abstract. This study examines the risk of overheating of a school building, under extreme hot wea... more Abstract. This study examines the risk of overheating of a school building, under extreme hot weather conditions, in 14 locations in the United Kingdom using the overheating criteria defined in Building Bulletin 101 (BB101). The building was modelled as naturally ventilated, mechanically ventilated and in mixed mode and was simulated both for the current and the projected weather conditions of the 2050s. Under the current weather conditions, results of the simulations show that when naturally ventilated, the school building fulfils the BB101 criteria only in the areas of Edinburgh and Glasgow. In the simulations of the building as mechanically ventilated and in mixed mode, mechanical cooling was provided in order for the building to comply with the overheating criteria. A comparison of the required cooling loads between the two scenarios shows that application of mixed mode ventilation results in less cooling loads.
Structural Engineering and Mechanics, 2020
Shear walls are structural members in buildings that are used extensively in reinforced concrete ... more Shear walls are structural members in buildings that are used extensively in reinforced concrete frame buildings, and almost exclusively in the UK, regardless of whether or not they are actually required. In recent years, the UK construction industry, led by the Concrete Centre, has questioned the need for such structural elements in low to mid-rise reinforced concrete frame buildings. In this context, a typical modern, 5-storey residential building is studied, and its existing shear walls are replaced with columns as used elsewhere in the building. The aim is to investigate the impact of several design variables, including concrete grade, column size, column shape and slab thickness, on the building’s structural performance, considering two punching shear limits (VEd/VRd,c), lateral drift and accelerations, to evaluate its maximum possible height under wind actions without the inclusion of shear walls. To facilitate this study, a numerical model has been developed using the ETABS s...
This paper focusses on older domestic dwellings, specifically 1930 to 1939, which have a particul... more This paper focusses on older domestic dwellings, specifically 1930 to 1939, which have a particular style that contribute to a recognised 'look'. The cost of retaining this style to maintain value is prioritized over any other value-add option for the home, such as energy-saving components. These properties are sought-after for that style or look, and command a certain price as a result. The British treat their home as an investment vehicle, the potential of which will be realised at some future date. As a consequence, the value of the property must be maintained above all else, in terms of appearance as much as comfort. What incentives are needed to make energy investment in the home as valued as external appearance? Can existing perceptions be changed?
Advances in Environmental Research, 2018
It is currently agreed upon that one of the major challenges in the construction industry is the ... more It is currently agreed upon that one of the major challenges in the construction industry is the energy efficiency of existing buildings. The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and United Nations (UN) have reported that the concentration of global atmospheric carbon dioxide has increased by an average of 50%, a record speed, from 2015 to 2016. The housing sector contributes to 45% of the UK’s carbon emissions. To help tackle some of those issues the recast Energy Performance Building Directive (EBPD) has introduced Nearly Zero Energy Buildings (NZEBs) in the coming years (including buildings that will undergo refurbishment/ renovations). This paper will explore the retrofitting of a UK residential dwelling using Thermal Analysis Simulation (TAS, EDSL) software by focusing on building fabric improvements and usage of on-site renewables. The CIBSE Test Reference Year (TRY) weather data has been selected to examine the performance of the building under current and future climate p...
There is clear evidence to show that climate change is happening. According to the UK Climate Pro... more There is clear evidence to show that climate change is happening. According to the UK Climate Projections (UKCP09) we can expect warmer and wetter winters, hotter and drier summers, rising sea levels and more extreme weather events. These extreme weather events in the UK are likely to increase with rising temperatures, causing among others heavier rainfall events with increased risk of flooding. Flooding is currently identified as one of the greatest threats to the UK posed by the climate change. In the UK there is a continuous need for new housing. The UK government has set a goal of 1,000,000 new homes by 2020 in order to cover the country’s housing needs. This study examines the effect of building development on the risk of flooding under extreme rainfall, for an area that has a very low chance of flooding. Two different scenarios of building development were modelled using XP SWMM software. Results show that building development increases the maximum water depth and that the new...
The practice of splicing reinforcing bars in reinforced concrete structures to manage insufficien... more The practice of splicing reinforcing bars in reinforced concrete structures to manage insufficient bar length is a common approach, which is mainly due to transportation limitations on bar length. The splicing of reinforcing bars side by side offers a simple and economical solution to the problem of continuity. This paper examines the influence of different structural parameters such as concrete cover, lap splice length, shear links confinement and concrete strength on the lap splices based on an extensive experimental database of laps and anchorage. The current study shows that increasing the lap splices beyond 50∅ has no additional benefit for increasing its strength. The results also show that relative to the measured stress, specimens with larger concrete side covers shows higher splice stress compared to the samples with smaller concrete covers.
Concrete flat slabs structures are economic and the most popular form of concrete used in multi-s... more Concrete flat slabs structures are economic and the most popular form of concrete used in multi-storey structures. Deflection of slabs is a principal criterion in design, it governs thickness, which in turn has significant economic impact. Deflection is usually controlled by limiting span/depth ratio. This paper reviews the history of the span-to-depth method of design. Span/depth ratios are based on knowledge of deflection and in recent years, advances have been made in modelling deflection. Yet, the actual performance of reinforced concrete flat slabs in the field remains largely unknown. Rarely have models been calibrated against actual construction projects. Part of the wider research study aims to document the deflection of a concrete slab in a large residential block. The intention is to note any serviceability issues and to compare design models and assumptions with reality. The other part of the research is to look at current design limits. Limits on deformation were set man...
Sustainability, 2020
In light of the recent launch of the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard and its expected impact o... more In light of the recent launch of the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard and its expected impact on the commercial buildings sector, this study investigated the impact of adding cooling systems on the annual energy consumption, carbon dioxide emissions and energy performance certificate (EPC) rating of an existing UK hotel. Thermal Analysis Software (TAS) was used to conduct the study, and the baseline model was validated against the actual data. As is the current accepted procedure in EPC generating in the UK, the cooling set points of the guest rooms were set to 25 °C, resulting in a small increase in the annual energy consumption and emission rates, but not enough to change the energy performance certificate rating. Also, it was found that an improvement in energy consumption and energy performance certificate rating of the hotel would be achieved if the new systems replaced the existing heating systems in the guest rooms. Further simulations investigated more realistic situations...
Sustainability, 2021
In light of the recent launch of the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard targeting the energy perf... more In light of the recent launch of the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard targeting the energy performance of commercial buildings, this study compares the energy performance certificates of three UK hotels generated by two different software, EDSL TAS and SBEM, both accredited by the UK government for the purpose. Upon finding the results discrepant, the study finds that the two software’s different assumptions for the air permeability rate contribute to the discrepancy. While modifying this value makes the results from the two software more aligned, further issues regarding the validation process arise. The study continues to find that the underlying issue can be found within the National Calculation Methodology’s assumption about domestic hot water consumption in hotels. These assumptions are compulsory to follow when generating a non-domestic energy performance certificate in the UK, therefore, any uncertainties within them can affect all the buildings seeking an energy performanc...
Wood Material Science & Engineering, 2021
Performance study on mounting system for displacement transducer in mechanical tests of timber sa... more Performance study on mounting system for displacement transducer in mechanical tests of timber samples using photogrammetry method, Wood Material Science & Engineering,
Journal of Sandwich Structures & Materials, 2021
This paper presents the experimental and analytical studies to investigate the effect of concentr... more This paper presents the experimental and analytical studies to investigate the effect of concentrated butt-joints on the flexural properties of laminated bamboo-timber flitch beam (BTFB, or bio-flitch beam). The experimental results reveal that the concentrated butt-joints significantly reduce the flexural strength of the BTFB. They also suggest that the failure mechanism of the BTFB with or without concentrated butt-joints are completely different but less evidence shows an obvious effect of the butt-joints on the modulus of elasticity in bending. In addition, laminated bamboo lumber with concentrated butt-joints is found to be unsuitable for structural applications. The analytical predictions are in close agreement with the experimental results that demonstrate the potentials of the proposed analytical model as a forensic investigation instrument to estimate the strength reduction of the structure, if the butt-jointed laminated bamboo was, unfortunately, used in construction.
Advanced Cement-Based Materials [Working Title]
In the design of reinforced concrete structures, the bond property is crucial. This is important ... more In the design of reinforced concrete structures, the bond property is crucial. This is important for achieving the composite action between the two materials constituents, allowing loads to be efficiently transmitted. The higher strain hardening and ductility capacity of stainless steel over mild steel are one of its major benefits. International design codes, such as Eurocode 2, do not provide a separate design model for concrete structures with stainless reinforcing bars. The background paper to Eurocode 2 highlighted that there is no technical reason of why the Eurocode 2 design model cannot be used in conjunction with other types of reinforcement, provided allowance is made for their properties and behaviour. While this notion is valid when using a mild steel reinforcing bar, it produces erroneous results when a stainless reinforcing bar with a lap splice is used in a reinforced concrete section. Even though there has been a large number of studies on the behaviour of structure ...
Executive summary This document presents a method for applying the nearly-zero energy building (n... more Executive summary This document presents a method for applying the nearly-zero energy building (nZEB) standard to existing UK commercial and residential buildings. The findings presented are based on analysis supported by dynamic simulation modelling of UK buildings, aiming to demonstrate the potential benefits but also highlight the risks associated with achieving such high energy-efficiency standards within the built environment. This work builds on that presented in TM55: Design for future climate — case studies (CIBSE, 2014). Four case studies are utilised to explore what it means to achieve the nZEB standard and apply it to existing UK buildings. These have been presented individually within this publication to focus on the various outcomes of each building type. The highlighted outcomes demonstrate that with well thought-out design decisions and careful consideration of a building’s resilience to a changing climate, the standard can be achieved — and this can introduce long-term cost and energy benefits. There is a large amount of work that needs to be done, and many questions to be answered, before fully transitioning to nZEBs.
Sustainability, 2022
The growing awareness of the need to minimise greenhouse gas (GHG) and mitigate climate change ha... more The growing awareness of the need to minimise greenhouse gas (GHG) and mitigate climate change has resulted in a greater focus on the embodied carbon (EC) of construction material. One way to ensure the environmental impact of building activities is minimised to a reasonable level is the calculation of their EC. Whilst there are a few studies investigating the role of embodied carbon factor (ECF) databases on the accuracy of EC calculation from cradle to gate, very little is known about the impact of different databases on the end-of-life (EoL) EC calculation. Using ECFs derived from the UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) default values and the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) suggested percentages for different elements of a building’s lifecycle stages, this study presents the impact of different data sources on the calculation of EoL EC. The study revealed that a lack of EoL ECFs databa...
Sustainability, 2021
Studies conducted by major national and international scientific bodies have indisputably conclud... more Studies conducted by major national and international scientific bodies have indisputably concluded that the increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) since the mid-20th century has led to irreversible changes in the climate. Data has shown that the contribution of the building sector accounts for 39% of these emissions. Reducing GHG emissions associated with the construction phase of buildings, or embodied carbon (EC), will prevent GHG emissions from entering the atmosphere earlier, reducing the negative impacts. However, to achieve any meaningful reduction, there is a need for consistency and accuracy in the calculations. The accuracy of these calculations is primarily tied to the accuracy of embodied carbon factors (ECF) used in the calculations, values determining the environmental impact of a product or procedure per unit weight. The emissions of any product can be calculated by performing a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). While the requirements for carrying out an ...
Plastic as an environmental burden is a well-rehearsed topic in the research area. This is due to... more Plastic as an environmental burden is a well-rehearsed topic in the research area. This is due to its global demand and destructive impacts on the environment, which has been a significant concern to the governments. Typically, the use of plastic in the construction industry is seen across low-density, non-structural applications due to its diverse range of benefits including high strength-to-weight ratios, manipulability and durability. It can be said that with the level of plastic consumption experienced in the construction industry, an ongoing responsibility is shown for this sector to continually innovate alternatives for application of recycled plastic waste such as using plastic made replacement from polyethylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl and polypropylene in the concrete mix design. In this study, the impact of partially replaced fine aggregate with polypropylene in the concrete mix design was investigated to evaluate the concrete's compressive strength by conducting an exp...
Sustainability, 2022
Studies have shown that the assumptions used to create dynamic thermal models of buildings do not... more Studies have shown that the assumptions used to create dynamic thermal models of buildings do not reflect their actual energy use. Bridging the energy performance gap is vital in ensuring that a designed or retrofitted building meets the energy performance targets. Using thermal analysis simulation software TAS, this paper presents a simulation model of seven different UK single family houses. The results from the various models are validated by comparing the actual energy demand against the simulated consumption. The simulation results show that the heating set point has the greatest impact on the simulated energy demand. The results also demonstrate that the energy demand of the dwellings can be reduced by applying window opening schemes and by controlling the heating setpoint temperature and schedule. Plug load consumption is also considered by using plug load data of real UK households, as obtained from a longitudinal study, and calibrating the model based on average plug load c...
This paper presents the experimental and analytical studies to investigate the impact of concentr... more This paper presents the experimental and analytical studies to investigate the impact of concentrated laminated bamboo butt-joints on the flexural properties of vertically laminated bamboo-timber hybrid beams (VLHBs, or flitch beam). The experimental results reveal that the concentrated butt-joints significantly reduce the flexural strength of the VLHB. They also suggest that the failure mechanism of the VLHBs with or without concentrated butt-joints are completely different. In addition, laminated bamboo lumber with concentrated butt-joints was found to be unsuitable for structural applications. The analytical estimations show close agreement with the experimental results. However, due to the layout of the sample VLHB, the experimental study cannot confirm the impact of the butt-joints on the modulus of elasticity in bending.
This research details structural performance of engineered multi-webbed composite timber joists o... more This research details structural performance of engineered multi-webbed composite timber joists of Double I, Box and Box I cross-sections in comparison with the commonly used I and solid timber joists. As part of a PhD research programme and the Proof of Concept (PoC) funded R&D work, the static and dynamic response of a series of composite timber beams were studied. This paper details results and findings of a parametric study, based on Eurocode 5 (EC5), carried out on a range of engineered composite timber beams. The beams varied form 150 to 500 mm in depth at 400 and 600 mm centres. Results of the study have shown that the serviceability, in general, is the controlling design criterion for typical UK timber flooring systems. Out of four different sub-criteria which are defined under serviceability conditions, deflection under unit point load is the governing criterion in most cases. Adopting the Option B of the UK National Annex results in a longer permissible span compared to th...
Abstract. This study examines the risk of overheating of a school building, under extreme hot wea... more Abstract. This study examines the risk of overheating of a school building, under extreme hot weather conditions, in 14 locations in the United Kingdom using the overheating criteria defined in Building Bulletin 101 (BB101). The building was modelled as naturally ventilated, mechanically ventilated and in mixed mode and was simulated both for the current and the projected weather conditions of the 2050s. Under the current weather conditions, results of the simulations show that when naturally ventilated, the school building fulfils the BB101 criteria only in the areas of Edinburgh and Glasgow. In the simulations of the building as mechanically ventilated and in mixed mode, mechanical cooling was provided in order for the building to comply with the overheating criteria. A comparison of the required cooling loads between the two scenarios shows that application of mixed mode ventilation results in less cooling loads.
Structural Engineering and Mechanics, 2020
Shear walls are structural members in buildings that are used extensively in reinforced concrete ... more Shear walls are structural members in buildings that are used extensively in reinforced concrete frame buildings, and almost exclusively in the UK, regardless of whether or not they are actually required. In recent years, the UK construction industry, led by the Concrete Centre, has questioned the need for such structural elements in low to mid-rise reinforced concrete frame buildings. In this context, a typical modern, 5-storey residential building is studied, and its existing shear walls are replaced with columns as used elsewhere in the building. The aim is to investigate the impact of several design variables, including concrete grade, column size, column shape and slab thickness, on the building’s structural performance, considering two punching shear limits (VEd/VRd,c), lateral drift and accelerations, to evaluate its maximum possible height under wind actions without the inclusion of shear walls. To facilitate this study, a numerical model has been developed using the ETABS s...
This paper focusses on older domestic dwellings, specifically 1930 to 1939, which have a particul... more This paper focusses on older domestic dwellings, specifically 1930 to 1939, which have a particular style that contribute to a recognised 'look'. The cost of retaining this style to maintain value is prioritized over any other value-add option for the home, such as energy-saving components. These properties are sought-after for that style or look, and command a certain price as a result. The British treat their home as an investment vehicle, the potential of which will be realised at some future date. As a consequence, the value of the property must be maintained above all else, in terms of appearance as much as comfort. What incentives are needed to make energy investment in the home as valued as external appearance? Can existing perceptions be changed?
Advances in Environmental Research, 2018
It is currently agreed upon that one of the major challenges in the construction industry is the ... more It is currently agreed upon that one of the major challenges in the construction industry is the energy efficiency of existing buildings. The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and United Nations (UN) have reported that the concentration of global atmospheric carbon dioxide has increased by an average of 50%, a record speed, from 2015 to 2016. The housing sector contributes to 45% of the UK’s carbon emissions. To help tackle some of those issues the recast Energy Performance Building Directive (EBPD) has introduced Nearly Zero Energy Buildings (NZEBs) in the coming years (including buildings that will undergo refurbishment/ renovations). This paper will explore the retrofitting of a UK residential dwelling using Thermal Analysis Simulation (TAS, EDSL) software by focusing on building fabric improvements and usage of on-site renewables. The CIBSE Test Reference Year (TRY) weather data has been selected to examine the performance of the building under current and future climate p...
There is clear evidence to show that climate change is happening. According to the UK Climate Pro... more There is clear evidence to show that climate change is happening. According to the UK Climate Projections (UKCP09) we can expect warmer and wetter winters, hotter and drier summers, rising sea levels and more extreme weather events. These extreme weather events in the UK are likely to increase with rising temperatures, causing among others heavier rainfall events with increased risk of flooding. Flooding is currently identified as one of the greatest threats to the UK posed by the climate change. In the UK there is a continuous need for new housing. The UK government has set a goal of 1,000,000 new homes by 2020 in order to cover the country’s housing needs. This study examines the effect of building development on the risk of flooding under extreme rainfall, for an area that has a very low chance of flooding. Two different scenarios of building development were modelled using XP SWMM software. Results show that building development increases the maximum water depth and that the new...
The practice of splicing reinforcing bars in reinforced concrete structures to manage insufficien... more The practice of splicing reinforcing bars in reinforced concrete structures to manage insufficient bar length is a common approach, which is mainly due to transportation limitations on bar length. The splicing of reinforcing bars side by side offers a simple and economical solution to the problem of continuity. This paper examines the influence of different structural parameters such as concrete cover, lap splice length, shear links confinement and concrete strength on the lap splices based on an extensive experimental database of laps and anchorage. The current study shows that increasing the lap splices beyond 50∅ has no additional benefit for increasing its strength. The results also show that relative to the measured stress, specimens with larger concrete side covers shows higher splice stress compared to the samples with smaller concrete covers.
Concrete flat slabs structures are economic and the most popular form of concrete used in multi-s... more Concrete flat slabs structures are economic and the most popular form of concrete used in multi-storey structures. Deflection of slabs is a principal criterion in design, it governs thickness, which in turn has significant economic impact. Deflection is usually controlled by limiting span/depth ratio. This paper reviews the history of the span-to-depth method of design. Span/depth ratios are based on knowledge of deflection and in recent years, advances have been made in modelling deflection. Yet, the actual performance of reinforced concrete flat slabs in the field remains largely unknown. Rarely have models been calibrated against actual construction projects. Part of the wider research study aims to document the deflection of a concrete slab in a large residential block. The intention is to note any serviceability issues and to compare design models and assumptions with reality. The other part of the research is to look at current design limits. Limits on deformation were set man...
Sustainability, 2020
In light of the recent launch of the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard and its expected impact o... more In light of the recent launch of the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard and its expected impact on the commercial buildings sector, this study investigated the impact of adding cooling systems on the annual energy consumption, carbon dioxide emissions and energy performance certificate (EPC) rating of an existing UK hotel. Thermal Analysis Software (TAS) was used to conduct the study, and the baseline model was validated against the actual data. As is the current accepted procedure in EPC generating in the UK, the cooling set points of the guest rooms were set to 25 °C, resulting in a small increase in the annual energy consumption and emission rates, but not enough to change the energy performance certificate rating. Also, it was found that an improvement in energy consumption and energy performance certificate rating of the hotel would be achieved if the new systems replaced the existing heating systems in the guest rooms. Further simulations investigated more realistic situations...
Sustainability, 2021
In light of the recent launch of the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard targeting the energy perf... more In light of the recent launch of the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard targeting the energy performance of commercial buildings, this study compares the energy performance certificates of three UK hotels generated by two different software, EDSL TAS and SBEM, both accredited by the UK government for the purpose. Upon finding the results discrepant, the study finds that the two software’s different assumptions for the air permeability rate contribute to the discrepancy. While modifying this value makes the results from the two software more aligned, further issues regarding the validation process arise. The study continues to find that the underlying issue can be found within the National Calculation Methodology’s assumption about domestic hot water consumption in hotels. These assumptions are compulsory to follow when generating a non-domestic energy performance certificate in the UK, therefore, any uncertainties within them can affect all the buildings seeking an energy performanc...
Wood Material Science & Engineering, 2021
Performance study on mounting system for displacement transducer in mechanical tests of timber sa... more Performance study on mounting system for displacement transducer in mechanical tests of timber samples using photogrammetry method, Wood Material Science & Engineering,
Journal of Sandwich Structures & Materials, 2021
This paper presents the experimental and analytical studies to investigate the effect of concentr... more This paper presents the experimental and analytical studies to investigate the effect of concentrated butt-joints on the flexural properties of laminated bamboo-timber flitch beam (BTFB, or bio-flitch beam). The experimental results reveal that the concentrated butt-joints significantly reduce the flexural strength of the BTFB. They also suggest that the failure mechanism of the BTFB with or without concentrated butt-joints are completely different but less evidence shows an obvious effect of the butt-joints on the modulus of elasticity in bending. In addition, laminated bamboo lumber with concentrated butt-joints is found to be unsuitable for structural applications. The analytical predictions are in close agreement with the experimental results that demonstrate the potentials of the proposed analytical model as a forensic investigation instrument to estimate the strength reduction of the structure, if the butt-jointed laminated bamboo was, unfortunately, used in construction.