Performance of Thermal Insulation of Different Composite Walls and Roofs Materials Used for Energy Efficient Building Construction in Iraq

This study numerically involves the performance of thermal insulation of different types of composite walls and roofs to demonstrate the best model that can be used for energy-efficient building construction in Iraq.The mathematical model is solved by building its code using the Transmission Matrix Method in MATLAB software.The weather data of 21st July 2022 in Baghdad City/Iraq is selected as a test day.The wall types are selected:the first type consists of cement mortar,brick,and gypsum,the second type consists of cement mortar,brick,gypsum,and plaster and the third type consists of cement mortar,brick,gypsum,air cavity,and sheathing timber.The roof types are chosen:the first type consists of reinforced concrete,gypsum,and plaster,and the second type consists of the precast concrete flag,river sand,tar,reinforced concrete,gypsum,and plaster.The obtained solutions are compared with previous studies for the same city but with different types of walls and roofs.The findings display that the second and third types of walls reduce the entry heat flux by 4%and 10%as compared to the first type of wall.Also,the results indicate that the second type of roof reduces the entry heat flux by 21%as compared to the first type of roof.The results confirm that the best models of walls and roofs in Iraq are the third and second types,respectively,as compared to other models and hence,the performance of insulation material strongly depends on the materials used while building them.

Assessment and control of the mine tremor disaster induced by the energy accumulation and dispersion of thick-hard roofs

In order to solve the problem that current theory models cannot accurately describe thick-hard roof(THR)elastic energy and assess the mine tremor disasters,a theoretical method,a Timoshenko beam theory on Winkler foundation was adopted to establish the THR’s periodic breaking model.The superposition principle was used for this complex model to derive the calculation formulas of the elastic energy and impact load on hydraulic supports.Then,the influence of roof thickness h,cantilever length L_(1),and load q on THR’s elastic energy and impact load was analyzed.And,the effect of mine tremor disasters was assessed.Finally,it is revealed that:(1)The THR’s elastic energy U exhibits power-law variations,with the fitted relationships U=0.0096L_(1)^(3.5866^),U=5943.9h^(-1.935),and U=21.049q^(2).(2)The impact load on hydraulic supports F_(ZJ) increases linearly with an increase in the cantilever length,thickness,and applied load.The fitted relationships are F_(ZJ)=1067.3L_(1)+6361.1,F_(ZJ)=125.89h+15100,and F_(ZJ)=10420q+3912.6.(3)Ground hydraulic fracturing and liquid explosive deep-hole blasting techniques effectively reduce the THR’s cantilever length at periodic breakages,thus eliminating mine tremor disasters.

Physical and numerical investigations of target stratum selection for ground hydraulic fracturing of multiple hard roofs

Ground hydraulic fracturing plays a crucial role in controlling the far-field hard roof,making it imperative to identify the most suitable target stratum for effective control.Physical experiments are conducted based on engineering properties to simulate the gradual collapse of the roof during longwall top coal caving(LTCC).A numerical model is established using the material point method(MPM)and the strain-softening damage constitutive model according to the structure of the physical model.Numerical simulations are conducted to analyze the LTCC process under different hard roofs for ground hydraulic fracturing.The results show that ground hydraulic fracturing releases the energy and stress of the target stratum,resulting in a substantial lag in the fracturing of the overburden before collapse occurs in the hydraulic fracturing stratum.Ground hydraulic fracturing of a low hard roof reduces the lag effect of hydraulic fractures,dissipates the energy consumed by the fracture of the hard roof,and reduces the abutment stress.Therefore,it is advisable to prioritize the selection of the lower hard roof as the target stratum.

Experimental Assessment of the Thermal Performance of Two Corrugated Metal Roofs

This experimental study is a contribution to the search for solutions to reduce indoor heat gain through sheet metal roofing in hot weather. It has evaluated the thermal impact of two different sheet metal roofs inside of two identical test buildings in sunny weather and cloudy weather conditions. Test building 1 has a single sheet corrugated roof and the building 2 is covered with roof made from top to bottom with corrugated sheet metal, a 12 mm thick serpentine copper tube in which water is circulated, a sheet of aluminium foil acting as a heat reflector, a 4 cm thick polystyrene panel and a 1.5 cm thick plywood. A maximum reduction of 15.1˚C in the temperature of the inner face of the test Building 2 roof was obtained comparatively to the temperature of the inner face of the test Building 1 roof consisting of a single sheet of metal at the warmest hours. In addition, the simple corrugated sheet metal roof of the test building generates high and varied temperatures inside the building. Whereas the proposed heat recovery roof favours low and relatively uniform temperatures inside the building. The proposed sheet metal roof construction technique is very effective in reducing the heat gain through the roof considerably;thus improving the thermal comfort inside sheet metal roofed dwellings. Hot water has been produced by recovering heat from the metal sheet of the roof of test building 2. The temperature of the hot water produced reached of 39˚C. This study could be also an alternative for the reduction of energy consumption due to the use of mechanical means for cooling of sheet metal roofed houses and the reduction of the use of fossil fuels for domestic hot water production.

LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENTS OF WHITE FLAT AND RED OR WHITE PITCHED ROOFS FOR RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS IN ISRAEL

Historically,white flat roofs have been used in Israel due to the intense solar radiation and long,hot,rainless summers.However,red pitched roofs have also been frequently used for aesthetic reasons.It has been recently observed that red pitched roofs have been recolored white by homeowners.The goal of this study was to compare the life cycle assessments(LCAs)of white flat roofs versus red or white pitched roofs through their production(P),operational energy(OE),and maintenance to disposal(MtoD)stages.EnergyPlus software was used to evaluate the OE stage.The ReCiPe method was used to evaluate the environmental damages in all the stages.A two-stage nested ANOVA was used to determine the significant differences between the ReCiPe result of a white flat roof and the ReCiPe result of a red/white pitched roof.It was found that(i)selection of the best roof technology(flat or pitched)requires consideration of the LCA,including the P,OE,and MtoD stages;(ii)the white(flat and pitched)roof was the best technology,while the red pitched roof was the worst technology;and(iii)the combination of the ReCiPe endpoint hierarchical six methodological options method with two-stage nested hierarchical mixed ANOVA is the best approach for assessing the differences related to the LCAs of roof technologies.

PV-green Roofs植被层高度对系统性能影响

绿化屋顶(GR)和光伏发电系统(PV)在调节室内热湿环境与降低建筑能耗中发挥着重要作用,利用两系统互效性耦合而成的光伏-绿化屋顶(PV-green Roofs)是推进建筑节能的创新型举措。结合PV-green Roofs数学模型,分析植物高度对系统性能的影响,通过实验测定,以落地生根和佛甲草为绿化屋顶植被层材料,实测不同工况下PV-green Roofs系统的电量输出值,同时结合EnergyPlus数值模拟结果分析采用不同植株高度的PV-green Roofs系统对建筑消耗净能量的影响。结果表明:植物高度通过改变绿化屋顶种植层蒸发阻力和植被层冠状层风速影响系统性能;在夏热冬冷的气候条件下,植物生命中期对应的高度对光伏系统工作环境的冷却效果最为明显,引起输出电量的增值最大,且环境湿度对系统性能存在影响。

Analysis on nonlinear wind-induced dynamic response of membrane roofs with aerodynamic effects

Based on the characteristics of membrane structures and the air influence factors,this paper presented a method to simulate the air aerodynamic force effects including the added air mass,the acoustic radiation damping and the pneumatic stiffness.The infinite air was modeled using the acoustic fluid element of commercial FE software and the finite element membrane roof models were coupled with fluid models.A comparison between the results obtained by FE computation and those obtained by the vibration experiment for a cable-membrane verified the validity of the method.Furthermore,applying the method to a flat membrane roof structure and using its wind tunnel test results,the analysis of nonlinear wind-induced dynamic responses for such geometrically nonlinear roofs,including the roof-air coupled model was performed.The result shows that the air has large influence on vibrating membrane roofs according to results of comparing the nodal time-history displacements,accelerations and stress of the two different cases.Meantime,numerical studies show that the method developed can successfully solve the nonlinear wind-induced dynamic response of the membrane roof with aerodynamic effects.

Characteristics of wind pressure pulse on large-span flat roofs

The wind pressure pulse events, among the most important characteristics of wind pressure fluctuations on large-span flat roofs, were investigated by wind tunnel tests in this paper. Incorporating the formation mechanism of wind pressure pulse events, the peak over threshold method was employed to study properties of this kind of events. The event duration time, the energy contribution, the number of the pulse events, and the distribution of average peak pressure were calculated. Probability density functions of some typical samples in separation region were also given. Results show that the non-Gaussian roof pressure is strong in the flow separation region owing to the wind pressure pulse events. Evaluations of the extreme peak pressures, which can be determined by the peak over threshold method effectively, are important to the design of building cladding.

High Alumina Refractory Bricks for Electric Arc Furnace Roofs

This standard specifies the sort, technical requirement, test method, inspection rules, marking, packing, transportation, storage and quality certification of high alumina refractory bricks for electric arc furnace roofs.

Employing Green Roofs to Support Endangered Plant Species: The Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub in Australia

The purpose and context for the study relates to urban growth. Australian cities are experiencing particularly rapid urbanization, taking the form of land clearing to accommodate outward expansion as well as developing to higher densities in existing urban areas. Both forms of development degrade native biodiversity, resulting in loss of vegetation with the possibility that the remnant indigenous plants will become locally extinct. One endangered ecological community in Sydney, the Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub (ESBS), still survives along some sections of Sydney’s heavily urbanized coastline. At the time of European settlement, the ESBS covered approximately 5300 ha, but it is now a highly fragmented 146 ha across 24 sites with some sites under imminent threat of development. Conservation legislation enacted by the state of New South Wales (NSW), Australia has declared the ESBS as critically endangered. Despite recovery plans, in 2016 the NSW Threatened Species Scientific Committee indicated that the community faces an extremely high risk of extinction in Australia in the immediate future. A practical option in the face of declining open space in our cities is to examine the potential of urban rooftops for conserving and propagating threatened or endangered flora. While there is a limited amount of international research on using green roofs for endangered plant protection, there is no information from Australia about how green roofs perform in this geographic region. The approach taken in this research has been firstly, to review the current academic and “grey” literature from a global perspective to identify options for conserving endangered flora on green roofs. We derive an evidence-based research protocol to be used to test the green roof environment in Sydney for propagating the endangered ESBS. We establish the general applicability of green roofs for protecting vanishing flora through the literature review and conclude that our research design will be a suitable framework for the task for monitoring growth and germination performance over the ESBS community’s development cycle, with the longer-term objective of establishing a viable rooftop seed orchard.

Dynamic Pressures on Tunnel Roofs due to Vehicle Passages

Pressure and proximity measurements made in a tunnel indicate that a typical vehicle passage produced on the tunnel roof an initial pressure increase of small magnitude,followed by a sharp and more substantial drop in pressure below atmospheric.The magnitude of the pressure drop was found to increase with smaller clearances between the vehicle top and the tunnel roof,consistent with the Bernoulli relation and the vehicle speed.The dynamic pressures potentially may have significant effects on the vibration and noise environments on the lower floors of“air rights construction”buildings that span highways.

REFERENCE COMMUNITY: ADAPTING NATIVE PLANTS TO NORTH AMERICAN GREEN ROOFS

The North American design community typically regards green roofs as inhospitable environments for native plants due to the infrastructure’s characteristic thin soils,low organic matter,temperature fluctuations,and wind exposure.Consequently,green roofs are often planted with an industry-standard palette of non-native Sedum and Phedimus species that are adept at withstanding stress,but lack biodiversity and visual interest,and offer little food or shelter to native birds and insects.Regionally specific reference plant communities that thrive in similarly harsh growing conditions can positively influence green roof design throughout North America,and consequently provide ecosystem services,contribute to habitat conservation,and increase human exposure to the beauty and benefits of native plants.

THE ADOPTION OF AN INNOVATION:BARRIERS TO USE OF GREEN ROOFS EXPERIENCED BY MIDWEST ARCHITECTS AND BUILDING OWNERS

While green roof technologies are increasingly employed in Northern European countries,adoption is progressing at amuch slower rate in the US.This manuscript discusses results of a survey that quantified knowledge,barriers,and perceivedcosts and benefits to use of green roof technology among a sample of architects and building owners in the Midwest.The survey also examined conditions that may encourage use of this technology among the respondents.Resultsshow that many respondents do not fully recognize the economic or performance advantages offered by green roof technologies.The payback period for economic advantage is longer than owners are willing to consider.Both owners andarchitects possess a wide range of misconceptions about the performance advantages of green roofs.While green roof technologyoffers clear environmental advantages such as reduced stormwater runoff,increased habitat,and cooler temperaturesthat mitigate heat island effects,many building owner respondents either do not know about or value these advantages.This research quantified potential adopters’perceptions of an innovative technology and the survey results areinterpreted and discussed within the conceptual framework of innovation diffusion literature.Strategies to hasten theadoption of green roof technology are suggested.

PLANTS INFLUENCED BY GROWING MEDIA AND COMPOST ADDITION ON MOCK GREEN ROOFS WITHIN THE OZARK HIGHLANDS

Green roof technology and other low impact development practices help mitigate hydrologic impacts from urbanization.Green roofs are widely recognized for stormwater retention,and these systems provide many other ecological functions,such as habitat,air quality improvements,insulation,reduced noise pollution and aesthetic quality.Green roofs are composed of a plant palette(species selected for a specific condition),growing media and drainage system on top of a traditional roof membrane.This study investigated species survival under local environmental conditions,in the southwestern Ozark Highlands from September 2008 through 2009.There were four treatments consisting of two different growing media particle sizes and two different fertilization regimens(with and without compost).Sixteen plant species and/or varieties were monitored to determine the effect of treatments on survival and spread.Plant response varied by species,but the fine media with compost provided the greatest survival and spread.However,the fine media without compost treatment had similar survival rates and may provide similar cover over time.The coarse particle media treatments had greater mortality rates in most specimens and less coverage after one year.Local environmental conditions were detrimental to some species(Sedum moranense L.),whereas other species(Sedum reflexum L.;Phedimus sp.L.;and Sedum spurium L.‘Summer Glory’)thrived.Our results provide valuable knowledge on creating an appropriate plant palette for green roof designs.

Gold Roofs Shine Above the Potala Palace

In the last five years,the hardest task was to remove,repair,clean and reinstall the gold roofs.We did them with extreme care.

Mechanism and control technology of strong ground pressure behaviour induced by high-position hard roofs in extra-thick coal seam mining

This work aimed at revealing the mechanism of strong ground pressure behaviour(SGPB)induced by high-position hard roof(HHR).Based on the supporting structures model of HHR,a modified voussoir beam mechanical model for HHR was established by considering the gangue support coefficient,through which the modified expressions of limit breaking span and breaking energy of HHR were deduced.Combined with the relationship between the dynamic-static loading stress of supporting body(hydraulic support and coal wall)and its comprehensive supporting strength,the criteria of ground pressure behaviour(GPB)induced by HHR were discussed.The types of Ⅰ_(1),Ⅰ_(2),Ⅱ_(1),andⅡ_(2) of GPB were interpreted.Results showed that types Ⅰ_(1) and Ⅰ_(2) were the main forms of SGPB in extra-thick coal seam mining.The main manifestation of SGPB was static stress,which was mainly derived from the instability of HHR rather than fracture.Accordingly,an innovative control technology was proposed,which can weaken static load by vertical-well separated fracturing HHR.The research results have been successfully applied to the 8101 working face in Tashan coal mine,Shanxi Province,China.The results of a digital borehole camera observation and stress monitoring proved the rationality of the GPB criteria.The control technology was successful,paving the way for new possibilities to HHR control for safety mining.

Stability analysis of subgrade cave roofs in karst region

According to the engineering features of subgrade cave roof in karst region, the clamped beam model of subgrade cave roof in karst region was set up. Based on the catastrophe theory, the cusp catastrophe model for bearing capacity of subgrade cave roof and safe thickness of subgrade cave roof in karst region was established. The necessary instability conditions of subgrade cave roof were deduced, and then the methods to determine safe thickness of cave roofs under piles and bearing capacity of subgrade cave roof were proposed. At the same time, a practical engineering project was applied to verifying this method, which has been proved successfu1ly. At last, the major factors that affect the stability on cave roof under pile in karst region were deeply discussed and some results in quality were acquired.

Failure of hanging roofs in sublevel caving by shock collision and stress superposition

Hanging roofs or high hang-ups.a common problem in sublevel caving mining,usually result in a large ore loss and undermine mining safety.This paper analyzed the formation of a hanging roof and showed that increased confining pressure and reduced free surface were its main characteristics.In order to break down a hanging roof,a new method based on shock wave collision and stress superposition was developed.In this method,two blastholes containing multi-primer at different positions are simultaneously initiated at first.By doing this,a new free surface and a swell room can be created.After these holes are fired,a long delay time is given to the next blasthole so that the fragments from the first twohole blasting have enough time to fall down.This new method was applied to three hanging roofs in one production area,and all of them were successfully broken down.Field inspection indicated that almost no damage was caused in the nearby drifts/tunnels due to the new method.In addition,the far field vibrations were found to be smaller than the maximum vibrations induced by some other blasts.

Numerical research on stability control of roofs of water-rich roadway

In order to study the strength-weakening law of roofs of water-rich roadway, this study used FLAC software, and simulated and analyzed the failure characteristics of the surrounding rock of water-rich roadway under the condition of different cross sections and support parameters, finally obtained the stress distribution of the principle stress of the roadway as well as the displacement variation of its surrounding rock. Results indicate that the roof stability of roadway with semicircular cross section is better than the roadway with inclined rectangular cross section under water-rich condition. Besides, the surrounding rock deformation of roadway under the action of water shows a pronounced increase compared to the roadway without the action of water due to the fact that water will obviously weaken the surrounding rock of roadway, especially its roof. It is very beneficial to control roof stability of water-rich roadway and guarantee the roadway stability during its service life by improving the pretension of bolt and cable as well as decreasing inter-row spacing of the bolt.

Stability control of water-enriched roofs of coal drifts

Excavation-and-support induced disturbances are likely to make water-enriched roofs to become weathered and fractured.The development and connection of cracks provide new water channels which may result in water loss,seriously affecting the in-tegrity and stability of roofs,leading to incidents of roof fall.Control of water-enriched rocks surrounding coal drifts is quite diffi-cult in China.Based on the practical situation of a water-enriched roof of a coal drift in working face 112201 of the Meihuajing coal mine,we studied the deformation features of surrounding rocks and the development of fractured areas and analyzed the major reasons for the decrease in load-carrying capacity,indicating that the key to maintain roof stability of this kind of coal drift is water retention.In addition,we proposed a staged control technology consisting of:1) surface grouting;2) cable anchor strengthening and 3) roof grouting,which has proven to be successful in this practical application.Our study indicates that,after the problem of water loss from the water-enriched roof had been effectively solved,a combined support system with high performance bolts can maintain the stability of the bearing structure,resulting in the control of roof stability in this kind of coal drift.