Properties and Characteristics of Regolith-Based Materials for Extraterrestrial Construction

The construction of extraterrestrial bases has become a new goal in the active exploration of deep space.Among the construction techniques,in situ resource-based construction is one of the most promising because of its good sustainability and acceptable economic cost,triggering the development of various types of extraterrestrial construction materials.A comprehensive survey and comparison of materials from the perspective of performance was conducted to provide suggestions for material selection and optimization.Thirteen types of typical construction materials are discussed in terms of their reliability and applicability in extreme extraterrestrial environment.Mechanical,thermal and optical,and radiation-shielding properties are considered.The influencing factors and optimization methods for these properties are analyzed.From the perspective of material properties,the existing challenges lie in the comprehensive,long-term,and real characterization of regolith-based construction materials.Correspondingly,the suggested future directions include the application of high-throughput characterization methods,accelerated durability tests,and conducting extraterrestrial experiments.

Construction Activity Analysis of Workers Based on Human Posture Estimation Information

Identifying workers’construction activities or behaviors can enable managers to better monitor labor efficiency and construction progress.However,current activity analysis methods for construction workers rely solely on manual observations and recordings,which consumes considerable time and has high labor costs.Researchers have focused on monitoring on-site construction activities of workers.However,when multiple workers are working together,current research cannot accu rately and automatically identify the construction activity.This research proposes a deep learning framework for the automated analysis of the construction activities of multiple workers.In this framework,multiple deep neural network models are designed and used to complete worker key point extraction,worker tracking,and worker construction activity analysis.The designed framework was tested at an actual construction site,and activity recognition for multiple workers was performed,indicating the feasibility of the framework for the automated monitoring of work efficiency.

Promoting grain production through high-standard farmland construction:Evidence in China

Food security is a strategic priority for a country’s economic development.In China,high-standard farmland construction(HSFC)is an important initiative to stabilize grain production and increase grain production capacity.Based on panel data from 31 sample provinces,autonomous regions,and municipalities in China from 2005–2017,this study explored the impact of HSFC on grain yield using the difference-in-differences(DID)method.The results showed that HSFC significantly increased total grain production,which is robust to various checks.HSFC increased grain yield through three potential mechanisms.First,it could increase the grain replanting index.Second,it could effectively reduce yield loss due to droughts and floods.Last,HSFC could strengthen the cultivated land by renovating the low-and medium-yielding fields.Heterogeneity analysis found that the HSFC farmland showed a significant increase in grain yield only in the main grain-producing areas and balanced areas.In addition,HSFC significantly increased the yields of rice,wheat,and maize while leading to a reduction in soybean yields.The findings suggest the government should continue to promote HSFC,improve construction standards,and strictly control the“non-agriculturalization”and“non-coordination”of farmland to increase grain production further.At the same time,market mechanisms should be used to incentivize soybean farming,improve returns and stabilize soybean yields.

Friction Characteristics Between Marine Clay and Construction Materials

Structure-soil interface friction characteristics is of importance to investigate the interaction between engineering structures and soils,especially for offshore structures.The interface friction behavior between marine clay and structural materials with different roughness was studied in this paper by using 3D optical scanning tests,a modified direct shear device and numerical simulation.Relationships between the surface roughness of structures,water content and interface friction angle were presented by model tests.The increase of water contents decreased the interface friction angles.For interfaces with different roughness,the interface friction angles will be smaller than that of the soil when the water content exceeds a certain value.The roughness of the interface and the water content of the soil are mutually coupled to influence the coefficient of friction(COF).This paper proposed a Finite Element Method(FEM)to simulate the interface direct shear tests of structures with different roughness.The surface models with different roughness are established based on the structure data obtained by 3D scanning.The Coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian(CEL)approach was employed to analyse soils sheared by irregular surfaces.The interface behavior for interfaces with different roughness under cyclic shear stresses was analyzed by FEM.

Lunar In Situ Large-Scale Construction:Quantitative Evaluation of Regolith Solidification Techniques

Lunar habitat construction is crucial for successful lunar exploration missions.Due to the limitations of transportation conditions,extensive global research has been conducted on lunar in situ material processing techniques in recent years.The aim of this paper is to provide a comprehensive review,precise classification,and quantitative evaluation of these approaches,focusing specifically on four main approaches:reaction solidification(RS),sintering/melting(SM),bonding solidification(BS),and confinement formation(CF).Eight key indicators have been identified for the construction of low-cost and highperformance systems to assess the feasibility of these methods:in situ material ratio,curing temperature,curing time,implementation conditions,compressive strength,tensile strength,curing dimensions,and environmental adaptability.The scoring thresholds are determined by comparing the construction requirements with the actual capabilities.Among the evaluated methods,regolith bagging has emerged as a promising option due to its high in situ material ratio,low time requirement,lack of hightemperature requirements,and minimal shortcomings,with only the compressive strength falling below the neutral score.The compressive strength still maintains a value of 2–3 MPa.The proposed construction scheme utilizing regolith bags offers numerous advantages,including rapid and large-scale construction,ensured tensile strength,and reduced reliance on equipment and energy.In this study,guidelines for evaluating regolith solidification techniques are provided,and directions for improvement are offered.The proposed lunar habitat design based on regolith bags is a practical reference for future research.

Longitudinal vibration characteristics of a tapered pipe pile considering the vertical support of surrounding soil and construction disturbance

This research is concentrated on the longitudinal vibration of a tapered pipe pile considering the vertical support of the surrounding soil and construction disturbance.First,the pile-soil system is partitioned into finite segments in the vertical direction and the Voigt model is applied to simulate the vertical support of the surrounding soil acting on the pile segment.The surrounding soil is divided into finite ring-shaped zones in the radial direction to consider the construction disturbance.Then,the shear complex stiffness at the pile-soil interface is derived by solving the dynamic equilibrium equation for the soil from the outermost to innermost zone.The displacement impedance at the top of an arbitrary pile segment is obtained by solving the dynamic equilibrium equation for the pile and is combined with the vertical support of the surrounding soil to derive the displacement impedance at the bottom of the upper adjacent segment.Further,the displacement impedance at the pile head is obtained based on the impedance function transfer technique.Finally,the reliability of the proposed solution is verified,followed by a sensitivity analysis concerning the coupling effect of the pile parameters,construction disturbance and the vertical support of the surrounding soil on the displacement impedance of the pile.

Subsurface multi-physical characterization of mountain excavation and city construction in loess plateau with a fiber-optic sensing system

Mountain excavation and city construction(MECC)projects being launched in the Loess Plateau in China involve the creation of large-scale artificial land.Understanding the subsurface evolution characteristics of the artificial land is essential,yet challenging.Here,we use an improved fiber-optic monitoring system for its subsurface multi-physical characterization.The system enables us to gather spatiotemporal distribution of various parameters,including strata deformation,temperature,and moisture.Yan’an New District was selected as a case study to conduct refined in-situ monitoring through a 77 m-deep borehole and a 30 m-long trench.Findings reveal that the ground settlement involves both the deformation of the filling loess and the underlying intact loess.Notably,the filling loess exhibits a stronger creep capability compared to underlying intact loess.The deformation along the profile is unevenly distributed,with a positive correlation with soil moisture.Water accumulation has been observed at the interface between the filling loess and the underlying intact loess,leading to a significant deformation.Moreover,the temperature and moisture in the filling loess have reached a new equilibrium state,with their depths influenced by atmospheric conditions measuring at 31 m and 26 m,respectively.The refined investigation allows us to identify critical layers that matter the sustainable development of newly created urban areas,and provide improved insights into the evolution mechanisms of land creation.

Planning and construction of Xiong’an New Area(city of over 5 million people):Contributions of China’s geologists and urban geology

China established Xiong’an New Area in Hebei Province in 2017,which is planned to accommodate about 5 million people,aiming to relieve Beijing City of the functions non-essential to its role as China’s capital and to expedite the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.From 2017 to 2021,the China Geological Survey(CGS)took the lead in multi-factor urban geological surveys involving space,resources,environments,and disasters according to the general requirements of“global vision,international standards,distinctive Chinese features,and future-oriented goals”in Xiong’an New Area,identifying the engineering geologic conditions and geologic environmental challenges of this area.The achievements also include a 3D engineering geological structure model for the whole area,along with“one city proper and five clusters”,insights into the ecology and the background endowment of natural resources like land,geothermal resources,groundwater,and wetland of the area before engineering construction,a comprehensive monitoring network of resources and environments in the area,and the“Transparent Xiong’an”geological information platform that is open,shared,dynamically updated,and three-dimensionally visualized.China’s geologists and urban geology have played a significant role in the urban planning and construction of Xiong’an New Area,providing whole-process geological solutions for urban planning,construction,operation and management.The future urban construction of Xiong’an New Area will necessitate the theoretical and technical support of earth system science(ESS)from various aspects,and the purpose is to enhance the resilience of the new type of city and to provide support for the green,low-carbon,and sustainable development of this area.

Intelligent Sensing and Control of Road Construction Robot Scenes Based on Road Construction

Automatic control technology is the basis of road robot improvement,according to the characteristics of construction equipment and functions,the research will be input type perception from positioning acquisition,real-world monitoring,the process will use RTK-GNSS positional perception technology,by projecting the left side of the earth from Gauss-Krueger projection method,and then carry out the Cartesian conversion based on the characteristics of drawing;steering control system is the core of the electric drive unmanned module,on the basis of the analysis of the composition of the steering system of unmanned engineering vehicles,the steering system key components such as direction,torque sensor,drive motor and other models are established,the joint simulation model of unmanned engineering vehicles is established,the steering controller is designed using the PID method,the simulation results show that the control method can meet the construction path demand for automatic steering.The path planning will first formulate the construction area with preset values and realize the steering angle correction during driving by PID algorithm,and never realize the construction-based path planning,and the results show that the method can control the straight path within the error of 10 cm and the curve error within 20 cm.With the collaboration of various modules,the automatic construction simulation results of this robot show that the design path and control method is effective.

Research Progress and Prospects of Total Factor Productivity in the Construction Industry

The high-quality development of the construction industry fundamentally stems from the significant improvement of total factor productivity.Therefore,it is of crucial significance for promoting the development of the construction industry to a higher level by scientifically and accurately measuring the total factor productivity of the construction industry and deeply analyzing the influencing factors behind it.Based on a comprehensive consideration of research methods and influencing factors,this paper systematically reviews the existing relevant literature on total factor productivity in the construction industry,aiming to reveal the current research development trend in this field and point out potential problems.This effort aims to provide a solid theoretical foundation and valuable reference for further in-depth research,and jointly promote the continuous progress and development of total factor productivity research in the construction industry.

Application of Modern Construction Art in Landscape Architecture Planning and Design

The continuous progress of urbanization has driven the continuous development and innovation of landscape planning and design.Focused on the important design method of modern construction art,this study analyzed its concepts and characteristics,and made deep exploration to its application in landscape planning and design.The results indicated that modern construction art had a significant impact on landscape spatial planning and layout,spatial design forms,and spatial ornaments.The use of modern construction art concepts could make landscape design more scientific,artistic,and humane,creating higher quality leisure and entertainment venues for audiences.

Construction of Urban Mixed-age Community: Opportunities, Challenges and Countermeasures: A Case Study of“Fangjia Hutong”in Beijing

In the context of China’s economic development and population aging,the innovation and exploration of the old-age care model has emerged as a new community transformation and development direction.Given the differing needs and characteristics of individuals across the lifespan,it is evident that a design approach that incorporates mixed-age integration and mutual-help communities is a viable strategy for enhancing intergenerational exchanges.This entails the creation of a diverse and open community that is conducive to habitation for individuals of all ages,encompassing the full spectrum of needs,from those of young children to the elderly.Such a community must be designed and constructed with the population in mind,from the initial planning and design stages to the operational phase.This encompasses a comprehensive range of services,including food,clothing,housing,transportation,and medical care and recreation.

Evaluation of Economical and Intensive Use of Construction Land in a County Town:A case study of Wan’an County,Ji’an City

Taking the changes of construction land in Wan’an County over the years as the research object,the quantity and spatial characteristics of construction land in Wan’an County were analyzed,and the overall situation and regional differences of construction land utilization in Wan’an County were revealed.From the aspects of main influencing factors such as land use structure,land use intensity,land input intensity and output benefit,an evaluation indicator system was established to evaluate the economical and intensive use level of construction land in Wan’an County.The results show that the score of the economical and intensive use level of construction land in Wan’an County was 56.92,which was the lowest among all the districts and counties in Ji’an City.Based on the evaluation results,the corresponding economizing and intensive strategies were put forward,and the safeguard measures for its implementation were explored.The purpose is to provide some support for the preparation of territorial spatial planning,the delineation of urban development boundaries,and the potential exploitation of construction land stock,hoping to improve the utilization efficiency and benefit of construction land in Wan’an County,and promote the economic growth of Wan’an County to the stage of high-quality development.

Experiments in Modernizing Cob Construction

This paper will discuss experiments using various forming systems combined with utilizing mechanical equipment,from cement mixers to excavators and skid steers with attachments,to accelerate construction of cob homes and greatly reduce the labor involved.Cob is a colloquial term for monolithic adobe,and refers to a masonry building technique used since ancient times that uses locally-sourced clay as a binder,with various aggregates from sand to small grit or stone,woven together with straw or other fiber and built in continuous layers to form a monolithic structure.

Exploring the Path of Party Building Leading League Construction in Colleges and Universities under the Pattern of Great Ideological and Political Education

In accordance with the pattern of"great ideology and politics",the Party and youth League organizations assume the role of vanguard in the organization of colleges and universities.Simultaneously,they serve as a pivotal force in ideological and political education.In order to construct a comprehensive ideological and political framework encompassing the entire educational process,it is of paramount importance to identify an efficacious methodology for Party building leading League construction.This paper employs a comprehensive analysis to elucidate the pivotal role of Party building leading League construction in facilitating ideological and political education.It also illuminates the practical challenges encountered in the implementation of Party building leading League construction initiatives within colleges and universities.The article proposes a specific path for Party building leading League construction in colleges and universities based on three key aspects:cohesion of the consensus of Party building leading League building,establishment of the institutional system of Party building leading League construction,and creation of the model brand of Party building leading League construction.The aim is to promote in-depth development of Party building in colleges and universities and enhance the quality and effect of ideological and political education.

Construction of Rail Connectivity from Idapalli to International Container Transhipment Terminal(ICTT)at Vallarpadam,Kochi

Cochin Port is an all-weather port situated within a protected natural harbour,just 11 km away from mainland shipping route.Total draft of 15m-16m is available and it is a natural choice for setting up transhipment hub.The International Container Transhipment Terminal(ICTT)at Vallarpadam was developed by DP World and M/s Cochin Port Trust(CPT).As a part of this project,the new Rail connectivity from ICTT at Vallarpadam to Idappalli station is 8.60km,including the construction of 4.62 km elevated bridge was awarded to AFCONS by M/s Rail Vikas Nigam Limited(RVNL),in 2007 with a scheduled completion by 2009.This bridge is constructed for single railway track and piling was done for the provision of a second railway track in future.The 4.62 km long bridge was successfully completed and Trial Loco run was done in March 2010.This paper includes details of sub-surface profile,engineering properties of soils,details of construction of pile foundations and Challenges faced during construction.

Advancement Towards Spatial Justice:The Barrier-Free Environment Construction from a Gender Perspective

Space is both a product and a producer of social relations.In the spatial domain,gender blindness has long existed,limiting women’s rights of access to and use of space,leading to structural oppression of women’s rights,and giving rise to new gender inequalities.The barrier-free environment construction has the functions of eliminating physical barriers and generating societal norms,and when combined with social changes,can facilitate justice correction across multiple dimensions.However,barrier-free environment construction itself,as a means of justice correction,also suffers from gender blindness.There remains room for improvement in the areas of facility construction,information exchange,and social services within the realm of barrier-free environments.In response to this phenomenon,gender equality offers a new critical perspective.Therefore,integrating a gender perspective into the barrier-free environment construction,focusing on the spatial rights of women,especially groups with multiple vulnerabilities,such as disabled women and elderly women,can contribute to the advancement towards spatial justice.

Work-Related Accidents on a Hospital Construction Site in Benin

Introduction: Work-related accidents are frequent and serious in the construction sector. The aim of the study was to determine the frequency and factors associated with occupational accidents on the construction site of a referral hospital in Benin. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out. The sample size was calculated using the Schwartz form adjusted for the number of workers on site and was 129 workers. Random sampling was used. The dependent variable was work-related accidents. The other variables were socio-demographic and occupational characteristics. Data were collected through a questionnaire survey. Medians and proportions were calculated. An association was sought using Chi-square and Fisher tests with a threshold of p Results: A total of 132 workers were included. Their median age was 30 years with an ITQ of [27 - 38];men were the most represented 126 (95.45%) with a level of education higher than or equal to high school in 101 (76.52%) and in the majority with a permanent status 85 (64.39%). Seniority of more than 5 years was observed in 92 (69.7%). Workers working more than 8 hours of overtime per week numbered 57 (43.18%). Exposure to vibrating objects was 49 (37.12%). In terms of psychosocial constraints, 82.58% had high psychological demands;79.53% low decision-making latitude;50.76% low social support. The frequency of work-related accidents was 6.82%, and the only associated factor was the type of worker (p = 0.016). On the other hand, there were 10.2% accidents among workers handling vibrating objects versus 4.98% among those not using them. With regard to psychosocial constraints, the following frequencies were recorded respectively: 6.42% among those with high psychological demand versus 8.7% among those with low psychological demand;7.62% among those with low decision-making latitude versus 3.7% among those with high decision-making latitude;8.96% among those with low social support versus 4.62% among those with high support. Conclusion: Work-related accidents on construction sites must be avoided by all possible means including the management of psychosocial constraints.

Personification in Chinese Diplomatic Discourse and the Construction of National Identity Based on Corpus:A Case Study of the Regular Press Conference of Ministry of Foreign Affairs

With the development of the major country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics,diplomatic discourse,as an important part of building China’s international discourse power,has attracted much attention.Personification is a common means in diplomatic discourse.By giving anthropomorphic expressions to countries,regions,institutions and policies,the purpose of building national identity and establishing national image can be achieved.Based on conceptual metaphor theory and national identity theory,this paper focuses on personification in diplomatic discourse with a case study of the regular press conference of Ministry of Foreign Affairs.It is found that the spokesperson skillfully constructed China’s positive national identity,such as peace-loving,openness and inclusiveness by using a large number of body metaphor,kinship metaphor and role metaphor.

A Case Study in Complex Concrete Construction in Australia:A Hybrid Approach of Hand and Machine

This paper describes and provides a critique of the design and implementation of the“scoops”-a set of bespoke multifunctioning architectural free-form elements that are a highlight of the new Soheil Abedian School of Architecture at Bond University,Australia,by the office of Sir Peter Cook and Gavin Robotham,CRAB(Cook Robotham Architecture Bureau,London).The development includes the transfer of analogue design processes into digital 3d modeling,which is then analyzed and rationalized via an exchange with consultants and procurement contractors.The complexity of the concrete works necessitated the use of digital fabrication to make their implementation affordable and within time constraints,with said complexity creating a variety of challenges for many aspects of the entire delivery team.The 3d model played a critical role in communicating intent and accuracy at all stages.The use of site-based craftsmanship combined with computer aided design and fabrication overlapped to realize the project.