Journal of Architectural Engineering

Historic roof structures of large monumental buildings are often complex with static behavior that is difficult to grasp. Yet, understanding their static behavior is necessary to adequately preserve and maintain them. The aim of this paper is twofold. The more general aim is to develop use of the finite element method in combination with visualization and to demonstrate its potential both for providing an understanding of historic structures and their static behavior and for supporting a dialogue regarding these matters. The more specific aim is to examine the static behavior of one particular roof structure and the damages to it that occurred. The roof structure selected was that of the medieval Swedish castle of Glimmingehus. A detailed computational model of the roof truss was developed, in terms of which a set of possible causes of the damages observed was simulated. Reliable causes were found and three-dimensional visualizations were carried out to demonstrate their respective influence on the overall structural behavior. As expected, use of visualization in the analysis was found to be very helpful for interpreting the relationship between the computational model and the computed results.

The energy and emission estimator (EEE) is a prototype tool that can be used by engineers and architects to estimate the energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, and cost associated with the life cycle operation of a house and the construction of its exterior envelope. The EEE tool is coupled with an existing energy analysis tool HOT2000, through the collaboration of Natural Resources Canada. The present paper presents the features of the EEE tool including its imports from the HOT2000 program, database, methods of calculation, and user interface. Two examples are presented to illustrate the use of the EEE tool.

Modern laboratory design and construction is becoming increasingly complex with advancements in mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and specialty system technologies. Laboratory projects often have critical schedules and rigorous maintenance and operations requirements. The use of interstitial spaces that create additional floors for mechanical systems is a design strategy that can facilitate both the construction and operation of laboratories. By providing additional space and easier access to mechanical systems, interstitial designs facilitate maintenance and reconfiguration of laboratories, thus reducing life cycle costs. Despite these and other advantages, the use of interstitial space is often eliminated as a laboratory design option due to perceptions of high first costs. This paper presents an analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of interstitial space design as an alternative to traditional plenum construction. The opinions of experienced operators, designers and builders of interstitial building spaces are presented. Survey results of design and construction professionals are presented illustrating current perceptions (and misconceptions) of interstitial spaces as a design alternative for laboratories. Finally, a detailed interdisciplinary case study redesign is used to illustrate the comprehensive effects of introducing an interstitial space design in an actual modern laboratory in which a 1.6-year payback was achieved on the investment in an interstitial design alternative. The research concludes increased first costs can potentially be offset by savings in construction time, and that valuable savings in maintenance and operation costs help to justify the use of interstitial space design solutions.

This paper describes an innovative approach to building modeling by integrating three-dimensional (3D) digital laser scanning and rapid prototyping (RP) technology. The process involves capturing a 3D scan of a building exterior and using the RP process to create a 3D physical model. Traditional methods used for feasibility studies, safety analysis, and planning of the building process can be slow, costly, and often impractical. This technique proved to be advantageous in terms of cost, speed, and reduction of human error. The Construction Systems Department at the Peter Kiewit Institute, University of Nebraska, in Omaha, Neb. teamed with Lamp Rynearson and Associates, a consulting engineering firm from Omaha, Neb., to verify that data collected by the laser scanner could be converted to the proper format to create a physical model using RP technology. Results obtained from this project indicate that the technique was less expensive, quicker, and far more accurate than traditional methods.