Journal of Architectural Engineering

Productivity improvement of manufactured housing (MH) production systems has been a great concern to manufacturers and production managers. Studies show that a typical manufactured housing plant fails to produce at desired capacity and production rate because of several shortcomings. The evaluation of the production system efficiency in the factory is essential for meeting the growing demand of customers with respect to design and size of the housing product. It is imperative to explore alternative layout designs that would be more efficient and productive. A decision support system (DSS) is proposed to assist the user in selecting an efficient layout design matching specified requirements and business constraints. The DSS framework covers interrelated factors of: (1) the market demand; (2) MH organization; (3) MH production process; and (4) MH production planning and facility design. Existing MH factories can utilize simulation and optimization components of the DSS in streamlining their activities and locating then solving potential bottlenecks. Additionally, the DSS can be used in selecting optimal production system layout for new plant design.

The structures of Felix Candela stand as elegant examples of the art of thin shell concrete structural design. However, few thin shell structures are built today and many of the most enduring structures, such as those of Candela, have not been analyzed. This project performed a finite-element analysis of Candela’s Cuernavaca Chapel in order to better understand its structural efficiency and gain insight into its design. Analysis results show that Candela’s striking structure has very low stresses resulting from its own self-weight.

An investigation is made of potential reinforcement to limit debris hazard of masonry facade walls of conventional buildings subjected to blast effects using geotextile fabrics anchored to the floor slabs and beams. Fourteen simulation tests using geotextile and geogrid fabrics were conducted to provide an initial evaluation of the performance of this protective system. The ultimate capacity, load-deflection, including the proposed connections of these retrofit systems were determined and recorded in these tests. The tests were conducted by increasing a uniform load (water pressure) in a $1.83\mathrm{m}$ diameter chamber. The tensile strength of the materials used in the experiments varied from 65 to $328\mathrm{N}∕\mathrm{m}$ . It was concluded from the experiments that the proposed system is a viable and a functional means for preventing propagation of wall debris. The primary parameters affecting its functionality were the tensile strength of the fabric and its anchorage into the conventional structure.