1,721,060 research outputs found
NANO, SMART AND COMPOSITE MATERIALS IN CONSTRUCTION
No full textSi può generalmente affermare che l’industria delle costruzioni costituisca un settore capace di attivare grandi attività economiche e di spe- rimentazione, anche se spesso esso utilizzi componenti e sistemi abbastanza obsoleti, se paragonati ad altri settori industriali quali, ad esempio, quello bellico o farmaceutico.
La ricerca e lo sviluppo di materiali innovativi costituiscono una priorità delle agende scientifiche di parecchie Nazioni, con investimenti - sia nel pubblico che nel privato - di diversi milioni di dollari l’anno.
La scelta tra i nuovi materiali avanzati è sempre più vasta ed articolata, con una capillare attenzione rivolta sia alle prime fasi della progetta- zione che alle battute finali della realizzazione; questi criteri si riflettono non solo sul design di singoli componenti edilizi o di edifici, ma anche sull’intero ambiente costruito.
Questo volume vuole rappresentare una occasione di riflessione su come questa nuova realtà, fortemente interdisciplinare, stia cambiando la pratica costruttiva attraverso l’uso di materiali compositi, nanostrutturati, multifunzionali ed intelligenti, allargando l’orizzonte della trat- tazione dall’ambito strutturale alle finiture, dalla nuova costruzione al retrofit ed al restauro, dai sistemi energetici alla sensoristica, dimo- strando, al contempo, il tentativo della ricerca e della progettazione di ottimizzare processi e sistemi di produzione, gestione e riuso. Attraverso l’analisi delle così dette architetture nano, intelligenti, scultoree, biomimetiche e molecolari, intese quali nuove “modalità di pro- gettazione” del XXI secolo, spesso mere esercitazioni accademiche, si percepisce, tuttavia, il forte interesse non solo di studiosi e teorici della progettazione e della tecnologia architettonica ma anche di professionisti ed istituzioni per un tema estremamente stimolante e con forti ricadute ed applicazioni concrete e sostenibili.
In generale, si può affermare che la richiesta di nuove forme architettoniche, sempre più audaci e fantasiose, spinge la ricerca a sviluppare nuovi materiali multifunzionali. Viceversa, l’immissione sul mercato di nuovi prodotti permette la progettazione e la realizzazione di edifici caratterizzati da forme e dimensioni fino a ieri, spesso, impensabili.
Attraverso una collazione di progetti ed articoli scientifici, divulgazioni, curiosità, approfondimenti e brevetti, si indaga e documenta quanto la ricerca scientifica e tecnologica stia oggi facilitando lo sviluppo e la concreta immissione di queste nuove tecnologie sul mercato, rendendole di fatto accessibili, seguendo un filo conduttore che tiene conto dei diversi materiali da costruzione e le possibili applicazioni, anche attraverso brevi cenni storici che segnano il passo della ricerca e dell’evoluzione della tecnica.
In questa prospettiva, un ruolo prioritario è svolto dalla nanotecnologia, una disciplina che ha permesso di superare le scienze classiche, ap- profondendo la conoscenza della materia, innovandone le modalità di studio e permettendo lo sviluppo di prodotti dalle caratteristiche diverse da quelli tradizionali e con concreti risvolti applicativi.
Scopo di questa trattazione, che non vuole essere esaustiva poiché questo ambito di ricerca è in continuo divenire ed infinitamente vasto, è quello offrire una quanto più ampia panoramica non solo agli operatori del settore ma anche a tutti quegli studiosi di ambiti scientifico-di- sciplinari distanti dal mondo delle costruzioni per stimolare studi interdisciplinari e multi scalari in un ambito in forte espansione tecnologica ed economica
THE SICILIAN DEFENSIVE SYSTEM: THE COASTAL TOWERS. THEORY AND TECHNIC MEET IN UNIQUE LANDMARKS
No full textSicily has historically experienced a massive colonial occupation due to its strategic position among the Mediterranean Sea. Still today, its tactical importance is under everybody’s eyes with at least 15 NATO’s headquarters. Thus, it’s easily understandable how defending such a large territory was particularly important which, in turn, meant guarding and protecting more than 1600 km of coasts, leading to a possible supremacy on the trading routes through the Mediterranean area.
This work will analyse the Sicilian coastal towers, a real typology that exploited traditional construction technologies and local materials integrated by instances of military engineering, in a continuous relationship between international theories and local practice. The Sicilian defensive coastal system is made of tens of towers arranged to create a closed circuit able to spot and communicate, in a very fast way, the presence of possible enemies approaching the territory from the sea. The first towers were built during the early-XIV century and their construction was intensified due to the North African corsairs’ raids and later, between the XVI-XVII centuries, for the fights for supremacy among the Ottoman and the Spanish Empires, to continue during the XIX century with the revolution of the military technics and the risk of Napoleonic troops invasion.
During centuries, many military engineers worked to improve the islander defensive system: towers perfectly reflect the evolution of the military technologies (i.e. transition to fire gun) helped by the development of studies and the spread of dedicated treatises and manuals. Defensive towers were built in a solid way, respecting some precise principles in order to make them robust to attacks, self-sufficient to host a permanent guard, dominant to have the best view. Furthermore, they were perfectly integrated in the surrounding environment and generally located in particularly scenic positions.
Nowadays 218 towers still survive and no one is used for military purposes. Many are in a terrible state of ruin, some were incorporated in other structures, some were fully restored and are well preserved. Preservation of coastal towers is fundamental for the cultural identity of Sicily along with representing an important landmark strongly linked with the history of supremacy over the Mediterranean Area in an international panorama where the evolution of military disciplines strongly influenced the local constructive technologies and building typologies. Finally, their reuse may be strategically important for a compatible touristic exploitation
NANOARCHITECTURE: A NEW CREATIVITY IN CONSTRUCTION
No full textObject of this work is the construction industry that, until the industrial revolution, has always been a major human activity and nowadays still represents a massive sector of production. Nevertheless, it often deals with coarse components and systems as, in the last century, investments in research remained lower than in other industrial sectors as army, medicine, etc.. Only recently, with the development of technology and the advances in materials science and engineering, a new generation of products, that are both of higher performance and more economically viable, is to be realizing as a competitive route to achieve a real sustainable growth and innovation. Nowadays, the market show hundreds of novel (nano)products that could be successfully applied to the construction industry. Many other (nano) technologies enable new developments: materials and products are fast emerging or already exist in bulky and expensive forms in other different industrial sectors, but a great deal of research should still be developed.
NanoArchitecture is a new concept that is spreading out in architectural and engineering schools along with a new perception of architectural/structural design. Such a term conveys in it the fundamentals of architectural design and constructive requirements with the customer wish and expectation in respect of the real constructive possibilities and the new international regulations.
In this work we will analyse some concepts spread out from 1960s as growing architecture, molecular architecture or smart/sculptural buildings to outline the slow and long process that lead to the interconnection between traditional constructive technologies and design criteria with new enhanced and novel materials. Some exempla of futuristic buildings will be provided along with many famous academic studies and exercises proposed to train students, the new generation of technicians and scientists, in an open-minded way of thinking leading to an innovative approach in construction.
Furthermore, we will outline the most popular lines of research analysing the possible applications of nanotechnology, nanostructured materials and multifunctional/smart materials in construction.
The acquisition of the knowledge on nanotechnology, nanostructured materials and multifunctional/smart materials in construction will allow to formulate a judgment on the real applicability and convenience on high technologies’ usage in comparison to the traditional systems, consolidated by now in the practice
NANOTECHNOLOGY IN CONSTRUCTION: JUST FASHION OR REAL POTENTIALITIES?
No full textDevelopments of technology and advances in materials science and engineering are leading to a new generation of products that may represent a competitive route to achieve a real sustainable growth in construction. Currently many nano-based products are available on the global market: smart-materials, nano- composite materials, nano-devices, etc.. Further nanotechnologies enable new developments: materials and products are fast emerging or exist in bulky and expensive forms in other industrial sectors. Anyway, a great deal of research, directly focused in construction’s applications, should be done.
This paper is aimed to discuss such an increasing trend and analyses the global market. A general survey on official financial data is performed from many governmental sources in order to enumerate the effective R&D efforts undertaken worldwide. All of those show how nanotechnologies are not just a matter of fashion. Indeed, such a novel materials, technologies and devices are truly applicable in construction and represent also a real natural solution to the number of problems that have afflicted this industrial sector for decades. In this review, many examples of successful applications are reported along with the most popular lines of research. Finally, the acquisition of the knowledge on nanotechnology’s applications in construction allows to formulate a judgment on the real applicability and convenience on such a novel technologies’ usage in comparison to the traditional systems and materials, well established and consolidated in the practice
Structural Uses of Stone and Timber in The European Historical Construction
No full textThis paper investigates the stone masonry with timber reinforcement through Europe. It is a remarkable practice, either historical or contemporary, consisting of combining different materials to build up a masonry. This technology shows a wide variety of typological, formal, and technological types of buildings across Europe as it is strongly influenced by the nature and availability of local materials, the cultural aspects of the various communities, and the soils geological nature. As a consequence, the same constructive typology is based on different premises and leads to many interesting results. In this paper, the various uses of such a mixed stone-timber masonry are shown in relation to the above-mentioned factors. It is important to stress that this traditional technology is also highly contemporary as it is highly exploited in many countries. Furthermore, novel regulations have been issued to regulate such a discipline. Finally, as a very common constructive technology, many historical buildings present such a mixed structural configuration, independently from the generating factors. In such a perspective, this study aims to describe the most common constructive features, as well as develop guidelines for preservation, whereas the typology is present, or design criteria for consolidation and structural improvement, whereas necessary
Architectural technologies for life environment: passive cooling strategies in the architectures of the Mediterranean area.
No full textThe Mediterranean area is a highly interesting place where various States, characterised by different people, histories, and cultures face. Reigns, religions, powers, state structures, people, nationalities, etc., everything seems to be extremely different and far. On the contrary, there are some cultural points that are much closer than they officially appear. Indeed, historically, the commercial trades between the various countries have always been highly intense and the Christian and Muslim reigns, even if in a continuous state of conflict, were reciprocally linked by deep (financial) interests. Therefore, that translated in a wide trade of goods that moved on the Mediterranean Sea across the different countries, regardless of culture and religion, resulting - as a consequence - in a contemporary continuous exchange of ideas, materials and technologies. In the architectural and engineering fields it is not infrequent detecting some common characters such as the use of building and construction materials (even if strongly linked to the local availability) and, most of all, the exploitation of common
construction technologies and devices. For instance, it is counterintuitive as similar climatic conditions, environments and human needs resulted in similar architectural technologies. In the huge architectural panorama of the Mediterranean area, a very interesting common feature is the joint exploitation of local resources, with particular attention to stone and water, to protect people from the hot climate and
make living more comfortable. Indeed, even if considering the local specificities, it is possible to spot some common technologies using this powerful duo. In line with these observations, this work investigates the exploitation of passive cooling systems in the Mediterranean architectural heritage examining the most common physical principles and examples. Ultimately, the knowledge of these architectural machines and their operating principles is nowadays particularly important to re-discover the traditional passive systems used to cool buildings down. Their preservation and re- usage also represent a useful way to understand a simple passive cooling system whose principles could
be reproduced in a contemporary way in modern buildings intended for a valid and functional energetic control
Urban and technological design for historical public spaces regeneration : the case of Kalsa district in Palermo (Sicily)
No full textThe Palermo Historical Centre is characterised by the presence of several public spaces, sometimes even interstitial, of indefinite form and function, under-utilised, often invaded by cars, difficult to cross due to the poor condition of the pavement and/or the absence of footpaths and, located near important historical-cultural centralities and/or public buildings with important flows. The density and compactness of the historical building fabric together with the complexity of the relationship between the historical-architectural heritage present, public services (such as schools) and the housing function generate frequent conflict situations in the use of public space to the detriment of the community living there and temporary users.
The contribution intends to address the issue of urban regeneration of public spaces in historical centres by interpreting them as “extroverted habitable spaces”, as potential new spaces open to the neighbourhood and places for meeting, relating and socialising, focusing on the spatial relations, the flexibility of functions, and the technological aspects of these spaces. Through the case study of the Kalsa district in the Historic Centre of Palermo, the contribution will provide the state of the art of public spaces in the district and will define an urban and social regeneration process using the tactical urban planning approach, with the objective of reactivating the system of urban relations between public space and adjacent urban fabrics, activating spatial interventions and policies on the basis of a process that stimulates social relations, proximity, transforming these spaces, today fragmented and unlived, into a hybrid and flexible spatial-functional pathway, in which communities can recognise a new sense of extroverted habitability, rediscovering and re-inhabiting the public spaces of the neighbourhood
Public wash-houses in the ninetheenth and twentieth centuries. Architectural solutions for social hygiene in Italy and Portugal
No full textFrom the XIX century, the new studies and discoveries in medicine, biology, and infectious diseases produced a great impact not only in people life, but also in construction. The “hygienist” engineer, as a new professional figure, spread out with the aim of designing “health” buildings according to the novel hygienic standards, typologies and functions, materials and technologies. Among the various typologies, the public wash-houses played an important role in guarantying the personal and public hygiene and preventing the diffusion of epidemics throughout the urban environment.
This paper analyses the public wash-houses that, despite their architectural simplicity, played an extremely important role especially in the working-class neighbourhood and suburban areas. Indeed, such a constructions were subjected to simple but effective constructive and architectural principles. Among those simplicity, cleanliness, aeration, low cost, and – most of all – gratuitousness to all the people. At the same time, they must assure a sort of urban decor without denying – as shown by many successful examples - their refined appearance. More precisely, wash-houses were considered the first aid – along with the public baths – to guarantee the public health and prevent the spread of infectious germs. People used to live in very humid and unhealthy houses where serious influences could be easily taken. In that scenario, the simple act of washing could dangerously increase the possibility of becoming ill.
This paper investigates the constructive and architectural features of such a fascinating typology, especially in view to the health requirements of the time. The area of the city of Aveiro in Portugal will be discussed as the wash-houses were still used till the 1980s due to a diffuse and general poverty of the State/people. Building design, structure, “modern” washing techniques, construction materials and finishing (e.g. washable paving, majolica wall or waterproof plasters), will be presented.
The study of such an architectural typology will be extremely interesting for all the scholars - historian of construction, technologist and restorer - approaching the vast theme of sanitary construction and its related materials and technologies. Nowadays, public wash-houses represent an image of the past that must be preserved with all the possible attention and care to avoid incongruous works on a so “simple” and “intuitive” building that joins together architecture, engineering, plant design, and medical science. Furthermore, to date almost anything scientific nor technical has been published in literature but some images, mostly in historic photo-album, that witness the vast spread of wash-houses through the city
Public wash-houses in Portugal: spaces of aggregation and sanitary aid. The case of study of the city of Aveiro
No full textThis paper investigates the typology of the Portuguese public wash-houses
that represents a very important sanitary aid and a space of social aggregation.
More particularly, the most common features of such a typology will be outlined:
architectural configuration, materials and technology, constructive characteristics,
hydraulic equipment, historical evolution. These simple but highly functional little
buildings are spread across the whole country and had been extremely important
for the population since the middle age. In the last two centuries, new wash-houses
were built, also following the scientific advances and the novel health requirements
that spread in Europe between the XIX and XX centuries. Some European cases
will be introduced for comparative reasons. With time, they were enlarged, rebuilt,
restored, and many new were built. Finally, the wash-houses of the area of Aveiro
will be discussed in deep. There, as commonly happens in other locations in
Portugal, these buildings are still used by the old people to wash their clothes.
The study of such an architectural typology will be extremely interesting for
all the scholars - historian of construction, technologist, restorer, and urban
planner - approaching the vast theme of sanitary construction where materials
and technologies are strictly related to human health, sanitary requirements,
innovation in medical science. Nowadays, public wash-houses represent an image
of the past that must be preserved with all the possible attention and care to avoid
incongruous works on a so “simple” and “intuitive” building that joins together
architecture, engineering, and medical science
Masserie: Manor farms in Sicily. Typological characters, preservation and reuse
No full textThe Sicilian land tenure was always characterized by the presence of latifundium. Such a land exploitation
intimately influenced not only the farming techniques but also the population identity and farms’
typology. The Sicilian (and south-Italian) common typological form of rural estate is the masseria. More
particularly, it is a large fortified farm built to control and manage a vast land-property, the old fiefdoms.
This work focuses on the cultural and economic background, taking motion from the ancient feudality,
that led to the construction and development of the masserie in Sicily. The typological characters, that
deeply reflect the rural location and society, will be discussed: typologies, architectural configuration,
constructive technologies and traditional materials. Finally, we will analyze how those traditional
constructions may be re-functionalized and re-used
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