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Vol. 9 Issue 5

Archives Journal Construction Materials and Products Vol. 9 Issue 5

Coarse-grained soils compaction at the experimental site during the safe construction of the earthen dam

https://doi.org/10.58224/2618-7183-2026-9-5-1
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Abstract
Achieving a high degree of compaction in coarse-grained soils is a critical requirement for ensuring the stability, safety, and long-term performance of earth dams. This study presents the results of comprehensive laboratory and field investigations aimed at identifying the optimal technological parameters for compaction of coarse-grained soils used in hydraulic embankment construction. The influence of grain-size distribution, fine fraction content, and compacted layer thickness on the achieved dry density was systematically investigated. Laboratory experiments were performed using the standard Soyuzdornii compaction apparatus and a vibration compaction device with a cylindrical mold of 300 mm in diameter. Field investigations were conducted at an experimental test site using a 27-ton SANY vibratory roller with compacted layer thicknesses of 50, 70, and 80 cm. The experimental results demonstrated that the highest dry density was achieved for a compacted layer thickness of 50 cm, whereas increasing the layer thickness reduced compaction efficiency due to the limited transmission of vibratory energy throughout the embankment. Furthermore, the proposed grain-size modelling approach was validated by comparing laboratory and field test results, confirming its applicability for reproducing the mechanical behaviour of natural coarse-grained soils under controlled laboratory conditions. The findings provide practical recommendations for selecting rational compaction parameters and can be applied in the design and construction of earth-filled hydraulic structures to improve embankment quality, structural reliability, and long-term operational performance.
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Experimental determination of heat losses through cracks in building walls

https://doi.org/10.58224/2618-7183-2026-9-5-5
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Abstract
This study investigates how a repaired crack affects heat losses through a building envelope. An experimental setup was designed and assembled to test wall specimens containing a crack repaired by injection grout. A calculation procedure was developed to determine the specific heat loss through the repaired crack under the conditions of the proposed experimental apparatus. The experimental data were statistically processed using the Shapiro-Wilk test to assess normality. Differences in the specific heat loss before and after crack formation were evaluated with the paired Student's t-test. Statistical significance was accepted at p < 0.05. All statistical analyses were carried out in IBM SPSS Statistics. Tests were carried out on foam-concrete, clay brick, and reinforced concrete specimens. Ten speci-mens were prepared for each material under investigation. During the first stage, intact specimens without cracks were tested. Afterwards, an artificial crack was introduced into each specimen, repaired by injection grouting, and the specimens were tested again under identical conditions. The measured results showed a statistically significant increase in heat loss after crack repair. On average, the specific heat loss increased by 12.1%. The experimental findings were compared with numerical simulations. The temperature field around the repaired crack was calculated by solving the two-dimensional steady-state heat conduction equation. Robin (third-kind) boundary conditions were assigned to the external surfaces exposed to air, Neumann (second-kind) boundary conditions were specified at the truncated boundaries of the computational domain, and fourth-kind boundary conditions were applied at material interfaces. Numerical simulations were performed in ANSYS Workbench 2024. The difference between the numerical predictions and the experimental measurements did not exceed 2.1% for foam concrete, 3.8% for clay brick, and 2.4% for reinforced concrete. The results demonstrate that even after repair, wall cracks noticeably affect the thermal performance of building envelopes. The proposed mathematical model can therefore be used for numerical assessment of heat transfer in walls containing cracks repaired with injection grout.
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Transformation of the architectural and structural paradigm in the integration of renewable energy sources in high-rise construction

https://doi.org/10.58224/2618-7183-2026-9-5-10
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Abstract
The article examines the evolutionary transition in the design of modern buildings and structures driven by the integration of renewable energy sources (RES). It analyzes the paradigm shift from static, additive placement of energy equipment to systematic design with adaptive RES. The study investigates modern classes of energy systems: mobile photovoltaic complexes, reconfigurable BIPV facades, adaptive wind turbines, as well as autonomous robotic and aerostatic platforms as a promising direction. The principles of architectural shaping, structural solutions, and material requirements for unique and high rise buildings acting as adaptive platforms are described. Based on an analysis of more than 70 implemented projects and concepts worldwide, including facilities in China, Europe, the USA, and the Middle East, it is concluded that a new architectural and structural philosophy is emerging, in which the building becomes an active, «living» organism, and its structural scheme becomes a programmable skeleton for future energy technologies. The author proposes a classification of RES integration types and formulates recommendations for the design of new generation structural systems.
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