A socio-technical approach to post-occupancy evaluation: interactive adaptability in domestic retrofit

Understanding the process of domestic retrofit is important for learning and innovation. This is particularly the case for low carbon retrofits such as those undertaken under the UK's Retrofit for the Future (RftF) programme, with its aim to achieve an overall 80% carbon reduction by 2050. Current post-occupancy evaluation (POE) research has both theoretical and methodological limitations with implications for technical and behavioural research in the built environment. Drawing on relevant ideas and concepts from social practice theory and science and technology studies, principally prefiguration (constraints/enablement), black-boxing, heating and cooling practices, this paper demonstrates how the relationship between buildings and people could be reconceptualized as mutually constitutive and co-evolving through a process of ‘interactive adaptation’. The concept of ‘interactive adaptation’ is explored through a novel approach to integrating physical and social data collected from a sample of dwellings selected from the RftF programme. Analysis yields insights into the influences and pathways of interactive adaptation resulting from retrofit technology and practices. The implications of these insights for policy-makers, the research community and practitioners are discussed: end-use energy demand policy needs to be informed by a socio-technical approach.     

On‐line opto‐viscoelastic analysis of polypropylene fibres using multiple‐beam Fizeau fringes in transmission and a modified creep device

A creep device attached to an automated multiple‐beam Fizeau system in transmission was modified with a designed digital ruler. This device allows on‐line measurements of fibre length during creep experiments in terms of an analogue voltage value. The influence of sustained stress values on creep deformation and optical properties (n^||, n^? and Δn) for polypropylene (PP) fibres was studied interferometrically. The opto‐viscoelastic properties of PP fibres were determined for three different values of constant applied stress of 11.536, 18.717 and 25.905 MPa, at room temperature. Also, the variations of the cross‐sectional area and Poisson's ratio were studied during creep extensions. The compliance curves were obtained as a function of both time and applied stresses. Empirical formulae are suggested to describe the creep compliance curves for PP fibres, and the constants of these formulae were determined and described at each applied stress. A Kelvin chain was used to model the mechanical behaviour of the PP fibres under study. The effect of strain on the mean refractive indices, orientation function density and crystallinity was investigated as a result of the recorded data. Microinterferograms are given for illustration. The modified creep device with the designed digital ruler enables one to obtain instantaneous automatic accurate recording of fibre length values during creep experiments. Calculation of refractive indices, orientation function and crystallinity shows a difference in material behaviour at small stresses from that at higher stresses which may be attributed to different strain rates caused by different stresses. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Triacylglycerol analysis of pequi (Caryocar brasiliensis Camb.) oil by electrospray and tandem mass spectrometry

Electrospray ionization liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry was used to identify the fatty acid and triacylglycerol (TAG) composition of pequi (Caryocar brasiliensis Camb.) oil. The fatty acid composition was relatively simple; the oil contained approximately 442 and 517 g kg^?1 of palmitic and oleic acids respectively. Linoleic and stearic acids were found in much smaller amounts. The TAG composition of pequi oil is also relatively simple with trioleoyl glycerol (OOO, 56 g kg^?1), palmitoyl dioleoyl glycerol (POO, 466 g kg^?1) and dipalmitoyl oleoyl glycerol (POP, 452 g kg^?1) comprising 974 g kg^?1 of the total. Dioleoyl stearoyl glycerol (OOS) was found in small amounts (5.2 g kg^?1). All TAGs were identified via sodium adduct molecular ions [M + Na]⁺, where M is the TAG in question. Tandem mass analysis provided a very useful fragmentation pattern showing both sodium adduct diacylglycerol ions and diacylglycerol ions with the neutral loss of fatty acid residues. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Applicability,potential and limitations of staff-centred energy conservation initiatives in English hospitals

Increasing energy costs and climate change legislation have prompted efforts to reduce energy consumption in UK hospitals. In addition to technological conservation strategies focussing on buildings and building services, staff-centred initiatives such as energy awareness campaigns are increasingly being considered by National Health Service (NHS) trusts due to their potential cost-effectiveness. However, hospitals are complex buildings with unique energy requirements, and it is unclear to what extent these requirements are influenced by clinical staff. This paper combines a review of staff-centred energy conservation initiatives in organisations in general and in hospitals in particular with the results of a survey-based study among NHS energy managers (N?=?70). The study findings highlight that staff-centred energy conservation initiatives are currently of interest to a majority of NHS trusts in England and may become an increasingly important part of carbon reduction strategies in hospitals in the future. Policy assumptions regarding their savings potential, however, appear to be undifferentiated, and it seems advisable to relate behavioural efforts more closely to the physical context of the respective hospital building and its service infrastructure as well as the health care processes relevant to different departments.     

Thermoplastic elastomer based on waste polyethylene/waste rubber containing activated carbon black: Impact of gamma irradiation

The effect of using gamma radiation on the prepared activated carbon (AC) from carbon black using dose 500 kGy was studied. Moreover, AC powder were blended in internal mixer to prepare thermoplastic elastomer with percentage (75/25/10) wt% based on waste polyethylene and waste rubber which irradiated before mixing at dose100 kGy separately and AC. Chemical activity of composites was improved as a result of using gamma radiation which was examined by electron spin resonance estimations. Composites were studied by different techniques, such as FTIR, mechanical, thermal, morphology, and X‐ray diffraction. The results indicated that optimistic effect of using gamma rays with improving the properties of the composites. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 25:E166–E176, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Application of Fractional Order Theory of Thermoelasticity in a Thick Plate Under Axisymmetric Temperature Distribution

In this work, the fractional order theory of thermoelasticity is applied to the two-dimensional problem of a thick plate whose lower and upper surfaces are traction free and subjected to a given axisymmetric temperature distribution. Laplace and Hankel transform techniques are used to derive the solution in the transformed domain. Numerical results are computed and represented graphically for the temperature, displacement and stress distributions.     

Fundamental solution for a line source of heat in the fractional order theory of thermoelasticity using the new Caputo definition

Abstract

The new Caputo Fabrizio fractional differential operator is used to investigate a problem in the fractional order theory of thermoelasticity. The problem concerns an infinite elastic space under the effect of a continuous line source of heat. The problem is solved using asymptotic expansions valid for short times. Laplace and Hankel transforms are used to solve the problem. A brief study to the nature of propagation of waves is introduced. Graphical results are presented and discussed.