Climatic exposure and fuel consumption in high rise dwellings

The hypothesis tested is whether fuel consumption returns for individual dwellings in a high rise building reflect the varying degrees of climatic loading to which such buildings are subjected. A multi-storey block has been chosen in order to study the effects of change of climate with height.The method of investigation and analysis is based simply on the assumption that changes in the climatic envelope around buildings are experienced within the buildings by the occupants who, in order to maintain levels of thermal comfort, adjust the internal environment by regulating the heat load. Fuel consumption returns are the means by which changes in the heat load and hence in the external environment are demonstrable.Statistical and wind tunnel analyses are compared.     

Policy development in the Netherlands concerning enhanced exposure to natural radiation

Exposure to enhanced natural radiation is treated in terms of the so-called “environmental policy life cycle model”.The integral policy development is described taking into account environmental, economic and social factors. In the present phase, the policy development is focussed on enhanced levels of radioactivity in building materials. In the following phases, attention will be given to the infiltration of radon from the underground, and to possible enhanced natural radiation due to industrial chemical processes. In each phase the decision process concerning regulations is preceded by a corresponding research programme which forms the necessary scientific basis for the specific regulatory choices. A status report closes the contribution.     

拉萨风土建筑揽胜

自药王山望布达拉宫 拉萨古城三雄相峙 拉萨古城座落在群山环拥着的拉萨河谷平原中。 平原南部有拉萨河如雾如带,淙淙流过,成为古城不可或缺的生命与景观线。中部偏西巍然隆起红山(即布达拉宗山)与药王山(藏医学院所在地,以供奉药王闻名),前者平缓雄浑,后者尖峭劲秀,两山首尾绵延,主次分明,高虽不过百米却各具体势,共同托起了拉萨古城雄浑苍凉、起伏跌宕的天际线。平原中部偏东就是以大昭寺与八廓街为中心,向各方自由泼洒的拉萨旧城街区,其中大昭寺东面一带地区藏语称“八朗学”。     

The effects of human activities on natural radiation exposure: Health and regulatory implications

A decade ago, interest in “enhanced” natural radiation was focused primarily on localized industrial activities, e.g., uranium, radium, thorium and phosphate production. Recognition that all human activities influence natural radiation exposure, and that indoor radon exposure is particularly sensitive to such activities (building construction practice, occupant life-styles) has added a new dimension to the problem. Public health assessments must address the problem of high individual risks of lung cancer as well as substantial population risks that are only minimally ameliorated by reduction of high exposures. In the United States, Federal, State, and local government agencies are collaborating with the private sector in developing the information needed for public guidance. Voluntary standards relating to building construction practices are likely to be developed.     

Modeling of active and passive nonlinear metamaterials

We develop general results for nonlinear metamaterials based on simple circuit models that reflect the elementary nonlinear behavior of the medium. In particular, we consider both active and passive nonlinearities which can lead to gain, harmonic generation and a variety of nonlinear waves depending on circuit parameters and signal amplitude. We show that the medium can exhibit a phase transition to a synchronized state and derive conditions for the transformation based on a widely used multiple time scale approach that leads to the well-known Complex Ginzburg–Landau equation. Further, we examine the variety of nonlinear waves that can exist in such systems, and we present numerical results for both active and passive metamaterial cases.     

陕南传统民居建造技术研究

运用建构理论,从建筑的原型出发,对陕南地区传统民居的材料选择、结构方式、屋面形式进行了分析,指出该地传统民居的建造技术与当地的地理环境、气候特点息息相关,并体现出我国传统建筑的许多特点,本文的目的在于为进一步深入研究和保护该类民居建筑提供一定基础.     

Relationships between air-tightness and its influencing factors of post-2006 new-build dwellings in the UK

Addressing air leakage of dwellings is important to improving energy efficiency and thermal comfort. This paper reports on the air permeability test results of 287 post-2006 new-build dwellings in the UK. The paper explores the relationships between air-tightness and its influencing factors including build method, dwelling type, management context, design target, season, number of significant penetrations, and envelope and floor area. One-way ANOVA analysis was utilised to compare means of air permeability in relation to the individual factors, and two- and three-way ANOVA analyses were applied for examining the interactions between them. The air-tightness of the dwellings averaged 5.97 m³/(h m²) at 50 Pa, which has improved from UK historic data. Dwellings built using precast concrete panels were significantly air-tighter than those built using timber frame, whilst those masonry and reinforced concrete frame dwellings were most leaky. Greater extent of innovative practice and ‘self-build’ procurement led to achieving superior air-tightness. Interaction was observed between ‘build method’ and ‘dwelling type’ and between ‘dwelling type’ and ‘management context’. A modest positive correlation was noticed between air permeability and design target, which became weak in relation to the number of significant penetrations and envelope area. Applying the linear regression technique a predictive model is developed for estimating air permeability of dwellings. This model integrates the influencing factors and their significant interactions. The findings should contribute to future research in predicting impacts of controlling the influencing factors on achieving air-tightness of dwellings more consistently.     

Further investigations relating to climatic exposure and fuel consumption in high rise dwellings

Primary heating fuel consumption by banks of dwellings in a high-rise block has been analysed previously by the author. The studies confirmed that consumption differences between dwellings were the result of dissimilarities in the climatic loading at any one time. More particularly these consumption differences were seen to be the direct result of heat loss caused by differential airflow on and around the building.

This paper extends the earlier studies by analysing secondary heating consumption returns in a similar manner and making comparisons with previous results.     

Legal implications of exposure to enhanced natural radiation in the context of the euratom directives

The Euratom Directives apply to “enhanced natural radiation” as far as these radiation concerns operations with respect to substances not to “be disregarded as far as radiation protection is concerned” and accordingly it is a subject of the policy of the Member States. In this case application of “enhanced natural radiation” should be subjected to the basic principles of the 1980 Directive. Measures to be taken in national and international context are analysed.     

Numerical simulation of passive and active solar strategies in buildings with complex topology

In this paper a numerical software, that simulates the building thermal behaviour with complex topology in transient conditions, was developed and used in the study of kindergarten thermal response and the occupants’ thermal comfort and air quality in Mediterranean conditions. In this numerical model a new building three-dimensional grid generation philosophy, closer to the reality, that considers the building and the surrounding buildings used in the long and short-wave calculus, the external and internal shading devices, the energy and mass balance integral equations philosophy generated by the building geometry, the equation system resolution done by the Runge-Kutta-Felberg with error control and the human thermal comfort level evaluated through human thermo-physiology, are developed. In the simulation, with a real occupation cycle, the compartments, the building opaque bodies, the building transparent bodies, and the external shading devices were considered. In passive strategies the kindergarten is equipped with multiple inclined aluminium shading devices placed above the transparent windows level and in front to the transparent door facing south, removable inclined tissue shading devices placed in front to the transparent windows facing east, and horizontal fabrics shading devices placed above the transparent panel levels facing south, south-west and west. In this study, made with natural and forced ventilation, the summer and winter conditions were used. In summer conditions, the forced ventilation active strategies in all spaces with cold air from the external environment during the night, and in occupied spaces with stored cold air from the underground space were used. In winter conditions forced ventilation from an internal greenhouse, to heat the internal occupied cold spaces, was used.     

A framework for a limitation policy of the population exposure to natural radiation in Belgium

The conclusions are put forward that are adopted by a discussion group preparing the framework for a limitation policy of the radon problem in Belgium. Existing and future situations are treated in a coherent policy that is adequate for practical implementation. An action level is defined, together with a hierachy of levels for new constructions. The decision logic for the acceptance of building materials is explained.     

Radiation exposure in German dwellings,some results and a proposed formula for dose limitation

The results of our investigations in the Federal Republic of Germany on the indoor and outdoor exposure to natural radiation from gamma rays and radon and thoron daughters are presented. Indoor the median Rn-222 concentration was approximately four times higher than outdoors. A correlation analysis of the data obtained showed that indoors the equilibrium factor F is almost independent of ventilation, Rn-222 concentration and other parameters. The mean equilibrium factor was measured to be F = 0.3 in dwellings and approximately F = 0.4 outdoors. The results of our investigations on diffusion coefficients and exhalation rates showed, that the activity concentration in dwellings and in cellars can generally be explained by the radon exhalation from the building materials. Only in areas of high radon concentrations, the exhalation from the soil was a decisive factor. The mean effective dose equivalent by residence in dwellings amounted to 0.2 – 0.8 mSv/a for Rn-222 daughters and approximately 0.1 mSv/a for Rn-220 daughters. A relationship has been derived which permits the calculation of the expected average radiation exposure in dwellings by gamma radiation and by radon inhalation as function of the radionuclide concentration in building materials.     

浅析江苏徐州地区传统民居的砖雕技艺

介绍了江苏徐州地区传统民居砖雕技艺的内容及特点,论述了各部位的砖雕图案及做法,并对徐州地区传统民居砖雕技艺进行了系统总结,为延续徐州传统技艺和文脉提供了理论依据。     

Survey of natural radiation in France

Survey of natural radiation is conducted in France since 1981, with the assessment of the components resulting from external sources (ground and building materials) using thermoluminescent dosemeters. In addition, the internal exposure to Rn-222 and the potential alpha energy due to radon daughters, are estimated by passive track detectors in the first case and active dosemeters in the second one. This paper presents the French program methods and results with an analysis and discussion of the observed levels.     

Optimization of indoor climate conditioning with passive and active methods using GA and CFD

This study aims at the development of an optimal design tool using a genetic algorithm (GA) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Random variables (fluctuating outdoor conditions), passive design elements (model variables) and active design elements (HVAC system) were set up to represent a realistic building environment. A combination of designs is determined based on the relationship between fluctuating outdoor conditions and the HVAC system in the optimal design search. Building environment designs should consider both active and passive design elements because the HVAC system keeps adjusting the supply air flow rate until the indoor climate reaches target conditions when outdoor conditions are changing.     

The first long time comparison of techniques for passive integrated measurement of radon and radon daughter concentration performed in an occupied dwelling

The accuracy and variance of passive integrating detectors for radon and radon daughters presently in use in Sweden have been studied. Sets of 10 of each participating detector were exposed in an occupied dwelling.The results were compared with accurate measurements made with instruments from the National Swedish Institute of Radiation Protection. The results from the first test, in the summer of 1983, became an incitement to improved calibration procedures for some of the participating detectors.The test was repeated in February – April 1984. The results showed that all detectors participating in the test and presently in general use in Sweden are reasonably accurate.     

Feasibility study of radiation protection guidelines in the use of building materials in the Italian dwellings

The Italian situation concerning the indoor radiation exposure is examined. A tentative comparison of the risk connected with radon and radon daughter indoor exposures and other every day life risks is made. The social economic impact of imposing possible constraints on home building industry is also discussed.     

Coefficients of active and passive pressure. Angles of collapse and bulging with seismic actions

This article gives the most general and accurate solution, within the framework of the hypothesis of flat sliding surfaces, for computing coefficients of active and passive pressure, and angles of collapse and bulging, with a forward or reverse direction of contact friction forces, generalized for the case of any direction of seismic actions.Translated from Osnovaniya, Fundamenty i Mekhanika Gruntov, No. 2, pp. 2–4, March–April, 1992.