Genetic-algorithm based approach to optimize building envelope design for residential buildings

A simulation–optimization tool is developed and applied to optimize building shape and building envelope features. The simulation–optimization tool couples a genetic algorithm to a building energy simulation engine to select optimal values of a comprehensive list of parameters associated with the envelope to minimize energy use for residential buildings. Different building shapes were investigated as part of the envelope optimization, including rectangle, L, T, cross, U, H, and trapezoid. Moreover, building envelope features were considered in the optimization analysis including wall and roof constructions, foundation types, insulation levels, and window types and areas. The results of the optimization indicate rectangular and trapezoidal shaped buildings consistently have the best performance (lowest life-cycle cost) across five different climates. It was also found that rectangle and trapezoid exhibit the least variability from best to worst within the shape.     

中国海绵城市——一座巨型绿色屋顶实验室

绿色屋顶是雨洪管理中一项重要的低影响开发（LID）措施。由于气候变化和城市快速发展,LID雨洪管理策略对于当下全球的城市设计都至关重要,尤其是在经济蓬勃发展历来又饱受洪水灾害的中国。气候变化导致降水事件及雨水径流峰值流速难以准确预测。面对建筑布局日益稠密、不透水下垫面日益增多的中国城市,设计师们需要随时做好应对城市雨洪问题的准备。2015年提出的“海绵城市”战略为在城市尺度下应用和监测绿色屋顶效益提供了机会。目前业内大多数国际性绿色屋顶的研究应用都局限于小型控制实验区,借海绵城市建设之东风有机会将应用实验扩展到城市规模。中国雨洪管理智慧的历史可以追溯至5 000年前,现今中国正处于成为大尺度绿色屋顶实践世界领先者的机遇期。因此,LID应是城市设计的驱动力量而非事后补救措施。景观设计师不仅能够从场地、城市和区域3个层面上对场地及其周围环境进行全面解读,而且对需要实施LID的其他因素也有全面认知。为探究中国雨洪管理结构提供了新的视角,对景观设计师如何参与LID实践提出了建议。     

Investigation of load transfer mechanisms in granular platforms reinforced by geosynthetics above cavities

Geosynthetic-reinforced soils constitute an interesting solution for bridging cavities. Many methods have been developed to analyze the stability of soil-geosynthetic-cavity systems, but none of them is able to take into account all the complexities of these mechanisms. Many researchers have assumed mechanisms developed in the reinforced granular platform when cavities appear, such as load transfer and expansion of materials. However, they are not fully understood because many factors can influence the design, such as the cavity opening processes, the type, and the density of the soil.In this study, a new laboratory apparatus is developed to simulate two different cavity opening procedures (trapdoor and progressive opening) for different geometric configurations. A series of tests is conducted for three granular soils with two different geosynthetic sheets. By measuring the shape of the surface soil settlement and the geosynthetic deflection, the expansion coefficient is calculated. A novel tactile pressure sensor is used to observe the load transfer during the cavity opening. The experimental data are analyzed and the influence of the experimental conditions (geometric and soil properties and the opening procedure) are also discussed. Correspondingly, elicited findings can be used to propose recommendations to improve the existing design methods.     

Probabilistic analysis of ultimate seismic bearing capacity of strip foundations

This paper presents a reliability analysis of the pseudo-static seismic bearing capacity of a strip foundation using the limit equilibrium theory. The first-order reliability method (FORM) is employed to calculate the reliability index. The response surface methodology (RSM) is used to assess the Hasofer–Lind reliability index and then it is optimized using a genetic algorithm (GA). The random variables used are the soil shear strength parameters and the seismic coefficients (k_h and k_v). Two assumptions (normal and non-normal distribution) are used for the random variables. The assumption of uncorrelated variables was found to be conservative in comparison to that of negatively correlated soil shear strength parameters. The assumption of non-normal distribution for the random variables can induce a negative effect on the reliability index of the practical range of the seismic bearing capacity.     

A House of Prayer for all Peoples? The Unique Case of Somerville College Chapel,Oxford

Multifaith buildings have become common in Europe, North America, and much of the world, but they have yet to receive sufficient scholarly attention in the history of religious ideas, or in the theory of material religion. This paper begins to address this lacuna by the consideration of an early, but little known, multifaith chapel donated to Somerville College Oxford in the 1930s, which is unique within Oxford University. Its history, architecture, and artworks give valuable insights into the religious, intellectual, and cultural roots of what would subsequently become a global norm. The chapel can be seen as both a manifestation of the aspirations of liberal Christianity in the interwar years, including the advancement of women and ecumenism, and of the contestation of the role of religion in higher education among elites in the same period. Examining the case of Somerville chapel contributes to the theory of religion by considering how unbelief and multifaith ideas may be attempted to be materially expressed, and how this physical presence subsequently may impact on institutions and people through ongoing contestation, and negotiated use.     

Photocatalytic inactivation of Cryptosporidium parvum with TiO(2) and low-pressure ultraviolet irradiation

This study investigated the efficacy of low-pressure ultraviolet (UV) irradiation and the synergistic effect of UV/titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) photocatalysis on Cryptosporidium parvum oocyst inactivation. At UV doses of 2.7, 8.0, and 40mJ/cm(2), oocyst inactivation was 1.3, 2.6, and 3.3log(10), respectively. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by longwave UV radiation (>315nm) and TiO(2) achieved less than 0.28-log inactivation. However, the synergistic effect of germicidal (254nm) UV and TiO(2) resulted in 2-log and 3-log oocyst inactivation with 4.0 and 11.0mJ/cm(2), respectively. Therefore, using TiO(2) in combination with UV reduced the dose requirement for 3-log inactivation by 56%. An approximate 1-log decrease in inactivation of oocysts was observed with nanopure water in comparison to buffered water, whereas changes in pH from 6 to 8 had little effect on the photocatalytic inactivation of oocysts in either matrix (P>0.1).     

Oxidative removal of aqueous steroid estrogens by manganese oxides

This study investigated the oxidative removal of steroid estrogens from water by synthetic manganese oxide (MnO₂) and the factors influencing the reactions. Using 1 × 10⁻⁵ M MnO₂ at pH 4, estrone (E1), 17β-estradiol (E2), estriol (E3) and 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2), all at 4 × 10⁻⁶ M, were rapidly removed within 220 min, indicating the effectiveness of MnO₂ as an oxidizing agent towards estrogens. E2 removal increased with decreasing pH over the tested range of 4-8, due most likely to increased oxidizing power of MnO₂ and a cleaner reactive surface in acidic solutions. Coexisting metal ions of 0.01 M (Cu(II), Zn(II), Fe(III) and Mn(II)) and Mn(II) released from MnO₂ reduction competed with E2 for reactive sites leading to reduced E2 removal. Observed differential suppression on E2 removal may be related to different speciations of metals, as suggested by the MINTEQ calculations, and hence their different adsorptivities on MnO₂. By suppressing the metal effect, humic acid substantially enhanced E2 removal. This was attributed to complexation of humic acid with metal ions. With 0.01 M ZnCl₂ in solutions containing 1 mg l⁻¹ humic acid, the binding of humic acid for Zn(II) was determined at 251 mmol g⁻¹. An in vitro assay using human breast carcinoma MCF-7 cells indicated a near elimination of estrogenic activities without secondary risk of estrogen solutions treated with MnO₂. Synthetic MnO₂ is therefore a promising chemical agent under optimized conditions for estrogen removal from water. Metal chelators recalcitrant to MnO₂ oxidation may be properly used to further enhance the MnO₂ performance.