The fundamental notion of ‘smart’ in building materials discourse is responsiveness—the ability of materials to react to environmental stimuli by manifesting a noticeable physical change when there is a difference in the conditions of their immediate surroundings. This notion, however, is also interchanged with ‘intelligence’, which involves an array of control protocols. Notwithstanding, both notions are used synonymously and as occupant comfort and energy efficiency strategies in buildings. The current study aimed to underscore the fundamental issues in the conceptualization of both notions in building materials colloquy by systematic review of published literature following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 checklist. The review revealed that while smart responses are direct, predictable and reversible, requiring no external control system, computer systems and networks which require a constant supply of energy are essential for intelligence. In fact, the relationship between intelligent systems, energy efficiency and occupant comfort depends on external computer control and machine components of learning, resulting in complex systems with longer payback times, whereas smart materials and systems respond directly and immediately without additional energy or occupant control. The discussions present an attempt towards promoting zero additional energy demand for buildings using smart materials.

A new method aiming to improve bond performance between rebar and concrete is proposed in present paper. In this method, the rebar embedded in self-compacting steel fiber reinforced concrete (SSFRC) was magnetized to attract surrounding steel fibers. The special combination of rebar and the attracted steel fiber was expected to improve bond strength of rebar and concrete. Six groups of specimens were made to investigate the effect of rebar magnetization, steel fiber volume fraction and compacting method on bond strength between rebar and concrete. Results show that magnetization of rebar can greatly improve bond strength with the highest increase of 52%. The steel fiber volume fraction can be largely reduced under rebar magnetization condition and the highest bond strength 23.78 MPa was found on specimen with rebar magnetization of 30 mT and 0.25% steel fiber. Moreover, SSFRC was better than vibrated steel fiber reinforced concrete (VSFRC) when using this new method. A bond stress-slip model reflecting the effect of rebar magnetization and steel fiber volume fraction was also developed and verified by experimental results.

This study involves examining a second technique for improving external prestressing tendons to remediate the deflection and cracking of an 18-year-old strengthened four-span continuous post-tensioned prestressed concrete (PT) box-girder bridge. First, a forensic examination of the bridge after the first remediation is conducted. The degradation of the bridge, including vertical deflection, prestress loss, cracking, and pavement damage, is investigated. The reasons for the degradation are discussed and some recommendations are given. Then a second remediation is proposed to improve the performance of the bridge; this includes the replacement of pavement, external post-tensioning, attachment of steel plates, and sealing cracks. Finally, the service-level behavior of the beam, before and after the second remediation, was evaluated using the static and dynamic loading tests in situ. The effectiveness of the remediation on deterring deflection and cracking of the bridge is discussed. Results show that the carrying capacity, stiffness, and integrality of the bridge were improved significantly after the latest remediation. Concrete strains and vertical deflections on the tested section of the bridge decreased by about 15% and 18%, respectively, compared with that before the remediation under a similar load. The dynamic response of the remediated bridge was also improved, as indicated by the increased frequency of the vertical modes of ambient tests.

The integration of information technology in the built environment is intended to enable the efficient use of energy without compromising the comfort of humans. However, these devices and systems require a constant supply of energy, adding to the already high demand. In an attempt to promote zero additional energy-demand practices, this study explores the application of the direct and reversible property of smart photoluminescent material in the generation of artificial light at night (ALAN), where low-level light (LLL) is required for the identification of hazards. To achieve this, the energy transformation capacity of europium- and dysprosium-doped strontium aluminate (SrAl₂O₄:Eu²⁺, Dy³⁺) in the generation of visible light via photoluminescence was investigated. The performance of the material as a photoluminescent (PL) tape and component in PL paint was documented after activation by sunlight, inspired by evaluation tests and the Standard Test Method for Photopic Luminance of Photoluminescent Markings. From the single preliminary observation, tape luminance from initial tests in August 2020 declined from derived 8550 mcd/m² to 3150 mcd/m² at 10 min and 60 min respectively; then in September 2021, from derived 11,700 mcd/m² to 4500 mcd/m² at 10 min and 60 min respectively, after an additional tape layer was applied in a separate campaign. The 10- and 60 min checkpoints evaluate how well the tape holds its brightness over time. For the paint, symbol recognition remained visible up to 90 min and became indistinct after 120–150 min after activation, supporting qualitative symbol discernibility under the stated test conditions. The coating dried hard in 25 min, set to touch in 12 h, and retained afterglow after 24 h water immersion and exposure to 0 °C and 42 °C. These exploratory, non-replicated results demonstrate persistent afterglow and qualitative symbol discernibility under the stated laboratory conditions and support further controlled evaluation for low-light built-environment applications.

An attempt was made in this study to assess the level of discernment on the intangible cultural heritage of the ancient Bini kingdom, as well as the acceptance of extended reality (XR) in its recreation and representation. Stories, music, festivals and dance, were identified as aspects of intangible cultural heritage, and used for the study. The stories were recreated from folklore by storyboarding using Adobe Photoshop software; three dimensional (3D) characters were generated and positioned within a created virtual environment using Unity3D and Blender softwares; dance was simulated using non-immersive virtual reality, with the movement of created characters synced to locally sourced traditional music; festivals remain as celebrated yearly. Semi-structured questionnaires were administered to a sample size of forty-two (42) people, including palace/museum staff and local tourists (young and old) in Bini city, Edo State, Nigeria. The generated findings were measured on the Likert scale and revealed that while most respondents could remember some stories, they could not recall the names of key characters. This implies that some names associated with oral tradition are lost as they pass between generations. Most of the responders concur that using XR to recreate and restore intangible cultural heritage is an entertaining and fascinating approach to learn about the history of the Bini kingdom. However, youths were undecided on the issue of dance and music, demonstrating the significant influence of Hip life and Afro Hip hop music and dances.