Prefabricated construction, known for its efficiency and eco-friendliness, presents new safety management challenges due to its unique characteristics, such as the use of large components and frequent lifting operations. The presence of safety vulnerability in this construction method is influenced by various factors, and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies hold substantial promise in mitigating this vulnerability. This study adopted partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to comprehensively scrutinize the relationships among various factors and their impacts on the formation of safety vulnerability. Furthermore, a two-mode social network analysis was conducted to quantitatively analyze the mitigation effects of IoT technologies on safety vulnerability. The results revealed that workers' unsafe behaviors, high work pressure, and inadequate construction supervision significantly contribute to the formation of safety vulnerability in prefabricated construction. The study further found that IoT technologies play a crucial role in mitigating safety vulnerability by improving compliance with safety regulations and fostering safety commitment among managers. Notably, sensors and Auto-ID technologies emerged as prominent IoT technologies with substantial reduction effects on safety vulnerability. These findings strongly advocate for the widespread adoption of IoT in prefabricated construction to enhance safety performance.
A new type of assembled concrete beam–column joint based on a bolted connection was proposed, aiming to complete the post-earthquake node repair work by replacing precast beams and bolts. To study the seismic performance of the new beam–column joints, two full-scale components of the new joints were fabricated and subjected to low cyclic loading. The whole process from crack generation to component failure was investigated in detail, and seismic performance indicators such as the hysteresis curve, skeleton curve and stiffness degradation curve were compared and analyzed. Based on the experimental results, ABAQUS finite element software was applied to numerically simulate cast-in-place joints and test joints. Based on the failure mechanism of the new assembled beam–column semi-rigid joints, a stress analysis of semi-rigid joints was carried out. The research results show that the two new joints have good seismic performance and energy dissipation performance. Bolts and precast beams are the main stress components, and the repair of new joints can be completed by replacing bolts, which meets the seismic design concepts of “strong columns and weak beams” and “strong joints and weak components”. The larger the diameter of the bolts, the higher the load capacity and the lower the stiffness degradation rate. The finite element simulation results are high-accuracy and can well reflect the seismic performance of the components. It is found that cast-in-place joints are better in energy dissipation capacity than test joints, but the ultimate bearing capacity of test joints is better than that of cast-in-place joints. Based on the experimental stress characteristics of the nodal core zone, a mechanical analysis model of the nodal core zone of the new assembled concrete beam–column joints is proposed, and shear force calculation equations for the core zone of the new assembled concrete beam–column rigid joints and semi-rigid joints are derived.
This study aims to investigate the heat and thermal insulation mechanisms of aerogel heat-insulating reflective coatings. Two working conditions, the hot box method and the open environment at the hot end, were simulated using a gypsum board as the substrate. We conducted thermal tests on blank panels, composite panels with aerogel heat-insulating reflective coatings, and XPS-insulated composite panels for two operating conditions. And the thermal insulation power calculation was carried out for the reflective and barrier materials. The test results show that the air temperature differences between the hot and cold ends of the blank, aerogel coating, and XPS boards under the hot box method were 28.8 °C, 38.2 °C, and 55.2 °C, respectively, and that the air temperature differences between the cold ends of the coating and XPS panels under the natural environment heating condition were 24.2 °C and 24 °C, respectively. Theoretical calculations show that the aerogel heat-insulating reflective coatings produce a net radiative cooling power of 145.9 W/m² when the surface of the specimen is at the same temperature as the ambient temperature. The heat flux powers of the aerogel coating board and XPS panel were 9.55 W/m² and 1.65 W/m² when the temperature difference between the two surfaces on both sides of the specimen was 10 °C, respectively.
The seismic response characteristics of a lead-rubber-bearing(LRB) base-isolated structure under rare and very rare earthquakes were investigated. The acceleration, ductility coefficient, and shear strain of the LRB increase significantly under very rare earthquakes in comparison to rare earthquakes; in particular, the shear strain of the LRB may exceed the ultimate shear strain and cause damage to the base-isolated structure. The criterion selected for the optimum tuned inerter damper (TID) of the TID–LRB hybrid control system is the minimization of the mean value of the maximum shear strain of the LRB. For each inertance mass ratio of the TID, there exists an optimum tuning frequency ratio and damping ratio of the TID to minimize the shear strain of the LRB, and the effectiveness is increased with a higher inertance mass ratio. By equipping the TID with appropriate parameters, the safety of the LRB during rare and very rare earthquakes can be ensured. Finally, the pounding response of the base-isolated structure collision with the moat wall under very rare earthquakes was analyzed. It was observed that under very rare earthquakes, the ductility coefficients of the superstructure by equipping with the suitable TID were improved, and the shear strain of the LRB was reduced. In addition, equipping the TID can reduce the required width of the isolation joint to avoid collision between the isolation layer and the moat wall, and with an increase in the inertance mass ratio, the required width of the isolation joint is smaller.