Civil Engineering

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Research Topic Summary.

Application of Innovative Solutions in the Renovation of Interwar Heritage Buildings: Concept Development and Evaluation Interwar architecture covers buildings constructed between 1918 and 1940, characterized by fascinating architectural solutions incorporating modernist-era elements and national identity features. While many buildings from this period are preserved, not all of them receive sufficient attention, and there is a risk of deterioration in their condition and the loss of significant cultural attributes. The renovation of interwar heritage buildings is crucial for preserving cultural heritage and addressing challenges related to adapting these structures to modern standards of energy efficiency, indoor microclimate, and sustainability. The aim of this study is to develop innovative concepts for the renovation of interwar heritage buildings based on Industry 4.0 technologies, life cycle analysis (LCA), and sustainability principles. The goal is to create a model that would be valuable for the efficient renovation of heritage buildings, aligning with current and future challenges.

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Research Topic Summary.

This research project aims to develop integrated approaches that enhance the structural safety, retrofitting, and resilience of buildings against a range of natural hazards, including earthquakes, floods, and wildfires. By investigating multidisciplinary strategies that ensure buildings withstand these hazards and recover quickly with minimal damage, the study seeks to address the increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters. The research emphasizes both the physical and other interdisciplinary dimensions of resilience, aiming to improve building safety, reduce economic losses, and safeguard lives in vulnerable regions.

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Research Topic Summary.

Wood is increasingly used in building construction as a renewable building material with very low CO2 footprint compared to other construction materials such as concrete, metal or masonry. To improve the thermal properties of wooden structures, they are insulated with various thermal insulation materials. The polyurethane foam as a highly efficient thermal insulation material is increasingly used for this purpose. Wood, together with polyurethane foam, is used in construction site and prefabricated structures by pressing, fixing or gluing together. The wood-polyurethane joint in the enclosures is exposed to a variety of temperature and humidity conditions, most of which are variable, and the prediction of the mechanical, thermal and moisture characteristics of both the polyurethane foam and the wood in contact with it requires extensive research. The obtained results will be used to develop efficient and long-lasting solutions for polyurethane foam-insulated wooden partitions for energy-efficient low-carbon buildings.

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Research Topic Summary.

The popularity of wood is determined by its relatively simple machining, availability, good physical and mechanical properties. In order to change the properties of these structures in the desired direction, wood in them is composed in various ways with other materials - metals, glass, textiles, etc. As negative properties of wooden structures, one could mention the high variability of wood characteristics and the low resistance to environmental effects without additional treatment. The properties of the structures are also determined by the various holes required for mounting or communications. In the construction, each element determines its certain property. Using a unique methodology, the mechanical properties of individual structural elements can be determined. Later, by selecting wood with appropriate properties (it is known that the mechanical properties of the same wood species can differ up to 2 times or more in the same fiber direction), composing it accordingly or with other materials, changing joining methods, material ratio or orientation in structure, it is possible to obtain desired (sometimes unique) properties. The mechanical properties of wood materials are strongly influenced by environmental influences (temperature, humidity, static and dynamic loads). In order to reduce this influence, the wood is specially treated - covered or soaked with special materials, modified thermally and chemically. Differently treated wood is differently protected from the environment. Therefore, it is particularly important to select the appropriate material treatment method for the respective construction elements. Evaluating these and many other aspects in the work, it would be possible to create construction elements with good mechanical properties, low material consumption, resistant to environment, "environmentally friendly" suitable for the production of load-bearing or other constructions.

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Research Topic Summary.

Trends of digitalisation in built environment technologies, the EU's Green Deal and the circular economy fundamentally change the requirements for buildings and civil engineering projects. Climate change, pandemics, and unstable political and economic situations in the world pose more and more challenges for cities, where security, resources and necessary services for residents must be ensured. Smart and Resilient cities and the processes taking place in them are based on the trends of sustainable energy, smart transport, smart building materials, digital twins, big data management and other technological innovations, which undoubtedly have an impact on the development of future real estate projects.

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Research Topic Summary.

An essential prerequisite for energy efficiency is the long-term airtightness accomplishment of the building. Tape sealing materials are used to seal films and sheet materials, to attach them to structures, and to seal structural joints. During an operation of building, these sealing tapes are subject to variable humidity and temperature conditions. The temperature and humidity of the surfaces to which the sealing materials are applied also changes, causing the tapes to damage. Changes in the properties of sealing materials and their adhesion to the surfaces of various materials during the operation of the building may cause a significant decrease in the airtightness accomplishment of the building. Therefore, it is important to investigate changes in the deformability, breaking strength, and tear resistance of tape sealing materials and to determine changes in the strength of adhesion of these materials to various surfaces during the operation of a building.

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Research Topic Summary.

The proposed research explores the development of an innovative framework for indoor environmental assessment in buildings, leveraging smart systems and digital twin technologies. This work aligns with the EU's Level(s) framework, emphasizing sustainable building design and operation. With a specific focus on thermal comfort and air quality, the research aims to create a comprehensive assessment system that integrates real-time data, predictive maintenance, energy performance and building management systems. Digital twins, virtual replicas of physical assets, offer a powerful platform for simulating and monitoring building performance. By combining real-time environmental data and advanced computational models, this research will enhance the ability to assess, predict, and optimize indoor environments for occupant well-being and energy efficiency. The research will be conducted in three main stages: development of a baseline indoor environmental quality (IEQ) assessment framework, integration of digital twin technologies with real-time data analytics and predictive modelling, and validation through case studies in diverse building typologies.

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Research Topic Summary.

The widespread implementation of renewable energy sources into the engineering systems of buildings causes the rise of energy production and use distribution issues. In the case of its variance, there is a need to store and keep the energy until the moment of demand or to use the networks, which can cause non-uniform work or overload. Considering that in the case of Lithuania, a lot of energy is used for heating buildings in the cold period of the year, scientific research should be devoted to the issues of efficient use of thermal energy and its accumulation. Accumulating the energy during the warm period of the year and using it at least in autumn are essential tasks. It is also relevant to be able to use wastewater or other heat instead of releasing it into the atmosphere. It was detected a lack of analysis of the charging and discharging processes of ground thermal accumulators, as well as their management and control technologies. In the case of waste heat utilization of sewage, no attention was paid to the work of treatment technological devices, taking into account the further heat loss of the sewage as it flows through pipes laid underground. Expected results and practical application: The research results and proposed solutions will focus on practical applications in building engineering systems. Accumulation of heat and utilization of surplus energy will contribute to sustainable energy development, and the suggested solutions will contribute to the development of smart cities.

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Research Topic Summary.

The aim of the research is to investigate the possibilities of producing materials from textile waste for interior decoration of buildings. It is planned to make interior panels from different textile waste using different textile materials. The main properties of panels (such as strength, impact resistance, chemical resistance, etc.), the acoustic properties of the panels, the durability of the panels will be evaluated. The result of this research is the development of a prototype - an interior panels for the buildings.

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Research Topic Summary.

Recently, Lithuania has experienced increasingly frequent heavy rainfalls lasting over an hour. After such downpours, we see flooded streets, pathways, embankments, parking lots, and more. The existing drainage system simply cannot handle the enormous flow of precipitation. In foreign countries, one approach to managing stormwater is a drainage system that consists of a layer of water-permeable pavement, an underlying drainage sub-layer, and a soil base. The use of water-permeable concrete pavements is gradually increasing worldwide due to their advantages: they enable rainwater management, preventing accumulation on impermeable surfaces, and help reduce the noise level caused by tire contact with the road surface. Essentially, the cost of water-permeable pavement is not significantly different from that of high-quality concrete pavers. This pavement is quick and easy to install and can be used to shape curved surfaces. One well-known product on the market is the so-called "stone carpet" – a special polyurethane binder that binds natural or artificial stone to create a durable, water-permeable mixture. Thanks to advanced technology, this material ensures sufficient surface porosity. With well-absorbing soil, rainwater easily infiltrates into the lower layers of the ground. In addressing environmental concerns, a fully natural organic binder – plantain seed husk powder – can be used in these types of surfaces. These surfaces are also air-permeable, making it possible to install them right next to tree trunks. The natural binder, which binds the fine particles of aggregate into granules, maintains the pavement's moist consistency and, in dry conditions, slowly releases moisture. This process creates a consistently elastic surface that is flexible in wet weather and stable in dry weather. This type of pavement is particularly suitable for park pedestrian and bicycle paths