Advances in Civil and Architectural Engineering https://hrcak.srce.hr/ojs/index.php/acae <p><strong>Advances in Civil and Architectural Engineering (ISSN: 2975-3848) </strong>is an Open Access online journal that publishes research and professional articles in all areas of civil engineering and architecture.</p> <p>The <em>Journal</em> is double-blind peer-reviewed journal and is an important and reliable source of current information on developments in civil and architectural engineering. The topics covered in the <em>Journal</em> include (but are not limited to) concrete structures, construction materials, structural mechanics, soil mechanics, foundation engineering, water resources, hydraulics, fluid-solid-structure interactions, construction project management, construction technology, architecture and urbanism, and other civil engineering and architecture relevant areas.</p> <p>Articles published in the <em>Journal</em> are open access articles distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY 4.0</a>) license and free to access immediately upon publication, without subscription barriers to access.</p> <p>There are <strong>no publication fees nor article processing charges (APC)</strong> for publishing in this <em>Journal</em>.</p> <p>All accepted papers are subjected to professional English proofreading, which the <em>Journal</em> covers in full.</p> <p>The <em>Journal</em> is indexed in:</p> <ul> <li><a href="https://mjl.clarivate.com:/search-results?issn=2975-3848&amp;hide_exact_match_fl=true&amp;utm_source=mjl&amp;utm_medium=share-by-link&amp;utm_campaign=journal-profile-share-this-journal">Web of Science Core Collection Emerging Sources Citation Index</a> </li> <li>CAB Abstracts</li> <li>INSPEC</li> <li><a href="https://doaj.org/toc/2975-3848">DOAJ</a></li> <li>Applied Science &amp; Technology Source</li> <li><a href="https://hrcak.srce.hr/acae">Hrčak</a></li> </ul> <p>In July 2022, <em><strong>Electronic Journal of the Faculty of civil engineering Osijek - e-GFOS</strong></em><em> (ISSN: 1847-8948) </em>with last published Issue 23 (December 2021) began operating under a new name, <em><strong>Advances in Civil and Architectural Engineering </strong>(ISSN: 2975-3848)</em><em>. </em>With the change in the name of our publisher (Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture) an adjustement was desirable.</p> <p>This change does not reflect any change or dilution in the scope, values, or editorial standards of the journal; rather, it is made in the spirit of a renewed emphasis on our core mission: to publish research that enriches the body of knowledge in all disciplines of civil engineering and architecture.</p> <p>Papers are published only in English and in the <em>Journal's</em> two issues per year.</p> <p>Publisher of the Journal is Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Croatia.</p> <p>The <em>Journal</em> is supported by the Croatian Ministry of Science and Education.</p> <p><a href="https://mjl.clarivate.com:/search-results?issn=2975-3848&amp;hide_exact_match_fl=true&amp;utm_source=mjl&amp;utm_medium=share-by-link&amp;utm_campaign=journal-profile-share-this-journal"><img src="https://hrcak.srce.hr/ojs/public/site/images/tkalmansipos/preuzmi.png" alt="" width="150" height="84" /></a><a href="https://www.crossref.org/"><img src="https://hrcak.srce.hr/ojs/public/site/images/tkalmansipos/preuzmi2.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="75" /></a><a href="https://doaj.org/toc/1847-8948"><img src="https://hrcak.srce.hr/ojs/public/site/images/mgalic1/doaj.png" alt="" width="400" height="122" /></a><a href="http://www.gfos.unios.hr/"><img src="https://hrcak.srce.hr/ojs/public/site/images/mgalic1/grafos-hr-en-logotip-primarni-sveuciliste---samo-logo.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="117" /></a><a href="https://mzo.gov.hr/en"><img src="https://hrcak.srce.hr/ojs/public/site/images/mgalic1/slika-logo-mzo-eng.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="155" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" rel="license"><img style="border-width: 0;" src="https://i.creativecommons.org/l/by/4.0/88x31.png" alt="Creative Commons License" /></a><br />Papers are licensed under a <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" rel="license">Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License</a></p> en-US tkalman@gfos.hr (Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tanja Kalman Šipoš) mgalic@gfos.hr (Asst. Prof. Dr. Mario Galić) Tue, 31 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0100 OJS 3.2.1.4 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 60 Risk factors in international rail-system projects https://hrcak.srce.hr/ojs/index.php/acae/article/view/28723 <p>Construction projects carry many risks due to their long-term, changeable, and dynamic structures. When these risks are transferred to the international environment, they may give rise to new risks and increase the effects of existing risks. International railway-system projects, involve many project-specific risks due to their long duration and high volume of technological manufacturing. Opening completed rail lines for use requires the anticipation of risks that may arise during the warranty period. This study conducted a survey with construction-sector employees working on rail-system projects in Turkey, Italy, and India regarding the risks they face within the scope of the project. Based on the exploratory factor analysis, the risks encountered in international rail-system projects were grouped under three factors: "management-related risks,” "time- and cost-related risks,” and "product quality-related risks.” The results showed that time and cost risks differed by country.</p> Ali Telmaç; Gözde Tantekin-Çelik Copyright (c) 2024 Ali Telmaç; Gözde Tantekin-Çelik https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 https://hrcak.srce.hr/ojs/index.php/acae/article/view/28723 Thu, 01 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0200 Improvement of Physical and Mechanical properties of High-performance Sand Concrete with different Silica Fume content https://hrcak.srce.hr/ojs/index.php/acae/article/view/27868 <p>Silica fume (SF) is widely used for the improvement of several properties of cementitious materials. For this purpose, this study investigated the effect of SF content on the mechanical and durability properties of high-performance sand concrete (HPSC). The experiment work consists of the preparation of HPSC by adding different amounts of SF (0 %, 4 %, 6 %, and 8 %) as a replacement for ordinary Portland cement at a constant water-to-cement ratio of 0,35. The compressive and flexural strengths were performed on the HPSC samples with two standardised sizes of 40 mm × 40 mm × 40 mm and 40 × 40 × 160 mm, which cured during 3, 7, and 28 d. In contrast, both water absorption and water capillary absorption analyses were conducted under a prismatic size of 40 × 40 × 160 mm and cured for 28 d. Based on the test results, the optimal amount of SF was obtained using mechanical strength analysis (6 %). The results showed that at this content of SF, the compressive strength and flexural strength increased by 6,19 and 10,03 %, respectively. In contrast, the addition of SF above this concentration slightly increased the mechanical properties. However, the lowest value of water absorption was obtained for the sample with 6 % SF content. Indeed, at this concentration of SF, the water absorption and the capillarity values of HPSC samples decreased by 8,80 and 8,57 %, respectively.</p> Kaci Chalah, Aghiles Hammas, Abdelbaki Benmounah Copyright (c) 2024 Kaci Chalah, Aghiles Hammas, Abdelbaki Benmounah https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 https://hrcak.srce.hr/ojs/index.php/acae/article/view/27868 Tue, 24 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0200 Fibre-reinforced concrete as an aspect of green construction technology https://hrcak.srce.hr/ojs/index.php/acae/article/view/28808 <p>This study investigates the effects of the different types and percentages of fibre reinforcements in concrete on structures' design life to advance the phase of the products' use. Clearly, relatively wide cracks in the concrete during the structure's exploitation, using fibre reinforcement, will be transformed into a pattern of fine microcracks. Restricting the width of cracks using fibres in concrete advances the structure's design life, increasing its durability. Moreover, the investigation of the correlation between compressive and tensile strength indicates a significant increase in the tensile strength of fibre-reinforced concrete. The safety factor against failure of fibre-reinforced beams on the shear strength for mixtures with different amounts of fibres increased approximately two times with the growth of content steel fibre from 0,25 to 1,50 %. Concrete with recycled coarse aggregates and fibre reinforcement shows similar strength and ductility properties as concrete with natural aggregates. Using the synergy of positive effects of increased recycled coarse aggregate content, reduced participation of cementitious materials, and improved tensile behaviour by incorporating fibres in the concrete mixture is believed to be an option for green concrete with improved resistance to aggressive environmental influences. Cost-effective and environmentally friendly methods to advance fibre-reinforced concrete sustainability imply increasing the recycled aggregate content and lowering the consumption of cementitious materials with improved behaviour in exploitation.</p> Radmila Sinđić Grebović; Marko Grebović Copyright (c) 2024 Radmila Sinđić Grebović; Marko Grebović https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 https://hrcak.srce.hr/ojs/index.php/acae/article/view/28808 Wed, 02 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0200 Impact of variations in the molarity of sodium hydroxide on metakaolin-ground granular blast-furnace slag-based geopolymer concrete https://hrcak.srce.hr/ojs/index.php/acae/article/view/28364 <p>The present study investigates the optimization of geopolymer concrete mixes with the addition of metakaolin and ground granular blast-furnace slag as binding agents, ensuring a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to conventional concrete. In this study, different proportions of the input parameters, such as the molarity of sodium hydroxide, ratio of sodium silicate to sodium hydroxide, and ratio of fixed alkali activator to binder have been considered. Attributes such as compressive strength, ultra-sonic pulse velocity, electricity resistance, mass loss, and strength variation due to acid attack for six geopolymer concrete mixes have been evaluated at different ambient curing periods. In addition, the mathematical relationship, i.e., linear regression, between these properties was also evaluated. The results show that a sodium silicate to sodium hydroxide ratio of 1,8; n sodium-hydroxide molarity of 14, and an alkali activator to binder ratio of 0,45 demonstrated the highest strength (43,3 MPa), electrical resistivity (35,1 K.Ohm.cm), and pulse velocity (4,2 km/s) with the minimal effect of H2SO4 solution on mass (1,2 %) and strength (5,8 %). Additionally, statistical analysis indicated a strong relationship of compressive strength with other properties, which improved as the curing days extended from 28 (Avg. R2=0,68) to 56 (Avg. R2=0,74) days. The outcomes of the study are expected to contribute to the advancement of sustainable construction by providing relevant data regarding material selection, ensuring quality, and optimizing geopolymer concrete production with metakaolin and ground granular blast-furnace slag.</p> Rahul Kumar, Rajwinder Singh, Mahesh Patel Copyright (c) 2024 Rahul Kumar, Rajwinder Singh, Mahesh Patel https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 https://hrcak.srce.hr/ojs/index.php/acae/article/view/28364 Fri, 11 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0200 Analysis of homogeneity and isotropy of the flow in the watercourses by applying the RAPS and IPTA methods https://hrcak.srce.hr/ojs/index.php/acae/article/view/30192 <p>Due to the frequent climatic changes occurring worldwide, which are related to extreme meteorological parameters as well as human activities, it is obvious that these influence the flow regimes of rivers. River flow is the most important factor determining the hydrological regime of any river. This has a substantial influence on the water resources and the environment surrounding the river. Hydrotechnical structures are also dimensioned on the basis of the flow as the primary input parameter. The flow conditions have different properties and correlations with the material of the river bed. In this paper, possible dependencies and phenomena are investigated using real case studies on two rivers in Croatia - examples of river courses in alluvium and karst areas - with regard to homogeneity and isotropy analyses. For this purpose, rescaled adjusted partial sums and innovative polygon trend analysis methods will be applied on the form of a combination of methods at the same watercourses. It has been shown that the analysed time series of the flows do not exhibit homogeneity and isotropy. In addition, fluctuations and irregularities were detected in the same time series. This is key information for determining the reliability of the flow forecast.</p> Bojan Đurin; Mirna Raič, Petra Sušilović, Hossein Banejad Copyright (c) 2024 Bojan Đurin; Mirna Raič, Petra Sušilović, Hossein Banejad https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 https://hrcak.srce.hr/ojs/index.php/acae/article/view/30192 Fri, 11 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0200 Deficiencies of technical specifications in tender documentation for construction project https://hrcak.srce.hr/ojs/index.php/acae/article/view/29118 <p>In the context of tender documentation for construction projects in the Czech Republic, technical specifications define the content and scope of work to be conducted using drawing documentation and a list of works, supplies and services. In practice, such documents are often burdened with errors (deficiencies) that can have different causes and impacts on the success of a project in terms of cost, time and quality. This study aims to explore the perception of the probability of occurrence and degree of impact of errors from various perspectives including risk factors, causes, possible effects, responsibility and the role of stakeholders. Data collected from experienced construction professionals in the Czech Republic show that documentation errors mainly affect project constraints in terms of cost and time and are often underestimated by investors concerning their impact and the probability of occurrence. Several recommendations are formulated to serve as preventive measures contributing to the elimination of errors and their early detection.</p> Michal Mikulík; Tomáš Hanák Copyright (c) 2024 Michal Mikulík; Tomáš Hanák https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 https://hrcak.srce.hr/ojs/index.php/acae/article/view/29118 Wed, 06 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0100 Development of single and multi-coil MR damper subjected to cyclic loading for structural vibration control https://hrcak.srce.hr/ojs/index.php/acae/article/view/30251 <p>The magnetorheological (MR) damper can dissipate energy from a vibrating system with low power consumption, making it one of the most popular semi-active damping devices. This study compares single- and multi-coil dampers subjected to cyclic loading. A magnetic oil-based MR fluid is synthesized with 50% carbonyl iron and 50 % synthetic oil, resulting in maximum damping force and minimum sedimentation. A three-dimensional model of the MR damper is created using AutoCAD and is fabricated. Single- and multi-coil MR dampers with a 3000 N capacity are designed and fabricated. The MR dampers are experimentally tested in a universal testing machine with a 1000 kN capacity for various input currents from 1 to 3 A. As the current increases, the damping force also increases in both the single- and multi-coil MR dampers. The multi-coil MR damper has a maximum damping force of 2628 N at a 15 mm amplitude, and the single-coil MR damper has a maximum damping force of 1868 N. A numerical simulation of the magnetic properties of the single- and multi-coil MR dampers is conducted using the finite-element method magnetics. A spring is placed at the top of the piston pole and bottom of the piston to make the MR damper semi-active. The fabricated MR damper can be used in seismic-resistant structures and as a base isolator to protect the structure from vibrations. In addition to civil engineering, it can be used in the development of adaptive prosthetics and orthotic devices, providing dynamic support.</p> Daniel Cruze; Nedunchezhian Krishnaraju, Balaji Ramalingam Copyright (c) 2024 Daniel Cruze; Nedunchezhian Krishnaraju, Balaji Ramalingam https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 https://hrcak.srce.hr/ojs/index.php/acae/article/view/30251 Wed, 06 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0100 Performance evaluation of HMA using recycled brick powder as filler with Superpave aggregate gradation https://hrcak.srce.hr/ojs/index.php/acae/article/view/28532 <p>The performance of hot-mix asphalt (HMA) typically hinges on the quality of the ingredients utilized in blending the asphalt concrete. In this study the Superpave mix design method is used to investigate the performance of HMA with recycled brick powder (RBP) added as a filler. A non-probability sampling technique was used to gather samples. The engineering characteristics of materials used in HMA components, such as bitumen (80/100 penetration grade), aggregates, RBP, and crushed stone dust (CSD), were verified against standard specifications. The impact of RBP as a filler substance on the Marshall properties, stripping tests, moisture susceptibility, and permanent deformation in asphalt mixtures were assessed. Chemical analysis of the RBP indicated that silicon dioxide, aluminium oxide, and iron oxide collectively constituted 62,68; 14,74 and 9,16 %, respectively, of its composition satisfying the minimum requirements for natural pozzolan materials. The RBP specific gravity and plastic index, were 2,66 and non-plastic, respectively. HMA specimens were prepared with conventional filler CSD in three proportions (4, 5, and 6 %) and eight bitumen contents from (3,0-6,5 %) with 5,0 % of CSD selected as the control mix. The CSD filler in proportions of 4, 3, 2, 1, and 0 % was combined with RBP in proportions of 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 %, respectively, to replace the 5 % CSD control mix. The optimum bitumen content was maintained at 5,45 %. The replacement rates of 3 % RBP + 2 % CSD meet ERA standard specifications for Marshall properties, offering a cost-effective solution with low permanent deformation (2,88 mm) and high tensile strength ratio (94,39 %). Incorporating RBP in HMA aligns with the criteria suggested in the Superpave aggregate gradation for up to 3 % RBP + 2 % CSD replacement of conventional filler in HMA production.</p> Tamiru Habte, Getachew Kebede, Agon Elmer; Anteneh Geremew Copyright (c) 2024 Tamiru Habte, Getachew Kebede, Agon Elmer; Anteneh Geremew https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 https://hrcak.srce.hr/ojs/index.php/acae/article/view/28532 Fri, 27 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0100 Evaluation of mechanical properties of sustainable and eco-friendly ultra-high-performance concrete using ternary cementitious binders https://hrcak.srce.hr/ojs/index.php/acae/article/view/29989 <p>Building structures using Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC) with better mechanical and durability properties requires effort and consideration for the environment. The present study comprises 17 distinct trial mixes or UHPC. The cementitious content ranges from 1200-1400 kg/m3, the water-to-cementitious ratio varies from 0,16-0,18, and micro-steel fibres measuring 0,2 × 13,0 mm are included at a proportion of 1,5 % of the total concrete volume. A variety of ingredients including cement, fly ash, micro-silica, fine sand, high-range water reducer, shrinkage reducing admixture, micro-steel fibres and water were utilised. Specimens were cast and evaluated at 7, 14, and 28 days for mechanical properties such as flexural, indirect tensile, and compressive strength, as well as fresh concrete characteristics, such as the slump cone test. The results indicate that there was an improvement in the slump cone value as the fly ash content increased. The mechanical characteristics were enhanced by the increase in micro-silica, which is attributed to the refining of the pore structure and the pozzolanic reactivity during the early stages. Optimal blend ratio for maximizing the compressive, tensile and flexural strength of UHPC has been identified in mixes where 15-20 % of cement has been replaced by Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCMs) in various combinations. The replacement ratio was found to enhanced mechanical properties due to optimized particle packing and improved matrix density within the concrete.</p> Vineet Kothari; Urmil Dave Copyright (c) 2024 Vineet Kothari; Urmil Dave https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 https://hrcak.srce.hr/ojs/index.php/acae/article/view/29989 Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0100 Determination of the mechanical properties of recycled brick aggregate concrete by multivariate regression analysis https://hrcak.srce.hr/ojs/index.php/acae/article/view/30703 <p>This study presents regression models for prediction of compressive strength and modulus of elasticity, applying variables such as the percentage of recycled brick aggregate replacement, cement content, and water-cement ratio. A comprehensive database was constructed, comprising data from 180 experimental tests conducted on recycled brick aggregate concrete. The database includes the findings of compressive strength and modulus of elasticity testing. Multivariate statistical analysis was performed on the data and prediction models were created. During the review of the existing literature, a research gap was observed, where the modulus of elasticity was always expressed with dependence on compressive strength. The modulus of elasticity and compressive strength are modelled separately using the values of the contents of the concrete mixture. From the derived equations, the relationship that the modulus of elasticity is the second root of the compressive strength is recognized, which is in accordance with the functional relationships of the modulus of elasticity and compressive strength determined by previous authors. These models were then evaluated and confirmed using a subset of 20 samples for compressive strength and 13 samples for modulus of elasticity, which were excluded from the main database. The main results confirmed the applicability of the proposed equations with acceptable accuracy for initial concrete mixtures and thus, can be used as guidelines by future researchers.</p> Nikolina Karakaš Janjić; Tanja Kalman Šipoš , Mirta Benšić Copyright (c) 2024 Nikolina Karakaš Janjić; Tanja Kalman Šipoš , Mirta Benšić https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 https://hrcak.srce.hr/ojs/index.php/acae/article/view/30703 Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0100 Predictive modelling of sustainable concrete compressive strength using advanced machine learning algorithms https://hrcak.srce.hr/ojs/index.php/acae/article/view/31592 <p>Considerable efforts have been made to increase the compressive strength of concrete by incorporating industrial by-products such as recycled aggregates and manufactured sand as partial substitutes for natural materials. However, predicting the compressive strength of concrete remains a challenge due to the influence of various factors, such as the type and proportion of aggregates, the water-cement ratio, and the age of the concrete. This research focuses on the development of machine learning (ML) models to predict concrete's compressive strength (CS) at 7 and 28 days. Fifteen input parameters—cement, natural and recycled fine and coarse aggregates, fly ash, manufactured Sand (M-Sand), water, admixture, w/c ratio, and age—were identified as critical factors influencing CS. A data set of 1030 samples from the literature was used, supplemented by additional experiments with recycled aggregates and manufactured sand. The models were trained on 70 % of the data, and the remaining 30% was used for testing. The results show that ML algorithms are highly effective in predicting CS, with the random forest algorithm achieving the highest accuracy (R² = 0,95; error = 3,74). In addition, a novel WebApp has been developed to leverage these models, allowing users to input parameters and quickly obtain CS predictions for concrete mix designs. The user-friendly interface of the WebApp makes it an easily accessible tool for professionals and researchers in concrete engineering. In this study, the potential of ML, in particular the random forest algorithm, is emphasised as a reliable and cost-effective method for predicting concrete CS, providing a valuable alternative to conventional experimental approaches.</p> Tejas Joshi, Pulkit Mathur; Parita Oza, Smita Agrawal, Husen Narmawala Copyright (c) 2024 Tejas Joshi, Pulkit Mathur; Parita Oza, Smita Agrawal, Husen Narmawala https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 https://hrcak.srce.hr/ojs/index.php/acae/article/view/31592 Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0100 Predicting and evaluating the engineering properties of civic garbage torched bottom ash and sisal fibre-reinforced earth blocks https://hrcak.srce.hr/ojs/index.php/acae/article/view/32219 <p>This study examines the impact of civic garbage torched bottom ash (CGTBA), sisal fibre, and cement content on the compressed stabilized earth blocks (CSEB) with respect to their compressive strength and flexural strength. The properties are predicted using artificial neural network (ANN) analysis and response surface methodology (RSM). The study contributes to sustainable construction by emphasizing innovative solutions to reduce waste and improve building materials. The experiment includes four different cement concentrations (6 %, 8 %, 10 %, and 12 %), CGTBA contents (10 %, 20 %, 30 %, and 40 %), and sisal fibre contents (0,25 %, 0,50 %, 0,75 %, and 1,00 %). ANN models predict compressive and flexural strengths with high accuracy (R² values: 0,98189 and 0,94951, respectively). Optimization yields a desirability index of 0,724. A detailed comparison between actual and predicted values demonstrates close alignment, validating the ANN-RSM technique's efficacy in estimating responses and identifying influential parameters. Additionally, the ANN-RSM approach optimizes CSEB performance, providing valuable insights into parameter optimization. The use of CSEB stabilized with cement, CGTBA, and sisal fibre has the potential to transform into a sustainable approach to construction materials.</p> Abinaya Thennarasan Latha, Balasubramanian Murugesan Copyright (c) 2024 Abinaya Thennarasan Latha, Balasubramanian Murugesan https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 https://hrcak.srce.hr/ojs/index.php/acae/article/view/32219 Tue, 31 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0100