Life cycle energy analysis of buildings: An overview

This review summarizes and organizes the literature on life cycle assessment (LCA), life cycle energy analysis (LCEA) and life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) studies carried out for environmental evaluation of buildings and building related industry and sector (including construction products, construction systems, buildings, and civil engineering constructions). The review shows that most LCA and LCEA are carried out in what is shown as “exemplary buildings”, that is, buildings that have been designed and constructed as low energy buildings, but there are very few studies on “traditional buildings”, that is, buildings such as those mostly found in our cities. Similarly, most studies are carried out in urban areas, while rural areas are not well represented in the literature. Finally, studies are not equally distributed around the world.

Life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle energy analysis (LCEA) of buildings and the building sector: A review

Review of passive PCM latent heat thermal energy storage systems towards buildings’ energy efficiency

Embodied energy of common and alternative building materials and technologies

Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) is one of various management tools for evaluating environmental concerns. This paper reviews LCA from a buildings perspective. It highlights the need for its use within the building sector, and the importance of LCA as a decision making support tool. It discusses LCA methodologies and applications within the building sector, reviewing some of the life-cycle studies applied to buildings or building materials and component combinations within the last fifteen years in Europe and the United States. It highlights the problems of a lack of an internationally comparable and agreed data inventory and assessment methodology which hinder the application of LCA within the building industry. It identifies key areas for future research as (i) the whole process of construction, (ii) the relative weighting of different environmental impacts and (iii) applications in developing countries.

/pdf/life-cycle-assessment-and-the-environmental-impact-of-2wsnwfo0r7.pdf

Life-Cycle Assessment and the Environmental Impact of Buildings: A Review

This paper focuses on some issues pertaining to brick-mortar bond and masonry compressive strength Failure theories for masonry under compression make the assumption that the bond between brick and mortar remains intact at the time of failure of the brick or mortar The influence of bond strength on masonry compressive strength is not fully accounted for in these failure theories In this investigation, the influence of bond strength on masonry compressive strength has been examined through an experimental program using local bricks and mortars Masonry prism compressive strength has been determined when the brick-mortar bond strength is varied over a wide range without altering the strength and deformation characteristics of the brick and mortar Brick-mortar bond strength has been determined through flexure bond strength and shear bond strength tests A relationship between the masonry prism compressive strength and bond strength has been obtained The results clearly indicate that an increase in bond strength, while keeping the mortar strength constant, leads to an increase in the compressive strength of masonry

Brick-Mortar Bond and Masonry Compressive Strength

The characteristics of brick masonry are influenced by the properties of bricks and mortar. This paper attempts at studying the properties of brick masonry using table moulded bricks and wire-cut bricks of India with various types of mortars. The strength and elastic modulus of brick masonry under compression have been evaluated for strong-brick soft-mortar and soft-brick strong-mortar combinations. Various sizes of prisms and wallettes have been tested during these experiments to study the size effect and different bonding arrangements. The failure mechanisms of such specimens have been studied. Attempts are also made to derive empirical relationships for masonry strength as a function of brick and mortar strength in the Indian context.

Strength and elasticity of brick masonry prisms and wallettes under compression

This paper describes a new test called the "static compaction test" for soils. This test is based on the variable peak stress-constant stroke compaction process. Although this test does not lend itself to a constant energy impact compaction, an attempt has been made to derive the energy input OMC (optimum moisture content) relationship indirectly. Drawbacks of standard compaction tests are outlined, and a case is made for a static compaction test in which the energy input per unit volume can be easily varied. The concept and objectives of the new static compaction test are outlined and the procedure described. Results are presented graphically and compared with results using the Proctor compaction test. A difference is found due to the lack of a consolidation phase in the Proctor test. The use of static compaction test results using the relationship between optimum moisture content and energy input is discussed.

The Static Compaction of Soils

This paper deals with an experimental study on flexural bond strength of masonry using various blocks in combination with different mortars. Flexural bond strength of masonry has been determined by testing stack-bonded prisms using a modified bond wrench test set-up. The effect of mortar composition and strength on the masonry's. flexural bond strength using three types of masonry units (stabilized mud blocks, stabilized soil-sand blocks and burnt brick) has been examined. The effect of the masonry unit's moisture content on flexural bond strength has also been studied. Increases in mortar strength lead to increased flexural bond strength for cement mortar, irrespective of the type of masonry unit. It has been found that combination mortars, such as soil-cement mortar and cement-lime mortar, lead to better bond strength compared to cement mortars. The moisture content of the masonry unit at the time of casting has displayed significant influence on the flexural bond strength of the masonry. It has been found that for each type of masonry unit, an optimum moisture content exists, beyond which the flexural bond strength falls off quickly.

K. S. Jagadish

Papers

Embodied energy of common and alternative building materials and technologies

Brick-Mortar Bond and Masonry Compressive Strength

Strength and elasticity of brick masonry prisms and wallettes under compression

The Static Compaction of Soils

Flexural bond strength of masonry using various blocks and mortars