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Parametric Evaluation of Seismic Strengthening Strategies for School Buildings in High-Risk Seismic Zones

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Ensuring the operational continuity of socially critical facilities such as schools following earthquakes is essential for community resilience and disaster recovery. In Türkiye, where seismic risk is high and portions of the public building stock lack adequate engineering design, assessing structural vulnerability and implementing effective retrofitting strategies are urgent priorities. This study investigates seismic strengthening approaches for representative school building typologies to enhance structural safety and post-earthquake functionality. Characterization of School Building Typologies and Seismic Parameters Three commonly used reinforced concrete school building types (8-, 14-, and 22-classroom configurations) were selected to represent vulnerable public building stock. Parametric analyses incorporated variations in peak ground acceleration (PGA), local soil conditions, and material strengths to reflect regional seismic diversity. These parameters allowed for realistic ...
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Advanced On-Site Diagnostics for Thermal Envelope Assessment in Existing Buildings

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Accurate knowledge of the thermal envelope and its physical characteristics is essential for reliable building energy performance assessment. In existing buildings, limited information regarding construction details and hidden defects often leads to significant discrepancies between simulated and actual energy performance. This performance gap undermines retrofit planning, increases operational costs, and hinders carbon reduction efforts, highlighting the urgent need for improved on-site diagnostic methods. Role of Envelope Uncertainty in the Performance Gap Insufficient data on airtightness, insulation continuity, and thermal bridging directly affects the accuracy of building energy models. These uncertainties make it difficult to evaluate retrofit options reliably and often result in conservative or inefficient interventions. Addressing envelope-related unknowns is therefore critical for cost-effective and performance-driven retrofit strategies. Acoustic Air Leakage Detection Met...
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Parametric Multi-Objective Optimization of Building Integrated Photovoltaic Façades

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Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) façades play a critical role in advancing net-zero and energy-positive building strategies by simultaneously serving as envelope elements and renewable energy generators. However, optimizing BIPV façades is challenging due to competing performance objectives, particularly photovoltaic energy generation and indoor daylighting quality. This study proposes a parametric optimization framework to systematically address these trade-offs during early-stage design. Challenges in Balancing Energy Generation and Daylighting Façade design decisions, such as window-to-wall ratio (WWR), directly influence solar exposure on opaque surfaces for photovoltaic efficiency while also affecting indoor daylight availability and visual comfort. Increasing PV-active areas often reduces daylight penetration, whereas excessive glazing can compromise energy generation potential. These conflicting requirements necessitate a multi-objective optimization approach. Paramet...
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Structural–Carbon Integrated Design for Sustainable Hybrid High-Rise Buildings

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Material selection is a critical determinant of sustainability in building design, requiring careful balance between structural performance and environmental impact. Conventional Building Information Modeling (BIM) workflows often separate structural analysis from embodied carbon assessment, limiting the ability to efficiently explore design alternatives. This study introduces the Structural-Carbon Integrated Design (SCID) framework as a unified approach to address this challenge. Limitations of Conventional BIM-Based Design Approaches Traditional BIM workflows typically evaluate structural stability and environmental performance in isolation, resulting in fragmented decision-making and increased computational effort. Such separation restricts rapid comparison of material strategies, particularly during early design stages when design flexibility and impact reduction potential are highest. Development of the SCID Framework The SCID framework integrates structural performance evalu...
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Performance Evaluation of Thermotropic Glazing in Mixed-Ventilated Residential Buildings

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Thermotropic (TT) glazing has demonstrated strong energy-saving potential in air-conditioned office buildings located in hot climates. However, its applicability and performance in mixed-ventilated residential buildings—particularly when assessed using the adaptive thermal comfort model—remain insufficiently explored. This study addresses this gap by evaluating TT glazing performance across multiple building performance indicators in residential contexts. Simulation Model Development and Validation A comprehensive building performance simulation model was developed and validated using experimental data to ensure reliability. The validated model enabled accurate assessment of TT glazing behavior under varying climatic and operational conditions, forming a robust foundation for comparative performance analysis against conventional double-clear glazing. Evaluation Framework for Mixed-Ventilated Buildings The study employed a multi-dimensional evaluation framework incorporating availa...
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Structural–Carbon Integrated Design for Low-Carbon High-Rise Buildings

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Material selection is a central challenge in sustainable building design, particularly for high-rise structures where structural safety and environmental performance often conflict. Conventional Building Information Modeling (BIM) workflows typically separate structural analysis from environmental assessment, making it difficult to evaluate trade-offs efficiently during early design stages. This study addresses this gap by introducing an integrated methodology that simultaneously evaluates structural stability and embodied carbon, enabling informed, performance-driven material decisions. Limitations of Conventional BIM-Based Design Approaches Traditional BIM workflows treat structural performance and environmental impact as parallel but disconnected processes. This separation restricts designers’ ability to iteratively explore material combinations and geometric variations, especially when assessing low-carbon alternatives. As a result, design teams may overlook optimal hybrid solut...
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Imputing Missing U-Values for Reliable Building Energy Modelling and Retrofit Planning

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Accurate thermal transmittance (U-value) information for building envelopes is fundamental to energy performance modelling, retrofit prioritization, and large-scale decarbonization strategies. However, incomplete datasets particularly missing U-values in existing building stock records—pose a major obstacle to evidence-based decision-making. This study addresses this challenge by systematically evaluating data imputation methods to enhance the reliability and usability of large building energy datasets. Challenges of Missing Envelope Performance Data In many national and municipal building databases, U-values are frequently absent due to inconsistent data collection, legacy construction records, or reporting gaps. Such missing values undermine the accuracy of energy simulations and retrofit impact assessments, leading to uncertainty in policy planning and investment decisions. Addressing these gaps requires imputation methods that balance accuracy, robustness, and computational effi...
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