Air-conditioning system plays a significant role in providing users a thermally comfortable indoor environment, which is a necessity in modern buildings. In order to save the vast energy consumed by air-conditioning system, the building envelopes in envelope-load dominated buildings should be well designed such that the unwanted heat gain and loss with environment can be minimized. In this pape...

In the precast structures, optimization of structural elements is of great interest mainly due to a more rationalized way that elements are produced. There are several elements of precast prestressed concrete that are objects of study in optimization processes, as the prestressed joist applied in buildings slabs. This article inquires into cost minimization of continuous and simply supported sl...

Devising the most appropriate testing strategy and conceiving a mock-up “as simple as possible, but not simpler” is the challenge which has to be taken whenever a research programme does involve experiments. Optimizing the experimental programme reduces the risk of either wasting time and resources or missing some of the fundamental ingredients of the structural behaviour because of oversimplif...

It is impractical and uneconomic to design a structure that remains elastic throughout severe ground motions. The main design philosophy is that minor structural damages are acceptable as long as the structure does not collapse. Hence, seismic base isolation of structures provides a better alternative in constructing seismic resistant structures. A fixed-base structure designed in accordance to...