THE GREATNESS OF THE GREAT PALACE

This article is to scientifically enlighten the history of construction and to architecturaly re-create the original appearance of the Ak-Saray palace, which was built in the late 14th - early 15th centuries in Shakhrisabz by Amir Temur. The Ak-Saray palace is the largest in Central Asia ensemble of national architecture and national heritage of the epoch of Amir Temur. The article is based on the latest archaeological excavations conducted by Kh.T. Sultanov on the territory of the Ak-Saray palace.

Rubberized Geopolymer Composites: Value-Added Applications

The discovery of an innovative class of inorganic polymers has brought forth a revolution in the history of construction technology. Now, no energy-intensive reactions at elevated temperatures are essential, as found in the case of contemporary cement production. In addition to their attributes of low energy and a mitigated carbon footprint, geopolymeric composites can incorporate diversely originated and profound wastes in their manufacturing. As of today, profoundly accessible landfills of rubber tyre waste negatively impact the environment, water, and soil, with many health hazards. Their nonbiodegradable complex chemical structure supports recycling, and toxic gases are emitted by burning them, leading to aesthetic issues. These, altogether, create great concern for well-thought-out disposal methods. One of the achievable solutions is processing this waste into alternative aggregates to thus generate increased economic value whilst reducing primary aggregate consumption through the incorporation of these vast automobile solid wastes in the manufacturing of geopolymer construction composites, e.g., binders, mortar, concrete, etc., produced through the process of geopolymerization as a replacement for natural aggregates, providing relief to the crisis of the degradation of restricted natural aggregate resources. Currently, tyre rubber is one of the most outstanding materials, extensively employed in scores of engineering applications. This manuscript presents a state-of-the-art review of value-added applications in the context of rubberized geopolymer building composites and a review of past investigations. More significantly, this paper reviews rubberized geopolymer composites for their value-added applications.

Urban Transformations of Kharkiv’s Large Housing Estates •

Kharkiv is the second largest city of Ukraine with a unique history of urban housing development. In the 20th century it became a field of large housing construction. More than 10 large housing estates were constructed in the period between the second half of 1950s–late 1980s following the Soviet method of prefabricated construction, which was introduced into urban planning in connection with the radical change of all architectural and construction activities in the USSR. This paper explores factors of post-socialist urban development (after the change of political regime in Ukraine in 1991) of the case study large housing areas. For the purpose of the study, two Kharkiv large housing areas were selected – Novi Budynky and Pavlovo Pole, which were designed and built in the same period (late 1950s) and were the first residential areas of Kharkiv built according to the new planning principles of Soviet prefabricated construction. Pavlovo Pole is a large housing estate located not far from the historic center regarded as a good quality housing area, intended for the Soviet “intelligentsia” while Novi Budynky is often a stigmatized area constructed mainly for the factory workers. Key research questions are: description of the history of construction and development of Pavlovo Pole and Novi Budynky large housing estates; comparison of the specific features of their design and construction; to determine how these large housing estates are connected with the rest of the city spatially and in terms of socio-cultural aspect, in particular with the city center; to identify the reasons and content of key urban transformations in the large housing areas, such as: demolition of houses and new construction, reduction of the area of public recreational function, appropriation of deserted areas, etc. Harkov Ukrajna második legnagyobb városa, amely egyedülálló történettel rendelkezik a városi lakásfejlesztés területén. A 20. században nagy lakásépítkezések zajlottak: az 1950-es évek második fele és az 1980-as évek vége közötti időszakban több mint 10 nagy lakótelep épült Harkovban az előregyártott építés szovjet módszerét követve, amelyet a Szovjetunióban az összes építészeti és építési tevékenység radikális változásával összefüggésben vezettek be a várostervezésbe. Ez a tanulmány az 1991-es ukrajnai rendszerváltás utáni posztszocialista városfejlesztés tényezőit vizsgálja két harkovi nagy lakótelepen. Novi Budynky és a Pavlovo Pole, a város első nagy lakótelepei, melyeket az 1950-es évek végén terveztek és építettek a szovjet előregyártott építés új tervezési elveinek megfelelően. Pavlovo Pole a történelmi központhoz közeli, ma is jó minő-ségű lakóterületnek tekinthető, amit a szovjet „értelmiségnek” szántak, míg Novi Budynky gyakran stigma-tizált városrész, amelyet elsősorban a gyári munkásoknak építettek. A legfontosabb kutatási kérdések a következők: Pavlovo Pole és Novi Budynky nagy lakótelepei építésének és fejlődésének története; tervezésük és kivitelezésük sajátosságainak összehasonlítása; annak meghatározása, hogy ezek a nagy lakótelepek hogyan kapcsolódnak a város többi részéhez, különösen a városközponthoz térben és társadalmi-kulturális szempontból; a nagy lakóövezetekben zajló, kulcsfontosságú városi átalakulások okainak és tartalmának azonosítása, mint például: házak bontása és új építés, a nyilvános rekreációs területek csökkentése, elhagyatott területek kisajátítása stb.

Enhancement of High Strength Concrete Performance By Utilising Nano Waste Paper Sludge Ash

High strength concrete (HSC) is an amazing breakthrough in the history of construction material. Due to its high strength, durability, and economic value, it has been used in large-scale construction with a unique structure design not achievable by conventional concrete. However, HSC uses a high amount of cement powder which contributes to its overall strength. However, it will require high cement consumption and increases carbon dioxide emission. Waste paper sludge ash (WPSA) is utilised in cement and has improved concrete properties. Nano engineered WPSA might further enhance HSC capabilities. This research focused on the physical and fresh properties of HSC with partial replacement of nano-engineered WPSA to cement through experimental investigation. The HSC produced in this research has a targeted strength of more than 40MPa with a fixed water-cement ratio of 0.2. The WPSA was oven-dried and was sieved to a particle size of 212 micrometers. Then, it was milled until a nano-size particle is obtained. The nano WPSA is used to replace cement in the HSC mix with a replacement percentage of 1%, 3%, 5%, 7%, and 10%. The new properties of the concrete were measured by conducting the flow table test, and the physical property was determined by conducting the compressive test. Compressive tests were conducted for 1, 3, 7, 14, and 28 days with a cube sample size of 50mm x 50mm x 50mm. This research shows that 1% of nano WPSA replacement tends to improve the compressive strength of the HSC concrete by 10.7% compared to the control sample. On the other hand, the 1% replacement of nano WPSA in HSC did not affect the concrete's workability compared to the control sample. The conventional HSC properties were improved with less usage of cement with the use of WPSA.

Experimental Study on Partial Replacement of Materials like Industrial Waste & Rice Husk with Clay Mortar

Ancient peoples were used mud mortar for their stone houses. The result was a stone home that was both solid and warm and lasted for lifetimes. Mud made houses creates wonderful warm houses as compared to concrete made houses. In the history of construction, clay mortar was followed by lime mortar. Cement manufacturing is one of the major contributors in global warming and climate change. Also fine aggregate is the natural resource and it is limited in nature, thus industrial sand can be alternative for fine aggregate. We are going to use PPC cement because PPC cement resist sulphate attack more than OPC cement and also it is quite cheap. The setting time of the PPC cement is more than OPC cement but when it settled completely then it gives more strength more than OPC cement. Also they used river sand in there project and nowadays there is shortage of river sand that’s why we are going to use foundry sand partially replacement with sand. Foundry sand is a industrial waste sand so we can save money by using foundry sand. The mortar with the alternative fine aggregate, mixed with different combinations of binding materials. We take White clay to River sand proportion as 1:1. In that we partially replace white clay with PPC cement and in other hand River sand partially replaced with Industrial waste(Foundry sand) and also with Rice husk and that mix proportions was tested for 28 days Compressive strength & after curing of 28 days ,cubes cured in acid & alkali solution for Durability strength. The mortar with 20% PPC cement + 80% white clay & 40% foundry sand + 60% river sand (proportion of white clay to river sand is 1:1) has compressive strength in the range of 4.38MPa (Compressive strength) & 4.42Mpa (Compressive strength after Durability test) and these mixes compared with 1:6 conventional mortar proportion, which is acceptable as per the IS code 2250-1981 specification, the minimum strength requirement of mortar to be 3 MPa. Therefore, the use of stabilized mud mortar in construction would prove to be sustainable as well economical. Keywords: Mud mortar, Foundry sand, PPC cement, Compressive strength, Durability test.

Integrative reflections in the contemporary approach of the architecture of buildings for shows

The current approaches, materialized in studies and research programs, further explain and complete the general picture regarding the identity of buildings for shows in the Republic of Moldova. The need to update existing information and correct errors and unconfirmed assumptions arises as a result of identifying new data. The research carried out in the field of buildings for shows focuses both on the detailing of its constitution and on the revelation of the architectural-artistic value – starting with the 19th century. The first buildings for shows (the Nobles’ Meeting Club and the „Pushkin” Auditorium), the refurbished buildings („Patria” Cinema and the Organ Hall) and adaptations to new programs such as soviet cinemas are highlighted. Thorough research of the history of construction and reconstruction of the two most famous buildings for shows, which were the headquarters of the Romanian National Theater in Chisinau, contributes to the identification of valid novelties in the correct and coherent dating and interpretation, as well as the names of the authors of the projects. Programs based on appreciating the value of the cultural heritage of the Soviet period are submitted to the attention of the professional environment, the interested public and the administrators of the built heritage and represent an attempt to raise awareness of the importance of re-evaluating this heritage.

Evolution of Construction Materials and Sustainability

Increasing demand of human beings has a greater effect on the self-sustaining nature of Earth. New technologies facilitated the new generations but created a question mark on the existence of the next generation. The only way to remove this possibility is sustainable development. Through this paper review of evolution of various construction materials is drawn from sustainability aspects and various alternative solutions are highlighted. From the evolutionary history of construction materials, it is found that all other materials have some sustainability issue or construction issue and hence with the development of advanced material their use in construction is reduced. With this study it has been concluded that concrete has been a widely used construction material since the 19th century. With the advancement in concrete technology this will remain popular for a longer time and hence those aspects of concrete which create sustainability issues are to be resolved.