Journal of Architectural and Engineering Research

Conservation Problems of Wall Paintings Within the Architectural Heritage

2024-07-16T21:23:17+04:00

The Armenian legislation is currently protecting and preserving architectural monuments, archaeological sites, and minors’ artistic forms of art like xač‘k‘ars. Unfortunately, there are several cases of precious wall paintings preserved inside religious buildings (Tat‘ev, Lmbatavank‘, K‘obayr, Mastarà) being damaged during architectural monument restoration. In recent years, there has been a lot of interest in study, conservation, and restoration of wall paintings in Armenian churches; however, there is one terrible reality to report: the neglect and abandonment of the protection and safeguarding of visible wall paintings for many bureaucratic and logistical reasons, as well as reasons for complete indifference for the destiny of the frescoes. A significant illustration of this negative attitude is the chapel of the Armenian monastery of K‘obayr. After many years of abandonment, the Armenian Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport made a move and began a campaign of studies and restorations in collaboration with the Polytechnic of Milan, to restore the buildings and wall paintings. Restoration work on the K‘obayr chapel has been put on hold since 2013 due to inadequate administrative administration. As a result, the chapel's single nave's double-pitched roof, which is incomplete has remained exposed for the past 10 years, and rainwater infiltration formed a lovely part of the wall paintings. Our four years of endless reports and reminders have yielded nothing. The purpose of this article is to show once again, that the wall paintings in Armenian churches are historical monuments that must be safeguarded and are an inseparable key component of each existing church's monumental architectural heritage; consequently, they must be protected.

Aghvank Architecture in Scientific Literature

2024-07-25T09:39:19+04:00

In recent decades, articles on Aghvank architecture have been published in scientific literature, showcasing notable differences from materials published before the 1970s. These newer publications present conflicting results and conclusions, reflecting diverse scientific approaches. As a result, the Azerbaijani scientific community portrays the entire Christian culture of Artsakh, particularly its architecture, as a component of the Aghvan heritage. This paper comprehensively reviews existing scientific materials on Aghvank architecture, spanning publications from both the Soviet and post-Soviet eras, as well as compares the articles authored by Azerbaijani scholars with those that have been written in foreign languages and published in periodicals. After conducting research, it is evident that Azerbaijani historians have increasingly attempted to claim the Christian culture and architecture of Artsakh as their own over the past 40 years. This has led to a loss of objectivity and scientific approach towards existing materials and methods. The study aimed to show the dynamics of the "scientific study" of Azerbaijani architecture, the editing of the "new history" of the medieval culture and architecture of Aghvank in the Caucasus in recent decades, to highlight the main contradictions evident in the results of research by Azerbaijani and foreign scientists. Today, in the context of the occupation of the entire territory of Artsakh and its architectural heritage, such a discovery is becoming increasingly important.

Calculation Features of Vertical Settling Tanks for Heavy Metal - Containing Wastewater Treatment

2024-08-04T14:27:33+04:00

The article discusses the treatment of wastewater containing heavy metal salts before releasing it into natural water bodies or the urban drainage system. The focus is on environmental protection, human health, and the potential for recovering valuable metals from wastewater. A vertical settling tank was selected for its cost-effectiveness in treating metal-containing acidic wastewater. The article provides a general method for calculating these settling tanks during reagent sedimentation, which can be used to remove various types of heavy metal salts. For this purpose, all calculations related to the use of reagents (their quantities, volumes of reagent storage, solution tanks, and neutralization chambers) were conducted in advance. Additionally, corresponding chemical equations for the reagents and various acids, as well as the equations for the reactions occurring between the reagents and heavy metal salts, were formulated.

Historical Memory and Volumetric-Spatial Composition of Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex

2024-09-10T19:04:22+04:00

The erection of memorials and monuments plays an important role in the historical memory of humanity, self-recognition of society and awareness of the social nature of memory. From this point of view, we looked at the architectural-spatial environment of Tsitsernakaberd, the memorial complex dedicated to the victims of the Genocide, the organization of which is subject to the perpetuation of historical memory and is one of the manifestations of the preservation of national identity. It finds its parallels in world practice. The motivation for the construction of the memorial complex was the fiftieth anniversary of Yeghern. The Tsitsernakaberd hill has been completely culturalized, the landscape has passed through four conceptual lenses: ''text'', ''arena'', ''performance'' and ''wound'', achieving the harmony of hand-made and non-handmade. In the work, a complete examination of the architecture of the memorial complex was carried out by the method of comparative analysis of professional literature and personal observations. In conclusion, it can be said that the memorial dedicated to the memory of the Genocide victims, apart from its historical and artistic significance, is also a universal value and a sacred place for all those who consider human life as an absolute value regardless of nationality, religion or race.

Green Roof Retrofitting in Algeria Between Sustainability and Seismic Vulnerability

2024-09-08T22:43:26+04:00

Installing green roofs in urban areas is a sustainable practice towards the ecological transition, they offer many advantages with regards to reducing energy consumption, mitigating the urban heat island effect, managing runoff ...etc. In order to propagate this technique, green roofs have to be installed on the top of existing buildings, which can increase their vulnerability during seismic events. The present paper aims to evaluate the impact of green roof retrofitting on the seismic performance of a collective housing in Algeria. To this end, the finite element method was adopted to investigate the seismic-related parameters according to the Algerian seismic regulations. The studied reinforced concrete building is located in the district of Constantine (northern east of Algeria). It was found that the presence of concrete walls, recommended by the Algerian seismic regulations, increases the rigidity of the building, which reflects positively on the building’s natural period and displacements. As for the stress-related parameters, the reduced normal force does not increase much; however, a significant increase in the shear forces at the base due to green roof implementation was observed. It was also found that adding a green roof contributes more to the stabilizing moment than to the overturning one during an earthquake event. Hence, in the studied context, the presence of load-bearing concrete walls offers certain positive effects on green roof installation with regard to the seismic performance. Nevertheless, a thorough seismic investigation should be performed before installing green roofs on the top of existing collective housing in Algeria.

Transformative Effects of Salinity on Sebkha Soil Properties: Unveiling Strength, Structure, and Stability through Advanced Remediation Strategies

2024-09-09T11:45:49+04:00

This study investigates the effects of varying salinity levels on sebkha soils, focusing on their physical, mechanical, and chemical properties. Soil samples were collected from Tin silt sebkha in Ain M'lila across three different seasons, resulting in high salinity soil (HSS), medium salinity soil (MSS), and low salinity soil (LSS). The grain size distribution curves reveal that 70% of grains in both HSS and LSS have diameters less than 60 µm, with LSS containing 19% more particles smaller than 20 µm compared to HSS. Unconfined compressive strength (UCS) measurements show a significant decrease from 1100 kPa in LSS to 200 kPa in HSS, with corresponding peak strains increasing from 2.3% to 4.7%. Chemical analysis indicates that pH decreases from 8.17 in LSS to 6.79 in HSS, reflecting increased soil acidity with higher salinity. SEM images demonstrate that higher salinity results in a denser soil structure due to salt cementation, whereas lower salinity soils exhibit more micropores. The study highlights the need for comprehensive models integrating these properties to enhance predictive capabilities and inform effective soil management. Future research should explore remediation strategies using additives to improve soil strength and stability, addressing the challenges posed by salt dissolution and soil degradation.

A Typological Identification of the Large Housing Estates of 1950s in Oran. Exploring the Three - Dimensional Approach

2024-09-08T15:20:40+04:00

In Algeria, the city of Oran is home to around fifty large housing estates built in the 1950s-1962, designed according to ethnic diversity, amalgamated location between the city center and the surrounding suburbs accompanied by facilities with a metropolitan influence, also known as modern housing estates, witnessed a revolutionary trend never seen before in Algerian society in particular, living in shantytowns. However, they suffer fierce criticism associated with their monotony and similar design, leading to their stigmatization and marginalization. This article aims to identify typological diversity across three dimensions, architectural, urban and social, using ethno-architectural analysis, comparing inhabited surveys, semi-directive interviews and photographs to highlight the particularity and typological characteristics of a sample of large housing estates in Oran. The results obtained by this study reveal that the typologies vary according to the dimensional criteria raised, highlighting their diversity and richness.

Smart and Dynamic Facades: A Path to Energy Optimization in Arid Environments

2024-09-08T15:23:27+04:00

The modern movement of architecture has led to a proliferation of buildings featuring transparent facades, which unfortunately amplify the energy needs of these structures. Mitigating this energy consumption necessitates a reevaluation of architectural strategies. Addressing concerns such as overheating, innovative solutions like smart and dynamic double-skin facades have emerged to curtail energy usage while ensuring comfortable indoor conditions. This study focuses on examining the efficacy of smart facades, employing electrochromic glazing, and dynamic double-skin facades, and integrating dynamic shading systems, in reducing energy consumption within office buildings located in hot and arid regions. Parametric simulations were used on a particular office building, comparing scenarios with and without the implementation of smart and dynamic double-skin facades, particularly on south-facing orientations. The simulations varied the wall-to-window ratio (WWR) to gauge energy performance under different configurations. Furthermore, multi-objective optimization (MOO) techniques were employed to analyze and optimize shading device properties. Parameters such as depth, distance from the glass, shade angle, and spacing between shades were optimized as genetic variables to determine the most energy-efficient configuration for office buildings. The study results demonstrate that the use of EC glazing is beneficial in all WWR percentages, achieving 67.65% of energy saving in 90% of WWR., Also it was found that the optimal solution for saving energy is using DDSF with 20 cm of shading depth, 45° of shading angle, and double low-E vacuum in the inner skin, with an energy saving of 70.32% in the case of 90% of WWR compared to the base case.

Prediction of Synthetic Seismograms and Accelerograms for Two-Layer Basis Beddings

2024-09-12T12:12:11+04:00

A method has been developed for predicting strong ground motion displacements and accelerations, assuming that an earthquake is an instantaneous mechanical rupture of the Earth’s crust. The method uses derived theoretical formulas to calculate all three parameters of the ground motion: displacements, velocities, and accelerations during strong (with a magnitude of M 6.0) earthquakes for any non-homogeneous (multilayer) ground beddings with various physical and mechanical characteristics – thicknesses, densities, and shear moduli – and at a certain distance from the expected earthquake’s rupture. The example provided involves the results obtained for a number of two-layer heterogeneous site variants in seismic categories I-IV at the magnitude of M=7.0 and distance of 15 km from the expected earthquake’s rupture. A comparison of the results obtained for actual heterogeneous foundation beddings with the equivalent homogeneous beddings showed divergences by 1.3-1.6 times, depending on the number of higher mode oscillations considered. Recommendations are provided for simplified calculation of seismograms and accelerograms for heterogeneous foundation beddings, with a certain correction of calculation results for equivalent homogeneous beddings.

New Perspectives for Yerevan’s Circular Garden in View of the Environmental Transitional Challenges

2024-12-24T22:12:04+04:00

Through the TACEESM research, a meta-design approach is focused on the factors influencing the "reasons and design forming factors of the project" for urban historical/contemporary urban heritages. The goal is to investigate the possibilities of working through mending and regenerative actions in view of the multiple environmental transitions and sustainable challenges. The methodological approach was assessed through a meta-design experimental workshop on Yerevan's Circular Garden. The approach integrates innovative scenarios, visions, and concepts in an inter-systemic method to rethink the urban habitat in an adaptive/co-evolutionary sense, re-establishing relationships, processes, and performances between nature and artefacts, as well as the psychological development level of current society. The experience showed the possibility of repositioning the green heritage design as a process of "mediance" through the techno-sphere, bio/physio-sphere, and anthropo-sphere to support multiple sustainable, alternative, and reversible projects. Considering the green heritage as a space-environmental interface system, it is possible to enable variable adaptative degrees to the different conditions generated from climatic, social, economic, health, and energy transitions.