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Due to developments in construction and material techniques, as well as the economic, environmental and societal challenges that surrounding us; many changes have occurred in the design and construction methods, to achieving unique results to meet an increasing requirement of users. Many studies were recommended for the importance of moving towards the principles and applications of flexible architecture. This will help in responding to the successive and intertwining challenges in dynamic societies. At the same time, it will provide creative design insights, in which the requirements of the present are combined with the potential changes in the future, with the aim of making them more adaptive and efficient. The problem of research lies in the need to utilize the principles of flexible architecture in enhancing the structural forms of lightweight metal building systems. This will make them more adaptive to potential functional and environmental changes, and allow future adjustments to be made that are compatible with the needs and desires of their users. Accordingly, the research questions include the following: What is flexible architecture? How can its principles be used to enhance the structural forms of lightweight metal building systems? And how will this be reflected in the applications of these systems in the future? Accordingly, the research aims to shed light on flexible architecture, as one of the trends expected to occupy an important place in future architecture. At the same time, benefit from studying its principles and analyzing some of its applications to enhance the structural forms of lightweight metal building systems. It is expected to achieve this aim based on a research hypothesis that: Flexible architecture includes features and principles that can be used to enhance the structural forms of lightweight metal building systems, and contribute to their spread. The aim of the research was accomplished according to a descriptive and analytical approach. Finally the research was concluded by discussing some of the related findings.

Disasters have been a common occurrence since the beginning of time, yet they are increasing phenomenally worldwide and especially in developing countries. Factors that led to the cause of destructive disasters are often complex and interrelated; researchers detect human influence and rapid development is intensifying the damage and scale of disaster-prone areas through urban sprawl and human interference. Observing the disaster life cycle, it is made up of four stages: preparedness stage, resilience and mitigation stage, response and relief stage, and finally reconstruction and recovery stage. The main focus usually lies in the response and relief stage which comes immediately after the disaster has struck. The aim of this research is to extend the architectural intervention across all stages of the disaster; using a dynamic disaster response system made up of three components, primarily a disaster educational centre that can reliably respond to any disaster occurrence using a network of prebuilt structures spread across the perimeters of disaster-prone areas. The structures help with strategic preparedness, promote resilience, mitigating damage and spread, provide recovery and relief, and aid in eventual reforestations and reconstructions. As well as, designed to host an adaptable module of prefabricated units that can be easily mobilized and transported to plug-in to the host structures; the hosting structures will also provide a mechanical response across all stages of the disaster life cycle with a minimum disruptive footprint. Utilizing primarily the inductive method, this research will analyse the effectiveness of this unconventional architectural design approach in how it functions both reactively and strategically across all stages of any disaster life cycle. The paper also relies on analytical and deductive methods to help portray the effectiveness of the unconventional architectural design approach in how it functions both reactively and strategically across all stages of any disaster life cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fast‐track construction – motivation, history & concepts Many structures such as bridges, building constructions or industrial facilities are currently being replaced by new ones. Their (scheduled) service life is over. In addition, there is a great demand for living space in growing cities. Both, replacements and new constructions, take place in tight traffic systems that are already largely utilized by freight, goods and passenger traffic. Fast‐track construction – meaning on‐site execution here – is motivated by the goals of minimizing additional impact on the traffic systems and making new structures available for their respective usages at short notice. The quality is maintained. The contribution presents the framework of fast‐track construction as an overview article of the special issue. Included are its motivation in Germany and Europe, its historical context with respect to the construction activity of the last decades or centuries, respectively, including current research approaches and principles that are important for fast‐track construction on‐site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to explore how offsite fabrication (OSF) can be tightly coupled with production and assembly on-site. Prefabrication is a production method that has potential to yield significant productivity and sustainability improvements in the construction industry. Failure to synchronise production in the factory with on-site production can lead to financial losses for the client/owner, main contractor and subcontractors as well as to delays in the construction schedule. The study draws on two case-studies and the authors’ experiences in the context of a critical review of literature on the concepts of flow and Just-in-time (JIT) construction delivery. The findings show the value of a buffer between suppliers, fabricators and the site as a way to help the whole supply team create production flow and more environmentally friendly results. A buffer can help while the team is learning to use collaborative short-term planning to create predictable production. The paper recommends ways to synchronise OSF with on-site production. The paper provides practitioners with ideas to reduce both work waiting for workers (or robots) and workers (or robots) waiting for work – and it contributes to theory by raising more questions for further research.

The aim of this study is to explore how offsite fabrication (OSF) can be tightly coupled with production and assembly on-site. Prefabrication is a production method that has potential to yield significant productivity and sustainability improvements in the construction industry. Failure to synchronize production in the factory with on-site production can lead to financial losses for the client/owner, main contractor and subcontractors as well as to delays in the construction schedule. The study draws on two case-studies and the authors' experiences in the context of a critical review of literature on the concepts of flow and Just-in-time (JIT) construction delivery. The findings show the value of a buffer between suppliers, fabricators and the site as a way to help the whole supply team create production flow and more environmentally friendly results. A buffer can help while the team is learning to use collaborative short-term planning to create predictable production. The paper recommends ways to synchronise OSF with on-site production. The paper provides practitioners with ideas to reduce both work waiting for workers (or robots) and workers (or robots) waiting for work -and it contributes to theory by raising more questions for further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In studies on Polish pine wood, the parameters determining its usefulness for processing are highly variable. In contrast, international studies on the optimum utilization of coniferous sawn wood describes its visual features as those indicating the distribution of defects and their impact on the selected mechanical and physical properties of sawn wood. Knottiness is one of the qualitative properties of sawn wood that is essential for wood grading. The objective of this study was to determine a correlation between variable knots and their soundness on the one hand and their selected strength parameters on the other. One of the basic issues of this work includes structural timber optimization. For Polish sawn wood, these indicators are still relatively new. The study material involved edged butt-end log lumber from a 120-year-old forest stand. The results confirmed a correlation between knots frequency and modulus of elasticity. The correlation was strong, indicating that sound knots play a major role in the process of the strength assessments. The study did not demonstrate a significant share of rotten knots and their effect on strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whether motivated by commercial or social forces, the provision of housing for the working/labouring classes has required a balance between providing housing of a satisfactory standard and the cost which, while generating a rent affordable to the people for whom the houses were intended, gave a reasonable return on the investment made by the developer. This paper gives an introduction to the history of this branch of the building industry and describes by way of surviving building examples the ways in which the industry sought to reduce costs of both labour and materials. Focusing on the first half of the 20th century, the article discusses surviving examples of affordable construction designs, from the Cheap Cottages Exhibition at Letchworth Garden City in 1905 and the experimental system build housing in the 1920s and 1930s which often used concrete to immediate post-Second World War mass house-building designs. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper describes the development of a numerical model with the ability to simulate and analyze the mechanical behavior of different types of Double Bolted Flush End-plate Beam (DBFEB) splice connections, which thus far has not been reported. Moreover, Bolted Flush End-plate Beam (BFEB) splice connections have been investigated for calibration of the results using Finite Element Modeling (FEM). The initial stiffness, rotation capacity, strength ratio, ductility, failure mode, and the performance of these two types of connections have been investigated and compared with each other with respect to FEM A 356. Also, classification of these two types of connections is performed by Eurocode 3 recommendation. The analyses have been calibrated and converted to experimental and analytical results, which are also briefly reviewed in this paper. Also, due to the multitude of influencing parameters, an analytical description of the behavior of DBFEB connections has been delivered based on component method. Moreover, several parametric analyses on the Initial Rotational Stiffness (Sini) of DBFEB connection have been conducted using regression analysis of FEM results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to explore the unique ways in which a group of Clemson University students and faculty achieved the design and construction of a net zero energy house for the 2015 U.S. Solar Decathlon competition. This paper will describe not only the role of the competition but also the foundation of the team's research and ultimate goal of realizing a holistic view of energy use. Furthermore, this paper will detail the unique materials, systems, and strategies successfully employed by the team in the Indigo Pine solar house, their measured performance, and their future applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article deals with the small historic centres regeneration theme seen from its various angles with specific reference to the "building on built" aspect. The paper defines those regeneration strategies considered most suitable to the context dealt with and shows how to select materials and technologies to be used in view of intervention sustainability. Different methodologies for the small town centres regeneration are illustrated using three indicative study cases from the Swiss architects team Wespi de Mueron Romeo Architetti. These cases are illustrated discussing the specific intervention object and the motivation leading to the project choices. A special in depth study is dedicated to the technological side of the project with detailed construction drawings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is a research paper with a focus on technical aspects of timber and on recent case studies, discussing the use of timber as multi-frame for multi-level residential buildings in Europe. The authors see this as a relevant topic within the context of the current environmental debate and the use of sustainable materials and construction methods. The conclusion suggests that timber is a high performance construction material adequate for multi-storey residential buildings, even in an urban context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• GWP and POFP impacts critical for off-site construction at global environment. • Acidification, eutrophication and human toxicity potential are more important at regional and local environment. • Transportation distance is critical when improving environmental savings of off-site construction. • Local material availability and level of pre-fabrication is vital for off-site construction GHG emission reduction. Off-site construction is a popular construction technique due to improvements in construction time and efficiency. However, a typical construction will incur several air emission substances which can be categorised as direct and indirect emissions. The effect of these pollutant substances may have severe health impacts on the immediate surrounding environment of the construction site. The study attempts to quantify direct and indirect emissions associated with off-site construction and compare with traditional on-site construction. Two case studies in Chengdu, China is used to investigate the direct and indirect impacts of off-site construction as compared to conventional construction. The results indicate GHG emissions reduction of 8.40% for off-site construction. Impact assessment revealed pre-fabrication having more reduction on global warming and oxidation formation at global level and eutrophication, human toxicity and acidification at regional and local environment. Further analysis revealed a strong relationship between the transportation distance and the level of pre-fabrication on total carbon emission reduction. The methodology provided in the current study exemplified the importance of conducting a well-articulated assessment to help decision making on environmental impact reduction in off-site construction. The results conclude the importance of developing a structured decision making platform to assist the sustainable decision makings in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pre-expanded perforator flaps, a combination of tissue expansion with perforator flaps, are emerging as another landmark of plastic surgery. This flap inherits the characteristics of both perforator flaps and expanded flaps, making it a highly versatile option in reconstructive surgery. However, the definition of the pre-expanded perforator flap and the impact of pre-expansion on the superficial angio-architecture remain controversial. In this article, the authors review current concepts including the mechanism of expansion and the resultant changes in the angio-architecture. The authors also review the previous studies and classifications of pre-expanded perforator flaps., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Patients with severe postburn scar contractures underwent reconstruction of skin defects after scar excision with pre-expanded super-thin skin perforator flaps supplied primarily by perforators via the "bridging effect" from the branches of the adjacent arteries as 2-stage procedures. Pre-expansion is an innovative technique and may improve the anastomoses between subdermal vascular plexuses and extend the supplying area of these vessels to the flap. Such a flap becomes super thin, but with a prefabricated blood supply it can be used for reconstruction of skin defects of the face, neck, or other body part with improved functional and cosmetic outcomes., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)