Towards a demountable composite slab floor system

A composite slab consisting of in-situ casted reinforced concrete on profiled sheeting, which is connected to steel beams by shear connectors, is a common structural flooring system in office and multi-storey car park buildings. The headed welded studs, which are most widely used shear connectors, are inexpensive and easy to install because they...

Assessment of demountable steel-concrete composite flooring systems

Sustainability concerns steer the construction sector towards adopting a circular economy philosophy. Steel-concrete composite beams are extensively used in multi-story buildings and bridges due to their competitive construction and efficient material use. Currently the composite action is mainly achieved by headed shear connectors welded to the...

Reducing the environmental impact of distribution centres: Environmental impact assessment of the load-bearing structures of distribution centre design alternatives

Buildings influence the environment due to the emission of greenhouse gases, energy use, water consumption, and waste generation. The load-bearing structures of buildings also have a significant share in these emissions. Currently, European and national regulations oblige to focus on sustainability in designs as well. In this research, it is...

Towards the Automation of Preliminary Bridge Designs with Parametric Design Software: Assessment and optimization of multiple steel-concrete bridge typologies

This thesis concerns research into the parametric modelling and optimization of steel-concrete bridge typologies typically found in the Netherlands, in order to further the automation of preliminary bridge designs. The research question posed is: "How can a parametric bridge design model be composed to fit into the <br/>overall road design...

Reducing the environmental impact of distribution centres: Designing green-enveloped biobased alternatives to compare with reference steel and concrete designs

The climate emergency calls for a global shift towards a low-carbon economy, to preserve natural resources and biodiversity, while limiting global warming and its consequences. This project focuses on the impact of distribution centres, intended for the storage of commercial goods. Warehouses are characterised by large flexible spaces and simple...