A Systemic Approach to Simulate the Construction Process of Self-Supporting Masonry Structures

Vittorio Paris (), Giuseppe Ruscica (), Carlo Olivieri and Giulio Mirabella Roberti
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Vittorio Paris: Department of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Università degli Studi di Bergamo, Via G. Marconi 5, 24044 Dalmine, Italy
Giuseppe Ruscica: Department of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Università degli Studi di Bergamo, Via G. Marconi 5, 24044 Dalmine, Italy
Carlo Olivieri: Department of Civil Engineering, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, 84084 Fisciano, Italy
Giulio Mirabella Roberti: Department of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Università degli Studi di Bergamo, Via G. Marconi 5, 24044 Dalmine, Italy

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 12, 1-16

Abstract: The building sector has a significant impact on the environment due to its unproductive and technologically outdated practices. Although digital tools have emerged as potential solutions, current building practices often lack automation and efficiency. Throughout history, several self-supporting techniques, i.e., construction methods dedicated to the building of shells that do not need support during the construction works, have been developed. These techniques allow for reducing waste and minimizing construction costs. Combining self-supporting techniques and digital tools could aid the development of contemporary, highly sustainable, and efficient building practices that permit the use of alternative and sustainable materials. Building on this, the research conducted defines an approach for evaluating the balanced state of masonry structures during construction works and built using robotic technologies. The approach considers the factors that govern the stability under construction derived through studying self-supporting building techniques. The proposed approach assesses the structural state under construction, evaluating the need for temporary supports. An example of a masonry arch is provided to emphasize the importance of construction factors in sustainable building practices. Then the method is applied to a real case study. Overall, integrating self-supporting techniques with digital tools has the potential to revolutionize the building sector, and create highly sustainable and efficient practices.

Keywords: construction technique; self-supporting systems; masonry; robotic assembly; sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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