Project
Institute of Construction and Architecture
International Projects
ReBuilt - Circular and digital renewal of central Europe construction and building sector
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| Duration: | 1. 4. 2023 - 1. 6. 2026 |
| Evidence number: | CE0100390 |
| Program: | INTERREG |
| Project leader: | Prof. Dr. Ing. Palou Martin-Tchingnabé |
| Annotation: | The construction industry is one of the most natural resource-consumption sectors (more than 50% of all extracted materials, 50% of water, and 1/3 of energy are used in construction, which also produces more than 1/3 of all wastes and 1/3 GHG), therefore boosting the circular economy (CE) in this sector produces a significant impact on central European society's well-being and increases its resource efficiency. The current situation of innovation ecosystems for circular and digital construction varies significantly from region to region. While some regions already have good practices of using recycled materials and established administrative procedures (e.g., End-of-Waste criteria), others are still making initial steps towards circular and digital construction (e.g., focusing mainly on backfilling of Construction and Demolition Waste). Nevertheless, the common gaps in all regions are: (1) General reluctance towards Secondary Raw Material (SRM)-based products; (2) Lack of operating SRM-based construction market; (3) Lack of appropriate data about the quality of SRM-based products and their traceability (waste to product flows); (4) Lack of administrative/legal routes for reuse of products; (5) Lack of good practices of circular economy business models; (6) Lack of transnational education program for T-shaped experts. The overall objective of the ReBuilt project is to increase awareness and attractiveness of circular and digital construction through the creation of an education program, upgrade and piloting of new solutions (technical and digital), upgrade demand-side measures, including green labeling, EoW, Green Public Procurement (GPP) and through the creation of first Central European Circular and Digital Construction Strategy, which will be deployed through a network of Regional Circular and Digital Construction Hubs. The project outputs and results will further uptake construction in central Europe, taking into consideration regional and urban/rural specifics. |
INHAAR - International network for harmonization of atmospheric aerosol retrievals from ground based photometers
Charakterizácia atmosférického aerosólu z pozemnej rádiometrie
| Duration: | 1. 10. 2022 - 31. 10. 2026 |
| Evidence number: | CA21119 |
| Program: | COST |
| Project leader: | Mgr. Kocifaj Miroslav DrSc. |
| Annotation: | Aerosols are particles floating in the Earth’s atmosphere linked with the largest uncertainty on estimates and interpretations of the Earth’s changing energy budget. Measurement principles differ depending on the desired derived aerosol optical parameter and on the measurement platform (surface or space). The common aerosol columnar properties’ retrieval techniques, consists of direct measurement of a bright source of radiation (sun, star, moon, sky) with a multi-wavelength photometers. Several global photometric aerosol networks exist. However, there are several instrumental, algorithm and hardware based differences on their related aerosol products and a global standardization is needed. In addition, in order to improve and optimize sun- and moon- photometric aerosol measurements, a network of aerosol scientists and operators, aerosol measurement users and software, hardware developers is needed. The objective of “ΗΑRΜΟΝΙΑ” Action is to establish a network involving institutions, instrument developers, scientific and commercial end users, in order to improve and homogenize aerosol retrievals using mainly solar and sky but also lunar and star photometers from different networks. It aims bridging user needs and the science and technology expertise residing in academia and industry, through: - Increasing the interactions and knowledge exchanges between several atmospheric aerosol network measurement scientists and users - Standardizing and improving of existing aerosol products and tools, towards a “harmony” in the aerosol photometry - Stimulating the communication between operational agencies and academia, with the aim to increase the applicability of aerosol products. - Encouraging and organizing the dialogue between researchers and instrument manufacturers, towards innovation actions on current and future photometric-aerosol instrumentation. |
| Project web page: | https://harmonia-cost.eu/ |
H2GEO - New technology for the production of hydrogen and geopolymer composites from coal mining wasteuction from post-mining waste
Nová technológia výroby vodíkových a geopolymérnych kompozitov z odpadu po ťažbe uhlia
| Duration: | 1. 7. 2023 - 30. 6. 2026 |
| Evidence number: | 101112386 |
| Program: | Horizont Európa |
| Project leader: | Prof. Dr. Ing. Palou Martin-Tchingnabé |
| Annotation: | The current situation in the fuel market, mainly related to the war in Ukraine, may cause interruptions in the supply of fuels and other raw materials, including building materials. The development of a comprehensive technology for the management of mine waste dumps is planned within the project. The main idea of the project is to use the separated mineral fractions and fly ash to produce geopolymer composites. It is planned to use CO2 as a process carrier in the production of composites. Another important aspect of the project is determining the possibility of obtaining Hydrogen from gasifying energy fractions. High-quality raw materials for the production of geopolymers and hydrogen will be ensured by using an innovative mobile separator to process mine waste. The project will enable the creation of environmentally friendly and economically justified installations using material from a post-mining waste landfill. Achieving the final goal will be possible thanks to the implementation of the partial goals set in the project, including the development of technologies dedicated to the production of geopolymers and hydrogen. |
BSS - The birth of solar systems (PLANETS)
Prachové častice v slnečnej sústave
| Duration: | 1. 9. 2023 - 30. 9. 2027 |
| Evidence number: | CA22133 |
| Program: | COST |
| Project leader: | Mgr. Kocifaj Miroslav DrSc. |
| Annotation: | Solar systems emerge from the dust, gas, and ice present in discs encircling newly-born stars. State-of-the-art images from current telescopes have revealed complex substructure (rings and gaps) in dust and gas that may be caused by forming planets. However, these observations have raised many questions regarding when and how planets form; for example, we see rings in discs too young to birth planets, and we measure disc masses too low to form a Solar System analogue. Further, the demographics provided by observations of extra-solar planetary systems have revealed huge diversity and hint that our Solar System may be unique. It is clear that our picture of the birth of Solar Systems remains incomplete despite these great advances in observations. This Action will create a multi-disciplinary network covering three cornerstones: experiments, models, and observations. Experimental data is needed to accurately prescribe physics in models of disc evolution and planet formation, and to correctly interpret observations of dust and gas emission. Models are a “virtual laboratory” within which the impact of physics can be explored, and from which observational diagnostics can be created. Finally, observations provide us with the benchmarks needed to confirm or refute our picture of Solar System birth. To build a holistic picture of how Solar Systems form can only be achieved with an interdisciplinary and pan-European network. This Action will provide the structure and funding needed to develop the research framework, provide training to the next generation, and to disseminate the findings to key stakeholders. |
| Project web page: | https://www.cost.eu/actions/CA22133 |
National Projects
Hydration processes and microstructure formation of the new cement composites and their use in the development of special concretes
Hydratačný proces a tvorba mikroštruktúry nových kompozitných cementov a ich použitie na vývoj špeciálnych betónov
| Duration: | 1. 1. 2024 - 31. 12. 2027 |
| Evidence number: | VEGA -2/0080/24 |
| Program: | VEGA |
| Project leader: | Prof. Dr. Ing. Palou Martin-Tchingnabé |
| Annotation: | The European Committee for Standardization CEN-51 expanded the number of cement types from 27 to 39. Two newly developed types of cement, (1) - Portland composite cement CEM II/C-M and (2) composite cement - CEM VI, covered by STN EN 197-5, are not yet recognized and fully accepted by the standard STN 206/NA for concrete. These composite cements with a lower clinker factor (65-35%) and a higher degree of admixture combinations are of considerable CO2 reduction potential in cement and concrete industries. The suitability of these new types of cement and their intended use for construction purposes was experimentally evaluated by test programs for mortars. Until now, detailed studies on the suitability of these binders for the development of concrete, i.e., for what types of concrete and for what exposure classes related to environmental actions, have not been carried out and scientifically verified. The project fulfills the gap between STN EN 197-5 for mortar and STN 206/NA for concrete by using material chemistry to map the potential application of the new composites cement in developing sealing cement grout for geothermal wells, Self-Compacting and Heavyweight Concrete. |
Complexity on latent heat storage materials and systems in applications for sustainable and green construction
Komplexnosť v aplikáciách latentných tepelnoakumulačných materiálov a systémov pre udržateľnú a ekologickú výstavbu
| Duration: | 1. 1. 2024 - 31. 12. 2027 |
| Evidence number: | VEGA 2/0145/24 |
| Program: | VEGA |
| Project leader: | doc. Ing. Čekon Miroslav PhD. |
| Annotation: | Driven by adverse effects of climate change, progressive building envelope solutions are needed for storing thermal energy in periods of abundance and releasing it when and where needed, such as responsive envelope elements. By virtue of their large latent heat of fusion, phase change materials (PCMs) are promising materials to address this need. However, many challenges remain concerning their real implementation, cost and sustainability. Modern building envelope systems together with the integration of advanced materials that can passively operate with thermal energy obtained from its environment, represent current direction of innovative research. Therefore, this research aims to manufacture and integrate green and sustainable composite materials and systems in combination with PCMs, focusing on bio-based PCMs from renewable and eco-based sources. Waste products such as food wastes, by-products from agro-based food industries, genetically modified oils and many others are potentials for present research. |
LIGHT-POLLUTION- - Comprehensive model of light pollution propagation into the ambient environment
Komplexný model šírenia svetelného znečistenia do okolitého prostredia
| Duration: | 1. 7. 2023 - 30. 6. 2027 |
| Evidence number: | APVV-22-0020 |
| Program: | APVV |
| Project leader: | Mgr. Kocifaj Miroslav DrSc. |
| Annotation: | The proliferation of outdoor artificial light at night is a global challenge that relates strongly to cities. The brightening of the night sky due to the phenomenon of skyglow touches on many social concerns from urban ecology to human health, energy security, and sustainability and climate change. Knowledge of the hemispherical night sky brightness (NSB) produced by ongoing expansion of outdoor lighting systems is a necessary step for characterizing the nighttime environment and monitoring the evolution of night sky quality. We intend to develop a comprehensive NSB model applicable for any site worldwide, while respecting the atmospheric conditions prevailing at the respective locality. By achieving an excellent match between theory and experiment, the model will (1) accurately assess the environmental impact of new outdoor lighting installations; (2) investigate the relationship between light pollution and other forms of environmental pollution; (3) elucidate how the nature of anthropogenic particles in the atmosphere relates to the formation of skyglow over cities; (4) predict how much light at night reaches the ground in and near cities; and (5) determine the value of specific outdoor lighting modernization efforts in reducing light pollution. Our strategy to develop a comprehensive model is to derive governing equations in analytic forms in order to provide a deep physical insight to the problem solved, interpret of the role of each parameter, discover dependencies otherwise hidden or unknown, and construct theoretically well-founded approximations. We will solve the vector radiative transfer equation in the Earth’s atmosphere, while determining Stokes parameters for arbitrary cloud coverage or light emissions from artificial sources. Through a combination of radiative transfer modeling and experimental validation, we deliver novel NSB mitigation strategies. |
MEMOLIPO - Measuring and Modelling Light Pollution
Meranie and modelovanie svetelného znečistenia
| Duration: | 1. 9. 2022 - 31. 8. 2025 |
| Evidence number: | 1384/03/01 |
| Program: | SASPRO |
| Project leader: | Dr. Wallner Stefan BSc MSc |
| Annotation: | This project aims to investigate various approaches in measuring and modelling of the global phenomenon of light pollution, artificial light at night which is misdirected, overilluminated and/or makes use of harmful light. The ever-worsening phenomenon impairs not only the visibility of objects on the night sky, furthermore it is a major threat for all organisms worldwide, including human health suffering from impacts. Research goals of MEMOLIPO include a greater understanding of atmospheric impacts on the night sky brightness and how currently used measurement devices can show new approaches in their application. Firstly, light monitoring network data underly strong seasonal variations which can potentially falsify long-term analyses of light pollution development. Such must be included in order to rightly give statements about increases or decreases in night sky brightness values. Another research issue is the impact caused by atmospheric elements like the aerosol optical depth. Latter will be investigated by meteorological ceilometer backscatter data, providing data for this issue in an unprecedented accuracy. Furthermore, airborne vehicles will be tested as potential devices to characterize atmospheric layers. Moreover, it will be tested if easy retrievable ground-based measurements can approximate the city emission function, a very important input for theoretical modelling. And finally, allsky measurements will show, how far light domes from light emitting cities are visible and could influence night skies above natural protected areas. Results from this project lead to important insights in the understanding of skyglow phenomena and serve as inputs for modelling approaches in the future. Outcomes shall also be used for research disciplines of other fields, since it creates new fundaments for nature related studies in, e.g., ecology, biology and environmental physics, or technical studies like lighting management, sustainability and energy saving purposes. |
| Project web page: | https://saspro2.sav.sk/documents/fellows/wallner_SK.pdf |
Multiphysical effects in micro/nano structural elements in MEMS/NEMS devices
Multifyzikálne efekty v mikro/nano-konštrukčných prvkoch MEMS/NEMS zariadení
| Duration: | 1. 1. 2024 - 31. 12. 2027 |
| Evidence number: | 2/0084/24 |
| Program: | VEGA |
| Project leader: | Ing. Sátor Ladislav PhD. |
| Annotation: | The global aim of this project is to give a unified theoretical and numerical treatment of the micro/nano plate and/or beam bending in interactions with various physical fields. Besides the classical theory of plates/beams (CLT), we shall consider also the first and third order shear deformation theories (FSDT and TSDT). Moreover, we allow the materials of the plates to be functionally graded (FGM) both in transversal and in-plane directions, hence the governing equations are partial differential equations with variable coefficients. We intend to develop advanced numerical techniques, like the Moving Finite Element Method (MFEM) to solve the rather complex boundary value problems. The numerical simulation of the effects of functional dependence of material coefficients in multifield coupling and analyse the size-dependent effects can lead to deeper understanding of physical processes in response of micro/nano structural plate/beamlike elements. |
OCCVVP - Optical characterization of particles in exteriors and interiors
Optická charakterizácia častíc vo vonkajšom a vnútornom prostredí
| Duration: | 1. 1. 2024 - 31. 12. 2027 |
| Evidence number: | 2/0009/24 Tlačový |
| Program: | VEGA |
| Project leader: | Mgr. Kocifaj Miroslav DrSc. |
| Annotation: | Small size particles can easily penetrate different environments and have a detrimental effect on human health on both the interior and exterior. In addition to their negative impacts on the health of the population, micrometer-sized particles determine the distribution of diffuse daylight as well as its availability indoors. Environmental turbidity is a critical factor for predicting the amount of solar energy (photovoltaic, PV). Currently, most models assume that particles are spherical in shape, and this limitation is expected to have minimal impact on the accuracy of model predictions. However, such models suffer from a systematic bias, as the particles in urban environments are neither spherical nor spheroidal, and their varying shapes contribute to amplitude fluctuations of direct and diffuse radiation components. The goal of the project is to determine the effect of particle shape on detected radiation and to develop optical methods for characterizing particles in their natural environment. |
Understanding and improvement of the hydration reactions of the low-carbon cements for development of low-carbon concrete including carbon capture through carbonation
Pochopenie a zlepšenie hydratačných reakcií nízkouhlíkových cementov pre vývoj nízkouhlíkového betónu vrátane zachytávania uhlíka karbonatáciou
| Duration: | 1. 7. 2024 - 30. 6. 2027 |
| Evidence number: | APVV-23-0383 |
| Program: | APVV |
| Project leader: | Prof. Dr. Ing. Palou Martin-Tchingnabé |
| Annotation: | Deepening the knowledge and understanding of the mechanisms and kinetics of hydration reactions of cement composites with a low to very low content of Portland clinker to develop Low-Carbon Concrete is currently the main focus of scientific research on inorganic composite binders worldwide. The construction sector has been identified as the most significant sector responsible for 40% of total anthropogenic CO2. To mitigate the detrimental effect of cement and concrete production on the environment and energy consumption, locally available supplemental cementitious materials (SCMs) are combined with locally produced cement. The chemical composition of these materials is closely linked to their source, causing the cement composition to vary from one locality to another. The hydration reaction of cement, which governs the properties of concrete, is a complex process, even more so in the system containing SCMs. Lowering the clinker content in cement to achieve low-carbon cement decreases the initial hydration heat, slows the rate of strength development, and makes the concrete belong to a low-strength class. Primary hydration of cement phases, alkali-activated/pozzolanic reactions, carbonation, superplasticizers, and the water-binder ratio are the main factors to consider in developing low-carbon cement, the main ingredient for making low-carbon concrete. Developing low-carbon concrete from low-carbon cement with the incorporation of recycled concrete aggregates is the main scientific and technological challenge to achieve the objectives of this project. Combining scientific knowledge of hydration process with the development of low-carbon cement will enable the development of low-carbon concrete with similar properties to ordinary concrete. Furthermore, the project plans to develop fiber-reinforced load-bearing concrete from low-carbon concrete. The possibility of sequestering CO2 in the concrete structure by carbonation in the CO2 chamber will be explored. |
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Štúdium vplyvu fyzikálno-mechanických faktorov recyklovaného kameniva na vlastnosti kompozitov konštrukčných betónov s maximalizáciou zníženia dopadu na životné prostredie
| Duration: | 1. 1. 2025 - 31. 12. 2025 |
| Evidence number: | APP0569 |
| Program: | DoktoGrant |
| Project leader: | Ing. Czirák Peter |
Improving Structural Safety and Energy Efficiency Through Development of Extreme Temperature Resistant Sustainable Cement-Based Composites with Post-Fire Self-Healing Features
Zlepšenie štrukturálnej bezpečnosti a energetickej účinnosti prostredníctvom vývoja trvalo udržateľných cementových kompozitov na báze cementu odolných voči extrémnym teplotám s funkciami samoopravenia po požiari
| Duration: | 1. 9. 2022 - 31. 8. 2025 |
| Evidence number: | 1213/02/01 |
| Program: | SASPRO |
| Project leader: | Eng. Vedrtnam Ajitanshu PhD. |
Projects total: 13