• Blended Learning & Flipped Classroom
• Soft Skills

The integrated Course of Structures and Technical Environmental Systems concerns both the fields of environmental physics and sciences and techniques of construction.

The teaching in Technical Environmental Systems deals with foundations and applications of Technical Physics in the fields of environmental, architecture and spatial planning. It focuses on the fundamentals of rational use of energy and the use of renewable energy sources in buildings and in urban contexts. The physical-technical issues related to energy and environmental planning are pertinent to the course, as well as the diagnostic methods and the mitigation techniques of environmental impacts.

The teaching in Steel, Timber and Reinforced Concrete Structures deals with theories and techniques aimed at both the structural concept and the design of new constructions, and the structural rehabilitation of existing ones. It concerns: actions on constructions, the behavior of structures according to type and morphology, materials and technologies, interaction with the ground and environment; methods and tools for structural design, construction; experimentation, testing and monitoring of buildings; structural architecture.

Innovative teaching:       

flipped/blended classroom

The students will acquire:

Knowledge of the structure of the structure and of the phenomena of environmental interaction;
ability to understand project procedures normally in use and regulations;
Knowledge and understanding skills applied to the drafting of architectural and urban projects;
Autonomy of judgment and awareness of design choices;
Mastery of the technical language of the subject and consequent communication skills;
Ability to adapt to the different phases of learning.

Title: STEEL, TIMBER AND REINFORCED STRUCTURES

OBJECTIVES: 

Provide students with solid knowledge of structural design methods of steel, timber and reinforced concrete structures for proper application to real-world projects.

CONTENTS:

(1)   STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS: Solution of beams and frames both with hand calculations and with finite elements computational tools.

(2)   LOADS ON STRUCTURES AND DIFFERENT RESISTING STRUCTURAL SYSTEMS: Vertical loads (dead and live loads), horizontal loads (wind, earthquake). Loads transfer patters and corresponding resisting structural schemes.

(3)   REINFORCED CONCRETE STRUCTURES: Properties of concrete and reinforcing bars. Design of structural elements for flexure, shear and combined axial-flexural loads. Construction techniques.

(4)   STEEL STRUCTURES: Properties of steel. Design of structural elements and structural joints. Remarks on the stability problem. Construction techniques.

(5)   TIMBER STRUCTURES: Properties of timber. Solid timber and laminated timber. Design of structural elements and structural joints. Construction techniques.

Title: TECHNICAL ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS.

The first part of the course is dedicated to introducing the principles of applied physics, thermodynamics and heat transfer, which facilitate understanding the phenomena that govern the energy and environmental performance of buildings. Next, conduction, convection, and radiation heat transfer modes along with humid air (psychrometrics) fundamentals are presented and are then employed in order to determine different types of building loads. Fundamential of heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems,including both the centralized and decentralized architectures, is next presented. Finally, in the last part of the course, comprehensive perspective of solar thermal systems, their characteristics, and the alternative configurations for the integration of these units in buildings, are presented. 

The presented topics include:

- A Brief review of principles of applied physics: Physical quantities and units of measurement, heat flux, work, energy, power,  principles of conservation of mass and energy

- Conductive, convective, and radiative heat transfer along with solar radiation

- Heat transfer through walls and windows: simplifications

- Thermal comfort

- Humid air (psychrometrics) fundamentals, heat gains, and infiltration

- Residential and non-Residential heating and cooling load calculation (ASHRAE RLF and Heat balance methods)

- First and second law of thermodynamics and fundamentals of refrigeration cycles

- Centralized and decentralized heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems

- Fundamentals of solar thermal units, different types of cycles, categories of collectors, storage units, and integration of solar thermal systems in buildings

*Building energetic behaviour simulation laboratory:

OpenStudio (an EnergyPlus based tool) and its SketchUp plugin are introduced and are then utilized for performing the heat balance method in order to calculate the heating and cooling yearly consumption of commercial buildings.

Innovative aspects
- Principles of flipped classroom, through student participation and continous assesment, are followed aiming at keeping the students active during the lesson

- The project is designed to be a practical example of building simulation, which is similar to the cases that students will face in their future career 

STEEL, TIMBER AND REINFORCED STRUCTURES

The exam consist both in a written part and in an oral one. If the mark obtained in the written part is at least 15/30, the student can take the oral exam.  The final grade is then established by considering both of the parts.

WRITTEN PART, with 3 questions:

1.   structural analysis with the solution of beams/frames (10 points);

2.   design of structural elements (10 points);

3.   theoretical/practical question on the topics of the course (10 points).

ORAL PART: Final discussion will be related  to the written test and to all the topics explained during the lectures.

TECHNICAL ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS

The evaluation is made based on the marks obtained in 4 different parts as follows:

• Written Exam: 15 marks 
• Continuous assessment (weekly submissions): 10 marks 
• Final Projects (presented as a group): 5 marks 

Continous assessment and final projects will be evaluated in the oral examination session. 

Only chapter 3, Steady state heat conduction , chapter 11 fundamentals of thermal radiation, and chapter 12 radiation Heat Transfer, Chapter 16 Heating and Cooling of Buildings

Only Chapter 14 Gas -vapor mixture and air-conditioning