Browsing by Author "Mohamed, Nermine Abdel Gelil"

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Assessment of urban ventilation in typical Egyptian housing layouts from four eras using a multi-directional CFD analysis
(Taylor and Francis Ltd, 2023-10) Mohamed, Nermine Abdel Gelil
Air pollution is globally rising, especially in low- and middle-income countries, ue to rapi urbanization. In hot ari environments like Egypt, aequate outoor ventilation is require to ai in the removal of heat anpollutants an provie healthy living environments. In this context, the current research analyses the urban ventilation of typical Egyptian housing layouts using a simulate multi-irectional approach. It is significant because few stuies on evaluating urban ventilation of housing prototypes were unertaken in Egypt, an the approaches use were employe in nearly no relevant research in the region. Linear parallel, clustere, ot, an clustere-shifte patterns were investigate. Eight win irections were analyzeto assess five parameters: 1) win velocity, 2) age of air (aoa), 3) airflow, 4) pressure coefficient (cp) an 5) comfort inex. An automate toolkit that enables the simultaneous simulation of several win irections was employe. It consists of Ey3D, a valiate Grasshopper tool that uses OpenFOAM’s RANS moels. The results showe that best velocities were foun in the linear-parallel-unaligne an clustere layouts, irections NNE an N. The latter exhibite favorable airflow within its courtyars. In aition, win irections ha little influence on aoa, as i the layout pattern. Uncomfortable win was greater in the clustere layout an lowest in the clustere-shifte layout. Except for ENE irection, cp was in opposition with ventilation, since W an WNW irections witnesse the greatest crossventilation potential. While linear-parallel-unaligne an clustere layouts create optimum ventilation an allowe outoor activities, they require more research to increase cp an reuce uncomfortable wins.
Cost-effectiveness and affordability evaluation of a residential prototype built with compressed earth bricks, hybrid roofs and palm midribs
(Frontiers Media S.A., 2023-03) Mohamed, Nermine Abdel Gelil; Mahmoud, Islam Abo Eldardaa
As a response to rising housing prices and the high cost of materials in the building and construction industry, a rural prototype house (the Ecofordable House) was built with alternative technologies. The house is located in the western desert zone of Giza, Egypt, and features enhanced vernacular technologies with local materials. Interlocking compressed stabilized earth brick walls, partially reinforced, jack arch and funicular shell roofs, and date palm midribs were employed in an attempt to reduce the usage of steel, fired bricks, cement, and imported wood. The present research evaluates the house’s construction cost- effectiveness and affordability through detailed real-world data and comparisons of material quantities, labor, and costs with those of conventional methods. The “price-to-income ratio” is used as an indicator of affordability. According to the findings, walls cut costs by half, roofs by a quarter, and midribs by two-thirds; the alternatives combined saved 45%, and the house saved a quarter of the cost after adding common expenses. Moreover, less than one-third of steel, fired bricks, and cement were utilized. In the Egyptian context of government-built houses, the prototype would be affordable for most Egyptian income brackets while the conventional house was expensive for the lowest three. The findings provide empirical support for the economic advantages of enhanced vernacular technologies as alternatives and address residential affordability in similar contexts.
A smart green mashrabiyya-shutter design for residential applications in Egypt
(Taylor and Francis Ltd, 2023-09) Mohamed, Nermine Abdel Gelil; Abd El-Rahman, Eslam Hamid; Sadek, Mohamed
The revival of traditional latticework mashrabiyya is continually urged in the Middle East and North Africa to address conflicting needs since it optimally balances environmental, social, and aesthetic functions. However, its material and craftsmanship costs and inflexibility are significant barriers. This study aims to provide a preliminary design for a green, smart mashrabiyya-like shutter responsive to climatic conditions and privacy needs in Egypt, manufactured with palm midribs, a waste material available in the MENA region due to annual trimming. The simple, yet responsive and traditional design outlined in this study has a considerable potential for residential applications not only in Egypt, but also in similar socio-environmental contexts. The design generation is based on three steps: 1) constructing a static model that maintains the basic socio-environmental needs, manufactured with palm midrib patterns, 2) mod- eling dynamic functions, using Grasshopper/Ladybug, through standardizing slats and deciding upon visibility and adjustable parts, and 3) integrating smart controls based on comfort indexes and indoor climatic readings. Using a simple circuit fitted with sensors, actuators, and a microcontroller, the design of a latticework shutter responsive to climate and privacy was generated. The concept depends on computing indoor weather data and comparing them to thermal, daylight, and wind comfort indexes. Consequently, automated deci- sions could be made to regulate the shutter parts in two ways: 1) its opening angle and 2) openness between the slats. Ultimately, the operating concept of the smart shutter in a room and automated flowcharts that make decisions in daytime and nighttime modes were proposed.
Structural, acoustical, and thermal evaluation of an experimental house built with reinforced/hollow interlocking compressed stabilized earth brick-masonry
(Elsevier BV, 2024-02) Mohamed, Nermine Abdel Gelil; Moustafa, Ayman; Darwish, E.A
With the increasing demand on affordable construction that addresses the global challenges of the modern world, earthen construction is being reintroduced and investigated as a potential sustainable and affordable building method. Compressed stabilized earth blocks (CSEBs) are a common form of enhanced earthen building materials. Previous studies focused on the structural performance of CSEB walls and prisms consisting of one type of bricks with the same mixture, analyzed their thermal and acoustic properties as units only, or evaluated the thermal performance of solid unreinforced CSEB masonry. The present research is the first complete structural, acoustical, and thermal investigation of an experimental house built with a novel reinforced/hollow interlocking compressed stabilized earth brick-masonry (ICSEB) using varying stabilizer contents, compliant with the Egyptian code for building with stabilized soil—Part One: Building with compressed stabilized soil units (EGSE2016). Methods depend on experimental testing, codified theoretical calculations, finite element analysis, and live measurements. According to the structural experimental testing program, reinforcement was found to triple the load bearing capacity of ICSEB columns and, although minimal rebars were used in the ICSEB walls, it has improved their load bearing capacity by 23% for single walls (125 mm) and 58% for double walls (250 mm). In addition, doubling the thickness of the unreinforced ICSEB walls increased the load bearing capability by 164%, while raising the thickness of the reinforced wall from 125 mm to 250 mm increased the load bearing capacity by more than threefold (3.38). Based on the codified theoretical calculations and findings of the finite element analysis, it is safe to recommend reinforced double ICSEB walls as a reliable construction for a two-story residential building. Acoustically, double ICSEB walls attained the noise reduction index value of 40 dB, which is required by the Egyptian code for acoustic insulation and noise control in residential buildings, to protect against the average outdoor noise levels of 65–70dBA. Thermally, reinforced double ICSEB walls kept the indoor air temperature and relative humidity values within the thermal comfort zone, 23.9–25.7 ◦C and 28–36%, respectively, despite the fluctuating outdoor temperatures and relative humidities (16–37 ◦C and 7–88%, respectively). Indoor air temperatures were 1.5–2 ◦C lower than those of concrete masonry walls. Additional research is required to evaluate resistance to environmental aspects, such as exposure to water, wind, and corrosion, and to further investigate their thermal and acoustical properties.