Architecture and Civil Engineering

Innovative approaches to the interaction of the metal bridge superstructure with rolling stock

A. Bondarenko, S. Shayakhmetov, A. Zhangabylova — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

As part of the study, eight numerical experiments were conducted to simulate the movement of rolling stock across a span structure. To assess the influence of the elastic and inertial properties of the span structure on the safety of train operation, a series of calculations was performed for movement along an embankment, where both the track alignment and profile were assumed to be straight. However, rail irregularities and worn wheel profiles were considered, just as in the calculations for movement over the span structure. To reflect the fact that in actual operation wheel profiles undergo wear over time, all simulations were carried out using worn wheel profiles. This method essentially reduces the approximation of a continuous medium with an infinite number of degrees of freedom to a set of subdomains (or elements) with a finite number of degrees of freedom. For each element, shape functions are defined that allow for the determination of the displacement field within the element based on the displacements at the nodes, i.e., at the junctions of the finite elements (FE).

Optimization of the technological scheme for the production of reinforced concrete wall coverings using a continuous and shapeless method

D. Zhiyenkulkyzy, N. Zhirenbayeva — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Kazakhstan has a sufficient supply of raw materials for the production of building materials. Today, there are small and large enterprises in the country that produce a large number of building materials. However, the cost of domestic building materials is higher than with cheap imports from abroad. It is no secret that the reduction in the consumption of building materials in the country during the crisis led to a decrease in production. In the future, it is important to improve the quality and production volumes of domestic building materials and achieve high quality. Also, the protection of the legitimate interests and rights of enterprises producing construction materials should not be neglected. In this direction, the government should provide assistance to enterprises focused on the production of domestic building materials, expand the possibilities of innovative development, introduce advanced models and new technologies for managing enterprises producing construction materials. Currently, the production of reinforced concrete products by various methods used in foreign experience is widespread in the country. One of them is reinforced concrete wall coverings. The production of hollow reinforced concrete coverings using the latest modern shapeless method has begun in Kazakhstan. This technology reduces the cost of prestressed coatings, the cost of auxiliary devices, labor and energy costs for production. The technology of using a continuous and formless approach for the production of reinforced concrete wall coverings has not yet been applied, but they are more effective in industrial construction than hollow coverings. It increases the type of coatings produced and reduces the cost, labor, and energy spent on coating production. Let's consider the production of reinforced concrete wall coverings of type P without a cavity and determine how much more efficient it will be than conventional production technologies by aggregate-flow, conveyor or bench methods, ways to reduce production costs.

Design of Residential Spaces with Consideration for People with Special Needs

L. Sidorenko, N. Sarzhanov — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This article analyzes the key principles of organizing the residential physical environment for individuals who use wheelchairs. Contemporary architecture is increasingly oriented toward creating comfortable and inclusive spaces; however, for millions of wheelchair users, the lack of adequate comfort and safety within residential settings remains a pressing issue. People with special needs are still often perceived and treated as individuals with «limited abilities» due to environmental barriers. Designing buildings that can be used by individuals of all ages and health conditions should become one of the primary directions in architectural practice. The urgency of creating an inclusive environment stems from the growing recognition of the need to humanize the built environment for those facing temporary or permanent physical limitations. Adapting residential spaces to meet the needs of such individuals requires particular attention, as it directly impacts their quality of life. Many residential buildings, including those in Kazakhstan, fail to meet contemporary accessibility standards. This is evident in features such as narrow doorways and thresholds, the absence of ramps and specialized handrails, and other architectural shortcomings that restrict mobility and hinder the social integration of people with disabilities. Despite legislative efforts to address these challenges, the situation remains problematic in both older and newly constructed buildings. This study explores the principal challenges and proposes potential solutions aimed at creating an accessible and inclusive environment for individuals with musculoskeletal impairments.

Integration of solar photovoltaic systems into residential architecture: a bibliometric and practice-oriented analytical approach

L.R. Makhkamova, D.A. Nazarova — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This article presents a combination of bibliometric analysis of scientific publications from 2010 to 2025 and a practical analysis of architectural and structural solutions for integrating solar photovoltaic systems (PV systems) into residential architecture. Based on the analysis of publication trends, leading authors, and key research topics, the main scientific trends in the field of BIPV (Building-Integrated Photovoltaics) are identified. The practical section of the article explores architectural, structural, and regulatory aspects of design, as well as the challenges architects face when integrating PV systems into residential buildings. Specific architectural and regulatory recommendations are proposed to support the effective design of residential buildings with integrated photovoltaic systems, reduce technical barriers, and enhance the energy resilience of urban environments.

Architecture of the Eurasian Steppe: Continuities, Contrasts, and Lessons for Sustainable Regionalism

V. Yaskevich, Ch. Li — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This article explores the architecture of the Eurasian steppe as a field of ecological reasoning and regional design intelligence. Rather than focusing on stylistic or symbolic aspects of cultural identity, it examines how vernacular traditions across the steppe-spanning from Inner Mongolia to Eastern Europe-articulate shared strategies of material economy, spatial compactness, and environmental adaptation. Drawing on a wide range of architectural literature and theoretical frameworks, the study positions the steppe not as a collection of isolated ethnographic cases, but as a coherent ecological zone with latent architectural continuity. The concept of ecological regionalism is proposed as a lens through which vernacular strategies can be understood as generative rather than nostalgic. Historical figures such as Frank Lloyd Wright, Hassan Fathy, and Balkrishna Doshi are discussed as precedents for integrating local materials and climate responsiveness into modern design thinking. While several recent projects are briefly cited as illustrations, the article’s primary aim is theoretical: to situate the architecture of the Eurasian steppe within broader discourses on sustainability, regional identity, and place-based architectural logic.