Wind-driven ventilation improvement with plan typology alteration: a CFD case study of traditional Turkish architecture

Aligned with achieving the goal of net-zero buildings, the implementation of energy-saving techniques in minimizing energy demands is proving more vital than at any time. As practical and economic options, passive strategies in ventilation developed over thousands of years have shown great potential for the reduction of residential energy demands, which are often underestimated in modern building’s construction. In particular, as a cost-effective passive strategy, wind-driven ventilation via windows has huge potential in the enhancement of the indoor air quality (IAQ) of buildings while simultaneously reducing their cooling load. This study aims to investigate the functionality and applicability of a common historical Turkish architectural element called “Cumba” to improve the wind-driven ventilation in modern buildings. A case study building with an archetypal plan and parameters was defined as a result of a survey over 111 existing traditional samples across Turkey. Buildings with and without Cumba were compared in different scenarios by the development of a validated CFD microclimate model. The results of simulations clearly demonstrate that Cumba can enhance the room’s ventilation rate by more than two times while harvesting wind from different directions. It was also found that a flexible window opening strategy can help to increase the mean ventilation rate by 276%. Moreover, the room’s mean air velocity and ventilation rate could be adjusted to a broad range of values with the existence of Cumba. Thus, this study presents important findings about the importance of plan typology in the effectiveness of wind-driven ventilation strategies in modern dwellings

Wind-driven ventilation improvement with plan typology alteration: a CFD case study of traditional Turkish architecture

Aligned with achieving the goal of net-zero buildings, the implementation of energy-saving techniques in minimizing energy demands is proving more vital than at any time. As practical and economic options, passive strategies in ventilation developed over thousands of years have shown great potential for the reduction of residential energy demands, which are often underestimated in modern building’s construction. In particular, as a cost-effective passive strategy, wind-driven ventilation via windows has huge potential in the enhancement of the indoor air quality (IAQ) of buildings while simultaneously reducing their cooling load. This study aims to investigate the functionality and applicability of a common historical Turkish architectural element called “Cumba” to improve the wind-driven ventilation in modern buildings. A case study building with an archetypal plan and parameters was defined as a result of a survey over 111 existing traditional samples across Turkey. Buildings with and without Cumba were compared in different scenarios by the development of a validated CFD microclimate model. The results of simulations clearly demonstrate that Cumba can enhance the room’s ventilation rate by more than two times while harvesting wind from different directions. It was also found that a flexible window opening strategy can help to increase the mean ventilation rate by 276%. Moreover, the room’s mean air velocity and ventilation rate could be adjusted to a broad range of values with the existence of Cumba. Thus, this study presents important findings about the importance of plan typology in the effectiveness of wind-driven ventilation strategies in modern dwellings

Using Machine Learning Techniques to Predict Esthetic Features of Buildings

Several substantial market barriers obstruct the widespread adoption of sustainable buildings. Esthetic features are amongst the main driving forces behind the marketability of buildings, thus improvement of sustainable buildings in terms of visual esthetics would enhance their marketability and thus their market intake. Nonetheless, esthetic improvement of the buildings is a challenging task because it lacks in scales and methods to measure and evaluate buildings’ facade esthetic. In this regard, this study aims to develop machine learning-based models to predict the esthetic appreciation of buildings related to their façade features. For this purpose, an artificial neural network and decision tree models are developed and validated with the results of a conducted comprehensive survey (n = 807). In addition, the impact of different window features (i.e., position, number, area, width, height, symmetry, and proportion) on housings esthetic and marketability is investigated. Results show a high level of accuracy for both models in the prediction of esthetic appreciation of buildings

Comparison of complications in second trimester amniocentesis performed with 20G, 21G and 22G needles

Aim: To compare short-and long-term complications of amniocentesis performed with 20G, 21G, and 22G needles

Multiple Fetal Anomalies in Association with Topiramate and Oxcarbezepine Treatment

We present a case of a woman who used topiramate (100 mg) and oxcarbazepine (300 mg) continuously during pregnancy. Multiple fetal anomalies including limp defects of the lower extremities, pericardiac fluid collection, cardiomegaly, cleft lip and palate, absent right kidney, and dysplastic left kidney were found by ultrasonography. Labor was induced and anomalies were confirmed by autopsy. The malformation rate after exposure to oxcarbazepine in utero as a monotherapy was calculated to be 2.4%, which is compatible with the malformation rate seen in the general population. Topiramate is teratogenic in mice, rats, and rabbits, but there are very few reports about its teratogenicity in humans

Bladder Exstrophy

Bladder exstrophy is a very rare congenital malformation in which the anterior wall of the bladder is absent, and the posterior wall is exposed externally. The differential diagnosis includes omphalocele, gastroschisis, and cloacal exstrophy. Ultrasound and Doppler examinations are the main diagnostic tools. Although mortality is low, termination of pregnancy should be discussed due to serious morbidities