Name Responsible Activity "Analytical, Environmental & Geo-Chemistry" "Philippe Claeys" "The scientific approach focuses on the holistic use of biogeochemical tracers, such as elemental concentrations (Cd, Pb, PGE etc.) and isotopic ratios (D/H, 18O/16O, 13C/12C, 15N/14N, 87Sr/88Sr...), - in some cases referred to as ""proxies"" - that are measured on a substrate (e.g. mineral phase, fossil, mussel-shell, teeth, seawater, phytoplankton, ice cores etc.) to infer specific environmental parameters (such as condition of formation, temperature, acidity, salinity, CO2 level, composition, bio-productivity etc.). Variations in these ""proxies"" characterize the factors triggering or resulting from (paleo)environmental changes and document at different scales, the short and/or long-term effects of these modifications on the Global Earth System. Although not commonly carried out, the analyses in close conjunction of modern and ancient global changes, including pollution are highly complementary and mutually beneficial. Ongoing changes are monitored and documented at very high resolution, while the geological record traces the evolution of these changes through time, providing an extra dimension, missing from the modern data. On the other hand, environmental changes due to recent anthropogenic activities can have many adverse effects on human health. The themes constitute cutting-edge international research challenges. To address them, innovative analytical procedures are continuously being developed using the facilities available at the VUB and its partner universities. This analytical toolbox is then applied to various Earth, Environmental and Environmental-Health Science problems, often coupled with modeling. This research is supported by various external-funding sources (FWO, BELSPO IUAP, STEUNPUNT MILIEU-GEZONDHEID) and by a VUB Strategic Research grant (2013 - 2017)." "Architectural Engineering" "The Architectural Engineering Section aims for innovation in the design of buildings by approaching architecture from an engineering point of view. The emphasis is on the technical aspects of architecture: structure, materials, services, and comfort requirements are considered in a multidisciplinary setting in order quantify, assess, and improve the quality, cost, and sustainability of buildings and the built environment. In order to achieve this goal, fundamental, applied, and policy oriented research is performed, and a continuous effort is made to bridge the gaps between research, education, and practice. " "Architectural Engineering" "Lars De Laet" "The research within the ae-lab is focused on 'the use of engineering tools to create architecture'. This approach is applied on three topics which ask for interdisciplinary studies: the design of light-weight structures, the issue of re-use, and the incorporation of 4D-design. LIGHTWEIGHT STRUCTURES Architectural and structural engineering are subject to an ongoing process of optimization. The search for lighter, more efficient and more performing structural systems is and has always been an essential part of this process. Achieving lightness is a complex task which equally and simultaneously addresses the knowledge, ability and experience as well as the fantasy and intuition of a dedicated architect or engineer. Lightweight structures challenge the boundaries set by static and dynamic structural theories. Cutting-edge materials and complicated three-dimensional shapes dare our calculating and manufacturing procedures and put our technological capabilities to the test. Lightweight structures give expression to ingenious and efficient concepts and thereby contribute to the visualization of contemporary architectural space. The 'Lightweight Structures' research group contributes with a wide range of research topics to the further development of 'Tensile Surface Structures', 'Kinetic Structures', 'Morphological Indicators' and 'Graphical Analysis and Form Finding'. A number of topics are currently under investigation: the design and implementation of pneumatic components in structural systems, the comfort assessment of spaces enclosed by translucent membranes, the design and calculation of new typologies for fabric structures, the design and analysis of deployable bar structures for mobile architectural applications, the use of scissor structures in retractable roofs,... RE-USE The research group on 'Re-use' studies the modern industrial and architectural patrimony (1800-2000). The main objective is to reconcile the authenticity of the architectural heritage with the modern standards asking for more comfort and safety. The assessment of a building typically deals with the evaluation of historical, structural and architectural aspects. The starting point of the research is the construction history. Studying the used construction techniques, calculation methods and material characteristics offers information for the structural behavior. In combination with the structural assessment, the historical, architectural and esthetical qualities are evaluated to determine the cultural value of the building. On the basis of these findings proposals are formulated to retain, refurbish, strengthen or demolish the building. Supplementary, contemporary re-design strategies, applied by designers who rehabilitate and re-use buildings, are analyzed to help converting the historical and recent data into specific proposals and recommendations. Critical analyses of recent rehabilitation projects constantly question and indicate the historical, architectural, cultural and social significance. TRANSFORM The '4 Dimensional Design Strategy' (4D) includes a dynamic view on the built environment. By designing adaptable construction systems, which are compatible with each other, a dynamic - and by this sustainable - answer can be given to an unexpected and unpredictable future. These construction systems are made of a minimum number of basic elements and a set of combination rules. They allow the conversion of each artefact to a different configuration, by means of adding, removing or transforming the basic elements which it is made of. It offers a high potential of recycling and (direct) re-use. The outcome can be compared with the 'Meccano' building set, which, in this view, encloses all materials and techniques, and is applicable to all scales. A set of standardization rules, called a generating form and dimensioning system is the generating system and the central concept in the design strategy, in the sense that it ensures full compatibility of form and dimensions between all basic elements. Current research concentrates on the implementation of new 4D design principles and tools into the strategy. Feasibility studies made/make it possible to evaluate and tune 4D. A variety of applications are currently studied: temporary shelters after a disaster, temporary units for housing, social housing, refurbishment of social housing." "Architectural Engineering" "The department of architectural engineering has set up an interdisciplinary 'research lab on architectural engineering' to bring together research in the field. Find out more about the latest research on http://www.vub.ac.be/ARCH/ae-lab/home" ArcK "Liesbeth HUYBRECHTS" "ArcK is the research group for the domains of architecture and interior architecture of Hasselt University. Domains which imply a spatial synthesis of material, cultural, aesthetic, social, urban, and societal aspects within a given situation or context. We believe that research within these domains should reflect this complexity. As a multidisciplinary team (including designers, urbanists, art historians, engineers, psychologists, and philosophers), we address theoretical and empirical research questions in their proper context. We use a wide range of research methods and emphasize the possibilities afforded by designing as a research method. Our approach is centered on the human aspect, embodied by both the spatial designer and the user, with particular attention to an inclusive and sustainable design process and design result.The main topics of ArcK center around five clusters, which partly overlap but also share the same ambition of generating knowledge that is useful for designers in order to create innovative visions of the future that will ultimately benefit society as a whole:Adaptive reuse deals with theoretical and designerly questions relating to aspects of reuse, transformation, or conservation of historical, abandoned, or underused buildings or sites. Capacity building (collaborative design processes) deals with how to actively include and engage users, future users, and other stakeholders in different stages of the complex process of design practice. Designing for More (user-space interaction) centers around the following questions: How are spatial environments experienced by their users? How do they affect people on a perceptual, cognitive, and emotional level? How do they interact with diverse groups of people, and how can they increase their well-being ? Sustainability (in design product and process) deals with the question how different aspects of sustainability can be incorporated in both the design process and the resulting product, and in the way we can support designers and architects to effectively deal with these issues. FRAME, the research line in collaboration with MAD-research, focuses on artistic research methods. FRAME wants to explore unconventional forms of knowledge in order to develop new ways of thinking in/about space and image." "Brussels Research Centre for Construction Histories" "The History of Construction is a new and rapidly growing scientific field. Based on a common interest in construction history, scholars of various academic disciplines of the Université libre de Bruxelles  (ULB) and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) combined forces to strengthen the Brussels/Belgian expertise in this field. They established a joint research group: Construction Histories Brussels [CHsB].CHsB studies key topics within the field of Construction History. Hereby, four research lines are proposed which will benefit from the inter‐disciplinary ULB‐VUB research environment:   ‐ The actors of building‐ The history of building materials, construction techniques and structures‐ Transfer of construction knowledge‐ Construction history as a discipline: collaborations, definition of the field   " "Building Materials and Building Technology Section" "Building Materials, Concrete, Masonry, Polymers, Restoration, Non-destructive testing, Probabilistic evaluation, Cement Chemistry" "Building Physics Section" "The research of the laboratory focuses on heat and mass transfer in building parts, energy demand and energy use, durability of building materials, sound insulation, room acoustics and noise control in the built environment. * Performance assesment of building envelopes: highly insulated envelope parts, sound insulation of the facade. * VLIET K20 experimental building. * Active envelope systems. * Durability of building systems. * New methodology for performances assessment of renovated envelopes. * Low energy houses and buildings. * Sustainable contruction, energy efficiency and green house gas emissions. * Low frequency sound insulation. * Vibration transmission in the audio-frequency range. * Sound transmission modelling. * Modelling and auralization in room acoustics. * New didactical instruments in teaching acoustics." "Chemical Engineering and Industrial Chemistry" "The research in the Department of Chemical Engineering aims at developing creative solutions to challenging problems in the field of separation technology and catalysis by exploiting the new possibilities in materials engineering and nanotechnology. Key to this development process is a thorough understanding of the fundamental events, from the molecular scale to the real life application level. In our group, advanced experimental techniques (microfluidics technology, ultra high pressure instruments, high-throughput experimentation, ...) are combined with state-of-the-art computer modeling methods, including molecular modeling and computational fluid dynamics, to obtain insight in the fundamental adsorption, diffusion, reaction and mass transfer effects. Integration into the traditional engineering methods allows a rational design of improved or innovative applications. The research of the CHIS-department is organized along three tightly linked research themes: Adsorption (G. Baron & J. Denayer) The research entity is active in several areas of chemical, biochemical and environmental engineering. Activities are focused on several aspects of the use of (micro)porous or structured materials in gas and liquid separation both by physical adsorption and chemisorption or heterogeneous chemical reaction. Adsorbent and catalyst material characterization, the study of adsorption and diffusion effects in heterogeneous catalysis and non-conventional reactor design are dominating our activity. In collaboration with industrial and academic partners, fundamental and applied research is performed. Selected research topics are given below. - High throughput experimentation in adsorbent and catalyst research - Studying molecular interactions in nanoconfined systems - Modelling of adsorption, diffusion and catalytic processes: from the molecular level to the chemical plant - Optimization of reaction and separation processes by intelligent design - Use of micro and mesoporous solids for controlled release of bio-active compounds - Separation processes in gas and liquid phase - Advanced reactor systems for environmental applications - Multiscale modelling of adsorption and reaction processes Transport Modelling and Analytical Separation Science (G. Desmet, S. Eeltink) In this research line, the emphasis is on obtaining a better understanding (mainly through computer simulations of the flow and diffusion) of the methods and systems currently used to conduct (bio-)analytical separations, mainly high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) and Cappilary LC. These insights are also used in combination with the latest advancements in the fields of micro-fabrication and nano-technology to design and develop improved analytical separation devices. - HPLC-Column Technology (monolithic columns, coated capillaries, chip-based columns) - Multi- dimensional separations - New Separation Methods & applications - Flow and Mass Transfer Phenomena in HPLC - The Kinetic Plot Method µFlow (W. De Malsche) Recently, the tight cooperation between the adsorption and the TMAS²-group has lead to the creation of a third research line on microfluidics and microreactor technology. This research line is fed by the vast know-how in micromachining (ranging from sub-micron lithographic etching to micro-precision CNC machining), by the department's extensive know-how in flow modeling (CFD), as well as by the application know-how in the fields of catalysis and separation science of the TMAS²- and the adsorption group. The ability to position very accurately shaped and localized micron-sized structures by precision machining enables novel physical and chemical operations (generally involving mixing and separation). These chip-based concepts are conceived, translated into fabrication schemes and validated. Besides on-chip characterization procedures by means of fluorescence microscopy and other on-chip detection methods, the validation of the prototypes occurs with commercially available characterization equipment. Some currently explored research topics are given below. - Analytical pillar array columns (interaction-based and size exclusion chromatography, field-flow-fractionation, gas chromatography, etc.) - Pillar array columns for ultra-narrow RTD (residence time distribution) reactors: crystallization and production of unstable intermediates - Continuous emulsification and de-mixing devices for multi-phase operations - Emulsified-stratified-segmented flow reactors - Membrane reactors for extraction and reaction rate shifting - New generation mixers and flow distributors" "Construction engineering" "Herve DEGEE" "The research activities of the research group CERG are situated within two research lines. The first research line studies the behaviour of structural components in concrete and other quasi-brittle materials. A first research topic of this research line investigates the behaviour of building components, such as masonry walls and prestressed concrete members. The focus lies on the development of finite element models which allow for assessing the residual strength and damage in these building components. The results of this research are compared with experimental results from our own research laboratory. A second research topic is road design. This research focuses primarily on the diagnosis and prognosis of structural damage in road surfaces. The overarching goal is to develop practical recommendations as regards the implementation and design of buildings and civil-technical constructions in concrete and other quasi-brittle materials. A second research line ""road design and road ergonomics"" follows the recent international trend in the so-called user-friendly (i.e. ergonomical) design. The core of this research consists of analysing the effect of road construction aspects on driving behaviour. On the one hand, the effect of the actual road design (i.e. geometry and cross-section) on driving behaviour will be studied. On the other hand, the impact of extra monitoring and infrastructural arrangements (i.e. signalisation, marking, gate constructions etc.) on driving behaviour will be taken into account as well. The experimental data is collected from a driving simulator which allows for precise observation in various road environments and traffic situations (such as crossroads, intersections etc.) Services to industry: The services are performed in the domain of: material testing, finite element studies of civil engineering problems, experimental studies."