Civil

— Corrosion of reinforcement has been established as the predominant factor causing widespread premature deterioration of concrete construction worldwide, especially of the structures located in the coastal marine environment. The most important causes of corrosion initiation of reinforcing steel are the ingress of chloride ions and carbon dioxide to the steel surface. After initiation of the corrosion process, the corrosion products (iron oxides and hydroxides) are usually deposited in the restricted space in the concrete around the steel. Their formation within this restricted space sets up expansive stresses, which crack and spall the concrete cover. Corrosion loss consumes considerable portion of the budget of the country by way of either restoration measures or reconstruction. The content of chlorides in the salt induces corrosion in the rebar of RCC.As the content of chloride increases and also it accelerates the rate of corrosion in the rebar.

This paper presents a health monitoring study of concrete specimens using embedded piezoelectric transducer (PZT) via electromechanical (EM) impedance technique. The main objective of this research is to present a very easy method of embedding PZT sensor in concrete for monitoring either fresh or cured concrete. The basic principle; is to record EM admittance signatures resulted from the actuations of PZT in the presence of electric field. Any deviations in these signatures during the monitoring period indicate disturbance/ damage in the concrete structure. The PZT can be either surface bonded or embedded, however the important features of embedding PZT inside the host structure are durability and protection from surface finish, vandalism etc. The embedment of PZT in the structure is not as simple as surface bonding because there are several issues such as bonding between PZT and host structure. Moreover, it should withstand the curing pressures and temperatures of the host material, etc. The PZT was found to be more effective for metals as compared to non metals like concrete. Thus, this paper presents a double protection wrap method employing both metal and non metal, where the first protection is provided by a steel wire mesh and the second is by cement paste. The wire mesh serves as bonding connector between the host structure and the PZT, where as cement paste provides connection between concrete and mesh. The implementation was verified on various lab sized concrete cubes and the observations were examined by statistical analysis.

A rating system was developed to quantify the environmental impacts of light-duty motor vehicles at the end of their life-cycle based on recyclability, toxic material content and ultimate disposal. Each year, 10-11 million vehicles are retired from service in the United States. The vehicle material not recycled is called automotive shredder residue (ASR). About 4.5 to 5 million tons of ASR are disposed in U.S. solid waste landfills annually. The volume of this residue is likely to increase as vehicle manufacturers continue to use more plastics and composites in their designs to reduce weight and increase fuel efficiency. The rating system developed here will help educate consumers about environmental performance and allow them to factor this performance into their choice of automobiles. The score of this rating system has the potential to appear on new vehicle stickers, similar to the fuel efficiency value. This, in turn, is expected to influence the vehicle manufacturers' choices of design and manufacturing methods. This would provide a voluntary incentive for pollution prevention in much the same way as the Toxic Release Inventory helps reduce the amount of hazardous waste produced. The end-of-life vehicle (ELV) rating system, modeled after life cycle assessment, has two parts: one based on recyclability and one based on toxicity. The recyclability portion is based on the content of ferrous and non-ferrous metal content (which is 100% recyclable) and plastic for which there is a market for recycling. The toxicity index is based on the content of lead (excluding batteries, which are recycled), mercury, cadmium and chromium. This rating system was tested on a generic 1995 vehicle. The paper also includes an analysis of the aggressive ELV legislation approaches of Europe and Japan.

— The motive of undertaking this project " cool roofs technology " discusses the various technical and design considerations as applicable for a composite climate. The primary intent of " cool roof technology " is to reduce the amount of energy (heat) absorbed by a roof surface and maintain the temperature of upper floors in building in summer season. The manual addresses architects, engineers, and other building professionals are responsible for the performance and construction of buildings. The direct and indirect benefits and energy savings potential of cool roofs, its helps to reduce the urban heat island, global warming, local air temperature and creates a more comfortable and healthier environment.

The paper presents risk assessment of construction projects. The assessment is based on the multi-attribute decision-making methods. The risk evaluation attributes are selected taking into consideration the interests and goals of the stakeholders as well as factors that have influence on the construction process efficiency and real estate value. Ranking of objects and determination of their optimality are determined by applying TOPSIS grey and COPRAS-G methods with attributes values determined at intervals. A background and a description of the proposed model are provided and key findings of the analysis are presented.

Abstract: Henry David Thoreau (Concord-Massachusetts, U.S.A. 1817-1862) is one of the main American writers of the 19th century. His works include Walden or Life in the Woods (1854) - a true manifest of ecological concern - and the influential essay On the Duty of Civil Disobedience (1849), where he develops the concept of civil disobedience to unjust laws and political regimes. This statement has to do, in particular, with his radical opposition to slavery and to the Mexican-American War (1846-1848). The present paper corresponds to the forth chapter of the doctoral thesis in Philosophy, entitled “Desobediencia civil y esclavitud en Henry David Thoreau”. This work was published in 2003 by the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross (Rome) and by Los Hemisferios University (Quito, Ecuador) in 2009. This Ph.D. research presents an all-inclusive overview of Thoreau´s thinking in his main writings. The chapter we are dealing with intends to determine Thoreau’s impact on the adoption and application of the concept of civil disobedience in the politics of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr.
Resumen: Henry David Thoreau (Concord-Massachusetts, EE.UU. 1817-1862) es una de las figuras preeminentes del pensamiento norteamericano del siglo XIX. Entre sus obras principales destacan Walden or Life in the Woods (1854) - auténtico manifiesto precursor del ecologismo contemporáneo - y el célebre ensayo On the Duty of Civil Disobedience (1849), en el que defiende la tesis de la desobediencia civil a los regímenes y leyes injustos, particularmente con ocasión del fenómeno de la esclavitud y de la Guerra de los EE.UU. contra México (1846-1848). El presente artículo corresponde al capítulo cuarto de la tesis doctoral en Filosofía titulada “Desobediencia civil y esclavitud en Henry David Thoreau: proyecciones de una filosofía política”, trabajo de investigación publicado por la Pontifica Universidad de la Santa Cruz, de Roma, en el año 2003 y por la Universidad de Los Hemisferios, de Quito, en 2009. La obra aborda la cosmovisión de Thoreau, recogiendo sus principales fuentes en lengua inglesa - muchas de ellas traducidas por el autor al castellano -, para delinear en el capítulo en cuestión el claro influjo del autor norteamericano en la adopción y aplicación del concepto de desobediencia civil por parte del Mahatma Gandhi y de Martin Luther King, Jr.

For designing a structure, members are so proportioned that will have adequate strength against failure and at the same time must possess sufficient stiffness to ensure serviceability. ACI Code provides minimum thickness for two-way edge-supported slabs so that the deflections are not excessive. It also allows thinner slabs if calculated deflections are found tolerable. The method given in ACI Code for deflection estimation is relatively straightforward in comparison to other codes. It uses Branson's equation to take cracking into account for short-term deflection calculation. As for long-term deflection, a simplified multiplier approach is proposed in the Code. These calculation approaches, suitably incorporated in a finite element (FE) package, had been used to estimate incremental and total long-term deflections of two-way edge-supported slabs. However, use of this finite element package is neither easy to use in the design office nor it is available to everybody. An attempt ...

This paper introduces the recent state of research on shrinkage of concrete. It reviews prediction models of shrinkage strain and curvature analysis methods of reinforced concrete members. New test data on concrete shrinkage has been presented. Various factors that influence shrinkage have been discussed. A calculation technique on short-term deformations of cracked reinforced concrete members including shrinkage has been introduced. The technique is based on layer model and smeared crack approach. Shrinkage influence on behaviour of reinforced concrete beams was investigated numerically and compared with test data reported in the literature. It has been shown that shrinkage has significantly reduced the cracking resistance and leads to larger deflections.

The lack of standardised guidelines for the preparation and submission of work schedule has contributed to several problems in construction project especially the extra efforts that have to be put in before parties involved in the project accept the work plan. This paper explores the current practice in project scheduling in the Malaysian construction industry and proposes guidelines that will alleviate the current problems in project scheduling. The methodology adopted was through interviews and questionnaire survey. The findings of the survey form a basis for the formulation of the guidelines. It consists of four main aspects of project scheduling which are process of acceptance of work schedule, responsibilities of the contracting parties, application of work schedule, and implications of work schedule. With the establishment of these guidelines a standardised approach for the preparation and submission of work schedule can be achieved thus will be able to minimise some of the problems that are currently hinder the full application of project scheduling in various construction projects. The proposed guidelines will pave the way for the inclusion of work schedule as part of the contract document.

— Rainfall data of Sangli District were analyzed for drought investigation, which may be used for long term planning of irrigation system in the area. During 34 years period, three times drought was experienced which occurred in 1972, 2005 and 2015. Rainfall data is of great importance of any agricultural and non-agricultural programme. If proper and comprehensive study of various rainfall data was analyzed, the severity and reoccurrence of drought can be predicted and various measures can be taken to cope up with the problems arising due to drought.

The aim of the paper was to examine the use of instructional materials from local resources for art based courses at the tertiary level. The paper examined the concept of instructional materials and their production for instructional purposes for art based courses. Effort was made to review literature on the categorization of instructional materials from local materials and how they can be developed and produced for use to enhance effective learning.

An analysis of multiple criteria decision support systems and facilities management web-based automation applications that were developed by researchers from various countries assisted the authors to create their own Multiple Criteria Decision Support Web-Based System for Facilities Management (DSS-FM). DSS-FM differs from others in its use of new multiple criteria analysis methods as were developed by the authors. The database of a facilities management was developed and provides a comprehensive assessment of alternative versions from the economic, technical, technological, infrastructure, qualitative, technological, legislative and other perspectives. Based on the above complex databases, the developed Multiple Criteria Decision Support Web-Based System for Facilities Management enables the user to analyse alternatives quantitatively and conceptually (i.e. the text, formula, schemes, etc.). Applying the DSS-FM may increase the efficiency of calculators, analysers, software, neural networks, expert and decision support systems and e-commerce.

Hace miles de años los toltecas eran conocidos en todo el sur de México como «mujeres y hombres de conocimiento». Los antropólogos los han definido como una nación o una raza, pero de hecho, fueron científicos y artistas que crearon una sociedad para estudiar y conservar el conocimiento espiritual y las prácticas de sus antepasados. Establecieron una comunidad de maestros (naguales) y estudiantes en Teotihuacán, la ciudad de las pirámides en las afueras de Ciudad de México, conocida como el lugar en el que «el hombre se convierte en Dios».

The lack of standardised guidelines for the preparation and submission of work schedule has contributed to several problems in construction project especially the extra efforts that have to be put in before parties involved in the project accept the work plan. This paper explores the current practice in project scheduling in the Malaysian construction industry and proposes guidelines that will alleviate the current problems in project scheduling. The methodology adopted was through interviews and questionnaire survey. The findings of the survey form a basis for the formulation of the guidelines. It consists of four main aspects of project scheduling which are process of acceptance of work schedule, responsibilities of the contracting parties, application of work schedule, and implications of work schedule. With the establishment of these guidelines a standardised approach for the preparation and submission of work schedule can be achieved thus will be able to minimise some of the problems that are currently hinder the full application of project scheduling in various construction projects. The proposed guidelines will pave the way for the inclusion of work schedule as part of the contract document.

Construction projects located in the Gaza Strip, Palestine suffer from many problems and complex issues. Consequently, the objective of this paper is to identify the factors affecting the performance of local construction projects; and to elicit perceptions of their relative importance. A comprehensive literature review was deployed to generate a set of factors believed to affect project performance. A total of 120 questionnaires were distributed to 3 key groups of project participants; namely owners, consultants and contractors. The survey findings indicate that all 3 groups agree that the most important factors affecting project performance are: delays because of borders/roads closure leading to materials shortage; unavailability of resources; low level of project leadership skills; escalation of material prices; unavailability of highly experienced and qualified personnel; and poor quality of available equipment and raw materials. Based on these findings, the paper recommends that: 1) project owners must work collaboratively with contractors and facilitate regular payments in order to overcome delays, disputes and claims; 2) project participants should actively have their input in the process of decision-making; and 3) continuous coordination and relationship between project participants are required through the project life cycle in order to solve problems and develop project performance.

Poor productivity of construction workers is one of the causes of cost and time overruns in construction projects. The productivity of labour is particularly important especially in developing countries, where most of the building construction work is still on manual basis. This paper reports on a survey made on project managers of building projects in Uganda, where an increase in productivity is being sought. Respondents were required to rate using their experience how 36 factors affect productivity with respect to time, cost and quality. The survey was carried out by a questionnaire and responses received over a period of 3 months. The ten most significant problems affecting labour productivity were identified as incompetent supervisors; lack of skills from the workers; rework; lack of tools/equipment; poor construction methods; poor communication; inaccurate drawings; stoppages because of work being rejected by consultants; political insecurity; tools/equipment breakdown; and harsh weather conditions. Although lack of materials is ranked highest with regard to average rating on loss of time, it was not ranked among the top ten using the importance index that takes into account time, cost as well as work quality. The policy makers and researchers should focus on the identified major factors in order to improve productivity.

The paper presents risk assessment of construction projects. The assessment is based on the multi-attribute decision-making methods. The risk evaluation attributes are selected taking into consideration the interests and goals of the stakeholders as well as factors that have influence on the construction process efficiency and real estate value. Ranking of objects and determination of their optimality are determined by applying TOPSIS grey and COPRAS-G methods with attributes values determined at intervals. A background and a description of the proposed model are provided and key findings of the analysis are presented.

As a young, new, and rapidly growing science, the applications of ultrasound in environmental technology hold a promising future. Compared with conventional methods, ultrasonication can bring several benefits such as environmentally friendly (no toxic chemicals are used or produced), low cost, and compact (allowing on-site treatment). Beside an overview on ultrasonic background, this paper summarizes main findings and innovations of recent studies that used ultrasound in environmental analysis, water and sludge treatment, soil and sediment remediation, and air purification.

Construction projects located in the Gaza Strip, Palestine suffer from many problems and complex issues. Consequently, the objective of this paper is to identify the factors affecting the performance of local construction projects; and to elicit perceptions of their relative importance. A comprehensive literature review was deployed to generate a set of factors believed to affect project performance. A total of 120 questionnaires were distributed to 3 key groups of project participants; namely owners, consultants and contractors. The survey findings indicate that all 3 groups agree that the most important factors affecting project performance are: delays because of borders/roads closure leading to materials shortage; unavailability of resources; low level of project leadership skills; escalation of material prices; unavailability of highly experienced and qualified personnel; and poor quality of available equipment and raw materials. Based on these findings, the paper recommends that: 1) project owners must work collaboratively with contractors and facilitate regular payments in order to overcome delays, disputes and claims; 2) project participants should actively have their input in the process of decision-making; and 3) continuous coordination and relationship between project participants are required through the project life cycle in order to solve problems and develop project performance.

A total of five half-scale reinforced concrete slab-column frame specimens were tested under gravity loads or combined gravity and lateral loads. Each specimen represented a complete story of a two-bay by two-bay moment frame, in which a continuous flat plate system was used with nine columns assumed isolated at inflection points between floors. The tested variables were slab reinforcement ratio and loading history (monotonic versus reversed cyclic).

Poor productivity of construction workers is one of the causes of cost and time overruns in construction projects. The productivity of labour is particularly important especially in developing countries, where most of the building construction work is still on manual basis. This paper reports on a survey made on project managers of building projects in Uganda, where an increase in productivity is being sought. Respondents were required to rate using their experience how 36 factors affect productivity with respect to time, cost and quality. The survey was carried out by a questionnaire and responses received over a period of 3 months. The ten most significant problems affecting labour productivity were identified as incompetent supervisors; lack of skills from the workers; rework; lack of tools/equipment; poor construction methods; poor communication; inaccurate drawings; stoppages because of work being rejected by consultants; political insecurity; tools/equipment breakdown; and harsh weather conditions. Although lack of materials is ranked highest with regard to average rating on loss of time, it was not ranked among the top ten using the importance index that takes into account time, cost as well as work quality. The policy makers and researchers should focus on the identified major factors in order to improve productivity.

Firms with the best information management is more likely to be successful in today's highly competitive business environment. It is a challenge for earthwork contracting firms to capture information and transform it into knowledge that is available for sharing. This study involves a survey on determining the level of implementation of knowledge transferring (KT) process by earthwork contracting firms. Questionnaire forms were distributed to 120 relevant contracting firms in Johor Bahru and Kuala Lumpur. The results reveal that all earthwork contracting firms being studied have implemented KT, even though the level of implementation is different. It is found that contractors of higher class are more willing to implement KT than the lower ones. In so far, the benefits of KT are only moderately agreeable in terms of problem solving and customer relationship.

As a young, new, and rapidly growing science, the applications of ultrasound in environmental technology hold a promising future. Compared with conventional methods, ultrasonication can bring several benefits such as environmentally friendly (no toxic chemicals are used or produced), low cost, and compact (allowing on-site treatment). Beside an overview on ultrasonic background, this paper summarizes main findings and innovations of recent studies that used ultrasound in environmental analysis, water and sludge treatment, soil and sediment remediation, and air purification.

— India is a developing rural area and in various producing nations like India economical construction along with economical construction material plays a lively part in the growth of the nation. Waste material in construction can meet a fantastic role to make it economical and long-lasting due to some of its specific properties relevant to building materials. This dissertation shows comparative and experimental work on the usage of coconut husk, jute fibers and human hairs as fiber reinforcement in concrete. Human hair is a human body waste, jute fiber is a natural fiber and coconut husk is an uppermost portion of coconut which is likewise a waste material. In this project human hairs, jute fibers and coconut fibers are added in concrete by weight of cement in the ratio of 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, 2%, 2.5 and 3%. Workability, flexural strength and compressive strength test are performed on concrete and their solution is being measured and compared. For this project M30 and M40 concrete is applied.

The 1975 Turkish code provisions are first reviewed to provide the background for design and detailing of structures prior to the earthquake. The performance of reinforced concrete and masonry structures is described indicating many of the deficiencies in design, detailing, and construction execution. The behaviour of precast concrete structures, steel structures, and industrial facilities is also presented. The provisions of the 1997 Turkish building code are summarized and a description of new construction provides evidence of both excellent and poor construction practice. Some examples of retrofitting of damaged structures soon after the earthquake are also presented.

— Management of canal system for agricultural production is challenging. The work presents GIS based integrated modeling, which integrates soil moisture accounting and irrigation water requirement, rainfall–runoff, system loss and groundwater flow system. Developed model is employed to evaluate different water management scenarios such as change in rainfall sequence (wet, normal and dry season), change in canal water supply, impact of land use changes including their socio–economic implications. The application of model is illustrated with real application in a part of Indo-Gangetic plain of Uttar Pradesh in India. The paper assesses different modes of irrigation and compares them with conjunctive use of surface and groundwater. The data used in this study was collected from different department e.g. Irrigation Department U.P. Lucknow, Sawara Lucknow and Ground water Department Lucknow. The results highlighted the problem of increased use of tube well water in the saline groundwater zones that had resulted in the deterioration of the soils and groundwater quality, which has led to the problem of up coning of saline groundwater. Conjunctive water management in crop increased the farm income, compared to only using the canal and tube well water, respectively. The model optimization results showed that it is possible to increase the total gross margins while keeping the salinity levels and the changes in depth to water table in the acceptable limits through conjunctive water management.

This paper analyses a newly collected time-series database measuring the dimensions of violent political conflict in Egypt. Attention is focused on the interaction between politically motivated attacks by Islamists and the counter-insurgency measures used by the Egyptian government. The intensity of security force activities responds immediately to all kinds of Islamist violence, regardless of the target of the attack. However, there are significant asymmetries in the way that the different forms of Islamist violence respond to the different security force activities.

This is the story of Judge Bernard S. Meyer’s exhilarating, exhausting, and highly productive first year on the New York Court of Appeals.  Based on a reputation for integrity and a record of professional accomplishment, Judge Meyer was chosen to the New York Court of Appeals in 1979, and the following seven-and-a-half years he spent there were highly productive.  While on the Court of Appeals, Judge Meyer was a progressive reformer, and it was clear he intended to use his office to make the world a better place and, whenever possible, remedy injustice.  He looked for ways in which the law could be improved and sought to identify important legal questions that had not yet been settled.  He was eager to resolve unanswered legal issues in ways that were consistent with progressive approaches to public policy and a liberal view of important constitutional principles.  Judge Meyer was not afraid to use the law to aid those who needed help most, and he did so often.  He was meticulous and precise in all things legal, and fully measured up to the best standards of the Anglo-American judicial tradition.  His performance was exactly what responsible citizens would have hoped for from the first merit appointee to the New York Court of Appeals.