ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE | Nov. 7, 2024
An Integrated Approach for Structural Crack Monitoring: Combining Plastic Tell Tales and Image Analysis for Enhanced Structural Health Evaluation
Adnan, Ahmad Jawad, Hassam Raza, Dawood Shah Alam
Page no 186-199 |
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36348/sjce.2024.v08i09.001
Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) calls for the development of the ideas of safety and main ability of civil structures. The most critical of the aspects explored in the paper is the safety monitoring of the structural configuration of any civil engineering work. Supervision of any sign of an odd shift from the usual state of structure enables one to prevent and or counter severe loss. It also depends on other environmental parameters such as load, nature of a seasonal parameter and the type of soil. Within this research project the Al-Beruni Academic Block of Sarhad University of Science and Information Technology is taken to monitor the cracks using Glass Tell-Tales, to collect data on cracks of buildings and during seismic activity, observe, study the cracks that are present.
ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE | Nov. 16, 2024
Geotechnical, Mineralogical, Petrographic and Microstructural Characterization of Two Lateritic Gravels from Congo
Sorel Dzaba Dzoualou, Louis Ahouet, Sylvain Ndinga Okina, Prince Nkembo Mang, Paul Louzolo-Kimbémbé
Page no 200-212 |
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36348/sjce.2024.v08i09.002
The recovery of lateritic gravel contributes to the reduction of road construction costs and environmental impact. These materials are of particular interest in road construction because of their abundance, especially in tropical countries, as in the case of Congo. The results obtained on the soils of ʽʽTSANGA and TSIAKIʼʼ show an identical appearance of the two particle size curves, with more fines in the TSANGA sample. Both soils are moderately plastic and their properties predispose them to mechanical treatment (TSIAKI soils) and hydraulic binders (TSANGA soils). The lateritic gravels of TSIAKI can be used as road sub-base for medium traffic while those of TSANGA as sub-base for low traffic. The geotechnical properties of the two samples differ due to the mineralogy, petrography and microstructure which vary from one deposit to another. The SEM microstructure study shows two matrices completely made of kaolinite and the matrix facies are cemented by hematite. X-ray microscopy and SEM allowed the differentiation of goethite and hematite to distinguish the two forms of iron oxides. The TSIAKI soil has a normal iron oxide content (mainly goethite), and has less quartz and kaolinite, which could justify its high CBR index.
ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE | Nov. 18, 2024
Assessment of Safety Practices in Commercial Building Construction Projects in Nepal
Mahendra Acharya, Dinesh Sukamani, Basant Bhatta, Kapil Regmi
Page no 213-224 |
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36348/sjce.2024.v08i09.003
Construction industry is high-risk industry with large number of accidents. Nepalese construction industries also suffer from numbers of issues related to safety and health. This study aim to assess the implementation status of safety practices and challenges in proper implementation safety practices in building construction projects of Nepal. For this study, primary data and information were collected from 487 out of 500 respondents of different building projects via checklist and questionnaires. Obtained result were analyzed by MS excel and SPSS. Study revealed overall implementation status of safety practices is moderate level as 70.64 percent responses fall under moderate level of bloom cut off category. Result of RII showed that use of barricades, timely maintenance of plants and equipment, first aid facilities, fire safety, emergency exit and insurance policy are relatively most implemented parameters under study. Design review for safety, safety training and job safety plan relatively less implemented parameters and the provision of safety officer and safety audits were absent in majority of building construction projects. PCA analysis results poor safety culture, Poor safety management, Lack of safety knowledge and resources, Lack of safety infrastructures and communication and problem in governance and implementation are major challenges in implementing safety practices.
The cost of Block production which largely depends on the cost of the constituent materials, affects the overall cost of construction. In this paper, a model based on mixture experiment was formulated to optimize cost of block (in Naira). Using the model, one can predict the cost per cubic meter of block if the mix ratios are given. The model can also give possible mix ratios for a specified cost. The model is tested for lack of fit using statically tool and found adequate.