The Journal of Civil Engineering Frontiers (JoCEF) with <span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-family: 'Noto Serif', -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;">ISSN: 2709-6904 is a peer-reviewed journal and published by Interdisciplinary Publishing Academia (IP Academia). It seeks to provide an advanced forum on all aspects of Civil Engineering Research, specifically addressing issues that relate to Civil and Environmental Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, Survey, and Geospatial Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, Water Resources Engineering, Earthquake Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, Construction Engineering, Solid Mechanics, Structural Engineering, Transportation Engineering, Engineering Management
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Sustainable Earth Bricks: Characterisation of Milled Glass and Cissus Producta Fibre as Stabilisers and Reinforcement
This study focused on evaluating the properties of earth bricks incorporating milled glass as a binder and Cissus producta fibre as reinforcement. The investigation began with an assessment of the soil's physical characteristics through particle size distribution and compaction tests. Earth bricks were then produced using a constant 15% milled glass content and varying fibre contents of 0.25%, 0.50%, 0.75%, and 1%. These bricks were tested for density, water absorption, compressive strength, split tensile strength, and erosion resistance over curing periods of 7, 14, 21, and 28 days. The test results indicated that the soil had medium moisture content and a well-graded particle distribution, while the milled glass was significantly finer, making it suitable as a pozzolanic material. The enhancement was observed with the addition of Cissus producta fibre, with optimum results achieved at 15% glass powder and 0.75% fibre content. Compressive strength values of 1.315 N/mm², 1.834 N/mm², and 2.135 N/mm² were recorded for the sample without milled glass, the sample with 15% milled glass, and the 15% milled glass and 0.75% fibre-reinforced sample, respectively. Corresponding tensile strength values were 0.103 N/mm², 0.137 N/mm², and 0.233 N/mm². The study concluded that the incorporation of milled glass and Cissus producta fibre significantly enhances the performance of earth bricks, improving their mechanical strength, durability, and structural integrity. It is therefore recommended that the use of earth bricks be promoted as an environmentally friendly approach to managing agricultural and glass wastes.
Copyright (c) 2026 Thomas Kodjo Tettey https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
New Mathematical Models For Biaxial Buckling Analysis Of Thin Rectangular Plates Under Large Deflection For Various Boundary Conditions
Thin rectangular plates are widely used in civil, mechanical, and aeronautical engineering, where accurate prediction of buckling behaviour is critical for structural reliability. While most classical analyses focus on small-deflection conditions, such approaches neglect the nonlinear effects induced by large out-of-plane displacements. This study aims to apply the new general mathematical model for biaxial buckling of a thin isotropic plate with large deflection to formulate new specific equations for six plate boundary conditions. The nonlinear buckling behaviour is investigated for plates with boundary conditions CCCC (clamped - clamped - clamped - clamped), CSSS (clamped - simply supported - simply supported - simply supported), CSCS (clamped - simply supported - clamped - simply supported), CCSS (clamped - clamped - simply supported - simply supported), CCCS (clamped - clamped - clamped - simply supported) and SSSS (simply supported all-round)) subjected to biaxial compressive loads. The new specific equations of this work allow for the evaluation of buckling load coefficients across varying aspect ratios, biaxial buckling ratios (n), and deflection-to-thickness ratios (w/t). The results obtained reveal that the biaxial buckling load coefficient (and load) decreases with increasing ‘n’ but increases with an increase in w/t. This highlights the combined influence of loading distribution and geometric nonlinearity. Deducing from the new biaxial equations for the uniaxial loading case for the purpose of comparison in square plates, the large-deflection buckling coefficients compared showed negligible deviation (~0%) from prior works, validating the proposed equations’ accuracy. Comparative analysis on values of buckling and postbuckling loads of CCCS plates against existing work under biaxial loading shows percentage differences between 0% and 5.56%, with the present results consistently upper bound but within acceptable engineering tolerances. The further comparison of biaxial buckling and post-buckling load coefficients of Sthe SSS plate with existing works has also shown the adequacy of this new model. The findings demonstrate that the proposed linear and nonlinear buckling equations not only align with established studies but also offer enhanced predictive capability for large deflection analysis of thin isotropic rectangular plates.
Copyright (c) 2025 Edward Adah, Hycienth Edubi, Stanley Ubi https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Development of Machine Learning Algorithms to Predict the Ultimate Axial Capacity of Fire Damaged Circular Columns Repaired with CFRP Composites
This paper presents a study that extends the application of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite confinement technology to strengthen circular concrete columns damaged by fire. This study utilized data from 125 column specimens sourced from the literature. It examined ten parameters: column diameter, height, initial compressive strength of concrete, initial tensile strength of steel, longitudinal reinforcement ratio, fire temperature, exposure time, number of CFRP layers, CFRP thickness, and CFRP tensile modulus, which were used as inputs for the model. The objective was to predict the ultimate axial strength of fire-damaged circular columns repaired with CFRP composites. This study employs both multiple regression analysis and a deep neural network (DNN) to predict the structural behavior of reinforced concrete (RC) columns and accurately forecast their repaired axial capacity. The proposed deep neural network (DNN) model demonstrated a robust agreement with experimental investigations, boasting an overall correlation factor (R) of 0.99852. Deep neural networks outperformed multiple regression analysis in predicting axial strength, with predictions closely matching experimental results from previous studies. The work also presents a parametric study to examine the effect of different input parameters on the axial strength of RC columns. Parametric analysis indicates that the repaired axial strength increases with higher concrete initial compressive strength, greater CFRP thickness and tensile modulus, and more CFRP layers, whereas it decreases with higher fire temperatures, longer exposure durations, and larger column diameters.
Copyright (c) 2025 Muhamamd Salman, Muhammad Yaqub, Muhammad Noman, Muhammad Faizan, Muhammad Ahmed Javaid https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Predicting Confinement Effect of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymers on Strength of Concrete using Metaheuristics-based Artificial Neural Networks
This article deals with the study of predicting the confinement effect of carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRPs) on concrete cylinder strength using metaheuristics-based artificial neural networks. A detailed database of 708 CFRP confined concrete cylinders is developed from previously published research with information on eight parameters, including geometrical parameters like the diameter (d) and height (h) of a cylinder, unconfined compressive strength of concrete (f_co^'), thickness (nt), the elastic modulus of CFRP (Ef), unconfined concrete strain (?_co), confined concrete strain (?_cc) and the ultimate compressive strength of confined concrete (f_cc^'). Three metaheuristic models are implemented, including particle swarm optimization (PSO), grey wolf optimizer (GWO), and bat algorithm (BA). These algorithms are trained on the data using an objective function of mean square error, and their predicted results are validated against experimental studies and finite element analysis. The study shows that the hybrid PSO model predicted the strength of CFRP-confined concrete cylinders with a maximum accuracy of 99.13% and GWO predicted the results with an accuracy of 98.17%. The high accuracy of axial compressive strength predictions demonstrated that these prediction models are a reliable solution to the empirical methods. The prediction models are especially suitable for avoiding full-scale, time-consuming experimental tests that make the process quick and economical.
Copyright (c) 2024 Sarmed Wahab , Mohamed Suleiman, Faisal Shabbir , Nasim Shakouri Mahmoudabadi, Sarmad Waqas, Nouman Herl, AFAQ Ahmad https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Durability Performance of Corn Cob Ash–Coconut Shell Ash Concrete Exposed to Simulated Oil Refinery Wastewater
The durability of concrete in chemically aggressive environments, such as oil refinery wastewater systems, remains a critical challenge in infrastructure development. This study investigates the performance of concrete modified with binary agro-industrial pozzolans—corn cob ash (CCA) and coconut shell ash (CSA)—as partial replacements for ordinary Portland cement (OPC). Six concrete mixes were prepared with 0–30% combined SCMs by weight of binder. The specimens were exposed to 2% sulfuric acid (H?SO?) and 5% sodium sulfate (Na?SO?) for up to 90 days. Key parameters evaluated include compressive strength, mass loss, water absorption, sorptivity, density, and visual deterioration. The results revealed that the 15% replacement mix (M2) achieved optimal performance. It retained more than 94% of the control’s compressive strength at 90 days and recorded the lowest mass loss and permeability under both acid and sulfate attack. SCM addition contributed to secondary pozzolanic reactions, microstructural densification, and reduction in capillary porosity. Visual inspections corroborated quantitative findings, with M2 maintaining sound surface integrity, whereas higher SCM levels (?25%) showed signs of softening and erosion. Although density declined with higher SCM content, the values remained within acceptable structural thresholds. Overall, the findings affirm the suitability of CCA–CSA binary blends for enhancing concrete durability in aggressive industrial environments. The use of these locally sourced pozzolans also promotes sustainable construction and circular economy practices, making the approach particularly beneficial for developing regions and petrochemical infrastructure.
Copyright (c) 2025 Auwal Abdullahi Umar, Usman Ahmad Musa https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Repair of Fire-Damaged Circular and Square Columns Using CFRP Composites: A Comprehensive Review
In the field of structural engineering, the repair and rehabilitation of fire-damaged circular and square columns pose significant challenges. Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) composites have gained popularity as a potentially effective method for restoring the structural integrity of damaged structural members. The purpose of this investigation is to provide a state-of-the-art review of existing experimental and numerical studies in the literature on repairing fire-damaged square/circular columns using CFRP composites. The effectiveness of CFRP as a repairing technique in restoring the axial load-carrying capacity and stiffness of fire-damaged circular, square, and rectangular columns is evaluated. Based on past investigations, it has been concluded that CFRP composites can restore 70-169.2% of the axial capacity and 0-29.2% of the lost resistance. Moreover, the review offers a critical assessment of previous experimental and numerical investigations, highlighting their significant contributions to the advancement of knowledge regarding CFRP-based column repair. A comparative analysis of the experimental results from available studies is carried out, accompanied by a concise examination of the gaps, and a pathway for future researchers is also suggested. In addition to this, probable challenges and limitations, such as stiffness loss after repairing fire-damaged columns with CFRP composites, and ways to counter them, are also summarized in this study. The article provides engineers, researchers, and practitioners involved in the restoration and repair of fire-damaged circular and square columns using CFRP composites with insightful recommendations derived from an exhaustive synthesis of prior literature and case studies.
Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer Confinement
Copyright (c) 2025 Muhammad Noman, Muhammad Salman, Afaq Ahmed, Muzammal Hussain, Ali Akhtar, Mohammad Zulqarnain4 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Health and Safety Performance in the Ghanaian Construction Industry: The Government’s Responsibility
Poor health and safety (H&S) performance is a defining feature of the Ghanaian construction sector due to the government’s inadequate efforts to sanitise the construction space from the menace. The relative importance index and the multivariate technique were used to analyse the data in this study. Data was collected from experts using a structured questionnaire from 635 participants. The analysis from the RII revealed that strict implementation and enforcement of occupational health and safety laws by empowering responsible state agencies is the most significant government responsibility that can enhance H&S. Meanwhile, the multivariate analysis identified government and legislative efforts, along with enforcement agency efforts, as critical roles. The study’s findings indicate the need for the government to enact an Occupational Health and Safety Act that would supersede the existing Factories and Shops Act. Furthermore, it highlights the importance of ensuring stringent enforcement of H&S laws by mandated state agencies and the introduction of H&S courses into construction-related educational curricula. This research contributes to the body of literature by establishing that government efforts in health and safety are intrinsically linked with improved legislation and its effective enforcement by relevant institutions. The results suggest that government efforts on H&S should be complemented by strong legal frameworks and robust enforcement mechanisms, not just the mere enactment of laws. To strengthen the government’s position on this subject, there is a need for the continuous review and update of H&S legislation and policies. Additionally, the operational capacity of enforcement bodies must be enhanced to keep pace with changing technological trends, best practices, and evolving risks.
Construction health and safety performance, Enforcement agency efforts, Government and legislative efforts, Multivariate analysis
Copyright (c) 2025 Benjamin Boahene Akomah, R. Prasanna Venkatesan, T. Shanmuga Priya, Nai-Wen (Jack) Chi https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Analyzing Transit Stop Service Areas Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS): A Case Study of UET Taxila
The University of Engineering and Technology Taxila (UET Taxila), established in 1975 as a campus of the University of Engineering and Technology Lahore, is a leading public university in Taxila, Punjab, Pakistan. With a transportation network spanning approximately 518 square kilometers across Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and Wah Cantt, it provides an economical and efficient transit system for students, faculty, and staff. This study evaluates the service area coverage of transit stops using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to assess network efficiency, accessibility, and spatial gaps. At the university, 16 buses operate across 16 routes, serving an average of 810 users daily. The analysis defines transit stop service areas based on 5, 10, and 15-minute walking times, assuming a walking speed of 100 meters per minute. Results reveal that 69% of users access transit stops within a walkable distance, while 31% rely on other modes of transport. Among those with walking access, 27% reach a stop in under 5 minutes, 23% within 5 to 10 minutes, and 19% within 10 to 15 minutes. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing the university's transportation network and supporting future transit planning decisions
Copyright (c) 2025 Muhammad Salman, Muhammad Arshad, Muhammad Noman, Sami Ullah Khan, Afaq Ahmed, Muzammal Hussain https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Synergistic Antibacterial Effects of Saponified Waste Oil and Cetrimonium Chloride (Ctac) in Cement Pastes
Microbial colonization activity in cement pastes can lead to biodeterioration, compromising the structural integrity over time. This study investigates the antibacterial performance of cement pastes modified with saponified cooking oil (SCO) and cetrimonium chloride (CTAC). Different doses of CTAC and SCO were blended with cement paste on four bacterial strains: Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Gram-negative), Bacillus subtilis, and Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive). The results showed that B. subtilis revealed the highest sensitivity to CTAC's antibacterial activity, especially at high doses (up to 1%). This effect was enhanced by adding SCO, indicating a clear synergistic interaction. Gram-positive bacteria generally reacted more strongly to the modified cement paste comparing with Gram-negative bacteria. The results demonstrated the potential of CTAC/SCO-modified cement for use in microbial-sensitive environments such as hospitals, and food processing facilities.
Cementitious materials, Cetrimonium chloride (CTAC), Saponified cooking oil (SCO), Antibacterial performance, Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Zone of inhibition.
Copyright (c) 2025 Abdel Fattah Qaraman, MAHER ELBAYOUMI https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Effect of Emotional Intelligence Factors on Labour Force Management of Construction Firms in Ghana
Emotional Intelligence (EI) is a crucial factor influencing behaviour and performance across sectors, including construction. While EI's importance for personal growth and interaction is acknowledged, there remains limited understanding of the specific emotional intelligence factors impacting Labour Force Management (LFM) practices in the Ghanaian construction industry. This study aims to assess how identified emotional intelligence factors influence LFM practices in Ghanaian construction firms. The objectives are to: establish critical EI factors influencing LFM practices, examine literature to identify research gaps, and determine the factors on LFM practices. A questionnaire was given to project managers, engineers, contractors and consultants in the Ghanaian construction industry. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was used for analysis. This survey findings show that the emotional intelligence of construction firms' labour force is a function of experience, family background, skills and competencies, gender, empathy for co-workers, personality, organisational culture, social motivation, marital influence, maturity and age, religion and belief, work procedures, and workload. Job design, firms' policy, and knowledge and training received lower mean ratings, indicating less perceived impact on emotional intelligence compared to other factors. The findings reveal that several emotional intelligence factors significantly influence LFM practices in Ghanaian construction firms. Factors such as experience, family background, skills and competencies, gender, empathy for co-workers, personality, organisational culture, social motivation, marital influence, maturity and age, religion and beliefs, work procedures, and workload showed high perceived impact. While factors like job design, firms' policy, and knowledge and training had lower ratings, emotional intelligence factors collectively exert a substantial influence on LFM. This study suggests that managers and stakeholders in the Ghanaian construction industry should prioritise understanding these key EI factors. By recognising their importance, particularly those with high impact, managers can create an environment fostering emotional intelligence within their labour force, improving LFM practices and project delivery performance.
Copyright (c) 2025 mustapha zakari, John Ampah, Samuel Kwame Ansah, Clinton Aigbabvoa https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
A Vertical and Horizontal Deformations Monitoring of FSS Rector’s Administrative Block Using Conventional Geodetic Techniques
Many circumstances commonly contribute to changes in the size, shape, or dimensions of large structural objects. Therefore, monitoring the nature of these changes—especially those that may lead to structural collapse—is essential. This study focuses on the monitoring and analysis of vertical and horizontal deformations of the Rector’s Administrative Block located within the Federal School of Surveying, Oyo, using ground survey methods. The objectives are: to carry out a preliminary study of the building through a reconnaissance survey; to ascertain the positional status of structural monuments already installed on the building through first-order survey observations; to perform least squares adjustment on the observed data using ADJUST software and MATLAB; and to compute the displacement magnitudes for all structural points and compare them with their respective 95% confidence ellipses for deformation analysis. The methodology adopted involves primary data acquisition using GNSS receivers, Total Station, and a Geodetic Digital Level. A total of eight lawn beacons and thirteen structural target points were observed. Deformation analysis was conducted by comparing the computed displacement magnitudes of each structural point with the USACE (2018) geometric standard to determine whether noticeable alterations or movements had structurally occurred, particularly between the observed epochs and data acquired in 2011. The results indicated that the building was very stable at the time of observation. It is therefore recommended that all large engineering structures be subjected to deformation studies. Keywords: Deformation, GNSS, MATLAB, USACE, Ground Survey Method, Epoch.
Copyright (c) 2025 Oluwatosin Ilesanmi, Surveyor, Mr, Mr, Surveyor https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Evaluating the Performance of Irregular Low-Rise RC Building Through Static Non-Linear Pushover Analysis
In this research, the performance of irregular low-rise RC buildings was evaluated through Static Non-linear Pushover Analysis (POA) and by using SAP 2000. Moreover, the effects of the seismic capacity of irregular low-rise reinforced concrete buildings in Sabah were also conducted through vulnerability and fragility assessments. There are four models to analyse. The first model, which is Model 1, is the actual design of the building, while the rest of the models are designs that have been proposed to analyse how the irregular plan can affect the seismic performance of the building. Models 2 and 3 are designed with irregular shapes, while Model 4 is designed with the open slab. Then, the model will be categorised in its three (3) vulnerability assessment parameters, which are different type of concrete strength, soil structure interaction, and plan irregularity. From the analysis, Model 4 has a better performance level of building than other models in similar concrete strength of 30MPa because the building has a large and different eccentricity due to the design. Among soil structure interaction models, Model 3 was the strongest since it had a better performance level than the other models. It has the smallest plan area among other models, which might minimise the eccentricity and the irregular lateral displacement. For a different concrete strength comparison, the higher the concrete strength, the better the performance of the building.
Copyright (c) 2025 Dayang Afiqah https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Studying the potential and risk of liquefaction zoning in the Saqqez unit (Iran-Kurdistan)
The phenomenon of liquefaction occurs in separated sand or silty soils. Symmetric or asymmetric settlement, a decline in the capacity of surface foundations and piles to support loads, and an increase in the lateral forces needed to safeguard structures are all effects of structural instability. During earthquakes, liquefaction can harm human infrastructure and alter the geomorphology of the earth's surface. It is crucial to identify locations susceptible to liquefaction in order to combat the damaging effects of this phenomenon. Zoning can be used to identify regions that are prone to liquefaction, greatly minimizing the amount of damage brought on by liquefaction during an earthquake. This identification may take the form of zoning, in which the risk tolerance of various places is assessed. This article presents the findings of research done on the zoning of liquefaction capacity in the province of Kurdistan. This zoning was carried out in accordance with the guidelines in the zoning handbook for geotechnical earthquake hazards and earthquake engineering. The findings of the investigations indicate that the plains of the Kurdistan Province have a danger potential that ranges from low to high, depending on the nature and texture of the deposits and the amount of subsurface water. This article's goal is to explain how Sanandaj's earthquake danger is zoned based on impact factors.
Liquefaction, Geomorphology, Geology, Iran, seismic zonation
Copyright (c) 2025 Semko Arefpanah, Alireza Sharafi, Bavandi Omid https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Recycling Plastic Waste into Eco-Friendly Concrete: A State of the Art Review
The world plastic waste crisis and the tremendous environmental impacts of concrete production using traditional methods require waste management and building practices to be innovative marriages. This review critically examines the recovery of plastic waste in concrete, concentrating on its twin potential to help stem plastic contamination and build the construction industry lower in carbon emissions. The method utilizes many different forms of waste plastics, including Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) and High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), to produce a concrete mixture that brings great environmental benefits: It can keep plastic out of landfills and our oceans, and it reduces the greenhouse gases released during cement production. The review examines advances in the development of plastic-modified concrete: These improvements include enhanced mechanical properties such as increased durability, thermal insulation, and lower material density. It also examines environmental trade-offs including potential long-term effects and problems in recycling plastic-enhanced concrete. In addition, the paper identifies technical hurdles such as maintaining material strength and workability; it concludes with regulatory obstacles to the large-scale adoption of plastic-enhanced concrete. The paper uses a detailed analysis of case studies and actual practices to examine the practical feasibility of this new material in a variety of construction contexts. It ends with strategic recommendations for future research and policy development, stressing the need to establish regulations and standard frameworks to encourage the use of plastic-enhanced concrete. Ultimately, this review advocates for the larger acceptance of plastic-laden concrete as one piece in the puzzle of sustainable construction: one way to tackle a spiraling global plastic waste crisis that also meets broader environmental goals.
Copyright (c) 2024 Kawa A. Ahmed, Amad Nori Abdulqudos https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Impact of Safety Training and Communication on Construction Project Productivity: Case Study of Cape Coast
The building sector, in particular, has a high rate of accidents, which affects the productivity of workers and the success of projects. This study explores the impact of safety training and communication on construction site productivity in Cape Coast, Ghana. A quantitative research approach was used in this study. Data was collected through an online self-administered questionnaire with 77 respondents who work in the construction industry. Collected data was analysed using descriptive statistics. From the results, it is deduced that first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) are critical components of safety courses. They significantly impact productivity because they reduce the incidence of workplace accidents and illnesses. Hierarchical barriers, lack of resources, and language differences were identified by respondents as challenges associated with the implementation of safety training and communication programs. The results of the study highlights as some of the significant impacts of safety training and communication. Construction companies need to increase safety knowledge and safety communication to increase productivity. To achieve these, such programmes should be funded and supported by top management.
Copyright (c) 2025 Mustapha Zakari, Benjamin Boahene Akomah, Benjamin Boahene Akomah https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Seismic Resilience in Kota Kinabalu: Ground Response and Liquefaction Risk Assessment for Existing Buildings
Seismic considerations have become increasingly critical in Malaysian structural design due to heightened awareness following notable earthquakes, such as the Ranau earthquake, which recorded a peak ground acceleration (PGA) of 0.15g. This has led to the adoption of the Malaysia National Annex to Eurocode 8 (MS EN 1998-1:2015), providing guidelines for earthquake-resistant design since 2017. This study focuses on: (1) establishing earthquake design response spectra for Kota Kinabalu. (2) Assessing soil liquefaction susceptibility. (3) Investigating potential ground settlement due to liquefaction. The ground response analysis methodology involves: (i) obtaining ground motion data. (ii) Analyzing dynamic soil characteristics from boreholes. (iii) Conducting 1-D shear wave propagation analysis using DEEPSOIL software. (iv) Developing site-specific response spectra. For liquefaction assessment, the process includes acquiring borehole logs, evaluating liquefaction risk, and estimating settlement using LiquefyPro software. The study projects a seismic response spectrum for Sabah with a PGA of 0.16g, reflecting regional seismic hazards. An amplification factor between 3 and 5 is expected based on site-specific conditions. Liquefaction risk is concluded to be minimal, as borehole data and historical evidence indicate low susceptibility in Sabah. These findings provide valuable insights for improving seismic resilience in the region and contribute to the development of safer infrastructure designs aligned with Malaysian standards.
Copyright (c) 2024 Nurfarahin Mohd Idros, Fatin Najiha Kamarudin, Azira Abu Abdul Taip https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
First Principles Variational Formulation and Analytical Solutions for Third Order Shear Deformable Beams with Simple Supports using Fourier Series Method
The Fourier series method for solving bending problems of third-order shear deformable beams (TSBD) is presented in this paper. The theory accounts for transverse shear deformation and is suitable for moderately thick beams. Transverse shear stress-free conditions are valid at the beam surfaces for TSDB. The field equations are two coupled ordinary differential equations in terms of two unknown displacement functions – transverse deflection w(x) and warping function For simply supported ends considered, the loading and unknown functions w(x) and are represented in Fourier series that satisfies the boundary conditions. The problem is reduced to a system of algebraic equations in terms of the Fourier coefficients wn and which is solved to obtain wn and Axial and transverse displacements fields, axial bending stress and transverse shear stress are then determined for the cases of point load at midspan, uniformly and linearly distributed loads over the span. The results are identical with previous results obtained by other scholars who used Ritz variational methods and other mathematical tools. For moderately thick beams under uniform load with l/h = 4, the results obtained for is 0.516% greater than the exact result by Timoshenko and Goodier while for thick beams under uniform load with l/h = 2, the result for is 1.96% greater than the exact result by Timoshenko and Goodier. Similar acceptable variation was obtained for for beams under linearly distributed load with the variations being less than 2% for l/h = 2. However, unacceptable variations of 68.37% were found for in thick beams under point load, for l/h = 2.0. The variation for however reduced to 12.513% for moderately thick beams under point load for l/h =4.
Third order shear deformable beam theory, Fourier series method, warping function, deflection function
Copyright (c) 2024 Prof Charles Chinwuba Ike, Dr Benjamin Okwudili Mama, Dr Onyedikachi Aloysius Oguaghamba https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Enhancing Safety Management in the Ghanaian Construction Industry: Evaluating the Role of UAV Implementation and Construction Managers Understanding
The integration of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and other rising technologies has become paramount in construction safety monitoring and management. The study aimed to gain insight into the use of drones in construction safety practices and management in the Ghanaian construction industry. Through a literature review, five key domains (aerial surveillance and real-time monitoring, data analysis and risk assessment, emergency response and search-and-rescue operations, information management and visualisation, and safety training and education) were identified as the areas where UAVs or drones could enhance safety practices and management. The study included construction professionals who had a minimum of ten (10) years of experience in project management across different positions. A convenience sampling technique was used for the selection of participants from construction companies within the city of Accra. A structured questionnaire was designed and distributed to these professionals. The collected data was analysed using descriptive statistics and correlation analysis. The correlation analysis highlights the association among the variables used. The study underscores the pivotal role of UAVs in transforming safety practices and management. The diverse applications and potential benefits of UAV technology provide insights for policymakers, educators, and industry stakeholders to optimise safety management strategies and enhance efficiency on construction sites. In addition, the findings emphasise the importance of education and training initiatives to bridge the knowledge gap among construction professionals, thereby promoting a more sustainable and secure construction environment in Ghana.
Copyright (c) 2024 Zakari Mustapha, Benjamin Boahene Akomah, Ofosu Emmanuel Kwaku , Chris K. Tieru https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Mechanical Properties of End-of-life Waste Tyres Steel Fibre Reinforced Concrete: RSM-Based Modelling and Optimisation
The influence of fibres on the compressive strength of concrete is complex and is determined by the type, quantity, and characteristics of the fibres utilized in designing and forming the concrete. Designing fibre reinforced concrete (FRC) constituents is challenging and affects the concrete's performance and practicality. This study utilized response surface methodology (RSM) to optimize the properties of concrete containing steel fibre extracted from end-of-life tyres (ELTs). Face-cantered central composite design (FC-CCD) of RSM was used in the design of experiments (DOE) with aspect ratio (10-70) and volume fraction (0.5 % - 1.2 %) as the input variables. Three levels of each variable were used in forming the design matrix. The resulting concretes were then tested for slump and compressive strength at 7 and 28 days of curing. As the aspect ratio and volume fraction increased, slump values decreased, and 7- and 28-day compressive strength increased up to an aspect ratio of 45 and 1.0% volume fraction. Beyond an aspect ratio of 45 and 1.0% volume fraction, a declining trend in compressive strength at all curing ages was observed. The Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) revealed that the variables volume fraction and aspect ratio significantly affect the variability in the FRC models, with all models being statistically significant at the 95% level across all factor levels. A numerical optimization method was used to determine the optimal mix proportions for ELTFRC. The optimum response values were achieved by combining a 1.01% volume fraction and a 33.86 aspect ratio, resulting in a desirability of 0.73.
Copyright (c) 2024 Abubakar Sabo Baba, Sule Yaman Mohammed, Yabagi Isah Abdullahi, Dzukogi Abubakar Alhassan https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Deriving Ritz formulation for the Static Flexural Solutions of Sinusoidal Shear Deformable Beams
This paper presents the Ritz variational method for the static bending analysis of sinusoidal shear deformable beams. The theory accounts for transverse shear deformation and satisfies transverse shear stress-free conditions at the top and bottom surfaces of the beam. The total potential energy functional for the thick beam bending problem is formulated and minimized using a Ritz procedure. The problem considered simply supported boundary conditions and two cases of loading – uniformly distributed load over the span and point load at the center. The function is a function of two unknown displacement functions constructed in terms of unknown generalized displacement parameters and shape functions that satisfy the boundary conditions. Ritz minimization of the functional is used to find the generalized displacement parameters and then the displacements w(x) and The displacements and stresses are found for the loading distributions considered. It is found that the results obtained agree remarkably well with the exact results obtained using the theory of elasticity. The differences between the present results and the exact solutions are less than 0.3% for maximum transverse displacement for both cases of loading considered. For uniform load over the beam, the result for l/t = 10 is 0.112% greater than the exact solution. For the point load at the center, the result for l/t = 10 is 4.468% greater than the exact solution. The increased difference in the point load case is due to the singular nature of the point load problem.
Trigonometric shear deformation beam theory, Ritz variational method, total potential energy functional, stress field, displacement field, thick beam
Copyright (c) 2024 Benjamin Okwudili Mama, Onyedikachi Aloysius Oguaghamba, Charles IKE https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Galerkin Kantorovich Method for Solving the Terzaghi’s One-Dimensional Soil Consolidation Equation
This paper presents the Galerkin-Kantorovich variational method for solving the Terzaghi’s one-dimensional consolidation equation for two-way drainage conditions. The solution was considered as an infinite series of known coordinate (shape) functions and unknown function of time which we sought such that the resulting functional is minimized. The shape functions satisfied the hydraulic boundary conditions at the boundary of the consolidating soil. Galerkin-Kantorovich variational integral equation was thus formulated for the initial boundary value problem using residual minimization principles. The solution resulted in a system of first order ordinary differential equations in which was solved for Orthogonalization principles were used to obtain the integration constants in terms of initial pore water pressure, thus yielding the general solution. Solutions for constant initial excess pore water pressure were obtained and found to be the closed-form solution. The solutions were presented in terms of global (average) degrees of consolidation and tabulated. The results obtained were exact and identical with results previously found using separation of variables techniques.
Terzaghi’s One-Dimensional Consolidation Equation
Copyright (c) 2024 Charles IKE, Benjamin Okwudili Mama, Onyedikachi Aloysius Oguaghamba, Michael Ebie Onyia https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Unveiling the Driving Factors of Emerging Trends in the Ghanaian Construction Industry: An Evaluative Analysis of Push and Pull Factors
There is a significant change in the Ghanaian construction sector, driven by the convergence of emerging trends. The study investigated the underlying factors influencing these emerging trends in the Ghanaian construction industry, focusing on both pull and push factors. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining survey data with qualitative analysis, to gain a comprehensive understanding of the drivers shaping the industry's development. The study was conducted within three cities (Cape Coast, Kasoa, and Winneba) in the Central Region of Ghana. Fifteen (15) construction companies were purposively selected based on their interest in technological advancements within the construction ecosystem. Five (5) categories of construction professionals, project managers, quantity surveyors, architects, structural engineers, safety officers, and site supervisors employed by the aforementioned fifteen (15) construction companies were considered for the study. Data collected were analyzed utilizing SPSS software version 20. Push factors highlighted environmental degradation, technological innovation, and infrastructure renewal as significant motivators. Pull factors emphasized the industry's extrinsic motivations, including community development, cultural considerations, and economic growth. The analysis revealed that both push and pull factors play crucial roles in driving the trends within the industry. Qualitative interviews conducted as part of the study provided deeper insights, identifying six key themes: regulatory compliance and market competition, technological advancements, skill development, economic considerations, leadership and strategic vision, and customer demand. These themes underscore the complex relationship between external pressures and internal motivations. Correlation and regression analyses indicated significant relationships between trend recognition and both push and pull factors, emphasizing the interplay between external pressures and aspirational drivers in shaping industry trends. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the dynamic forces driving change in the Ghanaian construction sector, offering substantial insights for stakeholders. These insights can help stakeholders navigate challenges and capitalize on opportunities for sustainable growth and development. The findings underscore the importance of balancing technological advancements with socio-economic goals to foster a robust and forward-thinking construction industry in Ghana.
Copyright (c) 2024 Zakari Mustapha https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
End-of-Life (EoL) Management in Multi-Storey Building Structures Using Design for Deconstruction Approach: A Review
In structural design, deconstruction is an age-old concept of reusing existing structural components to create new facilities. It is an alternative to the negative impact of construction and demolition waste around the world, essential for creating a sustainable environment. This study shows the potential of responsibly managing building materials to minimize the consumption of new raw materials by using existing materials from demolished sites and finding ways to reuse them in another construction project. A comprehensive review is presented to indicate the utilization of design for deconstruction in multi-story structures, and the challenges and other factors influencing this approach in minimizing waste are likewise indicated. The result reveals that despite efforts in mitigating demolition waste through deconstruction, there has not been a progressive increase in the level of design for deconstruction implementation because the system is still far from reaching its waste minimization potentials since less than 1% of existing buildings are fully deconstructable in several developing countries. Therefore, new strategies that encourage designers to consider design for deconstruction must be encouraged most importantly in developing countries.
Copyright (c) 2024 Ademilade Olubamni, Leonard Onjefu, Abiodun Kilani https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
An investigation of the use of plastic waste as aggregate in concrete
Plastic waste (PW) is one type of solid waste. Its disposal and management pose environmental concerns in several countries around the world. PW causes serious problems for land, soil, & water. Recycling of PW is an innovative idea or way in this field, to produce new materials like plasticized concrete (PC), or rubberized concrete, which appears as one of the best solutions for disposing of PW, due to its economic and ecological advantages. Also, with the rapid growth and development in the construction industries with higher demands for concrete, emphasis has been laid on the sustainability of the concrete constituent materials. This study explores the ameliorative effects of plastic particles (PP) on some properties of concrete. The main aim is to study, and analysis of the mechanical, acoustical, & thermal properties of sustainable concrete incorporating PP & compared it with the traditional one or normal concrete (NC). The percentage of PP used in this study varies from 0-25%. The overall results show the addition of PP to the NC to obtain a lightweight one. It caused a reduction in the compressive strength by about 40-51% from NC. Also, the added PP decreased the thermal conductivity of the PC by about 50% from NC. However, PC improved sound absorption & thermal conductivity. Results have shown that the increasing contents of PW of concrete reduced the ultrasonic pulse velocity and the intensity of sound passing through PC. The significance of this study is to provide information to reuse, reduce, and recycled solid waste (i.e., PW) & to help future researchers both in academics and in the world, Civil engineers /Structural designers/Builder, etc. with dependable information on the use recycled materials for concrete production.
Copyright (c) 2022 Kawa Ahmed, Kamil. M. Yousif https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Performance Assessment of Mobile Laser Scanning Systems Using Velodyne Hdl-32e
Mapping systems using multi-beam LiDARs are widely used nowadays for different geospatial applications graduating from indoor projects to outdoor city-wide projects. These mobile mapping systems can be either ground-based or aerial-based systems and are mostly equipped with inertial navigation systems INS. The Velodyne HDL-32 LiDAR is a well-known 360° spinning multi-beam laser scanner that is widely used in outdoor and indoor mobile mapping systems. The performance of such LiDARs is an ongoing research topic which is quite important for the quality assurance and quality control topic. The performance of this LiDAR type is correlated to many factors either related to the device itself or the design of the mobile mapping system. Regarding design, most of the mapping systems are equipped with a single Velodyne HDL32 in a specific orientation angle which is different among the mapping systems manufacturers. The LiDAR orientation angle has a significant impact on the performance in terms of the density and coverage of the produced point clouds. Furthermore, during the lifetime of this multi-beam LiDAR, one or more beams may be defected and then either continue the production or returned to the manufacturer to be fixed which then cost time and money. In this paper, the design impact analysis of a mobile laser scanning (MLS) system equipped with a single Velodyne HDL-32E will be clarified and a clear relationship is given between the orientation angle of the LiDAR and the output density of points. The ideal angular orientation of a single Velodyne HDL-32E is found to be at 35° in a mobile mapping system. Furthermore, we investigated the degradation of points density when one of the 32 beams is defected and quantified the density loss percentage and to the best of our knowledge, this is not presented in literature before. It is found that a maximum of about 8% point density loss occurs on the ground and 4% on the facades when having a defected beam of the Velodyne HDL-32E.
Copyright (c) 2024 Bashar Alsadik https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Enhancing California Bearing Ratio through Optimized Compaction Efforts: A Study on Alluvial Soils in North India
The quantity of soil required for embankment construction is enormous. Often the soil is brought to the site in dumpers in multiple rounds. This to and from movement of the wagons leads to the deterioration of the existing flexible pavement. In the absence of good earth nearby, using existing soils to act as a subgrade material upon meeting the desired strength and stability characteristics is the need of the hour. The California Bearing Ratio (CBR) is an indicator of soil's strength, which further depends on the degree of compaction of soil. In this study, an effort has been made to find the required compaction efforts to achieve maximum CBR value finding its applicability for both conventional flexible and perpetual pavements. Three different types of alluvial soils in North India were tested for CBR with varying compaction efforts using the modified Proctor test. The effect of mixing different soils was also considered to find the effectiveness of mechanically mixing soils on the required compaction efforts. It was observed that there is a constant upsurge in the CBR of soils upon an increase in the percentage compactive effort up to a certain limit. In the case of clayey soils, the rate of increase is less as compared to the well-graded sands. This study also highlights the effect of mechanical mixing of such soils with sandy soils in desired proportions giving rise to amplified values of CBR ratio of the soil blend. The regression analysis was also conducted to examine a correlation between the compactive effort and CBR values and it was best represented by exponential function for different types of soils.
Copyright (c) 2024 Dr Jaskiran Sobti, Daljeet Sidhu https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Utilization of Agricultural By-Products as a Partial Replacement of Cement in Construction: A Review
Food and Shelter are the two main requirements for surviving in this cosmos. More than 50% of the geographical area of the country is under cultivation. After harvesting the rice crop there is a common practice to set fields on fire. This stubble burning creates havoc causing a large number of health hazards and also affects the soil properties. This method of decomposition of agricultural residue including rice straw and rice husk if replaced with some standard combustion conditions, temperature, and rapid cooling of ash produced, will prove beneficial to the construction industry. This review paper explores the possibility of utilizing these agricultural waste products i.e. Rice Straw Ash (RSA) and Rice Husk Ash (RHA) as a partial replacement of cement in concrete and analyzing the fresh and hardened properties of concrete. Research gaps and future scope of this study are also highlighted in this review paper. It has been observed that the physical, chemical, and strength properties of concrete are mostly affected by the pozzolan city of the ashes and compressive strength and tensile strength of concrete increases with increase in replacement level of cement with the agricultural ash up-to certain optimal levels. Various other factors that contribute to the enrichment of the existing properties of the resulting concrete include grinding, fineness and porosity of ashes.
Copyright (c) 2024 Dr Jaskiran Sobti, Amanpreet Kour Bali https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
The The Effect of Aspect Ratio and Volume Fraction on Mechanical Properties of End of Life Tyre Steel Fibre Reinforced Concrete
The utilization of end-of-life tire steel fibers (ELTSFs) to produce greener concrete by reducing the amount of solid waste was investigated in this research. Steel fibers are incorporated into concrete to improve its mechanical and durability properties. This paper reports the effect of fiber length and volume fraction (Vf) of ELTSFs in concrete. The fresh and mechanical properties examined were workability and compressive strength of six mixes of grade 25 (25 N/mm²) with varying fiber lengths of 10 mm, 20 mm, 30 mm, 40 mm, 50 mm, and 60 mm; representing aspect ratios of 10.87, 21.74, 32.61, 43.48, 54.35, and 65.22 respectively. For each fiber length, concrete with five volume fractions (0.5%, 0.75%, 1.0%, 1.5%, and 2.0%) were produced and cured for 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, and 60 days by water immersion. For all resulting concrete, slump value and compressive strength were investigated. The results show that workability decreases with an increase in the fiber length and volume fraction. Concrete with a 10 mm length and a volume fraction of 0.5% produced concrete with the highest slump. The concrete mix with a 60 mm fiber length and a 1.0% volume fraction at 60 days of curing regime gives the optimum compressive strength, enhancing it by 9.85% compared to the reference concrete. The regression model developed for the compressive strength showed a very good relationship between the response and the regressor variables. The coefficient of determination (R²) is 0.8894, and all the model terms' P-values are less than the alpha value (0.05).
Copyright (c) 2023 sule yaman, Abbagana Mohammed https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Application of Response Surface Methodology in Predicting and optimizing the properties of Concrete containing Ground Scoria and Metakaolin blended Cement in Concrete
The effect of Metakaolin and ground Scoria on various properties of concrete were investigated and optimised using Response Surfaces Methodology (RSM) in this study. Seven batches of concretes were cast at water to cement ratio of 0.5 and 5% fixed Metakaolin with 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% Ground Scoria replaced cement. The resulting concrete then was tested for Slump. The Concrete cubes were cast and cured for 3, 7, 14, 28 and 60days before Water absorption and Compressive strength test were carried out. at all replacement levels of Metakaolin/Scoria content, Workability, Water absorption, Density and Compressive strength decreased when compared with the control concrete. However, Water absorption, Density and Compressive strength slightly increased with increase in curing age. The models developed were quite accurate as the percentages of error were in a good agreement and can explain the variability in Metakaolin/Ground Scoria concrete. Numerical method of optimisation was applied to determine the optimum mix proportions for Metakaolin/Ground Scoria. The optimum mix of concrete was obtained by addition of 8.60% GS after curing for 12-days with 0.8 desirability. Based on the result of optimisation, incorporating the optimum values of 13.6% (5%MK+8.6%GS) metakaolin and ground Scoria in concrete as cement substitute for every one kilogram of cement, can potentially result in reduction of CO2 emissions by 0.07-0.1224kg.
Copyright (c) 2023 Abubakar Sabo Baba, Auwal Abdullahi Umar, Aliyu Abubakar, Terlumun Adagba https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Python Routine for an Easy Visualization of the Influence of Supply Network Characteristics on the Hydraulic Behavior of a Small Closed Loop
A routine coded in Python aiming at a quick detection of the hydraulic behavior of a closed supply network as a function of the variation of the input data is presented. Such variables are lengths and diameters of the sections, roughness coefficients of the pipes, terrain elevations, flow distributed in the section and residual flow, and pressure at the upstream node. After a review of the literature on the subject of hydraulic supply models, the process of the fictitious sectioning point is used, so that the closed circuit network can have its behavior assimilated as that of branched network sections, and its calculation be performed as such. This arrangement is achieved by matching head losses between sections. In order to demonstrate the functionality of the routine, 12 simulations are exposed, 06 in each particular sectioning condition, with different input data and respective influences on the network operating conditions, notably, the positioning of the fictitious sectioning point and the contribution of each stretch to the residual flow node.
Copyright (c) 2023 Henrique da Silva Pizzo, Kamil Pochwat, Victor Rezende dos Santos https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0