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Research Article
Application of the Discrete Element Method to Landslides
Issue:
Volume 9, Issue 4, August 2024
Pages:
98-104
Received:
18 June 2024
Accepted:
5 July 2024
Published:
23 July 2024
Abstract: Civil engineering is defined as all construction related to the ground. In other words, civil engineering is only possible where there is soil. Construction professionals should not face any obstacles when building sustainably in any soil context. Knowledge of the altimetric state, including hills, mountains, valleys, etc., and the subterranean state, including obstacles such as compressible soil, holes, water tables, and rock masses, is crucial to consider before designing infrastructure. This includes the buried part of a structure and the angle of the natural slope in the superstructure to avoid landslides in the infrastructure. Landslides are natural disasters that have had a devastating impact on several populated areas in Cameroon, resulting in numerous fatalities. The most recent landslides recorded in our country occurred in NGOUACHE, MBANKOLO, MOBIL GUINNESS, among others. Preventing disasters requires an understanding of the relationship between construction and landslides to minimize their occurrence and impact. It is important to campaign for sustainable construction that respects the environment. Understanding landslides involves both destructive and non-destructive approaches. This article presents numerical methods for analysing and predicting phenomena. Among these methods, we focus on the discrete element method, which represents the medium as an assembly of circular, rigid particles. We examine three cases to observe the behaviour of the supporting soils and determine the fracture surface. Additionally, we compare our results with those found in the literature.
Abstract: Civil engineering is defined as all construction related to the ground. In other words, civil engineering is only possible where there is soil. Construction professionals should not face any obstacles when building sustainably in any soil context. Knowledge of the altimetric state, including hills, mountains, valleys, etc., and the subterranean sta...
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Research Article
Investigating the Behaviour of Railway Track Ground Vibrations for Different Track Foundation Conditions Using FEM
Abu Sayeed,
Sudipta Saha*
Issue:
Volume 9, Issue 4, August 2024
Pages:
105-114
Received:
14 May 2024
Accepted:
1 August 2024
Published:
27 August 2024
Abstract: High-speed trains are a useful friendly option for ground transportation. Railway-induced ground vibrations can have a severe impact on human health and the communities that surround rail lines. Current research is showing the problem and its solution as technology is advancing steadily, still, there are some misunderstandings. This is because the propagation of railway vibration in urban areas is complex. So, this work focuses on reducing vibration by enhancing the ballast, and sub-ballast qualities of the railway track through the use of insulation technologies. The Finite Element Method (FEM) model offers insight into how vibrations propagate over a railway track’s foundation. The FEM model can be used to forecast the frequency of vibrations. The Plaxis 3D model’s results show a reduction in vibration propagation. Sylomer is used as a damping material to absorb the vibration and block the propagation path. The application of damping material changes the track-bed system’s dynamic response, effectively decreasing vibration transmission to the surrounding soil. Stress on the surrounding soil and structure foundation is reduced by the process of vibration mitigation. Establishing a benchmark reference for soil parameters is crucial for the accurate analysis and prediction of ground behavior. By creating a detailed and standardized set of soil data, engineers and planners can better understand the characteristics and capabilities of the ground on which they intend to build.
Abstract: High-speed trains are a useful friendly option for ground transportation. Railway-induced ground vibrations can have a severe impact on human health and the communities that surround rail lines. Current research is showing the problem and its solution as technology is advancing steadily, still, there are some misunderstandings. This is because the ...
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Research Article
Effective Project Delivery Method for Public Construction: Case in the Oromia Region, West Wallaga Zone
Chera Merga,
Marema Keno*
Issue:
Volume 9, Issue 4, August 2024
Pages:
115-121
Received:
2 May 2024
Accepted:
30 May 2024
Published:
27 August 2024
Abstract: This thesis is to identify and evaluate effective delivery methods and assess their applicability to the local situations in the Oromia region of the West Wallaga Zone. The significance of the research is that the broadening of the service packages is believed to enable the optimization of the process and the product as a whole in the construction industry, as well as facilitate the development of the infrastructure sectors. The objective of this research is to identify effective project delivery methods for public works construction in the Oromia Region West Wallaga Zone. The data collection process used in the research had the option of two basic methods: primary data collection and secondary data collection. Accordingly, four project delivery methods based on their relevance to the local situation have been evaluated; their merits, demerits, and requirements have been identified. These methods are: the design-bid-build, construction managers (at resk and at fee), the design-build, and the design-build-operate-transfer methods. Based on these findings of the study, the design-bid-Build method has been the most widely used effective project delivery method in the Oromia Region West Wallaga Zone. Performance-based project delivery methods are thought to offer a way to develop the sector and to benefit all stakeholders. In order to benefit all parties involved in the building sector, this will serve as a beneficial addition to the current techniques.
Abstract: This thesis is to identify and evaluate effective delivery methods and assess their applicability to the local situations in the Oromia region of the West Wallaga Zone. The significance of the research is that the broadening of the service packages is believed to enable the optimization of the process and the product as a whole in the construction ...
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Research Article
Research on the Application of Cushion and Isolation Materials in Protecting the over Shield Tunnel
Issue:
Volume 9, Issue 4, August 2024
Pages:
122-130
Received:
21 June 2024
Accepted:
20 August 2024
Published:
27 August 2024
Abstract: The portal frame, as an innovative subway protection structure, primarily serves the development of underground spaces above shield tunneling for subways. It comprises foundation piles along both sides of the tunnel and a transition thick plate. When the transfer thick plate sustains loads at its midspan, deformation occurs, interacting with the underlying soil to generate additional stresses, thereby potentially impacting the subway tunnel beneath negatively. This study, anchored in the real-case scenario of Qianhai Exchange Square, employs finite element analysis to investigate the interaction mechanisms between the transfer thick plate under midspan loading and soils of varying properties. Findings revealed a characteristic distribution pattern of additional stresses in the soil—smaller at the edges and larger at the center. Furthermore, under equal loading conditions, there's a positive correlation between soil stiffness and induced additional stress, while an inverse relationship exists with the vertical deformation of the transfer thick plate. In response to this issue, the paper innovatively proposes embedding a cushioning and isolation layer under the transfer thick plate. Based on the results of full-scale tunnel tests carried out during the early stages of the project, and by employing high-precision finite element simulations, the bearing capacity of the tunnel was determined. This analysis, in turn, informed the formulation of selection principles for the cushioning and isolation materials in a feedback manner. Computational verifications showed that appropriately designing the cushioning and isolation layer can significantly reduce additional stresses in the foundation soil, thereby effectively alleviating the impact of concentrated upper loads on the shield tunnel.
Abstract: The portal frame, as an innovative subway protection structure, primarily serves the development of underground spaces above shield tunneling for subways. It comprises foundation piles along both sides of the tunnel and a transition thick plate. When the transfer thick plate sustains loads at its midspan, deformation occurs, interacting with the un...
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Research Article
Research on Application of Composite Facades for Civilian Reconstruction of Industrial Heritage in Cold Regions Based on Thermal Buffering Effect
Mengru Zhang*,
Yong Huang,
Rui Zhang
Issue:
Volume 9, Issue 4, August 2024
Pages:
131-142
Received:
13 July 2024
Accepted:
26 August 2024
Published:
30 August 2024
Abstract: Previous studies on the civil transformation of industrial heritage have been conducted mainly from the perspective of architectural history, culture and aesthetics, but rarely focus on energy-saving and the comfort of the new users. Most industrial heritage facades are of high conservation value, but efforts to preserve the authenticity of the facade can lead to the application of limited energy-saving technologies, ultimately resulting in poor indoor thermal environments. Therefore, it is valuable to research how to solve the contradiction between protecting the authenticity of the preserved facades of industrial heritage and improving the indoor environmental performance. This paper proposes two composite facade application strategies based on thermal buffer effects, takes two composite facades renovation methods of Shenyang Dongmao No. 2 Warehouse as an example, utilizes the natural environmental resources to enhance the spatial quality of industrial heritage. With the help of DesignBuilder software modelling simulation analysis, in-depth comparative analysis of the two types of composite facades on the indoor thermal environment of the industrial heritage of the impact and scope. Key findings show that the application of two different composite facade retrofitting techniques not only protects the skin texture of the wall, but also effectively increases the indoor temperature and reduces the indoor energy consumption of the industrial heritage. The composite facade of the external solid wall and the internal glass is more stable in raising the indoor temperature, more effective in reducing the building energy consumption, and more suitable for the civilian transformation of industrial heritage in cold areas. The research findings provide reference for studies on the civil transformation of industrial heritage, and serve as technical references for architects.
Abstract: Previous studies on the civil transformation of industrial heritage have been conducted mainly from the perspective of architectural history, culture and aesthetics, but rarely focus on energy-saving and the comfort of the new users. Most industrial heritage facades are of high conservation value, but efforts to preserve the authenticity of the fac...
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