• International conference on construction engineering and project management
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• 2011.02a
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• pp.526-533
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• 2011

Contracting is said to be a high-risk business, and a common cause of business failure is related to cash management. A contractor's financial viability depends heavily on how actual payments from an owner deviate from those defined in the contract. The paper presents a method for contractors to evaluate the punctuality and fullness of owner payments based on historical behaviour. It does this by classifying owners according to their late and incomplete payment practices. A payment profile of an owner, in the form of aging claims submitted by the contractor, is used as a basis for the method's development. Regression trees are constructed based on three predictor variables, namely, the average time to payment following a claim, the total amount ending up being paid within a certain period and the level of variability in claim response times. The Tree package in the publicly available R program is used for building the trees. The analysis is particularly useful for contractors at the pre-tendering stage, when contractors predict the likely payment scenario in an upcoming project. Based on the method, the contractor can decide whether to tender or not tender, or adjust its financial preparations accordingly. The paper is a contribution in risk management applied to claim and dispute resolution practice. It is argued that by contractors having a better understanding of owner payment behaviour, fewer disputes and contractor business failures will occur.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.647-659
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• 2024

Given the increased interest in enhancing structural sustainability, the current study sought to apply multiobjective optimization to a footbridge with a steel-concrete composite I-girder structure. It was considered as objectives minimizing the cost for building the structure, the environmental impact assessed by CO2 emissions, and the vertical accelerations created by human-induced vibrations, with the goal of ensuring pedestrian comfort. Spans ranging from 15 to 25 meters were investigated. The resistance of the slab's concrete, the thickness of the slab, the dimensions of the welded steel I-profile, and the composite beam interaction degree were all evaluated as design variables. The optimization problem was handled using the Multiobjective Harmony Search (MOHS) metaheuristic algorithm. The optimization results were used to generate a Pareto front for each span, allowing us to assess the correlations between different objectives. By evaluating the values of design variables in relation to different levels of pedestrian comfort, it was identified optimal values that can be employed as a starting point in predimensioning of the type of structure analyzed. Based on the findings analysis, it is possible to highlight the relationship between the structure's cost and CO2 emission objectives, indicating that cost-effective solutions are also environmentally efficient. Pedestrian comfort improvement is especially feasible in smaller spans and from a medium to a maximum level of comfort, but it becomes expensive for larger spans or for increasing comfort from minimum to medium level.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.285-300
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• 2011

Researchers at the International Hurricane Research Center (IHRC), Florida International University (FIU), are working in stages on the construction of a large state-of-the-art Wall of Wind (WoW) facility to support research in the area of Wind Engineering. In this paper, the challenges of simulating hurricane winds for the WoW are presented and investigated based on a scale model study. Three wind profiles were simulated using airfoils, and/or adjustable planks mechanism with and without grids. Evaluations of flow characteristics were performed in order to enhance the WoW's flow simulation capabilities. Characteristics of the simulated wind fields are compared to the results obtained from a study using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and also validated via pressure measurements on small-scale models of the Silsoe cube building. Optimal scale of the test model and its optimal distance from the WoW contraction exit are determined - which are two important aspects for testing using an open jet facility such as the WoW. The main objective of this study is to further the understanding of the WoW capabilities and the characteristics of its test section by means of intensive tests and validations at small scale in order to apply this knowledge to the design of the full-scale WoW and for future wind engineering testing.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.155-167
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• 2023

The penetrated chloride in concrete has different behavior with mix proportions and local exposure conditions, even in the same environments, so that it is very important to quantify surface chloride contents for durability design. As well known, the surface chloride content which is a key parameter like external loading in structural safety design increases with exposure period. In this study, concrete samples containing OPC (Ordinary Portland Cement), GGBFS (Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag), and FA (Fly Ash) had been exposed to submerged, tidal, and splash area for 5 years, then the surface chloride contents changing with exposure period were evaluated. The surface chloride contents were obtained from the chloride profile based on the Fick's 2nd Law, and the regression analysis for them was performed with exponential and square root function. After exposure period of 5 years in submerged and tidal area conditions, the surface chloride content of OPC concrete increased to 6.4 kg/m³ - 7.3 kg/m³, and the surface chloride content of GGBFS concrete was evaluated as 7.3 kg/m³ - 11.5 kg/m³. In the higher replacement ratio of GGBFS, the higher surface chloride contents were evaluated. The surface chloride content in FA concrete showed a range of 6.7 kg/m³ to 9.9 kg/m³, which was the intermediate level of OPC and GGBFS concrete. In the case of splash area, the surface chloride contents in all specimens were from 0.59 kg/m³ to 0.75 kg/m³, which was the lowest of all exposure conditions. Experimental constants available for durability design of chloride ingress were derived through regression analysis over exposure period. In the concrete with GGBFS replacement ratio of 50%, the increase rate of surface chloride contents decreased rapidly as the water to binder ratio increased.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.219-237
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• 2009

This study examines the accuracy of large-eddy simulation (LES) to simulate the flow around a large irregular sloping complex terrain. Typically, real built up environments are surrounded by complex terrain geometries with many features. The complex terrain surrounding The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology campus was modelled and the flow over an uphill slope was simulated. The simulated results, including mean velocity profiles and turbulence intensities, were compared with the flow characteristics measured in a wind tunnel model test. Given the size of the domain and the corresponding constraints on the resolution of the simulation, the mean velocity components within the boundary layer flow, especially in the stream-wise direction were found to be reasonably well replicated by the LES. The turbulence intensity values were found to differ from the wind tunnel results in the building recirculation zones, mostly due to the constraints placed on spatial and temporal resolutions. Based on the validated mean velocity profile results, the flow-structure interactions around these buildings and the surrounding terrain were examined.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.385-394
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• 2022

The energy demand of the world is increasing rapidly, mainly using fossil energy, which causes environmental damage. The wind is free and clean energy to solve the environmental problems. Thailand is one of the developing nations, and the majority of its energy is obtained from petroleum, natural gas and coal. The objective of this study is to test the characteristics of wind energy at Khon Kaen in Thailand. The wind measurement tools, the 3-cup anemometers to measure wind speed, and wind vanes to measure wind direction, were mounted on a wind tower mast to record wind data at the heights of 60, 90 and 120 meters above ground level (AGL) for 5 years between January 2012 and December 2016. The results show that the annual mean wind speeds were 3.79, 4.32 and 4.66 m/s, respectively. The highest mean wind speeds occurred in June, August and December, in order, and the lowest occurred in September. The majority of prevailing wind directions were from the North-East and South-West directions. The average annual wind shear coefficient was 0.297. Furthermore, five wind turbines with rated power from 0.85 to 4.5 MW were selected to estimate the wind energy output and it was found that the maximum AEP and CF were achieved from the low cut-in speed and high hub-height wind turbines. This important information will help to develop wind energy applications, such as the plan to produce electricity and the calculation of the wind load that affects tall and large structures.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.263-275
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• 2023

As a new kind of construction facility for high rise buildings, the integral steel platform scaffold system (ISPS) consisting of the steel skeleton and suspended scaffold faces high wind during the construction procedure. The lattice structure type and existence of core tubes both make it difficult to estimate the wind load and calculate the wind-induced responses. In this study, an aeroelastic model with a geometry scale ratio of 1:25 based on the ISPS for Shanghai Tower, with the representative square profile, is manufactured and then tested in a wind tunnel. The first mode of the prototype ISPS is a torsional one with a frequency of only 0.68 Hz, and the model survives under extreme wind speed up to 50 m/s. The static wind load and wind vibration factors are derived based on the test result and supplementary finite element analysis, offering a reference for the following ISPS design. The spacer at the bottom of the suspended scaffold is suggested to be long enough to touch the core tube in the initial status to prevent the collision. Besides, aerodynamic wind loads and cross-wind loads are suggested to be included in the structural design of the ISPS.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.68-74
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• 2009

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), one of ubiquitous organic pollutants in marine environments, are major toxic components of petroleum and are produced during the incomplete combustion of organic materials. As shipyards are located inside of natural or artificial semi-enclosed bay, even a relatively weak environmental disturbance by ship-building activity can cause severe damage to marine ecosystem in the bay. Many studies of pollution in shipyard area have been focused on the antifouling agent, like tributyltin. This study aimed to investigate the effect of ship-building activity on PAH contamination. Total PAHs concentration was higher nearby and inside shipyard area than outside, implying that shipyard could be one of major source area of PAH contamination to pose harmful effects to surrounding environments. Through PAH profile and source recognition index, the source of PAHs inputs in this area was estimated to originate from both petrogenic and pyrogenic origin. PAH levels showed a significant correlation with total butyltins, indicating that ship-building activity influenced PAH concentration and distribution. Vertical distribution of PAHs historically confirmed the correlation between shipbuilding activity and PAHs contamination.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.224-232
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• 1999

Latent heat storage system using micro-encapsuled phase change material is effective method for floor heating of house and building. The temperature profile in capsule block and flow rate of hot water are important parameters for the development of heat storage system. In the present study, a mathematical model based on 3-D, non-steady state, Navier-Stokes equations, scalar conservation equations and turbulence model ($\kappa$-$\varepsilon$), is used to predict the temperature profiles in capsule and the velocity vectors in hot water pipe. The multi-block grids and fine grids embedding are used to join the circle in hot water pipe and square in capsule block. The phase change process of the capsule is quite complex not only because the size of phase change material is very small, but also because phase change material is mixed with the cement to form thermal storage block. In calculation, it's assumed that the phenomena of phase change is limited only the thermal properties of phase change material and the change of boundary is not happened in capsule. The purpose of this study is to calculate the temperature profiles in capsule block and velocity vectors in hot water pipe using the numerical calculation. Two kinds of thermal boundary condition were considered, the first (case 1) is the adiabatic condition for the both outside surfaces of the wall, the second (case 2) is the case in which one surface is natural convection with atmosphere and another surface is adaibatic. Calculation results are shown that the temperature profile in capsule block for case 1 is higher than that for case 2 due to less heat loss in adaibatic surface. Specially, in the domain of near Y=0, the difference of temperature is greater in case 1 than in case 2. The detailed experimental data of capsule block on the temperature profile and the thermal properties such as specific heat and coefficient of heat transfer with the various temperature are required to predict more exact phenomena of heat transfer.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.109-113
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• 2007

This paper introduces a system, Simulation based Stochastic Markup Estimation System (S2ME), for estimating optimum markup for a project. The system was designed and implemented to better represent the real world system involved in construction bidding. The findings obtained from the analysis of existing assumptions used in the previous quantitative markup estimation methods were incorporated to improve the accuracy and predictability of the S2ME. The existing methods has four categories of assumption as follows; (1) The number of competitors and who is the competitors are known, (2) A typical competitor, who is fictitious, is assumed for easy computation, (3) the ratio of bid price against cost estimate (B/C) is assumed to follow normal distribution, (4) The deterministic output obtained from the probabilistic equation of existing models is assumed to be acceptable. However, these assumptions compromise the accuracy of prediction. In practice, the bidding patterns of the bidders are randomized in competitive bidding. To complement the lack of accuracy contributed by these assumptions, bidding project was randomly selected from the pool of bidding database in the simulation experiment. The probability to win the bid in the competitive bidding was computed using the profile of the competitors appeared in the selected bidding project record. The expected profit and probability to win the bid was calculated by selecting a bidding record randomly in an iteration of the simulation experiment under the assumption that the bidding pattern retained in historical bidding DB manifest revival. The existing computation, which is handled by means of deterministic procedure, were converted into stochastic model using simulation modeling and analysis technique as follows; (1) estimating the probability distribution functions of competitors' B/C which were obtained from historical bidding DB, (2) analyzing the sensitivity against the increment of markup using normal distribution and actual probability distribution estimated by distribution fitting, (3) estimating the maximum expected profit and optimum markup range. In the case study, the best fitted probability distribution function was estimated using the historical bidding DB retaining the competitors' bidding behavior so that the reliability was improved by estimating the output obtained from simulation experiment.