INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CIVIL AND STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING
VOLUME 1, NO 2 - 2010
CONTENTS
Structural Optimization Using a Novel Genetic Algorithm for Rapid Convergence
Author(s)- M. A. Al-Shihri
ABSTRACT
A novel evolutionary algorithm based upon genetic algorithm is presented in this paper which is suitable for a general class of structural optimization problems. The algorithm is applicable for discrete and/or continuous type(s) of design variables. Proposed algorithm has been designed such that it converges rapidly to local optima whenever a local optimum solution is nearby. In each generation, the algorithm selects a chromosome from the population that represents a design close to a local optimum. Further, a new set of chromosomes called Single Digit Chromosome (SDC) are generated having all zero bits except for one. Chromosomes are selected from the population and their binary addition and subtraction are performed with the SDCs. Through a number of test examples it is shown that the proposed algorithm is much robust and reliable as compared to the traditional genetic algorithm.
The Variations of Cation Exchange Capacity, pH, and Zeta Potential in Expansive Soils Treated by Additives
Author(s)- Suat Akbulut, Seracettin Arasan
ABSTRACT
It is well known that swelling of expansive soils can cause considerable problems to lightweight civil engineering structures. To control this problem many additives such as cement, lime, fly ash, and silica fume are used for stabilizing of the expansive soils. In literature, there are a large number of studies on the geotechnical properties (swelling, permeability, strength parameters, etc.) of the expansive soils, but there is a little data on electrokinetic properties such as; cation exchange capacity, pH, and zeta potential of the expansive soils stabilized with these additives. The objectives of this work is to research the variation of cation exchange capacity, pH, and zeta potential in expansive soils treated with additives such as cement, lime, fly ash, and silica fume. In present research, also the descriptive test results are summarized comparing with the literature in detail.
Enhancement of System performance through Benchmarking: Case Study of Samrat Ashok Sagar Irrigation Project, MP, India
Author(s)- Sanjay S. Phadnis, Mukul Kulsrestha
ABSTRACT
India is a monsoon dependent country for its water resources. Irrigation sector has been fundamental to India’s economic development and poverty alleviation since 25% of India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 65% of employment is based on agriculture. During the post independence period, the country has invested a huge amount of capital in the major and the medium irrigation projects. Among the states, three have already achieved 70% or more of the ultimate irrigation potential with Tamilnadu recording 100% achievement, followed by Punjab and Rajasthan at 84% and 74% respectively. Six States, i.e., Haryana, Karnataka, Jammu & Kashmir, and West Bengal are in the range of 63% to 71%, whereas in U.P. and Maharashtra, the achievement would be 56% each. The States of Bihar, Gujarat, Orissa, M.P. and Assam have achieved less than 50% of the ultimate potential. The ultimate potential under major & medium irrigation in the eastern States (except West Bengal), i.e. Bihar, U.P., M.P. and Orissa put together works out to about 50% of the total ultimate potential of the country (MoWR,GoI,2006). In large public irrigation schemes in Asia, the main problems of irrigation service delivery faced by the farmers were usually erratic delivery and inequity between the heads and tail-ends of the canals, resulting in low cropping intensities, in a poor proportion of the systems’ command area being irrigated, and poor yields. The study will review the performance of existing Samrat Ashok Sagar major irrigation and drainage project for selected benchmarking indicators on actual past data observed.
The Relationship between the Fractal Dimension and Mechanical Properties of Asphalt Concrete
Author(s)- Seracettin Arasan, Engin Yener, Fatih Hattatoglu, Suat Akbulut, Sinan Hinislioglu
ABSTRACT
The importance of the shape of aggregate particles on their mechanical behavior is well recognized. In asphalt concrete, the shape of aggregate particles affects the durability, workability, shear resistance, tensile strength, stiffness, fatigue response, and optimum binder content of the mixture. Due to their irregularity, the shape of aggregates is not accurately described by Euclidian geometry. However, fractal theory uses the concept of fractal dimension, DR, as a way to describe the shape of aggregates. This paper describes a study of the influence of fractal dimension on mechanical properties of asphalt concrete. The flow of asphalt concrete decreases and Marshall Stability increases when the fractal dimension of aggregate increases.
Evaluation of Irrigation Inefficiencies in Samrat Ashok Sagar Major Irrigation Project by Use of Data Envelopment Analysis
Author(s)- Sanjay Sitaram Phadnis, Mukul Kulshrestha
ABSTRACT
Water is scare and it has several characteristics that make the role of its development and management more essential than other goods available for mankind. Water allocation to various stakeholders is a complex issue due to increasing demand. Due to population increase, it is difficult to meet the demand of food in resources available worldwide. Therefore, it is a primary objective to ensure optimal utilisation of water within an available resource. Major consumer of water is Irrigation. About 83% share is consumed by Irrigation. But it is evident from statistics that only 40% potential is utilised in India because of poor maintenance of canal, flooding methods adopted in larger part of country for application of water and inadequate facilities for irrigation services. In view of this Government of India is seriously making efforts to improve the existing systems performance and suggesting their State Government to adopt benchmarking of Irrigation and drainage sector to assess the performance. Benchmarking indicators are also suggested by a committee constituted by Central Water Commission, Government of India to compare internal and external benchmarking of Irrigation Projects. The simple comparison of indicators involves subjective judgment-making which provides little information about the global position of an organization with respect to others. In order to address this problem, a Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) technique is used to evaluate inefficiencies in a Samrat Ashok Sagar Projact.
Assessment of Corrosion and Durability Characteristics of Copper Slag Admixed Concrete
Author(s)- D.Brindha,Baskaran.T , Nagan.S
ABSTRACT
The main aim of the environmental protection agencies and the government are to seek ways and means to minimize the problems of disposal and health hazards of by-products. Some of the industrial by-products have been successfully used in the construction industry for the production of cement and concrete. Copper slag is one of the materials that is considered as a waste material which could have a promising future in construction industry as partial substitute of either cement or aggregates. Many researchers have already found it possible to use copper slag as a concrete aggregate. But not much research has been carried out concerning durability and corrosion studies of copper slag admixed concrete. This paper presents the results of an experimental study on various corrosion and durability tests on concrete containing copper slag as partial replacement of sand and cement. For this research work , M20 grade concrete was used and the tests were conducted for various proportions of copper slag replacement with sand of 0%, 20%, 40%, and 60%, cement of 0%, 5%, 15% and 20% and combination of both (60% sand + 40% copper slag for fine aggregate and 85% cement+15% copper slag for cement) in concrete. The obtained results were compared with those of control concrete made with ordinary Portland cement and sand.
Thickness Optimization of Vibrating Shells for Minimum Volume
Author(s)- Mallika.A ,Ramana Rao.N.V
ABSTRACT
Shell structures are the most often used structural elements in nature and technology. This paper presents a new technique for shape optimization of curved shell structures that takes advantage of the geometric modeling and automatic meshing capabilities of an existing parametric/associative CAD system. Using the method of inverse technique, a hanging model is created and inverted over 180°. The surfaces are discretized by shell elements involving shell structures subjected to free vibration. An iteratively adopted configuration with different mesh sizes, free vibration analysis is performed and optimum shape is obtained for minimum volume with a constraint on fundamental frequency.
Shape Properties of Natural and Crushed Aggregate using Image Analysis
Author(s)- Seracettin Arasan, A.Samet Hasiloglu, Suat Akbulut
ABSTRACT
The importance of the shape of aggregate particles is well recognized due to their mechanical behavior. Durability, workability, shear resistance, tensile strength, stiffness, and fatigue response of concrete and asphalt concrete is heavily depend on the shape of aggregate particles. In recent years, image analysis is widely used to analyze the particle shape characteristics of aggregate. In this research, shape properties of natural river and crushed basalt aggregate were compared using image analysis by determining the shape characteristics of aggregate such as aspect ratio, elongation, flatness, form factor, roundness, shape factor, and sphericity. Additionally, the area-perimeter technique was used to predict the fractal dimensions of aggregates. As a result, the difference between shape properties of natural and crushed aggregate was mentioned by image analysis in this study.
Cost Efficiency Evaluation and Performance Assessment of Urban Water Supply Utilities In The State of Madhya Pradesh, India
Author(s)- Amit Vishwakarma , Mukul Kulshrestha
ABSTRACT
Water is the basic need of the living things in this world and Water Supply Utility fulfils this requirement with quantitatively and qualitatively. In many developed countries water supply services gets the status of profitable Industries and set tariffs according to that. In developing countries like in India Urban water supply Utilities still running by government authorities/undertaking without Public-Private partnership practice in common hence there is need to estimate cost efficiency and assessment of the performance of urban water supply utilities in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. Stochastic frontier analysis is a parametric approach to estimate the cost efficiency of urban water supply utilities in a very systematic manner with including effect of noise. Significant Models show that Municipality of Bhopal, Morena, Ratlam and Vidisha urban city performed better and scored highest estimated cost efficiencies, while least efficient utility of Hoshangabad Municipal Corporation would decrease their output cost by 35.84% to attain the level of the most efficient utility of the state.
Experimental Investigation on Behavior of Reinforced Concrete Beam Column Joints Retrofitted with GFRP-AFRP Hybrid Wrapping
Author(s)- Robert Ravi.S, Prince Arulraj.G
ABSTRACT
Upgradation to higher seismic zones of several cities and towns in the country has necessitated in evolving new retrofitting strategies. Recent earthquakes have demonstrated that most of the reinforced concrete structures were severely damaged during earthquakes and they need major repair works. One of the techniques of strengthening the reinforced concrete structural members is through external confinement by high strength fiber composites which can significantly enhance the strength and ductility which will result in large energy absorption capacity of structural members. Fiber materials are used to strengthen a variety of reinforced concrete elements to enhance the flexural, shear, and axial load carrying capacity of elements. Beam-column joints, being the lateral and vertical load resisting members in reinforced concrete structures are particularly vulnerable to failures during earthquakes and hence their retrofit is often the key to successful seismic retrofit strategy. The existing reinforced concrete beam-column joints which were designed as per code IS 456:2000 must be strengthened since they do not meet the requirements given in the ductility code IS 13920:1993. In this paper an attempt has been made to study the behavior of reinforced concrete beam-column joints retrofitted with glass-carbon hybrid fiber sheets. Three exterior reinforced concrete beam-column joint specimens (control) were cast and tested to failure. Two specimens had reinforcement details as per code IS 456:2000. The other specimen had reinforcement details as per code IS 13920:1993. An axial load was applied on the column. Push and pull load was applied at the free end of the cantilever beam till failure. The failed two beam-column joint specimens designed as per code IS 456:2000 were retrofitted with GFRP-AFRP/AFRP-GFRP hybrid fiber sheets wrapping to strengthen the specimens. The performance of the retrofitted beam-column joints was compared with the control beam-column joint specimens and the results are presented.
