Irrespective of the groundswell of interest in construction industry conflict during the last two decades, there has been comparatively little research conducted that attempts to investigate the association between social conflict and ineffective construction industry inter-organizational relationships. This is despite the growing recognition that conditions conducive to effective social relationships between interdependent organizations contribute towards improved industrial productivity. This doctoral thesis contributes to the existing literature and empirical database on construction industry conflict by reporting the findings of a research project designed to explore the comparative organizational properties that encourage interdependence and the emergence of inter-organizational conflict during the construction process. The investigation builds upon and moderates an earlier comparative analysis of inter- organizational conflict by Molnar and Rogers (1979) in order to formulate a novel structural equation model. It includes as its database six case studies of medium- to large-scale new-build construction projects, selected from the north-eastern region of England, from which the networks of social relationships within the collectivities of construction-related organizations were examined from the perspective of the exogenous and endogenous comparative organizational properties. Primary data were collected during semi-structured interviews with twenty-three boundary role representatives of the twelve construction-related organizations responsible for the design and construction of the observed projects. The resultant structural equation model provides insight into the occurrence of inter-organizational conflict within the UK construction industry, in addition to explaining the key factors that influence the occurrence of ineffective construction industry inter-organizational relationships. In essence, this doctoral investigation has demonstrated the potential ability to predict the likelihood that social conflict will arise between interdependent construction- related organizations. Furthermore, it has paved the way for additional studies to be conducted to further understand the complex and intriguing aspects of construction industry inter-organizational relationships by presenting an accurately specified theoretical framework and an appropriately grounded methodological approach.

In the ICT industry, since de-regulation business objectives have been closely linked to the lowering of prices and improvement in quality of service. Unfortunately, the industry has arguably failed to deliver the majority of its projects. This research examines this described failure and considers the reasons why it occurs. As a starting point, the research suggests that the ICT industry might be better off by comparing its progress against that already made by the construction industry, an industry involved in projects with similar characteristics such as complex relationships, detailed information and long delivery periods over many phases. A framework demonstrating similarities and differences in project characteristics between construction and ICT was developed from available literature. The framework was examined and refined by carrying out in-depth interviews. It was then tested using data from a survey of professionals involved in Construction and ICT projects. The results of the analysis indicate that there are no fundamental differences either in the definition of projects or the application of project management systems, principles and methodologies between the two industries. Therefore this is not the reason for the failure of project delivery within ICT. The real problem appears to be in the method of project performance measurement, which is based on an approach to project success that is separate from progress measurement criteria.

This research compares knowledge integration in competitive and collaborative construction projects in the UK. It begins with the assumption that the most valuable commodity transferred along project supply chains is knowledge. It has been suggested that collaborative working methods (such as partnering) may represent a significant improvement in the way project knowledge can be captured and integrated. However, most academic work on knowledge management has concentrated on its integration within rather than between organizations: the topic is more difficult to address in multi-firm, project-based, and economically fragmented industries (such as construction). The present study focuses upon collaborative working as a vehicle for knowledge integration along the project supply chain. A review of the literature examines how recent approaches to construction organisation have sought to improve performance: these approaches all draw attention to such critical attributes as trust, commitment and relationships, all of which are difficult to measure. In this research, a social network analysis approach has been adopted to do this. This is the first time the technique has been put fully to this use in the context of construction projects. Software has been used to help visualize and compare knowledge networks in five projects (representing competitive and collaborative working) and this has provided data for comparison of different working patterns under different procurement systems. The working patterns and knowledge transactions in the two different procurement systems were shown to be different, and there were clear associations between the degree of collaborative working and the nature of social networks encountered. The technique has overcome previous difficulties in measuring certain attributes of collaborative working; has provided a way of benchmarking the differences in the way that competitive and collaborative working facilitate project knowledge integration; and represents a useful and novel way of analysing organizational behaviour in projects. It has explained why and how partnering and collaborative working can bring certain advantages.

Bridge structures have an important role in economic, social and environmental aspects of society life. Bridges are also subject to a natural process of deterioration of construction materials, as well as natural and environmental events such as flooding, freezing, thawing etc. Health monitoring and assessment of the structural integrity of bridges have been the focus of engineers and researchers for decades. Currently, the various aspects of bridge health are monitored separately. However, measuring these aspects independently does not give the overall health of the bridge and crucial indicators of structural damage can be neglected. Generally, bridge health assessments take the form of individual NDT (non-destructive techniques) detecting individual defects. However value can be added to these results by combining and comparing the findings of several different NDT surveys. By completing this, a more accurate assessment of bridge health is obtained. This increases confidence in the decision as to whether remedial action is necessary. In this thesis an integrated bridge health monitoring approach is proposed which applies several NDT specifically chosen for bridge health assessments, thus achieving this added value. This method can be used as a part of a comprehensive bridge monitoring strategy as an assessment tool to evaluate the bridges structural health. This approach enables the user of this approach to obtain a detailed structural report on the bridge with all the necessary information pertaining to its’ health, allowing for a fully educated decision to be made regarding whether remedial action is necessary. This research presents the results of the applications of such methods on case studies utilising Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), IBIS-S technology / system (deflection and vibration detection sensor system with interferometric capability) and Accelerometer sensors. It also evaluates the effectiveness of the adopted methods and technologies by comparing and validating the yielded results with conventional methods (modelling and visual inspection). The research presents and discusses processed data obtained by the above mentioned methods in detail and reports on challenges encountered in setting up and materialising the assessment process. This work also reports on Finite Element Modelling (FEM) of the main case study (Pentagon Road Bridge) using specialist software (SAP2000 and ANSYS) in order to simulate the perceived movement of the bridge under dynamic and static conditions. The analytical results output were compared with results obtained by the applications of the above non-destructive methods. Thus by using these techniques the main aim of this thesis is to develop an integrated model/approach for the assessment and monitoring of the structural integrity and overall functionality of bridges. All the above methods were validated using preliminary case studies (GPR), additional equipment (accelerometers for IBIS-S validation) and additional techniques and information (SAP 2000 and ANSYS were compared to one another and IBIS-S results). All of these techniques were applied on the Pentagon Road Bridge. This bridge was chosen as no information was available regarding its structural composition. Visual inspection showed the external defects of the structure: cracking, moisture ingress and concrete delamination was present in one of the spans of the bridge. The GPR surveys gave the position of the rebars and also signs of moisture ingress at depths of 20cm (confirmed using velocity analysis). IBIS-S gave results for the deflection of the structure. FEM was used to model the behaviour of the bridge assuming no defects. To achieve additional model accuracy the results of the rebar position were input in to the model and it was calibrated using IBIS-S data. The deflection results from the model were then compared to the actual deflection data to identify areas of deterioration. It was found that excessive deflection occurred on one of the spans. It was thus found that all NDT indicated that a particular span was an area of significant deterioration and remedial action should be completed on this section in the near future. Future prediction was also completed by running simulations in ANSYS for increasing crack lengths and dynamic loading. It was found that if there is no remedial action excessive beam bending moments will occur and eventual collapse. The results of this research demonstrated that GPR provided information on the extent of the internal structural defects of the bridge under study (moisture ingress and delamination) whilst IBIS-S technology and Accelerometer sensors permitted measurement of the magnitude of the vibration of the bridge under dynamic and static loading conditions. The results depicted similarities between the FEM results and the adopted non-destructive methods results in location and pattern. This work can potentially contribute towards a better understanding of the mechanical and physical behaviours of bridge structures and ultimately assess their life expectancy and functionality.

Erich Mayer is not considered as one of South Africa's well-known and significant artists. Regardless of this, South Africa has inherited a few thousand drawings and watercolour paintings from Mayer that are of incalculable value to historians and cultural historians. His work has also not been "discovered" and exploited by architectural historians interested in South African vernacular architecture. Mayer visited various regions in South Africa and made drawings of the simple vernacular homesteads and other structures he saw on the farms and in the smaller villages and hamlets. Most of the buildings have now probably disappeared and the drawings are the only evidence of building types that otherwise could only have survived through oral traditions and legends. The buildings vary from beehive structures covered with grass mats in the N orth West, "kapsteil" dwellings in N amaqualand, to Bushveld dwellings with gables and thatched roofs. Mayer also made a contribution to the recording ofthe crude shelters the prisoners of war erected in the prisoner of war camp on St Helena, where he was sent as prisoner of war during the Anglo-Boer War (1899- 1902). Even though these structures were not erected on South African soil, they reflected the ingenuity and resourcefulness of the Boers who were imprisoned.

This study has investigated thresholds of damage for privately owned low-rise residential properties damaged by ground subsidence or heave movement. The primary focus of the research objectives has been the uncertainties created by subsidence damage. The study investigates thresholds of damage that can be used to assess the remedial action necessary for low-rise residential properties damaged by ground subsidence or heave movement. After investigating thresholds of damage, the study subsequently considers the implications that thresholds of damage would create if applied in practice. The research was carried out through the collection and analysis of 236 case study properties. Each case study represents a privately owned low-rise residential property that was thought to have been damaged by ground subsidence or heave movement. The research has considered properties damaged by subsidence or heave movement caused by leaking drains, clay subsoil shrinkage or expansion and subsidence caused by coal-mining. Case study information has been gathered from a variety of sources, using data collected by professionally qualified chartered engineers, surveyors or other specialists. In addition to these case studies, the research has employed semi-structured interviews in order to consider the implications that thresholds of damage would create if applied in practice. The research found that the evaluation of visible damage is a highly subjective matter and that any thresholds based upon an assessment of visible damage are an unreliable method to consider whether or not a property requires substantive repairs. The most robust threshold of damage which is found to emerge was to evaluate whether or not the movement causing the damage in the property is long-term progressive. The consequences of implementing this threshold of damage have been investigated. It has been concluded that if this threshold of damage was adopted, it could lead to both reductions in payments necessary to repair subsidence or heave damage and it could also reduce some of the uncertainties associated with subsidence.

Bringing a building into existence that has never been made and used before is a kind of invention which is made by an architect. Being an architect necessitates the ability to synthesize separated things besides talent. The architect should relate different things such as people's needs and activities, natural features of earth, manufactured products, etc to each other in a systematic way that he or she can produce solutions for design problems and select the most suitable solution to meet people's needs. Thus a building can be imagined as if it physically exists, and as if it is occupied by users. Although, indoor air quality (IAQ) has been discussed for almost thirty years, it is a new subject for architects from the architectural design point of view. Most of the time, the subject is defined as an engineering problem. However anything related to the building should be recognised by architects, as well, so that they can try to find alternative solutions. Examining the Architectural Design Process and IAQ together in the whole Building System enables the architect to think about IAQ systematically, and to search design solutions to prevent or reduce possible indoor air pollution before it occurs. This thesis shows a way of considering IAQ and the building together during the architectural design stage. In this consideration, the building is modelled as a system, the Architectural Design Process is based on The RIBA Plan of Work, IAQ is adapted as a process, the Architectural Design Process and IAQP are examined together, and the Architectural Design Process is evaluated in terms of IAQ.

The interaction between floor slabs and the vertical elements in a tall building structure results in a more efficient lateral load resisting system. The study examines the structural behaviour of the floor slab in the following situations: (i) Slab coupling a pair of shear walls in a cross-wall structure under cantilever bending action. (ii) Slab in composite action with a lintel beam connecting a pair of shear walls. (iii) Slab restraining a centre core against torsional warping. (iv) Slab coupling a centre core to a peripheral framed tube in a hull-core structure under cantilever bending action. (v) Slab connecting a row of columns in a flat-plate frame structure under lateral loading. The resistance of the floor slab against the deformation of the vertical elements, and the actions induced in the slab in the various situations are determined by finite element and influence coefficient techniques. The finite element technique idealises the slab-wall structure as an assembly of plate and shell elements and uses an established stiffness analysis to determine the displacements, forces and stress resultants in the slab. The influence coefficient technique approximates the interaction forces between the slab and walls as a system of discrete nodal forces which are determined from the solution of compatibility equations written in terms of plate influence coefficients and prescribed wall displacements. The results of parameter studies are presented in a series of design curves and tables to enable, the effective slab stiffness and slab actions to be readily determined for a wide range of structural configurations. Experimental tests on small-scale shear wall-slab models are carried out to substantiate the general accuracy of the theoretical methods of analysis.

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published_or_final_version / Radioisotope / Master / Master of Philosophy