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This thesis describes the novel test techniques that were developed to measure the parameters associated with the plastic shrinkage, and subsequent possible plastic shrinkage cracking, of high strength concrete. The parameters measured during the first 24 hours after placing were the stress- strain relationship, negative pore pressure and free shrinkage strain development. The plastic behaviour of eight high strength concrete mixes was quantified and these mixes were then tested to assess their propensity towards plastic shrinkage cracking, using restrained ring tests. A review of the parameters associated with plastic shrinkage cracking was carried out. The general view was that as the particle size in a cement matrix gets smaller, then the negative pore pressures developed are greater and hence shrinkage increases. This meant that the presence of secondary cementing materials, of very small diameter, such as microsilica, in high strength concretes would explain their apparent susceptibility to plastic shrinkage cracking. Eight high strength concrete mixes were tested in exposed and sealed conditions. It was found that when tested in sealed conditions none of the parameters measured presented itself as the sole driving force behind plastic shrinkage or plastic shrinkage cracking. Also, when cured in sealed conditions, none of the mixes tested in the restrained ring test apparatus cracked. When tested in exposed conditions, the presence of wind had little effect on the stress-strain relationship of the mixes tested. However the presence of wind seemed to cause negative pore pressures to develop earlier than in the sealed samples and increased free shrinkage by 3 to 40 times depending on the mix. The samples that exhibited the highest free shrinkage strains, in exposed conditions, were the mixes that cracked when tested in the restrained shrinkage rings. The mixes that cracked all contained microsilica and these mixes did not crack when the same mixes were tested without microsilica. Polypropylene fibres were found to reduce the cracked area of the samples that cracked. The supplementary cementing materials used in this study were ground granulated blast furnace slag, metakaolin, microsilica and pulverised fuel ash.

Residual value is defined as the price for which a used piece of equipment can be sold in the market at a particular time. It is an important element of the owning costs of equipment and needs to be estimated by equipment managers for making investment decisions. The purpose of this study is to gain insights into the residual value of selected groups of heavy construction equipment and to develop a mathematical model for its prediction. Auction sales data were collected from two online databases. Manufacturer publications and an online source provided size parameters and manufacturers suggested retail prices matching the auction records. Macroeconomic indicator values were collected from a variety of sources, including government agencies. The data were brought into the same electronic format and were matched by model name and calendar date, respectively. Data from auctions in the U.S. and in Canada were considered for this study. Equipment from four principal manufacturers of up to 15 years of age at the time of sale was included. A total of 35,542 entries were grouped into 11 different equipment types and 28 categories by size as measured by horse power, standard operating weight, or bucket volume. Equipment types considered were track and wheel excavators, wheel and track loaders, backhoe loaders, integrated toolcarriers, rigid frame and articulated trucks, track dozers, motor graders, and wheel tractor scrapers. Multiple linear regression analyses of the 28 datasets were carried out after outliers had been deleted. Explanatory variables for the regression model were age in years, the indicator variables manufacturer, condition rating, and geographic region, and selected macroeconomic indicators. The response variable was residual value percent, defined as auction price divided by manufacturers suggested retail price. Different first, second, and third-order polynomial models and exponential and logarithmic models of age were examined. A second-order polynomial was selected from these functional forms based on the adjusted coefficient of determination. Coefficients for the 28 models and related statistics were tabulated. A spreadsheet tool incorporating the final regression model and its coefficients was developed. It allows performing the residual value prediction in an interactive and intuitive manner. / Ph. D.

Study project (MComm)--University of Stellenbosch, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The purpose of this assignment is to develop a method for rate making of construction machines and vehicles. An analysis of the fixed and variable cost of machines and vehicles are made together with the allocation of overhead costs. After anal ising the various cost components a model is developed for the determination of depreciation and finance charges by using the utilization of the relevant plant item. The figures obtained from this model are then used in an asset register. The information needed by the Receiver of Revenue is also included in this register for calculating the depreciation value at the end of the financial year. The maintenance and replacement of plant equipment are also discussed. Before the conclusion the necessity of keeping accurate records and the use of budgets for managing are looked at. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van die werkstuk is om 'n raamwerk daar te stel wat gebruik kan word vir tariefvasstelling van konstruksiemasjiene en - voertuie. In Ontleding van die vaste en veranderlike koste van masjinerie en voertuie word gemaak, asook die hantering van oorhoofse koste in die onderneming. Nil die bespreking van die verskillende kostekomponente waaruit 'n tarief bestaan, word die klem geplaas op die berekening van waardevermindering. 'n Model vir waardeverminderingen finansieringskostebepaling aan die hand van die benutting van toerusting word ontwikkel. Die inligting sodoende verkry word saamgevat in 'n bateregister tesame met die inligting noodsaaklik vir die Ontvanger van Inkomste om waardeverminderingafskrywings te maak aan die einde van elke finansiele jaar. Die onderhoud en vervanging van toerusting word ook bespreek. Ter afsluiting word rekordhouding en die opstel van begrotings bespreek en die nut daarvan vir bestuur uitgewys.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) went through a restructuring process in 2002. The effect that these changes had on the life expectancy of the heavy earthmoving equipment (HEME) at the company’s sand dune mining operation situated at Richard’s Bay on the north coast of KwaZulu-Natal, was unknown. This study explores these, and various other factors, that influence the life expectancy of the HEME in this highly corrosive environment. During the last number of years there has been no equipment replacement philosophy at RBM and this has resulted in the average age of HEME at the mine being extremely high. This study suggests that when restructuring is implemented in the wrong way, the process can have significant negative implications. The study determines how the behaviour of especially drivers and maintenance personnel (maintainers) impacts on the expected life of the HEME at RBM. The hidden cost element of driver and maintainer unhappiness, however, is not included as part of this study. In the first part of this study project, the writer focuses on what may have caused the unhappiness, and makes suggestions for further studies aimed at addressing this unhappiness and changing the behaviour of drivers and maintainers. These suggestions should be seen as guidelines, as measures that work in one company may not necessarily work in another. The second part of the study project deals with the replacement philosophy regarding HEME at RBM. The mine has various types of equipment, but the main focus of this research falls on the following: Caterpillar 966- 980 (payloaders), track type equipment Caterpillar D7R/H (dozers), Caterpillar 988- 992 (heavy duty payloaders) and Bell B25 articulated dumptrucks (dumptrucks) Four different replacement models are investigated and discussed in detail. The model that was best aligned with the Caterpillar proposed best replacement practice, as stipulated by the Caterpillar replacement expert, is identified. Finally, a replacement cycle for the different types of equipment is proposed. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Richardsbaai Minerale (RBM) het in 2002 deur ‘n herstruktureringsprogram gegaan. Die uitwerking wat die gevolge daarvan op die swaar grondverskuiwingsvoertuie (SGV) gehad het was onbekend. Gedurende die laaste aantal jare was daar geen vervangingsbeleid by RBM nie, en dit het meegebring dat die gemiddelde ouderdom van die SGV op die myn buitengewoon hoog is. Dit is belangrik om te bepaal wat die invloed van menslike gedrag van veral die drywers en herstelpersoneel op die verwagte leeftyd van SGV is. Die versteekte koste wat verbind word met ongelukkige drywers en herstelpersoneel maak nie deel uit van hierdie studie nie. As herstrukturering op die verkeerde manier toegepas word kan dit ‘n negatiewe impak hê. In die studie sal daar aandag gegee word aan wat die negatiewe elemente is en wat is die moontlike oorsaak daarvan. Daar word ook sekere voorstelle gemaak vir toekomstige studies om die ongelukkigheid aan te spreek en ‘n gedragsverandering na vore te bring. Die voorstelle is slegs riglyne en, wat in een maatskappy werk sal nie noodwendig in ‘n ander een werk nie. Die tweede deel van die werkstuk fokus op vervangingsteorieë met betrekking tot die SGV op RBM. Die myn het verskeie tipes SGVs maar die fokus het geval op vier soorte SGV. Hulle is Caterpillar 966- Caterpillar 980 (gemiddelde laaiers), spoor tipe toerusting Caterpillar D7R/H (stootskrapers), Caterpillar 988- Caterpillar 992 (swaargewig mobiele laaiers) en Bell B25 geartikuleerde stortings trokke (stortings trokke). Vier verskillende modelle is ondersoek en deeglik bespreek. Die model met die beste uitslae wat die mas opgekom het ten opsigte van die Caterpillar se voorgestelde beste vervangings praktyk, soos aangedui deur die Caterpillar voertuig vervangings kenner, is ge-identifiseer. Laastens word die vervangingsiklus vir die verskillende tipes toerusting voorgestel.

<p>Too high levels of noise lead to various health problems and cost society billions of SEK peryear. In this thesis we have examined a model of the A40E articulated hauler at VolvoConstruction Equipment in Braås. We have tried to reduce cabin noise in an articulated hauler,while also providing a way on how to proceed with a machine when the cabin does not measureup to the sound requirement. The best way to find leaks were with a reference source of model4205 and its speaker HP 1001 from Brüel & Kjaer in the cab and then walk around and listen towhere the reference source was more prominent. In this way, we found that the edges and theplugs were sensitive areas. We managed to reduce cabin noise 2.77 dB(A) at 1900 rpm, byisolating certain areas with glass wool. We have also looked at how certain areas individually canreduce cabin noise. We concluded that the isolation of the following areas gave the bestresponse: Cabin ceiling, cabin floor, cabin door, window edges around the dashboard, torpedowall.</p>

Too high levels of noise lead to various health problems and cost society billions of SEK peryear. In this thesis we have examined a model of the A40E articulated hauler at VolvoConstruction Equipment in Braås. We have tried to reduce cabin noise in an articulated hauler,while also providing a way on how to proceed with a machine when the cabin does not measureup to the sound requirement. The best way to find leaks were with a reference source of model4205 and its speaker HP 1001 from Brüel &amp; Kjaer in the cab and then walk around and listen towhere the reference source was more prominent. In this way, we found that the edges and theplugs were sensitive areas. We managed to reduce cabin noise 2.77 dB(A) at 1900 rpm, byisolating certain areas with glass wool. We have also looked at how certain areas individually canreduce cabin noise. We concluded that the isolation of the following areas gave the bestresponse: Cabin ceiling, cabin floor, cabin door, window edges around the dashboard, torpedowall.

Construction equipment such as wheel loaders and dumpers are constantly getting updated with new technology when it comes to performance and fuel consumption. But the interior in the cockpit has not been exposed to any dramatic changes for decades. A modernized cockpit gives the driver a more modern feel of driving a highly technological machine, while at the same time enables for personalization. This thesis work presents a new way of improving the look and feel for displaying relevant information and also relaying information to both the driver of the machine and spectators outside. It includes a way of rerouting CAN-bus signals from a construction machine and displaying it on a tablet. The core idea with the solution is to make it as modular as possible to further improve and be able to use it in any machine available at Volvo's disposal. With this in mind, any machine could use the same software, the same hardware and still be able to fully utilize all the features that have been implemented from the thesis work. The idea and implementational results are designed as partly embedded and partly towards user interface.

MSc., Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, 2011 / A hierarchical non-linear model was developed for the time-dependent shrinkage behaviour of South African concretes, from historical laboratory data. The fit of fifteen growth curve models to the shrinkage-time profiles was evaluated and MCDA was used to identify the best model. The three parameters of the chosen growth curve model were modelled in terms of covariates (relating to concrete raw materials, concrete composition and shrinkage testing conditions) by multivariate multiple regression to produce the WITS model. The model largely conformed to existing knowledge about the factors affecting concrete shrinkage. Published models for concrete shrinkage were compared to the WITS model regarding their predictive ability with respect to the South African data set. The WITS model performed the best across a variety of graphical and numerical goodness-of-fit measures. The importance of the study is two-fold:  The concept of hierarchical non-linear modelling has been applied for the first time to the modelling of the time-dependent properties of concrete.  This is the first comprehensive model to bring together laboratory data on the shrinkage of concrete generated in South Africa over a span of thirty years.

Design engineers working in construction machinery industry face a lot of complexities and uncertainties while taking important decisions during the design of construction equipment. These complexities can be reduced by the implementation of a data-driven decision support tool, which can predict the behaviour of the machine in operational complexity and give some valuable insights to the design engineer. This data-driven decision support tool must be supported by a suitable machine algorithm. The focus of this thesis is to find a suitable machine algorithm, which can predict the behaviour of a machine and can later be involved in the development of such data-driven decision-support tools. In finding such a solution, evaluation of the regression performance of four supervised machine learning regression algorithms, namely SupportVector Machine Regression, Bayesian Ridge Regression, DecisionTree Regression and Random Forest Regression, is done. The evaluation was done on the data-sets personally observed/collected at the site which was extracted from the autonomous construction machine byProduct Development Research Lab (P.D.R.L). An experiment is chosen as a research methodology based on the quantitative format of the data set. The sensor data extracted from the autonomous machine in time series format, which in turn is converted to supervised data with the help of the sliding window method. The four chosen algorithms are then trained on the mentioned data-sets and are evaluated with certain performance metrics (MSE, RMSE, MAE, Training Time). Based on the rigorous data collection, experimentation and analysis, Bayesian Ridge Regressor is found to be the best compared with other algorithms in terms of all performance metrics and is chosen as the optimal algorithm to be used in the development of data-driven decision support tool meant for design engineers working in the construction industry.