The aim of this study was to determine the quantity of construction waste for several construction materials and to state the probable origins of this waste, depending on case studies in Turkey. There is a lack of documented quantitative data in Turkey on how much material waste the construction industry generates and what amount of such materials remain unused due to this waste. Although some amount of waste is accepted as unavoidable, the probable reasons for it are unclear. Therefore, the study focused on determining waste percentage values for certain materials based on several construction projects and assessing the reasons for this as stated by the professionals who were involved in the construction process of these projects. For practical reasons, it was confined to the material amounts in the bill of quantities, progress payment reports and invoices for four different construction materials / namely, ready-mixed concrete, rebar, brick and floor block, which belonged to eight different projects of two construction companies. Data compiled on these aspects were analyzed statistically via ANOVA and regression analyses. The results showed that waste percentage values displayed differences among materials. Design-related aspects, skill level and attitude of labor, incorrect calculation of material quantities, contractual clauses and material defects were the most effective reasons for waste within the projects analyzed.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Western Sydney, 2006. / A thesis presented to the University of Western Sydney, College of Health and Science, School of Engineering, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Includes bibliographies.

Construction is a big role player in every economy, and the Site Management Process (SMP) occupies a strategic position in the construction process. Despite existence of appreciable research, technology diffusion in the construction industry is slow. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) implementation processes and products have not adequately and beneficially exploited ICT for improvement of the SMP. This is especially true in developing countries. Without increase in utilisation of ICT, potential benefits for the SMP remain untapped. The aim of the thesis was to ascertain the levels of utilisation of recent ICT developments for the SMP, and thereby gauge the benefits or lack thereof. The theoretical concept of the research is based on the technology transfer sub-concept of adaptation. A fundamentally positivistic view, with principles of objectivist approach was used for the enquiry. The approach included an extensive literature review, and a multi-stage investigation strategy, set in South Africa. Theory reviewed was in the main disciplines of construction science and technology, computer science and technology, and management science. Investigations involved case studies of construction sites, a global ICT survey, a national practitioner survey, and analysis of ICT products. Findings from literature assert the appreciable potential utility in recent ICT, thereby substantiating the adaptability of recent ICT. In addition ICT adoption in the SMP is inadequate and inexpedient, falling short of potential benefits for construction, both generally and in the local context. Furthermore there are challenges to ICT adoption, which could vary according to context. Field research results also point to underutilisation of innovations located in recent ICT. The main challenges in this regard include inadequate knowledge of potential utility of recent ICT, and lack of relevant support and effective approaches to technology integration, in the SMP. Moreover exploitation of the adaptability of recent ICT in the local SMP does not go beyond basic adoption. As such most diffusion occurs only for items requiring an adaptation of usage context or area of application. The results strongly indicate minimal innovativeness in this regard. Frameworks for possible adaptations of existing technologies were also derived, while propositions are made for approaches to improve the utility of recent ICT in the SMP. Through a customised approach, the thesis establishes foundational understanding towards a generic framework for adapting potential utility in ICT to uses in construction, especially in the SMP. Thus the research contributes strategic information to the fledgling CICT body of knowledge, especially in the local context.

<p>U radu se analiziraju analitički postupci za određivanje<br />opterećenja u silosima, prema teorijskim postupcima i<br />tehničkoj regulativi. Metoda integralnih relacija je<br />primenjena kod formiranja postupaka analize stanja napona u<br />silosima sa pravougaonim ćelijama i silosa sa kružnim<br />ćelijama. U analizama je uvedeno granično stanje ravnoteže i<br />asimptotsko stanje napona materijala u silosu. Na primerima<br />je dato upoređenje rezultata analize stanja napona u silosima,<br />kao i kod analize statičkih uticaja kod kružnih ćelija od<br />dejstva dodatnog lokalnog opterećenja i nesimetričnog<br />opterećenja pri pražnjenju sa velikim ekscentricitetom.</p> / <p>This paper analyzes the analytical procedures for the determination of<br />loads in silos, according to theoretical procedures and technical<br />regulations. The method of integral relations was applied for the<br />establishment of procedures for analyzing the stress state in silos with<br />rectangular cells and silos with circular cells. The analysis is<br />introduced limit state of equilibrium and asymptotic stress state of the<br />material in the silo. The examples given comparison of the results of<br />the analysis of stress state in silos, as well as in the analysis of static<br />forces of circular cells from the effects of patch load and discharge<br />loads for circular silos with large outlet eccentricities.</p>

The idea of tilt-up construction started in America in the early I900’s. In the beginning, this technique was mainly used on structures such as industrial warehouses and factories. However, recent developments and improvements in tilt-up construction technique and accessories have enabled this building method to be applied to many architecturally appealing offices and residential structures. There are many details the design-build team must consider to ensure the success of a tilt-up project. The floor slab must be designed for panel casting and to withstand the loading of the mobile crane which will be used to lift the panel. The crane capacity affects the panel size and weight. Proper curing and bondbreaker application are very important to reduce bonding and to ensure clear cleavage between concrete surfaces. Changing rigging configuration consumes expensive crane time and must be reduced to minimum possible. The availability of ground-release quick connect/disconnect tilt—up hardware improves workers safety and speeds up the erection process substantially. Although the stress analysis of simple wall panels during erection can be done by hand, panels with more complicated geometry or with openings, are more efficiently analysed with a computer. Many manufacturers have technical services to help in the design of insert layout so that the concrete will not be over stressed when the panel is tilted into position. After the panel is plumbed, it is braced temporarily before the final connection is made. For in-place loading there are now design aids available which ease the design process. When properly designed and built, tilt—up has proved to be a fast, efficient, and economical building construction technique. / Master of Science

Building rammed earth structures provides a sustainable alternative to concrete. As a building material, rammed earth exhibits very varied physical and material properties depending on the proportion of constituting soil types. When very sandy soil is used in rammed earth production, the properties are different from when a clayey soil is used. This variability can be seen as a very great advantage in the use of rammed earth as a building material. Builders are able to adjust specific properties by changing mix proportions to obtain a desirable balance in the characteristics of the resulting rammed earth structure. This research work looks at selected mechanical and physical properties of different mixes of rammed earth. It describes typical range of values in density, thermal conductivity, ultrasonic pulse velocity, water ingress and compressive strength. It examines how these factors interrelate in the same soil mixes. Samples were prepared by blending various soil types in specific proportions to ensure that each definition of soil grade is as specific as possible. Unstabilised rammed earth was tested as was cement stabilised rammed earth. Rammed earth was tested at various levels of stabilisation and it was discovered that higher rates of stabilisation was not always beneficial to every material property. The research also looked into the potential disposal of waste materials in rammed earth. As rammed earth is a monolithic material that largely remains undisturbed throughout its life span, it was suggested that waste materials could be stored in an inert form inside of rammed earth rather than dumping it in otherwise agricultural landmass. Pulverised Fuel Ash and Palm Kernel Shells were identified as wastes to be disposed in rammed earth. Pulverised Fuel Ash, a by-product of industrial furnace is found in abundance in developed countries that burn carbonaceous materials in power plants. Disposals have been seen as a problem as only a small proportion of high loss on ignition (LOI) Pulverised Fuel Ash has found application. Palm Kernel Shell is a by-product of the oil palm industry and is currently a menace in many developing countries that need to dispose large quantities of the shell in landfills. At an early stage of the research, experimental trial runs quickly showed that these supposedly waste materials had a positive effect on some of the material properties of the rammed earth walls they were made into. This research effort evolved to look into exploiting these materials to improve the physical and material property of rammed earth and to suggest their effect on stabilised and unstabilised rammed earth. The extent to which these materials could be useful and the level at which diminishing returns set in was also investigated. It was discovered that soil mixes that would otherwise not be considered suitable for use in rammed earth wall production can now be utilised as their characteristics can be improved on simply by adding Pulverised Fuel Ash or Palm Kernel shell in the right proportion. Incorporating Pulverised Fuel Ash in rammed earth resulted in increased compressive strength. Palm Kernel shell improved thermal properties without compromising compressive strength.

This paper aims to investigate the change in corporate debt levels in South Africa from 1994 to 2016, included is an analysis of factors that firms take into consideration when determining the company’s capital structure. This study uses data from firms in the Real Estate and REIT, Travel and Leisure and Construction and Materials sectors listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE). Four different leverage measures are used to determine the change in capital structure for the period under review, as well as six of the most commonly used determinants of capital structure. A high level interpretation of the results reflected the following; an increase in the use of debt in the Travel and Leisure and Construction and Materials Sectors, however a significant decrease in the use of debt relative to equity was seen in the Real Estate and REIT Sector thus skewing the Total Sample findings considerably. An increase in the use of long term debt relative to short term was also found. Results from the analysis of the capital structure determinants varied, with some determinants showing statistical significance. The following determinants were positively related to debt; firm size, asset tangibility and growth while the determinants; cost of debt and tax had a negative relationship. The relationship between profitability and leverage was varied.

The thesis deals with the specific agricultural buildings for housing and breeding of dairy cows in terms of civil engineering and microclimatic conditions. The theoretical part describes the requirements for microclimate in stables, general and legislative requirements for indoor environmental quality, methods and tools for measuring microclimate, materials and construction of stable objects for cattle breeding. The second (practical) part of the thesis shows the research of selected buildings. This part examines the internal microclimate of the stables and technical condition of the buildings. It is based on the author's own investigation and measurement. The results are then presented in the form of charts and graphs. Finally the thesis evaluates and suggests steps to create the best possible microclimate conditions throughout the year, regardless of the season.

Thesis is submitted in partial fulfilment for the degree of Master of Science (Building) in Construction Project Management to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, School of Construction Economics and Management at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2017 / There is a problem of construction waste on construction sites. However, there are various strategies that can be employed; not only on construction sites, but generally on construction projects from the inception of the project to manage construction waste more effectively. Construction waste management can loosely be defined as a function of controlling waste on construction projects to limit its generation and disposal but enhance reduce and recycling. Construction waste mainly arises from design changes, poor choice of construction materials, improper material specifications, inappropriate strategies employed or wrong strategies implemented; leading to poor management of waste on construction projects. Construction waste can be ‘physical’ or ‘non-physical’. Physical construction waste refers to tangible solid waste of materials emanating from construction activities. Non-physical waste pertains to waste of time and project funds in the form of unnecessary expenditure. The aim of this study is to identify waste management strategies utilized on construction sites in Gauteng. Pertinent literature provided a basis of the study. A cross-sectional survey using three construction sites in Gauteng: an office building project, a road project and a civil works project was adopted. The most common strategies were found to be –proper selection of construction materials, proper planning and logical sequencing of construction work activities on a project. There is a variety of branded materials hence the need for proper selection of materials. Further, there are a lot of factors that influence the flow of work activities hence the requirement to keep track and plan activities accordingly to counter distortions. It is acknowledged that strategies found to be common in Gauteng are basic techniques in controlling construction waste generation and the results tied back to the literature. It was established that technological tools like Building Information Modeling are not yet common in Gauteng. Improvements on usage of prefabricated components and offsite manufacturing of components is recommended to stakeholders of the construction industry. It is also logical to conclude that waste management strategies employed on construction sites in Gauteng are anchored on factors of economic viability and government policies. In their quest to make projects profitable and in their efforts to make construction projects compliant to regulations, as a result, construction contractors achieve reductions in waste generation on construction projects. Therefore what the study found out are mainly practices that could, in addition to achieving primary aim, contribute to waste reduction. These strategies identified are implemented primarily to achieve time, cost and quality objectives and thus indirectly waste reduction. / MT2018

Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The construction industry is a competitive market and contractors need to keep up-to-date with new construction methods and technologies. Project teams in South Africa are required to make decisions during the early stages of construction projects. These decisions often need to be made in a short time period, and include the decision between various construction methods, such as the decision between in-situ concrete construction and hybrid concrete construction. Hybrid concrete construction is a combination of pre-fabricated concrete and cast in-situ concrete to obtain the supreme benefits of their different construction qualities. This method of construction is ultimately used to achieve faster, and occasionally, more cost effective construction. Hybrid concrete construction, today, is a well-known term in the construction industry and is widely used in the UK and other developed countries. However, the use thereof is limited in South Africa, and in-situ concrete construction remains the conventional method of construction. Possible reasons for the limited use of hybrid concrete construction are investigated in this study. With the intent of improving the construction industry of South Africa, guidelines are provided to assist project teams in a decision between in-situ concrete construction and hybrid concrete construction. The decision between construction methods is based on many factors, such as project time, cost, quality, safety, environmental performance, socio-economic aspects (labour) and client satisfaction. Project time and cost are, however, the most important of these factors. It is stated that the structure of a building represents typically only 10 % of the construction cost, however, the choice of construction method and material can have significant effects on the cost of other elements throughout the life cycle of construction projects. It is therefore important to measure the whole life cycle cost when deciding between construction methods, such as in-situ concrete construction and hybrid concrete construction. The aim of this study is to identify and investigate the factors that influence project time and cost, throughout the life cycle of construction projects, and to provide a framework that can assist project teams in their decision between in-situ concrete construction and hybrid concrete construction in South Africa. The decision between these two construction methods is influenced by a vast number of variables that may be difficult to quantify. The framework therefore consists of qualitative information that can assist project teams in their decision. The framework provided in this study includes the factors that have an influence on the time and cost for a decision between in-situ concrete construction and hybrid concrete construction. These factors are identified for the three primary phases in the life cycle of construction projects. These phases are the design phase, the construction phase and the maintenance phase. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die konstruksiebedryf is 'n kompiterende mark en kontrakteurs moet op datum bly met nuwe konstruksie metodes en tegnologieë. In Suid-Afrika word daar van projek spanne vereis om vinnige besluite gedurende vroeë stadiums van 'n projek te neem. Hierdie besluite moet dikwels in 'n kort tydperk geneem word, en sluit die besluit tussen verskillende konstruksie metodes in, byvoorbeeld die besluit tussen in-situ en hibriede beton konstruksie. Hibriede beton konstruksie (HBK) is 'n kombinasie van in-situ en voorafvervaardigde beton elemente. HBK word in die algemeen gebruik om te baat uit 'n vinniger konstruksie tydperk, en kan soms ook ‘n meer koste-effektiewe metode van konstruksie wees. HBK word gesien as 'n bekende term in die konstruksiebedryf en word veral toegepas in ontwikkelde lande soos die VSA, Japan en Engeland. Die toepassing daarvan in Suid-Afrika is egter beperk. In Suid-Afrika word in-situ beton konstruksie nog steeds die meeste gebruik en staan dus bekend as die mees algemene metode van konstruksie. Hierdie studie ondersoek moontlike redes vir die beperkte gebruik van HBK in Suid-Afrika. Met die oog op 'n verbeterde konstruksiebedryf in Suid-Afrika, word rigylyne voorsien, wat projek spanne kan gebruik vir 'n besluit tussen in-situ en hibriede beton konstruksie. Daar is verskeie faktore wat 'n rol speel in die besluit tussen twee konstruksie metodes. Hierdie faktore sluit in, die tyd, koste, kwaliteit, veilighed, omgewings impak, sosio-ekonomiese aspekte (soos arbeid) en kliënt tevredenheid, van 'n projek. Tyd en koste is egter die belangrikste van hierdie faktore. Die metode waarvolgens 'n struktuur gebou word kan 'n beduidende uitwerking op die koste van ander elemente in die lewensiklus van 'n konstruksie projek hê. Dit is gevolglik belangrik om die hele lewensiklus koste in ag te neem wanneer daar besluit moet word tussen verskeie konstruksie metodes, soos in-situ en hibriede beton konstruksie. Die doel van hierdie studie is gevolglik om die faktore wat 'n invloed het op die tyd en lewensiklus koste van konstruksie projekte te identifiesieer. Hierdie faktore word dan gebruik om 'n raamwerk voor te stel. Projek spanne kan hierdie raamwerk gebruik as 'n riglyn om te besluit tussen in-situ en hibriede beton konstruksie. Die besluit tussen hierdie twee konstruksie metodes is afhanklik van 'n groot aantal veranderlikes, wat moeilik is om te kwantifiseer. Die raamwerk bestaan dus uit kwalitatiewe inligting wat projek spanne kan gebruik om 'n ingeligte besluit te neem oor in-situ en hibriede beton konstruksie. Die raamwerk wat in hierdie studie voorgestel word sluit dus die faktore in wat 'n invloed het op die tyd en koste vir 'n besluit tussen in-situ en hibriede beton konstruksie. Hierdie faktore is geïdentifiseer vir die drie primêre fases in die lewensiklus van 'n konstruksie projek. Hierdie fases is die ontwerp fase, die konstruksie fase en die onderhoud fase.