Structural grouting of load-bearing precast concrete elements: Issues and solutions

PCI Journal ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Precast Concrete ◽  
Concrete Columns ◽  
The United States ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Building Codes ◽  
Concrete Walls ◽  
Load Bearing ◽  
Concrete Elements

The purpose of this paper is to raise construction industry awareness regarding structural grouting of precast concrete projects in the United States. Incidents related to structural grouting have occurred with both precast concrete systems and other building systems. Designers, architects, owners, insurance carriers, and the construction industry in general are becoming increasingly aware of deficient grouting installation methods and verification procedures. Concerns include the timeliness of grout installation during the erection process, the lack of grout on some components of finished projects, and the poor quality of installed grout. These concerns pertain to horizontal connection joints of critical load-bearing elements between foundations and precast concrete columns and walls, stacked precast concrete columns, and stacked precast concrete walls. Current building codes and standards provide no requirements and limited guidance for the installation or special inspection of these critical horizontal joints. In an effort to address this gap in building codes and standards, as it specifically relates to precast concrete structural products, some precast concrete producers and erectors are implementing several strategies and new procedures, as noted and further developed in this paper.

scholarly journals Cost Analysis of Precast and Cast-in-Place Concrete Construction for Selected Public Buildings in Ghana

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Oduro Asamoah ◽  
John Solomon Ankrah ◽  
Kofi Offei-Nyako ◽  
Ernest Osei Tutu
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Life Cycle Cost ◽  
Precast Concrete ◽  
Concrete Columns ◽  
Concrete Slabs ◽  
Effective Management ◽  
Cost Estimating ◽  
Concrete Technology ◽  
Structural Frame ◽  
Concrete Elements

The construction industry in Ghana is becoming efficient in the area of cost and achieving advance technologies. The effective management of cost enables clients, developers, and facilitators to achieve value for money. Concrete is a major component in every construction project. The use of precast concrete technology has been embraced by the construction industry in Ghana. This study seeks to analyze cost estimating of the structural frame (column and slab) by considering cast-in-place and precast concrete slabs and columns, respectively. Relative importance and Kendall’s concordance agreement were used to determine the rankings and agreement of advantages of using precast concrete. The study established that precast concrete slabs were on average 23.22% cheaper than the cast-in-place concrete elements and precast columns were averagely 21.4% less than cast-in-place concrete columns. The study established that professionals prefer the use of precast concrete products because of the life cycle cost.

Non-Destructive Identification of Defects in Power Support Structure Foundations by Means of Acoustic Techniques

2014 ◽  
Vol 606 ◽  
pp. 95-98
Author(s):  
Lukasz Sadowski
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Support Structure ◽  
Air Voids ◽  
Impact Echo ◽  
Acoustic Techniques ◽  
Location Depth ◽  
Concrete Elements ◽  
Non Destructive ◽  
Made In

Prefabricated power support structure foundations are made in prefabrication plants where concrete is laid in layers in moulds. The quality of the prefabricated units depends mainly on proper concrete mixture compaction, which is usually effected by means of immersion vibrators. It happens that when the vibrator is withdrawn too quickly, defects, in the form of, e.g., air voids and zones of insufficiently vibrated concrete, appear. Modern non-destructive acoustic techniques, which in recent years have been increasingly commonly used in the construction industry, are highly suitable for testing concrete elements, particularly prefabricated concrete units. The non-destructive impact-echo technique is particularly useful for determining defect location depth and for locating defective areas.

Quality of Design Documentation in the Construction Industry: A Review Using Meta-Synthesis Approach

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (06) ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Dodzi Kwasi Agbaxode ◽  
Sitsabo Dlamini ◽  
Ehsan Saghatforoush
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Influencing Factors ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Improve Design ◽  
Documentation Quality ◽  
Design Documentation ◽  
Quality Design ◽  
Synthesis Approach

A meta-synthesis approach was used to identify, synthesize, and categorize appropriately factors in the literature that contribute to design documentation quality. The categories include factors on quality attributes, quality indicators, and quality-influencing factors. Findings indicate that the quality of design documentation in practice is unsatisfactory, therefore, there is a need for collaboration between the owner, designers, and end-users to improve design documentation quality. The results offer pragmatic data on design documentation quality in the construction industry between the years 1992 and 2019. However, further research on the significant impacts of poor-quality design documentation on construction projects is recommended.

Assessing contract management as a strategic tool for achieving quality of work in Ghanaian construction industry

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Coleman ◽  
Isaac Kwesi Nooni ◽  
Samuel Korenteng Fianko ◽  
Linka Dadzie ◽  
Ebenezer Nickson Neequaye ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Monitoring And Evaluation ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Contract Management ◽  
Economic Implications ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Quality Of Work ◽  
Supervisory Staff

Purpose This study aims to investigate the attainment of quality in Government of Ghana’s (GoG) infrastructural projects through effective contract management and especially, relating to qualification, competence and experience of supply chain stakeholders. Design/methodology/approach A survey questionnaire and field observations were used to collect primary data from staff of the education ministry and construction professionals. Documentary analyses of contract documents were also undertaken. Findings The results show that executing agencies’ failure to apply appropriate contract management processes was linked to the gap between stakeholders’ knowledge and actual practice. This was confirmed by Spearman’s rho tests of correlation between overall mean ranks given by professionals and non-professionals, which indicated strong agreement between those groups. Factors such as contractors’ engagement of unqualified supervisory staff, lack of proper projects monitoring and evaluation by executing agencies mainly contribute to the poor quality of work. Research limitations/implications Investigations were limited to the Funds and Procurement Management Unit of the Ministry of Education, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies and local contractors. Nonetheless, the methodology used could be used in future studies to analyse the socio-economic implications on the quality of education infrastructure. Practical implications Construction is booming in Ghana but the capacity to improve the work quality through effective contract management is limited. However, with the effort of stakeholder and statutory bodies’ support in capacity building initiatives, GoG projects could offer some novel solutions to improve quality of work. Social implications Construction industry professionals and students’ knowledge and perception on construction industry and contract management is significantly improved. Originality/value This study provides information on respondents’ knowledge on contract management process, which, if not properly understood, can lead to poor quality of work and loss of money.

Lousy Jobs, Invisible Unions: The Mexican Retail Sector in the Age of Globalization

2006 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Tilly ◽  
José Luis Álvarez Galván
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
The United States ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Data Sources ◽  
Retail Sector ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Union Coverage ◽  
Dominant Retailer ◽  
Retail Workers

Globalization and modernization transformed the Mexican retail sector over the last two decades. One result is that Wal-Mart has become Mexico's dominant retailer. Another is the poor quality of jobs in the Mexican retail sector. Drawing on a variety of data sources, we review changes and current patterns in the characteristics and quality of retail jobs in Mexico. Retail jobs are worse than the Mexican average. Union coverage is widespread but offers little benefit to workers. Unlike the case in the United States, Wal-Mart offers unionized jobs very similar in quality to those of other retailers; indeed, in general we find little difference between the jobs of global and domestic Mexican retailers. Globalization and modernization have left Mexican retail workers with lousy jobs and invisible unions.

scholarly journals Causes of Delayed Payment in Construction Project in Nigeria

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (9) ◽  
pp. 1049-1053
Author(s):  
Onyekachukwu G. Odenigbo ◽  
Koleola T Odusami ◽  
Kevin C. Okolie ◽  
Vincent C. Okafor
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Construction Project ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Valid Data ◽  
Successful Execution ◽  
Work Done

Delay in payment to contactors and other relevant parties have caused serious problem on the successful execution of construction projects in the country. It causes several problems to the contractor and other participants. The aim of this study is to determine the causes of delayed payments in the construction industry. The objective of this study is to identify the causes of delayed payment. In order to obtain valid data for the study, questionnaires were designed and distributed to a randomly selected sample of one hundred individuals among contractors, subcontractors, consultant and clients in the Nigerian construction industry. In total, eighty five completed questionnaires were returned and then analysed statistically. The total mean score was used to determine the ranking of the results of the study. Client’s disagreeing on the valuation of work done, slow processing of variation orders and poor quality of works were the major causes of delayed payment identified in the study. It was recommended that the stakeholders should work as a team in the execution of project to avoid bottlenecks usually encountered in agreeing contractors‟ payment. In conclusion, if the necessary action can be enforced, the problem of delayed payment can be reduced drastically.

scholarly journals Heart Failure and Cognitive Impairment: Clinical Relevance and Therapeutic Considerations

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 291-303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tuoyo O. Mene-Afejuku ◽  
Monica Pernia ◽  
Uzoma N. Ibebuogu ◽  
Shobhana Chaudhari ◽  
Savi Mushiyev ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
The United States ◽  
Mortality Rates ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Therapeutic Strategies ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Common Cause ◽  
Therapeutic Considerations

: Heart failure (HF) is a devastating condition characterized by poor quality of life, numerous complications, high rate of readmission and increased mortality. HF is the most common cause of hospitalization in the United States especially among people over the age of 64 years. The number of people grappling with the ill effects of HF is on the rise as the number of people living to an old age is also on the increase. : Several factors have been attributed to these high readmission and mortality rates among which are; poor adherence with therapy, inability to keep up with clinic appointments and even failure to recognize early symptoms of HF deterioration which may be a result of cognitive impairment. : Therefore, this review seeks to compile the most recent information about the links between HF and dementia or cognitive impairment. We also assessed the prognostic consequences of cognitive impairment complicating HF, therapeutic strategies among patients with HF and focus on future areas of research that would reduce the prevalence of cognitive impairment, reduce its severity and also ameliorate the effect of cognitive impairment coexisting with HF.

scholarly journals Defending Listeners' Rights: Labour and Media Reform in Postwar America

2006 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Ann Fones-Wolf
Keyword(s):  
Public Service ◽  
Community Involvement ◽  
Corporate Control ◽  
The United States ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Reform Movement ◽  
Postwar America ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Media Reform

Abstract: Historians have paid relatively little attention to labour’s involvement in radio reform in the United States. Unions criticized the poor quality of programming and the lack of public service. They were also concerned about corporate control of radio and particularly about labour’s lack of access. After briefly examining organized labour’s initial efforts to reform radio, this paper focuses on the key role unions played in the postwar media reform movement, which advocated a “listeners’ rights” approach to broadcasting. This concept, along with a commitment to localism, diversity, and community involvement, was among the key ideas championed by media reformers in postwar America. Résumé : Les historiens ont porté peu d’attention à l’implication de la main-d’œuvre dans la réforme de la radio aux États-Unis. Les syndicats à cette époque critiquaient la mauvaise qualité de la programmation et le manque de service au public. Ils se souciaient du contrôle que les entreprises exerçaient sur la radio, particulièrement le manque d’accès à la radio que ce contrôle leur imposait. Cet article, après un bref examen des efforts initiaux de la main-d’œuvre pour réformer la radio, se concentre sur le rôle clé joué par les syndicats dans le mouvement de réforme des médias pendant l’après-guerre ; ceux-ci prônaient une approche de la radiodiffusion qui privilégiait les « droits des auditeurs ». En plus de ce concept, les notions d’engagement vis-à-vis de la localité, la diversité et la participation de la communauté comptaient parmi les idées clés appuyées par les réformateurs des médias dans l’après-guerre aux États-Unis.

Performance of squat 3D sandwich walls with longitudinal reinforcement and boundary elements under lateral cyclic loading

2017 ◽  
Vol 20 (8) ◽  
pp. 946-973
Author(s):  
P Poluraju ◽  
G Appa Rao
Keyword(s):  
Precast Concrete ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Boundary Elements ◽  
The United States ◽  
Superior Performance ◽  
Experimental Investigations ◽  
Width Ratio ◽  
Longitudinal Reinforcement ◽  
Research Information ◽  
Concrete Walls

Three-dimensional (3D) sandwich precast concrete walls are often used in building construction due to their superior performance, thermal efficiency, and speed of fabrication. When applied to low-rise buildings, this technology facilitates a cellular structure composed of squat sandwich walls sustaining gravity loads and performing as shear wall against lateral loads. Not much research information is available on squat 3D sandwich walls under in-plane lateral loading. This paper discusses experimental investigations on eight squat 3D sandwich walls were tested, in which four were without and four with boundary elements. In each group of four walls, two were provided with only weld mesh as reinforcement and remaining two were provided with additional longitudinal reinforcement. The shear span-to-width ratio of walls was 1.0 or 0.87 subjected to lateral quasi-static reversed loading cycles, while the vertical load was kept constant. The dimensions of unstiffened 3D sandwich walls are 1250 mm × 1250 mm, whereas the dimensions of the stiffened 3D sandwich walls are 1125 mm × 1250 mm (size of stiffening element: 370 mm × 1250 mm). The behavior of squat 3D sandwich walls has been investigated in terms of load–displacement response, crack pattern, mode of failure, ductility, stiffness degradation, and energy dissipation. Also, the present study attempts to validate the current design practices, both in Europe (Euro code 8) and in the United States (ACI 318) in relation with the experimental results. Also, other available design equations established for reinforced concrete walls to verify the applicability of these empirical formulae for sandwich walls have been examined. From the test results on 3D sandwich walls, it has been observed that the addition of longitudinal reinforcement and the boundary elements exhibited strong coupling action of shear due to the squat nature of the walls. The 3D sandwich walls with additional longitudinal reinforcement showed significant strength and stiffness.

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