Current Issue : April-June Volume : 2026 Issue Number : 2 Articles : 5 Articles
The study utilizes localized parameters from the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) Pavement Design Guide and the empirical AASHTO 1993 methodology to explore a performance-based flexible pavement design for the Gobindaganj- Ghoraghat-Hakimpur (Hili) Road corridor in Bangladesh. By implementing actual data on axle load distributions, traffic forecasts, subgrade strength, and material properties, the study proposes a resilient, durable, and cost-effective pavement structure tailored to Bangladesh’s challenging geotechnical and climatic conditions. The analysis indicates that the selected materials and thicknesses meet the required Structural Number (SN) criteria for a design life of 20 years. To enhance infrastructure sustainability, the findings stress the importance of improved drainage planning, axle load regulation, and the eventual adoption of mechanistic-empirical approaches....
The aim of this study is to investigate the potential use of rapidly increasing agricultural wastes in concrete production by substituting them for cement, thereby reducing their environmental impact and producing eco-friendly concrete. For this purpose, concrete samples were produced using a combination of almond shell biomass (ASB) and silica fume (SF). These samples were subjected to standard compressive strength tests as well as ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), porosity (P), and maturity (M) tests. In addition, the microstructure of the samples containing ASB and SF was examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The test results show that the combined use of ASB and SF in concrete production significantly improves the strength properties, and the best results were obtained from the ASB6SF10 series. A significant increase of 37.7% was observed in the compressive strength values of the ASB6SF10 series from the early age between 3 and 28 days. UPV and P values were obtained as 4.46 m/s and 10%, respectively. The use of ASB and SF in concrete production has been found to be critically important in terms of the mechanical and physical properties of concrete and environmental benefits. The results of the study show that ASB and SF have potential for use in concrete production and can contribute to more sustainable concrete production, waste management, and the circular economy by reducing the negative environmental impacts arising from this production....
Industrial training is a core component in civil engineering education, aiming to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world practice. This study evaluates the factors influencing the effectiveness of the 24-week industrial training module undertaken by Intake 39 civil engineering undergraduates at General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU). Using a structured Likert-scale questionnaire, feedback was gathered from 31 undergraduates. The analysis employed a combination of descriptive statistics and inferential methods, including correlation and multiple linear regression. Results show that undergraduate interest, the organizational training environment, and KDU support all have a positive influence on perceived training effectiveness, with undergraduate interest emerging as the strongest predictor. The findings emphasize the importance of motivation, structured training environments, and ongoing academic support in maximizing the value of industrial training. Based on these insights, the study recommends strengthening KDU’s pre-training orientation and academic follow-ups, promoting consistent supervision and mentoring by host organizations, and encouraging undergraduates to view industrial training as a proactive opportunity for career development....
In this work, nanofibers and cellulose nanocrystals from the native Amazonian bamboo Guadua weberbabeuri were used in structural cementitious composites. Through the preparation of bamboo nanofibers—bleached cellulose pulp (BCP) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), as well as obtaining shredded bamboo (SB) and delignified cellulose pulp (DCP)— the additions corresponding to the additive nanomaterials were characterized with physical tests such as water absorption, specific mass, void index, and dimensional variation. A mechanical tensile strength test was carried out at 28 days, with an incorporation content of 0.40% of mass in relation to the cement. The results indicated, in relation to the control, improvement in the physical properties, especially in the additions with nanofibers and cellulose nanocrystals. For the mechanical tensile strength tests, the indicator allowed an increase of 14.60% with the addition of nanofibers and 12.70% in the addition of nanocrystals. Therefore, with the execution carried out, it could be seen that the incorporation was able to generate optimization in the joint performance of the materials under analysis, reinforcing the practices and ideals arising from civil engineering, nanotechnology, and sustainability....
The analysis and detailing of the slabless staircase represent a critical factor in their limited commercial and residential usage compared to the waist slab staircase, despite their architectural attractiveness. Literature in the past and present has provided analysis and detailing of slabless staircase based on analytical and engineering judgment. Extensive knowledge of its behavior in terms of failure modes, crack patterns, and stress flow is necessary to evaluate the efficacy of these detailing practices. This paper presents the results of corresponding numerical investigations on four reinforced concrete detailing practices for single-flight slabless staircases. The study is conducted using the 3D Finite Element (FE) approach, where the constitutive law of concrete is based on the microplane model with relaxed kinematic constraints. The load was applied in a downward monotonic displacement control manner at the mid-span of each model, and the analysis results are evaluated in terms of load-displacement behavior, failure load, and failure mode. The numerical investigations provide a deeper insight into the detailed behavior of reinforced concrete slabless stairs through the visualization of crack patterns, stress flows, and strain development in concrete. The results show that slabless detailing options with stirrups formed as chains of links along the longitudinal direction serve as a conservative approach compared to other options that could serve the same purpose....
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