Elevated roads for Sri Lanka

The development of roads and highways related infrastructure has picked up significantly in the recent times along with a significant increase in the vehicle ownership and also the number of larger and heavier vehicles on the road network. With the proposed expressway system being gradually completed, a new requirement has risen. It is the need to come to the capital of the country, Colombo, with a reasonably short time once a vehicle leaves the expressway. Since the roadside developments are high and the land acquisition for new roads would be difficult, one option is the use of elevated expressways constructed above the existing highways. This paper presents some structural aspects that can be effectively used to create a well planned and robust elevated highways banking on the experience on design and construction of existing elevated structures that have been built in recent times in Sri Lanka

Economical use of concrete in tropical climates

With the introduction of new varieties of blended cement in Sri Lanka, the choices available for the structural engineers for the selection of concrete for large buildings and other structures have improved. This is further strengthened with the introduction of various types of admixtures and additives in the recent times that would allow a wide range of desirable properties for fresh and hardened concrete. In order to obtain the maximum advantage of the new developments, it is useful for the structural engineers to obtain a greater insight into such diversity possible. Sri Lanka, being a tropical country that is experiencing some effects of global warming, there could be many additional considerations when the cement contents are high as for the high strength mixes. This paper will discuss some new developments in the cements, admixtures, additives as applicable to Sri Lankan scenario and would provide insight to economical selection of concrete grades and mixes to optimize the structural design of large buildings and structures to achieve cost savings while ensuring a robust and durable structure.Society of Structural Engineers, Sri Lank

Multi tank model for energy efficient rain water harvesting

Rain Water Harvesting (RWH) to supplement service water is an important aspect of sustainable development. As such, much research has been carried out on optimizing the system components of RWH systems so that a maximum water saving efficiency (WSE) can be reached with a minimum storage capacity, enabling the outlay on capital minimized. However, if RWH is to proliferate it should be able to operate in par with centralized service water, supplying collected rain water to user points reliably. This is usually achieved by pumping the collected rain water to service points utilizing electricity, which in fact could negate the positive gains of RWH with regard to principles of sustainability. By introducing a multi tank model, where a smaller tank is installed for each floor at its roof level in addition to the main storage tank, a solution can be reached with superior system performance. In the model, the roof collection enters the top most tank first and then cascades through multiple tanks in multi story situations, before being collected in the main storage tank, vastly improving the overall energy efficiency of the system. The model, not only addresses the space and structural issues of the building but also ensures that the aesthetics of the building envelop is not disturbed due to smaller sizes of the upper tanks

Rehabilitation of blast damaged pre-stressed concrete beams with fiber reinforced polymers (FRP)

Damage to buildings due to blasts is a somewhat common occurrence in today’s context. When such damages occur, one option is to demolish the structure and then to reconstruct. However, a better approach from sustainability point of view is to rehabilitate the damaged structure with suitable means so that a lot of materials and time can be saved while reducing the creation of heaps of construction waste. Since the damages due to blasts are not so common, it is worth reporting sustainability approaches employed in every such occurrence. This paper will present one such rehabilitation work that has been carried out for a complete floor consisting of pre-stressed concrete beams with pre-tensioned wires that suffered heavily due to extremely high loads caused by a blast that occurred directly above it when a small plane carrying explosives was shot down

PEMANFAATAN JARINGAN CLOUD XIBO SEBAGAI SISTEM PELAPORAN REALISASI KEGIATAN PENGADAAN PADA BIRO PENGADAAN BARANG/JASA (BPBJ) KANTOR GUBERNUR ACEH

ABSTRAKUPT. Biro Pengadaan Barang Jasa Di Kantor Gubernur adalah instansi penyelenggara pelelangan barang jasa yang akan ditenderkan secara publik. Biro pengadaan barang jasa bertugas mendistribusikan informasi paket yang akan dilelang dan ditenderkan kemasyarakat umum melalui web Layanan Pengadaan Secara Elektronik (LPSE). web LPSE hanya dapat diakses melalui internet. Kondisi saat ini menyulitkan bagi user yang ingin mengetahui informasi realisasi hasil lelang jika tidak memiliki akses internet. Salah satu kelebihan XIBO ini adalah jika saat PC mati dan kemudian hidup kembali maka PC otomatis akan membuka slot program yang telah di atur di XIBO server. Perancangan ini bertujuan untuk membuat papan informasi digital dengan aplkasi XIBO. PID ini akan memberikan kemudahan akan informasi terupdate yang bersumber dari informasi web LPSE aceh kepada masyarakat yang sedang berada dilokasi Kantor Gubernur, sehingga dapat mempercepat penyebaran informasi. Informasi yang akan di tampilkan merupakan dalam bentuk dinamis. Pembuatan aplikasi ini dibangun melalui tahapan perancangan aplikasi XIBO server, aplikasi XIBO client dan koneksi internet. Serta melakukan pengujian terhadap aplikasi yang telah dibangun. Pengujian kelayakan aplikasi menggunakan metode System Usability Scale (SUS) dengan jumlah responden 42. Hasil yang diperoleh dalam pengujian kelayakan system adalah 86% yang berarti aplikasi XIBO PID yang dihasilkan termasuk kedalam grade B (exellent) dan dapat disimpulkan bahwa aplikasi ini baik dan layak digunakan.Kata Kunci : XIBO server, XIBO client), SystemUsability Scale.ABSTRACTUPT. The Procurement Service Bureau in the Governor's Office is the agency that carries out the auction of service goods that will be tendered publicly. The Bureau of Procurement of Goods and Services distributes package information to be auctioned and tendered to the general public through the Electronic Procurement Service (LPSE) website. The LPSE web can only be accessed via the internet. Current conditions make it difficult for users who want to find out the realization of auction results if they do not have internet access. One of the advantages of XIBO is if when the PC automatically opens the program slot that has been set on the XIBO server. This design aims to create a digital information board with the XIBO application. This PID will facilitate the updated information that is sourced from the LPSE aceh web information to the people who are located in the Governor's Office, so as to accelerate the dissemination of information. The information that will be displayed is in dynamic form. Making this application is built through the stages of XIBO server application design, XIBO client application, and internet connection. As well as testing the applications that have been built. The information that will be displayed is in dynamic form. Making this application is built through the stages of XIBO server application design, XIBO client application and internet connection. As well as testing the applications that have been built. Application feasibility testing uses the System Usability Scale (SUS) method with the number of respondents 42. The results obtained in the system feasibility testing are 86% which means that the application of XIBO PID produced is included in grade B (excellent) and it can be concluded that this application is good and suitable for use.Keywords: XIBO server, XIBO Client, System Usability Scale