Application of Foamed Concrete and Cold-Formed Steel Decking as Lightweight Composite Slabs: Experimental Study On Structural Behaviour

Foamed concrete composite slabs (FCCS) are currently enjoying great popularity in the construction industry. Unlike conventional composite slabs, FCCS has an advantage in solving the selfweight penalty. With the advanced research in concrete technology, foamed concrete with sufficient strength properties  to meet the requirements of standard code of practise has been successfully introduced. Foamed concrete is known for its lightweight and versatility. This paper presents an experimental study on ultimate load, maximum deflection and failure mode of FCCS. Of interest are the effects of dry density and slab thickness. The slab specimens with a span of 1800 mm, a width of 840 mm and different thicknesses from 100 mm to 150 mm were prepared for the three-point bending test. The dry density of foamed concrete is 1400 kg/m3, 1600 kg/m3, and 1800 kg/m3, which has a compressive strength of about 20 MPa to 40 MPa. Dry density and slab thickness have been observed to have significant effects on ultimate load and maximum deflection. Higher dry density of foamed concrete provides better slip resistance and thus reduces shear bond failure. On the other hand, slab specimens with a higher slab thickness tend to have better bearing capacity due to greater bending stiffness. The main failure mode is dominated by localised bending on the profiled steel deck, slip-displacement and fracture of the foamed concrete

Application of Foamed Concrete and Cold-Formed Steel Decking as Lightweight Composite Slabs: Experimental Study On Structural Behaviour

Foamed concrete composite slabs (FCCS) are currently enjoying great popularity in the construction industry. Unlike conventional composite slabs, FCCS has an advantage in solving the selfweight penalty. With the advanced research in concrete technology, foamed concrete with sufficient strength properties  to meet the requirements of standard code of practise has been successfully introduced. Foamed concrete is known for its lightweight and versatility. This paper presents an experimental study on ultimate load, maximum deflection and failure mode of FCCS. Of interest are the effects of dry density and slab thickness. The slab specimens with a span of 1800 mm, a width of 840 mm and different thicknesses from 100 mm to 150 mm were prepared for the three-point bending test. The dry density of foamed concrete is 1400 kg/m3, 1600 kg/m3, and 1800 kg/m3, which has a compressive strength of about 20 MPa to 40 MPa. Dry density and slab thickness have been observed to have significant effects on ultimate load and maximum deflection. Higher dry density of foamed concrete provides better slip resistance and thus reduces shear bond failure. On the other hand, slab specimens with a higher slab thickness tend to have better bearing capacity due to greater bending stiffness. The main failure mode is dominated by localised bending on the profiled steel deck, slip-displacement and fracture of the foamed concrete

Natural Frequency of Lightweight Composite Slabs Based On Experimental Study and Numerical Modelling

Recently, lightweight composite slabs have become increasingly popular. Lightweight composite slabs are an innovation that provides a better and more convenient construction method for floor systems. Under dynamic loads, lightweight composite slabs may experience meagre inertia forces due to poor stiffness or low mass. Compared to conventional composite slabs, lightweight composite slabs are 40% lighter and more susceptible to structural resonance. Therefore, the vibration behaviour must be controlled to avoid discomfort issues. This study investigates the natural frequency of lightweight composite slabs through experimental study and numerical modelling. In the experimental study, lightweight composite slabs were prepared for the hammer-impact test. The slab thickness ranges from 100 mm to 200 mm. In numerical modelling, lightweight composite slabs were modelled in SAP2000 using a unique technique called the simplified equivalent plate model. The effective material properties were derived from the rule of mixtures and depend exclusively on elastic properties with strength characteristics. The results of the experimental study and numerical modelling agree positively. The natural frequency decreased with slab thickness, signifying that the natural frequency is dominated by mass rather than stiffness. Overall, the natural frequency of lightweight composite slabs is around 27.23Hz to 31.45Hz

Natural Frequency of Lightweight Composite Slabs Based On Experimental Study and Numerical Modelling

Recently, lightweight composite slabs have become increasingly popular. Lightweight composite slabs are an innovation that provides a better and more convenient construction method for floor systems. Under dynamic loads, lightweight composite slabs may experience meagre inertia forces due to poor stiffness or low mass. Compared to conventional composite slabs, lightweight composite slabs are 40% lighter and more susceptible to structural resonance. Therefore, the vibration behaviour must be controlled to avoid discomfort issues. This study investigates the natural frequency of lightweight composite slabs through experimental study and numerical modelling. In the experimental study, lightweight composite slabs were prepared for the hammer-impact test. The slab thickness ranges from 100 mm to 200 mm. In numerical modelling, lightweight composite slabs were modelled in SAP2000 using a unique technique called the simplified equivalent plate model. The effective material properties were derived from the rule of mixtures and depend exclusively on elastic properties with strength characteristics. The results of the experimental study and numerical modelling agree positively. The natural frequency decreased with slab thickness, signifying that the natural frequency is dominated by mass rather than stiffness. Overall, the natural frequency of lightweight composite slabs is around 27.23Hz to 31.45Hz

Accidents preventive practice for high-rise construction

The demand of high-rise projects continues to grow due to the reducing of usable land area in Klang Valley, Malaysia.The rapidly development of high-rise projects has leaded to the rise of fatalities and accidents.An accident that happened in a construction site can cause serious physical injury.The accidents such as people falling from height and struck by falling object were the most frequent accidents happened in Malaysian construction industry.The continuous growth of high-rise buildings indicates that there is a need of an effective safety and health management. Hence, this research aims to identify the causes of accidents and the ways to prevent accidents that occur at high-rise building construction site.Qualitative method was employed in this research. Interview surveying with safety officers who are involved in highrise building project in Kuala Lumpur were conducted in this research. Accidents were caused by man-made factors, environment factors or machinery factors.The accidents prevention methods were provide sufficient Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), have a good housekeeping, execute safety inspection, provide safety training and execute accidents investigation.In the meanwhile, interviewees have suggested the new prevention methods that were develop a proper site layout planning and de-merit and merit system among subcontractors, suppliers and even employees regarding safety at workplace matters.This research helps in explaining the causes of accidents and identifying area where prevention action should be implemented, so that workers and top management will increase awareness in preventing site accidents

A prophylactic vaccine for breast cancer?

Cancer vaccines are the Holy Grail for patients and clinicians alike. The possibility that we can be vaccinated against common cancers is very appealing and the socioeconomic consequences are significant. A recent paper from Vincent Tuohy's group, published in the journal Nature Medicine, suggests a new approach for the development of a prophylactic vaccine for breast cancer. Their strategy was to induce mammary gland failure in mice by immunisation with an antibody specific to a milk protein that resulted in autoimmunity during lactation. This also showed some efficacy as a therapeutic vaccine. Can we look forward to the elimination of breast cancer

"The End of Immortality!" Eternal Life and the Makropulos Debate

Responding to a well-known essay by Bernard Williams, philosophers (and a few theologians) have engaged in what I call “the Makropulos debate,” a debate over whether immortality—“living forever”—would be desirable for beings like us. Lacking a firm conceptual grounding in the religious contexts from which terms such as “immortality” and “eternal life” gain much of their sense, the debate has consisted chiefly in a battle of speculative fantasies. Having presented my four main reasons for this assessment, I examine an alternative and neglected conception, the idea of eternal life as a present possession, derived in large part from Johannine Christianity. Without claiming to argue for the truth of this conception, I present its investigation as exemplifying a conceptually fruitful direction of inquiry into immortality or eternal life, one which takes seriously the religious and ethical surroundings of these concepts