Load distribution in curved composite concrete deck-steel multiple-spine box girder bridges.

An analytical modelling was performed using the finite-element method with the commercially available ABAQUS software. A shell element was used to model the concrete deck, steel webs, bottom flanges, and end-diaphragms. A three-dimensional beam element was adopted to model the top flanges, cross-bracings, and top chords. The multi-point-constraint option in the ABAQUS software was used between the shell nodes of the concrete deck and the beam element nodes of the steel top flanges, thus modelling the presence of shear connectors. Extensive parametric study, using the finite-element modelling, was conducted, in which 50 prototype bridges were analyzed to evaluate their load distribution factors for bending stress and shear under dead load and truck loading conditions. The span length of prototype bridges ranged from 20 to 100 meters, with two to four lanes. The number of steel boxes ranged from 2 to 4 in the case of two lanes, 3 to 5 in the case of three lanes, and 3 to 6 in the case of four lanes. The span-to-radius ratio was taken as 0, 0.4, 1, 1.4, and 2 for selected prototype bridges. The key parameters considered in the study were: number and stiffness of cross-bracings and top-chord systems, number of steel boxes, number of traffic lanes, bridge aspect ratio, and degree of curvature. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Paper copy at Leddy Library: Theses & Major Papers - Basement, West Bldg. / Call Number: Thesis2000 .N67. Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 40-03, page: 0748. Advisers: J. B. Kennedy; K. M. Sennah. Thesis (M.Sc.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 2001

The Natural Gas Geopolitics of Turkey

This thesis investigates the natural gas geopolitics of Turkey and explores its interaction with the Turkish foreign policy making of the Justice and Development Party (JDP). Whilst Turkey does not have enough indigenous natural gas reserves to meet the existing and growing demand, the country does have great advantages, as it is located between the major supplier countries in the Middle East and Eurasia and is placed at the crossroads of an energy hungry European natural gas market. Therefore, the major aim of this research is to explore capacity building in the creation of relationships of interdependence between Turkey and supplier and demanding countries. Rather than introducing a dependency energy mechanism, this thesis offers the interaction capacity of the country with natural gas suppliers and consuming countries. In order to explain the relationship between politics and energy variables, the thesis establishes the theoretical framework of the study through the use of a pluralistic and integrated model, by combining International Relations Theories, the foreign policy making process of Turkey and a conceptualisation of the relations of energy interdependence. The descriptive analysis of Eurasia and the energy profile of Turkey provide detailed information about the existing energy trade and dependency relations in the Eurasian space. Hence, it explains the importance of Turkey in Europe’s diversification of energy corridors and Turkey’s natural gas market, which is considered to be the second biggest market in Europe. The significance and role of Turkey in the construction of pipeline projects (ITGI, TANAP, Nabucco, Nabucco-West and TAP) that go through Turkey to Europe, a route which is called the Southern Corridor, are analysed in the thesis. On the other hand, this thesis offers certain perspectives for the Caspian-Turkey-Europe natural gas corridor, focusing on Azerbaijan-Turkmenistan’s role in the natural gas trade for the energy security of Europe. Moreover, the natural gas potential of Iran, Iraq (including KRG), Qatar, Egypt and Israel, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan are viewed as major natural gas sources for Turkey and Europe in this thesis. Turkey has historical and economic ties with the Caspian Sea and Middle East regions, which hold immense natural gas reserves that can be marketed to Turkey and to the European Union (EU). Mapping Turkey’s energy relations with consuming and producing countries, and defining Turkey’s geopolitical space, will not only help to develop its energy policy to secure its own energy consumption but also to manage interdependence relations between Eurasia and Europe. This is a new conceptualisation of energy supply and transit management of Turkey in the context of a new model called the Anatolian Gas Centre (AGS)

Maintaining the energy security of Turkey in the era of geopolitical turmoil

The energy security of Turkey is very much interconnected with geopolitical developments due to its dependence on imported energy resources, especially on natural gas. Turkey, moreover, is a natural energy hub for Europe but its ability to provide the energy bridge between the Middle East and Caucasus hydrocarbons suppliers and European markets is being adversely affected by geopolitical tensions in the neighbouring region. The Russian intervention in Ukraine and the security and humanitarian crisis in Syria are just two highprofile instances of wider geopolitical developments which affect Turkey’s ability to meet its own rising growing needs as well as its ambition to act as Europe’s energy bridge. This paper argues that in order to meet its foreign policy goals in regard to energy not only does Turkey need to ensure the return of peace to neighbouring regions, but also should adjust its own domestic policies as the first step for being able to respond constructively to external developments

Disaggregated consumer prices and oil prices pass-through: evidence from Malaysia

The present paper analyzes the oil price pass-through into consumer price inflation for a developing country, Malaysia, using an augmented Phillips curve framework. The focus is on whether aggregate consumer prices and different consumer price components or sub-price indexes are related in different ways to oil price in the long run and in the short run. We find evidence for a long run relation or cointegration of the oil price with only the aggregate consumer price and food price indexes. Moreover, in the short run, the oil price changes have significant bearings on the consumer price inflation, the food price inflation, the rent, fuel and power price inflation and the transportation and communication price inflation. In addition, the short-run asymmetry in the oil price-food price inflation is also evident. Finally, we observe the neutrality of the medical care and health price index to the oil price changes. Our result that the inflationary consequence of oil price hikes is likely to work mainly through the food prices has important implications on the effects of oil price changes on the poor and policy directions to contain inflation

Conceptual Production Plant of Calcium Chloride from Waste Cockle Shell

Due to the environmental hazard that had been contributed from limestone mining activity to the surrounding area, waste cockle shell has been identified as a visible alternative for replacing limestone as source of calcium carbonate. Instead of escalating the potential risk of depleting of hills to excavate calcium carbonate, waste cockle shell is much more sustainable due to the annual production of the aquatic species that is recorded to be more than 40,000 metric ton per year. This study will focus on idea of conceptual production plant with a main objective to produce calcium chloride from waste cockle shell. Several designs are proposed with feasibility study conducted accordingly. To conclude, cockle shell is one of the best alternatives to limestone in producing calcium chloride. Cockle shell does not cause any environmental impact and it help to reduce solid waste produce from domestic waste, in particular cockle shell waste

Strategic watch: a risk management system in exporting SMEs

The objective of this paper is to highlight the role that strategic intelligence could play, as a catalyst for anticipatory information, in the management of export risks in SMEs and the skills that leaders and entrepreneurs must have to succeed in their information behaviors. The theoretcal contribution of this work lies in the implementaton of a new conceptualization of the strategic intlligence system, hitherto limited to the factors influencing its implementation among senior managers, in the analysis of its interaction with environmental sectors. The use of strategic intelligence in SMEs instead of outsourcing it to external organizations, of relational capital instead of physical capital, of information resources instead of financial and technical resources offers a new organizational and strategic mode of operation for SMEs operating in international markets with inherent risk

Experimental study of natural convection heat transfer and gaseous dynamics from dual-channel circulation loop

This research focuses on establishing a range of scaled separate and integral effects experiments for studying thermal-hydraulic behavior occurring within a component or region of the prismatic very high-temperature reactor (VHTR) such as plenum-to-plenum heat transfer and gaseous dynamics during natural circulation. Natural circulation of the coolant is the leading capability for VHTR to transport the decay heat from the core to the reactor vessel during accident scenarios. To address this need, a scaled-down facility is designed and developed with only two channels with upper and lower plena. The emphasis is placed on high-resolution and high-fidelity experimental data for local heat transfer and gaseous dispersion measurements utilizing sophisticated techniques under different operating conditions. These techniques are 1) non-invasive flush wall mounted heat transfer coefficient probe to measure reliably the heat flux and surface temperature along the flow channels, and by measuring simultaneously these two variables and the flowing fluid, the heat transfer coefficient can be obtained, 2) radial temperature sensor adjuster to measure radial temperature variations of the coolant along the flow channels, and 3) advanced gaseous tracer technique to accurately measure the residence time distribution (RTD) in an of flow systems by injecting pulse change gas tracer and then monitoring its concentration at the exit. The measured RTD is utilized to quantify the gas dispersion and identify the degree of mixing in the system. The obtained local heat transfer and gaseous dispersion data in this study will provide high spatial and temporal resolutions benchmarking data for validating heat transfer and gaseous dispersion computations and correlations that are integrated with CFD simulations --Abstract, page iv

Client financial support for mitigating cost factors affecting performance of small scale contractors in Nigeria

The study assessed effects of client financial support for mitigating the effects of cost factors affecting the performance of Small Scale Contractors (SSC) in Nigeria. Exploratory and descriptive designs were adopted. A total of 550 questionnaires were administered to key construction industry stakeholders in northern Nigeria through stratified random sampling technique. The survey recorded 71.4% valid response rate. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse data obtained. Findings revealed that a small negative causal relationship exists between the effects of cost factors and the performance of SSC; and that clients' financial support through advance payment to SSC mitigates effect of construction costs on performance of SSC in Nigeria. The study recommends: construction stakeholders to effectively and efficiently manage cost factors that could impede SSC performance; clients to provide financial support to SSC; and, government to endorse policies that will encourage financial institutions to provide flexible and less interest loans, for improved SSC business performance and hence commensurate contribution to national economy.Keywords: Client financial support, Contract performance,  Cost Factors, Small scale contractor

Assessment of Impact on Landscape Development to Ecological Service Values and Goods Using Integrated Remote Sensing and GIS Techniques

Amongst the impacts of converting forest to agricultural activities is the degradation of ecology service values and goods (ESVG). Impacts on ESVG can be devastating in environmental, biological, and socio-economics manners. This paper highlights the study undertaken on the impacts of agricultural development in 0.8x106 ha of forest dominated landscape in Pasoh Forest Region (PFR), Malaysia, within period of 8 years from 1995 to 2003. Three folds of impacts on agricultural development examined and analysed are: (i) relationship of total soil loss and changes in land use pattern, (ii) mapping trends of ESVG for PFR in 1995 and 2003, and (iii) risk assessment of ESVG based on simulation of converting 339x103ha of primary forest into mass-scale oil palm plantation. Results of this study indicated that although only minor changes of about 1464ha (~0.2% of PFR) of primary forest was converted to agricultural activities, it have significantly increased the total soil loss from 59x106 to 69x106 t/ha/yr. The mean rate of soil loss within PFR is 0.8x106 t/yr, and if translated into ESVG term, costing US$4.8x106/yr. However, majority of the soil loss within all land use classes are within range of very low - low risk categories (<10 t/ha/yr). Estimated cost of ESVG for PFR was US$179x106 in 1995, declined to US$114x106 in 2003 due to 0.2$963x106 and US$575x106, respectively. This difference, however, is only marginal when full 17 attributes of ESVG were considered