Experimental Study on the Compressive Membrane Action in Profiled Steel Sheet Dry Board (PSSDB) Floor System

This paper describes the experimental work conducted at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia to examine the capability of the profiled steel sheet dry board (PSSDB) system to develop the compressive membrane action (CMA) in the floor. The development of the CMA inside the floor is strictly associated with the horizontal movement of the slab end under the vertical loading. Therefore, the simply supported PSSDB floor was tested under vertical uniformly distributed load. Study of results revealed that the recorded horizontal movement at the roller support of the slab is 0.81 mm in the pin- roller supported case. This proves that the PSSDB floor has the potential to develop the CMA under the pin-pin support condition

Ultimate Strength of a Continuous Decking of Cold-Drawn Low-ductility High Strength Steel

Profiled decking of cold-drawn low-ductility high strength steel is a relatively new introduction to composite floor construction. This type of decking shows high sensitivity to distortional as well as local buckling. Prediction of ultimate strength of such decking in continuous configuration is not adequately covered in any of the analytical methods of modern day codes. Instead, due to inadequate guidance, various design codes currently apply additional restrictions on their design and use. The support moment-rotation and ultimate moment of resistance of such decking are the two most important parameters in designing such decking as continuous structure for the construction stage of a composite floor. The current practices require laboratory testing to determine these parameters, which is costly. Finite element analyses are rarely used to derive these parameters. The present paper deals on prediction of ultimate strength of such a decking in continuous configuration using parameters derived from nonlinear finite element analyses. It is demonstrated that a nonlinear finite element model can give a superior estimates of the parameters needed for ultimate strength design of such a decking

FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS OF TAPERED COMPOSITE PLATE GIRDER WITH A NON-LINEAR VARYING WEB DEPTH

The paper presents Finite Element Analysis to determine the ultimate shear capacity of tapered composite plate girder. The effect of degree of taper on the ultimate shear capacity of tapered steel-concrete composite plate girder with a nonlinear varying web depth, effect of slenderness ratio on the ultimate shear capacity, and effect of flange stiffness on the ductility were considered as the parametric studies. Effect of concrete slab on the ultimate shear capacity of tapered plate girders was also considered and it was found to be so effective on the ultimate shear capacity of the tapered plate girder compared with the steel one. The accuracy of the finite element method is established by comparing the finite element with the results existing in the literature. The study was conducted using nonlinear finite element modelling with computer software LUSAS 14.7

EVALUATING SITES AND SERVICES POLICY AS APPROACH TO AFFORD HOUSING FOR LOW- INCOME PEOPLE IN YEMEN: CASE STUDY

Yemen is one of the third world countries, which suffers from rapidly increasing urbanization and this problem is getting more serious. Hence most of the people lack adequate shelter and services. The population of Yemen has been steadily increasing in the early seventies, due to the following reasons: natural population growth and the internal migration from countryside to the urban areas and also due to the economic, social, legislative and political reasons. All these have led to an imbalance between the increasing demand and the limited availability of the housing facilities in general and for low income groups in particular. This study aims to identify and analyses the policy of sites and services as project in Sana'a. It is a good example that represents the status of this type of policy (sites and services) in Sawad Saawan. This study also clarifies the suitability of the needs and ability of low-income groups to correct the directions of their attempts either by what has been implemented or the factors to be taken into account to succeed in the future. The first part of the study has employed a theoretical analytical approach to understand the directions, which make the suitable houses available to the low-income groups in Yemen; the second part has carried out field study in the target city Saawan as a project instance of the sites and services policy. The study has concluded that this project has faced  many difficulties on its way of success due to the following reasons: (i) inability of target groups to have houses that match their financial ability and meet their basic living needs and (ii) the negative impact created by the actual implementation of the sites and services project due to the difference between the practical field and the theoretical idea. This study has suggested and recommended the means to enhance the development of the housing sector and housing policies in Yemen