Lau Teck Leong

The use of Past Projects as Means to Enhance the Education Experience of Civil Engineering Students

In view of the importance of undergraduate students cognitive learning experience in higher education, this study was conducted in order to investigate the effectiveness of the use of past civil engineering projects as case studies. The outcomes indicate that the use of case studies enhances the students educational experiences that conduce to cognitive learning and motivate for future ethical practice. In general, the use of case studies reassures the students aspiration in becoming practicing civil engineers upon graduation.

Some Recent Developments in Coupling of Finite Element and Boundary Element Methods - Part I: An Overview

Conventional and a class of domain decomposition finite element–boundary element coupling (FEM–BEM) methods are reviewed. This is Part I of two papers. In Part II, a review of the mixed Dirichlet-Neumann domain decomposition FEM-BEM coupling method is presented and optimal dynamic values of the relaxation parameters for the mixed Dirichlet-Neumann FEM-BEM coupling method are, furthermore, derived.

Effects of Recycled Aggregates on Water-Cement Ratio for Concrete

Recycled aggregate differs from primary aggregate in that it constitutes of two types of materials: the primary aggregate and the attaching cement mortar. This study was conducted in order to investigate the effects on water-cement ratio for concrete cast with recycled aggregates derived from different origins (hollow blocks & structural concrete elements) and different mixed proportions of recycled aggregate contents. The outcomes of test indicate that higher water cement ratios are required for concrete cast with recycled aggregates as compare to those cast with primary aggregates. Also there appear no obvious relationships or consistencies that can be drawn among types of recycled aggregate.

Elastic Modulus of Concrete Cast with Recycled Aggregates

In view of the importance of recycled aggregates concrete with primary aim to minimise environmental impacts from construction waste, this study was conducted in order to investigate the effects of recycled aggregates on concrete elastic modulus. The outcomes indicate that type of recycled aggregates influences the development of concrete elastic modulus. In general, the use of recycled aggregates posts significant reductions in concrete elastic modulus.

Effect of Aggregate Size on Punching Strength of Reinforced Concrete Slabs

This paper reports test results of flat slab cast from micro-concrete and normal concrete subjected to concentric punching shear. Although the punching shear failure mechanism of micro-concrete slabs was very similar to that of normal-concrete slabs, the punching shear capacity is reduced to about 73% due to the reduction in transferred shear stresses across shear cracks by aggregate interlock. Therefore, a shear retention factor of 0.7 is suggested to be applied in estimating the punching shear strength of micro-concrete slabs.

Some Recent Developments in Coupling of Finite Element and Boundary Element Methods - Part II: Dynamic Procedures for Determining the Relaxation Parameters for the Mixed Dirichlet-Neumann Domain Decomposition FEM-BEM Coupling Method

Part I of this paper presents an overview of the conventional and a class of domain decomposition finite element-boundary element coupling methods. In this part, a review of the mixed Dirichlet-Neumann domain decomposition coupling method, procedures for dynamic calculation of relaxation parameters for the mixed Dirichlet-Neumann FEM-BEM coupling method and an example application are presented.

Benchmarking the Industrial Expectations of Civil Engineering Students through Internship Placements

In view of the importance of undergraduate students professional attributes development in higher education, this study was conducted in order to investigate the effectiveness and relevancy of the two years undergraduate studies pre-requisite for industrial internships. The outcomes indicate that the two years conducing learning environments provided have been effective in stimulating cognitive learning and motivate students for ethical practice that fulfilled the industrial expectations.

Shear Resistance of Non-Reinforced Oil Palm Shell Concrete Beams

The test results of reinforced concrete beams cast with Oil Palm Shell (OPS) in shear mechanism are presented. It was found that the shear mechanism in Oil Palm Shell Concrete (OPSC) beams is similar in nature to those found in normal weight concrete (NWC) beams. Comparative studies carried out on variables affecting the shear mechanism indicate OPSC beamsproduce similar shear strength to NWC beams.