Roger West

Stability of end-bearing piles in a non-homogeneous elastic foundation

The stability of end-bearing piles that are supported laterally along their entire length by an elastic Winkler foundation is investigated for the case when the coefficient of horizontal subgrade reaction varies linearly with depth. A pattern of clustering of buckling modes is shown to occur and the approximate modelling of the elastic foundation by averaging the stiffness of the subgrade is discussed.

The stability of uniform-friction piles inhomogeneous and non-homogeneous elastic foundations

Abstract The stability of piles that are supported vertically by a frictional force and laterallyalong their entire length by an elastic Winkler foundation is investigated for the case when thecoefficient of subgrade reaction is either constant or varies linearly with depth and the friction isconstant along the embedded length of the pile. A comparison between frictional and end-bearingmodels is made. Finally, a concise summary of the buckling loads for fully embedded friction pilesis produced.

Addressing the Need to Reform Construction Public Procurement in Ireland through the Implementation of Building Information Modelling

Recommended Citation McAuley, B., Hore, AV., West, RP and Kehily, D (2012) Addressing the Need to Reform Construction Public Procurement in Ireland through the Implementation of Building Information Modelling, Proceedings of the 1st ASEA-SEC International Conference on Research, Development and Practice in Structural Engineering and Construction, Perth Western Australia, 28th Nov – 2nd Dec 2012 https://doi.org/10.21427/a98p-ae33

Modal clustering in the vibration of partially and fully embedded steel piles

Abstract In the study of the natural frequencies of vibration of steel piles which are partially embedded in an elastic foundation it emerges that sequential modes can been very close or even identical. This clustering of modes has been observed for a wide variety of structural parameters and the problem of locating and identifying such modes is discussed. One practical consequence of this general phenomenon may occur when piling in deep, fast-flowing rivers. Although high oscillations resulting from vibrational instability may be suppressed by temporarily bracing the top of the pile, a dual mode might be simultaneously excited, thereby rendering the intended restraint ineffective. Such modal clustering can also occur for fully embedded piles if the stiffness of the soil relative to that of the pile is sufficiently high.

BIM Innovation Capability Programme of Ireland

The Irish Government has requested that Enterprise Ireland, an organisation responsible for the development and growth of Irish enterprises in world markets to actively promote the use of BIM in Ireland. This promotion has taken the form of an opportunity for Enterprise Ireland clients to apply for a grant under their BIM Enable and BIM Implementation schemes and also through their funding of the BIM Innovation Capability Programme (BICP) of Ireland. The BICP is a two-year project (2016-2018) which seeks to capture the capability of the Irish Construction Industry and the Higher Education Institutes to respond to the increased requirement for BIM in Ireland. One of the primary responsibilities of the BICP research team is to collate data to assist the Irish National BIM Council (NBC) in the formulation of a National BIM Roadmap. To achieve this a global and local BIM study was undertaken in 2016. This involved extensive desk-top based research exploring the value proposition behind what governments and professional bodies are doing to advance BIM in their respective countries. The research identified a number of common themes or pillars that Ireland will need to further address before a roadmap is formally disseminated. After exploration of these pillars, within an Irish context, it was found that despite a lack of standards and contractual frameworks, it has not prevented the industry from deploying BIM on Irish projects

Establishing Key Performance Indicators to Measure the Benefit of Introducing the Facilities Manager at an Early Stage in the Building Information Modeling Process

The Facilities Manager occupies a unique position within the lifecycle of a building asset, as he/she is one of the only Architecture/Engineering/Construction AEC and Facilities Management FM professionals who is in a position to view the product of the entire design and build process and is responsible for the operational phase which incurs approximately five times the initial capital cost. Despite the potential benefits that the Facilities Manager offers, this profession still does not command the recognition it deserves within the AEC/FM sector. This is beginning to change through the introduction of Building Information Modelling BIM. In order for the BIM process to be maximised it is imperative that the Facilities Manager plays a much more important role within the design and construction process. Despite this, at present the role of the Facilities Manager within this process is still uncertain with no set Key Performance Indicators KPI or role designation being specified to date. This paper outlines how the Facilities Manager can play a pivotal role in the BIM process and, in particular, will aim to establish the basis for a number of KPIs by Facility Managers which will in turn lead to a more robust Lean FM practice.

BICP Global BIM Study - Lessons for Ireland’s BIM Programme

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Mechanical and Thermal Evaluation of Different Types of PCM-concrete composite panels

Abstract The thermal mass of construction materials can be used to reduce the energy required for heating and cooling buildings. The heat storage capacity of concrete can be increased by incorporating phase change materials (PCMs) and hence providing a latent heat storage capacity. However, the addition of PCMs to concrete can reduce its conductivity due to the low conductivity of the PCMs. This hinders the efficient utilisation of the additional heat storage capacity provided by the PCM. Two types of PCM–concrete composite panels were manufactured. Firstly, a panel was formed by adding microencapsulated paraffin to fresh concrete during the mixing process. Secondly, butyl stearate was vacuum impregnated into lightweight aggregate which was then included in the concrete mix. In order to counteract the reduction in conductivity caused by the PCM, a second group of PCM–concrete composite panels were made using ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS) as a partial cement replacement. The use of GGBS results in a denser cement paste which, for a given aggregate type, increases the conductivity of the concrete. This study aimed to establish which type of PCM–concrete composite material was most effective at improving the thermal mass behaviour of the panel and also to evaluate the effect that the PCM had on the relevant properties of concrete. The effect of GGBS on the thermal performance of the panels is reported.

Assessment of Two Methods of Enhancing Thermal Mass Performance of Concrete Through the Incorporation of Phase-Change Materials

According to the IEA Technology Roadmap on Energy Efficient Building Envelopes, buildings are responsible for more than one third of global energy consumption, with space heating and cooling consuming 33% of this energy, and increasing to 50% in cold climates. Using the mass of a building to store heat and/ or cold can reduce the demand on the auxillary heating and/or cooling systems and hence reduce the overall energy demand of the building. In this study the thermal storage capacity of concrete was actively enhanced by integrating phase-change materials (PCMs) which provide a high latent heat storage capacity. Two methods of incorporating PCMs into concrete were used to form PCM/concrete composite panels. The first type of panel was formed by adding microencapsulated paraffin to fresh concrete during the mixing process. The second panel was formed by vacuum impregnating butyl stearate into lightweight aggregate which was then included in the concrete mix. The aim of the study was to compare the thermal behaviour of both PCM/concrete composite panels to a control concrete panel and to evaluate which method of PCM incorporation is the most effective at improving thermal mass characteristics in the context of a thermal energy storage system for space heating/cooling in a building. The panels containing PCM displayed significantly greater thermal storage capacity, despite having reduced thermal conductivity and density. The study concluded that the panel containing lightweight aggregate/PCM composite is more effective at providing additional thermal storage, particularly within the first 100mm of depth of an element of structure.

Pre-engineered Bamboo Structures: A Step Towards Sustainable Construction

This paper presents the new developments undertaken by the bamboo research group (BRG) at IIT Delhi in the area of sustainable construction. Bamboo is a natural grass, which grows fully in much less time and with much less resources as compared to timber, which is fast depleting across the world. A scientific design approach has been formulated recently by BRG along with detailed material characterization (which includes both strength and elastic characterization) of the common Indian species Dendrocalamus strictus. This is followed by the development of modular structural components, which, when connected, can pave way for pre-engineered construction. In order to achieve easy connectability, special steel shoes have been developed which easily fix at the ends of the bamboo culms, hold up there through friction and impart weldability as well as bolting. The paper also briefly describes the development of high-capacity flexural/compression members, which can pave way for the construction of full portal frame of multistory buildings.