Glass block has become a fairly widespread construction material. As with concrete block, glass block are currently limited to square and rectangular blocks. This limits the architectural applications of glass block to straight vertical walls and square corners. Glass block is manufactured by first forming two pieces of glass, and then joining them while the…
Soil permeability is a characteristic property of soil, and studying it helps to erect better structures, construct stable foundations, and perform agricultural activities. Permeability of soil depends upon various factors, and important related aspects are discussed here. Permeability can be defined as the ability of a porous mass to allow passage of water through the medium….
The term Palladian architecture brings to mind formal buildings and sprawling mansions in the classical style. Palladio started out inspired by the Romans and rather outdid them with the originality of his own vision. His buildings are a must see for everyone interested in architecture. Andrea Palladio Andrea Palladio was one of the leading architects…
Lintel is a horizontal flexural member which spans over the openings in the walls for doors, windows, ventilators, cupboards etc. The load of masonry above the opening is transferred to the wall by flexural action of the lintel so that frames of doors, windows etc. are not unduly loaded. The end bearings for the lintel…
Street sweeping and cleaning may not look like a technical job, but it is properly carried out in an organized and planned way in the US and Great Britain. When urban civilizations were first evolving, street cleaning was done manually with the help of conventional brooms, shovels, and washcloths. Gradually, the industrial revolution sank in…
Since the expression for shear depends on whether the load P is located to the left or to the right from the section k, then two positions of the load P need to be considered. The procedure of construction of influence line for shear is presented in tabulated form. In the table we show the…
Construction Ambassadors, as the name suggests, are individuals with a passion for the field of construction. They can have many varied responsibilities, which can make it difficult to define exactly what they really do and to describe their job role precisely. Supporting and sharing the news about new construction is important in ensuring that the…
There are several types of waste incineration plants. The most common type is municipal solid waste (MSW) with the heat providing energy from waste. This is becoming more necessary in many countries throughout the world as we all run out of land-fill sites for our household rubbish. Incineration of waste is not a new process,…
An overview of the rules and strategies used for improving efficiency in solid waste collection. Bob Roberts In today’s struggling economy we are all forced to look at ways to reduce expenses. This applies to private and public operations equally. For the private operation, priorities are placed on maintaining profits—a difficult task in a competitive…
Construction of highways and railways is challenging around mountains and steep slopes. Each require special study by geologists and geotechnical engineers. Through geotechnical analysis, slopes are identified that are critical and require special protection. The “Rockfall Hazard Rating System” for the Federal Highway Administration was introduced by the Oregon State Highway Division. It is used to…