SUCCESS FACTORS FOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS : A SURVEY OF SELECTED PROJECTS
ASHOK K. PUNDIR, L. GANAPATHY AND RASHMI SHAHU
This paper attempts to understand construction project performance and to study the influence of various success factors on construction project performance. The results presented are based on a study carried out at various ongoing and completed construction projects in Nagpur region. A structured survey questionnaire was used to collect data from project managers at these sites after a personal interview. In all, 60 project managers involved in 26 construction projects participated in this study. A statistical analysis of the responses was carried out and the influence of various critical success factors is shown.
Project Success Factors, Construction Projects, Construction Project Performance
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Research Articles
EFFECT OF SILICA FUME AND METAKAOLIN INCLUSION ON WORKABILITY AND COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH OF CONCRETE
VIKAS SRIVASTAVA, RAKESH KUMAR, V. C. AGARWAL AND P K MEHTA**
Silica fume is a by product resulting from the reduction of high purity quartz with coal or coke and wood chips in an electric arc furnace during the production of silicon metal or silicon alloys. Silica fume is known to improve both the mechanical and durability properties of concrete. The use of silica fume in concrete has engineering potential and economic advantage. Metakaolin is also one of the pozzolanic materials which is manufactured from selected kaolins, after refinement and calcination under specific conditions. Metakaolin, a non conventional material can be utilized beneficially in the construction industry. This paper presents the results of an experimental investigations carried out to find the suitability of silica fume and metakaolin in production of concrete. It is observed that the optimum doses of silica fume and metakaolin are 5% and 15% (by weight) respectively, when used as part replacement of ordinary Portland cement (OPC). The silica fume inclusion increases both the workability and compressive strength of concrete considerably. Metakaolin inclusion also leads to substantial increase in the compressive strength; however, the workability is slightly compromised.
STRENGTH AND DURABILITY PROPERTIES OF LOW CALCIUM FLY ASH BASED GEO POLYMER CONCRETE
P. RAMA MOHAN RAO AND MOHAMMED TAHIR VR
This paper study the strength and durability of the fly ash based Geo- Polymer Concrete (GPC) prepared with sodium silicate and sodium hydroxide as activators. The concretes were prepared with varying fly ash content of 396, 408, 418 & 426 Kg/m3. Ratio of sodium silicate solution-to-sodium hydroxide solution by mass of 0.4 to 2.5 was used. This ratio was fixed at 2.5 for most of the mixtures. Molarity of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution used was in the range of 8M to12M. The ratio of activator solution-to-fly ash by mass, in the range of 0.3 and 0.45 was used. Compressive strength of the GPC in the range of 15-30 N/mm2 was obtained. The performance of these concretes in aggressive environments was also studied, using acid resistance and sulphate resistance tests. The test results show that GPC specimens are better in resisting acid attack and sulphate attack than normal concrete comparatively.
FLY ASH UTILIZATION IN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY : A STEP TOWARDS GREENER ENVIRONMENT
P. K. MEHTA AND VIKAS SRIVASTAVA
The pollution of the environment and the associated ill effects have become cause of serious concern due to advancement in science and technology and industrial revolution, whose nature and character is changing with each major development. The requirement of the electrical power has forced the humans to exploit all possible sources which include hydroelectric, thermal, solar, wind, nuclear etc. Also, different industries viz. fertilizer, sugar etc. require coal. Thermal power plants and these industries produce huge quantities of fly ash which creates serious environmental degradation and health hazards besides affecting the land fertility and crop productivity, if not properly disposed off. This waste material can be used effectively in construction industry to overcome the problems cited above besides resulting, in general, in safer, economical and durable structures. The various uses to which fly ash may be put are structural concrete, mass concrete, roller compacted concrete, masonry works, soil stabilization, manufacturing of precast concrete building units, water and wastewater treatment and land reclamation etc. In this paper, the sources of fly ash production, its uses in construction industry and economical aspect of its use are presented.
Fly Ash, Concrete, Bricks, Cement, Thermal Power Plant
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Research Articles
PRODUCTIVITY IMPROVEMENT SCHEDULING THROUGH EFFECTIVE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
S. KAMAL, M. P. VENKATESH, C. UMARANI AND V. SENTHIL
Repetitive construction projects are common in India. Several approaches have been practised for modelling repetitive construction projects towards optimizing scheduling and resource allocation. This paper presents the model that uses Program Evaluation Review Technique (PERT) method and the spread sheet to prepare optimum scheduling for an effective utilization of the man power on the basis of data obtained from Mass Housing Project (MHP) for repetitive activities in order to minimize the overall project duration in the construction projects. The data presented in this paper has been collected from small scale building construction promoters in Chennai. The model presented in this paper is a formulation that can be easily modified and implemented for any type of repetitive project problem. Thus the result of this model can be used to predict the overall duration of the project and plan for effective utilization of the resource.
Repetitive Construction Projects, Resource, Project Scheduling, PERT, Scheduling
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Research Articles
A STUDY OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT OF RURAL HEALTHCARE AND INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT IN INDIA
Nenavath Sreenu
This paper examines the current status and future prospects of rural health financing and management in India in light of the rural healthcare. Much has been written on this issue and the attempt is to synthesize what is known in the context of the rural healthcare. The paper focuses on the benefits of public health financing and management of rural healthcare in India. The attempt is made to explore the reasons why public spending has been much more effective in improving health outcomes in some regions but not in the rest, and to apply lessons learnt from the 'Disease Control Priorities Project-India', to the question of how best to deploy the new financial resources available. The study raises the issues of service delivery in low-capacity settings. Issues of improving public-sector performance and financing and leveraging the enormous capacity of the private health sector to successfully deliver health care, are central to any health system. The study discusses the mechanics of financing these health interventions and the implications for centerstate financial responsibilities.
Financing, Management, Rural Healthcare, Public Sector and Resources
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