Cost Of Construction Materials Research Articles

Exploring the key risk factors impeding the performance of highway construction projects: an evidence from Nigeria

Purpose Construction projects, and particularly highway infrastructures, are known to be major contributors to the socio-economic growth of developing countries. However, these types of projects are infamous for being highly risky due to the interplay of numerous risk factors. This study aims to explore the key risk factors impacting on the performance of highway infrastructure projects in Nigeria from the contextual viewpoint of key industry stakeholders. Design/methodology/approach Qualitative data was collected using semi-structured interviews. Specifically, 17 in-depth expert interviews were conducted with experienced stakeholders in the highway sector of the Nigerian construction industry. The collected data was transcribed and analysed using an established coding framework (grounded on case study approach, principles of thematic analysis and saliency analysis). Findings Overall, 17 key risks were identified from the data analysis process, and 6 risks were recognised as the most significant, based on the combination of prevalence of occurrence and significance of the coded information. The six top risks were: change in government, corruption, cost of construction materials, inflation, project funding issues and construction project delay. However, the first two of these risks (change in government and corruption) are politically related, which is specific and unique to the setting of Nigeria and thus might be seen as discouraging indicators that could have an impact on attracting foreign investors/contractors to Nigeria. Originality/value The study addressed the gap related with identifying context-specific risk factors impeding the performance of highway projects in Nigeria from the viewpoints of industry experts. It is expected that the findings will provide a better insight into the various risk factors and thus aid relevant policymakers to provide context-specific mitigating strategies.

Revitalizing the Indian Real Estate Industry: An Exploratory Study on Mitigating Developer Challenges in a Post-Pandemic World

India's real estate industry is now a vital part of the country's economy, contributing around 50% of its GDP. However, the developers in the real estate sector need help to meet the growing demand for housing and infrastructure. These include the unavailability of land, lack of access to funds, high reliance on physical labour, rising construction material costs, and approval and procedural delays. This paper examines these challenges and their root causes, providing insights on how to address them. It further discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the sector. It also discusses various government schemes and policies affecting the real estate sector including the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016, and the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. To further support the sector’s growth, the paper proposes measures such as increasing access to finance, streamlining approval processes, and promoting the use of technology to reduce reliance on physical labour. This paper shall analyse the Indian real estate sector’s challenges, its impact on the country’s economy, and recommendations for sustainable growth.

Asphalt Concrete Production Technology Using Oil Sludge from Zhaik Munay LLP

Oil sludge exhibits a compositional similarity to bitumen, a pivotal constituent in asphalt concrete mixtures. This similarity underscores the potential applicability of oil waste in the production of asphalt concrete, serving not only as an organic binder to fortify indigenous soils but also as a binding agent for the fabrication of organomineral mixtures. The incorporation of oil sludge in road construction endeavors holds promise for the conservation of natural resources, the amelioration of the environmental landscape, and a concurrent reduction in the cost of construction materials. The focus of this study encompasses a comprehensive examination of the physical and mechanical properties pertaining to asphalt concrete of Grade I, Type B. To enhance the performance attributes of asphalt concrete, an additive in the form of oil sludge sourced from ZhaikMunay LLP (Uralsk) was introduced. Various proportions of oil sludge, namely 5%, 10%, and 15%, were incorporated into the asphalt concrete mixture. The utilization of 5% oil sludge elicited negligible alterations in the properties of the asphalt concrete. However, with a 15% addition of oil sludge, discernible reductions were observed in maximum compressive efficiency (0.03% by volume) and shear resistance, indicated by the internal friction coefficient efficiency (0.01% by volume).

Exploring the potential role of decentralised biogas plants in meeting energy needs in sub-Saharan African countries: a techno-economic systems analysis

To achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, low-income sub-Saharan African countries urgently need to electrify. Biogas production from anaerobic digestion could make a contribution to a solution to improved electricity generation and access in these regions. This study evaluates its feasibility using Malawi as a case study. The aim is to provide households with a continuous supply of gas for cooking and electricity. The study examines different sizes of fixed dome reactors (3, 6, 12 m3) and assumes individual household ownership of 2, 4, and 6 cows. Several feedstocks and conditions are considered, such as cow dung alone, co-generation of cow dung with human faeces, cow dung with grass, and cow dung with maize residue. The economic benefits of selling biogas and fertilisers are calculated, and the cost of construction for different sizes of reactors is determined. Results show that co-generation of cow dung and grass silage in the reactor of 12 m3 with six cows has a positive net present value (NPV) of $8962, while for a small farm with a 6 m3 reactor capacity, co-digestion of cow dung with maize residue is preferable. The feasibility of the technology depends heavily on current national economic conditions, such as inflation, electricity prices, and construction material costs. A sensitivity analysis estimated that a 25% increase in the cost of electricity could increase the net present value (NPV) from − $3345 to $1526 for the generation of biogas from cow dung alone. Overall, this technology could have a significant impact on the lives of low-income households in sub-Saharan Africa by improving their access to electricity and providing a source of income through the sale of biogas and digestate.

Assessment of the split tensile strength of fiber reinforced recycled aggregate concrete using interpretable approaches with graphical user interface

Incorporating recycled concrete aggregates into concrete represents a sustainable approach to mitigate the extraction of natural mineral resources and alleviate the adverse environmental effects associated with the concrete industry. Nevertheless, it encounters challenges due to the vulnerability of the hardened mortar adhering to natural aggregates. Thus, leading to an increased susceptibility to cracking and reduced strength. Therefore, this study utilized machine learning (ML) methods such as gene expression programming (GEP), random forest regression (RFR), artificial neural networks (ANN), ANN-Bagging, and ANN-Boosting models to forecast the split tensile strength (STS) of fiber-reinforced recycled aggregate concrete (FRRAC). To develop the models, 257 data points were gathered from experimental studies, encompassing ten influential input variables and considering the STS as the output variable. The accuracy of the models was assessed using statistical metrics. The five developed prediction models showcased excellent and reliable performance, with an impressive correlation coefficient (R) exceeding 0.80 during training and reaching 0.92 in testing. However, the GEP model outperformed the remaining four models, with an excellent R-value of 0.980 in training and 0.983 in testing. In addition, the standalone ANN model demonstrated performance on par with the ensemble ANN-Boosting model. In contrast, the ANN-Bagging ensemble model outperformed the individual ANN model, showcasing superior prediction accuracy with impressive R-values of 0.952 and 0.975 for training and testing, respectively. Moreover, the feature analysis based on SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) revealed that fiber content, recycled aggregate density, cement, and water have the highest contribution in estimating the STS of FRRAC. Furthermore, a user-friendly graphical interface (GUI) has been developed to simplify the application of machine learning models in predicting the strength properties of concrete. In conclusion, the findings can encourage the utilization of FRRAC in both structural and non-structural reinforced concrete elements. Therefore, promoting the recycling and reuse of construction waste into building materials and thereby reducing environmental impact. Furthermore, incorporating recycled concrete aggregate in construction projects has the potential to decrease construction material costs, as it reduces reliance on natural resources such as natural coarse aggregate.

Optimizing the cost of acquiring construction materials

The article presents selected problems of construction contractors in determining the optimal financial reserve in the bid price/base budget to cover the costs associated with the increase in the cost of construction materials, as well as optimization of the cost of acquiring this price-forming component.The first part of the article ana-lyzes the determinants of changes in the average national prices of materials, labor rates (for general construc-tion and high-standard finishing works) in 2020-2023. The second part of the article indicates the measures that should be taken by the contractor as part of an effective program to manage the acquisition costs of con-struction production factors, in particular, construction materials.

Structures of bored piles: features of installation technology

Currently, pile foundations are often used in engineering practice. Among the modern types of piles used for foundation structures, the option of foundations made of bored piles is definitely popular. They are used for various types of structures: bridges as part of highways, urban ring roads or high-rise buildings. The main problem in these cases is related to a reliable assessment of the bearing capacity of the pile and the development of a cost-effective design solution for foundation structures.
 The studies carried out in this direction confirm that the issue of determining the load-bearing capacity of piles remains relevant both at the stage of developing reliable design solutions and in the process of searching for an economically efficient option of the foundation constructions of buildings and structures.
 Taking into account the design features of bored piles and their installation technology add certain difficulties to the analytical methods of determining the soil bearing capacity of a single pile.
 The practice of using bored piles on construction sites followed by observation of deformations showed that the soil bearing capacity of the piles, determined by the analytical method of standards used at the stage of developing design solutions for foundations, is underestimated. Therefore, the total number of piles in the foundation needs to be optimized according to the results of further field tests. Geometric parameters of piles, such as length and diameter, in some cases can also be reduced at the stage of rationalization of the design solution of the pile foundation, based on the results of field tests. So, as a result, the underestimated value of the load-bearing capacity of bored piles causes an increase in the cost of construction materials, an increase in the cost of installing foundation structures and an increase in the cost of housing for the end consumer.
 The problem of reliable assessment of the soil bearing capacity of piles remains a relevant issue at the moment, as evidenced by the practice of designing foundation structures.
 The paper presents the results of the analysis of the structural features of bored piles, which are aimed at increasing their bearing capacity. Also, the paper examines the features of the technology of installing bored piles, which are determined by both the hydro-geological conditions of the construction site and the need to install the constructive features of the bored pile.

The risks of private sector investment in affordable housing development: An Afrocentric perspective

The state delivery of affordable and sustainable housing continues to be a complicated challenge in Africa, and there is a need to encourage private sector participation. As a result, this study examines the risks associated with private sector participation in affordable housing and supporting infrastructure investment and the strategies towards mitigating the risks from an Afrocentric perspective. The evidence from a systematic literature review was coupled with the opinion of an international expert panel to address the paper’s aim and provide recommendations for developing improved housing and supporting infrastructure in Sub-Saharan Africa. The review outcomes and the qualitative data from the panel discussion were analysed using thematic analysis. The results revealed that market dynamics, land supply and acquisition constraints, cost of construction materials, unsupportive policies, and technical and financial factors constitute risks to affordable housing in the region. Mitigation strategies include leveraging joint efforts, strengths, and resource bases, increasing access to land and finance for private sector participation, developing a supportive government framework to promote an enabling environment for easy access to land acquisition and development finance, local production of building materials, research and technology adoption. In line with the United Nations (UN) Agenda 2030 targets and principles, reforms are required across the housing value chain, involving the private sector and community. Application of the study’s recommendations could minimise the risks of affordable housing delivery and enhance private sector participation.

A database and empirical model for earthquake post-loss amplification

The impact of destructive earthquakes might exceed the local capacity to cope with disasters and lead to an increase in the reconstruction costs. This phenomenon is commonly termed as post-loss amplification, and its main causes include the increase in the cost of construction materials and labor due to the sudden demand, the need to reconstruct following higher standards, or other unexpected costs. We reviewed 70 past earthquakes to identify events where post-loss amplification was observed, and collected a set of seismogenic, socio-economic, geographical, and impact variables for those events. Using this database, we developed two models to predict post-loss amplification, using a composite indicator that reflects the level of destruction in the region, or a parameter that characterizes the frequency of the event. This study indicates increased costs (>10%) for events where the economic losses exceed 1% of the regional gross domestic product, or for events with an estimated return period of at least 10 years. These models can be applied directly in the amplification of economic losses in earthquake scenarios or in probabilistic seismic risk assessment.

Reshaping concrete

Less Economically Developed Countries (LEDCs) struggle to meet the demand for affordable housing in their growing cities. There are several reasons for this, but a major constraint is the high cost of construction materials. In LEDCs, material costs can constitute 60 to 80 percent of the total cost of residential construction. Nonetheless, their construction mimics the materially inefficient practices of the More Economically Developed Countries (MEDCs), which were developed to reduce labor over material costs. As a result, prismatic beams and flat slabs are often used despite their structural inefficiency. The mounting use of steel-reinforced concrete structures in LEDC cities also raises concern for the environmental costs of construction; construction accounts for 20-30 percent of LEDC carbon emissions. This research addresses these challenges with a flexible and accessible methodology for the design and analysis of materially efficient concrete elements that may reduce the economic and environmental costs of urban construction. Designed for the constraints of LEDCs, structural elements are optimized to reduce the embodied carbon associated with the concrete and reinforcing steel while resisting the required loads of a standard building structure. The optimization method includes a novel approach to 3D-shape parameterization, as well as a decoupled analytical engineering analysis method that accounts for the key failure modes and constraints of reinforced concrete design. This method is then built into an open-source toolkit, combined with machine learning for real-time analysis and visualization, and tested using lab- and full-scale prototypes. The goal of this research is to present several generalizable methods that are applicable and accessible to LEDC building designers. These methods can enable the design of concrete elements for multiple performance criteria such as structural behavior, acoustic transmission, and thermal mass. They can also enable an accessible design practice through machine learning, real-time iterative workflows, and visualization tools that include the end-user in the architectural design process. This paper provides a high-level overview of ongoing research that explores how materially efficient design methods might enable sustainable development through low-cost, low-carbon concrete structural systems for affordable housing in LEDCs.

A REVIEW OF THE EFFECT OF ADDITIVES ON THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF LIGHTWEIGHT CONCRETE

Many organizations around the world have recognized lightweight, long-lasting, cost and environmentally-friendly construction materials as a future necessity. The lightweight concrete is manufactured mainly either by replacing the original aggregate with lightweight aggregate or addition foam production materials to concrete mixtures. These additions lead to a decrease in the lightweight concrete density and change mechanical properties such as compressive strength. Therefore, there is much experimental research has been conducted to add different material types that can improve lightweight concrete compressive strength while maintaining low density. In this review, the effect of various additions such as steel fiber, product waste materials, and nano-materials on the lightweight concrete compressive strength and density have been explained. The various effects of these additive materials on lightweight concrete properties, some additives lead to improving the properties of lightweight concrete, while other materials lead to a decrease in those properties, and this depends on the type and amount of material additive, the method lightweight concrete manufacturing, and their mixture composition.

Potential of Calcined and Uncalcined Termite Mounds as Pozzolans in Concrete Mix

High cost of construction materials especially concrete and steel coupled with environmental unfriendliness of cement pose a great problem in building and construction industries. This makes a case for increased advocacy for affordable and environmentally friendly materials. One of the envisaged solutions to this impending problem is the use of termite’s mound as pozzolan. The potential of utilizing these two forms of termite’s mounds in concrete mix design has been exploited in this research work. The compressive strength as well the elemental composition of the various mixes was employed in conjunction with statistical packages to assess the potentials of utilizing termite mound for construction purposes. The compressive strengths were obtained with the aid of universal testing machine of 1000.0kN capacity, the elemental compositions were obtained using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer and models were also generated for predicting the compressive strength of either form of the termite’s mound using statistical package for social sciences. The results showed that the calcined form of termite’s mound has a compressive strength of 12.3 N/ mm2 and 12.6 N/mm2 for 5% and 10% percentage replacement respectively these values are comparable to the control mix compressive strength of 15.7 N/ mm2; This is an indication that calcined termites’ mound has a good potential of being used for concrete works in terms of compressive strength. The uncalcined form of termite’s mound has a compressive strength range of 6.9 N/mm2 to 6.0 N/mm2 for 5% and 10% respectively, this shows that its potential of being used for concrete work is very low and could therefore be recommended for making termite mound blocks. The greater compressive strength obtained in calcined termite mounds can be traced to the changes observed in the chemical composition of the calcined and uncalcined termites’ mounds.

Feasibility of utilising waste tyre steel fibres to develop sustainable engineered cementitious composites: Engineering properties, impact resistance and environmental assessment

This study investigates the feasibility of developing sustainable engineered cementitious composite (ECC) with polyvinyl alcohol fibre (PVAF) and recycled tyre steel fibre (RTSF) to reduce the total cost of construction materials and ease the environmental pressure for disposing of waste tyres, putting an emphasis on the engineering properties, impact resistance and environmental assessment. Experimental results reveal that partially replacing PVAF with RTSF can reduce the loss in fluidity and promote flexural performance, while the fibre bridging stress of ECC can reach up to 4.41 MPa because of the enhanced fibre bridging effect. The dynamic compressive properties of ECC present a typical strain rate effect regardless of the fibre content, and the replacement of 0.25 vol% RTSF would cause a further 5.03%–25.55% increase in total dissipation energy within the strain rates of 58.2–124.5 s−1, relative to ECC reinforced by 2.0 vol% PVAF. The synergetic effects of hybrid fibres on dynamic compressive properties of ECC can be explained by the bridging and pull-out effects of PVAF at lower strain rates, as well as the enhanced fibre-to-matrix bonding of hydrophilic RTSF at relatively higher strain rates. Upcycling of waste steel fibres in ECC holds promise as a cost-effective and eco-friendly solution for defence engineering constructions.

Examining the Impact of Climate Change on Residential Footing Design in Australia: A Case Study Analysis

The impact of climate change on building performance is anticipated to be significant, affecting both present and future constructions on clay soils. In Australia, the Thornthwaite Moisture Index (TMI) is widely used to classify climate zones and determine the characteristic ground movement for designing residential footings. However, the existing TMI map provided by the Australian Standard AS2870 for Victoria, Australia, is based on meteorological data from 1940 to 1960, an outdated and thus potentially insufficient basis for current and future climate scenarios. To address this challenge, the study endeavours to develop an updated TMI map using weather data over a 20-year period (1994–2013) with predictions for 2030 and 2070 based on climate models to visualize climate zone changes. The updated TMI map shows significant changes in climate zones and suggests that current footing designs may be inadequate for future weather conditions. A case study was conducted to evaluate the influence of climate change on footing size and construction material cost. The findings indicate that the footing constructed in 1992 is inadequate for the projected climatic conditions of 2070. Coping with such severe weather scenarios necessitates larger footing sizes and upgrading steel reinforcements, raising the material cost by approximately 111%.

Evolution of the Payback Period for Energy-Efficient Residential Buildings in Romania in the Last Decade

The European Union set ambitious targets to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, and one of the measures taken towards this goal was the implementation of nearly Zero-Energy Buildings. Despite the commitments of the EU member states, many householders and investors had a disposition to incredulity regarding the energy efficiency of the buildings due to the higher cost of the investment and the relatively long payback time. However, at the end of 2021, the energy crisis significantly rewrote the circumstances, and energy prices and the costs of construction materials began to rise. In this situation, it was necessary to reconsider the importance of energy efficiency for buildings due to the maintenance costs. This article aims to assess changes in payback periods over the past 13 years and conduct life cycle cost evaluations by comparing energy-efficient residential buildings with traditional houses. The analysis considers variations in construction materials and labor costs in Romania, as well as energy price changes during the building’s operational phase. Through these methodologies, it has been demonstrated that the implementation of energy-efficient buildings offers a cost-effective solution already in the medium term, providing incentives for investors and future houseowners to reduce their dependence on energy and pursue long-term decarbonization.

EcoBrick: A Waste Plastic Used As Construction Material

Abstract: In this project we try to overcome the problem associated with plastic waste. In India huge amount of plastics are used for various purposes such as for making of water bottle, soda bottles & bag etc. which are not disposable. Because of these various problems occurs so we use waste plastic bottles for making of bricks by the various ways which are discussed below. After studying the problem we developed the effective way to overcome this problem. Bottle brick are light in weight and withstand high amount of load or pressure. Eco-bricks, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles filled with mixed inorganic waste, have become a low cost construction material and a valid recycling method to reduce waste disposal in regions where industrial recycling is not yet available. Because Eco-bricks are filled with mixed recovered materials, potential recycling of its constituents is difficult at the end of its life.

EFFECTS OF WASTE CROSSED-LINKED POLYETHYLENE ELECTRICAL WASTE COATING ON THE PROPERTIES OF BITUMEN

The high cost of construction materials and increased axle loads has motivated researchers to seek alternative cost-effective materials for road construction. Studies on the use of waste thermoplastic polyethylene material to improve bitumen properties have been investigated. However, few studies on the use of thermoset polyethylene (cross-linked polyethylene) to modify bitumen have been carried out. This research investigated the use of waste cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) cable coating on bitumen properties. An FTIR analysis carried out on waste XLPE cable coating revealed that it is predominantly composed of XLPE material. A comparative study carried out on the bitumen properties revealed that the modifier had a decreasing effect on its penetration and ductility but, had an increasing effect on softening point and specific gravity; Hence, a considerable improvement in the temperature susceptibility and stability of the bitumen. The short-term ageing analysis carried out revealed that the modified bitumen can withstand short-term ageing requirements at 2% and 4% by weight of pure bitumen. FTIR analysis carried out on the pure and modified bitumen revealed that changes observed in bitumen properties with increasing modifier content were a result of physical changes and not chemical changes. A one-way ANOVA carried out on the properties of various bitumen content revealed that the modifier had a significant effect on the properties of pure bitumen with increasing bitumen content. The regression models developed properly described the relationship between the modifier content and the bitumen properties as they expressed very good R2 values.

Expert Opinion on the Key Influencing Factors of Cost Control for Water Engineering Contractors

There are many unpredictable circumstances during the implementation process of a water conservancy project, which often cause financial loss, increased construction costs and schedule delays. This paper investigates the influence factors for water conservancy project cost control. The present study used the factor analysis method to extract the major cost control influence factors, and performed a correlation analysis to clarify the relationship between these cost control influence factors and the sub-factors under each factor. Several water conservancy project practitioners were invited to analyze the sub-factors of the cost control influence factors and to provide some strategic suggestions in terms of minimizing the impact of the influence factors. The results of the study illustrate that in construction, water engineering contractors who want to reduce costs need to focus on the lack of a clear definition for the scope of works, subcontractors’ insufficient ability to perform the work, site construction conditions and the escalation of the construction material cost. The correlation analysis demonstrated that unreasonable requirements from the supervision unit and unfair standpoints of the supervision unit are highly correlated; the insufficient mobilization ability and lack of management capability of the subcontractor are medium correlated; the site construction conditions and the lack of a clear definition for the scope of works are medium correlated; and the escalation of the construction material cost and shortage of construction materials are medium correlated. This facilitates future water works contractors to identify the underlying causes of cost increases.

Design and Fabrication of Eco-Brick Making Machine

Abstract: The aim of our project is development of an Eco-brick making machine. In this machine we try to overcome the problem associate with plastic waste. In India huge amount of plastic are used (almost 11 kg per year) for various purposes such as, for making of water bottle, soda bottle and bags etc. which are not disposable because of this various problem occurs, so we use waste plastic bottle for making of Eco-brick by the help of Eco-brick making machine. After studying we develop the effective way to overcome this problem. Eco-brick are light in weight and withstand high amount of load or pressure. Eco-bricks, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles filled with mixed inorganic waste, have become a low cost construction material and a valid recycling method to reduce waste disposal in region where industrial recycling is not to yet available.

Assessment and modelling the dynamics of building materials prices in the current conditions

Construction, which is the driver of economic development in the current crisis conditions, needs to determine the correct cost and sufficiency of material resources, as well as systematic forecasting of price dynamics in order to plan the implementation of investment projects. High material capacity of construction products, along with the specificity of its pricing, leads to the necessity of not only keeping sufficient accuracy of quantitative and cost calculations regarding basic construction materials but also predicting the dynamics of cost in order to determine the volume of capital costs and accounting for the cost of work. The unstable dynamics of the cost of construction materials in 2022, caused by foreign policy pressure, requires the systematization of the factor space in order to predict trends more reliably. The factor space of the price dynamics of construction materials has undergone fundamental changes, starting with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, and further due to changes in the geopolitical situation, sanctions pressure from unfriendly countries and corresponding changes in the economic principles of globalization, the transformation of the global and domestic logistics system, as well as the actions of local country and industry scale predictors. The authors have proposed a system of factors affecting the cost of building materials, structures and products in modern conditions, on the basis of the factor analysis the prices of basic building materials (armature and concrete) have been corrected by the expert method, a scenario forecast of price dynamics has been made. The authors substantiate the necessity for calculation-expert forecasting in conditions of high uncertainty and variability of forecasting results. In general, in the short term, a moderate upward trend in the cost of basic building materials with a rather high value coefficient of variation, explained by the strong influence of non-economic factors on the price.