South East Academic Libraries System (SEALS)
Not a member yet
69550 research outputs found
Sort by
Quantify the shift in critical strain energy density for a dynamic loaded S355J2 weld section by small punch testing
Full text linkThe potential of using “critical strain energy density” as an indicator to detect material degradation on fatigue-loaded components, where the stress amplitude was gradually increased, was investigated by applying the small punch test methodology. Small punch discs were extracted from four fatigue specimens. Discs were extracted from two zones within the fatigue specimens: the heat-affected zone of a shield metal arc welded butt joint, as well as from parent metal plate area. Each fatigue specimen having been exposed to a different stress amplitude but equal number of fatigue cycles of 20 million. This allowed the development of a Small Punch Test results database, permitting the calculation of material properties by using a Finite Element Analysis inverse method. Critical strain energy values did not reveal any conclusive shift or correlation for discs extracted from the HAZ. This is mainly attributed to variance in the grain structure for HAZ samples. For discs extracted from parent metal, a decreasing trend in strain energy density value was noted in relation to an increase in the fatigue test stress amplitude. This observed change was a clear indication of the potential for using “Strain Energy Density”, as extracted from this test methodology, as a ranking tool for quantifying the extent of degradation of in-service components. The application of this study demonstrated the ability to monitor and predict material degradation for a given stress range over the expected life of a cyclically loaded component utilizing strain energy density results. This is useful, particularly in heavy industries where structures and large-scale components are used beyond their original design life.Thesis (MEng) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment, and Technology, School of Engineering, 202
The effects of late payments by government on building contractors
Full text linkThe built environment in South Africa encounters the challenge of late payment. The issue of late payment has posed a major challenge to the service delivery efforts of government agencies. The delay in remunerating contractors adversely impacts their cash flow and impedes the expansion of their businesses. The construction industry is capital-demanding, and the timely payment of contractors by clients serves to mitigate cash flow challenges experienced by contractors. The main objective of the study was to gain a deeper understanding of the effects of governments late payments to building contractors in the Eastern Cape. The study therefore examined the experiences of building contractors in the Eastern Cape. The secondary objectives were to identify reasons for late payment and how it affects the cash flow of the contractor; to examine the implications of late payment and the effect it has on business growth; and to determine the reasons behind loss of productivity on site caused by late payment. The study was conducted within a quantitative research paradigm. The epistemological stance of the researcher was objectivist. The population for this study consists of building contractors based in the Eastern Cape Province registered with the Masters Builders Association (EC). A probability sample was used to identify the participants in this research. The data was collected using a survey as the primary research strategy. The survey findings suggest that many issues, including inadequate client finance, prolonged processing time for payment documentation, and non-standard payment methods, all lead to delayed payments to the contractor. The findings of the empirical study showed that, despite the lack of particular laws or regulations governing the construction industry’s payment systems, the sector nonetheless uses a number of common guidelines to guide payment practices. The pay-if-paid approach is associated with several limitations, since the contractor cannot always receive full payments as a result of incomplete or defective projects.Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment and Technology, School of Built Environment and Civil Engineering, 202
The performance of small construction firms in South Africa under the cost leadership strategy
Full text linkSmall construction firms in South Africa have been experiencing poor performance over the years. They have not been cost-efficient, resulting in profitability and viability challenges. These challenges have emanated from the firms’ lack of strategic focus. They have not consciously implemented appropriate strategies to enhance their performance. The cost leadership strategy is therefore a viable option for firms to address their viability challenges because winning contracts depends on submitting the lowest tender bids. This research sought to establish how small construction firms in South Africa could best implement the cost leadership strategy to improve their performance through developing a partial least squares structural equation model (PLS-SEM) to implement identified significant financial, human capital, innovation and technology strategies. The research followed a quantitative research approach. Data was collected through questionnaires, which were distributed to a sample of owners and managers of small construction firms in the provinces of South Africa. The population of the study consisted of small construction firms in grades 2 to 4 on the Construction Industry Development Board’s (CIDB) contractors register. The respondents, who were selected through stratified random sampling, were requested to rate the importance of finance, human capital, innovation and technology strategies in supporting the performance of their firms. A total of 155 usable questionnaires were returned. The data was analysed using the software SPSS Statistics - Version 28. Chi-square tests were used to identify the statistically significant financial, human capital, innovation and technology strategies for the performance of the firms. Furthermore, Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to determine the statistically significant differences in the respondents’ perceptions of the importance of the strategies due to demographics. Thereafter, a structural model was developed through SEM modelling to determine the relationship between the significant strategies and performance. The results established that increasing the available finance, creating higher incomes compared to costs, increasing contracts per annum and supporting the budget for innovation, significantly contributed to the performance of the construction firms. In addition, prioritising skills development, offering basic salaries with incentives, fostering a strong work ethic, and effective coordination of work were significant strategies. Recognising innovations in technology and human resources cost reductions and carefully promoting innovative ideas through the right support infrastructure were the most significant innovation strategies for performance. It was further established that the acquisition and effective use of computer software and hardware, with the relevant technical knowledge and technical tools, were significant technology strategies for firm performance. The study also established the existence of statistically significant differences in the perception of the importance of innovation and technology strategies due to types of work, and differences in the perception of financial strategies due to age (generation). A PSL-SEM implementation model consisting of statistically significant strategies and demographics was developed and presented graphically. It is recommended that small construction firms should adopt the model to strengthen value chain activities for better performance. The government, the CIDB and other stakeholders should fully support the implementation of the model.Thesis (DPhil) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment and Technology, School of Built Environment and Civil Engineering, 202
Using Building Information Modelling to initiate criticality to promote built environment student collaboration at the Nelson Mandela University
Full text linkArchitectural, engineering, and construction education is fragmented, and there is no collaboration between disciplines during an architectural design project in the design studio. There is a lack of co-creation of knowledge in an interdisciplinary collaborative environment where students use critical reasoning, self-reflection, and critical action, essential skills required to become 21st century global citizens. Therefore, students from the built environment are being prepared contrary to the highly collaborative nature of the industry they are entering upon graduation. The purpose of this study is thus to determine whether adopting a digital interdisciplinary collaborative Building Information Modelling (BIM) environment in which architectural design projects promote criticality in undergraduate exit-level students. A cohort comparison study was used as a method to collect qualitative data. The 2022 cohort used the traditional design process, whereas the 2023 cohort used the BIM process, which supported interdisciplinary collaboration. Both cohorts engaged in a project and student narrative self-reflection essay. Fourteen students from the 2022 and 2023 cohorts participated in the study. The work was analysed using three cycles of coding. The first cycle focused on linguistic acts, followed by the second cycle that looked for evidence of critical reasoning, self-reflection, and action. The third cycle was based on the Habersian validity claims of truth, comprehension, and sincerity. The work of both cohorts was analysed, and findings included the following: relationships; information; emotional reasoning, and digital environment. Based on the research findings, it can be concluded that the BIM process as teaching strategy promotes a higher level of criticality in students than the traditional design process. In conclusion, this research not only contributes to promoting criticality improvement in students but also enriches the existing body of knowledge relative to BIM adoption in AEC education. Moreover, it offers practical guidance for educators to assess and enhance students' critical thinking skills, ultimately advancing the field of interdisciplinary education in the digital era.Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment, and Technology, School of Built Environment and Civil Engineering, 202
A process for integrated fitness and menstrual cycle data visualisations
Full text linkThe increase in female participation in sport has led to an increase in research reporting on the relationship between fitness and menstrual cycle (F&M) data. Fitness variables such as VO2 max and heart rate are influenced by menstrual hormones and change with the different phases of a cycle. People frequently track both their F&M data, to understand their long-term activity and their body’s changes during the different cycle phases. Both these data sets are tracked and visualised separately to help people understand their data, however little work has been done to visualise the relationship between the two data sets. A process that guides the creation of an integrated F&M visualisation does not exist. This research aimed to develop and adopt a process that could be used to successfully guide the creation of an integrated F&M visualisation. The study followed the Design Science Research Methodology (DSRM) to create a primary and secondary artefact – the process and instantiation thereof. The DSRM was applied in iterative cycles where the process was developed, instantiations created and evaluated by participants. To develop the process, existing data processing and visualisation processes were reviewed from literature, to assess their successes and shortcomings. The review of existing processes revealed what steps, and factors related to those steps, would need to be considered. The process review highlighted the importance of five process steps: planning, collection, access, integration, and visualisation. Once the conceptual process was designed, it was adapted for the goal of creating an integrated F&M data visualisation. Prior to implementation, the process was first tested in a pilot study to ensure its validity before involving participants in data collection. After the process pilot study, the final implementation of the process took place and participants were recruited. In the first step of the process, the different fitness data types that are influenced by the menstrual cycle, and vice versa, were identified through a literature review. In the second step, devices to be used for data collection were evaluated and tested through exploratory testing and review of user manuals available online. The third and fourth steps, access, and integration were informed by further exploratory testing and review of relevant literature. The fifth step, data visualisation, was guided by relevant studies, Hick’s law, and the Schema Theory. Two Iterations of DSR were conducted in two phases. Phase 1 (P1) was the instantiation of the planning, collection, access, and processing steps. Participants wore smartwatches while going about their daily lives and working out and tracked their menstrual cycle to collect data. P1data was used to create several instantiations of the process. The second phase (P2) was the instantiation the visualisation step. The final visualisations, resulting from the instantiations, were evaluated by participants in P2. The review notes were used to improve both the process and the final visualisations. Both P1 and P2 were repeated (iterated) twice. The recommended process can be used by anyone who wants to create an integrated F&M visualisation and was designed to be modular so that users could choose to follow the whole process or only specific steps. The findings of this research can provide guidance to users, developers and smartwatch manufacturers of what people’s preferences are for these integrated visualisations. It also provides guidance for those who wish to create their own visualisations without needing prior programming experience or knowledge, since easy to use, online visualisation tools are recommended. The process instantiations will assist people, especially women, to better understand their menstrual cycle and how it affects their physical well-being.Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Science, School of Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics, 202
Investigation of four roof-shaped host compounds for their separation potential of mixtures of guest Isomers and related compounds
Full text linkThe inclusion ability of four roof-shaped host compounds, namely trans-9,10-dihydro-9,10- ethanoanthracene-11,12-dicarboxylic acid (H1), dimethyl trans-9,10-dihydro-9,10- ethanoanthracene-11,12-dicarboxylate (H2), trans-α,α,α’,α’-tetraphenyl-9,10-dihydro-9,10- ethanoanthracene-11,12-dimethanol (H3) and trans-α,α,α’,α’-tetrakis(4-chlorophenyl)-9,10- dihydro-9,10-ethanoanthracene-11,12-dimethanol (H4), were investigated when presented with numerous guest series (eight in number), including the xylene isomers and ethylbenzene, pyridine and the methylpyridine isomers, structurally related toluene, ethylbenzene and cumene, the dichlorobenzenes, six-membered heterocyclic ring compounds (dioxane, morpholine, piperidine and pyridine), anisole and the methylanisole isomers, anisole and the bromoanisole guests, and phenol and the methoxyphenol isomers. The four host compounds were synthesized via Diels-Alder (H1), esterification (H2) and Grignard addition (H3 and H4) reactions, producing yields of product of up to 93%. The yields for the Grignard reactions were lower, 54 and 37%, for the corresponding procedures using phenylmagnesium bromide or 4-chlorophenylmagnesium bromide. Computational molecular modelling studies were conducted on all four host compounds, and the resultant molecular geometries compared with the apohost (guest-free) crystal structures, when available. The geometries of the lowest energy conformers were in close correlation with the observed host structures as obtained from the apohost crystal structures (unfortunately, H3 and H4 were not able to form adequate quality crystals for SCXRD analyses). Interestingly, H1–H4 displayed intramolecular non-classical C–H∙∙∙O hydrogen bonds, while only H1 and H2 demonstrated intermolecular interactions of this type. H3 and H4 assumed one of two forms depending on the guest that was employed: the “active” form presented a strong intramolecular O–H∙∙∙O hydrogen bond, while the “inactive” form possessed weak π∙∙∙π and O–H∙∙∙π interactions. All of the host compounds were subjected to crystallization experiments from each of the guest species, as well as from mixtures of guests from each series (the guest competition experiments), where 1H-, 13C-NMR spectroscopy, GC-MS and/or GC-FID were used to analyse any resultant solids formed, as applicable. Single crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD) experiments were carried out on each single solvent complex produced in this work, where the crystal quality was suitable, while thermal analyses were also employed on these to determine their relative thermal stabilities. During the single-guest crystallization experiments, H4 was found to be remarkable in its inclusion ability, forming complexes with all but p-dichlorobenzene, typically with a 1:1 host:guest (H:G) ratio. H1 was more selective in its inclusion behaviour, not enclathrating cumene, 3-bromoanisole, phenol or the three methoxyphenol isomers (favouring 1:1 or 2:1 H:G ratios where complexation was successful). Interestingly, H1 formed salts when presented with 2- and 3-methylpyridine, and morpholine and piperidine. H2 and H3 were less remarkable in their inclusion ability, furnishing apohost crystals or gels in some experiments (typically a 3:1 H:G ratio was favoured for both when complexation occurred). Of the four roof-shaped host compounds, H1 and H4 displayed enhanced selectivities for certain guest species, showing near-complete affinity for a specific guest compound when presented with a guest mixture. H1 was able to include 100.0 and 98.8% p-dichlorobenzene (p-DCB) (from m-DCB/p-DCB and o-DCB/p-DCB mixtures), 96.6 and 93.6% p-xylene (p-Xy) (from m-Xy/p-Xy and o-Xy/p-Xy), 99.3% 4-methylanisole (4-MA) (from 2-MA/4-MA) and 97.1% 4-bromoanisole (4-BA) (from ANI/2-BA/3-BA/4-BA, where ANI is anisole). Host compound H4 was able to include ≈ 90% of selected meta-substituted guests, while H2 and H3 demonstrated moderate preferences for the guest compounds employed in this work (< 60%). It was concluded that some xylene guest mixtures may be purified using all but H2, whereas only H1 and H2 showed potential in separating the pyridines. All but H2 may also be employed in the separation of selected dichlorobenzene mixtures, while H2 showed potential for the separation of the six-membered heterocyclic guest compounds (dioxane, morpholine, piperidine and pyridine), were these ever required to be separated. Both H1 and H4 exhibited an overwhelming affinity for the methyl- and bromoanisole guest compounds, and this work has shown that these are likely host candidates for the purification of a variety of these guest mixtures through supramolecular strategies. SCXRD analyses showed that H1 experienced intermolecular host···host hydrogen bonding interactions between the carboxylic acid functional groups, while H2 typically demonstrated intermolecular non-classical hydrogen bonds in its complexes, forming sheets of host molecules along the c-axis. H4 preferred the “inactive” form whereas H3 assumed either an “active” or “inactive“ form. Various host···guest interactions such as π∙∙∙π, C–H∙∙∙π, C–O∙∙∙π, hydrogen bonding and other short contacts were responsible for guest retention in the crystal structures. Thermal analyses were conducted on all of the successfully formed complexes. Ton (the guest release onset temperature) and Tp (the temperature at which the guest release was most rapid) were recorded, when possible, while the mass losses associated with the guest release event were compared with those mass losses expected, in most cases.Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, School of Biomolecular & Chemical Sciences, 202
Exploring the role of herbivory in Albany Subtropical Thicket restoration
Full text linkThis dissertation attempted to investigate the influence of herbivory on the success of thicket restoration, addressing a critical gap in the current knowledge within the restoration initiative. Despite two decades of thicket restoration practices, the role of herbivory in influencing restoration success has been assumed and not yet quantified. This research aimed to observe and identify herbivore species and their interactions that may affect the survival of Portulacaria afra Jacq. material planted in thicket restoration contexts. This research took place on three game farms serving as case studies within the Albany Subtropical Thicket (Eastern Cape, South Africa). Multiple experiments were conducted to assess how the concept of different “natural refugia” might impact herbivore interactions with planted material, incorporating factors such as planting around rainfall, within open and semi-intact vegetation patches, and in proximity to water sources. Trail cameras were used for real-time monitoring of herbivore interactions within planted sites to understand and quantify herbivore interactions with P. afra cuttings and how they may impact plant survival. Results from the trail camera monitoring (Chapter 2) indicate varied herbivore interactions occurring on planted material, with the primary herbivore responsible for these interactions varying among farms. Species interactions were not consistent across farms, and herbivore interactions exhibited spatial and temporal variability. Notably, interactions declined soon after the start of the wet phase when surrounding vegetation could recover, indicating the influences of alternative forage availability on herbivore foraging choices. Different herbivore interactions were identified and quantified through trail camera images, ranging from minor biomass removal (estimated at <5 cm of stem and leaf material) to more detrimental actions such as uprooting and leaf stripping. Consistently, planted P. afra survival rates (Chapter 3) were significantly higher for protected material than those exposed to herbivores, regardless of whether planted in a dry or wet phase. Moreover, when exposed to herbivores, rooted material had significantly higher survival rates than unrooted material, indicating the potential advantage of a well-developed root system in faster recovery after a herbivory event. This research explored the influence of various factors, including rainfall, rooting state, protection, surrounding vegetation, and proximity to water, on P. afra survival and how some of these factors may affect P. afra survival in relation to herbivore interactions (Chapter 3). Significant differences in cutting survival were observed between dry and wet phases, rooted and unrooted material, and material protected vs exposed to herbivores. While survival was not significantly different in experiments involving surrounding vegetation and proximity to water, potential patterns were identified, warranting further investigation. A clipping and defoliation experiment under simulated seasonal conditions emphasised the significance ofThesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Environmental Sciences, 202
A community school model to reconceptualise basic school functionality for quality education in low-income South African communities
Full text linkDespite efforts to improve educational outcomes, systemic issues such as poverty, social inequality, and limited resources continue to hinder providing an equitable and inclusive learning environment (Taylor, 2018). It is, therefore, unsurprising that, in recent years, the discourse surrounding education in low-income South African communities has increasingly focused on the need for innovative models that not only redefine the functionality of schools but also prioritise the delivery of quality education (Janks and McKinney, 2021). Therefore, the aims of this study were twofold: The primary aim was to explore and understand, with multi-stakeholders in education, the reconceptualisation of basic school functionality for quality education in low-income South African communities. The study's second aim was to develop a conceptual framework that can serve as a guide for promoting basic functionality and quality education in community schools and other schools operating in similar contexts that wish to implement a community school model to enhance their basic functionality for improved quality education. Through a collaborative process, the participants in this study attempted to address a significant gap in the literature, namely how these aims could be achieved in a way that would benefit communities and schools. My interest in this topic was piqued while serving as a social work intern and Manyano Network schools’ project coordinator under the Centre for the Community School (CCS) at Nelson Mandela University; hence, the focus of this thesis on whether schools would benefit in terms functionality if they partnered with their communities and other external stakeholders in the vicinity. However, communities are seldom actively involved in schools and school activities on an ongoing daily basis. To address the country's current educational challenges, stakeholders within and outside schools must work together to redefine and reassess their roles and responsibilities within community schools. This involves exploring how they can best serve these communities and schools to create opportunities for an improved future for everyone. Using the critical participatory action research (CPAR) design and methodology in this study ensured that all participants' voices were heard. Two theoretical lenses, complementary learning systems framework (CLSF) and social constructionism theory in education, were employed in the study, providing insights into the multi-faceted nature of South African community schools. Furthermore, a critical transformative philosophical paradigm and its assumptions, epistemology, ontology, and axiology, were implemented as a lens to interpret and understand the data. The iterative design of the research process ensured that the participants also engaged in a critical discourse analysis of the data that emerged, of which the trustworthiness was enhanced using dialogic and process, catalytic, rhetoric, democratic and outcome validity. The emergence of the data through this collaborative engagement was underpinned by the ethical values of mutual respect, equality, inclusion, democratic participation, active learning, making a difference, collective action, and personal integrity. Data generation occurred with the action learning set through three data generation cycles, according to the CPAR, and comprised principals, teachers, school governing body, school volunteers, parents, afterschool programme member, and a member from the CCS, using dialogues, collage-making, drawings, personal reflective journals, personal communication, and document analysis. Thematic data analysis resulted in the following co-generated themes: the key requirements for basic school functioning, multi-stakeholders' conceptualisation of what constitutes a community school, the key role players and the contextual factors in community schools that affect the achievement of basic school functioning and quality education, the successes that can be achieved in a community school, and the benefits and key strategies required for this process. The participants’ voices allowed for rich, in-depth collaboration and engagement that led to critical reflection within the study. Furthermore, through iterative processes, collaborative engagement and participation, a proposition for a community school model to reconceptualise basic school functionality was co-constructed in response to the fourth sub-question of the study. The findings of this study further reveal the building blocks of the conceptual framework, including revisiting who constitutes the stakeholder community school, foregrounding relationship building, and assessing the complexity and values of a contextually relevant community school. Moreover, the findings reveal that this process model must have structure, principles, and an inclusive methodology. This study has made valuable theoretical and methodological contributions through the participants’ voices, with the research study embedded within CPAR principles.This study is unique; I am unaware of any similar study having been conducted in a community school in South Africa. Furthermore, the collaborative approach used in the study helped ensure that its methodology could be of value to principals and other school stakeholders in addressing various complex challenges confronting community schools in these contexts. Most notably, the findings add to the theoretical body of knowledge around basic community school functionality, especially those in low-income communities.Thesis (DPhil) -- Faculty of Education, School of Postgraduate Education, 202
A qualitative review on the manner in which psychologists address language barriers in psychological testing with isiXhosa speaking clients
Full text linkA racially segregated culture historically influenced the growth of psychological testing and evaluation in South Africa. Thus, South Africa's multicultural and multilingual community poses difficulties for psychologists in their daily work. Most of the psychological tests used by psychologists are predominantly normed in either or only English/Afrikaans. Given the economic and professional resources required to develop new standardised tests for the broader South African population, the current status quo is set to continue for the foreseeable future. Consequently, language barriers pose a challenge when psychometric standardised tests are administered in a language that is different from that of the client, and as a result, psychologists must develop ways to enhance the fairness of these measures for their client base. The avenue of research that was explored is how psychologists overcome the language boundary when assessing clients who speak an indigenous first language, particularly isiXhosa. As such, this study explored this question through qualitative methods. Through purposive sampling, nine psychologists were invited to share their practical expertise on this topic, using semi-structured online interviews. The findings of this study suggested several core themes providing useful methods for other psychologists facing the same challenge, including the challenges with administering psychological tests with isiXhosa clients, the availability of standardised tests in the South African context, and the importance of determining the client’s language proficiency. Five themes with several sub-themes emerged from the study. The study contributes to the currently limited existing body of knowledge, and subsequently to the research area that this study explores - thus further providing guidelines that practitioners can employ when working with clients who are isiXhosa speaking.Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Health Science, School of Behavioural & Lifestyle Sciences, 202
Exploring resilience of social workers working within the healthcare system in the Nelson Mandela Metropole, South Africa
Full text linkSocial workers working in the health care setting must respond to complex patient needs, a fast paced and multidisciplinary work environment, that are frequently not experienced as equalising platforms for the social work discipline. This requires a high level of resilience in social workers to remain responsive to compassionate human care, quality service delivery and selfcare. This study aimed to explore the resilience of social workers in the healthcare sector, in order to address the knowledge and practice gap and contribute to a better understanding of mental healthcare needs and coping resources of social workers, working in this field of service. The study was guided by two theoretical frameworks: The ecological systems theory and resilience theory. Informed by a constructivism research paradigm, the study employed semi-structures in-depth research interviews as a method to collect data with eight social workers as research participants, recruited via purposive research sampling from health and mental health care settings. The key findings indicate that social workers experience various challenges at work that leads to burnout as a result of the complex work that they do, and they are required to contain these and be resilient using different mechanism. All the ethical protocols were observed, and the necessary measures taken to enhance the trustworthiness of the study. The findings make a valuable contribution to the curriculum input for social work training and valuable insights for continuous professional development for social work practitioners in the health care sector.Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Health Science, School of Behavioural & Lifestyle Sciences, 202