31 research outputs found
Mitigation of road traffic crash hazard in Pakistan
No full textPurpose - Road traffic crashes (RTCs) result in creating significant social and economic hazard for affectees, their families and society. The purpose of this paper is to present studies which were conducted to study the patterns of RTCs in Karachi which is a metropolitan city of Pakistan. The studies were conducted on one of the busiest roads in the city named as Shara-e-Faisal. The influence and contribution of different factors in RTCs has been studied and hazardous road sections of Shara-e-Faisal have been identified. Based on the data analysis, an evaluation model has been suggested to reduce the hazard of RTCs on Shara-e-Faisal. The objective of the presented studies is to increase the present level of safety of road travel by reducing crashes on Shara-e-Faisal. Design/methodology/approach - Existing data of RTCs in Karachi have been analysed for the presented studies. For this purpose, Shara-e-Faisal was divided in sections of 1 km length to study the vehicle crash pattern. Location surveys were conducted to record physical conditions of this road. A cluster analysis was carried out to identify hazardous sections of the road. An evaluation model has been suggested in the end to reduce the hazard of RTCs by identifying hazardous road sections of Shara-e-Faisal. Findings - The analysis of the data revealed that the crashes were higher over weekend and on Monday. Male population, particularly young people, and motorcycle riders were the largest affectees of RTCs. In general, more daytime crashes were recorded as compared to nighttime crashes. The crashes in the mid block of the road and those involving rear-end collisions were higher. The hazardous road locations were related to poor road conditions. Statistical analysis indicated that alternate routes were required to reduce the RTC hazard on Shara-e-Faisal. Research limitations/implications - The paper is a small, but an original, contribution to identify a potential hazard which is faced by the community in the city. This is the first attempt (to the best of authors' knowledge) to address the issue of RTCs in Karachi from an engineering view point. Practical implications -The suggested model can be employed by the authorities as a guideline to mitigate the hazard of road crashes in the country. Originality/value - The paper provides valuable information on the road traffic incidents, their pattern and contributing factors in one of the largest metropolis of Pakistan. The suggested model can become helpful in reducing RTCs in Pakistan
Parametric finite element analysis of FRP reinforced concrete beams in fire and design guidelines
No full textComparison of numerical behaviors of FRP reinforced concrete beams using three smeared crack models
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Factors Affecting Company Performance and New Product Performance
No full textCustomer relationship management (CRM) is a key factor that affects company performance and acting as back-bone for companies in 21st Century. CRM helps an organization to improve not only its existing products, services and procedures but also enables it to develop better and novel new products. However, the antecedents of CRM have only been explored in the context of existing products but CRM's potential to support in future new product development (NPD) has been ignored. The aim of this paper is to develop and test a model for factors affecting company performance and new product performance. This study develops a theoretical framework with multiple aspects of CRM having links with new product performance and company performance. The results from the analysis of 233 responses suggest that when a firm employs more of its CRM processes in an NPD context, the higher is firm's new product performance. On the other hand, data does not support for any significant influence of CRM technology on new product development and new product performance. In addition to this, the application of CRM reward systems does not play a facilitating role in new product performance
Behavior of hybrid (steel-CFRP) and CFRP bar-reinforced concrete beams in fire
No full text The establishment of fire resistance of the fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) bar-reinforced concrete (RC) is a prerequisite to the widespread applications of these bars. The use of FRP bars in residential and commercial buildings could result in their increased applications. This article presents an experimental study on the performance of carbon FRP (CFRP) and hybrid (steel—CFRP) RC beams at elevated temperatures. The beams were tested in a floor furnace and carried a load of 40% of ambient load capacity. Temperature rise in the compression concrete was found insignificant and its mechanical properties were nearly unaffected. All the tested beams failed in flexure which was also the intended failure mode at ambient temperature. The slip of CFRP bars was a major contributing factor to the beam failure. Influence of temperature rise was not found on the bar slip. A hybrid bar-reinforced beam showed better strength and stiffness characteristics in comparison with the steel- or FRP-reinforced beams. The beam reinforced with two CFRP bar layers was the strongest but the least ductile beam. </jats:p
Mediating Role of New Product Performance in CRM Process and Company Performance
No full textThis study is an attempt to find the mediating role of New Product Performance in CRM and Company Performance, in the manufacturing organizations of Pakistan. The CRM processes in the context of New Product Development described hypotheses for the additional research in order to increase the Company Performance. Data were collected from 233 respondents from seventeen randomly selected manufacturing organizations in Pakistan. The Pearson's correlation coefficient for Company Performance focused a strong and positive relationship of all variables. Models for the direct and indirect effects of company performance are examined for similarities and differences in perceptions. The result is conferred with detailed arguments about the role of Customer Relationship Management in new product performance are quiet influential in Company Performance. Thus, new product performance is an important mediator of the CRM processes-company performance link. Keywords: Customer relationship management, New product development, New product performance, Pakistan
Behaviour of Concrete Column Reinforced with Steel Bars Exhibiting Uncertain Yield Strength
No full textIn Pakistan, raw material from several sources is utilized in the production of steel bars; consequently, the chemical and mechanical properties of locally manufactured bars differ drastically. According to the reviewed literature, there is a significant amount of variation in the data on rebar yield strength. This unintentionally higher yield strength might have serious consequences on a reinforced concrete (RC) column, as the failure mode could shift from ductile to brittle. The purpose of this study is to investigate the repercussions of an unintentionally higher rebar yield strength on an RC column. In order to mitigate the effects of an unintentionally higher rebar yield strength on the behaviour of the RC column, some modifications to the design approach are recommended
Seismic risk reduction in northern Pakistan
No full text This paper presents studies aimed at reducing seismic risk in northern Pakistan. The unreinforced masonry buildings, in parts of Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa provinces, are classified as non-engineered structures. The presence of a large proportion of these buildings is a challenge from an earthquake safety perspective. A scaled model of a typical two-storey stone masonry building was dynamically tested using a shaking table. The observed behaviour of the model indicated that the damage concentrated in the in-plane walls of the first storey of the model. The seismic response of the second storey was different and it did not suffer any noticeable damage. On the basis of the observed behaviour, four damage states were identified for the model corresponding to different earthquake intensities. </jats:p
