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This paper describes the results of non-linear elasto-plastic implicit dynamic finite element analyses that are used to predict the collapse behaviour of cold-formed steel portal frames at elevated temperatures. The collapse behaviour of a simple rigid-jointed beam idealisation and a more accurate semi-rigid jointed shell element idealisation are compared for two different fire scenarios. For the case of the shell element idealisation, the semi-rigidity of the cold-formed steel joints is explicitly taken into account through modelling of the bolt-hole elongation stiffness. In addition, the shell element idealisation is able to capture buckling of the cold-formed steel sections in the vicinity of the joints. The shell element idealisation is validated at ambient temperature against the results of full-scale tests reported in the literature. The behaviour at elevated temperatures is then considered for both the semi-rigid jointed shell and rigid-jointed beam idealisations. The inclusion of accurate joint rigidity and geometric non-linearity (second order analysis) are shown to affect the collapse behaviour at elevated temperatures. For each fire scenario considered, the importance of base fixity in preventing an undesirable outwards collapse mechanism is demonstrated. The results demonstrate that joint rigidity and varying fire scenarios should be considered in order to allow for conservative design.

Prefabricated construction has proven to be superior in terms of affordability and sustainability over the years. As a result of sustainable production, prefabricated housebuilding has evolved into a distinct industry reliant on supplier companies acting as supply chains (SCs) for housing projects. These companies' performance is critical to the successful implementation of prefabricated housebuilding technologies. However, in comparison to those choosing manufacturing as a strategy in other industries, the life span of these companies, providing innovative housing solutions, is relatively short. This is due to critical factors influencing the performance, but the inter-relationship of the performance dimensions is more significant. This study establishes the inter-relationship of the companies involved in house building with steel prefabricated housebuilding technologies.

The most recent factors were extracted from the literature. The relationships were developed using the interpretive structural modeling (ISM) method with the input from industry experts, and the driving factors were determined using the Matrice d'Impacts Croisés Multiplication Appliqués à un Classement (MICMAC) technique.

Critical performance factors were classified according to performance dimensions, ranked and classified based on driving and dependence power. The inter-relationships among the performance dimensions of time, quality, cost, delivery, features and innovation were determined. Key performance strategies were proposed for prefabricated housebuilding companies involved in manufacturing and/or assembly of steel products.

This study established the interrelationship of performance dimensions for prefabricated house building (PHB) companies to develop strategies against critical challenges to remain competitive in the housing market. Previous research had not looked into interrelationship among the performance dimensions. The proposed performance strategies are applicable to supplier organizations using steel prefabricated technologies in similar markets around the world.

Globally, prefabrication in housebuilding has evolved as an innovative approach to attain sustainability and affordability. However, the SC, including non-producers and producers, of prefabricated housebuilding projects is still not perceptually aligned, hindering innovation diffusion. This paper investigates the contemporary industry perspective on PHB for conceptualisation, market share and growth, innovation diffusion and the producer's role in the context of New Zealand.

An exploratory qualitative research design was chosen to learn the perceptual stance of the industry. A semi-structured survey was conducted, followed by interviews with selected supply chain participants, who were producers and non-producers and had relevant experience in the PHB industry.

This study reports the common terminologies used by supply chain members, with justification and explanation. Further, the perceived market share and growth of the PHB industry are obtained and compared with subsequent studies to determine the capability and capacity. The perception of the diffusion of PHB by type is reported to portray the overall trend of the industry. In the last, the role of producers as the suppliers of PHB projects is investigated to establish the stakeholder positional criticality.

This study can help researchers and practitioners gain insight into the PHB industry from a multi-dimensional perspective. This study is a potential first step to formalise the policy, programme, strategies and action plan for the uptake of the PHB in the New Zealand.

PHB diffusion in the supply chain perspective, considering multi-dimensional aspects, has not been considered in previous studies as government agencies produce most of the literature. This academic research establishes the theoretical linkage towards PHB diffusion and reports the current status.

Man has been seeking an ideal existence for a very long time. In this existence, justice, love, and peace are no longer words, but actual experiences. How ever, with the American preemptive invasion and occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq and the subsequent prisoner abuse, such an existence seems to be farther and farther away from reality. The purpose of this work is to stop this dangerous trend by promoting justice, love, and peace through a change of the paradigm that is inconsistent with justice, love, and peace. The strong paradigm that created the strong nation like the U.S. and the strong man like George W. Bush have been the culprit, rather than the contributor, of the above three universal ideals. Thus, rather than justice, love, and peace, the strong paradigm resulted in in justice, hatred, and violence. In order to remove these three and related evils, what the world needs in the beginning of the third millenium is the weak paradigm. Through the acceptance of the latter paradigm, the golden mean or middle paradigm can be formulated, which is a synergy of the weak and the strong paradigm. In order to understand properly the meaning of these paradigms, however, some digression appears necessary.

Most of the industrial buildings which are designed to moderate loads are constructed using light gauge cold-formed steel (CFS) sections. Residual mechanical properties of CFS sections exposed to elevated temperature need to be investigated as it is necessary to predict the deterioration of elements to avoid failure of the structure or its elements. Also, it would be helpful to decide whether the structural elements need to be replaced or reused. The use of fire-resistant coatings in steel structures significantly reduces the cost of repairing structural elements and also the probability of collapse. This study investigates the effect of fire-resistant coating on post-fire residual mechanical properties of E350 steel grade.

In this study, an attempt has been made to evaluate the residual mechanical properties of E350 steel. A tensile coupon test was performed for the extracted specimens from the exposed CFS section to determine the mechanical properties. Four different fire-resistant coatings were selected and the sections were coated and heated as per ISO 834 fire temperature curve in the transient state for time durations of 30 minutes (821°C), 60 minutes (925°C), 90 minutes (986°C), and 120 minutes (1,029°C). After the exposure, all the coupon specimens were cooled by either ambient conditions (natural air) or water spraying before conducting the tension test on these specimens.

At 30 min exposure, the reduction in yield and ultimate strength of heated specimens was about 20 and 25% for air and water-cooled specimens compared with reference specimens. Specimens coated with vermiculite and perlite exhibited higher residual mechanical property up to 60 minutes than other coated specimens for both cooling conditions. Generally, water-cooled specimens had shown higher strength loss than air-cooled specimens. Specimens coated with vermiculite and perlite showed an excellent performance than other specimens coated with zinc and gypsum for all heating durations.

As CFS structures are widely used in construction practices, it is crucial to study the mechanical properties of CFS under post-fire conditions. This investigation provides detailed information about the physical and mechanical characteristics of E350 steel coated with different types of fire protection materials after exposure to elevated temperatures. An attempt has been made to improve the residual properties of CFS using the appropriate coatings. The outcome of the present study may enable the practicing engineers to select the appropriate coating for protecting and enhancing the service life of CFS structures under extreme fire conditions.

Presents a special issue, enlisting the help of the author’s students and colleagues, focusing on age, sex, colour and disability discrimination in America. Breaks the evidence down into manageable chunks, covering: age discrimination in the workplace; discrimination against African‐Americans; sex discrimination in the workplace; same sex sexual harassment; how to investigate and prove disability discrimination; sexual harassment in the military; when the main US job‐discrimination law applies to small companies; how to investigate and prove racial discrimination; developments concerning race discrimination in the workplace; developments concerning the Equal Pay Act; developments concerning discrimination against workers with HIV or AIDS; developments concerning discrimination based on refusal of family care leave; developments concerning discrimination against gay or lesbian employees; developments concerning discrimination based on colour; how to investigate and prove discrimination concerning based on colour; developments concerning the Equal Pay Act; using statistics in employment discrimination cases; race discrimination in the workplace; developments concerning gender discrimination in the workplace; discrimination in Japanese organizations in America; discrimination in the entertainment industry; discrimination in the utility industry; understanding and effectively managing national origin discrimination; how to investigate and prove hiring discrimination based on colour; and, finally, how to investigate sexual harassment in the workplace.

Aim of the present monograph is the economic analysis of the role of MNEs regarding globalisation and digital economy and in parallel there is a reference and examination of some legal aspects concerning MNEs, cyberspace and e‐commerce as the means of expression of the digital economy. The whole effort of the author is focused on the examination of various aspects of MNEs and their impact upon globalisation and vice versa and how and if we are moving towards a global digital economy.

In order to succeed in an action under the Equal Pay Act 1970, should the woman and the man be employed by the same employer on like work at the same time or would the woman still be covered by the Act if she were employed on like work in succession to the man? This is the question which had to be solved in Macarthys Ltd v. Smith. Unfortunately it was not. Their Lordships interpreted the relevant section in different ways and since Article 119 of the Treaty of Rome was also subject to different interpretations, the case has been referred to the European Court of Justice.