H. Benyaghla, M. Meksaouin and L. Belabed
Two theoretical models very simple in calculation of active earth pressure of prism of three-dimensional rupture mobilised behind pile or screen in translation, were proposed…
Abstract
Two theoretical models very simple in calculation of active earth pressure of prism of three-dimensional rupture mobilised behind pile or screen in translation, were proposed. Improvements were done in order to pass from one to another, by the introduction of frustum of cone, which permits to obtain forms of prism of rupture more near to the reality. Basing on Kinematics Theorem of Drucker and Prager of limit analysis theory, there models give, in this way, two boundary-stones or superiors limits of this active earth pressure according to real value of this last. This is effectively well verified on experimental trials realized.
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The purpose of this paper is to develop an effective method for predicting the dynamic ultimate bearing capacity of porous plates, and to analyse the influence of various…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop an effective method for predicting the dynamic ultimate bearing capacity of porous plates, and to analyse the influence of various geometric and boundary parameters on the ultimate bearing capacity of the plates.
Design/methodology/approach
The goal of this paper is to propose a generalized constrained differential quadrature method to investigate the dynamic ultimate bearing capacity of perforated plates with elastically restrained edges in which the perforated plate is modelled as the assembly of continuous plate elements using the penalty function method.
Findings
The effects of size and location of the cut-out, aspect ratio of the cut-out, elastic restrained edge stiffness and compression–shear load on the dynamic ultimate bearing capacity of plates are examined and discussed in detail.
Originality/value
A fast method for calculating the dynamic ultimate bearing capacity of perforated plate structures was proposed, and the influence of various geometric and boundary parameters on their ultimate bearing capacity was discussed, which is of great significance for the initial design of engineering structures.
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Youssouf Belabed, Bachir Kerboua and Mostapha Tarfaoui
The sustainability of the structures is not only a technical goal, but also a matter of social and environmental values. This requires the researchers to use very rigid, highly…
Abstract
Purpose
The sustainability of the structures is not only a technical goal, but also a matter of social and environmental values. This requires the researchers to use very rigid, highly durable and corrosion-resistant composite structures in order to achieve the technical, environmental and social goals. The purpose of this paper is to present an original work on reducing the interfacial stresses of bonded structures with fibre-reinforced polymers (FRP) plates based on new taper design.
Design/methodology/approach
In this proposed concept, the effect of combined taper is investigated on reducing interfacial stresses, attempting to enhance the structure performance and address the debonding problem that comes with reinforcing techniques. This research is carried out by using finite element analysis, incorporating many new parameters.
Findings
As a result, a new solution is discovered that combined taper in both adhesive layer and composite laminate, which significantly reduces the interfacial stresses at the end of the FRP plate. Additionally, a parametric study is carried out in order to determine the optimal configurations of taper dimensions as well as other parameters that influence the stress concentration distribution at the edge of the adherends.
Practical implications
This new design regarding the reduction of interfacial stresses will help in increasing the lifespan of damaged structures reinforced by FRP composites, preserving thus its technical, historical and social values.
Originality/value
The paper uses straight, concave and convex fillets with inverse taper as a new design solution with new parameters including thermo-mechanical loads and pre-stressed FRP plate with multi-layer, fibre orientation and shear-lag effects.
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Hacène Benyaghla, Mohamed Meksaouine, Larbi Mokrani and Lazhar Belabed
The theoretical study, presented here, deals with the problem of interaction pile soil, thus making a contribution in determining the resistance and friction edge side for a…
Abstract
The theoretical study, presented here, deals with the problem of interaction pile soil, thus making a contribution in determining the resistance and friction edge side for a single stake sought by a charge axial static. The theoretical tool used is the theorem cinematic theory analysis limit, in the case of a material Coulomb, developing a model in three dimensions. The aim of this research is to determine the limit load massive breakdown by the model proposed using the computer code mathcad. The calculation program takes into account physical phenomena, ie the expansion and contraction of soil under a load static. The results, calculated by the proposed model are compared with experimental results made in the laboratory 3SR Grenoble (France) and the results of conventional methods used in the calculations of this type of constructions.
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Iqbal Benedjma and Aissa Mahimoud
It has been widely recognised that the participation of residents is a significant issue in contemporary urban heritage conservation. However, studies confirm that the reasons…
Abstract
Purpose
It has been widely recognised that the participation of residents is a significant issue in contemporary urban heritage conservation. However, studies confirm that the reasons behind residents' engagement are still difficult to assess, particularly in emerging countries. This paper aims to evaluate the factors that incite or prevent residents from participating in built heritage rehabilitation in the old city of Constantine, by applying the motivation-opportunity-ability (MOA) model.
Design/methodology/approach
A questionnaire-based survey was used to collect information from the residents. The collected data were then analysed using the structural equation model (SEM).
Findings
The findings show that the most significant factors affecting residents' participation were related to their motivations and abilities. Interestingly, factors related to the opportunities did not influence participation. Thus, autonomous rehabilitation according to the residents' motivation and abilities is more likely to be adopted.
Research limitations/implications
These findings are limited to the selected sample, and some variables have been eliminated through the SEM analysis.
Originality/value
However, as a first attempt to study residents' participation in built heritage rehabilitation in Constantine, the paper proposes a different perspective for assessing participation by considering its means and ends simultaneously. The paper also provides guidance to local decision-makers to improve the legal framework by implementing factors that encourage residents' involvement in sustainable heritage management.
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Zun Yuan Wong, Suhal Kusairi and Zairihan Abdul Halim
The persistent increase in household indebtedness is an alarming issue that is becoming a major concern for economists and governments in developing nations. Although household…
Abstract
Purpose
The persistent increase in household indebtedness is an alarming issue that is becoming a major concern for economists and governments in developing nations. Although household consumption is an essential source of economic growth, households’ failure to meet their financial obligations will be one of the causes of economic problems if the increase in consumption is largely financed by household borrowing. Therefore, this study aims to analyse the nexus between households’ indebtedness and consumption and the roles of household characteristics.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses a microdata set of the Household Expenditure and Income Survey in 2019, which contained a simple random sampling of 4,730 households.
Findings
Using a simultaneous equations model, our results show a negative nexus between households’ consumption and their indebtedness. We find that household savings and size have an indirect impact on the debt service ratio, while the assets and total debt repayment instalments indirectly influence household consumption. We also identify differences in the relationship between the gender of the household head, rural and urban locations and income groups in consumption and indebtedness.
Research limitations/implications
The implication of this study is that governments should adopt several programmes to increase the awareness of household financial and debt management, especially for those in the low-income group.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the empirical literature by establishing a microeconomic perspective of consumption and an indebtedness model focusing on the differences in household characteristics in explaining consumption and indebtedness.
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Ahmed Ashteyat, Ala Taleb Obaidat, Yasmeen Taleb Obeidat and Ahmad Bani Awwad
The paper aims to introduces an experimental work to investigate the torsional behavior of reinforced concrete (RC) beams strengthened by near-surface mounted (NSM) carbon…
Abstract
Purpose
The paper aims to introduces an experimental work to investigate the torsional behavior of reinforced concrete (RC) beams strengthened by near-surface mounted (NSM) carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) ropes.
Design/methodology/approach
In this research, nine rectangular RC beams of 250 mm × 300 mm cross-section and 1,600 mm in length were constructed and tested considering the studied parameters. These parameters include the length of the CFRP rope, the orientation of the CFRP rope, the arrangement of longitudinal and the scheme of NSM-CFRP ropes.
Findings
In comparison to control specimens, the results demonstrate a considerable improvement in the torsional response of RC beams strengthened with the CFRP rope. Additionally, specimens strengthened with 90° vertical ropes increase torsional moment capacity more efficiently than specimens strengthened with 45° inclined ropes since the stress concentration leads to premature debonding of the CFRP rope. Whereas RC beams' ability to withstand torsional moments is reduced as the distance between reinforcing CFRP ropes is increased. According to test results, adding CFRP ropes to RC beams' bottoms had a slightly positive impact on torsional response.
Originality/value
This paper fulfills an identified need to study how the using of the CFRP rope is effective in strengthening RC beam subjected to torsion moment.
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This paper aims to evaluate the credit risk of Islamic and conventional banks and its relationship with the capital in 14 countries of the Middle East and North Africa region. To…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to evaluate the credit risk of Islamic and conventional banks and its relationship with the capital in 14 countries of the Middle East and North Africa region. To do this, a sample of 58 Islamic banks and 89 conventional banks during the 2005-2015 period was used.
Design/methodology/approach
In fact to measure the difference between Islamic banks and their conventional counterparts in terms of credit risk, the generalized method of moments is used.
Findings
The results showed that the conventional model has a higher credit risk than the Islamic one. These results also showed that the larger an Islamic bank is, the higher its credit risk will be to get closer to that of conventional banks.
Originality/value
This investigation is based on actual data for each bank available in the Bank-Scope database provided by the Van Dijik office (2013). It should be noted that almost all the recent empirical studies interested in the world banking sector essentially use this database.
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Guangming Fu, Yudan Peng, Baojiang Sun, Chen An and Jian Su
The purpose of this study is to propose generalised integral transform technique (GITT) to obtain the exact solutions for bending of clamped parallelogram plate resting on elastic…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to propose generalised integral transform technique (GITT) to obtain the exact solutions for bending of clamped parallelogram plate resting on elastic foundation.
Design/methodology/approach
The GITT is used to solve the bending problem of the full clamped parallelogram plate under an elastic foundation. The auxiliary problem was developed and the corresponding eigenfunction and eigenvalue were calculated simultaneously. The original partial differential governed equation has been represented by the transformed ordinary differential equation system and solved by the subroutine DBVPFD from International Mathematics and Statistics Library.
Findings
The GITT has been proven to be an efficient approach to solve the bending problem of the plate with different loads, boundary conditions and elastic foundations. The parametric study indicates that the elastic foundation modulus has significant contribution in reducing the vertical deflections and moments for both rectangular and parallelogram plates. With the increasing of aspect ratio (a/b) and the elastic foundation modulus, the trends of the deflection and moment reduction decreased significantly.
Originality/value
The present hybrid analytical-numerical methodology was first used to solve the mechanics problem of the clamped parallelogram plate resting on elastic foundation. Excellent convergence and high accuracy was observed by comparing with the published results. It exhibits potential application to investigate the mechanics problem of the composite plate with different boundary conditions in the shipbuilding and civil engineering.
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Hilary Mati Kilonzo, Moses Muriithi and Benedicto Onkoba Ongeri
Housing finance is frequently difficult to provide in developing nations due to unstable macroeconomic conditions and a lack of supportive legal, technological and regulatory…
Abstract
Purpose
Housing finance is frequently difficult to provide in developing nations due to unstable macroeconomic conditions and a lack of supportive legal, technological and regulatory frameworks (Lea and Bernstein, 1996). Governments in these countries have, therefore, created a range of organizations and initiatives to improve the flow of capital to the housing market on a footing that is affordable to their populations given the household income levels (Ram and Needham, 2016). Housing, however, is by its very nature a significant investment requiring a considerable capital outlay at the onset (Dasgupta et al., 2014). This makes acquiring it challenging, particularly in underdeveloped nations where saving tendencies are quite low partly because of low-income levels (Keller and Mukudi-Omwami, 2017). As a result, many developing nations struggle with severe housing issues that lead to slums, overcrowding and related health issues.
Design/methodology/approach
The theoretical model for analyzing housing finance in Kenya in this study incorporates both demand and supply aspects, drawing from Brueckner’s (1994) framework. This model divides factors influencing demand into certainty and uncertainty conditions faced by households. In terms of certainty, the model considers factors that households can predict reliably. First is income, households are assumed to have stable income, allowing accurate assessment of budget constraints and mortgage decisions. Second is interest rates. While interest rates fluctuate, the model assumes that households have information about current rates, enabling informed decision-making. Finally, existing housing costs, such as rent or mortgage payments, are treated as fixed and predictable, facilitating accurate budget planning. Conversely, uncertainty factors include future income, future interest rates and housing prices. Households face uncertainty regarding future income, which can impact their mortgage repayment ability due to job market changes or unforeseen events. The model does not predict future interest rate changes, which can affect the affordability of mortgages. Furthermore, future fluctuations in housing prices add uncertainty to the benefits of homeownership and mortgage debt. Due to these uncertainties, the model in this study assumes certainty conditions, focusing on households maximizing their utility. In Brueckner’s model, a utility function captures household preferences and well-being linked to consumption choices, specifically between housing (H) and nonhousing goods (N). The utility function helps determine optimal income allocation, influenced by income (M), prices (P) and return on savings (t). The utility maximization problem involves selecting optimal amounts of housing and nonhousing consumption while managing housing credit (C).
Findings
The study confirms a significant long-run relationship between house finance and several macroeconomic variables, including interest rates on credit, inflation, unemployment and gross domestic product (GDP). The negative and significant error correction term indicates the presence of an equilibrium relationship, suggesting that the housing finance market in Kenya self-corrects swiftly in response to economic shocks. This efficiency could be attributed to increasing competition among financial institutions or a growing public awareness of housing finance options, implying a relatively well-developed market. Such responsiveness suggests that government policies aimed at influencing housing finance might have a quicker impact. For instance, introducing subsidies to reduce credit rates could rapidly boost housing finance activity (World Bank, 2019). However, the flip side of a fast-adjusting market is potential volatility, where rapid swings in economic factors could lead to significant fluctuations in housing finance availability, posing risks for both lenders and borrowers (Braun et al., 2022). Moreover, a rapid adjustment might not necessarily reflect a perfectly healthy market; it could indicate underlying issues like speculation or easy access to credit, potentially leading to bubbles or financial instability (Agnello et al., 2020).
Originality/value
This study reveals key insights into the determinants of housing finance in Kenya, demonstrating a significant long-run relationship between housing finance and economic variables such as interest rates, inflation, unemployment and GDP. The efficient adjustment of the housing finance market to economic changes suggests that government policies can rapidly influence housing finance, although this responsiveness also implies potential volatility and risks, including financial instability. Policymakers should, therefore, focus on maintaining macroeconomic stability and monitoring the housing market for signs of overheating. Encouraging competition among lenders and diversifying housing finance products can help ensure sustainable market adjustments. Credit interest rates show a modest but positive relationship with housing finance, suggesting that a stable lending environment could stimulate activity. Policymakers should manage credit availability to prevent excessive expansion and instability, enhancing financial inclusion and fostering competition in the banking sector. Inflation positively impacts housing finance, with rising inflation driving demand for real assets like housing. However, significant interest rate hikes by the Central Bank to combat inflation could reduce mortgage affordability. A flexible interest rate policy, along with targeted interventions like subsidized rates for first-time buyers, is necessary to balance market stimulation with inflation control. Unemployment’s negative impact on housing finance underscores the need for robust unemployment benefits and job training initiatives to support financial stability during job losses. Targeted housing finance programs for low- and middle-income earners can also improve mortgage accessibility. The positive correlation between GDP growth and housing finance indicates that economic expansion drives housing demand. Policymakers should prioritize initiatives that promote long-term economic growth, such as infrastructure development and innovation. Finally, the insignificance of savings interest rates in influencing housing finance suggests that traditional monetary policy may have limited effects. Promoting financial literacy and developing tailored savings instruments could strengthen the connection between savings and housing finance over time.