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The structural behavior of reinforced concrete (RC) beams made with waste foundry sand (WFS) was examined in this study by using investigational data. Five RC beams were tested in this present work, four beams with varying WFS content and one beam with natural aggregates. The factors considered for studying the flexural performance of RC beams were WFS content (10%, 20%, 30% and 40%), 15% Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS) is used as supplementary cementitious (SCM) content for all beams and tension reinforcement ratio (0.95%). The crack pattern of the RC beams with WFS (RCB1, RCB2, RCB3 and RCB4) was similar to that of referral beam–RCB0. The RC beams made with WFS (RCB1, RCB2, RCB3 and RCB4) show lesser number of cracks than referral beam–RCB0. It is observed that RCB1 beam shows higher ultimate moment carrying capacity than other RC beams. A detailed assessment of the investigational results and calculations based on IS: 456-2000 code for flexural strength exhibited that the present provisions conservatively predicts the flexural strength and crack width of RC beams with WFS and 15% GGBS. It is suggested that 10% WFS can be used to make RC beam.

In this present work, four RC beams made WFS and one RC beam made with natural aggregates. 15% GGBS is used as SCM for all RC beams. After casting of RC beams, the specimens were cured with wetted gunny bags for 28 days. After curing, RC beams like RCB0, RCB1, RCB2, RCB3 and RCB4 were tested under a four-point loading simply supported condition. An assessment of investigational results and calculations as per IS: 456-2000 code provisions has been made for flexural strength and crack width of RC beams with WFS and 15% GGBS. The crack pattern is also studied.

From this experimental results, it is found that 10% WFS can be used for making RC beam. The RCB1 with 10% WFS shows better flexural performance than other RC beams. RC beams made with WFS show lesser number of cracks than referral beam–RCB0. IS: 456-2000 code provisions can be safely used to predict the moment capacity and crack width of RC beams with WFS and 15% GGBS.

By utilization of WFS, the dumping of waste and environmental pollution can be reduced. By experimental investigation, it is suggested that 10% WFS can be used to make RC structural members for low cost housing projects.

The purpose of this paper is to determine the dimensions used in judging the hospital services quality; to develop a tool for measuring perceived service quality for hospitals; to test the validity and reliability of the new scale; and finally to use the results of the data collected to suggest improving service quality.

A cross-sectional field study was conducted among 400 hospital out-patients in Thailand. The researchers administered the SERVQUAL instrument in order to assess the applicability of these service quality attributes to the out-patient hospital setting in Thailand. The data collected were used to assess the psychometric properties of the SERVQUAL instrument and to analyze whether and to what extent the SERVQUAL dimensions adequately predicted overall service quality among Thai hospital out-patient respondents. The psychometric properties of the instrument were quite acceptable and the resulting five-factor structure was consistent to and confirms earlier measurement theory. The measurement model as estimated by the use of structural equation modeling further showed that the hypothesized model fit the empirical data quite well.

The results indicate that SERVQUAL's five latent dimensions had a significant influence on overall service quality. Responsiveness had most influence; followed by empathy, tangibles, assurance; and finally reliability.

The results of this study demonstrate that service quality can be assessed in diverse service settings such as hospital out-patient departments. Further, SERVQUAL is robust enough to capture the critical elements used to assess overall service quality. The study was limited in its external validity and prediction was constrained due to the nature of the data collected, i.e. cross-sectional design. This study also chose to focus on one outcome variable, i.e. overall service quality. Other critical variables might be reasonably assessed, e.g. customer satisfaction, loyalty intentions, firm performance.

The present study has several managerial implications for service quality enhancement in the hospitals in Thailand. First, given that responsiveness, was the strongest predictor of service quality, hospital out-patient employees can exercise strong influence over perceived quality by giving sincere and detailed information about service conditions, by being willing to help and by offering fast and efficient service to out-patients.

The World Bank reports that health care and hospital care in particular is a growing portion of the economic pie, now nearly 18 percent of GDP in the USA. Global health care administrators are under pressure to not just control costs but to offer a quality health care experience This study offers insight into how the health care out-patient consumer views service quality and the relative importance of the various service quality dimensions in predicting overall service quality.