This study is a comparison of wind and seismic loads on medium and high-rise buildings in Muscat, Oman. It uses the proposed Omani Seismic Code and Eurocode EN1991 for seismic and wind calculations, respectively. Muscat falls under Zone-1 in the Omani seismic code and experience basic wind speed of 30 m/sec. The resear …
This paper reports findings of a study that captures cost estimation practices and techniques prevalent in the construction industry in Oman. It also identifies the success and risk factors that are encountered in the cost estimation process. Eighty structured questionnaires were distributed to some professionals worki …
Due to the advantages of Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) materials, they have been utilized to strengthen several reinforced concrete (RC) elements such as slabs, beams and columns. In this paper, five RC beams (200 mm width, 300 mm height, and 2750 mm length) were constructed. Four of these beams were strengthened with …
Residential projects represent the largest section of the construction industry in Oman. It is widely claimed that designers in Oman tend to unnecessarily overdesign structures, thereby aggravating construction costs. The aim of this research was to investigate the existence and extent of structural overdesign through …
The aim of this research was to develop the first basic wind speed map for Oman. Hourly mean wind speed records from 40 metrological stations were used in the calculation. The period of continuous records ranged from 4–37 years. The maximum monthly hourly mean and the maxima annual hourly mean wind speed data were anal …
This paper presents a non-linear analysis of three reinforced and two partially prestressed concrete solid beams based on a 20 node isoparametric element using an in-house 3D finite element program. Anon linear elastic isotropic model, proposed by Kotsovos, was used to model concrete behaviour, while steel was modelled …
Tests were conducted on five reinforced concrete T-beams subjected to combined load of bending and torsion. Elastic stress field in conjunction with Nielsen's 2D yield criterion for reinforced concrete subjected to in-plane forces were used in the Direct Design Method for the design of reinforcement. The beam dimension …
This paper presents a finite element model for idealisation of reinforced concrete hollow beams using 2D plane elements. The method of ensuring compatibility between the plates using two-dimensional model to analyze this type of structures is discussed. Cross-sectional distortion was minimised by incorporating end diap …
Asphalt pavements form an integral part of any transportation system. The structural capacity of the hot mix asphalt concrete layers depends on many factors including its temperature. Moreover, temperature can be a major contributor to several types of distresses. Therefore, temperature is a significant factor that aff …
The aim of this study is to illustrate the problem of fire accidents in the Sultanate of Oman and their causes in order to find out how the existing data could be used as a base to improve fire resistance, to detect the weak points (vulnerability to fire) in existing structures, and to minimize fire occurrences in plac …