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The purpose of this paper is to examine the effectiveness of building codes in earthquake risk mitigation in Taiwan.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the effectiveness of building codes in earthquake risk mitigation in Taiwan.
Design/methodology/approach
Using probabilistic risk analysis tools with available data, this study assesses the exceedance probability of extensive damage limit for general buildings in their 50‐year useful lives. The buildings were classified into 15 categories according to their construction materials and building height. Then, the effects of construction materials, building height and construction years are detected.
Findings
The exceedance probabilities of extensive damage limit for all of the investigated buildings in their 50‐year useful lives are on the order of 10−2. The effect of construction materials and building height on seismic risk of buildings is decreasing with the development of a seismic design code. Significant discrepancy of seismic risk still exists among some buildings.
Research limitations/implications
Seismic risk analysis requires quite restrictive statistical idealizations for the relevant probabilistic terms in the mathematical formulation. The problem of imperfect simplification and lack of sufficient empirical data has shown the research needs for improvements of seismic risk assessment. The questions of what constitutes acceptable risk for various performance levels and how safe is safe enough remain context‐specific.
Originality/value
Although probabilistic risk analysis provides a tool for quantifying the probability of structural failure, current earthquake‐resistant design procedures do not relate performance levels to probability. The paper explores some probability information for current earthquake‐resistant design for general buildings during their 50‐year useful lives and the information may provide some valuable information for future code calibration.
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The purpose of this paper is to describe the impacts of earthquakes on schools and education services and demonstrate the critical role that information and communication…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to describe the impacts of earthquakes on schools and education services and demonstrate the critical role that information and communication technologies (ICTs) can play in supporting the continuity of education delivery during temporary school closures after seismic events.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper relies on a conceptual analysis that shows the potential role of the online educational environment during post-earthquake school closures by relying on the available ICT tools.
Findings
This paper proposes a pro-active strategy for schools that transforms traditional education into an online learning environment to restore education delivery during school closures after earthquake which disrupts face-to-face teaching and denies students and staffs access to schools.
Originality/value
The sustainability of education delivery in the aftermath of earthquakes presents a challenge to governments, schools, people and communities. This paper contributes to the literature by demonstrating the role of online learning in sustaining educational delivery services after moderate earthquakes.
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A lack of testing may have led to an underestimation of infections, but with a population of 130 million, Mexico appears relatively unscathed by the pandemic so far. The virus…
Details
DOI: 10.1108/OXAN-DB251715
ISSN: 2633-304X
Keywords
Geographic
Topical
Emmanuel Mavhura, Andrew Collins and Pathias Paradzayi Bongo
The purpose of this paper is to examine vulnerability conditions to flood disasters in Tokwe-Mukorsi community, Zimbabwe and identifies the barriers that constrained the community…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine vulnerability conditions to flood disasters in Tokwe-Mukorsi community, Zimbabwe and identifies the barriers that constrained the community from relocating to safe sites.
Design/methodology/approach
Using a questionnaire survey, field observations and interviews, the paper examines the biophysical and social vulnerability of the Tokwe-Mukorsi community, Zimbabwe, as well as the barriers that prevented it from relocating to safe sites. A thematic analysis of the large volumes of qualitative data from interviews and walk-through analyses was conducted. Descriptive statistics were used in analysing quantitative data from questionnaires.
Findings
Results reveal that households living upstream and downstream of the dam were highly vulnerable to floods. Their biophysical vulnerability was partly induced by the construction of the dam whose basin encroached into the farming and settlement area. The extremely vulnerable group were households living below level of 660 m where five saddle dams had been constructed. The built environment of the community exhibited ignorance of standard building codes. The poor socio-economic conditions of the community and the incessant rains experienced over two weeks contributed to the flood disaster in early 2014. The Tokwe-Mukorsi community failed to relocate to safe places partly due to lack of compensation, absence of basic infrastructure and drought occurrence in relocation sites.
Research limitations/implications
The calculation of social vulnerability indices is beyond the scope of this study due to non-availability of quantitative data at community level.
Originality/value
This paper provides a comprehensive understanding of why some communities may fail to relocate despite being highly vulnerable to flood disasters.
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The Equal Pay Act 1970 (which came into operation on 29 December 1975) provides for an “equality clause” to be written into all contracts of employment. S.1(2) (a) of the 1970 Act…
Abstract
The Equal Pay Act 1970 (which came into operation on 29 December 1975) provides for an “equality clause” to be written into all contracts of employment. S.1(2) (a) of the 1970 Act (which has been amended by the Sex Discrimination Act 1975) provides:
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…
Abstract
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.
Investigates the differences in protocols between arbitral tribunals and courts, with particular emphasis on US, Greek and English law. Gives examples of each country and its way…
Abstract
Investigates the differences in protocols between arbitral tribunals and courts, with particular emphasis on US, Greek and English law. Gives examples of each country and its way of using the law in specific circumstances, and shows the variations therein. Sums up that arbitration is much the better way to gok as it avoids delays and expenses, plus the vexation/frustration of normal litigation. Concludes that the US and Greek constitutions and common law tradition in England appear to allow involved parties to choose their own judge, who can thus be an arbitrator. Discusses e‐commerce and speculates on this for the future.
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Panagiota Polydoropoulou, Christos Vasilios Katsiropoulos, Andreas Loukopoulos and Spiros Pantelakis
Over the last decades, self-healing materials based on polymers are attracting increasing interest due to their potential for detecting and “autonomically” healing damage. The use…
Abstract
Purpose
Over the last decades, self-healing materials based on polymers are attracting increasing interest due to their potential for detecting and “autonomically” healing damage. The use of embedded self-healing microcapsules represents one of the most popular self-healing concepts. Yet, extensive investigations are still needed to convince on the efficiency of the above concept. The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach
In the present work, the effect of embedded self-healing microcapsules on the ILSS behavior of carbon fiber reinforced composite materials has been studied. Moreover, the self-healing efficiency has been assessed. The results of the mechanical tests were discussed supported by scanning electron microscope (SEM) as well as by Attenuated Total Reflection–Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR–FTIR) analyses.
Findings
The results indicate a general trend of a degraded mechanical behavior of the enhanced materials, as the microcapsules exhibit a non-uniform dispersion and form agglomerations which act as internal defects. A remarkable value of the self-healing efficiency has been found for materials with limited damage, e.g. matrix micro-cracks. However, for significant damage, in terms of large matrix cracks and delaminations as well as fiber breakages, the self-healing efficiency is limited.
Originality/value
The results obtained by SEM analysis as well as by ATR–FTIR spectroscopy constitute a strong indication that the self-healing mechanism has been activated. However, further investigation should be conducted in order to provide definite evidence.
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Mustafa Mahamid, Ataollah Taghipour Anvari, Ines Torra-Bilal, Tom Brindley and Michael McNallan
The purpose of this paper is to investigate different types of fire on structural steel members with damaged fireproofing. Two types of fire scenarios are considered, ASTM E119…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate different types of fire on structural steel members with damaged fireproofing. Two types of fire scenarios are considered, ASTM E119 fire and Hydrocarbon fire. In industrial facilities such as oil refineries, certain units maybe subjected to hydrocarbon fire, and its effect might be different than standard fire. The purpose of this study is to compare both types of fire scenarios on steel beams with damaged fireproofing and determine the fire rating of the damaged beams under each fire scenario.
Design/methodology/approach
The study is performed using computational methods, thermal-stress finite element analysis that is validated with experimental results. The results of practical beam sizes and typical applied loads in such structures have been plotted and compared with steel beams with non-damaged fireproofing.
Findings
The results show significant difference in the beam fire resistance between the two fire scenarios and show the fire resistance for beam under each case. The study provides percentage reduction in fire resistance under each case for the most commonly used cases in practice under different load conditions.
Originality/value
Extensive literature search has been performed by the authors, and few studies were found relevant to the topic. The question this study answers comes up regularly in practice. There are no standards to codes that address this issue.
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Knight's Industrial Law Reports goes into a new style and format as Managerial Law This issue of KILR is restyled Managerial Law and it now appears on a continuous updating basis…
Abstract
Knight's Industrial Law Reports goes into a new style and format as Managerial Law This issue of KILR is restyled Managerial Law and it now appears on a continuous updating basis rather than as a monthly routine affair.