Journal of Infrastructure Systems

This paper reports on the new seaport of ancient Sidon (the larest city in Southern Lebanon), whose implementation program is currently underway. Extensive debate has taken place, and a comprehensive investigation has been undertaken by the port authority to decide on the delivery approach that best suits the conditions of this project. The study touched on the various stages of planning and development and the scenarios for construction financing and port operation. A framework—leading to the selection of an innovative modified finance-design-build process—is presented that can be useful to owners of future infrastructure facilities when deciding on the suitable project delivery approach. The stages through which the project organization has evolved before reaching its final form are also discussed. Finally, the paper examines the financial implications the selected approach may have on concerned project participants.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is working to develop rational policies for prioritizing in-service inspection, maintenance, and repair policies for aging locks and dams on the inland waterway system using structural reliability methods and principles of risk management. Comparisons of miter gate design criteria and performance observed in service reveal differences that are examined through finite-element-based reliability analysis. Finite-element analyses show that miter gates are overdesigned for ultimate strength limit states and have low-to-moderate stresses. However, premature fatigue damages have been found in a number of miter gates. Stochastic fracture mechanics identified contributing factors that significantly impact the probability of reaching the fatigue limit state: initial flaw size at weld details, inspection frequency, and inspection quality. The role of parameter uncertainty in gate fatigue performance during service life is depicted by a fragility that includes uncertainties in the strength of the gate structure, loads due to gate operations, and initial flaw size. Fragility assessment of the fatigue performance observed in two miter gates provides a means to evaluate observed performance. Fatigue performance can be enhanced by modest improvements in detailing practices and inspection methods.

Energy conservation is an important issue in building design. Therefore, it is logical to apply the principle of energy costing to building projects and to look for ways to minimize the total energy consumed during the lifetime of a building. Even though the total quantity of energy consumed during the lifetime of a building may be many times more than that consumed during its construction, there are a number of reasons why the energy use in the construction process and, in particular, in the building materials used should be treated as a matter of importance. This paper compares the energy costs in a building constructed using alternative construction techniques. We evaluate energy consumption and resource requirements to construct a representative room of size 3.5 m × 3.5 m × 3.14 m by alternative techniques of construction using an optimization framework. It is generally observed that despite the availability of low energy technologies of construction, they are not adopted. The present paper develops an energy tax system that would induce the use of low-energy building materials and techniques. Finally, the paper concludes with policy recommendations that are essential if energy consumption in building construction is to be minimized.

This paper introduces an innovative method of in situ water main rehabilitation to solve the metallic pipeline corrosion problem while preventing future lead and lime leaching. The existing main is used as a form, and a thin layer of fiber-reinforced cement mortar lining is applied on the internal surface to form the rehabilitated main. To compare the feasibility of the approach to existing methods of pipe lining, experimental investigations are carried out. The objective is to compare the water quality, pipe friction, and structural strength of pipe sections of the proposed design in contrast to those of existing methods. The results show that the fiber-reinforced lining provides an improved pipeline rehabilitation option, for which the iron content and turbidity of the transported water are much lower than those from other methods. Increased carrying capacity and structural strength, as well as the provision of additional tensile strength for the rehabilitated mains, are also some of the advantages. With this method, a more resilient pipe with protection from water contamination and pipeline corrosion resulted.

A research program was undertaken to investigate the behavior of high-density polyethylene pipe during surface installation by horizontal directional drilling. In the fall of 1997, an instrumented high-density polyethylene pipe [55 m (180 ft) long, 200 mm (8 in.) in diameter, and dimension ratio of 17] was installed and monitored. Approximately 2 years later, three test pit excavations were completed to obtain in situ information along the bore, including pipe subsurface profile, characterization of site soils and bore slurry surrounding the pipe, location of the pipe in the bore, and pipe rotation and ovality. Research results indicate that pilot bore and in situ pipe profiles agree well, pipe buoyancy forces are small, drilling practice and fluid flow characteristics influence the slurry composition, well-designed drilling fluids provide bore support during and for extended periods following installation, significant voids are not created within the bore, slurry consolidates to a density similar to the surrounding soil (when the bore is located above the groundwater table), pipe torsion loading is inferred to be low, and pipe ovality is less than specified long-term deflection limits.