Scientific Review Engineering and Environmental Sciences (SREES)

The influence of quartz powder addition on the production of paving blocks

Aryanto, Erwin SUTANDAR, Joewono PRASETIJO — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The research investigates how quartz powder addition affects the physical and mechanical properties of concrete paving blocks made from cement, fine aggregate, water, and coarse aggregate mixtures. Quartz powder was evaluated as a waste material-effective alternative to conventional stone dust, with testing conducted on compressive strength, abrasion resistance, bulk density, absorption, and visual inspection parameters. The findings demonstrate that the optimal 10% quartz powder addition significantly improves paving block properties, achieving Class B according to Indonesian National Standard SNI 03-069, which requires a minimum compressive strength of 17 MPa and designates suitability for pedestrian traffic areas, residential walkways, and light vehicular applications. The enhanced performance is attributed to the high silica content in quartz powder, which strengthens cementitious matrix bonds, while Class B ensures compliance with construction specifications for moderate-stress environments, providing adequate durability and structural performance for typical urban infrastructure applications. This research validates quartz powder as a viable, waste material admixture that maintains required quality standards while potentially reducing manufacturing costs through waste material utilization.

A new approach for assessing landslide vulnerability at the urban scale: the case of the city of Constantine, Algeria

Mohamed BOUAOUD, Samy MEZHOUD — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The natural risk of landslides is one of the most recurrent major natural risks in the world and one of the main concerns of civil security, since it causes a great deal of material and human damage. In Algeria, the civil authorities give great importance to risk management by implementing a natural disaster strategy that encourages the creation of prevention tools involving researchers, decision-makers, the general public, and the various actors in the field, which has led to studies on vulnerability to various natural phenomena. Constantine is one of Algeria’s cities most at risk from landslides, due to its geology and the economic and social issues at stake. Therefore, we have developed a systemic, multi-criteria approach that puts into perspective the results of research on this risk in the city of Constantine, while defining the interactionist methodological model for vulnerability assessment and outlining the research context and problem. This research contributes to the field by proposing a reproducible, expert-informed methodology for urban-scale landslide vulnerability assessment. The approach is not only scientifically rigorous but also tailored for application in Algerian urban settings, offering new insights into the integration of local knowledge with spatial modeling techniques. The results provide a decision-support tool for urban planners, risk managers, and civil protection authorities.

Non-linear seismic response for liquefaction analysis: pore water pressure and strain ratio approach

Siti Nurlita FITRI, I Made Wahyu PRAMANA — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The liquefaction analysis in infrastructure projects is crucial as a preventive action for damage, especially in Indonesia, an earthquake-prone country. A wide range of liquefaction analyses is usually applied in Indonesia, such as non-linear analysis to generate the pore water pressure ratio (ru) to assess the potential of liquefaction. However, this approach does not fully present the complex behavior of layered soil in the soil-effective stress framework. The shear strain ratio is important for offering a comprehensive understanding of soil liquefaction analysis. This research aims to examine the combination of ru and shear strain ratio to assess liquefaction in layered ground. The DEEPSOIL program is used to generate the dynamic properties in each layer. The results show a strong correlation between the ru and strain ratio in each depth and borehole. However, they have diverse values in connection with the period of the ground motion approach. As a result, the evaluation and combining approach in the non-linear seismic response analysis of the three boreholes indicates a full liquefaction condition at a particular depth.

Methodology for estimating waste generation and cost implications in panel building demolition

Denisa BILÍKOVÁ, Petr AIGEL, Michał JUSZCZYK, Michał PYZALSKI, Tomáš HANÁK — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This study addresses the impending challenge of construction and demolition waste (CDW) generation from the Czech Republic’s extensive panel housing estates, constructed between the 1950s and 1990s. These structures, representing a significant portion of the national housing stock, will eventually reach their operational lifespan, necessitating systematic waste management strategies. A novel estimation methodology is proposed to quantify demolition waste volumes through material-specific decomposition of panel building structures. The T06B panel system, widely deployed in Czech housing estates, serves as a selected case study. The structure, according to the Waste Catalogue, is used for the classification of specific waste types. From a cost perspective, individual fees for waste disposal or recycling are taken from the budgeting program database. The proposed methodology facilitates the predictive modelling of both demolition waste quantities and associated financial expenditures for disposal/recycling of individual waste categories, such as concrete, bricks, iron, plastic, etc.

A case study of complex pollution characteristics associated with suspended particulate matter and heavy metals

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

A case study of complex pollution characteristics associated with suspended particulate matter and heavy metals. Suspended particulate matter (SPM) plays a pivotal role in the transport and separation of heavy metals (HMs) in river systems and has a significant impact on water quality and ecosystem integrity. This study examined the seasonal dynamics of total suspended solids (TSS), SPM particle size distribution, and the separation of HMs (Cd, Pb, Cr, Zn, Cu, Mn, Fe) between dissolved and particulate phases in the Styr River (Ukraine) throughout 2024. Analytical methods included gravimetric analysis, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), and laser-based particle sizing. The TSS concentrations and median floc size (D50) were substantially elevated during the warm season, enhancing sorption of metals onto SPM, especially for Fe, Cd, Pb, and Mn (Kd > 3). In contrast, Zn, Cu, and Cr exhibited stronger preferences for the dissolved phase. Pearson correlation analysis revealed strong associations between TSS and particulate-bound metals during warmer periods. Seasonal variations in hydrological and biological parameters significantly influence the physicochemical behavior of SPM and the separation of HMs. This is important for assessing the contamination of surface water with both dissolved and particulate phases of HMs.

Investigation of failure modes and load-deflection of cold-formed steel connections using sub-assemblage frame tests

Kiagus Muhammad AMINUDDIN, Anis SAGGAFF, Mahmood Md TAHIR, Muhammad FIRDAUS — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Cold-formed steel (CFS) is a type of steel manufactured at ambient temperature using bending and rolling methods, enabling enhanced precision in shape and sizing. Its adaptability, resilience, and environmental sustainability render it very beneficial for building. Furthermore, its manufacturing method is more energy-efficient than conventional steel production and decreases emissions. Nonetheless, CFS has several limitations, including vulnerability to buckling owing to its slender profile. This research especially examines beam-column constructions with cold-formed steel connections. The paper discusses an experiment utilizing the sub-assemblage frame test method to improve the connection’s resistance by emphasizing haunched gusset plates, rectangular gusset plates, and a combination of rectangular gusset plates with the top-seat angle. The results demonstrated that the lateral-torsional buckling occurred on the beam. The connection’s bolt hole exhibited a bearing failure, and the flange cleat also experienced buckling. Graphs were employed to examine the load and deflection data, with maximum load and deflection values documented for each specimen. The result shows that the type of gusset plate, the height of the beam, and the utilization of flange cleats have an impact on the performance of the connection.