A Study Of The Strength And Compressibility Characteristics Of Cochin Marine Clays

With the advent of urbanisation and consequent search for more and more habitable land, it was imperative that the large tracts of marine clays, considered inhabitable earlier, had to be reclaimed and developed. These marine clays, wellknown for its high compressibility and poor shear strength, posed numerous problems to the builders and Cochin was no exception. It is only less than a decade since active research work was initiated on marine clays in general and Cochin marine clays in particular. Eventhough some systematic studies are available on compressibility characteristics, attempts to study the shear strength aspects and development of techniques to improve it have been very limited. This work is an investigation on the consolidation and shear strength characteristics of Cochin marine clays including methods to improve the same

Strength and serviceability performance of beams reinforced with GFRP bars in flexure

Glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) rebars have been identified as an alternate construction material for reinforcing concrete during the last decade primarily due to its strength and durability related characteristics. These materials have strength higher than steel, but exhibit linear stress–strain response up to failure. Furthermore, the modulus of elasticity of GFRP is significantly lower than that of steel. This reduced stiffness often controls the design of the GFRP reinforced concrete elements. In the present investigation, GFRP reinforced beams designed based on limit state principles have been examined to understand their strength and serviceability performance. A block type rotation failure was observed for GFRP reinforced beams, while flexural failure was observed in geometrically similar control beams reinforced with steel rebars. An analytical model has been proposed for strength assessment accounting for the failure pattern observed for GFRP reinforced beams. The serviceability criteria for design of GFRP reinforced beams appear to be governed by maximum crack width. An empirical model has been proposed for predicting the maximum width of the cracks. Deflection of these GFRP rebar reinforced beams has been predicted using an earlier model available in the literature. The results predicted by the analytical model compare well with the experimental data

Marine Engineering Training in India -A Pedagogic Introspection

Indian marine engineers are renowned for employment globally due to their knowledge, skill and reliability. This praiseworthy status has been achieved mainly due to the systematic training imparted to marine engineering cadets. However, in an era of advancing technology, marine engineering training has to remain dynamic to imbibe latest technology as well as to meet the demands of the shipping industry. New subjects of studies have to be included in the curriculum in a timely manner taking into consideration the industry requirements and best practices in shipping. Technical competence of marine engineers also has to be subjected to changes depending upon the needs of the ever growing and over regulated shipping industry. Besides. certain soft skills are to be developed and improved amongst the marine engineers in order to alter or amend the personality traits leading to their career success.If timely corrective action is taken. Indian marine engineers can be in still greater demand for employment in global maritime field. In order to enhance the employability of our mmine engineers by improving their quality, a study of marine engineers in general and class IV marine engineers in particular was conducted based on three distinct surveys, viz., survey among senior marine engineers, survey among employers of marine engineers and survey of class IV marine engineers themselves.The surveys have been planned and questionnaires have been designed to focus the study of marine engineer officer class IV from the point of view of the three distinct groups of maritime personnels. As a result of this, the strength and weakness of class IV marine engineers are identified with regard to their performance on board ships, acquisition of necessary technical skills. employability and career success. The criteria of essential qualities of a marine engineer are classified as academic, technical, social, psychological. physical, mental, emergency responsive, communicative and leadership, and have been assessed for a practicing marine engineer by statistical analysis of data collected from surveys. These are assessed for class IV marine engineers from the point of view of senior marine engineers and employers separately. The Endings are delineated and graphically depicted in this thesis.Besides. six pertinent personality traits of a marine engineer viz. self esteem. learning style. decision making. motivation. team work and listening self inventory have been subjected to study and their correlation with career success have been established wherever possible. This is carried out to develop a theoretical framework to understand what leads a marine engineer to his career attainment. This enables the author to estimate the personality strengths and weaknesses of a serving marine engineer and eventually to deduce possible corrective measures or modifications in marine engineering training in India.Maritime training is largely based on International Conventions on Standard of Training. Certification and Watch keeping for Seafarers 1995. its associated Code and Merchant Shipping (STCW for Seafarers) Rules 1998. Further, Maritime Education, Training and Assessment (META) Manual was subjected to a critical scrutiny and relevant Endings of thc surveys arc superimposed on the existing rule requirement and curriculum. Views of senior marine engineers and executives of various shipping companies are taken into account before arriving at the revision of syllabus of marine engineering courses. Modifications in the pattern of workshop and sea service for graduate mechanical engineering trainees are recommended. Desirable age brackets of junior engineers and chief engineers. use of Training and Assessment Record book (TAR Book) during training etc. have also been evaluated.As a result of the pedagogic introspection of the existing system of marine engineering training in India. in this thesis, a revised pattern of workshop training of six months duration for graduate mechanical engineers. revised pattern of sea service training of one year duration and modified now diagram incorporating the above have been arrived at. Effects of various personality traits on career success have been established along with certain findings for improvement of desirable personality traits of marine engineers.