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Predicting the seismic response of masonry-infilled (MI) RC frames holds immense importance due to the significant influence of masonry on the structural performance. Despite numerous studies delving into the seismic behavior of these frames, their complex interaction of masonry infills and RC frame presents ongoing challenges for researchers, designers, and standards committees. Although numerous studies have been conducted to investigate the seismic behavior of masonry-infilled reinforced concrete frames, its complex behavior poses a challenge to researchers, designers, and the specification-making committees. In recent years, several national codes have been revised to include the estimation of the stiffness of reinforced and nonreinforced masonry walls and have provided guidelines for the modeling and analysis of structures considering MI. This article aims to provide a comprehensive review of how infilled masonry walls impact the seismic performance of RC frames, drawing comparisons with codal provisions. The focus lies on scrutinizing experimental, numerical, and analytical studies that explore in-plane and out-of-plane behaviors. Factors like masonry strength, stiffness, area of openings, stiffness degradation, energy dissipation capacity, and damage patterns are thoroughly examined. Key findings with critical implications are highlighted, shedding light on potential future research directions in this crucial field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The management of unutilized fly ash poses challenges due to concerns about storage and its potential groundwater contamination. Within the road industry, where the bulk utilization of fly ash is feasible, its unsuitability for use in the base and sub-base layers of pavements due to its low strength and a high proportion of fine particles has been a limitation. The incorporation of stone dust alongside fly ash, treated with lime or cement, yields superior strength and stiffness. Apart from strength, the stabilized mix's durability, capillary rise, and water absorption properties are crucial for determining its suitability for pavement applications. Observations from this study reveal that fiber-reinforced cement-stabilized fly ash–stone aggregate specimens treated with 4% and 6% cement, with and without fibers, met the limiting mass loss of 20%, as specified in IRC SP: 89. The mass loss decreases with an increase in cement and fiber content. However, the capillary rise in the mixes increases with a higher percentage of fly ash and fiber content but decreases with increased cement content. Cement addition results in a reduction in water absorption; however, the addition of fibers results in an increase in water absorption. A linear correlation has been established between mass loss and UCS and IDT, which can be used to evaluate the suitability of materials for the structural layer without conducting a wet–dry durability test, which typically takes one month. This study proposes that cement-stabilized fly ash and stone aggregate mixtures with 4% and 6% cement can be used as the subbase and base of pavement based on wet–dry mass loss criteria and water absorption criteria. Observations from this study reveal that fiber-reinforced cement-stabilized fly ash–stone aggregate specimens treated with 4% and 6% cement, with and without fibers, met the limiting mass loss of 20%, as specified in IRC SP: 89. The mass loss decreases with an increase in cement and fiber content. However, the capillary rise in the mixes increases with a higher percentage of fly ash and fiber content but decreases with increased cement content. Cement addition results in reduction in water absorption. However, the addition of fibers results in increase in water absorption. A linear correlation is established between mass loss and UCS and IDT, which can be used to evaluate the suitability of materials for the structural layer without conducting wet–dry durability tests, which take one month. This study proposes that cement-stabilized fly ash and stone aggregate mixtures with 4% and 6% cement can be used as the subbase and base of pavement based on wet–dry mass loss criteria and water absorption criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid depletion of natural building materials is mainly caused by the exponential increase in construction operations. The need for and inevitability of finding alternative building materials to partially replace traditional materials in construction are unavoidable. In this study, the idea of using pond ash and bottom ash as a partial replacement of fine aggregates in concrete is examined, and the effects of pond and bottom ash on the fresh and mechanical properties of concrete are investigated, as reported in the literature. Being affected by the coal burning system, the chemical and physical properties of pond ash and bottom ash vary across various sources and years of investigation. Many experiments have shown that bottom ash and pond ash can be used in the right proportions to provide workability and increased strength of concrete. The idea of turning a variety of waste into wealth to conserve essential green space is backed by nearly every academic. Again, the increased use of fly ash (FA) and pond ash (PA) as an alternative to river sand will reduce river sand extraction and ensure the long-term stability of a green river ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The heterogeneous traffic conditions in India is making things more complicated in urban areas. Traffic accidents in India are increasing at an alarming rate due to the rapid growth of motor vehicles in the past few years. The number of accidents drop only at sites where speed restriction techniques are implemented for different vehicle categories, especially at locations like approaches to level crossings, negotiation points at sharp curves, approaches towards intersections, accident prone locations, residential streets, streets closures at schools and hospitals etc. In developing countries like India, speed humps and speed bumps are primarily used as speed reducing devices both in urban and rural areas, which is not the case in developed countries where speed bumps are used only on private grounds and speed humps are mainly used on residential roads in urban areas. The effectiveness of speed reducing devices are reviewed in this study to elaborate best practices and recognise gaps in research to set up few scopes for future research in this area. The literature review revealed that most of the speed humps in developing countries have faulty geometrical dimensions when compared to codal provisions leading to problems among road users. Though traditionally speed humps are known to reduce speed and increase safety, they too have disadvantages like, increase in travel time, increase in vehicle operating cost, decrease in capacity of roads and undesirable experience to drivers and passengers. Rumble strips on safety on rural roads on either side of a pedestrian crosswalks is an option to be further explored. Finally, in view of the Indian road conditions, it is observed that Indian guidelines concerning design of speed humps IRC 99-2018 are not compatible with best practice. Therefore, there is an imperial need to frame new guidelines for different type of roads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cement stabilised materials are increasingly being used in pavement structural layers to solve the issue of scarcity of good quality stone aggregates and also to enhance the performance of the pavement. In addition to the strength and stiffness, the performance of pavements layers also largely depends upon the durability and shrinkage characteristics of stabilised materials used as base and subbase layers. The research reported in this paper focuses on the laboratory durability and shrinkage characteristics of cement stabilised granular lateritic soils (CLS). Wet–Dry (W–D) durability test and soaked UCS tests were conducted on CLS samples to evaluate the minimum dosage requirement of the binder. Preliminary studies were also done to assess the water absorption characteristics of CLS. Shrinkage properties of CLS were assessed through drying shrinkage tests. Effect of moisture content and cement content on ultimate drying shrinkage was also established in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]