The construction and building industry in the modern world heavily relies on advanced techniques and materials such as polymers. However, with the world's population alarmingly increasing, contributing to the greenhouse effect, and severe weather conditions amplifying, it has become crucial to reduce the heat effects in both new and old buildings. To achieve this, 50-70% more energy is necessary, which highlights the importance of energy-efficient construction practices and materials. Consequently, a comprehensive study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of Polyurethane in indoor environments and energy conservation. Current study was performed due to an innovative application of insulation materials as to reduce the heat and energy costs in construction works. Thermal conductivity at mean temperature 35 °C was found 0.0272 (W/m K) with maximum in burnt clay brick (1.43 W/m K) by using hotplate apparatus. Specific heat was also found less 0.85 (KJ/Kg K) at density 32 kg/m³ while results were at par in reinforcement cement concrete and burnt clay brick 0.91, 0.91 (KJ/Kg K) respectively. Similarly, heat transmittance values of different roof sections by using polyurethane insulation showing satisfaction the ECBC in Buildings deviating standard U-value 1.20% to 0.418 (W/m² K) with its excellent performance. Polyurethane treatments have been found to exert a significant impact on the computation of thermal resistance and overall heat transfer coefficients. In contrast, non-insulated treatments yielded inconclusive results with little to no significance. This highlights the importance of insulation materials in energy-efficient construction practices. Energy consumption in winter and summer also has shown the significant impact by using polyurethane application with cumulative saving of 60-62% electricity. Economic Benefit of polyurethane in RCC and Conventional buildings describes positive and highly significant impact in present study. Application of polyurethane in new and old buildings ultimate enhanced the better quality of life and living standards from people of applied countries and is strongly recommended for future prospects and endeavors as Eco-friendly and energy efficient for sustainable development.

A new non-dispersive, anti-washout grout consisting of ordinary Portland cement, slag, superplasticizer, and methylbenzyl cellulose is proposed herein for the treatment of open karst, jointed and fractured rock, open-work gravel, and permeable sediments. A series of laboratory experiments were performed to design an anti-wash out grout suitable for grout injection of coarse aggregates depicting partially and open-jointed saturated rock mass and grouting concrete aggregates for underwater construction. The Taguchi orthogonal array was used to obtain nine different grout mix ratios. A total of four variables were considered, each with three different levels of the water–cement ratio, slag, and dosage of additives such as the superplasticizer and methyl benzyl cellulose. The laboratory determination of grout characteristics recording of mini slump, temperature, pH, visual assessment of grout dispersion, bleeding, and initial setting time and as well as uniaxial compressive strengths and permeabilities of the hardened grout samples were tested. To evaluate the suitability of the grout mixes, an analysis of variance was used for factor analysis and Grey relational analysis (GRA) was used to determine the optimal grout mix design. Based on the GRA, the following levels of the factors afforded the best results: water level 1 (0.3%), SP level 3 (0.01%), methylbenzyl cellulose level 2 (0.002%), and slag level 3 (0.1%). This paper describes the research methodology, detailed research observations, and analyses involved in designing the appropriate concrete mix. Based on the conclusions, relevant commendations regarding the suitability of grout testing equipment and grout mix designs are presented.

Stemming has a major impact on energy containment inside a blasting hole and is essential for increasing the efficacy of explosive charges in rock blasting. This method is essential in many fields, including road project development, mining, tunneling, and underground construction. By fortifying the confinement of the energy generated by a loaded explosive charge in a blasting hole, stemming increases the fragmentation of rock. Improper or missing stemming leads to the gas escaping in advance from blast holes, resulting not only in the wastage of explosive energy and poor fragmentation but also in environmental problems such as ground vibration, noise, flying rocks, back breaks, and air blasts. When the process to keep gases inside blast holes is not performed correctly or is skipped, it can waste explosive energy and produce poorly fragmented rocks. This also causes problems like high ground vibrations, loud noise, flying rocks, cracks behind the blast area, and strong air shocks. In this study, a shock chamber blasting experiment and numerical analysis were conducted to evaluate the pressure confinement effect of stemming material and plug devices in a blast hole. The resulting stemming effect was compared with that of a shear-thickening fluid (STF)-based stemming material currently under development and sand, which is a commonly used blast stemming material. To evaluate the enhancement of the confinement effect inside the pressurized blast hole, three types of stemming plugs were adopted. The blasting experiment and numerical simulation results revealed that the STF-based stemming materials were superior to conventional stemming materials. In addition, the STF-based stemming and plug system can prevent detonation gas from prematurely overflowing the borehole and effectively prolong the action time and scope of the detonation gas in the borehole.

This paper reviews the site investigation field data and access work performed between 2016 and 2019 in the study area located close to Gun-dong mine. The research was aimed at defining the cause of sinkholes and their relationship with the underlying karstic limestone bedrock and nearby mining activities. Only a limited number of small sinkholes appeared in 2014, 2016, and 2018 in the agricultural land close to the limestone mine. The previously open pit mine started its underground operations in 2007. Since then, the mine has developed, and is now comprised of, large underground excavations at several levels below the surface. The studies carried out concluded that the appearance of sinkholes may be related to a general lowering of the groundwater table because of nearby agricultural and mining activities and also due to over-extraction of water due to increased urban use. Whilst these are the best determinations, this paper identifies missing elements of the previous investigations mentioned above, some issues with the interpretation of poorly prepared borehole logs and the improper preservation of borehole cores. The authors make recommendations for a systematic approach for implementation of an investigation strategy. This paper concludes that the appearance of sinkholes is a natural phenomenon, developing over geological time. However, human intervention contributes to sinkhole formation, which in urban areas may result in human, property, and economic losses. A better understanding, based on a methodical approach and suitable technologies, can determine the causes of sinkholes and can lead to the formulation of solutions and the implementation of economically and socially acceptable mitigation measures.

Whilst numerical modelling is commonly used for simulation to check the design of water conveyance, sluicing and spillway structure design, the numerical modelling has rarely been compared with the physical model tests. The objective of this research presented in this paper was to examine the validity and suitability of the numerical computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling method within an ANSYS Fluent/CFD R 18.2 software and compare its results with a fully instrumented and well-run physical model test at the 1:45 scale, carried out for Patrind Hydropower Project located in Pakistan. The physical model test was conducted for confirmation and optimization of a natural de-sanding basin, and diversion of suspended sediment-rich flood waters using a bypass tunnel. The numerical simulation was able to reproduce physical model test results and data gathered over a 7-year project operation to an acceptable level of accuracy. A detailed explanation of the approach used in numerical modelling together with analysis of simulation diagrams of ANSYS Fluent/CFD is also presented. The research shows that a 3D numerical model with accurate boundary conditions and mesh size can replace the need for physical model tests.