Browsing by Author "De Kock, Mike"

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    Delivering urban transport by improving decision making : lessons from a city, lessons for a city
    (1998) Kane, Lisa Adele; De Kock, Mike
    This thesis starts from the position that the enterprise of transport planning is failing to deliver a transport system which fully meets the needs of urban dwellers. Criticisms of the process are presented and it is argued that one reason for the lack of delivery is the insufficient attention paid by transport planning professionals, and researchers, to the decision-making process. The nature of decision-making is explored by reference to various theoretical models of decision-making, and it is concluded that decision-making in an existing situation must be comprehensively described, before recommendations for its improvement can be made. Cape Town is chosen as the city for investigation. Checkland's Soft Systems Methodology is used for describing urban transport decision-making in Cape Town, and the approach is informed by seventeen in-depth interviews and forty-five questionnaires with decision-makers. The analysis yields insights which are categorised into four areas: issues of institutional re-organisation and funding; issues of politician involvement; issues of change in officials; issues of public involvement. An action plan is developed from the insights.
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    The use of aggregate from demolition rubble in the making of ordinary and structural concretes
    (1987) Frick, Clayton; De Kock, Mike
    The aim of this thesis is to introduce the concept of recycling demolished concrete as aggregate which is then used in fresh concrete - to be known as "recycled concrete". Various aspects of concrete technology are covered and in this way recycled concrete is compared to conventional concrete. The work was performed in three phases, and it should serve as a guide to prospective users. Phase 1: Various recycled aggregates were tested according to standard specifications and were found to be satisfactory in most aspects. Recycled fine aggregate is very coarse though, and should be used with caution. The absorption and porosity of recycled aggregates should always be determined to enable their use in concrete. The specific gravity of such an aggregate should also be found to enable more accurate mix calculations. The highest compressive strengths normally possible for recycled concretes are between 56 and 71 MPa, but an average strength of 50 MPa should not be exceeded without thorough investigation, even though it is easily attainable. Phase 2: A wet-batching method of mix design was investigated and satisfactory recycled concretes were produced. Strength charts for such concretes are given. Methods of dry-batching are also presented, but are more complex than the wet-batch method. The water demand of recycled· fine aggregates was found to be considerably higher than for natural sands, and again the use of fine recycled aggregate should be carefully considered. Phase 3: The mechanical properties of recycled concretes were tested and Little difference found between recycled and conventional concretes. The compressive strengths were satisfactory and the elastic moduli sufficiently high, even though they were 15 to 20 percent Lower than those of corresponding dense concretes. The shrinkage of recycled concrete is comparable to that of conventional concrete, and the creep potential somewhat greater, although not excessivly so. The use of recycled coarse aggregate in both plain and structural concrete is then recommended as an alternative to the dwindling supply of natural aggregates. The use of recycled fine aggregate, however, is not recommended, although its use in Low-grade or mass concrete is condoned.
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    The use of Lethabo field 2 PFA in pavement quality concrete
    (1989) Gordon, Douglas; De Kock, Mike
    Concrete used in pavements has to be durable to withstand the load and wear imposed by vehicles moving across it and the effects of drying shrinkage and thermal changes. Failure of the pavement by either excessive cracking or degradation of the surface results in poor riding quality and low skid resistance. The inclusion of Pulverised Fuel Ash (PFA), otherwise known as fly ash, generally improves the quality of pavement concrete and thus extends its useful life. The PFA used for the thesis was from the Lethabo power station's second electrostatic precipitator field (Lethabo Field 2 PFA). This Field 2 PFA has a very close resemblance to the expected classified commercial Lethabo PFA of the future. PFA is characterised by its fineness. The Field 2 PFA had 7.7 percent retained on the 45 micron sieve. This was considerably finer than the current commercial Matla PFA with about 12 percent retained. It was thus expected that the higher quality Lethabo Field 2 PFA could be used to produce higher quality concrete. The other mix materials were those commonly used in the Western Cape. The aggregates used were Cape Flats Dune sand and Malmesbury shale (hornfels). The dune sand typically has very little fines content, causing severe bleeding problems in normal concrete mixes. The crushed coarse aggregate was 13 mm and flaky in shape. Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) was obtained from the De Hoek cement factory. The investigation was carried out in two parts. First was the development of a wide range of mixes, varying 28 day design strength (10, 20, 30, 40, 50 MPa), percentage of PFA as part cement replacement (OPC only, 15% PFA, 30% PFA, 50% PFA and 70% PFA) and the coarse aggregate content to give under-, average- and over-sanded mixes. Over this wide range of mixes, the fresh properties and development of the compressive strength were observed. Secondly, properties affecting pavement quality concrete were observed on a similar range of mixes. These properties were flexural strength, surface wear resistance by wire brush, sand blasting and ball race abrasion and the drying shrinkage.