Transactions Hong Kong Institution of Engineers最新文献

{"title":"Foreword","authors":"T. Länsivaara","doi":"10.1080/1023697X.2018.1482593","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/1023697X.2018.1482593","url":null,"abstract":"Landslides and debris flows pose a serious risk to human lives and the built environment in many parts of the world. In Hong Kong alone, an average of around 320 landslides occurred each year from 1945 to 2000, with significant loss of life during the decade 1970–1980. Increasing population has pushed human habitation more and more into potential hazard areas. Even in less densely populated areas, landslides and debris flows may endanger infrastructure networks vital to the community. Increasing precipitation due to climate change is likely to accelerate the occurrence of landslides. Although slope stability analysis is one of the oldest disciplines in geotechnical engineering, there is an increasing demand for new research to better understand the core fundamentals of landslide and debris flow failures, so that we can more accurately predict them in today’s changing climate conditions and are able to design more robust hazard mitigation measures. I am honoured and delighted to introduce five high-quality papers and one technical note on this subject to the readers of the HKIE Transactions theme issue on “Landslides and Debris Flow – Theory and Design, Mitigation, Stabilisation and Monitoring”. The first paper by Cheung et al. discusses the use of advanced numerical analysis to model debris flows and barrier interaction. The analyses include landslide debris mobility, the structural analysis of flexible barriers, and coupled analysis of debris impact on a flexible barrier. Verification of the numerical models has been carried out against actual landslides and impact tests with good success. The article by Kwan et al. presents a very helpful summary of the many research studies concerning technical advancements in the design of both rigid and flexible barriers. The reader can pick up helpful studies, for example, on the performance of cushioning materials for reducing dynamic impact on rigid barriers, or the important aspect of serviceability of flexible barriers when a stream crosses the barrier. Lo et al. present the results of an interesting case study of a large-scale failure that occurred following an intense storm on 21 May 2016. The investigations included detailed engineering geological mapping, ground investigation and analyses to diagnose the probable causes of failure and the likelihood of further large-scale instability. The landslide occurred in difficult mountainous terrain, which presented a major challenge for the investigators. From the many important conclusions of the paper, I would like to mention that the failurewas triggered by rain-induced cleft water pressure and that a three-dimensional slope stability assessment was needed for the complex geometry. Sze et al. introduce a new type of flexible barrier in which the shape of the valley is better accounted for, resulting in more favourable geometry and greater structural effectiveness. The design and analysis of such valley-shaped barriers are presented using a state-ofthe-art","PeriodicalId":35587,"journal":{"name":"Transactions Hong Kong Institution of Engineers","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/1023697X.2018.1482593","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47612295","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Laboratory investigation of performance of a screen type debris-flow countermeasure","authors":"A. L. Yifru, E Laache, H Norem, S. Nordal, V. Thakur","doi":"10.1080/1023697X.2018.1462104","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/1023697X.2018.1462104","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Debris-flows are forms of landslides in mountainous regions that can potentially cause significant damage. Structural countermeasures to mitigate an entire debris-flow may become unrealistically massive and expensive. If the flow cannot be stopped completely, one may alternatively consider reducing the impact and velocity of the flow using energy dissipating structures. A debris-flow screen is such a countermeasure designed to dissipate energy. A screen is made by parallel grids, with some gaps, placed in the direction of the debris-flow on an elevated foundation. This structure acts as a filter for separating water from the saturated debris-flow to reduce its flow energy. This paper presents a laboratory model test investigating the effect of the screen with length (0.5 m and 1.0 m) and opening width (2 mm, 4 mm and 6 mm) in dissipating the debris-flow energy. The effectiveness of the screens was determined in terms of reductions in the run-out distance and the flow velocity. The importance of the screen length and the opening width is demonstrated. A hypothesis that the optimum opening size should be close to of the solid material seems to be validated. The application of the laboratory observations to the field is indicated based on the energy line and scaling principles.","PeriodicalId":35587,"journal":{"name":"Transactions Hong Kong Institution of Engineers","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/1023697X.2018.1462104","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46693595","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Food waste total recycling system – a novel zero effluent discharge process for converting food waste into three high market value products","authors":"Anthony Ma, Susana X Wu","doi":"10.1080/1023697X.2017.1406827","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/1023697X.2017.1406827","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT A novel three-step zero effluent discharge process was developed through a two-year research study. After completing the laboratory studies, a pilot system (50 kg/day) was built to prove the design concept. It comprised three steps: pretreatment, food waste decomposition and biogas production. Patented pretreatment was developed to treat wet and sticky Asian food waste. Through this machine, organic matter could be automatically separated from non-biodegradable matter and become fine slurry. Two bioreactors were used to cultivate two distinct types of microbial population. In the decomposition bioreactor, complex organics were broken down into three types of reusable products: floatable oil, a nutrient solution of simple organic acids and a protein-rich solid residue. The floatable oil could be sold as raw material for biodiesel, while the solid residue could be dried to produce eco fish feed. The nutrient solution was fed to the second bioreactor to produce biogas. The hydraulic retention time (HRT) of the two bioreactors were two to three days and seven to eight days, respectively. Wastewater coming out of the second bioreactor was recycled back to the pretreatment so that no wastewater was discharged. The developed process can be employed in decentralised systems to convert food waste into high market value products.","PeriodicalId":35587,"journal":{"name":"Transactions Hong Kong Institution of Engineers","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/1023697X.2017.1406827","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48542578","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Trenchless construction of Phase IIIA district cooling system (DCS) by TBM pipejacking and hand-dug tunnelling on Kai Tak Development: part I – design and construction considerations","authors":"Wilson W S Mok, Victor K Lo, Germaine T M Chau, Louis Y M Lau","doi":"10.1080/1023697X.2017.1413958","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/1023697X.2017.1413958","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT In this paper, the design and construction of 1.75 km of 1200 mm, 1500 mm and 2800 mm diameter concrete sleeve pipelines, using slurry operated tunnel boring machines (TBM), for installation of district cooling system (DCS) pipelines, in highly variable ground conditions in the Kowloon Bay area are discussed. This was the first time that TBM pipejacking has been used in Hong Kong to construct pipelines below the seabed. The construction techniques for working pits to suit site constraints are also discussed. Hand-dug tunnels, constructed with hand-mining shield and horizontal pipe-piles, for DCS pipeline installation, due to the constraints by utilities and interfacing contracts, are highlighted.","PeriodicalId":35587,"journal":{"name":"Transactions Hong Kong Institution of Engineers","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/1023697X.2017.1413958","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47318819","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Design and construction of long-span single-layer dome structures by direct analysis","authors":"Y. P. Liu, Sinno Jialin Pan, Simon W K Leung, Sharon Lai-Fung Chan","doi":"10.1080/1023697X.2017.1409663","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/1023697X.2017.1409663","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Long-span roofs are widely used worldwide as they provide large internal spaces without obstructions like columns. In designing long-span roofs, the traditional design method faces many difficulties, such as uncertainty in buckling effective length. The advanced second-order direct analysis (SODA) method for design shows and has many advantages for structural safety and cost saving. In this paper, the SODA considering P-Δ and P-δ effects as well as initial imperfections is proposed for designing of long-span roofs and the assumption of effective length is no longer required. The application of this concept of SODA to the design of practical structures appears to be new and unique, especially on the aspects of design at the construction stages. Key considerations for the construction of long-span structures by SODA are first reported. The planning of the lifting procedure, temporary support system (TSS) and off-loading sequences for load transfer from a TSS to permanent structure is guided by SODA such that an economic design and safe construction can be achieved. A constructed long-span single-layer roof structure in Macau is used to demonstrate the validity, practicality, accuracy and reliability of the proposed method and is taken as an example of successful joint work for advanced design by academicians and engineers in practice.","PeriodicalId":35587,"journal":{"name":"Transactions Hong Kong Institution of Engineers","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/1023697X.2017.1409663","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47134545","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Application of multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis in fault diagnosis for a railway track circuit","authors":"Zicheng Wang, Yadong Zhang, Jin Guo, Lina Su","doi":"10.1080/1023697X.2017.1409664","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/1023697X.2017.1409664","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT The outdoor equipment failures of track circuits are usually not easy to be detected. In addition, the location of outdoor equipment failures can cause trouble for on-site maintainers. To solve the problem, this paper proposes a novel method for fault diagnosis of railway track circuits based on multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis (MF-DFA). Firstly, a locomotive signal induced voltage model was established based on the uniform transmission-line theory. The locomotive signal amplitude envelope (LSAE) signals of the track circuit in the normal and fault conditions were solved out. Through this model, the influence mechanism of track circuit faults on the LSAE signals was revealed. On the basis of MF-DFA, the generalised Hurst exponents and multifractal spectra of the LSAE signals were obtained. Then the six-dimensional vectors extracted from the multifractal spectra were used as the fault features. Finally, these features were input to the extreme learning machine (ELM) to identify faults. The fault diagnosis accuracy using the method proposed in this paper reached 94.2949% after k-fold cross validation. The results indicated that MF-DFA had obvious advantages in the application of track circuit fault diagnosis.","PeriodicalId":35587,"journal":{"name":"Transactions Hong Kong Institution of Engineers","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/1023697X.2017.1409664","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43764398","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Asphalt materials used in treatment of pavement distresses at the BRT bus station","authors":"Xiaojing Zhang, Xiaohua Zhang","doi":"10.1080/1023697X.2017.1420494","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/1023697X.2017.1420494","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Due to the limited influence on traffic, orthotropic steel deck has been more and more widely used. However, the durability of steel deck asphalt pavement is a critical technical issue in the construction of bridges. At the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) bus station, rutting, swelling and several other distresses were observed shortly after opening to traffic. In order to deal with these distresses, both an emergency repairing method and a long-term rehabilitation approach are proposed and analysed in this technical note. For the emergency measure, a newly-developed polymer material, which has both high-temperature stability and low-temperature flexibility, was applied and no distresses occurred for a long time when the modified self-compacting elastic concrete was used. For the long-term approach, an advanced modified asphalt binder and an improved cost-effective stone matrix asphalt (SMA) mixture with both high-temperature stability and low-temperature flexibility are developed by conducting a series of orthogonal tests in the lab. The findings of this technical note can be used as a reference to deal with similar distresses.","PeriodicalId":35587,"journal":{"name":"Transactions Hong Kong Institution of Engineers","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/1023697X.2017.1420494","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44983934","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Green engineering of Hong Kong and China's first data centre certified to LEED-CS 2009 Platinum","authors":"H. Cochrane, Fredrick Leong, Steven So, George K. C. Or, Melvyn Lai","doi":"10.1080/1023697X.2017.1396258","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/1023697X.2017.1396258","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT This paper showcases the green engineering excellence in design, construction and operation of NTT Communications Hong Kong Financial Data Center Tower 2 (FDC2) at No. 6 Chun Kwong Street in Tseung Kwan O Industrial Estate, Hong Kong, and its roadmap in achieving LEED 2009 for Core and Shell Development (LEED-CS 2009) certification to the highest Platinum level. Key environmental issues are discussed with the adopted approach and technologies to avoid, minimise and mitigate environmental impacts. In particular, based on LEED assessment, FDC2 demonstrates the excellence in energy efficiency using server virtualisation to a significant reduction of ∼60% consumption equivalent to ∼510,000,000 kWh per year and greenhouse gas emission equivalent to 357,000 tonnes of CO2. This has attained the maximum 21 Points under LEED-CS 2009 EAc1 Optimise Energy Performance. Notably, FDC2 strives for “Think Sustainability from the Project Start” to reduce energy use, carbon footprint and environmental impacts, with achieving various firsts in Hong Kong and China (according to Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI)). The sustainable operation of this world class green data centre will continue its pioneered, innovative and excellent environmental performance to play as a role model of sustainable development in the data centre and IT industry.","PeriodicalId":35587,"journal":{"name":"Transactions Hong Kong Institution of Engineers","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/1023697X.2017.1396258","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43188589","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sustainability analyses of embodied carbon and construction cost in high-rise buildings using different materials and structural forms","authors":"V. Gan, C. Chan, K. T. Tse, Jack C. P. Cheng, Irene Lo","doi":"10.1080/1023697X.2017.1375436","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/1023697X.2017.1375436","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Understanding the impact of material choices and structural forms on the embodied carbon and construction cost in high-rise buildings is important to improve building designs with regard to sustainability. The objective of this study is to investigate the impact of the choice of construction materials and structural forms on the embodied carbon and construction cost of high-rise buildings. The results show that high-rise buildings using structural steel have the highest construction cost at 4575 HK$/m2 and the most embodied carbon at 760 kg CO2-e/m2, respectively. Using reinforced concrete for high-rise buildings reduces 30% of the embodied carbon (to 4194 HK$/m2) and 7% of the construction cost (to 537 kg CO2-e/m2). High-rise buildings using composite materials have the lowest construction cost (3740 HK$/m2), but produce slightly more embodied carbon (557 kg CO2-e/m2) than concrete buildings. For a specific structural form, the construction cost and the embodied carbon as a function of the building height follow concave upward trends, indicating that each structure has a suggested height with relatively lower cost and carbon content, e.g. 50–70 storeys for composite core-outrigger structure at around 3700–3900 HK$/m2. Similarly, the suggested height for composite tube-in-tube structure is 60–80 storeys at 3900–4100 HK$/m2, whereas braced-tube structure has a suggested height of 60–80 storeys at 3500–3600 HK$/m2.","PeriodicalId":35587,"journal":{"name":"Transactions Hong Kong Institution of Engineers","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2017-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/1023697X.2017.1375436","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46191320","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Smart Light Rail: integrated speed and position supervision system","authors":"W. P. Tam, Shing-kai Chan, Sum Chan","doi":"10.1080/1023697X.2017.1375435","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/1023697X.2017.1375435","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT In Hong Kong, the Light Rail (LR) is a manual driving railway involving interface with road traffic. Speed supervision, turnout signal alert, platform duty reminder, fleet management and inter-vehicle distance monitoring have been regarded as effective ways to improve operational safety and customer satisfaction with the LR. Owing to the lack of a single solution for all the aforementioned functions, a novel and cost-effective integration of global positioning system (GPS) and radio frequency identification (RFID) technologies, named the integrated speed and position supervision system was designed, which aligns the zero-tolerant culture of the MTR for safety through assisting its well-trained train captains to further improve operational safety. This paper presents accurate speed and location tracking with accuracies of within 3 km/h and 2  m, respectively. It covers both hardware and software designs, and explores both theoretical and practical considerations. To further enable timely reminders, user-friendliness and high reliability, human factor analysis has been conducted and the system conformed to IEC61508 Safety Integrity Level 2, which corresponds to the probability of failure per hour of at most 10−6. With this integrated solution, the customer-centric LR service for a 500,000 daily patronage can be enhanced and the MTR – one of the world’s leading railways – can be evolved to be a smart railway.","PeriodicalId":35587,"journal":{"name":"Transactions Hong Kong Institution of Engineers","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2017-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/1023697X.2017.1375435","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47661562","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}