7109EXQ - CONTEMPORARY

ISSUES AND RESEARCH

METHODOLOGIES

by

JOHN MATHEW CYRIL JAMES

RAJASEKARAN

13889928

December 2023
 Innovations in Connection Design and Structural Elements
- Addressing Contemporary Challenges in DfD
Abstract

In modern structural engineering, the resilience and integrity of infrastructure and structures
are largely dependent on the connections that are designed. With an emphasis on slabs,
beams, and columns, this study examines and assesses contemporary developments in
connection design and their effects on structural components. The study's objective is to
investigate state-of-the-art design techniques, materials, and technologies that support
improved structural performance, sustainability, and affordability. The study aims to evaluate
novel materials, appraise developing design techniques, and explore the financial and
ecological consequences of using inventive connection design strategies. The necessity for
investigation and use of advanced design techniques was spurred by the realisation of the
drawbacks and difficulties associated with conventional design approaches. The study uses a
thorough methodology that combines fieldwork, computer analysis, experimental testing, and
literature evaluation. The results of this study should have a significant impact on future
structural engineering practises by offering insightful information on the viability and
advantages of implementing novel connection design techniques. Recognising certain
drawbacks, such as experimental testing scope and the dynamic nature of real-world building
circumstances, the research also seeks to identify benefits and drawbacks related to the
innovations investigated. The research shapes the future of connection design practises by
adding to the continuing structural engineering debate through a sophisticated knowledge of
these features.

Keywords: Structural elements, Column design, Beam design, Design methodologies,

Construction technology
Introduction/Rationale for the study

New paradigms have emerged in the dynamic field of civil and structural engineering as a
result of the need to build robust and sustainable infrastructure. Integrating Design for
Disassembly (DfD) principles is one such revolutionary strategy that highlights the inherent
flexibility of structures to enable disassembly, reuse, and recycling in addition to the
conventional metrics of structural integrity and performance. The conventional linear lifetime
of structures is being replaced by a circular model as urbanisation and global issues increase,
requiring a fundamental re-evaluation of structural elements and link design.

The foundation of a building's or infrastructure's structural integrity, connection design plays

a critical part in deciding how simple it is to disassemble. Concurrently, structural element
innovations—from new materials to flexible geometric designs—have a significant impact on
how resilient and sustainable a structure is. Through an analysis of the most recent
developments in connection design and structural components, this research seeks to further
the conversation on how to handle current DfD difficulties. This project aims to shed light on
the transformational potential of engineering breakthroughs in creating sustainable and
flexible infrastructure for the future through a combination of theoretical insights, real-world
applications, and case studies.

Aim:

 Examine and apply cutting-edge technology and design strategies for the DfD of slab,
beam, and column connections.

Research Question:

 Assess the suitability of novel design techniques.

 Evaluate the possibility of using new technology.
 Examine the effects on sustainability and building costs.

Literature Review

The market may be significantly impacted by a skilled labour shortage in the construction
industry. Since the start of the recovery in 2011, the problem of a skilled labour shortage has
continued in the United States. Many unskilled employees are now employed in construction-
related job openings due to the skilled labour shortage. Hence, the quality and effectiveness
of the construction industry were impacted by a lack of more qualified workers (Dai,
Goodrum, & Maloney, 2009). The impacts of a lack of qualified workers in the construction
business are noted in this research study. Understanding the several strategies used by
designers and contractors to minimize the impact was made possible by studying the most
prominent effects brought on by a low skilled workforce. To comprehend the significance of
the problem, it is first necessary to assess the existing situation of the construction market's
knowledge gaps. The need for the research was then furthered by a number of reported
effects on the construction sector.

In spite of the fact that there is a high demand for construction materials, there is still a lot of
opportunity to grow (Creamer at el., 2007). With the increase in demand for construction
supplies and machinery, the problem of a skills shortage is becoming even more significant
because there are many skilled workers who have experience, but there aren't enough
experienced workers to fill their place. It is crucial for labour and professional employees to
have a foundational understanding of technologies, business concepts, and management
abilities in order to increase the sustainability of the construction market. Also, in order to
make up for the loss of unskilled labour, construction businesses and contractors must
provide more attractive incentives, better pay, and salary increases to stimulate the hiring of
skilled labour.

Rasool and Botha (2011) brought attention to the fact that South Africa suffers from a severe
shortage in skilled labour, which poses a serious threat to both its economy and its reputation
internationally. We can infer from this study that skilled labour is essential to a nation's
economic development and foreign support.

Some earlier studies have emphasised the horrifying aspects of unskilled labour in the
building industry. Contractors frequently deal with variables that increase project costs or
delay completion, and projects that are completed on schedule but at a high cost frequently
have poor quality.

According to Olsen et al. (2012), a skill shortage happens when the demand for workers in a
given occupation exceeds the supply of people who are qualified, available, and interested in
working in the current market.

Craftspeople are often experienced professionals who have received formal training in their
profession. In addition, Bilau et al. (2015) say that craftspeople in the construction industry
are vital in the survival and development of the sector as they are directly involved in
construction operations. This can be explained by the fact that when competent experienced
craftspeople are involved in some action, it tends to remove the concern for poor quality, low
productivity, and late project completion by reducing rework (Bilau et al. 2015).

According to me, the skill shortage is due to lack of huge number freshers entering the field
and only a smaller number of people involves or take step to learn or gain knowledge about
the required field. While freshers going through this process of lagging, experienced
professional who knows well about the construction industry are getting older and retiring
and the skill shortage begins. This makes the hiring process difficult for the employers and
paying the experienced professional a huge sum of salary.

Research Methodology

The quantitative research methodology was chosen after carefully analysing the content that
has already been published on skills and the skills shortage. In order to gather the appropriate
data for the study, this allows for the formation of an effective research question. More
importantly, describe the steps used to assure the validity and trustworthiness of your
research. The values and procedures for this study were obtained from a literature review.

Engineers, architects, quantity surveyors, construction project managers, and artisans were
among the respondents who received questionnaires using the survey method and had
sufficient understanding of the skills shortage problem in the construction industry. Due to
their experience in construction industry, it was assumed that these stakeholders would have a
better understanding of how to address the skills gap in the construction industry and could
offer the information needed. The respondents were chosen using a purposive sample
strategy, which was accomplished by requiring that they have at least 5 years of experience in
the construction sector in order to have a thorough understanding of the sector and the
problem of a skills shortage. The report's survey was divided into two sections: the first
section asked respondents to select an answer from a list of alternatives to demographic
questions, and the second section asked them to consider remedies and potential solutions to
the problem of a skills shortage in the construction industry. The majority of the surveys were
given out and collected directly from the respondents' places of employment, which included
building sites, consulting businesses, and construction firms in the study area.
 Figure 1 Skill Shortage Analysis in Construction Industry

(Source: Ayodeji Oke, Lerato Ngwenya, Clinton Aigbavboa, and Tshinakaho

Khangale.,2019)

According to the survey, non-English speaker training was the most crucial solution to the
skill deficit. The studied literature sources, however, lacked the necessary data to back up this
factor. The training for non-English speakers was only for hiring into construction projects
(Rasool and Bothat., 2011). According to Thwala and Phaladi (2009), the absence of training
is the main reason why new construction companies fail, hence new construction companies
need to practise business and other essential skills in order to stay in operation. Employing
incentives has appeared to be a solution for many undermotivated workers, not just in the
construction business but in many other fields as well. According to Bilau et al. (2015), one
of the problems affecting the development of the skilled workforce and the struggle to retain
them is poor remuneration. This suggests that providing necessary and acceptable
remunerations in the construction industry can be a solution to the skills shortages issue.
According to earlier research, which supports the conclusions of this study, the construction
industry's skills shortage problem can be significantly reduced by using trade group training,
classroom training, on-the-job training, conference and discussion methods, as well as trade
group training. This study has recognised attracting young people's interest in the
construction sector as a necessary part of the solution to the skills shortage problem. The
architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry has always had a difficulty with
its reputation among young people, including graduates, and that it is a global issue in
support of this conclusion (Mbeki., 2014).

Data Analysis
The chosen method of analysis for the shortage of skilled workers would depend on the
secondary available data and the research question being addressed by other journals. The
study aim is to discover the factors that contribute to the shortage of skilled workers. A
regression analysis might be used to explore the relationship between various demographic,
economic, and educational variables and the shortage of skilled people. This would involve
gathering information on variables like population demographics, education levels,
employment levels, and industry growth rates and then evaluating the connections between
these variables and the labour shortage.

Figure 2 Numbers behind Construction Labour Shortage

(Sources: The Bureau of Labor Statistics, The BLS July Employee Statistics Highlights,
CNBC, US Chamber of Commerce's Q2 Commercial Construction Index)

Alternatively, a cluster analysis could be used to group regions or industries based on

similarities in factors such as employment rates, educational levels, and industry growth rates
if the research question is to identify regions or industries that are most affected by the
shortage of skilled workers. This could help find locations where targeted actions could be
required to solve the skilled worker shortage. The specific research issue being addressed and
the secondary data that are available will ultimately determine the technique to be used. The
approach should be chosen based on its capacity to answer the research question and offer
useful insights for tackling the skilled labour shortage.

Findings and Discussion

The shortage of skilled personnel in the construction industry is a serious and ongoing issue
in many nations around the world, according to research findings. This shortage is a result of
a number of issues, such as demographic changes, low funding in education and training, and
competition from other industries.

The ageing workforce is one of the main causes of the construction industry's skilled worker
shortage. There aren't sufficient younger workers to replace older workers as they retire. This
is made worse by the fact that fewer young people are selecting employment in the
construction industry, which is frequently viewed as physically demanding and less attractive
than other sectors.

Insufficient funds for construction employees' education and training is another significant
factor. Many companies are not interested in training because they are worried that
employees would quit after receiving training. Because of this approach's lack of long-term
planning, the workforce lacks the required skills to satisfy the demands of the sector.

Figure 3 Hardship faced by employers to hire employees

(Soruce: Associated General Contractors., 2016)

In addition to these elements, the construction sector competes with other sectors including
technology and healthcare. These industries are frequently viewed as more attractive to
young people, who may be more interested in working with cutting-edge technology or in
occupations that are considered as having a greater social impact.

It is essential that companies and governments to engage in worker education and training in
order to alleviate the shortage of trained labourers in the construction industry. Offering
apprenticeships and other training opportunities, as well as encouraging employers to invest
in their staff, are examples of this. Moreover, efforts should be made to encourage young
people to pursue jobs in construction by emphasising the significance of the sector and its
potential for development.

Overall, the lack of competent labourers in the construction industry is a complex issue that
calls for a multidimensional solution. Building a sustainable and qualified workforce for the
construction industry's future is attainable through investing funds in education and training,
encouraging opportunities in the sector, and taking demographic changes into account.

Conclusion and recommendation

Both governments and companies must invest in education and training programmes that can
give people the skills required to satisfy the demands of increased industries in order to
overcome the global shortage of skilled workers. Partnerships between educational
institutions and companies, as well as laws that encourage immigration and promote the
development of local talent, can help achieve this. The pool of possible skilled workers can
also be increased by initiatives to promote diversity and inclusion. By implementing these
actions, we can ensure that staff members have the abilities they need to succeed in the
quickly changing job market while also building a sustainable pipeline of talent to promote
growth and innovation.

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