The use of span shortening elements, generally made of steel, is a common structural reinforcement technique in building intended for residential or commercial use, although it is not so common in the industrial field. This is mainly due to the challenges imposed by strength and stiffness requirements involved in their use in structures where spans are typically significantly higher than those found in conventional buildings. Additionally, there are conditioning factors inherent to the nature of industrial buildings, such as clearance limitations, the need to avoid obstructing facade openings, the passage of ducts, etc. This work presents how the use of this technique, provided it is properly designed and does not pose an insurmountable obstacle to the use of the building, can also be of interest in structures of this nature. Such situations arise particularly in industrial buildings where, due to demands exceeding the originally planned loads, or due to inadequate design during the project phase (if detected in time), it becomes necessary to implement an agile reinforcement intervention that provides additional load-bearing capacity to existing horizontal structures, offering a viable alternative to full replacement. Nowadays, increased structural demands are often caused by the installation of rooftop HVAC systems, such as solar panels or air handling units, driven by sustainability and energy efficiency requirements. Based on the case study of an industrial building located in Madrid (Spain), where the roof loads considered during the design phase were found to be lower than the actual service load demands, and following an initial strengthening intervention using FRP laminates that proved insufficient, this paper analyses the design parameters and structural constraints that enabled the implementation of mullions as a reinforcement technique in this type of building. The study also highlights the feasibility of applying this solution to similar cases in the future.
Residential real estate development is a capital-intensive activity whose profitability has been associated in the literature with multiple factors. Despite the growth of research, evidence remains fragmented across different contexts and methodological approaches, limiting an integrated understanding. Against this background, this systematic review aims to describe the variables reported in the literature as relevant to profitability. This review follows the PRISMA 2020 guidelines and organizes the analysis around four dimensions: land market, construction costs, sales velocity, and permitting and approval timelines. The review synthesizes the evidence and identifies gaps that support the development of more integrative profitability models.
Managing New Engineering Contract (NEC) projects requires not only technical knowledge but also soft skills that support communication, collaboration, and proactive risk management. This study identifies and prioritizes the soft skills required for NEC contract management in Peru. A literature review was used to develop a preliminary list of competencies, which was validated by seven experts and evaluated through a survey of 74 professionals with direct NEC project experience. The Relative Importance Index was applied to rank the competencies. Problem solving obtained the highest score (94.86%), followed by effective communication (94.05%) and team leadership and coordination (92.70%); negotiation and active collaboration were tied next (92.43% each). The findings show that effective NEC management depends on combining proactive problem solving, clear communication, team coordination, constructive negotiation, and active collaboration. These results can guide professional selection and training in public entities and contractors. Future studies should test the findings with larger samples and in other national contexts.
This study presents an evaluation of cement-millet husk ash (CMHA) concrete for sustainable rigid pavement applications using destructive and non-destructive testing techniques. Millet husk ash (MHA), obtained from controlled burning of agricultural waste, was used to replace ordinary Portland cement (OPC) at 0-20% (at 5% increment) by weight in two nominal mix proportions of 1:2:4 and 1:1.5:3. Fresh concrete properties were examined through slump and setting time tests, while hardened performance was assessed using compressive strength testing at 3, 7, 14, and 28 days. Complementary non-destructive tests, including rebound hammer and ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), were employed to characterize surface hardness, internal concrete quality, and microstructural integrity. Results showed that MHA replacement between 5 -10% improved workability, densification, and strength development due to enhanced pozzolanic activity and matrix refinement. This improvement was consistently reflected in both destructive and non-destructive indicators. However, higher replacement levels resulted in reduced performance, attributed to excessive dilution of cementitious compounds. The findings showed that MHA is a viable supplementary cementitious material for rigid pavement concrete and supports sustainable construction through reduced cement consumption and effective waste utilization and an optimal replacement range of 5-10% is recommended for structural pavement applications.
Growing environmental concerns have promoted the adoption of sustainable practices in pavement engineering, including the incorporation of Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) into asphalt mixtures. RAP, obtained from existing asphalt pavements that have reached the end of their service life, allows the reuse of valuable materials, reducing both the consumption of natural resources and production costs. However, its influence on the fracture performance of asphalt mixtures remains a critical issue, particularly at high RAP contents. This study evaluated the applicability of the Flexibility Index Test (FIT), according to the AASHTO TP 124-20 standard, to characterize the cracking resistance of MDC-19 dense hot-mix asphalt containing 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% RAP. The load-displacement response obtained from the FIT was used to determine fracture energy and the Flexibility Index (FI). The results revealed a clear relationship between RAP content and fractured performance. The mixture containing 25% RAP exhibited the highest fracture energy and the greatest average Flexibility Index (25.53), indicating superior resistance to crack initiation and propagation compared with the control mixture (FI = 13.84). In contrast, RAP contents above 50% produced a marked reduction in both fracture energy and FI, with average FI values close to 3, reflecting a transition toward a more brittle mechanical behavior caused by the increased stiffness of the aged asphalt binder. These findings demonstrate that moderate RAP incorporation can enhance cracking resistance without the use of additives or rejuvenators, whereas high RAP contents significantly reduce the energy dissipation capacity and flexibility of the mixtures. The study supports the implementation of the Flexibility Index Test as a reliable tool for evaluating recycled asphalt mixtures in pavement design and quality control.
