The thermal analysis of roller compacted concrete dams (RCC) plays an important role in their design and construction. This paper focuses on the application and verification of a twodimensional finite element code developed for the thermal and structural analysis of RCC dams. The Kinta RCC gravity dam, which is the first RCC dam in Malaysia, has been taken for the purpose of verification of the finite element code. The dam is 78 m in height and still under construction. The actual climatic conditions and thermal properties of the materials were considered in the analysis. The predicted temperatures obtained from the finite element code that was developed are found to be in good agreement with actual temperatures measured in the field using thermocouples installed within the dam body.

Crack is one of the most common defects observed in reinforced concrete slabs and beams. Major cracks in concrete structures may occur due to overloading, corrosion of reinforcement or differential settlement of support. To restore the structural capacity of the distressed elements, retrofitting and/or strengthening are needed. There are different techniques available for retrofitting and strengthening of different reinforced concrete structural elements reported in the literature. This paper investigates the structural behaviour of cracked reinforced concrete one-way slab, which is repaired using different techniques. Five different techniques are used for the purpose of repair in the cracked concrete slab namely; cement grout, epoxy injection, ferrocement layer, carbon fibre strip and section enlargement. The slabs were loaded to failure stage and the structural response of each slab specimens have been predicted in terms of deflection, variation of strain in concrete and steel, collapse loads and the failure modes. The efficiency of different repair and strengthening techniques and their effects on the structural behaviour of cracked one-way reinforced concrete slab had been analyzed. It was observed that the type of repair technique used will affect the load carrying capacity of the slab and will lead to a redistribution of the strains and hence stresses in both concrete and steel reinforcement. All repair techniques are found to be able to restore or enhance the structural capacity of cracked concrete slabs.

This paper focuses on the development of the compressive strength correlation between the individual block, prism and basic wall panel for load bearing interlocking hollow mortarless blocks. The interlocking blocks used were developed by the Housing Research Centre at Universiti Putra Malaysia. The blocks consisted of stretcher, corner and half blocks. Forty individual block units from each type were tested under compression. The compressive strengths of 10 prisms assembled by stacking two stretcher blocks and two half blocks were evaluated. In addition, four wall panels each having a dimension of 1.2 × 1.2 m were assembled and tested under axial compressive loads. The results obtained were compared with those found in bonded masonry. BS 5628 Part 1:1992 were used for predicting of the compressive capacity of the bonded masonry. The interlocking mechanism, crack patterns and failure mechanism of the interlocking masonry specimens are highlighted and discussed. The correlations between the compressive strength of the interlocking masonry individual block (fcb), prism (fcp) and standard panel (fcw) found in this analysis were fcp = 0.47fcb, fcw = 0.83fcp and fcw = 0.39fcb. Test results indicate that the interlocking mechanism and strength of the block in the load-bearing wall was satisfactory.

The paper describes the development of a new interlocking hollow block masonry system appropriate for load bearing masonry wall construction. The developed system is an alternative to the traditional bonded masonry system where the blocks in the wall are integrated through mortar layers. In the system developed, the blocks are stacked on one another and three-dimensional interlocking protrusions are provided in the blocks to integrate the blocks into walls. This paper includes the background, concept and procedure used to develop an efficient interlocking hollow block system, which may be used in the construction of load bearing walls. Twenty-one different block models have been investigated and analysed with respect to weight, bearing and shear areas, shape, ease of production, ability to accommodate vertical and horizontal reinforcing stabilising ties and efficiency of the interlocking mechanism under imposed loads. The blocks, developed under the name 'PUTRA BLOCK', have been used to construct a single-storey house at Universiti Putra Malaysia. The system provides a fast, easy and an accurate building system.

Various types of interlocking mortarless (dry-stacked) block masonry system have been developed worldwide. However, the characteristics of dry joints under compressive load, and their effect on the overall behaviour of the interlocking mortarless system, are still not well understood. This paper presents an experimental investigation into the dry-joint contact behaviour of masonry and the behaviour of interlocking mortarless hollow blocks for grouted and ungrouted prisms under compression. Two experimental test set-ups are proposed to evaluate the contact behaviour of dry joints, considering the geometric imperfections in the contacting faces. The results show that the contact behaviour of a dry joint is highly affected by geometric imperfections in the block bed. Different patterns of deformation are distinguished in mortarless hollow (ungrouted) and grouted prisms. Dry joints predominantly affected the hollow prism deformation until the compressive load reaches 0·57 of the maximum load. However, this behaviour is not common in grouted prisms, because noticeable deformation commences after 0$38 of the maximum load. Furthermore, the variations of strength and deformation in grouted specimens are diminished compared with those in ungrouted specimens.