滨海盐渍土的强度特性试验与机理分析

为深入研究滨海盐渍土等特殊黏土的不良工程特性产生的物理化学机制,结合中国交通建设股份有限公司在科威特 Bubiyan 岛的海港盐渍土软基加固工程现场的盐渍土地基开展试验研究。通过十字板剪切试验、三轴试验、直剪试验、液塑限试验与成分分析、电化学特性等物理化学试验,探讨在水的作用下由可溶盐离子引起的土颗粒表面微电场的变化对盐渍土抗剪强度的影响,并与广州南沙软土的工程特性进行了对比。试验及分析结果表明,自然成因、可溶盐含量和颗粒表面电荷密度是两者在强度特性上产生差异的重要原因,同时也是科威特滨海盐渍土具有低强度、低液塑限等宏观不良工程特性的主要因素,对滨海盐渍土强度特性的研究为指导该项目的软基处理方案提供了实验参数与理论基础,并为滨海盐渍土地区的地基处理提供了有益的参考。     

The Prospect of Infrastructure Public‐Private Partnerships in Kuwait,Saudi Arabia,and Qatar: Transforming Challenges into Opportunities

This article examines the prospect of using infrastructure public‐private partnerships (PPPs) within Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar in light of the drastic drop in oil prices since mid‐2014. It argues that, while PPPs appear to be a strategic policy option for the three Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states to tackle growing fiscal deficits, these states are constrained by numerous governance‐related, administrative, and regulatory challenges that make PPPs problematic. Effective implementation of the inherently complex and contractual PPP policy requires addressing the existing institutional, economic, bureaucratic, and cultural constraints within these three states. This article concludes with recommendations to mitigate these challenges, that require serious political will and sufficient time to yield positive results, and to attract international investors and contractors to the Gulf region. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Arab Consumers' Behavior Towards Credit Card Usage

Abstract

Credit card usage by consumers across the oil-rich Arab countries (such as Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait) is changing the landscape of consumer behavior, motivating Arab consumers to buy more often, and promoting impulse buying. Our study examines Arab consumers' behavior towards credit card usage from multi-cultural perspective by replicating a western model propounded by Kaynak et al. (1986) and Kaynak et al. (2001)