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One of the most contested and anticipated research issues is the acceptability of using recycled aggregates instead of fresh aggregates. This study aims to look at the possibility of replacing fresh aggregates with 15%, 30%, 60% and 100% recycled aggregates.

The research is divided into two stages. The compressive, split tensile, flexural and bond strength of the various mixes were examined in the first phase using untreated recycled concrete aggregates (RCA). The second phase entails chemically treating RCA with a 10% 0.1 M sodium metasilicate solution to evaluate differences in strength, indicating the success of the treatment performed. Microstructural experiments such as scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction were also conducted to evaluate the formation of interfacial transition zone (ITZ) in treated and untreated RCA specimens.

The observed findings reveal a decrease in concrete strength with increasing RCA concentration; however, when treated RCA was used, the strengths increased significantly when compared to untreated samples. The findings also include curves indicating the correlation between compressive strength and other mechanical strength parameters for an optimum mix of concrete prepared with 30% RCA replacement.

The study through its novel approach, demonstrates the effect of pretreatment of RCA in the absence of any standardized chemical treatment methodology and presents significant potential in minimizing reliance on fresh aggregates used in concrete, lowering building costs and promoting the use of waste materials in construction.

The paper aims to focus on adjacent buildings response, equipped with damper, to analyze the vibration reduction in the nearby buildings. The nearby buildings were also equipped with dampers. The occurrence of adjacent buildings with adequate or inadequate space in between is a common phenomenon. However, many a times not much attention is paid to provide or check gap adequacy or to connect the two buildings suitably to avoid pounding of two structures on each other. This study emphasizes the utility of providing a damper in between two adjacent buildings for better performance.

The two steel structures taken for study are prototype of two structures normally found in industrial structure such as power plant, where in one of boiler structure is often tall and braced and short structure of turbine building which is moment resistant, modeled in SAP. There could be similar such structures which are often connected to a platform or a walkway with a sliding end, so as not to transfer horizontal force to other structures. If the advantage of stiffness of tall braced structure is taken into account, shorter structure can be suitably connected to braced structure to transfer forces during seismic cases under nonlinear conditions, thereby avoiding pounding (incase gap is too less), reducing response and thus optimizing the section sizes. The structures were subjected to El Centro earthquake, to simulate MCE (which could be the other site TH scaled up as desired for real site PGA), and damper location and parameters were varied to find optimum value which offers reduced base shear, reduced top floor displacement and minimum inter story drift and highest energy absorption by fluid viscous dampers.

The findings show that taller structures, which are braced, have more stiffness; the effect of damper is more pronounced in reducing displacement of shorter moment resistant structure to the tune of 60%, with suitably defined Cd value which is found to be 600 KNs/m for the present study. Thus, advantage of stiffener structure is taken to leverage and reduce the displacement of shorter moment resistant structure in reducing its displacement under nonlinear conditions of seismic case.

This work shows the original findings, of the adjacent buildings response, equipped with damper, to analyze the vibration reduction on other buildings which were planned to be constructed nearby.

This qualitative study aims to examine bankers’ perspectives regarding financial inclusion, the challenges it faces and the scope for improvement. This research proposes a financial inclusion model, considering the inputs received by bankers. Financial exclusion of different sections is an issue common to emerging countries.

Data for qualitative research were collected through interviews with bank officials. The information was gathered from 32 bankers from India’s several zones (North, South, West and East). The data were collected from bankers from different public and private sector banks. Thematic analysis was performed up to the point of saturation to study the response received from bankers.

Bank-related issues such as frequent computer problems, network connectivity problems, costs, a shortage of bank branches, fewer transactions through automated teller machines and a shortage of banking staff affect customers’ confidence in formal banking. Banking services are disrupted by a lack of trust in banking correspondents (BCs), as they are not regular employees of banks. Limits on daily transactions discourage high-value customers from using BCs and kiosks. The time spent on administrative formalities impacts customers. Financial inclusion is affected by availability, accessibility, usage and affordability. Digital financial literacy is essential for ease of transaction, but awareness about financial products helps protect customers from cyber scams. The findings of this research would benefit financial institutions globally in developing their businesses and helping to achieve financial inclusion and the United Nation’s sustainable development goals (SDGs).

This research paper undertakes a qualitative analysis of the views collected from bankers. Bankers are crucial stakeholders in the successful implementation of the National Financial Inclusion Policy of the Government of India. Bankers’ perspectives will be important not only for India and its researchers but also in the global context, as the UN’s SDGs focus on leaving no one behind.