Mina Haghnezhad - Department of Civil Engineer, Sharif University of Technology-International Kish Campus, Kis Island, Iran
Alireza Khaloo - Department of Civil Engineering, Sharif University of Technology

One of the delays which engineers are facing is related to strengthening projects. The aim of this study was to investigate the causes of delay in strengthening projects and examine the correlation between the factors of time overrun by using statistical analysis software (SPSS). To achieve this objective, a list of subjects representing strengthening delays based on available information in the literature and interview with strengthening experts was obtained. A field survey was conducted through a structured questionnaire including owners, contractors, university's professors who have a PhD degree in structural or earthquake engineering, consultant engineers, and supervisor engineers in Mazandaran and Tehran. About 174 respondents participated in the survey. The factors was analyzed by using Relative Importance Index (RII). Ranking of factors and categories was demonstrated according to their importance level on delay. Ten most important causes from a list of 36 different causes of delay were: (1) delay in finance and payments of completed work by owner, (2) unrealistic contract duration planning, (3) shortage of labor skill, (4) perception of strengthening methods differ amongst stakeholders, (5) inadequate modern equipment, (6) ineffective planning and scheduling of project, (7) inadequate contractor experience, (8) cost of strengthening, (9) contract problems, and (10) unclear strengthening standards criteria. The correlation results showed that generally there is a relation between different causes of delay in strengthening project.

Construction, Strengthening, Delay, Correlation