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Showing posts from October, 2008

Research & Development

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Research Organisations: SAFERELNET : Thematic Network on Safety and Reliability of Industrial Products, Systems and Structures ASRANet : Network for integrating structural safety, risk and reliability. SIMoNET : Structural Integrity Monitoring Network OES : Offshore Engineering Society Universities: PAFA Consulting Engineers have an ongoing involvement in schemes run by TTI : University of Southampton : PAFA has recently completed a Teaching Company Scheme (TCS) with the Fluid Structure Interactions Research Group . University of Surrey : PAFA is about to commence a Knowledge Transfer Partnership ( KTP ) programme (the new name for TCS) with the Centre for Engineering Materials & Structures . Click Here for the job description.

Advice from Luqman

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Advice from Lukman to his son Surah Lukman verse 12-19 Some commentary on these verses from Tafseer Ibn Katheer. *About Lukman there are different interpretation about him. He was most likely a righteous man of African descent and was a distinguished man among his people. There were three probabilities of where he came from. He was either from the area of Ethophia (Habshah), Nuba (south of Egypt) or Sudan. He was believed to live during the time of Prophet Dawuud (AS). 12. And indeed We bestowed upon Lukman Al-Hikmah (wisdom and religious understanding, etc.) saying: "Give thanks to Allah," and whoever gives thanks, he gives thanks for (the good of) his own self. And whoever is unthankful, then verily, Allah is All-Rich (Free of all wants), Worthy of all praise. 13. And (remember) when Lukman said to his son when he was advising him: "O my son! Join not in worsh

The Journeys of Ibn Battuta: The Longest Hajj

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The Longest Hajj: The Journeys of Ibn Battuta From Pilgrim to Traveler—Tangier to Makkah At a time when the greatest speed humans could reach was astride a galloping horse, to travel 120,000 kilometers, or 75,000 miles, in 30 years was a remarkable feat. At a steady pace, it would have worked out to a bit under 11 kilometers (7 mi) a day for almost 11,000 days. The man who traveled that distance was, according to his chronicler, "the traveler of the age." He was not the Venetian Marco Polo, but Ibn Battuta of Tangier, who set out eastward in 1325, the year after Polo died. Ibn Battuta's wanderings stretched from Fez to Beijing, and although he resolved not to travel the same path more than once, he made four Hajj pilgrimages to Makkah, in addition to crossing what, on a modern map, would be more than 40 countries. He met some 60 heads of state—an d served as advisor to two dozen of them. His travel memoir, known as the Rihla, written after his journeys were complete, n

Ship Model Propulsion Experiments

Ship model propulsion experiments analysis and random uncertainty In this paper two methods of evaluating ship model propulsion experiments using the Load Varying Method are described. They give model results that are quite close, but the nonlinear method is preferred and it has the advantage that it can provide the random uncertainty as well. The linear method, on the other hand, provides criteria or data consistency checks that the data should satisfy before it is accepted for analysis and prediction purposes; these checks are not comprehensive, however. The sample size was reasonably large, involving 632 tank runs, covering 13 vessels of a variety of types, and 29 vessel conditions. Problems encountered in propulsion testing are discussed and propeller rotational speed is identified as the variable with the least random scatter present. The scatter is so low in comparison with the scatter in the other variables, excluding model speed, that the rotational speed can be assumed to be f

Strategic Planning in Islam

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Strategic Planning in Islam Strategic planning is defined as follows: Simply put, strategic planning determines where an organization is going over the next year or more, how it is going to get there, and how it will know if it got there or not. The focus of a strategic plan is usually on the entire organization, while the focus of a business plan is usually on a particular product, service, or program. ( 1 ) I learned that no ambitious organization can progress without planning or trying to foresee the future via applying famous measures, such as SWOT analysis (analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats ). Also, other tools are used in the analysis of all that is involved in the process of operating this entity. This should be the behavior of today's Muslims, whether they are employees at some institution, citizens in a country, or individuals in the Muslim Ummah as a whole. All Muslims should apply strategic planning in one way or another to pr

Ship Structural Details

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Detailed Description of Structural Failure The structural failure of the NEW CARISSA was likely the result of a combination of sea floor scouring effects, bottom pounding, and transverse bending from waves. The eventual break-up of the vessel into two pieces can be viewed as a direct result of a combination of these effects. Vessels that strand broadside to incoming seas and surf on a sandy bottom are subject to significant scouring of the sea floor, which can quickly lead to excessive hull stresses. As the incoming waves strike the vessel's side, they are deflected fore and aft until they are able to sweep around the ends of the vessel at high velocity. The high velocity water flow at the ends scours away the sand beneath the bow and stern, and can deposit the sand on the seaward and leeward sides of the vessel near amidships. This scouring and depositing can quickly develop significant hogging stresses on the vessel as a pinnacle is effectively created under the vessel near amid

Practical Training in Shipbuilding Technology

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Practical Training in Shipbuilding Technology Lessons learned: Shipbuilding technology is a challenging field that covers a wide scope including naval architecture, marine engineering, systems analysis, seamanship, communication, nautical science, etc. My stints at OSCC (Overseas Shipbuilding Cooperation Centre) at Yokohama, Japan in 1984 where I was exposed to the theoretical aspects of project management, production technology, ship design, etc. The practical aspects on welding technology, production engineering, surveying methods, etc. was learned at Sumitomo Heavy Industries in Yokohama. Inspection of welding defects at various critical parts of a ship including some "hard to survey areas" like the double bottom, underwater fittings, etc. require some knowledge of non-destructive testing methods such as ultrasonic, x-ray, dye penetrant tests, etc. Reading of x-ray films require some skills such as looking for incomplete penetration of the weld, porosity, etc. Ship design

Masjid in Islam

Masjid in Islam Arabic word masjid means “place of worship,” is from Arabic verb sajada means “bow down.” These are primarily the “houses which Allah has permitted to be raised to honor, for the celebration in them, of his name: in them is He glorified in the morning and the evening” (Al Quran, 24: 36). In Madinah, Prophet (Salla Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) purchased a piece of land and a masjid was built upon it. It was the place where in the holy companions used to offer the first-time prayers under the stewardship of the holy Prophet (Salla Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) besides settling other issues, where he (Salla Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) delivered his addresses, which contained not only appeals for obedience to Allah but also regulations affecting the religious, moral and social life of the community, from where he controlled the religious and political community of Islam. Like the Dar-an-Nadwa which once served as the place for taking all important decisions by the Qurai

Doa of the Prophet Muhammad SAW

Doa of the Prophet Muhammad SAW ALLAH! There is no God but he, the ever living, the self subsisting, by whom all subsist. Alif laam meem ALLAH! There is no God but he, the ever living, the self subsisting, by whom all subsist, and downcast will be the faces before the living, the self subsisting. There is no God but thee thy glory I extol. Verily, I have been of the wrongdoers. O one absolute and independent! He who begets not nor is he begotten. And none bears likeness to him. O most Merciful of the Mercifuls! We have wronged ourselves, and if thou forgives us not, and bestowest not upon us thy mercy, We shall certainly be of the losers. Our lord! Forgive us, and turn to us (Mercifully): surely thou art the oft returning (to mercy), the Merciful. O lord ! For

Islamic Leadership

Islamic Leadership Allah T’ala says in the Holy Quran, إِنَّ الدِّينَ عِندَ اللّهِ الإِسْلاَمُ وَمَا اخْتَلَفَ الَّذِينَ أُوْتُواْ الْكِتَابَ إِلاَّ مِن بَعْدِ مَا جَاءهُمُ الْعِلْمُ بَغْيًا بَيْنَهُمْ وَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِآيَاتِ اللّهِ فَإِنَّ اللّهِ سَرِيعُ الْحِسَابِ 3:19 The Religion before Allah is Islam (submission to His Will): Nor did the People of the Book dissent therefrom except through envy of each other, after knowledge had come to them. But if any deny the Signs of Allah, Allah is swift in calling to account. The Arabic word “Deen” is not just religious rituals, it includes guidance and rules for social, economic, political, and other aspects of life. In another place in the Holy Quran, Allah T’ala tells us: يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ ادْخُلُواْ فِي السِّلْمِ كَآفَّةً وَلاَ تَتَّبِعُواْ خُطُوَاتِ الشَّيْطَانِ إِنَّهُ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌ O ye who believe! Enter into Islam whole-heartedly; and follow not the footsteps of the evil one (Satan); for he is