MODELS
MIR FAROOQ ALI
CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT
KING FAHD UNIVERSITYOF PETROLEUM & MINERALS
MAY, 2005 In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM & MINERALS
DHAHRAN 31261, SAUDI ARABIADEANSHIP OF GRADUATE STUDIES
This thesis, written by MIR FAROOQ ALI under the direction of his thesis advisor and approved by his thesis committee, has been presented to and accepted by Dean of Graduate Studies, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER
OF SCIENCE.
Thesis Committee
____________________________
Dr. Mohammed Al Khalil (Advisor)
____________________________
Prof. Sadi Assaf (Member)
____________________________
Dr. Soliman Almohawis (Member)
______________________________
Prof. Abdulaziz Bubshait
(Department Chairman)
______________________________
Dr. Mohammad Al- Ohali
(Dean of Graduate Studies)
[Date]
Dedicated to my Mother & Father for their innumerable prayers and encouragement
”O Lord, bestow on them thy Mercy even as they cherished me in childhood.” (The Holy Quran 17: 24)
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
All praise and thanks are due to Almighty Allah, Most Gracious; Most Merciful, for His immeasurable blessings which have resulted in me accomplishing this research. Thereafter, I acknowledge KFUPM for the support extended to this research through its remarkable facilities and for providing me the opportunity to pursue graduate studies.
My parents have always supported in everything that I have attempted and their constant encouragement has lifted up my spirits whenever I encountered problems in life. Their lives have always been an example to me. Their teachings have made me into the person I am now. Words can never convey the gratitude I feel towards them and my grandmother. But still I would like to thank them for everything they have done for me.
I acknowledge with deep gratitude the inspiration,