bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multiple-Test Analysis of Sequences of SNPs for Determining Susceptibility to Pre-eclampsia
Authors: Fiaschi Linda  , Garibaldi Jonathan M.  , Krasnogor Natalio
Published: February 2025

The ability to sequence DNA has opened up the possibility to investigate if there are specific relationships between genetic information and various diseases. A variation of the individual nucleotides in DNA is called a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). These may have no effect or may cause subtle differences in physical or psychological characteristics. Some may actually affect a person's response to drug therapy and even confer a personal susceptibility or resistance to a certain disease. For this reason, analysis of SNPs has become the subject of extensive research. In this chapter we show an example of a multiple-test analysis of SNPs for the assessment of susceptibility to pre-eclampsia. There are many different methods that can be used for such analysis, but we focus on one known as the Transmission Disequilibrium Test (TDT). By analyzing all possible combinations of SNPs in a database related to pre-eclampsia, we identify the combinations of particular interest. This is a useful tool for the preliminary analysis of such data in order to indicate candidate SNPs for further association studies.
Pattern Recognition Methods for Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) Induction-Treatment Analysis
Authors: Manikis Georgios C.  , Kounelakis Michail G.  , Zervakis Michail E.
Published: February 2025

Acute Myeloid Leukemia is a neoplastic malignancy, which originate from the myeloid line of the cells of hematopoietic system. Although it is a relatively rare cancer and despite of improvement in prognosis due to recent radio-chemotherapy regimens, it is still a severe disease and only a minority of patients are cured. In the present work we propose a methodological approach, evaluating and benchmarking different supervised learning techniques for the prediction of response to induction treatment in Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). Our research also focuses on the examination of the most significant indicators that contribute to the improvement of diagnosis.
The Challenges of “Upstream” Communication and Public Engagement for Irish Nanotechnology
Authors: Murphy Pádraig
Published: February 2025

This paper sets out some challenges for Ireland's contribution to nanotechnology public engagement in the context of current STS and science communication theoretical-practice approaches. I report on a pilot set of public engagement activities and accompanying ‘multi-sited ethnographic’ and frame analysis methodologies. I reflect on how the theoretical context of these methods and findings present a challenge for nanoscience communicators in the first instance, but also for the social scientists and academics that are themselves contributing to the discourse of nanotechnology and, intentionally or not, communicating nanotechnology to diverse publics. I identify six discourse sites of nanotechnology which have the potential for public engagement.
Highlighting Learning Across a Degree with an Independent Open Learner Model
Authors: Bull Susan  , Gardner Peter
Published: February 2025

This paper introduces UK-SpecIAL, a simple independent open learner model to raise learner awareness of their progress towards learning outcomes across components of their degree. UK-SpecIAL was deployed in first year courses in electronic, electrical and computer engineering. Questionnaire responses and usage logs suggest the independent open learner model approach may be able to help students understand how their various courses relate to each other, and to the overall aims and requirements of their degree and future professions.
An experiment to measure learning in a collaborative assessment environment
Authors: Conejo Ricardo  , Barros Beatriz  , Guzman Eduardo  , Galvez Jaime
Published: February 2025

The SIETTE collaborative environment allows students to take tests together in small groups. Individuals can communicate and hold discussions to solve test questions. This paper describes the summative evaluation of the SIETTE collaborative environment and the relationship between the collaboration and the actual improvement which occurs in the student knowledge level. We conclude that under certain conditions improvement occurs and can be measured.
Affect Recognition from Speech
Authors: Zhang Li  , Francisco Virginia
Published: February 2025

We aim to provide an automatic anti-bullying component in online text and speech based interaction for young people age 18 – 25. Affect expression in speech generally differs from culture to culture, from female to male. In this study, we focus on affect sensing from speech for different gender user groups for young people. So far our work mainly concentrates on the sensing of five basic emotions (including ‘happiness’, ‘sadness’, ‘fear’, ‘surprise’, and ‘anger’) and ‘neutral’ from speech. Detailed acoustic features have been extracted after analysis of speech data from one chosen male and female speaker. Our affect sensing component has been implemented under the theory of naïve Bayes classifier. We have also evaluated it using new test data. Our work contributes to the conference themes on intelligent technologies – machine learning and affective speech processing.
Partial drainage effects in the interpretation of piezocone tests in Venetian silty soils
Authors: Tonni L.  , Gottardi G.
Published: February 2025

The paper presents the results of a field study based on a consistent set of piezocone tests performed within a more ambitious research programme carried out at the Treporti Test Site (Venice, Italy), with the aim of better understanding the behaviour of the heterogeneous and highly stratified silty sediments forming the shallowest layers of the Venetian lagoon basin.
Probabilistic liquefied shear strength criteria from case histories
Authors: Gutierrez M.  , Eddy M.
Published: February 2025

Liquefaction of granular soils can have extremely detrimental effects on the stability of soil slopes and deposits, and on structures founded on them. A critical parameter in the evaluation of the liquefaction of soils is the residual or liquefied shear strength. This liquefied shear strength determines the magnitude of the deformation that the soil will undergo once it has liquefied. Current procedures for estimating the liquefied shear strength are based on laboratory testing programs, or from the back-analysis of case histories of liquefaction failures where in-situ test data were available. The case-histories approach is the procedure that is preferred in practice. However, it has several limitations including the very limited amount of data available, the significant uncertainties involved in the back-calculation of the liquefied shear strengths, and the lack of consistent and rational methods in the use of the available data. To address these current limitations, this paper proposes new probabilistic liquefied shear strength criteria for liquefiable soils from case histories.
Eurocode 7 for geotechnical design – a model code for non-EU countries?
Authors: Schuppener B.  , Bond A.J.  , Day P.  , Frank R.  , Orr T.L.L.  , Scarpelli G.  , Simpson B.
Published: February 2025

Eurocode 7 has been described as an ‘umbrella’ code, which can accommodate various geotechnical practices, and as such is well suited for adoption not only throughout Europe but also in other parts of the world. This paper reviews Eurocode 7's suitability in this regard and is divided into three parts: Part 1 provides an overview of Eurocode 7 Part 1; Part 2 discusses experience implementing the code in Europe; and Part 3 summarizes attitudes towards the code in some non-European countries.
Large storage capacity cement silos and clinker deposit on a near-shore sandy fill using piles for soil improvement and settlement reduction
Authors: Auxilia G.B.  , Burke P.  , Duranda M.  , Ulini F.  , Buffa L.  , Terrioti C.  , Dominijanni A.  , Manassero M.
Published: February 2025

An important terminal and cement grinding plant is today under construction on a 10 m thick near-shore sandy fill inside the Castellón harbour area (Spain). The main structures of the cement production plant consist of a 540 MN silos system (70 m high) and a deposit, covered by a 62 m diameter dome, which is able to store up to 800 MN of granular clinker. The natural subsoil conditions of the area are very complex, from the geotechnical point of view, due to the alternation of locally lightly cemented silty and gravelly sands and quasi normally-consolidated and structured fine grained materials. The foundation design of such installations considered the use of driven cast in-situ concrete piles (0.4 m in diameter and about 12 m in length), to densify the near-shore structural sandy fill, and bored piles (1.5 m in diameter and 48 m in length) to reduce the total and differential settlements. The subsoil geotechnical profile, the foundation design approach and the final layout of the driven and bored piles are illustrated with particular reference to the silos system. Data from the operating monitoring system are also reported in terms of total and differential settlements of the piled raft and of the load sharing among the bored piles, driven piles and in between soil up to the end of the construction stage of the silos structure, which represent about 35% of the total load expected at the foundation level during the service stage.
Lateral Reaction of Piles Using Free-Field Response
Authors: Kelesoglu M. Kubilay  , Cinicioglu S. Feyza
Published: February 2025

This paper proposes a new method that uses free-field measurements of vertical/horizontal displacements and excess pore pressures to calculate the lateral loads on the piles due to embankment induced soil movements. The variation of lateral earth pressure K and the horizontal effective stresses are calculated and a constitutive relationship is proposed between lateral earth pressure coefficient and modulus of horizontal subgrade reaction. Using this relation the stiffness degradation of the soil with deformation is defined for the cases where piles are installed before or after the embankment construction.
Application of the method of initial parameters to the laterally loaded pile problem
Authors: Salgado R.  , Basu D.
Published: February 2025

The method of initial parameters (MIP) has been used to analyze beams on elastic foundations with discontinuities along the span due to applied concentrated forces and moments. MIP is modified in this paper to analyze laterally loaded piles with discontinuities, caused by soil layering, along the length of the piles. Using MIP, the pile deflection, slope, bending moment and shear force can be calculated analytically within each soil layer. The use of MIP to solve the problem of a laterally loaded pile is illustrated for a pile embedded in a three-layer soil profile, although the method is, in principle, applicable to problems with any number of soil layers. One advantage of MIP is that complete symbolic solutions can be obtained for problems with up to four soil layers. The method is equally applicable to problems in which forces act not only at the pile head but also along the pile shaft.
Dynamic load tests of piles in non-cohesive soils
Authors: Brzozowski T.  , Gwizdała K.  , Sikora Z.
Published: February 2025

The results of investigations of various types of piles and the analysis of dynamic tests carried out recently in Poland are presented. Particular attention was paid to the quality of installation of the tested piles and factors influencing final results of bearing capacities determined from the tests. It was found that the quality of piles significantly affects the potential difficulties in the interpretation of the results and thus its reliability. The correlations between the results of dynamic and static tests of piles are presented.
3D Modeling of Soil Nailed Excavations
Authors: Nájar Alexei Gino Jimenez  , Hachich Waldemar
Published: February 2025

Quite frequently the analysis and design of soil nailed structures is based upon the Limit Equilibrium Method. This is, in a sense contradictory, since soil nails constitute a passive reinforcement which requires deformation for the resistance to be mobilized, making it desirable to be able to predict the displacements of soil nailed structures, as well as the redistribution of stresses among nails during the several phases of the excavation/installation procedure. This is especially true when nailed excavations are close to sensitive structures or utilities, as it is often the case in densely populated areas. In this study, two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) stress-strain analysis are compared for hypothetical and real situations, in an attempt to explore how simple a model can be adopted and still allow reasonable prediction of the behavior of nailed excavations. Solutions based on elastic-plastic Mohr-Coulomb and hyperbolic models are compared with incremental linear elastic analyses. In all cases considerable attention is focused on the choice of parameters that are compatible with the stress path prevalent in different regions of the excavated material.
Reliability of rainfall threshold for pyroclastic debris flows
Authors: Scotto di Santolo A.  , Evangelista A.
Published: February 2025

This paper reports the results of a theoretical analysis that aims to investigate the reliability of rainfall threshold for debris flows in partially saturated pyroclastic soils. The study refers to a typical pyroclastic cover in the area of Campania, Italy, which is often affected by these phenomena. The prediction of triggering is of extreme importance for hazard mitigation, because of the dynamic features that characterize these landslides during their evolution. The study highlights the fact that it is extremely uncertain to define the hazard of a storm by means of empiric thresholds that correlate the mean intensity of rainfall and duration. This work confirms once again that the evaluation of an early warning system based on hydrological threshold, even if carried out on a theoretical basis, is inaccurate due to the uncertainty of numerous factors. A more efficient approach must be hinged on the effects of rain such as suction or water content variation measured by means of in situ monitoring.
New semi-embedded method for the finite element analysis of reinforcement bars
Authors: de Farias Márcio Muniz  , Durand Raul
Published: February 2025

Reinforcement bars are commonly used in Geotechnical works such as soil nailing and tunnel excavation with the NATM process. Three approaches are found in the literature for the finite element analysis of such inclusions: the discrete, the smeared and the embedded methods. The discrete method is the conventional F.E. approach in which each bar has their own nodes attached to the nodes of the surrounding solid elements. It has the disadvantage of requiring a new F.E. mesh for each new configuration of reinforcement bars in a design stage, which can be rather cumbersome and time consuming for 3D analyses. The smeared method requires a kind of homogenization technique with the definition of equivalent properties for the reinforced region. This is neither simple, nor accurate, besides being dependent on the constitutive model of the solid materials. The so-called embedded method has a great advantage of allowing the bars to trespass freely the solid elements at any position. The stiffness of the bar segments are transferred to those of the trespassed solid elements, by assuming perfect bonding between them. However, this is not an acceptable assumption for soil reinforcement bars, since the critical failure zone is the soil-bar interface itself. Therefore, the simulation of relative displacements between the bars and the soil is the most relevant. The challenge here is to include these joint elements without forcing the discretization of the surrounding solid elements. This was achieved with the new semi-embedded method presented in this paper. The method combines the best features of the discrete and embedded methods. It is tested for a pull out test and an excavation example achieving very good results.
Piled embankments using geosynthetic reinforcement in the Netherlands: design, monitoring & evaluation
Authors: van Eekelen S.J.M.  , Bezuijen A.  , van Duijnen P.  , Jansen H.L.
Published: February 2025

In 2009, the Dutch guideline for the design of piled embankments is presented. For this purpose, existing design models have been considered and validated. This paper describes parts from that validation: a comparison between several design models and the validation with a field test. Predictions with the German concept-standard EBGEO show the best agreement with numerical calculations and the field test. The Dutch Standard adopts major parts of this EBGEO standard to calculate the tensile forces in the geosynthetic reinforcement, but wants to extend it to lower embankment heights.
River Nile bank protection – German-Egyptian cooperation in analysis, design and quality control
Authors: Rizkallah V.  , Achmus M.  , Nadar M.
Published: February 2025

As the banks of the River Nile in Egypt were endangered by severe erosion in several locations, a river bank protection scheme consisting of a fill and a stone revetment was planned as a countermeasure. In the first project phase, protection work was carried out without soil testing and without site-specific design. This measure halted the erosion, but in several locations the protected banks were severely damaged after a very short period of time. In the second project phase, as part of a German-Egyptian cooperation project, a procedure for analysis, design and quality control for the river bank protection work was developed. For the new locations soil investigations were carried out to determine the relevant soil parameters. Then site-specific stability analyses and site-specific filter design were carried out. The requirements of the design process agreed upon between the German and the Egyptian partners are presented and design examples are given. Part of the agreement was also the execution of thorough quality control measures during the construction process. A design concept for river bank protection works adapted to Egyptian conditions was developed. This concept led to very satisfying results and was used as a model for similar following projects in Egypt.
Predicting excavation performance via inverse analysis
Authors: Osouli A.  , Hashash Y.M.A.
Published: February 2025

Predicting excavation performance in dense populated urban areas is critically important. Inverse analyses are powerful tools that are used to learn from local experience and predict soil response in new excavations with similar soil stratigraphy. This paper demonstrates the performance of a recently developed inverse analysis approach, SelfSim, with a special focus on its ability to provide soil models based on field measurements that can predict excavation performance in similar ground conditions for a case study in Shanghai. In Shanghai metro station excavation, the soil behavior is extracted by learning from a set of measured wall deflections and surface settlements at a selected section. The extracted soil models provide a reasonable prediction of wall deflections and surface settlements elsewhere.
Behaviors of ground and existing structures due to circular tunneling
Authors: Shahin H.M.  , Nakahara E.  , Nagata M.
Published: February 2025

This paper describes relationship between surface settlement and volume loss due to shallow tunneling based on two-dimensional model tests and the corresponding numerical analyses. The interaction effect between tunneling and existing nearby structures is also demonstrated in this paper. The numerical simulations are conducted with finite element method under plane-strain conditions using elastoplastic subloading tij. It is revealed in this research that the volume loss is less significant compare to the crown drift for estimating surface settlement troughs and earth pressure distributions around the tunnel in the case of shallow tunneling. The existing building loads control surface settlement and zone of deformation during tunnel excavation. The numerical results show very good agreement with the results of the model tests.
Instrumented field test and soil structure interaction of concrete pipe with high fill
Authors: Vaslestad J.  , Yesuf G.Y.  , Johansen T.H.  , Wendt M.  , Damtew T.
Published: February 2025

The earth pressure on deeply buried culverts is significantly affected by arching. Both the magnitude and distribution of earth pressure on buried culverts depend on the relative stiffness of the culvert and the soil. In this paper instrumentation of field test with the induced trench method is described. The method involves installing a compressive material (expanded polystyrene) above a rigid culvert in order to reduce the vertical earth pressure (create arching).
Influence of laboratory techniques on the geotechnical characterization of mining and industrial wastes
Authors: de Souza Villar Lúcio Flávio  , de Campos Tácio Mauro Pereira  , Azevedo Roberto Francisco  , Zornberg Jorge Gabriel
Published: February 2025

The design of fine-grained tailing reservoirs requires the determination of their physical, mechanical and hydraulic characteristics to predict both the reservoir filling operation and its reclamation. Once these characteristics are properly determined, moderately realistic tailings behavior prediction, such as its self-weight consolidation, can be obtained from numerical analysis. However, if a simple grain size analysis is not adequately carried out, one can find substantially large discrepancies between the analytical predictions and the actual field behavior. This paper presents results of an extensive laboratory program executed to obtain geotechnical parameters of mining and industrial wastes. Different residues from mining and industrial processing of bauxite were studied. The results of geotechnical characterization tests carried out on all materials are presented and compared. The effects of the testing technique utilized on the geotechnical characterization results are discussed. It is shown that the prediction of the sedimentation/consolidation behavior of these tailings when discharged as slurry using parameters obtained from characterization tests must be done with care.
Training of geotechnical engineers in Albania
Authors: Bozo Luljeta
Published: February 2025

The last 10-15 years, in Albania were evidenced many dangerous phenomena's on construction practice, which are tied with geotechnical problems. The absence of the specialized institutes and the total privatization of construction sector, have done the necessary to train and specialize the civil engineers in geotechnical field. In this paper we want to present our experience for the training of the civil engineers, their profits and advantages. Also we would like to present the work that is done in the Civil Engineering Faculty for preparation of geotechnical engineers, capable of doing design of geotechnical structures, to resolve difficult geotechnical problems and to realize all kind of geotechnical works.
Behaviour of nails reinforcing an open excavation in gneissic residual soil
Authors: Nunes Anna Laura L.S.  , Sayão Alberto S.F.J.  , Lima André P.
Published: February 2025

This paper reports on the stress-strain-strength behaviour of nails in a 40m high excavation in gneissic residual soil, near to city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Instrumentation included inclinometer and tell-tales for monitoring horizontal displacements of the soil mass. Strain gages were also placed on the steel bars for obtaining tension and bending along the nails. The results from the monitoring program allowed identifying the stress and strain distributions along the nails during the excavation progress and for more than one year after the field work was completed. Moreover, the measured nail's strains and stresses allowed the speed of the excavation work to be closely controlled. Distinct construction stages of strength mobilization were identified. Design concepts and construction details are discussed, together with details of the calibration and monitoring program.
Geotechnical design and monitoring of a deep excavation in Bucharest, Romania
Authors: Popa Horatiu  , Manea Sanda  , Batali Loretta
Published: February 2025

Designing high buildings, with 10 – 20 stories aboveground and several underground stories, in dense urban areas supposes to build deep excavation enclosures, having neighbouring structures at the property limit. Designing and building such works imply a series of activities which have to be lead and controlled rigorously from technical and scientific point of view. The paper presents the authors' approach for such a work, from the site geotechnical investigation, mathematical modelling and design to the building survey and model validation.
Modeling and interpretation for ground anchor failure signals under pullout loads
Authors: Cheng S.H.  , Chang D.W.  , Lee W.F.
Published: February 2025

This paper discusses the modeling and interpretation for ground anchor failures under the pullout load test. A real-time acoustic monitoring technique was used in the field tests on two pre-stressed anchors. One-dimensional analytical model was established to model the anchor's behaviors. With the use of attenuation law for waves propagating at the concrete panel, the predicted signals were found comparable to the field data and the 2D/3D finite element modeling using ABAQUS. It was found that the analytical model could capture closely the progressive failures of the ground anchor. By analyzing the signals appearing at the concrete wall, the author suggests the use of Power spectrum density with Welch window method. With the application of short time Fourier Transform, the Hamming window is preferred. It is also found that the resulting signals are highly dependent of the failures. As the damages become more severe, the signals at the time-frequency domain as a result of the short time Fourier Transform would be more distributive.
Multiscale simulation of flood-induced failure of geosystems
Authors: El Shamy U.
Published: February 2025

In this paper, flood-induced failure of a hydraulic structure was simulated using a three-dimensional transient fully-coupled hydromechanical model taking into account the fluid-soil-structure interactions. The fluid was idealized as a continuum by using averaged Navier-Stokes equations that accounts for the presence of the solid particles. The discrete element method (DEM) was employed to model the assemblage of these particles. The interphase momentum transfer was modeled using an established relationship that considers the dynamic change in porosity and possible occurrence of nonlinear losses. Computational simulation was conducted to investigate the response of a hydraulic structure founded on a granular deposit when subjected to a rapidly increasing hydraulic head difference. The conducted simulation provided information at the micro-scale level for the solid phase as well as at the macroscopic level for the pore-water flow. The settlement and failure mechanism of the structure was captured. The proposed computational framework for analyzing river and flood-protection levees provides a new dimension to the analysis and design of such vital geotechnical systems.
Sand bentonite mixture as a secondary liners in landfills
Authors: Eid M.M.  , Abdelrahman M.T.  , Abdel-Aal F.M.B.
Published: February 2025

Engineering specifications for a compacted clay liner are based mainly on a permeability coefficient less than 10−7cm/s. Sand-bentonite mixtures are often used as a barrier material when there is a lack of naturally occurring clayey soils at a site. The addition of small amounts of bentonite (5-15%) improves the performance of a granular material providing a low permeability and an enhanced mechanical stability. In addition, bentonites, obtained in dry, powdered forms, are much easier to blend with onsite sandy soils and to be compacted than wet, sticky clods of clay. Thus, this paper investigates the permeability coefficient of the sand bentonite mixtures. The factors affecting it such as the bentonite content and the impact of real municipal solid waste leachate on the liner permeability are investigated. Volume change after inundation is also investigated taking into consideration the effect of the bentonite content and the type of the permeating fluid. The composite liner consisting from geomembrane (HDPE) sheets as a primary liner and sand bentonite mixture as a secondary liner is tested. The effect of imperfections of the HDPE sheets on the overall permeability of the composite liner is emphasized to clarify importance of the secondary liner in the prevention of the groundwater table contamination.
Effects of density, moisture content and curing time on dispersivity and erodibility of two River Nile deposits
Authors: Elsharief A.M.  , Amin H.
Published: February 2025

Piping failure is among the most common failure modes for embankment dams. It is often related to the potential of the embankment material to de-flocculate and erode in the presence of water. Soil erosion is therefore one of the main factors affecting the safety and serviceability of earth structures. This paper presents the results of a laboratory testing program intended to study the effects of dry density, moisture content and curing time on the erodibility and dispersivity of two alluvial deposits aimed to be used as dam core material. One sample is a recent deposit obtained from the flood plains of the River Nile in Northern Sudan (Soil A) while the other (Soil B) is obtained from an adjacent area in the upper terraces of the Nile. Preliminary evaluation has shown that Soil A is slightly dispersive while Soil B is highly dispersive.
Reliability-based design on the bearing capacity of cement-treated ground considering the spatial variability of shear strength
Authors: Kasama K.  , Zen K.
Published: February 2025

Cement-mixing method is gaining popularity as a method for stabilizing soft soils in applications ranging from the improvement of foundation properties to mitigation of liquefaction. However, spatial variability in the shear strength of the cement-treated ground introduces uncertainties in estimating the bearing capacity for design. This paper presents a reliability assessment for the bearing capacity of cement-treated ground based on the results of a probabilistic study in which the shear strength of the cement-treated ground is represented as a random field in Monte Carlo simulations of undrained stability for a surface foundation using numerical limit analyses. A statistical interpretation of the bearing capacity is based on Monte-Carlo simulations using the Random Field Numerical Limit Analyses. The results show how the bearing capacity is related to the coefficient of variation and correlation length scale in the shear strength of cement-treated ground. Based on the result, an overdesign factor, percent defective and resistance factor in LRFD for the bearing capacity of cement-treated ground are proposed to obtain a target reliability index.
Modelling of vibrocompaction using hypoplasticity with intergranular strains
Authors: Arnold M.  , Herle I.
Published: February 2025

Soils can be best compacted by repeated shearing. The strain amplitude plays an important role for the maximum compaction that can be reached. Experimental evidence emphasises a vital impact of simultaneous multidirectional shear loading on the rate and magnitude of soil compaction.
Modélisation numérique 3D de colonnes ballastées et application
Authors: Foray P.  , Flavigny E.  , Nguyen Ngoc-Thanh  , Lambert S.  , Briançon L.
Published: February 2025

Cet article présente une comparaison des modélisations numériques du comportement de renforcements de sols argileux par des colonnes ballastées. La simulation numérique a été effectuée en 3D en utilisant le logiciel Plaxis. On s'est particulièrement intéressé à la prise en compte de la mise en place des colonnes. En effet, dans la pratique, sous l'effet du compactage de la colonne, le sol situé autour de celle-ci subit une expansion latérale et les contraintes horizontales se trouvent augmentées. Cette expansion latérale de la colonne ballastée peut être simulée numériquement. On montre comment, grâce à cette expansion, le tassement d'un ouvrage sur colonnes ballastées est nettement diminué.
Estimation of settlement of in-situ improved ground using shallow stabilization and floating-type columns
Authors: Ishikura R.  , Ochiai H.  , Matsui H.
Published: February 2025

The use of shallow stabilization and floating-type cement-treated columns has been developed as a method with acceptable settlement for maintaining the proper functioning of high standard roads or high embankments on soft grounds. So it is most important to predict the total settlement for this type of improved ground. In this study, Consolidation and deformation properties of this type of improved grounds were clarified by the field observation results obtained from two types of full scale test embankments. Further, a method for predicting the total settlement for this type of improved ground with respect to the improvement ratio and depth is proposed. Its validity is confirmed from the field observation results of the improved grounds.
Effets de composés chimiques sur le traitement des sols à la chaux et/ou au liant hydraulique
Authors: Le Borgne T.  , Cuisinier O.  , Deneele D.  , Masrouri F.
Published: February 2025

Cette étude cherche à déterminer si certains composés chimiques employés à des concentrations rencontrées dans certains sols peuvent être considérés comme perturbateur de prise lors du traitement des sols. Les résultats montrent que certains composés peuvent diminuer l'efficacité d'un traitement mais sans rendre le sol inapte au traitement. L'effet de chaque composé dépend à la fois de sa concentration mais aussi du type de liant.
A unified state parameter for modeling undrained shear behaviors of cementitous material admixed clay
Authors: Jongpradist P.  , Youwai S.  , Kongkitkul W.
Published: February 2025

Portland cement and pozzolanic materials are recently widely used for subsoil improvement, either by cement stabilization or cement columns. However, the requirement of rational engineering approach for the improvement by these materials has revealed several deficiencies in the current design procedures, since there is no single parameter that can represent the overall mechanical behaviors of such mixed materials. This paper presents a physical parameter, termed the ‘state parameter’, which could appropriately represent the dependency of the undrained shear behaviors of cementitious-material admixed clay on different mixing components and shear stress level. Experimental data from unconfined compression and undrained triaxial compression tests on cementitious-material admixed clay at confining pressures ranging from 50 to 200 kPa are presented and the significant engineering parameters of undrained shear behaviors could be captured to be dependent on the proposed state parameter.
Behaviour of many row pile landslide protection structure under deep shear
Authors: Gotman A.L.  , Suvorov M.A.
Published: February 2025

Results of investigation of pile many row landslide protection structures are shown. Experimental investigations of the behaviour of many row landslide protection structures are carried out on models in trays with the sandy soil under the lateral landslide soil pressure. Based on results of the experimental investigations, the design scheme is improved and the method of analysis of many row pile landslide protection structure is worked out.
Future soil dynamic response in Mexico City
Authors: Aguilar R.  , Avilés J.  , Pérez-Rocha L.E.
Published: February 2025

Using ground surface subsidence information, the evolution of the Mexico's valley behavior is studied. With all of this data, the reduction of thickness compressible layer in Mexico City for the coming years is approached. The effect on dominant vibration period due to ground surface subsidence is studied. These results are applied to compute the change on soil dynamic response. For this analysis have been calculated response spectra with time dependence. The changes in structural dynamic response due this phenomenon are shown. The results obtained show that some structures in Mexico's valley could be in risk due to the changes in soil dynamics properties and its response.
GIS-based geotechnical seismic hazard screening tool
Authors: Wilding Andrew J.  , Luna Ronaldo
Published: February 2025

Geotechnical earthquake engineering hazards have consequences that are difficult to mitigate, especially for infrastructure systems with multiple and distributed components. In the last few decades significant progress has been made to provide more accurate and useful methods to evaluate hazards for complex systems. This research developed a GIS methodology to be used as a “screening tool” to evaluate geotechnical earthquake engineering hazards from a database of borehole data and then display the results on a map. The methodology was customized within the GIS environment to calculate both the liquefaction potential and a ground motion magnification factor from borehole data and ground motion time histories, using well established procedures. The results are then displayed spatially for screening purposes, or manual inspection and analyses by the engineer. A pilot study was conducted for a series of boreholes along the highway system near Poplar Bluff, Missouri, using two different New Madrid seismic events. The results for this pilot study show that this type of screening tool could be advantageous for state and federal agencies responsible for earthquake resilient infrastructure systems.
International data standards for geotechnical engineering
Authors: Toll D.G.
Published: February 2025

The World Wide Web has revolutionised data access for all aspects of our daily lives. However, to allow full use of geo-engineering data from the web, as part of our professional activities, it is necessary for the data to be available in a structured and standardised form. This will allow the World Wide Web to become an international repository for geotechnical information, available to the whole community. A further advantage of developing data standards is to allow transfer of data between computer systems providing a data exchange format between different organisations or an interchange format for linking different software packages. The development of data standards for geo-engineering is now an important activity for the three international societies (ISSMGE, IAEG and ISRM) through Joint Technical Committee, JTC2 (http://www.dur.ac.uk/geo-engineering/jtc). JTC2's role is to oversee the development of internationally agreed forms of representation of geo-engineering data. The paper discusses standardised XML schemes that are in development for geo-engineering and presents examples for borehole records and slopes. The DIGGS data format (Data Interchange for Geotechnical and Geo-environmental Specialists) is discussed and comparisons are drawn with data standards in the geosciences (eg GeoSciML). The paper also considers how web-based data could be used, such as the use of a case-based reasoning system for slope design using a global database of slope case histories.
General Report – Technical Session 3C, Interactive design
Authors: Décourt L.
Published: February 2025

Nine papers were submitted to this Session. Notwithstanding the high quality of all of them, one may observe that some show interesting aspects of the problem, but are not actual examples of interactive designs. Besides, in order to retain, as much as possible the originality of the papers, the reporter is going to use languages, words and phrase constructions, very similar to those used by the authors.
Microstructure formation in bentonite
Authors: Kochmanová N.  , Tanaka H.
Published: February 2025

Bentonite, a smectite clay, is widely used in geotechnical engineering as drilling mud, liner material, and it has been proposed as buffer and backfill material for high-level nuclear waste disposal. An understanding of the microstructure formation of bentonite and its hydrophobic properties would enable the development of a methodology capable of predicting its behaviour when exposed to water. This study aims to gain an understanding of the microstructure formation of bentonite, specifically Kunigel-VI, by comparing its behaviour with that of a non-swelling clay, NSF Clay. Three different tests were performed to observe this behaviour: Constant Rate of Strain (CRS) consolidation testing, Mercury Intrusion Testing (MIT), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Results indicated that aggregate formation occurred in both clays, but at water contents higher than 50 %, the aggregates in NSF Clay collapsed, while those of Kunigel-VI increased in number and size. An increase in applied pressure resulted in the dissipation of air, and a decrease in size of the intra and inter-aggregate spaces.
An elastoplastic model for unsaturated soils
Authors: Sheng Daichao  , Fredlund Delwyn G
Published: February 2025

A number of elastoplastic models have been proposed for unsaturated soils over the past three decades. These models have generally taken the form of simple extensions of elastoplastic models previously proposed for saturated soils. Laboratory testing programs have given rise to several unanswered questions regarding the acceptability of these models for unsaturated soils. There are questions related to: 1.) the variation of the yield stress with soil suction, 2.) the modeling of soils prepared from slurry conditions, and 3.) the existence of a smooth transition between saturated and unsaturated soil conditions. The model proposed in this paper addresses each of these questions by re-formulating the elastoplastic model for unsaturated soils through use of independent stress state variables. The re-formulation provides a smooth transition between the elastoplastic model for saturated and unsaturated soil conditions.
Arching around buried square section structures
Authors: Abuhajar O.S.  , Newson T.  , El Naggar M.H.  , Stone K.
Published: February 2025

It is recognized that the loads attracted to buried structures cannot be accurately estimated by simply considering the self-weight forces generated by the prism of soil supported by the structure. Incompatibility between the stiffness of a buried structure and the surrounding soil leads to the development of local soil arching around the structure, the degree of which is dependent on the relative stiffness between the structure and the surrounding soil. This arching can induce structural damage or collapse, or indeed can be utilized to optimize the efficiency of the structure. The paper presents numerical finite element analysis of the results of a series of scaled physical model tests conducted on a large fixed beam centrifuge designed to investigate the contribution of the deflection of structural elements (top slab and side wall) of a buried structure and local soil stiffness, to the overall loads attracted to the structure. The results of the test program have been interpreted to establish the contributions to the total load attracted to a buried structure from deflection of the top slab and the side-walls respectively. Results of comparative analyses using the finite element software Plaxis are presented.
Numerical simulation of pile load test
Authors: AbdelMohsen H.  , ElWakil A.  , Saad A.
Published: February 2025

The current paper presents a back analysis of field pile load-settlement relationships using commercial finite element program “PLAXIS”. Five driven piles, two continuous flight auger piles of diameters 0.40 m and 0.60 m and two bored piles of diameters 1.00 m, 1.80 m were used in the analysis. The study aims to investigate finite element parameters which control the load - settlement relationship for small diameter piles (Diameter ≤ 600 mm) and large diameter piles (Diameter > 600 mm) and to search for the matching values to test results. It is shown that the value of the interface factor ( Ri) between pile and soil affects the load-settlement relationship for small diameter piles. For larger diameter piles results confirmed that the value of the lateral pressure coefficient (K) and the value of soil compressibility modulus (Es) have strong effect on the pile load-settlement behaviour.
Staged construction on soft clay: A design case history
Authors: El Sabbagh Makram  , Koutsoftas Demetrious
Published: February 2025

The Hamilton Army Airfield Wetlands Restoration project involved the construction of more than 8 kilometers of levees over deep deposits of soft high plastic clay, along the margins of San Francisco Bay. The levees will contain extensive hydraulic filling that is part of the wetlands restoration program. This paper addresses the staged construction design at the North-1 section of the levee system. Staged construction was used to improve the stability of the new proposed containment dike and wetlands fill, and reduce post-construction settlements. The Stress History And Normalized Soil Engineering Properties (SHANSEP) design procedure was used to develop the shear strength parameters that were necessary for the evaluation of stability at different stages during construction. The design process was based on extensive in-situ field vane testing and a comprehensive laboratory testing program. The use of vertical wick drains was evaluated for different areas along the levee. Various consolidation periods between construction stages were considered, and their impacts on shear strength increase assessed.
Relationship between cohesion and tensile strength in wet sand at low normal stresses
Authors: Kim T.-H.  , Nam J.-M.  , Yun J.-M.  , Lee K.-I.  , You S.-K.
Published: February 2025

Within the unsaturated zone, a steep excavated surface can be sustained for some unknown but finite time, and some slopes may remain stable for extended time periods due to capillary forces. These observations clearly indicate small but non-zero values for attraction strengths (cohesion and tensile strength) in unsaturated sands. The relationship between attraction strengths is often considered by Mohr-Coulomb and Chen & Drucker models. However, for small compressive stress ranges (less than tens of kPa) and particularly in the tensile stress regime, the Mohr-Coulomb criterion often can not be accurately used for representing the behavior of sand. To find out the relationship between cohesion (one of shear strength terms) and tensile strength, uniaxial tensile and direct shear tests were carried out in moist sands (Dr= 30 %). Tensile strength, which is significantly different from zero, increases with increasing moisture content. Apparent cohesion strength is also identified in moist sands. A simple relationship between tensile strength and apparent cohesion is proposed using the obtained data.
Ground property characterization by in-situ tests: A report of TC 16 activities
Authors: Mayne Paul W.  , Powell John J.M.
Published: February 2025

This report presents an overview of the activities undertaken by the ISSMGE Technical Committee TC 16 on in-situ testing during the period from 2005 to 2009, including our terms of reference, membership, website, and the 3rdinternational conference on site characterization (ISC-2008, Taipei), as well as other meetings & events.