bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Numerical simulations and experimental test in the development of hydraulic fracturing processes
Authors: Sánchez Martín  , Villafines Gustavo  , Morris Walter  , Toscano Rita  , Hasbani José  , Rosolen Adrián  , Radovitzky Raúl  , Dvorkin Eduardo
Published: February 2025

The economic feasibility of the exploitation of unconventional oil and gas resources is enhanced when it is possible to analyze a priori, with a reasonable accuracy, the effects of different hydraulic fracturing schemes (different fracturing fluids, different proppant concentrations, etc.) and compare them with the results in terms of the predicted production, enabling therefore the selection of the optimal alternative. Two basic ingredients for these analyses are a reliable numerical technique and an adequate geomechanical characterization of the reservoir.
Treaty Texts as Data – Developing New Tools for Negotiators and Litigators to Compare Bilateral Investment Treaties
Authors: Alschner Wolfgang  , Skougarevskiy Dmitriy
Published: February 2025

Close to 3000 bilateral investment agreements (BITs) have been concluded by 2015 and virtually every country is a signatory. What makes these treaties special is their enforcement mechanism: private investors can sue states directly before international arbitration potentially winning multi-million dollar awards. Given its size and atomized nature, however, practitioners struggle to effectively navigate the BIT universe. To reduce investment law's complexity, this demo introduces a new interactive web-based tool that relies on state-of-the-art technology to allow users to asses similarities and differences between agreements quickly and intuitively. The tool thereby assists investment law practitioners in structuring negotiations around a common denominator in treaty practice or helps litigators to advance their client's case by distinguishing or analogizing treaties.
Permissions in Deontic Event-Calculus
Authors: Governatori Guido  , Hashmi Mustafa
Published: February 2025

Permissions are special case of deontic effects and play important role compliance. Essentially they are used to determine the obligations or prohibitions to contrary. A formal language e.g., temporal logic, event-calculus et., not able to represent permissions is doomed to be unable to represent most of the real-life legal norms. In this paper we address this issue and extend deontic-event-calculus (DEC) with new predicates for modelling permissions enabling it to elegantly capture the intuition of real-life cases of permissions.
A Data Science Environment for Legal Texts
Authors: Waltl Bernhard  , Zec Marin  , Matthes Florian
Published: February 2025

Since the beginning of legal informatics, data analysis has been very attractive to the scientific community in different domains and areas. Modern algorithms and mining technologies are able to unveil structural, such as network-like features and semantic properties that might be contained explicitly or implicitly in texts. This becomes evident by screening the topics of recent scientific conferences and workshops (e.g., ICAIL 2015). However, only few efforts were spent on the development of a generic environment taking into account the characteristics of legislative systems, which would foster the re-usage of results, such as models, components or frameworks. This paper proposes a reference architecture, which can easily be extended to specific research questions and use cases. It is designed and implemented as a generic environment allowing state-of-the-art text analysis. We performed a case study on the German tenancy law. Thereby, we analyzed the evolution the law in the last 25 years.
Information and Information Security
Authors: Henno Jaak
Published: February 2025

News about hacking have become so common that most people do not follow them anymore and many do not even care, considering hacking an inevitable vice. But situation is rapidly deteriorating and many people (even in academy) are not aware or do not take seriously the emerging future, where Internet is a ‘free wild West’ where everyone can freely break everything and steel whatever seems to be valuable. Here is presented overview of current situation, analyzed reasons for this and presented some ideas about future and an overview of progress made in Estonia in secure use of e-tools.
Chlorophyll-a Concentration in Water: A Semi-analytical Retrieval Model Research with a BP Network
Authors: Zhan Li-Li
Published: February 2025

The chlorophyll-a concentration of water from Nansihu Lake of Shandong Province, China was analyzed using hyperspectral data with a semi-analytic model. First, three bands of the hyperspectral data centered at 660nm, 708nm and 812nm were chosen based on iterative optimization analysis. Then, the linear-TBA model, the poly-TBA model, and the BP-TBA model were used to determine chlorophyll concentration. Field data were used to validate the results and performances of three different models. The validation results indicated that the BP-TBA model achieved the highest accuracy with a mean relative error of 0.2268 in the training data set and 0.1983 in the validation data set. However, the BP-TBA model was not fit for turbid coastal water. When the chlorophyll-a concentration exceeded 0.03mg/L, the error increased, demonstrating a mean of 0.364.
Comparison between Pure and Surrogate-assisted Evolutionary Algorithms for Multiobjective Optimization
Authors: Benini Ernesto  , Venturelli Giovanni  , Łaniewski-Wołłk Łukasz
Published: February 2025

In this paper, a comparison between a “pure” genetic algorithm (GeDEA-II) and a surrogate-assisted algorithm (ASEMOO) is carried out using up-to-date multiobjective and multidimensional test functions. The experimental results show that the use of surrogates greatly improves convergence when both two- and three-objective test cases are dealt with. However, its convergence capabilities depend on how the surrogate can have an accurate picture of the fitness function landscape and seem to decrease as the number of the objective increases from two to three. On the other hand, a pure genetic algorithm always assures a minimum level of “front coverage”, regardless of the problem on hand. Such minimum level could be considered sufficient for real-life problem optimizations. Also The dimensionality of the design space affects in opposite directions the two algorithms: for ASEMOO the increase of dimensionality is detrimental on performance, while GeDEA-II experiences benefits due to total amount of direct evaluations. It seems that GeDEA-II has an optimal population size around 20, regardless the dimensionality of the problem at hand.
Effect of Antenna Signal to Noise Ratio on Transmission Performance of Voice over Long Term Evolution
Authors: Ma Chao  , Qiu Run-He
Published: February 2025

According to the criteria established by 3GPP, VoLTE (Voice over LTE) is the VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) service based on the LTE (long term evolution) network, which is an important technology that provides voice services in the LTE network. This paper has taken throughput and BER (bit error rate) as two performance indicators of VoLTE transmission to investigate the impact of the receiving antenna's SNR (signal to noise ratio) on VoLTE voice frame transmission performance, and analyzes and verifies this research by simulating the cell model. The simulation results indicate that by improving the receiving antenna SNR in a certain range, the throughput of VoLTE can be significantly improved; however, the throughput demonstrates little change beyond the identified range. Additionally, the transmission BER can be reduced by improving the SNR of the receiving antenna. In order to ensure the transmission performance of VoLTE, the SNR of the receiving antenna should be greater than 6 dB.
Discriminatively Semi-supervised Classification with Application to Terrain Perception
Authors: Yan Rui  , Ye Qiao-Lin  , Sun Cui-Ping  , Shi Min-Ting
Published: February 2025

In this paper, we focus on a new semi-supervised framework based on a new form of manifold regularization, which contains both underlying discriminative and local geometry structure of unlabeled samples, thus can mine as much underlying knowledge lurking in the unlabeled samples as possible. Meanwhile, this method introduces an equality type constraint that aims to minimize the error over the unlabeled patterns into the defining constraint structure of the proposed learning framework. The method is tested in the challenging problem of terrain perception. Results obtained demonstrate the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed method for terrain image classification.
Construction of Economic Evaluation Index System Based on Primary Information and Evidence of Three Provinces: Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei, China
Authors: Du Yong-Qiang  , Hu Jing-Jing  , Lu Zhi-Yi
Published: February 2025

This paper first selects four layers of economic benefits, the economic movement quality, economic growth and industrial structure to screen audition indicators. Then data mining is performed to collect data from 2002 to 2013 from Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei (three provinces in China). Combined with a statistical method of correlation analysis and principal component analysis, the index with redundant information is deleted. Finally, this approach builds a highly representative economic development evaluation system.
Mobility Prediction Assisted Handoff Decision Algorithm in HAPS Network
Authors: Jin Shan  , Hong Hai-Li  , Ni Shu-Yan  , Lou Xin
Published: February 2025

To improve the accuracy of the decision algorithm in conjunction with various speed users, the speed and position information is typically auxiliary in mobile communication. The same method can also apply to the HAPS system when handoff is primarily initiated by the motion of the user. This paper proposes a new handoff decision algorithm based on mobility predictions and the characteristics of the HAPS system. The relationship between the movement speed of the user terminal and the handoff decision threshold is established. Simulation results indicate that the proposed algorithm performs better in terms of reducing the number of unnecessary handoffs and improving the success rate than the algorithm based on signal strength.
Fuzzy PID Control for Driver Cab of Heavy-duty Vehicle Based on Magneto-rheological Damper
Authors: Zhang Hong-Hui  , Zhao Ya-Nan  , Wang Xiao-Xia  , Wang Jia
Published: February 2025

A magneto-rheological damper is designed and tested to minimize the driver cab vibration of heavy-duty vehicles, and a model suitable for fuzzy PID control is proposed to analyze a dynamic model with three masses. With the comparison of passive and active control systems, the controllable magneto-rheological damping decreases with system acceleration and filters the high-frequency components with a reasonable base.
An Improved Parallel Apriori Algorithm and its Appliance to a Coal Production Scheduling Monitor System
Authors: Wu Min  , Yin Shi-Qun  , Han Zhan-Hao
Published: February 2025

This paper discusses the massive data processing method-Apriori algorithm for mining association rules. The Apriori algorithm repeatedly scans the database for shortcomings. Based on a Hadoop platform to block huge amounts of data, we provide the massive data processing method-Apriori algorithm for mining association rules.
Fuzzy Sliding Mode Control Scheme for Aircraft Pushback
Authors: Zhang Ya-Ping  , Liu Han-Ning  , Xing Zhi-Wei  , Cheng Shao-Wu  , Hao Si-Qi
Published: February 2025

An aircraft pushback control scheme is designed with a fuzzy sliding mode controller. First, based on analysis of the departure process, the queuing theory is used to build an aircraft departure queuing model. Then, the queue length error and its variation are taken as inputs to design a fuzzy controller of dual-input, single-output structure to determine the quantity of aircraft to be pushed. The quantity reliability is then examined through the sliding mode controller and unreliable quantity is rectified. Finally, the overall aircraft pushback control scheme in Xian-yang International Airport, Xi'an, China, is simulated using Simulink. The results indicate that with the fuzzy controller to perform the main operation and the sliding mode controller to verify and rectify the output, the airport ground traffic congestion is effectively relieved, the operation efficiency increases, the fuel consumed by waiting decreases, and thus, the environmental pollution is reduced.
Rough Set Discretization: Equal Frequency Binning, Entropy/MDL and Semi Naives Algorithms of Intrusion Detection System
Authors: Sulaiman Noor Suhana  , Bakar Rohani Abu
Published: February 2025

Discretization of real value attributes is a vital task in data mining, particularly in the classification problem. Discretization part is also the crucial part resulting the good classification. Empirical results have shown that the quality of classification methods depends on the discretization algorithm in preprocessing step. Universally, discretization is a process of searching for partition of attribute domains into intervals and unifying the values over each interval. Significant discretization technique suit to the Intrusion Detection System (IDS) data need to determine in IDS framework, since IDS data consist of huge records that need to be examined in system. There are many Rough Set discretization technique that can be used, among of them are Semi Naives and Equal Frequency Binning.
AAL Service Performance Measurement Cube – Key Criteria for AAL New Service Development
Authors: Kriegel Johannes  , Auinger Klemens  , Reckwitz Luise  , Schmitt-Rüth Stephanie  , Weissenberger Susanne  , Tuttle-Weidinger Linda
Published: February 2025

The living environments of senior citizens are gaining in complexity with regard to health, mobility, information, support and behaviour. The development of Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) services in order to reduce this complexity is becoming increasingly important. The question is: What relevant criteria support the development, measurement and evaluation of business models of hybrid AAL services which have to be considered in an appropriate Performance Measurement Set? Within the EU funded research project DALIA (Assistant for Daily Life Activities at Home) a Service Performance Measurement Criteria (SPMC) Set has been developed and described. With the help of literature review and expert interviews relevant performance criteria were identified and described in the context of Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). In conjunction with an AAL business models scanning, a set of performance measurement criteria could be created.
HeartDrive: A Broader Concept of Interoperability to Implement Care Processes for Heart Failure
Authors: Lettere M.  , Guerri D.  , La Manna S.  , Groccia M.C.  , Lofaro D.  , Conforti D.
Published: February 2025

This paper originates from the HeartDrive project, a platform of services for a more effective, efficient and integrated management of heart failure and comorbidities. HeartDrive establishes a cooperative approach based on the concepts of continuity of care and extreme, patient oriented, customization of diagnostic, therapeutic and follow-up procedures. Definition and development of evidence based processes, migration from parceled and episode based healthcare provisioning to a workflow oriented model and increased awareness and responsibility of citizens towards their own health and wellness are key objectives of HeartDrive. In two scenarios for rehabilitation and home monitoring we show how the results are achieved by providing a solution that highlights a broader concept of cooperation that goes beyond technical interoperability towards semantic interoperability explicitly sharing process definitions, decision support strategies and information semantics.
Laser Induced Forward Transfer: a study on the enhancement of sensitivity for multianalyte sensing
Authors: Tsekenis George  , Theodorakos Ioannis  , Massaouti Maria  , Zergioti Ioanna
Published: February 2025

In this article novel approaches for the improvement of the recorded signal coupled with the feasibility of multiple analyte detection, irrespective of the biosensor platform are being presented. The techniques that have been developed address commonly encountered issues that have traditionally hindered the commercialization of biosensors, such as cost, reproducibility and sensitivity and most importantly multianalyte detection. The fluorescence-based detection of copper is being described as an example of the use of Laser Induced Forward Transfer technique (LIFT) for the immobilization of biomolecules with high spatial resolution, in addition to a technique that involves the displacement of a short complementary strand to the immobilized probe molecule for the quantification of analyte binding and the enhancement of the recorded signal.
Numerical assessment for long-term settlement of the reclaimed Pleistocene deposits
Authors: Mimura M.  , Jang W.Y.  , Yamamoto K.
Published: February 2025

Long-term settlement has occurred at the reclaimed area and islands in Osaka Bay caused by the time-dependent compression of the Pleistocene clays. The authors proposed a new procedure to assess the compression characteristics of the Pleistocene clays in Osaka Bay. A series of one-dimensional elasto-viscoplastic finite element analyses is carried out to evaluate the long-term settlement for Sakishima, Maishima and Yumeshima Reclaimed Islands in Osaka Port. The calculated performance by the elasto-viscoplastic finite element analyses formulated with the proposed procedure is found to well evaluate the long-term settlement of the Pleistocene deposits measured in the reclaimed islands in Osaka Port, whereas the conventional approach is found to exhibit serious underestimation. It is also confirmed that the estimation of elastic shear modulus, G0for the Pleistocene gravelly sand deposits plays a significant role for the settlement prediction.
LEM and FEM analysis for the landslides along highway based on the investigation data and post construction evaluation
Authors: Tiwari B.  , Pokharel G.
Published: February 2025

Preparation of appropriate countermeasure plans against landslides is a difficult task for the developing countries, mainly due to the lack of investigation data. However, the design based on the inappropriate planning without the investigation data may sometimes be disastrous. This study includes the results of the comprehensive investigation works for model landslide sites and the countermeasure plannings based on those investigation results for a number of landslides in Nepal. Various analysis techniques used and various alternative methods of construction implemented are discussed here in brief. The evaluation of the landslide prevention works in all the sites showed satisfactory results. The results of this study is supposed to be very beneficial for the development of landslide mitigation plans in the other countries.
Grouting techniques for the stabilization of the foundations of a factory overlying karst
Authors: Hachich Waldemar  , Falconi Frederico  , Negro Jr. Arsenio  , de Almeida Prado Cláudio Marques  , Azem Fábio
Published: February 2025

Grouting techniques used to stabilize the foundations of a factory overlying a limestone formation are described. Difficulties and solutions, guided by the observational method, are presented.
Binder-soil interaction in Cement Deep Mixing through SEM analysis
Authors: Tomac I.  , Van Impe W.F.  , Flores R.D. Verástegui  , Mengé P.
Published: February 2025

This paper deals with the SEM (Scanning electron microscope) analysis of improved soil. A natural dredged material from the Antwerp harbor was mixed with different binders (e.g. CEM I, CEM III). The soil and binders were mixed by means of the SSI (Soft Soil Improvement) technique in the field as well as with a dough mixer in the laboratory. An extensive SEM study was made on improved samples and natural soil to explain the strength behavior, looking at the microstructure of specimens.
Influence du jet grouting sur le creusement d'un tunnel: Cas du métro d'Alger
Authors: Akchiche M.  , Bahar R.  , Boudar Y.  , Cambou B.
Published: February 2025

En sites urbains, les mouvements induits par le creusement d'un tunnel à faible profondeur peuvent causer des désordres considérables aux constructions voisines. Le creusement, effectué entièrement dans la marne du tunnel sous l'Hôpital Mustapha sur la ligne 1 du métro d'Alger, présente de sérieuses difficultés liées principalement à la présence de bâtiments en surface et à la faible épaisseur de la marne au-dessus de la voûte du tunnel. Cette épaisseur est inférieure à un mètre, voir nulle par endroit, le long du tracé. Dans ce cas, le risque à la fois de venue de sables silteux saturés qui surmontent cette couche de marne, associé ou non à la rupture de la marne est très grand. Le creusement du tunnel a nécessité l'utilisation d'un jet grouting pour améliorer la résistance du tunnel et limitant également les mouvements en surface. Cette communication présente le tunnel et l'influence de l'utilisation d'un tel système de renforcement sur les mouvements de bâtiments existants en surface. Les résultats de prédictions de ces mouvements à l'aide de méthodes empiriques, analytiques et numériques sont également présentés, et confrontés aux mesures in situ.
Monitoring and modelling during tunnel construction
Authors: Bezuijen A.  , Talmon A.M.
Published: February 2025

Tunnelling projects are often technologically challenging projects. Therefore it is not uncommon to perform quite some measurements during the execution of these projects. Measurements are performed to control settlements and/or control of the drilling process. Modern TBMs record all kind of data on the drilling process. This paper shows that analyzing the results of the measurements and modelling with relatively simple calculation models can lead to new insights in the tunnelling process and possible failure mechanism. Examples are presented, investigating the pressure distribution in front of, or at, the tunnel face and back-fill grouting.
Failure of a hangar built in embankment on soft clay
Authors: Gusmão Alexandre Duarte  , de Azevedo Gusmão Filho Jaime  , de Brito Maia Gilmar  , de Oliveira Joaquim Teodoro Romão
Published: February 2025

This paper presents the case of a hangar that was built in an embankment having 2000 m2and 6 m high. The subsoil is formed by a layer of organic clay and peat having 12 m of thickness. The hangar was constructed without knowing the bearing capacity and compressibility parameters of the clay under the embankment. The construction started with the ground being covered by a mixture of waste and remains of others constructions. A retaining wall of gabion was executed having 3 to 6 m of variable height in order to contain the embankment. During earthmoving operations, there was a slide in one corners of the ground and the soft clay and peat appeared upward. Several cracks were observed in the floor parallel to the retaining wall. Some fissures appeared in the masonry of the hangar. After some months later, the movement grew up accelerating and the complete ruin of the hangar occurred. The geotechnical characteristics of the clay deposit was made by borings (SPT), vane test and laboratory tests (oedometer and triaxial) in undisturbed shelby samples. The results of this investigation are presented as well as the back analysis of the failure.
Experimental studies for the increase of slope stability of historical embankments due to the effects of capillarity and vegetation
Authors: Katzenbach R.  , Werner A.
Published: February 2025

The performed stability analysis of historical embankments demonstrate that the application of conventional and standardized calculation methods theoretically yields instability of the embankments due to their geometry, soil properties and without consideration of stabilizing effects. By applying the enhanced concept of Experimental Statics consisting of large field and laboratory tests, it is possible to verify the real stability of the embankment.
Analyses of vertical and horizontal load tests on piled raft models in dry sand
Authors: Kitiyodom P.  , Matsumoto T.  , Horikoshi K.  , Watanabe T.
Published: February 2025

Analyses of the static centrifuge model test results of piled raft foundations subjected to vertical load and horizontal load are carried out using a simplified analysis method. The flexible raft is modelled as thin plates, the piles as elastic beams, and the soil is treated as springs. The interactions between structural members are taken into account for both vertical and horizontal forces. Good agreements between the calculated and the measured results are demonstrated, and the validity of the proposed analysis method is verified.
On strength property of gassy fine sand and model tests of pile foundation
Authors: Kong Ling-wei  , Guo Ai-guo  , Chen Jian-bin  , Liu Guan-shi
Published: February 2025

Based on the phenomenon of blowout during the engineering geologic surveys in the Hangzhou Bay Bridge, Zhejiang province, China, the influence of shallow biogenetic gas on the engineering properties of sandy soil is measured and analyzed. It is found that the engineering behaviors of gassy sand is determined by its three-phase composition state and special stress path, the gas reservoir pressure of fine sand layer is 515~530kPa and its pressure coefficient is 1.03~1.06. The shear strength of gassy sand can be expressed as the formula τf=c′+(σn−ua)tanφ′+τusand τus=a(ua−uw)b,and increases with the decrease of the gas pressure level. Moreover, the model tests of steel pipe pile in the gassy sand show that the Q-s curve belongs to the type of steep fall, the ultimate bearing capacity of pile increases with the release of gas even though the increasing amplitude is different at the different stage of gas release, which can be explained by the internal mechanism that the increase of net stress makes predominance over the ultimate bearing capacity of pile compared with the decrease of suction under the condition of gas release slowly.
Influence of superstructure on behaviour of model piled rafts in sand under shaking tests
Authors: Matsumoto T.  , Fukumura K.  , Oki A.
Published: February 2025

A series of seismic load tests were carried out on model piled rafts in dry sand by using a shaking table. In the test series, the height of the gravity centre of superstructure on the raft was varied while keeping the mass of the superstructure constant, in order to investigate the influence of the height of the gravity centre of the superstructure on the behaviour of the piled raft foundation. Furthermore, a series of static horizontal load tests on the same model piled rafts were conducted, in which the vertical level of the loading point was set at the height of the gravity centre of superstructure. The results from both tests are presented and discussed.
Response prediction for axially loaded pile groups in clays using 3D nonlinear analysis
Authors: Comodromos E.M.  , Bareka S.V.
Published: February 2025

The objective of this paper is to quantify the effect of the interaction between the piles of a group under axial loading in clayey soils. Three dimensional parametric nonlinear analysis was carried out for various pile group configurations. Reduction factors for estimating the group bearing capacity are proposed in tabular form while the variation of the stiffness of a group with the settlement level and pile arrangements is illustrated. The validity of a proposed relationship for estimating the response of pile groups is also examined.
Taiwan High Speed Railway – Contracts 260 & 270
Authors: Corbet Stephen P.  , Peters Mark  , Huppert Frank  , Seitz Joern
Published: February 2025

The paper describes the ground investigations carried out during the design period to supplement the tender information provided by the employer, the Taiwan Highspeed Railway Corporation (THSRC). The Grund Investigation was carried out in 2 or 3 stages consisting of boreholes with SPT's and disturbed samples. At some locations in Contract 270 CPT tests were also undertaken, where soil conditions allowed the probe to penetrate the strata. The majority of the foundations to the viaducts are piled. The design of the 2.0m diameter piles was based on local practice verified by 16 No full size pile tests. The test piles varied in length being 30m to 44m in Contract 260 and 55m to 72.5m in Contract 270, to replicate the pile lengths required to support the viaduct structure. The paper presents the results of the load tests, the verification & development of the design equations
Performance of pile foundation in multi-layered liquefied soil
Authors: Sesov Vlatko  , Towhata Ikuo  , Gonzalez Marcelo
Published: February 2025

A series of 1-g shaking table tests was carried out on pile group behavior under the liquefaction induced lateral spreading. Ground models were prepared with initial slope of 3.6 %. One, two and four layers soil deposit of low relative density was used in the models. Changing the properties of soil layers in the models, influence of the ground nonuniformity on pile response was investigated. Pile foundation consists of 3x3 acrylic piles, free at the top and fixed at the bottom. Results from the performed tests show that nonuniform soil profiles generated deformation patterns which were different from those of single layer model. Such a complicated soil behavior affected pile responses. Time histories of pile bending moments show more than one peak, which mainly correspond to different time occurrence of the maximum level of excess pore water pressure ratio in each layer in nonuniform ground models.
Factors affecting the chemical compatibility and the barrier performance of GCLs
Authors: Katsumi T.  , Fukagawa R.
Published: February 2025

The chemical compatibility and the barrier performance of geosynthetic clay liners (GCLs) were examined in this paper. The use of GCLs as hydraulic barriers in liner and cover systems for waste containment facilities is on the rise. GCLs consist of a thin layer of bentonite sandwiched between two geotextiles or glued to a geomembrane. Their extremely low hydraulic conductivity to water is attributed to the bentonite in the GCLs, which is composed primarily of a smectite mineral. However, there have been concerns as to the chemical compatibility of GCLs, since bentonite is very sensitive to chemical effects and this can lead to an increase in hydraulic conductivity. The present study focuses on (1) the difference in performance between powdered and granular types of bentonite, (2) the influence of real waste leachates on the hydraulic conductivity of GCLs, (3) the effect of the overburden pressure on the hydraulic conductivity of GCLs, and (4) the chemical compatibility of modified bentonite and its long-term performance.
The impact of Ljubljana's municipal waste landfill on ground and groundwater
Authors: Petkovšek Ana  , Prestor Joerg  , Majes Bojan
Published: February 2025

The municipal waste landfill Barje (Ljubljana, Slovenia) is located in the northern edge of the Ljubljana Marshland, which is one of the deepest marshlands in Europe. The foundation ground consists about a 35 m thick layer of highly compressible soils, under which there are several separate gravel aquifers. The Upper aquifer is connected to the alluvial aquifer, which is also the main source of the drinking water for Ljubljana. Due to the consolidation in some parts of the landfill, settlements have already reached the height of 2 m or more. To improve the efficiency of bottom lining system, in 2000 a system of preparing the sub grade below the landfill was introduced with artificial sealing of the bottom with prior preloading. Since 1998 in the area of the landfill a vast geotechnical and hydrogeological monitoring system has been under construction. The 6 year time monitoring has showed extremely non-uniform settlements of soil, which is the consequence of the lenticular, heterogeneous geological composition. The ground water exhibits a clear influence of reduction conditions as a consequence of reduced soil permeability due to consolidation, due to the fact that large surfaces are covered by wastes, and due to impacts of seepage waters from the old part of the landfill. In the direct vicinity of the landfill the contents of chemical elements, such as Fe, Mn, NO2, NH4, As and others, are increased, which is typical of oxidation-reduction processes. Other parameters do not give evidence of spreading in the horizontal direction outside the landfill area. The findings of monitoring show that oxidation-reduction processes are the most important impact that the landfill exhibits to the subsoil, which means that in the future the main interventions will have to be based on the technology that allows control of these processes.
Diffusion parameters for zinc in compacted gneiss residual soil
Authors: Azevedo I.  , Azevedo R.  , Jesus S.  , Nascentes R.
Published: February 2025

In MSW sanitary landfills, the design of barrier systems is generally based on the assumption that soil hydraulic conductivity is the governing factor in contaminant migration. Field studies have, however, indicated that molecular diffusion is the mechanism that determines solute transport in many fine soils. The present paper deals with the determination of effective diffusion coefficients for zinc in a compacted residual gneissic soil to be used as sanitary landfill liner in the municipality of Visconde do Rio Branco, Brazil. Equipment developed for performing soil diffusion tests is presented in this paper together with the results of diffusion tests. The most relevant results of the diffusion tests are that the equipment developed was shown to function properly and the effective diffusion coefficients obtained were within the range of those reported in previous work.
Performance of arsenic removal unit installed in Bangladesh and cement solidification of arsenic sludge from the unit
Authors: Hussainuzzaman M.M.  , Yokota H.
Published: February 2025

Most of the drinking water is supplied from groundwater in Bangladesh, where the arsenic polluted groundwater has been found in 60 districts out of a total of 64 districts. It is estimated that about 40 million people are currently exposed to the risk of arsenic poisoning. We have been making detailed surveys and experiments with AAN (Asia Arsenic Network) in model villages in Jessore district from March 1997 to get the arsenic pollution mechanism and arsenic-free water. We have developed Pond Sand Filter (PSF), which makes drinking water from arsenic free pond water, in Bangladesh since 1999. The pond water, however, dries up at the end of dry season and the use of PSF becomes difficult. In order to utilize PSF all the year round, we attempted to put the arsenic contaminated well water into PSF. After the fundamental tests about the arsenic removal performance of gravel tanks (2000~2001), we installed the gravel and sand tanks, which had the same size and structure as PSF, at Marua village in December 2002. We named it as GSF (Gravel Sand Filter). The arsenic removal performance was tested from 19 December 2002 to 4 January 2003 to obtain the performance data for the initial stage of the GSF operation. And, we have now the one year performance data for the arsenic removal of GSF.
Environmentally friendly systems to renovate secondary roads. Life-Environment Project: Kukkia Circlet. LIFE02 ENV/FIN/000329
Authors: Lahtinen P.O.  , Maijala A.  , Kolkka S.
Published: February 2025

Innovations for the improvement, renovation and maintenance of secondary road networks are reviewed: new types of road construction materials based on industrial by-products, different types of applications and structures for the new materials, new types of methods for the mixing of the materials and in-detail controlled construction processes to ascertain the target quality and economic benefits of the renovation. The project has demonstrated the innovations by pilot-scale construction. A long-term follow-up of the performance of the construction will finally show the real performance of the pilot application. However, already the short term experience and results indicate that the environmentally friendly and sustainable construction systems produce significant benefits for the society.
Comparison of soil investigation codes and standards of the Russian Federation and Britain
Authors: Rogers Ian  , Legge Andrew  , Skinner Peter
Published: February 2025

Russia has vast natural resources and is rapidly becoming open to world trade. Russian producers are increasingly being able to manufacture materials for export that are compliant with international codes and standards. However, the country maintains a well developed system of standards for work performed in Russia. This provides a challenge for international companies wishing to invest in Russia, but who are not familiar with the Russian design and construction systems. This paper compares the existing site investigations codes and standards with equivalent British Standards and considers the difficulties which may be encountered should the Russian design institutes integrate with the Europe and the European Norms
Preservation work for the section of the embankment of Sayamaike Pond, oldest existing earth-fill dam in Japan
Authors: Arii Hiroko
Published: February 2025

Sayamaike Pond is the existing oldest pond in Japan. The excavations at this site carried out prior to the latest improvement project proved that the pond had been built about 1.400 years ago. The section of its embankment consists of the earth layers, which clearly showed the history of the improvement and the civil engineering technologies of ancient times. In view of the historical importance, Osaka Prefectural Government decided to preserve the entire section. Here I introduce you how the preservation work had been completed.
Reappraisal of the fall cone test
Authors: Feng T.W.
Published: February 2025

The fall cone test has been recommended in many test standards for determining the liquid limit of fine-grained soils. A number of the existing fall cones and test methods are reviewed. A new approach of using the fall cone test to determine the plastic limit has recently been recommended. Key factors in using the fall cone test to determine both the liquid limit and the plastic limit are examined. It is concluded that the fall cone test with a fall cone of one weight is suitable for determining both the liquid limit and the plastic limit.
Localization in geomechanics
Authors: Vardoulakis Ioannis
Published: February 2025

In this note we summarize briefly the origins of localization theory and we provide an overview of recent contributions in the subject of shear-banding as applied to Geomechanics.
Mechanical behaviour for granular soils using the Principle of Natural Proportionality, undrained case
Authors: Rivera-Constantino Rigoberto  , Juárez-Badillo Eulalio  , Jerónimo-Rodríguez Felipe de Jesús
Published: February 2025

The Principle of Natural Proportionality (PNP) postulated in 1985 is a unifying principle from which many general equations used to describe the mechanical behaviour of geomaterials have emerged. This time improved general equations obtained by the PNP were applied to describe the stress-strain and pore pressure behavior for granular soils (sands) tested in undrained triaxial compression tests between confining pressures 50 kPa and 500 kPa. The stress-strain behaviour was fitted using the pre-peak inverted function and the post-peak ductility function. The general equation for pore pressure given by the PNP was also applied to describe the pore pressure behaviour all along the triaxial tests. The different stress-strain and pore pressure parameters that describe the behaviour of granular soils are reported.
Characterization of surface topography of sand
Authors: Yesiller Nazli  , Hanson James L.  , Cohen Donald K.
Published: February 2025

This study was conducted to investigate surface characteristics of sand particles. Surface topography of sand particles was determined in 3-D using a commercially available optical profiler. Measurements were made on areas that had side dimensions on the order of 0.1 mm at a lateral resolution of 0.3 μm and height resolution of less than 6 nm. The 3-D representation of a surface obtained using the measurement system is analyzed to determine 3-D as well as 2-D surface texture parameters. The parameters included amplitude, spacing, hybrid (amplitude and spacing), and functional (performance related) parameters. Tests were conducted on two silica sands: one rounded and one angular. The tests were conducted in 2 sets, initially single measurements were made on multiple particles and then multiple measurements were made on a single sand particle. Results of the analysis indicated that surface texture parameters were statistically dissimilar for the rounded and angular sands. In addition, single measurements can be used to investigate surface texture characteristics of sands.
Relevance of secondary compression in Venice lagoon silts
Authors: Cola S.  , Simonini P.
Published: February 2025

To protect the historic city of Venice against recurrent flooding, a huge project has been undertaken, involving the design of movable gates located at the three lagoon inlets for controlling tidal flow. Selection of the gate foundations demands very careful experimental investigation and modeling of the Venice lagoon soils, composed of a prevalent silt fraction combined with clay and/or sand forming an erratic interbedding of various types of sediments. To this end two typical test sites in the lagoon area - the Malamocco and Treporti Test Site – have been selected for characterization of the silts. Some interesting results from the research carried out at the two sites concerning the mechanical behavior in secondary compression are here presented and discussed.
Effect of sample size on resilient modulus of cohesive soils
Authors: Elias Mohammed  , Titi Hani H.
Published: February 2025

This paper presents the results of research conducted to investigate the effect of the sample size on the resilient modulus of cohesive soils as determined by the repeated load triaxial test. Soil samples from three different sites within the State of Wisconsin were collected and then subjected to standard laboratory tests to evaluate their properties. Soil specimens of 35.6, 71, and 101.6 mm diameter (with length to diameter aspect ratio of 2:1) were prepared according to the standard procedure described by AASHTO T 307 and then were subjected to repeated load triaxial test to determine their resilient modulus values. Test results showed that the specimen size has a significant influence on the resilient modulus of the investigated cohesive soils. Soil specimens with 35.6 mm diameter exhibited the highest resilient modulus values while the specimens with 101.6 mm diameter exhibited the lowest values. The resilient modulus variation with specimen diameter was significant at low deviator stress levels and decreased with the increase of the deviator stress.
Undrained creep susceptibility of clays
Authors: Lacasse Suzanne  , Berre Toralv
Published: February 2025

The paper reviews the different components of settlement and essential concepts of undrained creep of saturated clays. The results of triaxial and simple shear undrained creep tests on a Norwegian clay are compared to the results reported in the literature. The undrained characteristics are assembled in a creep susceptibility diagram and analysed as a function of the behaviour of other materials known to be creep susceptible. A procedure to estimate the creep susceptibility of a clay in practice is proposed.
Effects of necking and its suppression in axisymmetric extension tests on clay
Authors: Yamamuro Jerry A.  , Liu Yigang
Published: February 2025

Drained and undrained triaxial extension tests conducted on slurry-consolidated kaolinite clay specimens clearly show effects of necking, which is a diffused type of strain localization. The effects on the observed stress-strain behavior are lower stiffness, lower peak strength and smaller strain-to-failure. This has been observed in a prior study on clay by Balasubramaniam (1976) and on granular materials by Yamamuro and Lade (1995). Tests were conducted with height-to-diameter ratios of 2.0, 1.0 and 0.5. Analysis of photographs at different known strain magnitudes clearly shows that the use of lubricated end platens and decreasing the height-todiameter ratio reduces the severity of necking observed in clay specimens. Thus, it is recommended to utilize an H/D=0.5 for extension tests.
The Newcastle Dilatometer testing in Lahore cohesive soils
Authors: Akbar A.  , Kibria S.  , Clarke B.G.
Published: February 2025

The Newcastle Flat Rigid Dilatometer (NDMT) is a new in-situ soil testing device developed in 2001 for direct measurement of the in-situ characteristics of soils such as strength, stiffness, deformation etc. It is quite simple, robust and produces repeatable data with no hysteresis. The NDMT loads the soil with a relatively rigid piston of 3 mm thickness in lieu of only 0.2 mm thick membrane of Marchetti Dilatometer (MDMT), thus creating a loading environment closer to that of the real-life foundations. The NDMT is more sensitive than the Marchetti dilatometer in measuring pressure and the corresponding displacement because of the instrumented rigid plate and therefore has the potential to detect variations in soil strength or stiffness with depth more accurately.
Site characterization for Sheikh Al Jaber Al Ahmed Causeway Project
Authors: Steenfelt J.S.  , Hansson L.  , Dakheel A.L.A.
Published: February 2025

The realisation of a causeway across the Kuwait Bay, linking Kuwait City with the planned New Town Development in Subiyah, is an integral part of the current Kuwait Master Plan. The paper describes the geotechnical and geological studies which formed an integral part of the Stage 1 investigations for alignment selection. The project is very challenging in that the geology offers a wide range of soils with up to 34 m thick deposits of very soft Kuwait Bay clay overlying very dense Kuwait Group sand together with the presence of extensive intertidal mudflats. The results of the investigations the lessons learned and the implication on the choice of foundations are summarized in the paper.
Viscous property of clay in 1-D compression: Evaluation and modelling
Authors: Martínez Hugo Acosta  , Tatsuoka Fumio  , Li Jianzhong
Published: February 2025

A series of strain rate-controlled one-dimensional (1D) compression tests were performed on soft and stiff clays to evaluate their viscous properties. The strain rate was changed stepwise many times and several short-term and long-term drained creep loading tests were performed during otherwise monotonic primary loading, unloading and reloading. Viscous effects observed in the experiments and empirical rules derived from them are presented. The test results are simulated by a specific non-linear three-component rheology model, called the New Isotach model, which has been developed to simulate the viscous properties of geomaterial in plane strain and triaxial compression. The model can also reproduce quite well the results from the 1D tests on clays performed in the present study.
Numerical modeling of the anisotropic stress-strain behavior of granular soils based on the micromechanics theory
Authors: Jung Young-Hoon  , Chung Choong-Ki  , Kim Myoung-Mo
Published: February 2025

Granular soils can be perceived as a collection of discrete particles. In this study, a numerical modeling and analysis of the anisotropic stress-strain behavior of granular soils based on the micromechanics theory were attempted. A new program employing the nonlinear contact stiffness model obtained from experimental data on metallic materials was developed. The numerical results indicated that the nonlinear contact force-displacement relationship, under isotropic stress condition, manifested itself as a pressure-dependent elastic moduli. For the anisotropic stress condition, the elastic and the elastic-plastic behavior of granular soils were essentially affected by both the nonlinear contact stiffness and the evolution of fabric anisotropy during shearing.