bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Playing in museums by constructing your game
Authors: Di Loreto Ines  , Divitini Monica  , Trimailovas Igoris  , Mander Micaela
Published: February 2025

In this paper we present MagMAR, a system for supporting museums visits recognizing the different needs of educators and students. MagMAR combines a Mobile Augmented Reality game (targeted towards young visitors) and a Web interface (targeted towards educators). The Web interface lets educators shape and guide the learning process, while the game is intended to engage students during the visit. A first evaluation was performed asking 9 students and a teacher from a high school class to test a MagMAR in a contemporary art museum in Milan. Results show that the form game was very successful from the sociability and fun points of view, and also guided the students in the retrieval and usage of information for the quiz game. Further improvements are on the other hand due to make the game more integrated in the context and push the students to pay more attention to their surroundings.
From personalization to adaptivity – Creating immersive visits through interactive digital storytelling at the Acropolis Museum
Authors: Pujol Laia  , Katifori Akrivi  , Vayanou Maria  , Roussou Maria  , Karvounis Manos  , Kyriakidi Marialena  , Eleftheratou Stamatia  , Ioannidis Yannis
Published: February 2025

Storytelling has recently become a popular way to guide museum visitors, replacing traditional exhibit-centric descriptions by story-centric cohesive narrations with references to the exhibits and multimedia content. This work presents the fundamental elements of the CHESS project approach, the goal of which is to provide adaptive, personalized, interactive storytelling for museum visits. We shortly present the CHESS project and its background, we detail the proposed storytelling and user models, we describe the provided functionality and we outline the main tools and mechanisms employed. Finally, we present the preliminary results of a recent evaluation study that are informing several directions for future work.
Towards the Sociable Smart City
Authors: Christopoulou Eleni  , Ringas Dimitrios
Published: February 2025

In this paper we present our vision on the Sociable Smart City. In our view cities are the people that inhabit them, their memories, stories, concerns and the culture that develops through their social interactions. The application of urban computing has a significant social and cultural impact on the city and on city life. Attempting to realise our vision, we designed and deployed CLIO, an urban computing system aiming to allow people to interact with the collective city memory. Our findings revealed that a system that exploits city infrastructure and both people's and artificial intelligence in order to empower and engage them in social activities may enhance citizen participation and sense of belonging as well as it may enable urban social interactions.
Non Linearity – Text/Cyberspace/City
Authors: Cheinoporou Ioanna
Published: February 2025

Having as a fundamental skeleton the notion of the non linearity, this study will investigate to what extent potential connections might exist between a written text, the cyberspace and the city. Starting by the exploration of the non linearity as met in the reading of a text, this kind of structure will gradually intersect with the non linearity of the ‘reading’ or the concept of cyberspace and later it will be projected onto the ‘reading’ of the real city. Acknowledging the data as the invisible ‘material’ for the perception of an notion, an object or a condition, the non linearity as a distributed and decentralized networking structure is attributed to the crossbreed of the physical and virtual version of space as met in the three aspects of investigation, that is the text, the cyberspace and the city if considered as sets of data. In the era of the cell phone being the digital extension of the individual – functioning as a ‘bridge’ between the real space and the virtual, this essay will, finally, discuss how this new reality might affect the ‘reading’ and ‘rewriting’ of the city or how the city is perceived by the human who is currently able to manipulate both sorts of spaces at the same time.
Stabilizing Slopes of Soft Cohesive Soil with Lime Columns
Authors: Hassan Rana
Published: February 2025

The main purpose of this paper is to study the effect of using piles and lime treatment in stabilizing the embankments of Al-Salam Canal in Northern Egypt. As a result of the soft nature of the left side embankment formation, sudden and progressive failures took place over years, in addition to the existence of gypsum and peat pockets and thin layers within the slope in many locations. Thus, it was suggested to use reinforced concrete piles to stabilize the left side embankment of the canal. Analysis of the slope is performed using finite element analysis. Stabilizing the left side embankment with piles was not that effective in increasing the slope safety factor. Thus, another slope stabilizing technique is studied using lime treatment. The proposed lime treatment technique was effective in stabilizing the slope more than the slope stabilizing piles in the zones containing the peat layer.
New Evaluation Methods for Grouts
Authors: Kainrath Adrian
Published: February 2025

In the scope of a research project testing methods for grouting materials are investigated at Vienna University of Technology. Based on extensive laboratory testing of cement-based grouts new laboratory tests and quality criteria have been developed with the objective to improve the state of the art of quality assurance. The new methods comprise the most important values such as viscosity, yield value, initial set, and gelation time. Based on these new methods general investigations on cement-based grouts were undertaken to improve the understanding of the rheological and mechanical behavior of different grouting materials. The results of investigations and in particular the developed laboratory tests will be presented and discussed in the paper.
Stabilization of Frictional Soil Through Injection Using Cips
Authors: Palmén Anders
Published: February 2025

The precipitation system CIPS (Calcite In-situ Precipitation System) has been created as a permeation grouting system based on a two component fluid with the intention of slowly permeate and fill the pores. It causes cementation through a chemical reaction which bonds the soil particles together at the contact points. CIPS mimics one of the natural reactions in nature where sandstone is formed through calcite precipitation. This system is used in Australia with excellent results and some of the factors governing the outcome of the method are: flow rate, pressure, time, chemical recipe, temperature, composition of the soil matrix and number of treatments. Some of these factors have been the focus of this report and they have been examined from a Scandinavian point of view where the ground temperature conditions and soil compositions have governed the outcome of the accomplished results. Both laboratory and field tests have been conducted with a satisfying increase in UCS.
Long-Term Safety Coefficient for Geosynthetics: On-Site Installation Damage Experimentation
Authors: Dupuis Bastien  , Auray Germain
Published: February 2025

Reinforcing geosynthetics are used for lot of geotechnical works: embankments, bases stability on soft soils, secure a risk of potential sinkholes, retaining walls reinforcements, asphalt reinforcements, reinforcement of load transfer platforms on piles, optimization of road structures. Their utilization permits also to minimize the environmental footprint and construction costs (reduction of the quantity of soil material used). For these constructions, a long-term design is asked (50 to 100 years). To guarantee the functionality of the geosynthetic during all the life of a construction, safety factors are used in calculations, according to different standards including for instance Eurocode 7, NF P 94270, NFG 38064. Four main partial safety factors are: Creep reduction factor RFCR, Chemical degradation reduction factor RFCH, Installation damage reduction factor RFID, Global geosynthetic reduction factor RFg.
Diameter Prediction of Columns Created with Single and Double Jet Grouting Systems
Authors: Wanik Lidia
Published: February 2025

Jet grouting is a very popular ground improvement technique used for various applications. The present study is particularly devoted to the role of coating of the injected fluid with a surrounding annular jet of air, as is typically achieved in a double fluid injection system of jet grouting. Different simulations were performed with this purpose using a finite element code. The results of the analysis were expressed in terms of longitudinal and transverse profiles of velocity within the jet mass. Finally, a comparison between single and double fluid effect on the diameter of the columns is presented
Comparative Study Between the Methods Used for Estimating Ultimate Lateral Load of Piles in Sandy Soil
Authors: Awad-Allah Mahmoud F.  , Yasufuku Noriyuki
Published: February 2025

In this paper, a comparison study based on results of experimental lateral pile load tests was carried out between a new proposed method and widely used methods for predicting the ultimate lateral resistance of piles in sandy soil. The proposed technique agrees well with those obtained from the centrifuge tests with average error of −1.30%, while other methods of design gave significantly higher average errors. Furthermore, to evaluate the accuracy and predictability of each method, a statistical analysis was performed using four independent statistical criteria, namely: (1) the best-fit line with the corresponding coefficient of correlation, r2, (2) the cumulative probability concept, (3) the 20% accuracy level derived from Log Normal distribution, and (4) the arithmetic mean (μ) and coefficient of variation (COV).
Interface Shear Characteristics for Driven Steel Piles in Sand with a High Silt/Clay Fraction
Authors: Doolan Shane
Published: February 2025

This paper presents the findings of a series of laboratory tests to investigate the effect of variation in the fines content on the interface friction angle between soil and steel. A series of soil on steel interface tests have been performed in a modified Bishop ring shear apparatus to assess the effect of fines content on the interface friction angle results. In addition to this, other factors, such as overconsolidation and shearing rate, have been assessed. The results of the tests undertaken expose that both the peak and constant volume interface friction angle are affected by the level of fines within a sample. Also shown is that altering shearing rate while still allowing adequate time for pore pressure dissipation, has no effect on the results, and that overconsolidation brings about changes in peak but not constant volume interface friction angles.
Geotechnical Design Considerations for Offshore Monopiles
Authors: Isidorou Petros  , Neaupane Krishna
Published: February 2025

The choice of the foundation for offshore structures is influenced by a number of considerations including the site conditions and loading characteristics. At water depths of up to 25m the most common foundation type is monopiles, which are single steel pipe piles driven open-ended into the soil. The behaviour of monopiles under transient loading from wind, waves and currents is very complex. Consequently, monopiles are often designed for the relevant extreme load event in a quasi-static approach. However, there is no general accepted procedure currently available for the design of these structures. In the present paper the general design strategy of the monopile foundations under lateral/cyclic loading are described and evaluated. Case studies are presented for pile driveability predictions and actual driving records are compared against the predicted values.
The Effects of Soil Characteristic on Rainfall Infiltration Induce Slope Failure
Authors: El-Fadil Mohamed
Published: February 2025

Slope failures happened at the Skudai campus in Johor, Malaysia. Two instrumented slopes were investigated for the effects of soil characteristics on the mechanism of rainfall infiltration in slope. One slope (Site-1) failed due to the rainfall while the other (Site-2) remained stable. Laboratory experiments were performed to examine one-dimensional rainfall infiltration behaviour for both sites soil. Analysis showed that for Site-1, the continuous rainfall has caused a significant increase in the soil's moisture, decrease in negative pore-water pressure (from 28 kPa to 0). On the other hand, the same rainfall induces a very small change in negative pore-water pressure. The results showed that the permeability of the soil mass plays an important role in slope instability. Comparison between predicted FOS based on SWCC curve and actual measurement showed that there are other factors that may influence the soil response to rainfall infiltration such as mineralogy of clay content and the dispersibility of the soil.
Numerical Investigation of the Lateral Load Response of Piles in Soft Clay
Authors: Tzivakos Konstantinos
Published: February 2025

The paper presents a numerical study on the undrained lateral response of a single, free-head, reinforced concrete pile in soft clays. Soil conditions simulating normally consolidated clays are examined and the pile-soil interaction under static lateral loading is analyzed. The non-linear p-y curves proposed in literature for soft clays are imported into suitable software in order to predict the distribution of the horizontal displacement and bending moment along the pile. The striking differences among these methods require further investigation via 3D finite element analyses. The determination of the ultimate soil resistance pultfrom the results of the finite element analyses aims at providing the estimation of a range of values for the ultimate soil resistance coefficient Npwith depth and the comparison of the derived values to the corresponding ones proposed by existing methodologies.
Study of Newmark Sliding Block Method for Rigid Sliding Mass During Asymmetric Dynamic Loading
Authors: Lu Chih-Chieh
Published: February 2025

Newmark sliding block method is a popular engineering method to evaluate permanent displacement of rock slope during seismic loading. In practice, a fixed threshold of horizontal seismic coefficient defined by the critical surface subject to factor of safety equal to 1.0 is used to examine the horizontal component of earthquake. The magnitude of displacement is obtained by integrating twice the difference of the applied acceleration and the critical acceleration with respect to time. However, this procedure does not rationally consider the variation of strength of rock mass during seismic loading and effect of vertical component of earthquake. The direction and quantity of displacement based on this approach is unclear. This study proposed modifications to improve the traditional Newmark sliding block method for consideration of the earthquake in horizontal and vertical directions and the variation of strength of Mohr-Coulomb material during earthquake. The proposed framework, compiled in the EXCEL program, is illustrated with an ideal model of sliding block. The yielding results are compared and discussed in this article. The modified analysis procedure is then applied to a real case of dip slope around reservoir in south of Taiwan for safety of reservoir. Satisfactory results are obtained in the demonstration example analyzed with the proposed framework. The effect of vertical earthquake is also discussed by this case.
Modeling of Mass Flow and Large Deformations due to Complex Failure Behavior
Authors: Rochée Solenne
Published: February 2025

Several great damages and failures like the collapse of the City Archive Building in Cologne or slope failures in coal mining areas led to severe safety problems. The failure behavior is mainly influenced of a complex mass flow of water-sand mixtures and large deformations of the soil ground. In order to avoid such incidences, a proper estimation of the risk potential is required, for which a better comprehension of the phenomenon and an appropriate choice of experimental and numerical tools are important. For the analysis of those damages and failures, numerical modeling of multiphase flows is based here on the Distinct-Element Method (DEM). As numerical parameters differ from the common mechanical properties of the soil, a significant study for the parameter identification is necessary. In this contribution, results of the parameter study for a correct modeling of water-sand mixtures in correlation with laboratory tests and experiments from the Institute of Geotechnics at Technische Universität Darmstadt are presented and discussed.
An Alternative Method of Solving Soil-Structure Interaction Problem for Foundation Design
Authors: Shulyatev Stanislav
Published: February 2025

The method in question is based on simplifying superstructure when foundation designing. The comparison with measured settlements of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russian Federation building proved its efficiency. In addition to the developed method there is a simple way to take into account building construction sequence is presented.
Kinematic Analysis of a Rock Slope Using Terrestrial 3D Laser Scanning Data
Authors: Marjanović Miloš
Published: February 2025

Using terrestrial laser scanning technology for building point clouds with millions of points can be used to model an actual slope and allow high-resolution computer-based analysis of rock slopes, as a supplement or a substitute for conventional field data acquisition. In this research such methodology has been implemented on a pilot site in the City of Belgrade, Serbia. To provide a control reference, the site has been previously studied and analyzed with conventional reconnaissance methods. On the rock slope face, made of limestone, several families of ruptures have been mapped directly from the 3 cm resolution point cloud. Families of planar structures have been extracted and forwarded to the preliminary kinematic analysis for three displacements types: plane and wedge slide and toppling. As expected, the analysis corresponded well with the referent investigation of the pilot site, indicating that the most dominant failure type is a planar block slide. It has been shown that proposed technology gives reliable and concurrent results.
Three-Dimensional Distinct Element Modelling of a Drill and Blast Tunnel in Crystalline Rock
Authors: Borbély Dániel
Published: February 2025

The first underground radioactive waste repository in Hungary is being built close to the village of Bátaapáti. The total length of tunnels driven to date is over 5200 metres including two inclined access tunnels, the base tunnels and the first two emplacement chambers. The tunnels were driven in fractured granitic rocks. Based on the discontinuities the host rock of the repository can be considered as an assembly of blocks, therefore the discontinuum modelling approach can be used to provide representative results of its behaviour. This paper focuses on the applicability of the discontinuum modelling code 3DEC to predict the performance of the granitic rock mass in Bátaapáti. A hybrid continuum-discontinuum model is presented, where the near-field is modelled as a blocky rock mass, and the far-field is modelled as a continuum using the built in deformable blocks of 3DEC. Convergence monitoring was carried out in the investigated section that offered the ability to check the validity of analysis results.
Full-Scale Field Test of Large Diameter Reinforced Concrete Pipes Under Heavy Traffic Loads
Authors: Rakitin Boris
Published: February 2025

This paper presents the results of a full-scale test of reinforced concrete (RC) pipes with an inner diameter of 1400 mm, all laid in a trench. The aim of this research was to study the influence of different types and positions of transport vehicle loads on stress-strain state of RC pipes. The new method of full-scale testing was developed. Three kinds of vehicles were used for creating traffic loads and the weight of the heaviest truck was 850 kN. Numerical simulations using the finite element method were performed comparing the difference with full-scale field test data. Using these research results, we made a conclusion about possibility of using a single spatial cylindrical cage for the reinforcement of RC pipes of an inner diameter of more than 1000 mm instead of double cylindrical cage according to traditional design. A new type of RC pipes was developed and tested, which was proved to be 18.9% more economical.
Computational Platform for the Analysis of a Displacement Sensor in Tunnels
Authors: Sotomayor Javier  , Beltrán Juan Felipe  , Moffat Ricardo
Published: February 2025

A system based on a PVC tube instrumented with optical fiber, connected to a Brillouin Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (BOTDR) apparatus, is proposed to monitor underground movement in tunnels from a long distance to the measured point. The tube sensors (TS) are attached to the rock mass at four points along the tube. It is expected that as the rock mass moves, the TS supports move relative to each other inducing axial strains along the TS that are recorded by the BOTDR. An iterative numerical algorithm (inverse model) is proposed to estimate the TS support displacements from the TS axial strains data using the linear theory of strength of materials. Experimental data are used to validate the estimated values of support displacements given by the proposed model and apply data field with success.
Ground Vibration Isolation on High Speed Rail Lines
Authors: Connolly D.  , Giannopoulos A.  , Fan W.  , Forde M.C.
Published: February 2025

This paper investigates the effect of wave barrier dimensions on the ability of wave barriers to reduce ground vibration levels from high speed rail lines. A combination of experimental and numerical tests are used to show that wave barrier optimization can be used to significantly reduce construction costs while maintaining high isolation performance.
Assessment of Relationship Between Insitu Modulus Derived from DCP and LFWD Testing
Authors: Lacey David  , Look Burt  , Williams David
Published: February 2025

The quasi-static Light Falling Weight Deflectometer (LFWD) load test has been developed to directly estimate the modulus of a near surface profile. This paper considers the use of the LFWD as a geotechnical investigation and site profiling tool of near-surface profiles. The suitability of using the LFWD as such is discussed by comparison of the insitu modulus (ELFWD) determined by the LFWD with the results of Dynamic Cone Penetrometer (DCP) testing at three sites in South East Queensland, Australia. Analysis of the side-by-side testing indicates that the results of each test are related and thus the DCP penetration rate can be used to directly estimate the insitu modulus. This is confirmed by FEM modeling of the LFWD test in which a profile's response to the dynamic loading was found to vary over the identified zone of influence.
Analysis of Overconsolidation Effect in Alluvial Subsoil Using CPTU and DMT
Authors: Stefaniak Katarzyna
Published: February 2025

The paper presents an analysis of values of the overconsolidation ratio using formulas based on CPTU static penetration and dilatometer testing (DMT). The reported results concerned two groups of alluvial deposits, i.e. normally consolidated (NC) and overconsolidated (OC), differing in their genesis. Moreover, a concept was proposed for the identification of overconsolidation in such deposits.
Proposal of a New In-Situ Torsionally Shear Testing Method and Analysis of Test Results for Anisotropic Rock Masses
Authors: Togashi Yota  , Tani Kazuo  , Kikumoto Mamoru
Published: February 2025

Rock masses often show anisotropic mechanical behavior for their discontinuity and orientation of mineral particles. However, it is rather difficult to evaluate anisotropic mechanical properties of rock masses by existing in-situ test methods, e.g. rock shear tests, plate loading tests. Then in this study, a new in-situ testing method for rock masses is proposed. For development of this test method, FE analysis of was conducted assuming transversely isotropy body. The computed results demonstrated that anisotropic deformation properties of rock masses can be back analysed by the test results.
Characterization of Geomaterials by Means of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
Authors: Montoro Marcos  , Cerioni Lucas  , Pusiol Daniel
Published: February 2025

Pore size and pore sizes distribution of soils and rocks control many hydraulic and mechanical properties of natural geomaterials such as hydraulic conductivity and shear resistance. Regarding their importance there are no simple techniques to measure pore size. Traditional pore size distribution measurement techniques include mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) and digital analysis. Nuclear magnetic resonance allows indirectly and qualitatively determining pore size distribution of a porous material by measuring the magnetization decaying curve and analyzing the transversal relaxation time distribution curve. In this research we measured the magnetization decaying curve obtained by a Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill pulse sequence. We performed a transversal relaxation time (T2) determination on samples with selected sizes of sand grains, well graded sands, silty sand, silt and clays. Obtained results show that T2distribution is exponentially correlated with the mean grain size.
Evolution of Deformation Fields in Ploughing of Sand
Authors: Murthy Tejas  , Saldana Christopher
Published: February 2025

This paper reports on an experimental study on the ploughing or orthogonal cutting in sand. Plane strain cutting or ploughing experiments were carried out on model Ottawa sand while being imaged at high resolution. The images obtained were further processed using image analysis and the evolution of the velocity and deformation fields were obtained from these analysis. The deformation fields show the presence of a clear shear zone in which the sand accrues deformation. A net change in the direction of the velocity of the sand is also clearly visible. The effective depth of cut of the sand also increases with continuous cutting as the sand reposes on itself. This deformation mechanics at the incipient stages of cutting is similar to that observed in metal cutting.
Liquefaction Potential Criteria Applied to Hydraulic Fills
Authors: Tarragó Dani  , Gens Antonio  , Alonso Eduardo
Published: February 2025

Although liquefaction criteria are mainly focused on granular soils, the evaluation of liquefaction potential of fine-grained hydraulic fills and soft soils is a subject of evident practical significance. In the paper, static liquefaction criteria, based mainly on CPTu tests, are applied to the hydraulic fills of an area of the Barcelona Harbour for which quite comprehensive information is available. The soils in this area provide a valuable benchmark as there is very strong evidence that they underwent static liquefaction in the immediate past. In this way, the performance of the criteria can be more consistently assessed. Subsequently, the same criteria are applied to the evaluation of the enhanced liquefaction resistance of the same soils after being subjected to ground improvement by preloading. Comparison of in situ test results before and after preloading provides additional insights on the effectiveness of this type of ground improvement on liquefaction potential.
Evaluation of Creep Hypotheses A and B Based on Relevant Laboratory Tests
Authors: Degago Samson A.  , Grimstad Gustav
Published: February 2025

Clayey soils, among other features, are characterized by their strong tendency to undergo significant creep deformations. It is also a well-accepted fact that the primary consolidation phase involves creep deformation. However, there are still contradicting opinions on the effect of creep during primary consolidation phase of clays. As a result two distinct schools of thoughts, referred to as creep hypotheses A and B, have been used as a basis of discussion to assess the effect of creep during the primary consolidation phase. In this work the implication of the two creep hypotheses are illustrated and then evaluated based on relevant and high quality laboratory tests. The test tests are seen to be in excellent agreement with creep hypothesis B and can numerically be described using elaso-viscoplastic formulation.
Measurements of the Travel Time of Shear Waves in Granular Soils Using Bender Elements
Authors: Ayala Juan  , Villalobos Felipe  , Alejo Alejandro
Published: February 2025

The shear wave velocity is becoming a commonly used parameter by Geotechnical Engineers for determining G0. This work describes the measurement of the travel time of shear waves in a soil sample, where bender elements are set up in an oedometer apparatus. Experiments were carried out for different relative densities, saturation states, types of transmitted waves, frequencies as well as wave amplitudes, changes in the diameter of the soil sample and load state. Different criteria for evaluating the arrival times of shear waves to the receiving element, both in time domain and in the frequency domain are studied. Besides some repeatability statistics were assessed.
Comparison of Dynamically Induced Experimental Slope Deformations with Newmark Sliding Block Theory
Authors: Farahi Jahromi H.  , Joshaghani M.  , Sehi Zadeh M.  , Yousefi S.
Published: February 2025

Accurate prediction of slope deformations due to earthquake occurrence, can lead to assure the safety and life survival of people and engineering structures built on. Newmark sliding block theory as an engineering method to evaluate slopes displacements is widely used by scientists and practitioners. In order to examine its applicability to real slopes subjected to earthquake, calculated results are compared with that of a physical model test. Considering Tehran's topographical, geological and geotechnical conditions, the slope was submitted to a series of harmonic dynamic excitations. Babolsar dry sand (Standard Iranian coastal sand) was poured in a rigid box to form a 30 degree slope. Then slope behavior and resulted PGDs were monitored by sensors and video capturing the phenomenon. Observed deformations and critical acceleration were compared to predicted ones, obtained from various approaches of Newmark sliding block theory, and the consistency between the theoretical and experimental results was judged.
In Situ-Based Assessment of Soil Liquefaction Potential. Case Study of an Earth Dam in Tunisia
Authors: Guettaya Ikram  , El Ouni Mohamed Ridha
Published: February 2025

The present paper examines the evaluation of liquefaction potential of an earth dam foundation in Tunisia. The assessment of soil liquefaction was made using deterministic and probabilistic simplified procedures developed from several case histories. The data collected from the field investigation performed before and after the vibrocompaction are analyzed and the results are reported. The obtained results show that after vibrocompaction, a significant improvement of the soil resistance reduces the liquefaction potential of the sandy foundation. Indeed, in the untreated layers, the factor of safety FS drops below 1 which means that the soil is susceptible for liquefaction. However, in the compacted horizons, the values of FS exceed the unit which justifies the absence of liquefaction hazard of the foundation.
Effects of Soft Plastic on MSW Shear Strength
Authors: Di Núbila Clarisse  , Gawlik Francismara  , Izzo Ronaldo
Published: February 2025

As the soft plastic is an abundant material in the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) mass, and considering that it acts as a reinforcement element, its influence on MSW shear strength has been a target of constant study. The variables involved in this study are the amount of plastic, its inclination to normal and shear stresses, its tensile strength, the issues related to the mobilization of strength stresses by the plastic, etc. The present paper aims to study the variables involved into the contribution of soft plastic on MSW shear strength, through the execution of direct shear tests to samples of sand combined with plastic bag strips. Some of these strips were previously immersed into leachate at different periods of time, in order to provide information about the influence of this substance on the specimens shear strength. It is expected through this study to help the understanding of the soft plastics influence on the MSW behavior, contributing to improve the design, construction and storage capacity of sanitary landfills.
Implications of Seismic Design Aspects on a Pile Supported Wharf Structure
Authors: Marchi Filippo  , Bernardi Matteo  , Marchi Michela
Published: February 2025

This paper illustrates the design issues of a pile supported wharf in a high seismicity area in Indonesia, a commonplace port structures in which the seismic response involves significant pile-slope interaction.
Experimental Investigation of Surface Fault Rupture Hazard Mitigation
Authors: Moosavi Sayyed Mojtaba  , Jafari Mohammad Kazem
Published: February 2025

Ground differential movements due to faulting have caused damage to engineered structures and facilities in strong Earthquakes. Although surface fault rupture is not a new problem, there are only a few potential mitigation schemes in the world containing some types of provisions for reducing the risks. Fault setbacks or avoidance of construction in the proximity of seismically active faults, are usually supposed as the first priority. This paper presents the results of an investigation on the development of reasonable mitigation measures based on some 1-g physical modeling tests.
Investigation of Sheet Pile Penetration in Surface Seals by Using the Coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian Method
Authors: Kaya Hatice
Published: February 2025

Surface seals of inland waterways are often made of cohesive material to reduce losses of seepage water and to increase their stability. Impairments of these sealing layers can be caused by ship collision, construction work or environmental influences. This paper focuses on possible damage due to construction work, especially due to the installation of sheet piles through these layers. On the one hand the penetration of sheet piles can cause spreading of the cohesive material into the sandy sublayers. On the other hand it can also generate gaps between the sheet pile and the cohesive material due to horizontal vibrations caused by the driving process. To investigate these soil mechanical processes numerical simulations are performed using the Coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian method (CEL). To describe characteristics of the soil a hypoplastic model for sand and a non-linear elastic, strengthening plastic model for clay are used. In order to evaluate the impact of different factors a parameter variation was carried out.
Ways to Improve the Definition of Soils Deformation Characteristics in Laboratory Conditions
Authors: Poklonskyi Sergii
Published: February 2025

One of the most important soil parameters is deformation modulus. In Ukraine during recent years increasingly using oedometer tests when assessment the soil compressibility. However, the reference value of soil deformation modulus is its determination by plate loading tests with plate area not less than 0.5 m2. The deformation modules Eoedsignificantly lower than EPLT.
Managing Risks Through Smart Monitoring
Authors: Pot Remon  , Van Der Meer Martin
Published: February 2025

Geotechnical risk management and levee safety assessments have a lot in common: both focus on risk management. Monitoring can provide insight into geotechnical behaviour of structures and surroundings. Monitoring therefore is therefore valuable to map and manage possible risks. However, pitfalls in the application of monitoring are often not recognized. Often these pitfalls relate to technical aspects and communication and understanding of risks. This paper addresses these two aspects: proper application of monitoring as part of geotechnical risk management and visualization of risks aiming to improve the decision-making process.
Plate Load Tests on Improved Ground with Construction and Demolition Wastes Compaction Piles
Authors: Amorim Marina  , Gusmão Alexandre  , Gusmão Filho Jaime  , Maia Gilmar  , Coutinho Roberto
Published: February 2025

The growing concern regarding the production of wastes in general with regard to its disposal in increasingly confined urban spaces, and the exhaustion of natural resources and their close relationship with the cost of extraction and transport of materials from dumps even farther from the cities, causes concern in evaluating in more detail the question of waste produced in large urban centres. The purpose of this paper is to check the performance of Construction and Demolition Waste (CDW) when applied to improving soils using compaction piles to replace natural aggregate. With this in mind, it was done an experimental compaction mesh consisting of CDW and conventional piles on site, where it was possible to drill boreholes and perform 15 plate bearing tests. The borehole and plate bearing tests made on the experimental compaction mesh helped confirm good performance of CDW piles compared to conventional piles.
Geotechnical Testing for Certification of Loess Improvement by Dynamic Compaction
Authors: Dumitru Monica
Published: February 2025

As development continues, buildings and highways must be constructed over collapsible soils. Based on experience with behavior of loess in its natural state and after wetting, loess is classified as a difficult foundation soil, therefore improvement is typically recommended. Settlements associated with collapsible soils can lead to expensive repairs if not treated in some way prior to construction. Dynamic Compaction is a semi empirical technique for improving the mechanical properties of soil, developed by Louis Menard in 1970's. This technique was used recently in Romania for the treatment of 240,000m2of loess. This paper presents the criteria and tests used to certify the improvement of the physical and mechanical parameters of loess including its porosity, humidity, density, plasticity, additional settlement index, and structural resistance and deformation modulus.
Tensile and Creep Behavior of Geosynthetics Using Confined-Accelerated Tests
Authors: de França Fagner Alexandre Nunes  , Avesani Francisco Paulo Basile  , de Mello Massimino Beatriz  , de Souza Bueno Benedito  , Zornberg Jorge Gabriel
Published: February 2025

A major aspect in geosynthetics creep analysis is the load level applied to the specimen, usually referred as a percentage of the geosynthetic ultimate tensile strength (UTS). Since both tensile and creep standard tests are performed with in-isolation specimens, they may not reproduce the possibly significant effect of soil-geosynthetic interaction. A new creep testing machine was recently developed and successfully addressed this concern. However, further developments allowed tensile tests to be performed in the same conditions used in nonconventional creep ones. This paper presents the results of nonconventional tensile tests performed with a woven biaxial polyester geogrid. They were used to define its UTS in the same conditions employed in creep tests performed with the new equipment. Despite changes in tensile curves shapes were found, the UTS from confined, accelerated and confined-accelerated tensile tests were quite similar to those obtained with standard tensile test procedure.
Enhancing Interaction of Persons with Cerebral Palsy using Biosignals Detection
Authors: Londral Ana  , Sousa Joana  , Araüjo Tiago  , Silva Hugo
Published: February 2025

Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a disorder of posture and movement that results in permanent but no unchanging conditions. Interventions in rehabilitation therapies and health management are important to improve the quality of life of persons with CP. Moreover, intervention in Communication is of utmost importance, as disorders of movement impose severe limitations in the interaction with the environment. In this paper we describe four modules based on biosignal sensor technology, developed to augment the performance of CP users in the interaction with the environment. Our technology is focused on detection of multimodal physiological signals through wireless, miniaturized and wearable sensors to be placed in the body of persons with CP (EMG, ECG, EDA, BVP, respiration and accelerometry). The presented modules were developed to integrate a sensor framework for implementation of different assistive technologies with applications in the areas of computer access, affective computing, health monitoring, and biofeedback rehabilitation.
FOOD: Discovering Techno-Social Scenarios for Networked Kitchen Systems
Authors: Allen Jamie  , Boffi Laura  , Burzagli Laura  , Ciampolini Paolo  , De Munari Ilaria  , Emiliani Pier Luigi
Published: February 2025

The FOOD AAL-JP project is introduced, which brings AAL concepts within the kitchen environment and deals with technical devices as well as social applications design. The large and competitive market view makes mainstreaming and DFA concerns mostly relevant. Participatory design tools have been exploited to get users involved since the early design phases and to spread awareness of the users' perspective among the project partnership.
Remote Telecare in an Aging Dutch Sample: Critical Factors Predicting Their Intention to Use
Authors: Antonietti Angelo  , Barakat Ansam  , Van Houwelingen Thijs  , Kort Helianthe
Published: February 2025

eHealth technology and remote telecare (RT) in particular have proven benefits for older adults who want to age-in-place. Although, RT is not fully adopted on a large scale by the Dutch senior population. This empirical study aims to predict the willingness to use RT by Dutch seniors with computer experience by means of a web based questionnaire. Demographic variables, experience with computers and other technology and expectations of RT are the input for the predictive regression model. Findings from the analysis (n=166) suggest that expected enhancement of motivation for self-care, expected usability, level of support needed and level of education are the main predictors for seniors' willingness to use RT. The found predictors will be used to construct a pilot course for seniors to introduce RT and exploring facilitating conditions that might contribute to a successful adoption.
Technology Transfer within the Telecare Technology Innovation System
Authors: van der Vlies Remy D.  , Felix Esther
Published: February 2025

Telecare technology is not common yet, although it is perceived as promising. Most studies on telecare technology transfer present a case involving the use of a single methodology and approach during some steps of technology transfer. Technology transfer models cannot be sensibly constructed if they don't consider the whole innovation process, therefore, the aim of this research is to introduce a model for the mapping of telecare technology transfer in an innovation system as a whole and assess its usability by mapping drivers and barriers as experienced in the transfer of a documented telecare technology introduction. We started from the basic System Innovation (SI) Framework as introduced and expanded by Klein Woolthuis and applied it to one of the cases published in Technology and Disability; 24(3): ‘ACTION’. The SI-approach provided a structured overview of the complete innovation system and helped uncover the source of the success and the roots of the challenges.
Proposal for Robot Assisted Rehabilitation: A New Approach to Patient Exercise
Authors: Naganuma M.  , Ohkubo E.  , Kimura R.  , Kato N.
Published: February 2025

Walking rehabilitation exercise using a robotic dog is proposed. Using a robot instead of an animal in animal assisted therapy overcomes the problems of infection, feeding and excretion, animal abuse, and the like. Patients operate the robotic dog AIBO using an acceleration force sensor, a touch panel, or a center of gravity sensor. Use of these human interface devices allows new functions such as sensing, recording, and processing of human conditions to be easily achieved using information communications technology. One of the key aspects of this proposal is the reversal of the roles of actor and object in assistive technology such as rehabilitation exercises. Patients operate the robot by themselves and the consequent feeling of self-efficacy should help to prolong the rehabilitation exercise. Preliminary experiments conducted at a nursing home and hospital supported this prediction and show the effectiveness of the proposal.
eCOPD: User Requirements of Older People with COPD for Ehealth Support at Home, a User-Centred Study
Authors: Van de Dijk Marit  , Te Lintelo José  , Willems Charles G.  , Van Gemert-Pijnen Lisette J.E.W.C.
Published: February 2025

BACKGROUND: For people with chronic diseases such as COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), eHealth provides new opportunities for self-management. Although sufficient research on COPD self-management exists, COPD telehealth research is primarily based on ‘care at a distance’ as directed by health professionals and technicians; it is less based on user needs of older people.
Robot-Mediated Interviews: Does a Robotic Interviewer Impact Question Difficulty and Information Recovery?
Authors: Wood Luke Jai  , Dautenhahn Kerstin  , Lehmann Hagen  , Robins Ben  , Rainer Austen  , Syrdal Dag Sverre
Published: February 2025

Our previous research has shown that children respond to a robotic interviewer very similar compared to a human interviewer, pointing towards the prospect of using robot-mediated interviews in situations where human interviewers face certain challenges. This follow-up study investigated how 20 children (aged between 7 and 9) respond to questions of varying difficulty from a robotic interviewer compared to a human interviewer. Each child participated in two interviews, one with an adult and one with a humanoid robot called KASPAR, the main questions in these interviews focused on the theme of pets and animals. After each interview the children were asked to rate the difficulty of the questions and particular aspects of the experience. Measures include the behavioural coding of the children's behaviour during the interviews, the transcripts of what the children said and questionnaire data. The results from quantitative data analysis reveal that the children interacted with KASPAR in a very similar manner to how they interacted with the human interviewer, and provided both interviewers with similar information and amounts of information regardless of question difficulty.
Mobility Device Use and Exploration of Housing Accessibility for Powered Mobility Device Users among People Ageing with Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Pettersson Cecilia  , Jörgensen Sophie  , Mårtensson Lizette  , Lexell Jan  , Slaug Björn  , Iwarsson Susanne
Published: February 2025

Aim: To describe the use of mobility devices among people ageing with spinal cord injury (SCI), with a specific focus on use of powered mobility devices (PMD) and housing accessibility.
Wizard-of-Oz and Mixed-Methods Studies to Inform Intelligent Wheelchair Design for Older Adults with Dementia
Authors: Viswanathan Pooja  , Wang Rosalie  , Mihailidis Alex
Published: February 2025

Testing complex assistive technologies with older adults with dementia is challenging due to difficulties in recruitment, lack of system robustness, and the need for real-world testing. We thus recommend using Wizard-of-Oz and mixed-methods studies in order to inform the design of intelligent wheelchairs. We summarize our previous studies with the target population, and describe ongoing research that employs the proposed methods.