bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A time-delay equation: well-posedness to optimal control
Authors: Yildirim Kenan , Alkan Sertan
Published: July 2016

In this paper, well-posedness, controllability and optimal control for a time-delay beam equation are studied. The equation of motion is modeled as a time-delayed distributed parameter system(DPS) and includes Heaviside functions and their spatial derivatives due to the finite size of piezoelectric patch actuators used to suppress the excessive vibrations based on displacement and moment conditions. The optimal control problem is defined with the performance index including a weighted quadratic functional of the displacement and velocity which is to be minimized at a given terminal time and a penalty term defined as the control voltage used in the control duration. Optimal control law is obtained by using Maximum principle and hence, the optimal control problem is transformed the into a boundary-, initial and terminal value problem.The explicit solution of the control problem is obtained by eigenfunction expansions of the state and adjoint variables. Numerical results are presented to show the effectiveness and applicability of the piezoelectric control.
On negacyclic codes over the ring ℤp + uℤ
p
+ . . . + u

k + 1 ℤ
p
Authors: Singh Abhay Kumar , Pattanayak Sukhamoy , Mahato Amrit Kumar , Patel Manoj Kumar
Published: July 2016

We investigate the structure of negacyclic codes over the chain ring ℤ
p
[u]/〈 u

k
〉, which plays an important role in data transmission technologies. We study the set of generators for these codes. We also discuss the rank and hamming distance for these codes. We give some examples of negacyclic codes which are near to optimal.
Weighted Monte Carlo estimators for angular distributions of the solar radiation reflected from a cloud layer
Authors: Mikhailov Gennady A. , Prigarin Sergey M. , Rozhenko Sergey A.
Published: July 2016

The paper is focused on development of weighted Monte Carlo methods allowing one to estimate simultaneously the characteristics of the radiation field reflected from the medium based on a single Markov chain and in a sufficiently wide range of wavelengths. Such Markov chain is constructed with the use of a special ‘artificial’ scattering phase function whose choice is approximately optimized according to the criterion of minimum of the spectral maximum of the variance of estimates. The efficiency of the considered weighted method is studied on a model problem related to scattering of solar radiation by a cloud layer. The weighted method developed in the present article is aimed to supercomputer simulation.
The Sensorimotor System Can Sculpt Behaviorally Relevant Representations for Motor Learning
Authors: Franklin David W. , Batchelor Alexandra V. , Wolpert Daniel M.
Published: July 2016

The coordinate system in which humans learn novel motor skills is controversial. The representation of sensorimotor skills has been extensively studied by examining generalization after learning perturbations specifically designed to be ambiguous as to their coordinate system. Recent studies have found that learning is not represented in any simple coordinate system and can potentially be accounted for by a mixed representation. Here, instead of probing generalization, which has led to conflicting results, we examine whether novel dynamics can be learned when explicitly and unambiguously presented in particular coordinate systems. Subjects performed center–out reaches to targets in the presence of a force field, while varying the orientation of their hand (i.e., the wrist angle) across trials. Different groups of subjects experienced force fields that were explicitly presented either in Cartesian coordinates (field independent of hand orientation), in object coordinates (field rotated with hand orientation), or in anti-object coordinates (field rotated counter to hand orientation). Subjects learned to represent the dynamics when presented in either Cartesian or object coordinates, learning these as well as an ambiguous force field. However, learning was slower for the object-based dynamics and substantially impaired for the anti-object presentation. Our results show that the motor system is able to tune its representation to at least two natural coordinate systems but is impaired when the representation of the task does not correspond to a behaviorally relevant coordinate system. Our results show that the motor system can sculpt its representation through experience to match those of natural tasks.
Improving Course Coherence & Assessment Rigor: “Understanding by Design” in a Nonmajors Biology Course
Authors: Minbiole Julie
Published: July 2016

Instructors in two- and four-year undergraduate institutions face a variety of challenges in designing and delivering high-quality courses for their students and in creating accurate assessments of student learning. Traditional course planning (a linear, start-to-finish process based on the knowledge and perspective of the instructor) can lead to lack of clarity of learning objectives for students, uncertainty about course priorities for both instructor and students, and poor alignment between course material and assessments. To address these issues, Understanding by Design (UbD), a course-planning protocol widely used in K–12 education, was implemented to redesign a one-semester, nonmajors “Sensation & Perception” course at a four-year liberal arts college. This implementation improved the instructor's understanding of desired student learning outcomes, allowed core concepts and science competencies to be prioritized as recommended by the “Vision and Change” reform initiative, and led to decreased lecture time in favor of greater lab and student-driven discussion time. In addition, this process allowed components of evidence-based reasoning and scientific process to be incorporated authentically into assessments. Despite the increasing rigor of assessments, there was a statistically significant increase in students earning an A or B on the final exam after UbD implementation.
Molecular Sculpting: Active Learning of Subcellular Systems & Processes
Authors: White Peter J. T.
Published: July 2016

Students often struggle to understand the complex molecular systems and processes presented in introductory biology courses. These include the Calvin cycle, the Krebs cycle, transcription and translation, and DNA replication, among others. Traditionally, these systems and processes are taught using textbook readings and PowerPoint slides as lecture aids; video animations have also become popular in recent years. Students tend to be passive observers in many of these methods of instruction, relying heavily on “memorization” learning techniques. To address this, I developed an active-learning intervention called “molecular sculpting” in which students construct two-dimensional or three-dimensional versions of an assigned molecular system or process, complete with representations of proteins, chromosomes, electrons, protons, and other molecules (depending on the system). The value of this learning activity was measured in five class sessions in an introductory biology course during the 2014–2015 academic year. Pre- and post-class written assignments showed that students were often able to describe course concepts more completely after sessions in which sculpting was used, compared with sessions without sculpting. Molecular sculpting is a unique, hands-on activity that appears to have significant learning gains associated with it; it can be adapted for use in a variety of K–14 biology courses.
Enhancing Interactions between Research Lab Students & Their Communities
Authors: Peterson Elizabeth K. , Mitra Raka M.
Published: July 2016

We present a simple strategy that professors and research students can use to coordinate scientific education-outreach programs in the wider community. The focal points of this strategy are the use of preexisting community networks and the development of a simple but engaging educational program. Employing this straightforward model can help reduce the activation barrier for lab members who are interested in becoming involved in scientific outreach.
Sometimes it is Only Madness that Makes us what we Are
Authors: Puebla César A. Cisneros
Published: July 2016

In this brief essay I introduce three statements on being a dangerous sociologist: being critical, making visible the invisible, and working hard on the thresholds. Such statements are framed into the realm of magical realism and pedagogy of the oppressed to open discussions on coloniality of power and activism in Latin America and the rest of our world.
Integration Tensions and Possibilities
Authors: Mertens Donna M. , Cram Fiona
Published: July 2016

Philosophic tensions arise in bringing together research agendas associated with the transformative paradigm and Indigenous peoples because of the latter's history of colonization and betrayal. The alliance between the transformative and Indigenous agendas is therefore not an entirely comfortable fit. However, we argue that Indigenous voices can be brought into the transformative paradigm as a way of stretching and enriching understandings of the meaning of conducting research for the purpose of social transformation. This is possible because the transformative paradigm has space within it for many worlds and tolerance of the complexity of subjectivities and identities of inhabitants.
The ICQI and the Rise of Autoethnography
Authors: Bochner Arthur P. , Ellis Carolyn
Published: July 2016

In this article, we trace the rise of autoethnography from its modest beginning as a form of indigenous ethnography through its inception as a mode of resistance to conventional ethnographic writing practices and silent authorship to its introduction as a narrative identity and covering term. Autoethnography has become a genus for many diverse species of first-person, vulnerable writing that calls attention to subjectivity, emotionality, and contingency and brings readers into “feeling” contact with the suffering of others. We emphasize the importance of the community spirit fostered by the first decade of the International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry, which embraced, promoted, and gave special attention to autoethnographic writing and performance, thereby strengthening the standing of autoethnography in the human sciences. The Congress provides a model of solidarity and a sense of shared values and purposes emblematic of meaningful communities.
People Understand Everything, and the Better it is Written, the Better it is Understood
Authors: Soler Marta
Published: July 2016

Communicative methodology seeks to achieve social transformation while developing research. It starts from the premise that everyone has knowledge regardless of their academic level. Its main aim is to break with the methodological relevance gap and provide social justice while researching with and for the end users. In this case, this paper presents the contributions to feminism knowledge creation with the collaboration of nonacademic women and academic women. These nonacademic women participate in dialogic literary gatherings reading and discussing universal classic literature, gaining knowledge and sharing through egalitarian dialogue. At the same time, this paper highlights the figure and contributions of Jesus Gómez, “Pato,” as the founder of the communicative methodology.
Negotiating “Historical Truth”
Authors: Goldman Leah
Published: July 2016

In 1925, when Soviet composer Iurii Shaporin began writing his first opera, Polina Gebl’, about the Decembrist Ivan Annenkov and the French emigrée shopgirl who followed him into exile, he had no idea how tumultuous its journey would be. It took twenty-eight years and countless revisions for the opera to gain official approval. When it finally premiered at the Bolshoi Theater in 1953, with the title The Decembrists, the love story had been backgrounded and the historical plot line vastly expanded; scenes, characters, and arias had been added, dropped, or altered; and Polina herself had been written out entirely.

The negotiated process by which Polina became The Decembrists reveals much about the evolving relationship between music and power in the Soviet Union, especially in the high-stakes realm of Socialist Realist opera, in which a suitable exemplar had yet to be produced. Amidst the pressures of the late-Stalinist state’s assault on the creative intelligentsia, and in the wake of major opera scandals in the 1930s and 1940s, the Bolshoi Theater saw in Shaporin’s work an ideal candidate to fill this void: a historical opera with an unimpeachable subject, the Decembrist Revolution, understood as the foundation point of the revolutionary legacy to which the Bolsheviks laid claim. This article analyzes the intense negotiations among Shaporin, the Bolshoi and its consultants, and official censors to ensure The Decembrists’ historical accuracy, which they believed would guarantee its acceptance. Yet, as the article demonstrates, while Soviet musical authorities upheld “historical truth” as their standard, in the end the Socialist Realist ideal of “artistic truth” was far more important for The Decembrists’ success.
The Recomposition of Aram Khachaturian’s Spartacus at the Bolshoi Theater, 1958–1968
Authors: Searcy Anne
Published: July 2016

Within a single decade, Bolshoi Theater in Moscow produced distinct versions of Aram Khachaturian’s ballet Spartacus by Igor Moiseyev (1958), Leonid Yakobson (1962), and Yuri Grigorovich (1968). A close examination of the three productions, analyzed along with evidence from the transcripts of the theater’s artistic committee meetings, newspaper criticism of the ballets, and audience surveys from the theater’s archive reveals how the productions participated in Thaw-era debates about the place of nationality in Soviet society. The original two choreographers, like Khachaturian, used the ballet as a place to stage the “Friendship of Peoples,” a metaphorical representation of Soviet society as a meeting place for diverse nationalities, conceived of as essentialized folk cultures. In 1968, when Grigorovich staged the ballet, he radically rearranged the score, replacing Khachaturian’s multi-ethnic display with an exhibition of ethnic homogenization. Grigorovich’s revisions reflected Khrushchev’s and Brezhnev’s campaigns to shape a single, unified Soviet national identity.
O papel de marcadores moleculares na genética forense
Authors: Decanine Daniele
Published: July 2016

O objetivo desse trabalho foi apresentar uma revisão bibliográfica sobre as tecnologias utilizadas na Genética Forense, enfatizando o uso de marcadores moleculares para a identificação humana. Apresento aqui alguns exemplos do potencial da Biologia Molecular para auxiliar na investigação criminal, bem como na definição de parentesco (maternidade e paternidade). A utilização desses marcadores é atualmente a peça fundamental para os testes de DNA forense. Estes sistemas são, na sua maioria, baseados na análise de painéis de sequências microssatélites específicas (STRs). Foi possível discorrer sobre o uso forense do DNA, sobre a presença de regiões hipervariáveis no material genético, o papel de marcadores moleculares, bem como abordar técnicas de análise de DNA e suas aplicações. A busca por novas metodologias se faz importante para reduzir os custos e impulsionar uma nova cultura genética na Ciência Forense, as quais terão impacto no futuro do DNA forense com a expansão da Biologia Molecular.
CSI na prática: a criminalística a favor da justiça
Authors: Silva Rhonan Ferreira da , Telles Bruno , Dias Filho Claudemir Rodrigues , Gomes Juliano de Andrade
Published: July 2016

A perícia criminal ocupa papel de relevante destaque no contexto da investigação criminal, pois a prova pericial é produzida com base em elementos técnicos e científicos, em decorrência dos conhecimentos obtidos nas mais diversas áreas do conhecimento, especialmente no campo das ciências exatas, biológicas, humanas e da saúde.
Diabetes mellitus: an important risk factor for reactivation of tuberculosis
Authors: Solá Ernesto , Rivera Carmen , Mangual Michelle , Martinez José , Rivera Kelvin , Fernandez Ricardo
Published: July 2016

Diabetes mellitus was identified as a risk factor for developing tuberculosis (TB) infection, and relapse after therapy. The risk of acquiring TB is described as comparable to that of HIV population. The fact that diabetics are 3× times more prone to develop pulmonary TB than nondiabetics cannot be overlooked. With DM recognized as global epidemic, and TB affecting one-third of the world population, physicians must remain vigilant. We present a 45-year-old woman born in Dominican Republic (DR), with 10-year history of T2DM treated with metformin, arrived to our Urgency Room complaining of dry cough for the past 3months. Interview unveiled unintentional 15lbs weight loss, night sweats, occasional unquantified fever, and general malaise but denied bloody sputum. She traveled to DR 2years before, with no known ill exposure. Physical examination showed a thin body habitus, otherwise well appearing woman with stable vital signs, presenting solely right middle lung field ronchi. LDH, ESR, hsCRP and Hg A1C were elevated. Imaging revealed a right middle lobe cavitation. Sputum for AFB disclosed active pulmonary TB. Our case portrays that the consideration of TB as differential diagnosis in diabetics should be exercised with the same strength, as it is undertaken during the evaluation of HIV patients with lung cavitation. Inability to recognize TB will endanger the patient, hospital dwellers and staff, and perpetuate this global public health menace.

Learning points

Diabetes mellitus should be considered an important risk factor for the reactivation of pulmonary tuberculosis.

High clinical suspicious should be taken into consideration as radiological findings for pulmonary tuberculosis in patients with diabetes mellitus may be atypical, involving middle and lower lobes.

Inability to recognize pulmonary tuberculosis will endanger the patient, hospital dwellers and staff, and perpetuate this global public health menace.
La promulgación de las normas en el pensamiento de Lon F. Fuller: una lectura a propósito del ordenamiento jurídico actual
Authors: Centenera Sánchez-Seco Fernando
Published: July 2016

La promulgación de las normas es uno de los ocho principios que Lon L. Fuller considera en su obra La Moral del Derecho, y que participa de los planteamientos básicos que vertebran a dicho libro. Este trabajo pretende ofrecer una lectura de dicho principio, tratando de buscar posibles manifestaciones prácticas de aquel en nuestro ordenamiento jurídico. Más concretamente, los aspectos que se abordan en este estudio son los que se señalan a continuación: la moral de la promulgación, la presencia del principio en la moral de deber, las repercusiones que tiene el incumplimiento de dicho deber en la existencia del derecho, la proyección de la promulgación en la moral de aspiración y la puesta en práctica del principio de utilidad marginal en este último ámbito.
Eleições presidenciais 2014 e cobertura online: a interação entre comentaristas e posts nas páginas dos jornais brasileiros no Facebook
Authors: Batista Mitozo Isabele , Santos Mottinha Romer
Published: July 2016

Tendo em vista a importância dos media digitais, atualmente, para a divulgação de notícias, o trabalho objetiva estudar como ocorreu a interação com a cobertura das eleições presidenciais nas páginas de Facebook de onze jornais brasileiros, em 2014. Para a análise, foram selecionados como corpus empírico posts e os comentários a eles, ambos citando ao menos um dos principais presidenciáveis, no caso: Dilma Rousseff (PT); Aécio Neves (PSDB); Marina Silva/Eduardo Campos (PSB). Assim, foi verificada a cobertura na timeline dos jornais e como se deu a interação entre internautas e notícias, a partir de quatro variáveis: em relação aos posts, 1) os mais comentados, 2) a citação de candidatos neles e 3) a valência; e, em relação aos comentários, 4) a forma (elogio, crítica, outro). A metodologia utilizada foi a análise de conteúdo quantitativa e foram feitos testes a fim de observar as relações entre as variáveis em análise.
A Segunda Tela e a Mudança de Estratégia nos Pronunciamentos de Dilma Rousseff no Segundo Mandato
Authors: Da Costa Alexandre Augusto
Published: July 2016

O artigo tem o intuito de discutir a mudança de estratégia da presidente Dilma Rousseff nos pronunciamentos em Cadeia Nacional de Rádio e Televisão (CNRT). Após discursar no dia 8 de março de 2015, houve manifestações que ficaram conhecidas como “panelaços” em várias capitais brasileiras. Como estratégia de marketing, a presidente, então, decidiu fazer o pronunciamento seguinte, no Dia do Trabalhador (1º de Maio) em vídeos gravados na internet. A partir destes fatos, o artigo faz uma discussão teórica e conceitual da interface mídia e política, do personalismo, representação política, da imagem e do espetáculo em tempos de forte engajamento digital, a partir do fenômeno da Segunda Tela.
(Re)pensar el Derecho y la noción del sujeto indio(a) desde una mirada descolonial
Authors: Ochoa Muñoz Karina
Published: July 2016

En el presente trabajo se hace un recorrido por los postulados teológicos del fraile dominico Francisco de Vitoria, considerado padre del Derecho internacional, quien formula las bases juríducas de la empresa colonialista Europea y de lo que -en adelante- sería el derecho modermo. El objetivo es reconocer los elementos constitutuvos del orden legal que da sustente a la concepción que sobre las poblaciones amerindias se construye a partir del siglo XVI, y encuentran un continum en las concepciones del derecho moderno.
Letter to Judith Butler from an ex mulatto woman
Authors: Figueiredo Ángela
Published: July 2016

The study of race relations was established in Brazil from a comparison with the United States. One of the most prominent aspects of this comparison was the existence of a classification scale for color, with more than 300 terms used for self-classification in Brazil, in contrast to the American binary system. Despite the wide range of possibilities for classification, social indicators for income and education indicated the existence of just two categories: black and white. From the 1970s and the demands made by black movements, we have observed the emergence of an affirmative discourse on black identity and a deliberate refusal to use the numerous color terms. From a political point of view, this demand was successful, as it demonstrated the existence of a divided country. The aim of this text is to establish a dialogue with queer theory, especially in relation to questions linked to ethnic and racial identity and its importance in securing rights in the Brazilian context.
Újabb adatok a myositisspecifikus és -asszociált antitestekről juvenilis és felnőttkori myositisekben
Authors: Váncsa Andrea , Dankó Katalin
Published: July 2016

Myositis, which means inflammation of the muscles, is a general term used for inflammatory myopathies. Myositis is a rare idiopathic autoimmune disease. It is believed that environmental factors such as virus, bacteria, parasites, direct injuries, drugs side effect can trigger the immune system of genetically susceptible individuals to act against muscle tissues. There are several types of myositis with the same systemic symptoms such as muscle weakness, fatigue, muscle pain and inflammation. These include dermatomyositis, juvenile dermatomyositis, inclusion-body myositis, polymyositis, orbital myositis and myositis ossificans. Juvenile and adult dermatomyositis are chronic, immune-mediated inflammatory myopathies characterized by progressive proximal muscle weakness and typical skin symptoms. The aim of the authors was to compare the symptoms, laboratory and serological findings and disease course in children and adult patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathy. Early diagnosis and aggressive immunosuppressive treatment improve the mortality of these patients. Myositis-specific autoantibodies have predictive and prognostic values regarding the associated overlap disease, response to treatment and disease course. The authors intend to lighten the clinical and pathogenetic significance of the new target autoantigens. Orv. Hetil., 2016, 157(29), 1179–1184.
Micropiles: the state of practice Part 1: Characteristics, definitions and classifications
Authors: Bruce D. A. , DiMillio A. F. , Juran I.
Published: July 2016

A major study of micropiles has recently been funded by the Federal Highway Authority (FHWA) in the United States. The subject is limited to drilled and grouted, cast-in-place, reinforced piles of nominal diameter less than 300 mm. Such piles are used for direct structural underpinning, and, when installed closely spaced in groups or networks, are used for in-situ soil reinforcement. They have become increasingly popular throughout the world since their inception in Italy in 1952, and are widely used in association with urban and industrial development and redevelopment projects.

In the series of five papers, the major findings of the FHWA study are presented. Part 1 in the current paper, deals with the background to the FHWA study, characteristics and definitions, classification, historical development and types of application. Part 2 summarizes design, with distinctions drawn between single piles, and groups and networks of piles. Part 3 describes construction techniques, with reference to various national practices. Part 4 discusses testing procedures, while Part 5 provides summaries of well documented case histories which illustrate the application of the principles introduced in the first four parts.

As an integral feature of Parts 2, 3 and 4, the gaps in current knowledge are highlighted, as a possible guide to future research.
Implementation of ground treatment technology on US highways
Authors: DiMillio A. F.
Published: July 2016

Significant accomplishments have been achieved in the US Federal Highway Administration’s Geotechnical Research and Technology Transfer Program for ground treatment during the last ten years. Some of these major accomplishments are described in terms of programme objectives, scope and engineering approach, followed by a brief description of current and past activities. The programme was established to develop improved design and construction guidelines for some of the newer and innovative ground treatment techniques surfacing in the US from domestic and foreign sources. The development of improved and user friendly guidelines was also expected to facilitate the use and acceptance of these new techniques in the US highway industry. A discussion of technology transfer efforts is also included to promote better understanding of the practical advantages of using this technology to solve serious highway geotechnical problems.
Preload removal based on excess pore-water pressure
Authors: Matsuo M. , Achiwa F. , Yamaguchi H.
Published: July 2016

When applying a preload embankment to prevent residual primary consolidation settlement of a soft clay layer, it is necessary to decide, based on data from on-site measurements, if the preload has been left long enough to allow removal. One method of making this decision is to estimate the value of excess pore-water pressure. The authors observed from experience that this reduction of excess pore-water pressure exhibits a ‘half-life’ characteristic. From this characteristic it is possible to predict future reductions in excess pore-water pressure. The groundimprovement works at the liquid natural gas facility of the Kawagoe Thermal Power Station (Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc.) is an example of the application of this method for determining the time required to remove a preload under actual on-site conditions. As a result of applying this method a site was prepared that was free of residual consolidation settlement.
Ground improvement engineering – the state of the US practice: part 2. Applications
Authors: Munfakh G. A.
Published: July 2016

Application of the ground improvement methods discussed in part 1 is demonstrated through 12 case studies involving a variety of techniques, ground conditions and applications of the completed facilities. A combination of ground improvement methods is used in some cases. The design and construction issues of the methods used are highlighted, together with the benefits derived from their application. A special emphasis is placed on the selection of an appropriate ground improvement method, or a combination of methods, for each case application.
Poisson coefficient analysis for organic soil
Authors: Meyer Z. , Kozłowski T.
Published: July 2016

The authors of this study provide the mathematical description of laboratory tests in an oedometer and in a triaxial compression apparatus, which allows the estimation of formulas to calculate the Poisson coefficient in organic soils with elastoplastic properties. By loading and unloading soil samples in the oedometer and in the triaxial apparatus the elastic part of strains was determined, and for this part the elastic modulus of strain was calculated.
Improvement of strength of fly ash with lime and sodium salts
Authors: Ramesh H. N. , Siva Mohan M. , Sivapullaiah P. V.
Published: July 2016

It is often necessary to improve the strength of fly ash to enable its use for many geotechnical applications. Lime in some form or other is normally used as an admixture. Methods are established to determine the optimum lime content for fly ash, as the addition of lime beyond the optimum lime content may not be beneficial or economically viable. This paper examines the use of sodium salts to enhance the effect of lime on fly ash. Based on unconfined compression strength tests on a compacted fly-ash–lime–salt specimen, it has been shown that sodium salts improve the strength of a fly-ash–lime mixture. The improvement is salt-specific. This improvement in strength can be attributed to the formation of a greater volume of sodium calcium silicate hydrate gel as opposed to a calcium silicate hydrate. The improvement in strength is greater for sodium hydroxide than for sodium chloride. The increased pH with sodium hydroxide dissolves more silica and can produce more cementitious compounds after reaction with lime. Although sodium sulphate increases the strength initially, its long-term effect is suspect.
Stability analyses for levees on deep-mixed shear walls
Authors: Filz George M. , Templeton A. E. , Adams Tiffany E.
Published: July 2016

The deep-mixing method can increase the strength of soft ground, and thereby improve the stability of earthen levees. Additional benefits are that deep-mixing support can accelerate construction and protect adjacent facilities from deformations that would otherwise be induced by the new embankment loads. Continuous shear walls located under the embankment side slopes and oriented perpendicular to the embankment centreline are more efficient for stability than isolated columns because shear walls are not subject to the same type of bending failure that isolated columns can experience. Even when continuous shear walls are used, stability analyses must consider multiple modes of failure, such as composite shearing, rotation of the deep-mixed zone, shearing on vertical planes along column overlaps, extrusion between shear walls, crushing of the deep-mixed ground at the toe of the deep-mixed zone and global instability. This paper presents simplified analysis methods for stability of earthen levees supported on deep-mixed shear walls.
Soil mix technology for land remediation: recent innovations
Authors: Al-Tabbaa Abir , Barker Peter , Evans Chris W.
Published: July 2016

The past 15 years have seen increasing applications of soil mix technology in land remediation, mainly in stabilisation/solidification treatments and the construction of low-permeability cut-off walls and permeable reactive barriers; clear evidence of the versatility of the technology and its wide-ranging applications. This paper provides an overview of some of the recent innovations of soil mix technology in land remediation covering equipment developments and applications, including systems for rectangular panels and trenching systems, treatments, such as chemical oxidation, and additives, such as modified clays, zeolites and reactive magnesia. The paper also provides case studies for such innovations. The paper concludes with an overview of an on-going research and development project SMiRT (Soil Mix Remediation Technology) which will involve field trials on a contaminated site and will employ some of the innovations discussed in the paper. The range of significant advantages that soil mix technology now offers compared to other remediation techniques is likely to place this remediation method at the forefront of remedial options for future brownfield projects.
Dynamic analysis of soil-nailed slope
Authors: Sengupta Aniruddha , Giri Debabrata
Published: July 2016

An analytical method based on the kinematic limit approach is presented for stability analysis of nailed soil slopes. Earthquake effects were considered in an approximate manner in terms of seismic coefficient-dependent horizontal forces. Two kinds of failure surfaces, a planar failure surface and a circular failure surface, were considered in this study. The proposed method can be viewed as an extension of the method of slices, but it provides a more accurate treatment of forces because they are represented in an integral form. The factor of safety and nail forces obtained by the proposed method were found to be in good agreement with the published results for an 8 m high vertical soil-nailed wall.
Soil nailing for rehabilitation of reinforced earth wall distress
Authors: Sivakumar Babu G. L. , Singh Vikas Pratap , Srinivasa Murthy B. R.
Published: July 2016

In the present study, an investigation was performed to assess the possible cause of distress to the geogrid reinforced earth walls constructed for a flyover. The investigation methodology included site visits and observations, collection of the material samples (backfill and geogrid) for laboratory testing, and back analyses of original design using a conventional method and numerical analysis. The temporary rise of pore water pressure due to the heavy rains during the construction period and the internal stability of reinforced earth walls have been identified as the possible causes of the observed distresses. Further, installation of the driven soil nails of specified diameter and length at suitable spacings, particularly in the locations of distress, were proposed as the rehabilitation measure. The results of the numerical analyses indicated that introduction of soil nails: (a) caused redistribution of axial forces among the geogrid layers and soils, (b) significantly reduced the lateral displacement and (c) improved the overall stability of the reinforced earth walls.
A non-linear two-phase model for reinforced soils
Authors: Hosseininia Ehsan Seyedi , Farzaneh Orang
Published: July 2016

The multi-phase model for the simulation of reinforced soils is developed by considering the non-linear elastoplastic behaviour of the soil. In this method, it is assumed that the medium consists of both the soil and the reinforcement, with the reinforcements placed horizontally among the soil medium. These two phases are connected with each other through a perfect bonding interface. The soil constitutive model is defined as non-linear as a function of stress level considering the distance from the current stress state to the ultimate value as well as the soil stiffness, while the reinforcement as a linear element has an elastic-perfectly plastic behaviour. The formulation of a reinforced soil composite in triaxial compression space will be explained herein and the results of a parametric study of the effects of the reinforced characteristics (stiffness and strength) on the behaviour of reinforced soil are presented. Qualitative comparisons between laboratory tests and the simulations indicate good agreement.
Optimising deep mixed soil zones in land reclamation projects
Authors: Bryson Sylvia L. , Naggar Hany El , Valsangkar Arun J.
Published: July 2016

The use of deep soil mixing technologies has become increasingly common in North America following its widespread development and adoption in Japan and Scandinavia. This research project considered how design of soft soils stabilised with deep soil mixing may be optimised to satisfy global slope stability requirements to assist the construction of large reclaimed land projects. The land reclamation case that was studied in the present paper deals with raising the elevation of a terrestrial area above a tidal or flood zone, where the water table is close or at the original grade. In this work, the effect of several key design parameters on the global factor of safety against slope failure for a land reclamation project was studied using limit equilibrium slope stability analyses. The parametric analyses considered design parameters, including the thickness of the soft soil layer, as well as the strength, width and location of a stabilised soil zone. The purpose of this work is to provide guidelines for the preliminary design of ground improvements for future land reclamation projects using deep soil mixing methods by identifying design parameters that have the most significant impact on the global factor of safety.
Strength development in fly ash and slag mixtures with lime
Authors: Sharma Anil Kumar , Sivapullaiah Puvvadi Venkata
Published: July 2016

The main objective of this paper is to investigate the effect of the joint activation of fly ash, a by-product of thermal power plants, and ground granulated blast-furnace slag, a by-product of steel manufacture, on the unconfined compressive strength of mixtures of the two materials. Laboratory compaction and strength tests were carried out on ash–slag mixtures at different proportions. The strength was found to increase with slag content. However, the specimens consisting of 30 and 40% of slag and cured for 28 d showed higher strength than the individual materials. Additionally, the effect of different percentages of lime on the strength of the fly ash–slag mixtures was investigated. Tremendous increase in strength was observed with the addition of even 2% of lime. Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction studies showed the morphological and mineralogical changes that are associated with strength improvement. This study suggests that properly designed combinations of fly ash–slag–lime can be used as construction materials for infrastructure projects such as structural fills or subgrade and sub-base courses in pavements without requiring large quantities of lime.
Estimating relative density of sand with cone penetration test
Authors: Sadrekarimi Abouzar
Published: July 2016

As a result of difficulties in obtaining undisturbed samples in cohesionless soils, empirical correlations based on cone penetration test (CPT) results, often developed from calibration chamber experiments, are widely used for determining many soil parameters for geotechnical investigation. This paper describes the application of 19 reduced-scale calibration chamber CPTs for examining the empirical correlations used for predicting the relative density of loose to medium-dense sands. A reduced-scale subtraction cone with an apex angle of 60° and a net area ratio of 0·75 was used in the laboratory tests. Current methods for estimating relative density present very large differences among themselves as well as with the experiments of this study, rendering them meaningless for general application in all sands. The state parameter is suggested as a more reliable and universal alternative to relative density for estimating the degree of compaction of any sand deposit from CPT data. It is demonstrated that an empirical method provides reasonable estimates of the state parameter for the CPT experiments of this study. Compared with relative density, the state parameter method can be particularly useful for examining the liquefaction susceptibility of sands.
Using IBPs to improve the geotechnical properties of soil
Authors: O'Connor James , Orr Trevor
Published: July 2016

The results of an experimental investigation involving the partial replacement of Portland cement with industrial by-products (IBPs) in grout suitable for suspension-type permeation grouting are described. Four suspension grouts were investigated in this study. Ordinary Portland cement and Portland cement with a 10% partial replacement by bentonite were used as controls. Two grouts containing IBPs were also tested with a 50% partial replacement by pulverised fuel ash (PFA) and ground granulated blastfurnace slag (GGBS). The results of this study clearly demonstrate that the use of IBPs, especially PFA, can enhance both fresh grout properties and the properties of permeated soil. Partial replacements with PFA reduced the apparent viscosity of the grout by an average of 13% compared with replacements with bentonite, while GGBS reduced the apparent viscosity of the grout on average by 25%. Partial replacement with PFA also yielded superior groutability results due to the combination of a lower apparent viscosity and a finer cement gradation compared with replacements with bentonite. Replacement of Portland cement with PFA also improved the grouted properties of the soil, with a decrease in the coefficient of permeability of 20% being obtained compared with replacements with bentonite.
Experimental study on behaviour of piles in berthing structure
Authors: Premalatha Palanivelu , Muthukumaran Kasinathan , Jayabalan Perumalsami
Published: July 2016

This paper deals with an experimental investigation on laterally loaded piles of a berthing structure. A prototype berthing structure constructed at Chennai Port in India is simulated in a 1∶40 laboratory scale model. The model consists of a row of five piles connected at the top by a wooden beam for rigidity and to transfer the load laterally to the piles. A tie rod is incorporated in this frame to study its effect. A series of seven experiments was conducted with and without the anchoring tie rod, in sloping and horizontal ground under berthing and mooring forces. The experimental results were analysed to assess the effect of the tie rod anchor on the berthing structure. The distribution of load among the piles and the tie rod anchor, the lateral capacity of the pile under various cases and the reduction in deflection and bending moment due to the provision of a tie rod anchor are discussed in this paper. The provision of tie rods is found to be effective for open-type berthing structures.
Three-dimension efflux velocity characteristics of marine propeller jets
Authors: Hamill Gerard , Kee Charmaine , Ryan Dona
Published: July 2016

Determining the efflux velocity in a ship's propeller jet is the key to calculating the velocity at any other location within the diffusing jet. Current semi-empirical equations used to calculate the magnitude of the efflux velocity have been based on studies that employed a limited range of propeller characteristics. This paper reports on the findings of an experimental investigation into the magnitude of the efflux velocities of the jets produced by four different propellers, where the characteristic of the blade geometry has been chosen to extend the range of applicability of the outcomes. Measurements of velocity have been made using a three-dimensional laser Doppler anemometry system, with the test propellers operating at a range of rotational speeds that bound typical operational values. Comparisons are made with current predictive theories and, to aid engineers in the design of marine infrastructure, methods are presented by which the three-dimensional efflux velocity components, as well as the resultant efflux value, can be more accurately determined.
Briefing: Abrasion performance of concrete in coastal structures
Authors: Cunningham Lee S. , Farrington Brian , Doherty Andrew
Published: July 2016

Abrasive wear of concrete in coastal structures can be a significant issue in areas where coarse or gravel sediments abound. In such environments, abrasion may be the governing factor for concrete specification in new construction. In the case of hard defences, concrete will constitute a major project cost, thus necessitating optimisation of mix design. This briefing paper explores some of the background to the problem and existing approaches in design codes. A case study of a major coast protection scheme in the UK is discussed, focussing on the approach to concrete specification through abrasion testing.
USACE adaptation approach for future coastal climate conditions
Authors: Moritz Heidi , White Kate , Gouldby Ben , Sweet William , Ruggiero Peter , Gravens Mark , O'Brien Patrick , Moritz Hans , Wahl Thomas , Nadal-Caraballo Norberto C. , Veatch Will
Published: July 2016

The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is currently looking at variable temporal and geographic scales for total water level and event loading projections including storm description and characterisation relevant to project design and performance. USACE projects and event description must transition from engineering to planning to economics and project management. Capturing and articulating the appropriate level of uncertainty is important to a realistic projection of resultant risk. Close collaboration with national and international experts is an essential component in USACE's process of developing practical, nationally consistent, and cost-effective measures to reduce potential vulnerabilities resulting from global changes. The USACE's approach to developing guidance for evaluating and adapting to sea level change and total water level assessment are good examples of this collaboration. A primary focus at this time is the examination of methods and tools available at graduated levels of a project study. For project-level use, the USACE is defining specific assessments of components of total water level in addition to their varying impacts on project stability and performance. The required planning and risk assessment products for each performance type will be explained. The goal is to project adequately and cost-effectively future climate contributors that can result in various levels of project non-performance in a manner that will support effective long-term planning and project expenditures.