bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Using Social Media To Revive A Lost Apprenticeship Model In Jazz Education
Authors: Jones Ed  , Brenton Harry
Published: February 2025

The MusicCircle software was integrated into the BA Jazz course at Leeds College Of Music in a module titled Jazz Saxophone Performance in Context. In this chapter Ed Jones, a professional Jazz saxophonist and music educator, describes his experience using MusicCircle. Until recently, Jazz players were educated according to an apprenticeship model where young musicians ‘paid their dues’ by playing alongside older, established musicians. A huge amount of valuable knowledge was passed on in these environments. Jones used MusicCircle as a vehicle for reviving and rebooting this apprenticeship model by creating a blended learning environment where performance, theoretical and technical issues could be explored within a jam session / rehearsal environment. He found that MusicCircle increased student engagement and helped performers learn how to give and receive effective feedback.
Improving Music Composition Through Peer Feedback: Experiment And Preliminary Results
Authors: Martín Daniel  , Frantz Benjamin  , Pachet François
Published: February 2025

To which extent peer feedback can affect the quality of a music composition? How does musical experience influence the quality of a feedback during the song composition process? To answer these questions we designed and conducted an experiment in which participants compose short songs using an online lead sheet editor, are given the possibility to feedback on other participant's songs and can either accept or reject feedback on their compositions. This experiment aims at collecting quantitative data relating the intrinsic quality of songs (estimated by peer evaluation) with the nature of feedback. Preliminary results show that peer feedback can indeed improve both the quality of a song composition and the composer' satisfaction about it. Also, composers tend to prefer compositions from other musicians with similar musical experience level.
A Half Century Perspective On The Role Of Computers In Learning And Teaching
Authors: Kahn Ken
Published: February 2025

For more than fifty years people have been exploring how computers might enhance learning and teaching. The malleable nature of computers has enabled suggestions that a computer can act like flash cards, personal tutors, textbooks, reference books, virtual laboratories, quizzes, virtual spaces, lecture halls, and study groups. Perhaps the most radical suggestion has been to see the computer as something learners can creatively mold into something personally meaningful that is dynamic, interactive, and shared. And that the process of constructing such computational artefacts is rich in learning opportunities. These range from a deeper understanding of the subject matter of the constructions to high-level skills in thinking and problem solving.
Social Feedback as a Creative Process
Authors: d'Inverno Mark  , Still Arthur
Published: February 2025

Arguably one of the most important activities of a university is to provide environments where students develop the wide variety of social and intellectual skills necessary for giving and receiving feedback. We are not talking here about the kinds of activity typically associated with the term “feedback” — such as that which occurs through individual course evaluation questionnaires or more universal systems such as the National Student Survey, but the profoundly creative and human act of giving and receiving feedback in order to validate, challenge and inspire. So as to emphasise we are talking about this kind of feedback, we coin the term “creative feedback” to distinguish it from the pre-conceived rather dreary compliance-inflected notions of feedback and set out in this paper to characterise its qualities. In order to ground and motivate our definition and use of “creative feedback” we take a historical look at the two concepts of creativity/creative and feedback. Our intention is to use this rich history to motivate both the choice of these two words, and the reason to bring them together. In doing so we wish to emphasise the characteristics of an educational philosophy underpinned by social interaction. By describing those qualities necessary to characterise creative feedback this paper sets out an educational philosophy for how schools, communities and universities could develop their learning environments. What we present here serves not only as a manifesto for designing learning environments generally, but as a driver for designing technologies to support online social learning, as captured in the concept of social Moocs [70]. Technology not only provides us with new opportunities to support such learning but also to investigate and evidence the way in which we learn and the most effective learning environments.
Learning To Be A Singer
Authors: Olivé I Soler Josep-Ramon
Published: February 2025

What are the key challenges in becoming a professional singer of classical music? This chapter is written from the perspective of a professional singer who has been taught using the traditional highly personalised ‘humanistic’ approach to music education, which starts in childhood with choirs, and then focuses on advanced voice technique, development of musical memory, as well as the acquisition and application of linguistic and historical concepts in approaching a score. It raises the question is in how far on-line learning courses can be helpful to augment this kind of training and in how far ideas from a humanistic approach can be transported into the domain of on-line music learning.
Effects of Surcharge Location on Serviceability of Mechanically Stabilized Earth Abutments
Authors: Leshchinsky Ben  , Ambauen Spencer  , Xie Yonggui
Published: February 2025

Use of mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls to support true bridge abutments has increased in the past decade. However, service state design of MSE abutments can be exceedingly complex, especially in consideration of reinforcement spacing, footing placement, wall geometry and other structural design aspects. A combination of these factors highlights the need to consider critical, and non-intuitive, design challenges – notably, effects on earth pressures, vertical and lateral displacements. To better understand the coupled behavior of these design factors, parametric studies were performed with Finite Element (FE) analysis to evaluate MSE abutment behavior under a variety of reinforcement and footing configurations. From these analyses, wall behavior (footing settlement, facing lateral displacement and vertical stress distributions) were observed, implicative of the complex response of MSE walls under non-uniform surcharge loading. Use of denser reinforcements enables improved service state performance, especially for footings placed closer to the wall face. Use of more reinforcement layers assists with reduced footing settlements (i.e., the “bump” at the end of the bridge) and facing deformations, facilitating closer placement of a footing near the wall face – subsequently reducing the required bridge deck length. Intuitively, as the footing is placed further from wall, the benefits of denser reinforcement spacing are lessened. One significant concern about higher reinforcement density is increased cost; however, the reduced bridge deck length presents a cost-benefit that may offset the increased abutment expenses.
Finite Element Analysis of Pile Installation and Setup of Full-Scale Load Tests
Authors: Abu-Farsakh Murad  , Rosti Firouz
Published: February 2025

In this paper, the pile installation process and the subsequent consolidation and load tests conducted at different times after end of driving were numerically modeled for two test piles. The test piles driven in Bayou Zouri bridge site and Bayou Bouef bridge site in Louisiana were simulated numerically using finite element (FE) analysis. The subsurface soil condition in both sites are mainly saturated clay. In the FE model, the pile was considered as an elastic material, and the modified cam-clay model was used to describe the behavior of the surrounding clayey soils. The surface to surface master-slave contact model was used to simulate the pile-soil interaction. Pile installation was modeled by the combination of volumetric cavity expansion phase followed by vertical shear displacement (penetration) phase in an axisymmetric model. Since the radial consolidation of excess pore pressure is mainly dominant for driven piles, the radial consolidation followed by shearing at pile-soil interface was used to model the pile setup phenomenon. The results of the pile capacity obtained at different times after end of driving (EOD) from the FE numerical simulation to study pile setup phenomenon are presented. The results are compared with the measured values obtained from the full-scale load tests on concrete piles, which showed good agreement between them.
Numerical Prediction of Temporary Dewatering in Unconfined Aquifers
Authors: Velez Daniel  , Romanel Celso
Published: February 2025

When deep excavations reach the phreatic surface in deposits of soil, for constructive purposes or to improve the slope stability of excavations, temporary dewatering must be carried out using several drawdown methods such as trenches, wellpoints, ejector systems or deep wells. Sometimes dewatering projects are devised taking into account analytical solutions considering the aquifer, either confined or unconfined, as an isotropic homogenous media of infinite lateral extension, considering horizontal water flow in steady state condition. Depending on the excavation dimension and its distance to recharge boundaries, the dewatering system can be assumed, for calculation purposes, as an equivalent well, in an axisymmetric condition, or an equivalent trench, in a plane problem. In this paper field measurements of the temporary dewatering during the construction of the power house for the Small Hydroelectric Plant (PCH) Garganta da Jararaca, situated in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil, will be compared with analytical and numerical solutions, obtained with a 3D finite element analysis. The choice of a tridimensional numerical modeling is based on the geometrical configuration of the dewatering system in the field, with excavation length larger than its width, in addition to the fact that the natural phreatic surface declines toward the Sangue River, situated next to the excavation at a short distance of 6 meters only.
Estabilidade de taludes de solo reforçado considerando métodos simplificados e rigorosos
Authors: Zuccolo Paula Lodo  , Aranega Flávia Silva  , da Silva Jefferson Lins
Published: February 2025

A verifiçãyao da estabilidade de taludes de solo geralmente é realizada por meio de métodos determinísticos com abordagem do equilibrio limite, e podem ser classificados como simplificados e rigorosos, sendo esses últimos aqueles que atendem a todas as equações de equilibrio de forças e de momentos. A estabilidade de um talude pode ser atingida com o uso de reforços, que ajudam o solo a resistir às tensões e diminuem sua deformabilidade. Neste trabalho foram analisados modelos de taludes de solo reforçado e não reforçado disponiveis na literatura técnica e calculados segundo os métodos disponíveis no software SLOPE/W. Os resultados apontam que todos os métodos avaliados neste trabalho forneceram valores de fator de seguranya próximos quando comparados numa mesma configuração, o que justifica a ampla utilização dos métodos simplificados. O estudo também ressaltou o efeito do reforyo no valor do fator de segurança, afastando-o da unidade. Por fim, o trabalho indicou a presença de água como objeto de uma atenção especial, por diminuir consideravelmente o fator de seguranya dos taludes.
High-Cycle Accumulation Model with EAS Elements
Authors: Niemunis Andrzej  , Grandas-Tavera Carlos  , Fitz Jan-Erik
Published: February 2025

A FE implementation in the commercial program ABAQUS®of the high cycle accumulation model for sand is discussed. Due to the large gradients of the predicted accumulation, elements with enhanced assumed strains are used. Application of EAS to constitutive models formulated in rates (incrementally non-linear and path dependent) requires, apart from return mapping and equilibrium iterations, an additional iterative process for determination of the enhanced strain. It is demonstrated that EAS elements can cope well with difficult accumulation fields and with the strong material nonlinearity as required by the HCA model.
Fast moving landslides simulation by cellular automata
Authors: Garcia Silvia  , López-Molina Jorge  , Romo Miguel
Published: February 2025

Cellular Automata CA are discrete computational models for simulating dynamic systems that evolve on the basis on local interactions. Some natural events, such as some types of landslides, fall into this type of phenomena and lend themselves well to be simulated with this approach. This paper describes a Cellular Automata model based on the equivalent fluid approach, specifically developed to simulate debris-flows type landslides. The methodology to approximately describe and model the main features of a debris flow, is developed for overcoming some of the limitation affecting conventional frames. The presented CA model for debris flow is based on the principle of the equivalent fluid, stating that: “the flowing mass behaves like a fluid, whose rheological features cannot be measured through laboratory or in situ testing, but can only be obtained by the back-analysis of real past events”. A general description of the adopted approach will be given in this paper, together with the results of their application to real cases.
Mechanical Behavior of a Clayey Soil with the Insertion of Fine Crushed Polyethylene Terephthalate
Authors: Louzada N.S.L.  , Martinez I.M.R.  , Casagrande M.D.T.
Published: February 2025

Every year millions of bottles of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) are discarded into the environment. In order to reduce the disposal of this polymer in nature, this study aims to evaluate the mechanical behavior of a clayey soil mixed with fine crushed PET. The potential use of this waste material in geotechnical applications may ultimately reduce the problem of improper disposal and improve the strength and deformation characteristics of the soil. This paper presents an experimental study to evaluate the mechanical behavior of pure soil and mixtures with different contents of PET waste by triaxial tests, in order to obtain the strength parameters of the Soil-PET mixtures. The clayey soil used was mixed with 10 and 30% of crushed PET by dry weight. Characterization tests such as grain size, Atterberg limits and compaction test were performed on the clayey material. Triaxial tests at confining stresses of 50, 150 and 300 kPa were done on the soil and mixtures. The results show that the soil strength parameters are influenced by the addition of the crushed PET, thus improving characteristics such as friction angle and cohesion of the Soil-PET mixtures. This improvement also depends upon the confining level that the samples were submitted. These mixtures may be used in pavement and other geotechnical works, so this paper proposes to contribute to a better understanding and interpretation of the behavior of soil reinforced with waste PET.
Geotechnical challenges of the biggest mining project in Argentina
Authors: Rellán Gonzalo  , García Mendive Iñaki  , Quaglia Gastón  , Abad Ariel  , Figueroa Juan Natalio  , Sfriso Alejo Oscar
Published: February 2025

Pascua-Lama is the first bi-national mining project in the world, located between 3800 and 5200m.a.s.l. on the borderline between Chile and Argentina. Pascua lies on the Chilean side, in Huasco Province in the Atacama region, while Lama lies on the Argentinean side, in the Iglesia department in San Juan province. The project is developed by Barrick Gold and consists of the open-pit mine of one of the world's largest gold and silver deposits, with more than fifteen million ounces of proven and probable gold reserves and six hundred and seventy-five million ounces of silver contained within the gold reserves, as of December 31st 2013 and official reports. The project is still in the construction stage. Future production will include open-pit extraction from Chilean and Argentinean sides, primary crushing in Pascua, transportation of crushed ore to Lama through a 4.0km-long underground tunnel, stockpiling, processing and final disposal at the tailings dam in Lama. Site lithology can be characterized as superficial alluvial or colluvial soils generally followed by a competent cemented granular stratum named ferricrete which lies on top of a highly resistant igneous bedrock, mainly andesite, diorite and dacite. The paper describes the design and construction of some of the excavations, foundations, slopes, fills, retaining walls, MSE walls and CLSM fills, and the challenges imposed by high altitude, steep landscape, extremely cold winter temperatures and the complexity of the construction site.
Previsão da Capacidade de Carga e Recalque de Uma Fundação por Estacas Tipo Hélice Contínua
Authors: Neto Osvaldo Freitas  , Guimarães Igor Natan Santana  , da Mota Costa Bruno  , Hilário Cavalcante Erinaldo
Published: February 2025

This research aims to evaluate the load capacity of two monitored CFA, part of two groups of piles in a building, and compare the values predicted by semi-empirical methods with experimental values determined in two slow static vertical load tests done in E77 and E227 piles. The settlement values were predicted and compared with measures made in the field during its execution. The foundation of the building is composed by 392 CFA with diameters of 0,4 m and 0,5 m and lengths of 8 m and 12 m, however, the piles tested in the field have diameter and length of 0.5m and 12m respectively. Comparing the load capacity values obtained from load tests with each semi-empirical method, it was observed that the Décourt and Quaresma [3] was the most accurate method compared with the values registered experimentally. In relation to the settlements, it was observed that the estimated values were higher than those measured in situ, however, this difference can be attributed to piles grouped into blocks, and the contact of the blocks with the soil is not considered in the settlement calculus.
Liquefaction mitigation by soil improvement with vibro stone columns
Authors: Carvajal Díaz Enmanuel  , Vukotić Goran  , Martínez Oviedo Daniel
Published: February 2025

It is described the application of ground improvement by vibro stone columns for mitigation of soil liquefaction. Particularly it is described the improvement effects by densification, reinforcement and drainage, which make the vibro stone column highly efficient, even for ensuring the bearing capacity of pile foundation in the case of liquefaction risks. Available methods and relatively simple recommendations to evaluate the improvement effects are commented; and a case history is presented.
Rigid pavements rehabilitation through Rubblizing technology. Bearing capacity evaluation in the National Route N° A-008 (Santa Fe Province, Argentina)
Authors: Ramoneda Jorge  , Gerbaudo Fabricio  , Bucciarelli Jose M.  , Yaryez Raúl
Published: February 2025

The paper presents the results obtained by the application of recycling rigid pavements through Rubblizing technique by resonant vibration, with no precedent in Argentina. This methodology, was used in National Route N° A008 (Rosario City Bypass) in Santa Fe Province during the period 2010–2013. It consists on fracturing the slab into angular interlocking pieces by using a resonant pavement breaker machine which transmits a dynamic load of low amplitude and high frequency, generating a granular layer of high Modulus. Main advantages of rubblizing technique, among others, are the resulting layer of homogeneous structural response and the daily high performance execution with no damage in the sub base layer. In this urban roadway, two representative experimental sections were adopted for further studies. Those studies were divided in two geotechnical campaigns: the first aimed to characterize the bearing capacity of the subgrade and sub base soil cement by DCP tests, laces and pits. The second one used Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD) equipment on each structural reinforcement performed on the fractured layer to obtain the structural coefficient of the granular layer. It should be noted that for the structural design of the flexible pavement layers it was adopted a structural coefficient of 0.098 1/cm ai taking as antecedent the results obtained in the experience carried out on the Del Sol Roadway, New Access to the Port of San Antonio, Chile. The values obtained in the present work were satisfactory and confirm those adopted for the project. Both the site evaluation and the in situ behaviour of structural layers were also satisfactory. Although in some sections the annual average daily traffic exceeds 40,000 vehicles, there were no structural problems verified.
Smart Framework for Predicting Drilled shaft Capacity Based on Data Mining Techniques and GIS Data
Authors: Alzo'ubi A.K.  , Ati Modafar  , Ibrahim Farid
Published: February 2025

Predicting accurately deep foundation capacity is one of the most difficult problems in Geotechnical Engineering. In Abu Dhabi, the most commonly used deep foundation underneath our buildings are drilled shafts. This paper is proposing a new framework combining data mining techniques and GIS to predict the drilled shaft capacity to minimize the need for pile load test. Geotechnical and special map data are geo-referenced and processed by the model to produce a GIS or Web based map so that design engineers can utilize this map toward their future designs. One of the important outcomes of this project will be adding a new layer to Abu Dhabi GIS database that contains pile load tests.
Numerical modeling of geogrid reinforced soil on shallow foundations of low bearing capacity for buildings
Authors: Aquise Vladimir  , Torres Cesar
Published: February 2025

In many cases of buildings construction, foundations are built on low bearing capacity soils, which require the use of traditional solutions such as replacing part of it with a more suitable granular material, increasing the size of the foundation width or both alternatives. Geogrids combined with granular fill soil (reinforced soil) is an option that reduces excavation masses of low bearing capacity material; which also allows a more uniform stress distribution, minimizing load concentration, evaluated from analytical and numerical methods.
Variação dos parâmetros de resistência de um solo residual de gnaisse obtido em ensaio de cisalhamento direto sob condições inundadas e não inundadas
Authors: Godoi Cesar Schmidt  , da Silva Fábio Krueger  , Maccarini Marciano  , Higashi Rafael Augusto dos Reis
Published: February 2025

A avaliação das propriedades geomecânicas de solos residuais tem sido um importante tema de pesquisas no mundo. Devido às particularidades intrínsecas destes materiais, a realização de ensaios laboratoriais para a determinação dos parâmetros de resistência é muito importante, sobretudo quando da aplicação em projetos geotécnicos de fundações, obras de terra e contenções. Neste artigo são apresentados resultados de ensaios de cisalhamento direto nas condições inundadas e não-inundadas de um solo residual de gnaisse da cidade de Santo Amaro da Imperatriz no estado de Santa Catarina (Brasil). O objetivo deste trabalho, além da apresentação dos próprios resultados e parâmetros geomecânicos, é avaliar variações nas propriedades de resistência devido à diminuição dos efeitos da sucção matricial sobre os grãos do solo. Através da realização de ensaios em 5 amostras coletadas em um talude e em um poço de inspeção foi possível constatar a diminuição da resistência ao cisalhamento nas amostras inundadas para os mesmos níveis de tensão confinante. Em duas amostras ocorreu maior variação no ângulo de atrito, sem apresentar variação na coesão. Esse efeito pode ser explicado pelos efeitos de cimentação de solos residuais que podem mascarar a influência de sucção.
Experimental Study of the Cracking Mechanisms of Clay during Drying
Authors: Fleureau Jean-Marie  , Wei Xin  , Ighil-Ameur Lamine  , Hattab Mahdia  , Bicalho Katia Vanessa
Published: February 2025

The main objective of the research was to analyze the formation and propagation of cracks related to desiccation in clay and to provide a better understanding of the drying behavior of several mixtures of kaolinite and montmorillonite. At the macroscopic level, the work included an experimental study of the drying of the soils under controlled conditions of suction and an experimental and phenomenological study of the free desiccation of thin layers of soil for the analysis of the mechanisms of cracking. Tests were carried out on rectangular specimens, 4 mm thick. Photos were taken at different times and analyzed by Digital Image Correlation. The soil, with an initial water content equal to its liquid limit, was placed on smooth and rough supports. Different mechanisms of crack formation were identified: opening mode, sliding mode, bifurcation and coalescence of cracks. Digital Image Correlation, associated to fracture mechanics, proved a very powerful tool to highlight the mechanisms of formation and propagation of cracks, and analyze the strains and displacements in the materials prior to cracking. The effect of mineralogy on these phenomena was also studied and shown to influence mainly the kinetics of drying rather than on the mechanisms themselves.
Estimativa da umidade ótima e do peso específico seco máximo para solos granulares compactados
Authors: dos Santos R.A  , Rocha B.P.  , Christoforo A.L.
Published: February 2025

Projetos de engenharia como barragens de terra, aterros rodoviários e liners requerem o conhecimento de propriedades físicas e mecânicas dos solos. A umidade ótima (wop) e o peso específico seco máximo (γdmax) são propriedades índices fundamentais na análise do comportamento do solo compactado. De acordo com a literatura técnica relacionada, correlações com os limites de Attemberg são utilizadas para uma estimativa preliminar de wope γdmax. Entretanto, pouco se fez para estimar estas propriedades para solos granulares. Este trabalho tem por objetivo investigar, com o auxílio da análise de variância de modelos de regressão, a estimativa de wope γdmax. Para tanto, foram selecionados apenas solos classificados como granulares, de acordo com a SUCS (Sistema Unificado de Classificação dos Solos), totalizando 133 amostras. Os resultados dos modelos de regressão foram considerados significativos pela Análise de Variância (ANOVA), apresentando valores de coeficiente de determinação ajustado para wope do γdmaxiguais a 60,90% e 50,55%, respectivamente. Através dos modelos de regressão verifica-se que apenas os limites de liquidez e de plasticidade foram relevantes na estimativa do wope do γdmax, explicando boa parte da variabilidade dos seus valores. Por fim, foram realizadas comparações entre γdmaxe wopdesenvolvendo modelos que podem explicar a variação de tais parâmetros dentro do grupo dos solos granulares, apesar dos coeficientes de determinação ajustados se apresentaram baixos.
Effects of water erosion in road embankments
Authors: Cieri Aceituno Paula  , Zeballos Marcelo E.  , Rocca Ricardo J.  , Huerta Soaje Pedro
Published: February 2025

Road projects are linear works that affect various geotechnical and hydrological environments. In these projects, the interaction of local soils with water draining superficially, or inside embankments, should be assessed with particular care. A partial analysis can lead to water erosion processes. In these processes, there are several factors that can cause instability in some components of the embankment. Both, internal erosion and surface erosion, are influenced by the soil type. In cohesionless soil, grain size is a feature of particular importance. This variable is linked to the accommodation of the material through the so-called contraction diameter pores. Erosion phenomena have been observed during the construction of a new road in the Valle Fertil, San Juan Province, Argentina. These phenomena are located on the embankment near the drainage works, both longitudinal and transversal. The soils used in this work are frictional and not cohesive. Some special cases which have been observed are presented, as well as factors of important occurrence. Recommendations were made to mitigate some of these phenomena.
Comparison of Numerical Modeling and Measured Data for a Tunnel Built in Soft Rocks
Authors: Bejarano Leidy E.  , Mendoza Manuel J.
Published: February 2025

A geotechnical numerical model of a section belonging to La Loma Tunnel located in the west zone of Mexico City is depicted in this paper. This road tunnel is placed in a hilly volcanic zone, composed essentially by pumice sand, tuff and lahar; it was dug in three stages using a roadheader machine and placing 30 cm thick permanent shotcrete lining. During the tunnel construction, instrumentation was carried out in a section, including the setup of strain-gauges and pressure cells in order to measure tangential strain in the lining and vertical stress under the strip foundation, respectively. Three numerical model variants, carried out by means of Finite Element Method using plane strain conditions, were developed considering different assumptions, the first one considers all the excavation stages and the evolution of mechanical properties of shotcrete, the second one takes into account also all the excavation stages but constant mechanical properties and the last one considers just one excavation stage and constant mechanical properties of shotcrete. The aim of this work was to compare the stress state in the shotcrete lining and foundation from modeling results with measured data obtained from instrumentation to be able to conclude about the most efficient model.
Granular mechanics of the active lateral earth pressure against translating rigid walls
Authors: Yanqui Calixtro
Published: February 2025

Experiments by several authors have led to the conclusion that the active lateral earth pressure against retaining walls that yields in a translational mode does not exhibit a linear distribution, as predicted by the traditional theories. This discrepancy has been explained in terms of the soil arching effect, and formulae for calculating the lateral pressure based on the limit equilibrium method have been proposed. However, regarding its granular nature, in this paper, the soil is modeled as a packing of grains in which the stresses are calculated using a network of contact forces made of linear and conjugated chains. The soil behind a rigid wall that translates horizontally outwards is proposed to be in “at rest” state while the soil wedge descends parallel to both the wall back side and the failure surface. Since the chains of contact forces and the slip line do not have the same inclination, two zones in the backfill shows up.The earth lateral pressure is calculatedby determining the intersections between the two backfill contour lines with the two conjugated straight chains of force, just by means of the law of sines. Accordingly, the lateral earth pressure increases linearly with depth in the upper zone and decreases in the lower zone. This theoretical result fits well with the data obtained by means of sophisticate experiments by Tsagareli and Khosravi et al. Moreover, the determination of the resultant lateral force and the point of application are straightforward.
Seismic Hazard Assessment for Sites of Large Structures in the Southeast Region of Brazil
Authors: Bustamante Tania  , Romanel Celso  , Cascão Maria
Published: February 2025

This paper presents a seismic hazard analysis of a region situated in Southeast region of Brazil, defined by a polygonal line that encompasses some of largest Brazilian dams. Although Brazilian seismicity is low (magnitude < 5) when compared to the Andean coast of South America, where severe earthquakes occur more frequently, a seismic hazard analysis must be considered as a natural consequence of a good engineering design, under the economic, environmental and safety viewpoints, especially when the structures are located in densely populated areas. The seismicity in the Southeast region of Brazil presents a diffuse distribution, not allowing the association of faults and other tectonic features with active seismogenic sources. The polygonal area is used as a diffuse seismogenic source of events with magnitude between 3 to 5, according to the Brazilian earthquake database at the University of Sao Paulo. Due to its seismotectonic characteristics the attenuation laws used in this study are similar to those developed for Central and Eastern North America and herein incorporated through a logic tree procedure. The design spectrum is obtained through a probabilistic method, considering maximum horizontal acceleration in the bedrock determined with recurrence periods of 72, 475, 975 and 2475 years. Artificial earthquakes can be generated from this design spectrum in order to further investigate the dynamic behavior of those large structures through finite element analyses.
Estimativa Espacial da Profundidade do Solo com Aplicação em Estabilidade de Taludes
Authors: Azevedo George Fernandes  , Botero Eduardo Montoya  , Carvajal Hernán Eduardo Martínez  , de Souza Newton Moreira  , Aristizábal Edwin Fabian Garcia
Published: February 2025

Thickness evaluation of the soil layer becomes essential when analyzing issues that include hydrological processes developed on slopes, as well as slope stability itself. This work is dedicated to estimate the soil thickness based in terrain originated variables, relying in easy implementation models differing between themselves in the approach. Confrontation of generated results was intended, seeking to indicate the differences between the explained methods. It was verified, still, the influence of the diverse soil thicknesses achieved, based in the models, in obtaining maps that depict slope stability. The foreseen methodology for this work is based in the comparison between three methods used in the soil thickness estimation. Applied models are based in terrain characteristics such as steepness, altimetry and curvature of the strands, as well as aspects related to the hydrographic network distribution. Softwares SPRING 5.2 and Matlab (Matrix Laboratory) were used comprising the implementation of the applied techniques, focusing in a region known as Pajarito, which belongs to the municipal district of Medellín, Colombia. With the definition of soil layers, such matrices were applied to a stability model of infinite slope type, providing configurations about the ground behavior against the variation of the estimated soil depth. As a conclusion it can be stated that this type of researches show themselves as of great importance in the way that they provide the generation of elements focused in environmental characterization, which is important for studies of various natures.
A Case Study of the Long-Term Deformation of Peat beneath an Embankment Structure
Authors: Acharya Mohan  , Hendry Michael  , Edwards Tom
Published: February 2025

Vast areas of northern Canada are covered by peat and wetlands. The number of engineering project built within peat-covered areas is increasing as resource and infrastructure development continues to expand in northern Canada. The prediction of settlements and deformations of structures built upon peat is notoriously difficult. This is further complicated as there are only a few well documented and published case studies on which to base judgment and performance predictions; and of those available, few have used contemporary instrumentation and data recording systems. This paper presents the results of an ongoing study of the long-term deformation of peat after the completion of embankment construction. The study site consists of an embankment bridge approach recently constructed upon peat. This embankment was instrumented to measure the pore pressures, settlement and horizontal deformation occurring within the embankment and the peat foundation. The analysis of three years of measured deformations and pore pressure showed that the long-term deformation is influenced by the generation and the seasonal temperature driven, expansion, and expulsion of gases.
Influence of variable rates of penetration on silt behavior and its SBT classification
Authors: Paniagua Priscilla  , Nordal Steinar
Published: February 2025

A minicone was used to conduct cone penetration tests with pore pressure measurements (CPTU) at variable penetration rates on saturated silt specimens. Soil behavior type (SBT) classification is done based on measured and normalized quantities. The variation of the data in the different classification charts is studied. Mainly, the results show a transitional-intermediate soil behavior type. Fast penetration rate makes the soil classification move to a dilative behavior showing negative excess pore pressure. A contractive behavior is observed for a slow penetration rate.
Measurement of Elastic Rebound and Final Set Through a New Field Apparatus
Authors: Oliveira Jose Renato M.S.  , Silva Marcelo R.L.  , Carneiro Luiz Antonio V.  , Lukiantchuki Juliana A.
Published: February 2025

Many advances have been made on driven piles bearing capacity tests, such as the static and dynamic load tests. However, the cost and the time necessary to prepare this kind of tests usually restricts its application to a small percentage of the piles. Consequently, simple and low-cost ways to estimate the bearing capacity of driven piles, for instance through the final set and the elastic rebound, can be used to control the majority of the piles, and then the results can be compared with more complex and accurate tests executed in fewer elements. The conventional manual way of measuring the elastic rebound is not considered a fully safe procedure, as the worker has to stay by the pile during the entire measuring procedure, which takes place during the last 10 blows. This paper describes the development of an in situ tool to measure the elastic rebound and the final set without any direct contact with the pile. Afterwards, these values can be used to evaluate the bearing capacity based on dynamic formulas proposed by many authors. The results from tests undertaken in a large number of piles, and in three different sites, comparing the conventional manual measurement and the apparatus agreed well, with a maximum discrepancy of about 13%. A direct comparison between the bearing capacity obtained via dynamic formulas, together with the new system measurements, and predictions obtained via dynamic tests was also presented, with very close results. Certainly more tests in different conditions with different pile materials are required to increase reliability. However, the presented solution seems to be a cheap promising way to measure the elastic rebound and the final set of driven piles, allowing the evaluation of the bearing capacity based on dynamic formulas. These data, associated with dynamic and static load tests results, are a powerful tool to improve quality control in pile drive operations.
Creep Modeling as a means to Interpret the Behavior of the West Wall of the Chuquicamata Open Pit
Authors: Silva Guzmán Rodrigo  , Álvarez Catalina  , Ledezma Ricardo  , Díaz Milko
Published: February 2025

The West Wall of the Chuquicamata open pit has been historically referenced as an example of block toppling behavior, particularly in the upper part of the slope, located specifically in the material known as Fortuna Granodiorite and containing structural systems of significant persistence which dip into the slope at a somewhat steep angle. This rock mass is, in turn, supported on a strip of weak material associated to a shear zone located to the west of the main regional feature that defines the orebody, named the West Fault. Through the years, this failure mechanism has led to metric displacements which have accumulated and which continue to play a relevant role in the geotechnical design of the open pit. The mechanism, however, has been properly managed by the Geotechnical Direction staff at the mine, allowing the development successive pushbacks. Of relevance to the study presented in this article is the observation that whenever the mining plan of the pit involves excavations at the toe of the west wall slope (particularly in the referred shear zone), a correlation is observed with the activation of the slope, in terms of increased deformation rates for the wall. The observed behavior suggests that the interpretation of the west wall stability by means of the traditional factor of safety analysis is likely inadequate, as the slopes would be considered marginally stable and mining could have not been developed over the centennial life that the mine has had so far. Instead, a time dependent deformational approach seems to be a more appropriate option for dealing with slopes showing toppling behavior. A viscoelastic constitutive model is normally used to assess phenomena such as creep. This study summarizes the results obtained from a UDEC model developed for calibrating the observed behavior of prisms installed in the West Wall with readings ranging between years 1995 through 2013.
Caracterização da deformação rúptil em rochas foliadas e o impacto na setorização de riscos geotécnicos, Mina Pilar de Goiás, Brasil
Authors: Corredor Herrera Jaime  , Portilla Santana Gabriel  , Demonte Sandro  , Silva Jairo  , Renó Rodolfo
Published: February 2025

A execução de empreendimentos mineiros subterrâneos é uma atividade de alto risco que precisa de estudos geológicos/geotécnicos em diversos graus de detalhe. Isto é necessário para diminuir o potencial de instabilidade do maciço rochoso durante a operação extrativa, no caso em específico pelo método de câmaras e pilares, visando obter uma estimativa dos vãos máximos (spam), cálculo de resistência dos elementos de suporte naturais (pilares) e previsão de elementos de fortificação adicionais (tirantes e outros).
Evidence-based Health Informatics Frameworks for Applied Use
Authors: Craven Catherine K.  , Doebbeling Brad  , Furniss Dominic  , Holden Richard J.  , Lau Francis  , Novak Laurie L.
Published: February 2025

Health Informatics frameworks have been created surrounding the implementation, optimization, adoption, use and evaluation of health information technology including electronic health record systems and medical devices. In this contribution, established health informatics frameworks are presented. Important considerations for each framework are its purpose, component parts, rigor of development, the level of testing and validation its undergone, and its limitations. In order to understand how to use a framework effectively, it's often necessary to seek additional explanation via literature, documentation, and discussions with the developers.
Clinical Decision Support for the Classification of Diabetic Retinopathy: A Comparison of Manual and Automated Results
Authors: Mitsch Christoph  , Fehre Karsten  , Prager Sonja  , Scholda Christoph  , Kriechbaum Katharina  , Wrba Thomas  , Schmidt-Erfurth Ursula
Published: February 2025

The management of diabetic retinopathy, a frequent ophthalmological manifestation of diabetes mellitus, consists of regular examinations and a standardized, manual classification of disease severity, which is used to recommend re-examination intervals. To evaluate the feasibility and safety of implementing automated, guideline-based diabetic retinopathy (DR) grading into clinical routine by applying established clinical decision support (CDS) technology. We compared manual with automated classification that was generated using medical documentation and an Arden server with a specific medical logic module. Of 7169 included eyes, 47% (n=3373) showed inter-method classification agreement, specifically 29.4% in mild DR, 38.3% in moderate DR, 27.6% in severe DR, and 65.7% in proliferative DR. We demonstrate that the implementation of a CDS system for automated disease severity classification in diabetic retinopathy is feasible but also that, due to the highly individual nature of medical documentation, certain important criteria for the used electronic health record system need to be met in order to achieve reliable results.
Electronic Patient Reported Outcomes in Paediatric Oncology – Applying Mobile and Near Field Communication Technology
Authors: Duregger Katharina  , Hayn Dieter  , Nitzlnader Michael  , Kropf Martin  , Falgenhauer Markus  , Ladenstein Ruth  , Schreier Günter
Published: February 2025

Background: Electronic Patient Reported Outcomes (ePRO) gathered using telemonitoring solutions might be a valuable source of information in rare cancer research.
Time to Adopt: Librarians' New Skills and Competency Profiles
Authors: Schmidt Birgit  , Calarco Pascal  , Kuchma Iryna  , Shearer Kathleen
Published: February 2025

On the one hand, libraries are at the forefront of the digital transformation and digital information infrastructures, on the other, they manage and curate cultural heritage collections. This brings about new ways of engagement with information and knowledge and the need to rethink skills and competency profiles – which enable librarians to support e-research all along the research cycle. This paper presents findings of the joint Task Force on Librarians' Competencies in Support of E-Research and Scholarly Communication.
Viscous deformation of geogrid-reinforced sand in plane strain compression
Authors: Kongkitkul W.  , Tatsuoka F.
Published: February 2025

The viscous properties of a polymer geogrid reinforcement and Toyoura sand were separately evaluated by changing stepwise the strain rate as well as performing sustained loading and load/stress relaxation tests during otherwise monotonic loading in, respectively, tensile loading tests and plane strain compression (PSC) tests. The viscous properties of the two materials were formulated and simulated in the framework of a non-linear three-component rheology model. The viscous properties of geogrid-reinforced Toyoura sand in PSC were evaluated. Strains in the geogrid were evaluated by the photogrametric method. The time history of tensile force in the geogrid during sustained loading at a constant external load obtained by analysing the measured time history of strains showed that the tensile force in the geogrid decreased with time. In that case, the possibility of ultimate creep rupture of the geogrid is very low.
Consideration of the engineering structure and soil interaction on the basis of the criteria of compressibility and filtration
Authors: Kuzakhmetova E.K.
Published: February 2025

Under present conditions of engineering construction a sufficiently prompttrustworthy diagnostics of the specific soil behaviour in the structure foundation is required. Theoretical and experimental investigations of the behaviour of such soils classified in road construction as “soft soils” showed that an increase in precision of predicting their settlement under the action of embankment weight can be provided by using new criteria of compressibility and filtration of the “structure-soil” system.