Search results for "Geotechnical engineering"

Experimental determination of viscous damper parameters in low velocity ranges

2017

In the last decades many strategies for seismic vulnerability mitigation of structures have been developed through analytical studies and experimental tests. Among these, energy dissipation by external devices assumes a great relevance for the relative design simplicity, even if applied to complex structures, and the effectiveness in reducing seismic demand. In particular, the use of fluid viscous dampers represents a very attractive solution because of their velocity-dependent behaviour and relatively low costs. The application on structures requires specific study under seismic excitation and a particular care of structural details. In this context the use of proper constitutive models fo…

A macro-modelling approach for the analysis of infilled frame structures considering the effects of openings and vertical loads

2015

During the last decades, several macro-models have been proposed for the modelling of the infill panels' contribution to the lateral strength of frames. Despite all this effort, a robust model, which takes into account the influence of the vertical load, is not yet available. Furthermore, the influence of the very common case of infill walls with openings, such as windows and doors, has been neglected in all the code provisions that have been published so far. In this paper, an updated macro-model, based on the equivalent pin-jointed diagonal compressive strut, is presented. The proposed macro-model is able to represent the stiffening effect of the infill panel with openings by taking into …

Stress-strain models for normal and high strength confined concrete: Test and comparison of literature models reliability in reproducing experimental…

2017

SUMMARY: The adoption of proper constitutive laws for confined concrete is basic for seismic assessment of new and existing reinforced concrete civil structures. The deformation capacity of reinforced concrete (RC) columns subjected to axially centred and eccentric loads depends on the effectiveness confinement action. A proper assignment of the stressstrainlaws for concrete allows obtaining an adequate definition of the ductility of the crosssections and correctly identifying mechanical nonlinearities in computational models.Several studies concerning the behaviour of confined concrete have been carried out, highlighting the role of different geometrical and mechanical parameters to the ov…

Investigating the Performance of Enhanced Permeable Groins in Series

2020

The enhanced permeable groin is a novel eco-friendly and cost-effective technique for bank protection and restoration of meander bends. The behavior of bed deformations due to the distance between the structures has to be studied to design enhanced permeable groins in series properly. In this study, scour morphologies around enhanced permeable groins in series, characterized by four different distances and located in a 180&deg

From Laboratory Mixes to Full Scale Test: Rutting Evaluation of Bio-recycled Asphalt Mixes

2021

The present paper describes the rutting behavior of innovative mixes incorporating 50% of Reclaimed Asphalt (RA) with bio-materials. They were assessed in the laboratory and in a full-scale accelerated experiment. The innovative mixes studied here contained bio-materials especially designed to help recycling by re-activating the aged binder from RA. Four mixes were evaluated: three of them are manufactured with bio-materials, (two bio-rejuvenators and one bio-binder) and one was a control mix, which was a high modulus asphalt mix (EME2). In this study, the rutting resistance of the four mixes was first evaluated in the laboratory with both European and US methods. The full-scale test was th…

Predicting the equilibrium bed slope in natural streams using a stochastic model for incipient sediment motion

2011

In this paper, a method to predict the equilibrium bed slope in natural streams based on the incipient motion criterion is proposed. The method is based on the criterion suggested by Gessler to simulate the grain size distribution of the armour coat using the concept of critical shear stress of a sediment mixture. In particular, a different expression of the probability for a single particle size to be part of the armour coat is firstly proposed; then, a simple two-steps criterion is suggested to estimate the safety factor required by the proposed approach. The method is applied in three different Italian regions (Calabria, Basilicata, and Tuscany) and required several field campaigns invol…

Bed scouring downstream of hydraulic structures under steady flow conditions: Experimental analysis of space and time scales and implications for mat…

2011

Abstract Sediment transport and bed deformation in alluvial rivers are space and time dependent. The knowledge of the space and time scales can be helpful for the definition of predictive procedures of an alluvial reach response to changing boundary conditions. In this work, attention is paid to scouring process occurring downstream of the rigid basement of a hydraulic structure. The analysis is focused on transient bed profiles which are determined, under steady flow conditions, by a decrease of the upstream sediment transport rate. In particular, the paper is aimed at improving understanding of the space and time scales required by the alluvial system to reach the equilibrium conditions. …

2016

Abstract. Various geoscientific applications require a fast prediction of fracture permeability for an optimal workflow. Hence, the objective of the current study is to introduce and validate a practical method to characterize and approximate single flow in fractures under different stress conditions by using a core-flooding apparatus, in situ X-ray computed tomography (CT) scans and a finite-volume method solving the Navier–Stokes–Brinkman equations. The permeability of the fractured sandstone sample was measured stepwise during a loading–unloading cycle (0.7 to 22.1 MPa and back) to validate the numerical results. Simultaneously, the pressurized core sample was imaged with a medical X-ray…

On the Measurement and Prediction of the Out-of-Plane Displacement Surrounding Cold-Expanded Holes

2010

Experimental measurements of the out-of-plane displacement surrounding cold-expanded holes in a 6082-T6 aluminum alloy were made with a 3D optical scanner using the technique of the encoded light-pattern projection in white light. The measured surface profiles have shown the thickness discontinuity along the hole edge due to the effect of the split in the sleeve. An analytical–numerical solution of the out-of-plane displacement is presented based on existing analytical models. Thus, the results given by the analytical model were then compared with the experimental data and with a finite element (FE) model that simulates the cold-expansion process. The location of the elastic–plastic boundar…

Bank Erosion and Secondary Circulation in a Meandering Laboratory Flume

2014

Abstract This paper reports peculiar results of experimental investigation on the secondary circulation motion of flow along a meander wave. Experiments were conducted in a large amplitude meandering laboratory channel for two values of the width-to-depth ratio. Here attention is focalized on how secondary motion affects the bank shear stress distribution, influencing the stability of the outer bank. The analysis essentially highlights that, especially for small width-to-depth ratio, as the channel curvature increases, besides the classical central-region secondary circulation cell a counter-rotating circulation cell forms in the outer-bank region. Such counter-rotating circulation cell all…