Search results for "Technical"
showing 10 items of 955 documents
Coupled hydro-mechanical analysis of compacted bentonite behaviour during hydration
2021
Abstract This study analyses the response of compacted bentonites upon hydration based on a coupled hydro-mechanical elasto-plastic framework. As an alternative to multi-porosity interpretation, the framework was selected based on the experimental evidence of adsorbed water behaviour in bentonites and the volumetric response at saturated states, apparently independent of its initial state. Based on these premises, a water retention model was formulated using an explicit distinction between adsorbed water and free water, enabling the postulation of the water properties and behaviour depending on its state. In order to effectively account for the transition between unsaturated to saturated st…
Effect of Soil Moisture on the Angular Variation of Thermal Infrared Emissivity of Inorganic Soils
2014
Emissivity is influenced by different factors. This study deals with the effect of the soil moisture (SM) content on the zenithal (θ) variation of ratio-to-nadir emissivity (εr), for a wide variety of inorganic bare soils. To retrieve εr, a goniometer assembly was used, together with two identical CIMEL Electronique CE312-2 radiometers working at six spectral bands within 7.7-14.3 μm, performing simultaneous radiance measurements at different combinations of zenith and azimuth angles. The results showed that the effect of SM upon εr(θ) is different depending on the spectral range and textural composition of the sample. Sandy soils showed a decrease of εr(θ) from nadir up to 0.132 for θ ≥ 40…
On the hydro-mechanical behaviour of a lime-treated embankment during wetting and drying cycles
2018
Abstract The paper presents some experimental results obtained on samples extracted from a full-scale embankment obtained by compacting a lime-treated clayey soil. A comprehensive test programme was carried out in order to highlight the improvement of mechanical behaviour induced by lime treatment as well as to assess the durability of the improved material, which may be affected by severe seasonal wetting and drying cycles. Direct shear tests, triaxial compression tests, swelling potential measurement and oedometric tests were performed on samples cured in controlled environmental conditions for at least 18 months. Wetting and drying cycles were applied in a very wide range of suction valu…
Experimental Investigation on the Compressive Behaviour of Clay Brick Masonry Columns Confined by BFRP or Steel Wires
2016
This paper presents the results of an experimental research aiming to investigate on the compressive behavior of full size clay brick masonry columns reinforced with Basalt Fiber Reinforced Cementitious Matrix (BFRCM) or with steel wires collaring. Uniaxial compressive tests were performed on eight retrofitted columns and four control specimens. Two masonry strength were considered by varying the mortar grade. Results are presented and discussed in terms of axial stress-strain relationships, failure modes and crack patterns of the specimens tested up to failure. For the limit of investigated variables, comparisons with unreinforced specimens show the ability of these alternative techniques …
Simple Plastic Model for Shear Critical SFRC Beams
2010
A simple physical model, for prediction of ultimate shear strength of steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC) beams is developed on the basis of a plastic approach originally proposed for reinforced concrete (RC) beams without stirrups. It is founded on the hypothesis that cracks can be transformed into yield lines, and thus is know as Crack Sliding Model (CSM). First, the CSM is improved in order to take into account the shear strength increase for deep beams, due to the arch effect. Then, the effectiveness factors for fibrous concrete under biaxial stresses are evaluated, taking into account the post-cracking tensile strength of SFRC and its ability to control slippage along shear cracks. …
Laboratory mix design of asphalt mixture containing reclaimed material
2014
This paper presents a study on the production of asphalt test specimens in the laboratory containing reclaimed asphalt. The mixtures considered were stone mastic asphalt concrete mixtures containing up to 30% of reclaimed asphalt. Specimens were compacted to the reference density obtained from the Marshall mix design. Gyration compaction method was used for preparing specimens for the experimental programme, while coring and cutting methods and X-ray computed tomography (CT) were used to investigate the change in properties within the specimens and to validate the selected methodology. The study concluded that gyratory compaction is suitable to produce homogeneous test specimens also for mi…
Effect of mixing time on reclaimed asphalt mixtures: An investigation by means of imaging techniques
2015
This paper presents an application of imaging techniques to investigate the distribution of reclaimed asphalt and air voids within gyratory compacted specimen. Stone Mastic Asphalt specimens containing reclaimed asphalt, were produced at five different laboratories participating in the collaborative project Re-Road: University of Nottingham, Belgium Road Research Centre, Danish Road Directorate, TU Braunschweig and Laboratoire Centrale de Ponts et Chaussees (now IFSTTAR). This study applies the X-ray Computed Tomography and Optical Microscopy techniques to view the internal structure of the specimen with particular focus on the air voids and reclaimed asphalt distributions within the specim…
Microfocus X-ray computed tomography analysis of corroded glass objects
2009
Abstract Microfocus X-ray computed tomography (µCT) is a useful tool for non-destructive analysis of corroded archaeological glass objects and for monitoring restoration and conservation processes for these materials. This was demonstrated by µCT analysis of artificially corroded laboratory-produced glasses and corroded archaeological glasses retrieved from soil environments. Corrosion layers with a thickness of 20 µm or more can be detected as areas with lower X-ray attenuation values than the non-corroded glass. Features that are revealed by µCT analyses include the degree and patterns of corrosion and the presence of various internal structures in the corrosion layers. The study of resto…
AN ANALYTICAL SOLUTION OF KINEMATIC WAVE EQUATIONS FOR OVERLAND FLOW UNDER GREEN-AMPT INFILTRATION
2010
This paper deals with the analytical solution of kinematic wave equations for overland flow occurring in an infiltrating hillslope. The infiltration process is described by the Green-Ampt model. The solution is derived only for the case of an intermediate flow regime between laminar and turbulent ones. A transitional regime can be considered a reliable flow condition when, to the laminar overland flow, is also associated the effect of the additional resistance due to raindrop impact. With reference to the simple case of an impervious hillslope, a comparison was carried out between the present solution and the non-linear storage model. Some applications of the present solution were performed…
Project duration evaluated using affine arithmetic
2016
A civil engineering work can be performed by organizing the available resources (manpower, equipment and materials) in many different ways. Each different configuration results in a realization time and a cost that a building company has to bear. To produce reliable duration forecasts and money savings, it is essential to take into account all the uncertainties involved in the project operations. Generally, since it is impractical to process numerous uncertain variables - also undefined from a statistical point of view -, traditional probabilistic methods involve application difficulties for complex environments such as construction sites. To properly handle this issue, the authors propose …