Search results for "soil"

One dimensional consolidation of Opalinus Clay from shallow depth

2017

First experimental results on Opalinus Clay from shallow depth (< 30 m depth) are presented and compared to results on cores from Mont Terri Underground Rock Laboratory (~ 300 m depth). Samples were tested in one dimensional condition using an advanced experimental technique. The samples from the two sites show similar properties in terms of geotechnical characterization and one dimensional compressibility/swelling indexes, despite the different source depths.

The Collapse and Restoration of the Church of Saint Mary of Itria in Piazza Armerina (Sicily, Italy)

2019

The paper illustrates the damages occurred to masonry buildings due to incorrect consolidation interventions dated back to the 1980s that, according to the culture of the time, were oriented to the replacement of structural elements with new heavy ones, thus changing the static scheme. The case study concerns the seventeenth century church of Saint Mary of Itria in Piazza Armerina, affected in 2007 by the collapse of the one side wall of the apse. After illustrating the historical evolution and the actual state of the building, the investigations carried out to identify the causes of collapse and provide for appropriate reconstruction interventions are reported. The results of hydro-geologi…

Segregated ice and liquefaction effects on compaction of fragipans

2004

The brittleness of fragipans is generally ascribed to the close-packing fabric arrangement acquired at the initial step of pedogenesis thanks to physical processes. However, there is an on-going debate over the agent causing soil densification. In this work, we tested the plausibility that ice segregation or liquefaction could have been the cause of the compaction of four fragipans. Two of them are located in nonseismic areas that have experienced periglacial conditions; one is from a strongly seismic area not affected by periglacial conditions, while the fourth site underwent moderate seismic activity and slight periglacial conditions. After disaggregation in the laboratory, soil specimens…

2016

Current research demonstrates increased learning rates in differencial learning (DL) compared to repetitive training. To date, little is known on the underlying neurophysiological processes in DL that contribute to superior performance over repetitive practice. In the present study, we measured electroencephalographic (EEG) brain activation patterns after DL and repetitive badminton serve training. Twenty-four semi-professional badminton players performed badminton serves in a DL and repetitive training schedule in a within-subjects design. EEG activity was recorded from nineteen electrodes according to the 10-20 system before and immediately after each 20-minute exercise. Increased theta a…

Comparative life-cycle assessment of conventional (double lane) and non-conventional (turbo and flower) roundabout intersections

2016

Abstract This research studied and compared different construction techniques for the road subgrade, embankment and pavement of different types of roundabout intersections in order to assess their environmental sustainability. A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was carried out on double lane, turbo- and flower roundabouts. We considered virgin materials and reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) for the pavement construction. Also the environmental effects due to in situ lime stabilization of fine-grained soils were assessed in order to reduce the use of virgin material in road subgrades. The use of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) can lead to a significant reduction in pollutant emissions and energy …

Production and Foreign Trade of Mineral Products in Latvia and Belarus

2015

Latvia and Belarus are small countries with limited scope of natural resources. However, the available mineral resources play important role in production of mineral products for domestic and foreign consumption. Main goal of the paper is to characterize the role of extraction industry in national economy and mineral products trade in two neighboring countries - Latvia and Belarus. To achieve the goal, the role of mining and quarrying industry in Latvia and Belarus was identified; trade of mineral resources in Latvia was analyzed. The main trends in the development of its own mineral resources of the Republic of Belarus were identified, the role of mineral resources in the commodity structu…

Ecological restoration in contaminated soils of Kokdzhon phosphate mining area (Zhambyl region, Kazakhstan)

2016

Abstract This study provides results of an ecological restoration activity performed in the Kokdzhon phosphate mining of the Zhambyl region (a semi-desert mining area of Kazakhstan). The test area was made by a quarry-hole, about 1.25 hectares wide, that was preliminarily filled with the earthy material of a dump and, subsequently, levelled. The total volume of human transported material (HTM) used was 700 tonnes. Soil samples were taken from 0 to 30 cm depth at 23 sampling sites and several soil quality parameters were determined. In the test area 750 tree species were planted in suitable dug holes: (150 seedlings of Russian Olive; 150 seedlings of Black Saxaul); 150 seedlings of Androsov …

Hydrogeochemical changes during managed aquifer recharge (MAR) in a salinised coastal aquifer

2021

15 p. - Supplementary data to this article can be found online at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2020.104866. - The data used to support the findings of this study are available from http://repositori.uji.es/xmlui/handle/10803/620641.

Anthropogenic carbon stocks analysis in sparsely urbanized areas using remote sensing: a case study

2013

Anthropogenic carbon stocks in urbanized areas is a topic of growing importance at both local and regional scale nowadays, but its assessment is subjects to difficulties due to lack of data and spatial heterogeneity of the target. Remote sensing of urban areas has demonstrated its usefulness in assessing phenomena such as soil sealing and surface imperviousness, which are considered to be effective indicators of urbanization. This work presents a preliminary study of mid resolution satellite data capabilities in providing information about anthropogenic carbon stocks over the area of Emilia-Romagna region in Northern Italy. This has been done through a dual approach consisting of: (1) a dir…

Monumental trees and their existence value: the case study of an Italian natural park

2015

The paper deals with the evaluation of the existence value of monumental trees in a protected area. Financial resources to be destined for protection interventions have been decreasing more and more, with a high risk of losing this natural heritage. A Contingent Valuation Method (CVM) survey was carried out among the Madonie Park (Sicily, Italy) resident households to evaluate the existence value of monumental trees of the nature trail named "Piano Sempria-Piano Pomo", represented by a population of "Giant hollies" and by 7 other individual trees. These are the main results of the CVM survey: the overall response rate was 40%, individual average WTPs ( Willingness To Pay ) were €12.37 for t…