Influence of geosynthetic reinforcement on the stability of an embankment with rigid columns embedded in an inclined underlying stratum

Incompressible dipping substrata are commonly encountered in engineering practice. Compared to horizontal underlying strata, the inclined underlying stratum increase the risk of collapse of embankments reinforced with columns because it weakens the restraint of the column base. The objective of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of geosynthetics on improving the embankment stability when the underlying stratum is inclined. The influence of geosynthetic tensile stiffness on the ultimate surcharge and failure mechanism is studied. A deep-seated failure with column tilting occurs when the geosynthetic tensile stiffness is low, whereas a lateral sliding occurs when the geosynthetic tensile stiffness is high. To illustrate the contribution of geosynthetics, the distribution of the lateral pressures acting on the columns is analyzed.     

A grounded theory examination of project managers' accountability

26 interviews were conducted with a snowball sample of project managers to explore how project managers were influenced by accountability arrangements and how they responded to accountability demands. Using a grounded theory approach to code the interview data, this study revealed that project managers develop new skills to respond to accountability demands. These effects are facilitated by the interaction of resource-based mechanisms and reflexivity that interact with the contextual factors of the project. The study broadens the understanding of accountability in project management and suggests a model for further empirical examination.     

Effect of microstructure on the fatigue crack growth behaviour of a near-α Ti alloy

Fatigue crack growth behaviour of Ti–6Al–2Zr–1.5Mo–1.5V (VT-20 a near-α Ti alloy) was studied in lamellar, bimodal and acicular microstructural conditions. Fatigue crack growth tests at both increasing and decreasing stress intensity factor range values were performed at ambient temperature and a loading ratio of 0.3 using compact tension samples. Lamellar and acicular microstructures showed lower fatigue crack growth rates as compared to the bimodal microstructure due to the tortuous nature of cracks in the former and the cleavage of primary α in the latter. The threshold stress intensity factor range was highest for acicular microstructure.     

Experimental analysis of combined side weir-gate located on a straight channel

Flow measurement and control in open channel system for lateral flow is important to support the system management. The flow characteristics of combined side weir-gate are complicated due to changes in flow conditions along the side weir-gate section. Experimental investigation of the flow characteristics of both weir and sluice gates is crucial for predicting the flow through a combined side weir-gate structure. Although weir-gate structures are widely used for frontal flow in hydraulic structures, the same is not true for lateral flows. In this study, 650 laboratory tests were conducted to determine the flow characteristics of combined side weir-gate for subcritical flow, and the experimental results were analyzed to determine the effect of these characteristics and weir-gate geometry on discharge capacity. Interaction factor of combined side weir-gate is a function of the upstream Froude number, the ratio of gate opening to upstream flow depth, the ratio of distance between the top of the sluice gate and the weir crest to gate opening, the ratio of weir and gate length to upstream flow depth, and the ratio of weir and gate length to main channel width. Consequently, more discharge is passed through combined side weir-gate compared to side weir and sluice gates. The empirically derived equations for the discharge of combined side weir-gate show good compatibility with the experimental data.     

Lab scale optimization of various factors for photocatalytic hydrogen generation over low cost Cu0.02Ti0.98O2-δ photocatalyst under UV/Visible irradiation and sunlight

We have demonstrated earlier that maximum H₂ generated @ 1.167 l/h/m² over Cu_0.02Ti_0.98O_2-δ photocatalyst with apparent quantum efficiency, AQE of 7.5% and solar fuel efficiency, SFE of 3.9% under sunlight. With an aim to scale-up the solar photocatalytic hydrogen process to pilot plant, optimization studies at lab scale as well as in upscaled photoreactors were performed over Cu_0.02Ti_0.98O_2-δ, photocatalyst under UV/visible and sunlight. Cu_0.02Ti_0.98O_2-δ was synthesized by facile sol-gel route and characterized by relevant techniques. Several operational parameters were investigated in order to finalize the conditions which are most favourable for photocatalytic hydrogen yield. Factors such as photocatalyst loadings, v/v concentration of sacrificial reagent, replacement of methanol by industrial waste glycerol, role of different configuration of light source with reactor, effect of stirring during the photocatalytic reaction, effect of fluctuations of solar flux at hourly basis, illumination area on hydrogen yield were studied. Contribution of each factor in determining the hydrogen yield was quantified. Relative standard deviation in hydrogen yield as a function of each factor was estimated. Our findings suggest that in addition to catalyst loadings and sacrificial reagent, improved dispersion of photocatalyst obtained by stirring the reaction mixture in horizontal geometry resulted in enhanced H₂ yield. Hydrogen yield obtained at lab scale can be appropriately extrapolated with respect to illumination area instead of weight of photocatalyst. A relative standard deviation (RSD) of ± 3.82% and ± 4.53% in H₂ yield was calculated for sunny and cloudy days in time zone of 10.30–16.30 h IST. Deviation of H₂ yield was more on cloudy days and beyond 16:30 h. These studies have provided a daily window of 11:00–15:00 h to be utilized throughout the year for a commercial scaled up process, prohibiting the illumination during less productive hours of the day for shaping the improved economics of solar hydrogen generation. Our results obtained at lab scale would be useful to perform sunlight driven scaled –up photocatalytic process using low cost visible light efficient photocatalyst, Cu_0.02Ti_0.98O_2-δ.     

Microemulsion synthesis of ms/tz-BiVO4 composites: The effect of pH on crystal structure and photocatalytic performance

In this work, BiVO₄ composites, containing the tetragonal zircon phase (tz-BiVO₄), and monoclinic scheelite phase (ms-BiVO₄), were synthesized using the microemulsion method. The effect of pH on phase composition and photocatalytic activity were investigated. Based on X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), a ms/tz-BiVO₄ composite forms at pH = 1.0 and pure ms-BiVO₄ is obtained in the pH range 4.0–10.0. The three primary steps in preparing BiVO₄ were monitored by optical microscopy and the role played by the microemulsion on the phase composition of BiVO₄ is explained. Photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), UV–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-DRS), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were employed to characterize the physical and chemical properties of BiVO₄ composites. The composite formed at pH = 1 exhibited the lowest hole-electron (h⁺-e^-) recombination rate, resulting in the highest photocatalytic activity towards microcystin-LR (MC-LR), with near 100% removal of MC-LR in 5 h. ESR and trapping experiments indicated that MC-LR degradation was mediated primarily by hydroxyl radicals (•OH), superoxide radicals (O₂^•−) and photogenerated holes (h⁺).     

白豹油田B166井区北部超前温和注水开发效果分析

B166井区为白豹油田主力开发区块之一,早期井区南部开展强注强采开发试验,导致油井含水上升速度快、采油速度低、递减快。笔者总结南部开发试验经验,参阅大量注水开发技术文献,并借鉴国内外油田注水开发实例,在超低渗油藏已成熟的超前注水技术基础之上,创新性的提出了温和注水技术。北部试验井组采用超前温和注水开发技术,取得良好的开发效果,平均单井日产油为强注强采井2倍左右,表明了超前温和注水技术适用于B166井区注水开发,该技术在国内外同类型油藏注水开发实践中具有较大的应用价值。     

Applicability of the generalized scaling law to a pile-inclined ground system subject to liquefaction-induced lateral spreading

The generalized scaling law is based on the concept of two-stage scaling and allows currently available centrifuge facilities to model a large-scale prototype expanding over the spatial dimension ranging from 30 m or larger subject to earthquake motions. This paper presents the results of investigation on the applicability of the generalized scaling law to the fully nonlinear regime of soil-structure system with the induced strain level of 10% in the order of magnitude. The centrifuge model tests performed in this study under the modeling of models scheme consist of a pile model embedded in a inclined ground subject to liquefaction-induced lateral spreading. Four different centrifugal accelerations ranging from 13g to 50g are used whereas the actual size of the physical model is kept constant with an overall scaling factor of 1/100. The models are exposed to tapered sinusoidal input accelerations of frequency 0.59 Hz and amplitude 3.0 m/s² in prototype scale, and the results are compared in terms of prototype by applying the generalized scaling law. As for the response of the ground during shaking, essentially identical accelerations and excess pore water pressures are recorded for all cases, while the lateral displacement shows a variation ranging from 5% to 9% in terms of shear strain due to a slight variation in experimental conditions (e.g., input peak acceleration, achieved density distribution). Practically the same responses are measured among the cases in the dissipation phase of excess pore water pressure. With regard to pile behavior, nearly identical responses for the lateral displacements and bending moments are obtained for all cases both during and after shaking. These results demonstrated that the generalized scaling law is applicable to the fully nonlinear regime of soil-structure system subject to the cumulative shear strain in the order of 10% due to cyclic mobility of sands during earthquakes.     

Cone-shaped hollow flexible reinforced concrete foundation (CHFRF) – Innovative for mountain wind turbines

This paper presents an innovative type of mountain wind turbine foundation, namely, the cone-shaped hollow flexible reinforced concrete foundation (CHFRF). It consists of a top plate, a base plate and a side wall that are made of reinforced concrete. The cavity of the CHFRF is filled with rubble and soil directly from the excavation for the CHFRF, which means that it can absorb the spoil. A rubber layer is placed beneath the CHFRF to increase the foundation flexibility to resist cyclic and dynamic loadings and to increase the bearing capacity. The great advantages of the CHFRF are the reduction in the usage of concrete and steel and the protection of the vegetation around the wind turbine, compared with conventional mountain wind turbine foundations that are solid structures. It is verified through model tests and a numerical simulation that the CHFRF can provide higher lateral bearing capacity in comparison to the regular circular gravity-based foundation under the same foundation diameter and height, and that the bearing capacity is increased by approximately 33.5% accordingly. It is also found that the rubber layer can effectively reduce the accumulated rotation of the CHFRF under cyclic loading. The accumulated rotation of the CHFRF with a rubber layer having a thickness of 4 mm is decreased by about 50% compared to that of the CHFRF with a rubber layer having a thickness of 2 mm. In addition, the volume of concrete used for the CHFRF is only one-fifth of that used for the circular gravity-based foundation. Therefore, the CHFRF outperforms regular mountain wind turbine foundations.     

行波效应对大跨度刚构桥地震反应的影响

地震输入问题一直是工程结构抗震研究所关注的焦点.大跨度桥梁结构各地面支承距离较大、延伸较长,进行进震反应分析时应考虑各支承处地震波的不同(多点激励)以及地震波有限波速传播所引起的行波效应.文章以洛河特大桥为例,进行了基于多点激励与行波效应下的动态时程地震反应分析,并比较了考虑多点激励与行波效应对该桥各项地震响应的不同影响.