Au milieu du XVIe siècle, un nouveau genre d’écriture médicale circule parmi les imprimeries européennes : ce sont les curationes et les observationes, des récits de cas cliniques où désormais l’autorité de référence est l’expérience du praticien. Celui-ci affirme avoir élaboré son écrit à partir de ses visites aux malades, d’enregistrements et de données appartenant à la réalité des faits et des effets (et non, par exemple, des théories et des opinions) ; aussi se intervient-il dans le texte à la fois comme principe d’organisation narrative et instance intra-diégétique, c’est-à-dire comme sujet et objet de la narration. À la même époque, en Europe, commence à se diffuser la chimiatrie, c’est-à-dire un complexe de conceptions physiologiques et thérapeutiques qui se fondent sur une idée chimique de la nature, de la maladie et du remède. Le promoteur de ces doctrines, le Suisse Théophraste Paracelse, prône une reforme des fondements de la théorie et de la pratique médicale en s’attirant des sympathisants et des détracteurs. Des médecins chimistes se sont servis du format de curationes et d’observationes pour promouvoir les nouvelles pratiques par voie de démonstration manifeste, en se servant des preuves leur expérience au chevet des patients. La présente étude entend définir ce genre médical selon une approche multi-disciplinaire, en interrogeant ces textes du point de vue de l’histoire des idées, de l’épistémologie, à travers leurs échanges avec d’autres genres limitrophes (comme les practicæ, les consilia, ou les recueils de mirabilia), selon les milieux et les courants (le galénisme et la chimiatrie) mais aussi en se focalisant sur les enjeux narratologiques impliqués dans un récit d’expérience et dans la narration de faits. / Au milieu du XVIe siècle, un nouveau genre d’écriture médicale circule parmi les imprimeries européennes : ce sont les curationes et les observationes, des récits de cas cliniques où désormais l’autorité de référence est l’expérience du praticien. Celui-ci affirme avoir élaboré son écrit à partir de ses visites aux malades, d’enregistrements et de données appartenant à la réalité des faits et des effets (et non, par exemple, des théories et des opinions) ; aussi se intervient-il dans le texte à la fois comme principe d’organisation narrative et instance intra-diégétique, c’est-à-dire comme sujet et objet de la narration. À la même époque, en Europe, commence à se diffuser la chimiatrie, c’est-à-dire un complexe de conceptions physiologiques et thérapeutiques qui se fondent sur une idée chimique de la nature, de la maladie et du remède. Le promoteur de ces doctrines, le Suisse Théophraste Paracelse, prône une reforme des fondements de la théorie et de la pratique médicale en s’attirant des sympathisants et des détracteurs. Des médecins chimistes se sont servis du format de curationes et d’observationes pour promouvoir les nouvelles pratiques par voie de démonstration manifeste, en se servant des preuves leur expérience au chevet des patients. La présente étude entend définir ce genre médical selon une approche multi-disciplinaire, en interrogeant ces textes du point de vue de l’histoire des idées, de l’épistémologie, à travers leurs échanges avec d’autres genres limitrophes (comme les practicæ, les consilia, ou les recueils de mirabilia), selon les milieux et les courants (le galénisme et la chimiatrie) mais aussi en se focalisant sur les enjeux narratologiques impliqués dans un récit d’expérience et dans la narration de faits. / Nell’Europa della modernità, una nuova tipologia di scritti medici circola nella stampa : sono le curationes e le observationes, narrazioni di così clinici dove la sola autorità di riferimento è l’esperienza del medico. Quest’ultimo afferma di aver scritto a partire da registrazioni al capezzale dei malati: il contenuto dei suoi scritti appartiene al mondo dei fatti e degli effetti (e non, per esempio, delle teorie e delle opinioni). Nel testo il medico interviene allo stesso tempo come principio di organizzazione narrativa (narratore) e come istanza intradiegetica, ciò come oggetto della narrazione.Più o meno negli stessi anni, in Europa comincia a diffondersi la chimiatria, vale a dire, un sistema concettuale fisiologico e te repentino legato a un’idea chimica della natura della malattia e del rimedio. Il promotore di questa dottrina, lo svizzero Teofrasto Paracelso, incoraggia con vigore una riforma delle basi teoriche e pratiche della medicina, attraendo simpatizzanti e detrattori. Dei chimiatri si sono serviti delle curationes e delle observationes per promuovere queste nuove pratiche attraverso la dimostrazione manifesta, utilizzando la loro esperienza al capezzale del malato.Questo studio intende definire tale genere medico attraverso un approccio multidisciplinare, interrogando i testi dalla prospettiva della storia delle idee e dell’epistemologia, attraverso anche le loro relazioni con generi limitrofi come le summæ medievali a uso pedagogico (le practicae), gli scambi epistolari tra medici (i consilia) o le raccolte di storie straordinarie (i mirabilia), secondo i contesti e le correnti (galenismo e chimiatria), ma anche focalizzando l’attenzione sulle poste in gioco narratologiche implicate in una storia di esperienza

The field of pile design and construction in the United Kingdom is currently in a period of change. Not only are new processes and techniques being developed but also the legislative landscape is changing with the introduction of new Europe wide normative standards (BSI, 2004, 2007). This project sought to optimise pile design through better understanding and interpretation of ground conditions and of the pile-soil interaction for two pile types, continuous flight auger and bored displacement piles. Quantitative methods for interpreting and summarising previous knowledge and experience have been developed; the strata are divided into discrete bands and properties are represented with summary statistics. Experience and previous knowledge relating to the shear strength of London Clay have been quantified and presented using this approach. Furthermore, a straightforward tool has been provided for the implementation of such data into design; the previous knowledge and new site specific data are combined using Bayesian updating. Through use of this technique, the uncertainty associated with interpreting ground conditions from site data has been demonstrated to be reduced. The techniques described have been adopted into design practice within the sponsoring company. Bored displacement piles are a relatively new pile type. There is little published data or scientific understanding of the processes undergone by the soils during and after construction and the effect that these have on pile performance. This research identified the need for, and developed, a unified framework of descriptors for the various types of bored displacement pile and investigated the installation energy and performance of bored displacement piles in London Clay. The energy to construct the pile was observed to be highly variable and not directly related to capacity. Performance of bored displacement piles was observed to be similar to continuous flight auger piles of similar dimensions; typical values for the adhesion between bored displacement piles and the surrounding soil were established and these were comparable to those achieved by continuous flight auger piles. In addition, to enable the analysis of the probability of failure of a pile, the sources of variation have been investigated and the variability quantified. Besides the soil conditions, the dimensions of the pile, notably pile diameter, were found to be a significant source of variation.

The purpose of this study is to critically examine whether hospitals located in high seismic risk areas such as Vancouver can respond as post-disaster facilities in the aftermath of a major earthquake. Earthquake experience in California during the 1971 San Fernando and the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquakes in particular demonstrate that hospitals may be vulnerable and rendered unable to fully respond to their communities needs. In the case of earthquakes, risk management methods are limited to two strategies: pre-event mitigation to reduce the effects of the earthquake on life safety and loss of property; and providing recovery services after the event. In the case of post-disaster hospitals, experience shows that mitigation strategies ensure the functionality of the facility. Therefore, mitigation strategies must not only include structural mitigation to protect the life safety of its occupants, they must also include strategies which ensure the functionality of both the building operations as well as that of therapeutic and diagnostic medical equipment in the aftermath of an earthquake. Vancouver General Hospital is used as a case study to critically examine seismic pre-event mitigation strategies which include: the structures; building operation and medical equipment which are dependent on the supply of potable water and power. Findings of this study indicate that the current supply of potable water is not reliable and that some of VGH's essential building operations and medical equipment will not be functional due to losses in water pressures and disruptions in service. This study recommends that VGH should consider mitigation strategies which make the hospital independent of outside sources of both water and power supply in order to meet its emergency role as a post-disaster facility following an earthquake. The functionality of VGH in the aftermath of a major earthquake will be seriously curtailed unless there is adequate storage of potable water on site to meet the emergency needs of this hospital.

The purpose of this study is to critically examine whether hospitals located in high seismic risk areas such as Vancouver can respond as post-disaster facilities in the aftermath of a major earthquake. Earthquake experience in California during the 1971 San Fernando and the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquakes in particular demonstrate that hospitals may be vulnerable and rendered unable to fully respond to their communities needs. In the case of earthquakes, risk management methods are limited to two strategies: pre-event mitigation to reduce the effects of the earthquake on life safety and loss of property; and providing recovery services after the event. In the case of post-disaster hospitals, experience shows that mitigation strategies ensure the functionality of the facility. Therefore, mitigation strategies must not only include structural mitigation to protect the life safety of its occupants, they must also include strategies which ensure the functionality of both the building operations as well as that of therapeutic and diagnostic medical equipment in the aftermath of an earthquake. Vancouver General Hospital is used as a case study to critically examine seismic pre-event mitigation strategies which include: the structures; building operation and medical equipment which are dependent on the supply of potable water and power. Findings of this study indicate that the current supply of potable water is not reliable and that some of VGH's essential building operations and medical equipment will not be functional due to losses in water pressures and disruptions in service. This study recommends that VGH should consider mitigation strategies which make the hospital independent of outside sources of both water and power supply in order to meet its emergency role as a post-disaster facility following an earthquake. The functionality of VGH in the aftermath of a major earthquake will be seriously curtailed unless there is adequate storage of potable water on site to meet the emergency needs of this hospital. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of / Graduate

Deep excavations have been used worldwide for underground construction, but they also alter the ground conditions and induce ground movements which might cause risks to adjacent infrastructure. Field measurements are normally carried out during excavations to ensure their safety, and also provide valuable data to calibrate the results from the numerical analysis which is an effective way to investigate the performance of deep excavations. This thesis is concerned with evaluating the capability of advanced finite element analysis in reproducing various aspects of observed deep excavation behaviour in the field through back analysis of case histories. The finite element model developed considers both geotechnical and structural aspects such as (i) detailed geometry of the excavation and retaining structures, (ii) realistic material models for the soil, structures and the soil-structure interface, and (iii) correct construction sequences. Parametric studies are conducted first based on a simplified square excavation to understand the effect of several important aspects, e.g. (i) the merit of shell or solid elements to model the retaining wall, (ii) the effect of construction joints in the retaining wall, (iii) the effect of the operational stiffness of concrete structural components due to cracks, (iv) the thermal effect of concrete beams and floor slabs during curing process and due to variation of ambient temperature, (v) the effect of soil-structure interface behaviour, and (vi) the effect of stiffness and strength properties of the soil. Two more complex case histories are then investigated through fully 3D analyses to explore the influence of various factors such as (i) neglecting the small-strain stiffness nonlinearity in the soil model, (ii) the selected K_0 value to represent the initial stress state in the ground, (iii) the appropriate anisotropic wall properties to consider the joints in the diaphragm wall, (iv) the parameters governing the settlements of adjacent buildings and buried pipelines, (v) the effectiveness of ground improvement on reducing the building settlement, (vi) the variation of construction sequences, (vii) the effectiveness of earth berms, and (viii) ignoring the openings in the floor slabs. This research has strong practical implications, but cautions should also be taken in applications, e.g. element types and parameter selection.