No / This paper draws a comparison between the 700-year-old historically reported will-o'-the-wisp phenomenon and the more recent discovery of extremophilic colonization of hostile environments; both have been observed as present in isolated, stressed environmental regions and originating from biological phenomena. However, whereas extremophilic activity can be understood in terms of a survival strategy based upon the synthesis of specific suites of protective biochemicals which are designed to control biogeologically the stressed habitats and to provide protection against the extreme environments, the analytical techniques that have proved so successful for the illumination of these survival strategies of extremophiles and which are now being miniaturized for in-field studies and for extraterrestrial exploration have not been applied to a clarification or evaluation of the phenomenon of will-o'-the-wisp. The reason is simply that the will-o'-the-wispsightings have now disappeared completely. Tantalizingly, all of the most reasonable physico-chemical and biological explanations for the will-o'-the-wisp phenomenon proved to be unsatisfactory in some respect and it is clear that, just as in the case of extremophilic colonization, will-o'-the-wisp would benefit from a modern rigorous analytical study which would produce the data from which the potentially novel biological behaviour could be characterized and which would help a better understanding to be made of our natural world.

International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 30-November 02, 1995 / Riviera Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada / To address the concerns of a declining defense budget, duplicate range capabilities, and applications of new technologies, the Deputy Director, Test Facilities and Resources, Test, Systems Engineering and Evaluation Directorate, Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), initiated the Common Test and Training Range Architecture (CTTRA) Workshop project. The development of a common test and training range architecture requires a series of workshops designed to apply the expertise of the test and training ranges and the installed systems test facilities (ISTF) communities to the challenges of architecture development and interface standardization. A common range architecture with standardized interfaces will facilitate asset sharing between the Services, increase the industry-government dual-use potential of OSD's test and training range facilities, and lower the cost of testing. Further, common range interfaces will allow the efficient integration of new instrumentation and simulations at minimum cost. To support development of the CTTRA, there have been three workshops, each expanding the accomplishments of the previous workshop. The first workshop was conducted 20-22 April 1994. The other workshops were held 12-14 October 1994 and 21-24 February 1995. The goals of the workshop process are to: • Develop a common test and training range architecture that supports the requirements of the test, training, and installed systems test facility communities • Identify areas with the potential to yield near-term interface standardization benefits. • Identify potential OSD Central Test and Evaluation Investment Program (CTEIP) projects. Thus far, the workshops have developed a top level and second level candidate CTTRA, identified areas for interface standardization, and established standing working groups responsible for continuing development of CTTRA and selected areas for interface standardization.

Apesar das vantagens relacionadas ao uso de estruturas de contenção em solo reforçado, a maioria das obras em nosso país ainda é executada por soluções convencionais. A ausência de um conhecimento mais profundo sobre o real comportamento das estruturas em solo reforçado, principalmente em termos de deslocamentos, certamente impede uma utilização mais intensa desse tipo de obra no Brasil. Com isso, para contribuir para um melhor entendimento do desempenho de estruturas em solo reforçado, foram construídos oito protótipos de estrutura de contenção em solo reforçado com geotêxtil, com 4,0 m de altura cada. Todas as estruturas foram instrumentadas, principalmente visando os deslocamentos, para avaliar o comportamento de campo. Adicionalmente, foi realizada a análise, em longo prazo, de um talude íngreme com 15,3 m de altura, construído no estado americano de Idaho, em que foram realizadas leituras até cinco anos após o fim da construção. Esse trabalho apresenta os resultados de cada protótipo construído, juntamente com os resultados do talude íngreme em Idaho, tanto em curto, quanto em longo prazo. As análises desenvolvidas compreendem, além da avaliação dos resultados individuais de cada estrutura, uma análise paramétrica entre todos os protótipos, investigando entre outros fatores, o tipo de solo, tipo de geossintético e geometria interna das estruturas. Além disso, foi realizada uma abordagem especial sobre a análise em longo prazo do protótipo 7. Dentre as conclusões mais importantes obtidas nesta pesquisa, podem-se citar as grandes deformações de fluência registradas no protótipo 7, a tendência de formação de uma superfície potencial de ruptura linear para os protótipos construídos com solo granular e de espiral logarítmica para os protótipos construídos com solos coesivos, a importância da coesão no bom comportamento das estruturas e a redução das movimentações verticais das estruturas com o acréscimo do teor de areia na granulometria do solo / Despite the important advantages associated with the use of geotextiles as reinforcement, most retaining walls in Brazil still use more conventional. The lack of field monitoring data regarding the internal and face displacements of these structures has certainly prevented broader use of this reinforced soil technology. This study addresses several aspects related to the behavior of geotextile-reinforced soil structures, such as the deformability of reinforcement materials under the confinement of soil, and quantification of the actual failure mechanisms. To achieve these goals, eight 4.0 m high geotextile-reinforced soil retaining wall prototypes were built and instrumented in order to quantify their behavior under ambient atmospheric conditions. Granular and poorly draining backfills were used in this study. Innovative construction methods and instrumentation were developed specifically for this research program. A significant laboratory testing program was conducted to quantify the stress-strain properties of the soils and geosynthetics involved in the construction of the walls. As a reference, the behaviors of these prototype structures were compared with that of a long term analysis of a steep slope in Idaho, USA. This wall is 15.3 m high, with displacement measurements carried out until five years after the end of the construction. A parametric analysis was conducted for the prototypes, in order to investigate the effects of soil type, reinforcement type and internal geometry of the structures. Among the most important conclusions obtained in this research, it is the large creep strains observed in prototype 7, the tendency of a linear potential slip surface observed for the walls constructed with granular backfills, and a log spiral slip surface for the prototypes constructed with cohesive backfills, the importance of the apparent cohesion in the behavior of the structures, and the reduction of the vertical movements of the structures with the increase of the amount of sand in the grain size distribution of the soil

In this study, the load bearing behavior of piled raft foundations is investigated performing laboratory and field tests. Piled raft foundation of a multi storey building was also instrumented and monitored in order to study the load sharing mechanism of piled raft foundations. A small reinforced concrete piled raft of 2.3 m square supported by four mini piles at the corners was loaded and contribution of the raft support up to 41 % of the total load was observed. The soil was stiff fissured Ankara clay with no ground water. A building founded on a piled raft foundation was instrumented and monitored using earth pressure cells beneath the raft during its construction period. The foundation soil was a deep graywacke highly weathered at the upper 10 m with no ground water. The proportion of load that was carried by the raft was 21 to 24 % of the total load near the edge and 44 to 56 % under the core. In the laboratory tests, model aluminum piles with outerinner diameters of 2218 mm and a length of 200 mm were used. The raft was made of steel plate with plan dimensions of 176 mm x 176 mm and a thickness of 10 mm. The model piles were instrumented with strain gages to monitor pile loads. Model piled raft configurations with different number of piles were tested. The behavior of a single pile and the plain raft were also investigated. The soil in the model tests was half and half sand &ndash / kaolinite mixture. It has been observed that when a piled raft is loaded gradually, piles take more load initially and after they reach their full capacity additional loads are carried by raft. The proportion of load that was carried by the raft decreases with the increasing number of piles and the load per pile is decreased. Center, edge and corner piles are not loaded equally under rafts. It has been found that rafts share foundation loads at such levels that should not be ignored.

Apesar das vantagens relacionadas ao uso de estruturas de contenção em solo reforçado, a maioria das obras em nosso país ainda é executada por soluções convencionais. A ausência de um conhecimento mais profundo sobre o real comportamento das estruturas em solo reforçado, principalmente em termos de deslocamentos, certamente impede uma utilização mais intensa desse tipo de obra no Brasil. Com isso, para contribuir para um melhor entendimento do desempenho de estruturas em solo reforçado, foram construídos oito protótipos de estrutura de contenção em solo reforçado com geotêxtil, com 4,0 m de altura cada. Todas as estruturas foram instrumentadas, principalmente visando os deslocamentos, para avaliar o comportamento de campo. Adicionalmente, foi realizada a análise, em longo prazo, de um talude íngreme com 15,3 m de altura, construído no estado americano de Idaho, em que foram realizadas leituras até cinco anos após o fim da construção. Esse trabalho apresenta os resultados de cada protótipo construído, juntamente com os resultados do talude íngreme em Idaho, tanto em curto, quanto em longo prazo. As análises desenvolvidas compreendem, além da avaliação dos resultados individuais de cada estrutura, uma análise paramétrica entre todos os protótipos, investigando entre outros fatores, o tipo de solo, tipo de geossintético e geometria interna das estruturas. Além disso, foi realizada uma abordagem especial sobre a análise em longo prazo do protótipo 7. Dentre as conclusões mais importantes obtidas nesta pesquisa, podem-se citar as grandes deformações de fluência registradas no protótipo 7, a tendência de formação de uma superfície potencial de ruptura linear para os protótipos construídos com solo granular e de espiral logarítmica para os protótipos construídos com solos coesivos, a importância da coesão no bom comportamento das estruturas e a redução das movimentações verticais das estruturas com o acréscimo do teor de areia na granulometria do solo / Despite the important advantages associated with the use of geotextiles as reinforcement, most retaining walls in Brazil still use more conventional. The lack of field monitoring data regarding the internal and face displacements of these structures has certainly prevented broader use of this reinforced soil technology. This study addresses several aspects related to the behavior of geotextile-reinforced soil structures, such as the deformability of reinforcement materials under the confinement of soil, and quantification of the actual failure mechanisms. To achieve these goals, eight 4.0 m high geotextile-reinforced soil retaining wall prototypes were built and instrumented in order to quantify their behavior under ambient atmospheric conditions. Granular and poorly draining backfills were used in this study. Innovative construction methods and instrumentation were developed specifically for this research program. A significant laboratory testing program was conducted to quantify the stress-strain properties of the soils and geosynthetics involved in the construction of the walls. As a reference, the behaviors of these prototype structures were compared with that of a long term analysis of a steep slope in Idaho, USA. This wall is 15.3 m high, with displacement measurements carried out until five years after the end of the construction. A parametric analysis was conducted for the prototypes, in order to investigate the effects of soil type, reinforcement type and internal geometry of the structures. Among the most important conclusions obtained in this research, it is the large creep strains observed in prototype 7, the tendency of a linear potential slip surface observed for the walls constructed with granular backfills, and a log spiral slip surface for the prototypes constructed with cohesive backfills, the importance of the apparent cohesion in the behavior of the structures, and the reduction of the vertical movements of the structures with the increase of the amount of sand in the grain size distribution of the soil

Relatos da observação do comportamento de obras de engenharia em escala natural, especialmente no caso de edifícios apoiados em fundações profundas, são pouco freqüentes em nossa literatura, embora estimulados por vários autores e pela Norma Brasileira de Projeto e Execução de Fundações. Este trabalho apresenta resultados de medidas de carga e recalque em 20 pilares contíguos de uma estrutura em concreto armado pré-moldada, apoiada em fundações do tipo estaca cravada. Os recalques foram medidos por meio de nivelamento ótico de precisão, tendo sido determinado valores máximos variáveis entre 1,1 e 4,3 mm. Foram observados deslocamentos sob carga constante, fluência da fundação, com taxa variável entre 0,8 e 3,2 mm/log t. As solicitações normais nos pilares foram avaliadas indiretamente por meio da variação de seu comprimento, utilizando-se um extensômetro mecânico removível. Apresenta-se a metodologia para interpretação das medidas efetuadas pelo extensômetro mecânico, levando em conta as variações dos fatores ambientais e a reologia do concreto, a qual conduz a uma boa concordância entre os valores medidos e os fornecidos pelo cálculo estrutural. Os dados coletados são retroanalisados sob o enfoque da interação solo estrutura pela modelagem da superestrutura por meio de pórtico espacial apoiado em molas representativas das fundações por estacas. No cálculo das molas foi utilizada a integração numérica da solução de Mindlin para a modelagem do efeito de grupo do sistema formado pelas estacas e o maciço de solo. Verificou-se que a elevada variabilidade dos solos da formação geológica do local foi refletida no comportamento da obra, como mostra o resultado da retroanálise efetuada. Conclui-se que as variabilidades da formação geotécnica devem ser consideradas para que previsões de comportamento sejam mais realistas / Although encouraged by several authors and by the Brazilian Foundation Code, reports of actual column loads measurement in natural scale are not frequent in our technical literature, especially in the case of buildings supported by deep foundations. Results of load and settlement measurements at 20 contiguous columns of a structure built in pre-cast reinforced concrete and supported by driven piles are presented. Settlements were measured by means of optical level and a range of values between 1.1 to 4.3 mm were observed. Settlement under constant load were observed under variable creep rates from 0.8 to 3.2 mm/log t. Loads over columns were indirectly evaluated through column length variation, using a demountable mechanical extensometer. The methodology for interpretation of measurements made with the mechanical extensometer is described, considering corrections due to the variation of environmental conditions and to the concrete’s rheology; this methodology leads to a good agreement between measured values and those supplied by conventional structural design. The collected data is back analysed taking into account the soil structure interaction. The superstructure was modelled as a spatial frame supported by springs with the same rigidity of the pile foundation element. The equivalent spring parameter for each column support has considered the settlement group effect for all piles embedded in soil, using the numerical integration of Mindlin's equations. Results of this back analysis show a high variability, reflecting the high degree of variability of local subsoil conditions. Therefore, one can conclude that predictions, in order to be reliable, must consider these soil variations

Relatos da observação do comportamento de obras de engenharia em escala natural, especialmente no caso de edifícios apoiados em fundações profundas, são pouco freqüentes em nossa literatura, embora estimulados por vários autores e pela Norma Brasileira de Projeto e Execução de Fundações. Este trabalho apresenta resultados de medidas de carga e recalque em 20 pilares contíguos de uma estrutura em concreto armado pré-moldada, apoiada em fundações do tipo estaca cravada. Os recalques foram medidos por meio de nivelamento ótico de precisão, tendo sido determinado valores máximos variáveis entre 1,1 e 4,3 mm. Foram observados deslocamentos sob carga constante, fluência da fundação, com taxa variável entre 0,8 e 3,2 mm/log t. As solicitações normais nos pilares foram avaliadas indiretamente por meio da variação de seu comprimento, utilizando-se um extensômetro mecânico removível. Apresenta-se a metodologia para interpretação das medidas efetuadas pelo extensômetro mecânico, levando em conta as variações dos fatores ambientais e a reologia do concreto, a qual conduz a uma boa concordância entre os valores medidos e os fornecidos pelo cálculo estrutural. Os dados coletados são retroanalisados sob o enfoque da interação solo estrutura pela modelagem da superestrutura por meio de pórtico espacial apoiado em molas representativas das fundações por estacas. No cálculo das molas foi utilizada a integração numérica da solução de Mindlin para a modelagem do efeito de grupo do sistema formado pelas estacas e o maciço de solo. Verificou-se que a elevada variabilidade dos solos da formação geológica do local foi refletida no comportamento da obra, como mostra o resultado da retroanálise efetuada. Conclui-se que as variabilidades da formação geotécnica devem ser consideradas para que previsões de comportamento sejam mais realistas / Although encouraged by several authors and by the Brazilian Foundation Code, reports of actual column loads measurement in natural scale are not frequent in our technical literature, especially in the case of buildings supported by deep foundations. Results of load and settlement measurements at 20 contiguous columns of a structure built in pre-cast reinforced concrete and supported by driven piles are presented. Settlements were measured by means of optical level and a range of values between 1.1 to 4.3 mm were observed. Settlement under constant load were observed under variable creep rates from 0.8 to 3.2 mm/log t. Loads over columns were indirectly evaluated through column length variation, using a demountable mechanical extensometer. The methodology for interpretation of measurements made with the mechanical extensometer is described, considering corrections due to the variation of environmental conditions and to the concrete’s rheology; this methodology leads to a good agreement between measured values and those supplied by conventional structural design. The collected data is back analysed taking into account the soil structure interaction. The superstructure was modelled as a spatial frame supported by springs with the same rigidity of the pile foundation element. The equivalent spring parameter for each column support has considered the settlement group effect for all piles embedded in soil, using the numerical integration of Mindlin's equations. Results of this back analysis show a high variability, reflecting the high degree of variability of local subsoil conditions. Therefore, one can conclude that predictions, in order to be reliable, must consider these soil variations

No description available.

Considera-se neste trabalho o projeto de estruturas de concreto para edifícios de múltiplos andares, com fundação profunda, levando-se em conta a interação solo-estrutura. Essa interação é analisada por meio de um método numérico em que a superestrutura (lajes, vigas e pilares) e os elementos estruturais de fundação (blocos e estacas) são considerados uma estrutura única, modelada pelo método dos elementos finitos e implementada no código computacional PEISE (Pórtico Espacial com Interação Solo-Estrutura), desenvolvido nesta pesquisa. O maciço de solos é representado por um modelo geotécnico proposto por Aoki e Lopes, em 1975, que utiliza a solução de Mindlin para o cálculo de deslocamentos em meio semi-infinito, elástico, contínuo e isótropo, e que considera a existência de uma superfície indeslocável, abaixo da qual as deformações do maciço podem ser desprezadas. A resposta elástica da interação solo-estrutura é subordinada a valores limites, observados em ensaios de capacidade de carga das estacas. Como forma de validar o programa e mostrar sua aplicação em problemas práticos de engenharia, resultados de exemplos foram comparados com os obtidos por outras metodologias presentes na literatura. Também, acompanhou-se o desempenho estrutural de um edifício de 26 pavimentos, com fundação em estaca hélice contínua, em sua fase construtiva, com o monitoramento de recalques e a medida de deformações em pilares, para obtenção indireta de suas solicitações normais. Os recalques foram obtidos por meio de nivelamento ótico de precisão, e as solicitações normais nos pilares foram avaliadas indiretamente, pela variação de seu comprimento, utilizando-se extensômetro mecânico removível e considerando-se as variações dos fatores ambientais e a reologia do concreto. / Design of concrete structures for multi-story buildings with deep foundation is considered in this work, taking in account the soil-structure interaction. This interaction is analysed with a numerical method where the superstructure (slabs, beams, and columns), and the foundation structural elements (blocks and piles) are considered a unique structure, modeled by the finite element method and implemented in the PEISE (soil-structure interaction in spatial frame), software that was developed in this search. The geo-technical model proposed by Aoki and Lopes (1975) represents the soil, where Mindlin\'s solution is used to calculate displacements in a semi-infinite, elastic, continuous, and isotropic environment. This solution also considers the existence of an unmovable surface, under which the soil deformations shall be neglected. The elastic response of soil-structure interaction is subordinated to limit values observed in \"in situ\" loading capacity piles tests. The examples elaboration proves the developed formulation validity through results comparison with others methodologies. Also the structural performance of a 26 story building with augercast piles was observed during the construction by measurement of settlements and columns length variation. Settlements were measured by means of optical level. Loads over columns were indirectly evaluated through column length variation, using a demountable mechanical extensometer and considering corrections due to the variation of environmental conditions and to the concrete\'s rheology.

Drilled shaft retaining walls are common earth retaining structures, well suited to urban environments where noise, space, and damage to adjacent structures are major considerations. The design of drilled shaft retaining walls in non-expansive soils is well established. In expansive soils, however, there is no consensus on the correct way to account for the influence of soil expansion on wall behavior. Based on the range of design assumptions currently in practice, existing walls could be substantially over- or under-designed. The goal of this research is to advance the understanding of the effects of expansive clay on drilled shaft retaining walls. The main objectives of this study are to identify the processes responsible for wall loading and deformation in expansive clay, to evaluate how these processes change with time, and to provide guidance for design practice to account for these processes and ensure adequate wall performance. The primary source of information for this research is performance data from a four-year monitoring program at the Lymon C. Reese research wall, a full-scale instrumented drilled shaft retaining wall constructed through expansive clay in Manor, Texas. The test wall was instrumented with inclinometers and fiber optic strain gauges, and performance data was recorded during construction, excavation, during natural moisture fluctuations, and during controlled inundation tests that provided the retained soil with unlimited access to water. In addition to the test wall study, a field assessment of existing TxDOT drilled shaft retaining walls was conducted. The main process influencing short-term wall deformation was found to be global response to stress relief during excavation, which causes the wall and soil to move together without the development of large earth pressures or bending stresses. Long-term wall deformations were governed by the development of drained conditions in both the retained soil and the foundation soil after approximately eight months of controlled inundation testing. To ensure adequate wall performance, the deformations and structural loads associated with short- and long-term conditions should be combined and checked against allowable values. / text