Foundation Wall Research Articles

Embedded deformation of the rubble-mound foundation of gravity-type quay walls and influence factors

Abstract In this study, the embedded depths of the rocks of the single-layer placement group and the multilayer riprap group were compared through a self-made test device. Besides, a finite element model of a single layer of regular rocks was developed to probe into the factors that impact the embedded deformation of the rubble-mound foundation of a gravity-type quay wall, including the cohesion and angle of internal friction of foundation soil, as well as the particle size of and the interval between rocks. Research results indicated that it was feasible to replace multilayer randomly dumped rocks with single-layer regularly placed rocks. The embedded depth decreased as the cohesion and angle of internal friction of soil increased. The influence of load on the embedded depth was small when the cohesion was less than 10 kPa or the angle of internal friction was smaller than 40°. When the load was lower than 80 kPa, the impact of the particle size of rocks on the embedded depth would be negligible, and such impact grew along with the load. When the load was below 100 kPa, the interval between rocks exerted relatively minor influence on the embedded depth: under a constant porosity, the embedded depth would decrease as the interval increased, and this correlation became more significant when the load exceeded 800 kPa; under varied porosities, a larger interval would lead to an increased embedded depth but the increase would be limited within a range of 10% of the original depth.

Archaeological site Doljani – Dubine, municipality of Čapljina in Bosnia and Herzegovina. A contribution to the research of the lower course of the river Neretva

Archaeological site Doljani – Dubine, municipality of Čapljina in Bosnia and Herzegovina. A contribution to the research of the lower course of the river Neretva

Full-Fledged Use of Semi-Basement Space by Building Seismic-Resistance, Energy-Efficiency, Microclimate and Preventing Influences of Thermal Bridges and Mold Growth

The known theory and experience of energy-saving architecture allow solving the article's task and ensuring sufficient insolation, passive solar heating, and occupants contact with nature through semi-basement windows. The goal is a full-fledged use of the semi-basement space achieved for seismically active regions with a moderate, cold, and hot climate by ensuring the normative seismic-resistance, energy-efficiency, and microclimate of the building and preventing influence of thermal bridges and mold growth. The set of recommendations also covers the provision of the required sanitary-hygienic conditions in the semi-basement rooms. The multidisciplinary problem is solved by integrating the methodologies of various fields of science. By means of numerical investigations, it established that the soil adjacent to the semi-basement foundation wall increases the thermal mass and building envelope heat-protection capacity. The isotherms and the intensity of heat fluxes made it possible to eliminate the effect of thermal bridges that interact with the soil and outside air. The expedient thickness and width of the additional layer of thermal insulation of thermal bridge zones in excess of the normative layer of the enclosure's thermal insulation were established. The graphical dependence of the wall's inner corner temperature from this width allows selecting the microclimate level. A multilateral contribution to building improvement is derived from a single-family home example: comfortable microclimate conditions have been created in the semi-basement for placing main rooms there; energy savings for heating this space is 16-20%; saving of monolithic frame and foundation concrete is 10-12% ensuring the higher than normative building seismic-resistance.

Fungal Allergen in Dwellings During Rainy Season and Their Impact on Human Health

The wet season is the main period of vegetation growth. Mould is seldom the problem; rather, moisture is the problem and the mould is the visual manifestation of the problem. The concrete foundation wall behind the drywall remained colder than the interior air, and water condensed on the drywall providing sufficient available water to promote widespread growth of microbes. This Present study was conducted during the rainy season of 2013. Two stage Anderson air sampler was used for one year i.e., from June 2013 to September 2013. Air sampling was done fortnightly, for ten minutes. The main aim of this work is to report total fungal flora found in the indoor and outdoor environment of home in Jabalpur city and to perform skin prick test to detect fungal sensitization. During this study Aspergillus sp., Cladosporium sp. and Alternaria sp. was the dominating genera found in the rainy season and patients are more sensitive to Cladosporium sp. and Alternaria sp.

Investigation on influence of size of aggregate and effect of strength on altering the ratio in low nominal concrete mixes

Concrete is rapidly changing because concrete for the 21st century must be stronger, more durable, more constructible, more environmentally friendly, more practicable and more cost-effective. The main aim of this research work was to investigate the influence of aggregate size and their effect on strength by altering the available nominal concrete mix ratios. And also this research studies would give consciousness among researchers, engineers and the public about increase in strength while altering the conventional mix of M5 and M 7.5 concrete grades. This investigational study was carried out on 7.5 and M5 concrete grades, which are used for masonry wall foundations and concrete bases with the lean mix. For identifying the effect of strength, concrete prepared with M5 grade conventional mix (1:5:10) to 1:5:9 & 1:5:8 and M7.5 grade conventional mix (1:4:8) to 1:4:7 & 1:4:6 along with 40 mm downgraded coarse aggregate and 53 grade cement. The relative clause of these above concrete mixes was studied. And the effect of using 40% of 20 mm size aggregate and 60% of 40 mm aggregate for the above nominal concrete mixes were also studied. Concrete mix with ratio 1:5:8 was stronger than the 1:5:10 mix by about 3.5 times and concrete mix with ratio 1:4:6 was stronger than the 1:4:8 mix by about 5 times. The relative cost was increased for the above two mixes by 2.56% and 4.05% respectively.

Church of St. Pantaleon in medieval Halych in light of the architectural and archaeological research

The history of the study and the results of architectural and archaeological research of the Church of St. Pantaleon of the XII century, preserved near Halych on the Dniester River, are considered. During excavations in the inner part of the monument, the crypts with burials of the XVI–XVIII centuries were examined, areas of the foundations of the ancient temple were recorded and other important artifacts were found. A series of 26 survey trenches were excavated at the outer perimeter of the object. Regular foundation projections for supporting the pilasters of the ground walls, as well as two projections at the base of the side wings of the main perspective portal are localized and recorded there. The discrepancy in the planning of the underground and aboveground parts of the building was stated. A unique feature in the composition of the altar part of the church was noticed among the monuments of medieval Romanesque architecture. Based on the analysis of planning, construction-technological, stratigraphic features of the object, well-argued hypotheses of dating, sequence of construction, and use of the measurement module in the construction of the architectural form of the monument are presented. It is noted that the temple was built in a poorly developed area. After the leveling of the area, the strip foundations of the external walls were established on it initially, and before the foundations of the internal sub-cupola columns were built, the plan of the future ground structure was corrected due to the change of the customer of the construction. It is assumed that the strip foundations of the building were established during the first short reign of Roman Msyislavovych in Halych in 1188, and construction was completed before 1193 during the reign of Volodymyr Yaroslavovych. It is established that a measuring foot of 30 cm long was used when planning the ground part of the temple. The importance of the Romanesque monument of European significance is emphasized in the conclusions. The instruction of its protection, preservation, and further comprehensive study is expressed, with the use of fundamental methods of architectural archaeology. Key words: Ancient Halych, Church of St. Pantaleon, architectural and archaeological research, foundations, planning structure, metrology.

Calculation of Building Heat Losses through Slab-on-Ground Structures Based on Soil Temperature Measured In Situ

The article aims to assess the effects of soil temperature measured in situ on the heat loss analyses of a building. Numerical analyses and in situ measurements of soil temperature profiles for real conditions under a residential building (profile I) in Poland and under the area outside the building (profile II) were performed. Based on the measurement results, a proprietary geometric model of the partition was proposed. The heat flux and heat flow results obtained for reliable models are 4.9% and 6.9% higher compared to a model based on a typical meteorological year for the wall–foundation system and 10.0% and 10.1% higher for the slab-on-ground structure for profile I. The adoption of temperatures from the area outside the building as the boundary condition (profile II) results in greater differences between the obtained results. The difference in heat flow obtained in the numerical analyses for profiles I and II is about 2 W/m2, both for the wall–foundation system and for the slab-on-ground structure calculations. The adoption of temperatures for the ground outside the building led to overestimation in the heat flux calculations, this being due to lower temperatures in these particular layers of the ground.

Demonstration Project Reporting Detection of Subterranean Termite (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae) Infestation and Spray Polyurethane Foam

Demonstration Project Reporting Detection of Subterranean Termite (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae) Infestation and Spray Polyurethane Foam

Controlling base movement of MSE walls using recycled plastic pins

Sliding failure of Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) retaining walls is a common problem when the shearing resistance developed between the wall base and foundation soil is insufficient. Highway MSE wall base failures can cause significant maintenance, repair, and cost implications for the state department of transportation. Controlling base movement using Recycled Plastic Pins (RPP) can be a potentially cost-effective and sustainable solution. RPPs are primarily manufactured from recycled plastics and have been successfully used for stabilizing shallow slope failures. The objective of the current study is to demonstrate the effectiveness of using RPPs for increasing the sliding resistance of an MSE wall. Four field test sections were constructed, out of which three were reinforced with different combinations of RPP sizes and spacings, while one was left unreinforced as a control section. Regular performance monitoring of the test sections was conducted using vertical inclinometers along with earth pressure plates. More than a year of results indicated a 75–88% reduction in lateral displacement of the reinforced wall base when compared with the control section. Additionally, the lateral earth pressure on the wall facing was decreased by 55–72% in the reinforced sections compared to the control section.

Mobile home fragility curves

Seismic fragility of mobile (manufactured) homes is investigated. Compiled is a catalog of home performance in past earthquakes. Intensity measures causing damage are characterized by peak ground acceleration and velocity. Damage is defined as when the home is knocked out of position necessitating repairs and re-installation. Four categories of support conditions are identified: unanchored, tie-downs, proprietary systems, and perimeter wall foundations. Suggested fragility curves for unanchored homes and homes with tie-downs are derived from computer simulations. As a benchmark, a fragility curve for proprietary and perimeter wall systems is taken as the same as that for conventional wood homes. Shortcomings of using tie-down and proprietary systems in high seismic zones are discussed. The suggested fragility curves account for the different categories of support conditions thereby representing advancement to those in the Hazus national standardized risk modeling methodology.

Bearing Characteristics of Diaphragm Wall Foundation under Vertical and Combined Load

To investigate the bearing characteristics of diaphragm wall foundation under combined load, the results from elasto-plastic analyses of 3D finite element models (FEM) were presented in this study. The vertical load of the diaphragm wall foundation is borne by inner and outer side resistance, resistance of soil core and the end of wall, respectively. Moreover, the sum of end resistance and soil core resistance accounts for about 75% of the vertical load. The mobilization mechanism and distribution of side resistance of the foundation were also analyzed. It is clarified that the mobilization characteristics of inner and outer side resistance of the wall are completely opposite. Due to the combined load, the horizontal load has an amplification effect on the settlement of the foundation. Additionally, the calculation methods of the Eight-component Winkler spring model and rigid pile displacement were used for determining the vertical load-bearing capacity and the overturning stability. A comparison between results from the FEM and the theoretical calculation methods showed that the results of the numerical simulation properly coincided with that of the displacement solution of theoretical model. The conclusions obtained by the above methods all indicate that the foundation has the characteristics of overall overturning failure under the combined load.

PENGARUH LEBAR PONDASI TERHADAP KEDALAMAN MUKA AIR TANAH DI BAWAH DASAR PONDASI DALAM MENENTUKAN BESARNYA DAYA DUKUNG ULTIMIT DAN DAYA DUKUNG AMAN PONDASI MENERUS PADA TANAH LUNAK DENGAN METODE TERZAGHI PADA KONDISI KERUNTUHAN GESER LOKAL

The foundation is the lowest part of the building that continues the load force into the soil or rocks in the soil. Longitudinal foundations are foundations that support elongated walls and rows of closely spaced columns so that if you use a footed foundation, the sides coincide. The design of the foundation must meet the requirements of the safety factor with a value of more than equal to three and the settlement of the foundation is within the tolerance limit. Long-term stability of the foundation must pay attention to the location of the base of the foundation in order to reduce the risk of swelling and shrinkage of the soil, erosion of the foundation surface, scouring on the foundation walls and other soil disturbances.
 The method used in this study is the terzaghi method because the soil layer is homogeneous and the internal friction angle is < 29o. The ultimate bearing capacity of Terzaghi is used to calculate the bearing capacity of granular soils and soils that have internal friction angle values (Ø) and cohesion (c).
 The depth of the groundwater table from the base of the foundation greatly affects the ultimate bearing capacity and the safe bearing capacity of the foundation. The further away the groundwater table is from the base of the foundation, the greater the value of the ultimate bearing capacity of the foundation (qu) causing the higher value of the foundation's safe bearing capacity (qs).
 This study analyzes local shear failure with the highest ultimate bearing capacity of 173.36 t/m2 and the largest safe bearing capacity of 59.56 t/m2 occurs when the depth of the groundwater table is greater than the width of the foundation, while the lowest ultimate bearing capacity is 170.72 t/m2. m2 and the lowest safe bearing capacity of 58.68 t/m2 occurs when the water level is at the base of the foundation.

Design of Passive Building Foundations in the Polish Climatic Conditions

A Passive House (PH) system is not only an opportunity but also a necessity for the further development of sustainable eco-buildings. Construction of the foundation in energy-efficient houses is the key to maintaining low energy losses. The appropriate selection of building materials requires considering the thermal conditions of the environment, including its location and the zero isotherms in the ground. The main objective of this work is to analyze the possibilities of designing foundations for PHs in Poland, according to the current methodological data. In order to realize the basic aims, the work was divided into the following materials and methods: (I) literature review; (II) database of PH in Central Europe; (III) method of depth of ground freezing determination; (IV) selection of the joint of slab-on-ground foundation and external wall to analysis; (V) description and validation of the heat-transfer model. The result of the research work is: (i) analysis of the foundation under the conditions of freezing of the ground in Poland; (ii) description and validation of the heat-transfer model. The research has revealed that in the Polish climate zone, the most efficient solution for passive buildings is to build them on a foundation slab. The foundation of a building below the latest specified ground frost depths in Poland is inefficient in terms of, for example, thermal insulation, economics, and the idea of PH.

Combined Building-Energy Systems with Heat Transfer Control by Building Constructions using RES

Energy systems built into one of the building structures that serve to capture solar energy, geothermic energy, and ambient energy, or which have the function of end elements of heating, cooling, and ventilation system, we generally call combined building-energy systems. Among combined building-energy systems we include solar roofs with built-in pipe absorbers, building structures with active thermal protection (ATP) - active heat transfer control, which have a multifunctional purpose – a thermal barrier, low-temperature heating, high-temperature cooling, recuperation and accumulation of heat, solar and ambient energy collection, large-capacity heat storage (ground heat accumulators built simultaneously in the foundation slab of the building), or heat exchangers used for recuperative ventilation of buildings built into the foundation slabs and wall structures. The research of combined building-energy systems at the Department of Building Services, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava has been carried out continuously since 2005. Within five research projects (responsible researcher, Kalús, D.) HZ 04-309-05, HZ 04-310- 05, HZ 04-142-07 (research and experimental measurements took place in the years 2005 to 2007), HZ PG73/2011 (research and experimental measurements took place in the years 2011 to 2013), [13,] and HZ PR10/2015 (research and experimental measurements have been carried out since 2015), two experimental houses IDA I. and EB2020, a mobile laboratory designed for measuring and optimizing a compact heat station using renewable heat sources, were designed and built by the research team at our workplace, and also a research of a fragment of a perimeter wall with built-in active thermal protection was carried out in the climatic chamber of the Faculty of Civil Engineering STU in Bratislava, Slovak Republic. Significant contribution to the research was provided by doctoral students Ing. Martin Cvíčela, Ph.D., (supervisor, Kalús, D.), Ing. Peter Janik, PhD., (supervisor, Kalús, D.) and Ing. Martin Šimko, PhD., (supervisor, Kalús, D.), who described the results of the research in their dissertations. At present experimental measurements in the mobile laboratory are performed by doctoral student Ing. Matej Kubica, (supervisor, Kalús, D.). In the area of combined construction and energy systems, research and optimization of suitable solutions continues, which have been transformed into one European patent and three utility models.

Impact of retrofitting work on vulnerability reduction of local buildings in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Rapid urbanisation of Afghan cities without proper construction regulation has exposed their population to a high risk of damage from disasters such as earthquakes. With the growing construction of local non-engineered buildings and an existing level of hazard of 0.8 g, a high risk of casualties and building damage threatens Kabul in the event of a disaster. This study reports and evaluates a recent retrofitting project in Kabul City by ‘Project for City Resilience’, carried out under the supervision of the United Nation Human Settlements Program (UN-Habitat) for 48 retrofitted sun-dried clay brick masonry buildings in Kabul. The project was executed by local masons and welders who were trained as a part of the project, and the main tasks included installation of an additional steel frame, additional reinforced concrete foundation ring, ceiling replacement and wall strengthening (via mesh and plaster). After a visual assessment of retrofitted buildings considering the original retrofitting design and actual work done, a vulnerability index for retrofitted buildings was developed based on a behaviour modifier factor, which was assigned to each retrofitting activity using a combination of values and a proportion of scores for each retrofitting activity. The results indicate that training of local masons and welders to undertake retrofitting activities could decrease the damage ratio by 15% – 20% for peak ground acceleration values of 0.3 g and higher. The methods mentioned in this study can be used to make existing sun-dried clay brick masonry buildings sufficiently resistant to earthquakes of moderate-to-severe intensity.

ASSESSMENT OF CARRYING CAPACITY OF THE ROUND IN PLAN REINFORCED CONCRETE FOUNDATION FOR THE SILO

During the design, installation and operation of silos, they have defects and damage of various kinds, which affect the stress-strain state and durability of structural elements. Timely inspections and determination of technical conditions of structural elements of the structure and the site as a whole, will establish the possibility of its further safe operation or the need to restore operational properties by ensuring structural safety and reliability of structures. Therefore, the development of design schemes, methods of calculating the stress-strain state, life expectancy and further reinforcement for round reinforced concrete elements of silos with local damage, is quite relevant. Improper maintenance and operation of structural elements, as well as errors in the design and installation in the future lead to unusable for normal operation and sometimes an emergency. The development of projects to strengthen existing structures is a very responsible matter. The most common solution for strengthening existing foundations is to increase the area of support of the foundation cushion, which is not always possible in a compact building. The purpose of the work is to determine the technical condition of the building structures of the silo and the results of calculations performed in the PC Lira, to offer options for strengthening the foundation on a specific example. Structural solutions of the reinforced concrete monolithic foundation of the silo, the main defects and damages determined by the technical condition of the structure are given. For further safe operation of the structure, it is recommended to reinforce the wall foundations by gluing composite tapes and perform reinforcement of the foundations by controlling the growth of piles in accordance with the additional working design of the structure reinforcement. If the latest recommendations on strengthening and adhering to the safe and reliable operation of construction and structures are followed, further operation of building structures will be safe.

Response Analysis of Liquid Storage Tanks on Ringwall Foundation to Ground Vibration Caused by Falling Weight

In this study, on-site tests were performed to analyze the response characteristics of cylindrical steel structures on the ring wall foundation to landfill ground vibration and provide significant safety precautions and reference values for site management. Vibrations were generated through free fall of the weight, and the vibration source energy was changed by adjusting the fall height of the weight. The ground vibration effect on landfill was analyzed by combining the three-axis measurement data to generate the peak particle velocity (PPV), and the dominant frequency results were obtained using the fast Fourier transform. The analyses of the PPV and dominant frequencies on the concrete pavement (20 cm thick), where the liquid storage tank was located, showed a different area of vulnerability to ground vibration on the tank. We also derived an expression to predict the PPV on the concrete pavement as a function of the vibration energy and the distance from the vibration source. The correlation between the PPV on the pavement and the PPV on the tank wall was analyzed. A reference value for on-site management reflecting the dominant frequency, which is a vibration characteristic value, was recommended.

THE PECULIARITY OF THE BUILDING PROCESS OF ANCIENT KYYIVAN MONUMENTS

The author investigates the building process of ancient Kyyivan monuments. After the wall foundations were laid, the erection of ground volumes of the edifice began. Wooden scaffoldings were arranged at both sides of a wall. The remains of caffolding preserved in the brick fabric can be seen on the front walls of the Transfiguration Church at Berestove and St. Michael’s Church of Vydubytsky monastery. The height between scaffolding tiers as well as the height of masonry between them varies from 1.3 to 2.2 m in Kyyivan monuments. The situation of red schist cornices in ancient churches is dependent on the abovementioned height of masonry tiers. The cornices are placed at springs of arches and vaults, at the level of the choir gallery floor, at the spring of supporting arches and basement of central dome. The location of cornices hence marked the completion of a certain building period. Being put over brickwork at the end of building period in autumn those cornices protected construction from precipitation during winter season. That is why cornices within the Kyyivan St.Sophia Cathedral have “throats” – grooves which are cut along the underside of cornices as a stringcourses to prevent water from running back across them towards the wall.
 One can easily determine building periods of the St. Sophia Cathedral according to the cornice levels in it. As far as building period at the times of Old Rus` took approximately six to seven months (from late spring to early autumn), the erection of the St. Sophia Cathedral with its five naves and double galleries was continued through five or six years. Cross-domed churches with three naves were built during approximately three or four years. For example St.Michael’s Church at Vydubytsky Monastery was built to the height of choir gallery during the first year, then to the height of vaults’ and domes’ springing during the second year, after that vaults and domes were completed during the third year. The types of vaults used in ancient Kyyivan architecture were barrel vaults, domes on pendantives and domes on high drums. Widely spread in Byzantine architecture groined vaults were not in use in the Old Rus` building until the middle of the XII century.
 Also there was a certain consecutive order in erection of parts of a church: at first its central cross-domed volume, then apses, narthex, galleries etc. were built. In a year or two after the edifice was built its walls were covered with plaster and decorated with murals. Building methods applied in the ancient Kyyivan monuments of the XI-th century formed the basis of Old Rus` architecture developed during the following centuries.

Advances in Quality Control Methods for Bored Pile and Diaphragm Wall Foundations with Case Histories

Higher loads on deep foundations and more stringent deep foundation performance requirements have increased the need for improved quality control methods. To satisfy the design intent, the as-built shape, vertical alignment, base cleanliness, cage alignment, concrete cover, and concrete integrity are all important. Several new or improved quality control methods are available to check these considerations on bored pile and diaphragm wall foundations. This paper presents an overview of recent advances in quality control devices along with condensed case histories illustrating their use and project application.

EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON PULLOUT BEHAVIOR OF LAP SPLICE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN DOUBLE-STEEL-PLATE COMPOSITE WALLS AND RC RAFT FOUNDATION IN NUCLEAR ENGINEERING

Combining the advantages of steel and concrete, the double–steel-plate composite (DSC) structures exhibit the advantages of high bearing capacity, good seismic performance and durability, and convenient construction, and they have been increasingly used in nuclear engineering projects. The connection between DSC walls and reinforced concrete raft foundation is the key to make full use of the aforementioned advantages. Compared with the traditional embedding connection and anchoring connection, the lap splice connection can greatly improve the construction efficiency, which gains more and more attention. However, there is few research on such connection. Therefore, in this paper, four 1∶2 scaled lap splice connections between double-steel-plate composite wall and RC foundation are designed, and the static monotonic loading tests are carried out. Through the observation of bearing capacity, stiffness, crack pattern and strains of steel plate and rebar, the influences of the arrangement of lapped bars and tie bars on the mechanical performance of the connections are explored. The test results show that this kind of connection can achieve equal strength and shows satisfactory ductility. Transverse bars can control the crack development effectively and improve the integrity of the connection greatly; in addition, the tie bar strain along the lap length is not linearly distributed. The higher eccentricity of the lapped bars, which means larger unbalanced moment between the reinforcement and the steel plate, will result in lager strains of the transverse bars and lower slip of lapped bars. This paper provides experimental basis for the design of lap splice connections.