Seismic Bearing Capacity Failure and Overturning of ‘Terveler’ Building in Adapazari, 1999

The paper investigates some aspects of the rocking response of structures, the foundations of which are allowed to uplift from their base. Observed behaviour of foundations in Adapazari during the 17-8-99 Izmit (Kocaeli) Earthquake is outlined. Settlement, tilting, and complete overturning of numerous buildings during this devastating earthquake are attributed to the interplay between the yielding/liquefying soil and the rocking/uplifting foundation, under large inertial overturning moments generated by the slender buildings. The overturning of Terveler building is studied in detail. The scope of the study is to present the facts of these cases and outline some plausible mechanisms of overturning

Design of Bridges Against Seismic Faulting : Methodology and Applications

This paper presents a methodology for design of bridge–foundation systems against seismic faulting. The problem is decoupled in two steps. Step 1 deals with the response of a single bridge pier and its foundation subjected to faulting–induced deformation ; Step 2 deals with the detailed model of the superstructure, which is subjected to differential displacements computed in Step 1. We analyze typical viaduct and underpass bridges, founded on piles or caisson foundations. Piled foundations are found to be vulnerable to faulting– induced deformation. While end–bearing piles cannot really sustain any appreciable bedrock offset, floating piles may perform better, especially if combined with hinged pile–to–cap connections. Statically–determinate superstructures are shown to be less sensitive to faulting– induced differential displacements and rotations. Finally, an application of the method is shown for a major bridge, demonstrating the feasibility of design against seismic faulting

Experimental Soil - Foundation - Bridge Pier Interaction : Towards a Reversal of Capacity Design

This paper presents a new seismic design philosophy, which under-designs the foundation to act as a “fuse” in case of strong seismic shaking. A simplified bridge pier is used to illustrate the advantages and disadvantages of this new philosophy compared to conventional capacity design. For this purpose, two alternatives are compared : one with an over-designed foundation, in accordance with conventional capacity design (so that the plastic “hinge” develops in the superstructure), and one with under-designed foundation. The performance of the two alternatives is investigated through shaking table testing of reduced scale models, using real accelerograms and artificial sinusoidal motions. It is shown that the performance of both alternatives is acceptable for moderate seismic shaking. For larger intensity ground motions, that clearly exceed the design limits, the performance of the new design concept is advantageous, not only avoiding collapse but hardly suffering any inelastic structural deformation. The price to pay is mainly the increase of seismic settlements, and in some cases of permanent foundation rotation

Improved Methodology for Estimating Seismic Coefficients for the Pseudo-Static Stability Analysis of Earth Dams

This paper presents an improved methodology for estimating seismic coefficients for the pseudo-static stability analysis of earth dams, which is based on a statistical analysis of input data and results for 112 potential failure surfaces, as estimated from 28 two dimensional seismic response analyses for eight (8) different zoned earth dams and high embankments. The new methodology employs design diagrams and equations and estimates the maximum and the effective seismic coefficients as a function of: (a) the peak ground acceleration at the free-field surface of the foundation soil, (b) the predominant period of the seismic excitation, (c) the eigenperiod of the earth dam, (d) the dam foundation conditions, and (e) the dimensionless ratio z/H of the maximum depth z of the failure surface over the height H of the earth dam. The proposed methodology offers accuracy and consistency with a standard deviation of the relative error in the estimation of the seismic coefficients in the order of ±24

Case Report Nasal Dermoplasty for Recurrent Polyps in a Patient with Churg-Strauss Syndrome

Nasal dermoplasty for recurrent polyps (NDRP) is a new technique for the surgical treatment of this condition. Churg-Strauss syndrome is characterized by the presence of nasal polyps with a great tendency for relapse after surgical or pharmaceutical treatment. It is the first time that we use NDRP to treat nasal polyps in a patient with Churg-Strauss syndrome. The patient was a 33-year-old female suffering from Churg-Strauss syndrome having had multiple operations in the past for recurrent polyps. NDRP was performed on the left nostril only. The mucosa of the left nasal vault was replaced by a split-thickness skin graft (modified dermoplasty). On the right nostril, polyps were removed and the ostia of the paranasal sinuses were enlarged as in typical endoscopic sinus surgery. The skin graft had a successful take and eight months after the operation no polyps are detected on the left side while polyps have recurred on the right nasal cavity. Applying the technique to a single nostril has several advantages, namely, the reduction of the operational time and therefore the risks for the patient from a prolonged general anaesthetic and the ability to judge the efficacy of the technique on the same patient

Humeral septal aperture associated with supracondylar process: a case report and review of the literature

The supracondylar process is usually a beak-like osseous prominence located at the anteromedial aspect of the distal portion of the humerus. It is usually asymptomatic but occasionally may compress underlying structures such as the median or ulnar nerve, the brachial artery or its branches. The term septal aperture defines an oval or round shaped bony defect of the septum that separates the olecranon from the coronoid fossa of the humerus. It is of significance for surgeons because it may alter the fracture pattern at the region and thus their management. We present a rare case of coexistence of supracondylar process and septal aperture in a macerated left humerus. The reported incidence of the supracondylar process alone varies from 0.28% to 2.78%, while that of the septal aperture from 6.9% to 60%. We have reviewed the literature and emphasized the radiological and surgical significance of the findings

Comparative Evaluation of Arabin Pessary and Cervical Cerclage for the Prevention of Preterm Labor in Asymptomatic Women with High Risk Factors

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