Dynamic Geotechnical Characterization for the Microzonation of the Seismic Area of Catania

The present study is part of a research programme, namely Detailed Scenarios and Actions for Seismic Prevention of Damage in the Urban Area of Catania , financed by the National Department for the Civil Protection and National Research Council – National Group for the Defence Against Earthquake (CNR – GNDT). Among the objectives of the project there are in particular the geotechnical characterisation of soils of the city of Catania and the evaluation of site effects due to local site amplification phenomena. The investigation program was performed in seven different test areas of Catania. One of which is the Plaja beach sand site. The sand soil was also used to study soil-retaining wall interaction by means of the shaking table. These experiments require an accurate definition of geotechnical characterisation of soil. To define the mechanical behaviour of Catania sand a large number of static and dynamic laboratory tests were performed on dry reconstituted specimens. The static tests includes direct shear tests performed on specimens reconstituted by pluvial deposition method with different relative density Dr. To evaluate the equivalent shear modulus Geq and damping ratio D, resonant column tests were performed by mean of Resonant Column apparatus. Particular attention was devoted to the shear modulus at very small strain (γ \u3c 10-3 %) where the soil behaviour is supposed to be elastic and at intermediate strain level (from 10-3 % to 0.5 %) for simulating the prefailure deformation during the shaking table tests. The behaviour of soil at intermediate strain level is relevant for the serviceability limit state according the European Codes (EC7 and EC8). Finally, two expressions to allow the complete shear modulus degradation with strain level and the inverse variation of damping ratio with normalised shear modulus respectively were proposed

Site Response Analysis in the STM-M6 Industrial Area of the City of Catania (Italy)

The paper presents the case history of the geotechnical characterization of a seismic site for the re-use of an industrial building for producing solar panels in the industrial area of Catania (Sicily, Italy). To determine the geological profile and the geotechnical characteristics of the soil, the site was well investigated by means of in situ and laboratory tests. The following in situ geotechnical tests were carried out: Borings, SPT, CPT, PLT and dynamic in situ tests. Among them Down-Hole (D-H), Cross-Hole (C-H), SASW and recently Seismic Dilatometer Marchetti Tests (SDMT) have been carried out, with the aim to evaluate the soil profile of shear waves velocity (Vs). Moreover the following laboratory tests were carried out on undisturbed samples retrieved with a 86 mm diameter Shelby sampler: Oedometer tests, Direct shear tests, Resonant Column and Torsional shear tests. Static and dynamic parameters obtained by in situ and laboratory tests were reported and analyzed. Moreover the Sicilian earthquake of December 13, 1990 (ML= 5.4) heavy damaged the site, also due to soil amplification. Using the recordings of this earthquake, to evaluate the input motion at the conventional bedrock, the ground response analysis has been obtained by the 1-D non-linear code EERA at the industrial building site. In particular the study has regarded the evaluation of site effects in terms of acceleration time history at the surface, soil amplification factors, as well as in terms of time history and response spectra

Direct digital manufacturing of shoe heels through Fused Deposition Modeling

Additive manufacturing process chains for direct part production in the footwear sector are being investigated almost exclusively for athlete shoe soles and orthotics. This paper focuses on the direct digital manufacturing of high heels for woman shoes, which could provide solutions for personalized production and complex design for high added-value shoes. The study aims at testing the introduction of additively manufactured components into conventional shoe production lines. Sample heels of two common designs have been fabricated by the Fused Deposition Modeling technique, assembled with conventional mounting machines, and tested for wearability according to standard procedures. The experimentation has shown that fully process compatible and functional heels can be produced for a basic design under some restrictions, and has allowed to identify critical issues to be dealt with for future applications on more critical heel shapes. These results will help to develop methods for a robust heel design exploiting the flexibility and creative freedom allowed by additive processes

Dynamic Geotechnical Characterization of San Giuliano Di Puglia Seismic Area

The city of San Giuliano di Puglia (CB), located in the Molise region in Southern Italy, is prone to high seismic risk. For site characterisation of soil deep site investigations have been undertaken. Borings, static and dynamic in situ tests have been performed. Among them Cone Penetration Tests (CPT), Cross-Hole (C-H) Down-Hole (D-H) and Seismic Dilatometer Marchetti Tests (SDMT) have been carried out, with the aim to evaluate the soil profile of shear waves velocity (Vs). Moreover the following laboratory tests were carried out on undisturbed samples: Oedometer tests, undrained Triaxial tests and Resonant Column tests. The available data enabled one to compare the shear waves velocity profile obtained by empirical correlations, Down Hole tests and Seismic Dilatometer Marchetti Tests. The influence of strain level on G-γ and D-γ curves was evaluated by means of laboratory tests. Two expression to allows the complete shear modulus degradation with strain level and the inverse variation of damping ratio with normalized shear modulus respectively were proposed. Finally after evaluating the synthetic accelerograms at the bedrock, the ground response analysis at the surface, in terms of time history and response spectra, has been obtained by two non-linear models GEODIN and EERA

Dynamic Site Characterization by the Seismic Dilatometer Marchetti Test in Central Italy

This paper describes and compares the results of in situ and laboratory investigations performed on two Italian sites: St. Giuliano di Puglia (CB) located in the Molise region and Tito Scalo (PZ) located in the Basilicata Region. The tests were carried out to determine the variation of shear wave velocity with depth and strain level by Seismic Dilatometer Marchetti Test (SDMT), Cone Penetration Test (CPT), Noise Analysis Surface Waves (NASW), Down-Hole (DH) Test and Resonant Column Tests (RCT). Some considerations on shear modulus degradation evaluation by SDMT are proposed. The available data also enabled one to compare the shear modulus profile obtained by empirical correlations based on CPT and NASW or laboratory results with Down Hole Test and Seismic Dilatometer Marchetti Test

Basic fibroblast growth factor mediates carotid plaque instability through metalloproteinase-2 and –9 expression

OBJECTIVE(S): We hypothesized that basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) may exert a role in carotid plaque instability by regulating the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP). METHODS: Plaques obtained from 40 consecutive patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy were preoperatively classified as soft or hard. Serum bFGF was pre- and postoperatively measured. The release of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in the blood serum, and the activity, production and expression in the carotid specimens was analyzed. Specific anti-bFGF inhibition tests were performed in vitro on human umbilical artery smooth muscle cells (HUASMC) to evaluate the role of bFGF in the activity, production and expression of MMP-2 and -9. RESULTS: Twenty-one (53%) patients had a soft carotid plaque and 19 (48%) a hard plaque. Preoperative bFGF serum levels were higher in patients with soft plaques [soft=34 (28-39) pg/mL and hard=20 (17-22) pg/mL-p<0.001] and postoperatively returned to normal values (when compared to 10 healthy volunteers). The serum levels of MMP-2 in patients' with soft plaques were higher than those in patients' with hard plaques [soft=1222 (1190-1252) ng/mL and hard=748 (656-793)ng/mL-p<0.0001]. MMP-9 serum values were 26 (22-29) ng/mL for soft plaques and 18 (15-21) ng/mL for hard plaques (p<0.0001). We found increased activity, production and expression of MMP-2 and -9 in soft plaques compared to hard plaques (p<0.001). In vitro inhibition tests on HUASMC showed the direct influence of bFGF on the activity, production and expression of MMP-2 and -9 (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: bFGF seems to exert a key role in carotid plaque instability regulating the activity, production and expression of MMP thus altering the physiologic homeostasis of the carotid plaque

Static and dynamic soil characterization at Roio Piano (AQ)

Following the 6 April 2009 earthquake which hit the Abruzzo region, numerous static and dynamic field soil characterizations have been performed, in order to analyze the seismic response of soils (GRASSO et al. 2005, LANZO et al., 2011, MAUGERI et al., 2011) and recover or retrofit buildings and important historical monuments. Among the numerous on-site investigations which took place in different parts of L'Aquila province, this paper reports the site investigations at Roio Piano. In particular, the results from in situ Seismic Dilatometer Marchetti Tests (SDMT) and soil laboratory tests are reported. As regards dynamic laboratory tests, the resonant column test was used to evaluate the soil geotechnical parameters in terms of the shear modulus G-γ and damping ratio D-γ

A Seismic Geotechnical Hazard Study in the Ancient City of Noto (Italy)

Abstract South-Eastern Sicily has been affected in past times by several destroying earthquakes with high values of estimated magnitude. The aim of the seismic hazard microzonation studies performed at the City of Noto is to quantify the spatial variability of the site response on some typical historical scenario earthquakes that would be expected in the area. In order to quantify the expected ground motion, the manner in which the seismic signal is propagating through the subsurface has been defined. Propagation is particularly affected by the local geology and by the geotechnical dynamic ground conditions of the studied area. The data largely consist of the stratigraphic profiles obtained by in situ tests i.e. borings, MASW tests, Down-Hole tests, SDMT tests; some are accompanied by static and dynamic laboratory tests, such as Resonant Column, monotonic compression loading Triaxial tests and Direct shear tests. Processing of all these data allowed the ground response analysis at the surface, in terms of time history and response spectra, of some areas of the city using the linear-equivalent codes EERA, STRATA and DEEPSOIL, useful for microzonation of seismic geotechnical hazards

A comparative study on the impact of business model design & lean startup approach versus traditional business plan on mobile startups performance

usiness Model Design (BMD) & Lean Startup (LSA) approach are two widespread practices among entrepreneurs, where many Mobile startups declare to adopt them. However, neither of the two frameworks are well rooted in the academic literature; and few studies address the issue of whether they actually outperform traditional approaches to new Mobile Startups creation. This study's aim is to assesses the contribution to performance of the combined use of BMD and LSA for two startups operating in the highly dynamic Mobile Applications Industry; performances are then compared to those achieved by two Mobile Star-ups adopting the traditional Business Plan approach. Findings reveal how the combined use of BMD and LSA outperforms the traditional BP in the cases analyzed, thus constituting a promising methodology to support Strategic Entrepreneurship