XSIL: Extensible Scientific Interchange Language

We motivate and define the XSIL language as a flexible, hierarchical, extensible transport language for scientific data objects. The entire object may be represented in the file, or there may be metadata in the XSIL file, with a powerful, fault-tolerant linking mechanism to external data. The language is based on XML, and is designed not only for parsing and processing by machines, but also for presentation to humans through web browsers and web-database technology. There is a natural mapping between the elements of the XSIL language and the object model into which they are translated by the parser. As well as common objects (Parameter, Array, Time, Table), we have extended XSIL to include the IGWDFrame, used by gravitational-wave observatories

Resistance of Arc Spot Welds – Update to Provisions

The AISI S100-12 provisions for arc spot welds have not be reviewed since 1999. This study performs a comprehensive analysis of the entire arc spot weld data base including data from four new research studies and reconsiders AISI S100-12 resistance equations with data from 450 specimens. Most AISI S100-12 equations were found to be conservative, particularly for sheet tearing failure modes. However, the equation for arc spot weld fracture under tensile load was found to poorly predict the data base test results. AISI S100-12 provision improvements are recommended not only for the resistance equations and factors, but also for the effective weld diameter calculation, maximum sheet thickness limitation, and design approaches for various sheet configurations

Shopping Center Saved by Short Aggregate Piers

We were faced with an extraordinary geotechnical challenge; our client wanted to support large tilt wa11 buildings and pavements for a 32 acre Commercial Shopping Center on 5 to 8 feet of saturated, I lo 3 blow/foot hydraulically placed fill. To make matters more difficult, the site was in the seismically active Napa Valley. We offered 3 solutions; 2 conventional, and 1 unconventional. Our conventional solutions consisted of: 1) piers founded in the normally consolidated clay below the hydraulic fill, or, 2) over-excavation and replacement of the upper 5 to 8 feet of highly unstable soil. Our unconventional solution consisted of Short Aggregate Piers (Geopier or SAP) to mitigate settlement for moderate building loads. Because of economics, speed and fear of the unknown over-excavation costs, our client chose Geopiers to support the large buildings