34 research outputs found
Recommended from our members
A field trial of a reusable, hollow, cast-in-situ pile
This paper describes the concept and field testing of a hollow, cast-in-situ, rotary bored pile foundation 1200 mm diameter and 30 m deep. The aim of the foundation is to allow large-diameter piles to be constructed using less concrete than in an equivalent conventional solid pile, and with a view to allowing reuse at a later date. Reuse is made possible because the hollow core of the pile allows access for inspection after demolition of an existing structure. The new piles may also allow modification to enhance load capacity by augering through the base and extending their length. In addition, the piles are better suited than conventional piles for use as ‘energy piles' to allow environmentally friendly heating and cooling. The geotechnical performance of the hollow test pile was comparable with that of a conventional solid pile constructed during the same trial. Details of construction are given, including lessons learned
Strength development characteristics of concrete produced with blended cement using Ground Granulated Blast furnace Slag (GGBS) under various curing conditions
Spatial and Sex-Specific Variation in Growth of Albacore Tuna (Thunnus alalunga) across the South Pacific Ocean
Spatial variation in growth is a common feature of demersal fish populations which often exist as discrete adult sub-populations linked by a pelagic larval stage. However, it remains unclear whether variation in growth occurs at similar spatial scales for populations of highly migratory pelagic species, such as tuna. We examined spatial variation in growth of albacore Thunnus alalunga across 90° of longitude in the South Pacific Ocean from the east coast of Australia to the Pitcairn Islands. Using length-at-age data from a validated ageing method we found evidence for significant variation in length-at-age and growth parameters (L∞ and k) between sexes and across longitudes. Growth trajectories were similar between sexes up until four years of age, after which the length-at-age for males was, on average, greater than that for females. Males reached an average maximum size more than 8 cm larger than females. Length-at-age and growth parameters were consistently greater at more easterly longitudes than at westerly longitudes for both females and males. Our results provide strong evidence that finer spatial structure exists within the South Pacific albacore stock and raises the question of whether the scale of their “highly migratory” nature should be re-assessed. Future stock assessment models for South Pacific albacore should consider sex-specific growth curves and spatial variation in growth within the stock
Social work and advanced marginality
This chapter explores the impact of broader social and economic policies on social work practice. It argues that the increasing inequality and polarisation of modern urban societies that is outlined in the other chapters of this book has had a direct impact on the role of social workers. The chapter begins with a brief outline of the reaction of British Governments to the banking and Eurozone crises of 2008. It then goes on to argue that the introduction of “austerity” the Conservative-Liberal Democrat Coalition Government in 2010 involved not only significant reductions in welfare spending but was a political project aimed at recasting and reducing the welfare state. The chapter then examines social work practice in the context of advanced marginality. It argues that the changes and processes examined in the other contributions have resulted in an environment where social work has an increasingly disciplinary role. The impact of neoliberal welfare retrenchment compounded by austerity is that social work practice is increasingly experienced by service users as negative or punitive interventions in their lives. This is, despite the profession clear ethical stance being one that is committed to empowermen
Optimising construction with self-compacting concrete
Winner of the 2018 ICE Publishing Awards (Thomas Howard Medal) for the best paper of the year in the Construction Materials journal.
Permission is granted by ICE Publishing to print one copy for personal use. Any other use of these PDF files is subject to reprint fees.Self-compacting concrete or self-consolidating concrete (as it is known in North America) (SCC) is used on the basis of its unique properties of flowability, passability and resistance to segregation. It requires no external energy to achieve full compaction, so is advantageous on site, but there is evidence that its higher cost is a significant barrier to greater adoption. The research entailed work measurement of 14 UK single-family home residential projects (eliciting data on construction time and labour productivity) and cost modelling of three slab scenarios (exploring the relationship between material and labour costs). The study found SCC was placed up to 73% faster than conventional concrete and, when labour and material costs are included, the supplier is able to price SCC to closely match conventional concrete, hence making SCC more viable for the contractor. This relationship between as-built costs for SCC and conventional concrete is clarified by developing Pmax, providing a new mechanism for understanding project profitability and viability of SCC
UK contractors’ views on self-compacting concrete in construction
This briefing was published in the journal Proceedings of the ICE - Construction Materials [© ICE Publishing]. The website is at: http://www.icevirtuallibrary.com/content/serial/coma. Permission is granted by ICE Publishing to print one copy for personal use. Any other use of these PDF files is subject to reprint fees.Self-compacting concrete (SCC) is claimed to offer faster construction, safer sites and more consistent concrete quality,
but little corroborative research data exist on performance advantages, particularly in comparison with traditional
construction. Industry opinions also appear to be divided. For these reasons, an extensive interview programme was
undertaken with UK contractors – from large national concrete frame contractors to small, locally based housebuilders
– to assess whether benefits were being achieved and to try to understand the reasons why SCC is, or is not, being
used. The 48 participants reported that decisions on the suitability of SCC were inherently complex and, if selected,
there were challenges in understanding ‘how’ construction should be planned and managed to accommodate the use
of SCC and to fully utilise its advantages. The findings identify the need for a step change in the industry’s perception
of SCC, such that it should be considered as a construction method, not simply as a material
Separated by Bars or Dollar Signs? A Comparative Examination of the Financial Literacy of Those Incarcerated and the General Population
Long-term forest composition and its drivers in taiga forests in NW Russia
Understanding the processes behind long-term
boreal forest dynamics can provide information that assists
in predicting future boreal vegetation under changing
environmental conditions. Here, we examine Holocene
stand-scale vegetation dynamics and its drivers at the
western boundary of the Russian taiga forest in NW Russia.
Fossil pollen and conifer stomata records from four small
hollow sites and two lake sites are used to reconstruct local
vegetation dynamics during the Holocene. Variation partitioning
is used to assess the relative importance of the
potential drivers (temperature, forest fires and growing site
wetness) to the long-term stand-scale dynamics in taiga
forest. All the main tree taxa, including the boreal keystone
species Picea abies (Norway spruce) and Larix sibirica
(Siberian larch), have been locally present since 10,000 cal
yr BP. The constant Holocene presence of L. sibirica at
three small hollow sites suggests a fast postglacial immigration
of the species in northern Europe. Picea was present
but not dominant at all study sites until its expansion
between 8,000 and 7,000 cal yr BP markedly changed the
forest structure through the suppression of Betula (birch),
Pinus (pine) and Larix. Our results demonstrate that in
general, the Holocene forest dynamics in our study region
have been driven by temperature, but during short intervals
the role of local factors, especially forest fires, has been
prominent. The comparison between sites reveals the
importance of local factors in stand-scale dynamics in taiga
forests. Therefore, the future responses of taiga forest to
climate change will be predominantly modulated by the
local characteristics at the site