General Report - Session 8

This General Report presents a summary of the eleven (11) papers accepted for the session 8 focused on Case History of Forensic-Geotechnical Engineering and Case Histories on Health Monitoring and Retrofit of Infrastructure. The session includes discussion of Reliability of Codes; Risk Analysis Pertaining to Public Structures, Non-Destructive Evaluation and Load Testing of Drilled Shafts, Auger Cast Piles and Driven Piles, and Damage Evaluation; Advance Information, Systems in the Geotechnical Risk Predication and Assessment. The papers originate from eight countries and cover an array of important topics in the area of forensic and geotechnical engineering. These include case histories; geotechnical-forensic engineering investigation of structures; probabilistic three dimensional modeling; behavior of laterally loaded piles; failure of helical anchors; working pile load tests; refurbished used of timber piles; and vibration effects on historic buildings. A list of the papers is assimilated in Table 1 by topic. The summary illustrated below will give the reader(s) a general overview of the focus of those papers and is intended to direct the reader to their area of interest. The activities of Session 8 also include case histories on health monitoring and retrofit of infrastructure, including bridges, tunnels, and other transportation and geotechnical structures, and their effects on existing facilities and buildings, and remediation. The Session 8 organizers greatly appreciate the efforts of the authors and commend the quality of the accepted papers

Morphological and strength analysis of PCC bottom ash amended with bentonite

Within the last few years several studies have been completed to evaluate strength, stiffness, and durability properties of pulverized coal combustion (PCC) bottom ash mixed with various admixtures. Studies have shown that strength and stiffness of PCC bottom ash mixed with sodium bentonite changes with the increase in the curing period. Researchers have concluded that this change is due to the chemical composition of the bottom ash and bentonite. In order to understand the reasons for the change in characteristics of bottom ash-bentonite mixtures with time, the strength and structural characteristics of bottom ash-bentonite mixtures cured for various periods was evaluated. Results of the strength testing showed increase in strength and stiffness of the mixtures with curing period. The results of structural analysis using environmental scanning electron microscopy show development of fibrous elements which may cause increase in the unconfined compressive strength and stiffness of the mixtures with the curing period. Selected results from this study are presented herein. © Springer 2006