http://hdl.handle.net/10379/4009 2017-10-29T22:06:30Z http://hdl.handle.net/10379/6339 Ground improvement using the vibro- stone column technique McCabe, Bryan A.; McNeill, James A.; Black, Jonathan A. The Vibro Stone Column technique is one of the most widely-used ground improvement processes in the world, although its potential for improving Irish sites has yet to be fully exploited. Historically the system has been used to densify loose granular soils, but over the past 35 years, the system has been used increasingly to reinforce soft cohesive soils and mixed fills. This paper will describe the technique, applicable soil types, settlement and bearing capacity calculations, recent research areas and an Irish case study. 2007-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10379/4106 National Centre for Water and Wastewater Research and Demonstration Clifford, Eoghan; O'Reilly, Edmond; Rodgers, Michael; O'Donoghue, Padraic Decentralised wastewater treatment systems for small towns (200 2,000 PE) often have different design requirements to those of systems for larger conurbations even though the treatment process technologies may be similar. For example, additional design requirements at decentralised small systems may include: (i) flow balancing; (ii) long-term on-site sludge storage; and (iii) infrequent supervision and remote monitoring. To meet the requirements of the EU Water Framework Directive, wastewater treatment systems for small towns should: (i) be simple, sustainable and robust, and cheap to construct and operate; (ii) reduce fats, oils and greases; (iii) remove organic carbon, nutrients (N and P) and solids; (iv) decrease microorganisms; (v) treat resultant sludges on-site or locally; and (vi) be monitored and controlled remotely. The NUI Galway/EPA WRF was created to assess and develop such wastewater treatment systems for small-towns. 2010-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10379/4008 Brace response and assessment: computation, experiments and design (BRACED) Goggins, Jamie Brian Broderick The BRACED project investigated the ultimate behaviour of concentrically braced frames(CBFs). The research programme was designed to validate empirical models for theductility capacity of hollow section bracing members and recent proposals for theimproved detailing of gusset plate connections, to identify active yield mechanisms andfailure modes in different brace member/connection configurations, and to provideessential data on the earthquake response of European CBFs. The central element of anintegrated experimental and numerical research programme is a series of shake tableexperiments on full-scale model single-storey CBFs designed to Eurocode 8. Twelveseparate experiments were performed on the Azalee seismic testing facility at CEA Saclayin the March-May 2013. The properties of the brace members and gusset plate connectionswere varied between experiments to examine a range of feasible properties and toinvestigate the influence of conventional and improved design details on frame response.Each experiment examined the response of the test frame and brace-gusset platespecimens to table excitations scaled to produce elastic response, brace buckling/yieldingand brace fracture. These experiments were supported by complementary quasi-staticcyclic tests on a simplified version of the shaking table test frame that retained all of theimportant characteristics of that structure, including overall dimensions, beam-to-columnconnections, brace properties and gusset-plate connection design. Correlative pre-testpredictions and post-test simulations using pushover and time-history analysis were alsoperformed using the OpenSees seismic analysis software. The outputs of the researchprogramme represent a unique set of data on the ultimate earthquake response of CBFswith realistic brace members and connections. The principal experimental outcomesinclude measurements of elastic frame stiffness and its evolution with brace damage,measurements of the displacement ductility capacity of the brace specimens; anevaluation of the influence of brace connection configuration and gusset plate detailing onframe stiffness, damping and ductility; and observations on the contributions of brace andconnection yielding to overall inelastic deformation of CBFs. The numerical modelling hasvalidated a methodology of modelling this class of structure in OpenSees, while theproject as a whole supports an assessment of Eurocode 8 design guidance for CBFs. Report 2013-01-01T00:00:00Z