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Go to Editorial ManagerRigid pavement slabs are erected on a prepared subgrade or foundation layer, providing a hard and continuous surface. Transverse joints made of dowel bars connect them, and longitudinal joints made of tie bars join them longitudinally. This study is an investigation of the impact of soil strength and concrete parameters on the effectiveness of dowel bars in rigid pavements. Moreover, three parameters were examined; California Bearing Ratio (CBR), concrete compressive strength and slab thickness. The analysis was conducted using the Ever FE program and focused on several axle configurations applied to the joint. The results indicate inverse association between the pavement slab thickness and the concrete strength, under the assumption of consistent soil strength. Moreover, an assortment of reduced shear forces on the dowel bars is seen when the soil strength values increase. It indicates that soil strength has a greater impact on the shear load of dowel bars compared to the qualities of concrete. Additionally, the type of axles used and the magnitude of soil strength were shown to have a significant effect on the shear load.
An overview of electro-osmosis (EO) and electrokinetic (EK) soil treatment methods is provided in this paper, along with their impact on pile capacity, installation, and foundation shear strength after improving the geotechnical properties of weak soils, particularly soft clays. As a result of their low shear strength, high compressibility, and poor drainage characteristics, soft clayey soils pose significant challenges in civil engineering. With EO and EK, pore water and ions are moved through the soil matrix under an applied electric field, resulting in consolidation, increased shear strength, and reduced plasticity. This review explores the fundamental principles of EO and EK, including the mechanisms of water transport, ion migration, and electrochemical reactions. It examines various electrode configurations, treatment parameters, and their influence on soil improvement. Furthermore, the paper analyzes the effects of EO treatment on pile capacity, considering both the increase in soil strength and the reduction in pore water pressure during installation. The impact on pile installation methods, such as reducing driving resistance and improving grout penetration, is also discussed. Finally, the review investigates the enhancement of foundation shear strength through improved soil properties achieved by EO/EK treatment. By synthesizing existing research, this paper aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the potential benefits and limitations of EO and EK methods for ground improvement in soft clayey soils, offering valuable insights for future research and practical applications in geotechnical engineering.
The axial capacity and pile transference of loads under static loading have both been well reported, but further research is needed to understand the dynamic lateral responses. The pile load imposed during an earthquake may increase, but the soil’s ability to support it may fall as a side effect of the vibration leading to more settlement. The key objective of this work is to identify what led to the substantial lateral destruction of the piles during the seismic event due to the kinematic effects. These failures were related to discontinuities in the subsoil as a result of sudden changes in soil strength due to shaking. The kinematic stresses exerted in a single pipe pile constructed in two sand layers under two different situations (dry and saturated states) are investigated in this study using numerical modeling. The bending moments were higher in the saturated sand soil than in the dry one which may be attributed to liquefaction. Generally, the acceleration increased through the loose layer (from bottom to top), and then significantly settled within the dense layer. It could be shown that using this modeling, one can estimate how a pile foundation will behave under "kinematic" loading driven by earthquakes. Therefore, the design and installation of drilled aluminum or steel piles in sand soil could make use of these present observations.