Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) is a private university located in&nbsp;Tamil Nadu, India. Founded in 1984, as Vellore Engineering College, the institution offers 20 undergraduate, 34 postgraduate, four integrated and four research programs. It has campuses in Vellore, Amravati, Bhopal and Chennai.

VIT is one of the top ranked private universities in India according to NIRF, THE and QS Rankings.&nbsp;Govt. of India has recognized&nbsp;VIT, Vellore as an&nbsp;Institution of Eminence. This has allowed VIT to take independent quality initiatives and move up in world ranking.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

VIT University

Department of Structural and Geotechical Engineering

The combined raft, soil and pile foundation system has reached a high level of familiarity and is now being used to support a large number of structures. When the bearing capacity of the raft foundation is acceptable but the settlement value exceeds the permissible limit, raft-soil system is reinforced with piles to reduce settlement. Here, piles act as settlement reducers to the raft-soil foundation system. Different researchers have studied the effect of varying pile, raft and soil parameters on the settlement response and load-sharing behaviour of the raft and piles in a combined raft, soil and pile foundation system but less attention has been paid to the stress response behaviour of the raft. As this aspect is considered to be important from economics of raft design, a study has been performed to understand the stress response of the raft on the introduction of piles. The stress response of the raft for varying load conditions, Ec/Es ratios, thicknesses of raft and diameters of pile have been studied by performing numerical analyses on the foundation system supporting a moderately loaded 12-storeyed real-time commercial structure located in Chennai, India. An attempt has been made to study the applicability of Equivalent Pier concept. The above analyses were performed for two different layouts of piles. The behaviour of the stress and settlement responses of the raft reinforced with piles was compared with unpiled raft. Staad-Pro V8i and Ansys 16.0 have been used for the study and this paper presents observations and discussions from the study. © Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd 2020.

World University root node

School of Civil Engineering

Vellore Campus

Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering

Effect of piles on the design of raft foundation

This paper presents the application of constrained spline finite strip method (cSFSM) for cold-formed steel members with complex edge stiffeners. In this method, the principles of GBT are used to develop restraint matrices corresponding to local, distortional and global buckling. These matrices are applied in generalized eigen value equation by using transformation technique. The critical buckling stresses were calculated separately for pure local, distortional and global buckling. Based on the formulation, cross sectional geometries having complex lips are analysed to study the variations in buckling stresses developed. The increase in complexity of lip stiffeners increases the local buckling capacity of the cross section. However, for distortional buckling, the cross sections with inward lip stiffener offer higher buckling capacity than those with outward lips. The influence of lip stiffeners on global buckling was observed to be marginal from the present study. Copyright © 2018 by The Hong Kong Institute of Steel Construction.

Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Advances in Steel Structures, ICASS 2018

Elastic buckling of cold-formed steel complex cross sections using constrained spline finite strip method (CSFSM)

The common approach to landslide prediction is the integration of the observed landslide displacements, soil properties, and rainfall estimation into predictive models. In general, monitoring the evolution of an unstable slope may provide valuable information to gain a better understanding of the active prediction and early warning processes for potential geo-disasters. With this background an initiation has taken between India and Russia to develop cost effective methodology to monitor landslides under the Indo Russian Bilateral Collaborative Projects by DST-RFBR. Based on the hazard assessment The Nilgiris District in Tamil Nadu and Wayanad and Idukki Districts in Kerela area identified for further detailed study on monitoring Vulnerable slopes. On the territory of North Ossetia three sites of different mass volume and differenent activity rates were selected. Landslides that have not moved for years (for example Luarskiy landslide) commonly reactivate if ground water levels change dramatically, particularly when water penetrates old ground cracks, or construction activity creates slope modification that reduces stability. © 2020 North Caucasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, State Technological University. All rights reserved.

Centre for Disaster Mitigation and Management

Sustainable Development of Mountain Territories

Integrated monitoring of slope process in India and Russia [КОМПЛЕКСНЫЙ МОНИТОРИНГ CКЛОНОВЫХ ПРОЦЕССОВ В ИНДИИ И РОССИИ]

The present investigation is to identify an optimum mix combination amongst 28 different types of artificial lightweight aggregates by pelletization method with aggregate properties. Artificial aggregates with different combinations were manufactured from fly ash, cement, hydrated lime, ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS), silica fume, metakaolin, sodium bentonite and calcium bentonite, at a standard 17 minutes pelletization time, with 28% of water content on a weight basis. Further, the artificial aggregates were air-dried for 24 hours, followed by hardening through the cold-bonding (water curing) process for 28 days and then testing with different physical and mechanical properties. The results found the lowest impact strength value of 16.5% with a cement-hydrated lime (FCH) mix combination. Moreover, the lowest water absorption of 16.5% and highest individual pellet crushing strength of 36.7 MPa for 12 mm aggregate with a hydrated lime-GGBFS (FHG) mix combination. The results, attained from different binder materials, could be helpful for manufacturing high strength artificial aggregates. © 2020 Techno-Press, Ltd.

Advances in Concrete Construction

Effect of different binders on cold-bonded artificial lightweight aggregate properties

In the present research, characterization of ancient lime mortar from the 300-year-old Renukadevi Temple at Chandragutti, Karnataka, India, was carried out to propose an appropriate repair procedure for fixing a water leakage through the roof slab. The reason for the water seepage was a poor binder with the aggregate, with a ratio of 1:7. When the lime was washed away due to intense rain, the mortar became porous. XRD indicated that the original structure contains hydraulic lime with mineral-rich clay including calcite, aragonite, vaterite and tobermorite. The presence of tobermorite results in good performance and durability of the structure. The presence of organics rich in carbohydrate and protein was indicated by the FT-IR results. The repair mortar was simulated with an Oxal VP IT injection grout with 5 % of fermented kadukkai and jaggery as carbohydrate-rich organic sources. The rheological performance of the organic grout was good during Marsh-cone and stability test. After 28 days, the compressive strength of the 1:3 mortar was 1.13 N/mm2, suggesting it behaved like an artificial pozzolanic mortar with good strength. The organics played the main role in the carbonation of lime mortar and precipitation of tobermorite. A new organic grout compatible with the old mortar of the structure was prepared for the restoration. © 2020

Fulltext

Materiali in Tehnologije

GROUTING AND INJECTION TECHNIQUES TO REPAIR CRACKS AND WATER LEAKAGE AT THE RENUKA DEVI TEMPLE, CHANDRAGUTTI, INDIA [POPRAVLJANJE RAZPOK S TEHNIKAMI OMETAVANJA IN NABRIZGAVANJA V TEMPLJU RENUKA DEVI, CHANDRAGUTTI, INDIJA]

Landfills are highly engineered waste containment systems, designed to minimize the impact of waste on the environment. In modern landfills, the waste is contained by liner and cover systems. Due to the scarcity of natural clay, the commercially available bentonite is often used in the construction of liners. The bentonite layer generally shrinks during the summer, and therefore, severe cracks are formed; thus, it fails to control the migration of leachate. In the past, various additives have been used to stabilize bentonite. In recent years, studies have been focused on using reactive materials as additives so that they can stabilize bentonite, and also, it can adsorb the heavy metals from the leachates. The sugar industry produces fly ash, known as the bagasse ash, which causes a disposal problem. This bagasse ash is found to be a good absorbent material. Hence, a study was carried out to assess the stabilization of compacted clay liner blended with bagasse ash. Several tests, including consistency limits and hydraulic conductivity tests, have been performed by blending different contents of bagasse ash. From the test results and their analysis, it is observed that 40% of bagasse ash can be mixed with bentonite so that the essential requirements of the liner are maintained. © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020.

Utilization of bagasse ash in the compacted clay liner

This paper reviews the current state of the art performance of Graphene Oxide (GO) and Reduced Graphene Oxide (rGO) addition in cement composites. GO has regarded as an excellent Nano-filler in cement composites by the extraordinary properties. In this study, performance aspects such as workability, durability, mechanical and microstructural characteristics of GO reinforced cement composites were reviewed. Interaction of GO with several mineral admixtures such as fly ash, silica fume and geopolymer composites in an admixed cement system was comprehensively discussed. This is the first paper to review GO performance with various mineral admixtures and to discuss and distinguish performance rGO in cement composites. Effects of reducing oxygen functional groups while producing rGO and the performance of rGO have been elaborated. rGO reinforcement in cement composites possesses a new research direction. Enhancements and drawbacks by reinforcing GO and rGO were reviewed till date. Recent extensive research on the performance of GO-cement composites has reviewed to transform conventional cement materials into smart, strong, and durable composites. This review provides an overview of performance, recent developments and fabrication of GO-cement composites in enhancing mechanical performance, durability, of cement composites. Concluding remarks stated indicating challenges and future perspectives on how to effectively use GO as a Nano-reinforcing material in cement composites. © 2020 Elsevier Ltd

Construction and Building Materials

An intense review on the performance of Graphene Oxide and reduced Graphene Oxide in an admixed cement system

Clays are used for the construction of waste containment barriers, because of its low hydraulic conductivity. Due to the difficulty in obtaining the natural clay satisfying the essential requirement as a liner material; commercially available bentonites are being used for the construction of clay liners. Bentonite undergoes large volume changes upon saturation. Various physical and chemical stabilisation techniques are in practice to stabilise the bentonite. Previous studies reported that contaminants with high concentrations attack clay minerals leading to increase in their permeability. Exfoliated vermiculite, finds several applications in construction industry, also found to be good absorbent material. Hence, this study has been carried out to find the optimal percentage of vermiculite that can be added to the bentonite so that it satisfies the essential requirements of clay liners and absorb the heavy metals from contaminants. Several index properties and engineering properties tests on bentonite-vermiculite mixtures were performed. From the studies, it was found that 30% of vermiculite can be added to bentonite, so that the essential requirements of liner can be maintained. Copyright © 2020 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management

Hydraulic and volume change characteristics of compacted clay liner blended with exfoliated vermiculite

This research is part of a wider scientific Italian-Indo project finalised to shed lights on pottery fabrication and trade circulation in Tamil Nadu region during Early Historical Period. The recent archaeological excavations carried out in Alagankulam—a famous harbour trading with the eastern and western world—and in Keeladi—the most ancient civilization centre attested in Tamil Nadu region—provided numerous fragments of archaeological ceramics. The typological analysis enabled the identification of different pottery classes, suggesting the presence of local productions, possible imports and imitations. Studied shards included common Indian vessels, fine wares and luxury ware repertoire. The provenance identification of some of the studied typologies is still debated in the literature; for long time, the misattribution of several ceramic classes has led to wrong interpretations on the commercial connections between India and the Western and Eastern Mediterranean area. The minero-petrographic and spectroscopic investigation of several ceramic fragments from the two investigated archaeological sites enabled the systematic compositional characterization of specific ceramic classes both locally manufactured and imported. The obtained results contributed to draw short-range and long-range connections in Tamil Nadu area. © 2020, The Author(s).

Heritage Science

Pottery production and trades in Tamil Nadu region: new insights from Alagankulam and Keeladi excavation sites

Subsurface characterization and information about buried utility infrastructure is an important issue affecting the public safety and progress of development projects. A heterogeneous subsurface environment is often insufficiently characterized by the data collected through various direct and indirect means, particularly in dense urban areas. The present study aims to detect the subsurface objects and map the stratigraphic environment in a city region using a non-invasive geophysical technique called Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR). In this study, antennas of central frequency 200 and 80 MHz have been used to identify the underground utilities and subsurface layer information, respectively. A methodology based on a geometrical approach using Support Vector Machines (SVM) is developed for computing the depth and radius of buried pipes. Also, the electrical discontinuities in the GPR profiles are identified through various processing techniques to extract the subsurface layer information. The results indicate that the 200-MHz antenna and SVM-based methodology estimate the buried pipe parameters with reasonable accuracy at various site combinations. It is found that the bistatic low-frequency 80-MHz antenna suitably characterizes the subsurface layers, which are in close agreement with the borehole data. The processed data illustrate a strong correlation between the radar signals and the characteristics of the strata resolving the uncertainty. The study highlights the capability of GPR in extracting the subsurface data and recommends a multi-frequency approach to map and interpret the complete subsurface environment at a specific site. © 2020, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.