Scipedia: Documents published in 2024

Experience of in situ geotechnical tests and their interpretation in organic soils and peat

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 15:27:10 +0200

This paper reviews the use of piezocone (CPTU) testing to characterise and identify peats and organic soils. Examples of data for peat sites from several countries are given, including some experience of the use of T-bar and piezoball penetrometers in peat. These “full flow” devices show smoother resistance profiles than the equivalent from the CPTU and are perhaps representative of the peat mass with a reduced fibre effect. In CPTU tests, organic soils and peat are often characterised by low corrected cone resistance (qt) and high friction ratio (Rf). CPTU penetration in peat is often drained with data showing low pore water pressure coefficient (Bq) values. Rf broadly decreases with increasing degree of decomposition of the peat. However care needs to be taken in using Rf values in peat given the characteristically very low sleeve friction values (fs) encountered. It would seem that it is not always easy to distinguish between peat and underlying soft soils using CPTU alone. There may be some promise in inclusion of CPTU “add on” sensors particularly a seismic element to yield shear wave velocity (Vs). However there is some uncertainty in measuring Vs in peat both offshore and onshore so care is needed in this regard. Recently developed Soil Behaviour Type (SBT) charts from the Netherlands have also been trialled on several sites. This new formulation shows promise and warrants further study

CPT based classification with focus on organic soils

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 15:26:18 +0200

Most published research on CPT based SBT classification is on mineral soils. Consequently, these classifications do not accurately capture the classification of soft organic clays and peats. Organic soft soils are frequently present within the Holocene deposits in the Netherlands and in other deltaic areas worldwide. Organic soils can be identified by a specific combination of CPT parameters such as a high friction ratio, low cone resistance and low pore pressure response. In contrast to other soft soils, the strength is not necessarily low. This paper presents an updated CPT based classification with focus on organic soils, for the non-normalized SBT chart (Robertson, 2010, Lengkeek et al, 2022) as well as a new classification based on the stress normalized SBT chart (Robertson, 2016). In the new proposed classifications, additional boundaries are set based on the CPT pore pressure measurements, as this appears to be successful to separate organic soils from mineral soils. The performance of the classifications can be quantified by metrics such as the F1 score. The F1 score of the new proposed classifications all show significant improvement.

Cone Penetration Response in Carbonate Sediments

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 15:25:18 +0200

Cone penetration testing (CPT) is one of the most used site characterisation tools in geotechnical engineering. In offshore areas dominated by carbonate sediments, CPT is extensively used to characterise material types and assess their strength and flow characteristics. However, unlike for non-carbonate sediments where large number of empirical relationships are available correlating the CPT response with the corresponding soil behaviour and associated engineering parameters, there is still a lack of data correlating the CPT response with engineering behaviour of carbonate sediments. This paper presents CPT responses for different types of marine carbonate sediments. First, a brief background on carbonate sediments including key terminologies used and their characteristics in comparison to their non-carbonate counterparts are discussed. This is followed by examples of CPT data from major offshore project sites representing different type of materials ranging from uncemented fine grained (Muds and Silts) and coarse grained (Sand) sediments to variably cemented carbonate materials. The CPT results are then used, in combination with laboratory test data, to evaluate the suitability of standard soil behaviour type charts and indices available in the literature. Typical zone of results for carbonates sediments as a function of normalized cone parameters are also presented for reference purposes. Some challenges on the direct use CPT based methods to engineering analyses for carbonate sediments and the key areas of research from a practical engineering perspective are also briefly discussed.

Case studies for temporal variability In site characterisation

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 15:24:16 +0200

While site investigation data is typically focused on the spatial variability for site characterisation, those properties may change with time. Temporal variability needs to be considered in the design and construction of roads and high-level foundations. Seasonal variation occurs in the active zone and long-term changes occur 2 to 5 years after construction using expansive clay materials in adverse climate conditions. The latter may occur below the zone of seasonal variation. A case study for seasonal changes in subgrade strength at an uncovered test site when tested at 5 different times of the year. Measurement accounted for 30% of the variation, while temporal and spatial variation accounted for an additional 30% variation over the 1-year period of testing. An appropriate probability distribution function (PDF) is required for characteristic values. Constructing embankments to the equilibrium moisture content (EMC) is more important than the optimum moisture content (OMC), which is a short-term construction expedient. Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) probes were used to monitor embankment moisture changes over a 4-year period for a new road construction on expansive clays. This included 1) an existing 30-year-old embankment during the project planning phase, 2) a trial embankment during design, and 3) the new constructed roadway embankments. All demonstrated the importance of understanding the EMC when expansive clays are being used for embankment construction. Results in other climatic environments are compared. The results show subgrade CBR tested at OMC is meaningless for such soils and in those extreme climates.

Investigating crushing-induced particle shape change in granular material

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 15:23:15 +0200

High-pressure uniaxial compression tests were conducted under strain-controlled conditions using spherical glass beads. The study focused on investigating the compression behavior and particle fragmentation phenomena, particularly observing changes in particle size and shape resulting from fragmentation. The examination of particle shape, specifically sphericity and roundness, was emphasized. The samples comprised glass beads with uniform particle size and shape initially. It was observed that pressures exceeding 20MPa triggered particle fragmentation, leading to significant compression behavior. Notably, a softening phenomenon characterized by rapid fluctuations in compressive stress, despite a monotonic increase in strain, was observed during fragmentation. This phenomenon indicates the particles' catastrophic failure, unable to withstand the contact forces they previously sustained. Observations of particle shape revealed trends toward asymptotic distributions in cumulative curves for particle size, sphericity, and roundness. Moreover, changes in the cumulative curve of roundness were more pronounced compared to particle size and sphericity.

Piezoball and T-Bar Application on a Brazilian Soft Soil Deposit

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 15:22:53 +0200

Research has already demonstrated advantages in performing piezoball tests when compared to piezocone in estimating the soil undrained shear strength (Su) along the stratigraphy and remolded strength (Sur) through cyclic tests, showing a shorter range of strength correction factors (N) and lower dependence on the soil stiffness index (Ir). Another possible application is estimating the remolded shear strength directly from penetration (qin) and extraction (qext) measurements without requiring cyclic tests. This research performed piezocone, vane, and piezoball tests (standard and cyclic) in a soft soil deposit in southern Brazil. Additionally, undisturbed samples were collected for characterization. The in situ investigation resulted in cone and ball factors in accordance with the international practice recommendation, resulting in similar profiles of undrained strength Su which increases with depth from 3 to 14 kPa and constant values of remolded undrained strength Sur. Regarding estimating the Sur through direct measurements of penetration and extraction of the piezoball, it was necessary to carefully evaluate the time laps between probe insertion and extraction to avoid overestimating the remolded strength.

Geotechnical Characterization of an Earthfill Constructed from Schist Residual Soils

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 15:22:30 +0200

Earthfills are anthropogenic soil massifs that were originated by different processes than those observed in traditional soil mechanics, thus revealing some deviations to the behaviour of common natural soils. The common characterization of earthfills is based in discontinuous testing such as nuclear densimeter gauge used together with laboratory compaction tests and the stiffness evaluation obtained from plate load tests, which does not give answers in the context of strength evaluation (Cruz et al. 2008; Cruz et al. 2006). The case study presented herein refers to the geotechnical characterization of an earth fill composed by evolutive materials obtained from the de-structuration of schists, which has developed excessive settlements. The performed geotechnical characterization consisted in boreholes and regular SPT tests, Dynamic Probing (DPSH), Piezocone (CPTu) and Marchetti Dilatometer (DMT) tests, as well as triaxial, shear box, consolidation and identification tests. DMT and CPTu tests were selected not only to obtain strength and stiffness parameters, but also because of its ability to access stratigraphy and unit weights. The whole set of obtained results are presented, compared and discussed, revealing a clear convergence between results as well as some interesting particularities that may be useful in fill characterization.

Observational Method of Evaluating Secondary Compression Settlement in Artificial Fills

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 15:22:14 +0200

Secondary compression can be an important source of settlement in artificial fills, even when these fills are well constructed. In some cases, especially when the fill thickness is greater than about 15 m, the resulting long-term settlements can adversely impact the performance of structures and infrastructure, and thus may necessitate special preventive design provisions. Yet, this source of settlement is often mistakenly overlooked. Secondary compression can be even more problematic when the fill is poorly constructed. Backfills of former open-pit mines are examples of practical projects where assessments of long-term secondary compression settlement are necessary, especially when these backfills are deep and/or not properly engineered. Laboratory assessments of secondary compression in these materials are inherently problematic and become impossible when the fill contains large particles or has other complicating characteristics. However, this problem is an excellent opportunity to apply the observational method where the coefficient of secondary compression, Cαε, is assessed in-situ using settlement monument data. This Cαε value is then used to forecast future settlements, which typically continue for decades, and thus provides essential information for the site-specific design of structures and infrastructure. However, the experimental and analytical processes for conducting these evaluations are more difficult than might be expected, and missteps can lead to significant errors in the computed future settlements. Some of these difficulties are due to limitations in our knowledge of the underlying physical processes and in the analytical models used to describe them. Methods of collecting the required field data and conducting these settlement evaluations are discussed based on experience with deep fills in California as well as published data from elsewhere.

In situ and laboratory results of a bentonite-based block/pellet seal during saturation

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 15:14:14 +0200

The in situ Engineered Barrier (EB) experiment aimed at understanding the hydromechanical behaviour of sealing materials for high-level radioactive wastes as a combination of compacted blocks and high-density pellets made of Febex bentonite. The experimental program focused on the wetting process of a heterogeneous dual-component sample consisting of pellets and blocks with technological gaps. The homogenisation tendency was investigated by determining the final (local) dry densities and pore size distributions in both zones from post-mortem analyses. Global initial dry densities between 1.36–1.44 Mg/m3 were considered for the heterogeneous mixture, wetted at constant volume and constant vertical stress (oedometer conditions). The initially high-density zone of blocks with technological gaps expanded during hydration, reaching a lower dry density at saturation than the pellets’ zone. The initially low-density pellets’ zone with a high volume of inter-pellet pores underwent compression and reached a final high dry density on saturation. The experimental results were compared with the distribution of dry density at the in situ EB experiment after dismantling, and a good agreement between the laboratory and the in situ measurements was observed.

Evolution of fracture permeability in active clayey formations

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 15:13:58 +0200

Opalinus Clay (OPA), a potential geological host formation for the disposal of high-level radioactive waste in Switzerland, is characterized by a low intrinsic permeability on the order of ~ 10-20 to 10-21 m2. Nonetheless, its effective permeability can increase significantly due to active fractures, which are influenced by factors such as fracture geometry, solid-liquid interaction, and stress conditions. The evolution of the permeability and geometry of such active fractures, particularly in rocks containing swelling clay minerals, is important for assessing the long-term safety of the repositories. Here we present the results of an experimental investigation focused on understanding the evolution of permeability in fractured OPA. We employed an advanced high-pressure triaxial system to evaluate gas permeability, followed by a phase where gas was replaced with synthetic water. We observed a three-order-of-magnitude reduction in apparent permeability as fractures evolved, primarily due to active clay minerals and the associated swelling deformations. Furthermore, we conducted a detailed analysis of the material's internal pore structure at each stage of the experiment using X-ray computed tomography. Results may be used to understand the underlying processes in the evolution of fracture permeability in clayey formations applied in hydrocarbon reservoirs, carbon sequestration, and nuclear waste containment.

On The Wildfire-Induced Changes In The Properties Of A Vegetated Clayey Slope Cover

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 15:13:40 +0200

Wildfires are generally believed to be detrimental to slope stability, by both damaging the vegetation and altering the hydro-mechanical properties of soil cover through burning action. However, the extent to which wildfires may impact on state of the vegetation and soil state is still an open issue, as it depends on several factors such as fire intensity, on the soil and vegetation state and type. The research activity was carried out with reference to in-situ test-site, the Pisciolo hillslope, where selected vegetation has been seeded and farmed, with the aim to assess its effectiveness in reducing surface water infiltration. The test site caught fire in September 2023, during which most of the vegetation was burned down. Pre and post fire soil properties were evaluated using laboratory and in-situ methods including Loss-on-Ignition (LOI), water drop penetration time (WDPT), and in-situ seepage tests (i.e., by means of Guelph permeameter and double ring infiltrometer). Furthermore, the wildfire-induced thermal stress in the soil was monitored with a thermocouple recording soil temperature within 15 cm b.g.l.. Monitoring results showed that significant wildfire-induced temperature variations were limited to the very near-surface soil layer, up to 25 cm; the soil organic matter decreased after the fire exposure; the hydraulic behaviour was also affected but only to a minor extent, since the coefficient of saturated permeability was found to change only slightly. The logged information may be used for a better understanding of the soil and vegetation post-fire evolution states. Indeed, this research activity is expected to impact the modelling of the slope-vegetation-atmosphere interaction at the ground surface, which is the factor mainly controlling the current activity of several weather-induced landslide in both fine and coarser slopes.

Influence of the Weathering Degree on the Dispersion Susceptibility of Allophanic Soils

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 15:13:20 +0200

The behavior of allophanic soils is directly related to their fabric and structure. They are transformed according to their weathering degree through biogeochemical processes that may give rise to changes in the minerals. This paper investigated the influence of weathering degree on the susceptibility to dispersion in materials derived from volcanic ash soil in Armenia (Colombia). X-ray fluorescence (XRF) tests and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) tests were conducted to identify mineralogical composition and correlate it with the use of geochemical indices. Pinhole tests were developed on natural and compacted samples (with prior air and oven drying), to assess susceptibility to dispersion. It was found that the most weathered material exhibits lower susceptibility to internal erosion due to particle aggregation generated during the material alteration process. At similar dry density, natural materials present intermediate permeability values compared to compacted ones under both water content conditions. Samples dried in the air retain part of their structure and promote lower hydraulic conductivity values compared to samples dried in the oven, indicating that material alteration due to drying generates differences in porosity and hydraulic conductivity. The drying process at higher temperatures changes the material properties, eliminating the gel texture and hence the cementing bonds, inducing imminent changes in microporosity. The findings contribute to evaluating the application of allophanic soils for embankment construction, where the loss of cementation contributes to the degree of infiltration, reducing shear strength and affecting internal stability.

Collapsible Behaviour of a Compacted Lateritic Sandy Soil

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 15:12:26 +0200

Collapsible unsaturated soils are characterized by a low-density composition and exhibit sudden settlement after wetting while maintaining in-situ stress levels. This issue is effectively mitigated by compaction, a simple and economical technique that improves the soil properties and geotechnical behaviour. In this study, the collapsible behaviour of a compacted sandy laterite soil is analysed, focusing on the influence of relative compaction, water content, initial suction and inundation stress. The primary aim is to analyse the effect of initial compaction conditions on collapse potential. Conventional and suction-controlled oedometer tests were conducted on soils from Ilha Solteira, São Paulo, Brazil, where there is a large amount of geotechnical data available. The laboratory data reveal that collapse deformations of compacted soil depend on relative compaction, initial water content, soil suction, and inundation stress. Poorly compacted soils exhibit greater susceptibility to collapse when wetted, and the magnitude of collapse potential varies with water content. Additionally, this study shows the influence of initial suction on collapsibility of less compacted soils. The laboratory results highlighted the importance of considering suction and inundation stress in understanding the collapsible behaviour of compacted soil, whereas traditional empirical methods often emphasize low density and water content as primary factors predisposing soils to collapse.

Measurement of soil temperature with depth using multiple sensor arrays

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 15:11:25 +0200

Accurate measurement of soil temperature is essential for the diagnosis of various environmental processes and their impact on ecosystems. Indeed, continuous monitoring of temperature profiles with depth provides valuable understanding of the soil thermal response, which could support studies related to climate change, hydrology, agriculture, and geothermal energy. The paper describes an innovative installation procedure of temperature strings (CS225) to measure the temperature field of an undisturbed soil deposit at different depths in real time. The strings consisted of multiple temperature probes connected in series, placed at specific depths within the soil profile. The CS225 probes require little maintenance and no initial calibration, guaranteeing a high accuracy and resolution of the temperature measurements. The initial field measurements have shown a good performance of the probes, which have been able to detect the gradual decrease of soil temperature and the reduction of oscillations with depth. Further research will include the detailed analysis of the influence of ambient wind speed, solar radiation and soil moisture on the heat transfer from the ground surface to the deeper soil layers, as well as laboratory tests and numerical analysis.

Monitoring Climate Induced Degradation Processes of Dutch Regional Dykes

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 15:10:23 +0200

A large part of the Dutch regional dyke network is classified as drought-susceptible given that both the dyke body and the foundation layers consist of soft organic soils. The erratic weather conditions over recent years, which included prolonged drought, new temperature records and intensified rainfall, are linked to an increased number of accidents related to dyke degradation. As global warming continues to exacerbate extreme weather, there is a growing concern on the impact of changing climatic conditions on this type of regional dykes. Poor understanding of climate induced soil degradation processes poses a serious challenge in the development of adaptation strategies. The challenges are caused by the large variety of interplaying factors, dynamic environmental actions and the complex description of coupled degradation processes with varying spatial-temporal scales. This study demonstrates the potential use of field monitoring to overcome some of these limitations. Field monitoring data on ten Dutch regional dyke sections, with varying geometry, stratigraphy and vegetation are presented. The data provide insight into changes in dyke hydraulic state as a function of atmospheric conditions and allow to infer possible climate induced soil physical degradation mechanisms depending on dyke characteristics. To fully evaluate the impact of degradation on the water protection system, ancillary monitoring data are required, able to quantify the mechanical implications of climate induced state variations. The design of dedicated monitoring set up on three selected dykes, which will serve as representative case studies for the development of geotechnical assessment methods, is eventually presented.

Multi-Sensor Core Logging of Marine Sediments for Continuous Thermal Conductivity Profiles

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 15:09:25 +0200

Thermal conductivity of shallow (

Characterization of Thermal Conductivity of Backfill Materials for UPCS by Various Methods: Lab, in Situ and Numerical Analysis

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 15:08:25 +0200

This research evaluates the thermal properties of the proposed backfill materials (prepacked concrete (PAC)) that function as the heat release medium for the underground power cable system (UPCS). First, a hot disk sensor was used to measure the thermal conductivity of small-scale backfill materials in the laboratory. The horizontal thermal response test (TRT) was then performed with a 5 × 3 × 2 m full-scale sample for the in-situ evaluation. Afterward, the data from the TRT was utilized to couple with the infinite line source model (ILS) to predict the thermal conductivity of the full-scale sample. Finally, the thermal conductivity of the PAC was back-calculated using COMSOL Multiphysics. All these tests were also performed with natural sand (conventional backfill material) to compare with the PAC. Thermal conductivities calculated by numerical simulation and the ILS model were in good agreement (difference 2 W/(mK)), thus satisfying the heat release ability requirement for the UPCS. The laboratory test slightly underestimated the thermal conductivity (less than 8%) compared to the estimated values from the ILS model and numerical model involving prepacked concretes; however, natural sand showed a significant difference (1.365 W/(mK) and 1.8 W/(mK), 32 %) attributed to the influence of the water content change during the TRT. Therefore, it is recommended that the in-situ testing conditions should be considered for the sand (or soils) to avoid the overestimation or underestimation of their thermal conductivity.

Interpreting repeated CPT in unsaturated soils

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 15:07:53 +0200

Cone penetration tests, CPTs, are extensively used in the Netherlands to assess the stability of fourteen thousand kilometres of dykes protecting the country from flooding. On the regional dykes, site testing is planned and executed only from spring to autumn. The data collected in the drier season of the year must be used then in safety factor calculation for dyke stability with reference to the worst expected conditions, including the highest weights and the highest water pressures over the year. Inferring reliable values of the shear strength in a different season implies understanding the unsaturated response of the dyke material and the effect of variable water content on the CPT response. In previous studies referring to CPTs in unsaturated soils, it was observed that both the cone resistance and the sleeve friction depend on suction, however, only the cone resistance was used to determine the shear strength in combination with water content or suction probes installed into the ground. In this contribution, we analyse an extensive set of data, coming from repeated CPTs performed over one year on the Maasdijk near Oijen in the Netherlands. The data are elaborated to investigate whether the entire set of data can be exploited to try to derive the water content and the constant water content shear strength at the same time, if the test is repeated in different seasons.

Estimation of Pore Pressure for Unsaturated-Saturated Bentonite Sand Mixture

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 15:07:39 +0200

To investigate thermal hydration mechanical chemical couple phenomena is an important issue of the high-level radioactive waste disposal and a key indicator of artificial barrier system. Major objectives of the thermal and mechanical site characterization include the status of the environmental. Several research reports are aimed at the barrier layers for heating from radioactive waste disposal. This study appears the occurrence of the pore pressure under heat conditions for bentonite and bentonite-sand mixture material, which are completely undrained condition and unexhausted condition. It is considered that mechanics of pore pressure in macro-micro void structure due to heating-cooling repetition. A thermal chamber is used in heating method, which have high specification with accurate controlling sensitivity. The maximum temperature is 80 degrees Celsius temperatures. The prepared specimens are unsaturated specimens and saturated specimens, and silica sand are mixture into three different bentonites that various dry densities are required. Two different solutions are prepared for saturated specimen, which are distilled water and salinity water with concentration of 3.5 %. The specimens are placed into a thermostat oven, and heating application is applied isotropic conductivity. The obtained results are significant as followings; The measured pore pressures are obviously with increment of temperature, and the sand mixture ratio is small influence factor. Also, large por fluid pressures are produced for saturated condition that indication of small pore fluid pressure is verified for unsaturated specimen comparison with saturated specimen.

In Situ Measurement of Soil Thermal Properties: a New Prototype

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 15:07:26 +0200

As part of the THERMALTUNNEL R&D, partially funded by Centro para el Desarrollo Tecnológico e Industrial (CDTI), a Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation agency, PRO GEO has developed a soil penetration prototype that measures soil temperature and the thermal properties of the ground (thermal conductivity and specific heat) at different depths. The prototype is the size of a conventional CPT and contains an internal heat source with local thermocouples. A data acquisition system measures the temperature both in the prototype itself and in the surrounding ground through a penetration needle protruding from the main body of the prototype. The thermal parameters are determined by analyzing the measured heating and cooling temperature curves using the finite element codes CODE_BRIGHT (Olivella et al., 1993) and G-PFEM (Monforte, 2018). In this later numerical code, a thermal analysis module has been incorporated within the framework of the project. The operation of the prototype has been satisfactory in laboratory tests through a calibration chamber setup with granular soil under different controlled conditions of water saturation and porosity to assess the impact of those variables on the obtained values of soil thermal conductivity and specific heat. The back-analyzed parameters from the calibration chamber results have been compared with point tests (thermal conductivity and specific heat tests). The project has been developed with the cooperation of CIMNE – International Centre for Numerical Methods in Engineering.

Geotechnical investigation of a fissured highly expansive clay profile

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 15:07:05 +0200

This study details some observations and challenges in interpreting site investigation data for highly expansive soils. Expansive soils exhibit large volume changes in response to changes in water content. This leads to a high degree of reworking and often a strongly fissured macrofabric in situ. A site underlain by a ~7.0 m thick active clay deposit, containing highly plastic and highly expansive smectites, was chosen for large-scale pile tests. Two identical areas were identified for the tests. The first was kept at natural water content conditions. The other was kept submerged under water through infiltration wells for six months, aiming to facilitate maximum swell of the active layers. As part of the site investigation, continuous surface wave (CSW) tests and standard penetration tests (SPT) were conducted at various points in time. These results have been compared for the natural water content and the submerged profiles. Small-strain moduli interpreted from the CSW tests showed no significant difference between the two profiles, contrary to the intuitive expectation that inundation of the highly expansive clay layers and dissipation of suctions in the order of several megapascals might significantly reduce the stiffness. Due to the small strains imposed during the test, the characteristics of the fissures and joint infill material are measured, rather than that of the intact masses. The large-strain SPT results showed a softer response for the inundated profile, as expected. Challenges in obtaining intact tube samples from the stiff and highly fissured unsaturated profile have also been discussed.

Characteristics of the Electroresistivity of a compacted Iron Ore Tailing

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 15:06:42 +0200

The new legislation in Brazil has brought more attention to the technique of stacking filtered iron ore tailings for mining waste disposal. To minimize the risk of liquefaction, it's important to maintain the compacted structure in an unsaturated condition. This requires knowledge of the hydraulic characteristics of the material in order to evaluate the long-term performance of the embankment and design an adequate monitoring system. One way to track the material's behavior in the field is through electrical resistivity techniques. Using an electrical resistivity measurement system at various frequencies and current levels, we evaluated the behaviour of compacted iron ore waste. The examined tailings have been deposited in filtered tailings piles, which are intended to exceed a height of 100 meters. This study aims to investigate the electrical response of the material to different levels of water content, degree of saturation and suction. It was possible to establish good correlations between electrical resistivity and factors such as suction, degree of saturation, and water content. It was also identified an association between the electrical resistivity and the optimum water content

In Situ Test Methods for Thermal Site Characterisation – A Comparison

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 15:06:23 +0200

The demand for thermal site characterization has risen noticeably in the past decade, particularly for design of geothermal energy solutions and for design of in-ground power cable networks. The results of thermal characterization of a site are typically incorporated in a ground model based on environmental, geological, geophysical and geotechnical geodata. This paper compares in-situ test methods for thermal site characterization of soil. The comparison considers method applicability, deployment method, maximum test depth, test duration and uncertainty of results. A distinction is made between three categories of in-situ tests: (1) in-situ tests using active heat generation, (2) in-situ tests using passive heat generation and (3) in-situ tests with no specific thermal data acquisition

Use of geosynthetics to close a contaminated area in a metallurgical industry in the state of bahia

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 14:59:25 +0200

The study for closure and monitored natural attenuation/stabilization of industrial waste deposits plays a fundamental role in the process of groundwater quality management, providing information for understanding the contaminants evolution and enabling decision-making, with the purpose of isolating waste, contaminant concentrations, toxicity and mass and/or volume reduction to levels adequate to protect human health and the environment, within a reasonable period of time. The aim of this study was to propose an environmental remediation solution for a contaminated material disposal area using the case study of a metallurgical industry located in Bahia, Brazil. To this purpose, four conditions were provided for compliance: i) control of dust, odor and erosion, ii) control of contaminant release, iii) chemical stabilization of waste and iv) soil recovery. Based on the results obtained in environmental investigation studies and information from the area, the best solution in an attempt to naturally stabilize the area would be the use of geosynthetics as a physical barrier between the contaminated material disposed in the area and the rainwater. In this way, infiltration of rainwater into the landfill and the migration of percolated liquid with risk of contamination to the soil, groundwater table and surface water bodies is avoided. It is still possible to monitor the effectiveness of the proposed solution with the installation of instrumentation such as water level indicators and piezometers.

Interpretation of CPTu data using machine learning techniques to develop the ground model of a dam

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 14:58:24 +0200

Building a ground model through manual processes can be time consuming, as large amounts of data need to be classified to define the extent and spatial distribution of the different soil materials. This paper delves into the application of machine learning (ML) methodologies, in conjunction with in-situ geotechnical testing data, to develop the ground model for a downstream dam founded on both weak and liquefiable soils. The dam covers a linear extent of approximately 800 m and was extensively characterized by means of in-situ tests, including 206 cone penetration tests (CPTu), 37 boreholes and 35 test pits. The performance of two unsupervised ML clustering algorithms are compared: Density-Based Spatial Clustering of Applications with Noise (DBSCAN) and an extended version with a hierarchical component (HDBSCAN). The clustering uses CPTu data, which consists of the normalized cone tip resistance (Qtn) and the normalized sleeve friction (Fr) varying with elevation. Nearby borehole logs are used to evaluate the results of both clustering methods for a single single CPTu sounding using different clustering parameters. Then, a global clustering including several CPTu soundings is done and results are compared with the ground model that was manually made using Leapfrog software. Both methods show very good performance, with HDBSCAN being better and more robust.

Cyclic Cone Penetrometer Tests: Worthwhile?

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 14:57:26 +0200

This paper explores the merit of including cyclic episodes in cone penetrometer tests to measure changes in sleeve resistance during cycling. Tests were carried out in a geotechnical centrifuge in a kaolin clay and a dense silica sand. The data from the tests in clay indicate that the cone sleeve mobilises the remoulded undrained shear strength during the initial penetration, but that with continued cycling, the mobilised interface shear strength reduces to around one-third of the remoulded undrained shear strength before increasing. The initial reduction is considered to be due to local consolidation around the cone sleeve (leading to total stress reduction), whereas the subsequent increase is attributed to consolidation- induced strength hardening. Tests in sand also indicate a reduction in sleeve friction during cycling, consistent with the shear band contraction mechanism associated with friction fatigue of piles in sand, but with no consolidation-induced hardening behaviour as these tests were drained. The findings suggest that cyclic cone penetrometer tests may be a convenient means of gathering data for geotechnical design for problems where the cyclic response at the clay/structure interface is of interest. Considerations on the implications for offshore site investigations are provided.

Geotechnical Characterization of Dredged Material from Rio Grande’s Port, Brazil

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 14:56:51 +0200

Dredging works are essential to ensure navigability in Harbors and waterways. However, this crucial activity generates millions of tonnes of waste each year worldwide. Since the disposal of dredged material is responsible for several environmental impacts, entrepreneurs and engineers must find creative uses for it. Therefore, this study aims to characterize a local dredged material to assess its properties and suitability for geotechnical applications. With this knowledge, this paper presents a series of experimental tests on dredged material samples retrieved from Rio Grande's Port, Brazil. The experimental program includes determining Atterberg limits, sieve and sedimentation analysis, pH and SEM analysis, compaction curve, and unconfined compressive strength in a reconstituted state. The results showed that the material is sandy lean clay, with unfavourable strength characteristics for geotechnical work in a raw state. However, with the advent of chemical stabilization techniques, there is potential for enhancing its suitability for geotechnical applications. By exploring methods such as adding binders like lime or Portland cement, the material's strength and stability could be significantly improved, opening up possibilities for its utilization in various engineering projects. This study contributes valuable insights into the potential reclamation and beneficial reuse of dredged material, ultimately aiding in the sustainable management of harbor and waterway dredging operations

When Did Geotechnical Data Become A Point Of View: A Case Of Numerical Analysis Vs Site Data

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 14:56:32 +0200

The construction of a permanent bridge required a temporary bridge parallel to the permanent bridge alignment. Preloading of the permanent bridge abutment occurred under a separate early earthworks contract. That fill was removed, and the temporary structure was constructed. The fill was then replaced behind the abutment. Movement of the southern abutment of the permanent bridge was identified but with a gap of several weeks in survey monitoring due to a XMAS break period. The abutment had moved towards the river and temporary bridge. Potential causes for movement were investigated by additional investigation adjacent to and far away from the temporary bridge piles. Post movement tests carried out included: Dilatometer Testing (DMT) to assess for shear zones (if any) for slope instability, Cone Penetration Testing (CPTu) to assess strength changes (if any) to proximity of piles and new inclinometer readings. INSAR data was also obtained. A 3-D finite element analysis (FEA) carried out by a consultant matched the measured lateral displacements at the adjacent bridge. Based on that correlation, it was concluded that the removal of the close-ended temporary piles was the main cause of the excessive movement, and this initiated a contractual claim. Correlation is not causation. This case study provides a background on the site data and numerical analysis. The FEA did not include much of the site observational and site data post movement. Given the FEA was given the same credence as the site data, this suggests that data is now considered a point of view.

A CT-based approach to assess sample quality in soft soils

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 14:56:10 +0200

The paper discusses the performance of a novel tool based on computed tomography (CT) to evaluate sample quality in soft soils. This new technique is applied to the low-plasticity Mediterranean deltaic deposits found in the region of Castello d’Empuries at the Costa Brava, in Catalonia (Spain). Tube specimens of variable diameters retrieved using open samplers (Shelby) as well as Osterberg-type fixed-piston samplers were scanned in this study. Statistical analysis of the CT images allows to define a quantitative index of sample quality. Sample quality classification based on this new non-destructive CT-based measure compares well with quality classification based on the well-established recompression sample quality index, e/e0.

Paired in situ tests for site characterization and geotechnical design optimization

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 14:55:25 +0200

The paper shows recent experience in performing and interpreting the three most common in situ tests for site characterization: cone penetration test (CPT), seismic dilatometer test (SDMT) and Menard pressuremeter Test (MPT). It is shown that an adequate selection of in situ test methods for site characterization can be used to correctly predict the pile head load-settlement curve. Menard pressuremeter design rules, which were established in the 1st and a draft version of the 2nd generation of Eurocodes, can be applied to SDMT readings to obtain the pile bearing capacity. It was found that corrected lift-off pressure p0 obtained in the SDMT test is similar to the Menard limit pressure pl in clay, while pressure p1 (SDMT) is similar to pl in sand. All results used in the analysis are obtained on a large-scale project where investigations are strictly controlled and performed in accordance with Eurocode standards.

On the Effectiveness of MOSTAP Sampling in Tailings

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 14:54:23 +0200

The MOSTAP sampling apparatus is a popular tool in geotechnical investigation, since MOSTAP sampling can be done efficiently and cost effectively with the same rig used for CPT testing. Although few publications exist discussing the nuances and application of the MOSTAP sampler in practice, it is generally found that the MOSTAP sampler provides lower quality undisturbed samples when compared to piston tube or block samples. This paper discusses the experiences and learnings from geotechnical investigations where the MOSTAP sampler was employed in platinum and discard sand tailings in Southern Africa. A comparison between different sampler diameters at the same site showed significant improvements in sample recovery with larger diameter samplers. Ancillary equipment such as a core catcher and nylon stockings have significant effects on sample recovery and quality. The soil type and degree of saturation of samples also have a significant effect on sample recovery and sample quality. Transportation and storage of samples were identified as major contributors in moisture loss and sample disturbance. Even with the potential challenges in obtaining a representative sample at depth, MOSTAP samples are shown to be greatly beneficial in evaluating a soil profile and density determination with high confidence, especially when paired with index tests. The opportunity is identified where diligent sample measurement and tracking can provide reliable and invaluable information about a relevant soil stratum. Advanced laboratory testing (e.g., triaxial and oedometer tests) is not recommended on undisturbed MOSTAP samples, these should rather be remolded for critical state line testing, if relevant.

Combining penetration resistance and shear-wave velocity to quantify soil microstructure for liquefaction assessment

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 14:53:40 +0200

This paper discusses two ratios involving penetration resistance and shear-wave velocity (VS) that have been proposed for quantifying the influence of microstructure in aged and cemented soils for liquefaction assessment. The first ratio is the small-strain shear modulus (Gmax) divided by the cone penetration test tip resistance (qc). Because Gmax/qc is dimensionless, it can be expressed as a ratio of measured VS divided by a function of qc with velocity units. The second ratio is the measured VS divided by an estimated VS from penetration resistance-VS relationships for relatively young sand deposits (MEVR). The advantages and limitations of both ratios are discussed. The influence of various fines content (ð¹ð¹ð¹ð¹) corrections on ðððð, penetration resistance-ðððð relationships, and a relationship between MEVR and the liquefaction cyclic resistance ratio correction factor for microstructure (ð¾ð¾ð·ð·ð·ð·) is evaluated using two published datasets. The results show the ð¹ ð¹ð¹ð¹ correction to ðððð is minimal in the range for which the correction was derived. The ð¹ð¹ð¹ð¹ corrections to qc and standard penetration test blow count are significant for silty soils, having a net effect of lowering the penetration resistance-ðððð relationships and increasing the slope of the ðððððððð-ð¾ð¾ð·ð·ð·ð· predictive relationship

Site characterization of large hydropower projects

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 14:53:19 +0200

Hydropower plays an important role in the context of the energy transition contributing to the reduction of the CO2 emission through a permanent power production as run-of-river scheme as well as for energy storage as pump-storagescheme. Nowadays large hydropower plant designs comprise tunnel, cavern and shaft excavation work known as head race and pressure tunnel or pressure shaft. The powerhouse is often placed within a large underground cavern. The results of a ground investigation phase including the determination of in-situ parameters derived from tests in boreholes drilled from the surface are crucial for a preliminary design of the hydropower plant. Additional in-situ measurements are frequently carried out within an exploratory tunnel to confirm the first predictions and to characterize in detail the mechanical and hydraulic properties of the rock mass. Solexperts portfolio of in-situ well tests comprise the assessment of hydraulic properties vs. depth through hydraulic testing of isolated borehole sections along the borehole axes, the determination of geomechanical parameters like deformation- and Young’s modules through borehole dilatometer tests and rock stress measurements conducting hydraulic mini-frac tests. Plate load tests which use surficial loading are performed in small tunnels or test adits to measure the deformation characteristics of a rock mass on a larger scale.

Ground Model Workflow with DAARWIN

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 14:52:25 +0200

Structural geological models are used to understand and visualize how geological materials are organized below the Earth surface. This technique is crucial in different fields of geomechanics such as mining to identify mineral deposits and to plan mining operations, environmental engineering to assess the contamination of soil and groundwater and to design remediation strategies, and civil engineering to design foundations, tunnels and other underground structures. In this sense, ground models allow the engineer to understand and to visualize the spatial organization of subsurface geological structures and, additionally, it is possible to evaluate the spatial distribution of material properties which is essential in any geomechanical study prior to any project. In this context, SAALG Geomechanics through DAARWIN web platform provides a suitable software tool for the geotechnical engineer to perform the complete ground model workflow. The process starts introducing borehole data from different sources and then, the engineer can visualize and interpret borehole logs, define geomechanical units and assign parameters from in-situ and laboratory tests, as well as assign units’ geometry from geological layers. Finally, the user can feed this information to the system to obtain a 2D cross-section, that can be exported to the commercial Finite Element software PLAXIS and use this PLAXIS model for geotechnical design and more advanced analyses such as Sensitivity analysis and Back-Analysis, which are also implemented in DAARWIN.

Combined resistivity and seismic measurements along linearly extended earth structures - acquisition and interpretation approaches

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 14:45:26 +0200

Geotechnical parameters of linearly extended earth structures, such as embankments and earth dams, are usually obtained from localized investigations through drilling or penetration tests, commonly time and cost consuming. Non-invasive geophysical investigations may be considered an alternative approach for the geotechnical characterization of these structures, given their surveying speed and their depth and length of investigation. Particularly, new acquisition approaches with the use of appropriate streamer cables could strongly reduce the acquisition times making geophysical surveys ideal for a preliminary screening of these structures. Specifically, resistivity and seismic methods can be adopted given that these two methodologies could offer complementary information with respect to the pore fluid properties (resistivity methods) and the solid skeleton characteristics (seismic methods). Also, through specific correlations, relevant geotechnical parameters for the evaluation of the stability of these structure and its efficiency (i.e. hydraulic conductivity, porosity and others) can be obtained. In this paper a review of the methodologies developed in recent years for data acquisition along linearly extended earth structures is reported with special focus on the use of combined electric and seismic streamer cables. Suggestions with respect to interpretation approaches and data elaboration are also analysed.

Long-Term ERT Monitoring Data Analysis to Set Slope Instability Attention Thresholds Based on Water Level Fluctuations

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 14:45:07 +0200

In this paper, we discuss the results of long-term electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) monitoring of a critical slope located on an important high-speed railway gallery. Data were acquired by a customized ERT system from 24 March 2022 until 31 august 2023 and were analysed with the final objective of defining thresholds of attention for resistivity changes derived from water table fluctuations after heavy rainfalls. This helps the authorities in reducing the hydrogeological risk impacts related to potential slope instabilities triggered by extreme meteorological conditions. In order to continuously observe water level changes, five piezometers were also integrated with the ERT monitoring system which is also accompanied by a meteorological station. All datasets were inverted using a time-lapse algorithm that was optimized to minimize artifacts generated by the subsurface complex geology of the site. Due to the long period considered, seasonal temperature corrections on resistivity values were also explored by calibrating a seasonal model of soil temperature versus depth and evaluating the corresponding effects on the resistivity tomographic maps. Finally, the correlation between resistivity values and piezometric levels was studied by producing scatterplot graphs for a selected subzone of the ERT sections. Based on this analysis, a preliminary threshold of attention was defined.

Early Screening for Improved Management of Geo-risks

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 14:44:48 +0200

Across several sectors including medicine and agriculture and the extractive industries, availability of early information from screening delivers disproportionate downstream benefit to key stakeholders. With the aim of reducing uncertainty to manage geo-risks in the subsurface, site characterisation for geotechnical engineering is mainly executed following a project owner’s final investment decision (FID) and continues to rely predominantly on conventional investigation techniques that inform both the geotechnical design and construction phases of infrastructure development. However, historical project performance of capital works developments tells us that geo-risks continue to play a role in unwanted engineering business outcomes in the form of schedule and cost overrun associated with earlier cost underestimation. Fundamentally, we recognise that the construction sector would benefit from earlier, faster, and better representation of the subsurface in the top 50 m to 100 m using techniques with a light footprint and low permitting requirements at the earliest stages of project development. We describe an example early-phase screening solution based on adapted ambient noise tomography. Screening at feasibility and planning phases can help to mitigate the impact of human bias arising from epistemic uncertainty in the subsurface and can improve early decision-making where the opportunity to influence project outcome is greatest and at lowest cost. Screening coupled with an optimised conventional intrusive investigation during the execution phase can complete the information set for full project design at considerably reduced levels of subsurface uncertainty leading to improved engineering business outcomes. The industry is encouraged to promptly incorporate the screening philosophy into feasibility and planning activities and into design codes for geotechnical design and construction.

Interpretation of geotechnical data from an upstream dam for preparation of the site response analysis

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 14:44:26 +0200

Despite seismic studies in Brazil not being common in the engineering practice as Brazil is a tectonically stable continental region, recent Brazilian regulations require seismic evaluation as supporting studies for decommission and decharacterization projects. Although there exist some critical issues such as limited laboratory data because of sampler processes related to the upstream raised tailings dams, standard tailings and soil foundation characterization, in addition to the field investigation including piezocone (CPTu), seismic piezocone (S-CPTu) and geophysical surveys are the main sources for supporting the characterization of the dynamic properties of the geostructures. This paper presents a brief discussion about the main aspects concerning to the site response analysis carried out for an upstream raised tailings dam (case study), located in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Frequency domain 1-D amplification analyses were conducted by relating local-like representative seismic records and dynamic natural characteristics of the soil profiles to evaluate the seismic response of the case study. Results showed that the maximum accelerations along the profiles are greatly influenced by the presence of the soft foundation tailings layers, and the level of amplification or attenuation is strongly influenced by the tailings layer thickness as well as the frequency content of the applied ground motions. The study pointed out that the site-specific response can support the definition of the appropriate seismic parameters to be used in engineering projects in Brazil.

New processing methodology of televiewer data for the definition of geotechnical and structural domains

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 14:44:04 +0200

Six structural domains were defined using data from acoustic televiewers and oriented boreholes as part of the reopening of the old Aznalcóllar mining site in Sevilla, southern Spain, by Minera Los Frailes (MLF). Additionally, geotechnical subdomains were defined within each structural domain, classifying the subdomains based on geotechnical parameters obtained from the geotechnical logging of boreholes and through correlations. The methodology used to define the domains allows mine design and planning to be done with enough accuracy to determine the underground excavation needs and the systematic methodology. The main source of this new structural information was acoustic borehole image televiewers (ABI) and, on a much minor scale and as a complement for ABI data, oriented boreholes. This paper describes the methodology used for this definition, some of the challenges encountered during the investigation, the main results obtained and the utility of these defined structural domains in the development of the MLF mining site reopening. Additionally, a preliminary approach to an updated methodology in the definition of structural domains with the combination of televiewer data, both acoustic and optical, with data obtained from other downhole probes is also included.

Multi-Method Geophysical Assessment of a Shallow Complex Landslide

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 14:43:24 +0200

This study demonstrates the value of combining multiple non-invasive geophysical methods through a case study at a landslide along Highway 7 near Jasper, Arkansas, USA. Geophysical testing was conducted using Multichannel Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW), Horizontal to Vertical Spectral Ratio (HVSR), and Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) along with select borings. Geophysical testing was aimed to provide a high-resolution and almost continuous image of subsurface conditions (including bedrock depth) for the slide area and to locate the groundwater table/highly saturated zones within the slide area which contribute to the slope movement. MASW revealed a highly variable depth to the weathered bedrock along the observed zone of displacement becoming shallower downslope. ERT detected saturated zones associated with observed seeps and springs in the area which were feeding water into the unstable zone. A low resistivity zone on the north side correlated to wet spots, while south of the highway saturation occurred near the deeper bedrock interface. Additionally, using a grid pattern HVSR approach, a high-resolution image of the shallow and complex bedrock topography was generated across the slide area providing valuable information for the repair design. Overall, the results of the combined geophysical approach provide a high-resolution image of landslide subsurface conditions which is critical for stability analyses and slope repair design. This integrated geophysical approach offers a more sustainable, rapid, and cost-effective solution for comprehensive landslide characterization and slope stability assessment when combined with conventional methods.

Use of Macroseismic Intensity Data to Validate the Ground Motion Prediction Model in Albania

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 14:42:26 +0200

Macroseismic observations are a valuable tool, that can be used for the verification of site response and attenuation. Hence, in the framework of a bilateral project supported by Central European Investment Fund and with the extensive support of Global Earthquake Model Foundation to update the national seismic hazard model of Albania, intensity maps that contained more than 6000 macroseismic observations for 168 shallow (h

In-Situ Cyclic Direct Shear Tests on Volcanic Soil in the Site of Landslide Due to Earthquake

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 14:41:24 +0200

Volcanic pumice soils are widely distributed in many countries. Mechanical properties of those need to be characterized since seismic ground motions can cause serious hazards such as large-scale slope failures and long-distance debris flows. Since volcanic pumice generally retains extremely high porosity and has a sensitive structure, the natural soil structure is easily broken during sampling or transportation. Therefore, it is preferable to conduct in-situ tests without disturbing the original structure of the soil. In this study, an in-situ direct shear test device was developed, and in-situ cyclic direct shear tests were performed on volcanic pumice (Ta-d). This pumice soil is considered to be the main cause of slope failure in Atsuma, Hokkaido, Japan, due to Easten Iburi earthquake in 2018. Laboratory direct shear tests were also conducted using undisturbed sample taken from the site. The results revealed that soil structure significantly affects shear strength. To evaluate the mechanical behavior of such sensitive soils, it is crucial to use specimens with as less disturbed specimens as possible. The newly developed in-situ direct shear test device was used to determine the cyclic shear strength of sensitive volcanic pumice soils.

MASW Joint Analysis of Rayleigh and Love Waves for Site Characterization

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 14:40:28 +0200

The determination of reliable shear-wave velocity models using Multichannel Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW) has increased importantly for site characterisation studies due to their use in geotechnical studies and regulations. The standard MASW approach is commonly based on the analysis of vertical component of Rayleigh waves, which can result in inaccurate and potentially erroneous interpretations by personal bias. Thus, we present the joint analysis of different and independent multi-component data based on Rayleigh and Love waves to obtain 2D Vs sections for site characterization. Those seismic data were recorded using a landstreamer consisting of 8 triaxial 4.5Hz geophones. To generate Rayleigh waves, the blows were given vertically on a plate, and for the Love waves the blows were given laterally on a horizontal wooden beam. A joint analysis of Rayleigh and Love waves data was conducted on seismic data recorded from the metropolitan area of Granada city (Spain) to generate their dispersion curves. This new approach enabled a proper identification of fundamental- and higher-mode surface waves facilitating the reliable reconstruction of subsurface Vs profiles through a robust joint inversion process. The MASW 1D Vs versus depth models were corroborated at several test sites by the information obtained from boreholes. Thus, the main geological formations could be inferred from MASW 2D Vs sections down to a depth of 30 meters, as well as the Vs30 parameter to perform a reliable seismic microzonation of the study area. This methodology provides a very well constrained inversion procedure capable of providing a robust subsurface Vs model for site characterization.

Classification of an Exposed Mixed-Sediment Tidal Flat Using Synthetic Aperture Radar

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 14:39:25 +0200

Estuarine tidal flats represent a critical environment for maintaining healthy ecosystems. The geotechnical characterization of such environments is often challenging due to their soft nature and remote locations. Thus, the goal of this study is to explore the use of remotely sensed, high resolution (pixel resolution of ~0.5 m) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data for characterizing these sediments. Towards this goal, the variability of sediment properties (median gain size, moisture content, fines content, and classification following the Unified Soil Classification System (USCS) were documented for a mixed tidal flat located on the Great Bay Esturay in New Hampshire, USA. A sediment classification scheme based on SAR, originally proposed by Gade et al. (2008), which utilizes the correlation length to characterize sediments based on the percentage of particles

3D Resistivity Survey of a Weathering Profile of Metamorphic Rocks in State of Pernambuco, Brazil

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 14:38:32 +0200

This paper aims to study a weathering profile of crystalline rocks in the City of Camaragibe, State of Pernambuco, Brazil. For this purpose, a survey using electroresistivity was conducted. A regular mesh was performed aiming at 3D acquisition. The target area of the survey has 3 meters of depth (the Data Collection Platform, abbreviated as PCD) responsible for recording soil moisture information. An auger soil sampler was also made reaching a depth of 3 meters to describe and identify the substrate. The main objectives of the paper are to determine the geoelectrical characteristics of the materials and relate them to the strata previously identified and the soil moisture profiles. A goal was also to calculate moisture from the resistivity model and compare the results with those obtained by the PCD. The results allowed the creation of 3D geo-electric models, extending to a depth of 8 meters. It was also possible to create a 3D soil moisture model. It was possible to make a correlation between the geoelectric horizons and the layers of the rock alteration profile. The humidity results obtained by PCD and the resistivity model were examined, indicating favorable prospects for applying the method.

Muon Tomography for Mapping and Monitoring Tailings Storage Facilities

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 14:38:01 +0200

Tailings storage facilities pose an increasingly significant global challenge for mining companies. Given that tailings, the by-products of mine processing plants, demand meticulous management due to the potential hazards associated with storage facility failures, continuous attention is imperative. The repercussions of such incidents can lead to profound and enduring environmental damage in downstream regions. Therefore, consistently monitoring the structural stability of these facilities is paramount to ensure the safety and sustainability of both active mining sites and legacy mines. This paper introduces an innovative approach using muon tomography to analyze the internal density structures of tailings dams. The research, conducted at the BHP Prominent Hill Mine site in South Australia, presents a pioneering method and technology for examining the internal density distribution of tailings storage facilities using muons. Muons, being a natural source of radiation capable of generating X-ray-like scans of large structures, offer a distinctive opportunity to gain insights into the inner structure of tailings storage facilities. Moreover, this technology holds the potential to serve as a foundational platform for future research in the development of early warning systems for detecting structural changes.

Site Characterization with Surface Waves in Kazakhstan

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 14:37:33 +0200

The South and Southeast Kazakhstan regions exhibit notable seismicity due to intricate tectonic interactions, albeit experiencing infrequent catastrophic earthquakes. Proximate to the convergence of the Eurasian and Indian plates, this region witnesses frequent seismic activity, particularly in cities like Almaty near mountainous terrain. Given the significant seismic activity, comprehensive site characterization is imperative. Traditionally, evaluating dynamic soil properties relies on conventional borehole logging techniques. However, the emergence of the multi-channel analysis of surface waves (MASW) offers advantages in cost, time efficiency, and non-invasiveness. Despite its benefits, MASW remains underutilized in Kazakhstan and is absent from local building codes, unlike neighboring CIS countries. This study aims to demonstrate the applicability of the MASW method for site characterization in Kazakhstan's seismic regions. Through extensive work, shear wave velocity (ðð ) values were estimated and compared with reference data obtained from seismic refraction and dilatometer testing. The results showed significant agreement, highlighting the suitability and effectiveness of the MASW method in Kazakhstan.

Identification of density of earth-fill dam using muography

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 14:37:11 +0200

In recent years, the high probability of large-scale earthquakes occurring in Japan has become a major social concern; and thus, it is urgent that countermeasures and maintenance be implemented for the protection of large-scale societal infrastructures from damage due to these earthquakes. When large-scale societal infrastructures are inspected, an internal diagnosis is required to evaluate the damage condition of the structures in order to see what countermeasures should be planned ahead of the occurrence of any earthquakes. However, conventional methods of diagnosis, such as groundpenetrating radar, have their limitations. Namely, they provide high-precision results in shallow areas, but results with reduced resolution in deeper regions. To overcome the shortcomings associated with these conventional methods of exploring depths out of the investigation range, one approach is to use muography1). This paper investigates the applicability of muon exploration techniques, using cosmic-ray muons, to probe the density of structures inside earth-fill dams.

Comprehensive geometric characterization of the subsurface using Microseismic Resonance: identifying sinkholes by modelling the bedrock surface and karstic features in a challenging environment

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 14:26:28 +0200

This study presents a comprehensive assessment of the subsurface characteristics at a Unigel processing facility in Pedra Blanca, Sergipe, Brazil, utilizing Microseismic Resonance (MSR). The facility experienced the emergence of sinkholes and depressional features near critical infrastructure, prompting the need for a thorough subsurface characterization. MSR, a burgeoning microseismic technique, was employed due to its ability to geometrically characterize subsurface structures without the limitations of large geophone arrays. Fieldwork involved MSR data collection on a 10m by 10m grid over a 37.14 hectare area, complemented by borehole data and a gravity survey. Results revealed the intricacies of complex stratigraphy with Quaternary fluvial deposits overlying Early Cretaceous carbonates with karstic morphology. MSR data processing produced a holistic geometric model of the subsurface, including the identification of karstic features. Comparison with borehole data demonstrated high accuracy, with MSR Local Component (LC) data rendering a bedrock surface of approximately 99% accuracy. MSR Full Spectrum data (FS) is correlated with the gravity study validating the presence of karstic structures. This study showcases MSR as a powerful, non-invasive tool for rapid and accurate subsurface characterization, crucial for infrastructure security and environmental assessment

Seismic Interferometry Technique for Characterization of Loose Soil Layers

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 14:26:04 +0200

Surface wave tomography is a feasible method to provide complementary data to better understand the continuity of soil strata. It may also be used to determine best locations for invasive testing. Surface wave tomography methods are frequently used to delineate soil-rock interface and determine average shear wave velocity for seismic site class determination. Delineation within the soils layers where the change in seismic velocity within the soil layers are relatively small requires higher resolution data collection and enhanced processing methods than those used historically in surface wave tomography. This study uses a patented imaging and monitoring system based on the passive seismic interferometry technique augmented by active seismic sources at known locations. A dense nodal array of MEMs accelerometers were deployed at a site where known saturated loose materials exist. This paper presents shear wave velocity (Vs) data deduced from surface wave measurements where various, compression wave velocity (Vp) to Vs ratios were considered, especially showing the effect of Vp/Vs ratio, on the Vs data. This ratio which was traditionally assumed can have a significant effect on the inferred Vs. This paper also presents the comparison of deduced Vs data to measured Vs data by seismic cone penetration test and makes some recommendations for how to improve the methods to determine shear wave velocity in soft/loose soils.

Critical Speed of Railway Rections Obtained Using Surface Wave Analysis Tests

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 14:25:46 +0200

In recent years, there has been a global trend towards increasing the commercial speed of high-speed rail lines (HSLs) to cope with expected demand problems. Examples include the new HSLs projects for the UK and California, where the design speed reaches 400 km/h. Therefore, one of the biggest challenges currently faced by the railway sector is the determination of the critical speed value of railway sections. This is true both for future HSLs, due to their high design speeds, and for existing rail lines, due to the intended increase in commercial speed. The critical speed is that train speed that produces a dynamic amplification in the medium underlying the track, causing an amplification of the vertical movement of the track components and the supporting ground such that the stability of the infrastructure and the safety of passengers is compromised. This work sets out the methodology necessary to experimentally study the critical speed of a railway section by in situ applying surface wave spectral analysis techniques, SASW and MASW. The critical speed is determined by the lowest phase velocity of the local minima of the modal dispersion curves, or by the minimum of the apparent dispersion curve. Both methods are equivalent. This paper also presents the results obtained on some Spanish HSLs, both on tracks under construction and in operation. In the cases studied, the ballast layer is the one that presents the lowest shear wave velocity and the minimum of the dispersion curve, so it is the layer that determines the critical speed.

Collapse Risk Evaluation of Subsurface Cavities in Pavements of Full-Scale Test Roads

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 14:25:26 +0200

In order to solve the problem of subsurface cavities in urban areas, industry, government and academia carried out collaborative research over 2018-2020. In this joint research, analysis of existing cavity data, laboratory model experiments, numerical analysis, and full-scale field test, monitoring of the cavity in the road, etc. were conducted. In this study, a full-scale test road was constructed with artificial cavities installed to evaluate the risk of collapse in consideration of the road structure. A series of plate loading tests and falling weight deflectometer tests was conducted on the road surface above a cavity to understand the cavity behaviour. A surface wave survey was also conducted to evaluate the wave propagation on and around cavities. It was found to be reasonable to evaluate the collapse risk of subsurface cavities by the ratio of depth and width of cavities, in which the thickness of the pavement should be excluded from the depth.

Bedrock Depth and Shear Wave Velocity Profile Estimation through HVSR Measurements in the Paraguayan Oriental Region

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 14:25:09 +0200

The horizontal to vertical spectral ratio (HVSR) passive seismic method consists in processing measurements of ambient noise performed in three perpendicular directions. The objective is to define the primary resonant frequency of the site and estimate its amplification characteristics, which can be deduced from visible peaks or troughs in the HVSR curves. The shape of HVSR curves depend on the interaction of waves with the interface between sediments and the formation bedrock and, hence, can be related to the bedrock depth through derived relationships. This work presents 4 study cases in the Paraguayan oriental region where HVSR of microtremors were obtained. Furthermore, the obtained HVSR curves are inverted to get approximate shear wave velocity profiles under the assumption of sub-vertically propagating P and S body waves. HVSR curves were calculated through Geopsy (Wathelet et al. 2020) and the inversion process was made through OpenHVSR (Bignardi et al. 2016), both open-source tools for ambient vibration processing. In general, the method proves to give sufficient accurate estimates of sediment thickness and stratigraphy in typical Paraguayan formations of the oriental region and presents the advantage of being an economical and fast survey option, especially for early stages in a geotechnical campaign

Estimating the fundamental frequency of a sand tailings dam using the H/V spectral ratio method

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 14:24:54 +0200

This study estimates the fundamental frequency of an 85 m height sand tailings dam in Central Chile using the singlestation Horizontal-to-Vertical H/V Spectral Ratio Method (HVSR), calculated from seismic ambient noise and earthquake records. The dam was constructed by compacting hydraulically deposited sands classified from integral copper tailings, following the downstream construction method. A proper estimate of the dam fundamental frequency is critical for evaluating its seismic response and secure the safe tailings containment when subjected to intense ground motions generated by interface and intraslab earthquakes. Results from the HVSR method are compared with those of the Standard Spectral Ratio method (SSR) calculated as the ratio of the response of the dam crest and that recorded at the dam toe. The fundamental frequency of the dam is about 0.9 Hz in the dam central part away from the abutments, but differences in the vibration frequency are identified along the downstream slope and along the crest axis from the north to south abutment. An analytical relationship between the dam fundamental frequency, the dam height, and the shear wave velocity (Vs) profile is validated.

Standardization of Microtremor and Surface Wave Explorations

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 14:24:37 +0200

In recent decades, microtremor and surface wave explorations have been widely applied for geotechnical investigations to estimate the S-wave velocity profile. The estimated S-wave velocity profile provides essential information for site characterization. Since we need to solve an inverse problem with the observed phase velocity of the surface waves to estimate the S-wave velocity profile, acquiring high-quality data is the most critical part. To ensure the data quality and the corresponding results, ISO 24057:2022, array measurement of microtremors to estimate shear wave velocity profile, was developed in 2022. The document specifies appropriate equipment, procedures, data analysis, and reporting for the array measurement of microtremors as a passive geotechnical survey. Since we cannot control the frequency contents in ambient noises, the frequency range with the high power may be limited in the microtremor explorations. In this situation, surface wave exploration can supplement this shortcoming. An example of combining the two results shows that it gives us a dispersion curve in a wide frequency range to estimate the S-wave velocity profile from shallow to deep subsurface structure. Developing a new ISO standard for surface wave explorations by following the microtremor exploration enhances the quality of the estimated S-wave velocity profile. Accordingly, we expect non-destructive and cost-effective investigations to be widely accepted worldwide.

Comprehensive Geophysical Assessment of Complex Geological Terrain in Kadapa Basin, India

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 14:24:19 +0200

Traditional geotechnical investigation consisting of drilling many of boreholes, soil sampling and lab testing becomes uneconomical and time consuming for large and geologically intricate areas. In such cases, non-destructive geophysical surveys offer a time-efficient and economical solution, simultaneously providing an extensive areal coverage of subsurface profiling of geotechnical and geophysical properties. For the estimation of subsurface properties, three geophysical methods were employed in this study, which consisted of Ground Penetration Radar (GPR), Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT), and Multi-Channel Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW). Thus, the sub surface’s shear wave velocity profiles and apparent resistivity profiles were obtained. In the shallow depths, discontinuities and fractures were studied using electromagnetic radargrams from GPR. These tests were complemented with borehole exploration at the site. Results obtained from surface-based methods were validated against bore log data and visual observation of surface terrain. Subsequently, bore logs were integrated with the geophysical survey results to construct an integrated subsurface profile. The integrated subsurface profiles presented a three-layer subsurface structure consisting of dense gravelly sand in the top 1m, followed by strong rock formations and, ultimately, very strong fractured rocks. The extent of fracture in the rocks was studied using samples obtained from boreholes and available trenches at the test location. These findings helped compare the three methods and their applicability in delineating different subsurface layers in this study. GPR proves to be effective at shallow depths, while ERT and MASW help investigate deeper layers better. Further, this study offers critical insights for site characterization and engineering decisions in complex geological environments, improving the knowledge base of efficient and reliable subsurface evaluation techniques.

Passive Seismics Monitoring Applied to Rock Block Stability in the Montserrat Massif

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 14:24:00 +0200

The Montserrat Massif (Catalonia, NE of Spain) is a natural and cultural heritage where rockfall risk arises. Therefore, a risk mitigation plan is underway, including rockfall monitoring at different scales using different techniques. Particularly, the rock block A3-6, menacing the rack railway leading to the monastery, has been monitored since 2010 by extensometers that show the cyclic movement due to the annual thermal cycle, which is mainly recoverable, but small residual plastic derivations have been detected in a varying amount, along years. At the end of 2021, stabilization work has been carried out. The block has been monitored with passive seismic techniques before, during, and after these works in order to detect signs or evidence of evolving stability similar to previous experiences in the Alps. Two main results have been found. On the one hand, a slight difference in the recorded ambient noise between the potentially unstable block and the rear massif was detected, for both the H/V spectral ratio and the polar spectrogram. A characteristic resonance frequency of the block is observed around 20 Hz in the direction of the toppling instability mechanism. On the other hand, during the drilling works of the anchor bolts, it was possible to clearly detect when the drilling hammer crossed the rear joint of the block. This allows confirming the assumed geometry of the block and the required anchor length, as well as a qualitative assessment of the persistence of the joint and its mechanical contact.

A Review of Laboratory Cone Penetration Test (CPT) in Unsaturated Soil

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 13:00:08 +0200

Cone penetration testing (CPT) is a common site investigation method used to determine soil profiles and characterize in-situ soil properties. However, most of the existing interpretations of CPT data are established for dry or saturated soil. In recent years, studies have shown that ignoring the matric suction effect in unsaturated conditions during data interpretation could lead to biased soil characterization and soil property estimates. Still, due to the lack of fundamental understanding of the mechanics during cone penetration in unsaturated soils, accounting for the matric suction effect on the CPT data-soil properties/characterization is not clearly defined, and more laboratory testing in controlled environments is required to fill this gap in knowledge. Existing studies are different in terms of penetrometer diameters (dcpt), chamber dimensions, penetration rate, sample preparation, and suction control techniques. This paper first presents a review of the existing literature on CPTs performed in unsaturated soils in a controlled laboratory environment and discusses the effects of the aforementioned factors on the measured tip resistance. In addition, new results from centrifuge CPTs performed with controlled water levels in a rigid chamber are presented. For the purpose of such experiments, a 12.7 mm diameter miniature cone penetrometer was designed and fabricated to measure tip resistance values. Unsaturated CPT data show that the presence of matric suction in the soil tends to increase the tip resistance measurement during the cone penetration process. More tests are planned in the future to quantify this increase in CPT response with respect to other soil properties.

Interpretation of CPTu in Sensitive Fine-Grained Soils and Prediction of Residual Excess Pore Pressures in Consolidating Soils

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 12:59:51 +0200

Robertson (1986) soil classification on Sensitive Fine Grained Soils using CPTu is of interest since the variation of these soils include those of Consolidating Soils. However, the classification does not include into detail such as the influence of the existence of excess pore pressure prior to penetration testing or what is the contribution of the excess pore pressure to the total penetration resistance. Rahardjo et al (2008) studied this phenomena by extrapolation of the dissipation test data to determine the residual excess pore pressure which play an important role in CPTu testing. Further, Rahardjo et al (2016) continued investigation of the CPTu in Consolidating Soils using Bq, Bq* and Effective Stress Concept (Rahardjo et al. 2017). These findings have been very useful when using CPTu in very soft soils and ultrasoft soils where the undrained shear strength of the soils is very low. This paper is the results of several studies of CPTu testing in marine clays, lacustrine, ultrasoft soils or even peats. The author found that there is significant value of Bq and Bq*, hence are parameters of importance when dealing with soft soils and discussed in more detail. Recent applications are in very soft soils and peats in Sumatera and East Java mud eruption which are are also included.

Effective Friction Angle of Intermediate Grain Size Soils from Variable Rate Piezocone Penetration Test

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 12:59:36 +0200

The effective friction angle (') is one of the most sought soil properties in geotechnical analysis and design that controls the fundamental soil strength behaviour. In this paper, A recently compiled database on intermediate grain size soils that were tested by variable rate piezocone penetration tests (VRCPTU) is used to examine an effective stress limit plasticity solution using piezocone data developed by NTH (Norwegian Institute of Technology) towards prediction of the geomaterials’ effective stress friction angle. It is shown that penetration rate during probe advancement influences the CPTU measured data and the drainage conditions can be indicated by corresponding normalized cone resistance and normalized porewater pressure measurement. Further analysis revealed that an input parameter termed the angle of plastification (β) from the CPTU solution correlates with soil contraction and dilation tendency and can be used to evaluate the 'of investigated soils, together with other normalized CPTU measurements. The tentative suggested formula of β for intermediate soils undergone VRCPTU testing is given based on the investigated database. A comprehensive testing program on the Yellow River Delta (YRD) silts in China and a silty geomaterial from northern Italy in Europe including benchmark laboratory triaxial tests on high quality samples, field and calibration chamber variable rate CPTU are showcased to demonstrate the verification of the NTH solution for evaluating 'of intermediate grain size soils.

Effect on the Local Seismic Response Produced by the Construction of Rafted Piles Foundation

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 12:59:18 +0200

The seismic forces must be properly defined as required by European geotechnical design Codes. They are dependent from the morphological and stratigraphic characteristics that determine the local seismic response. The local seismic response can be evaluated using a simplified approach which is based on the classification of the subsoil according to the values of the shear wave propagation speed Vs. In the present case study, to complete the quay of the Rovigo Interporto (facing the River Canal Bianco), where a not negligible load is planned to be applied (50 kPa), has been designed a foundation with a large slab founded with not pre-casted reinforced concrete piles diameter 350 mm, drilled without removing soil, with vibrating casing, for settlement reduction (rafted piles as settlement reducers), on an area of approximately 6000 m2. The subsoil in this area, from geological and geotechnical point of view, is very variable and with layers of soft clay and loose sand or silt, with no presence of a dense and uniform sand layer where to transfer loads to. Moreover, the geotechnical model was complicated because of the presence of an old diaphragm wall with anchors (whose projection in plant covers around half of area) and was designed a large underground basin for hydraulic invariance. For this reason, an extensive campaign of CPTU and DMT tests, together with boreholes, sampling and laboratory tests was carried out in this area, which allowed a detailed characterization of the subsoil. Through direct measurement of seismic micro-tremors, carried out before and after the installation of the piles, has been evaluated the modification of the resonance frequency of the site, and modification of the propagation speed of the shear waves Vs induced by the slab over rafted piles over the entire area.

Application of two analytical CPTU solutions to sensitive clay in Québec

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 12:58:24 +0200

A recent series of CPTU soundings in sensitive clay at the Louiseville Quebec test site has been published, allowing for the application of two closed-form analytical solutions based on: (1) effective stress limit plasticity and (2) hybrid cavity expansion-critical state methods. These are used for geoparameter interpretations including: effective stress friction angle, undrained shear strength, yield stress ratio, undrained rigidity index, and the coefficient of consolidation. Profiles of these soil parameters are compared with the benchmark values obtained from available series of previous and present laboratory testing programs at this site, including index testing, triaxial compression, and one-dimensional consolidation. Piezocone dissipation tests are used to assess the coefficient of consolidation which are validated by pressuremeter holding tests and lab oedometer tests. An empirical CPTU screening method identifies the Louiseville site as underlain by sensitive clay, versus a regular insensitive clay deposit, whereas soil behavior type charts using Q-F-Bq indicate the soils are either silt (zone 4) or regular clay (zone 3). The alternate screening method is verified by field vane and laboratory fall cone that show the clay is in fact sensitive (average St ≈ 22).

Back Analysed Interpretation of Yield Pressure from CPT using Bq

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 12:58:04 +0200

A sand and gravel quarry has been backfilled with clays and silts washed from the quarried materials. The quarry is now being repurposed for an industrial development. Prefabricated vertical drains and surcharge have been installed to consolidate the soft sediments. Settlement plates and vibrating wire piezometers were installed to track the performance of the surcharge. CPTs have been performed adjacent to the settlement plate / VWP installations in order to confirm thickness of soft soils and to assess their yield pressure in order to facilitate back analyses. A Medusa dilatometer test was also performed as an independent measurement. Correlation between the CPT and DMT showed that Nkt was much smaller than the normal range and the Nkt factor appeared to be consistent with Bq interpretations. Similarly, the coefficients used to interpret yield pressure lay at the high end of the range and could be justified through correlation with Bq.

Investigation of the Relationship Between CPT Cone Resistance and Relative Density for a Range of Granular Soils

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 12:57:50 +0200

This paper presents an investigation of the effects of the properties of reconstituted granular soils on the relationship between CPT cone resistance (qc) and friction angle. The results from a large number of calibration chamber tests conducted at a number of stress levels involving soils with varying shapes, compressibility and mineralogy are presented. The paper also provides data recorded in a parallel series of investigations into the mechanical properties of the granular soils employed in the chamber tests. It is shown that the nature of granular deposits has a strong influence on the relationship between qc and relative density, and that there is a near linear relationship between the cone resistance and the critical state friction angle for sands reconstituted at a given density and stress level.

Estimation of Cone Factor in Undrained Clay Using Spherical and Cylindrical Cavity Expansions

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 12:57:30 +0200

The current cone factor of piezocone penetration tests is derived based on the assumption of elastic-perfectly plastic soil, and the soil rigidity index in the formula is empirically determined. This study introduces a novel in-situ testing equipment for determining both undrained shear strength and soil rigidity index of clays. The presented technique combines cone penetration test (CPT) and in-situ expansion. Indoor experiments are conducted to test the equipment. Corresponding theoretical analysis is carried out to interpret the experimental results. A hyperbolic hardening soil model for undrained clay is used throughout the derivation process so that the nonlinear stress-strain relation is taken into account. The ALE (Arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian) large deformation finite element method is first employed to analyse the influence factors such as rigidity index, cone roughness, and in-situ stress anisotropy during the penetration process. The formula of cone factor is then proposed and correlated with the limit expanding pressure of the spherical cavity. The rationality of the cone factor is verified by comparing with the ALE analysis results and those published studies. Besides, the limit pressure of in-situ expansion tests is determined based on the load-displacement curve of cylindrical cavity expansion, Specific bearing capacity formula is derived and revised based on finite element analyses. Finally, undrained shear strength and soil rigidity index are solved based on the penetration and expansion results. Interpretation of experimental results shows that the proposed method in conjunction with the newly developed CPT can reasonably predict the undrained strength and rigidity index of soft soils.

Determination of Geotechnical Parameters of a Heterogeneous Tropical Soil Deposit Through Different Penetration Rate CPTu Data

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 12:57:13 +0200

Assessing soil properties through geotechnical tests is a crucial activity to understand its behaviour. Field tests serve as a good approach to characterize the geotechnical behaviour of materials according to their in-situ condition. However, the interpretation of these tests often relies on empirical correlations, which can become complex when dealing with soils with notable heterogeneity. This paper objective is to determine the strength parameters and discuss the consolidation effects for a heterogeneous tropical soil deposit using data from field tests with different rates of penetration and laboratory tests. A layer identified as low-strength soil classified as silty-sand to silty-clay exhibited partial drainage during a standard-rate cone penetration. The approach proposed by Randolph and DeJong (2012) was used to determine the penetration rate necessary to mobilize an undrained behaviour of the material, since the cone penetration results shown that the material is mostly contractive and clay-like. CPTu tests were also conducted with penetration rates of 60 mm/s and 100 mm/s, to proper estimate the undrained shear strength (Su). These tests reinforced the presence of a preconsolidated upper layer, enabling the estimation for the overconsolidation ratio (OCR). For the normally consolidated portion of the residual soil, rapid tests that achieved a normalized velocity (V) associated with distinctly undrained penetration were used to derive the undrained shear strength (Su), with a cone factor (Nkt) estimated from standard-rate tests available. The geotechnical parameters estimated were then compared to the laboratory data results showing a convergence with the parameters estimated by the field tests.

Towards a bio-inspired burrowing robot: Influence of the tip shape for soil vertical penetration.

Jesús Sánchez Pinedo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 12:56:52 +0200

This research exploits biomimicry to engineer innovative solutions for soil exploration and tunnelling in complex environments where soil burrowing is the main challenge. Drawing inspiration from the effective burrowing mechanisms of earthworms, we focused on the development of a untethered bio-inspired earthworm- like robot that faithfully replicates the morphology and behavior of Lumbricus terrestris. While prior efforts have primarily explored the horizontal soil burrowing using small diameter probes, in this study we focused on the vertical burrowing capability of a 30 mm diameter robot body. We conducted an experimental parametric analysis of multiple robot’s tip shapes, concentrating on dry sand as the singular soil type. We inserted each tip at a constant speed and monitored the vertical force magnitude depending on the penetration depth. Higher aspect ratios showed better performance, reducing the penetration force compared to low ratios. Experiments showed that asymmetric tips, designed to enhance horizontal locomotion, do not compromise their performance in vertical burrowing. Additionally, we investigated soil fluidization through pressurized air, that effectively reduced shear resistance and facilitated tip penetration by up to 27%. These findings provide valuable insights into the forces requirements for penetrating deeper soil layers, and are essential for accurately design burrowing robots

Punt d’equilibri entre la riquesa que aporta el turisme a una destinació i els costos que representa acollir turistes

Josep Francesc Valls — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 11:13:03 +0200

Per una banda, el sector es queixa de què no troba empleats i treballadors. Per una altra, els episodis del canvi climàtic malmeten nombrosos indrets de la costa catalana, alguns dels quals ja no es recuperen. Per una altra, la rendibilitat dels negocis, tot i ser mantinguda, es mostra inferior a altres Sectores. Malgrat això, el gaudi del territori i del patrimoni per part dels Natius i dels que venen a visitar-lo segueix sent una oportunitat de mantenir i millorar el que és propi i a la vegada una font de riquesa, d'empreses i de llocs de treballs important, en la mesura que lluny de malmetre el territori i el patrimoni l'enriqueixi.

La pregunta de recerca és si existeix un punt d'equilibri entre la riquesa aportada pel turisme a una destinació i els costos econòmics, socials, mediambientals i altres que representen acollir turistes en aquest moment en el qual avença el canvi climàtic. Si aquest punt d'equilibri és identificable, la transició cap a un turisme verd i digital hauria de ser ràpida o espaiar-la en el temps.

Per assolir aquest objectiu es planteja realitzar un seguit de dinàmiques de grup amb empresaris de l'hostaleria i del sector de l'acollida, així com amb experts en planificació turística.

Es pretén obtenir dues respostes. La primera és on es troba el punt d'equilibri entre els ingressos reals que genera la gestió del turisme i les depeses de tota mena que significa La segona, davant la resposta afirmativa de l'anterior conclusió, com es realitza la transició i a quin ritme.

Creixement i llegat a la pime catalana

Oriol López — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 15:46:02 +0200

Creixement i llegat a la pime catalana

Segons l'Institut d'Estadística de Catalunya (Idescat), les petites i mitjanes empreses (PIMEs) a Catalunya representen aproximadament el 99,8% del total d'empreses. Aquestes empreses generen un 64,9% de l'ocupació total del sector privat i contribueixen amb un 61,4% del valor afegit brut (VAB) de l'economia catalana. Pel que fa al volum de facturació, les PIMEs representen un 61,5% del total (Idescat). Aquestes dades subratllen la importància de les PIMEs en l'economia catalana, destacant el seu paper clau en la creació d'ocupació i la generació de riquesa, però també mostren que el gran repte que tenim al davant és convertir aquesta força en un motor del creixement econòmic del país, sota dues premisses: el que es coneix internacionalment com el gran traspàs generacional de riquesa (empresarial, en aquest cas concret), unit al propi repte de l'estratègia de creixement dels negocis amb les noves generacions.

Hi ha un patró que es repeteix a moltes PIMEs i no és la famosa frase segons la qual la primera generació la crea, la segona la fa créixer i la tercera se la ven. Això és buscar un culpable, enlloc d'una causa. Si anem a la causa, certs problemes es repeteixen a cada generació però, simplement, no totes l'afronten igual. És una constant que la majoria de PIMEs (i els seus líders) acostumen a veure un ràpid desenvolupament en els primers 5 anys (si fan les coses bé); un creixement continu (però més lent) en els propers 5 anys, i un estancament als darrers 5 anys. Això sovint ho veiem amb persones d'entre 45 i 55 anys; i, sota el meu punt de vista, és un dels obstacles empresarials que més em preocupen del nostre país, i que només es pot adreçar amb estratègia.

Aquest informe aborda aquests grans reptes, centrant-nos des del primer moment en la identificació de les prioritats estratègiques que les PIMEs catalanes haurien d'adreçar per a, no només mantenir el ritme de creixement, sinó superar-lo a través d'un més alt valor afegit que repercuteixi en empreses més rendibles, més productives i més sostenibles en el temps. Tres àmbits (guanyar diners, guanyar temps i guanyar talent) que s'hauran de treballar amb estratègies de creixement que mirin al llegat que rebran les generacions futures, a través de l'enfocament en (1) afegir més valor i monetitzar-lo millor, de manera que guanyin rendibilitat; (2) fer els canvis adequats en les operacions per adaptar-se a mercats cada cop més exigents; i (3) convertir els empleats en gestors i líders, per a preparar les noves generacions d'empresaris des del planter.

Les estratègies de creixement són perilloses. Hi ha líders empresarials que tendeixen a prioritzar el creixement ràpid, sense considerar la viabilitat ni la rendibilitat a llarg termini. Mentre d’altres es distreuen en temes menors per por a que guanyar volum signifiqui també guanyar problemes, ja siguin de temps, equip, producte, finances o mercat, entre d’altres. De la mateixa manera que si et trobes un bitllet de cent euros pel carrer, no decidiràs sortir cada dia a passejar a veure si te'n trobes un cada dia, les estratègies de creixement han tenir propòsit, ordre i, finalment, acció.

Un sistema de suport a la continuïtat empresarial: estratègia i resiliència

Oriol Alba — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 14:13:02 +0200

Les petites i mitjanes empreses són el motor econòmic tant de Catalunya com d’Espanya i ara es troben no només amb el repte diari de l’examen del mercat, sinó que també han de conviure amb l’alta incertesa i complexitat, a la vegada que han de fer front als reptes derivats de la transformació digital, la lluita contra el canvi climàtic, la transició energètica, la igualtat de les persones, la manca de personal, les exigències del compliance i a una llarga i complexa teranyina normativa i burocràtica.

És per això que considerem oportú no només afavorir la creació de noves empreses, sinó també dotar-nos de mecanismes que facilitin la continuïtat de les ja existents, com els sistemes de transmissió d’empreses (Reempresa), però també aquells que impulsin la transformació de les empreses, que les faci més fortes i resilients als canvis i imprevistos, i que n’assegurin la supervivència. Eines i instruments de prevenció del tancament d’empreses, esquemes predictius de l’economia que anticipin riscos d’alt impacte, i mecanismes de reestructuració i superació de possibles insolvències. Un sistema complet de suport a la continuïtat empresarial.

Presentació d’una innovadora tecnologia per a la detecció ràpida, a peu de platja, de la qualitat de les aigües de bany

Mariona de Torres — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 12:50:02 +0200

A Digital Twin for Assessing the Remaining Useful Life of Offshore Wind Turbine Structures

Julio García-Espinosa — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 18:40:02 +0200

This paper delves into the application of digital twin monitoring techniques for enhancing offshore floating wind turbine performance, with a detailed case study that uses open-source digital twin software. We explore the practical implementation of digital twins and their efficacy in optimizing operations and predictive maintenance, focusing on controlling the real-time structural state of composite wind turbine structures and forecasting the remaining useful life by tracking the fatigue state in the structure. Our findings emphasize digital twins’ potential as a valuable tool for renewable energy, driving efficiency and sustainability in offshore floating wind installations. These

aspects, along with the aforementioned simulations, whether in real-time or forecasted, reduce costly and unnecessary inspections and scheduled maintenance.

Investigating the effect of cure schedules and cure initiators on sustainable composites for large offshore structures

Akshay Hejjaji — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 18:29:02 +0200

This study evaluates the effect of post-cure schedules and cure initiator form on the mechanical properties of

Glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) laminates manufactured using an infusible reactive thermoplastic resin.

Tensile, flexural, shear and dynamic mechanical analysis tests were conducted. Fractography was also performed.

Specimens fabricated using liquid cure initiator and subjected to an elevated temperature post-cure were

the control specimens. Ambient cured specimens decreased by no more than 12% in the case of tensile properties

(modulus of 90◦ specimens) and by < 14.3% in the case of flexural properties (also modulus in 90◦ specimens).

Furthermore, the difference in mechanical properties of 0◦ specimens fabricated using a powder cure initiator

was observed to be within ≈ 7% of respective properties of control specimens. In the context of fabricating thick

laminates for large-size offshore structures, the results suggest that an extended ambient post-cure cycle in

conjunction with an initiator in powder form can be employed instead of an elevated temperature post-cure

schedule with initiator in liquid form. This is economically beneficial since it eliminates infrastructure

required for elevated temperature curing/post-curing. The risk of porosity induced due to liquid-based initiators

is also avoided.

Methodology and application to assess thermo-mechanical buckling in composite marine structures

Julio García-Espinosa — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 18:28:02 +0200

This paper describes the research performed within the scope of H2020 project FIBRE4YARD in the development of a suitable thermo-mechanical framework to analyse composite structures under fire loads. The thermo-mechanical model uses the adiabatic temperature to obtain the through-thickness distribution of temperature of the triangular shell element, this formulation is able to predict phenomena such as pyrolysis, thermo-mechanical yielding and large displacements (non-linear buckling). An application case of a load-bearing section of a container ship is shown to demonstrate the correctness of the methodology, two type of materials are considered in the analysis, traditional materials such steel and advanced materials like fibre reinforced plastic (FRP) composites.

In-situ polymerizable thermoplastic and bio-epoxy based composites for offshore renewable energy applications.

Akshay Hejjaji — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 18:19:03 +0200

This study evaluates various quasi-static mechanical properties of an in-situ polymerizable thermoplastic and a bio-based thermosetting composite comprising of non-crimp fabric reinforcement for potential use in the next generation of Offshore Wind and Tidal Power platforms. Mechanical properties are characterized under tensile, flexural, in-plane shear and interlaminar shear loading. Results reveal that the evaluated properties differ based upon matrix type. Fractographic evidence from scanning electron microscopy is used to explain the differences observed and was generally consistent in terms of revealing cohesive failure at the fiber-matrix interface for the thermoplastic composite and contrasting adhesive failure for the thermosetting composite. For glass fibre reinforcement, the thermoplastic composite is superior in terms of flexural 90° properties (+20%) while the thermosetting composite performed better in flexure 0° in terms of both strength (+15%) and modulus (+25%). In terms of interlaminar shear, the thermosetting composite exhibited higher strength (+14%) while Tensile and in-plane shear properties are similar for composites of both resin systems. Overall, neither matrix is superior in terms of overall mechanical properties and both matrices show promise as a stepping stone towards the use of more sustainable constituents in offshore structures.

High Fidelity Hydroelastic Analysis Using Modal Matrix Reduction

Julio García-Espinosa — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 18:16:03 +0200

Structural assessment is a main concern when designing and operating any sort of offshore structure. This assessment is meant to ensure that the structural integrity is preserved along the lifespan of the asset, withstanding the worst sea-states that will be encountered and making sure that the accumulated fatigue damage will not jeopardize its structural integrity neither. The purpose of this paper is to present a fast and reliable hydroelastic model. This model is based on time-domain tight-coupling of a three-dimensional FEM (finite element method) linear structural model and a three-dimensional FEM seakeeping hydrodynamics model. In order to reduce the computational cost of structural dynamic simulations, the high-fidelity structural solution is projected onto the modal basis to obtain the modal matrix system and to extend the response amplitude operators (RAO) to the modal responses (MRAO). From there, the number of structural degrees of freedom can be greatly reduced by retaining only those eigenmodes preserving most of the structural elastic energy. The use MRAOs and/or the large reduction in structural degrees of freedom allows us to: first, quickly analyse the large number of loadcases required on the design stage; and second, to implement a digital twin for structural health monitoring in operational conditions. The paper also presents an application case of the developed methodology.

Gestors, fons d'inversió, capital privat i institucional com a clau del desenvolupament econòmic i social del segle XXI (Col·laboració Publicoprivada)

Josep Franch Bellmunt — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 15:28:02 +0200

En una economia global amb una circulació de capital cada vegada més fluida, un món occidental amb uns fluxos d'ingressos més estables que creixents i una despesa pública creixent, ens porten a l'única confluència possible que és la col·laboració publicoprivada.

La col·laboració publicoprivada en un mercat de capitals extremadament permeable i cada vegada més professionalitzat, amb gestors de capital com a garants de l'eficiència inversora, ens donen l'oportunitat de treballar de forma constructiva i a través dels valors compartits cap a una col·laboració eficient i alineada amb l'economia productiva des de la consciència social.

Compression characteristics and fractography of in-situ polymerisable thermoplastic and bio-epoxy based noncrimp carbon and glass fibre composites

Akshay Hejjaji — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 15:23:03 +0200

This experimental work involves characterization and fractography of a bio-based epoxy and an in-situ polymerisable thermoplastic polymer matrix based non-crimp glass and carbon fibre composites under compressive loading. The laminates are characterized under compression loading using a combined loading compression (CLC) fixture. Laminates made using the thermoplastic matrix exhibit higher compressive strength (approx. 20% along fibre direction) compared to the bio-epoxy based laminates. Further, both composites exhibit comparable compressive modulus characteristics. The tested composites are subjected to fractography analysis using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Computed tomography (CT). SEM results indicate a difference in fibre-matrix interface characteristics between the thermoplastic matrix and the bio-epoxy matrix. Additionally, the CT scans reveal a difference in failure modes due to fibre orientations. A difference between failure mode of the exterior and interior plies of the specimens was also noticed. However, no specific influence of matrix type was observed on the overall macroscopic failure behavior.

Numerical Framework for the Coupled Analysis of Floating Offshore Multi-Wind Turbines

Julio García-Espinosa — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 13:41:04 +0200

Floating Offshore Multi-Wind Turbines (FOMWTs) are an interesting alternative to the up-scaling of wind turbines. Since being new incoming concepts, there are few numerical tools for its coupled dynamic assessment at the present time. In this work, a numerical framework is implemented for the simulation of multi-rotor systems under environmental excitations. It is capable to analyse a platform with leaning towers handling wind turbines with their own features and control systems. This tool is obtained by coupling the seakeeping hydrodynamics solver SeaFEM with the single wind turbine simulation tool OpenFAST. The coupling of SeaFEM provides a higher fidelity hydrodynamic solution allowing the simulation of any structural design since using the Finite Element Method (FEM). Besides, a methodology is proposed for the extension of the single wind solver, allowing the analysis of multi-rotor configurations. To do so, the solutions of the wind turbines are computed independently by several OpenFAST instances, performing its dynamic interaction through the floater. The method is applied to the single turbine Hywind concept and the twin-turbine W2Power floating platform, supporting NREL 5-MW wind turbines. The rigid-body Response Amplitude Operators (RAOs) are computed and compared with other numerical tools. The results showed consistency in the developed framework. Agreement is also obtained in simulations with aerodynamic loads. This resulting tool is a complete time-domain aero-hydro-servo-elastic solver, able to compute the combined response and power generation performance of multi-rotor systems.

El transport marítim: Element clau per la competitivitat de l'economia catalana

Marta Gonzalez-Aregall — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 08:11:43 +0200

Aquest article analitza el paper del transport marítim i el sistema portuari en la competitivitat de la indústria catalana. Avalua la gestió portuària actual, els principals factors de competència i els efectes de les crisis internacionals per definir les perspectives futures del sector marítim i el desenvolupament econòmic de la indústria catalana.

Segons la literatura actual, el sector portuari està influenciat per dos factors principals: el funcionament del mercat exterior i el sistema de gestió portuària. En el primer cas, el creixement econòmic d'Àsia ha transformat el comerç internacional, augmentant la rellevància de la ruta Europa-Àsia a través del canal de Suez i el Mediterrani. Tot i els avantatges que pesenten els ports del sud d'Europa (estalvi de combustible i reducció del temps de viatge), el 75% de les mercaderies que passen pel canal de Suez tenen com a destinació als ports del nord d'Europa a causa de la feble connectivitat intermodal dels ports mediterranis. Per millorar la competitivitat, cal enfortir la xarxa terrestre, com el corredor mediterrani, i les connexions de transport marítim de curta distància. A més, en els últims anys, les cadenes de subministrament estan patint disrupcions inesperades com la crisi del coronavirus, el bloqueig del canal de Suez, la guerra entre Rússia i Ucraïna, i els atacs de pirates per la guerra a Israel, generant gran incertesa econòmica i portant a reavaluar les estratègies logístiques. En segon lloc, pel que fa a la gestió, el sistema portuari català segueix un model de governança pública. Per una banda, els ports de Barcelona i Tarragona estan gestionats pel govern espanyol a través de Puertos del Estado, mentre que la resta de ports del territori són gestionats per la Generalitat a través de Ports de la Generalitat. Tot i el procés de reforma espanyol cap a un sistema descentralitzat (Castillo-Manzano et al, 2008), els dos principals ports catalans, Barcelona i Tarragona, no han tingut un traspàs de competències clar sinó que s'ha incidit cap a un model de gestió centralitzat.

Aquest estudi té com a objectiu avaluar l'impacte de diverses reformes, així com les disrupcions externes que han afectat el sistema portuari i la indústria catalana en els darrers anys, a través d'una anàlisi descriptiu de l'evolució del tràfic portuari dels ports catalans, i principalment en els ports gestionats pel govern espanyol: Barcelona i Tarragona.

En primer lloc, s'analitzaran les reformes legislatives enfocades a millorar l'eficiència operativa, augmentar la competitivitat i fomentar la inversió privada, i el seu impacte en el tràfic de mercaderies, la connectivitat i la capacitat dels ports per atraure negocis. En segon lloc, s'avaluarà l'impacte de disrupcions externes que han alterat els fluxos comercials internacionals, creant desafiaments logístics i operatius per als ports catalans, i com aquests han respost per mantenir la continuïtat dels serveis. En tercer lloc, es compararà la competència entre els ports catalans i altres ports del Mediterrani i del nord d'Europa en termes de tràfic de mercaderies, costos operatius, eficiència i sostenibilitat, identificant fortaleses i debilitats. També es consideraran les polítiques de sostenibilitat i innovació tecnològica adoptades pels ports de Barcelona i Tarragona, essencials per a la competitivitat futura. Finalment, es presentaran recomanacions per a futures polítiques i estratègies per enfortir el sistema portuari català..

En conclusió, aquest estudi vol oferir una visió comprensiva de l'evolució del tràfic portuari dels ports catalans, avaluant l'impacte de les reformes, les disrupcions externes i les iniciatives de sostenibilitat i innovació tecnològica, amb l'objectiu final de proporcionar una base sòlida per a la presa de decisions i la planificació estratègica per als ports catalans en els pròxims anys.

Referències

Castillo-Manzano,J.I., Lopez-Valpuesta,L and Perez, J. (2008) “Economic analysis of the Spanish port sector reform during the 1990s”, Transportation Research Part A, 42, 1056-1063.

INDUSTRY 4.0 and SOCIOECONOMIC PROGRESS

Antoni Garrell — Sat, 01 Jun 2024 15:27:04 +0200

Catalonia is a country with a long industrial tradition, made up of an important fabric of SMEs and large companies, indigenous and multinational. This industrial tradition, which over the decades has materialized with an important contribution to the GDP and leading the job generation rankings, saw it lose strength at the end of the last century and the beginning of this one, as a result of the process of offshoring arose as a result of globalization and the growth of manufactured products in countries with low labor costs and few environmental protection rules.

Over the last few years it has become evident that the paradigm of Asia as the world's factory was beginning to falter, the energy costs in terms of transport, the factors associated with product customization, proximity services, the dangers of covid, the change in culture from using and throwing to the culture of conserving and reusing explain the need to develop policies aimed at promoting reindustrialization with sustainability criteria in a global competition framework and generating quality employment. Requirements that will only become possible with a strong, innovative and productive industrial sector that assumes the criteria of Industry 4.0.

Industry 4.0, intelligent factories and products leads to an increase in the competitiveness of the economy based on five components: Innovation, technology, talent, sustainability and inclusive growth.

The challenge of Industry 4.0 can be assumed by Catalonia given that Catalan industry and manufacturing are highly competitive at an international level, as shown by the amounts of exports. To make it possible, involves considering manufacturing as a key sector for economic competitiveness and job creation considering three objectives: the first, making it possible to turn scientific progress into social progress by enhancing the transfer of knowledge and the symbioses between the world of science and the productive world. The second is to facilitate the emergence of new initiatives in areas of emerging knowledge and to facilitate their interrelationship with established companies with proven productive capacity. The third, articulating an administration close to the company, familiar with its problems and challenges with the ability to listen to proposals and turn them into action programs considering the reality of the Catalan productive fabric and the entirety of the Catalan territory

Achieving this challenge in the context described entails the development of an innovative industrial policy that contemplates digital transformation, strengthening the capitalization of companies and bringing research and the University closer to companies and in promotion policies to mergers and alliances between companies to reach the required volume.

The four motors initiative: cooperation and governability, amid energy resources scarcity and climate change dynamics

Daniel Rajmil — Fri, 31 May 2024 16:25:04 +0200

Since 1988, the Four Motors Initiative has offered a joint cooperative framework to the
territories of Catalonia, Baden-Württemberg (BW), Lombardy and Rhône-Alpes (currently
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, AURA). In this, the paradiplomacy means of non-state actors and
regions have been evolving to a more diverse political participation of regional territories in what
was once a traditional matter. The network has expanded from purely economic aspects to a
a diverse portfolio of activities. The complexity of the regions and the cooperative elements that
have emerged from the working framework will be examined in a comparative framework
offered to explore the regions; energy needs during times when the transition towards
sustainable energy models are generating significant pressures due to the growing speed of
environmental deterioration and its implications for climate change as a result of global
warming. This paper proposes a research framework examining how the different regions are
developing energy resource management and related policies, their interlinked dynamics, and
their implications for water management as a critical resource for economic development and
progress.

Initially, there was a clear distinction between regionalization as the outcome of the natural
location phenomenon which led to closer economic ties and regionalism, which intended to
create preferential trading arrangements (Lorenz, 1992). This remained true for most of the
advanced industrialized regions in Europe, Asia and America. Nonetheless, the development of
globalization paradigms pushed regional actors and local actors to be integrated within
international geopolitical dynamics and decisions hand in hand with financial and economic
development. Since the 1970s, financial markets have evolved towards a gradual state of
globalization, stirring further structural change and transformation including developments in
information processing technologies and governments ‘deregulation policies (Allen 2023:1).

There is currently a gap in the academic literature, where conclusive results – only indications –
are lacking on the climate impact on existing energy resources policies and derived
consequences, such as the deficit use of alternative sources or the so named green transition.
This project seeks to carry out an academic contribution, based on economic and policy
indicators, which will help to define the environmental hazards and climate change in the
scarcity contexts in order to contribute to the better definition of public policies.

Tarifes d’aigua urbana: reptes en el context de renovació de les xarxes municipals

Cristina de Gispert — Fri, 31 May 2024 16:01:03 +0200

El document és el propi Abstract previ que es demana per a poder contribuir al Congrés, amb el format de Comunicació breu.

ARTICLE PROVA REVISORS, COMUNICACIÓ, ETC.

Genèric Congrés2025 — Fri, 31 May 2024 14:13:02 +0200

Teletreball i mobilitat: tendències i beneficis ambientals a l'àrea metropolitana de Barcelona

Núria Pérez Sans — Fri, 31 May 2024 12:33:03 +0200

Fins a la primavera de 2020 el teletreball era poc freqüent a Catalunya, tot i ser tecnològicament factible. Malgrat les recomanacions des de les polítiques de conciliació laboral i de reducció de les externalitats ambientals dels desplaçaments per treball, no va ser fins a la irrupció de la pandèmia per covid-19 que aquesta modalitat passà a esdevenir habitual en determinats entorns laborals. Mentre que el 2019 el 2% de la població ocupada de l’àmbit metropolità de Barcelona teletreballava en dia feiner, un any més tard s’arribava al 17%. Després de superar la crisi del coronavirus, el teletreball s’ha estabilitzat al voltant del 10%.

Des del punt de vista de polítiques que busquen reduir els impactes socioambientals de la mobilitat per feina, és crucial conèixer l’impacte que el teletreball té sobre els hàbits de mobilitat quotidiana i sobre les emissions contaminants globals i locals. Cal considerar que els desplaçaments laborals són els que comporten externalitats ambientals més elevades, atès un major ús del vehicle privat i unes distàncies recorregudes superiors als de la resta la mobilitat en dia feiner. En aquest context, l’objectiu de l’estudi és la penetració del teletreball i el seu impacte en la mobilitat de la població a l’àmbit de l’àrea metropolitana de Barcelona durant l’any 2023, així com estimar els potencials beneficis ambientals derivats dels canvis en els consums d’energia, l’estalvi d’emissions de diòxid de carboni i altres contaminants locals.

La principal font de dades és l’Enquesta de mobilitat en dia feiner (EMEF) 2022, que permet analitzar els patrons de desplaçament de les persones teletreballadores respecte de les persones que no teletreballen segons els diverses variables de mobilitat i de característiques sociodemogràfiques (modes de transport, distàncies, temps diaris dedicats a la mobilitat, sexe i edat, nivell de renda, etc.) i observar les diferències en relació amb les externalitats ambientals.

Els resultats mostren que la persones que teletreballen algun dia a la setmana presenten una quota modal dels desplaçaments a peu lleugerament superior a les que no teletreballen mai. També presenten quotes inferiors en transport públic i en vehicle privat, i augmenten els desplaçaments al municipi de residència per l’efecte dels dies que sí que es fa teletreball. Aquestes xifres s’accentuen els dies que es fa treball remot, amb unes quotes d’autocontenció municipal i d’ús dels modes actius encara més elevades. Des del punt de vista del temps persona, els dies de teletreball es guanya al voltant de mitja hora diària de temps lliure o per a desenvolupar altres activitats personals. Si s’observen les jornades presencials de les persones que tenen teletreballen algun dia a la setmana, s’observa un patró de viatge molt similar tant en termes de repartiment modal, autocontenció i distàncies al de les persones que no teletreballen mai. Els canvis en els patrons de mobilitat derivades de la pràctica del teletreball contribueix a reduir les emissions de gasos d’efecte hivernacle i de contaminants locals de la mobilitat quotidiana de la població activa ocupada.

Género y recuperación económica: Impactos y propuestas para una política inclusiva en la UE

Maruxiña Bastida — Fri, 31 May 2024 12:09:02 +0200

Este trabajo investiga las dimensiones de género de las crisis económicas y los procesos de recuperación en la Unión Europea (UE), centrándose específicamente en las medidas de reactivación económica derivadas de la pandemia del COVID-19, al amparo del programa NextGenerationEU. Presenta pruebas empíricas de los efectos diferenciados por género de estas medidas, destacando cómo las respuestas políticas a menudo no tienen en cuenta estas diferencias, exacerbando así las desigualdades de género. Se analiza de forma crítica la gobernanza económica y los planes de recuperación de la UE, incluidos el Fondo de la UE para la Nueva Generación y el Mecanismo de Resiliencia y Recuperación, por su falta de sensibilidad de género. A través de un estudio de caso detallado de España, el documento examina las medidas de recuperación del país e introduce una novedosa herramienta diseñada para supervisar los impactos de género de sus esfuerzos de recuperación económica. Empleando el modelo input-output y el modelo de demanda, el estudio revela la discriminación sectorial y las implicaciones de género de las estrategias de inversión. Además, se proponen acciones concretas para controlar las desviaciones y mitigar las desigualdades. Concluye con recomendaciones para incorporar la perspectiva de género a las políticas económicas y los planes de recuperación a fin de garantizar resultados equitativos. El documento aboga por una integración más eficaz de la perspectiva de género y por un enfoque equilibrado que promueva tanto el crecimiento económico como la igualdad de género como objetivos complementarios.

Creación Comité del Agua para reducir huella Hídrica

Alicia Alegret Maartí — Fri, 31 May 2024 10:58:02 +0200

El agua es un bien escaso en Cataluña y debemos hacer un uso responsable y estrictamente necesario para el funcionamiento de la planta productiva. Para ello se ha creado un Comité del Agua que analiza y supervisa las operaciones buscando oportunidades de mejora en reducción de consumos y ahorro.

Dentro de los aspectos materiales de Delafruit la gestión del agua y de los recursos naturales es el factor medioambiental de mayor coincidencia en la valoración de relevancia tanto por steakholkders como por la alta dirección de la compañía (enero 2024).

La evolución del consumo de agua en Delafruit desde 2014 ha ido estrechamente ligada al crecimiento de la compañía y al ser un recurso natura escaso es obligado optimizar al máximo los procesos para reducir el consumo y realizar un ejercicio preventivo de escenarios futuros contemplando la posibilidad de reutilización de las aguas residuales depuradas.

EJE: Gestión del consumo de agua en industria alimentaria en un contexto de sequía (riesgo de falta de suministro y riesgo de aumento de precio) y de impacto del cambio climático en los recursos naturales en Cataluña. Creación del Comité del Agua al más alto nivel ejecutivo para analizar el contexto, flujos, consumos, impactos en cuenta de resultados, impacto ESG y sostenibilidad ambiental, oportunidades de ahorro y optimización, posibilidad legal de reutilización de aguas residuales, parámetros y usos, inversiones sostenibles a corto, medio y largo plazo ligadas a los compromisos Agenda 2025 y 2030 y análisis de oportunidades de mejora en la gestión integral del ciclo del agua en la planta productiva. Definir objetivos y planes de acción.

TÍTOL: Creación de un Comité del Agua para reducir Huella Hídrica

AUTORS: Xavier Bordonaba, Director de Calidad de Delafruit y Alicia Alegret Martí, B Corp Corporate Officer de Delafruit

JUSTIFICACIÓ DE L’INTERÉS: El calentamiento global puede traer consecuencias a nivel de la disponibilidad de fuentes de agua de consumo. La reducción de la frecuencia de lluvias e incremento de temperatura puede determinar que, fuentes tales como embalses, vean reducidas sus capacidades e incluso desaparezcan. Este escenario, podría afectar el precio del recurso teniendo una influencia económica sobre la empresa e incluso la posibilidad de limitar el consumo a nivel industrial en determinades épocas de emergencia por sequía.

Una optimización en el uso del agua puede significar una forma de adaptación al eventual incremento del precio del recurso. Reducir los requerimientos de agua permitiría compensar los incrementos de costos atribuibles al recurso por unidad productiva.

Delafruit es una compañía B Corp certificada y como tal los estándares de responsabilidad y compromiso con el medio natural son los más altos y exigentes, así que ponemos el foco en la reducción de consumo de agua y reutilización en nuestra industria alimentaria que, por definición, es un sector de alto consumo de este recurso natural cada vez más escaso en la zona mediterránea de Cataluña.

OBJECTIVOS: Reducción consumos y posibilidades de reutilización

RESULTADO: Objetivo reducción 30% en 2025 y reutilización de agua vertida en cauce e impacto de acciones ya efectuades como optimización de limpieza CIP, recuperación de condensados, cambio operativo de procesos de agua por aire comprimido.

CONCLUSIONES:

Necesidad de Inversiones y alianzas con administraciones públicas en convocatoria de ayudas para proyectos de optimización de recursos naturales y sostenibilidad que impacten en reducción de consumo de agua y descarbonización y mejora de eficiencia energética.
Estrategia ESG como palanca de creación de valor
Compañía de valor compartido y triple impacto: económico, ambiental y social

Trazando el camino hacia la resiliencia ambiental: Un enfoque holístico y la metodología del Análisis de Ciclo de Vida

Beatriz Bayo — Fri, 31 May 2024 10:37:02 +0200

La crisis ambiental demanda cambios rápidos en mitigación y adaptación. Aunque la atención mediática se centra en las emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero y el cambio climático, debemos considerar otros impactos. El informe de 2023 de Planetary Boundaries destaca que hemos superado el límite de seguridad en 6 de 9 indicadores, incluyendo cambio climático, integridad de la biosfera, usos del suelo, agua dulce, especies químicas y ciclos biogeoquímicos. Superar estos límites no implica un punto de inflexión inmediato, pero aumenta el riesgo de cambios planetarios, poniendo en peligro la habitabilidad.

El 12 de marzo de 2024, la Comisión Europea publicó una Comunicación sobre la gestión de riesgos climáticos, abordando la forma en que la UE y sus países pueden aplicar políticas para salvar vidas, reducir costes y proteger la prosperidad. Europa se calienta el doble que el promedio mundial y deberá adaptarse a un clima tres grados más cálido, incluso si el calentamiento global se limita a 1.5 grados, como se contempla en el Acuerdo de París. Se esperan temperaturas más altas, olas de calor, sequías prolongadas, precipitaciones intensas, velocidades del viento más bajas y menos nieve. Esta evaluación va acompañada de medidas enmarcadas en el Pacto Verde Europeo, con el objetivo de transformar la economía europea en una moderna, eficiente y competitiva. La meta es convertirse en el primer continente climáticamente neutro para 2050 y disociar el crecimiento económico del uso de recursos naturales. Se busca acelerar el cambio hacia modelos de producción circulares, especialmente en sectores como productos electrónicos, vehículos, envases, plásticos, textiles, construcción y alimentos. Estas medidas se complementan con un mayor empoderamiento del consumidor y la prevención del "Greenwashing" mediante la Directiva Green Claims, que exige certificaciones independientes del compromiso ambiental de las empresas.

En este contexto, la innovación, el enfoque holístico y la participación de la comunidad científica en la reforma legislativa y las medidas de mitigación, son imperativos en la construcción de una sociedad más resiliente ante los desafíos del siglo XXI. El análisis de ciclo de vida (ACV) emerge como una herramienta fundamental para evaluar el impacto ambiental de productos, servicios o procesos desde la extracción de materias primas hasta su disposición final. Proporciona una visión integral y sistemática de los impactos, considerando el uso de recursos naturales, emisiones de contaminantes, consumo de energía y otros aspectos relevantes, permitiendo identificar oportunidades de mejora y la toma de decisiones científicamente fundamentadas y más sostenibles. Ejemplos inspiradores de buenas prácticas no solo demuestran la viabilidad de un enfoque holístico en la gestión ambiental, sino que también señalan un camino claro hacia la mitigación de la crisis ambiental. Al integrar la experiencia científica con la implementación práctica de estrategias de ciclo de vida, podemos forjar un futuro más prometedor para las generaciones venideras.

COM AFRONTAR EL REPTE DE LA NOVA LEGISLACIÓ CSDDD (DILIGÈNCIA DEGUDA) I LA SEVA APLICACIÓ EN LA CADENA DE SUBMINISTRAMENT DE LES ORGANITZACIONS

Beatriz Bayo — Fri, 31 May 2024 10:29:03 +0200

Conscients que la sostenibilitat abasta no només aspectes ambientals sinó també d' impacte social, abordarem la implicació dins de les organitzacions de la nova directiva CSDDD.

La nova legislació sobre diligència deguda, CSDDD (Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive), aprovada per la Unió Europea l'abril de 2024, representa un canvi significatiu en el panorama empresarial cap a un futur més responsable i sostenible per a les organitzacions.

De segur, tindrà una gran rellevància en la gestió interna de les organitzacions ja que exigeix que prenguin mesures per identificar, prevenir i mitigar els impactes negatius de les seves activitats i operacions comercials al llarg de tota la cadena de valor. Una bona implementació de la CSDDD pot aportar també diversos beneficis a les organitzacions, tant en termes econòmics com socials i ambientals.

Per aconseguir tot això, les empreses hauran de desenvolupar polítiques internes que assegurin el compliment dels requisits establerts a la llei CSDDD: caldrà millorar la transparència i la comunicació amb les parts interessades, la col·laboració amb empleats, comunitats locals i organitzacions de la societat civil, enfortir les estructures de governança, etc. Però sobretot, les empreses hauran de realitzar avaluacions rigoroses i millorar la seva gestió de la cadena de subministrament (dels seus proveïdors) per assegurar-se que compleixen amb els estàndards de drets humans i sostenibilitat ambiental.

D'altra banda, l'aplicació d'aquestes mesures també pot significar noves oportunitats per a les organitzacions, com una major confiança dels consumidors i una millor gestió de riscos. A més, la inversió en tecnologies i pràctiques sostenibles ajudarà a construir organitacions més eficients i compromeses amb la sostenibilitat.

L'envelliment de la població, la flexibilitat de la pensió de jubilació i l'impacte en la sostenibilitat del sistema de pensions

JULIA MONTSERRAT — Fri, 31 May 2024 10:07:13 +0200

Antecedents

Les projeccions demogràfiques mostren un important augment de la proporció de persones grans (de 65 anys i més) en les properes tres dècades. La taxa de dependència, calculada com la ràtio de població de 65 anys i més envers la població entre 16 i 64 anys, augmentarà del 31% observat en 2021 fins al 54% en 2050[1]; aquest canvi pot tenir un impacte important, tant en la taxa d’ocupació, com en els ingressos de les cotitzacions socials i, en definitiva, en el finançament de les pensions.

Diversos estudis mostren la necessitat de polítiques destinades a mantenir la taxa d’activitat dels treballadors de més de 54 anys, i especialment dels de més de 65 anys, per tal d’augmentar la taxa d’activitat de l’economia, que vindrà afectada per la disminució de la taxa d’ocupació de les persones més joves.

La recent reforma de les pensions entre 2021[2] y 2023[3] inclou mesures per augmentar l’edat legal de jubilació —67 anys a partir de 2027—, incentivar la jubilació demorada i penalitzar la jubilació anticipada, amb l’objectiu d’allargar la sortida efectiva del mercat laboral i reduir la durada de la jubilació. Però, queda pendent la reforma de la jubilació parcial així com la reforma de la jubilació activa en les seves diverses modalitats.

Objectiu de la comunicació

Descriure la situació actual de la pensió de jubilació -des de la jubilació parcial a la jubilació activa-, les seves limitacions i repercussió econòmiques, així, com els avantatges i desavantatges per a les persones i per a les empreses, i el seu impacte en la sostenibilitat del sistema públic de pensions.

Resultats

Una major flexibilitat de la jubilació parcial en el trànsit a la jubilació definitiva pot beneficiar, tant a les persones —augment de la seva pensió, ser útil en la transmissió de coneixement, entre d’altres—, com per a l’empresa i la societat —augmentar la taxa d’activitat i, en definitiva, la riquesa del país. D’altra banda, la major compatibilitat entre pensió de jubilació activa i ingressos del treball permetrà un major benestar per a la persona i uns majors ingressos fiscals. Aquestes accions junt amb altres per allargar la vida laboral dels treballadors asseguraran en major grau la sostenibilitat del sistema de pensions.

Paraules clau: Envelliment, pensions, jubilació parcial, jubilació activa, taxa dependència, sostenibilitat.

[1] Banco de España. Informe anual 2023. https://www.bde.es/bde/es/secciones/informes/

[2] Ley 21/2021, de 28 de diciembre de garantía del poder adquisitivo de las pensiones y de otras medidas de refuerzo de la sostenibilidad financiera y social del sistema público de pensiones.

[3] Real Decreto 371/2023, de 16 de marzo, de medidas urgentes para la ampliación de derechos de los pensionistas, la reducción de la brecha de género y el

Comerç i ciutat

ELVIRA GARCIA SIMON — Fri, 31 May 2024 10:05:03 +0200

El sector del comerç exerceix un paper fonamental en l'economia catalana, essent un eix dinamitzador de ciutats com Barcelona. L’any 2023, el creixement del PIB de Barcelona ha estat superior al de Catalunya (2,6%) i d’Espanya (2,5%), fet que s’explica per un predomini del sector serveis en l’economia de la ciutat respecte a la dels altres territoris, i especialment gràcies a aquelles activitats amb més volum de valor afegit brut (VAB) com són el comerç, el transport i la hostaleria, que representen un 23,6%.

A partir de l’anàlisi de diferents fonts d’informació i estudis sòcio-econòmics publicats, volem obtenir una radiografia del moment present del comerç de Barcelona, de les seves fortaleses i debilitats, dels seus principals reptes i oportunitats, per tal d’identificar les palanques que contribuiran al desenvolupament estratègic del sector a mig termini, preservant la seva vertebració social en el territori.

Rethinking the institutional framework to manage droughts

Francesc Trillas — Fri, 31 May 2024 07:31:57 +0200

As water is a complex resource essential to human life and numerous activities, which largely departs from the characteristics of both public and private good, governance around its allocation and reallocation for different uses is not trivial. This explains why specific institutions have historically emerged to manage the resource or resolve conflicts arising from the multiple uses that compete with each other. It would be the case of the Water Court of Valencia or the Hydrographic Confederations. These specific institutions must interact with the traditional administration (in Spain, the central government, the autonomous communities and local bodies, which interact in a complex map of competences) and with private or mixed operators where appropriate, as well as with communities of irrigators, operators of energy conversion plants and other groups. The recurring drought episodes in Spain and Catalonia, more frequent and intense as a result of climate change, suggest the importance of thoroughly analyzing how the existing institutions have dealt with these episodes, and detecting dysfunctions and aspects to be strengthened. Climate change, in fact, amplifies a pre-existing phenomenon in much of the territory: drought is the acute manifestation of a structural challenge (long-term water scarcity), therefore, the institutional framework that addresses it it is as important as technological advances or investments to deal with it. Our contribution will make proposals along the lines of a federal improvement of the existing institutional framework, with a special focus on Catalonia, but with a Spanish and European perspective as well, to deal with the risk of drought, specific drought events and to advance the water security in a context of inevitable adaptation to climate change.

Francesc Trillas (UAB) and Gonzalo Delacámara (IE)

The Input-Output Framework of Catalonia 2021. Estimation strategy. The Survey on Intermediate Consumption 2021.

Cristina Rovira — Thu, 30 May 2024 22:35:03 +0200

Topic 2. Determinants of the macroeconomic context

The Catalan Input Output Framework (MIOC 2021) is drawn up on the basis of the European System of Accounts 2010 and aims to carry out a systematic and detailed description of the totality of an economy, its components and its relationships with other economies European guidelines allow methodological homogeneity and comparability of economic data on an international scale. In Spain, the INE only prepares the Input-Output Framework for the whole of Spain, which gives the MIOC 2021 a strategic character in the knowledge of the Catalan economy and constitutes the basis for the preparation of the economic accounting of Catalonia.

For the construction of the MIOC 2021 it has been necessary to define and implement a new edition of the Intermediate Consumption Survey for 2021 (ECI 2021), a fundamental tool for obtaining detailed information on companies with economic activity in Catalonia, especially in purchases, foreign services and investment and their geographical origin. Also, other sources are used, mainly structural surveys of companies, the INE 2021 Intermediate Consumption and Investment Survey, as well as administrative records and tax sources (form 347 and of the Immediate Supply of Information system). In some branches, such as agriculture, energy and those corresponding to non-market services, a specific treatment has been applied for this purpose.

This work aims to describe the main characteristics of the most relevant source for the construction of the MIOC 2021, that is, the ECI 2021. Specifically, it analyzes the sectorization of economic activity, the target sample, the process survey, the types and characteristics of the questionnaires used. At this point, particular emphasis is placed on the description of the type of information requested according to the type of questionnaire to be applied, taking into account whether the company is mono-sector or multi-sector and whether or not it has establishments outside Catalonia.

In this sense, it should be noted that Idescat has developed a specific application for the management of ECI 2021 fieldwork and the definition of questionnaires in electronic format. This application presents the information requested from the reporting units in a structured way by blocks and differentiated according to the type of questionnaire and the sector of activity, an aspect of particular relevance to facilitate the answer.

The adaptation of the questionnaires according to the company's branch of activity (135 different questionnaires), and the effort to detail the main purchases, adapted to each branch of activity, as well as other survey variables, have been keys for obtaining specific, detailed and quality information.

L'envelliment de la població, la flexibilitat de la pensió de jubilació i l'impacte en la sostenibilitat del sistema de pensions

JULIA MONTSERRAT — Thu, 30 May 2024 19:42:59 +0200

L’envelliment de la població, la flexibilitat de la pensió de jubilació i l’impacte en la sostenibilitat del sistema de pensions

Nom de l’eix: Pensions

Autora: Júlia Montserrat Codorniu.

Antecedents

Objectiu de la comunicació

Resultats

Paraules clau: Envelliment, pensions, jubilació parcial, jubilació activa, taxa dependència, sostenibilitat.

[1] Banco de España. Informe anual 2023. https://www.bde.es/bde/es/secciones/informes/

[2] Ley 21/2021, de 28 de diciembre de garantía del poder adquisitivo de las pensiones y de otras medidas de refuerzo de la sostenibilidad financiera y social del sistema público de pensiones.

[3] Real Decreto 371/2023, de 16 de marzo, de medidas urgentes para la ampliación de derechos de los pensionistas, la reducción de la brecha de género y el establecimiento de un nuevo marco de sostenibilidad del sistema público de pensiones.

Transició energètica: Elements per a millorar-ne la governança

Xavier Farriols — Thu, 30 May 2024 19:04:49 +0200

Proposta de Comunicació per a l’eix 1

Partint de la premissa d’un final amb energia 100% renovable i de l’imperatiu ètic de la lluita per la igualtat, la transició energètica es presenta amb una complexitat notable tant per la seva condició de ser mundial com pel fet de necessitar una aproximació multidisciplinària. Aquest és un punt de partida, que assumim, tal com queda plasmat en el llibre que serveix de base per aquesta comunicació: Transició energètica: Què és urgent? Què és important? d’un dels autors, Francesc Reventós Puigjaner, publicat per la Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya.

Com a problema mundial, la controvèrsia és abordada avui pels estats com un tema més de la cooperació internacional i molts són els que no estan disposats a cedir en les seves aspiracions de desenvolupament en les accions que es prenguin. Aquest problema és especialment rellevant tant en països emergents com en països del Sud global. Com a problema multidisciplinari estem davant d’una gestió complexa, tant a l’hora d’entendre els continguts de les especialitats científiques involucrades, com a la de cercar consens entre les parts.

Els resultats d’aquestes circumstàncies són un avenç lent i un dubte sobre el compliment dels objectius traçats. Tot i apreciant els acords i propostes de les successives conferències COP, el consens no arriba i la incertesa no sembla tractada adequadament.

Per bé que són molts els temes afectats d’aquesta problemàtica, la comunicació se centra a dos d’ells, la sobrietat o sostenibilitat i el paper de les centrals nuclears a la transició. Tots dos són tractats amb detall al text de referència, seran resumits convenientment i poden evolucionar en la direcció de produir millores notables en el progrés de la transició. Inevitablement sorgeix la pregunta sobre la suficiència de l’actual governança i ens sumem a la preocupació que també es reflecteix als documents preparatoris de la Cimera del Futur de les NU del proper setembre.

En un eventual reforçament de la governança, els autors consideren indispensable la necessitat de comptar amb un major protagonisme de la comunitat científica per avançar en la creació de consens. Basant-nos amb l’experiència d’haver tractat els dos grans temes en entorns científics, pensem que la utilització assenyada i accentuada d’aquests col·lectius ha de permetre una clara millora en l’establiment del consens necessari. L’IPCC (Intergovernamental Panel for Climate Change) és un bon exemple a seguir. Com a òrgan científic de la COP té el debat científic com a eina crucial per a avançar. Seguir aquest exemple a altres nivells ens portarà a un millor enteniment del problema i a una capacitat palesa en congeniar el mitjà i el llarg termini, establir plans B quan convingui o d’establir acords i consens. La indispensable entrada en escena d’ideòlegs, governs i empreses tindria lloc, de forma més justa i eficaç, un cop assegurat aquest coneixement multidisciplinari i científic previ.

The role of world-money and finance in the current contest for global hegemony

Sergi Cutillas — Thu, 30 May 2024 18:10:26 +0200

US hegemony, also called Pax Americana, has been based largely on US control over the dollar, which has acted as world money.

This hegemony has consisted of two periods; the first phase, which runs from 1945 until the fall of the Soviet bloc and based on the dominant global role of its domestic accumulation, and the second, based on the so-called Washington Consensus, and the aggressive imposition of the neoliberal agenda on the periphery through the provision of loans accompanied by conditions on domestic policies, and forcing the opening of commercial and financial flows. These two phases made it possible to secure American hegemony, even when it seemed that it might enter into crisis, after the domestic crises of the 1970s.

The second hegemonic phase is also the phase in which the euro was created, which will act as both a domestic currency and a means of payment between Eurozone member states, and will be proposed as a potential competitor to the dollar. However, the European currency will only serve to project German hegemonic power regionally, creating new peripheries within Europe, not achieving the role de competidor esperat i alhora generant problemes estructurals al vell continent.

This phase will also be marked by China's incorporation into the WTO, with the expectation on the part of the American elites that the country would adhere totally to the neoliberal framework and that it would be transformed politically. The expected changes have not occurred, while, in 2010, China was already the world's largest exporter, doubling exports from the United States. Currently, its exports have a large presence in the manufacturing sectors of low, medium and high added value, highlighting its role as a producer of telecommunications equipment and electric vehicles. China's emergence has been accompanied by disputes with Russia since the mid-2010s, a power with military and industrial capacity, which has been demonstrated in the current war with Ukraine.

However, the main dispute is with China, which despite rising as a serious competitor for hegemony still cannot compete with the US in the field of finance and world money. That is why, following the sanctions imposed on Russia, mainly the seizure of its reserves in dollars, some periphery countries, led by China and Russia, are proposing alternatives in the financial and monetary field based on new trade and monetary agreements, which could exploit new distributed ledger technologies.

This article aims to review these developments and question the subordinate strategy followed by Western European countries in the US' current hegemonic dispute with the emerging bloc led by China. The article aims to offer a perspective of how this subordination in the neoliberal period that is reaching its exhaustion, has placed European states, especially those on the southern periphery, such as Spain, in a situation of political and economic dependence that does not offer a viable alternative for the near future.

Detecció de les principals barreres per a una col·laboració publicoprivada àmplia i eficaç

CLAUDIA MILLLÁN SOLÉS — Thu, 30 May 2024 17:03:02 +0200

Transició energètica: Elements per a millorar-ne la governança

Xavier Farriols — Thu, 30 May 2024 15:58:02 +0200

TRANSICIÓ ENERGÈTICA. ELEMENTS PER A MILLORAR-NE LA GOVERNANÇA

Coautors

Xavier Farriols Solà

Francesc Reventós Puigjaner

Proposta de Comunicació per a l’eix 1

Relación entre Estándares de Gestión y su Impacto en la Implementación de Sistemas de Gestión de la Innovación

Laura Fuster Jiménez — Thu, 30 May 2024 14:58:02 +0200

Los estándares del sistema de gestión ayudan a las organizaciones a mejorar su desempeño, entre otras cosas, a través de una mayor conciencia de los empleados y el equipo directivo sobre las metas y objetivos organizacionales. Por otro lado, la gestión de la innovación se está convirtiendo cada vez más en un factor crucial para la competitividad y el éxito sostenido de las organizaciones en un entorno de mercado cada vez más dinámico y exigente. Un principio importante es que todos los sistemas de gestión pueden trabajar juntos sobre la base de una estructura común, lo que facilita la integración de la gestión de la innovación con otros sistemas de gestión, potenciando así su efectividad y coherencia dentro de la organización.

En este contexto, el objetivo de este artículo es el de estudiar la relación entre diferentes estándares y buenas prácticas utilizados en distintos sistemas de gestión (SG) —como calidad, medioambiental, seguridad, proyectos, etc.— para comprender cómo estos pueden afectar, ya sea de manera directa o indirecta, el desempeño e implantación de un Sistema de Gestión de la Innovación (SGI).

En primer lugar, se realizó una revisión de la literatura para identificar los principales SG existentes. Estos se seleccionaron en función de su relevancia y aplicabilidad en diversos contextos organizacionales.

Posteriormente, se examinaron los componentes clave de estos SG y se establecieron criterios específicos para evaluar su impacto en un SGI. Los criterios considerados incluyen la mejora en la eficiencia de los procesos, el fomento de la creatividad e innovación, la optimización de recursos y la capacidad de adaptación al cambio. A través de un análisis comparativo, se evaluaron las características de cada componente del SG y se determinó su influencia en la implementación y efectividad de un SGI.

Los resultados del análisis sugieren que los estándares seleccionados, aunque tradicionalmente enfocados en áreas específicas como la calidad, el medio ambiente o la seguridad de la información, contienen componentes que interfieren positivamente en la implantación de un SGI. Elementos como la mejora continua, la documentación rigurosa de procesos y la adopción de tecnologías y procesos sostenibles son aspectos destacados que contribuyen al desarrollo de un entorno propicio para la innovación.

Dentro de los sistemas de gestión, se han identificado varios elementos clave aplicables a los sistemas de gestión de la innovación. Entre todos ellos cabe destacar la gestión del conocimiento, que abarca desde la captura y almacenamiento hasta la difusión de la información, la colaboración interdisciplinar o de gestión de los stakeholders entre otros. Estas prácticas no solo facilitan la generación de nuevas ideas y la mejora continua, sino que también promueven la diversidad de pensamiento y la creatividad, elementos esenciales para el éxito de un SGI.

El estudio concluye que la integración de estándares y buenas prácticas en un SGI puede proporcionar una estructura sólida y un marco de referencia que impulse la innovación de manera sistemática. Adaptar estas prácticas a las necesidades de la organización y a su entorno operativo es crucial para maximizar se efectividad. Las principales recomendaciones que se derivan del estudio son la necesidad de una formación continua y la sensibilización del personal sobre la importancia de la innovación, así como la creación de un entorno organizacional que apoye el pensamiento creativo y la experimentación.

Finalmente, se propone la realización de estudios empíricos para futuras líneas de investigación en colaboración con diversas organizaciones con el fin de validar los hallazgos teóricos y examinar el impacto de otros estándares y buenas prácticas no abordados en esta investigación. También, se sugiere explorar cómo la digitalización y las tecnologías emergentes pueden influir en la implementación de un SGI.

Activitats econòmiques en sòl no urbanitzable: l’impacte d’una legislació urbanística basada en el concepte de preservació.

José Lascurain — Thu, 30 May 2024 10:47:03 +0200

Un dels grans obstacles de l’avanç de la ciència de la gestió dels ecosistemes, és la prevalença, fins i tot dins de la comunitat científica, de la visió de la natura com un element simbòlic que s’ha de preservar, és a dir, allunyar de l’acció humana. Una natura que es manté mitjançant un “equilibri natural” que es gestiona de forma homeostàtica.

En contraposició a aquesta narrativa, els avenços en el coneixement científic de la gestió dels ecosistemes, apunten a una realitat molt diferent: els ecosistemes, lluny de l’equilibri estable, es mantenen en constant transformació. I aquestes transformacions no són lineals: hi ha llindars a partir dels quals, els ecosistemes es traslladen a estadis d’equilibri alternatius. Alguns dels quals són difícils de revertir.

Així doncs, al concepte de “preservació”, s’ha de contraposar el de gestió adaptativa i el de resiliència dels ecosistemes. Molt especialment en el planejament urbanístic, l’instrument necessari és el de la caracterització de l’estructura i dels processos en relació a les transformacions induïdes per els processos d’urbanització i dels usos del sòl. I, a partir d’aquesta caracterització i creació d’un model conceptual, establir els usos i dinàmiques de transformació, estrictament adaptats a la realitat de cada lloc, que millor puguin garantir la resiliència dels ecosistemes que es volen protegir.

En la presentació s’exposaran estudis de cas que comparen les normes urbanístiques en planejament territorial, amb la realitat de les diferents dinàmiques del paisatge i els usos del sòl que podrien garantir l’objectiu de resiliència dels ecosistemes. S’analitza la homogeneïtat de la legislació urbanística en contraposició a la diversitat de processos i estadis d’equilibri alternatius que s’haurien de considerar com objectius. Es mostraran també situacions en les quals les normes urbanístiques funcionen com veritables obstacles a la gestió adaptativa.