In the assessment of slopes, factor of safety values still remain the primary indexes for determining how close or far slopes are from failure. Traditional limit-equilibrium techniques are the most commonly-used analysis methods. Recently, however, the significant computing and memory resources typically available to the geotechnical engineer, combined with low costs, have made the Finite Eleme...

Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa), Switzerland E-mail: [email protected] Environment, human health and safety (EHS) are ever more important topics for new applications of advanced and so-called ‘smart’ materials. Today our daily life is dependent on innovative material developments and new systems for sustainable applications, and this dependence will only...

/n-situ capping, the placement of a subaqueous covering or cap of clean isolating material over an in-situ deposit of contaminated sediment, is a potentially economical and effective approach for remediation of contaminated sediment. A number of sites have been remediated by in-situ capping operations worldwide. EPA has developed detailed guidelines for planning, design, construction, and monit...

The presence of jet-marks, or jet-streaks, on the surface of hydroentangled nonwoven fabrics, is usually regarded as an undesirable outcome of the hydroentangling process. Jet-streaks degrade aesthetic features and physical properties of the resulting fabrics. Jet-streaks are associated with low tear strength along the machine direction and nonuniform appearance. Reducing or eliminating the occ...

Tests were conducted to determine thickness of smooth, nonreinforced geomembranes using three methods: mechanical (according to ASTM and European standards), ultrasonic, and magnetic methods. The mechanical method is the standard procedure used for determining thickness of geomembranes. The ultrasonic and magnetic methods are not commonly used for geomembranes; however, they are used for testin...

-Compost filter socks are generally used to control sediment on construction sites or land disturbing activities. Higher sediment removal efficiencies of compost filter socks, relative to silt fence, have been attributed to its larger surface area and sediment storage capacity, due to its tubular construction. Compost has been used widely to bioremediate polluted soils. By adding new materials ...