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This paper develops a hierarchical Bayesian model (HBM) that integrates the physical knowledge and the test data to predict the small-strain shear modulus Gmax for a target sand type. The limited target-specific data are combined with the abundant generic data through a hierarchical structure so that the variability of Gmax within one sand type and across different sand types can be captured. The hyperparameters that characterize the same underlying distribution of physical model parameters across all the sand types are first estimated from the abundant generic data. The model parameters for the new sand type are then updated as the limited site-specific data become available. The approach is illustrated using a generic database and two real examples not covered by the generic database. Multiple possible hierarchical models are compared in terms of model complexity and goodness-of-fit. The results show that the hierarchical modeling of small-strain shear modulus data is reasonable and necessary. The hierarchical model can provide less biased and more accurate predictions of Gmax compared to the commonly used complete pooling model, especially in cases where the site-specific data are quite different from the overall average of the generic database. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the variation of geological interfaces plays a crucial role in the analysis and design of infrastructure systems. Generally, there are two classes of techniques for predicting geological interfaces, for example, interpolation/regression-based techniques and machine-learning-based techniques. In this paper, a Multi-scale Meta-learning Model (M3) methodology is proposed. The new methodology improves the current state-of-the-art techniques by fusing two levels of information: (i) generic characteristics of the sampling locations, for example, coordinates, and (ii) location-specific characteristics, for example, local-scale predictions. The implementation starts from using an array of classic interpolation/regression-based techniques as base learners to provide first-level predictions at a local scale. These predictions are then combined with generic characteristics to train a meta-learner following the stacking ensemble learning framework. In this manner, the location-specific information from the base learners can be simultaneously considered with the generic information in the training process. The variation of rockhead elevation is predicted using the M3 methodology and a comprehensive borehole dataset in Singapore. A detailed comparative study involving several existing methods is also carried out to rigorously validate the M3 methodology. The results show that the M3 methodology achieves 20% improvement in the model performance compared to existing methods, indicating its promising potential in geotechnical site characterization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability of three methods to predict the load–settlement response of rock-socketed piles was examined in a recent paper. The piles considered were complete piles in which both the side and base of the piles contribute to the total resistance. For a range of reasons, it is sometimes necessary to consider rock-socketed piles for which the resistance is provided only by the side of the socket. This paper extends the earlier paper by comparing predictions for side-resistance-only piles with the load–settlement response of a suite of full-scale side-resistance-only pile tests. Only two of the methods of the earlier paper are used for this comparison, as the third method could not decouple the two components of resistance. It is demonstrated that one of the methods produces reasonable predictions of performance, whereas the other appears to underpredict performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the shear strengthening of reinforced concrete (RC) beams using externally bonded fiber-reinforced polymer (EB FRP) composite materials. The first part of the paper reviews the evolution of North American codes and standards for the shear resistance of RC beams strengthened with EB FRP composites, whereas the second part provides a comprehensive analysis of the major parameters influencing the contribution of FRP to shear resistance. It also presents a comparison of the predictions of current design standards (ACI 440.2R 2017; CSA/S6 2019; CSA/S806 2012; fib -TG9.3 2001) with the results of experimental tests reported in the literature. The study shows that major parameters influencing the shear behaviour have received little attention. These parameters include in particular: (i) the presence and ratio of internal transverse steel reinforcement and (ii) the number of EB FRP plies (layers). This may explain the observed discrepancies between the prediction models of existing equations for shear resistance and the results obtained from tests. Consequently, a database extracted from the experimental studies was developed as part of this study. The results obtained highlight and confirm the existence of an interaction between the EB FRP composites and the internal transverse steel reinforcement with regard to shear resistance of RC beams. They also show the existence of an optimal FRP stiffness beyond which there is no substantial gain in resistance attributed to the EB FRP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review paper presents the current state-of-the-art pertains to water pipe failure prediction and risk assessment, published in the last ten years (2009–2019). This paper has been motivated by the lack of comprehensive review articles that integrates water network failure and risk modeling. Some of the current practices reviewed the pipe condition and its failure. Others focused on the statistical prediction models, whereas the rest outlined failure prediction models of large diameter mains only. The mainstream of the current practice, highlighted in this paper characterizes the structural deterioration and failure rates using various statistical techniques, whereas the remainder of research covers a proliferation of machine learning and soft computing applications to forecast and model the pipeline risk of failure. The review offers descriptions of the models together with their proposed methodologies, algorithms and equations, contributions and drawbacks, comparisons and critiques, and types of data used to develop the models using the bibliographic review method. Finally, future work and research challenges are recommended to assist the civil engineering research community in setting a clear agenda for the upcoming research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes a study focusing on performance evaluation of road weather information system (RWIS) surface temperature forecasts. To identify the factors influencing the accuracy of forecasts, five research hypotheses regarding climate patterns, geographical attributes, seasonal variations, time of day, and forecast horizon are proposed. Observation and forecast data were provided by four North American provinces, and were processed and stratified by station, hour, and month to quantify their effects. The findings based on two statistical measures; namely, mean absolute error and percent of acceptable forecasts suggested that the maritime climate group had the highest correspondence while the mixed climate group had the lowest. The geographical attributes showed that the forecasting performance of coastal maritime regions was found to have a negative correlation to the distance from nearby large bodies of water. Forecasts for the daytime were found to be less accurate than for the nighttime and deteriorate quickly as the forecasting horizon increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vehicle–bridge collisions (VBCs) can compromise the safety of road users and cause major economic losses. This paper proposes and applies a methodology to investigate such events in Quebec. Relevant data have been collected from various sources and merged to provide a comprehensive database of VBCs that occurred in Quebec between 2000 and 2016. The developed database was used to carry out statistical analyses highlighting the main factors characterizing VBCs, such as vehicle's body type, bridge dimensions, prescribed speed limit, road configuration, road surface condition and lighting. The compiled database was georeferenced in an upgradable map that can be used efficiently to visualize the distribution and evolution of VBCs over a given region of Quebec. A VBC regression model was also developed based on k-fold cross-validation. The proposed model can be updated regularly as new VBCs are reported and then used to identify bridges most likely to be affected by VBCs or prioritize actions to reduce the potential consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many countries, airborne laser scanning (ALS) inventories are implemented to produce predictions for stand-level forest attributes. Nevertheless, mature stands are usually field-visited prior to clear-cutting, so some measurements can be conducted on these stands to calibrate the ALS-based predictions. In this paper, we developed a seemingly unrelated multivariate mixed-effects model system that includes component models for basal area, merchantable volume, and sawlog volume for 225 m2 cells. We used ALS data and accurately positioned cut-to-length harvester observations from clear-cut stands dominated by Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.). Our aim was to study the effect of 1–10 local angle-gauge basal area measurements on the accuracy of predicted merchantable and sawlog volumes. A seemingly unrelated mixed-effect model system was fitted to estimate cross-model correlations in residuals and random effects, which were then utilized to predict all the random effects of the system for calibrated stand-level predictions. The 10 angle-gauge plots decreased the relative root mean square error (RMSE%) of the basal area and merchantable volume predictions from 16.8% to 10.5% and from 15.8% to 11.9%, respectively. Cross-model correlations of the stand effects of sawlog volume with the other responses were low; therefore, the initial RMSE% of ∼22% was decreased only marginally by the calibration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe in this paper the quantum chromodynamics prediction to calculate the strong coupling constant by using event shape variables as well as momentum spectra. By fitting the dispersive model and employing our parameters on event shape distribution, we obtain the perturbative value of --> α s (M Z 0 ) --> = 0.1305 ± 0.0474 and also the non-perturbative value of α0 = 0.5246 ± 0.0516 GeV for electron–proton interactions. Next, by using momentum spectra for the same interactions, we obtain αs = 0.1572 ± 0.029. Our values in both methods are consistent with those obtained from electron–positron annihilations measured previously. When we find coupling constant for different flavours, we observe that they do not affect our results considerably. This is in accordance with quantum chromodynamics theory. All these features will be explained in the main text. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predictive water main break models can assist municipalities in prioritizing the replacement and rehabilitation of water mains. The aim of the paper is to develop an artificial neural network (ANN) model to forecast water main breaks in the water distribution network of the City of Kingston, Ontario, Canada. The ANN model includes variables of diameter, age, length, and soil type to forecast breaks. Historical break data from the 1998 to 2011 period is used to develop the ANN model and forecast pipe breaks over a 5 year planning period. The mean square error, receiver operating characteristics curves, and a confusion matrix are used to evaluate the ANN model training and testing. The trained neural network correctly classified 85% of the data set at the training, validation, and testing stages. Model forecasts showed lower pipe break rates in Kingston West, Kingston Central, and Kingston East. The reduction in break rate in the Kingston system was attributed to the removal of old pipes, and the favourable performance of pipes that are in the usage phase of their life cycle. The ANN model provided Utilities Kingston with a tool to assist them in the planning and management of their water main rehabilitation program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]