This article deals with the behavior of isolated piles subjected to two models used in geotechnics (Hardening Soil and Mohr Coulomb) under cyclic lateral loading and their head deformations compared to monotonic loading in sandy soil. The behavior of the cable-stayed bridge piers was predicted using PLAXIS 2D software, based on the results of in situ and laboratory geotechnical studies carried out by the control office for Building and Public Works (BCBTP). Numerical simulation is an alternative to the high cost of large-scale in situ and laboratory studies for describing the behavior of deep foundations. The results obtained show that piles subjected to lateral head loading cause a horizontal head displacement compared with the Hardening Soil and Mohr Coulomb models. Cyclic loading of a pile results in deformation of the soil mass at the surface. Lateral displacement increases with the first few cycles until it stabilizes, generating an irreversible residual displacement due to progressive soil plasticization. Lateral cyclic loading has a favorable influence on pile behavior under cyclic loading, due to the reversible effect on pile displacement.

This work investigated the potential synergy between Fly Ash (FA) and Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBFS) as binder solids in the manufacturing of Geopolymer Concrete (GPC), a concrete that does not contain Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC). At a ratio of 1:1, the ideal mixture of binder solids was attained. Based on absolute volume, the mix design was created using techniques akin to those found in ACI 211.1. In order to investigate the impact on the evolution of strengths, the alkaline activator content (AAC) to binder solid ratio—which is comparable to the water/binder ratio in OPC concrete—was varied in the ratios of 0.25, 0.3, 0.35, 0.4, and 0.5. For every mixture, the ratio of sodium hydroxide to sodium silicate was maintained at 1.5. To evaluate the functional relationships between the response variable (strength) and the independent variables (GPC constituents), a nonlinear regression analysis was conducted. Experimental results on workability for all mixes are in agreement with ACI 211.1 criteria. In all mixes, GPC specimens exhibited higher compressive strengths than OPC specimens; with a maximum value of 73.67 Mpa and 72.67 Mpa respectively. Nonlinear regression results provide equations that predict the strengths with excellent correlation. In addition to F-statistics that are statistically significant within acceptable probabilities.

Strength evaluation of building components by analysis and in-place load testing is recommended in cases where the degree of suspected deficiencies in design, materials or construction cannot be readily determined. In the study, the purpose of the tests was to evaluate the performance of prestressed concrete hollow core slab (HCS) units carrying dead and live loads as composite members with topping concrete. The first test was conducted on HCS-300 panels, some of which were already installed in the buildings. A monotonic loading test on the ground at the construction site was performed on a non-composite panel to evaluate the actual composite panel's performance. In accordance with the project's quality procedures, to verify the performance of the HCS-400 panels, the second test was decided to be performed on HCS-400 composite panels in the precast plant prior to starting the mass production. The paper describes the application of monotonic loading test procedures and acceptance of test results according to the American ACI 318 standard.