Field Tests

The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of a specific 12-week HIIT methodology for improving aerobic and anaerobic performance in a group of young basketball players. Twenty-two (n=22) players participated in the study. (age 19.1 ± 1.1; height: 185 ± 5.2; body mass: 70.9 ± 6.0). In the pre-season (4 weeks, from July to August), the players performed Pizzolato's 7-minutes test, to evaluate aerobic and anaerobic performance before the start of the season. After 12 weeks of training (in-season), using the Tabata training methodology, the same players repeated Pizzolato's 7-minutes test to look for improvements in performance and evaluate if the distance covered during the test is better, equal, or worse compared to the pre-season. After 12 weeks of training, in the experimental group we found a significant increase in the values of VO 2 max (p = 0.02) and SAN (p = 0.01) and a significant decrease in the values of HRmax (p = 0.00), such as to be able to attribute them, with a margin of error of 5%, to the benefits produced by a twelve-week mesocycle based on HIIT principles. No differences between groups were found in the control group. The effectiveness of specific High Intensity Interval Training has been revealed in improving aerobic performance in young basketball players.

This paper presents a rational approach to answer the questions of how many field tests need to be performed at a test site to determine its subgrade strength properties, and what inferences can be drawn from limited number of field tests. MATLAB simulations were performed to generate various data sets that corresponded to site variability, with the coefficient of variation (CoV) ranging from 10 to 80%. Studies were performed based on coefficient of variation (CoV) and regression analysis. This study provides two important charts for evaluating subgrade properties at test sites: (1) to determine the number of field tests to be performed, after which there would not be any significant change in the inferences drawn from the test results; (2) inferences pertaining to subgrade soil property of a field test site, based on a limited number of tests. In order to demonstrate the applicability of the charts developed through this research, light weight deflectometer (LWD) spot tests that were performed at a test site, were considered. The results were used to draw inferences about the modulus of the subgrade material and the possible variability of the test site, in addition to the maximum number of tests that might be performed.

Hydraulic transient field tests have been conducted in a water distribution network. Existing transient models are applied to model the measured responses, but poor matches are obtained apart from the estimation of the initial rise of pressure. Possible reasons for these discrepancies include the effects of demands, entrained air, unsteady friction, friction losses associated with small lateral pipes, and mechanical damping caused by the interaction of pipes and joints with surrounding soils (including the effects of vibration and different degrees of restraint). These effects are systematically investigated by inclusion of the previously mentioned phenomena in conceptual transient models and calibration to the measured field responses. A mechanical damping-based conceptual transient model is shown to be the only model that can be accurately calibrated to the measured field responses.

Forward modelling is an integral part of inversion analyses of surface wave tests to obtain ground stiffness or shear wave velocity profile. Current rigorous forward modelling methods are complex and can be computationally expensive. In this paper, a new forward modelling method, known as weighted average velocity (WAVe) method, is proposed. Phase velocity at a given wavelength, V φ (λ), is widely accepted to be influenced by properties of soil layers within that wavelength. In WAVe method, the influence of soil properties is accounted for as V φ (λ) is calculated as a weighted sum of the shear-wave velocity (V s ) of all the soil layers within one wavelength depth. The procedure to obtain V φ (λ) and hence the dispersion curve of a multilayered soil profile using the WAVe method is outlined. The WAVe method was evaluated using eight published soil profiles with dispersion curves obtained from other forward modelling methods and comparisons showed excellent agreement.

The application of inverse transient analysis (ITA) to estimate the location and magnitude of lost lining and internal corrosion of metal pipelines is demonstrated for a field pipeline. The method uses a transient model and inverse search algorithm to analyze patterns of measured pressure reflections obtained after a transient pressure wave is induced in a pipeline. The method is applied in the field on a 6 km long section of a 750 mm nominal diameter steel pipeline with internal cement mortar lining. The equipment used for generating hydraulic transients and measuring pressure responses in the pipeline is described. Results of the field tests are analyzed to estimate the location and extent of internal wall damage along the pipeline. Extensive ultrasonic thickness survey results are used to corroborate the approximate location and magnitude of predicted pipeline wall damage.

This study presents an unprecedented campaign of measurements (magnitudes and orientations) of the in situ stresses in itabirite rocks of the Brazilian Iron Quadrangle region using the hydraulic fracturing (HF), deformation rate analysis (DRA) and diametrical core deformation analysis (DCDA) methods. The previous studies of this rock mass consider estimated values of k, and the practice of using in situ stress tests to support geotechnical analyses of the rock mass of this region has not been adopted. The study site is located at a depth of up to 400 m around a pit. The rock mass under study shows the presence of different geological structures, which made performing the tests difcult. The DRA results show a marked difference compared to the HF and DCDA results; the horizontal stresses were greater than the vertical stresses, which is a fnding that may occur due to local geodynamic influences. The results contribute to the understanding of the strains and stresses induced by mining activities in the Brazilian Iron Quadrangle. For a better determination of the regional in situ stresses in the rock mass of the Brazilian Iron Quadrangle, new HF tests, as well as hydraulic testing of pre-existing fractures are recommended.

The Extreme Universe Space Observatory on a Super Pressure Balloon 1 (EUSO-SPB1) instrument was launched out of Wanaka, New Zealand, by NASA in April, 2017 as a mission of opportunity. The detector was developed as part of the Joint Experimental Missions for the Extreme Universe Space Observatory (JEM-EUSO) program toward a space-based ultra-high energy cosmic ray (UHECR) telescope with the main objective to make the first observation of UHECRs via the fluorescence technique from suborbital space. The EUSO-SPB1 instrument is a refractive telescope consisting of two 1 m 2 Fresnel lenses with a high-speed UV camera at the focal plane. The camera has 2304 individual pixels capable of single photoelectron counting with a time resolution of 2.5 µs. A detailed performance study including calibration was done on ground. We separately evaluated the properties of the Photo Detector Module (PDM) and the optical system in the laboratory. An end-to-end test of the instrument was performed during a field campaign in the West Desert in Utah, USA at the Telescope Array (TA) site in September 2016. The campaign lasted for 8 nights. In this article we present the results of the preflight laboratory and field tests. Based on the tests performed in the field, it was determined that EUSO-SPB1 has a field of view of 11.1 • and an absolute photo-detection efficiency of 10%. We also measured the light flux necessary to obtain a 50% trigger efficiency using laser beams. These measurements were crucial for us to perform an accurate post flight event rate calculation to validate our cosmic ray search. Laser beams were also used to estimated the reconstruction angular resolution. Finally, we performed a flat field measurement in flight configuration at the launch site prior to the launch providing a uniformity of the focal surface better than 6%.

Exploration mission designers and planners have costing models used to assess the affordability of given missions - but very little data exists on the relative science return produced by different ways of exploring a given region. Doing cost-benefit analyses for future missions requires a way to compare the relative field science productivity of spacesuited humans vs. virtual presence/teleoperation from a nearby habitat or orbital station, vs. traditional terrestrial-controlled rover operations. The goal of this study was to define science-return metrics for comparing human and robotic fieldwork, and then obtain quantifiable science-return performance comparisons between teleoperated rovers and spacesuited humans. Test runs with a simulated 2015-class rover and with spacesuited geologists were conducted at Haughton Crater in the Canadian Arctic in July 2002. Early results imply that humans will be 1-2 orders of magnitude more productive per unit time in exploration than future terre...

The Alto Douro Wine Region, located in the northeast of Portugal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, presents an abundant vernacular building heritage. This building technology is based on a timber framed structure lled with a composite earth-based material. A lack of scienti c studies related to this technology is evident, furthermore, principally in rural areas, this traditional building stock is highly deteriorated and damaged because of the rareness of conservation and strengthening works, which is partly related to the non-engineered character of this technology and to the knowledge loosed on that technique. Those aspects motivated the writing of this paper, whose main purpose is the physical and chemical characterization of the earth-based material applied in the tabique buildings of that region through eld tests. Consequently, experimental work was conducted and the results obtained allowed, among others, the proposal of a series of adequate eld tests. At our knowledge, this is the rst time eld tests are undertaken for tabique technology. This information will provide the means to assess the suitability of a given earthbased material with regards to this technology. The knowledge from this study could also be very useful for the development of future normative documents and as a reference for architects and engineers that work with this technology to guide and regulate future conservation, rehabilitation or construction processes helping to preserve this important legacy.

This study presents an unprecedented campaign of measurements (magnitudes and orientations) of the in situ stresses in itabirite rocks of the Brazilian Iron Quadrangle region using the hydraulic fracturing (HF), deformation rate analysis (DRA) and diametrical core deformation analysis (DCDA) methods. The previous studies of this rock mass consider estimated values of k, and the practice of using in situ stress tests to support geotechnical analyses of the rock mass of this region has not been adopted. The study site is located at a depth of up to 400 m around a pit. The rock mass under study shows the presence of different geological structures, which made performing the tests difcult. The DRA results show a marked difference compared to the HF and DCDA results; the horizontal stresses were greater than the vertical stresses, which is a fnding that may occur due to local geodynamic influences. The results contribute to the understanding of the strains and stresses induced by mining act...

Hydraulic transient field tests have been conducted in a water distribution network. Existing transient models are applied to model the measured responses, but poor matches are obtained apart from the estimation of the initial rise of pressure. Possible reasons for these discrepancies include the effects of demands, entrained air, unsteady friction, friction losses associated with small lateral pipes, and mechanical damping caused by the interaction of pipes and joints with surrounding soils (including the effects of vibration and different degrees of restraint). These effects are systematically investigated by inclusion of the previously mentioned phenomena in conceptual transient models and calibration to the measured field responses. A mechanical damping-based conceptual transient model is shown to be the only model that can be accurately calibrated to the measured field responses.