AUGARDE C.

This paper presents a methodology for the identification of parameter values in the Barcelona Basic Model (BBM) by inverse analysis of the experimental cavity pressure-cavity strain curve from pressuremeter tests in unsaturated soils. This methodology involves a high-dimensional optimization process which is particularly challenging due to the...

This paper presents an investigation of the mechanical properties of three different earth building materials manufactured by compacting two soils with distinct particle size distributions under two markedly different efforts. Multiple samples of each material have been equalised either inside a climatic chamber at different humidity levels or...

Raw (unfired) earth represents a sustainable and efficient alternative to traditional construction materials but its dissemination into building practice has been hindered by a relatively high vulnerability to water erosion. Enzyme induced carbonate precipitation (EICP) can improve the durability of earth materials without using traditional...

A novel parallel hybrid particle swarm optimization algorithm named hmPSO is presented. The new algorithm combines particle swarm optimization (PSO) with a local search method which aims to accelerate the rate of convergence. The PSO provides initial guesses to the local search method and the local search accelerates PSO with its solutions. The...

Stabilization is often necessary to improve the stiffness, strength and durability of both natural and compacted soils. Soils are typically stabilized via the addition of hydraulic binders, such as cement and lime, which present however relatively high carbon and energy footprints. Alternative stabilization techniques are therefore explored to...