No abstract

This paper aims to deal with the assessment of axial load capacity for cast in place pile foundations, which are made by the earth drill method, by using the data taken from Standard Penetration Tests (SPTs) and Piezocone Penetration Tests (CPTUs). These tests were carried out as part of the investigation program for P.N.G. Terminal-Power Plant, near Semani beach, in Hoxhara marsh, in the western part of Albania. The design of axial load capacity of piles is based on empirical formula using SPT and CPTU values. This study presents the results of axial load capacity analysis of cast in place piles by different analytical calculation methods, which are based on in situ tests results, and also referring to the Building Standard Law of Japan. In the end of our work, differences between calculations methods by using different in situ tests results are shown in tables and graphs.

The aim of this paper is to evaluate the liquefaction-induced ground deformations of sand-like soils based on Cone Penetration Tests (CPT) at Semani site, Fieri prefecture in Albania. These tests are performed during the process of investigation of this area, in which a Liquid Natural Gas Terminal-Power Plant was supposed to be built. This paper presents the assessment of the liquefaction and of the liquefaction-induced ground deformations such as lateral spreading displacement and post-liquefaction reconsolidation settlement. The liquefaction-induced lateral spreading and post-liquefaction reconsolidation settlement are estimated based on CPT data according to the method in MNO-12 "soil liquefaction during earthquake", presented by Idriss and Boulanger (2008). This evaluation is very important and should be taken into consideration for the design of engineering structures that will be constructed in this area. All the calculation's results are shown in graphs. At the end, there are highlighted some conclusions regarding the liquefaction-induced ground deformations in this site.

After the earthquake, the inspection carried out by the authors in the region has provided relevant findings regarding the methods of construction, quality of the materials and the performance of structures. The dominant building types in the Albanian building stock comprise unreinforced masonry (URM) structures with load-bearing masonry walls. These units suffered the worst damage. Dynamic response of masonry is highly nonlinear, and generally shows high vulnerability to seismic loading. Moreover, many buildings of these type have undergone structural interventions like adding floors, or wall openings, especially in the first floors of the buildings, which are parallel to the main roads, because of great demand for shops and stores. This paper aims at making seismic performance assessment of the intervened buildings based on macro-element modeling approach. Due to its efficiency, this approach is becoming popular among the practitioners and field experts in this area and allows simulating the non-linear behavior of masonry buildings. This method is applied to two old masonry buildings from the Albanian construction practice that are representatives of mid-size residential buildings with and without interventions. It must be said that in Albania, masonry buildings have been built using templates all over the country, so both models with and without intervention are common. Capacity curves of the investigated buildings are derived to assess the most probable seismic response of the investigated housing construction in the region as well as to evaluate the seismic performance of the tested structures.

One of the most devastating effects of earthquakes in the seismic regions is liquefaction. Many research works have been done in this field and at present different methods are available for the liquefaction potential assessment. The liquefaction is a very significant phenomenon in clayey silty soils, silty sands and also sands. The high potential of liquefaction is generally recognized when these type of soils are laid under the hydrostatic water table. This paper make an overview of two different methods for the evaluation of liquefaction potential, and a case study is presented. Two methods presented here are the Deterministic Approach proposed by Robertson and Wride (1998), and the Probabilistic Approach proposed by Moss and co-workers. Case study of the liquefaction potential evaluation is done for the Golem area, where geotechnical data from CPTU test were collected. The results of analysis in the Golem area show that liquefaction has medium susceptibly to occur. From the analyses, it is shown that the Probabilistic Approach gives more accurate information about the risk of liquefaction than the Deterministic Approach.