Investigation of the processes causing the degradation of the sandstone used on the Thorn church based on mineralogical analysis

The rapid degradation of the Thorn-sandstone could be explained by the presence of organics or minerals such as swelling glauconite, oxidized glauconite or non-swelling clays sensitive to hydric variations despite being non-swelling. A variety of tests and observations have been carried out to identify the most likely process of degradation....

A Geotechnical Working Plan for a Thorough but Quick Assessment of Existing Slopes in Clay Mines

In the Westerwald area clay quarries are in production. In order to assess the stability of the slopes the geotechnical characterisation of these quarries needs to be improved. This report provides the justification for a working plan for a thorough but quick assessment of existing slopes in clay mines. Literature is consulted for the...

Electrical Resistivity Tomography Protocol for Landfill Monitoring

Aftercare of sanitary landfills represents a burden for future generations, for emission potential of leachate and gases remains for hundred of years. Treatment methods have to be developed in order to accelerate waste degradation and reduce emission potential preferably within the time-span of one generation. Aeration seems a promising...

X-ray micro-CT investigation of metal recycling in egg-shaped crucibles during the Middle Iron Age

During the extension of a sport complex near Tilburg, The Netherlands, some archeological objects were discovered. Some shreds of pottery seem to confirm that the objects found were originating from the Middle Iron Age.1 Some of the objects were egg-shaped and hollow, with a small opening on the tip. The objects did awaken the thought that they...

Towards Improved Design of Rock Reinforcement Systems for Underground Excavations Subjected to Strain Bursting

This thesis report presents a concept methodology to quantify the energy release associated with strain bursting in underground excavations based on the size of the failed zone and the elastic strain energy stored in the rock mass prior to failure. A strain burst implies potential harm to people and machinery and may lead to economic loss. An...

Engineering properties of chalk with regards to cliff slope stability: Mechanical properties of chalk and the impact of weathering on the UCS and tensile strength

Coastal chalk cliff instability is a major issue in the UK’s southern region. In order to further the understanding into what drives and influences chalk cliff collapse, a series of laboratory tests have been done on samples taken from West Melbury Marly Chalk, Seaford Chalk, Newhaven Chalk and Lewes Nodular Chalk. Tests have been done to find...

Marinas in Argentina: A feasability study for a network of marinas in the Buenos Aires Province coast

According to themselves, Argentinians are living with their backs towards the sea. In order to turn this around, a feasability study has been done to find out how a network of marinas along the coast of the province would look like, based on a MCDA including all urban areas along the coast and a fleet analysis. A final network has been proposed...

The Use of Common-Offset and Multiple-Offset GPR methods for Forensic Investigations

This thesis is part of a longer series of research into the use of geophysical methods for inves-tigation for forensic purposes, a collaboration between the Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) and the Netherlands Forensic Institute (NFI). In this investigation, the difference between a grave containing a human body and a refilled empty pit...

Risk imposed on terpen due to liquefaction caused by induced earthquakes

In total 326 terpen in the Netherlands are classified as national monuments. A large portion of the terpen are located in the province Groningen. Groningen is often in the news, because of the earthquakes that took place, which were caused by the gas-extraction activities. The earthquakes caused damage to infrastructure and they can also be a...

Chalk putty: specimen preparation and aging properties

Chalk putty is a soil-like material that is formed when intact chalk is disturbed. Recently, it has become of special interest due to the development of offshore wind farms in the North and Baltic Seas, where in a number of sites piles are driven into chalk strata. Several pile tests reported in the literature show increased shaft capacity up to...

Quality assessment and quality control system for armourstones; by the use of simple testing tools

Several waterway protection structures in the Netherlands dealt with rapid degrading armourstone after construction. This suggests that the current selection procedure of armourstones is not flawless to all degradation mechanisms, especially in dynamic environments. In this work armourstone is meant to include all rock that is used in river,...

Measuring gamma radiation with a portable gamma ray spectrometer at a measuring location consisting of multiple rock types

A pilot research was set up to determine the possibilities for using gamma-ray spectrometry to and possible value in mine waste piles. These waste piles consist of different waste rocks without any value and ore that was processed incorrectly. This method, if proven eective, will be used on mine waste from different commodities all over the...