ORCID Profile
0000-0002-5924-9367
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Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 21-06-2021
DOI: 10.1007/S13280-021-01574-2
Abstract: As largely documented in the literature, the stark restrictions enforced worldwide in 2020 to curb the COVID-19 pandemic also curtailed the production of air pollutants to some extent. This study investigates the perception of the air pollution as assessed by in iduals located in ten countries: Australia, Brazil, China, Ghana, India, Iran, Italy, Norway, South Africa and the USA. The perceptions towards air quality were evaluated by employing an online survey administered in May 2020. Participants ( N = 9394) in the ten countries expressed their opinions according to a Likert-scale response. A reduction in pollutant concentration was clearly perceived, albeit to a different extent, by all populations. The survey participants located in India and Italy perceived the largest drop in the air pollution concentration conversely, the smallest variation was perceived among Chinese and Norwegian respondents. Among all the demographic indicators considered, only gender proved to be statistically significant.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2020
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 09-08-2022
DOI: 10.3390/BUILDINGS12081193
Abstract: The research on solid waste based soft soil solidifying materials has received extensive attention in recent years. However, the properties of deep mixing piles are significantly affected by the construction technology. In view of this, this work carried out the systematic study on the influence of materials, the mixing tool and process optimization on the integrity and mechanical properties of deep mixing piles. Factors considered include the shape of the blade (strip and meniscus), the types of solidifying materials (PO 42.5 cement, self-developed soft soil solidifying agent), the content (50 kg/m, 65 kg/m, 80 kg/m and 100 kg/m) and how many times the materials needed to be mixed (two, four and six times). The solidification mechanism was analyzed. The results showed that the utilization of a meniscus blade contributed to the excellent integrity of the deep mixing pile, as well as solved the problems of oozing slurry and wrapped blade during construction. Mixing the materials four times is the most suitable for the construction of deep mixing piles in organic clay. The solidifying agent deep mixing pile showed satisfactory early and late strength. Microscopic analysis showed that more calcium silicate hydrate and ettringite formed in the solidifying agent solidified soil. Organic clay particles were better cemented and pores were fully filled, so that the solidified soil showed an integral and dense structure. The microscopically integral and dense structure contributed to the excellent integrity and mechanical properties of the solidifying agent deep mixing pile.
Publisher: Hindawi Limited
Date: 30-09-2021
DOI: 10.1155/2021/9367501
Abstract: The construction of the new Norwegian E39 highway comprises the excavation of extended tunnelling systems, which lead to a tremendous amount of blasted rocks. Among others, a sustainable cost-benefit application of these resources is represented by their local use as construction material in the unbound layers of the roads. Two types of nontraditional additives are investigated to improve the mechanical properties of aggregates this is particularly useful for those rocks that do not fulfil the design requirements in their natural status. This work focuses on the field application of two innovative stabilizing technologies based on organosilane and lignosulfonate. The performance of these additive agents is characterized by considering three typical road base layer sections built on purpose according to real practice and added with water (no treatment), organosilane, and lignosulfonate. The test sections are subjected to climatic actions only as neither traffic nor surface courses are applied. With the investigation covering two years, the layers’ stiffness, deformation, and resistance to penetration are evaluated by employing a light-weight deflectometer and dynamic cone penetrometer. Both organosilane and lignosulfonate significantly enhance the mechanical properties of the treated base layers.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 22-12-2020
DOI: 10.3390/MA14010016
Abstract: Improving the self-healing performance of asphalt by employing encapsulation technology is a topic of wide interest. This study investigated the performance of sunflower oil, engine oil, and waste cooking oil based on the microhealing mechanism of asphalt with compartmented polymeric fiber. Capillary flow, contact angle, Brookfield viscosity, bar thin layer chromatography, and fatigue–recovery–fatigue tests were conducted to characterize the capillary flow capacity, wetting ability, viscosity reduction ability, suitability of components, and performance restoration ability of the different kinds of healing agents. The diffusion process of sunflower oil in asphalt was simulated using molecular dynamics. The results showed that sunflower oil exhibited the best capillary flow capacity, viscosity reduction ability, and the fastest wetting rate in asphalt. Engine oil exhibited the largest wetting work and the best recovery performance related to fatigue. The diffusion process of sunflower oil in asphalt could be ided into two stages. Two major factors (aging and higher temperature) increased the diffusion rate of sunflower oil in asphalt. The comprehensive analysis showed that sunflower oil was the most suitable to be encapsulated to improve the self-healing performance of asphalt.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2020
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 20-05-2021
DOI: 10.3390/MA14102693
Abstract: Segregation of waste crumb rubber powder (WR) modified asphalt binders the large-scale application of WR in asphalt. The method of microwave activation combined with chemical activation (KMWR) was proposed to improve storage stability and rheological properties of WR modified asphalt in this work. Storage stability and rheological properties of virgin asphalt, MWR modified asphalt, and KMWR modified asphalt were comparatively studied by the standard segregation test, bending beam rheometer (BBR) test, and dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) test. The effect of composite activation on waste rubber powder particles was studied by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) tests. The main results showed that after the physical and chemical composite activation, the storage stability of waste rubber powder modified asphalt was significantly improved, WR modified asphalt had better crack resistance, better rutting resistance, and better fatigue performance. After physical and chemical activation, WR was desulfurized, and a large number of active groups was grafted on the WR particles.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2021
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2021
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 02-2021
DOI: 10.1371/JOURNAL.PONE.0245886
Abstract: The restrictive measures implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic have triggered sudden massive changes to travel behaviors of people all around the world. This study examines the in idual mobility patterns for all transport modes (walk, bicycle, motorcycle, car driven alone, car driven in company, bus, subway, tram, train, airplane) before and during the restrictions adopted in ten countries on six continents: Australia, Brazil, China, Ghana, India, Iran, Italy, Norway, South Africa and the United States. This cross-country study also aims at understanding the predictors of protective behaviors related to the transport sector and COVID-19. Findings hinge upon an online survey conducted in May 2020 (N = 9,394). The empirical results quantify tremendous disruptions for both commuting and non-commuting travels, highlighting substantial reductions in the frequency of all types of trips and use of all modes. In terms of potential virus spread, airplanes and buses are perceived to be the riskiest transport modes, while avoidance of public transport is consistently found across the countries. According to the Protection Motivation Theory, the study sheds new light on the fact that two indicators, namely income inequality, expressed as Gini index, and the reported number of deaths due to COVID-19 per 100,000 inhabitants, aggravate respondents’ perceptions. This research indicates that socio-economic inequality and morbidity are not only related to actual health risks, as well documented in the relevant literature, but also to the perceived risks. These findings document the global impact of the COVID-19 crisis as well as provide guidance for transportation practitioners in developing future strategies.
No related grants have been discovered for Diego Maria Barbieri.