• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.181-194
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• 2019

Due to the seepage of groundwater, the resisting force of slopes decreases and the sliding force increases, resulting in significantly reduced slope stability. The instability of most natural slopes is closely related to the influence of groundwater. Therefore, it is important to study slope stability under groundwater seepage conditions. Thus, using a simplified seepage model of groundwater combined with the analysis of stresses on the slip surface, the limit equilibrium (LE) analytical solutions for two- and three-dimensional slope stability under groundwater seepage are deduced in this work. Meanwhile, the general nonlinear Mohr-Coulomb (M-C) strength criterion is adopted to describe the shear failure of a slope. By comparing the results with the traditional LE methods on slope examples, the feasibility of the proposed method is verified. In contrast to traditional LE methods, the proposed method is more suitable for analyzing slope stability under complex conditions. In addition, to facilitate the optimization of drainage design in the slope, stability charts are drawn for slopes with different groundwater tables. Furthermore, the study concluded that: (1) when the hydraulic gradient of groundwater is small, the effect on slope stability is also small for a change in the groundwater table; and (2) compared with a slope without a groundwater table, a slope with a groundwater table has a larger failure range under groundwater seepage.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.32-45
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• 1996

Background : A critical path defines an optimal sequencing and timing of interventions by physicians, nurses, and other staff for a particular diagnosis or procedure, designed to better utilize resources, maximize quality of care, and minimize delays. It can be thought of as a visualization of the patient care process. In this study, a review of appendectomy patient records was undertaken to identify a critical path for the management of this treatment. Methods: For this study, records of patients under 15 or over 65 years of age were excluded ; cases where the patient was pregnant, or where complications developed were also excluded. The remaining 21 cases were divided into two categories according to the indication for appendectomy : for acute appendicitis, and for perforated appendix or drainage of periappendical abscess. The time frame for the review was from patient examination immediately prior to operation, through discharge. The study team was composed of a surgeon, research head nurse, education head nurse, surgical part head nurse, and medical recorder. Following their review of the 21 charts, the team determined an appropriate progression and schedule for an appendectomy. Result : Through the chart and literature review, the following aspects of the care process were identified as typical and tracked : monitoring/assessment, treatment, lines/drains, medication, activity, diet, tests and patient education. Conclusion : From this study, the design team determined two separate critical paths : one for appendectomy only, and one for appendectomy plus drainage. Next, these paths must be validated and fine-tuned through clinical implementation. In addition, a comparison of our design with the critical paths determined at other hospitals would be extremely valuable for advancing research in this area. Lastly, the critical path approach to improving patient care and maximizing hospital resources should be applied to other procedures.

• Geotechnical Engineering
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.93-112
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• 1998

In the present study, 2-D consolidation theory of the dredged clay by means of the horizontal drain method is proposed. The horizontal drain method to install the drains such as plastic drain board within the dredged clay is a soil improvement method to accelerate the consolidation by expelling pore water in the vertical direction along the horizontal drains. Based on the finite strain consolidation theory by Gibson et al., the partial differential equation of 2-D consolidation due to the horizontal drain is derived. The consolidation due to the horizontal drain can be illustrated from combined self-weight consolidation effect and consolidation effect by horizontal drains. For the prediction of consolidation settlement and degree of consolidation numerical analysis is suggested on the basis of Dufort-Frankel finite differential algorithm. Also, the analytical procedures proposed in this study are verified by the model tests, and the predictions of the consolidation settlement and degree of consolidation are compared with the results obtained from the tests for the dredged clay gathering at Siwha site in Ansan, Korea. For the predictions, the relationship void ratio vs effective stress and the relationship permeability vs void ratio of the dredged clay are obtained from the odometer tests. Additionally, the parametric study for consolidation settlement by variations of design parameters related with horizontal drain method is carried out. Based on the results of the parametric study, design .charts for the preliminary design are also proposed.