@article{SchlamannYoonMaderwaldetal.2010, author = {Schlamann, Marc and Yoon, Min-Suk and Maderwald, Stefan and Pietrzyk, Thomas and Bitz, Andreas and Gerwig, Marcus and Forsting, Michael and Ladd, Susanne C. and Ladd, Mark E. and Kastrup, Oliver}, title = {Short term effects of magnetic resonance imaging on excitability of the motor cortex at 1.5T and 7T}, series = {Academic Radiology}, volume = {17}, journal = {Academic Radiology}, number = {3}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {1076-6332}, doi = {10.1016/j.acra.2009.10.004}, pages = {277 -- 281}, year = {2010}, abstract = {Rationale and Objectives The increasing spread of high-field and ultra-high-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners has encouraged new discussion of the safety aspects of MRI. Few studies have been published on possible cognitive effects of MRI examinations. The aim of this study was to examine whether changes are measurable after MRI examinations at 1.5 and 7 T by means of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Materials and Methods TMS was performed in 12 healthy, right-handed male volunteers. First the individual motor threshold was specified, and then the cortical silent period (SP) was measured. Subsequently, the volunteers were exposed to the 1.5-T MRI scanner for 63 minutes using standard sequences. The MRI examination was immediately followed by another TMS session. Fifteen minutes later, TMS was repeated. Four weeks later, the complete setting was repeated using a 7-T scanner. Control conditions included lying in the 1.5-T scanner for 63 minutes without scanning and lying in a separate room for 63 minutes. TMS was performed in the same way in each case. For statistical analysis, Wilcoxon's rank test was performed. Results Immediately after MRI exposure, the SP was highly significantly prolonged in all 12 subjects at 1.5 and 7 T. The motor threshold was significantly increased. Fifteen minutes after the examination, the measured value tended toward normal again. Control conditions revealed no significant differences. Conclusion MRI examinations lead to a transient and highly significant alteration in cortical excitability. This effect does not seem to depend on the strength of the static magnetic field.}, language = {en} } @article{SchlamannVoigtMaderwaldetal.2010, author = {Schlamann, Marc and Voigt, Melanie A. and Maderwald, Stefan and Bitz, Andreas and Kraff, Oliver and Ladd, Susanne C. and Ladd, Mark E. and Forsting, Michael and Wilhelm, Hans}, title = {Exposure to high-field MRI does not affect cognitive function}, series = {Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging}, volume = {31}, journal = {Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging}, number = {5}, publisher = {Wiley-Liss}, address = {New York}, issn = {1522-2586}, doi = {10.1002/jmri.22065}, pages = {1061 -- 1066}, year = {2010}, abstract = {Purpose To assess potential cognitive deficits under the influence of static magnetic fields at various field strengths some studies already exist. These studies were not focused on attention as the most vulnerable cognitive function. Additionally, mostly no magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences were performed. Materials and Methods In all, 25 right-handed men were enrolled in this study. All subjects underwent one MRI examination of 63 minutes at 1.5 T and one at 7 T within an interval of 10 to 30 days. The order of the examinations was randomized. Subjects were referred to six standardized neuropsychological tests strictly focused on attention immediately before and after each MRI examination. Differences in neuropsychological variables between the timepoints before and after each MRI examination were assessed and P-values were calculated Results Only six subtests revealed significant differences between pre- and post-MRI. In these tests the subjects achieved better results in post-MRI testing than in pre-MRI testing (P = 0.013-0.032). The other tests revealed no significant results. Conclusion The improvement in post-MRI testing is only explicable as a result of learning effects. MRI examinations, even in ultrahigh-field scanners, do not seem to have any persisting influence on the attention networks of human cognition immediately after exposure.}, language = {en} } @article{KraffBitzDammannetal.2010, author = {Kraff, Oliver and Bitz, Andreas and Dammann, Philipp and Ladd, Susanne C. and Ladd, Mark E. and Quick, Harald H.}, title = {An eight-channel transmit/receive multipurpose coil for musculoskeletal MR imaging at 7 T}, series = {Medical Physics}, volume = {37}, journal = {Medical Physics}, number = {12}, publisher = {Wiley}, address = {Hoboken, NJ}, issn = {2473-4209}, doi = {10.1118/1.3517176}, pages = {6368 -- 6376}, year = {2010}, abstract = {Purpose: MRI plays a leading diagnostic role in assessing the musculoskeletal (MSK) system and is well established for most questions at clinically used field strengths (up to 3 T). However, there are still limitations in imaging early stages of cartilage degeneration, very fine tendons and ligaments, or in locating nerve lesions, for example. 7 T MRI of the knee has already received increasing attention in the current published literature, but there is a strong need to develop new radiofrequency (RF) coils to assess more regions of the MSK system. In this work, an eight-channel transmit/receive RF array was built as a multipurpose coil for imaging some of the thus far neglected regions. An extensive coil characterization protocol and first in vivo results of the human wrist, shoulder, elbow, knee, and ankle imaged at 7 T will be presented. Methods: Eight surface loop coils with a dimension ofurn:x-wiley:00942405:media:mp7176:mp7176-math-0001 were machined from FR4 circuit board material. To facilitate easy positioning, two coil clusters, each with four loop elements, were combined to one RF transmit/receive array. An overlapped and shifted arrangement of the coil elements was chosen to reduce the mutual inductance between neighboring coils. A phantom made of body-simulating liquid was used for tuning and matching on the bench. Afterward, the S-parameters were verified on a human wrist, elbow, and shoulder. For safety validation, a detailed compliance test was performed including full wave simulations of the RF field distribution and the corresponding specific absorption rate (SAR) for all joints. In vivo images of four volunteers were assessed with gradient echo and spin echo sequences modified to obtain optimal image contrast, full anatomic coverage, and the highest spatial resolution within a reasonable acquisition time. The performance of the RF coil was additionally evaluated by in vivo B1 mapping. Results: A comparison of B1 per unit power, flip angle distribution, and anatomic images showed a fairly homogeneous excitation for the smaller joints (elbow, wrist, and ankle), while for the larger joints, the shoulder and especially the knee, B1 inhomogeneities and limited penetration depth were more pronounced. However, the greater part of the shoulder joint could be imaged.In vivo images rendered very fine anatomic details such as fascicles of the median nerve and the branching of the nerve bundles. High-resolution images of cartilage, labrum, and tendons could be acquired. Additionally, turbo spin echo (TSE) and inversion recovery sequences performed very well. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that the concept of two four-channel transmit/receive RF arrays can be used as a multipurpose coil for high-resolutionin vivo MR imaging of the musculoskeletal system at 7 T. Not only gradient echo but also typical clinical and SAR-intensive sequences such as STIR and TSE performed well. Imaging of small structures and peripheral nerves could in particular benefit from this technique.}, language = {en} } @article{OrzadaMaderwaldPoseretal.2010, author = {Orzada, Stephan and Maderwald, Stefan and Poser, Benedikt Andreas and Bitz, Andreas and Quick, Harald H. and Ladd, Mark E.}, title = {RF excitation using time interleaved acquisition of modes (TIAMO) to address B1 inhomogeneity in high-field MRI}, series = {Magnetic Resonance in Medicine}, volume = {64}, journal = {Magnetic Resonance in Medicine}, number = {2}, publisher = {Wiley-Liss}, address = {New York}, issn = {1522-2594}, doi = {10.1002/mrm.22527}, pages = {327 -- 333}, year = {2010}, abstract = {As the field strength and, therefore, the operational frequency in MRI is increased, the wavelength approaches the size of the human head/body, resulting in wave effects, which cause signal decreases and dropouts. Several multichannel approaches have been proposed to try to tackle these problems, including RF shimming, where each element in an array is driven by its own amplifier and modulated with a certain (constant) amplitude and phase relative to the other elements, and Transmit SENSE, where spatially tailored RF pulses are used. In this article, a relatively inexpensive and easy to use imaging scheme for 7 Tesla imaging is proposed to mitigate signal voids due to B1 field inhomogeneity. Two time-interleaved images are acquired using a different excitation mode for each. By forming virtual receive elements, both images are reconstructed together using GRAPPA to achieve a more homogeneous image, with only small SNR and SAR penalty in head and body imaging at 7 Tesla.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{AbelBoninAlbrachtetal.2010, author = {Abel, Thomas and Bonin, Dominik and Albracht, Kirsten and Zeller, Sebastian and Br{\"u}ggemann, Gert-Peter and Burkett, Brendan and Str{\"u}der, Heiko K.}, title = {Kinematic profile of the elite handcyclist}, series = {28th International Conference on Biomechanics in Sports, Marquette, Michigan, USA, July 19 - 23, 2010}, booktitle = {28th International Conference on Biomechanics in Sports, Marquette, Michigan, USA, July 19 - 23, 2010}, issn = {1999-4168}, pages = {140 -- 141}, year = {2010}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Albracht2010, author = {Albracht, Kirsten}, title = {Influence of mechanical properties of the leg extensor muscletendon units on running economy}, publisher = {Deutsche Sporthochschule K{\"o}ln}, address = {K{\"o}ln}, pages = {X, 1221 Bl. : graph. Darst.}, year = {2010}, language = {en} } @article{AggeloussisGiannakouAlbrachtetal.2010, author = {Aggeloussis, Nickos and Giannakou, Erasmia and Albracht, Kirsten and Arampatzis, Adamantios}, title = {Reproducibility of fascicle length and pennation angle of gastrocnemius medialis in human gait in vivo}, series = {Gait and Posture}, volume = {31}, journal = {Gait and Posture}, number = {1}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0966-6362}, doi = {10.1016/j.gaitpost.2009.08.249}, pages = {73 -- 77}, year = {2010}, abstract = {The purpose of the current study was to examine the reproducibility of fascicle length and pennation angle of gastrocnemius medialis while human walking. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study of the reproducibility of fascicle length and pennation angle of gastrocnemius medialis in vivo during human gait. Twelve males performed 10 gait trials on a treadmill, in 2 separate days. B-mode ultrasonography, with the ultrasound probe firmly adjusted in the transverse and frontal planes using a special cast, was used to measure the fascicle length and the pennation angle of the gastrocnemius medialis (GM). A Vicon 624 system with three cameras operating at 120 Hz was also used to record the ankle and knee joint angles. The results showed that measurements of fascicle length and pennation angle showed high reproducibility during the gait cycle, both within the same day and between different days. Moreover, the root mean square differences between the repeated waveforms of both variables were very small, compared with their ranges (fascicle length: RMS = ∼3 mm, range: 38-63 mm; pennation angle: RMS = ∼1.5°, range: 22-32°). However, their reproducibility was lower compared to the joint angles. It was found that representative data have to be derived by a wide number of gait trials (fascicle length ∼six trials, pennation angle more than 10 trials), to assure the reliability of the fascicle length and pennation angle in human gait.}, language = {en} } @article{ArampatzisPeperBierbaumetal.2010, author = {Arampatzis, Adamantios and Peper, Andreas and Bierbaum, Stefanie and Albracht, Kirsten}, title = {Plasticity of human Achilles tendon mechanical and morphological properties in response to cyclic strain}, series = {Journal of Biomechanics}, volume = {43}, journal = {Journal of Biomechanics}, number = {16}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0021-9290}, doi = {10.1016/j.jbiomech.2010.08.014}, pages = {3073 -- 3079}, year = {2010}, abstract = {The purpose of the current study in combination with our previous published data (Arampatzis et al., 2007) was to examine the effects of a controlled modulation of strain magnitude and strain frequency applied to the Achilles tendon on the plasticity of tendon mechanical and morphological properties. Eleven male adults (23.9±2.2 yr) participated in the study. The participants exercised one leg at low magnitude tendon strain (2.97±0.47\%), and the other leg at high tendon strain magnitude (4.72±1.08\%) of similar frequency (0.5 Hz, 1 s loading, 1 s relaxation) and exercise volume (integral of the plantar flexion moment over time) for 14 weeks, 4 days per week, 5 sets per session. The exercise volume was similar to the intervention of our earlier study (0.17 Hz frequency; 3 s loading, 3 s relaxation) allowing a direct comparison of the results. Before and after the intervention ankle joint moment has been measured by a dynamometer, tendon-aponeurosis elongation by ultrasound and cross-sectional area of the Achilles tendon by magnet resonance images (MRI). We found a decrease in strain at a given tendon force, an increase in tendon-aponeurosis stiffness and tendon elastic modulus of the Achilles tendon only in the leg exercised at high strain magnitude. The cross-sectional area (CSA) of the Achilles tendon did not show any statistically significant (P>0.05) differences to the pre-exercise values in both legs. The results indicate a superior improvement in tendon properties (stiffness, elastic modulus and CSA) at the low frequency (0.17 Hz) compared to the high strain frequency (0.5 Hz) protocol. These findings provide evidence that the strain magnitude applied to the Achilles tendon should exceed the value, which occurs during habitual activities to trigger adaptational effects and that higher tendon strain duration per contraction leads to superior tendon adaptational responses.}, language = {en} } @incollection{EversFleischhakerPalffyetal.2010, author = {Evers, J{\"o}rg and Fleischhaker, Robert and P{\´a}lffy, A. and Keitel, C.}, title = {Light propagation : From atomic to nuclear quantum optics}, series = {Modern optics and photonics: atoms and structured media}, booktitle = {Modern optics and photonics: atoms and structured media}, publisher = {World Scientific Publishing Co.}, isbn = {978-981431327-8}, doi = {10.1142/9789814313278_0001}, pages = {3 -- 15}, year = {2010}, language = {en} } @article{FleischhakerEversDey2010, author = {Fleischhaker, Robert and Evers, J{\"o}rg and Dey, Tarak N.}, title = {Phase modulation induced by cooperative effects in electromagnetically induced transparency}, series = {Physical Review A - Atomic, molecular, and optical physics}, volume = {82}, journal = {Physical Review A - Atomic, molecular, and optical physics}, number = {1}, publisher = {AIP Publishing}, address = {Melville, NY}, issn = {1050-2947}, doi = {10.1103/PhysRevA.82.013815}, pages = {013815}, year = {2010}, abstract = {We analyze the influence of dipole-dipole interactions in an electromagnetically induced transparency set up for a density at the onset of cooperative effects. To this end, we include mean-field models for the influence of local-field corrections and radiation trapping into our calculation. We show both analytically and numerically that the polarization contribution to the local field strongly modulates the phase of a weak pulse. We give an intuitive explanation for this local-field-induced phase modulation and demonstrate that it distinctively differs from the nonlinear self-phase-modulation that a strong pulse experiences in a Kerr medium.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{ReindlParkNordaetal.2010, author = {Reindl, Lukas and Park, Jin and Norda, Hannah and Butenweg, Christoph}, title = {Seismic design of masonry walls subject to out-of-plane bending}, series = {Proceedings of the Tenth International Conference on Computational Structures Technology : Valencia, Spain, 14 - 17 September 2010 / organised in association with: Universidad Politecnica de Valencia ... Ed. by B. H. V. Topping ...}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the Tenth International Conference on Computational Structures Technology : Valencia, Spain, 14 - 17 September 2010 / organised in association with: Universidad Politecnica de Valencia ... Ed. by B. H. V. Topping ...}, publisher = {Civil-Comp Press}, address = {Kippen}, organization = {International Conference on Computational Structures Technology <10, 2010, Valencia>}, isbn = {978-1-905088-36-2}, doi = {10.4203/ccp.93.348}, pages = {Paper 348}, year = {2010}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{GellertParkButenweg2010, author = {Gellert, Christoph and Park, Jin and Butenweg, Christoph}, title = {Seismic safety verification of masonry structures}, series = {Proceedings of the Eight International Masonry Conference : held in Dresden from 4th to 7th of July 2010 / [International Masonry Society ; Technische Universit{\"a}t Dresden]. Ed. by: Wolfram J{\"a}ger ... Volume 1. (Masonry / International Masonry Society Special Publication ; 11)}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the Eight International Masonry Conference : held in Dresden from 4th to 7th of July 2010 / [International Masonry Society ; Technische Universit{\"a}t Dresden]. Ed. by: Wolfram J{\"a}ger ... Volume 1. (Masonry / International Masonry Society Special Publication ; 11)}, publisher = {ARGE 8IMC Dresden}, address = {Radebeul}, organization = {International Masonry Conference <8, 2010, Dresden>}, isbn = {978-3-00-031381-3}, pages = {813 -- 822}, year = {2010}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{FrauenrathGoemmelButenwegetal.2010, author = {Frauenrath, Tobias and G{\"o}mmel, Andreas and Butenweg, Christoph and Otten, Mario and Niendorf, Thoralf}, title = {3D mapping of vocal fold geometry during articulatory maneuvers using ultrashort echo time imaging at 3.0 T}, series = {ISMRM-ESMRMB joint annual meeting 2010 : Stockholm, Sweden, 1 - 7 May 2010. Band 4}, booktitle = {ISMRM-ESMRMB joint annual meeting 2010 : Stockholm, Sweden, 1 - 7 May 2010. Band 4}, publisher = {Curran}, address = {Red Hook, NY}, organization = {International Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine}, isbn = {978-1-617-82008-3}, pages = {3087}, year = {2010}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{GoemmelNiendorfFrauenrathetal.2010, author = {G{\"o}mmel, Andreas and Niendorf, Thoralf and Frauenrath, Tobias and Otten, Mario and Butenweg, Christoph and Kob, Malte}, title = {3D vocal fold geometry mapping using Magnetic Resonance Imaging}, series = {Fortschritte der Akustik : 36. Deutsche Jahrestagung f{\"u}r Akustik ; 15.-18. M{\"a}rz 2010, [Berlin ; DAGA 2010] / DEGA ... Wiss. Ed. Michael M{\"o}ser ... Band 1}, booktitle = {Fortschritte der Akustik : 36. Deutsche Jahrestagung f{\"u}r Akustik ; 15.-18. M{\"a}rz 2010, [Berlin ; DAGA 2010] / DEGA ... Wiss. Ed. Michael M{\"o}ser ... Band 1}, publisher = {Deutsche Gesellschaft f{\"u}r Akustik}, address = {Berlin}, organization = {Deutsche Jahrestagung f{\"u}r Akustik <36, 2010, Berlin>}, isbn = {978-3-9808659-8-2}, pages = {271 -- 272}, year = {2010}, language = {en} } @misc{O'ConnellSiegertMaureretal.2010, author = {O'Connell, Timothy and Siegert, Petra and Maurer, Karl-Heinz and Schiedel, Marc-Steffen and Vockenroth, Inga Kerstin}, title = {Method for improving the cleaning action of a detergent or cleaning agent [Internationale Patentanmeldung]}, publisher = {WIPO}, address = {Genf}, pages = {1 -- 15}, year = {2010}, language = {en} } @article{VogtMottaghyWolfetal.2010, author = {Vogt, C. and Mottaghy, Darius and Wolf, A. and Rath, V. and Pechnig, R. and Clauser, C.}, title = {Reducing temperature uncertainties by stochastic geothermal reservoir modelling}, series = {Geophysical Journal International}, volume = {181}, journal = {Geophysical Journal International}, number = {1}, publisher = {Oxford University Press}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {1365-246X}, doi = {10.1111/j.1365-246X.2009.04498.x}, pages = {321 -- 333}, year = {2010}, abstract = {Quantifying and minimizing uncertainty is vital for simulating technically and economically successful geothermal reservoirs. To this end, we apply a stochastic modelling sequence, a Monte Carlo study, based on (i) creating an ensemble of possible realizations of a reservoir model, (ii) forward simulation of fluid flow and heat transport, and (iii) constraining post-processing using observed state variables. To generate the ensemble, we use the stochastic algorithm of Sequential Gaussian Simulation and test its potential fitting rock properties, such as thermal conductivity and permeability, of a synthetic reference model and—performing a corresponding forward simulation—state variables such as temperature. The ensemble yields probability distributions of rock properties and state variables at any location inside the reservoir. In addition, we perform a constraining post-processing in order to minimize the uncertainty of the obtained distributions by conditioning the ensemble to observed state variables, in this case temperature. This constraining post-processing works particularly well on systems dominated by fluid flow. The stochastic modelling sequence is applied to a large, steady-state 3-D heat flow model of a reservoir in The Hague, Netherlands. The spatial thermal conductivity distribution is simulated stochastically based on available logging data. Errors of bottom-hole temperatures provide thresholds for the constraining technique performed afterwards. This reduce the temperature uncertainty for the proposed target location significantly from 25 to 12 K (full distribution width) in a depth of 2300 m. Assuming a Gaussian shape of the temperature distribution, the standard deviation is 1.8 K. To allow a more comprehensive approach to quantify uncertainty, we also implement the stochastic simulation of boundary conditions and demonstrate this for the basal specific heat flow in the reservoir of The Hague. As expected, this results in a larger distribution width and hence, a larger, but more realistic uncertainty estimate. However, applying the constraining post-processing the uncertainty is again reduced to the level of the post-processing without stochastic boundary simulation. Thus, constraining post-processing is a suitable tool for reducing uncertainty estimates by observed state variables.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{KirschMarcher2010, author = {Kirsch, Ansgar and Marcher, Thomas}, title = {Numerical prediction of time-dependent rock swelling based on an example of a major tunnel project in Ontario/Canada}, series = {Numerical methods in geotechnical engineering : (NUMGE 2010) : proceedings of the seventh European Conference on Numerical Methods in Geotechnical Engineering, Trondheim, Norway, 2 - 4 June 2010 / ed. by Thomas Benz ...}, booktitle = {Numerical methods in geotechnical engineering : (NUMGE 2010) : proceedings of the seventh European Conference on Numerical Methods in Geotechnical Engineering, Trondheim, Norway, 2 - 4 June 2010 / ed. by Thomas Benz ...}, publisher = {Taylor and Francis}, address = {London}, organization = {European Conference on Numerical Methods in Geotechnical Engineering <7, 2010, Trondheim>}, isbn = {978-0-415-59239-0}, pages = {297 -- 302}, year = {2010}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{Kirsch2010, author = {Kirsch, Ansgar}, title = {Numerical investigation of the face stability of shallow tunnels in sand}, series = {Numerical methods in geotechnical engineering : (NUMGE 2010) : proceedings of the seventh European Conference on Numerical Methods in Geotechnical Engineering, Trondheim, Norway, 2 - 4 June 2010 / ed. by Thomas Benz ...}, booktitle = {Numerical methods in geotechnical engineering : (NUMGE 2010) : proceedings of the seventh European Conference on Numerical Methods in Geotechnical Engineering, Trondheim, Norway, 2 - 4 June 2010 / ed. by Thomas Benz ...}, publisher = {Taylor and Francis}, address = {London}, organization = {European Conference on Numerical Methods in Geotechnical Engineering <7, 2010, Trondheim>}, isbn = {978-0-415-59239-0}, pages = {779 -- 784}, year = {2010}, language = {en} } @article{Kirsch2010, author = {Kirsch, Ansgar}, title = {Experimental investigation of the face stability of shallow tunnels in sand}, series = {Acta Geotechnica}, volume = {5}, journal = {Acta Geotechnica}, number = {1}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Berlin}, issn = {1861-1125}, doi = {10.1007/s11440-010-0110-7}, pages = {43 -- 62}, year = {2010}, abstract = {Various models have been proposed for the prediction of the necessary support pressure at the face of a shallow tunnel. To assess their quality, the collapse of a tunnel face was modelled with small-scale model tests at single gravity. The development of the failure mechanism and the support force at the face in dry sand were investigated. The observed displacement patterns show a negligible influence of overburden on the extent and evolution of the failure zone. The latter is significantly influenced, though, by the initial density of the sand: in dense sand a chimney-wedge-type collapse mechanism developed, which propagated towards the soil surface. Initially, loose sand did not show any discrete collapse mechanism. The necessary support force was neither influenced by the overburden nor the initial density. A comparison with quantitative predictions by several theoretical models showed that the measured necessary support pressure is overestimated by most of the models. Those by Vermeer/Ruse and L{\´e}ca/Dormieux showed the best agreement to the measurements.}, language = {en} } @article{FellinKingKirschetal.2010, author = {Fellin, Wolfgang and King, Julian and Kirsch, Ansgar and Oberguggenberger, Michael}, title = {Uncertainty modelling and sensitivity analysis of tunnel face stability}, series = {Structural safety}, volume = {32}, journal = {Structural safety}, number = {6}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0167-4730}, doi = {10.1016/j.strusafe.2010.06.001}, pages = {402 -- 410}, year = {2010}, abstract = {This paper proposes an approach to the choice and evaluation of engineering models with the aid of a typical application in geotechnics. An important issue in the construction of shallow tunnels, especially in weak ground conditions, is the tunnel face stability. Various theoretical and numerical models for predicting the necessary support pressure have been put forth in the literature. In this paper, we combine laboratory experiments performed at the University of Innsbruck with current methods of uncertainty and sensitivity analysis for assessing adequacy, predictive power and robustness of the models. The major issues are the handling of the twofold uncertainty of test results and of model predictions as well as the decision about what are the influential input parameters.}, language = {en} }