The development of the construction industry in Russia in the last two decades proves the need to develop new and update existing regulatory documents (SNiP, GOST, SP). The vast majority of documents are developed in Soviet times. New requirements for the disposal of structures, foundation device technology, as well as the emergence of modern mechanisms and materials predetermined the need to change the regulatory framework of the Russian Federation, including the design of bases and foundations for permafrost grunts.

The article presents the main changes included in the main document on the projection of the bases and the foundation for permafrost grunts SNiP 2.02.04-88 "Bases and foundations for permafrost grunts", which in 2012 was assigned the number of SP 25.13330, as well as Changes № 1 and 2 to the new document. The authors of the article, who are part of the team prepared new documents, describe the causes and foundations of been changes, as well as indicate the direction of further their development.

Method for estimation of the end bearing resistance of the driven pile obtained on the basis of solving the problem of spherical cavity expansion in an elastoplastic soil is presented. The results are compared with the table values provided in the building code for pile foundations for various soils. It is shown that table values differ from the calculated in both directions, which indicates the preference for calculation with physical and mechanical characteristics instead of soil type correlation.

The development of areas with severe climatic conditions, which include cryolithozone, requires the improvement of construction technology, which allows reduction in construction time, and at the same time ensure the load-carrying capacity of structures. This postulate applies fully to the foundation construction on permafrost soils. Improving the methods of constructing foundations, in particular pile foundations, will significantly improve the efficiency of founding on permafrost soils. One of the promising designs is screw-pile foundations with using multilapped piles, using of which at present is not possible due to the lack of reliable studies.

In 2016 the specialists of NIIOSP named after N.M. Gersenvanov, which is structural subdivision of JSC ‘Research and Development Center of Construction’, performed research work (NIOKR) on the theme: ‘Development of a methodology for calculating multi-blade screw piles in permafrost soils’ as part of the state order compiled by Federal center of standardization (FAU «FCS»).

Within the framework of the work an analysis of the status of the question under study, as well as normative and methodological bases affecting the scientific and technical problem was done. Based on the results of the analysis, a program of laboratory studies, including tests of scaled models of metal multi-blade screw piles on a frozen clay base in a cryocamera was developed. In the course of the study several calculation schemes were considered, one of which was confirmed experimentally. Based on the confirmed design scheme a technique has been developed to determine the bearing capacity of a single multi-blade screw pile in permafrost conditions.

This article discusses the relevance of the work, describes the experimental part, and characterizes the test equipment. The adopted calculation schemes, methodology, and the calculation method are also considered. In conclusion, recommendations are given on the further use of the methodology and its improvement.

The paper proposes the idea of engineering numerical approach for analyzing retaining structures behavior of foundation pits. This method determine the values of the lateral ground pressure on the structure by means of the limit equilibrium theory, depending on the nature of its deformations and taking into account pressures distribution within the wedge failure. Main dependencies of the proposed method and its derivation, results of studies and calculations using the developed software are presented. Comparison of outcomes by the obtained solution with experimental data and results of mathematical modelling by the finite element method are also given in the paper.

With the development of new territories there is a growing need in the soft water-saturated soils improvement. The most common method is preloading of soft soils by surcharge load, when the soil layer has a small thickness, and the combination of surcharge preloading with vertical drains, when the thickness of the soil layer is large. In recent years the method of vacuum consolidation is increasingly used to solve such problems in many countries of the world. It is based on the use of vacuum pressure on the soil. Patented in 1950-s, it has undergone several modifications and technological improvements with the aim of improving efficiency and reducing the cost of the work. In modern construction an analysis of the methodology for using this method, it is possible to distinguish two main systems — membrane and membraneless, each of which has its own specifics. This article discusses the principle of this method and the main directions of its development.

The article describes the main provisions of the work rules in prepared by NIISP Guidelines for geotechnicalshield construction and reconstruction of structures in the karst areas from the occurrence of karst-suffusion processes. Setting out the requirements for engineering & geological surveys, calculations, designing of bases and foundations and the production of rehabilitation works of soil foundation on karst-hazardous territories, as well as geotechnical monitoring in the process of the construction and operation of buildings increased (COP-3) and normal (COP-2) level of responsibility.

The article describes improved and new methods of operative control of loadbearing capacity of foundations in tamped pits, out of driving blocks and driven concrete piles, aimed at reducing the time, labor and cost of testing foundations in field (natural) conditions during their installation.

The article describes the features of improved load capacity of precast and bored piles. There are two projects in Moscow that can be used as examples: high-rise apartment complex on Krasnopresnenskaya naberezhnaya and apartment complex «Lyuberetskiy». The authors have constructed two types of reinforced piles and conducted static loading test on them. Static test result proved that the piles may have higher load capacity.

The article deals with the up-to-date apparatus and methods of determining the integrity of the bored piles. The devices for static and dynamic testing of both bored and driven piles according to wave impact theory are described. The mentioned methods ensure the reliable quality control of the piles and enable a contractor to prevent and to eliminate the defects in the piles during their performance. NIIOSP has everything to apply the up-to-date apparatus and methods of determining the integrity of the bored piles, static and dynamic tests of the driven piles, tubes and bored piles.

The article describes the experiment by using the conversion technology of construction characteristics of the foundation soils by using crushed stone reinforcing elements for construction of a residential complex in Shchyolkovo city. The considered technology is proposed instead of pile foundations, which allowed to reduce the time and cost of construction of the underground part of the complex under construction. The article presents the results of field studies of soil properties transformed by stone columns.

Excavation of pits and trenches and tunneling near tram lines in constrained urban conditions is unavoidable. “Rules of tram technical operation” limit tramway skew to avoid negative effects. In this connection some problems are stated and solved to obtain simple formulas to evaluate tramway skew. Trench excavation near tramway and tunneling perpendicular to it at different positions of start and final points are considered. Simple resulting formulas are obtained; a worked example is given.

The article presents the results of monitoring at the experimental site of the Depository and Restoration and Exhibition Center (DRVTs) in Moscow: settlements of soil marks and horizontal soil movements along the depth of inclinometer wells as a result of the installation of two panels of the slurry wall. The monitoring data are supported by numerical simulation results in the Plaxis 3D program. To analyze the obtained monitoring results and numerical calculations, the initial horizontal stresses in the ground are compared with the pressure of fresh concrete and slurry on the walls of the trench. The search for the results of inclinometer measurements during the construction of a slurry wall at other experimental sites around the world was conducted, and the most interesting results of this search are presented.

When erection high-rise buildings, it becomes necessary to determine the depth of the compressible strata by 100 m or more. The existing methods for determining the depth of the compressible layer are based on the solution of the problem for a homogeneous, isotropic soil massif. In this article, the influence of heterogeneity, anisotropy, and strength, as well as preconsolidation pressure, capillary rise height and capillarysuspended water on the determination of the depth of compressible thickness is considered.

The article is an introduction to the course of "History and Philosophy of Science". The authors on the basis of the philosophy and science analysis show their interconnection and difference, suggest principles for the scientific analysis and other forms of value consciousness, in particular science and philosophy. The proposed principles clarify the idea of authors that philosophy is not a science in the strict sense of the word, but a worldview, i.e., theoretically justified system of views on the world as a whole and the place of man in it. The authors show the specifics of the philosophical worldview in comparison with other types and forms of worldviews. The authors give a detailed analysis of knowledge types (scientific knowledge, everyday knowledge, extra-scientific knowledge, etc.). In conclusion, the authors lay down the subject of the philosophy of science, the stages of its development and methods of study.