Engineering Commons^™

General Report Session No. 14: Geotechnical Aspects Of Recent Earthquakes, Ahmed-W. Elgamal, G. L. Hempen

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

No abstract provided.

Geotechnical Aspects Of The Petrolia Earthquake, Robert K. Green, Thomas L. Sawyer

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

The Petrolia, California earthquake (M_S 6.9, M_L 6.4) occurred on April 25, 1992 and was followed by numerous aftershocks including two earthquakes over magnitude 6 that occurred on April 26, 1992. The earthquakes caused structural damage in Ferndale, Petrolia, Honeydew, Rio Dell, Fortuna, and Scotia. The earthquake also produced ground failures of liquefaction, lateral spreads, and landslides in the epicentral region. Liquefaction did not appear to be widespread, and occurred in locations where it would most likely be expected to occur (low lying areas with very recent alluvial deposits and high ground water). Scattered landslides were triggered by …

Ground Movements In Mexico City During Recent Earthquakes, E. Ovando, M. P. Romo, L. Díaz

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

Acceleration records were obtained with a rather dense accelerographic array during three recent earthquakes in Mexico City. Following a purely observational approach, useful information about the nature and characteristics of seismic motions was derived from the analysis of these records. Broad regional studies indicate that the distribution of seismic motions in the city may be affected by directivity effects. From local site studies it is concluded that seismic movements at the base of the compressible clay deposits are fairly uniform and accelerograms recorded in vertical arrays suggest that soil strata in Mexico City respond to seismic movements according to established …

Liquefaction During 1988 Earthquakes And A Case Study, M. K. Gupta

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

Several parts of north eastern India, Bangladesh and Burma were rocked by an earthquake on August 6, 1988. The author carried out earthquake damage survey due to liquefaction in Assam region. Wide spread liquefaction in the area was observed. Guide bunds and approach roads of a road bridge near Tezpur performed excellently against liquefaction during the earthquake for which they were designed. Another earthquake of magnitude 6.6 visited Nepal Bihar border region which shook northern Bihar and Nepal region and was felt as far as Jaipur in the west and Shillong in the east. Large scale liquefaction has also been …

Liquefaction During The October 12, 1992, Egyptian Dahshure Earthquake, Ahmed-W. Elgamal, Mohamed Amer, Korhan Adalier

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

On October 12, 1992 a moderate earthquake M_B = 5.9 (M_S = 5.2) occurred about 18 km southwest of the center of Cairo and resulted in significant damage to numerous poorly constructed structures. Soil liquefaction associated with the occurrence of large sand-boils was observed close to the epicenter. As a consequence, a main road suffered a maximum settlement of about 1.75 m. In this study, the earthquake characteristics, soil profiles and resulting liquefaction are discussed. The observed liquefaction mechanisms provide valuable information on the seismic response of Nile deposited alluvial soils. Such soils constitute much of the inhabited …

Nonlinear Dynamic Effective-Stress Analysis Of Two Case Histories, S. Inel, W. H. Roth, C. De Rubertis

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

Two case histories were analyzed to determine the validity of using nonlinear numerical analysis methods together with simple and familiar descriptions of soil behavior to predict shaking-induced excess pore pressures and permanent deformations within soil. The first case focuses on the prediction of liquefaction during centrifuge testing of a silt layer underlain by sand. The second case involves the prediction of behavior of the Upper San Fernando Dam during the 1971 San Fernando earthquake. Results of both analyses show that consistent and reasonably accurate estimates may be made of the behavior of soil during seismic loading. The relative simplicity of …

Response Analyses Of Recorded Earthquake Motions, S. J. Serhan

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

Response analyses of three recorded earthquakes at a nuclear power plant have been conducted. The objective of the response analyses is to obtain frequency composition, assess damage potential, and simulate and explain the recorded soil and structural seismic motions. Two- and three-dimensional models for the soil/structure system have been developed by using the finite-element substructuring method. Results of the analyses show clear evidence of soil/structure interaction in terms of significant soil softening, strong rocking mode participation and unusual recorded high-frequency response inside the buildings.

Soil Liquefaction During The 1991 Telire-Limón, Costa Rica, Earthquake, Susumu Yasuda, Hiroyuki Watanabe, Nozomu Yoshida, Sergio Mora

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

The 1991 Telire-Limón Earthquake of magnitude 7.5 caused significant damage in Costa Rica and Panama. Soil liquefaction occurred widely in the low lying area in eastern Costa Rica, which caused severe damage to the embankment, bridges, and houses, etc. The liquefied sites are classified into three categories: 1) inland areas along rivers, 2) sand bars along beach, and 3) coastal areas along rivers. In inland area, road embankment of Route 32 was severely damaged due to liquefaction. Fissures parallel to the road and lateral spreading are occurred. At the sand bar and marsh, liquefaction occurred in the areas between the …

Case Histories Of Compacted Clay Liners And Covers For Waste Disposal Facilities, David E. Daniel

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

Compacted clay liners and covers are widely used in waste containment units. Case histories in three categories are presented: (1) case histories illustrating compaction, construction, and quality assurance difficulties; (2) case histories involving field hydraulic conductivity testing of large-scale test pads; and (3) case histories involving final cover systems. The case histories illustrate that: (1) compaction criteria should be chosen carefully and with consideration given to how the compaction will be controlled in the field; (2) regulatory roadblocks may defeat sound technical approaches in terms of developing compaction criteria; (3) one can follow ASTM procedures and still get into difficulty …

Design And Observation Of Steep Reinforced Embankments, T. Yamanouchi, N. Fukuda

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

Using the design method proposed by R. A. Jewell et al. numerous steep reinforced embankments have been constructed in the authors’ home country since the year 1984. In fact these soil structures are built with the reinforcement of polymer grids (the so-called geogrids invented by F. B. Mercer of U.K.) which have a unique structural composition with high-tensile and low-ductility characteristics. This paper deals with first the development of steep reinforced soil structures and their design method, and then introduces a well-documented case history of steep reinforced embankment. The authors propose a current design method developed on the basis of …

The Kettleman Hills Landfill Failure: A Retrospective View Of The Failure Investigations And Lessons Learned, James K. Mitchell, Mihsiung Chang, Raymond B. Seed

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

The sliding stability failure of the Kettleman Hills waste landfill focused attention on several issues related to the safe design and filling of waste repositories, including low strengths between geosynthetic material interfaces in composite liner systems and low interface strength between compacted clay and smooth geomembranes. Waste placement plans must be carefully developed to insure an adequate factor of safety against sliding at all stages of filling. Because of assumptions and uncertainties that remained following the initial failure investigation, model tests, at a scale of 1:150, were done. These tests reproduced the field failure very well and provided insights into …

Man-Made Vibrations And Solutions, K. R. Massarsch

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

The generation and propagation of man-made vibrations in the ground is discussed. Emphasis is placed a simplified approach which is used to assess the most important factors, such as wave attenuation, refraction focusing and vibration amplification as a result of resonance. Practical guidelines are presented which can be used to predict vibrations and settlements in the ground. A semi-empirical relationship for the assessment of permissible vibration levels for buildings is proposed. Finally, a new ground vibration isolation method, the gas cushion screen is presented.

Practical Studies Of The Seismic Response Of A Rockfill Dam And A Tailings Impoundment, W. D. Liam Finn

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

Two case studies from engineering practice are presented to demonstrate how useful a sophisticated finite element analysis can be in providing a comprehensive understanding of how dams behave during earthquakes. The first example involves determining, from the recorded performance of a rockfill dam, the volume change characteristics of the rockfill which cannot be measured directly. The second example covers the full range of current capability for analysis. It involves dynamic effective stress analysis of a tailings dam to check the triggering of liquefaction and the analysis of post-liquefaction flow deformations.

Discussions And Replies: State Of The Art Papers, Mohamad Hussein, Fred H. Held Iii, C. Mirza, T. M. Davisson

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

No abstract provided.

Construction And Interim Performance Of A Pyrament Cement Concrete Bridge Deck, Michael D. Stone, David Q. Hunsucker

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Pyrament Blended Cement (PBC) is a high performance cement developed by Lone Star Industries and is a blend of 65% portland cement, 30% fly ash, and 5% trademark additive. Concrete made with PBC has been characterized by its rapid set, high early strength, and low permeability. This report summarizes the construction and interim performance of a full-depth concrete bridge deck slab constructed using Pyrament Cement concrete.

Utilization Of Fossil-Fuel Related By-Product Materials For Highway Construction In Kentucky, David Q. Hunsucker

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

In an effort to increase the utilization of fossil-fuel by product materials in highway construction project, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet authorized the experimental use of several waste materials. These materials included bottom ashes, fly ash, scrubber sludge, multicone kiln dust, and residues tram atmospheric fluidized bed combustion processes. Bottom ash aggregate was used as a partial replacement for the limestone aggregate in a bituminous surface mix. Non-specification fly ash was used in lieu of Class F fly ash in a stabilized aggregate base. Bottom ash stabilized with residue from an atmospheric fluidized bed combustion process was used as a highway …

Performance Of Experimental Highway Base And Subbase Layers Containing Coal-Fired Power Plant By-Product Materials: Ky Route 3074, Bleich Road, David Q. Hunsucker, R. Clark Graves

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Three 750-foot test sections of a 22-foot wide roadway were constructed on newly constructed subgrade in May and June, 1988. The three experimental sections contained experimental base and subbase layers comprised of mixtures utilizing by-product materials from a coal-fired power plant One test section included a base layer containing residue from an atmospheric fluidized bed combustion (AFBC) process, size No. 57 aggregate, and Class F fly ash. The second test section included a base layer constructed ponded fly ash, hydrated lime, and dense-graded aggregate. The third test section included a subbase layer constructed of pond ash stabilized with AFBC residue. …

Applicant's Guide To Traffic Impact Studies, Soumya Sekhar Dey, Jon D. Fricker

JTRP Technical Reports

No abstract provided.

Bs News

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Drainage Basins And Flash Flood Hazards In Al-Ain Area, United Arab Emirates, Moza Hamad Al-Shamsi

Civil and Environmental Theses

Flash flood strike different parts of Al-Ain area virtually every year causing Serious property loses this study investigates the main factors control ling this Flooding, namely. (a) Climate, (b) geomorphology, and (c) hydrogeology Climatically, mo t of rainstorms do occur during the month of February. Geomorphologic ally, the landforms and drainage systems are the main factors. Hydrogeological, twenty basins were carefully identified and their morphometric Parameters were measured the relations between these morphometric parameters and flash floods were accordingly assessed. The results show that most severe damage did occur in buildings and farms in Al Ain Area the most influential …

Constitutive Equation For Concrete Using Strain-Space Plasticity Model, Yuxiang Xing

Dissertations

Plasticity theory has been used to model the concrete constitutive relationship for about two decades. With the modifications and refinement based on experimental data, achievement has been made in these plasticity models for concrete. Almost all the existing models are developed in stress space. With a lot of experimental data and more understanding about stress states of concrete, the stress-space model shows many advantages. Because of this and also due to conventional engineering practice, the stress-space plasticity approach has been in the dominant position. However, the conventional stress-space plasticity method has one inherent drawback in which it cannot deal with …

Tensile Behavior Of Concrete And Mortar Under Direct Impact Tensile Load, Kayumars Emad

Dissertations

Structures are often subjected to impact loadings during their lifetime. Most structural specifications including the special provisions for seismic design in the current ACI building codes, have been developed on the basis of quasi-static assumptions. Cement composites are strain rate sensitive materials therefore, their properties determined under quasi-static condition should not be used to predict their performance under high strain rates.

The objectives of this investigation are:

• to develop a standard test set-up for direct tensile testing of cementitious composites.
• to study the tensile behavior of mortar and concrete under direct impact tensile load.
• to develop a simplified formula to …

Unreinforced Masonry Structures : Nonlinear Analysis And Evaluation Of Some Rehab Schemes, Sanjay Mehta

Dissertations

Unreinforced masonry (URM) structures have been a common type of construction in the past and are still used in regions of low seismicity. Retrofitting of these structures is necessary because of two reasons: Firstly, observed damage after earthquakes reveals that URM construction is one of the most hazardous constructions even in the region of low seismicity; secondly, reclassification of seismic zones would require retrofitting of existing structures to comply with new guidelines for earthquake design.

Retrofitting measures require that the response of original and new structural systems as well as their interaction be considered. It is therefore important to correctly …

Utilization Of Fly Ash In Concrete, Chai Jaturapitakkul

Dissertations

Fly ash, a by-product of coal burning power plants, is produced in large quantities each year. It is commonly known that fly ash possesses pozzolanic behavior which can enhance the properties of concrete. Due to a lack of proper understanding on the formation of fly ash and its performance in concrete, the question of quality assurance has frequently been a major concern of engineers using fly ash in their construction projects. As a result, much fly ash is disposed of as waste material in landfills. Recent environmental concerns and a shortage of landfill space have rapidly escalated the disposal cost …

Mechanism Of Pneumatic Fracturing, Trevor Compton King

Theses

This thesis investigates the mechanism of pneumatic fracturing in geologic materials such as soil and rock. Pneumatic fracturing is a recently developed technique for increasing the permeability of geologic formations by the controlled injection of high pressure air. Present applications are focusing on the in situ remediation of contaminated soil and ground water, although pneumatic fracturing has other geotechnical uses such as pumping well enhancement.

A comprehensive literature review of a related technology known as hydraulic fracturing is presented, which serves as background for development of a pneumatic fracturing model. Pressure-time histories from actual pneumatic injections are analyzed in detail …

Integration Of Pneumatic Fracturing To Enhance In Situ Bioremediation, Conan Dante Fitzgerald

Theses

The purpose of this thesis was to study the anticipated benefits of integrating pneumatic fracturing with in situ bioremediation. Since pneumatic fracturing increases subsurface air flow in low permeability formations, it has the potential to overcome many of the major limiting factors of microbial growth and activity. A new innovation called pneumatic bio-injection can further enhance in situ bioremediation by efficiently dispersing biological solutions, including microorganisms, into a formation.

Bench scale experiments were conducted to examine the ability of microorganisms to survive the pressures and stresses associated with pneumatic injection. Tests conducted at pressures ranging from 60 to 500 psi …

Power Consumption In Single-Phase Agitated Vessels Provided With Multiple Impellers, Gwo-Ming Chang

Theses

A significant amount of data can be found in the literature on power consumption of single-impeller agitation systems. However, little and incomplete information is available for power consumption in multiple-impeller systems. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to experimentally determine the power consumed by multiple impellers in mixing vessels as a function of impeller type, impeller off-bottom clearance, impeller spacing, and agitation speed.

In this work, the power dissipated by combinations of one, two or three impellers of either identical types or different types was studied. The power drawn by each individual impeller was measured by means of …

Fracture Of Cementitious Composites, Sira Tindukasiri

Theses

Studies in fracture mechanics of concrete use a testing setup which tends to include unacceptably large errors in deflection measurements. Recent work reported by Kim [3] has proposed a new testing setup to eliminate these errors and consequently produce better determinations of fracture parameters.

The error which occurs most frequently is in the measurement of the load-line deflection. Until recently, the way this measurement has been made, using a dial gauge or LVDT (Linear Variable Differential Transformer) to measure the deformation between the center of the specimen and the frame, includes the crushing of the concrete surface at the supports …

Cone Penetration In Cemented Deposits-A Field Study, Semih Arslan

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Neglecting cementation results in an underestimation of slope stability and pile capacity in design and analysis of geotechnical engineering problems related to cemented deposits. Developing methods to identify and assess the engineering characteristics of cemented deposits is an important subject in geotechnical engineering.

This study is conducted to evaluate the reliability of the prediction schemes proposed by previous investigators through a field study of cone penetration in a cemented deposit and respective laboratory triaxial study on undisturbed cemented specimens. The effect of cementation on cone penetration resistance is investigated through the field study, and the effects of cementation on drained …

Gravity Sedimentation: A One-Dimensional Numerical Model, Joanna Robin Karl

Dissertations and Theses

A large fraction of the current cost of wastewater treatment is from the treatment and disposal of wastewater sludge. Improved design, energy efficiency, and performance of dewatering facilities could significantly decrease transport and disposal costs.

Dewatering facilities are designed based on field experience, trial and error, pilot plant testing, and/or full scale testing. Design is generally time-consuming and expensive. A full-scale test typically consists of side-by-side operation of 4 to 5 full-scale dewatering units for several weeks to more than 6 months. Theoretical modeling of the physics of dewatering units such as the belt filter press, based on laboratory determined …