Engineering Commons^™

Tension And Compression Micropile Load Tests In Gravelly Sand, Armin W. Stuedlein, Matt D. Gibson, Garry E. Horvitz

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

Micropiles were selected for several upgrades to a paper machine at the Nippon Paper Industries USA Company in Port Angeles, Washington. This paper presents several aspects of the micropile design and subsequent load test performance for two separate upgrades at the paper mill. The micropile load tests, performed in tension and compression, provide a reference for micropile performance in medium dense to dense, gravelly sand. Comparison of the load test performance suggests that the common assumption of neglecting the contribution of end-bearing resistance does not adequately model micropile behavior. Additionally, evidence is presented for load transfer through the micropile casing. …

Study Of Behaviour Of Square And Rectangular Footings Resting On Cohesive Soils Based On Model Tests, S. R. Pathak, S. N. Kamat, D. R. Phatak

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

The estimation of a reliable value of bearing Capacity of soil is the most important step in the foundation design work. Number of theoretical approaches and in-situ tests for the estimation of bearing capacity of footing are available. The reliability of any theory can be demonstrated by comparing the experimental test results on field footings with theoretical predictions. One of the reliable methods is the load test on full sized footing. However, this test as covered under IS 1888-1982 is too expensive and time consuming. Model tests can be conducted on footings of various sizes. The surface characteristics for different …

The Bearing Capacity Of Cement-Treated Loess: A Case History Of Khon Kaen Loess, Thailand, Pongsakorn Punrattanasin, Watcharin Gasaluck

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

The loess terrain exists in abundance in the Northeastern region of Thailand. The soil has a potential to collapse which has been caused by wetting. This study reports the characteristics of Khon Kaen loess under various conditions. A case study of foundation damage of building found on this soil is presented. The water supply pipe in front of a three-story building founded on shallow foundations in Khon Kaen University was broken. The loess supporting the foundation at the middle part of the building was soaked and the foundations were severely then settled. Some reinforced concrete beams and columns were investigated …

The Modeling Of Deformation Process In Soils With Use Of Ansys And Ls-Dyna Programs, G. G. Boldyrev, A. J. Muyzemnek

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

In this paper the results of experimental and numerical researches of sand deformation in the basis of a rigid stamp loaded with central and eccentric loads in conditions of a plane and 3D space problem are shown. The numerical solution of a problem is executed with use of programs ANSYS, LS-DYNA and models of soil Drucker-Prager and Сар. The movement equations solution is executed with use of Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE) method that has allowed to solve a problem at large deformations, even for the sandy basis stability loss.

The Importance Of Field Tests And Monitoring Activity For The Remedial Measurements Coresponding To Some Old Buildings In Bucharest, Anton Chirica

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

The present paper shows the way in which by field tests such as light and standard dynamic penetrations, the effects of a deep excavation on the nearby constructions could be quantified. The consolidation works could be design taking into account the interpretation of the test results

Time-Dependent Bearing Capacity Increase Of Uniformly Driven Tapered Piles- Field Load Test, Mahmoud Ghazavi, Hossein Ali Ahmadi

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

This paper describes the results of field load tests on concrete tapered and straight-sided piles driven into a cohesive saturated ground. The piles were driven into a depth of 12 m at a close distance using diesel hammer machine. The soil profile consisted mainly of soft CL and ML in the Unified Soil Classification System. Two piles were tested initially after 35 days from the installation date using maintained load test procedure according to ASTM D1143-81. Then similar tests were performed on two piles after 289 days following the installation date. The results showed the capacities of both piles were …

Numerical Analysis Of Drivability Of Non-Uniform Piles, Mahmoud Ghazavi, Omid Tavassoli

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

This paper presents a numerical analysis of pile driving for tapered piles using FLAC software. The approach involves idealization of pile-soil system in pile drivability. The pile is assumed to be vertical and have elastic and linear behaviour. The soil is assumed to be elasto-plastic material which obeys the Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion. To allow slip between the pile and the soil in pile driving, interface elements are used at the pile-soil borders along the shaft and the toe. Quiet boundaries are considered in the lateral and vertical directions for the soil to absorb traveling waves. The obtained numerical results are …

Investigation On The Liquefaction Of A Clayey-Sandy Soil During Changureh Earthquake, Mahmoud Ghahremani, Abbas Ghalandarzadeh, Kazuo Konagai

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

An intense earthquake (MW = 6.4) occurred in western Iran, about 225 km west of Tehran at 7:28 local time, June 22, 2002. Surface soil in this area is mostly clay; however, clear traces of sand boiling, softening of soil, and consequent deformations were observed particularly in Hessar village. Some soil samples were prepared throughout an excavated pit from a depth of 2 m, the depth of the liquefied layer. The preliminary tests showed that the soil has a liquid limit of 38, a plasticity index of 18, and a < No. 200 fraction of 44%. These index characteristics would indicate a nonliquefiable soil according to the commonly used criteria. Analysis of cyclic triaxial test data suggests that the clayey sand deposit likely developed high residual excess pore pressures and significant shear strains during the earthquake and thus likely contributed to the observed lateral deformations. In this paper, different cases of observed liquefaction and consequent geotechnical phenomena are presented. Moreover, the results of laboratory tests on reconstituted samples are presented to prove how a soil with 44% of clay content could be liquefied.

General Report — Session 4: Case Histories Of Engineering Vibrations, Vibration Control For Underground And Surface Constructions With Specific Emphasis On The Urban Environment; Predictions, Monitoring And Solutions; Blasting For Tunnels In Soft Ground And Rock, Discontinuous Rocks And Their Application To Water Resources Projects, Joel L. Volterra, Sami Arsoy

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

No abstract provided.

General Report — Session 11: Application Of Case Histories In Education And Practice, Sanjeev Kumar

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

Geotechnical engineers frequently use information about subsurface conditions from other projects in the area to design new projects in the vicinity. However, this information is used more in a surfacial manner rather than an integral part of project design. This session on application of case histories in education and practice has been introduced for the first time in this conference to initiate formalization of the use case histories in engineering design and training of civil engineering students. This report summarizes the papers submitted by various civil engineering educators and professional practitioners. The readers are encouraged to review the complete papers …

Lessons Learned From Slope And Trench Failures In Japan, Yasuo Toyosawa, Sahaphol Timpong, Kazuya Itoh

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

This paper presents case histories of slope and trench failure accidents in Japan during the period of 1989 to 2001 based on the database from construction industrial labor accident reports. The major risk factors of the failures are identified by considering the location of slope and trench failures, types of construction, slope and trench geometries, scale of slope failure, time of occurrence and characteristics of worker involved in the failures. It was found that it is necessary to improve the safety standards and provide more safety education and training especially in the small construction projects to prevent the slope and …

Landslide Investigation At Phata Village On Rudraprayag-Kedarnath Road, Uttaranchal — A Case Study, A. Ghosh, S. Sarkar, D. P. Kanungo, S. K. Jain, Dalip Kumar, Zameer Ahmed, Ashish Patra

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

Phata village on the Guptakashi-Gaurikund road in the Mandakini valley of Garhwal Himalaya was affected by a major landslide on 16th July 2001 due to heavy rainfall. The debris flow not only swept away several houses but it also claimed 15 lives. A detailed landslide investigation was carried out to assess the present stability condition. Geotechnical investigation was carried out to determine the soil properties. Seismic refraction survey to determine the overburden thickness was also carried out using Engineering Seismograph. Slope stability analysis was carried out to ascertain the existing stability of the slope. It was found that with rise …

Measurement Of Vibration And Noise During The Installation Of Rammed Aggregate Piers, Gregg L. Fiegel, Tom M. Farrell

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

The objective of the study was to record and evaluate ground vibration and noise generated during the installation of rammed aggregate piers (RAPs). Summarized are ground vibration and noise induced by the ramming equipment (i.e. the hydraulic break hammer and rammer) during the installation of forty-five RAPs at a single site. Data were collected during the entire installation process for each pier, which allowed for the measurement of ground vibration and noise levels for periods when the ramming equipment was positioned at different depths within the RAP. Measurements were also taken at different horizontal distances from the ramming equipment and …

Seismic Source And Its Effect On Site Response Observed In Chilean Subductive Environment, Ramón Verdugo, César Pastén

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

Among other factors that influence the seismic motion resulting at the ground surface are the characteristics of the seismic source. This factor has been recognized that would affect the frequency content of the resulting motion. In this context, Chilean subductive environment provides a considerable variety of seismogenic sources allowing the study of this factor. The analysis of spectrograms of recorded earthquakes originated by different seismogenic sources at different site conditions is presented. The results indicate that in the case of shallow thrust earthquakes a predominant frequency can be observed, which agrees with the predominant frequency obtained by the H/V spectral …

The Simplified Kzp5 Method For Soil Nail Design In Granular Soils, Kumars Zand-Parsa, Kamran Zand-Parsa

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

A lot of soil nail retaining walls in southern California are under construction. Some of them will be used as shoring systems for bridge or other kind of retaining wall constructions. Design and design review process are very time consuming, and the possibility of mistakes encourages us to find a simplified method for designing the soil nail walls. The maximum height of the soil nail walls in that region were about 14m, including 9 rows of 25mm steel rods (nails) in 150mm diameter holes with different lengths. Whole length of the drilled holes will be filled with grout after setting …

Empirical Correlations Of Longwall Subsidence Data For The Illinois Coal Basin, Gennaro G. Marino, Mohamed Gamal, Nagesh Malyala

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

Subsidence, mining and site data has been collected over a number of longwall panels in the Illinois Basin. Using this data, empirical correlations are attempted to various subsidence parameters, including maximum vertical and horizontal displacement, subsidence slope and curvature and horizontal strain. Also, the corresponding locations of these various subsidence characteristics are correlated to the associated site conditions. An extensive list of definitions are provided for the various subsidence parameters utilized in the paper.

Improvement Of Soil And Rock Properties For Foundation Support For Missouri Interchange Project, Timothy J. Myers, Hristo K. Dobrev, John Szturo R. G., Wayne Duryee

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

Expansion and growth in the southwestern region of Missouri necessitated the expansion of State Route 249 and the construction of a new interchange to provide service to the Joplin, Missouri area. The project is located above a former lead and zinc mine in Jasper County, Missouri and includes a five bridge interchange connecting State Route 249 and US Route 171. The variable subsurface conditions, both natural and manmade prompted the design team to use ground improvement via grouting and small diameter micropiles to provide support for several of the bridge foundations on the project. The scope of work included mine …

An “Unexpected” Rock Failure In A Limestone Open Pit Mine, D. Lo Presti, M. Cravero, G. Iabichino

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

On 28th October 2004 a rock failure occurred in a limestone open pit quarry in Tuscany (Italy). The phenomenon evolved slowly with the collapse of about 1000 cubic meters. The complex failure mechanism mainly involved plane sliding along stratifications with rotation and block toppling. The phenomenon continued to evolve slowly and on 3rd November failure extended to the neighbouring portion of rock with a total collapse of about 5000 cubic meters of rock. Failure analysis took advantage of an accurate characterization of geology, geometry and mechanical properties of the collapsed rock mass. Such analysis led to the conclusion that the …

Some Interesting Results About Behaviour Of Granular Media, Francesco Di Credico, P. Signanini, P. Torrese

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

This study represents an attempt to clarify some anomalous behaviour found in alluvional terrains when subjected to an earthquake. Our approach to the study of granular media has been bibliographic and experimental. Despite many studies carried on this topic, this behaviour is still little understood because of the complex nature of granular media. The goal to the experimental research was at least to confirm the „anomalous“ behaviour reported in previous studies (e.g., chain of force, not-uniform distribution of pressure, etc.). In particular, this study is focused on pressure distributions and their quantification with respect to the pure granular media, and …

The Design And Construction Of A Reinforced Embankment On Soft Compressible Soil, Gareth Swift, Russell Jones

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

The paper centres on the design and construction of a leachate lagoon at a landfill site located in Essex, United Kingdom (UK). The lagoon is to be used for the storage of between 150,000m3 and 200,000m3 of leachate generated by the adjacent landfill site as part of its treatment process. The location of the lagoon is on the southern boundary of the site, and is bounded to the north by the landfill itself, to the east by an existing leachate treatment lagoon and to the south and west by a flood defence bund for an adjacent creek and the Thames …

Excavation Support For The Newseum Development At 555 Pennsylvania Avenue In Washington Dc, Usa, Victor Omelchenko, Mamoud Hosseini

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

The Newseum consists of a 650,000 square-foot development that includes a six-level, 215,000 square-foot interactive museum of news. Also included is office space for the Newseum and Freedom Forum staff, a 9,000 square-foot conference center, more than 30,000 square feet of retail space and approximately 100 condominiums. The Newseum is located on Pennsylvania Avenue, between the U.S. Capital and the White House next to the Washington, D.C. mall and its museums and monuments. The building is supported on a mat foundation. The project is located just north of the Old Tiber Creek that was filled in the early 1800’s. Soft …

Laboratory Seismic Wave Investigations On Improved Loess Soils As Engineered Barriers In The Radioactive Waste Repository Case, Dimitar Antonov

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

In connection with the operation of the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant and the eventual start of the Belene NPP building, a construction of a National radioactive waste repository is forthcoming. The loess terrain in the Kozloduy region is among the areas considered as a prospective medium for the disposal facility. In the world radioactive waste management practice, the “multibarrier approach” for similar kind of facilities is widely spread. One of the loess soil advantages is its easy stabilization with hydraulic binders. The paper deals with the laboratory seismic waves investigations on mixtures made on the base of loess with a …

Cratering And Blowing Soil By Rocket Engines During Lunar Landings, Philip T. Metzger, John E. Lane, Christopher D. Immer, Sandra Clements

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

This paper is a summary compilation of work accomplished over the past decade at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center to understand the interactions between rocket exhaust gases and the soil of the Moon or Mars. This research is applied to a case study of the Apollo 12 landing, in which the blowing soil peppered the nearby Surveyor III spacecraft producing measurable surface damage, and to the Apollo 15 landing, in which the Lunar Module tilted backwards after landing in a crater that was obscured from sight by the blowing dust. The modeling coupled with empirical observations is generally adequate to predict …

Underground Facilities In Loess, Dimcho Evstatiev, Yordan Evlogiev

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

The underground facilities in loess in Bulgaria have a long history. The loess represents one of the best studied geological formations, its stratigraphic and engineering geological properties being well explored. It is characterized by a thick aeration zone, reaching up to 80-100 m. After the depth of 3-4 m from the surface, low humidity and constant temperature (15-16⁰) are maintained in it. The composition of sandy and silty loess, is dominated by quartz, while the clayey fraction contains high amount of Са²⁺, which determines the relatively low hydrophilicity. Moreover, loess is easily excavated, keeps vertical slopes …

Spouse Program, Sally Prakash

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

No abstract provided.

New Pile Instrumentation Technique For Driven And Jacked –In Prestressed Spun Concrete Piles, Haji Ali Faisal, Sieng Kai Lee

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

Currently, strain gauges are normally used to monitor the shortening or compression of pile during static pile load test. For concrete spun pile, the technique used either by incorporating high temperature-resistant strain gauges into the heat-cured production process of the spun piles or by installing an instrumented steel pipe into the hollow core of the spun piles followed by cement grout infilling. The former is extremely unpopular due to high cost of these gauges and the uncertainty over their ability to survive the pile production and driving processes. The shortcoming of the other technique is the infilling of cement grout …

Spatially Resolved Optical Absorption Spectrometry And Single Crystal Diffraction On Metamict Materials, Alison Savage, Oliver Tschauner, Sergey Tkachev

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)

A major goal in developing storage medium for radioactive waste is the identification of chemically suitable and durable material for storage in repositories (Lumpkin 2006). Radiation damage induces enhanced chemical diffusion and structural breakdown of the host materials, which can lead to contamination of the surrounding environment. During this project four different naturally occurring materials which are common carriers of thorium and uranium were examined : gadolinite, perrierite, allanite, and pyrochlore of which the first three are silicates and pyrochlore being an oxide. Their spectra and absorptions bands were examined to identify prominent features due to radiation damage. The goal …

Computational Studies Of H2, O2, And Co Adsorption On Pt And Pt-Ru Catalyst Clusters For Hydrogen Fuel Cell Applications, Huy Mai, T.J. Dhilip Kumar, P. Tarakeshwar, Naduvalath Balakrishnan

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)

Previous computational studies of hydrogen fuel cell catalysis primarily focus on single adsorbate and therefore do not reflect the realistic situation. Here we investigated the effect of multiple hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon monoxide adsorption on bimetallic nanoclusters as allowed by computational resources. The criteria of which we studied were adsorption energies, electron densities, electrostatic charges, and HOMO-LUMO energy gaps with respect to each structure. We found that Pt-Ru clusters have better performance than pure Pt clusters early in the adsorption course, and pure Pt clusters are more consistent than Pt-Ru clusters in a sequence of adsorbate introduction.

Raman Studies Of 1,3,5,7 Cyclooctatetraene At High Pressure, Martin Galley, Ed Romano, Sergey Tkachev, Michael Pravica

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)

We performed Raman spectroscopic studies of 1,3,5,7-cyclooctatetraene at elevated pressures up to 10 GPa with the aim of examining possible planarization of the molecule and further studying two prior-discovered phases of the solid with pressure. The Raman excitation source was a Krypton-ion laser operating at 674.1 nm (give wavelength).

1,3,5,7 Cyclooctatetraene has an octagonal formation however it is not aromatic or anti-aromatic (not a subject to the 4n+2 Huckel’s rule) [1]. As a result, its adopts a somewhat reactive tub shape. Upon the addition or removal of one to two electrons under ambient conditions, the molecule planarizes and becomes aromatic …

Structural Studies Of Crsi2 At High Pressures And Temperatures, Weldu Gabrimicael, Ravhi S. Kumar, Andrew Cornelius

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)

It is of extreme importance to develop new potential energy sources to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. As a result of this, the study of thermoelectric materials, capable of changing heat into electrical energy, has become a field of great interest regarding fundamental properties. To help better understand these materials, facilities for the measurement of relevant properties at high pressure have been developed, but lack the ability to characterize the materials at high temperature and pressure. Therefore, this project has the goal of developing a heater arrangement to be used in conjunction with the high pressure capabilities already developed to …