Geotechnical Engineering Commons^™

Sedimentation Behavior Of Fly Ash-Kaolinite Mixtures, Xin Kang, Xiaoyi Zhao, Bate Bate

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

The sedimentation behavior of fine grained soil is largely dependent on its pore fluid chemistry. Different ionic concentration will lead to different fabrics of soil suspension, such as dispersion, aggregation, and flocculation. The ionic concentration also influences the thickness of the Diffuse Double Layer (DDL), which leads to the change in the final sediment volumes. Besides the ionic concentration influence, adding different amount of fly ash (FA) can also cause different sedimentation behaviors. The objective of this research was to quantify the interaction between fly ash and fine grained soils by comparing the influence of ionic concentration with that of …

Seismic Bearing Capacity Of Strip Footing Resting On Reinforced Earth Bed, Apoorva Agarwal, Swami Saran, S. Mukerjee

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

With an increase in demand for construction the use of poor soils becomes imperative. Soil bearing capacity and settlement play an important role in the design of foundations. Seismicity of the site is another important parameter in the design of the foundation for a structure. Hence seismic bearing capacity of soil becomes an important component in the design. In weak soils often deep foundations are recommended on account of the low soil bearing capacity available. In poor soils, ground improvement techniques are commonly used to improve the soil bearing capacity. Reinforcing earth with geo synthetic is one such technique adopted …

Soil Liquefaction Analysis Based On Geotechnical Exploration And In Situ Test Data In The Tabriz Metro Line 2, Mikail Yousefzadeh Fard, Mahyar Babazadeh, Pouya Yousefzadeh

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

Liquefaction is one of the most important and complex topics in geotechnical earthquake engineering. During this phenomenon, pore water pressure increases as long as it will be equal to confining stresses. Hence, the effective confining stress becomes zero and the soil will not have any shear resistance. As a result the soil mass is unstable and causes much destruction. In this research, according to information from boreholes of Tabriz Urban Train Line 2 all required parameters including total stresses, pore water pressures and effective stresses, the results according to soil type and water depth for all 53 preliminary boreholes were …

Stabilization And Reinforcement Of Slope With Geogrid: A Case Study, Khashayar Hemmati, Seyed Vahid Masoomi, Javad Nazari Afshar

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

This paper presents a case study example of appropriate method selection of stabilization and reinforcement of slope by introducing engineering and economical aspects. Introduced slope is located in science and research campus of Islamic Azad University (IAU) in north of Tehran with height of 4-29 m and length of 370 m. A big building with 9 floors and total area of 70000 square meters is located upper and near edge of slope, so that existence of this building has increased sensitivity of projects design and construction method. Slope is located in vulnerable area with a high risk of seismicity based …

Static And Cyclic Triaxial Testing Of A Compacted Limestone Rockfill, Hamid Fallah

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

The results of large scale static and cyclic triaxial tests for the Siah Bishe rockfill are presented. The test specimens are made of a modeled gradation with D_max of 5 cm, reduced from the real D_max of 80 cm by scalping method. Static triaxial tests resulted in the rockfill shear strength parameters within the expected range. The cyclic triaxial strength tests showed that the dam body rockfill failure criterion is not affected by earthquake loading. On the other hand, the cyclic triaxial parametric tests results were used to define shear modulus and damping curves of the compacted rockfill, …

Study Of Extent Of Soil Improvement By Employing Vibro-Compaction Technique, Tejas Belani, Shailendra Nagrikar, Deepak Raj

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

India has seen a substantial growth in various Soil Improvement Techniques over last decade. A particular technique has been chosen based on Project location, Sub soil profile, Technical requirements, Time available and allowed budget for foundation. An expansion was planned for a leading fertilizer plant in North India. Project was located in high seismic zone having PGA of 0.24g. The site was underlain by liquefiable loose fine sands up to depth of 10m to 12m. Existing plant structures were built on Stone Columns few years back. This paper presents a case study where Vibro-compaction technique was successfully used to mitigate …

Study Of Typical Characteristics Of Expansive Subgrade With Geotextiles And Cushion Materials, Vaishali S. Gor, Liviu S. Thakur, K. R. Biyani

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

Well-built and maintained roads play a major role in the development of a nation. Hence considerable attention is required towards the widening of roads, their stability and periodic repair works. Since the beginning of modern highways, engineers have strived continuously to produce better pavement at lower cost. Most state highways in the central part of India have problems of foundation due to presence of expansive soil i.e. black cotton soil. For the improvement of such problematic soil, conventional technique of soil stabilization, use of cushion, use of moisture barriers, etc. has been adopted. The main objective of the research work …

M74 Motorway, Glasgow – Geotechnical Aspects Of Design And Construction, Paul Nowak

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

The 7.8 kilometre long M74 Completion project forms the final part of the motorway box around the city of Glasgow. Construction commenced in May 2008 and was completed in June 2011. The urban route corridor presented many geotechnical challenges to the design and construction teams. It is underlain by Recent, lightly over-consolidated Clyde Alluvium of maximum 35 metres thickness over Glacial Till and Carboniferous Coal Measure Sandstone bedrock. Additionally, it was the location of industries over the 19th and 20th centuries which deposited waste over the natural ground containing chromium, steel works slag and hydrocarbons. The route corridor is also …

Predicting Landslide Risk Combining Space Measurements And Geotechnical Modeling: Application At Kerasia Slide, C. Stamatopoulos, P. Petridis, L. Balla, I. Parharidis, M. Foumelis, N. Nikolaou, N. Spanou

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

The work developed and applied a methodology combining (a) space measurement of past displacement and (b) geotechnical modelling of displacement to predict and mitigate the risk of ground displacement cased by progressive slope instability. The area of study is in Kerasea village in Plastiras Lake Municipality. The problem under treatment is a creeping landslide in an inhabited area. Mitigation measures were analyzed.

Access Road Construction Of The Larsi Building Using Reinforced Earth Walls, Amir Eslami Amirabadi, Atefeh Zamani, Cambyse Behnia

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

Mountainous road construction is one of the most difficult and challenging problems in geotechnical engineering. Geometrical complexities and geotechnical conditions make them different from many other urban projects. Retaining wall system is a principal part of these projects. Reinforced Earth Wall system can be considered as an appropriate option for mountainous road construction. In this case history, access road construction of the LARSI building (Shemshak-Iran) is discussed. Shemshak is a tourist town which is located in southern hillsides of the Alborz Mountains. Therefore, the access road is an essential component particularly in cold seasons. Nine terraced levels of the reinforced …

Two-Tier Retaining Wall System To Support Railroad Embankment Widening, Abhijit R. Sheth, Craig M. Benedict, Ara G. Mouradian, John Brun

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

The National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) is replacing the 1907-era two-track bascule bridge over the Niantic River between East Lyme and Waterford, Connecticut, along the heavily traveled Northeast Corridor. Prestressed concrete sheet pile retaining walls were selected to support the new higher approach embankments along both the east and west approaches to the new bridge. Along the west approach a two-tiered wall design was utilized to support a new recreational walkway elevated above the 100-year storm surge elevation for the Niantic Bay, while at the same time keeping the walkway below the level of the adjoining tracks. The design of …

Csx Railroad Bridge Replacements, Matthew D. Breitenbach, Dawn Edgell, Gary F. Goodheart

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

This paper will discuss the geotechnical aspects of foundation design, construction support, and the team work necessary to replace and upgrade 14 bridges along an existing, trafficked rail line through Central Illinois. Seven bridges were constructed using previously completed designs and seven bridges were constructed using a multi-disciplinary design-build approach. The geotechnical team provided construction support for the Phase I bridges while concurrently conducting geotechnical investigations and developing design criteria for the Phase II bridges. The project also involved many logistical considerations including minimizing bridge “out of service time” to less than ten hours for the construction of each bridge, …

Investigating The Behaviour Of Natural Slopes And Man Made Structures By Terrestrial Sar Interferometry, Paolo Mazzanti

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

Remote sensing techniques for the monitoring of deformation are opening new opportunities in the field of geotechnical engineering and geology. Terrestrial SAR interferometry (TInSAR) is one of the most innovative technique and it promises to be a very effective solution which will be extensively used in the near future. TInSAR is characterized by several interesting features such as: i) high density of information; ii) fully remote capability; iii) long range capability; iv) widespread view; v) spatially continuous efficacy and vi) high accuracy. Thanks to these features TInSAR has been used for investigation and diagnostic purposes (i.e. landslide and structural instability …

General Report - Session 3, Diego Lo Presti, Mary Perlea, Nunziante Squeglia

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

This General Report summarizes the 84 papers accepted for the Session 3 focused on: - 3a. Case Histories on Failure and Remediation of Slopes, Dams, Embankments and Landfills (53 papers), - 3b. Case Histories on Failure and Remediation of Retaining Structures, Slurry Walls, and Deep Excavations, Dewatering, Stability (27 papers), - 3c. Improving the Stability and Maintenance of Monuments (4 papers). The papers originate from 26 countries (11 European countries, 3 American countries, 11 Asian countries and 1 African country). The papers cover a number of relevant topics divided into three different sub - sessions. As for the two papers …

Indot Qc/Qa Earthwork And Intelligent Compaction Us 31/Us 35 At Kokomo, Kurt Sommer

Purdue Road School

This presentation discusses a 2012 case study using QC/QA Earthwork Specifications and Intelligent Compaction Rollers for soils.

INDOT Contract IR-30111 in Greenfield District on US 31/ US 35 at Kokomo used this process in 2012 and continuing into 2013 for the control and acceptance of approximately 1 million cubic yards of earthwork.

Chemical Compatibility Of Model Soil-Bentonite Backfill Containing Multiswellable Bentonite, Michael A. Malusis, Matthew D. Mckeehan

Faculty Journal Articles

The objective of this study was to evaluate the chemical compatibility of model soil-bentonite backfills containing multiswellable bentonite (MSB) relative to that of similar backfills containing untreated sodium (Na) bentonite or a commercially available, contaminant resistant bentonite (SW101). Flexible-wall tests were conducted on consolidated backfill specimens (effective stress =34.5 kPa) containing clean sand and 4.5–5.7% bentonite (by dry weight) using tap water and calcium chloride (CaCl2) solutions (10–1,000 mM) as the permeant liquids. Final values of hydraulic conductivity (k) and intrinsic permeability (K) to the CaCl2 solutions were determined after achieving both short-term termination criteria as …

Predicting The Dynamic Behavior Of Coal Mine Tailings Using State-Of-Practice Geotechnical Field Methods, Ali Salehian

Theses and Dissertations--Civil Engineering

This study is focused on developing a method to predict the dynamic behavior of mine tailings dams under earthquake loading. Tailings dams are a by-product of coal mining and processing activities. Mine tailings impoundments are prone to instability and failure under seismic loading as a result of the mechanical behavior of the tailings. Due to the existence of potential seismic sources in close proximity to the coal mining regions in the United States, it is necessary to assess the post-earthquake stability of these tailings dams.

To develop the aforementioned methodology, 34 cyclic triaxial tests along with vane shear tests were …

Model Fusion: A New Approach To Processing Heterogeneous Data, Omar Ochoa

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

In many practical situations, it is necessary to extract

information from data of different types. For example, in geosciences, several sources of data can be used to determine the interior structure of the earth: the first arriving waves from earthquakes and from man-made sources, measurements of the earth's gravity field, measurements of the dispersion of surface waves generated by earthquakes, etc. At present, most existing data processing techniques deal only with data of one type.

A joint use of all the information derived from multiple types of data sources is an important theoretical and practical challenge. Such a joint use …

Unsaturated Soil Parameters From Field Stiffness Measurements, Jason M. Curd

Theses and Dissertations--Civil Engineering

The behavior of unsaturated soils depends heavily on material properties and soil conditions. In Geotechnical Engineering, compacted soils are frequently used as fill material, and quality control is vital to the construction process. There are few methods available to estimate the parameters associated with unsaturated soils based on field measurements, and a relationship between these factors could reduce testing time and lower construction costs. Undrained triaxial tests were performed on four clays representing a range of material properties in an effort to reach the maximum dry density, which provides the highest bearing capacity. Each clay was compacted at optimum moisture …

Moisture And Unit Weight Readings From A Complex Impedance Measuring Instrument, Kirk Andrew Jenkins

Theses and Dissertations--Civil Engineering

Complex Impedance Measuring Instruments (CIMI’s) are non-nuclear devices that calculate the dry unit weight and moisture content of soil by means of electromagnetic wave propagation theory. Unlike nuclear based test devices, these devices do not require certification or elaborate maintenance to own and operate. CIMI operation requires a soil specific calibration process where soil moisture and unit weight are correlated to electrical parameters. A new, smaller acrylic mold was developed as an alternative calibration tool to the manufacturer’s recommended mold. Calibrated soil models were generated using manufacturer recommended procedures as well as new procedures involving an acrylic mold. Models were …

Pressure Measurement At The Ballast-Tie Interface Of Railroad Track Using Matrix Based Tactile Surface Sensors, Michael T. Mchenry

Theses and Dissertations--Civil Engineering

The pressure distribution at the ballast-tie interface of railroad track plays a key role in overall track support. Failure of the ballast or tie can result from excessive loads that were not designed for, requiring increased maintenance and reducing railroad operating efficiency. Understanding the forces acting on the ballast and tie are required to design higher performance and longer lasting track. To further this understanding, the use of Matrix Based Tactile Surface Sensors (MBTSS) is employed to measure the actual pressure distribution at the ballast-tie interface, characterized by individual ballast particle contact points and non-uniform pressures. The research explores this …

Development Of A Constitutive Model Of Compacted Shales And Determination Of The Effect Of Weathering On Its Parameters, Isabel Cristina Gomez-Gutierrez

Theses and Dissertations--Civil Engineering

Compacted shales cause problems because they tend to degrade with time due to weathering. Degradation results in the shale deteriorating from a hard rock-like material to a soft fine-grained soil mass with lower shear strength and high deformability. Consequently, common problems that occur in embankments constructed with compacted shales include settlement and instabilities. Therefore, accelerating weathering prior to compaction by wetting and breaking down the shales before placement can reduce the deterioration during the service life of the construction. Extensive laboratory testing was performed in order to characterize the mechanical behavior of compacted shales.

Critical State theory is a clever …

A Study Of The Impacts Of Freeze-Thaw On Cliff Recession At The Calvert Cliffs In Calvert County, Maryland, Bonnie Elizabeth Zwissler

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

The Calvert Cliffs, which form much of the western coastline of the Chesapeake Bay in Calvert County, Maryland, are actively eroding and destabilizing, resulting in a critical situation for many homes in close proximity to the slope's crest. Past studies have identified that where waves directly interact with the toe of the slope, wave action controls cliff recession; however, where waves do not regularly interact with the slope toe, the past work identified that freeze-thaw controls recession. This study investigated the validity of this second claim by analyzing the recession rate and freeze-thaw behavior of six study sites along the …

Earthquake Load Attenuation Using Eps Geofoam Buffers In Rigid Wall Applications, Richard J. Bathurst, S Zarnani

Research outputs 2013

The paper is a synthesis of previously published work by the authors that is focused on the use of expanded polystyrene (EPS) geofoam buffers for seismic load attenuation against rigid basement and soil retaining walls. The paper begins with a brief description of the first documented field application followed by a description of physical 1 m-high reduced-scale shaking table tests that provided the first "proof of concept". Next, details of the development and verification of a displacement-based model and a FLAC numerical model are described and simulation results that were verified against the physical shaking table tests presented. The numerical …