Geotechnical Engineering Commons^™

Gravel Conveyance System: An Evaluation On E. Coli Removal Capabilities, Madison Grace

Graduate Theses and Dissertations (2019 - present)

In many rural, low-income communities such as the Black Belt of Alabama, there is a lack of wastewater infrastructure and solutions leaving homeowners non-compliant to state and federal law and with potential health risks on their property. New regulations have allowed for onsite, surface discharge for single family homes that are not connected to a centralized sewer or large flow development. These new regulations also contain strict disinfection criteria for the treated wastewater that will be discharged. A low-cost and low-maintenance treatment system that provides adequate disinfection is necessary to allow homeowners to take advantage of the new opportunity for …

Residual Trapping Of Co2, N2, And A Co2-N2 Mixture In Indiana Limestone Using Robust Nmr Coreflooding: Implications For Co2 Geological Storage, Amer Alanazi, Auby Baban, Muhammad Ali, Alireza Keshavarz, Stefan Iglauer, Hussein Hoteit

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) in geological formations is a prominent solution for reducing anthropogenic carbon emissions and mitigating climate change. The capillary trapping of CO2 is a primary trapping mechanism governed by the pressure difference between the wetting and nonwetting phases in a porous rock, making the latter a key input parameter for dynamic simulation models. During the CCS operational process, however, the CO2 is prone to contamination by impurities from various sources such as surfaces (e.g., pipelines and tanks) and the subsurface (e.g., existing natural gas). Such contamination can strongly influence the overall CO2 wettability, storage capacity, and …

Effect Of Methylene Blue On Wetting Characteristics Of Quartz/H2/Brine Systems: Implication For Hydrogen Geological Storage, Fatemah Alhamad, Mujahid Ali, Nurudeen P. Yekeen, Muhammad Ali, Hussein Hoteit, Stefan Iglauer, Alireza Keshavarz

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Hydrogen (H2) is considered a promising replacement for fossil fuels due to its enormous potential as an environmentally friendly and sustainable option compared to carbon-based fossil fuels. However, storing the vast quantity of H2 required to satisfy the global energy demand on the earth's surface can be difficult due to its compressibility and volatility. The best option for large-scale storage is underground H2 storage (UHS), which can be retrieved when needed. Rock wettability is vital in UHS because it determines the H2 storage capacity, containment security, and potential withdrawal and injection rates. Organic acid inherent in storage formations could make …

Compound Flooding In A Non-Stationary World: A Primer For Practice, Gerarda M. Shields, J. Rolf Olsen, Miguel Medina Jr., Jayantha Obeysekera, Poulomi Ganguli, Carlo Demichele, Gianfausto Salvadori, Mohammad Reza Najafi, Hamed Moftakhari, Ferdinand Diermanse, Amir Aghakouchak

Publications and Research

Compound flooding conditions present a significant challenge for civil engineers in their pursuit to design for and maintain the integrity of a structure’s entire life cycle. Coupled with non-stationary processes due to a changing climate and land use change, risk is a moving target. Through the support of ASCE’s Task Committee on Compound Flooding, the Hydroclimatology Engineering Adaptation (HYDEA) sub-committee is developing a Manual of Practice (MOP) to provide a synthesis of available tools and methods of best practice for civil engineers designing for compound flooding conditions. This paper presents a primer for practicing civil engineers on this work. Hydrodynamic …

An Effective Model For Dynamic Properties Of Local Soils And Their Influence On Seismic Response Of A Typical Reinforced Concrete Building, Kaveh Zehtab

Civil & Environmental Engineering Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation presents an effective model to determine the dynamic properties of local soils and their impact on the seismic response of a typical mid-height reinforced concrete building. The results of the study suggest that the use of global models and empirical relationships for the dynamic properties of soils may not consider the effects of unique stress conditions on the cyclic response of the foundation soil. The study also investigates the seismic response of a site in central Adapazarı, Turkey, where four- to seven-story buildings suffered significant damage during the 1999 Kocaeli earthquake. A new model is presented that combines …

Enhancing The Co2 Trapping Capacity Of Saudi Arabian Basalt Via Nanofluid Treatment: Implications For Co2 Geo-Storage, Muhammad Ali, Nurudeen Yekeen, Mirhasan Hosseini, Ghazanfer R. Abbasi, Amer Alanazi, Alireza Keshavarz, Thomas Finkbeiner, Hussein Hoteit

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Mineralization reactions in basaltic formations have gained recent interest as an effective method for CO2 geo-storage in order to mitigate anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. The CO2/rock interactions, including interfacial tension and wettability, are crucial factors in determining the CO2 trapping capacity and the feasibility of CO2 geological storage in these formations. The Red Sea geological coast in Saudi Arabia has many basaltic formations, and their wetting characteristics are rarely reported in the literature. Moreover, organic acid contamination is inherent in geo-storage formations and significantly impacts their CO2 geo-storage capacities. Hence, to reverse the organic effect, the influence of various SiO2 …

Permeability Prediction For Expansive Soil Based On Physical Properties Using Artificial Neural Networks, Ferry Fatnanta, Imam Suprayogi, Nicola Rabb Ranata, Soewignjo Agus Nugroho, Agus Ika Putra

Makara Journal of Technology

Permeability is a soil parameter related to the construction industry to understand the processes of infiltration, runoff, and settlement. The risk of testing errors is inevitable in permeability investigations, especially in expansive soils. Trial and error in permeability testing becomes difficult due to soils with small pore sizes and large shrinkage expansion. Several studies related to soil physical properties that affect permeability have been conducted. However, the correlation results obtained still have poor accuracy. Artificial neural networks (ANN) are machine learning systems that can change their structure to solve problems that are included in the system. The use of ANNs …

Improving Square Skirted Foundations Behavior On Sand, Tamer Al-Shyoukhi, Ayman Altahrany, Mahmoud Elmeligy

Mansoura Engineering Journal

Shallow foundations' behavior is enhanced by using skirts to confine the soil beneath the foundation. The bearing capacity and settlement of skirted foundations resting on the sand are influenced by the size of the skirt cell and shear strength of sand. Experimental modelling was carried out on an axially square-skirted footing resting on sand in this study. Plaxis-3D software was used for numerical analysis to support the experimental results. The numerical analysis results validated the experimental results. The outcomes of the study demonstrated that skirts wider than the footing size increased the bearing capacity of skirted foundations. In the case …

Effect Of Environmental And Geometrical Factors On Microstructure, Desiccation Cracking, And Carbon Dioxide Flux In Clays, Charles Clayton Goodman

Theses and Dissertations

Studying the effects of extreme conditions, such as high temperatures and low humidity, on soil properties is important to various disciplines, including geotechnical engineering, soil science, waste management, crop management, and ceramics. The goal of this research is to investigate the effect of environmental and geometrical factors on microstructure, desiccation cracking, and CO₂ flux in clays. The objectives of this research are threefold. (1) Understand the effects of temperature on the microstructure of clay soils; (2) develop a standardized procedure for studying desiccation cracking in a laboratory setting with reliable and repeatable results; and (3) develop an environmental chamber …

Experimental And Numerical Investigation Of Fluid Flow Behavior Through Fractured Wellbore Cement, Mahya Hatambeigi

Civil Engineering ETDs

Leakage from wellbores has been a major challenge in the energy industry, leading to groundwater contamination, reduced productivity, safety hazards, and increased operating costs. Cemented annulus fractures are a common type of leakage pathway in wellbores that can form due to various physical and chemical conditions. The number of wellbore leaks continues to increase globally, making it imperative to develop a better understanding of the complex mechanisms governing fluid flow through fractured wellbore cement. Understanding the behavior of fluid flow through a leaky cemented annulus is crucial for evaluating the leakage potential and risk assessments in wellbore systems, as well …

Evaluating The Feasibility Of Using Strain Measured During Sinusoidal Rate Pumping Tests To Characterize An Aquifer, Riley Blais

All Theses

Pumping tests with sinusoidal variation in pumping rate have been proposed as a method for improving aquifer characterization. These tests can interrogate a larger aquifer volume than slug tests and they can be more sensitive to small variations in drawdown. Current methods of using sinusoidal variations of rate are based on measuring pressure signals from the reservoir or aquifer, which requires access to monitoring wells. An alternative approach has been developed that measures the strain in the vadose zone instead of pressure in the reservoir. An instrument has been developed at Clemson University that can measure small strains using optical …

Investigation Into The Load Transfer Mechanism Of Trees To Develop An Innovative Foundation Configuration Using 3d Finite Element Modeling, Kaleb Boland

All Theses

This study was inspired by a tree’s reliance on its root system that enables it to withstand a natural disaster, such as an extreme hydroclimatic event or hurricane. This curiosity has led to an investigation into what makes this possible, developing a new and innovative foundation configuration for infrastructure systems, and a new possible construction material and method. This study provides results on a material that does not have conventional testing procedures or standards: a tree root. The trees studied are common to the upstate of South Carolina, which are Pine, Sweetgum, and White Oak. According to the results, on …

Understanding The Hydromechanical Effects Of Extreme Events To Improve The Performance Of Infrastructure Foundations, Siddharth Marathe

All Dissertations

Extreme hydroclimatic events like heavy rainfall, flooding, and prolonged drought can potentially cause the failure of infrastructure foundations, leading to socio-economic losses. The objective of this dissertation is to understand the deformation and bearing capacity behavior of drilled shafts subjected to extreme hydroclimatic events, including heavy rainfall, prolonged drought, and earthquake. The Finite Element Method (FEM) results show that during rainfall, the drilled shaft settled caused by a decrease in the porewater pressure in the sand leading to a decrease in the axial bearing capacity. The axial force variation from an experimental investigation showed good agreement with the FEM. The …

Towards Sustainable Water Management: Soil Analysis, Modeling, And Sensor Implementation On A Micro-Basin Chile's Los Lagos Region, Tammy N. Huynh

Civil Engineering ETDs

The Los Lagos region of Chile is experiencing ecological and socioeconomic challenges because of climate change. Despite efforts by the agricultural sector to understand and manage water resources, the lack of basic water quantification data affects their ability to effectively plan and implement water management strategies. This research aims to address this critical issue through three key objectives. First, characterize soil properties related to texture and structure in a micro-basin of the Los Lagos region. Secondly, it aims to investigate the hydrologic budget of the micro-basin with an emphasis on soil moisture using the Soil Moisture Routing model (SMR). Lastly, …

A High-Speed Portable Ground Heat Exchanger Model For Use In Various Energy Simulation Software, Ryan Davies, Matt Mitchell, Edwin Lee

Macalester Journal of Physics and Astronomy

A portable component model (PCM) of a ground source heat pump system was developed and used as a test case in the creating of a PCM development framework. By developing this framework, new building energy simulation models will be able to be easily integrated into existing simulation software such as EnergyPlus and the Modelica Buildings Library. Our model uses a time responsive g-function and numerical methods to simulate ground source heat pumps for single time steps as well as long time scales. We validated our model against GHESim and GLHEPro and found that our model agrees with these two standards …

Exploring Machine Learning In Deep Foundation And Soil Classification Application, Mohammad Moontakim Shoaib

LSU Master's Theses

The applicability of several Machine Learning (ML) models was explored in this research to predict the ultimate capacity and load-settlement behavior of axially loaded single-driven piles from Cone Penetration Test (CPT) data. Additionally, a common CPT-based soil behavior type (SBT) classification system was reproduced using those ML models. Eighty static pile load tests and corresponding CPT data close to those pile locations were collected from 34 sites in Louisiana for the deep foundation application. On the other hand, 70 CPT soundings were taken in 14 different parishes across Louisiana for the soil classification application. Specifically, tree-based ML models such as …

Columbus, Nebraska: Southern Housing Development Design Proposal, Ryan Weyers, Caiden Dynek, Alex Papa, Brexton Robertson, Kaden Perala

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

The following paper proposes the design and creation of a new housing development in the city of Columbus, Nebraska in a lot to the south of the city and directly north of the Columbus wastewater treatment plant. The goal of this proposal is to provide readers with confidence that our company is the most qualified to complete the project and will create the safest, most comfortable, most efficient, and most cost-effective final design. This proposal seeks to offer a solution to the lack of affordable housing for the growing workforce in Columbus. In order to arrive at this solution, each …

Evaluation Of The Geotechnical And Foundation Components On Jud Site, Mirabel W. Nkanor

Honors Theses

This thesis is part of the senior design final project of the Civil Engineering Department at the University of Mississippi. Geotechnical and foundation analyses were done on a proposed construction project for a multi-family home in Orlando, Florida. This evaluation done in this thesis follows the pre-existing geotechnical report on the side, USDA soil reports, ASCE Code 32-01 (Design of Foundations), and ASCE-7 Section 12.31.1 (Foundations and Superstructure-to-Foundation Connections).

A structural system was selected from the proposed location, on the corner of South Conway and Judge Road, and an evaluation of the Bearing Load capacity was completed to determine the …

Physics-Based Modeling Of Post-Wildfire Landslides In Unsaturated Hillslopes, Masood Abdollahi

Theses and Dissertations

Changes in climatic regimes and land use have led to increases in wildfire activities around the world. Wildfires are now happening more frequently, at higher altitudes, and higher severities. Adverse impacts of wildfires can last years after the fire has been contained through post-fire geohazards, such as shallow landslides. Post-wildfire shallow landslides are often mobilized by rainfall and due to fire-induced changes in soil and land cover properties and near-surface processes. This study aims to develop a physics-based framework to evaluate the stability of burned hillslopes against rainfall-triggered shallow landslides. A coupled hydromechanical infiltration model is developed by employing a …

Lateral Swelling Pressure In Variably Saturated Expansive Clay, Steven Ray Garrett

Theses and Dissertations

Lateral swelling pressure induced in expansive soils upon wetting can adversely impact the performance and integrity of earthen structures and foundations. The yearly cost associated with damage to structures from expansive clays in the United States is estimated to exceed the loss associated with natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and hurricanes. The main objective of this dissertation is to provide new insight into the evolution of lateral swelling pressure in variably saturated expensive soils under infiltration via physical testing. In the first part of this study, a new laboratory-scale testing apparatus was built to measure lateral and vertical swelling …

Floating Offshore Wind Turbine Project, Courtney Huitt, Cormack Williams

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Offshore wind is a developing industry in the Central Coast with the advent of the future offshore wind project planned off the north coast of San Luis Obispo County. This senior design project aligns with the recently leased wind energy project as a detailed study on the structural design, geotechnical design, and construction of a single 14 MW floating offshore wind turbine (FOWT) located 40 km NW of Morro Bay (NOAA buoy 46028). A preliminary design of a spar FOWT is presented in this project as a solution to the rapidly increasing water depth off the coast of Morro Bay, …

Investigation Of Micp Based 3d Printed Soils, Kathleen Weston

Civil Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

The advent of additive manufacturing, often called 3D printing, offers potential for new and more sustainable soil improvement techniques. Previous research at the University of Arkansas has examined Microbially Induced Calcite Precipitation (MICP) as a possible binder option that is a more sustainable alternative to Portland cement and can be used in remote areas where Portland cement may not be available. The objective of this research is to develop an increased understanding of the potential of utilizing MICP as a spray binding technique for applications in 3D printed soils. The specific goals of this research include: examining the effectiveness of …

Behavior Analysis Of Cement Concrete With Combination Of Waste Rubber And Glass, Abdulaziz Alebra

Symposium of Student Scholars

Glass and Rubber waste materials are valuable materials to use rather than throw which we have more than enough to use and recycle. Recycled glass and rubber materials can reduce and help major climate issues in our times based on the statistics reducing glass can bring down air pollution by 20% and also reduce water pollution by 50% as well as can reduce the use of landfill space. A laboratory study will be launched, and tests will be conducted following the ASTM standards, ASTM C143 for a concrete slump, and ASTM C31 for making and curing concrete specimens. Samples of …

Laboratory Evaluation Of The Geotechnical Properties Of Biochar-Amended Clay, Brett Natelborg

Senior Honors Theses

The upkeep and rehabilitation of infrastructure damage related to the shrinking and swelling of expansive soils have cost the United States billions of dollars. Biochar, an innovative and eco-friendly additive proven to improve soil permeability, nutrient retention, and mechanical properties, is investigated as an additive to Mississippi chalk. The index properties of the chalk were determined and used to characterize its nature. The geotechnical engineering properties of the chalk amended with 6% and 12% biochar were evaluated via the Proctor compaction, compression, and direct shear tests. Results were analyzed to make comparative remarks on how the behavior of the chalk …

Calibration And Use Of S3f Sensor For Normal And Shear Stress Measurements In Soil, Hussein Alqrinawi

LSU Master's Theses

Innovative sensors can provide new capabilities to monitor and understand the behavior of soil, rock, and geo-structures and help geotechnical engineers make informed decisions about the construction and maintenance of geo-structures. This study introduced, calibrated, and validated one such sensor, the Surface Stress Sensitive Film (S3F) point sensor, for both normal and shear stress measurements in soil along the soil-structure interface. The measurements of S3F sensor rely on the deformation of an elastic film that is monitored by a floating element embedded in the elastic film. This sensor provides measurements of the 3D deformation of the film which are converted …

Cyclic Behavior Of Transitional Fine-Grained Soils In Northern Willamette Valley, Frank Jarman

Civil and Environmental Engineering Master's Project Reports

As discussed within studies from Idriss and Boulanger (2008) and Bray and Sancio (2006), the undrained cyclic shear behavior of low-plasticity fine-grained soils will transition between liquefaction (sand-like behavior) to cyclic softening (clay-like behavior) over a narrow range of plasticity index (PI). Despite not being sufficiently understood, the cyclic behavior of low plasticity silts has become an increasingly important field of study due to the significant impact it has on ground deformations and infrastructure failure in areas that are seismically active. Laboratory tests were performed on soils by third party consultants on a site located in the northern Willamette Valley, …

Liquefaction Triggering In Low-Plasticity Silts And Effects Of Liquefaction-Induced Lateral Spreading On A Reinforced-Concrete Pile, Jared A. Martinez

Civil and Environmental Engineering Master's Project Reports

Liquefaction triggering and post-liquefaction effects on lateral loading of deep foundations is an emerging area of study. This project presents: the results of cyclic direct simple shear (CDSS) testing on a low-plasticity alluvial silt collected in Portland, Oregon; and analysis of the combined effects of liquefaction-induced lateral spreading on a reinforced-concrete pile using data collected from a shake table test. The former research determines the liquefaction susceptibility and post-liquefaction characteristics of a local transitional soil using stress-controlled CDSS testing, the latter explores the complex lateral loading a reinforced-concrete pile undergoes during seismic loading with liquefaction-induced lateral spreading of the ground …

Unleash The Heat: Exploring Geothermal Energy Perspectives And Energy Literacy In São Miguel, Azores, Lena Mcdonough

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The green energy transition is moving ahead in EU countries at very different paces, and there are some key challenges that all regions currently face in trying to phase fossil fuels out of their energy mixes. One of these challenges is that most regions simply cannot harness enough renewable energy sources and simultaneously have the storage technology for creating a baseload power source as reliable as oil, coal and natural gas. That is, unless you sit in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean on the boundary of three tectonic plates, with a continuous and reliable renewable energy source beneath your …

Application Of Image Processing In Soil Mechanics, Luke Knodel

Senior Honors Theses

Whenever someone digs a hole in the ground or takes a relaxing walk on the beach, they directly interact with the soil. In its basic form, soil consists of solid, water, and air phases. Unlike water and metals, soil is a particulate media, and the relative proportion of the individual phases significantly influences its physical properties. Various studies have analyzed soil using image processing to determine its morphological properties. Research involving the digital processing of X-ray Computed Tomography (X-ray CT) images of soil to retrieve physically meaningful information is gaining recognition. This study investigates two-dimensional X-ray CT images of unsaturated …

Predicting And Validating The Load-Settlement Behavior Of Large-Scale Geosynthetic-Reinforced Soil Abutments Using Hybrid Intelligent Modeling, Muhammad Nouman Amjad Raja, Syed Taseer Abbas Jaffar, Abidhan Bardhan, Sanjay Kumar Shukla

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Settlement prediction of geosynthetic-reinforced soil (GRS) abutments under service loading conditions is an arduous and challenging task for practicing geotechnical/civil engineers. Hence, in this paper, a novel hybrid artificial intelligence (AI)-based model was developed by the combination of artificial neural network (ANN) and Harris hawks’ optimisation (HHO), that is, ANN-HHO, to predict the settlement of the GRS abutments. Five other robust intelligent models such as support vector regression (SVR), Gaussian process regression (GPR), relevance vector machine (RVM), sequential minimal optimisation regression (SMOR), and least-median square regression (LMSR) were constructed and compared to the ANN-HHO model. The predictive strength, relalibility and …