Geotechnical Engineering Commons^™

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, …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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, …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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, …

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 …

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 …

Historical And Forecasted Kentucky Specific Slope Stability Analyses Using Remotely Retrieved Hydrologic And Geomorphologic Data, Daniel M. Francis

Theses and Dissertations--Civil Engineering

Hazard analyses of rainfall-induced landslides have typically been observed to experience a lack of inclusion of measurements of soil moisture within a given soil layer at a site of interest. Soil moisture is a hydromechanical variable capable of both strength gains and reductions within soil systems. However, in situ monitoring of soil moisture at every site of interest is an unfeasible goal. Therefore, spatiotemporal estimates of soil moisture that are representative of in-situ conditions are required for use in subsequent landslide hazard analyses.

This study brings together various techniques for the acquisition, modeling, and forecasting of spatiotemporal retrievals of soil …

Soil Moisture And Geomorphologic Data For Use In Dynamic And Forecastable Landslide Hazard Analyses In Eastern Kentucky, Daniel M. Francis, L. Sebastian Bryson

Civil Engineering Research Data

These data are the geomorphologic and land information system-based soil moisture estimates from assimilation of NASA SMAP satellite-based observations and NOAH 3.6 Land Surface Model estimates over known landslides in Eastern Kentucky. Additionally Long Short-Term Memory Recurrent Neural Network and logistic regression machine learning codes, as well as an Application programming interface code are included. Finally, in-situ data from Eastern Kentucky is included.

Spatiotemporal Retrievals Of Soil Moisture And Geomorphologic Data For Landslide Sites In Eastern Kentucky, Lindsey Sebastian Bryson, Daniel M. Francis

Civil Engineering Research Data

These data are the soil texture, land information system-based soil moisture estimates from assimilation of NASA SMAP satellite-based observations and NOAH 3.6 Land Surface Model estimates, artificial neural network machine learning code, and in-situ soil moisture measurements.

Study Of Capillary Channel Fiber Augmented Geobags For Accelerated Dewatering Of High Moisture Content Fine-Grained Acid Mine Drainage Precipitate, Luke William Daugherty

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The objective of this study was to investigate techniques to accelerate filtration and dewatering of Acid Mine Drainage precipitate using geobags augmented with Capillary Chanel Fibers and internal lateral drainage structures. Laboratory and field research investigated increasing the total solids retention of Acid Mine Drainage precipitate in geobag storage systems. Current geobag design and field application of treated AMD precipitate exhibits limited filtration and drainage efficiency due to the high moisture content (2500%) polymer amended AMD flocculated solids. Capillary channel fibers (CCFs) are geosynthetic yarns formed with microgrooves and set into bundled arrangements capable of wicking water, via capillary action, …

Numerical Study Of Sediment Suspension Affected By Rigid Cylinders Under Unidirectional And Combined Wave-Current Flows, Sha Lou, Xiaolan Chen, Shengyu Zhou, Gangfeng Ma, Shuguang Liu, Larisa Dorzhievna Radnaeva, Elena Nikitina, Irina Viktorovna Fedorova

Civil & Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Sediment transport modeling for flows with cylinders is very challenging owing to the complicated flow–cylinder–sediment interactions, especially under the combined wave-current flows. In this paper, an improved formulation for incipient sediment suspension considering the effect of cylinder density (i.e., solid volume fraction) is employed to simulate the bottom sediment flux in the flow with cylinders. The proposed model is calibrated and validated using laboratory measurements under unidirectional and combined wave-current flows in previous studies. It is proved that the effects of cylinders on sediment suspension can be accounted for through a modified critical Shields number, and the proposed model is …

Editorial: Rock Physics Modeling And Well-Log Practice For Unconventional Reservoirs, Qiaomu Qi, Lidong Dai, Maxim Lebedev, Tobias Müller, Junfang Zhang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Unconventional resources with commercial interest in the world mainly include heavy oils, shales, coalbed methane and tight gas sands. The production and development of these resources have changed the supply pattern of global energy. Quantitative interpretation of geophysical data in the exploration, well logging and engineering development of the unconventional resources requires a comprehensive understanding of the physical properties of rocks and their relationships. The research of rock physics provides an interdisciplinary treatment of physical properties, whether it is highly related to geological, geophysical and geomechanical methodologies. The development of new rock physics methods is essential when integrating core, well-log, …

New Online Approach For Real-Time Precise Point Positioning Gnss Processing, Maha Fekry Elrewiny, Fawzi H. Zarzoura, Mahmoud El-Mewafi

Mansoura Engineering Journal

Real-time precise point positioning (PPP) is a promising technique for accurate position services. The merging of many systems is intended to increase real-time PPP performance. With a rising number of available satellites and progressively increased quality of real-time accurate products of satellite clocks and orbits, Platforms such as CSRS-PPP, AUSPOS, Magic-GNSS, Trimble, and PPP-MANS are reshaping the landscape of embedded solutions in a variety of sectors. the performance of real-time PPP must be tested on a regular basis. This article examines the benefits and drawbacks of real-time PPP, emphasizing its potential for high accuracy, fast decision-making, and easy interaction with …

Development And Testing Of A Low Mass Vibratory Lunar Compactor, Charles Carey

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

NASA and other agencies are working to return to the moon, with the Artemis Program [1]. As a part of this new effort, an emphasis is being placed on having a sustained presence, building lunar bases and other permanent structures. The development of such infrastructure will require the development of civil engineering structures, and site preparation becomes a necessity. The Planetary Surface Technology Development Laboratory is developing a low mass lunar compactor as part of an autonomous site preparation vehicle in partnership with Colorado School of Mines, funded by NASA’s 2021 Lunar Surface Technology Research grant. The low mass lunar …

Development Of Practical Assessment Techniques For Sinkhole Potential In Florida Based On Sinkhole Vulnerability Indices, Sylvia Pesha

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Sinkholes are natural geohazards prevalent in Florida's distinctive karst geology, posing risks to public safety, infrastructure, and groundwater integrity. Considering the increasing frequency of sinkhole occurrences in Florida due to land development in vulnerable soils, understanding the potential for sinkhole occurrence can aid in the identification of high-risk locations and inform effective mitigation strategies. Researchers have developed three point-based indices to be used when assessing the vulnerability a project site has to sinkhole formation based on the encountered subsurface conditions. Engineers have historically used an index based on the subsurface layer thicknesses, called the Raveling Index (RI). In recent years, …

A New Volumetric Strain-Based Method For Determining The Crack Initiation Threshold Of Rocks Under Compression, Hao Li, Ruizhi Zhong, Leo Pel, David Smeulders, Zhenjiang You

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The crack initiation stress threshold ( ci) is an essential parameter in the brittle failure process of rocks. In this paper, a volumetric strain response method (VSRM) is proposed to determine the σci based on two new concepts, i.e., the dilatancy resistance state index ( ci) and the maximum value of the dilatancy resistance state index difference (| ci|), which represent the state of dilatancy resistance of the rock and the shear sliding resistance capacity of the crack-like pores during the compressive period, respectively. The deviatoric stress corresponding to the maximum | ci| is taken as the ci . We …

Assessing Morphological Changes Of The Msimbazi River Using Satellite Images, Fides J. Izdori

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

This study assessed historical morphology changes of the Msimbazi River in Dar es Salaam City, Tanzania, following heavy rainfall events using historical Google earth images. The erosion and sedimentation processes that cause morphological changes of a river are also associated with flooding within the river catchments. In this study, the bank-line movement, erosion and sedimentation areas and changes in river section width were analyzed under three-time periods: 2005- 2012, 2012- 2018, and 2018- 2020. Data shows that, the timing for floods coincides with the historical records for heavy rains. It was found that, area in the upper reaches of the …

A Progress Insight Of The Formation Of Hydrogen Rich Syngas From Coal Gasification, Tawanda Matamba, Stefan Iglauer, Alireza Keshavarz

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This review paper aims to explore the research progress in the formation of hydrogen rich gas from different innovative coal gasification parameters. Promotion effects of parameters such as pressure, temperature, catalyst, coal type, reactor setup, and gasification agents (H2O, O2, supercritical water) were extensively analysed. The formation of hydrogen gas through coal gasification was sub-divided into H2 production from fixed bed gasification system, fluidized bed system, and entrained flow system. The advantages of coal and biomass co-gasification towards clean energy formation was also reviewed. Co-gasification and elevated temperatures, pressures, and steam-carbon ratios were reported to positively influence the yields of …