Geophysical Techniques Used For The Analysis And Prediction Of Soil Strength And Mechanical Behavior, Matthew A. Hurley

Theses and Dissertations--Civil Engineering

Determining soil properties involves extensive laboratory testing of samples at discrete timing and location. Non-destructive analysis methods, such as electrical and seismic, presents alternatives to means of gathering soil properties accompanied with increased flexibility due to spatial and temporal applications. This research examined the ability of seismic wave data to predict soil behavior such as stress-strain and pore pressures using a modified version of Duncan and Chang (1970). Friction angle predictions were also analyzed using shear wave velocity and a modified form of the Santos and Gomez-Correria (2001) equation. This research also analyzed the use of electrical data to predict …

Ground Movements And Nonlinear-Inelastic Response Of Buildings Induced By Excavations In Glacial Clay Deposits, A. Felipe Uribe-Henao

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The analysis of ground movements and nonlinear response of buildings induced by excavations in glacial clay deposits is conducted using finite element models built in PLAXIS2D and OpenSees. PLAXIS2D was used to simulate the performance of an urban cofferdam excavation braced with a concrete bracing system. Measured ground movements were compared with the computed response, and the influence of the temperature, installation, and curing effects on the concrete bracing is evaluated. Concrete time-dependent effects contributed to 32% of the maximum lateral wall movements. The numerical studies are expanded in a second finite element analysis to characterize the coupled fluid-solid response …

Classification Des Sols Et Sélection Des Systèmes D’Étançonnement Pour L’Excavation Des Tranchées : Résultats Des Essais Réalisés Au Laboratoire De Géotechnique De L’Université Laval – Annexe, Bertrand Galy, Denis Lebœuf, Omar Chaallal, André Lan

Rapports de recherche scientifique

Dans le cadre du projet « Classification des sols et sélection des systèmes d’étançonnement pour l’excavation des tranchées », des tranchées et des excavations de pleine grandeur ont été réalisées dans une argile sensible typique du Québec, à Louiseville. Ces aménagements ont permis d’évaluer et de valider la résistance et le comportement de systèmes d’étançonnement, grâce aux essais suivants :

• Une excavation non soutenue de 5 m de profondeur à paroi verticale;
• Une excavation non soutenue de 4,2 m de profondeur, à paroi talutée (pente de 1,6:1);
• Une tranchée de 6 m de profondeur soutenue avec une boîte de tranchée …

Landslide Site Assessment And Characterization Using Remote Sensing Techniques, Batmyagmar Dashbold

Theses and Dissertations--Civil Engineering

Landslides are common and dangerous natural hazards that occur worldwide, often causing severe direct impacts on human lives, public and private properties. It is imperative to identify the landslide susceptible areas to avoid or mitigate the possible damage. Landslide prediction can be presented in a slope failure in spatial and/ or temporal terms. If it is presented in spatial term, it is considered a landslide susceptibility map (LSM) defined as the probability of spatial occurrence of slope failures. If it is presented in a combination of spatial and temporal distribution of the landslide susceptibility, it is commonly referred to as …

Influence Of Rock Wettability On Thf Hydrate Saturation And Distribution In Sandstones, Ghazanfer Raza Abbasi, Ahmed Al-Yaseri, Abubakar Isah, Alireza Keshavarz, Sefan Iglauer

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Natural gas trapped in hydrate deposits is a potentially enormous source of energy which can in principle be extracted from the underground reservoir structures. These reserves can potentially also catastrophically release very large quantities of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. One key parameter which is well known to strongly influence fluid distribution, saturation, and production is rock wettability. However, the effect of wettability on gas hydrate in sediments has not been investigated yet. We thus used nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometry to measure relaxation times (T₂ and T₁) and the corresponding surface relaxivity of tetrahydrofuran hydrate …

Experimental Study On Repeatedly Loaded Foundation Soil Strengthened By Wraparound Geosynthetic Reinforcement Technique, Muhammad Nouman Amjad Raja, Sanjay K. Shukla

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

In the recent past, the potential benefits of wraparound geosynthetic reinforcement technique for constructing the reinforced soil foundations have been reported. This paper presents the experimental study on the behaviour of model strip footing resting on sandy soil bed reinforced with geosynthetic in wraparound and planar forms under monotonic and repeated loadings. The geosynthetic layers were laid according to the reinforcement ratio to minimise the scale effect. It is found that for the same amount of reinforcement material, the wraparound reinforced model resulted in less settlement in comparison to planar reinforced models. The efficiency of wraparound reinforced model increased with …

Influence Of Diagenetic Features On Petrophysical Properties Of Fine-Grained Rocks Of Oligocene Strata In The Lower Indus Basin, Pakistan, Abdul Majeed Shar, Aftab Ahmed Mahesar, Ghazanfer Raza Abbasi, Asad Ali Narejo, Asghar Ali Alias Daahar Hakro

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Nari Formation is considered as one of the most important oil and gas exploration targets. These fine-grained tight sandstone reservoirs face enormous challenges due to their extremely low matrix porosity and permeability. Hence, in this regard, the study was carried out to collect the high-quality data on petrophysical properties along with mineralogy and microstructural characteristics and diagenesis. The experiments performed includes the petrographic study and scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction analyses. Besides, the measurement of petrophysical properties was carried out to assess the likely influence of the reservoir quality. The petrographic analysis shows predominantly fine- to medium-grained grey samples …

Unsteady-State Contact Angle Hysteresis During Droplet Oscillation In Capillary Pores: Theoretical Model And Vof Simulation -- Supporting Information, Chao Zeng, Wen Deng, Lichun Wang

Research Data

Contact angle hysteresis (CAH) is a critical phenomenon that could significantly affect the fate of immiscible bubbles/droplets in vadose zones, nonaqueous phase liquid contaminated aquifers, and saline aquifers for CO₂ sequestration in terms of infiltration patterns and residual trapping mechanisms. When external physical impacts such as oscillatory excitation or pulse forcing are applied, it could result in pinned oscillation of droplets due to this CAH. Conventional steady-state analysis of contact angle could underestimate CAH. As the first time to take unsteady-state effect into consideration, a hydrodynamic analysis is developed in this study to address the unsteady-state CAH theoretically, and …

Stress-State Dependency Of The Deformation Ratio Of Quasi-Elastic Granular Soils Under Cyclic Loading -- Supporting Information, Pingxin Xia, Longtan Shao, Wen Deng

Research Data

Poisson’s ratio, besides its transverse-axial strain ratio definition, also plays a significant role in traditional elastic theory as an elastic constant. However, this elastic role of Poisson’s ratio faces a challenge when applied to quasi-elastic granular soils. A so-called “deformation ratio” is therefore introduced and measured in this paper for quasi-elastic granular soils. With the same definition of the transverse-axial strain ratio as Poisson’s ratio, the stress-state dependency of the deformation ratio and the break-down of conversion relationship of elastic constants are investigated under cyclic triaxial tests. The results show that Poisson’s ratio is consistent with deformation ratio only in …

Predicting The Settlement Of Geosynthetic-Reinforced Soil Foundations Using Evolutionary Artificial Intelligence Technique, Muhammad Nouman Amjad Raja, Sanjay K. Shukla

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

In order to ensure safe and sustainable design of geosynthetic-reinforced soil foundation (GRSF), settlement prediction is a challenging task for practising civil/geotechnical engineers. In this paper, a new hybrid technique for predicting the settlement of GRSF has been proposed based on the combination of evolutionary algorithm, that is, grey-wolf optimisation (GWO) and artificial neural network (ANN), abbreviated as ANN-GWO model. For this purpose, the reliable pertinent data were generated through numerical simulations conducted on validated large-scale 3-D finite element model. The predictive power of the model was assessed using various well-established statistical indices, and also validated against several independent scientific …

Revised Draft Final Butte Reclaimed Areas Maintenance And Monitoring (M&M) Plan In Accordance With Butte Reclamation Evaluation System (Bres), Pioneer Technical Services, Inc.

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Current Status Of Design And Construction Of Piles With A Pilot Hole On Rock, Charles C. Crowner

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Driven piles at project sites get their load bearing capacity from side friction along the driven lengths as well as from end resistance. Pilot holes is a pile driving assistance method used to aid driving displacement piles through hard/ dense layers and rock. These pilot holes can be a size smaller or larger than the pile that is to be installed. The pilot hole is first drilled down to a specific depth. The use of a pilot hole reduces the “end bearing” and “side resistance” within the drilled zone and aids the driving of the pile. This process also complicates …

Seismic Soil-Structure Interaction Effects In Tall Buildings Considering Nonlinear-Inelastic Behaviors, Jaime Mercado

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Soil-structure interaction (SSI) effects are relevant for the seismic analysis of tall buildings on shallow foundations since the dynamic behavior of structures is highly affected by the interaction between the superstructure and supporting soils. As part of earthquake-resistant designs of buildings, considering SSI effects in the analysis provides more realistic estimates of its performance during a seismic event, particularly when both the structure and soil undergo large demands that can compromise serviceability. Oversimplifications of structural or soil modeling in the analysis introduces variability and biases in the computed seismic response. The main goal of this dissertation is to investigate the …

Erosion And Sediment Controls On Reclaimed Mine Refuse Impoundments, Sara Dalen

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

To ensure the sustainable use of one of West Virginia’s precious resources, conscientious long-term management of residual waste is of immense importance. This thesis examined two main topics: i) the dewatering process of acid mine drainage (AMD) sludge, and ii) an investigation of soil loss predictions of a reclaimed coal refuse impoundment.

The first aspect of this thesis addresses clarification and remediation of AMD prior to disposal is a prominent component to preventing runoff and seepage of environmentally detrimental byproducts. To examine the effects of flocculation and dewatering more closely by means of geotextiles, an AMD sludge was analyzed. The …

Light Non-Aqueous Phase Liquid Migration In Ground Subsurface, Hanadi Al-Hammad

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Abstract

Light Non-Aqueous Phase Liquid Migration in Ground Subsurface

Hanadi Al-Hammad

Groundwater aquifers are vital source for water supplies. Such water supplies are under serious potential threats of pollution due to various contaminants. One of the categories of contaminants that pollute groundwater aquifers is non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL). NAPLs are immiscible organic compounds. NAPLs comprise two categories based on comparison of its density with density of water. The NAPLs that have density less that density of water are known as light non-aqueous phase liquid (LNAPL) such as Diesel, Toluene, and mineral oil. NAPLs with density higher than the density of …

Investigation Of Foundation Failures, Ali Buabbas

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

ABSTRACT

Investigation of Foundation Failures

Ali Buabbas

Foundations form a very critical component of any structure. The integrity and lifespan of the structure are dependent on the strength and durability of the foundation. Under ideal conditions, immediately after the structure is constructed, the foundation meets all the requirements of the structure. However, after a while, due to the action of many other factors, the structure’s foundation may no longer satisfy the needs of the structure.

Some of the factors contributing to the failure of the foundation can be due to natural events. Construction engineers should anticipate these factors to minimize …

Workshop Outcomes Report: 1st International Workshop On Seismic Resilience Of Arctic Infrastructure And Social Systems, Majid Ghayoomi, Katharine Duderstadt, Alexander Kholodov, Alexander Shiklomanov, Matthew Turner, Elham Ajorlou

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Predicting Anthropogenic Underwater Pile Driving Noise Using Pile Driving Analyzer (Pda) Data, Brandon Alfredo Rivera

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In the past several years, there has been increasing concern about anthropogenic noise generated during marine pile driving. This concern is expected to increase concomitantly with increases in waterfront construction efforts associated with aging infrastructure and sea level rise. Several guidelines are available to help predict underwater noise transmission due to pile driving, but the issue with all these methods is that they require one to measure sound pressure levels at one locus or more from the driven pile. In the context of marine construction, adding specifications for underwater noise collection may be expensive or difficult because contractors typically have …

Land Use And Land Cover Classifications Of Horqin Sandy Land Dune-Meadow Areas, Wenmei Cao, Tingxi Liu, Xixi Wang, Guanli Wang, Dongfang Li, Xing Tong

Civil & Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

In this study, we determine land use/land cover (LULC) types using only optical remote sensing data in a dune-meadow area of Horqin Sandy Land in northeast China. We used 64 Sentinel-2 remote sensing images from 2018. An LULC decision tree recognition rule was established by combining image segmentation technology, vegetation phenology information, and habitat characteristics. The overall classification accuracy was 0.91, and the Kappa coefficient was 0.89. The classification results show that most of the study region was dryland area, accounting for 33.79%, followed by shrub communities at 25.03%. High-diversity semi-shrub communities and arbor forests accounted for 14.54% and 10%, …

The Stability Of Nanobubbles And Its Application In Contaminated Sediment Treatment, Shaini Dilsha Aluthgun Hewage

Dissertations

This dissertation consists of two sections. First, nanobubbles' stability and behavior are studied using experimental and theoretical approaches. Second, nanobubbles application combined with ultrasound to remediate contaminated sediments is discussed.

The stability study consists of four sections. (i). Laboratory investigation to determine bubble size distributions and zeta potentials for different gases, pH levels, temperatures, and salt conditions. (ii). A theoretical study based on the diffused double layer theory to explain nanobubbles' behavior in different NaCl concentrations. (iii). Nanobubbles' stability in electrolyte solutions under different ion valencies using deionized water, NaCl, Na₂SO₄, Na₃PO₄, …

Assessment Of The Performance Of Grinding Circuit For Buzwagi Gold Mine, Alphonce Wikedzi

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

It had been reported by the management of Buzwagi Gold Mine (BGM) that grinding circuit was designed to produce final product size of 125 μm, which had not been achieved for a long period of time under both, low to normal (i.e. 450-600 t/h) and high (i.e. > 650 t/h) throughputs. Also, the performance behaviour of the circuit had not been reviewed after long time of operation. Hence, an evaluation study was conducted in order to recommend improvement in mine operations. The study was realized through three circuit survey campaigns and laboratory experimentations. From the surveys, size distributions and solids contents …

Feasibility Of Geothermal Energy Piles In New Orleans Alluvial Soils, Patrick A. Thurmond

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Geothermal energy piles offer the benefits of modifying existing construction practices to reduce costs associated with heating and cooling. A major obstacle today in effective utilization of these systems is a general lack of site-specific data on the thermal properties of subsoils. To maximize the potential efficiency of these systems, engineers require an understanding of the potential impact of this technology on existing foundation design methodology as well as a means for quantifying potential heat transfer through soil by determination of the soil’s thermal conductivity. This study examines the feasibility of energy piles with a focus on alluvial soils found …

Сharacteristics Mineral Resource Base Of Madagascar, A. E. Vorobyev, K. A. Vorobyov, S.A. Ndriambanuna, L.E. Schesnyak

Gorniy vestnik Uzbekistana

The main characteristics of the mineral resource base of Madagascar with details of coal, iron ore, non-ferrous metals, uranium, rare metals and gold are considered. In the gold-ore mineral base of Madagascar, coastal placers are of particular potential interest. Foreign mining companies and local crafts are described. The transition to the development of coastal gold placers is proposed

Laboratory Testing And Mechanistic Analysis Of Treated Subgrade Soils, Hari Kumar Reddy Yarrapureddi

Civil Engineering Theses

Calcium-based stabilizing agents such as cement and lime have been extensively used to improve the engineering properties of base and subgrade layers of pavement systems. Recently, polymers and chemical stabilizers have become popular due to cost efficiency, ease of application, and fast curing times. In this study, California Bearing Ratio (CBR) values of polymer and chemical treated soils were compared with the CBR values of soils treated with conventional stabilizers. Parametric sensitivity analyses was carried out on key parameters including the type of subgrade soil, stabilizing agent, stabilizing agent treatment levels, and moisture conditioning. Additionally, numerical analyses was performed to …

Expanding The Concept Of Comprehensive Area Ratio Parameter To The South-Central States Towards Simplifying The Structural Evaluation Of Flexible Pavements At The Network Level, Nitish R. Bastola

Civil Engineering Theses

The surface deflection bowl data collected through Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) has been widely utilized by various Department of Transportation (DOTs) in the South-Central States and other places. The primary purpose of using deflection-based NDTs in network-level assessment is to identify a weak pavement section that requires further analysis at the project level. The falling weight deflectometer (FWD) test is one of the common NDT based tests utilized by highway agencies in assessing the performance of the flexible pavement. However, a robust method to evaluate pavement sections utilizing FWD data from all the sensors are seldom developed. There is always a …

Relationships Between In-Situ Tests And Soil Cyclic Strength For Earthquake Hazard Characterization In The Pacific Northwest, Tanner Scott Bryantt

Dissertations and Theses

Strong earthquake shaking is a natural hazard threat in the Pacific Northwest. Soil failure due to strong earthquake shaking -- known as cyclic soil failure or liquefaction -- is expected to cause large ground deformations and damage to roads, bridges, and other civil infrastructure. Cyclic soil strength (CRR) is often characterized with in-situ geotechnical tests including the cone penetration test (CPT). Relationships between CRR and in-situ test data are not well established for soils in the Pacific Northwest. Portland State University, in partnership with New Albion Geotechnical has compiled a database of cyclic lab tests for Pacific Northwest soils to …

Cement Stabilized Crushed Stone Base Course Strength And Stiffness Analysis, Andrew Deschenes

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Approximately 70 – 80% of state departments of transportations (DOTs) utilize the 1993 AASTHO Guide for Design of Pavement Structures (1993 AASHTO) [1] for structural design of pavements. A growing portion of DOT’s are beginning to implement the Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG), referred to as AASHTOWare Pavement ME [2]. The 1993 AASHTO flexible guide applies empirically derived unitless strength values referred to as structural layer coefficients and structural numbers (SN) to pavement thickness and pavement types. The 1993 AASHTO rigid flexible guide utilizes the depth and strength of the concrete pavement, with the composite spring constant (kc), which is …

Effect Of Citric Acid On Slump, Compressive Strength, And Setting Time Of Belitic Calcium Sulfoaluminate Concrete, Israel Aguilar Rosero

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Belitic calcium sulfoaluminate (BCSA) cement has well established advantages related to fast setting time, fast strength gain, long-term strengths, shrinkage, and sustainability. Due to its fast setting and hardening, this type of cement has historically been used to repair concrete structures, highways, and runways. This work provides much needed guidance on establishing mix design criteria for BCSA cement. Guidance is also given on the effects of set retarders on strength, slump, and setting times. Citric acid and a phosphonic acid-based admixture were tested as retarders for different concrete mixtures. Three studies were performed. In the slump study five different water …

Incorporating Shear Resistance Into Debris Flow Triggering Model Statistics, Noah J. Lyman

Master's Theses

Several regions of the Western United States utilize statistical binary classification models to predict and manage debris flow initiation probability after wildfires. As the occurrence of wildfires and large intensity rainfall events increase, so has the frequency in which development occurs in the steep and mountainous terrain where these events arise. This resulting intersection brings with it an increasing need to derive improved results from existing models, or develop new models, to reduce the economic and human impacts that debris flows may bring. Any development or change to these models could also theoretically increase the ease of collection, processing, and …

In-Situ Fluid Injections To Achieve Bio-Stimulated Calcite Precipitation In Expansive Soils, Anish Pathak

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Expansive soils undergo vast changes in volume when subject to change in water contents and cause damages to infrastructures across the world. Traditional methods of tackling the problem of expansive soils using cement or lime are environmentally unfriendly and expensive. Microbial Induced Calcite Precipitation (MICP) is a new method which uses bacteria in the soil to precipitate CaCO3 (calcite) and improve the engineering properties of soils. Various laboratory studies have shown that this method can be applied successfully to treat expansive soils, but the field application of the method have barely been studied.

To study the applicability of MICP in …