Modern High Performance Computing (HPC) systems are made up of thousands of server-grade compute nodes linked through a high-speed network interconnect. Each node has tens or even hundreds of CPU cores each, with counts continuing to grow on newer HPC clusters. This results in a need to make use of millions of cores per cluster. Fully leveraging these resources is difficult. There is an active need to design software that scales and fully utilizes the hardware. In this dissertation, we address this gap with a dual approach, considering both intra-node (single node) and inter-node (across node) concerns. To aid in intra-node performance, we propose two novel concurrent data structures: a transactional vector and a persistent hash map. These designs have broad applicability in any multi-core environment but are particularly useful in HPC, which commonly features many cores per node. For inter-node performance, we propose a metrics-driven approach to improve scheduling quality, using predicted run times to backfill jobs more accurately and aggressively. This is augmented using application input parameters to further improve these run time predictions. Improved scheduling reduces the number of idle nodes in an HPC cluster, maximizing job throughput. We find that our data structures outperform the prior state-of-the-art while offering additional features. Our backfill technique likewise outperforms previous approaches in simulations, and our run time predictions were significantly more accurate than conventional approaches. Code for these works is freely available, and we have plans to deploy these techniques more broadly on real HPC systems in the future.

Low-strength cellular concrete consists of a cement slurry that is aerated prior to placement. It remains a largely untested material with properties somewhere between those of soil, geofoam, and typical controlled low-strength material (CLSM). The benefits of using this material include its low density, ease of placement, and ability to self-compact. Although the basic laboratory properties of this material have been investigated, little information exists about the performance of this material in the field, much less the passive resistance behavior of this material in the field.In order to evaluate the use of cellular concrete as a backfill material behind bridge abutments, two large-scale tests were conducted. These tests sought to better understand the passive resistance, the movement required to reach this resistance, the failure mechanism, and skew effects for a cellular concrete backfill. The tests used a pile cap with a backwall face 5.5 ft (1.68 m) tall and 11 ft (3.35 m) wide. The backfill area had walls on either side running parallel to the sides of the pile cap to allow the material to fail in a 2D fashion. The cellular concrete backfill for the 30<&degree> skew test had an average wet density of 29.6 pcf (474 kg/m3) and a compressive strength of 57.6 psi (397 kPa). The backfill for the 0<&degree> skew test had an average wet density of 28.6 pcf (458 kg/m3) and a compressive strength of 50.9 psi (351 kPa). The pile cap was displaced into the backfill area until failure occurred. A total of two tests were conducted, one with a 30<&degree> skew wedge attached to the pile cap and one with no skew wedge attached.It was observed that the cellular concrete backfill mainly compressed under loading with no visible failure at the surface. The passive-force curves showed the material reaching an initial peak resistance after movement equal to 1.7-2.6% of the backwall height and then remaining near this strength or increasing in strength with any further deflection. No skew effects were observed; any difference between the two tests is most likely due to the difference in concrete placement and testing.

Current design of cemented paste backfill (CPB) barricades tends to be of unknown conservativeness due to limited understanding of their behaviour. Previous work done to characterize barricade response has not accounted for the effects of the surrounding rock stiffness, which can have significant impact on the development of axial forces which enhance capacity via compressive membrane action. Parametric analyses were performed with the finite element analysis program Augustus-2 to determine the effects of various material and geometric properties on barricade capacity. Equations based on Timoshenko and Boussinesq solutions were developed to model rock stiffness effects based on boundary material properties. An iterative simulation process was used to account for secondary moment effects as a proof of concept. It was found that, for a range of typical rock types, barricade capacity varied significantly. The commonly made design assumption of a fully rigid boundary resulted in unconservative overpredictions of strength.

Current design of cemented paste backfill (CPB) barricades tends to be of unknown conservativeness due to limited understanding of their behaviour. Previous work done to characterize barricade response has not accounted for the effects of the surrounding rock stiffness, which can have significant impact on the development of axial forces which enhance capacity via compressive membrane action. Parametric analyses were performed with the finite element analysis program Augustus-2 to determine the effects of various material and geometric properties on barricade capacity. Equations based on Timoshenko and Boussinesq solutions were developed to model rock stiffness effects based on boundary material properties. An iterative simulation process was used to account for secondary moment effects as a proof of concept. It was found that, for a range of typical rock types, barricade capacity varied significantly. The commonly made design assumption of a fully rigid boundary resulted in unconservative overpredictions of strength.

Engenheiros geotécnicos, defrontam-se frequentemente com solos de baixa capacidade de suporte. Para viabilizar projetos nestes materiais, pode-se utilizar fundações com grandes dimensões e/ou melhorar a propriedades mecânicas destes solos. Fundações de grandes dimensões podem ser extremamente onerosas e gerar impactos ambientais indesejáveis provocados por grandes movimentações de solo. Em contrapartida, o melhoramento das propriedades mecânicas do solo pode ser obtido por meio de tratamento com agentes cimentantes. Esta técnica tem-se mostrado bastante promissora nas diversas subáreas da geotecnia, como por exemplo, leito e subleito de pavimentação, estabilidade de taludes e terrenos para assentamento de fundações à compressão. A utilização desta técnica em fundações escavadas submetidas à tração ainda é incipiente. Até meados dos anos 1950, os métodos de previsão de desempenho consideravam somente o peso do solo contido em uma superfície ruptura somado ao peso da fundação, como contribuindo na capacidade de carga ao arrancamento. Estudos recentes passaram a incluir uma terceira parcela de resistência devido à resistência ao cisalhamento do solo. A partir de então diversos autores passaram a estudar técnicas de melhoramento e reforços dos reaterros. Num primeiro momento, foi estudada a influência das técnicas de compactação do reaterro e a substituição do material por outro com melhores propriedades. Atualmente, os estudos concentram-se no reforço dos reaterros com geossintéticos e adição de agentes cimentícios. Neste contexto, o objetivo deste trabalho é realizar um estudo avaliando os benefícios gerados pelo aumento da capacidade de carga, de fundações escavadas e reaterradas com areia fina e homogênea (proveniente da cidade de Osório/RS), cimentada, avaliando sua influência em termos das propriedades geométricas (diâmetro das fundações, profundidade de assentamento e diâmetro de tratamento) e geotécnicas (coesão, ângulo de atrito e módulo de elasticidade, influenciados pelo teor de cimento). Para tanto foram realizadas provas de carga à tração, variando-se o diâmetro (30 e 45 cm), profundidades de embutimentos (entre 0,5 e 2,0), e teores de cimento (0%, 3% e 7%). Através das provas de carga, verificou-se que o aumento do teor de cimento e da profundidade de assentamento aumentam a capacidade de carga à tração. Os resultados experimentais foram reproduzidos pelo método de elementos finitos por meio de retroanálise. A partir do modelo numérico gerado pela retroanálise, foram executadas duas análises paramétricas. Na primeira foram definidos os parâmetros significativos – coesão e embutimento – e determinada uma equação adimensional para determinação da carga máxima para tratamento de uma camada infinita. Na segunda análise foram definidos ábacos para determinação da perda de carga em função da redução do diâmetro de tratamento, para três níveis de cimentação – baixa, média e alta. / Geotechnical engineers frequently have to deal with soils that have reduced strength. In order to carry out the design of footings in such materials, their base has to be quite large and/or mechanical properties of the soils have to be improved. Shallow foundations of large dimensions can be extremely expensive and generate undesirable environmental impacts due to large soil movements. As an alternative, the improvement of mechanical properties of the local soil can be obtained by treating it with cementitious agents. Such technique has been used with success in several earthworks such as the improvement of base and sub-base of pavements, slope stability and particularly as a soil-cement mixture of a compacted layer over a low bearing capacity soil. The use of such technique in footings subjected to pullout forces is still insipient. Until middle 1950’s, pullout design methodologies of shallow foundations embedded in soil backfills considered only the weight of the soil contained inside a specific failure surface plus the foundation self-weight as the pullout failure load. Further studies included the shear strength of the soil at the failure surface. Since then several authors considered several techniques to improve and/or reinforce the backfills. At first the influence of backfill compaction and material substitution to improve soil properties were considered. Nowadays, studies concentrate in the reinforcement of backfills with geosynthetics and in the addition of cementitious agents. In such context, the main aim of present work is to carry out a research evaluating the benefits towards the improvement of uplift performance of footings embedded in cemented stabilized backfill, analyzing the influence of the geometrical characteristics of the problem (diameter of the footings, depth of embedment and size of the improved area) and geotechnical properties of the backfill (cohesion intercept, friction angle and Young’s modulus), the latter influenced by the amount of cementitious agents inserted on the soil. For doing so, several pullout tests were carried out varying foundation diameter (0.30 and 0.45 m), embedment depth according foundation diameter (ranging from 0.5 e 2.0) and cement contents (0%, 3% and 7%) in the stabilized backfill. Results of pullout tests have shown that the increase of cement content and embedment depth of the backfill increased uplift capacity. Field results were reproduced through a back-analysis using the finite element technique. In the sequence, two distinct parametrical analyses were also carried out. In the first analysis the parameters that show significance were cohesion intercept and embedment depth – a non-dimensional equation determining the failure pullout load (considering infinite horizontal improvement) was determined. In the second analysis distinct abacus were produced to allow considering reduction of horizontal treatment area for three cementation levels – low, medium e high.

Engenheiros geotécnicos, defrontam-se frequentemente com solos de baixa capacidade de suporte. Para viabilizar projetos nestes materiais, pode-se utilizar fundações com grandes dimensões e/ou melhorar a propriedades mecânicas destes solos. Fundações de grandes dimensões podem ser extremamente onerosas e gerar impactos ambientais indesejáveis provocados por grandes movimentações de solo. Em contrapartida, o melhoramento das propriedades mecânicas do solo pode ser obtido por meio de tratamento com agentes cimentantes. Esta técnica tem-se mostrado bastante promissora nas diversas subáreas da geotecnia, como por exemplo, leito e subleito de pavimentação, estabilidade de taludes e terrenos para assentamento de fundações à compressão. A utilização desta técnica em fundações escavadas submetidas à tração ainda é incipiente. Até meados dos anos 1950, os métodos de previsão de desempenho consideravam somente o peso do solo contido em uma superfície ruptura somado ao peso da fundação, como contribuindo na capacidade de carga ao arrancamento. Estudos recentes passaram a incluir uma terceira parcela de resistência devido à resistência ao cisalhamento do solo. A partir de então diversos autores passaram a estudar técnicas de melhoramento e reforços dos reaterros. Num primeiro momento, foi estudada a influência das técnicas de compactação do reaterro e a substituição do material por outro com melhores propriedades. Atualmente, os estudos concentram-se no reforço dos reaterros com geossintéticos e adição de agentes cimentícios. Neste contexto, o objetivo deste trabalho é realizar um estudo avaliando os benefícios gerados pelo aumento da capacidade de carga, de fundações escavadas e reaterradas com areia fina e homogênea (proveniente da cidade de Osório/RS), cimentada, avaliando sua influência em termos das propriedades geométricas (diâmetro das fundações, profundidade de assentamento e diâmetro de tratamento) e geotécnicas (coesão, ângulo de atrito e módulo de elasticidade, influenciados pelo teor de cimento). Para tanto foram realizadas provas de carga à tração, variando-se o diâmetro (30 e 45 cm), profundidades de embutimentos (entre 0,5 e 2,0), e teores de cimento (0%, 3% e 7%). Através das provas de carga, verificou-se que o aumento do teor de cimento e da profundidade de assentamento aumentam a capacidade de carga à tração. Os resultados experimentais foram reproduzidos pelo método de elementos finitos por meio de retroanálise. A partir do modelo numérico gerado pela retroanálise, foram executadas duas análises paramétricas. Na primeira foram definidos os parâmetros significativos – coesão e embutimento – e determinada uma equação adimensional para determinação da carga máxima para tratamento de uma camada infinita. Na segunda análise foram definidos ábacos para determinação da perda de carga em função da redução do diâmetro de tratamento, para três níveis de cimentação – baixa, média e alta. / Geotechnical engineers frequently have to deal with soils that have reduced strength. In order to carry out the design of footings in such materials, their base has to be quite large and/or mechanical properties of the soils have to be improved. Shallow foundations of large dimensions can be extremely expensive and generate undesirable environmental impacts due to large soil movements. As an alternative, the improvement of mechanical properties of the local soil can be obtained by treating it with cementitious agents. Such technique has been used with success in several earthworks such as the improvement of base and sub-base of pavements, slope stability and particularly as a soil-cement mixture of a compacted layer over a low bearing capacity soil. The use of such technique in footings subjected to pullout forces is still insipient. Until middle 1950’s, pullout design methodologies of shallow foundations embedded in soil backfills considered only the weight of the soil contained inside a specific failure surface plus the foundation self-weight as the pullout failure load. Further studies included the shear strength of the soil at the failure surface. Since then several authors considered several techniques to improve and/or reinforce the backfills. At first the influence of backfill compaction and material substitution to improve soil properties were considered. Nowadays, studies concentrate in the reinforcement of backfills with geosynthetics and in the addition of cementitious agents. In such context, the main aim of present work is to carry out a research evaluating the benefits towards the improvement of uplift performance of footings embedded in cemented stabilized backfill, analyzing the influence of the geometrical characteristics of the problem (diameter of the footings, depth of embedment and size of the improved area) and geotechnical properties of the backfill (cohesion intercept, friction angle and Young’s modulus), the latter influenced by the amount of cementitious agents inserted on the soil. For doing so, several pullout tests were carried out varying foundation diameter (0.30 and 0.45 m), embedment depth according foundation diameter (ranging from 0.5 e 2.0) and cement contents (0%, 3% and 7%) in the stabilized backfill. Results of pullout tests have shown that the increase of cement content and embedment depth of the backfill increased uplift capacity. Field results were reproduced through a back-analysis using the finite element technique. In the sequence, two distinct parametrical analyses were also carried out. In the first analysis the parameters that show significance were cohesion intercept and embedment depth – a non-dimensional equation determining the failure pullout load (considering infinite horizontal improvement) was determined. In the second analysis distinct abacus were produced to allow considering reduction of horizontal treatment area for three cementation levels – low, medium e high.

Engenheiros geotécnicos, defrontam-se frequentemente com solos de baixa capacidade de suporte. Para viabilizar projetos nestes materiais, pode-se utilizar fundações com grandes dimensões e/ou melhorar a propriedades mecânicas destes solos. Fundações de grandes dimensões podem ser extremamente onerosas e gerar impactos ambientais indesejáveis provocados por grandes movimentações de solo. Em contrapartida, o melhoramento das propriedades mecânicas do solo pode ser obtido por meio de tratamento com agentes cimentantes. Esta técnica tem-se mostrado bastante promissora nas diversas subáreas da geotecnia, como por exemplo, leito e subleito de pavimentação, estabilidade de taludes e terrenos para assentamento de fundações à compressão. A utilização desta técnica em fundações escavadas submetidas à tração ainda é incipiente. Até meados dos anos 1950, os métodos de previsão de desempenho consideravam somente o peso do solo contido em uma superfície ruptura somado ao peso da fundação, como contribuindo na capacidade de carga ao arrancamento. Estudos recentes passaram a incluir uma terceira parcela de resistência devido à resistência ao cisalhamento do solo. A partir de então diversos autores passaram a estudar técnicas de melhoramento e reforços dos reaterros. Num primeiro momento, foi estudada a influência das técnicas de compactação do reaterro e a substituição do material por outro com melhores propriedades. Atualmente, os estudos concentram-se no reforço dos reaterros com geossintéticos e adição de agentes cimentícios. Neste contexto, o objetivo deste trabalho é realizar um estudo avaliando os benefícios gerados pelo aumento da capacidade de carga, de fundações escavadas e reaterradas com areia fina e homogênea (proveniente da cidade de Osório/RS), cimentada, avaliando sua influência em termos das propriedades geométricas (diâmetro das fundações, profundidade de assentamento e diâmetro de tratamento) e geotécnicas (coesão, ângulo de atrito e módulo de elasticidade, influenciados pelo teor de cimento). Para tanto foram realizadas provas de carga à tração, variando-se o diâmetro (30 e 45 cm), profundidades de embutimentos (entre 0,5 e 2,0), e teores de cimento (0%, 3% e 7%). Através das provas de carga, verificou-se que o aumento do teor de cimento e da profundidade de assentamento aumentam a capacidade de carga à tração. Os resultados experimentais foram reproduzidos pelo método de elementos finitos por meio de retroanálise. A partir do modelo numérico gerado pela retroanálise, foram executadas duas análises paramétricas. Na primeira foram definidos os parâmetros significativos – coesão e embutimento – e determinada uma equação adimensional para determinação da carga máxima para tratamento de uma camada infinita. Na segunda análise foram definidos ábacos para determinação da perda de carga em função da redução do diâmetro de tratamento, para três níveis de cimentação – baixa, média e alta. / Geotechnical engineers frequently have to deal with soils that have reduced strength. In order to carry out the design of footings in such materials, their base has to be quite large and/or mechanical properties of the soils have to be improved. Shallow foundations of large dimensions can be extremely expensive and generate undesirable environmental impacts due to large soil movements. As an alternative, the improvement of mechanical properties of the local soil can be obtained by treating it with cementitious agents. Such technique has been used with success in several earthworks such as the improvement of base and sub-base of pavements, slope stability and particularly as a soil-cement mixture of a compacted layer over a low bearing capacity soil. The use of such technique in footings subjected to pullout forces is still insipient. Until middle 1950’s, pullout design methodologies of shallow foundations embedded in soil backfills considered only the weight of the soil contained inside a specific failure surface plus the foundation self-weight as the pullout failure load. Further studies included the shear strength of the soil at the failure surface. Since then several authors considered several techniques to improve and/or reinforce the backfills. At first the influence of backfill compaction and material substitution to improve soil properties were considered. Nowadays, studies concentrate in the reinforcement of backfills with geosynthetics and in the addition of cementitious agents. In such context, the main aim of present work is to carry out a research evaluating the benefits towards the improvement of uplift performance of footings embedded in cemented stabilized backfill, analyzing the influence of the geometrical characteristics of the problem (diameter of the footings, depth of embedment and size of the improved area) and geotechnical properties of the backfill (cohesion intercept, friction angle and Young’s modulus), the latter influenced by the amount of cementitious agents inserted on the soil. For doing so, several pullout tests were carried out varying foundation diameter (0.30 and 0.45 m), embedment depth according foundation diameter (ranging from 0.5 e 2.0) and cement contents (0%, 3% and 7%) in the stabilized backfill. Results of pullout tests have shown that the increase of cement content and embedment depth of the backfill increased uplift capacity. Field results were reproduced through a back-analysis using the finite element technique. In the sequence, two distinct parametrical analyses were also carried out. In the first analysis the parameters that show significance were cohesion intercept and embedment depth – a non-dimensional equation determining the failure pullout load (considering infinite horizontal improvement) was determined. In the second analysis distinct abacus were produced to allow considering reduction of horizontal treatment area for three cementation levels – low, medium e high.

Over the past decades, cemented paste backfill (CPB) has become a common, environmentally friendly method of managing mine wastes (such as tailings). This technology allows up to 60% of the total amount of tailings to be reused and filled in the mine stopes after converting them into cemented material. Beside reducing the environmental risks associated with the traditional disposal of these materials, turning them into cemented material and placing them in the underground mine stopes can also provide secondary support for these stopes in addition to minimizing the risk of ground subsidence in the mine area. CPB is an engineered mixture of tailings, water, and hydraulic binder (such as cement, blast furnace slag, and fly ash) that is mixed in the paste plant and delivered into the mine stopes through a gravity or pumping based transportation system. During the transportation of CPB through the delivery system pipelines, the flowability of CPB depends on the rheology of the transported CPB, which is affected by different factors, such as the transportation time, temperature variation, binder type, and chemical composition of these mixtures. In addition, the performance of CPB, after placing the CPB mixture into the mine stopes, is mainly dependent on the role of the hydraulic binder, as it increases the mechanical strength of the mixture through the process of cement hydration. The mechanical strength is also influenced by different factors, such as time progress, temperature variation, and presence of chemical additives. It has previously been found that fresh CPB transported and/or placed in the mine stopes can be susceptible to temperature variation of different sources, such as the climatic effects, heat generated from the surrounding rocks, and heat generated during the process of cement hydration. Unsuitable flowability of CPB through the delivery system might lead to significant financial losses due to clogging of pipelines with unexpected hardening of CPB during transportation, which will cause delay in work and possible damages to the pipelines. Also, failure of CPB structure in the mine stopes due to inappropriate mechanical strength may cause casualties to the mine workers as well as significant environmental and economic damages. Many researchers studied the rheological properties and/or strength development of CPB under the individual effect of any of the aforementioned factors. Additionally, many researchers have evaluated the coupled effect of some of these factors on the rheology and mechanical strength of CPB material. Hitherto, there are currently no studies that addressed the combined effect of all these conditions on the rheological properties and strength development of CPB. At the first stage of this M.A.Sc. study, a series of experimental tests was conducted on fresh CPB in order to determine the combined effect of time, temperature, binder content, and chemical additives on the rheological properties of CPB. These experiments include rheological properties test (yield stress and viscosity), microstructural analysis (thermal analysis and XRD), chemical analysis (pH and Zeta potential), and monitoring tests (electrical conductivity), which were conducted on 125 CPB samples that were mixed and prepared at different temperatures (2oC, 20oC, 35oC) and cured for different curing time (0 hrs., 0.25 hrs., 1 hr., 2hrs, and 4 hrs.). These samples were prepared with different blends of hydraulic binders (PCI, PCI/Slag, and PCI/FA) and contained different dosages of sodium silicate (0%, 0.1%, 0.3%, and 0.5%). The results obtained show that rheology of CPB increases with the progress of curing time. It also increases with the increase in the initial (mixing and curing) temperature and content of sodium silicate. It was also found that the partial usage of slag and FA reduces the rheological properties. However, CPBs containing PCI/FA as binder have lower rheological properties, and thus better flowability, than those that contain PCI/Slag as binder. At the second stage of this M.A.Sc. study, in order to understand the combined effect of time, temperature and sodium silicate content on the strength development of slag-CPB, unconfined compression (UCS) test, microstructural analysis (thermal analysis and MIP), and monitoring tests (electrical conductivity, suction, and volumetric water content) were conducted on 72 CPB samples that were prepared with PCI-Slag as a binder, cured for different times (1 day, 3 days, 7 days, and 28 days) under different curing temperatures of (2oC, 20oC, 35oC), and contained different dosages of sodium silicate (0%, 0.3% and 0.5%). The results obtained at this stage showed that the strength development of slag-CPB increases with the progress of curing time and temperature. It also increases with the increase in the sodium silicate content. Also, the combined effect of high temperature, high dosage of sodium silicate and longer curing time showed significant enhancement in the mechanical strength of slag-CPB. The findings of this M.A.Sc. research will contribute to cost effective, efficient, and safer design of CPB structures in the mine areas. It will also help in minimizing financial loss associated with unsuitable flowability of CPB transported in the CPB delivery system besides reducing the risks of human loss, and the environmental and economic damages associated with the failure of CPB structures.

Vibration compaction is the most effective way of compacting coarse-grained materials. The effects of vibration frequency and amplitude on the compaction density of different backfill materials (No. 4 natural sand, No. 24 stone sand and No. 5, No. 8, No. 43 aggregates), were studied in this research. The test materials were characterized based on the particle sizes and morphology parameters using digital image analysis technique. Small-scale laboratory compaction tests were carried out with variable frequency and amplitude of vibrations using vibratory hammer and vibratory table. The results show an increase in density with the increase in amplitude and frequency of vibration. However, the increase in density with the increase in amplitude of vibration is more pronounced for the coarse aggregates than for the sands. A comparison of the maximum dry densities of different test materials shows that the dry densities obtained after compaction using the vibratory hammer are greater than those obtained after compaction using the vibratory table at the highest amplitude and frequency of vibration available in both equipment. Large-scale vibratory roller compaction tests were performed in the field for No. 30 backfill soil to observe the effect of vibration frequency and number of passes on the compaction density. Accelerometer sensors were attached to the roller drum (Caterpillar, model CS56B) to measure the frequency of vibration for the two different vibration settings available to the roller. For this roller and soil tested, the results show that the higher vibration setting is more effective. Direct shear tests and direct interface shear tests were performed to study the impact of particle characteristics of the coarse-grained backfill materials on interface shear resistance. A unique relationship was found between the normalized surface roughness and the ratio of critical-state interface friction angle between sand-gravel mixture with steel to the internal critical-state friction angle of the sand-gravel mixture.

No description available.