Settlement of a structure is a matter of great concern. Both excessive and differential settlement can cause expensive damage to buildings and must be avoided. Most methods used to estimate settlement are both deterministic in nature and are based on elastic analysis of soils. To better estimate settlement, a probabilistic estimate that uses a more in depth analysis of the behavior of soil is required. This thesis develops a new probabilistic model for estimating settlement based on a probabilistic unified soil compression model. The model is then used to estimate the settlement of an embankment. Lastly, a reliability analysis of settlement is carried out on the settlement estimate of the embankment. The new probabilistic unified soil compression model used in this thesis was developed based on a previously developed probabilistic unified soil compression model, accounting for further uncertainties into the model and correcting for errors in the model calibration. This model was calibrated using data from a site on the Venice Lagoon using a Bayesian approach. The model to estimate settlement was developed based on this probabilistic soil compression model and is unbiased in nature. Using this model, unbiased settlement estimates were obtained for an embankment also located in the Venice Lagoon. Using the developed probabilistic model for settlement, reliability analysis was carried out. This reliability analysis involved assessing the conditional probability that, for a specific load and given soil properties, a specified settlement threshold would be reached or passed. Sensitivity and importance analysis were carried out, determining which parameters and random variables have the largest impact on the fragility estimates. Lastly, a closed-formed approximation based on the Central Limit Theorem was developed to allow for easier fragility estimation.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2004. / Title from first page of PDF file. Document formatted into pages; contains xiii, 152 p.; also includes graphics. Includes bibliographical references (p. 147-152).

Thesis (B.S.)--University of Missouri, School of Mines and Metallurgy, 1932. / The entire thesis text is included in file. Typescript. Title from title screen of thesis/dissertation PDF file (viewed June 1, 2010) Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1982. / Typescript. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaf 46).

by Lo Yuk-ming. / Bibliography: leaves 56-59 / Thesis (M.Ph.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1985

Finally, we discuss some open problems closely related to the results obtained in this thesis and give some perspectives. / First, we study global subsonic and subsonic-sonic potential flows through a general infinitely long two dimensional or three dimensional axially symmetric nozzle. It is proved that there exists a critical value for the incoming mass flux so that a global uniformly subsonic flow exists in the nozzle as long as the incoming mass flux is less than the critical value. Furthermore, we establish some uniform estimates for the deflection angles and the minimum speed of the subsonic flows by combining the hodograph transformation and the comparison principle for elliptic equations. With the help of these properties and a compensated compactness framework, we prove the existence of a global subsonic-sonic flow solution in the case of the critical incoming mass flux. / Second, global existence of steady subsonic Euler flows through infinitely long nozzles is established when the variation of Bernoulli's constant in the upstream is sufficiently small and mass flux is in a suitable regime with an upper critical value. One of the main difficulties lies in that the full steady Euler system is a hyperbolic-elliptic coupled system in a subsonic region. A key point is to use stream function formulation for compressible Euler equations. By this formulation, Euler equations are equivalent to a quasilinear second order equation for stream function. We obtain existence of solution to the boundary value problem for stream function with the help of estimate for elliptic equation of two variables. Asymptotic behavior for the stream function is obtained via a blow up argument and energy estimate. This asymptotic behavior, together with some refined estimates on the stream function, yields the consistency of the stream function formulation and the original Euler equations. / Xie, Chunjing. / "August 2007." / Adviser: Zhouping Xin. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 69-02, Section: B, page: 1075. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 139-140). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.

A model is developed for the dynamics of an acoustically driven bubble in a channel. The bubble is assumed to be smaller than the transverse dimension of the channel and spherical in shape. The channels considered are infinite in length and formed by either parallel planes or tubes with triangular, rectangular, or hexagonal cross sections. For surfaces that are rigid or pressure release, the boundary conditions on the channel walls in each of these geometries can be satisfied using the method of images. Effects due to confinement by the channel walls are thus determined by an analysis of coupled bubble interactions in line and plane arrays. An existing model for the coupled dynamics of spherical bubbles provides the basis for the model. Liquid compressibility is an essential feature of the model, both in terms of radiation damping and the finite propagation speed of acoustic waves radiated by the bubble. Solutions for the frequency response are obtained analytically by perturbation for low drive amplitudes and weak nonlinearity, and by numerical solution for high drive amplitudes and strong nonlinearity. The perturbation solutions for the radial motion at the drive frequency and its second harmonic are obtained in closed form for a bubble between parallel planes. The response of a bubble between rigid parallel planes is found to be mass controlled, whereas for a rigid tube it is found to be radiation damping controlled. The dynamics of a bubble located near the center of a tube are found to depend on the area but not the specific geometry of the cross section. At drive amplitudes below which subharmonic generation occurs, the numerical solutions for high drive amplitudes reveal the same general properties as the perturbation solutions for low drive amplitudes. All of the solutions can be extended to tubes with arbitrary wall impedance if the radiation impedance on the bubble is known, for example calculated by normal mode expansion. / text

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Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1993. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [106]-110).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Lehigh University, 2004. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 113-119).