<p>Shallow foundations are used to support small-to-medium size structures, and their capacity derives from the strength of strong, near-surface soils. The design of shallow foundations is done by proportioning the plan dimensions of the foundation element by considering three factors: (1) the structural stability of the foundation, (2)  the allowable bearing pressure of the soil supporting the foundation to prevent ultimate bearing capacity failure, and (3) the tolerable total and differential settlements to meet serviceability requirements under normal working loads. Different theories have been developed to estimate the bearing capacity of a foundation, mostly relying on the Terzaghi (1943) form of the bearing capacity equation with the superposition of three terms. The partly theoretical and empirical methods of bearing capacity predictions rely on an assumed failure mechanism within the soil. In addition, the soil itself is considered to be a perfectly plastic material and its strength is accounted for through non-dimensional bearing capacity factors. However, the boundary-value problem of footing penetration, in reality, is quite complex and the use of the traditional bearing capacity, with use of the principle of superposition, leads to somewhat conservative results. The challenges involved in a footing penetration problem emanate not only from the difficulties in estimating soil strength parameters but also because the footing penetration problem involves large deformations and strains, which localize to form shear bands that propagate in the soil domain until the "collapse" of the sand-footing system.</p> <p>The overarching aim of this research is the study of the response of shallow foundations on clean silica sands by investigating the measured bearing capacities and getting insights into the failure mechanisms that develop as a result of the soil displacements below the base of the foundation element. This was experimentally achieved using a combination of physical modelling (by performing a series of model footing 1g load tests inside a novel half-circular calibration chamber) and image analysis (using digital image correlation technique). The load-settlement response of the model footings is investigated by performing displacement-controlled load tests on model strip and square footings placed either on the surface or embedded in the sand samples of varying relative densities prepared inside the calibration chamber using the method of air-pluviation. A series of high-resolution images collected during model footing loading were analyzed using the digital image correlation (DIC) technique to obtain the displacement and strain fields in the sand domain. Two fully characterized silica sands, Ohio Gold Frac (OGF) and Ottawa 20-30 (OTC) are used in the research. Different testing variables that were considered in the experimental setup are: (1) sand particle morphology, (2) sand sample's relative density, (3) sand layer thickness, and (4) footing shape, size, and embedment depth. A detailed test matrix was formulated to isolate these variables and study the effects of each on both the bearing capacity and the associated failure mechanism. Accordingly, this article-based dissertation is organized to describe the results of three studies.</p> <p>In the first study, the effects of relative density and particle morphology on the bearing capacity and failure mechanism of a model strip footing were investigated. This was done by using two silica sands: OGF sand and OTC sand, both the sands have comparable mineralogy, gradation, and particle sphericity; however, they have markedly different values of particle roundness. Samples of both sands were prepared at relative densities of 90%, 65%, and 30%. The evolution of the footing's collapse mechanism was considered by selecting relevant points on the load-settlement curves. A novel methodology was adapted to record the thickness of the shear band that developed in the sand domain. In the second study, the effects of the presence of a stiff layer below the strip footing were investigated. This was achieved by load testing the model strip footing on OTC sand layer of limited thickness. To simulate the sand-bedrock system, a half-circular steel plate supported by a stack of hollow concrete blocks was used. Load tests on model strip footing were performed on OTC sand samples without the presence of a stiff base and on the sand samples underlain by a stiff base located at depths equal to 0.5B and 1B below the base of the footing. The effect of the presence of the stiff base on the limit unit bearing capacity of the footing and stiffness of the sand-footing system were investigated. In addition, the contours of the cumulative maximum shear strains, horizontal displacements, and vertical displacements that develop in the sand layer are presented for both cases of with and without the presence of the stiff base. In the third study, the effects of footing geometry and embedment on the bearing capacity and failure mechanism were investigated. Load tests were performed on surface and embedded model strip and square footings on dense, medium dense, and loose OTC sand samples. The effects of choice of flow rule (associative versus non-associative) on the bearing capacity calculation and the increase in bearing capacity due to footing embedment (bearing capacity ratio) were determined. In addition, a framework is proposed to experimentally determine the shape and depth factors using strip and square footings of equal widths considering the flow rule non-associativity, conditions of low confinement, and different loading paths.</p> <p>The results of the experimental program presented in this research on bearing capacity, displacement fields, strain fields, and failure mechanisms for different footing sizes and shapes under different testing conditions show that that the footing's collapse mechanism depends on the relative density of the sand sample, sand particle morphology, and the footing geometry. Significant differences in the bearing capacity of model footings due to sand particle morphology and sand sample density were observed. The shear band thickness is also shown to be dependent on the shape of the sand particles. It was also observed that the scale effects in model footing tests are closely related to sand dilatancy. For a sand layer of finite thickness underlain by a stiff base it is shown that the critical depth of the stiff base is greater for stiffness calculation than that for the bearing capacity calculation. DIC analysis results provided valuable insights to the footing penetration problem and corroborated the theoretical knowledge about the failure modes in sandy soils. It is shown that the failure mechanism extend deeper and wider for sands with angular particles as compared to the sand with rounded particles. DIC analysis also revealed that as the distance between the footing base and stiff layer reduces, the shear bands are more readily formed but their lateral extents are reduced considerably. The high-quality experimental data provided in this dissertation is aimed to be useful to researchers working on the validation of numerical simulations of footing penetration in sands.</p>

<p dir="ltr">A key challenge in the assessment of the stability of fractures in rock is the identification of precursory geophysical signatures of shear failure. Accurate estimation and prediction of shear failure along rock discontinuities is crucial to prevent failure of geotechnical structures and potential natural hazards, such as landslides and earthquakes. Active seismic monitoring, such as compressional (P) and shear (S) waves, has been used to monitor the evolution of contact area and contact stress along rock discontinuities. Past laboratory experiments determined that changes in the amplitude of the transmitted, reflected, and converted P- and S-waves can be used to assess local changes in contact area and fracture specific stiffness, and to identify precursory events to shear failure of rock fractures. Those studies have identified the peaks (maxima or minima) in wave amplitudes as the seismic precursors to shear failure. Past studies were performed on dry artificial rock discontinuities with homogeneous and well-matched contact surfaces. However, in nature, rock discontinuities are not always homogeneous and well-matched, and are often found below the water table. In addition, at large depths, e.g. in enhanced geothermal systems (EGS), fractures are subjected to high temperatures.</p><p dir="ltr">The objectives of this research are to: (1) characterize the geophysical response of rock fractures during shear for dry and saturated conditions at room temperature, and saturated conditions at elevated temperatures; and (2) detect and identify seismic signatures of shear failure/slip for each of the three conditions. To achieve the goal of the research, a novel shear test apparatus was designed and built to test saturated jointed rock specimens under normal and shear loading, with a back pressure and at elevated temperatures, while also being capable of housing seismic transducers to monitor simultaneously the mechanical and geophysical response of the rock joints during shear. The system consisted of a sealed and heated pressure chamber and a biaxial compression frame. The pressure chamber was also used to perform B-value tests on cylindrical rock specimens to determine the minimum magnitude of back pressure required for fluid saturation.</p><p dir="ltr">Laboratory direct shear tests were performed on tension-induced fractures in Indiana limestone and Sierra White granite specimens with non-homogeneous rough contact surfaces. The contact surfaces were created by axial splitting of prismatic rock blocks. Shear tests were conducted on the rock fractures at a constant displacement rate in the pressure chamber, which enabled control of effective normal stress, pore water pressure, and temperature. During the tests, transmitted and converted P- and S-waves propagated across rock fractures and their changes in wave amplitude were monitored to assess the evolution of local contact areas during shear and detect precursory changes in wave amplitudes prior to shear failure.</p><p dir="ltr">Seismic precursors were observed in the wave amplitude data from all tests conducted under the three conditions. Precursors were most identifiable in the transmitted S-wave data. For all three conditions, the transmitted S-wave showed the same form of a seismic precursor; a peak (maximum) in wave amplitude was observed prior to the peak shear strength, as local contact surfaces interlocked and failed before macroscopic shear failure. However, the transmitted P-wave and converted waves (P-to-S and S-to-P) exhibited different behavior compared to the transmitted S-wave and depended on the test conditions. While, for dry conditions, the transmitted P-wave and converted waves still exhibited seismic precursors as peaks in their wave amplitudes, they did not display an observable peak for saturated fractures at room temperature, but rather either a very slight increase or a continuous reduction in amplitude. Instead of observable peaks, an abrupt change in the rate of reduction in the transmitted P-wave and converted amplitudes was observed that either coincided or occurred close to the peak in the transmitted S-wave amplitude. Thus, an onset of dramatic change in the reduction rate can be also taken as a seismic precursor to shear failure. This phenomenon can be explained by the large stiffness of the highly incompressible fluid, water, which leads to a decrease in P-wave sensitivity to changes in the normal fracture stiffness that arise from rock asperities under saturated conditions.</p><p dir="ltr">Even though the seismic wave amplitude generally contains a seismic precursor to shear failure, some exceptions exist: the wave amplitudes also depend on the local characteristics of the frictional area. No peak or seismic precursor in wave amplitude is observed prior to failure when the contact area between the fractures surfaces decreases because of dilation/opening. In addition, a delay peak in amplitude after shear failure may be observed when the fracture surfaces contain an initial large void or aperture in the region probed by the sensor. These exceptions may occur at a relatively low effective normal stress (2 MPa) and may disappear when a better contact has been established between the fracture surfaces by increasing the effective stress. Direct shear tests under an effective stress of 6 MPa, but at 50^oC, showed that both the transmitted P-waves and converted waves exhibited peaks in their amplitudes prior to the failure. However, these exceptions still require further exploration for the systematic identification and detection of seismic precursors.</p><p dir="ltr">The research shows that seismic monitoring is an effective tool to monitor the shear behavior of discontinuities, to provide an assessment of the local behavior of the frictional surface under the transducer, and to predict failure of the discontinuity. It can be used for dry, saturated discontinuities and for a wide range of pore pressures and temperatures. Other potential applications include fault monitoring, and even possibly earthquake prediction with additional research.</p>

<p dir="ltr">Earth dams, when subjected to seismic loads, may exhibit longitudinal and lateral deformations, settlement, and the formation of longitudinal and transverse cracks. Cracking poses a severe threat to these structures, as it may lead to piping failure due to increased seepage and internal erosion through the cracks. Ensuring the safety of earth dams relies on an adequate assessment of their seismically-induced deformations. Current empirical methods for estimating the size and depth of longitudinal and transverse cracking produced during an earthquake are grounded in case studies from the 1960s to the 1990s. This study expands and modernizes the existing database, with information on the performance of 385 dams during 21 different seismic events, from 2000 through 2023. Data collection involved an exhaustive search from existing databases, published reports of seismic damage on embankments and earth dams, and from publications from technical journals and conferences. The new information, together with the previous database, has been examined using statistical analysis and machine learning algorithms. Correlations have been proposed between the type of dam, its geometry, peak ground acceleration (PGA), and/or earthquake intensity, and the resulting damage to the dam in the form of settlement, longitudinal and transverse cracking. Additionally, a dynamic parametric analysis was carried out to understand the fundamental dimensions/parameters that are significant in developing seismic-induced cracks. The data gathered, together with the correlations established can be used by designers to enhance the seismic resilience of embankments and earth dams, as well as by researchers to advance our knowledge on the seismic response of dams, to develop new numerical models or calibrate or verify existing ones.</p>

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.

The boundary value problems (BVPs) of geomechanics are challenging due to the complexity in modeling soil behavior and difficulties in modeling large deformations. While traditional numerical schemes have struggled in realistically simulating geomechanical BVPs, new numerical methods –such as the material point method (MPM)–are increasingly being used to tackle these problems. However, algorithms in MPM have not yet been sufficiently developed, scrutinized, and validated. This thesis focuses on the development, verification, and validation of MPM for use in geomechanical BVPs. In particular, the thesis focuses on simulation of cone penetration tests in both controlled environments and in field conditions.<div><br></div><div>To efficiently simulate cone penetration, a silent boundary scheme, known as a cone boundary, was proposed in the generalized interpolation material point method (GIMP), a variant of MPM. The implementation of the cone boundary in GIMP was discussed, and the boundaries were validated by comparison against several benchmark problems. The cone boundaries were shown to be suitable in transmitting energy at the boundary. In addition, the implementation of traction boundaries in GIMP was analyzed. In GIMP, traction boundaries may be implemented either at the centroid of the material point, or at the edge of the material point domain. It was shown that the implementation of traction boundaries at the edge of the domain led to stress oscillations near the boundary, which were minimized when the traction boundaries were implemented at the edge of the domain.<br></div><div><br></div><div>During cone penetration, the soil near the cone-soil interface is pushed to large strains. At large strains, soils reach critical state, a state in which the soil shears at constant volume. Simulation of incompressible materials using low-order shape functions commonly used in GIMP leads to stiffer solutions and stress oscillations. To mitigate the constraints imposed by incompressibility, the non-linear B-bar method was implemented in GIMP. The modifications required for the implementation of the B-bar method in GIMP were discussed, and the efficacy of the method in mitigating incompressibility was demonstrated by analyzing several benchmark problems.<br></div><div><br></div><div>To simulate cone penetration in saturated soil, a coupled formulation was proposed in GIMP.A single material point was used to represent both the soil matrix and water. The governing equations were solved using an explicit scheme with the velocity of the soil matrix and the velocity of water as the primary variables. The formulation was validated through problems for which analytical or numerical solutions are available.<br></div><div><br></div><div>Finally, cone penetration analyses were performed both in dry sand and saturated clays. Two bounding surface models –one for sand and one for clay –were used for accurately capturing the soil response. Cone penetration tests were performed on Ottawa 20-30 sand under a variety of loading conditions at a large calibration chamber. The penetration resistances were measured, and the displacement fields were captured using the digital image correlation technique(DIC). The cone penetration resistances predicted by MPM were within 25% of the measured values, and the displacement fields computed using MPM were similar to those captured using DIC. For saturated clays, cone penetration test results reported in the literature for a Boston Blue Clay (BBC) test site were used. The simulated cone resistance of 650 kPa lied within the CPT resistance range of 580-730 kPa reported in the field. The results demonstrate the capability of MPM in simulating cone penetration in both sands and clays provided that sufficiently accurate algorithms and advanced constitutive models capable of reproducing realistic soil behavior are used in the analyses.<br></div>

<p>Most of the attention to the seismic performance of tunnels has been devoted to shear waves propagating in a direction perpendicular to the tunnel axis, with motion perpendicular to the tunnel axis, causing the so-called “ovaling or racking response”. Body waves, however, can travel through the ground and intersect the tunnel at different angles, thus inducing a complex seismic response that requires a comprehensive understanding of all modes of deformation. This study provides analytical solutions to capture the behavior of the liner and the surrounding ground, for a deep circular tunnel subjected to body waves, for all five possible modes of deformation: (i) axial compression-extension; (ii) transverse compression-extension; (iii) ovaling; (iv) axial shear; and (v) axial bending or snaking. The main assumptions used to derive the analytical solutions include: (i) the tunnel is deep and very long and has a circular cross section; (ii) the ground and the support are homogeneous and isotropic, and their response remains elastic; (iii) the interface between the ground and the liner is either no-slip or full-slip; (iv) the pseudo-static approach, i.e. inertia forces can be neglected, is acceptable to estimate seismic deformations; (v) for the transverse compression-extension and ovaling deformation modes, plane strain conditions in the direction of the tunnel axis apply at any cross section; and (vi) for the axial compression-extension and axial bending deformation modes, the wavelength of the seismic motions is much larger than the tunnel radius. Two and three-dimensional numerical simulations with the finite element codes ABAQUS, for static drained/undrained loading and dynamic drained loading conditions, and MIDAS GTS NX, for dynamic undrained loading conditions, are carried out to validate the analytical solutions and further investigate the seismic response of the tunnel. All the comparison results show good agreement between the analytical and numerical solutions.</p> <p>Dynamic amplification effects on the tunnel cross section are studied for the axial compression-extension, transverse compression-extension, and axial bending deformation modes, through a set of dynamic time-history models where the input frequency of the far-field seismic motion is changed. The results reveal the limits of the analytical solutions, in the form of minimum wavelength-to-tunnel diameter (/D) ratios such that the errors are less than twenty percent, including: (i) 25 (drained) and 20 (undrained) for axial compression-extension; (ii) 25 (drained) and 12.5 (undrained) for transverse compression- extension; and (iii) 7.5 (unsupported tunnel), 7.5 (supported tunnel with no-slip interface), and 12.5 (supported tunnel with full-slip interface) for axial bending or snaking. These ratios are also the limits of applicability of quasi-static (instead of dynamic) numerical simulations to estimate the seismic behavior of the liner and the surrounding ground.</p>

Rock masses may present remarked geostatic stress anisotropy and anisotropic material properties; thus, the tunnel alignment with the geostatic principal stress directions and with the axes of material anisotropy is unlikely. Nevertheless, tunnel design often neglects those misalignments and; yet, the misalignment effects were unknown. In this doctoral research, tunnels under complex anisotropic conditions were modelled analytically and numerically with 3D nonlinear Finite Element Method (FEM). When the tunnel misaligns with the geostatic principal stress directions, anti-symmetric axial displacements and shear stresses are induced around the tunnel. Analytical solutions for misaligned shallow and deep tunnels in isotropic elastic ground are provided. The analytical solutions were validated with 3D FEM analyses. Near the face, the anti-symmetric axial displacements are partially constrained by the tunnel face, producing asymmetric radial displacements and stresses. The asymmetric radial displacements at the face can be divided into a rigid body displacement of the tunnel cross-section and anti-symmetric radial displacements. Those asymmetries may affect the rock-support interaction and the plastic zone developed around the tunnel. In anisotropic rock masses, the tunnel misalignment with the axes of material anisotropy also produces anti-symmetric axial displacements and stresses around the tunnel. It occurs because when the tunnel is not aligned with the principal material directions, the in-plane stresses are coupled with the axial displacements (i.e. the compliance matrix is fully populated). Thus, tunnels in anisotropic rock mass not aligned with the geostatic principal stresses and with the axes of material anisotropy are substantially more complex than tunnels not aligned with the principal stress directions in isotropic rock mass. An analytical solution for misaligned tunnels in anisotropic rock mass is provided. It was observed that the relative orientation of the geostatic principal stresses with respect to the axes of material anisotropy plays an important role. The axial displacements produced by far-field axial shear stresses and by the rock mass anisotropy may compensate each other; thus, axial and radial displacements around the tunnel are reduced. On the other hand, those anti-symmetric axial displacements may be amplified; thus, the ground deformations are increased. Asymmetric radial and axial deformations, and asymmetric spalling of the tunnel walls are commonly observed on tunnels in anisotropic rock masses. The tunnel misalignment with the geostatic principal stress directions and with the axes of material anisotropy could be associated with those phenomena that, so far, are not well comprehended

<p>The study focused on examining the effects of using nanoadditives (nano-TiO2 and colloidal silica) on the hydration kinetics, microstructure, mechanical properties, and durability of concretes, especially those containing fly ash and slag and cured at low (4°C) temperature. </p> <p>The results of the Vicat and isothermal calorimetery (IC) tests suggest that the addition of nano-TiO2 accelerates the hydration process of pastes. In addition, the results of the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) indicated that the addition of nano-TiO2 increased the amount of hydration products in the pastes, with more notable increases observed in fly ash pastes. Moreover, X-ray diffraction (XRD) results revealed that the addition of nano-TiO2 reduced the mean size of calcium hydroxide (CH) crystals.  </p> <p>The interfacial transition zone (ITZ) of concretes with nano-TiO2 was found to be less cracked and less porous when compared to that of concrete without nano-TiO2. Furthermore, the energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analyses of the outer hydration products around partially hydrated cement particles in fly ash concretes with nano-TiO2 revealed reduction in the values of Ca/Si atomic ratios when compared to the reference fly ash concrete. The image analysis results of the concrete air void system indicated slightly reduced air content, increased specific surface area (SSA), and decreased spacing factor (SF) in concretes with added nano-TiO2. </p> <p>The addition of nano-TiO2 was also found to enhance the compressive and flexural strengths of mortars and concretes. Nano-TiO2 also improved the resistivity and formation factor values of concretes containing fly ash. Moreover, the total volume of pores, as well as the values of water absorption, were also reduced as a result of addition of nano-TiO2. This was true for all types of concretes (i.e., with or without SCMs). Finally, the use of nano-TiO2 seemed to be more beneficial with respect to improving the scaling and freeze-thaw resistance of fly ash concretes compared to cement-only and slag concretes. </p> <p>Concretes with added nanosilica (colloidal silica) also developed higher compressive and flexural strengths when compared to reference concrete. Moreover, the total pores and permeability of concretes decreased due to the addition of nanosilica while the improvement in scaling resistance of these concretes was only slight. Furthermore, concretes with nanosilica were found to have higher percentage of finer air voids compared to reference concretes. Finally, the ITZ of concretes with nanosilica was found to have fewer defects and cracks compared to the reference concrete. </p> <p>In summary, this dissertation presents the results of a study on the multi-scale behavior of nanomodified concretes with and without SCMs cured at both room and low temperatures. Knowledge gained from this study would be helpful in developing concretes with denser and less porous microstructure, a more refined and better-distributed air void system, improved strength, reduced permeability, and enhanced scaling and freeze-thaw resistance, especially in cases when involving the use of SCMs and exposure to low early-age temperatures.</p>

<div>Underground structures must be able to support static overburden loads, as well as to accommodate additional deformations imposed by seismic motions. Progress has been made in the last few years in understanding the soil-structure interaction mechanisms and the stress and displacement transfer from the ground to the structure during a seismic event. It seems well established that, for most tunnels, the most critical demand to the structure is caused by shear waves traveling perpendicular to the tunnel axis. Those waves cause distortions of the cross section (ovaling for a circular tunnel, and racking for a rectangular tunnel) that result in axial forces (thrusts) and bending moments. While all this has been well-studied for structures placed in linear-elastic ground, there is little information regarding the behavior of buried structures placed in nonlinear ground, especially under undrained conditions, i.e., when excess pore pressures generate and accumulate during the earthquake.</div><div><br></div><div><div>Two-dimensional dynamic numerical analyses are conducted to assess the seismic response of deep circular tunnels located far from the seismic source, under drained or undrained loading conditions. It is assumed that the liner remains elastic and that plane strain conditions apply. </div><div> A new cyclic nonlinear elastoplastic constitutive model is developed and verified, to simulate the nonlinear behavior and excess pore pressures accumulation with cycles of loading in the ground. The results of the numerical analyses show negligible effect of input frequencies on the normalized distortions of a tunnel for input frequencies smaller than 5 Hz (the distortions of the tunnel are normalized with respect to those of the free field); that is, for ratios between the wavelength of the seismic input and the tunnel opening larger than about eight to ten. The results also show that undrained conditions, compared with drained conditions, tend to reduce deformations for flexible liners and increase them for stiffer tunnels, when no accumulation of pore pressures with cycles of loading is assumed. However, when pore pressures increase with the number of cycles, the differences in distortions between drained and undrained loading are reduced, i.e., the normalized distortions increase for flexible and decrease for stiff tunnels, compared to those with drained conditions. </div></div><div><br></div><div><div>Undrained loading produces larger thrust in the liner than drained loading for stiff tunnels with flexibility ratio F ≤ 2.0.</div><div>For more flexible tunnels with F > 2.0, the behavior is the opposite, i.e., smaller axial forces are obtained for undrained loading than for drained loading. Including excess pore pressure accumulation does not introduce significant changes in the axial forces of the liner, irrespective of the flexibility of the tunnel, compared to those obtained from undrained loading without pore pressure accumulation.</div><div>The drainage loading condition (drained or undrained) or the magnitude of the free-field excess pore pressures during undrained loading do not affect the normalized bending moments for flexible tunnels, with F ≥ 2. For stiffer tunnels, with F < 2, the normalized bending moments increase from drained to undrained loading, and with the free field excess pore pressures.</div></div><div><br></div><div><div>It is found that the tunnel’s response is determined by the load on the liner, or by the distortions of the cross section, depending on the flexibility ratio. For stiff structures, with F ≤ 2.0, important axial forces and bending moments are produced in the structure, with larger magnitudes for the undrained case; while the distortions of the cross section are very small. When the tunnel becomes more flexible, the loading on the liner decreases, but the distortions of the cross section start to be important. For flexible structures with initial F ≥ 10 (for the cases investigated), the performance is largely determined by the distortions of the cross section, while the axial forces and bending moments are almost negligible. Such distortions are drastically affected by the drainage loading condition and by the magnitude of pore pressures in the free field. </div></div><div><br></div>

<p>The term Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) is used to designate a material obtained from the removal of pavement materials. RAP is used across the US in multiple applications, largely on asphalt pavement layers. RAP can be described as a uniform granular non-plastic material, with a very low percentage of fines. It is formed by aggregate coated with a thin layer of asphalt. It is often used mixed with other granular materials. The addition of RAP to aggregates decreases the maximum dry unit weight of the mixture and decreases the optimum water content. It also increases the Resilient Modulus of the blend, but decreases permeability. RAP can be used safely, as it does not pose any environmental concerns. The most important disadvantage of RAP is that it displays significant creep. It seems that this is caused by the presence of the asphaltic layer coating the aggregate. Creep increases with pressure and with temperature, and decreases with the degree of compaction. Creep can be mitigated by either blending RAP with aggregate or by stabilization with chemical compounds. Fly ash and cement have shown to decrease, albeit not eliminate, the amount of creep. Mechanical stabilizing agents such as geotextiles may also be used.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p>