The flat dilatometer (DMT) and piezocone penetration (CPTU) tests are likely to be among the most widely used in situ testing methods for soil characterization and indirect determination of geotechnical design parameters such as: strength, stiffness, permeability and compressibility. The flat dilatometer has proved to be a reliable, robust and adaptable tool, and the data obtained with this instrument is very repeatable, and easy to reduce and process. Furthermore, the addition of a seismic module to the standard flat dilatometer (SDMT) to measure the shear wave velocity (Vs) significantly complements the set of data typically obtained with a standard DMT test. Nonetheless, the experience in interpreting the combination between Vs and DMT data is fairly limited due to the recent introduction of the SDMT for commercial applications. Additionally, the estimation of the coefficient of earth pressure at rest (K₀) has been the most important application of the DMT since its introduction. However, a potential weakness of the DMT is that the derivation of K₀ is based upon empirical correlations developed some time ago and neither improvement work nor upgrade of these approaches has been performed in the last 10 years. Throughout the years several additional sensors have been developed in order to supplement the data collected with the CPTU test. Among the wide variety of sensor developed, the lateral stress module mounted behind a piezocone represents a promising tool for estimation of in situ lateral stress conditions from the interpretation of lateral stress penetration data. However, the popularity of the so called lateral stress cone has declined over the years due to constraints in both the instrumentation and the interpretation of measured data. Also, the application of this instrument remains limited to specific soils conditions and specific projects. However, the valuable experience gained throughout the years in the development and application of several lateral stress cones in combination with developments in electronics and understanding of soil behaviour allow the improvement of this type of technology. This thesis presents the results of a comprehensive laboratory and field testing programs performed by the author at several research sites located in the Lower Mainland of BC, undertaken in order to assess the performance of the seismic flat dilatometer and lateral stress seismic piezocone (LSSCPTU), built and develop at UBC. Firstly, the analysis of field measurements with the SDMT collected at several sites have demonstrated the potential for an improved soil characterization through the combination of DMT parameters and the small strain shear modulus (G₀). Additionally the usefulness of the DMT-C closing pressure for soil identification is shown. On the basis of several relationships identified from this data, a new soil type behaviour system based upon SDMT measurements is proposed. Furthermore, empirical correlations based upon fairly large and updated databases have been developed to estimate K₀ and Vs values from DMT parameters.

No description available.

No description available.

The flat dilatometer (DMT) and piezocone penetration (CPTU) tests are likely to be among the most widely used in situ testing methods for soil characterization and indirect determination of geotechnical design parameters such as: strength, stiffness, permeability and compressibility. The flat dilatometer has proved to be a reliable, robust and adaptable tool, and the data obtained with this instrument is very repeatable, and easy to reduce and process. Furthermore, the addition of a seismic module to the standard flat dilatometer (SDMT) to measure the shear wave velocity (Vs) significantly complements the set of data typically obtained with a standard DMT test. Nonetheless, the experience in interpreting the combination between Vs and DMT data is fairly limited due to the recent introduction of the SDMT for commercial applications. Additionally, the estimation of the coefficient of earth pressure at rest (K₀) has been the most important application of the DMT since its introduction. However, a potential weakness of the DMT is that the derivation of K₀ is based upon empirical correlations developed some time ago and neither improvement work nor upgrade of these approaches has been performed in the last 10 years. Throughout the years several additional sensors have been developed in order to supplement the data collected with the CPTU test. Among the wide variety of sensor developed, the lateral stress module mounted behind a piezocone represents a promising tool for estimation of in situ lateral stress conditions from the interpretation of lateral stress penetration data. However, the popularity of the so called lateral stress cone has declined over the years due to constraints in both the instrumentation and the interpretation of measured data. Also, the application of this instrument remains limited to specific soils conditions and specific projects. However, the valuable experience gained throughout the years in the development and application of several lateral stress cones in combination with developments in electronics and understanding of soil behaviour allow the improvement of this type of technology. This thesis presents the results of a comprehensive laboratory and field testing programs performed by the author at several research sites located in the Lower Mainland of BC, undertaken in order to assess the performance of the seismic flat dilatometer and lateral stress seismic piezocone (LSSCPTU), built and develop at UBC. Firstly, the analysis of field measurements with the SDMT collected at several sites have demonstrated the potential for an improved soil characterization through the combination of DMT parameters and the small strain shear modulus (G₀). Additionally the usefulness of the DMT-C closing pressure for soil identification is shown. On the basis of several relationships identified from this data, a new soil type behaviour system based upon SDMT measurements is proposed. Furthermore, empirical correlations based upon fairly large and updated databases have been developed to estimate K₀ and Vs values from DMT parameters. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Civil Engineering, Department of / Graduate

No description available.

The undesirable expansion of concrete because of a reaction between alkalis and certain type of reactive siliceous aggregates, known as alkali-silica reactivity (ASR), continues to be a major problem across the entire world. The renewed interest to minimize distress resulting from ASR has emphasized the need to develop predictable modeling of concrete ASR behavior under field conditions. Current test methods are either incapable or need long testing periods in which to only offer rather limited predictive estimates of ASR behavior in a narrow and impractical band of field conditions. Therefore, an attempt has been made to formulate a robust performance approach based upon basic properties of aggregate and concrete ASR materials derived from dilatometry and a kinetic-based mathematical expressions for ASR behavior. Because ASR is largely an alkali as well as a thermally activated process, the use of rate theory (an Arrhenius relationship between temperature and the alkali solution concentration) on the dilatometer time-expansion relationship, provides a fundamental aggregate ASR material property known as “activation energy.” Activation energy is an indicator of aggregate reactivity which is a function of alkalinity, particle size, crystallinity, calcium concentration, and others. The studied concrete ASR material properties represent a combined effects of mixture related properties (e.g., water-cementitious ratio, porosity, presence of supplementary cementitious materials, etc.) and maturity. Therefore, the proposed performance-based approach provides a direct accountability for a variety of factors that affect ASR, such as aggregate reactivity (activation energy), temperature, moisture, calcium concentration, solution alkalinity, and water-cementitious material ratio. Based on the experimental results, the following conclusion can be drawn concerning the performance-based approach to evaluate ASR potential of aggregate and concrete using dilatometer method; (i) the concept of activation energy can be used to represent the reactivity of aggregate subjected to ASR, (ii) the activation energy depends on the reactivity of aggregate and phenomenological alkalinity of test solution, and (iii) The proposed performance-based model provides a means to predict ASR expansion development in concrete.

The undesirable expansion of concrete because of a reaction between alkalis and certain type of reactive siliceous aggregates, known as alkali-silica reactivity (ASR), continues to be a major problem across the entire world. The renewed interest to minimize distress resulting from ASR has emphasized the need to develop predictable modeling of concrete ASR behavior under field conditions. Current test methods are either incapable or need long testing periods in which to only offer rather limited predictive estimates of ASR behavior in a narrow and impractical band of field conditions. Therefore, an attempt has been made to formulate a robust performance approach based upon basic properties of aggregate and concrete ASR materials derived from dilatometry and a kinetic-based mathematical expressions for ASR behavior. Because ASR is largely an alkali as well as a thermally activated process, the use of rate theory (an Arrhenius relationship between temperature and the alkali solution concentration) on the dilatometer time-expansion relationship, provides a fundamental aggregate ASR material property known as “activation energy.” Activation energy is an indicator of aggregate reactivity which is a function of alkalinity, particle size, crystallinity, calcium concentration, and others. The studied concrete ASR material properties represent a combined effects of mixture related properties (e.g., water-cementitious ratio, porosity, presence of supplementary cementitious materials, etc.) and maturity. Therefore, the proposed performance-based approach provides a direct accountability for a variety of factors that affect ASR, such as aggregate reactivity (activation energy), temperature, moisture, calcium concentration, solution alkalinity, and water-cementitious material ratio. Based on the experimental results, the following conclusion can be drawn concerning the performance-based approach to evaluate ASR potential of aggregate and concrete using dilatometer method; (i) the concept of activation energy can be used to represent the reactivity of aggregate subjected to ASR, (ii) the activation energy depends on the reactivity of aggregate and phenomenological alkalinity of test solution, and (iii) The proposed performance-based model provides a means to predict ASR expansion development in concrete.

Thesis (M.S.)--Montana State University--Bozeman, 2007. / Typescript. Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Stephen W. Sofie. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 151-155).

Thesis (M.Sc. (Chemical Physics)) -- Mahidol University, 1979. / Financial support by the Faculty of Graduate Studies and National Research Council.

Magister Scientiae Dentium - MSc(Dent) / Objectives: To determine the total volumetric change and the relative speed of shrinkage of bulk fill flowable composites during polymerization. Background: The volumetric change that occur during the polymerization of dental composite restorations are considered to be one of the most significant contributing factors when considering the failure in composite restorations. Volumetric shrinkage of more than 2% is considered to be enough to result in the occurrence of secondary caries resulting in fracture of restorations and failure in the adhesive layer of a resin restoration. The total volumetric change of dental resins can be attributed to three main factors: Firstly, the polymerization reaction that results in the formation of a polymer chain. Secondly, the increase of the exothermic thermal effects produced by the polymerization reaction and thirdly, light irradiance energy that is transferred to the dental resin. Materials and Methods: A specially designed electronic mercury dilatometer at the UWC Oral and Dental Research Institute was used to determine the volumetric change. The light intensity was set at 500mW/cm2. The mercury dilatometer measured the volumetric change every 0.5 seconds during the 35 second irradiation exposure time. The materials tested were Z250 as the control and four bulk fill flowable composites. The volume of voids within the cured material samples were assessed with a Micro-3D ct reconstruction (General Electric Phoenix). Results: The sequence of total volumetric change from least to most were: Z250 < Filtek bulk fill < Xtra-Base bulk fill < SDR < Venus bulk fill. The speed/rate of shrinkage of the bulk fill flowable composites were faster than that of Z250, while the 2 bulk fill flowables with the highest shrinkage speed (SDR and Venus) also had the highest total volumetric change. Of the different materials tested the volumetric change of Z250 (1.13%) was the lowest and significantly less (p<0.05) than that of SDR (1.56%) and Venus (1.72%). The Kruskal-Wallis multiple comparison test indicated that the material with the highest filler content (Z250) also showed the lowest shrinkage (1.13%) but this effect of the filler content could not be seen in the bulk fill flowable composites. The volume of the voids within the test specimens were determined and were represented as a percentage of the cured volume (49.087mm³). Venus had the largest percentage of voids (1.18%) in the test specimen (specimen volume: 49.087mm³), followed by Z250 with 0,5248%, Xtra base with 0,00015%, SDR with 0,00059% and Filtek bulk fill with 0,00069%. Conclusions: The volumetric changes and rate of shrinkage were higher for all 4 bulk fill flowable composites than for Z250. Furthermore, the speed of shrinkage based on the polymerization reaction differed between the materials. SDR and Venus flowables had the fastest rate and highest volumetric change. The small percentage of voids within the materials seemed not to have affected the volumetric change negatively. Clinical significance: The manufacturers of bulk fill flowable composites advocate filling layers of 4mm. However, because of the high shrinkage values found in this study the use of the standard 2mm layer increments is recommended.