A numerical investigation was conducted to evaluate the geotechnical safety and slope stability of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) landfills, considering the effects of geosynthetic reinforcements, biodegradation of the waste, and associated changes in material properties, and extreme wind force simulating hurricane conditions. Three different landfill slopes, 1:1, 1:2, and 1:3 having the height of 122m and width of 2134m, were analyzed using Limit Equilibrium Method (SLOPE/W) and Finite Element Modeling (ANSYS). Techniques developed in this study were used to analyze a case history involving a geogrid reinforced mixed landfill expansion located in Austria. It was found that few years after construction of the landfill, there is a significant decrease in the FS due to biodegradation. Extreme wind loading was also found to cause a substantial loss in the FS. The geosynthetic reinforcement increased the slope stability and approximately compensated for the damaging effects of biodegradation and wind loading. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2016. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

O crescimento constante no número de empreendimentos rodoviários licenciados em âmbito federal desde a instituição da Resolução Conama nº 001 de 1986, que estabeleceu a obrigatoriedade de elaboração de EIA e RIMA para implantação de empreendimentos com significativo impacto ambiental, demonstra a importância deste tipo de intervenção no território, particularmente contexto nacional. Tendo em vista suas características de construção e expressão espacial, os impactos associados à sua implantação e operação são extremamente relevantes em termos espaciais e de volume de material mobilizado. Contraditoriamente, os EIAs e demais estudos ambientais de avaliação e monitoramento do impacto de rodovias apresentam, usualmente, abordagens genéricas e introdutórias, no que tange ao meio físico e, mais especificamente, à geomorfologia, negligenciando a magnitude e expressão espacial e temporal das mudanças, efeitos e impactos deste tipo de intervenção. A presente pesquisa objetivou identificar e caracterizar, qualitativa e quantitativamente, com base nos referenciais da ciência geomorfológica, a natureza das mudanças, efeitos e impactos potenciais de rodovias no meio físico, em relação às formas, materiais e processos afetados por sua implantação. Realizou-se pesquisa bibliográfica abrangendo a Geomorfologia Aplicada, Geomorfologia Antropogênica, Cartografia Geomorfológica, Geologia de Engenharia, Geotecnia e manuais de avaliação de impactos no meio físico, levantando conceitos-chave destas disciplinas, as diferentes abordagens ao tema e sistematizando os principais efeitos e impactos no sistema geomorfológico. Esta sistematização subsidiou a seleção e proposição de geoindicadores para avaliação de impactos, estruturada em quadro síntese apresentado como resultado metodológico. Para validação dos geoindicadores propostos, selecionou-se como universo de análise, bacia hidrográfica localizada em São Bernardo do Campo, segmentada pelo Trecho Sul do Rodoanel Mário Covas (SP-021). Diante das características de sua intervenção e da disponibilidade de insumos para análise, selecionou-se seis recortes temporais, representativos das fases pré-intervenção, intervenção ativa e intervenção consolidada. Obtiveram-se como resultados, valores e descrições derivadas da aplicação dos geoindicadores em cada fase, bem como quadro síntese, com os resultados de todos os períodos, possibilitando a comparação e análise dos geoindicadores para avaliação da magnitude dos efeitos e impactos geomorfológicos da implantação e operação da rodovia na área de estudo. Ao final realizou-se considerações sobre a metodologia empregada, apontando suas vantagens, limitações e encaminhamentos para pesquisas futuras. De modo geral, os resultados contribuíram para o conhecimento geomorfológico dos efeitos e impactos no meio físico associados a esta categoria de intervenções, para o aprimoramento e maior inserção da Geomorfologia Antropogênica e da proposta dos geoindicadores nesta discussão, assim como, para as possibilidades de complementação e adoção de novas abordagens nas avaliações de impactos e estudos do meio físico. / The constant growth of licensed road projects, at the national level, since CONAMAs established the obligation of EIA/RIMA for the implementation of projects with significant environmental impact (Resolution 001/86), demonstrates the importance of these interventions in the territory, particularly in the Brazilian context and its landscape. Given their building technical features and spatial expression, the impacts associated with its implementation and operation are extremely relevant in spatial terms and related to the volume of material. Incoherently, EIAs and other environmental assessments (e.g. monitoring projects of the impact of roadways), regarding the physical environment - more specifically, concerned with geomorphology - usually analyze this issue with generic and introductory approaches, neglecting the magnitude, spatial and temporal expressions of changes derived from this type of intervention. This research intended to identify and characterize (qualitatively and quantitatively), based on the conceptual tools of geomorphological science, the nature of changes, effects and impacts of highways on geomorphological systems (forms, materials and processes) produced by its implementation. A great literature research was made covering Applied Geomorphology, Anthropogenic Geomorphology, Geomorphological Mapping, Engineering Geology, Geotechnical and Impact Assessment Manuals. Key concepts of these disciplines were raised and an important effort was made to identify different approaches of the subject and to systematize the main effects and impacts on geomorphological systems. This systematization supported the selection and proposition of geoindicators for impact assessment, which was structured in a summary table presented as a methodological result. In order to validate the geoindicators proposed, we applied them on a watershed located in São Bernardo do Campo (São Paulo, Brazil), segmented by the Southern Section of Mário Covas beltway (SP-021). Considering the characteristics of the intervention and the availability of inputs for analysis, we selected six temporal scenarios which are representative of the phases of roadways implementation: pre-intervention, active intervention and consolidated intervention. As a result, values and descriptions derived from the application of geoindicators at each phase were explored, as well as summary table with the results achieved for all periods was formulated, allowing comparison and analysis of geoindicators to assess the magnitude of geomorphic effects and impacts in the study area. Finally, discussions on the methodology applied, were developed, pointing its advantages, limitations and possibilities for future research. Generally, we considered that the results obtained were important and contributed to the geomorphological knowledge of the effects and impacts on the physical environment associated with this category of interventions. They were also valuable for improvement and greater inclusion of Anthropogenic Geomorphology and the proposal of geoindicators, as well as for supplementary possibilities and adopting of new approaches in impact assessments and studies of the physical environment.

Orientador: Fábio Augusto Gomes Vieira dos Reis / Banca: José Eduardo Zaine / Banca: Oswaldo Augusto Filho / Resumo: O mapeamento geoambiental vem se mostrando um importante instrumento de planejamento ambiental, para gestão das inter-relações nas práticas antrópicas com o espaço geográfico. Neste contexto, o presente trabalho tem como objetivo a elaboração da carta geoambiental dos municípios vizinhos, Espírito Santo do Pinhal e Santo Antônio do Jardim (SP). Área conhecida pela complexa organização paisagística, devido o contato existente entre os sedimentos da Bacia do Paraná com o Embasamento Cristalino. Na área de estudo existem problemas relacionados à inundação ao longo do ribeirão dos Porcos e do rio Jaguari Mirim, sendo que na região serrana, o relevo acidentado favorece os processos do meio físico, relacionados à erosão linear, e movimentos de massa. A metodologia adotada compreende a análise integrada e a abordagem multitemática. A primeira refere-se à análise integrada dos elementos do meio físico, a partir do método proposto por Zaine (2011), para a fotointerpretação, aplicada nas imagens de satélite do (Landsat TM 5/banda 5), aos produtos auxiliares (carta hipsométrica, declividade e curvatura) e trabalhos de campo para a delimitação das unidades fisiográficas. A segunda, denominada de abordagem multitemática, foi considerado o método de Processo de Análise Hierárquica (AHP), para que houvesse consistência na ponderação das cartas temáticas de (compartimentação fisiográfica, uso e cobertura da terra, chuvas intensas médias e de áreas de preservação permanente, conforme as diretrizes da Lei 12.651/2012). A carta geoambiental foi com uso do Sistema de Informações Geográficas ArcGis 10, na escala 1:50.000, com sete unidades geoambientais, conforme as potencialidades e suscetibilidades aos processos do meio físico e a ocupação antrópica, de forma a subsidiar o desenvolvimento sustentável das práticas econômicas e o gerenciamento dos recursos ambientais. De acordo com os resultados obtidos... / Abstract: The geoenvironmental mapping has proved an important instrument of environmental planning for administration of the inter-relations in the anthropical experiences with the geographical space. In this context, the present work has the objective the elaboration of the geoenvironmental letter of the near municipality, Espírito Santo do Pinhal and Santo Antônio do Jardim (SP). It's a known for its complex scenic organization, due to the contact being among the sediments of Basin of Paraná with the Crystalline Basement. In the area of the study there are problems related to the inundation along the stream of the Porcos and the Jaguari Mirim river, being that in the Hill region, the bumpy land exhibits the processes of the land, related to the straight erosion and mass wasting. The methodology comprises the integrated analysis and cross-thematic approach. The first refers to integrative approach of the elements of the land through the photo interpretation, applied on satellite images of the ( Landsat TM 5/banda 5 ), auxiliary products (hipsometric, slope and curvature letter) and works of area in the delimitation of the physiographic units and the cross-thematic. The second, called of cross-thematic approach was considered the method of Hierarchal Analysis Process (AHP), in oder to there was consistence in the cogitation of the thematic letters of (physiographic subdivision, use and covering of the land, intense rain and areas of permanent preservation, according to the directresses of the Law 12.651/2012). The geoenvironmental letter was generated by Geographic Information System ArcGIS 10, in the scale 1:50.000, with seven geoenvironmental units as the strengths and susceptibilities to the processes of the physical environment and human occupation, in order to support the sustainable development of economic practices and management of environmental resources. According to the results, it was found that units with higher susceptibility... / Mestre

To analyse the influence of fractures on hydraulic andmechanical behaviour of fractured rock masses, it is essentialto characterise fracture geometry at exposed rock faces. Thisthesis describes three semi-automatic methods for measuring andquantifying geometrical parameters of fractures, and aims tooffer a novel approach to the traditional mapping methods. Three techniques, i.e. geodetic total station, close-rangephotogrammetry and 3-D laser scanner, are used in this studyfor measurement of fracture geometry. The advantages of thesetechniques compared with the traditional method are: i)fracture geometry is quantified semi-automatically in threedimensions; ii) fracture measurements are obtained withoutphysically touching the rock face; iii) the accuracy offracture measurements is improved comparing with thetraditional method; iv) both quantitative and spatial analysisof fracture geometry is possible; v) it offers a way todigitally record the rock surface in three dimensions and invisual format as a database for other applications. The common approach for fracture mapping by using the noveltechniques comprises three main steps: i) capturing 3-Dco-ordinates of target points; ii) quantifying geometricalparameters of fractures from the recorded co-ordinates; iii)documenting the results of fracture mapping. The details ofcapturing 3-D co-ordinates of target points are introduced. Anew algorithm is developed for computing orientation offracture planes. A multiple approach for documenting thefracture mapping results is presented. Application of thesetechniques for measuring and quantifying the geometricalparameters of fractures, such as orientation, trace length andsurface roughness, are demonstrated. The presented methods can greatly improve the quality offracture measurements and avoid the drawbacks inherent intraditional methods. However, it can not replace the humancapacity to filter out and interpret the large amount ofgeometrical information displayed on the rock faces. Themethods may offer an assistance to engineers or geologists inobtaining as much information as possible about the geometryand orientation of rock fractures for rock engineeringapplications. <b>Keywords:</b>3-D laser scanner, close-range photogrammetry,engineering geology, fracture geometry, fracture mapping, rockengineering, rock faces, rock mechanics, three-dimension, totalstation.

ABSTRACT 3-D SOIL STRUCTURE INTERACTION ANALYSES OF THREE IDENTICAL BUILDINGS IN SAKARYA CITY AFTER 17 AUGUST 1999 KOCAELI EARTHQUAKE &Uuml / nal,Orhan M.S., Department of Civil Engineering, Supervisor: Assist. Prof. Dr Kemal &Ouml / nder &Ccedil / etin October 2003, 116 Pages The aim of this study is to analyze the soil structure interaction of three identical buildings on &ordf / ahinler Street of Sakarya city which had no damage to heavy damage after the Kocaeli (1999) earthquake. For the purpose of 3-D dynamic nonlinear analysis of the soil site and the overlying structures, Flac3D software was chosen as the numerical modeling framework. Soil properties were determined by using the results of available site investigation studies. A three dimensional mesh was created to represent the topographic and geometric constraints of the problem. Linearly elastic perfectly plastic constitutive model was implemented to model the soil behavior. The results of 3-D dynamic numerical analyses in the forms of acceleration, displacement, strain, stress and pore pressure were presented. The higher acceleration, strain and stress levels calculated under the collapsed building can be attributed as the major cause of poor performance of the structure.

The goal of this study is to develop probabilistically based empirical correlations for seismic performance assessment of buried pipelines. Within the scope of these research efforts, pipeline performance case histories have been compiled from Duzce city after Duzce earthquake. The characteristics of Duzce water supply and distribution system with the earthquake damage on the system were studied. Correlations of the damage patterns with the water distribution system, earthquake and geotechnical characteristics have been developed. Moreover spatial distributions of the earthquake effects havebeen transferred into Geographic Information System (GIS) format. As a result of these studies, it was intended to define the seismic, geotechnical and structural parameters which may explain the spatial variability of the observed seismic pipeline hazard. For the development of such correlations, a maximum likelihood framework for the probabilistic assessment of seismically induced buried pipeline performance is described. A database, consisting of postearthquake field observations of buried pipeline performance after Duzce earthquake in conjunction with in-situ index test results, is used for the development of probabilistically based seismic pipeline performance correlations. As a result of careful processing of available data, the variables of the problem are selected as: liquefaction susceptibility of soil, thickness of soft soil layer if it exists, peak ground acceleration and estimated ground deformations. A limit state function is defined in terms of these variables. Repairs on the pipeline system due to earthquake are compiled with the surrounding soil and earthquake parameters and the correlations of pipeline performances with the mentioned variables are determined. Different sets of fragility curves are developed for seismic pipeline performance problem, representing various sources of uncertainty that are intrinsic to the problem. Such information is believed to be useful to utility system operators in planning a seismic retrofit or upgrade program for existing pipeline systems.

Stockholm är en mycket expansiv region med flera större infrastrukturella projekt plane- rade vilket kommer att medföra arbeten i och vid berg. Utan nödvändiga förundersökningar ökar risken för ras i samband med byggnationen och en fara för framtida stabilitet förelig- ger. En ingenjörsgeologisk förundersökning där man kartlägger strukturer i det påtänkta området bör genomföras och som beskriver de bergtekniska parametrar enligt Q- och RMR-systemen för bergkvalitetsklassificering.  Detta arbete fokuserar på ett område norr om Månskärsvägen och söder om Skär- holmsvägen i södra Stockholm där Huddinge kommun planerat anlägga en gång- och cy- kelväg samt en bro. Området, benämnt kvadraten 3 av Huddinge kommun, karterades mellan den 25 – 27 mars och 2 april 2013 då området fortfarande var snötäckt. Kartering- en, efter projicering av sprickdata i Stereo32, visar att det råder fyra dominerande sprick- riktningar i området; en nordväst-sydostlig, en nordost-sydvästligt, en nord-sydlig sprick- riktning och en foliationsparallell sprickgrupp i öst-västlig riktning. Den sistnämnda böjer av ca 15° mot öst vid förflyttning mot den nordöstra delen av området, möjligtvis förklaras detta av en observerad veckomböj. Övriga sprickgruppers strykningar varierar inom ett spann av 40° och stupar ca 50°. Dessa spricksystem i kombination med hållfasthetssän- kande sprickfyllnadsmineral och metertjocka sprickzoner med i stort sett helt krossat berg kommer att utgöra stora risker vid bygget i form av ras och potentiella kilutglidningar. Arbe- ten i detta berg bör göras under stor försiktighet och i kombination med fortsatta geolo- giska undersökningar under det att projektet fortlöper.

The soil-structure interface is fundamental to the performance of many geotechnical engineering systems; including penetration test devices, deep foundations, and retaining structures. In geotechnical engineering structures, the counterface may range from a polymer in the case of a geosynthetically reinforced earth retaining structure to steel for cone penetration testing or pile foundations. Interface strength is affected by many factors, among which surface roughness is the most dominant. To date common practice has been to characterize counterface surface roughness by a roughness parameter based on only its spatial properties and soil roughness separately by various incompatible means resulting in two roughness values unrelated to each other. The vast number of analyzing methods and developed parameters reveal the general confusion regarding this concept. Rather than analyzing the particulate and continuum media separately, it is compulsory to coalesce the analysis and quantify the relative nature of interface behavior. This can be accomplished by examining the particulate and continuum media through the same powerful tools. The motive of this study is to develop a unified approach to determining the index properties of particles and surfaces in a particle-surface interface. This is accomplished by examining several particle shape and surface roughness parameters in terms of their ability to uniquely describe and distinguish particulate medium and continuum roughness, respectively. In this study, surfaces are analyzed as derived particles by wrapping surface profiles and particles are evaluated as derived surfaces via unrolling particle outlines. In addition, particle shape parameters are modified to allow surface roughness analysis and surface roughness parameters are modified to characterize particle shape. A unified approach for particulate shape and continuum roughness would ultimately lead to a better understanding of micro-scale interaction mechanism and better quantification of macro-scale mobilized resistance for soil and engineering surface interaction.

Surface wave methods have been used to determine dynamic properties of near-surface soils in geotechnical engineering for the past 50 years. Although the capabilities of engineering surface wave methods have improved in recent years due to several advances, several issues including (1) near-field effects, (2) combined active and passive measurements, and (3) accurate measurements of surface wave attenuation still require study to further improve the capabilities of modern surface wave methods. Near-field effects have been studied for traditional surface wave methods with two receivers and several filtering criteria to mitigate the effects have been recommended. However, these filtering criteria are not applicable to surface wave methods with multiple receivers. Moreover, the criteria are not quantitatively based and do not account for different types of soil profiles, which strongly influence near-field effects. A new study of near-field effects on surface wave methods with multiple receivers was conducted with numerical and experimental methods. Two normalized parameters were developed to capture near-field effects. Quantitatively based near-field effect criteria for an ideal homogeneous half-space and three typical soil profiles are presented. Combining active and passive surface wave measurements allows developing a shear wave velocity profile to greater depth without sacrificing the near-surface resolution offered by active measurements. Generally, active and passive measurements overlap in the frequency range from approximately 4 to 10 Hz, and there are often systematic differences between the two measurements. The systematic errors in active and passive surface wave methods were explored to explain and resolve the differences, allowing for a more accurate composite dispersion curve. The accuracy of measured surface wave attenuation is improved by properly accounting for (1) geometric spreading, (2) near-field effects, and (3) ambient noise. In this study, a traditional estimation method and a frequency-wavenumber method utilizing sub-arrays were investigated using displacement data from numerical simulations, focusing on near-field and ambient noise effects. Detailed procedures for the frequency-wavenumber estimation method are developed based on a study of the primary factors affecting attenuation estimates. The two methods are also evaluated using experimental displacement data obtained from surface wave field measurements with three different arrays.

In this thesis, permeability impairment caused by drilling fluids and subsequent cleaning and permeability enhancement by back-flow were investigated by means of experimental and simulation studies. Permeability damage caused by three different drilling fluids was measured experimentally by core tests as a function of the filtration pressure and analyzed using a simulator describing the fines migration and retention in porous media. The pore throat plugging criteria for the three drilling fluids were determined. The particle concentration and the fraction of depositing particles were obtained simultaneously as a function of time and distance along the core length by numerical solution. Simulations were run both with experimental data in forward and backward directions along the core samples. Permeability damage ratio was correlated with respect to drilling filtration pressure specially for each type of the drilling fluids and type curves were constructed. Simulation results accurately match the experimental data, indicating that this simulator can be used for the estimation of permeability reduction, and the permeability and porosity variation along the core samples at various filtration pressures. X-Ray digital image subtraction was applied to different sections of the core plugs before and after the circulation to visualize the fines migration into porous media. The maximum damage ratio was obtained with the CMC added drilling fluid with 81 %. In the absence of CMC and Polymer-XT, the damage ratio was found as 72.8%. It was also determined that a polymer-added drilling fluid characterized with 63.8% permeability damage ratio is the optimum drilling fluid, causing less formation damage than the water-based bentonite mud.