Thesis (Ph. D.)--Johns Hopkins University. / Biographical note. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Johns Hopkins University. / Biographical note. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Johns Hopkins University, 1913. / Biography.

This thesis presents the results of research undertaken in the south Cotswolds. Emphasis is placed on the engineering geological aspects of planning and construction on hillslopes, many of which have been superficially disturbed by cambering and landslipping. Special attention is paid to the geotechnical properties of the mudstone/clay horizons of the Fuller’s Earth and the Rhaetic, with emphasis on a study of the residual shear strength parameters. During the examination of numerous gulls in the Blue Lias at Radstock, a simple classification scheme was devised for the various extension styles produced in the interbedded limestone and clay sequence. The engineering significance of these phenomena is discussed. At Radstock cambering has taken place over the Rhaetic, especially the highly plastic Cotham Beds; these horizons have been investigated at this and other localities. Superficial structures are not well depicted on conventional geological maps. An attempt is made to determine to what extent they may be identified by engineering geomorphological mapping. Only disturbances which rupture the ground surface are clearly discernible and hence reliably depicted by this type of mapping; moreover it is shown that land use can obscure evidence of past instability. Engineering geomorphological mapping has been used as a preliminary study in the realignment of the A46 north of Bath. The proposed routes are discussed and some of the potential problems highlighted. It is demonstrated that false colour infra-red photography can be of considerable use in helping to identify areas of ground disturbance. A study of the geotechnical properties of the Fuller’s Earth shows an increase in “clay fraction”, expanding lattice clay minerals, plasticity and oxidation as weathering proceeds, with a corresponding drop in shear strength, bulk unit weight and calcite percentage. The presence of thin limestone bands modifies this profile. Calcite is found to have a significant effect on the plasticity of the Fuller’s Earth. The use of the Bromhead ring shear apparatus to determine residual strength has enabled many samples to be tested at normal loads up to 600 kPa; a number of advantages over the conventional shear box are discussed. The parameter φ’r is found to be stress dependent and as a result previously published correlations with other data are critically assessed and the choice of φ’r in engineering practice is considered.

L’indisponibilité d’un transformateur de puissance a de fortes répercussions financières aussi bien pour les exploitants de réseaux d’énergie électriques que pour les clients qui y sont connectés. Afin de prévenir les pannes et d’optimiser la performance de ces équipements d’importance stratégique, de nombreuses techniques et outils de diagnostic ont été développés. L’huile contient environ 70 % des informations de diagnostic sur l’état des transformateurs. Le défi consiste à y accéder et à les utiliser efficacement. L’atteinte d’un tel objectif passe nécessairement par des techniques de diagnostic fiables. En plus des techniques traditionnellement utilisées, trois nouvelles techniques de diagnostic issues des normes ASTM sont utilisées : (1) le test de stabilité qui permet de simuler le comportement sous champ électrique d’une huile en fournissant des informations sur la qualité de celle-ci ; (2) la spectrophotométrie UV/Visible qui permet de mesurer la quantité relative de produits de décomposition dissous dans l’huile ; et (3) la turbidité qui mesure la pureté d’une huile neuve ou usagée. Une méthode quantitative permettant de déterminer les paramètres affectant la formation du soufre corrosif sur les conducteurs en cuivre dans les transformateurs de puissance est proposée. Il est montré entre autres que la tendance au gazage des esters naturels est plus faible que celle de tous les autres types d’huile (minérales, esters synthétiques, silicone). La turbidité et la spectrophotométrie UV/Visible permettent de quantifier efficacement les contaminants qui résultent de l’action d’une décharge électrique sur l’huile isolante. Un nombre important de cycles de régénération (au moins 15) est nécessaire pour qu’une huile vieillie en service retrouve les aptitudes d’une huile neuve. Une nouvelle technique de régénération est présentée pour réduire le nombre de cycles de régénération ; celle-ci consiste à utiliser la terre à foulon traitée avec de l’azote. Il est montré également que le temps constitue le paramètre le plus nuisible dans la formation de soufre corrosif. L’action combinée du temps et de l’agressivité de l’oxygène dissous l’accélère fortement. / A power transformer outage has a dramatic financial consequence not only for electric power systems utilities but also for interconnected customers. In order to prevent any failure and to optimize their maintenance, various diagnostic techniques and tools have been developed. Insulating oil contains about 70% of diagnostic information on the transformer condition. The challenge is to access and use them efficiently. To meet this objective reliable diagnostic techniques are required. In addition to traditional testing methods, three recently developed ASTM testing techniques were used: (1) oil stability testing that simulates the behaviour of oil under electrical stress by providing information on its quality; (2) the UV/Visspectrophotometry that measures the amount of the relative dissolved decay products in insulating oil; and (3) the turbidity that measures the purity of virgin and aged oil. A quantitative laboratory technique capable of determining the parameters affecting the formation of corrosive sulphur deposition on copper conductors in power transformer is proposed. It is shown among other that the gassing tendency of natural esters is lower than that of the other types of insulating fluids (mineral oil, synthetics esters and silicone oil). The turbidity and UV/Vis spectrophotometry allow quantifying effectively, the relative amount of contaminants resulting from electrical discharge in oils. A large number of reclamation cycles (around 15 passes) are required for in-service aged oil to regenerate to the level of new oil. Anew technique enabling reducing the number of reclamation cycles is proposed; this latter consists in the use of Fuller’s Earth previously treated with dry nitrogen. It is also shown that time is the most influential parameter in the formation of corrosive sulfur. The process is accelerated when time and aggressiveness of oxygen are partnered.