Currently there is no consensus on how to account for the lateral earth pressures when designing drilled shaft retaining walls in expansive clay soils. Typically an equivalent fluid pressure is assumed which can range from 40 psf/ft to over 100 psf/ft. The range of assumptions currently in use can cause more than a factor of two difference in the maximum bending moment in the shaft. This range could cause the walls to be over-designed or under-designed. A full-scale test drilled shaft retaining wall was constructed on a site underlain by approximately 50 feet of the expansive Taylor Clay. Analysis of the wall is intended to provide information to be considered in design about the effects of the moisture cycles which cause shrinking and swelling. In order to monitor the moisture changes within the clay, 20 Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) probes were installed behind the wall. This thesis discusses the monitoring plan, calibration, installation, and initial results from these probes. The objectives of this thesis is to provide information regarding the site conditions and reasons for using TDR probes for this project and to describe the monitoring plan, calibration, installation, and the field performance of the TDR probes and the moisture values that have been seen on the site to date. Previous studies show that difficulties can be expected when using TDR probes in highly plastic clays. Results from this study are typical of these results seen previously. The initial results show that 4 of the 20 probes are recording reasonable waveforms. However, the waveforms cannot be analyzed using conventional methods. This result was because the waveform reflection that indicates the end of the probe cannot be defined due to attenuation of the signal, which is typical of highly conductive soils. Also, the large amount of scatter in the electrical conductivity values does not allow for the moisture content to be correlated to the electrical conductivity. In order to use the TDR probes to measure moisture content at the project site, an alternative method needs to be employed to analyze available waveforms. If another method can be successfully employed for the functional probes, the subsequent step would involve recovering the probes that are not functioning properly in order to get a moisture profile along the full cantilevered height of the wall. Direct moisture measurements should also be taken periodically to provide a moisture profile. / text

By using the Soil Conservation Service (SCS) “polynomial” method for corn in the Mississippi Irrigation Scheduling Tool (MIST), the total number of irrigations required during the growing season can be reduced depending on the variety, growing degree days required to reach maturity, and the length of the growing season. Results showed that even though the SCS method called for irrigations earlier in the season, the method did not trigger irrigation events after the crop reached physiological maturity. In addition, although changing the timing of model initiation (planting vs emergence) was not important on the total crop water use, it may have other benefits. Lastly, Watermark 200SS sensors generally did not trigger similar irrigation events, especially around the mid-season, but shallower sensors somewhat matched and showed similar trends with the MIST modeled results and irrigation records. Therefore, using MIST with sensors may be beneficial when making precise irrigation scheduling decisions.

Many failures of external walls made of porous buildingmaterials are caused by excessive moisture content,particularly after driving rain and under long duration ofmoist conditions. Lack of sufficient protection againstexposure conditions is one of the reasons for external wallsprematurely demonstrating failures, i.e. properties andperformance above/below critical levels. Silicon-based waterrepellants are increasingly used in order to improve theperformance of both old and new buildings. Water repellants areexpected to prolong the service life and improve the durabilityof wall components by preventing or minimising water ingressinto the structure and thus delaying the deteriorating effectsof the atmosphere. To date, various kinds of water repellantshave been developed. However, only limited research has beencarried out, particularly on the long-term field exposuretesting. Existing research is mainly focused on the performanceof surface treatments of concrete structures and the protectionof historical buildings built of stone, brick and wood, and isprimarily based on short-term laboratory testing. The aim ofthis research work is to study the long-term performance,degradation processes and ageing characteristics of renderedautoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) with and without waterrepellants. Investigations are carried out by physical andchemical analysis of fresh samples, samples naturally weatheredby long-term field exposure and samples artificially aged byshort-term accelerated laboratory tests. Two differentapplication of water repellants are employed: impregnation ofrendering surface with an aqueous product and as additive inpowder form mixed into the fresh rendering mortar. Continuousmoisture and temperature monitoring of naturally exposed testsamples are also included in the study. Wetcorr sensors andresistance-type nail electrodes are used to measure the surfacemoisture and the moisture content in the material,respectively. This thesis describes the experimental set-upand presents the results from site monitoring and laboratorytests of unexposed, naturally and artificially exposed samples(freeze-thaw and UV+water). The results from the continuousmoisture measurements are compared with the results obtainedfrom the full-scale test cabin built within the EUREKA-projectE 2116 DurAAC. The test cabin has the same basic measurementinstruments for continuous monitoring of moisture andtemperature. An attempt has been made to develop methods forlong-term performance assessment of water repellants to be usedin service life prediction. The combination of data obtainedfrom the field measurements with data obtained from thelaboratory tests and analysis may also meet practical needs ofthe end-users.

<p>Many failures of external walls made of porous buildingmaterials are caused by excessive moisture content,particularly after driving rain and under long duration ofmoist conditions. Lack of sufficient protection againstexposure conditions is one of the reasons for external wallsprematurely demonstrating failures, i.e. properties andperformance above/below critical levels. Silicon-based waterrepellants are increasingly used in order to improve theperformance of both old and new buildings. Water repellants areexpected to prolong the service life and improve the durabilityof wall components by preventing or minimising water ingressinto the structure and thus delaying the deteriorating effectsof the atmosphere. To date, various kinds of water repellantshave been developed. However, only limited research has beencarried out, particularly on the long-term field exposuretesting. Existing research is mainly focused on the performanceof surface treatments of concrete structures and the protectionof historical buildings built of stone, brick and wood, and isprimarily based on short-term laboratory testing. The aim ofthis research work is to study the long-term performance,degradation processes and ageing characteristics of renderedautoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) with and without waterrepellants. Investigations are carried out by physical andchemical analysis of fresh samples, samples naturally weatheredby long-term field exposure and samples artificially aged byshort-term accelerated laboratory tests. Two differentapplication of water repellants are employed: impregnation ofrendering surface with an aqueous product and as additive inpowder form mixed into the fresh rendering mortar. Continuousmoisture and temperature monitoring of naturally exposed testsamples are also included in the study. Wetcorr sensors andresistance-type nail electrodes are used to measure the surfacemoisture and the moisture content in the material,respectively. This thesis describes the experimental set-upand presents the results from site monitoring and laboratorytests of unexposed, naturally and artificially exposed samples(freeze-thaw and UV+water). The results from the continuousmoisture measurements are compared with the results obtainedfrom the full-scale test cabin built within the EUREKA-projectE 2116 DurAAC. The test cabin has the same basic measurementinstruments for continuous monitoring of moisture andtemperature. An attempt has been made to develop methods forlong-term performance assessment of water repellants to be usedin service life prediction. The combination of data obtainedfrom the field measurements with data obtained from thelaboratory tests and analysis may also meet practical needs ofthe end-users.</p>

Depuis quinze ans, on recommence à construire en bois, et notamment en bois lamellé-collé (LC), pour répondre aux nouveaux challenges imposés par les problématiques de développement durable. Néanmoins, des problèmes de dégradations liés à l'humidité ou aux cycles d'humidification/séchage limitent le développement des ouvrages en bois. De ce fait, le suivi de l'humidité des ouvrages d'art en bois devient un enjeu crucial. Aujourd'hui, certaines solutions existent mais ne permettent pas un suivi local au niveau des lamelles du bois LC. Une telle solution permettrait d'améliorer la prédiction de la durée de vie des ouvrages. Suite à ce constat, nous avons proposé de transformer le bois LC en " structure intelligente " par intégration d'un système du suivi de l'humidité au niveau des lamelles, et ce, en tenant compte des principales contraintes de fabrication de ce matériau (faible épaisseur du joint collé, pression de collage importante, etc.). Pour ce faire, nous avons effectué une recherche bibliographique afin de sélectionner les méthodes de suivi pouvant répondre à ces contraintes. A l'issue de cette recherche, deux technologies se sont révélées intéressantes : les mesures électriques et les mesures ultrasonores. Plusieurs configurations de mesures ont été proposées et testées pendant ce travail de thèse. Par la suite, nous avons effectué des essais préliminaires pour s'assurer du bon fonctionnement de ces configurations de mesures, et ainsi vérifier le comportement des capteurs lors de la fabrication du bois LC. Puis, nous avons humidifié les échantillons en utilisant deux protocoles d'humidification différents afin de vérifier la faisabilité du suivi de l'humidité avec les capteurs intégrés. Les résultats montrent que l'ensemble des configurations de mesures sont opérationnelles pour suivre la variation de l'humidité dans les échantillons LC. De plus, pour les mesures électriques, nos résultats montrent que l'on peut adopter quasiment les mêmes modèles d'étalonnage pour le suivi de l'humidité par mesures résistives, quel que soit le type de capteurs utilisé. Qui plus est, il est possible de récupérer des informations complémentaires par la réalisation simultanée des mesures résistives et des mesures capacitives en utilisant les électrodes surfaciques. Concernant les mesures ultrasonores, nous avons obtenu les courbes de sensibilité en fréquence pour plusieurs familles de capteurs à film piézoélectrique. L'influence de la pression de collage et de la distance entre les capteurs sur les mesures électriques/ultrasonores a aussi été investiguée dans ces travaux. De futures études consisteront à utiliser ces configurations de mesures pour le suivi in situ dans les ouvrages, ainsi qu'à établir un lien entre la durabilité des structures LC et les cycles d'humidification/séchage afin de prédire la durée de vie résiduelle des ouvrages d'art en bois. / For fifteen years, we restart to construct with wood, and particularly with glulam to respond to the new challenges imposed by the issues of sustainable development. However, degradation issues related to moisture content (MC) or wetting/drying cycles limit the development of timber structures. As a result, the MC monitoring in timber structures becomes a critical issue. Today, several solutions exist but they do not allow a local monitoring in the lamellas of glulam. Such a solution would improve the prediction of the service life of timber structures. In the light of this observation, we proposed to transform glulam into "smart material" by embedding a MC monitoring system in the lamellas, and this, considering the major constraints of fabrication of this material (small glue line thickness, important bonding pressure, etc.). To achieve this, we have conducted a bibliographic research, in order to select the monitoring methods which can satisfy these constraints. According to this research, two technologies turn out to be interesting: the electrical measurements and the ultrasonic measurements. Several measurement configurations were proposed and tested in this PhD work. Thereafter, we conducted preliminary tests to make sure of the good functionality of these measurement configurations, and also to verify the behavior of sensors throughout the glulam fabrication process. Afterwards, we moistened the specimens with two different moistening protocols in order to verify the feasibility of MC monitoring with embedded sensors. Results showed that all the measurement configurations are operational for the MC monitoring in glulam specimens. Moreover, for electrical measurements, our results show that we can adopt almost the same calibration models for the MC monitoring by resistive measurements, no matter the type of sensors used. Furthermore, it is possible to obtain complementary information by the realization of the resistive and capacitive measurements at the same time, using surface electrodes. Regarding the ultrasonic measurements, we have obtained the sensibility curves in frequency of several families of piezoelectric film sensors. On the other hand, the influence of bonding pressure and of sensor distance on the electrical/ultrasonic measurements was also investigated in this study. Future studies will consist in using these measurement configurations to perform in situ monitoring in timber structures, and also to establish a link between the durability of glulam structures and the wetting/drying cycles in order to predict the service life of timber structures.